8/19/2008

The Next Mazda RX-8 Use Hydrogen Power

Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen
Buyers of Mazda’s next-generation RX-8 really will be having a ‘gas’! That’s because the firm is planning to offer it with a hydrogen-powered engine, Auto Express can reveal.

In a bid to curb the current car’s high fuel consumption and emissions, Mazda has decided the only way to make its rotary engine clean and green is to offer a dual-fuel version capable of running on both hydrogen and petrol. Mazda has been experimenting with hydrogen power for more than two years now, firstly in the RX-8 Hydrogen RE, and more recently in the Premacy MPV.

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2009 Mazda RX-8

2009 Mazda RX-8

The Mazda RX-8 is available in two trim levels: GS and GT. Both models are equipped with the same engine. The GT model adds Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), xenon headlights, automatic headlight levelling, Bluetooth, satellite radio, moonroof, leather upholstery, and 8-way power-adjustable seats.

2009 Mazda RX-8

The MSRP for the GS model is $37,295. The test vehicle is the GS trim with 6-speed manual transmission and optional R3 package, which includes performance parts such as a rear spoiler, integrated front bumper, Recaro seats, and 19-inch wheels. The MSRP for the R3 model is $40,780.

2009 Mazda RX-8

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New Acura TL

New Acura TL

The redesigned Acura TL has a smile on its face.


Or at least the chrome across the grille looks a lot like a smile, or maybe even a smirk.

Honda of America hopes the Ohio-built sedan can help breathe new life into its luxury brand.

The fourth-generation TL had its coming-out party yesterday at the Honda assembly plant in Marysville, about five weeks before customers can buy one. The new version is larger, more powerful and looks different from its predecessor inside and out.

The front grille, with the chrome and the smilelike shape spread across the negative space, is a signature of design changes across the Acura line.

The TL is also notable for its rear, which is higher and more prominent than the demure hindquarters of its predecessor.

The TL has been the mainstay of the Acura line since the model was introduced in 1999. Its numbers have slipped this year, with 27,642 TL models sold through July, down 23 percent from the same period last year.

The sluggish sales follow two years of declines in annual sales. A Honda spokesman said the drop is largely because so much time has passed since the previous redesign in the 2004 model year.

And here's specifications for the new Acura TL:

Engine type: 3.5-liter V-6

Horsepower: 280

Wheelbase: 109.3 inches

Length: 195.3 inches

Width: 74.0 inches

Weight: 3,708 pounds

Fuel: premium unleaded

Fuel tank: 18.5 gallons

EPA mileage: 18 mpg city/26 mpg highway

Transmission: Five-speed automatic

Braking system: dual-diagonal, power-assisted, four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock braking system, electronic brake distribution and brake assist

New Acura TL

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Fiat Launches 2WD Sedici

Fiat Sedici

Fiat has launched a front wheel drive version of its Sedici SUV giving the range a sub-£10,000 entry point.

The 1.6-litre 4X2 model is now on sale throughout the brand’s 168-strong UK dealer network and costs £9,999 – the cheapest 4X4 variant is £12,860.

Other brands to sell 2WD versions of popular 4X4s include the closely related Suzuki SX4, Kia’s Sportage and Nissan’s Qashqai.

The new model is launched with a limited edition introductory offer of free extra equipment worth £875 on 120 models; this includes metallic paint, tinted rear windows and 16-inch alloy wheels.

The Fiat Sedici 4X4 was launched in the UK in April 2006 and was the company’s first entry into the compact SUV sector.

Fiat Sedici
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8/15/2008

New Audi A4 Avant Sedan

Manufacturer : Audi
Model : A4
Engine : 3.2 FSI
Power : 195 kW @ 6 500 r/min
Torque : 330 Nm from 3 000 to 5 000 r/min
Transmission : six-speed Tiptronic
Zero To Hundred : 6.4 seconds
Top Speed : 250 km/h
ABS : with EBD, ESP and brake assist
Front Suspension: Five-link front suspension, upper and lower wishbones, tubular anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension : Independent-wheel, trapezoidal-link rear suspension

New Audi A4 Avant Sedan

In this new A4 series, Audi adds V6 to this A4 sedan.

Audi used the launch of its A4 Avant to also introduce the flagship offering to its sedan line-up - the 3.2-litre V6.

Compact and relatively lightweight (it weighs only 171 kg), the new V6 features a range of Audi engine technology including its Valvelift system and FSI direct petrol injection.

The 3.2-litre V6 produces 195 kW at 6 500 r/min and peak torque of 330 Nm from 3 000 to 5 000 r/min.

Matedto a six-speed Tiptronic gearbox, the sedan covers the 0 - 100 km/h sprint in 6.4 seconds before hurtling to a top speed limited at 250 km/h.

This sedan is said to slurp about 9.2 l/100 km on a combined cycle of city and highway driving, a notion that is a lot more impressive when considering that the previous 188-kW V6 used about 1.2 l more over the same distance and was slower to 100 km/h.
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Dream PT Cruiser 5

Dream PT Cruiser 5

Chrysler unveils Dream PT Cruiser 5

Chrysler is breathing some life into the aging PT Cruiser with a new limited-edition model.

The PT Dream Cruiser Series 5, unveiled Tuesday ahead of this weekend's Woodward Dream Cruise classic car event, is the 14th factory-customized PT Cruiser that Chrysler has produced.

The retro wagon is bright white with a painted black roof, chrome accents and new 17-inch wheels. Buyers can choose from a standard 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine with 150 horsepower or a turbocharged 2.4-liter, four-cylinder with 180 horsepower.

The Dream Cruiser Series 5 will start at $22,700, only $2,000 more than a standard PT Cruiser. The turbo version costs $1,280 more. Chrysler is limiting production to 1,750, and the cars will start rolling off the assembly line in October.
[Source]

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Mercedes-Benz: HD Radio Will In Some Of Mercedes-Benz 2009 Models

Mercedes-Benz: HD Radio Will In Some Of Mercedes-Benz 2009 Models

Following in the footsteps of BMW, Mercedes-Benz announced it will offer HD radio in some of its 2009 models. HD radio is a digital broadcast that offers CD-quality sound for FM stations. BMW has been offering it on its models for the past year, and now Mercedes-Benz will include it as an option on the 2009 E-, M-, R-, GL-, and G-class, all but the E-class being SUVs.

Most radio stations in major cities have an HD broadcast now. There are approximately 40 stations in San Francisco alone. Because the format requires less bandwidth, many stations have multiple HD channels.
Credit: CNET Networks

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2009 Porsche 911

2009 Porsche 911

Porsche's roll out of a new 911 is as predictable as the thunderstorms that rumble across Germany every summer. First come the Carrera 2 coupes and cabriolets, followed by the all-wheel-drive Carrera 4s. A Targa rolls in next, and then the gale-force Turbo and whirlwinds of the ferocious GTs complete the perfect storm whipped up each time Porsche reinvents its iconic sports car.

2009 Porsche 911
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2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i

2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i

The Impreza 2.5i sedan and five-door models quietly form the foundation of Subaru's entry in the increasingly important U.S. compact-car segment.

2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i

New for 2008, the Impreza is powered by a 2.5L four producing 170 hp that may seem high, but remember those 170 hp must cart around about 3100 lb of AWD sedan or five-door hatchback. Most Imprezas will probably be mated to the four-speed auto transmission in the U.S., but a five-speed manual transmission is also available. With four-speed auto transmissions becoming outmoded, we hope Subaru can add a five- or six-speed auto next year or when the Impreza goes through its mid-model change, especially with all-wheel-drive competitors like the 2008 Suzuki SX4 five-door and 2009 Toyota Matrix still offering a four-speed auto.

2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i

Price Range: $17,995.00 - $34,995.00
Body Style: Sedan

2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i
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Audi Q7 Named Top Safety Pick Awards For 2008

Audi Q7

The Audi Q7, a luxury performance SUV, earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) Top Safety Pick award for 2008. The 2008 Q7 received a "good" rating in all three crash tests: side impact, offset frontal and rear impact seat tests.

In addition to the Q7, three Audi car models -- the A3, A4 and A6 -- have also been recognized as Top Safety Picks in 2008, earning Audi the most Top Safety Pick designations for 2008 models of any luxury automaker this year. The Q7's 2008 rating applies to models built after December 2007 and will carry over to the 2009 model year.

"For Audi, safety and performance have always gone hand in hand: our cars are engineered to offer the best not just in crash protection, but in preventing traffic accidents altogether," says Johan de Nysschen, executive vice president, Audi of America. "With the launch of the Audi Q7 TDI clean diesel in 2009, American SUV buyers will have even more options from which to choose for safety as well as fuel economy, convenience and performance."

To qualify for the IIHS's Top Safety Pick award, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's front, side, and rear tests and be equipped with electronic stability control, which Audi has standard on every model it produces.
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8/14/2008

BMW Recalls 200000 Vehicles in US over Airbag Concerns

BMW

BMW issued a recall Wednesday of 200,000 cars in the United States in response to possible problems with the airbag system.

The recall affects the 3-series and 5-series and BMW's X3 sport- utility vehicle.

In some cases, airbags in those vehicles may fail to deploy in collisions

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Nissan To Supply Chrysler With Small Cars

Chrysler logo


Chrysler said Nissan will supply it with two small cars, a version of the Versa to be sold in South America, and another small car that would be sold in North America.

In turn, Chrysler, which is also building a minivan for Volkswagen, will supply Nissan with a small pickup, the newspaper reported.

"In the next five to 10 years, I see more consolidation in every region of the world … especially among suppliers," said Tom LaSorda, Chrysler's vice chairman and president.

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Chevrolet Volt Attracts 33000 Buyers


Chevrolet Volt

The all-electric Chevrolet Volt in an undated image courtesy of General Motors.


In a bid to show the demand for the upcoming all-electric Chevrolet Volt, a proponent of the car has released details of an unofficial waiting list for the vehicle with over 33,000 prospective buyers.

On Tuesday, Dennis a New York neurologist released details gleaned from the list showing that 33,411 people had signed up to show their intent to buy a Volt when the rechargeable car is released in 2010.

The list shows the highest number of potential Volt buyers in California, Texas, Florida and Michigan. It also includes potential buyers from 46 countries outside the United States.

The average price buyers were willing to pay for the car was $31,261 -- substantially less than the $40,000 GM has said it will cost to build the first-generation of the car equipped with a massive lithium-ion battery pack.

GM has been racing to finish development of the Volt in time for the planned launch as the centerpiece of its effort to break a costly association with gas-guzzling vehicles at a time when truck sales are tumbling and gas prices remain high.
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Honda Hybrid Vs Toyota Prius

Two hybrid car fight on price!!

Honda Hybrid and Toyota Prius

Honda's new Toyota Prius fighter, an unnamed compact five-door hatchback, will be priced below the current Honda Civic hybrid, said a top Honda executive on Wednesday.

Richard Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda Motor, told an industry seminar here that the Honda hybrid will be launched in spring 2009, priced lower than the $22,600 Honda Civic hybrid, according to the Associated Press. The Toyota Prius has a base price of $21,500.

The hatchback will be slightly smaller than the Civic, the third-best-selling car in the United States through July with 234,086 sold. The Civic trails only the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord sedans.

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8/05/2008

Toyota Prius Coming to India

2008 Toyota Prius

Toyota Motor Corp plans to introduce its hybrid sedan Prius in India as an answer to soaring fuel prices and growing concerns over emissions, a top official at its Indian joint venture said.

The 2008 version of Prius has been adjudged the most fuel-efficient midsize car in the US. Sold in over 40 countries across regions, the hybrid variant has also been rated as the third least carbon dioxide emitting vehicle in Britain.

Positioned between Toyota's Corolla and Camry in the luxury segment, Prius uses an all-electric compressor for cooling. Classified as a super ultra low emission vehicle, the eco-friendly car can be propelled by either petrol and electric power.

2008 Toyota Prius

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2008 Volkswagen Tiguan Launched in Russia

Heidi Klum and Seal from and earlier marketing engagement

2008 Volkswagen Tiguan

Russian customers can now also purchase the 2008 Volkswagen Tiguan, which, like the Passat and Jetta, is produced at the Volkswagen plant in Kaluga.

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8/03/2008

2009 Audi A4

2009 Audi A4 Picture

A4 is Audi's volume model, its bread and butter. How to make it more appealing, which for Americans means larger and more fuel-efficient at the same time, is a problem they’ve solved. The new A4 is longer and wider, has a longer wheelbase and more standard content, yet is similarly priced (price not yet announced) and weights only 40 pounds more than the car it replaces.

2009 Audi A4 Picture

The last time Audi introduced an all-new A4 was at the 2001 Frankfort auto show. As before, the 2009 model is new from the ground up, with new styling that emphasizes its width and length, and low roofline. The popular import is 2.1” longer and has a greater, more stable track (distance between wheels) that has grown by 1.8”.

Its low, wide design shapes emphasize this width. Look at how the headlamps and fog lamps are broad and narrow. That makes us think wider. Everything on the front is both substantial, and appears wide. The rear end, connected by what Audi calls a “tornado line” between the headlamp and tail lamp, is also subtly pinched to appear wider. Side views show an upswept character line near the doorsills that looks fast and improves body strength.



Inside, and Audi holds the benchmark for automotive interiors anywhere near its price range, the new A4 features a variety of colors and textures, up to S-line leather seats with inset ventilated Alcantara (very grippy) seat panels. The A4 continues as an entry-level luxury car, an entry sports sedan. And, with the longer wheelbase there is, finally, decent legroom for rear seat passengers.

Complete article at The Auto Channel

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Honda New Car Models Lead Gain in Japan Vehicle Sales

Honda

Takeo Fukui, president and chief executive officer of Honda Motor Co., poses for a photograph during the launch of the new Freed minivan in Tokyo, May 29, 2008. Photographer: Haruyoshi Yamaguchi/Bloomberg News


Honda Motor Co., Japan's second- biggest carmaker, led a rise in domestic auto sales in July, after its new models spurred demand.

Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's largest carmaker, and Honda are introducing new and revamped models to lure buyers to showrooms as higher gas prices and decade-high inflation squeeze consumer spending in Japan. Toyota brought out the Alphard and Vellfire minivans while Honda unveiled the Freed in May.

``The new models may provide a quick boost to sales,'' said Takashi Aoki, who helps manage about 130 billion yen at Mizuho Asset Management Co. in Tokyo. ``But the effect won't last.''

Honda gained 29 percent to 40,449 units. Nissan reported a 5.9 percent sales increase to 50,098 vehicles, while Toyota's increased 5.6 percent last month to 139,669.

There was one extra selling day last month compared with last year. Also, sales last year fell after an earthquake disrupted production.

Toyota, Honda, Mazda Motor Corp. and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. have all introduced minivans in the past three months to boost sales.
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