Discovery LR4 -- Is It Worth Buying

Land Rover, the typically strong, royal-family-backed British brand doesn’t appear to need to prove its off-road supremacy any more. Uber-confident in the Discovery LR4's latest mud-plugging tech and current chassis, the newest accessory to 2012’s steady follows the precedent set by Range Rover’s new Ultimate Edition -- driving the upmarket SUV even further up than it’s ever been before.

However, this most greatest LR4 is not as pricey as the $210,000 Ultimate Rangie. And, unfortunately, this does mean needing to do without the champagne cabinet, natural teak floor and twin headrest iPad docks. We rode with Land Rover’s newest high-rolling limited edition to find out if the view from the raised peak is worth the financial hike.

North America isn’t arranged to get the new gearbox or low-emission diesel quite yet, and so the HSE Luxury Limited Edition requires the current sole alternative, a lusty 5.0-liter gas V8, showcasing a ballsy 375 hp that’s mated to a six-speed auto transmission with CommandShift.

What’s under the man-sized hood within the already well-appointed LR4 continues to be left properly alone. But 2012’s Finding LR4 has recently received any well-executed massage from your guys inside the green overalls, together with Europe’s 3. 0-liter SDV6 turbodiesel today packing a lot more power (256 h . p .), plus improved upon efficiency and also refinement facilitated by way of a silky eight-speed programmed transmission controlled by way of a Jaguar-style pop-up switch and paddle shifters.

Being a stylish seven-seater fish tank that’ll accept any surfaces, the Finding LR4 will be staggeringly refined in terms of driving around the smooth african american stuff. Positive, there’s still slightly body rotate, dictated largely from the ride’s large height as well as the laws regarding physics, nevertheless the big Brit’s rate is however impressive -- specifically so inside the mid-range together with generous stores of grunt available on demand.

Discovering added sophistication could be the order with the day with all the Discovery LR4 HSE High end, and commensurate with the principles of exclusivity, this specific edition is with the limited sort -- even though the exact numbers which will be made for sale in the showrooms come early july remain incredibly elusive.

What tends to make this, since John Edwards sets it, “probably one of the most luxurious specs yet offered around the Discovery LR4” isn’t abundantly clear at first, so we’ll crack it straight down.

Firstly, it’ll be around only inside the dark-hued hues of both Santorini african american, Orkney dull or Havana brownish, which also includes the honeycomb fine mesh grille and also door addresses to especially contrast the particular bright satin silver finish with the grille encircle, full-length top rails, fender grills, wing showcases, hood and also trunk scripts. In the same way bright 10-spoke, 20” rims and stainless-steel raise bumper stand plate full the especially subtle outside mods.

Inside, you’re treated to extra swathes of premium Windsor leather, most visibly on the door tops, fascia and heated steering wheel, while exclusive Arabica-toned leather seats boast bespoke contrast stitching to highlight the posh dark veneer trim touches. Oh, and the carpets obtain an extra-deep shag pile that, even though it wouldn’t go down very well on the farm, definitely would do with your woman.

If you’ve ever want a Range Rover to perfectly seat seven yet cost significantly less, then the exclusive Land Rover Discovery LR4 HSE Luxury Limited Edition is your ride.

Considering the of those perfect car parts, you won't miss this cool car. Am I right?

Read more:http://willsamjohn.typepad.com/blog/2012/04/discovery-lr4-is-it-worth-buying.html

Ferrari ready to launch first hybrid car in 2013

BEIJING -- Ferrari will offer its first gasoline-electric hybrid system in 2013. The technology will be featured in the as-yet-unnamed car that will replace the limited-edition Enzo.

"We are entering the market with our Formula One-derived hybrid system, which will slash fuel consumption and increase performance," Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa told Automotive News Europe on the sidelines of the auto show here this week.

Ferrari said that in testing, its so-called "HY-KERS" hybrid has slashed fuel consumption by about 40 percent while decreasing the time it takes to accelerate from 0 to 200kph by about 3 seconds compared with a Ferrari model without the system.

Felisa said the HY-KERS system adds about 120kg to a car. The Fiat subsidiary will compensate for some of that weight gain by cutting kilograms from the car's chassis and powertrain. Felisa said the new car's chassis will have the same grade of carbon fiber found in Ferrari's F1 cars. That carbon fiber is lighter and more durable than the grade already used in the Enzo's and F50's chassis and body, the CEO said.

South Korea's Samsung Electronics will provide its lithium ion cells to Ferrari, which will put them together in its own battery packs at its F1 racing headquarters in Fiorano, near Modena, northern Italy.

I don't think Ferrari is doing it for the gas mileage. It's the technology of today that's being explored and pushed by the high end manufacturers. If the high end builders would have come out with the hybrid before Toyota and Honda, it would be very accepted and praised. Since it was the "green" thing to do in the beginning, it's looked down upon by the V-8 lover. Looks to me like the tree huggers are getting the last laugh (and the cool cars).

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Top 5 Surprisingly Cool Cars of 2012

Electric cars have been a topic of conversation in the auto world for many years, but just recently have some of the concepts picked up steam and been released finally. However, others haven’t been so fortunate, finding it tough to find funding for the rocky frontier.

1. Chevrolet Sonic

 And our number one pick for the most surprisingly good car of 2012 is the Chevrolet Sonic. GM has invested heavily in reinventing itself in the small category and it’s working. First came the Cruze and now the Sonic, a car that delivers as promised, with a stylish 5-door hatchback that out-powers all rivals and is genuinely fun to drive.

What makes this such a shocker is because of how far behind GM has lagged in the small car segment. To call its predecessor, the Aveo, lacklustre, would have been a compliment. The new interior, while not faultless from a materials perspective, is definitely unique with its motorcycle inspired gauges, plus the Sonic comes with goodies like hill-hold assist (manual transmission models), 10 airbags and standard alloy wheels. The base 1.8L 4-cylinder is passable, while a 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder can be had for just $700 extra. It makes 138-hp, tying the Accent for the most power in the sub-compact class, while 148 lb-ft of torque is significantly more than any rival. Plus, the tiny 4-banger gets 29/40 mpg.

2. Nissan Leaf

As the first mainstream EV, the car’s rollout went off without a hitch – due in part to a massive effort by Nissan to work with local municipalities to ensure proper charging infrastructure was in place. In fact, Nissan was able to accelerate the car’s rollout beyond its initial target markets, arriving in Chicago (its first mid-West sales area) ahead of schedule. The result of all this is that the Leaf is on target to reach its 10,000 unit sales goal in the U.S.

But perhaps the major contributing factor to the Leaf’s success is the car itself. While an EV, it’s not loaded up with excessive compromises. In fact, it’s a very real and reasonably good set of wheels, with a nice mix of comfort and agility, and unlike the Prius it’s not dreadfully slow.

3. Toyota Camry Hybrid

For starters, hopes for a new Camry weren’t high (especially after Honda failed to blow away the competition with the new Civic) and the strong new competition from cars like the Sonata. After all, the Sonata Hybrid is rated at 36/40 mpg, well ahead of the previous Camry’s Hybrid’s 33/34 mpg rating, so even a decent improvement wouldn’t put the Camry ahead. So Toyota upped the ante, delivering a 43/39 mpg rating, for a combined 41 mpg, making the Camry Hybrid the first and only real mid-size sedan to offer over 40 mpg average.

As mentioned, that’s not all. With a history of cars like the Prius, one might expect the Camry Hybrid to be a slouch, but using the Hybrid Synergy Drive system mated to a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder there’s 200-hp and it feels like it too, making the Camry Hybrid arguably the best all-around Camry you can buy and perhaps the best mid-size sedan on the market.

4. Ford F-150 EcoBoost

To everyone’s surprise, truck buyers embraced the new twin-turbo V6 F-150, a fact helped by the fact that with a 11,300 lbs tow rating, the EcoBoost engine offered more capability than even the V8. By year’s end, EcoBoost F-150 sales have topped 100,000 units, accounting for roughly 41 percent of total sales and just shy of the 5.0-liter V8′s 44 percent take-rate.

5. 2012 Mazda3 Skyactiv

What’s the best car of 2012? Who knows. Is a Porsche GT3 RS 4.0 better than a Ferrari 458 Italia? What about the Scion FR-S? Or a Prius Plug-in Hybrid? The past year has seen the launch of numerous excellent vehicles, including some we really didn’t expect to be any good. That said, we’ve put together our list of the top five surprisingly good cars of 2012, starting with the updated Mazda3.

Adding to our reasons for placing this car on our list of surprisingly good cars is the technology behind it. At both a preview event and the actual drive, Mazda gave us a deep-dive into the engineering solutions behind its new SkyActiv technologies, rethinking every aspect of the engine and transmission for this updated model. When Ford sold off its shares in Mazda recently many skeptics proclaimed that in this new era a smaller company like Mazda couldn’t possibly hope to be competitive without a large partner like, say, Toyota. But Mazda has proved them wrong, not only competing, but perhaps delivering the the only 40 mpg car that’s actually fun to drive.

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Get Your Car A Bright Color

“I’ve pointed out that two thirds or maybe more of these kinds of cars certainly are a dull shade: silver, dull, tan, white-colored, etc.,” published Sally, who admits in which her household owns any silver car plus a white automobile. “There certainly are a few vivid ones on the market — reddish, navy, yellow — but they're much rarer. I can’t aid but speculate as to the reasons. Seems being a colorful car would have been a bigger attract both from your dealer and also at second-hand. Do you might have any ideas with this subject? ”

Nicely, until not too long ago, opting to get a brighter color could have meant going contrary to the tide. DuPont, any maker regarding automotive coatings, has recently been tracking car color reputation since 1953. Around the company’s 2011 shade popularity questionnaire, the leading four most frequent colors of us vehicles have been white, African American, silver and also gray.

It hasn’t for ages been this approach. “In the particular ’50s, there was clearly more shade,” mentioned Nancy Lockhart, DuPont’s shade marketing director. “There were plenty of green, teals, aquas, blues, those forms of colors. Silver and also white are not popular colors in the past. Of training course, today could be the complete contrary. ”

DuPont’s research, based about vehicle develop data, show the 1970s observed the go up of brownish, yellow and also orange since top shades. The 1980s extra beige for the mix, in addition to blue. White started out its ascendancy inside the 1990s. Inside the 2000s, white-colored and gold started their particular domination.

Nevertheless they aren’t the father’s white-colored and gold. Nancy mentioned whites, silvers and also blacks started to be popular right after advances inside paint engineering allowed these to be sparkly, flaked and also tinted. White-colored was pearlescent. Silver appeared to be liquid metallic.


Reds need to conjure up fun furnace or perhaps hell alone: Hot Lava, Volcano Reddish Metallic, Torch Red, Inferno Fruit Metallic, and Enticing Crimson Mica. Several colors help make me famished. I consider the Infiniti G37’s Mable African American would couple nicely with all the Nissan Cube’s Poisonous Chocolate. Some help make me desire to travel: Bali Glowing blue, Tuscan Sunshine, Barcelona Reddish Metallic.


This is greater than made upwards for inside the colors regarding Hyundai’s Veloster coupe. The Veloster’s red is named Boston Reddish, a identify that stumped myself until My partner and i saw one other colors: Workshop Blue, Triathlon Dull, Ironman Gold, Ultra African American, Century White-colored, Vitamin Chemical, 26. A couple of Yellow, Electrolyte Environmentally friendly.

There’s a great extreme sporting activities theme taking place here. Almost all that’s absent is Rhabdomyolysis Brownish. I questioned Nancy, the particular DuPont shade expert, just what color automobile she acquired. “Uh-oh, ” the lady laughed. “Solid white-colored. ”

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Ford Tests 'Green' Arm Rests And Interior Trays

Prototypes of arm rests and interior trays have been done, and the research has involved testing expenses to make certain any remains -- "If you know what I mean," Ellen says -- doesn't impact production. To be obvious, those residues are micro-organisms from physical fluids and drug compounds. The bills "should be completely fine," she adds, simply because the high temperatures used to turn them into fiber fillers for plastic parts look after any residue.

The transfer toward "biomaterial" similar to currency, and faraway from harsher product like wine glass fiber, it not just about the planet. A main factor is your rising charge of oil, which is utilized not only to run cars but to generate the plastics in the individual. Ford paperwork that more than 200 pounds involving plastic enter into a normal Ford car or truck.

It can be about "petroleum self-sufficiency, " VAN President Jay Baron instructed msnbc.com. "They're positioning themselves for the future in case petroleum prices double." Getting costs down is still a factor, he added, but "the cost will come down. You will see more and more biomaterials in the car." Ellen says Ford hasn't calculated the overall savings from natural fibers, but the company did note that using soybeans saves it 5 million pounds of petroleum each year.

Alternatives retired currency exchange, should the idea pass even more testing it is going to join these kind of unusual pure materials currently in 2012 Frd vehicles:
Azure jeans within Fusions: Those versions have the same as about 2 pairs associated with blue denim jeans as materials to lower road, blowing wind and powertrain sound. The material is actually denim scraps in the clothing business.
Soybeans in most models: Every vehicle built-in North The united states uses soybeans within seat soft cushions and chair backs. The majority of also make use of soybeans within headrests.
Kenaf within Escapes: Fiber in the plant can be used in concealed material which reinforces the actual arm relaxation behind the doorway.
Scrap 100 % cotton in Runs away: Ten lbs of discard cotton through clothing type in the Escape's dashboard.
Plastic containers in Runs away: The equal of twenty five recycled 20-ounce bottles can be used in the actual Escape's carpeting.
Pastic containers in Concentrate Electrics: This all-electric car runs on the wood-fiber-based materials in it's doors and plastic bottles within its chair fabric.

Orange jeans throughout Fusions: Those types have very similar to about a pair of pairs involving blue skinny jeans as product to lower road, breeze and powertrain sounds. The material is essentially denim scraps through the clothing sector.

So while might many of us be operating around with take advantage our autos? Ford says you will find there's ready present: 8, 000 for you to 10, 000 fat of on paper currency exchange are shredded day-to-day – over 3. 6 trillion pounds every year. The shredded income is sometimes compressed straight into bricks along with deposited throughout landfills, as well as burned. "It would seem very offering, " Ellen affirms. "It only needs a long time for us to perform our required research before it climbs into vehicle.
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The All-New 2013 SRT Viper

Chrysler Group LLC’s Street and Racing Technology, or SRT, unit rolled out a redesigned 2013 Viper sports car which, most likely for the first time, statements to concentrate as much on braking, handling and safety as on 100 % pure horsepower and acceleration.

The 2013 SRT Viper is all-new, from front-to-back and top-to-bottom, from the lightweight carbon-fiber roof right down to its road-scorching wheels. It features less weight, stiffer chassis, a more powerful engine, beefed-up close-ratio transmission, more powerful brakes and new electronic technology. It's all wrapped in aggressive exterior styling with gorgeous interior design, materials and appointments to make Viper more comfortable and capable, better riding, more agile and faster accelerating to a higher top speed. Advancements in materials and engineering lead to a new output of 640 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque.

The new car, released today at the New York International Auto Show, signifies what Chrysler calls the 5th generation of the fast two-seater that began as an extremely unlikely two decades ago. Viper traditionalists might scoff at the car maker’s tries to enhance comfort, ergonomics and interior styling, but at least it still has 10 cylinders under the hood.

A six-speed manual transmission has closer gear ratios and a shorter-throw shifter than before, and the final-drive ratio was reduced to 3.55 from 3.07. This enables the vehicle to get to top speed in top gear while running at maximum engine speed – something it annoyingly couldn’t do before.

Available in coupe and roadster versions, the new car is driven by an aluminum 8.4-liter V-10 that puts out 640 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine, while in some cases a pushrod-operated, overhead-valve relic of the last century, has a variety of parts meant to cut weight and improve performance, like a lightened flywheel, a new catalyst and special valves that reduce exhaust system back pressure.

Additionally for the first time, Vipers will feature standard safety features which include electronic stability control and traction control to minimize wheel-spin and skidding. Vipers lacked such stay-in-control technology before, and due to this fact were comparatively easy to crash when drivers weren’t careful doling out the horsepower.

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Standard features on the Audi A3 Sedan

Standard features on the Audi A3 Sedan contain 8-way power driver and 4-way power passengers seats, air conditioning, intermittent wipers, cruise control, tilt and telescoping steering wheel with front and rear cupholders, audio controls, power door locks, rear defogger, 6-speaker AM/FM in-dash single CD player with CD MP3 playback stereo, windows, mirrors (heated), Sirius XM satellite radio, USB connection, auxiliary audio input  and iPod integration, auxiliary audio jack, retained accessory power, pre-wired for phone, radio data system, trunk light, front and rear 12 volt power outlets, external temperature display, interior air filtration, rear ventilation ducts, Bluetooth online car phone with WLAN hotspot, front and rear reading lights and more.


Technological attributes in the A3 include parking assist, blind spot detection, lane departure warning, traffic sign detection, forward and rearward facing cameras, radar-assisted adaptive cruise control, and a Man-Machine Interface (MMI) controller located on the center console.

Standard safety features dual front side-mounted air bags, ABS brakes, front and rear head air bags, passenger air bag sensing deactivation, daytime running lights, engine immobilizer, child seat anchors, rear door child safety locks, stability and traction control, pre-collision safety system, electronic brake force distribution, tire pressure monitoring, emergency brake preparation and more.      

On the exterior the A3’s windshield is well raked as well as curved. From there it is awesome sophistication starting with a curved hood and its curved but light cut lines leading to the grille.  The headlights are modern slit units that have a highly unique shape. The grille is large. It is outlined in sharp looking chrome and includes some straight crisp lines along with pleasing angles. On top of that, the grille is flat but the bumper on the sides of it is curved. At the bottom are LED running lights.

The A3’s side profile includes upper glass that has an open profile outlined in chrome.  The door mirrors are silver with black on the outer edge. The front and rear fenders have some recessed lines at their edges and are flared adding to the car’s powerful look. There is an indented cut line that runs above the door handles. Last but not least, the doors have some recessed work in the center. On the whole, the look is solid but very fascinating.

In the rear the Audi A3 has a curved spoiler lip at the top of the trunk.  The LED taillights are horizontally slit units that have a distinctive shape.  The look is clean, simple, but modern.  Down low there is a black insert with dual exhausts at the edges.
 
The upcoming Audi A3 has tight lines and a great look. However, it will also offer good acceleration and braking, an upscale interior, spirited handling as well as reasonable gas mileage.

Car Test: Hotchkis E-Max Dodge Challenger

When Dodge ultimately got around to responding to the Mustang and Camaro in 1970, designer Carl Cameron’s coupe went wide and mouthy with the sheetmetal and put the residents in a kind of speed bunker behind a huge engine. Needless to say, the Challenger was a kid of its era, relying on a loud throttle and not much else for its overall performance. Places like Dead Man’s Curve therefore exacted their butcher’s bills.

In the present day, the trend in vintage muscle equipment is to modernize underneath the skin while leaving largely intact the enduring works of Cameron and his contemporaries. That indicates suspension and brake work, for beginners, and the Hotchkis E-Max Challenger is a showboat for one company’s comparatively affordable bolt-on handling systems.

Hotchkis Sport Suspension, in the Los Angeles suburb of Santa Fe Springs, developed the roughly $70,000 E-Max from an eBay find. The 18-inch Forgeline ZX3 wheels ($3900), the black-and-yellow war paint, the Sparco Milano front buckets ($800), and the custom fiberglass air-scooping hood notwithstanding, the E-Max isn’t a completely reengineered Pro Touring overhaul on par along with the six-figure ’69 “Red Devil” Camaro we profiled in August 2011.

This E-body Challenger (hence the name, which essentially means “E to the max”) retains more of its vintage shaky vibe, with its unique six-pack-carb setup atop a cammed-up 340 Mopar small-block V-8, bored 0.030 over and rattling the chassis’ loose rafters through Flowmasters and thundering side exhaust outlets. When it’s cold, you can hear each cylinder firing like unique sticks of dynamite, a raunchy piper’s tune that draws out the neighborhood’s 14-to-18-year-old male population in herds. A five-speed Tremec transmission provides a welcome overdrive and digs the 3524-pound hunk of teen fantasy out of a hole briskly.

The 60-mph mark passed in 5.3 seconds, but the first couple of upshifts demonstrated balky, as if the transmission were tired, and pushed the quarter-mile to 14 seconds flat.

The TVS shows are new tubular front upper-control arms with a gleaming silver finish and elegant gusseting. They diminish bump steer triggered by caster gain in the car’s original design by lowering the control arm’s forward anchor point. Adjustable lower diagonal rods, an anti-roll bar, and quicker steering linkages tighten wheel location and body control while enhancing steering response.

In the rear, new “geometry corrected” leaf springs with modified front mounts redirect the vertical motion of the rear axle in cornering to get rid of the factory-tuned bias toward understeer. Lowered and damped by specially tuned Bilstein shocks (a $400 four-pack), the E-Max is one feisty grandpa that can wrestle with any young import in the curves. The $3000 Stoptech big-disc brake kit creates a firm pedal feel and, with the Falken Azenis RT-615K tires, yields 70-to-0-mph stopping distances that are respectable in the 21st century.

What amounts to an extra 10 grand or so worth of suspension, brake, and wheel and tire work above a ’70–74 Challenger’s purchase price.

Canada Car Review: Porsche Camp4

The concept of Porsche's Camp4 can find its roots back 16 years to the chilly nation of Finland, where a group of interested  Porsche owners assembled to test the cold weather abilities of their valuable machines. The event proved a resounding success, and Camp4 was born. The name Camp4 is derived from Carrera4, the all-wheel-drive variant of the 911 which first was first introduced to the public in the winter school setting. Porsche continues to operate Camp4 Finland and it now hosts as many as 1,500 students each year.

Last year a second Camp4 took shape at a little recognized motor sport facility in Notre-Dame de la Merci. Tucked into the wilderness just north of Montreal, Mecaglisse is comprised of two purpose built tracks and a large pair of icy skid pads. Loosely modelled after the Finland effort  Camp4 Canada will help 180 lucky customers discover how much fun you can have while exploring the inherent instability of winter driving in a high-performance automobile.

Classroom

The day begins with a brief classroom lecture where students are introduced to the Camp4 curriculum. The students are reminded of the basic elements of vehicle dynamics, including the principles of over-steer and under-steer, and how the physics change when travelling over snow and ice. The basic elements of proper car control are also examined including the importance of driver vision as well as when to apply driver inputs such as braking, steering, and acceleration.

A quick overview of the facility, track configurations and schedule of events is followed by a quick tutorial regarding the operation of the car's traction and stability control systems.

The goal is to equip the guests with the necessary knowledge and skill set to better handle a car on icy roads, a process that can only be honed through hands-on training behind the wheel in the relative safety of a controlled environment.

The 30 students are then divided into three teams, and each group is assigned an instructor and a spotter. Once paired up with a driving partner you are escorted to the paddock and assigned a car.

The schedule divides the day into three activities, each designed to introduce students to the outer limits of traction and control in an effort to help them recognize the moment when traction is lost. Through instruction and behind the wheel practice the students are taught what steps to take to regain control, and what inputs they can make to keep the car progressing safely forward rather than off the road.

These skills should help drivers become more confident in their winter driving skills. More experienced drivers can sign-up to attend Camp4S, a more advanced course which is also offered at the Mecaglisse facility where speed and technical difficulty are increased accordingly.

If winter driving makes you nervous consider attending Camp4 next season as you will emerge with a better understanding of what it takes to stay control of your vehicle when the going gets slippery, and the skills you learn will go a long way in helping you stay safe on the road. More about aftermarket car parts and car lighting, you can come to carpart4u.com.

Mercedes-Benz Has Updated The G-class SUV For 2013

Do you know the information about Mercedes-Benz G-class SUV? Mercedes-Benz has refreshed the old-school G-class SUV for 2013, but you’d certainly not know it by just looking at the exterior styling. That’s simply because almost nothing changes outside; this is a great thing. The rest of the G-class’s advances reside under its hood and behind its bank-vault-solid doors: A new engine, a new interior, and more modern amenities for the AMG model. Last year Mercedes sold only the common G550 version, but this year the beastly AMG model of the G-class is back after a yearlong holiday. Along with the new engine, the AMG’s badge changes from G55 to G63. It should continue to be one of the most bad-ass things on four wheels.

Bricks Can Fly, Too

The G550’s obviously aspirated 382-hp, 5.5-liter V-8 and seven-speed automatic carry over for 2013. As for the AMG model, the old G55’s supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 is replaced by a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V-8 for 2013. Power—something that the old version wasn’t exactly craving—jumps by 44 hp to 544, and torque is an equal 44 units, to a healthy 560 lb-ft. Like other AMG Mercedes-Benz models with the new downsized V-8, the G63’s “63” nomenclature bears no connection to its actual engine displacement. Because fuel economy clearly is on the minds of most AMG buyers, the G63 gets a new “Eco” engine stop-start system. Mercedes also fitted a seven-speed automatic transmission in place of the G55’s five-speed slushbox. In our most recent test, the 2011 G55 hustled from 0 to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds; as for fuel economy, we managed just 12 mpg. We don’t expect the new G63’s mileage to improve much, if at all, but we’re eager to see how the additional power affects the G’s already alarming performance.

If you don’t discover the 544-hp G63 to be bonkers enough, might we suggest moving overseas? For other markets, Mercedes-Benz is introducing a new G65 AMG powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V-12. The big engine puts out 604 hp and whips up a massive 738 lb-ft of torque. Sadly, the G65 isn’t coming here because the expected limited sales volumes are not worth the effort of certifying the SUV for our market. (We’re told the V-12 was shoehorned into the engine bay, which would make it difficult to certify to our federal crash standards.) But here’s a fun fact regarding its price: In Europe, it will cost nearly double what it will take to bring home a G63—about $350,000 at current exchange rates.

Needless to say, both the 2013 G550 and G63 retain a full complement of off-road gear including those locking differentials as well as a low-range transfer case. The 2013 Gs now come standard with Distronic adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and updated Parktronic backup sensors and rearview camera. Finally, Mercedes revised the stability control to enable trailer stabilizing functionality.

Mercedes-Benz has yet to launch pricing, but the company did declare that the updated G550 and new G63 will go on sale in August. We don’t expect the G550’s price to increase much over the 2012’s $108,850 sticker, but the cost of the 2013 G63 AMG may go up relative to that of the $125,325 2011 G55.

The G features car parts including LED running lights, turn indicators and a new bumper and car grille, which will let you have a good driving experience.

Ford Mustang's New Look

Ford Mustang, an auto dress-up doll, has got its newest round of design and horsepower adjustments from Jack Roush and his team at Roush Performance.

To make sure people have an understanding of your pony is no mail-order boulevard queen, Roush qualifications are omnipresent: R fender badges adorn the sides. Inside, embroidered floor mats, a Roush center console button, a Stage 1 dash medallion, and a graphic of Jack Roush’s signature on the dash serve as continuous reminders of what you paid for. Did we mention the windshield banner? Stage 1 badging is current front and rear, and the R-badged faux gas cap is finished with Jack Roush’s signature graphic.

Stage one chiefly is an exterior look package, placing or putting the 6th-generation Roush “R6” aerobody package. Using corner fascia aero pockets with driving lamps, a high-flow lower grille, a custom hood scoop and a front chin splitter, the look from the front is absolutely aggressive. Revised rocker panels, a three-piece rear decklid spoiler and rear fascia side splitters continue the “R6” impact to the tail, where a rear aero valance with race-inspired diffusers exists. Dual chambered, chrome exhaust tips finish the appearance.

Stage 2 sets 505 lb-ft of torque and a supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 rated for 565 hp below the hood. The forced induction comes service of an R2300 supercharger with Eaton’s TVS patented technology. Regular car parts inside the Stage 3 include a specialized gauge cluster, Jack Roush’s signature graphic on the dash and a Stage 3 dash medallion. A serialized Stage 3 plaque and a chassis build plaque reside under the hood.

Stage 3 alternatives consist of two 20-inch wheels options -- a trunk-mounted tool kit, chrome or hyper black, four different brake packages (red two-piston sport, red four-piston performance, black four-piston performance, or six-piston competition), a Roush dual-chamber “off-road” exhaust system and Roush laser cut hood struts. Even though the tuner market for Mustangs will be around no less than as long as Ford’s pony stays in production, one may ask what effect factory models like the amazing Boss 302 will have on their bottom line. Not to mention the Shelby GT500, which beats Roush on horsepower, if not on the utter amount of namesake symbols and badging.

For Stage 3, Roush’s team reached deep into its miracle bag of Mustang parts and developed an assortment of suspension pieces targeted at raising the pony car’s dealing with to a level befitting that of the intense exterior mods. Twin-tube shocks with distinctive valve rates; a larger, stiffer front anti-roll bar; and increased spring rates all conspire to improve the Stang’s handling prowess. Roush says its chassis engineers spent thousands of hours in development and testing: specific attention was paid to the suspension bushings, which are optimized for more conformity over low-speed bumps; the jounce bumpers are created to act as a spring assist. Ultimately, the Stage 3 handling package involves a set of 18- by 10-inch cast aluminum, five-spoke wheels shod with Cooper RS3 ultra-high-performance summer tires that were co-developed by Performance and Cooper Tire.

All 2013 Roush Stage Mustangs are readily available for coupe and convertible models and both automatic and manual transmissions. They also are all 50-state legal and covered by Roush’s 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and other car parts. The 2013 Roush Mustangs are anticipated to start displaying on dealer lots by late April 2012, but pricing has not been announced.

Choose Hyundai Sonata or Kia Optima

Relative novices to the mid-size sedan section, the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima have not taken long to increase to the top of the class. The pair has gone from distant finishers to highly rated competitors that now rank in sales alongside car like the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion--and for strong reason, due to excellent fuel economy, great interior styling, class-leading value and available hybrid models.

As soon as you've narrowed down your alternatives to the South Korean-designed pair, even though, how can you select between them? Here we've rated them identically, which makes the option even more hard. For the most part, it comes down to styling, though there are subtle differences in handling too that may tip the scales in one direction.

Both the Sonata and Optima have some steering fundamentals and suspension. Interior and trunk space is quite comparable, too, with plenty of front-seat leg room and head room, with head room that's fine for all but six-foot adults and those any taller as well as above-average knee room in the back seat. Each has an all-independent suspension with a very tight, borderline firm, ride quality, and electric power steering that have more heft and somewhat more realistic sense in the Optima. Both the two sedans could use comfortable seats with longer bottom cushions, particularly on base models; ventilated and heated seats are an alternative on either, as is leather trim. Trunk space and small-item storage are quite good.

In safety and features, the Sonata and Optima have been leaders for their brands and for the most recent generation of family sedans. Both have earned outstanding safety scores from the IIHS and NHTSA; Bluetooth is common on both, and a rearview camera can be had on either.

The Optima and Sonata have much more in accordance than any other two mid-size family sedans--no great surprise, since Hyundai has owned Kia since the early 2000s. Both are derived by a range of four-cylinder engines, from the basic normally aspirated cars with about 200 horsepower, to the 274-horsepower turbocharged versions, with manual or six-speed automatic transmissions. Our choose: either with the turbocharged four and the automatic, a good pairing that executes quick highway passes without much turbo lag, replicating V-6 power without the drain on gas. Base fours are rated at 35 mpg highway--but turbo fours still earn an EPA-pegged 32 mpg highway. We've driven both hybrids, and think they have promise, but the 40-mpg-rated sedans require more drive train refinement before we suggest them.

Eventually, we think the selection between the Kia Optima and Hyundai's Sonata comes down to looks. Actually, the big difference is exterior styling and interior styling.Would you rather have the fluidic sculpture of the Sonata, or the dynamic, almost Audi-like appeal of the Optima?

Get a Green Car -- 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid

The 2012 Infiniti's M sedan has eventually entered into its own with the present generation. Earlier versions forced pretty well and had good interior styling, but were hidden on the road and in the market place. The curvaceous design is definitely a head-turning standout. And Infiniti's interior manufacturers have upped their performance, producing an appealing new cabin. The car's chassis -- offered one sidesteps a few excessively intrusive electronic digital aids -- has all the smoothness and poise a premium vehicle should.

On top of that, the other big transformation with the new M is the add-on of a hybrid car. Located in between the expected six-cylinder (M37) and V-8 (M56) versions, the hybrid statements to marry the power of an eight-cylinder with the fuel economy of a four-banger. That's a pretty big boast, but it's certainly not trash talk.

Mechanically, Infiniti's hybrid system is a little bit different than the majority. The electric motor is sandwiched between the 3.7-liter V-6 engine and the transmission. Infiniti uses a conventional seven-speed automatic instead of a CVT -- less efficient maybe, but vastly more enjoyable to drive. The location of the motor allows the engine to shut down when you lift off the gas, even at highway speeds. A lithium-ion battery pack is energized via brake energy regeneration.

The V-6 and the electric motor incorporate to produce 360 hp, which outmuscles the M37's V-6 (333 hp) but doesn't equal the M56's V-8 (420 hp). On the other hand, the hybrid has the benefit of the electric motor's 199 pound-feet of torque, which is available at a low 1770 rpm. Thus, the M hybrid lunges off the line, chirping its tires as the traction control system challenges to keep pace. It also rockets ahead during passing techniques. The car feels almost as frantic as the V-8, and definitely quicker than the V-6.

Having said that, it's EPA rated at 27 mpg city, 32 on the highway. Its most direct rival, the Lexus GS450h, is going to be changed and maybe doesn't make for a very fair comparison, but that fact that the Lexus hybrid features a comparably pathetic 22/25 mpg just shows how speedily hybrid technology is improving. However, I was only able to accomplish an indicated 25 mpg in my week with the car, but that was almost all in-town driving, and with our steep hills here, it's not uncommon for cars to do worse than their EPA city estimates in my hands.

I might have done better had I involved the Infiniti's "eco pedal," which is available in all versions of the M sedan, and is accessed via a drive mode selector dial. But this technology, wherein the gas pedal pushes back at you if the car decides you're driving too strongly, is almost as annoying as having a hyperventilating mother-in-law smacking you with her purse whenever she thinks you're driving too fast. Better to leave the dial in normal mode, even at the loss of a few MPGs.

Article Source: http://www.carpart4u.com/

New Car Models at 2012 Manila International Auto Show

If you’re advancing towards Roxas Boulevard this holiday weekend, don’t be shocked at the traffic gathering near the World Trade Center on Sen. It’s the past two days of the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS), an annual affair every car lover in the city looks forward to. This year’s MIAS is the eighth time it’s being performed, and organizers have confidence of making it the most significant MIAS ever.



Total display area in 2012 is 30,000 square meters given that not only the World Trade Center has been applied; exhibits have built over to the adjacent Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC). And with 110 companies becoming a member of this year’s show, organizer Worldbex Services International is positive they can wow the over 85,000 attendees anticipated over the four-day event which began Thursday. This year’s theme is “Motorsports” and MIAS targets “Life in the Fast Lane” and the new sports vehicles in town. A number of car dealers and automarkers have released their new models at this year’s MIAS last Thursday.

Of course, Ford can not miss this large event. It unveiled its All-New Ford Ranger, a muscular pickup truck that’s 21st century tough. Passengers will feel comfort inside as they do in a vehicle, but will not doubt the car's fording, carrying and climbing capability. Its engine is 2.2 liters, and the payload capacity can handle a lot more than 1400 kg. It can even wade in 800 millimeters of water, ideal for any flash flood in the city. What’s awesome about it is it’s pretty intelligent, and features Bluetooth with Voice Control. I tried out it and “told the car” to call my Globe mobile phone. It is pretty cool.

As the official importer and distributor of BMW cars in the country, Asian Carmakers Corp., on the flip side, released its BMW M5, the 5th generation of the saloon, which has an “all-new engine that’s more efficient, more powerful, and has much better technology,” says Pauline D. Gonzales, corporate communications manager of Asian Carmakers. It’s a high-performance sports vehicle with a high-revving 4.4-liter V8 engine. Car enthusiasts should not neglect to check out the Segway booth at the PTTC and get an option to control the two-wheeled device around a little track. Neither should they overlook the Classic and Custom Car display at the PTTC area, even though one wishes there were more cars for this category.

A number of people need to come car that runs on Hybrid like Toyota and Mini Cooper, that usually do not cost of Gasoline and Diesel any longer. To get more news about aftermarket car parts, please come to carpart4u.