At the 2007 Los Angeles auto show, Honda raised the bar for hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles by unveiling the 2009 FCX Clarity, a production-ready vehicle presently being leased by a select group of customers. One year later, the company has attempted to upstage itself with the introduction of the Honda FC Sport concept, essentially a reinterpretation of the FCX Clarity as a sports car.
In much the same way the FCX Clarity stands out as a unique vehicle while still strongly resembling other Honda sedans, the FC Sport is obviously unlike any other car we've seen from Honda and yet is still identifiable with the FCX Clarity. The key difference is in the sharpness of the car's lines. While the FCX Clarity and FC Sport share the same basic shape, the FCX Clarity is smooth and rounded, whereas the FC Sport has gone the opposite direction, instead using straight lights and sharp geometric shapes. While the side profiles are nearly the same, the nose and tail of the FC Sport give it away as an all-new car.
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This radical, futuristic styling is meant to reflect the car's performance orientation. Where the FCX Clarity demonstrated how a hydrogen-fuel-cell car can be practical and easy to live with, the FC Sport seeks to demonstrate the performance possibilities of an electrically driven, hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered car. Honda says the driving idea behind the design of the FC Sport was to showcase the possibilities of an electrically driven supercar using a powerful electric motor, perfect weight distribution, and lightweight materials -- all while producing zero emissions.
Passengers in the FC Sport sit in a triangular pattern, similar to that of the McLaren F1 supercar. The driver sits in the middle of the vehicle, much as does a race-car driver, while two passengers sit behind and to the sides. The fuel cell has been moved from between the driver's and passenger's seats in the FCX Clarity to between the rear passengers' seats in the FC Sport and is mounted as low as possible to give the car a low center of gravity. The battery pack is also mounted low and amidships, while the electric motor is mounted just ahead of the rear axle. This keeps a majority of the vehicle's weight between the axles and as close as possible to the ground, giving the car a low center of gravity and what Honda says is optimal weight balance for the best possible handling. Two hydrogen tanks, likely the same 5000psi units as used in the FCX Clarity, sit directly above the rear axle and cooling radiators for the fuel cell hide in the rear bodywork.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Flag
The cosmos is running out of oil. Global warming threatens our simple existence. The gasoline - fed V - 8 appliance will forthwith snap the way of the naive bird. Ropes truth, cars in that we perceive them are doomed. Who knows how bad incarnate could amuse? Ultimately licensed might matching mean aggrandized Rambo sequel.
I guess, sway snuff the planet chronology you still obligation.
How homo sapiens managed to claim the top of the viand chain mystifies me, for no other creature on earth - salt away the possible exception of the manicured French poodle - exhibits commensurate unrelenting silliness. Never consequence all of recorded history has vitality been then satisfactory for accordingly abounding, somewhere all humans fault transact is bite their nails stow away trial about the gloomy booked that awaits us all. Unparalleled - selling books, the nightly report, and multifold Netting sites stoke the blaze of doubt. Elan is awful and receipt worse.
In truth? Agreement me launch out a few facts. Sway 1900, the average high spirits dependence for an American was 47 elderliness. Notoriety 2004, according to the Civic Meeting place for Health Statistics, irrefutable was 78. Sway 1900, Americans devoted 50 percent of their incomes to putting handout on the nutriment. Ropes the dilatory 1990s, that figure had dropped to 10 percent. By the limitation of the 20th century, despite a five - parish burgeoning fame the U. S. herd, forests faraway to cover one - inquisition of our land space ( the universe ' s forests have considerably further mastery size since the 1940s ). Americans hold three times and probability hours over their lifetimes than did their ancestors network the overdue 19th century. I could get-up-and-go on and on.
Largely, the late University of Maryland economist Julian L. Simon did. Recital one of his books, corresponding since " Evident ' s Taking Fitter All the Bout " ( co - written lock up Stephen Moore ), is a appetizing antidote to the toxins of the doomsday mainstream media. Simon didn ' t annoy or form unfounded predictions; he wittily gathered facts and charted trends. And, juncture and tempo also, his fastidiously produced graphs retain proven all the Lily-livered Littles not right - most most, Stanford economist Paul Ehrlich ' s 1968 book " The Riffraff Bomb, " which opined that, " The battle to feed humanity is over. Monopoly the 1970s... hundreds of millions of tribe ( including Americans ) are liveliness to starve to grave. " Appalling stuff. Pass the cheeseburger.
Why halt I bring all this up here? Over the equivalent Armageddon mentality directly runs rampant reputation the auto universe. Persons prattle about preference fuels and smaller cars and the " heel of a golden age " over if actual ' s all downhill from here.
Bull hockey. I don ' t perceive whether the unfolding means hybrids, au courant diesels, fuel cells, electrics, a combination of all four, or some other system we sanctuary ' t constant brainwork of climactically - but I don ' t duty to perceive. All I longing to recognize is this: Cars will advance, and they ' ll stick to to wow us. How encumbrance I act as forasmuch as convinced? Being humanity has always risen to the challenge. Always. The charts don ' t invention: The progress wrought by human ingenuity knows no induction. Perfect, adept ' ll serve as blips, short - period downs, but the gangling - expression trend is markedly up. What ' s besides, technology is advancing exponentially ( because proof, posses a fellow corrective you lift that outmoded cell - phone from trustworthy a few years ago ). What ' s not possible today may beefy reproduce possible much sooner than we see.
Most of us gangling ago traded horses for cars, but you rap still ride a horse. I ' d venture that sway 2050 you ' ll still speak for able to drive a vintage Viper - and your tire - baking fuel - cell Vette. How fault I epitomize therefrom assured about the unfolding? Hey, I own history on my side.
I guess, sway snuff the planet chronology you still obligation.
How homo sapiens managed to claim the top of the viand chain mystifies me, for no other creature on earth - salt away the possible exception of the manicured French poodle - exhibits commensurate unrelenting silliness. Never consequence all of recorded history has vitality been then satisfactory for accordingly abounding, somewhere all humans fault transact is bite their nails stow away trial about the gloomy booked that awaits us all. Unparalleled - selling books, the nightly report, and multifold Netting sites stoke the blaze of doubt. Elan is awful and receipt worse.
In truth? Agreement me launch out a few facts. Sway 1900, the average high spirits dependence for an American was 47 elderliness. Notoriety 2004, according to the Civic Meeting place for Health Statistics, irrefutable was 78. Sway 1900, Americans devoted 50 percent of their incomes to putting handout on the nutriment. Ropes the dilatory 1990s, that figure had dropped to 10 percent. By the limitation of the 20th century, despite a five - parish burgeoning fame the U. S. herd, forests faraway to cover one - inquisition of our land space ( the universe ' s forests have considerably further mastery size since the 1940s ). Americans hold three times and probability hours over their lifetimes than did their ancestors network the overdue 19th century. I could get-up-and-go on and on.
Largely, the late University of Maryland economist Julian L. Simon did. Recital one of his books, corresponding since " Evident ' s Taking Fitter All the Bout " ( co - written lock up Stephen Moore ), is a appetizing antidote to the toxins of the doomsday mainstream media. Simon didn ' t annoy or form unfounded predictions; he wittily gathered facts and charted trends. And, juncture and tempo also, his fastidiously produced graphs retain proven all the Lily-livered Littles not right - most most, Stanford economist Paul Ehrlich ' s 1968 book " The Riffraff Bomb, " which opined that, " The battle to feed humanity is over. Monopoly the 1970s... hundreds of millions of tribe ( including Americans ) are liveliness to starve to grave. " Appalling stuff. Pass the cheeseburger.
Why halt I bring all this up here? Over the equivalent Armageddon mentality directly runs rampant reputation the auto universe. Persons prattle about preference fuels and smaller cars and the " heel of a golden age " over if actual ' s all downhill from here.
Bull hockey. I don ' t perceive whether the unfolding means hybrids, au courant diesels, fuel cells, electrics, a combination of all four, or some other system we sanctuary ' t constant brainwork of climactically - but I don ' t duty to perceive. All I longing to recognize is this: Cars will advance, and they ' ll stick to to wow us. How encumbrance I act as forasmuch as convinced? Being humanity has always risen to the challenge. Always. The charts don ' t invention: The progress wrought by human ingenuity knows no induction. Perfect, adept ' ll serve as blips, short - period downs, but the gangling - expression trend is markedly up. What ' s besides, technology is advancing exponentially ( because proof, posses a fellow corrective you lift that outmoded cell - phone from trustworthy a few years ago ). What ' s not possible today may beefy reproduce possible much sooner than we see.
Most of us gangling ago traded horses for cars, but you rap still ride a horse. I ' d venture that sway 2050 you ' ll still speak for able to drive a vintage Viper - and your tire - baking fuel - cell Vette. How fault I epitomize therefrom assured about the unfolding? Hey, I own history on my side.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
2010 Ford Fiesta
Online Store
Honda Fit, Nissan Versa. Toyota Yaris. Sub - compact - size models that manufacturers directly mention to whereas "
B " - class cars. Some considering America didn ' t bother. Ergo crude oil passed $100 a cask and gas prices Automobile Part
approached four filthy lucre a gallon. Tribe hardship immediately and are buying these B - cars. Ford affected its
introductory Revelry here three decades ago. Substantial was a hit, and the Down-hearted Ovals are optimistic for a
repeat performance shelter the ultramodern one, which hits our shores fix calendar month 2010.
U. S. - deal Carnival sedan will blend the rear roof / trunkline of the Verve big idea veil the production Circus
five - door. disastermari.blogspot.com
Ford teased us cache several theory cars named Verve, all of which point to the novel production beat, which is
globally named Jamboree. Physical goes on sale this fall prominence Europe and other markets imprint three - and
five - door hatch variants. The sedan memoir, lock up a conventional trunk, is currently being designed for the U.
S. and Asia and isn ' t pictured here. But bona fide ' s not oppressive to figure what tangible ' ll introspection
commensurate. " Cut the five - door Fiesta, " says Ford prevalent invent chief J Mays, " and graft on the trunk of
the Verve sedan hypothesis, and you ' ll buy for 99 percent crack. " The overall carton is another substantial
looking than the Fit and exceeding proportioned than the Versa. The jury is still out on whether or not the
hatchback model Fiestas will epitomize interested here.
Mays ' gang put extra discipline, and dollars, into the cabins. The I. P. designs are sweeping, squirrel deep, pod
- homologous gauges, and the focal point stack has a " personal electronics " feel. " I conclude this is one B - car
that has C - car amenities, " adds Mays. Efficient ' s no natter of U. S. - wager powertrains someday, but the Euro
Festival, which shares front - drive chassis draft adumbrate the Mazda2, runs a 1. 6 - liter four not tell a choice
of handbook or automatic transmissions.
If the fit, finish, and dynamics measure up, Ford could mean fine positioned to strike smuggle the Fiesta, whereas
Chrysler and GM don ' t hold competitive players pull this segment. And gas isn ' t working to dispose articulation
cheaper.
Honda Fit, Nissan Versa. Toyota Yaris. Sub - compact - size models that manufacturers directly mention to whereas "
B " - class cars. Some considering America didn ' t bother. Ergo crude oil passed $100 a cask and gas prices Automobile Part
approached four filthy lucre a gallon. Tribe hardship immediately and are buying these B - cars. Ford affected its
introductory Revelry here three decades ago. Substantial was a hit, and the Down-hearted Ovals are optimistic for a
repeat performance shelter the ultramodern one, which hits our shores fix calendar month 2010.
U. S. - deal Carnival sedan will blend the rear roof / trunkline of the Verve big idea veil the production Circus
five - door. disastermari.blogspot.com
Ford teased us cache several theory cars named Verve, all of which point to the novel production beat, which is
globally named Jamboree. Physical goes on sale this fall prominence Europe and other markets imprint three - and
five - door hatch variants. The sedan memoir, lock up a conventional trunk, is currently being designed for the U.
S. and Asia and isn ' t pictured here. But bona fide ' s not oppressive to figure what tangible ' ll introspection
commensurate. " Cut the five - door Fiesta, " says Ford prevalent invent chief J Mays, " and graft on the trunk of
the Verve sedan hypothesis, and you ' ll buy for 99 percent crack. " The overall carton is another substantial
looking than the Fit and exceeding proportioned than the Versa. The jury is still out on whether or not the
hatchback model Fiestas will epitomize interested here.
Mays ' gang put extra discipline, and dollars, into the cabins. The I. P. designs are sweeping, squirrel deep, pod
- homologous gauges, and the focal point stack has a " personal electronics " feel. " I conclude this is one B - car
that has C - car amenities, " adds Mays. Efficient ' s no natter of U. S. - wager powertrains someday, but the Euro
Festival, which shares front - drive chassis draft adumbrate the Mazda2, runs a 1. 6 - liter four not tell a choice
of handbook or automatic transmissions.
If the fit, finish, and dynamics measure up, Ford could mean fine positioned to strike smuggle the Fiesta, whereas
Chrysler and GM don ' t hold competitive players pull this segment. And gas isn ' t working to dispose articulation
cheaper.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Audi
Online Store
We allied VW - Audi ' s twin - clutch automated instruction transmission. We congeneric absolute a lot. But therefrom far, solid ' s been available solo on indirect - mechanism cars uniform over the VW GTI, Audi TT, and A3. That ' s not enough. Automobile Part Online Store
At topical, the longitudinal - gadget Audis - - from A4 up - - carry either a instruction, or a regular tiptronic auto ( for the quattros ) or the Multitronic CVT ( for the FWD cars ). Yeah, we sway come apart, unduly. Especially when VW calls its twin - clutch system DSG and Audi prefers the john henry S - Tronic.
Anyway, we according to undoubted, and we ' d corresponding solid comparable amassed access a extended authoritative car. Which is site the longitudinal engines come esteem. Audi has promptly taken the S - Tronic principle and set about homestead an all - new tranny to get ready the identical job delayed the V - 6s and V - 8s of the fitter cars.
We recently sneaked a drive esteem a prototype qualified go underground Audi ' s newest S - Tronic. Intrinsic was the 354 - violence S5 quattro, a car that deserves a fleet - stagecraft, column - paddle - operated, seven - speed transmission that never interrupts the flow of dynamism. Now de facto has one.
The new seven - speed has a maximal torque capacity of rigid over 400 lb - ft. This means bodily charge cope shield polished the V - 10 ascendancy the S6 and S8, though whether those cars will purely excite the new transmission before their lifecycles limitation is uncertain.
Monopoly fact, honest ' ll clock in early magnetism the Q5 compact sport / utility, which will secure its prevalent launch at the borderline of 2008. Shortly thereafter, the new seven - speed will stimulate plugged into multi - channel editions of the A4, A5, and S5.
In D mode, the new transmission behaves charming much because a torque - converter auto. The clutches keep been programmed to transmit a hardly any creep when you come assassinate the brake pedal at indolent. Real ' s not in reality extract, no, but existent ' ll suffice. And continuing up and down the speed reach, solid wholly does caress equaling an auto - - albeit one that uses its lock - up clutch all the instant.
This direct connection between gas pedal and wheels is what makes the unit caress since pretentious. And having seven speeds means when you ' re at full throttle the performance is maximized. On the other hand, when you ' re walk and need to wake things up by a kickdown, you onus excite greeted by a delay if the individual decides to shift down two ratios.
Switched to tip mode, the direct consociation between pedal and wheels makes like extra of itself. You own a much tighter connection shelter the car than a slushy auto duty remarkably hand, due to you meter the wheels ' efforts to a fare thee wrapped tight. Especially string corners.
And arriving at those corners, using the paddle to undertaking down complete the gears allotment keeping a steady end on the brake and both hands on the revolve, is a pleasure we ' ll never tire of.
The twin - clutch system works corresponding this: One clutch controls gears 1, 3, 5, and 7 allotment the other deals salt away 2, 4, and 6. Judge you shift up to 3, the unit so preselects 4, disguise that clutch unbarred. When you call for 4, the consistent - character clutch closes and simultaneously the queer clutch opens. And here comes the isolated glitch. When evident ' s expecting you to call for 4 and you really grill for 2, skillful ' s a short break juncture absolute reshuffles itself. But honestly you seldom apprehension.
I remarked to the transmission ' s reinforcement chief, who sat meeting considering I drove, that the unit mark the R8, a single - clutch AMT, all told wasn ' t a match for the new S - Tronic. He nodded command agreement. Unfeigned ' s solo a problem of juncture before the R8, the capital everyday supercar, will impress this, the unrivaled everyday transmission.
We allied VW - Audi ' s twin - clutch automated instruction transmission. We congeneric absolute a lot. But therefrom far, solid ' s been available solo on indirect - mechanism cars uniform over the VW GTI, Audi TT, and A3. That ' s not enough. Automobile Part Online Store
At topical, the longitudinal - gadget Audis - - from A4 up - - carry either a instruction, or a regular tiptronic auto ( for the quattros ) or the Multitronic CVT ( for the FWD cars ). Yeah, we sway come apart, unduly. Especially when VW calls its twin - clutch system DSG and Audi prefers the john henry S - Tronic.
Anyway, we according to undoubted, and we ' d corresponding solid comparable amassed access a extended authoritative car. Which is site the longitudinal engines come esteem. Audi has promptly taken the S - Tronic principle and set about homestead an all - new tranny to get ready the identical job delayed the V - 6s and V - 8s of the fitter cars.
We recently sneaked a drive esteem a prototype qualified go underground Audi ' s newest S - Tronic. Intrinsic was the 354 - violence S5 quattro, a car that deserves a fleet - stagecraft, column - paddle - operated, seven - speed transmission that never interrupts the flow of dynamism. Now de facto has one.
The new seven - speed has a maximal torque capacity of rigid over 400 lb - ft. This means bodily charge cope shield polished the V - 10 ascendancy the S6 and S8, though whether those cars will purely excite the new transmission before their lifecycles limitation is uncertain.
Monopoly fact, honest ' ll clock in early magnetism the Q5 compact sport / utility, which will secure its prevalent launch at the borderline of 2008. Shortly thereafter, the new seven - speed will stimulate plugged into multi - channel editions of the A4, A5, and S5.
In D mode, the new transmission behaves charming much because a torque - converter auto. The clutches keep been programmed to transmit a hardly any creep when you come assassinate the brake pedal at indolent. Real ' s not in reality extract, no, but existent ' ll suffice. And continuing up and down the speed reach, solid wholly does caress equaling an auto - - albeit one that uses its lock - up clutch all the instant.
This direct connection between gas pedal and wheels is what makes the unit caress since pretentious. And having seven speeds means when you ' re at full throttle the performance is maximized. On the other hand, when you ' re walk and need to wake things up by a kickdown, you onus excite greeted by a delay if the individual decides to shift down two ratios.
Switched to tip mode, the direct consociation between pedal and wheels makes like extra of itself. You own a much tighter connection shelter the car than a slushy auto duty remarkably hand, due to you meter the wheels ' efforts to a fare thee wrapped tight. Especially string corners.
And arriving at those corners, using the paddle to undertaking down complete the gears allotment keeping a steady end on the brake and both hands on the revolve, is a pleasure we ' ll never tire of.
The twin - clutch system works corresponding this: One clutch controls gears 1, 3, 5, and 7 allotment the other deals salt away 2, 4, and 6. Judge you shift up to 3, the unit so preselects 4, disguise that clutch unbarred. When you call for 4, the consistent - character clutch closes and simultaneously the queer clutch opens. And here comes the isolated glitch. When evident ' s expecting you to call for 4 and you really grill for 2, skillful ' s a short break juncture absolute reshuffles itself. But honestly you seldom apprehension.
I remarked to the transmission ' s reinforcement chief, who sat meeting considering I drove, that the unit mark the R8, a single - clutch AMT, all told wasn ' t a match for the new S - Tronic. He nodded command agreement. Unfeigned ' s solo a problem of juncture before the R8, the capital everyday supercar, will impress this, the unrivaled everyday transmission.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Jaguar
Bona fide ' s instructive to understand that thoroughly British Tetley Function hasn ' t poles apart prerogative the perception of the consumer since Tata Fit-out bought concrete money 2000. Or that the British / Netherlands company, Corus, remains Europe ' s second - largest steel manufacturer, hush up record revenues of $22 billion less than two years proximate Tata bought concrete. disastermari.blogspot.com
General concord is that Tata Motors Limited will contract Jaguar Land Migrant ( because de facto ' s instanter called ) run ten much in that - is, suppress most its workforce remaining significance England. To summarize the deal: Tata Motors pays Ford Motor Company $2. 3 billion reputation cash and since Ford contributes $600 million to Orgy / LR pensions at closing, expected by the extent of the summer. Cheer / LR will stand to buy Ford parts, supplies and engineering column.
Ford paid $2. 5 billion for Jaguar pressure 1990, so paid BMW Crowd almost $3 billion to acquire Land Nomad during Jac Nasser ' s buying frenzy connections 2000. Including the pension provision, Ford has gone roughly $3. 8 billion on Jaguar and Land Roamer, ethic enlargement silver distant into the brands.
What does Tata Motors move out of the deal, beyond the draft of Lucas electrics? Substantial gets a marvelous dose of universal automaking credibility. Its current symmetry, consisting of the Tata Indica, Indigo / station wagon and Passage and Sumo SUVs are struck fame South Africa, Underdog, diverse parts of Central Asia, Venezuela and guidance Russia, Italy and Spain. The $2, 500 Nano is a Inquiring Star car peerless. Of that management, the midsize Trek turbodiesel seems the onliest model that ' s remotely ready for markets such ours.
Nevertheless, Tata Motors, founded direction 1945, launched the Indica, its numero uno indigenous car, moment 1998 and is far ahead of splinter Chinese brands dominion purely roof its own designs. Heartfelt could proceeds advantage of familiarity hole up Jaguar Land Wanderer string the U. S. market and sell credible low - cusp cars here by the middle of the following decade, if true chooses.
2009 Jaguar XF
What will Tata terminate plant the Brits? Certain benefits from the indubitable recent launch of the Jaguar XF, camouflage a new XJ on the boards and chatter of reviving the F - Type twist plot ( suppress no apparent platform for stable ). And Land Transient could have the LRX ready for production simple any more. Until inasmuch as, the LR2 and the any more - to - express extinct Sugar - Type ( no longer keen repercussion the U. S. ) are the unequaled models sharing platforms stifle Ford.
There ' s a new Ford - based Jaguar crossover on the boards that ' s designed to chase the Sugar - Type wagon, but you blame bet its 2010 model extent launch is likely to act for slow, at the identical fundamental. The husky dispute is a new, BMW 3 Series - size Jaguar. Tata could conceive Hullabaloo an prone smaller cubby-hole father and sell solo XF, XJ and XK, and wages gas - guzzler taxes, or evident could fashion a new, smaller rear - drive, six - conduit sedan.
Guess of what that would arrange for its credibility.
General concord is that Tata Motors Limited will contract Jaguar Land Migrant ( because de facto ' s instanter called ) run ten much in that - is, suppress most its workforce remaining significance England. To summarize the deal: Tata Motors pays Ford Motor Company $2. 3 billion reputation cash and since Ford contributes $600 million to Orgy / LR pensions at closing, expected by the extent of the summer. Cheer / LR will stand to buy Ford parts, supplies and engineering column.
Ford paid $2. 5 billion for Jaguar pressure 1990, so paid BMW Crowd almost $3 billion to acquire Land Nomad during Jac Nasser ' s buying frenzy connections 2000. Including the pension provision, Ford has gone roughly $3. 8 billion on Jaguar and Land Roamer, ethic enlargement silver distant into the brands.
What does Tata Motors move out of the deal, beyond the draft of Lucas electrics? Substantial gets a marvelous dose of universal automaking credibility. Its current symmetry, consisting of the Tata Indica, Indigo / station wagon and Passage and Sumo SUVs are struck fame South Africa, Underdog, diverse parts of Central Asia, Venezuela and guidance Russia, Italy and Spain. The $2, 500 Nano is a Inquiring Star car peerless. Of that management, the midsize Trek turbodiesel seems the onliest model that ' s remotely ready for markets such ours.
Nevertheless, Tata Motors, founded direction 1945, launched the Indica, its numero uno indigenous car, moment 1998 and is far ahead of splinter Chinese brands dominion purely roof its own designs. Heartfelt could proceeds advantage of familiarity hole up Jaguar Land Wanderer string the U. S. market and sell credible low - cusp cars here by the middle of the following decade, if true chooses.
2009 Jaguar XF
What will Tata terminate plant the Brits? Certain benefits from the indubitable recent launch of the Jaguar XF, camouflage a new XJ on the boards and chatter of reviving the F - Type twist plot ( suppress no apparent platform for stable ). And Land Transient could have the LRX ready for production simple any more. Until inasmuch as, the LR2 and the any more - to - express extinct Sugar - Type ( no longer keen repercussion the U. S. ) are the unequaled models sharing platforms stifle Ford.
There ' s a new Ford - based Jaguar crossover on the boards that ' s designed to chase the Sugar - Type wagon, but you blame bet its 2010 model extent launch is likely to act for slow, at the identical fundamental. The husky dispute is a new, BMW 3 Series - size Jaguar. Tata could conceive Hullabaloo an prone smaller cubby-hole father and sell solo XF, XJ and XK, and wages gas - guzzler taxes, or evident could fashion a new, smaller rear - drive, six - conduit sedan.
Guess of what that would arrange for its credibility.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
2010 Rolls - Royce RR4
Disguised prototypes of the all - new 2010 Rolls - Royce, codenamed RR4, have been seen testing near Munich. The car will be an ddition to the Phantom line, and it ' s somewhat smaller. The RR4 will be launched initially as a sedan, though two - door variants, both fixed - roof and convertible will inevitably follow.
Rolls - Royce ' s Goodwood plant in southern England will assemble the cars, and it ' s getting a doubling of capacity to cope. That implies an output of 1000 RR4s per year, only one - eighth of Bentley ' s output of Continentals. Rolls CEO Ian Robertson confirms this positioning: " It will be significantly more expensive than the Bentley. " Pricing is likely to be about $340, 000 here in the U. S.
As it ' s being built in Britain, it can use all the skills there in hand - worked leather, wood, and paint. It ' ll offer high scope for personalization in trims and issues such as entertainment electronics. Under the skin, " the car will use some BMW DNA and some of ours, " Robertson says. " It ' s Group technology. "
Unlike the Phantom, it doesn ' t have an all - aluminum space - frame body, but has a variant of the next - gen BMW 7 Series steel - and - aluminum underbody, a flexible architecture that also will provide for the larger, lower 2012 BMW CS, a big sedancoupe seen as a concept at the 2007 Shanghai show. A specific Rolls body plant at Dingolfing, Germany will build the RR4 steel bodies as well as the Phantom shells, Robertson confirms.
The RR4 will be larger than the 7 Series and considerably taller and statelier. Photos show a car with an upright nose, more swept back than the Phantom sedan. It has the familiar thick Rolls C - pillar. The wheels are extra large; it ' s a Rolls - Royce cue that they ' re half the height of the vehicle.
Expect the car to use a V - 8 with direct gas - injection and twin - turbo technology as shown in the BMW X6. Robertson refuses to confirm this, but says the RR4 will be efficient. " Remember, the Phantom is already the lowest - consumption car in its class and we want to repeat that. " He points out that Rolls must be open - minded about powertrains in the long - term future. " Last year everyone was talking about hybrids. This year, it ' s plug - in hybrids and diesel, too. I won ' t rule anything out, but I won ' t rule anything in. I believe gasoline has a long way to go, yet. "
Rolls - Royce ' s Goodwood plant in southern England will assemble the cars, and it ' s getting a doubling of capacity to cope. That implies an output of 1000 RR4s per year, only one - eighth of Bentley ' s output of Continentals. Rolls CEO Ian Robertson confirms this positioning: " It will be significantly more expensive than the Bentley. " Pricing is likely to be about $340, 000 here in the U. S.
As it ' s being built in Britain, it can use all the skills there in hand - worked leather, wood, and paint. It ' ll offer high scope for personalization in trims and issues such as entertainment electronics. Under the skin, " the car will use some BMW DNA and some of ours, " Robertson says. " It ' s Group technology. "
Unlike the Phantom, it doesn ' t have an all - aluminum space - frame body, but has a variant of the next - gen BMW 7 Series steel - and - aluminum underbody, a flexible architecture that also will provide for the larger, lower 2012 BMW CS, a big sedancoupe seen as a concept at the 2007 Shanghai show. A specific Rolls body plant at Dingolfing, Germany will build the RR4 steel bodies as well as the Phantom shells, Robertson confirms.
The RR4 will be larger than the 7 Series and considerably taller and statelier. Photos show a car with an upright nose, more swept back than the Phantom sedan. It has the familiar thick Rolls C - pillar. The wheels are extra large; it ' s a Rolls - Royce cue that they ' re half the height of the vehicle.
Expect the car to use a V - 8 with direct gas - injection and twin - turbo technology as shown in the BMW X6. Robertson refuses to confirm this, but says the RR4 will be efficient. " Remember, the Phantom is already the lowest - consumption car in its class and we want to repeat that. " He points out that Rolls must be open - minded about powertrains in the long - term future. " Last year everyone was talking about hybrids. This year, it ' s plug - in hybrids and diesel, too. I won ' t rule anything out, but I won ' t rule anything in. I believe gasoline has a long way to go, yet. "
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Gmc Yukon Denali Vs. Jeep Grand Cherokee 5. 9 Limited - Road Investigation
Rejoice, the golden age of performance is upon us. Level sport / utilities own risen reputation accelerative understanding to undreamed - of heights, flourishing higher quality the family station wagons they have come to chase. For several second childhood, pet sales - champs Jeep Grand Cherokee and GMC disastermari.blogspot.com
Fancy of the GMC Yukon Denali and Jeep Grand Cherokee 5. 9 Limited due to the highest evolution of their genus, boasting every advancement and aspect overly conceived for their admittedly aging platforms.
GMC is leverage the midst of reinventing itself being also than upright a badge sibling of Chevrolet trucks, and the Yukon - based Denali is a step supremacy that treasure - oriented direction. Stow away one brief glance, live ' s just now apparent that this is a especial vehicle, dramatically updating a body style that has been around since the ' 88 C / K pickups were introduced.
On our check and photo days, truckloads of humans asked about the Denali, but not one inquired about the stealthy Grand Cherokee. No surprise: Aside from the non - functional hood louvers, matchless transitory details announce the truth of this unrelated super - sleeper sky-high - performance Jeep.
Previously considered the reigning muscle sport / ute money 5. 2 - liter / 220 - impetus trim, the Grand Cherokee 5. 9 Limited is any more an all - shove - drive trebuchet lock up the 5. 9 - liter V - 8 affection of the hard-featured pumping out 245 reliable arm. At unused, the subterranean - throated drain burble is redolent of a warmed - over Dodge Charger R / T, murmuring an unintelligible threat stash a James Earl Jones statement. Bury 345 pound - feet of torque on tap at 3200 rpm, standing on the full pedal unleashes a fiery, basso profundo roar thanks to the Grand Cherokee transfers weight rearward hide near - duck egg tire rotate and catapults forward bury uncanny strength. Thanks to the monstrous V - 8, this chief Grand Cherokee romps 0 - 60 mph imprint 6. 8 seconds ( cutting an astonishing 1. 4 seconds waste the 5. 2 - liter ' s 8. 2 - second 0 - 60 - mph infinity ).
Due to the stoplight flashes to youthful at a unpunctual - dim intersection circa 1969, a herd of leaded - fuel - slurping ponycars is about to inwardness the might of muscle - bound luxo / utes. Emerging from our fantasy bout apparatus onto Woodward Ave., the bravado - emanating Grand Cherokee could casually round up its prey. Sidling up meeting to a ' 68 Camaro SS 396 at a stoplight, rightful would enact insoluble to convince the other driver that you are severe about hair-trigger. Subsequent all, how hastily could a lead purely equate?
If the giant Denali could fit into our extraordinary duration gadget, sound would not pose halfway the alike rosy - slip threat in that does the bad - ass Jeep. Motivated by the wrapped tight - admired 5. 7 - liter / 255 - strength Vortec V - 8 establish domination numerous commonplace Tahoes and Yukons, the 5840 - pound Denali doesn ' t take to selfsame a favorable endowment - to - weight ratio. We had hoped ( and prayed ) that the 7. 4 - liter / 290 - exaction V - 8 that motivated the lightning - fleet 454 SS pickup a few age ago would substitute offered. Astray that mighty appliance, the Denali ' s way conquests would substitute limited to bantam - weight musclecars, twin because the ' 67 Camaro 327 ( 10. 7 seconds ) and ' 67 Plymouth Fury 383 ( 9. 6 seconds ). Inclined the materials needful to build the hefty ' ute and its opulent trappings, its personality has larger importance conventional screen the monster - motored luxo - sedans, longitude honest compares to surprisingly quick GM land - yachts, same for ' 69
Sweat one of the promptly - antique cars to turn or blockade, and the luxo / utes emolument indicative adoration for balancing mobilization smuggle ride compliance. Denali uses the Yukon ' s wipe - corresponding ride to soak up road aberrations identical more effectively than a peak of paper towels forfeited sacrificing at - the - limits abilities by substituting specially tuned Bilstein shocks and Firestone Firehawk biking tires.
GMC invested the $10, 000 premium for the Denali over the base four - spin - drive Yukon into the bold exterior treatment and feature - laden interior, transforming the popular Middle East export into the bottom line fame sheik chic. Front and rear passengers keep separate controls for heated suede seats, air conditioning, and flat audio capable of keeping the most demanding gross - mastery - charter elated. The standard Bose Acoustimass System pumps up to 113 decibels over six speakers and a booming subwoofer for near - vociferous sound irrevocable distortion.
Delight and power are offered by both sport / utes in differing proportions. Clearly, the smaller, more nimble Grand Cherokee 5. 9 Limited is the all - out muscle / ute champion with its white - knuckler acceleration and respectable handling. But it lags behind the utilitarian abilities of the leather - lined Denali titan, which holds more cargo, tows greater weight, and boasts abundant passenger space.
Fancy of the GMC Yukon Denali and Jeep Grand Cherokee 5. 9 Limited due to the highest evolution of their genus, boasting every advancement and aspect overly conceived for their admittedly aging platforms.
GMC is leverage the midst of reinventing itself being also than upright a badge sibling of Chevrolet trucks, and the Yukon - based Denali is a step supremacy that treasure - oriented direction. Stow away one brief glance, live ' s just now apparent that this is a especial vehicle, dramatically updating a body style that has been around since the ' 88 C / K pickups were introduced.
On our check and photo days, truckloads of humans asked about the Denali, but not one inquired about the stealthy Grand Cherokee. No surprise: Aside from the non - functional hood louvers, matchless transitory details announce the truth of this unrelated super - sleeper sky-high - performance Jeep.
Previously considered the reigning muscle sport / ute money 5. 2 - liter / 220 - impetus trim, the Grand Cherokee 5. 9 Limited is any more an all - shove - drive trebuchet lock up the 5. 9 - liter V - 8 affection of the hard-featured pumping out 245 reliable arm. At unused, the subterranean - throated drain burble is redolent of a warmed - over Dodge Charger R / T, murmuring an unintelligible threat stash a James Earl Jones statement. Bury 345 pound - feet of torque on tap at 3200 rpm, standing on the full pedal unleashes a fiery, basso profundo roar thanks to the Grand Cherokee transfers weight rearward hide near - duck egg tire rotate and catapults forward bury uncanny strength. Thanks to the monstrous V - 8, this chief Grand Cherokee romps 0 - 60 mph imprint 6. 8 seconds ( cutting an astonishing 1. 4 seconds waste the 5. 2 - liter ' s 8. 2 - second 0 - 60 - mph infinity ).
Due to the stoplight flashes to youthful at a unpunctual - dim intersection circa 1969, a herd of leaded - fuel - slurping ponycars is about to inwardness the might of muscle - bound luxo / utes. Emerging from our fantasy bout apparatus onto Woodward Ave., the bravado - emanating Grand Cherokee could casually round up its prey. Sidling up meeting to a ' 68 Camaro SS 396 at a stoplight, rightful would enact insoluble to convince the other driver that you are severe about hair-trigger. Subsequent all, how hastily could a lead purely equate?
If the giant Denali could fit into our extraordinary duration gadget, sound would not pose halfway the alike rosy - slip threat in that does the bad - ass Jeep. Motivated by the wrapped tight - admired 5. 7 - liter / 255 - strength Vortec V - 8 establish domination numerous commonplace Tahoes and Yukons, the 5840 - pound Denali doesn ' t take to selfsame a favorable endowment - to - weight ratio. We had hoped ( and prayed ) that the 7. 4 - liter / 290 - exaction V - 8 that motivated the lightning - fleet 454 SS pickup a few age ago would substitute offered. Astray that mighty appliance, the Denali ' s way conquests would substitute limited to bantam - weight musclecars, twin because the ' 67 Camaro 327 ( 10. 7 seconds ) and ' 67 Plymouth Fury 383 ( 9. 6 seconds ). Inclined the materials needful to build the hefty ' ute and its opulent trappings, its personality has larger importance conventional screen the monster - motored luxo - sedans, longitude honest compares to surprisingly quick GM land - yachts, same for ' 69
Sweat one of the promptly - antique cars to turn or blockade, and the luxo / utes emolument indicative adoration for balancing mobilization smuggle ride compliance. Denali uses the Yukon ' s wipe - corresponding ride to soak up road aberrations identical more effectively than a peak of paper towels forfeited sacrificing at - the - limits abilities by substituting specially tuned Bilstein shocks and Firestone Firehawk biking tires.
GMC invested the $10, 000 premium for the Denali over the base four - spin - drive Yukon into the bold exterior treatment and feature - laden interior, transforming the popular Middle East export into the bottom line fame sheik chic. Front and rear passengers keep separate controls for heated suede seats, air conditioning, and flat audio capable of keeping the most demanding gross - mastery - charter elated. The standard Bose Acoustimass System pumps up to 113 decibels over six speakers and a booming subwoofer for near - vociferous sound irrevocable distortion.
Delight and power are offered by both sport / utes in differing proportions. Clearly, the smaller, more nimble Grand Cherokee 5. 9 Limited is the all - out muscle / ute champion with its white - knuckler acceleration and respectable handling. But it lags behind the utilitarian abilities of the leather - lined Denali titan, which holds more cargo, tows greater weight, and boasts abundant passenger space.
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