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Honda Siel Cars India Showcases Futuristic and Environment Friendly Technol
2008-01-10 19:45:00
? New Honda CR-V 2.0L 2WD launched in India ? Preview of the all-new Honda Accord? Key attractions include Honda FCX Concept, Honda Civic Hybrid & Honda Jazz Concept NEW DELHI, India, January 10, 2008 ? Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) showcased the technological excellence of Honda, with a wide range of advanced, environment-friendly technologies and exciting new models at the Auto Expo 2008 at Pragati Maidan. Honda Jazz Concept The exhibits at the HSCI booth in Hall No. 6, all complemented the theme, ?Nature Rides with Honda?, which echoes Honda?s long-standing commitment to protection of the environment and energy conservation. Apart from the new-generation fuel-cell vehicle, the FCX Concept and the Civic hybrid, HSCI also put on display its powerful, but fuel-efficient i-VTEC and IndyCar engines. Other attractions at the stall included the ?Jazz concept?, ?Honda?s F1 Earth car?, and Honda?s much-loved, popular humanoid Robot, the ASIMO. New ProductsAt the Auto Expo, HSCI launc...
More About: Environment , Friendly

CarCapsule keeps all unwanted elements away
2008-01-08 19:59:00
Folks who are very touchy about their cars may feel that just covering them with a clothed cover isn?t enough. Doesn?t stop those prying hands from sliding underneath the sheet. So here?s a perfect solution for their hang-ups. To protect your luxurious vehicle from unavoidable elements like envious hands, sun, rain, snow, dust, etc. you must cover it with CarCapsule.Truly speakin? its just a clear vinyl (anti-static and flame retardant) bubble that can envelop your car, truck, boat or motorcycle and keep it looking fresh and new. Once you lay the base out on the floor, you simply park your vehicle on top and then zip the clear vinyl dome all around it. A built-in fan then inflates the dome, keeping it from touching the vehicle. Once it?s inflated though, the fan keeps running to constantly circulate the filtered air inside and keep the car smelling fresh while it?s in storage. It?s sturdy enough to withstand an accidental drop of a 5lb. hammer on your car, truck, boat, or motorcycle...
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Nissan Rogue Review
2008-01-08 19:59:00
It probably seemed like a good idea at the time: introduce American car buyers to Nissan ?s new cute ?ute in an episode of NBC?s hit show Heroes. And so we see the Rogue in the hands of a world saving high school cheerleader? ensuring its chick-car status for all eternity. The car is easy to boost? Why didn?t technopath Micah Sanders get a booster seat, take the wheel and show Ford the true meaning of ?sync my ride?? All of which leaves me wondering: is the Rogue good enough to survive its own marketing?From the looks of it, yes. Although the upward kinked rear window is a Murano cue without which I could do, the Rogue?s swoopy lines are generally as fresh as a pair of Puma sneakers. The height vs. width solution makes the vehicle look decidedly skinny from certain angles, but that may be part of the appeal (you can?t be too tall or too thin). And cheers to the designers for realizing nobody wants to see your spare tire.The Rogue?s design loses coherence at the front. If the crossove...
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Audi A4 2.0T Review
2008-01-08 19:59:00
Buying an Audi sedan without Quattro all wheel-drive is like dating a Swedish brunette. That said, there?s nothing wrong with the right brunette, Bergman movies notwithstanding. And Audi makes and sells plenty of products where only the front wheels are driven, from economy cars to its aufwendig TT. In fact, Audi?s UK website proudly proclaims ?a front-wheel-drive car is in principle more controllable and tracks better than conventional rear-wheel drive.? OK then, in advance of the all-new A4 headed our way in '09, let?s have a look at the Audi A4 2.0T and see if we can get past the FWD thing.Under the guidance of northern Italian designer Walter de?Silva, Audi?s products preserve the straight, clean lines that BMW and Mercedes abandoned in pursuit of Picasso-esque titillations. The A4 maintains the simplicity of form and absence of affectation that has marked this marque?s models for decades. It?s proof positive that Audi understands understatement like Ferrari groks glamor.The A4...
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2008 Lorinser smart fortwo
2008-01-08 19:58:00
(from Lorinser Press Release) Short for power Smart with 104 hp.There can be no doubt: the Smart Fortwo has what it takes to become a cult vehicle. Thanks to Sportservice Lorinser Smart owners will now rob drivers of other vehicles not only of their parking space but also of the pole position at the traffic light. The Swabian tuning firm was able to boost the performance of the three-cylinder turbo engine from 84 hp to 104 hp. Add to the mix a weight of less than 800 kilograms and a semi-automatic transmission that is much faster than the one built into its predecessor and you are talking about a vehicle that has dynamic road performance written all over it. Even the factory-tuned model is no match for this kind of performance. This rear-wheel powered vehicle accelerates to 100 km/h in much less than 10 seconds and can go up to 180 km/h. Since the speed of the production model is electronically limited to 145 km/h, the Lorinser Smart upgrade also features an updated speedometer.Afte...
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2008 Volvo C70 Caresto Edition
2008-01-08 19:58:00
(from Volvo Press Release) The Caresto V8 Speedster brings its posh new C70 cousin along to SEMA. The Caresto V8 Speedster makes a comeback at the 2007 SEMA Show in Las Vegas - accompanied by its posh cousin, the stunning Volvo C70 Caresto Edition ."The Speedster is a dream car that few people can afford, while the new C70 is the affordable distant relative. Two very different cars, but put them next to each other and you see that they dropped from the same family-tree," says specialist car builder and customizer Leif Tufvesson.Leif Tufvesson is one of Sweden's most skilled specialist car builders and customizers. Many of his cars have received widespread international acclaim. He is the man who built the Caresto T6 Roadster and V8 Speedsters, shown by Volvo at the 2005 and 2006 SEMA Shows, respectively, in Las Vegas. And now Leif is back again in Vegas with the V8 Speedster - plus a refined version of the new C70 convertible.Inspired by the Speedster, Leif has put his own personal...
More About: 2008 , Ares

Detroit Auto Show Scan Of Facelifted RX-8 Leaks Onto The Web
2008-01-08 19:58:00
We have a scan of the a facelifted RX-8 for those tempted to give in and buy a new Mazda RX-8 before the next generation RX-9 is available for purchase.The rotorheads over at Mazda-Madness.nl managed to pick up this Japanese mag story of the Mazda RX-8 RS, which will bow at the Tokyo Auto Salon and include those fierce looking wheels, Recaro seats (as pictured), spoiler and new rear suspension.We'll get to see the slightly upgraded RX-8, probably sans some of those goodies, at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show . If it maintains this look it'll definitely be what most consider a mild refresh, with most of the enhancements in the usual places (bumpers, lamps, et cetera). [MazdaMadness via: World Car Fans]© Source: jalopnik
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2008 Audi A5 Review
2008-01-08 19:57:00
IntroductionPassion over practicality? When one is shopping in the luxury sport coupe segment, most definitely. Luxury sport sedans provide virtually identical performance and comfort plus extra practicality, but sometimes the passionate pull of a coupe's swanky body style is too strong to resist. And when it comes to style, not much else in this class can match the 2008 Audi A5 coupe.All-new for this year, the A5 (as well as its high-performance sibling, the S5) is instantly desirable thanks to its curvaceous sheet metal, which performs the rare task of being both elegant and muscular. Backing up this bionic Jaime Summers-like bod is Audi's direct-injected V6 that makes 265 horsepower, a six-speed transmission (manual or automatic) and Quattro all-wheel drive.Although much of the A5's platform is shared with the A4 sedan, there are a few key differences that further the coupe's sporting intentions. Among those tweaks are a new front suspension design, a longer wheelbase and a r...
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Detroit Auto Show: Mazda Furai
2008-01-08 19:57:00
So we were all teased with the Mazda Furai teaser photo a few weeks back -- that's the concept car we'll be seeing from the brand all about the "Zoom-Zoom" in two weeks at the Detroit Auto Show . Now we can be teased with the full press shots thanks to Automobile letting the cat out of the bag a wee bit early (and thanks to Edmunds dropping the veil completely). So take a gander at the press shots below and hit the jump to again find out what we know about this concept car cum Courage C65 chassis."Furai takes Mazda's unique Nagare (Japanese for "flow") design language a step further as it is translated into a concept car based on an American Le Mans Series (ALMS) racing car. The car utilizes the Courage C65 chassis the company campaigned in the ALMS series only two seasons ago, and the 450-hp three-rotor rotary engine that distinguishes it from anything else on the track."© Source: jalopnik

Detroit Auto Show :Toyota Reveals New Honda Ridgeline, Calls it the A-BAT C
2008-01-08 19:57:00
This is it -- whatever "it" is. Actually "it" is Toyota 's newest concept they'll be bringing to the Detroit Auto Show in two weeks, the A-BAT Concept Pickup Truck. And A-BAT is more than just a winged rat, it's an acronym for "Advanced Breakthrough Aero Truck." That's a name that has us kinda scratching our heads. How did Toyota name a concept vehicle a "breakthrough" when it looks like the love child of some sort of menage-a-truck involving the Honda Ridgeline, the Chevy Avalanche and the Toyota Prius. Yeah, you heard us -- the Toyota Prius -- you know, for that tint of green.But despite what appears to our eyes as the obvious Ridgeline-esque styling, Toyota claims the look of this unibody-platformed concept truck is unique -- based on "the 'trapezoid' silhouette from the side profile of the Toyota Prius." But don't think for a moment this concept is all car and no truck. The A-BAT's able to shed the five-person crew-cab-like set-up with a tiny four-foot bed and transform i...

Suzuki X-Head Concept
2008-01-08 19:56:00
According to Suzuki , this pert little number exhibits the road performance and toughness of the Jimny and the load-carrying capability of the Carrry. (Yes, Suzuki really does produce an SUV named "Jimny.") Essentially the company is saying that the X-Head is a cross between an SUV and a pickup truck, which you might have already picked up on.The concept looks as if it could ride on a wheelbase as short as the Carry's (93 inches), a vehicle so small that moped maker Piaggio rebadges them for Europe. The X-Head's big-rig styling is pug-cute. Shrinking the characteristics of a full-size thing and applying them to a tidy little package often results in something quite attractive. Call it the Eva Longoria effect.With essentially no front or rear overhang, big ol' mudder tires and a tiny wheelbase, Suzuki X-Head would make a wicked little off-roader. And look, a little Suzuki dirt bike fits in the bed. What a coincidence! The wall of the cargo bed conceals storage compartments accessi...
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KTM X-Bow with 2.0T Power To Make Autosport Show Debut
2008-01-08 19:56:00
? High-performance KTM X-Bow two-seater extreme sportscar to be shown at NEC for first time? Unique show car to appear in sparkling ?Gleaming White? bodywork? Series production scheduled to begin in Graz, Austria during 2008? Customer order bank for road-legal track car is growing stronglyKTM Power sports AG has confirmed that its stunning new X-Bow sportscar will be exhibited at the Autosport International Racing Car Show starting on 10 January.The lightweight, high-performance X-Bow marks motorcycle manufacturer KTM?s groundbreaking move into the four-wheeled market, and will be presented to UK driving enthusiasts for the first time finished in the new optional ?Gleaming White? bodywork.The Autosport Show appearance will mark the KTM X-Bow?s fourth major show outing following its world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show last year, its starring role at the 2007 Middle East International Motor Show in Dubai ? where it was voted one of the event?s ?Top Attractions? by vis...
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2008 Bailey Blade Prototype
2008-01-08 19:56:00
from Bailey Speed) Blade Proto type overview:This car was designed to capture the look and feel of old school automobiles with a hint of modern touches. This is a full performance car built with modern advancements. Big V8 fuel injected power plant up front riding on a tubular hybrid chassis with full independent suspension. The addition of belly pans and rear splitters are added to keep down force up without the need of a giant rear spoiler.Powertrain:Engines types range from Roush 400HP to 500+HP. The B1 engine compartment is designed to accommodate most small block engines including the newer Ford modular 4.6L engines.Suspension:Several suspension types can be applied. Standard equip is a fully adjustable independent rear suspension with adjustable shocks. Front suspension utilizes adjustable upper and lower control arms and with adjustable performance shocks. The rear end can be swapped with a Ford 9" or 8.8" straight axel with 4-Link or 3-Link rear control arms. Also included ar...
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2009 Saturn Vue Green Line 2 Mode Preview
2008-01-08 19:55:00
The four-cylinder Vue and Aura Green Line s have been on sale for months, offering drivers a practical, low-cost green option. An even greener choice (in terms of MSRP) will be the Vue Green Line 2 Mode . It arrives in dealerships later this year, and showcases GM's first front-wheel-drive application of their two-mode hybrid technology that was co-developed with BMW and the old DaimlerChrysler.The 2009 Green Line 2 Mode is built on an excellent foundation. You likely know the Vue is an unrepentant clone of the Antara sold in Europe through GM's Opel division. Our miles spent in the Vue/Antara have been singularly pleasing, and based on our experience in GM's full-size SUVs with the two-mode technology, we have high expectation for the more sophisticated Vue 2 Mode.While we can't comment on how the new Vue hybrid drives, we can tell you what GM told us leading up to the little ute's Detroit auto show introduction. The powertrain combines GM's corporate 3.6-liter direct-injected ...
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2009 BMW 335d
2008-01-08 19:55:00
What's special about it?In case you haven't noticed, German's carmakers aren't big on the idea of hybrids. Sure, BMW and Mercedes-Benz collaborated with GM on the two-mode hybrid transmission, but what they would really like to sell you is a car like the 2009 BMW 335d. Yes, that "d" stands for diesel and although BMW already sells several diesel models in Europe, only now has emissions technology advanced enough to get the EPA's seal of approval in all 50 states.This is a good thing, as the BMW 335d's twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-6 generates a healthy 265 horsepower. More impressive is the staggering torque output ? 425 pound-feet at just 1,750 rpm. So in other words, the 335d's inline-6 generates as much torque as Chrysler's 6.1-liter Hemi V8. It's enough power to get the 335d from zero to 60 mph in just 6.2 seconds, BMW claims. All that power doesn't torpedo the 335d's fuel economy, as BMW claims mileage figures of 23 mpg city and 33 mpg highway.To assure the required ex...

2008 Scion xB
2008-01-08 19:55:00
If you're an automaker and you're planning the successor to the iconic vehicle that all but singlehandedly created your new youth division, there are a couple of different routes you can take. For its second-generation Scion xB, Toyota could have ditched the box-on-wheels concept altogether in favor of something as fresh and as different as the xB was when it bowed in 2003. Instead, it concluded that the xB is the Scion brand, in much the same way that the 911 is Porsche. So Toyota reshaped and stretched the xB's sheetmetal while retaining the essence of the box, and it's underscoring the point with a hipster marketing scheme called "Want2BSquare." And did we mention that it increased power by half?With a 55-hp boost courtesy of the tC coupe's 158-hp, 2.4-liter four, the new xB feels a lot torquier than the 2007 model but only a hair faster. No wonder: it gained a whopping 605 pounds, because it's a foot longer and three inches wider, and it rides on a wheelbase that's four i...
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2008 Lincoln MKX
2008-01-08 19:54:00
Modern Lincoln Design (from Ford Press Release)Standard features include: Lincoln Sync? communications and entertainment system; Heated and cooled front seats; Four-wheel disc brakes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); Power locks; Auto-dimming rearview mirror; 4-power points; Remote keyless entry; Power windows with driver and passenger one-touch up/down; Two-speed rear wiper; Privacy glass; Heated, dual power mirrors with memory; 18-inch machined aluminum wheels; Air conditioning; Premium AM/FM stereo/clock/CDx6/MP3 with 6 speakers and SIRIUS® Satellite Radio with 6-month pre-paid subscription; Auxiliary audio input jack; Floor mats; Overhead console; Manual tilt and telescoping steering wheel; Leather wrapped steering with genuine wood accents, speed control and redundant audio controls; AdvanceTrac® with RSC®; Belt-Minder®; Child safety locks; Height adjustable safety belts; LATCH; Personal Safety System®; Reverse Sensing System; SecuriLock® passive anti-theft system; Perimeter...
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2008 Ford Explorer America Concept
2008-01-08 19:53:00
Ford's Explorer ruled the sales charts in the 1990s, but the Firestone tire debacle and the emergence of crossovers has sapped the sport-ute's lifeblood. Ford is hoping to change that with the debut of its Explorer America concept vehicle at this month's Detroit auto show.While officially described as a concept car, company insiders hint that a close look at the America concept will reveal the shape of what's to come when Ford relaunches its mid-size SUV in a couple of years.The concept suggests that Ford will follow in the tracks of its new crossover competition, migrating from body-on-frame to unibody construction. There are clearly some trade-offs with the change: while there's a reduction in weight (150 pounds for the V-6 version) and a notable improvement in on-road driving dynamics, off-road capabilities are reduced, as is towing capacity. But for the average motorist, that's likely to matter little.The most notable new technology on the Explorer America concept is the E...
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2008 Ferrari F1 car unveiled
2008-01-08 19:52:00
Kimi and Felipe have a new toy: the Ferrari F2008 . Codenamed 659, this is the car Ferrari hopes will bring them a second consecutive driver's title.The F2008 has been designed around the new F1 rules that introduce a standardised ECU and ban traction control. This means some seriously advanced aero to make up for the loss of TC and even some tweaks to the car's fundamentals - such as wheelbase and suspension.However, the F2008 we'll see at the first race in Melbourne is unlikely to look like the F2008 shown here.'All aerodynamic surfaces have been completely revised. However, the current version will be replaced by a completely different configuration in time for the first race,' says Ferrari.Other changes include a new gearbox (designed to meet new regulations stating that the unit must be used for four consecutive events), higher side protection around the driver's helmet and a shrink-wrapped monocoque that has been cut away under the driver's legs.It'll be tight in there ...

2008 Subaru Tribeca
2008-01-08 19:52:00
The crossover segment is hotter than a kitchen fire at Buffalo Wild Wings, so Subaru could ill afford to wait to update its Tribeca , which landed with a thud two years ago when it was launched with a strange face, an overworked powertrain, and a pointless B9 prefix.Deep slashes from the styling surgeons' knives have resulted in a more conventional mug that's now more Chrysler Pacifica than overgrown cicada. Larger sideview mirrors and rear quarter windows, new taillights, and a modified rear valance complete the face-lift. Only the doors, the roof, and the rocker panels carry over. The handsome interior is essentially unchanged, although it's now easier to climb into the still-cramped third-row seats.The new front end permits better cooling for the bored-and-stroked engine that has gained a significant 631 cubic centimeters of displacement. The boxer six also features new variable valve timing, and--even though it now slurps regular 87-octane gasoline instead of premium--output h...
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2008 Detroit Auto Show: 2009 Kia Borrego
2008-01-08 19:52:00
SEOUL, S. Korea ? The all-new 2009 Kia Borrego has officially broken cover in its home market of Korea, where the full-size utility vehicle will be sold as the Kia Mohave.The U.S.-spec Borrego will debut in two weeks at the Detroit auto show.Kia executives said they expect to sell 48,000 of the new models worldwide in 2008 , primarily in North America and China, with global sales growing to 80,000 units in 2009. The U.S. edition will go on sale later this year as a 2009 model.The Korean price of the base Mohave with 3.0-liter V6 diesel is $34,000. In U.S. trim, the seven-passenger, body-on-frame Borrego will come equipped with either a 3.8-liter V6 or a 4.6-liter V8, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.What this means to you: The Ford Explorer will experience its first real competition from Korea. ? Y.S. Chae, Correspondent.
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2008 Chrysler Town and Country
2008-01-08 19:49:00
General Motors and Ford are quitting minivans in favor of crossovers, but Chrysler , the company that invented the modern minivan, is bringing out its fifth generation of the family favorites. Chrysler's outgoing vans ushered in fold-into-the-floor second-row seat stowage (dubbed Stow 'n Go) - a meaningful advantage, particularly for those who regularly carry large pieces of cargo. Other than that, though, the last-generation Chrysler minivans seemed like a halfhearted update. They didn't look very different from their predecessors, and they lost ground to top-flight competitors from Toyota and Honda (note that those companies' interest in minivans does not seem to be waning). The 2008 Chrysler/Dodge vans are an entirely more convincing effort, narrowing the gap in mechanical refinement and bolstering the company's historic penchant for innovation.Unlike the fourth-generation vans, the new Chrysler and Dodge minivans at least look new. The roof and the sills have been widened, c...
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Spied 2010 Cadillac BRX
2007-12-28 18:07:00
Although Cadillac was one of the first brands to realize the notion of the luxury SUV with its tank-sized Escalade, the brand has been notably late in further populating the luxury utility market it helped popularize.Cadillac?s first compact SUV, the BRX, will be no less tardy, set as it is to appear in 2009. It will compete in a segment that includes the Acura RDX, BMW X3, and Land Rover LR2?all of which will have enjoyed between two and five years of market traction by then. By the time the BRX goes on sale, the all-new Mercedes-Benz GLK and Audi Q5 will be vying for attention.It adds up to the fact this Caddy needs to be better than good. The BRX will be built atop a stretched version of GM?s new front- and all-wheel-drive TE platform, the same architecture used by the 2008 Saturn Vue, which is the North American version of Europe?s Opel Antara.The TE platform is a combo of the original Theta architecture found underneath the Chevy Equinox and Pontiac Torrent and the Epsilon mid-...
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Minitest 2008 Lotus 2-Eleven
2007-12-28 18:07:00
VEHICLE TYPE: mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 0-door roadsterBASE PRICE (U.K.): $68,532ENGINE TYPE: supercharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port fuel injectionTRANSMISSION: 6-speed manualDIMENSIONS:Wheelbase: 90.6 in Length: 150.5?152.4 in Width: 67.3 in Height: 43.8 inCurb weight: 1650 lbWe are amazed and mostly delighted by the way Lotus has played so many tunes on the theme of the Elise. Lightweight cars are the thing today, so it is a surprise to learn that this thoroughly modern British sports car dates back 10 years?although it only came to the U.S. officially for 2005.Milestones in Elise development were the introductions of the Exige coupe, the 2-Eleven-style 340R, and a redesigned roadster, and the replacement of the original Rover engine with the 1.8-liter Toyota VVTL-i (for the U.S. launch) and supercharging that engine for the Exige S. Along the way, the same chassis, made with bonded aluminum extrusions, has been adapted ...
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Spied 2009 Audi R8-RS
2007-12-28 18:07:00
Audi?s R8 is already being celebrated as one of the most savory, slippery, sexalicious supercars ever to roam our roads. And, to our delight, the luxury automaker is acting more like such sports-car makers as Ferrari or Porsche by continuing to evolve the flagship sports model.In addition to the simplified grillwork front and back and that military-grade flat gray paint job, modifications to this particular R8 mule include widened sail panels?implying the need for more air into the mid-mounted engine than satisfies the standard 4.2-liter V-8 in the regular R8?and a high-performance parts-bin braking system, complete with what appear to be Gallardo-sourced carbon-ceramic rotors coupled with large S-line calipers.Our spy?s guess is that this is the rumored V-10 model, which makes sense, given how much the R8 shares structurally with the V-10?powered Lamborghini Gallardo.We think there?s an equal chance, however, that this car might be powered by a high-performance diesel V-8 like that...
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First Look 2009 Subaru Forester
2007-12-28 18:06:00
Tall wagon. Small crossover. Sleeper rocket. Lesbo-chic whisk-about. The Subaru Forester has been called a lot of things, but one thing it?s never been called is good-looking. That all may change for 2009, when the Forester undergoes its first ground-up redo, featuring a three-inch-longer wheelbase, three inches of additional length, and gratefully, all-new, more macho styling.What won?t change is its tall wagon, raised-suspension program, but the ?09 model?s off-roading capability should be heightened?literally?thanks to no less than 8.9 inches of ground clearance. Helping on-road demeanor is its stiffer, all-new platform, which utilizes a new double-wishbone rear suspension for improved cornering prowess.As with the current model, the ?09 Forester will be powered by a choice of four-cylinder boxer motors, each displacing 2.5 liters and available in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms. Better news still is that it will continue to be offered with a manual transmission, ...
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Nissan Serena Highway Star
2007-12-28 18:05:00
The Nissan Serena Highway Star is destined for the Japanese market. The Nissan Serena Highway Star has a very versatile interior with seats that are adjustable to 11 different positions and third-row seats that utilize assist springs. The Nissan Serena Highway Star price range is between 2,131,500 yen to 2,709,000 yen.Nissan Releases New Serena MinivanNissan Motor Co., Ltd. Some days ago announced the release of the new Serena minivan, which goes on sale at Nissan dealers throughout Japan. The new Serena, which has been highly acclaimed by customers for its class-leading interior roominess, excellent outward visibility, flexible seating configurations and driving ease, features revised exterior and interior styling, leading technology features and a new model lineup.New Exterior StylingSerena?s exterior styling has been enhanced with a more distinctive and modern front end design, including a new grille, new headlights, front bumper and fenders. The Highway Star model also features ...

2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport - Comparison Tests
2007-12-28 18:05:00
What we noticed first inside the Mercedes -Benz C300 while running through the canyons near Ojai, California, is that the road felt as if it were coated with Crisco. Or as one staffer noted snarkily, ?I?ve never hydroplaned on a dry road before, until now.? While the other sedans gripped, pounced, and powered through the corners, the Benz, wearing all-season tires that are a part of the Sport model, slid and protested its way through the Highway 33 jaunt. Mercedes does offer an 18-inch wheel upgrade for $1000 that adds dedicated performance tires, but our $37,410 example didn?t have the option and likely suffered for it as the rest of the sedans in the test benefited from having more serious performance rubber.Step the C300 away from the performance precipice, and the Benz seemingly finds itself and connects with the driver. A comfortable ride, a nearly silent engine, a solid structure, and the low-set multifunction turn-signal stalk will have Benz owners and luxury seekers feeling ...
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2008 Volkswagen R32 - Short Take Road Tests
2007-12-28 18:05:00
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 3-door hatchbackPRICE AS TESTED: $35,430 (base price: $33,630)ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 24-valve V-6, iron block and aluminum head, port fuel injectionDisplacement: 195 cu in, 3189ccPower (SAE net): 250 bhp @ 6300 rpmTorque (SAE net): 236 lb-ft @ 2500 rpmTRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual with automated shifting and clutchDIMENSIONS: Wheelbase: 101.5 in Length: 167.2 in Width: 69.2 in Height: 57.7 inCurb weight: 3521 lbFUEL ECONOMY : EPA city/highway driving: 18/23 mpgBasically, the Volkswagen R32 is a three-door GTI?already one of our favorite small cars, with a comparison-test crown and a 10Best trophy to its name?with more: a 250-hp narrow-angle V-6, all-wheel drive, a full complement of luxury features, and weight. VW manages the R32?s weight gain without losing the GTI?s playful tossability by cinching the car?s suspenders a bit tighter. Spring rates, increased just so all around, mask the additional 332 pounds quite well, leaving the G...
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2009 Toyota Corolla Road Test
2007-12-28 18:04:00
Base price: $15,000 (est.)Engine: 1.8-liter four, 132 hp/128 lb-ft; XRS: 2.4-liter four, 158 hp/162 lb-ftTransmission: Five-speed manual or four-speed automatic (base models); five-speed manual or five-speed automatic (XRS); front-wheel driveLength x width x height: 178.7 x 69.3 x 57.7 inWheelbase: 102.4 inCurb weight: 2,723-2,965 lbFuel economy (EPA city/hwy): 27/35 mpg (1.8-liter); 22/29 mpg (manual 2.4-liter), 22/30 mpg (automatic 2.4-liter)Safety features: Dual front, side and curtain airbags anti-lock brakes; stability control standard on XRS Major standard features: Air conditioning; power steering; tilt/telescopic steering wheel; 60/40 split folding rear seat; AM/FM/CD (XM satellite ready) radio; outside temperature gauge; two 12-volt power outlets; driver vertical seat height adjusterWarranty: Three years/36,000 milesFor starters, we think this new Corolla is far better looking than the near-invisible car it replaces early next year. And it steps up in power and torque to a ...
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