September 08, 2011

2011 Bentley Mulsanne - 21st century appeal

Old-world style, 21st century appeal

Bentley's 2011 Mulsanne is the first big sedan from the automaker in more than half a century. You'd expect such an engineering effort to result in a car with stunning attention to detail -- and you'd be right.

It takes more than two months to make one Mulsanne sedan, but the wait for wealthy consumers should be worth it. Bentley's $285,000 flagship blends the type of craftsmanship you'd expect from the British brand with new technology to assure it can keep pace with its competitors.

At the heart of the car is a 6.75-liter V-8 engine producing 505 horsepower and a monstrous 752 pound-feet of torque. From inside, you're more likely to notice the fine materials and incredibly quiet cabin. Each Mulsanne features 17 leather hides and the wood veneers have been mirror-matched to achieve a symmetrical look.

Bentley's design director has commented that the Mulsanne "oozes emotion" and we wouldn't disagree. On a car with as few compromises as the Mulsanne, though, we wonder whether the droopy front styling will wear well with time....

Read more...

August 11, 2011

Bugatti 16 C Galibier

Bugatti sedan will have 16 cylinders, four seats, and a $1.4 million price tag.




so elegant interior...


Bugatti 16 C Galibier--- post your comment below


$1 million Italian Supercar

Italian automaker Pagani was to begin selling its $1 million, 700 horsepower Huayra supercar in the U.S. later this year but federal safety regulators have said "Not so fast."

Pagani had applied for an exemption from federal auto safety rules requiring child-safe "advanced" airbags, arguing that complying with the rule would have caused "substantial economic hardship," according to documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

NHTSA denied the request, essentially blocking the car from sale in the U.S., because Pagani failed to show that installing the airbags on the twin-turbocharged 12-cylinder carbon-titanium car would cause the company undue financial strain. Also, the Italian carmaker didn't show that serious efforts had been made to comply, the agency said.

The auto safety agency sometimes grants temporary exemptions from specific safety rules, especially for automakers that plan to sell only a small number of cars.

Pagani created the Huayra as part of the automaker's plan to break into the U.S. market. The car was engineered and crash tested to meet safety standards in both the U.S. and Europe.
 Read the full article at yahoo

November 30, 2010

Futuristic New Concept Cars

Optimism is back in style in the automotive world. The concept cars on display during the 2010 LA Auto Show prove that automakers are again willing to take risks and push boundaries. After a couple dismal years of sales due to a global recession, manufacturers are exhibiting a renewed sense of creativity.

Some of the concept cars seen in Los Angeles rely on heritage to spark a new ideas for the 21st century. The aggressive-looking Audi Quattro Concept is a modern interpretation of the German company's famous all-wheel-drive sport coupes from the 1980s.

Other automakers chose to break all the rules and display cars that look ready to take flight or travel through time. The Jaguar C-X75 and Mercedes-Benz Biome concepts are not only wildly futuristic, they're absolutely gorgeous, and a sign of even more good things to come.

Mercedes-Benz Biome

Mercedes-Benz Biome
Mercedes-Benz Biome
This is the Mercedes-Benz you'll aspire to own in, say, 2310. The bright white concept looks like it belongs on the set of Star Trek. Yet the Biome was actually designed at the German company's design studio in Carlsbad, California. There's room for four-passengers inside, or so we're told, and the seating position is in a diamond format.

The best part is that Mercedes-Benz says the Biome can be grown from seeds, and not built in a traditional factory. It sounds crazy, but that's part of the fun with any dream car. Using genetically modified trees and powered by something called BioNectar4534, Mercedes-Benz says the Biome's bio-fiber cloth body would be grown organically, and on the road, the car would emit pure oxygen. The Biome reportedly would weigh only 875 lbs.

It will be several generations before anyone starts pondering the spec sheet for a genetically-built Mercedes like the Biome.

Jaguar C-X75 Concept

Jaguar C-X75 Concept
Jaguar C-X75 Concept
Following its impressive Paris debut, the Jaguar C-X75 turbine-electric hybrid supercar took center stage at the LA Auto Show. While very much a concept, the C-X75 represents Jaguar's new design face for upcoming models. That's excellent news, because this is one pretty kitty.

Even better is the fact that all this beauty is more than skin deep. At each wheel is an electric motor that weighs 100 pounds and provides 195 horsepower (145 kW) of power. Power for the electric motors comes from a 506-pound lithium-ion battery pack, which Jaguar claims takes a full charge in just 6 hours at 240 volts. Running only on electric power, the C-X75 will provide a driving range of 68 miles.

With the help of two micro gas turbines, the C-X75's range jumps to 560 miles. Jaguar claims the C-X75 can accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds, while top speed is reportedly 205 mph. All that turbine-generated power creates a lot of heat, as evidenced by sign at the exhaust outlets with the warning: Beware of blast.

Audi Quattro Concept

Audi Quattro Concept
Audi Quattro Concept
The Audi Quattro Concept is another Paris Auto Show veteran, but that did little to dampen enthusiasm for this muscular show car. The inspiration for this sport coupe stretches back a few decades. The German automaker built the Quattro Concept to celebrate 30 years of its Quattro all-wheel drive system and the Quattro Sport that dominated rallying in the 1980s.

Finished in Col de Turini white paint, the Quattro Concept is powered by a compact turbocharged five-cylinder engine that puts out a whopping 408 hp and 354 ft-lbs of torque. The chassis beneath the car comes from an Audi RS 5, with its wheelbase shortened and roof lowered. To further trim weight, the two-passenger Quattro has an aluminum body and hood, plus hatch and bumpers made of carbon fiber. The car weighs just 2,866 lbs.

Based on the positive reactions to the Jaguar C-X75 in Paris and Los Angeles, we don't see how Audi could decide not to build the potent Quattro.

Nissan Ellure Concept

Nissan Ellure Concept
Nissan Ellure Concept
The Nissan Ellure Concept, a world debut at the LA Auto Show, is meant to bring excitement back to the sedan category while meeting consumer demands for environmentally friendly vehicles. Thankfully, the Ellure's elegant exterior and classy cabin help the car meet these high expectations. The design is expected to heavily influence the next Altima and Maxima sedan.

The Nissan Ellure has what the Japanese automaker refers to as "rhythmic" shapes around the body. The polished grille is aluminum and acrylic, its wing shape apparently inspired by "Kamishimo," the Samurai's formal outer coat. The headlights are LEDs, with a light ribbon adding depth to their appearance.

Inside, the front seats are covered with black recyclable suede fibers and feature slender acrylic seat backs. The front seat passenger can make use of an ottoman (no joke). Under the hood is Nissan's next-generation hybrid propulsion system: a supercharged 2.5-liter inline-four-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor with lithium-ion batteries.

Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept

Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept
Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept
Also seen for the first time in Los Angeles, Cadillac's Urban Luxury Concept addresses the move to smaller and more fuel-efficient city cars. The exterior shape of the Urban Luxury Concept carries Cadillac's strong and instantly recognizable sharp contours of its Art & Science design philosophy. The huge 19-inch wheels are pushed to the corners of the diminutive body to create a muscular stance and maximize interior volume.

A large windshield, overhead skylights and see-through A-pillars aid visibility while adding a spacious feel of the interior. The Cadillac Concept accommodates four passengers, with access to the cabin handled by huge chiseled door slabs that open scissor-style.

The Urban Luxury Concept's powertrain is a hybrid, featuring an electrically assisted turbocharged 1-liter inline-three-cylinder paired to a dual-clutch transmission. An engine start-stop function and regenerative braking help nudge the fuel economy to a claimed 56 mpg city and 65 mpg on the highway.

It remains to be seen whether the Cadillac family tree has room for a vehicle like the ULC. Yet itís exciting to see the American brand combine traditional luxury with the push towards greater fuel-efficiency.

Mazda Shinari Concept

Mazda Shinari Concept
Mazda Shinari Concept
The LA Auto Show was the first opportunity for the public to see the handsome Mazda Shinari concept. Pictures of the car have circulated online, yet this was the fist auto show appearance for the sedan that represents the brand's new design language.

Traditional Mazda design elements will be retained, such as the five-point grille and the prominent front fender shape, but the four-door Shinari embodies a new dynamic that blends sharp character lines with sculpted body shapes to convey a sense of power and elegance.

Crisp character lines, sculpted body panels, and a pronounced cab rearward proportion give the Shinari a powerful appearance. The attention to detail is remarkable for a show car. The satin-finish metal trim that frames the bottom of the grille splays out through the headlamp openings. This strip seems to travel through the wheel arch and re-emerges as a side vent accent.

Elements of this new design might soon appear on passenger sedans like the Mazda6, as well as replacements for sporty models like the MX-5 Miata and RX-8.

Subaru Impreza Design Concept

Subaru Impreza Design Concept
Subaru Impreza Design Concept
The Subaru Impreza Design Concept is an aggressive, but familiar, outlook for the all-wheel-drive-all-the-time company. Gone are the days of the three-box Subaru, as the overall line from the front of the car, through the bottom of the A-pillar, the roof, through the C-pillar and ultimately the trunk, is smooth and continuous. The front end -- with all the character lines, headlights, fog lights and air openings -- is much sharper and more pronounced than before.

For a company that has sometimes struggled to find its own look, the Impreza Design Concept is a safe step towards a more lasting long-term impression. The engine is a 2-liter version of Subaru's trademark Boxer configuration flat-four motor. It's mated to a continuously variable transmission that Subaru calls Lineartronic.

The EyeSight system is a clever tech touch, comprised of a series of cameras located at the front of the roof. EyeSight provides for collision mitigation, and can display the feed that it sees through the in-dash video system. The cabin is filled with video panels, including one located on the lower spoke of the steering wheel.

Source

November 12, 2010

Maserati Birdcage




  • The Maserati Birdcage was released to celebrate Pininfarina’s and Maserati’s collaboration of 75 years. This Italian car was actually born in the 1950’s and has been making its presence through out. It has evolved in design along with time and technology.  The Maserati birdcage is on of those rare cars which has both speed and beauty.  The car is a 5rare combination of style and performance and usage. The Maserati uses a 12 valve 5998cc Configuration on the inside and comes with a six speed transmission. It weighs about 1500kgs which is quite light for a sports vehicle and is capable of extreme performance with 700bhp. The access to the car is through an electronic bubble roof which hinges forward.

2011 Cadillac CTS





  • For 2011 the Cadillac CTS adds a new bodystyle to its repertoire, the CTS Coupe. Otherwise identical to the CTS Sport Sedan and Sport Wagon, the Coupe bodystyle gives the CTS a more aggressive appearance and another angle of attack on the German standard bearers. A heated steering wheel and rear vision camera are now standard on all models.

November 08, 2010

2011 Audi A8





The good: The 2011 Audi A8's direct-injection V-8 gives it plenty of power, and its eight-speed transmission gets it good highway fuel economy. Active suspension, all-wheel-drive, and dynamic steering make it handle exceedingly well. The navigation system incorporates beautifully detailed 3D maps and next year will integrate with Google maps. The audio system delivers clean sound.

The bad: The transmission does not stay in manual mode. We noticed some rattle when playing music with deep bass. The navigation system routing is not always the most efficient.

The bottom line: The 2011 Audi A8 is an exceptional luxury sedan, with top-of-the-line infotainment and driver assistance features and performance tech that makes it handle like a sports car.

2009 Chrysler Sebring Sedan






I love this car. I bought a 2009 Sebring Sedan -Limited used, I have to say I am so pleased with this car. I love the mileage it gets and the smooth ride. I purchased this car because I drive between 100 - 130 miles per day, and the gas was killing me in my Jeep Commander. Now I don't have to go the gas station everyday.