tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15228902086171619552024-02-21T04:51:37.664-08:00CAR+MONEY+ACT=(CARMANIAC)Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-25201453846795743442014-04-09T08:29:00.000-07:002014-04-09T08:29:14.537-07:002014 Chevrolet Cruze Sedan
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The Newest, Fastest and Most Frugal Cruze All in One</h3>
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<img alt="2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel" src="http://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/chevrolet/cruze/2014/fd/2014_chevrolet_cruze_actf34_fd_702134_196.jpg" /></div>
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Even though advanced technology has made contemporary diesel engines more powerful and refined, the number of diesel-powered models available in the U.S. make up a miniscule portion of the car market.</div>
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Chevroet wants to do something about that (not to mention break in on Volkswagen's monopoly on the affordable diesel-car market) with the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel.</div>
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Chevy sold nearly a quarter-million Cruzes last year, so it has the potential to make an impact that reaches well beyond the Volkswagen diesel faithful, while at the same time tempting even Volkswagen true believers with a sedan made by a company other than VW.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Are You a Numbers Kind of Person?</strong><br />
Let's say you like the idea of buying the quickest Chevy Cruze available. That'd be the new 2014 Cruze Diesel. Its 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine develops 151 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque. Combined with its standard six-speed automatic, the Cruze diesel will go from zero to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds, according to Chevrolet. That's a half-second faster than the Cruze equipped with the turbocharged gasoline 1.4-liter.</div>
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Yeah, 8.6 seconds doesn't sound that quick, but when you've got as much as 250 lb-ft of torque available at just 1,750 rpm and an overboost feature that delivers as much as 280 lb-ft for 10 seconds, it feels markedly quicker. There's a bit of turbo lag, but wait out that half-second and you get more than enough power to sprint past the larger-engine gasoline cars still gathering steam to find the meat of their torque curves.</div>
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<img alt="2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel" class="pull-right" src="http://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/chevrolet/cruze/2014/fd/2014_chevrolet_cruze_prf_fd_702131_196.jpg" style="border: 0px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 14px 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></div>
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Now let's say you want the car with the segment's single highest fuel-economy number, but you don't want a hybrid. That also would be the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel with its rating of 46 mpg on the highway. And if a hybrid guy wants to bet pink slips based on what you're really getting out of a gallon of fossil fuel, the diesel's likely to come out ahead there, too, unless you're talking strictly stop-and-go city driving, where the Cruze is rated at 27 mpg.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fuel's Errand</strong><br />
Not everything is ideal with the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel. It weighs about 250 pounds more than the next heaviest Cruze, and that kind of extra weight is never easy to accept, particularly in the name of greater efficiency.</div>
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Owners probably will never know it, but they'll be carrying around a tank of urea to cleanse the Cruze Diesel's emissions, and the car's spare tire is sacrificed to place the 4.5-gallon tank that holds the stuff. Refills take place during scheduled maintenance (Chevy says at least 10,000 miles before the tank would be drained); you decide what you think about a can of compressed flat-fixing goop in place of a spare.</div>
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The most glaring ice patch on the road to diesel acceptance, however, might come from Chevy's own price strategy. The Cruze Diesel sits near the top of the Cruze model range and although it's rather generously equipped, it's a good $5,000 dearer than the well-regarded, gasoline-engine Cruze Eco, which gets a markedly lower 39-mpg highway rating but at 33 mpg combined, is just 2 mpg in arrears of the Cruze Diesel, thanks in part to the Diesel's 27-mpg city rating.</div>
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<img alt="2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel" class="pull-right" src="http://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/chevrolet/cruze/2014/fd/2014_chevrolet_cruze_tag_fd_702131_196.jpg" style="border: 0px; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 14px 14px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Highway Cruzer</strong><br />
We weren't particularly bothered by those details in our 600-mile round trip behind the wheel of the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel. Instead, it underscored why modern-day diesel engines are such an attractive proposition. For most trips, fill up before you leave and forget about what the fuel gauge says until you return.</div>
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You can breeze along with the engine barely nudging past the 2,000-rpm mark with the cruise control set just south of 80 mph. Trouble with dawdlers? Tickle the accelerator and erupt to 95 mph without even troubling the transmission for a downshift.</div>
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Forget about diesel clatter, too. Contemporary diesels have largely quieted the clamor, but Chevy engineers also took the extra precaution of borrowing a special sound-absorption package from the <a href="http://www.edmunds.com/buick/verano/2013/" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #004d99; cursor: pointer; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2013 Buick Verano</a> to keep this Cruze quiet. The Cruze Diesel also borrows goodies from the Cruze Eco, including its active grille shutters, 17-inch wheels and low-rolling-resistance tires.</div>
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Otherwise, the 2014 Cruze Diesel is mostly like other Cruzes, only better performing. You get four-wheel disc brakes that are enlarged to account for the diesel's extra weight, and that six-speed automatic transmission is an Aisin unit that feels quicker-witted than the GM-made six-speed auto the gasoline Cruzes employ.</div>
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The low-friction tires do occasionally slip more than we'd like, and although engineers claim a suspension retuning, in many situations the front dampers don't quite feel up to the job of holding up the mass of the iron-block 2.0-liter diesel engine. We noticed this particularly on jarring impacts such as a transition from the highway surface to a bridge surface, when the front end's damping and rebound both felt overtaxed.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A Well-Positioned Competitor</strong><br />
It's hard not to take a shine to the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel. Big-torque performance and hybrid-baiting efficiency is an alluring combination, while the Cruze's intrinsic goodness continues to impress three years after its launch.</div>
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For now, Volkswagen has to be curiously looking over its shoulder at its new competitor, and for good reason. The Cruze has more horsepower (151 hp to 140 hp), more torque (264 to 236) and better highway fuel economy (46 mpg to 42 mpg).</div>
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And as a final kicker, the Cruze is less expensive, too. At $25,695, the Cruze Diesel undercuts the automatic-transmission Volkswagen Jetta TDI by about 500 bucks. Not a huge difference, but enough to make it worth giving the Chevy a look if all the rest of its advantages weren't enough to convince you already.</div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.</em></div>
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</div>Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-53660232696615623172012-03-26T08:57:00.000-07:002012-03-26T08:57:53.875-07:002012 Civic Si Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YZMWgukNy1o?fs=1" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Pros:</strong></div><ul style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="list-style-image: url(http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/themes/carreview/img/li.gif); list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Smooth, powerful and high-revving engine</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: url(http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/themes/carreview/img/li.gif); list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Incredible transmission</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: url(http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/themes/carreview/img/li.gif); list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Nimble, responsive handling</span></li>
</ul><div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Cons:</strong></div><ul style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="list-style-image: url(http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/themes/carreview/img/li.gif); list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Strange RPM behavior when shifting</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: url(http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/themes/carreview/img/li.gif); list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Schizophrenic interior</span></li>
</ul><div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Introduction</strong></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Honda Civic first appeared in 1973 as the no-frills economy car Americans needed due to climbing gas prices. In the mid 80’s Honda offered a spiced-up version called the ‘Si’ which added horsepower and handling improvements to the lightweight Civic, proving that a practical car could also be fun to drive. It turned out to be a winning formula and the Si badge has been in Honda’s line ever since. The 2012 Si showcases 30+ years of evolution in the breed, and as we had hoped, this is the best Si yet.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span id="more-25918" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Driving Impressions</strong></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Civic Si has two sides. Most of the time it’s a smooth, quiet and no-frills economy car for spinning around town and commuting. But give it more throttle and let the RPM’s spin up past ‘VTEC’ to redline and you’ll find the Si’s dark, aggressive side that hunts down and slaughters lesser sport compact cars. There’s a light, effortless feel in the steering, pedals, shifter and motor that serves both the Si’s personalities well. But the suspension belies the Si’s true colors; ride quality is on the firm side. The Si is dialed for corners first and rough roads second.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Build</strong></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Civic Si displays the quality we’ve come to expect of Honda—it’s well made with an apparent sense of quality throughout, but not exceptionally plush. Slam the doors or trunk on a German sedan or a more expensive Japanese car and you’ll get a muted, airless ‘thunk’. The Si’s doors and trunk feel thin in comparison; not necessarily cheap, but perhaps lacking some sound deadening material. This observation echoes throughout the rest of the car—overall the Si feels like a well-made car but there’s no denying its economy car genetics.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Interior Comfort and Ergonomics</strong></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Honda chose a several materials, textures and colors for the Si dash and door panels. It’s all quality but the variety gives a somewhat disjointed feel to the design. Worse than that, the split-level dash and gauge design looks like someone’s overdone impression of futuristic. Honda has several sub-screens showing random bits of info, including a power gauge showing how far VTEC is engaged on the left side, and on the upper right there’s a user-configurable screen that shows percentage of power used, audio system display, clock, or nothing. This format is used on the rest of the Civic line and it does a fine job of displaying a lot of information at a glance, but it doesn’t match the SI’s personality. We’d like it better if Honda chose classic sports car dual analog speedometer and tach gauges, or the F1-inspired digital gauge from the S2000.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Front seats are well-bolstered and grippy, something you’ll appreciate when flicking the Si into tight corners. Our test drivers are not tall people, yet all noticed that head room both front and back was not exceptional. Tall drivers and those with a penchant for big hats may find this to be a problem. Also, the rear seats fold down, though it’s a cumbersome process. The switches are conveniently located at the edge of the trunk, but you may need to crawl into the trunk to push the seats forward. We managed to stuff a mountain bike into the back of the Si, but it was not as easy as it should have been.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Performance</strong></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Honda’s F1-inspired naturally-aspirated motors are legendary for their smooth, high-end power thanks to what’s known as VTEC, a sophisticated variable valve timing and cam positioning system that allows a small motor to act like a larger one past a certain RPM. This is where the Si’s dual personalities come from. Stab the throttle and the motor spins up effortlessly, but really comes to life past %555 when VTEC kicks in to deliver 201 horsepower, which is more than enough to get the lightweight Si hauling up to ticket speeds in a blink.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">But Honda’s brilliant VTEC motors have always been anemic on the torque side. The 2012 Si has more torque at a lower RPM than any previous version (170ft/lbs at %555) thanks to the upsized 2.4 liter motor stolen from the Acura TSX. Still, the Si lacks the instant low-end kick that you get from turbocharged competition from the likes of Volkswagen, Mini and Subaru. If you’re cruising along and feel the urge to accelerate, a mere mash of the gas pedal won’t be enough—-you’ll need to downshift at least one gear.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Shifting is excellent, with a slick, precise shifter and smooth clutch engagement. But the light and lively motor seems to hold RPM’s for an unusually long period of time between gears. This works out well when driving hard, holding the motor up in the power band even if your shifter hand is slow, but when driving casually, it gives the impression that you’re a manual transmission noob. It’s distracting until you adapt.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">It’s a car that’s easy to drive, and it begs to be driven hard. The Si feels fast, possibly faster than it really is, considering the 0-60mph times in the mid 6-second range still put it behind the competition. But unlike many of those faster gars, the Si still gets over 31mpg after a week of angry test driving during which spins up to redline were the norm. Impressive.</span><br />
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<!-- nuffnang-->Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-90999735960398832462011-12-25T09:08:00.000-08:002011-12-25T09:08:31.263-08:00Bugatti Veyron vs. Mercedes Benz McLaren SLR AMG drag race<!-- nuffnang --><br /><script type="text/javascript"> <br />nuffnang_bid = "5c5a18b0a1d61047df9b78f5e76eadd3";<br /></script><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://synad2.nuffnang.com.my/j.js"></script><br /><!-- nuffnang--><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe width="480" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tTGHCRUdlBs?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-50166197103919351342011-12-23T15:36:00.000-08:002011-12-23T15:36:58.906-08:002012 Ford Focus Hatchback Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img alt="The all-new 2012 Ford Focus Hatchback" class=" alignnone" height="266" src="http://gallery.carreview.com/data/car/802/medium/2012_ford_focus_01.jpg?7115" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The all-new 2012 Ford Focus Hatchback" width="400" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />By contributing editor David Colman</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div style="font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Vitals Statistics:</strong><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />$19095 Focus 5dr HB SE<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />4-Door Front Wheel Drive , 160 bhp, 146 lb-ft, 5-sp Manual, 26/36 mpg<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />5 passengers, 2900 lb, 2-liter, 4-cylinder engine, 18.1 lb/bhp</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><strong style="background-color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="color: red;">Likes:</span></strong></div><ul style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><li style="list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><span style="color: red;">Euroslick styling</span></span></li>
<li style="list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><span style="color: red;">Gem-like interior fittings</span></span></li>
<li style="list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><span style="color: red;">Razor sharp handling</span></span></li>
<li style="list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><span style="color: red;">Eager engine that is happy to work hard</span></span></li>
<li style="list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><span style="color: red;">Hatchback model has added utility over sedan and looks great</span></span></li>
<li style="list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><span style="color: red;">Long list of upgrades and high-tech options</span></span></li>
</ul><div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><strong style="background-color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="color: red;">Dislikes:</span></strong></div><ul style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><li style="list-style-image: url(http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/themes/carreview/img/li.gif); list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><span style="color: red;">Lack of paddle shifters for dual clutch automatic</span></span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: url(http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/themes/carreview/img/li.gif); list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><span style="color: red;">HVAC dials where radio controls should be and vice versa</span></span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: url(http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/themes/carreview/img/li.gif); list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><span style="color: red;">Driving concentration distracted by Ford Synch GUI</span></span></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><span style="color: red;">If you think of the Focus as Ford’s VW Golf beater, you’re aiming too low. Golf was just the low hanging fruit in Ford’s quest to redefine the sport <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">compact </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">sedan</span></span>. The real target was Audi’s A3, a loftier goal indeed. Has Ford succeeded in outdoing the A3? Not quite, but close enough to give Audi reason to be concerned. If you want to build a better sport sedan than Audi, you’d best hire Germans to design it, and that’s just what Ford has done. The Focus was conceived in Germany, and has been on sale across Europe for more than a year. It has already established a successful track record in World Rallye competition as well as World Touring Car track contests. While Focus may be new to the US, it is by no means an unproven entity abroad.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span id="more-20158" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><img alt="2012 Ford Focus" height="266" src="http://gallery.carreview.com/data/car/802/medium/2012_ford_focus_08.jpg" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="2012 Ford Focus" width="400" /></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">Looking at this svelte sedan from outside, you are first struck by the clean-lined ethos of its design. The snout sits low while the butt remains slightly elevated to impart a feline rake to the static posture. Horizontal detailing around the front grill is handsome without being fussy. The side view looks racy and succinct, with windshield A pillars so extravagantly flattened that the sedan version posts a stellar wind tunnel coefficient of 0.297. Although the Cx of the five-door hatchback we drove is slightly higher than that, the hatch chassis is stiffer because the five door openings require added structural chassis reinforcement. The solidity of the platform, which Focus shares with the European C-Max minivan, is indisputable. Over the worst road irregularities, the Focus evinced no squeaks, groans or deflections. The interior remains ethereally silent no matter what racket the road surface beneath promises to impart.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ford Focus instrument cluster" height="266" src="http://gallery.carreview.com/data/car/802/medium/2012_ford_focus_24.jpg" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Ford Focus instrument cluster" width="400" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">Handling of the base model Titanium hatchback is responsive and predictable. The steering is perfectly weighted, with lots of road feel passed back to you through the fat rimmed, two-tone steering wheel. Continental SportContactPro tires measuring 215/50R17 are standard, but if you wish to upgrade handling, the Titanium handling package, including stiffer anti-sway bars, springs and 18 inch wheels and rubber, is available for an extra $595. Even without that package, the handling of the Titanium Focus is strong enough to justify sticking with the base suspension system.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">Performance of the 2.0 liter Duratec four cylinder motor is hardly scintillating, especially when coupled to the slow-shifting 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox. If you want more pop underhood you should wait for the 247hp turbo motor, coming sometime in the next year. In the meantime, opt for the 5 speed <a class="kLink" href="http://reviews.carreview.com/2012-ford-focus-hatchback-first-impressions-review#" id="KonaLink1" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; border-bottom-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-style: none !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-color: transparent !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: transparent !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: transparent !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; bottom: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static; right: 0px; top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">manual </span><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">gearbox</span></span></a>model to coax the most performance out of the Duratec base motor.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="2012 Ford Focus high-contrast Titanium model interior" height="206" src="http://gallery.carreview.com/data/car/802/medium/2012_ford_focus_17.jpg" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="2012 Ford Focus high-contrast Titanium model interior" width="400" /></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">Where Focus really shines is inside the cabin. All 4 seats are Posturepedic, with the fronts luxuriously supplied with multiple electric positioning controls. Even the fixed rears are acceptably comfortable for long day trips. The interior of our test Focus, finished in a pleasing medley of burgundy and black, mimics the cabins of much more expensive vehicles like (no surprise) the Audi A3 or the BMW 1 Series. If you’re in the market for a small sedan with fit, finish and handling comparable to cars costing twice as much, be sure and give the new Focus a test drive. You’ll be amazed at how far Ford quality has come since they hit bottom several years ago.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">2012 FORD FOCUS TITANIUM HATCHBACK</span></div><ul style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><li style="list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">ENGINE: DOHC, 16 valve in-line 4, aluminum block and head</span></li>
<li style="list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">HORSEPOWER: 160 @ 6,500 rpm</span></li>
<li style="list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">TORQUE: 146 lb.-ft. @ 4,450 rpm</span></li>
<li style="list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">TRANSMISSION: 6-speed Powershift automatic transmission</span></li>
<li style="list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">FUEL CONSUMPTION: 25 City MPG/ 36 Highway MPG</span></li>
<li style="list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">PRICE AS TESTED: $23,490</span></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Ruling: </strong>The redesigned <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Ford</span> Focus comes out with impressive changes to its exterior and interior styling. And it is also more fun to drive than the previous generation.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">The 2012 Ford Focus has been completely redesigned and it looks <em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">good</em>. The interior redesign was first on the list and it now features more high tech options that assist the driver and keep them connected to their electronic devices. Available with the 2012 Focus are the MyFord and MyKey systems. MyFord integrates entertainment, navigation, and communication into a touch screen console. MyKey is a safety feature that restricts vehicle speed and stereo volume while your teen drives.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">Looking sportier and more aggressive than a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla, the exterior updates for the 2012 Focus move far away from the vanilla sedan look and is much more satisfying to drive.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">Standard engine for the entire Focus line for 2012 is an all-new 2.0-liter direct-injected <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">four cylinder engine</span> that makes 160 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with either a 5-speed manual or six-speed PowerShift dual clutch automatic. Fuel economy with the <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">automatic transmission</span> is 28 city / 38 highway /31 combined mpg. The sedan outfitted with the SFE package is estimated to get 28 mpg in the city, 40 mpg on the highway, and 33 mpg combined.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">A Focus five-door hatchback model is also available.</span></div><div align="center" style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">###</span></div><div align="left" style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">David Colman has been writing vehicle tests for 25 years. His work has been featured in AutoWeek, the San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner, and Marin Independent Journal. In 1987, he helped start Excellence, The Magazine About Porsche, which he edited for many years. He has been an active participant in racing and Solo events since 1961. More car reviews written by Colman can be found at autoeditor.com</span></em></div></div>Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-89354466582138246372011-12-22T08:50:00.000-08:002011-12-22T08:50:02.519-08:00Fourth Generation 2012 Honda CR-V Ready for U.S. Late 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></div><div class="entry" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="2012 Honda CR-V concept" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-23811" height="266" src="http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/2012_honda_crv_concept_med.jpg" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="2012 Honda CR-V Concept" width="400" /></div><br />
<div style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div style="color: #444444; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b>This is the all-new, fourth-generation CR-V that is set to go on sale in the U.S. by the end of 2011 and in Europe in Autumn 2012</b></div><div style="padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">The new Honda CR-V goes for a distinctive new design and bold styling direction. Compared to the previous generation CR-V, the concept model</span><span style="color: #666666;"> </span><span style="color: #444444;">has a more aggressive stance with deeper sculpting of the body lines and a bolder front grille. Overall the lower front bumper design integrates more smoothly into the fascia for improved aerodynamics and curves upward to convey off-road capability. There are also five-spoke alloy wheels and bolder fender flares.</span></b></div><div style="padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">Powertrain details haven’t been released, but the new CR-V is expected to be outfitted with a more efficient engine and deliver improved fuel</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="color: #444444;">economy. Also look for more interior room and reduced curb weight.</span></b></div></div></div></div>Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-14733905580508272312011-12-22T08:00:00.000-08:002011-12-22T08:00:18.079-08:00The Five Ugliest Cars of All Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><!-- nuffnang --><br />
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<h1 style="background-color: white; color: #fcb930; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
<div style="float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 350px;"><tbody style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></tbody></table></div></h1><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><em style="font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Raise your hand if you’ve owned an ugly car. Scream out loud if you actually loved your ugly car.</strong></em></div><div class="entry" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div style="padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><img align="right" alt="1975 AMC Pacer" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-6812" height="200" src="http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/1975-amc-pacer1.jpg" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="300" /></span>Let’s face it—for every great car we produce on this planet, they’re bound to be a couple of real duds. Unfortunately, failure is just a fact of life. These vehicles probably looked really good on the drawing board, but in reality they were design disasters that are best forgotten.</div><div style="padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1.) 1975 AMC Pacer:</strong><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"> </span>One of the lowest points in the history of car making, the AMC Pacer was a disaster of great proportions on many levels—from the 95hp inline 6-cylinder engine all the way to the terrible fuel economy—18mpg. So, not only did it not turn heads (except in shock), this vehicle rode like a covered wagon with one bad wheel. The design reminds me of something you’d see in a 1950’s “B” sci-fi film. Consequently, the Pacer has become the poster child of 1970’s bad automotive design. If there are any of these cars left out there, they should be destroyed, for the good of the race and the culture. When other civilizations look back on us 1,000 years from now, the Pacer will undoubtedly be cited as the beginning of the end.</div><div style="padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span id="more-6553" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></div><a href="http://reviews.carreview.com/the-five-ugliest-cars-of-all-time/1973_vw_thing" rel="attachment wp-att-6572" style="color: #006699; font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img align="left" alt="VW Thing" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-6572" src="http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/1973_vw_thing1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="240" /></a><strong style="font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2.) 1974 VW Thing:</strong><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"> </span>Aluminum siding meets bad design, the Thing looks like a Sear storage shed on wheels. Originally designed by Volkswagen for the German military, this piece of rolling junk must have had Hitler rolling over in his grave. The German Army had a lot of success overtaking their enemies driving this vehicle–they essentially laughed themselves into submission. The Thing didn’t last long in this country, when it was deemed unsafe by U.S. standards. Some people actually thought this car was “cute”, which goes to show you that there’s a fine line between pretty and ugly. (Just look at Cameron Diaz in the wrong light and you’ll see what I mean.)</div><div style="font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3.) 1974 Ford Mustang II</strong>: After the oil embargo of 1973, Detroit starting making ugly cars featuring poor performance, all in the name of cost savings. This Pinto-ish car is the one Ford would love to forget. Mustang has had a great run with some awesome models along the way, but they can’t all be winners. The 1974 Mustang is the Dopey of the Seven Dwarves. The best motor you could get with this car was a 171 cubic inch V6, generating 105hp and getting from 0-60mph in 14.2 seconds. A lot of people aged rapidly while waiting for this car to get up to highway speed.</div><div style="font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://reviews.carreview.com/the-five-ugliest-cars-of-all-time/1988_citreon_2cv" rel="attachment wp-att-6571" style="color: #006699; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img align="right" alt="1988 Citreon 2CV" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-6571" src="http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/1988_citreon_2cv1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="240" /></a><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4.) 1988 Citroen 2CV:</strong> Why are French people always frowning as a rule? Maybe it’s because they can’t get this ridiculous car out of their minds. Literally meaning “two steam horses” this vehicle drove more like “two lame mules.” French designer Pierre-Jules called the Citroen 2CV a “low-priced umbrella on wheels.” Described as “rugged” and “reliable”, traveling in this car was like riding a roller coaster from hell. It had the amazing ability to swerve on a perfectly level, straight road.</div><div style="font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5.) 1986 Yugo GV:</strong> Over-priced at $3,990, the Yugo GV came as close to being a disposable car as anything before or since. With a 1.1 litre motor generating 58hp and featuring a terrible transmission, if this car wasn’t on the road it was in the shop, keeping the auto repair industry busy for more than a decade.</div></div></div></div>Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-85482917375318649542011-12-20T01:15:00.000-08:002011-12-20T01:15:52.481-08:00FAIL - EVO plummets and falls off dyno<iframe width="459" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oKFGr_mkQaA?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-63923228160001730462011-12-18T08:00:00.000-08:002011-12-18T08:00:21.409-08:00Driving Sports TV - Nissan Rogue vs. Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Holiday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/N42Kx_8RRQU?fs=1" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<!-- nuffnang-->Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-40756757391901029592011-12-18T07:53:00.000-08:002011-12-18T07:53:16.064-08:00Famous Fords on Film Come Together in London<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="border-bottom-color: black; border-image: initial; border-left-color: black; border-right-color: black; border-top-color: black;"><img align="right" alt="Ford Anglia 105E and 6-wheel Ford badged FAB1" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-25402" height="199" src="http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/492731_65690-b-for_med-300x199.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: black; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: black; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: black; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: black; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Ford Anglia 105E and 6-wheel Ford badged FAB1" width="300" /></span></span><b>Five of Ford’s most memorable vehicles to feature on film and television have been brought together at Elstree Studios, London to celebrate 100 years of Ford of Britain.</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b>The Ford Anglia 105E from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, lined up alongside the pink FAB1 from Thunderbirds, James Bond’s Ford Mondeo from the 2007 film Casino Royale, a Ford Granada as seen in The Sweeney TV series and Dr Who’s yellow Edwardian vintage car.</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b>One of the most watched vehicles in film history is the turquoise Ford Anglia 105E seen in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b>“I’d been involved with Ford Anglia clubs for 30 years when I was asked by the film makers to provide a car for the movie,” said owner John Colyer. “After that it just took off and I ended up supplying around 15.”</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b>One of the most eye-catching vehicles at Elstree was the six-wheel Ford-badged FAB1, that starred in the 2004 live action film Thunderbirds. Famous for its multi-function ability on the road and in the air, FAB1 is, of course, road-legal and fully operational.</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span id="more-25400" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span><a href="http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/492735_65690-c-for_med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px;"><img alt="Ford's most memorable vehicles featured on film and television" border="0" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-25403" height="266" src="http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/492735_65690-c-for_med.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Ford's most memorable vehicles featured on film and television" width="400" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b>For Daniel Craig’s debut as James Bond, in Casino Royale, which debuted ahead of the launch of the production Ford Mondeo in 2007, he took to the wheel of a hand built prototype. Following the film’s release, the car was donated by Ford to the Ian Fleming Foundation and can now be seen at the Bond exhibition at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu.</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b>On the small screen, Ford vehicles have featured in many series including two popular British programmes − gritty police drama The Sweeney and science-fiction drama Dr Who. The familiar car chases of The Sweeney helped the Ford Consul GT and the Ford Granada achieve cult status with car fans − and are still loved 40 years on.</b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><img alt="Canary yellow Edwardian vintage car with unique WHO 1 number plate" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-25401" height="265" src="http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/492726_65690-a-for_med.jpg" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Canary yellow Edwardian vintage car with unique WHO 1 number plate" width="400" /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The canary yellow Edwardian vintage car with unique WHO 1 number plate and indicator ‘hand’ makes regular appearances at Dr Who conventions, and several Dr Who fans have used the car for weddings.</div></div><br />
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<!-- nuffnang-->Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-58711828222243886552011-12-17T08:29:00.000-08:002011-12-17T08:29:32.681-08:00Honda-Hot Import Nights KL 2011 Happens This Month In Shah Alam – Promises Hot Girls & Modded Cars<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="253" src="http://www.chevyequinoxs.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/honda-hin-kl-500x317.jpg" width="400" /> </div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial, helvetica, serif; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial, helvetica, serif; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, serif; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>There will be a new car show in town, billed as a mini SEMA or Tokyo Auto Salon of sorts. It’s called Honda-Hot Import Nights Kuala Lumpur 2011, and it will happen from 17-18 December at Shah Alam’s Malawati Stadium. It’s gonna be a fully indoor event that will go on rain or shine, and the entry fee will be RM20 per day. Organisers are expecting a crowd in excess of 25,000 for both days combined.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, serif; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Calling themselves the “world’s largest touring automotive lifestyle show” Hot Import Nights (HIN) was founded in 1996 in Australia by a group of uni students. It has grown since then, and Jakarta, Indonesia held its first HIN in 2001. Today, HIN is an annual event in USA, Australia, Indonesia, and if it takes off, Malaysia. Honda Malaysia is the title sponsor for the HIN KL 2011.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, serif; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br />
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</b></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, serif; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"></div><span style="background-color: white;"><b>There will be plenty of sexy ladies and modded cars of all sorts (HIN is expecting over 100 show cars), and the cars will vie for the many trophies up for grabs. Among the titles are Too Damn Low, Best Custom Bodykit, The Killer Colour, Hottest Engine Bay, Best JDM Look, Best VIP, Hottest ICE, Cinema on Wheels and “Best” titles for various brands, from Audi to Proton. There will be three King Nominees that will fight for the main award – The King.</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Also, there will be a Dynowars contest, which will have trophies (top 3) for the most powerful RWD, FWD, AWD, NA, Turbo, VTEC, 4G63 and Campro, among other categories. For the ICE fans, there are a couple of awards, too.</b></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chevyequinoxs.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hot-import-nights-500x332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://www.chevyequinoxs.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hot-import-nights-500x332.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, serif; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white;"><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, serif; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, serif; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"></div><span style="background-color: white;"><b>The judges are experienced blokes. For the modded cars, HIN has secured Randy Ly, Tommy Ha and Mitchell Mark, all ex-NCCA judges from America. The man in charge of Dynowars is Todd Lewis from Mainline Dynamometer Australia.</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>I’ve been to some of these events before, and there are more photographers mobbing the (lady) models than those who actually appreciate the cars, so if you belong to that category, HIN KL will be organising a Car & Model Autophotography contest. The ladies you’re shooting are also competing, but for the Miss Honda-Hot Import Nights KL 2011 title. RC and PS3 fans will have contests of their own. Finally, some international DJs are performing and there’s a concert by rocker Awie on 18 Dec.</b></span><br />
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<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, serif; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chevyequinoxs.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hin-kl-schedule-500x378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://www.chevyequinoxs.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hin-kl-schedule-500x378.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, serif; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, serif; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>For Honda owners, Honda Malaysia will be picking four cars to be displayed in their booth at HIN KL. If you think you have the ride to impress, email a pic of your car and details to hondahin@honda.com.my.</b></span> </div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, serif; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, serif; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br />
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<!-- nuffnang-->Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-76822772945706380952011-12-16T09:32:00.000-08:002011-12-16T09:32:31.108-08:002012 Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="267" src="http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/004.jpg" width="400" /> </div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><strong style="background-color: #eeeeee; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Carreview Window Sticker</strong></div><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Specs: $67k price, 302 HP, 19/26 Mileage and 0-60 in 5.5 seconds</b></div><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><strong style="background-color: #eeeeee; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Pros:</strong></div><ul style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><li style="list-style-image: url(http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/themes/carreview/img/li.gif); list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b style="background-color: #eeeeee;">The best <span style="font-family: inherit !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">SLK</span></span> styling in years</b></li>
<li style="list-style-image: url(http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/themes/carreview/img/li.gif); list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Slingshot Acceleration and excellent handling</b></li>
<li style="list-style-image: url(http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/themes/carreview/img/li.gif); list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Custom Tailoring</b></li>
<li style="list-style-image: url(http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/themes/carreview/img/li.gif); list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Slick Roof with on-the-fly adjustable tint</b></li>
<li style="list-style-image: url(http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/themes/carreview/img/li.gif); list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b style="background-color: #eeeeee;">A roadster that appeals to many of the buyer’s instincts</b></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><strong style="background-color: #eeeeee; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Cons:</strong></div><ul style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><li style="list-style-image: url(http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/themes/carreview/img/li.gif); list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Lack of Storage</b></li>
<li style="list-style-image: url(http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/themes/carreview/img/li.gif); list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b style="background-color: #eeeeee;">No Manual Tranny</b></li>
<li style="list-style-image: url(http://reviews.carreview.com/wp-content/themes/carreview/img/li.gif); list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 18px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Steep price of $67k</b></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><strong style="background-color: #eeeeee; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Review:</strong></div><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b style="background-color: #eeeeee;">The SLK is the closest thing Mercedes makes to a sports car. It is small, nimble and fast, seats only two, and functions as a convertible or a closed coupe. The SLK is a stunning piece of design. You can learn more about a car’s true mettle if you wash and dry its metal. In the process of cleaning the SLK for a photo shoot, I marveled at the complexity of its shape. This roadster has more flutes than a champagne glass. In fact, you can hardly find a single flat plane on the entire body. The bodywork looks muscular and buffed, with short overhangs fore and aft, and bulging fenders to accommodate the beefy tires and <span style="font-family: inherit !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">AMG</span></span> alloys. 7.5 inch front rims carry 225/40ZR18 Pirelli P Zero rubber, with 8.5 inch back rims equipped with 245/35ZR18 Pirellis. The simple AMG 5-spoke rims are part of a $2,500 Sport Package that includes appealing “Sport Body Styling” plus haunting interior illumination in “SOLAR red.”</b></div><div style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; padding-bottom: 1.2em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b style="background-color: #eeeeee;">What prevents the SLK from full sports car status is lack of manual transmission availability. Like so many other manufacturers, Mercedes sees no point in Federalizing a separate (manual) gearbox for a customer take rate of 5 or 10 percent. Still, those are the very customers who will buy an Audi TTS or Porsche 911 expressly because those companies offer them the choice to shift gears by depressing a cutch pedal. Not that the SLK’s 7-speed automatic is a bad piece of engineering. To the contrary, it offers the driver Efficiency, Sport and Manual modes, while providing small steering wheel-mounted paddles to control up and down changes. Even so, the SLK is less driver-involving than it could be with a slick stick shift.</b></div><br />
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<!-- nuffnang-->Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-38850703393699462342011-12-16T09:21:00.000-08:002011-12-16T09:21:02.501-08:00Tony Fernandes' Caterham F1 Team Unveils New Logo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="208" src="http://cdn0.paultan.org/image/Caterham-F1-Logo.jpg" width="400" /> </div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 18px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b style="background-color: #eeeeee;">You would have known by now that the Lotus vs Lotus naming row is over, and in 2012 Lotus Renault GP will race as ‘Lotus’ while Tony Fernandes’ Team Lotus has changed its name to Caterham F1 Team. The AirAsia boss and friends bought over British sportscar maker Caterham back in April.</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 18px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Caterham F1 Team has unveiled its new logo for the 2012 F1 season, which uses a familiar green background with yellow accents. Tony Fernandes explains that the name change makes perfect sense for him.</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 18px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b style="background-color: #eeeeee;">“With Team Lotus, I would have battled to the end if I felt it was the right thing to do, but when you take a dispassionate look at where we were it made absolute sense to start with a clean sheet, and Caterham has given us that chance,” he told the team’s magazine.</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 18px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b style="background-color: #eeeeee;">“It’s the best possible solution for where we want to go – partly because it gives us complete control over everything we do and, obviously, because there’s simply no point racing to promote a road car company I don’t own. The road car business has always been a sector I’ve wanted to explore and so here we are.</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 18px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b style="background-color: #eeeeee;">“But I can’t stress enough; this is a serious business venture for us. If I just needed a new name, I could have called it anything, but the synergy with Caterham works better – and it’s what I do – take a small business with the correct core values and purpose and expand it and grow it into the global marketplace.”</b></div><br />
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<!-- nuffnang-->Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-1720114795307375852011-12-14T06:49:00.000-08:002011-12-14T06:49:39.586-08:00Subaru BRZ GT300 Race Car - Tokyo Motor Show 2011<iframe width="480" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/174l6gEJrrw?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-40299801526802500292011-12-14T06:24:00.000-08:002011-12-14T06:24:01.911-08:00Subaru BRZ coming to Malaysia next year!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 18px;">We’re in Bangkok now for the year ending Thailand International Motor Expo, and yours truly picked up a pleasant surprise. No, the show girls did not offer to follow me home, but Motor Image is set to bring the just launched Subaru BRZ to Malaysia! Unveiled at the ongoing Tokyo Motor Show, the BRZ is Subaru’s version of the </span>Toyota GT 86<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">, which it helped develop.</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 18px;">The BRZ is mechanically similar to the new </span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">hachi-roku</em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> but sports minor styling differences. It is powered by a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder boxer engine with 200 hp and 205 Nm of torque, with drive going exclusively to the rear wheels. A six-speed manual is the natural choice of gearbox, but there’s an auto box for those who can’t DIY.</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 18px;">Estimated date of arrival? According to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Gleen Tan</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">, Executive Director of Tan Chong International and head of Motor Image, th</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; line-height: 18px;">ey will be trying hard for the second or third quarter of 2012, with a possible launch time that coincides with the Super GT race (the BRZ will be competing next season in the GT300 category). Trying hard because worldwide demand for the BRZ is expected to be great and there are many higher priority markets to satisfy.</span></b><br />
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<!-- nuffnang-->Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-59784679167168607622011-12-09T09:27:00.000-08:002011-12-09T09:27:43.534-08:00Bugatti Veyron vs Nissan GT-R (Including deleted scenes)<iframe width="480" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Qgm2t6o6LZ8?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-67147114089848877862011-12-08T08:02:00.000-08:002011-12-08T08:02:15.320-08:00800ps MINE'S R35 GT-R<iframe width="480" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sxUuk7E4kjA?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-76732880321894665582011-12-06T08:01:00.000-08:002011-12-06T08:01:21.028-08:00Supercar crash in Japan has created an estimated £2m of scrap metal<iframe width="459" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FfObeN_7L1s?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen=""></iframe>Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-42724686145524676772011-11-29T09:50:00.000-08:002011-11-29T09:50:49.176-08:00HKS R35 GT-R<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3RSfZw3Pp80bzLieGC-S20u_pQZgFDHxsF5XGJmMJv6eaLDOFmFcvBhIQLGvZFGorhPrpScRx687XbsuWNvIsC_2RQJfkY-hjVX1COSRTqXy6WCo54FHvfCq3-8Lt0bPbkyGaQNSRVT6/s1600/IMG_0234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3RSfZw3Pp80bzLieGC-S20u_pQZgFDHxsF5XGJmMJv6eaLDOFmFcvBhIQLGvZFGorhPrpScRx687XbsuWNvIsC_2RQJfkY-hjVX1COSRTqXy6WCo54FHvfCq3-8Lt0bPbkyGaQNSRVT6/s400/IMG_0234.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">HKS and Taniguchi have for years been a winning combination, setting records wherever they go. Time attack has always helped push the tuning envelope further, as extreme parts and modifications eventually trickle down and are able to be used on street applications. This is what will eventually happen with the R35 GT-R. HKS definitely have something up their sleeves as we all saw at the recent R's Meeting event</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Once Taniguchi pitted after his second track session I went to take a closer look at the R35. The temperatures on the screen showed that a good thrashing was given but they weren't as high as I've seen on these new GT-Rs so I'm guessing that whatever cooling upgrades they have carried out, are working efficiently. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSYzR9t0bnN-3pzFeRQ-7_LRSKPJ7EWrpX4tzlgs33fLsJc0sZS9qaWmiC4bzRCOjccIDU5fDptYEWkls-2aO2W3gfWej52N0Ij7jeNJKNE1CzcJffgizI9Wfawnxe5cPmuhKXBk-RtIC/s1600/AY0F8292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSYzR9t0bnN-3pzFeRQ-7_LRSKPJ7EWrpX4tzlgs33fLsJc0sZS9qaWmiC4bzRCOjccIDU5fDptYEWkls-2aO2W3gfWej52N0Ij7jeNJKNE1CzcJffgizI9Wfawnxe5cPmuhKXBk-RtIC/s400/AY0F8292.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Then came the big surprise as I glanced at the HKS lap timer. While most tuners were out for nothing more than a few demonstration laps, HKS was out to break records! On the second outing Taniguchi managed a best lap of 1'45"82, the fastest an R35 has ever gone around Fuji. The top speed, 300 km/h (186 mph)!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMTDaHX5cvpoTm5N2bbqx-r31KYQQUBZUdLM5x16e3SyGbOVpGsHKBwTDIDiAFlZQgDy-I7lYzRMtqbc3OHKYIQjT2m9qEA9XfvC5URB7XdiZxOuZVPGjDccj_-dCfGhIPFbNs05KVlZ3/s1600/AY0F8232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMTDaHX5cvpoTm5N2bbqx-r31KYQQUBZUdLM5x16e3SyGbOVpGsHKBwTDIDiAFlZQgDy-I7lYzRMtqbc3OHKYIQjT2m9qEA9XfvC5URB7XdiZxOuZVPGjDccj_-dCfGhIPFbNs05KVlZ3/s400/AY0F8232.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">That puts the R35 in hot pursuit of established older GT-Rs like the Autech Tsukada ATTKD BNR34 and Auto Gallery Yokohama BNR32 which both lap in the 1-minute 43-seconds (on street-legal, semi-slick tires)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3M6WSfEIiWcll4_ndpeSMcA1I8xSQaMt3ZSohaeicPrZyIJYFdKG0vFqphXsNiG7gNbOcLNNOZbn2rR1fX6gjx9zGqA6PmDj3-XMt-77HWvJrwtGNsiBjGX3yf85Kyh3PNA_OpZTsNpO/s1600/AY0F8319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3M6WSfEIiWcll4_ndpeSMcA1I8xSQaMt3ZSohaeicPrZyIJYFdKG0vFqphXsNiG7gNbOcLNNOZbn2rR1fX6gjx9zGqA6PmDj3-XMt-77HWvJrwtGNsiBjGX3yf85Kyh3PNA_OpZTsNpO/s400/AY0F8319.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">HKS, up until late last year, were using the stock radial tires on the R35, managing a best of 1'48"94 before switching to slicks. Their first attempt on the sticky race tires yielded a best of 1'47"126 with Orido behind the wheel. You can see the video of the lap<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_16951557"> </a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fe7b13; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_16951557">here</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://.hks%2C%20up%20until%20late%20last%20year%2C%20were%20using%20the%20stock%20radial%20tires%20on%20the%20r35%2C%20managing%20a%20best%20of%201%2748%2294%20before%20switching%20to%20slicks.%20their%20first%20attempt%20on%20the%20sticky%20race%20tires%20yielded%20a%20best%20of%201%2747%22126%20with%20orido%20behind%20the%20wheel.%20you%20can%20see%20the%20video%20of%20the%20lap%20here.%20now%20with%20the%20new%2020-inch%20advan%20a-005%2C%20the%20time%20has%20dropped%20further./">.</a> Now with the new 20-inch Advan A-005, the time has dropped further.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqwNSjfeR0MMBhaD1cKAxEadpdUM9O1H3Px59RV6fQppcmJlMwZhrmR9LnX4gdxsxNUKODnaogSWDj47t7n9UoqcOBMwyt9x0dz9Pqsm_8Uhy2sGOWTSqwggbbhbEI_ZF1R-RFwn2dGDJ/s1600/AY0F8298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqwNSjfeR0MMBhaD1cKAxEadpdUM9O1H3Px59RV6fQppcmJlMwZhrmR9LnX4gdxsxNUKODnaogSWDj47t7n9UoqcOBMwyt9x0dz9Pqsm_8Uhy2sGOWTSqwggbbhbEI_ZF1R-RFwn2dGDJ/s400/AY0F8298.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">The very loud titanium exhaust.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-347jPZyKs3Dq3Hq1s5CW26pcEShKDhjKPHFDEBJaZ4T9Ocsk3sPoJBtUhKE2GXlPWXYnTIlnrF7p2Sq8PHbGaB9_Ek5guOY4rW823diEyCK4-xeiTy3jymuqTg8Ho0AVUBi8SbSBod87/s1600/AY0F8303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-347jPZyKs3Dq3Hq1s5CW26pcEShKDhjKPHFDEBJaZ4T9Ocsk3sPoJBtUhKE2GXlPWXYnTIlnrF7p2Sq8PHbGaB9_Ek5guOY4rW823diEyCK4-xeiTy3jymuqTg8Ho0AVUBi8SbSBod87/s400/AY0F8303.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Behind the 20-inch Yokohama AVS Model F7s are serious Endless brakes, forged monobloc 6-pot calipers front...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEift0SLm226MYD4c61QCqEObBaO5UGKGAp6AUOoC5J9jUkHfpWgUXsOuZ5sf7ya4o8-vQc_xXqx3p98wSNh3l8iYX3j0Qa56n5CN1wOzBy45qXBYZYvew7gyHZ5Jy1tPpoej6xV6OaW_7Rc/s1600/AY0F8308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEift0SLm226MYD4c61QCqEObBaO5UGKGAp6AUOoC5J9jUkHfpWgUXsOuZ5sf7ya4o8-vQc_xXqx3p98wSNh3l8iYX3j0Qa56n5CN1wOzBy45qXBYZYvew7gyHZ5Jy1tPpoej6xV6OaW_7Rc/s400/AY0F8308.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">...the laptop to be connected, making last minute ECU program alterations quick and easy.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWPop8ZFgIqk2pWwo25QScO1EZelBn2QWTPXJm7pPlSrRu1V3n0kw2FuBWic0JwA-er3A2NJ1xGfwJlD4bQ2V7NdfMlrnw6x0dktRmj-RdOUkO5LEyGVBs2ULF-8vhRQyyEjt7BtQdxGX/s1600/AY0F8314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWPop8ZFgIqk2pWwo25QScO1EZelBn2QWTPXJm7pPlSrRu1V3n0kw2FuBWic0JwA-er3A2NJ1xGfwJlD4bQ2V7NdfMlrnw6x0dktRmj-RdOUkO5LEyGVBs2ULF-8vhRQyyEjt7BtQdxGX/s400/AY0F8314.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">The dry carbon wing has been bolted down directly to the trunk lid... </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3Zev9LvO9LNwPvWCP5BWaHLKXUHDts0JH5mPZ6HQqc4Fgz2R-VSYcxZ8kSBfaj26_Aw0Bvu3afcACVpEpRthQ8inU5bO8HArNfsifmPiaZ3wDuWpm18c_KtncdXhd4zeU82L3pkTtgol/s1600/AY0F8311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3Zev9LvO9LNwPvWCP5BWaHLKXUHDts0JH5mPZ6HQqc4Fgz2R-VSYcxZ8kSBfaj26_Aw0Bvu3afcACVpEpRthQ8inU5bO8HArNfsifmPiaZ3wDuWpm18c_KtncdXhd4zeU82L3pkTtgol/s400/AY0F8311.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">...the aluminum stays allowing 9 different angles to be selected.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2aBJLiOsCwS8PRavnGeBrBQRmjsrir1ik5mZ76bQW1t0YdkwdU_KE2NMY5kfLZfi88PFzR4s7G-w8Eo-VH1gPTvnWcZhD4n3LetTUFgWwQf5KY1VThiOhGdhoGWcM1v9M1KWMMDtbc0J/s1600/IMG_0216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2aBJLiOsCwS8PRavnGeBrBQRmjsrir1ik5mZ76bQW1t0YdkwdU_KE2NMY5kfLZfi88PFzR4s7G-w8Eo-VH1gPTvnWcZhD4n3LetTUFgWwQf5KY1VThiOhGdhoGWcM1v9M1KWMMDtbc0J/s400/IMG_0216.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Taniguchi looking through his lap times on the HKS Circuit Attack Timer module.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevyMIhUxj8TQ2F_yWs9-ZP9VNQEmNX7ecmifOkXII1Nzg-mpR5frgGUvqavPswvOifijl33mCZC5Y-dbZKiDfUNlXq1YrRpsFBbTVOA0jK9Rwp6ElF9madkgjLKPxKZMOnctmGJdm1S6L/s1600/IMG_0240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevyMIhUxj8TQ2F_yWs9-ZP9VNQEmNX7ecmifOkXII1Nzg-mpR5frgGUvqavPswvOifijl33mCZC5Y-dbZKiDfUNlXq1YrRpsFBbTVOA0jK9Rwp6ElF9madkgjLKPxKZMOnctmGJdm1S6L/s400/IMG_0240.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">The R35-specific EVC boost controller is fitted in front of the gear selector along with the HKS AFK A/F meter.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxEgk47Adijf7wsVIm1vQED_Krcgq_xhhNfnBy1rfLNvVBeNTYogRuy9469vVEbGt-Kh562mQ6o3MjYaE-Tx0w8j_bBqwmisB_6jPfAjxlJ__aoJZLp09onmI4b9mGRu4t-HOmsASflpI/s1600/IMG_0238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxEgk47Adijf7wsVIm1vQED_Krcgq_xhhNfnBy1rfLNvVBeNTYogRuy9469vVEbGt-Kh562mQ6o3MjYaE-Tx0w8j_bBqwmisB_6jPfAjxlJ__aoJZLp09onmI4b9mGRu4t-HOmsASflpI/s400/IMG_0238.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<div style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding-bottom: 14px; padding-left: 25px; padding-right: 28px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">I would personally love to see what the HKS R35 would be able to do around Tsukuba, with and without the slick tires. The bar has obviously been raised, so it will be interesting to see how all other R35 tuning shops will respond.</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #efefef; font-family: Arial, sans-serif, Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding-bottom: 14px; padding-left: 25px; padding-right: 28px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">R35-only time attack even at Tsukuba anyone?</div><br />
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<!-- nuffnang-->Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-91181016910318717082011-11-10T06:45:00.000-08:002011-11-10T06:45:17.501-08:002011 Porsche Race Edition Pilot by Adidas Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><b>Exceptional functionality coupled with a striking design - since 2006, that has been the standard of the Porsche Design Sport Collection, a collaboration between adidas and the Porsche Design luxury brand. As part of its Spring / Summer 2011 collection, Porsche Design Sport is presenting its first made in Germany shoe: the Race Edition Pilot. </b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><b><br />
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</b></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">The manufacturing of the Race Edition Pilot takes place at the long-established adidas shoe production facility in Scheinfeld (Bavaria), where football shoes, such as the Copa Mundial and World Cup are produced. About a dozen employees are currently entrusted with manufacturing the Race Edition Pilot. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Inspired by open-road racing, the Pilot features a rounded heel and collar padding for comfort. A TPU midsole shell is engineered with shock-absorbing adiPRENE® for platform stability and a smoother ride, while low-profile rubber outsole inserts facilitate fluid pedal work. Supple and lightweight, the Pilot's elegant silhouette is crafted from premium Italian full-grain aniline leather. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">One hundred pairs of Porsche Design Sport's most innovative Driving shoe to date are currently produced each day, employing components, uppers and soles supplied from Asia. This requires about 30 production steps, of which the following are crucial: attaching the insole, lining up the toe, pre-spreading the lasting margin (lower edge of the upper), clipping the side margin and heel, buffing and finely polishing the uppers, cementing the lasting margin and sole, applying and pressing the sole, finishing, and final inspection. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Porsche Design Sport is a collaboration between the adidas brand and Porsche Design. Launched in 2006, the Porsche Design Sport collection fuses engineering excellence with an inherent commitment to refined style. The range of luxury sportswear utilizes the industry's most advanced technologies in concert with luxurious, exclusive materials, performance-enhanced details and impeccable craftsmanship. Stylish yet understated, casual yet technical, Porsche Design Sport is defining a new era of engineered luxury sportswear. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">adidas is a global designer, developer and marketer of athletic footwear, apparel and accessories with the mission to be the leading sports brand in the world. Brand adidas is part of the adidas Group, a corporation that includes brands such as Reebok and TaylorMade-adidas Golf. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Porsche Design is a luxury brand with particular focus on technically inspired products. The brand was founded in 1972 by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, whose products have ever since stood for functional, timeless and purist design. The product portfolio includes classic men's accessories, a sport and fashion collection as well as electronic products and a men's fragrance range. The products are designed in the Porsche Design Studio in Zell am See, Austria, and sold worldwide in the company's own stores, shop-in-shops, high quality department stores and exclusive retail outlets.</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><b><br />
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<!-- nuffnang-->Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-23255977229746162672011-11-09T06:56:00.000-08:002011-11-09T06:56:20.582-08:002011 Nissan PlayStation GT Academy 3 Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><b>GT Academy's global footprint is growing. 2011 marks the third season of GT Academy in Europe, as well as the inaugural year in the USA. </b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year's European competition will run across 10 countries with the online gaming phase starting on 4 March and continuing until 17 April. Leaderboards for each participating territory will highlight the fastest 20 racers who will proceed to a live territory final. Only two from each final will make it to the intensive six-day driver training `Race Camp' to be run at the world-famous Silverstone circuit. The winner of Race Camp will continue to be trained in high-performance Nissan race cars and compete in a series of national-level races in order to qualify for an international race licence and an entry into the Dubai race. </span></b></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Since the first GT Academy in 2008, the innovative competition has established itself as a real and credible route into top-level motor sport for Gran Turismo gamers. Lucas Ordoñez, the Spanish winner of the first instalment in 2008, went on to finish second in the 2009 European GT4 Cup and fourth in 2010. Frenchman Jordan Tresson, the winner of last year's GT Academy competition, finished equal fourth with Ordoñez in the GT4 series. Both racers are expected to announce new programmes for 2011 soon. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">"In Gran Turismo 5 we continue to bring the worlds of real and virtual racing closer together and the GT Academy programme, in partnership with our friends at Nissan, perfectly illustrates this ambition," explained Kazunori Yamauchi, the creator of the Gran Turismo games and president of Polyphony Digital. "It is also a great showcase for the fact that GT5 will continue to offer players more than just the game they have bought. It fully utilises the online functionality of GT5 and highlights the community elements. I think that we shall see a lot of friends challenging each other to take part in GT Academy and seeing how good they are against others. I am sure that most people with an interest in motor sport have dreamt about having a go for real. The competition has already made that dream a reality for the previous two winners, so it is well worth entering - even if it is only your friends you want to beat!"</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">When the virtual racing stage of the game ends, the emphasis will shift to Nissan's stunning sports cars with the 370Z and GT-R playing starring roles at the Silverstone Race Camp. "It has been a great pleasure for us to see so many of our cars recreated in stunning detail on the new GT5 game," said Nissan International's Vice-President of Marketing, Vincent Wijnen. "But GT Academy is even more special as we watch the incredible progression of somebody racing our cars in the game to enjoying great success racing them at full speed on international race circuits. GT Academy has become a great `grass roots' mainstay of our international race programme and we enjoy the partnership with PlayStation very much."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"> </span></b><br />
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</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">GT Academy in 2010 enjoyed enormous success with 1.2 million gamers taking part. The competition found a very high-profile fan in judge, and former Formula One team boss, Eddie Jordan, who commented at the Silverstone event: "This has been extraordinary, I have been absolutely blown away. I could not believe that these gamers, with no experience of racing cars, could do this. They really are great drivers, all of them, and they can be rightly proud of what they have achieved. I know that they have all had an amazing experience that will stay with them forever." </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Residents from 10 European countries, combined into six territory groups, are eligible to take part in GT Academy 2011. They include: 1. Germany and Austria; 2. France and Switzerland; 3. UK and Ireland; 4. Spain and Portugal; 5. Italy; and 6. the Netherlands. </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
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<!-- nuffnang-->Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-39753304565514446612011-11-01T09:57:00.000-07:002011-11-01T09:57:39.035-07:002011 Honda Civic Ti Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Race-car looks are combined with high-spec interior equipment on Honda's new limited edition model, the Civic Ti. Based on the 1.4 and 1.8 i-VTEC SE variants, the Civic Ti comes with £3,700 worth of extra equipment over and above the standard model. <br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />The 5-door Civic is inspired by this season's Honda Racing British Touring Car challenger, and is fitted with unique, 17-inch `Pro Race' wheels from Team Dynamics, Honda's racing partner in the BTCC. </span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">The sporty image of these matt black wheels is enhanced by Honda's `GP' body kit finished in Crystal Black, which provides a stark contrast to the exclusive Premium White Pearl body paint and body colored trim. The race-like GP kit includes front spoiler, rear spoiler (finished in white), side skirt inserts and rear body skirts. Inside, the Civic Ti is equipped with a state-of-the-art Pioneer Navigation Multimedia System, which offers full-scale sat nav, entertainment and communication with a 3D graphic touch screen. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">This high-end multimedia unit includes a map database covering 44 countries, multiple sensors to ensure more accurate positioning, a traffic message channel receiver to avoid traffic jams and a hands free telephone system. It also plays CD, DVD, iPod, iPhone and USB devices, with on-screen controls. <br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />The Pioneer system provides another link to the BTCC team, as the global audio/video and electronics firm is the main sponsor of Honda Racing Team's attack for the 2011 title. <br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Honda dealerships in the UK will sell just 500 of the limited edition Civics, which go on sale in March. Prices start at £15,995 OTR for the 1.4 i-VTEC and £16,995 for the 1.8 variant.</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<!-- nuffnang-->Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-68293596878977478352011-10-02T09:18:00.000-07:002011-10-02T09:18:01.143-07:00Perodua Myvi 1.5 Extreme<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>The new 2011 Perodua Myvi 1.3 was launched in June 16 with 3 variants: Standard, Premium and Elegance. To further boost the sales of Myvi model, Perodua now launched 2 new variants – the new Myvi SE and Myvi Extreme with 1.5-litre DOHC 16V DVVT engine to all its prospective customers. The new Myvi 1.5 is marketed with the catchphrase “Lagi Power, Lagi Best”.</b></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_TOVzpRz05eTC21i-stNkU5XmqBLIDOhyYYnuQece7i2IhYPtgldsA-zQwkwgqmhrpTGVF5r7LweS3ayv5TGivxF6obyy09pUBLnHx9OSFrfgnnoCswtQqKFxMAbUCxRGCVK3_Fm_67R/s1600/perodua-myvi-1-5-extreme-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_TOVzpRz05eTC21i-stNkU5XmqBLIDOhyYYnuQece7i2IhYPtgldsA-zQwkwgqmhrpTGVF5r7LweS3ayv5TGivxF6obyy09pUBLnHx9OSFrfgnnoCswtQqKFxMAbUCxRGCVK3_Fm_67R/s400/perodua-myvi-1-5-extreme-15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br />
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<div style="line-height: 1.4em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b>Despite the fact that Perodua developed the new Myvi 1.5 at the same time as the current Myvi 1.3 model. However, we think that Perodua have done a great job in styling the car and well responded to their customer requirement and feedback in terms of performance.</b></div><div style="line-height: 1.4em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 1.4em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b>The new Myvi SE and Myvi Extreme are priced between RM 50,900 and RM 61,700 depending on the specifications. Both variants offer the choice of 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.</b></div><div style="line-height: 1.4em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhMlHZetsrwUJpZJlElh5sCnSmzAwxUu8sMSzFHniQmdFy_3o21-aRBxfqBLkKzTa1vRR6XUquKgYarXfrETxI_xAKipbuEFJoOQpP_B-ZB8RUrcoYAOJjfUUtY61XiWYP8_-N0ZgXXRn/s1600/myvi_extreme_100-front_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhMlHZetsrwUJpZJlElh5sCnSmzAwxUu8sMSzFHniQmdFy_3o21-aRBxfqBLkKzTa1vRR6XUquKgYarXfrETxI_xAKipbuEFJoOQpP_B-ZB8RUrcoYAOJjfUUtY61XiWYP8_-N0ZgXXRn/s400/myvi_extreme_100-front_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjnrY_DymVIBWcLlYpRZZNzU7JaZ6wH9ArzcmxGvcXr1ELq284OZJ5FVHHomEbWs6Qtn3Bcb7aPW-aT1P-KCwo5V1Z2rX4Lepl3BBTSRByF46QrIEDUulcuSSuOZq2w-ohqVGOvNKKNMn/s1600/myvi_extreme_100-side_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjnrY_DymVIBWcLlYpRZZNzU7JaZ6wH9ArzcmxGvcXr1ELq284OZJ5FVHHomEbWs6Qtn3Bcb7aPW-aT1P-KCwo5V1Z2rX4Lepl3BBTSRByF46QrIEDUulcuSSuOZq2w-ohqVGOvNKKNMn/s400/myvi_extreme_100-side_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXw6_tRxrDRB2DGA6z73B28bv-Ddtb419V88ZWib0_quE_zD-zcPMfQddtmUoZZ5N6jNqQmqu4ht8M92d4BitjjkuZv79xLiuejoF64ZMeX4djcrSXSfmDOJkOj-Lmn01g9qFdmw7yyZQ/s1600/myvi_extreme_1_4_back_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXw6_tRxrDRB2DGA6z73B28bv-Ddtb419V88ZWib0_quE_zD-zcPMfQddtmUoZZ5N6jNqQmqu4ht8M92d4BitjjkuZv79xLiuejoF64ZMeX4djcrSXSfmDOJkOj-Lmn01g9qFdmw7yyZQ/s400/myvi_extreme_1_4_back_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUh6eiJkujwuzjGZHYQgPXD-1sb6dLfrgWSiwbenCxXw0KEXiGjDQTECPDeM-sGvYroLv8vtR1KXxSYiZrWdO8DCf-rdxeLlqYiwfqpfFfgzz6ur8QxwDpjK_8-Gz4DKfnB2FeQGHGe71t/s1600/perodua-myvi-1-5-se-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUh6eiJkujwuzjGZHYQgPXD-1sb6dLfrgWSiwbenCxXw0KEXiGjDQTECPDeM-sGvYroLv8vtR1KXxSYiZrWdO8DCf-rdxeLlqYiwfqpfFfgzz6ur8QxwDpjK_8-Gz4DKfnB2FeQGHGe71t/s400/perodua-myvi-1-5-se-07.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><div style="line-height: 1.4em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b><br />
</b></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">On-the-Road (OTR) price in Peninsular Malaysia</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><div style="line-height: 1.4em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><div style="line-height: 1.4em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 1.4em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Perodua Myvi 1.5 SE</span><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />- Manual – RM50,900 – RM 51,400<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />- Automatic – RM 53,900 – RM 54,400 (with standard audio headunit)<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />- Automatic – RM 56,000 – RM 56,500 (with multimedia & navigation system)</div><div style="line-height: 1.4em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 1.4em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Perodua Myvi 1.5 Extreme</span><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />- Manual – RM 58,200 – RM 58,700<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />- Automatic – RM 61,200 – RM 61,700</div></span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Bentley has announced its most potent and radically styled convertible ever - the 202mph (325km/h) Supersports `Ice Speed Record' convertible. This new model, limited to just 100 cars worldwide, is a celebration of the Company's world ice speed record set two weeks ago by Finland's four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen in a Bentley Continental Supersports convertible.</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Driving the all-wheel drive, biofuel-powered 6-litre, 12-cylinder Continental Supersports convertible on the perilous frozen Baltic Sea, off the coast of Finland, Kankkunen achieved a speed of 205.48 mph (330.695 km/h) eclipsing his own ice speed record of 199.83 mph (321.6 km/h) set in 2007 in the Continental GT. Both the new Supersports `Ice Speed Record' convertible and Juha's record-breaking Supersports will be on display on the Bentley stand at the Geneva Show from 1st March.</span></b><br />
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</span></b></div></div>Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-55323970827603393362011-06-09T06:34:00.000-07:002011-06-09T06:34:31.900-07:002012 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4P22vktr6BlX0JI-EZv_355hG_YfbJ0PKTTT00F7IG-fkQPTV98ngp2LC5arlLS1HyZR8HqlCShTaDNi4a7ub1FAfANoy1RHffLsxGn-yf_i2gzYBPd2Zt4ruTQoYB0zX_b-TdOrnIUH3/s1600/a2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4P22vktr6BlX0JI-EZv_355hG_YfbJ0PKTTT00F7IG-fkQPTV98ngp2LC5arlLS1HyZR8HqlCShTaDNi4a7ub1FAfANoy1RHffLsxGn-yf_i2gzYBPd2Zt4ruTQoYB0zX_b-TdOrnIUH3/s400/a2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="spip" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Verdana; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>The legendary Ford Mustang line has spit out many iterations in its decorated history, but of all the versions of that line, none has been more powerful than the <a class="spip_out" href="http://www.topspeed.com/cars/ford/2011-ford-shelby-gt500-super-snake-ar96545.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #763712; font-family: Arial, Verdana; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none;">Shelby GT500 Super Snake</a>.</b></div><div class="spip" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Verdana; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>First introduced in 2008, the Shelby GT500 Super Snake has been the crown jewel of the Mustang line, a car that blends torque-twisting muscle with a supercar-like power that very few American-made cars can reach.</b></div><div class="spip" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Verdana; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>This month, the latest incarnation of the Shelby GT500 Super Snake will slither its way to New York when it makes its official debut at the New York International Auto Show.</b></div><div class="spip" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Verdana; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>The car’s debut in New York is symbolic of the rich history between the annual event and the American marquee. According to John Luft, president of <a class="spip_out" href="http://www.topspeed.com/cars/ford-mustang-shelby/ke1359.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://pictures.topspeed.com/images/link-bg.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #763712; font-family: Arial, Verdana; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none;">Shelby</a> American Inc., the New York International Show holds a special place in the hearts of Shelby. "The very first Shelby car was introduced there in 1962, as well as the 1968 and 2008 Shelby GT500KR and the <a class="spip_out" href="http://www.topspeed.com/cars/ford/2006-ford-mustang-shelby-gt-h-ar7032.html" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://pictures.topspeed.com/images/link-bg.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #763712; font-family: Arial, Verdana; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 1px; text-decoration: none;">2006 Shelby Hertz GT-H</a>," he said. "This year, we’re returning with one of the most powerful and important Shelbys ever built."</b></div><div class="spip" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Verdana; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 11px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Needless to say, we’re all gearing up for the New York Auto Show, especially for the unveiling of this American icon.</b></div><br />
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<!-- nuffnang-->Amy Helmihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677096776966125612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522890208617161955.post-70899410007739177532011-06-07T06:45:00.000-07:002011-06-07T06:45:18.291-07:002011 Toyota FT 86 II Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><b>The new Toyota FT-86 II Concept makes its world debut at the Geneva motor show, giving the clearest indication yet as to the final design of Toyota's next sports car. It marks a return to the passion for driving that has inspired great Toyota cars of the past, starting with the legendary 2000 GT in the 1960s. </b></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFUdOEE8OobWUw8G4NTPs9mq3gH6C3vAVCzJoqhSw34qeElbbcvaug9VrZ2TcpL_fT02jnFujyKaqCXqR0YgV2Oe0Iip0We-xxO3hyFf9aDDzlnbqiHakutC14F0twQ6gGHKoHZTcQjpR/s1600/c1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFUdOEE8OobWUw8G4NTPs9mq3gH6C3vAVCzJoqhSw34qeElbbcvaug9VrZ2TcpL_fT02jnFujyKaqCXqR0YgV2Oe0Iip0We-xxO3hyFf9aDDzlnbqiHakutC14F0twQ6gGHKoHZTcQjpR/s400/c1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 12px;">With its long, low bonnet, high wings and rear-set cabin, the Toyota FT-86 II pays homage to Toyota's sports car history and is an entirely driver-oriented concept. It was created at Toyota's European design studio ED2, where its styling was dubbed `functional beauty': its bold, sweeping form has been generated purely according to the constraints of function and aerodynamics. </span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 12px;">The low, highly aerodynamic bodyshell is stretched tight over the engineering hard points, with the muscular bodywork rendered as compact as possible. The concept measures 4,235mm long, 1,795mm wide and 1,270mm high, with a long, 2,570mm wheelbase. Rather than using a heavy, large displacement powertrain to secure performance, the FT86 II returns to Toyota's sporting roots by combining a free-revving boxer petrol engine with a compact and lightweight six-speed manual transmission and a low center of gravity to achieve the best possible power to weight ratio. <br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Both the powertrain and the driving position have been set as low and as far back as possible to optimize balance for maximum poise, high-speed stability and agility. With a front-engine/rear-wheel drive configuration, this gives the car lively, accessible performance that is easy to harness and enjoy. <br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />The Toyota FT-86 II Concept is the latest stage in the development of a new, compact rear-wheel drive sports car that is being jointly developed by Toyota and Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru). The new model will be launched in Europe in 2012. </span></b></span><br />
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