January 15, 2013 by Davor
Japanese carmaker Honda has unwrapped its concept Urban SUV at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, and the small crossover is an early hint of a new model that may roll out by 2013. Honda tags its concept vehicle with all the qualities that can help bring the brand to a new level in the small-SUV segment.
The Urban SUV has a length of 169.3 inches that makes it a few inches shorter of the current model of the CR-V and makes it a good choice for city dwellers. The hidden handles of the rear doors somehow give the ride a coupe-like styling while keeping the four-door functionality.
The concept sport utility vehicle will be joining the current lineup of Global Compact Series that includes the Honda City and the Honda Fit.
The subcompact SUV is set to head to the U.S. shores once it gets the go signal for production. It can be as early as 2014 with hints that it will put spotlight n the Earth Dreams Technology of Honda that gives emphasis to fuel economy.
The Urban SUV will also sport the Magic Seat configuration that permits owners to arrange the seats so they can maximize the available space for passengers and cargo.
Given that connectivity is a major issue for the target market of the brand, Honda will throw in new telematics. The car manufacturer has not released details about the new technologies that will be seen in this SUV. The design of the interior might reflect the contemporary lines of the exterior.
Honda is planning to produce this new vehicle at its Celay, Mexico factory where the Fit is also being produced.
Tags: 2013, Detroit Auto Show, Honda, Urban SUV
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November 30, 2012 by Davor
At the 2011 SEMA, Chevrolet displayed a spruced up Sonic sedan dubbed as the Sonic Dusk. For the 2012 edition of the SEMA show, the carmaker brought the Sonic Dusk once again but this time, unveils it as a production model.
According to Chevy’s press release, the Sonic Dusk is a good example of how the brand is adapting their core products to suit the lifestyles of their customers. In the case of the Sonic Dusk, the designers spruced up the subcompact to have a classier exterior and interior.
While the Sonic RS is only sold as a hatchback, the 2013 Sonic Dusk will be marketed as a 4-door sedan. The designers installed a rear decklid and rocker sills to tweak the exterior. The car also gets a new grille with matte finish, 18-inch aluminum rims, and stainless-steel moldings for the lower window. The manufacturer dropped the high-performance brakes and suspension of the concept version as the car heads to the production line.
It is not yet clear if the car will only have the Ashen Gray finish as originally displayed. We are not sure if it will be like its sibling Camaro Dusk which was limited to have a Blue Ray Metallic finish only. The Sonic RS is being offered with several color choices.
The Sonic Dusk will depend on a 1.4L turbocharged I-4 engine that gives out 138 horses and a torque of 148 lb-ft. The engine can be linked to either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox.
Chevrolet has yet to announce the pricing and launching of the Sonic Dusk. It will not be surprising to hear that it will be positioned above or just near the Sonic RS with a tag price of roughly $21K.
Tags: 2011 Sema Show, Camaro Dusk, Chevrolet, Sonic Dusk
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September 3, 2012 by Davor
After its proposal to tinker with the Ferrari 458 italia coupe, the British tuning firm now turns its eyes on the Spider version of the sports car. The 458 Italia Spider features an aluminum roof that rolls out from the buttresses.
Seeing the pictures released by Kahn, the only really noticeable changes made by the guys from Kahn are the new forged rims by Monza. They installed 21 inches in front and 22 inches at the back and kept the original Ferrari wheel caps.
According to the press release of the company though, they did something with the front and rear fascias of the vehicle. They also improved the wing shields, brakes, and upgraded the gearbox. They also installed yellow brake calipers to give the car an even more eye-catching presence on the asphalt.
It is hard to tell about the enhancements done by the tuning firm on the front portion and rear section of the vehicle based on the released media. We also cannot notice the wing shields.
The company also mentions how it can customize the interior to match the colors of the buyer’s favorite business or sports team. The design come with the emblems or crests that can be incised on the seats of the 458 Italia Spider.
Tags: 458 Italia Spider, Ferrari, Ferrari 458 Italia Coupe, Kahn Design
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May 24, 2012 by Davor
The new G-Series saloon will also sport petrol and diesel engines by Mercedes as it rolls out this year. The new vehicle which is set to rival the likes of the BMW 3-Series is very important member of the luxury arm of Nissan as they try to achieve their targets in the European market.
The current models of the G-Series make use of a 3.7L V-6 powerplant which struggles in the European market where 4-cylinder diesel vehicles rule.
The new G-Series will be sporting the new design lines of the range which was recently previewed on their concept vehicle Emerg-E.
Infiniti aims to deliver about 500,000 units across their global market in 2016. Last year, the brand sold about 145,000 vehicles. The sales in the UK were only 500 vehicles but the upcoming G-Series and the A3 competitor will be leading the charge of the brand to boost the numbers in the UK to about 20,000 units come 2016.
The brand will also have more dealers by 2016. They are planning to expand their network to 230 dealers from just 55 four years from now. Just for next year, Infiniti will add about 35 more dealers to their network.
The brand is also hoping for better awareness of consumers about the Infiniti lineup and that is their goal when they decided to sponsor the Red Bull F1 racing team. They will also be a big sponsor at the upcoming Goodwood Festival next month where they will showcase two units of the Emerg-E.
Tags: infiniti g-series, mercedes engines
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February 28, 2012 by Davor
Mercedez-Benz recently released official pictures of the new A-Class as a preview prior to the official unveiling during the auto show in Geneva this March. The newest photo showcases the media system of the new Mercedes A-Class which can be integrated with an iPhone.
The German car manufacturer aims to get the attention of the younger consumers with the use of their Digital Kit Plus paired with the DriveStyle App. Mercedes is aims to get a slice of the patrons of the 1 Series of BMW and the A3 of Audi.
The system provides connectivity using the iPhone and has social media in the center of the system. Consumers will have access on their Facebook, Twitter, emails, contacts, and libraries of music. The entertainment system will also have internet radio that is similar in function with the Genius tool of Apple which allows personalization and organization of your music.
The navigation system is provided by Garmin mapping plus traffic updates streamed over the internet.
Other functions come with voice recognition that comes Siri style. This allows the user to use a conversational tone to handle calls, make appointments, check the weather, news, and other information.
The digital media setup will be available as option for Mercedes A-Class buyers and will cost 150 quids. The system will be offered as supplement to the Audio 20 which is the standard system for Mercedes, and enhancement for the Comand multimedia system. The Comand setup cost 1995 quids. Most buyers though might just opt for the DriveStyle since most already own an iPhone.
The DriveStyle will first be rolled out on the next gen A-Class and then the other ranges will follow suit before the end of this year.
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December 2, 2011 by Davor
There is nothing better than rolling up in a new car, which is not only sensational to look at both on the road and the track, but also has the added bonus of being rare and exotic compared to cars in a similar group that would be more commonly seen. Although some of these cars are truly exceptional machines, and offer excellent performance and an amazing driving experience, some of the joy may be wiped away when the insurance bill for the vehicle arrives.
There is no doubt that the insurance rates for some of the more stunning vehicles can be truly jaw dropping, and in some instances can be enough to pay for a reasonable 
car simply by the insurance costs, but this is not to say that the more exotic cars aren’t worth the cost because sometimes it can be an amazing investment, and offer so much more from the driving experience that it is worth the additional cost.
It is important, however, that those who are looking to buy exotic cars are aware of the costs which may be incurred by purchasing the car along with just the price of the vehicle itself, so if money is a problem then checking out some insurance quotes before actually buying the car might be a smart idea.
One of the main reasons that the insurance premiums are so high for more exotic vehicles is actually related to the cost of repairs to such vehicles. Because of the rarity or parts for sports cars or other imports, it can be more expensive to actually get hold of these for repairs, and it can also be harder to find a specialist mechanic who is qualified to repair such cars.
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Tags: Car Insurance, Sports Cars
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November 22, 2011 by Davor
The Audi Q3was tagged as the safest vehicle compared to other rides in its category as it garners 5 stars from the Euro NCAP safety ratings. The 2012 Q3 aced all the tests for the safety of adults and children during frontal, side, and rear collisions as well as pedestrian protection.
The new Audi Q3 will have front-side airbags and curtain-side airbags and full power assists. There will also be seatbelt reminders for the occupants in front and passengers on the rear seat.
When it comes to pedestrian safety, the Audi Q3 gets daytime lights which improves visibility of the vehicle especially for people on the road.
The vehicle is also equipped with Electronic Stability Program or ESP that comes with side impact and active lane assistance.
The 2012 Audi Q3 has a tag price of £ 24,560 featuring a ton of automotive innovations and technologies. The sale of the 2012 Q3 starts this month with engine options including the 2.0 TFSI that gives out 170 PS and a 2.0 TDI that produces 140 PS. A six-speed manual transmission comes as standard for the two engines.
The 2.0 TDI with an output of 177 PS and 2.0 TFSI which produces 211 PS is paired with the 7-speed S tronic gearbox.
Watch the Audi Q3 video below as it goes thru the crash test:
Tags: audi q3, NCAP Safety rating
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September 28, 2011 by Davor
American sports cars have always had a certain reputation for sheer power, and when it comes to considering what is delivered in the SSC Aero, there is nothing here to dispel that myth, with the highest specification model in the range actually boasting the title of the fastest production car in the world, with a top speed recorded of over 256 mph. However, it isn’t just pure grunt that has made the Aero so popular, but fortunately it is also a very attractive car too, which makes the overall package a much more appealing proposition.
One of the things that makes the Aero such a good car is that it hasn’t actually been designed purely to achieve speed, although this is certainly one of the priorities that has been at the forefront of the minds of the production team. 
Good handling and an attractive design have made the Aero a very attractive car to look at, and the innovative butterfly style of doors are also good for the overall look of the car, and make for a more dramatic exit when parking up at the kerb.
Another of the features that has made the SSC Aero a popular production car is that it avoids going for the more traditional driver aids such as traction control and ABS brakes, and actually lets the driver take full control of the vehicle, and make a very pared back sports car that is definitely at the forefront of performance statistics.
At the forefront of the promotion of the SSC Aero are the achievements in terms of the top speed, and they have competed with the Bugatti Veyron over recent years, and succeeded in taking the Guinness Book of Records verified title in 2007, but although 256 mph is exceptionally fast, the manufacturers themselves believe that the top end models in the Aero range have the potential to go even faster, with muted whispers of 300mph as a potential target.
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Tags: Shelby SuperCars, Sports Cars, SSC Aero
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August 7, 2011 by Davor
When it comes to cars that grow to fit a specific image, there is no doubt that the Mini Cooper is a car, which is quintessentially British, and is a vehicle which not only has millions of fans worldwide, but has also had so many famous fans down the years too. The car stemmed from the friendship of the owner of BMC which manufactured the Mini, and John Cooper who was himself an owner of a car firm who wanted to take the small and nimble Mini and to upgrade it so that it was possible to compete the mini in rally and other racing events.
It was this collaboration which led to John Cooper actually leading a redesign of the Mini to two different sized and sportier engines, with the top end car being given the letter S to indicate the more powerful model. Although there were only a limited number of the vehicles produced originally, their popularity grew so quickly that thousands more were produced in order to keep up with the demand for the cars.
The small and compact design and the inexpensive nature of the Mini was one of the success stories of British motoring, but the revamp that was led by John Cooper to give greater performance and leading to its inclusion in many rallies proved to be a great boost, with three victories in four years in the Monte Carlo rally in the 1960s being particularly noteworthy.
However, for most people who think about the Mini Cooper, it is usually the influence that the car has held within popular culture which people will refer to first, and foremost among these inclusions is the film ‘The Italian Job’, where three Mini Coopers were used in the making of the film which was typified by the classic Michael Caine line ‘You’re only meant to blow the bloody doors off’. Another film role for the Mini Cooper is also to be found in British detective spoof Austin Powers, where the Britishness of the character is emphasized by the use of the Mini.
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Tags: BMW, Mini, Mini Cooper
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June 5, 2011 by Davor
When it comes to iconic sports cars, there is nothing that is more easily identifiable and enduring than the Porsche 911, and although it is a model which has been manufactured for close to 50 years, it is a car, which is as relevant and desirable today as it was back in the 60s. There have been so many great variants of the Porsche 911 over the years, and both cabriolet and souped up versions have also been produced to great acclaim, but the balance between performance and good looks is where the 911 has become great, and helped to develop an almost unrivaled reputation.
The curving bonnet and circular headlights are still the most noticeable features about the design of the car today, much as it was in the 1960s, but although today’s 911′s certainly look somewhat sleeker and more stylish, there is no denying 
that even the models produced back in the beginning still look good. The design has really changed very little in terms of the overall shape of the car, and the distinctive look of the 911 from the front is still identifiable when comparing the original models with those that have just rolled off the production line.
One of the things that many people forget about the Porsche 911 is that it can actually boast quite a significant racing pedigree, with models having achieved success in races from the Le Mans 24hr race all the way through to events such as hill climbs and even rallying have seen the distinctive 911 beating off the competition. Most people will simply think of the 911 in its road going incarnation, but it is worth remembering that there is plenty of sporting expertise that has been used in developing these sport cars.
Because of its traditional design and the stylish desirability of the car, the Porsche 911 has appeared in large numbers of different TV shows and movies over the years, and many fictional characters have found themselves behind the wheel of a 911. The car may have developed a reputation during the 80s especially as a car for those who like to draw attention, but it is still a vehicle that has so much to offer the driver both in terms of the experience and the handling of the car.
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Tags: Porsche, Porsche 911, Sports Cars
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Japanese carmaker Honda has unwrapped its concept Urban SUV at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, and the small crossover is an early hint of a new model that may roll out by 2013. Honda tags its concept vehicle with all the qualities that can help bring the brand to a new level in the small-SUV segment. 
