29May
With a 40-pound reduction, the new Lambo Gallardo is truly a muscle car in its own class with its new V10 power plant pushing 552hp, and the permanent all wheel drive its a sight for sores eyes in the dismal car sales market. With an updated E-gear sequential transmission, it makes for faster shifts that pushes performance to a new level. The suspension has been revised for improved handling with more aggressive aerodynamics derived from the million dollar limited release Reventn. Brakes have power vacuum aluminum alloy calipers sporting ventilated steel rotors or the optional carbon ceramic type for further weight reduction. The price tag sits at more than $200,000 which is nice for the performance and handling gained from its predecessor last year.
25May
The previous release was kind of deemed under-powered, but watch out for this latest installment from Aston Martin with the engine displacement increased from 4.3 to 4.7 liters pushing power to 420hp at 346lb-ft of torque. The engine change gave it a power increase of around 11 to 15 % from the previous release making it faster and nimbler on the road. With either a sport shift or manual transmission, the modified clutch system and flywheel design increases engine response considerably. A new steering geometry and aerodynamics makes for faster response to the drivers input to tame this monster of a car. The Sports Pack upgrades and reduces weight further making available more of the engine’s power for the road featuring a revised rear anti-roll bar, up rated springs, re-tuned dampers and super lightweight aluminum alloy wheels. The Vantage is truly music to a car lover’s ear at full throttle screaming at 180 miles per hour.
21May
The term sports car is supposed to mean the perfect combination of power, weight and speed at the proper proportions that makes a car a true legend in its own right. The term has been used to name almost all types of cars from the best to the worst ones in the past years. Most don’t even get out of the prototype phase due to budgetary cuts and the down spiraling car market sales projections but Europeans are well known for their extravagance and of course power. The Lotus Elise SC is a representation of that proper mix of all the necessary traits that makes a sport scar. With its transverse mid-engine configuration, it has the weight and power where it is most advantageous. Sporting unequal length wishbones and gas damping, coil springs and anti-sway bars for improved handling and performance on the road. While sporting only a 1.8 liter DOHC inline engine with a roots type turbocharger, the power and weight ratio was so perfectly matched it takes you to 150mph (limited by on-board electronics so the top speed is higher).
17May
With Volkswagen trying to get more into diversity, the Tiguan is their drive into the compact SUV market that has quite a unique name to match. Coming in two versions, one for dedicated off-road and one for regular duty, the Tiguan has been seen and proven to be a capable off-road SUV with its all wheel drive system managing mud and sand with extreme ease. Loaded more with the trademarks of the Golf, most pf the major characteristics of the Tiguan is fully Volkswagen, a firm ride and responsive steering makes for one stable well-designed vehicle. With a diesel version sporting a TSI engine, equipped with both a supercharger and turbo charger 2.0 liter engine, you get all the power you need it when you need it most. Though the vehicle isn’t a speedster, it has the speed to perform when asked to in its designed role.
13May
US manufacturers have started to introduce European versions of their all time classics in order to expand their reach farther into the European car market. Europe has been known for their extremely powerful cars that have attitudes like the Mercedes, Ferrari’s and others but US auto manufacturers are starting to catch some of the action. European versions of American classics are signs that US manufacturers might be seeking a more diverse product line that would cater to local tastes as in Europe and Asia. Known for their expensive high performance cars, Europeans have started to take in brands form other countries as they tend to be cheaper to use and maintain.
09May
The Hybrid division of Toyota has reported an increase of sales by as much as 29% int he European theater which may be due to issues with gas prices and supply. Hybrids have steadily gained ground and even some older technologies like diesel that have been re-engineered to become cleaner lessening the impact on the environment. The Toyota’s Camryand Prius series has also seen an increase of 18% which gives credence to the technology which has been proven in the US for quite sometime. Toyota has promised to top the competition as the world’s largest car manufacturer and they have done so during this year with many US firms going down in terms of sales due to the slowing US economy.
05May
Came upon this story from another European Car Blog and the guy may have a point in his concept of suggesting that if people get tested on the reality-TV show Survivor, why shouldn’t our cars go through the same rigorous tests to see who really kicks ass in terms of performance.We hear all about these product certifications and safety testing stuff that are all done in the lab, yet as all drivers know, specifications are specifications written in paper and nothing beats a road test than any other lab testing procedure. That’s why we still have Volkswagen bugs and revived Mini-Coopers for they have withstood the test of time and that’s the kind of test we need for our cars. The rigors of everyday driving can never be duplicated in a laboratory and it takes time for issues to come up (which may take years).Sure they have all the technology and other safety stuff crammed into one neat car but would that technology stand up for the true test of life on the road.
01May
Current trends are showing that Europeans are going more into diesel powered cars and vehicles followed by Hybrids rather than stick with gasoline models due to high gas prices. With yesterday’s high of $126.00/barrel of crude, that would be a huge increase in terms of processed petroleum products that would be reflected at gas pump prices. Many have resorted to either hybrids or diesel with many auto makers following demand with release of diesel powered cars and trucks for the market.The European auto market has had an increase of 25% for hybrids and more for diesel powered ones due to cheaper fuel. Other options such as Ethanol and other biofuels have not caught up as much as they have in the US and for good reason, with Europe not having much in terms of grain production capabilities, they would have to import ethanol from foreign sources.
With a 40-pound reduction, the new Lambo Gallardo is truly a muscle car in its own class with its new V10 power plant pushing 552hp, and the permanent all wheel drive its a sight for sores eyes in the dismal car sales market. With an updated E-gear sequential transmission, it makes for faster shifts that pushes performance to a new level. The suspension has been revised for improved handling with more aggressive aerodynamics derived from the million dollar limited release Reventn. Brakes have power vacuum aluminum alloy calipers sporting ventilated steel rotors or the optional carbon ceramic type for further weight reduction. The price tag sits at more than $200,000 which is nice for the performance and handling gained from its predecessor last year.
