Archive for July, 2011
2011 Lexus LS
Posted on 29. Jul, 2011 by admin.
The 2011 Lexus LS is the Japanese premium marque’s flagship sedan rival to established executive mobiles like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series and the Audi A8, the latter receiving a complete redesign for the 2011 model year. In this company you’d think the Lexus would have a hard time competing but to the contrary, the LS is…
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2012 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger to Get 31 MPG Highway
Posted on 29. Jul, 2011 by admin.
There have been many developments coming out of Chrysler over the past few weeks: The automaker paid off its government loans, launched a stand-alone SRT8 brand and are now majority owned by Italian carmaker Fiat.
In a presentation discussing these recent developments, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne spilled the beans on another tidbit: The company’s large rear-wheel-drive sedans will top the previously stated 30 mpg highway figure.
Both the upcoming 2012 Chrysler 300 and the 2012 Dodge Charger are estimated to get 31 mpg on the highway when mated with the new eight-speed automatic transmission. The 31 mpg figure will be for the rear-wheel-drive 300 and Charger with the 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar engine, Marchionne said.
Chrysler’s CEO says the new transmission is “very advanced,” and includes a total of five clutches, with only two open in any gear for low parasitic losses. The transmission will be able to handle a maximum engine speed of 7,200 rpm.
Marchionne reiterated that a nine-speed automatic transmission will follow for front-wheel-drive cars in 2013.
We’ll have a full report on the new eight-speeds and how they perform next month.
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BMW i8 Plug-In Hybrid Sports Coupe And i3 Electric City Car: Live Photos
Posted on 29. Jul, 2011 by admin.
Our colleague John Voelcker of GreenCarReports is on the scene for the unveiling of the new BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports coupe and i3 electric city car in Frankfurt today, and he’s sent us these live images from the event. Jump into the gallery for a more first-hand look at these slick new concepts, expected to hint more closely at the final…
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2011 Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix Preview
Posted on 29. Jul, 2011 by admin.
This weekend is set to be another scorcher for motorsports fans, with both the Spa 24 Hours endurance race and the 2011 Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix taking place during the next 48 hours. While we’ll try to catch both races, our eyes will mostly be on the race in Budapest to see whether McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton will be able to repeat his…
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Repairing Car Tough for 9-to-5 Workers
Posted on 29. Jul, 2011 by admin.
Finding time to repair your car, especially when it’s your only car, can be tough. Like scheduling a doctor’s or dentist’s appointment or — heaven forbid — trying to get your driver’s license renewed, getting these services done can be next to impossible if you’re single and work conventional hours, as Detroit News columnist Melissa Preddy can attest.
After a recent mishap with her car’s air-conditioning system, Preddy wondered why there aren’t more after-hours or overnight auto repair shops.
Sure, the logic seems sound, but many service shops have tested such a system and have failed, according to Preddy. There are some places that try and succeed, though. Preddy points to All Night Auto in Livonia, Mich., as a shining example of a business that runs long hours Monday through Sunday and can usually repair autos overnight. The shop sometimes will give its clients free rides to work.
Why don’t more shops offer such service? The problem is finding enough certified technicians that want to work late hours, and qualified technicians are hard to come by, according to the Detroit News. There are also issues with having enough spare parts around to run a repair shop for 15 hours a day.
Service shops that don’t offer after-hours service are at least trying to make waits more comfortable by offering Wi-Fi, lounge areas, cafes and salons. Depending on what you do for a living, you could even treat your scheduled car maintenance as a retreat from the office.
Late-night car repairs prove hard to find (The Detroit News)
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Volvo S80 Recalled For Power Steering Flaw
Posted on 29. Jul, 2011 by admin.
Volvo is issuing a recall for S80 sedans manufactured during the 2007 model year. The problem? A flaw in the power steering system that could result in a crash. Specifically, Volvo says that the power steering reservoir return hose on some 2007 S80s may have been incorrectly routed. As a result, pressure might build up in the hose, and if that…
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2012 Fiat 500 Gets Mopar Accessories
Posted on 29. Jul, 2011 by admin.
Owners of the Fiat 500 and new 500 Cabrio will be able to dress up their cars in quite a number of different ways, 150 different ways in fact, thanks to a number of accessories unveiled today by Chrysler’s official aftermarket division Mopar. The pint-sized Fiat is one of the most accessorized vehicles in Europe and the Italian automaker…
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2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid Review
Posted on 29. Jul, 2011 by admin.
The very notion of a Porsche SUV is preposterous, says Cars.com senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder. Even so, the automaker made the unlikely body style feel like a genuine Porsche sports car; the automaker managed to do the same with the four-door Panamera, too. It's unfortunate then that Porsche couldn’t quite work its magic with the hybrid version of the Cayenne, Wiesenfelder says.
2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid Review
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BMW i3 Concept: The Megacity Vehicle Finally Revealed
Posted on 29. Jul, 2011 by admin.
We’ve been reporting about BMW’s first production electric car for the past couple of years, but apart from an ambiguous teaser image there’s been few details released for BMW’s mysterious Megacity Vehicle, the carbon fiber infused i3. Well, all that has changed now as the German automaker has revealed today the first…
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BMW i8 Concept: 78 MPG And 0-60 MPH In Under 5 Seconds
Posted on 29. Jul, 2011 by admin.
BMW is working on a whole new range of eco-focused models falling under its recently established i brand, with everything from electric scooters to plug-in hybrid supercars planned. The first of these is to be an electric minicar called the i3, a car many of you will recognize as the long-awaited production Megacity Vehicle. However, the flagship…
