Archive for August, 2011
2012 Hyundai Azera: From About $32,000, Features Up To You
Posted on 30. Aug, 2011 by admin.
Officially, there’s no such thing as a 2012 Hyundai Azera. At least not yet, since the car is scheduled to make its official debut at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show. Between now and November, however, Hyundai wants customers to build their own Azera and answer a few questions about their upcoming automotive purchases. Hyundai is trying…
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2012 Hyundai Genesis Video
Posted on 30. Aug, 2011 by admin.
I was impressed by Hyundai’s upgraded engine offerings for the 2012 update of the Genesis sedan. You can read about all of them in my full review after checking out the video. Unfortunately, the changes outside the engine bay are so mild that it’s hard to tell with the naked eye.
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2012 Porsche 911 Seven-Speed Manual Shift Pattern: No Surprises Here
Posted on 30. Aug, 2011 by admin.
Rowing the gears in a manual-transmission car used to be so simple. Back in the old four-speed days, your forward gears formed an “H” pattern. Then came the five-speed gearbox, which put fifth gear to the right of third in an “H and a half pattern.” Next came the six-speed manual, which was really just a double…
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TRD Announces Upgrades For The Lexus IS F
Posted on 30. Aug, 2011 by admin.
Disregarding the unattainably-priced Lexus LFA, the Lexus IS F sports sedan is currently the automaker’s performance flagship, meant to counter cars like the BMW M3 and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. Although the IS F is a capable sport sedan right off the showroom floor, some owners want more performance from their cars, cost be damned. When…
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Audi R8 GT Spyder Walkaround: Video
Posted on 30. Aug, 2011 by admin.
The Audi R8 GT Spyder has been with us for a while but we still can’t get enough of it, and we hope you can’t either us as we’ve just dug up an official video walkaround of the sultry convertible. In case you missed our previous post, the R8 GT Spyder is a hardcore version of the already extreme R8 V10 Spyder, having shed more…
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2012 Lotus Exige Spy Shots
Posted on 30. Aug, 2011 by admin.
With Lotus recently announcing its Elise and Exige ‘Final Edition’ models for the U.S., the automaker from Hethel will soon have only the Evora in its lineup. That situation won’t last for long, however, as Lotus is working on a completely revamped Exige for the 2012 model year, and possibly an updated Elise too. The biggest…
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BMW Jumps On The Self-Driving Auto Pilot Bandwagon
Posted on 30. Aug, 2011 by admin.
BMW is the latest to announce that it is working on self-driving or ‘autonomous’ cars, revealing today a new prototype based on the 5-Series and packed with the automaker’s new “Highly Automated Driving” technology. Eventually, BMW hopes that its cars will be able to brake, accelerate and pass other vehicles all on…
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Could the Self-Inflating Tire Become a Reality?
Posted on 30. Aug, 2011 by admin.
Keeping your tires properly inflated is vital to maintaining the right performance, safety and fuel economy targets for your car. It’s ironic, then, that something so important is often left to the driver’s discretion — remember, too much or too little tire pressure can lead to problems. The new mandatory tire pressure monitoring systems help, but wouldn’t it be easier if tire pressure were perfectly regulated on its own?
Goodyear has been working on just such a solution, and it came up with a tire design that can keep tires properly inflated at all times.
Self-regulating tires are not new — most large semi-trucks have them, the New York Times reports. The difference here is rather than using an external air pump and pressure valve — something that would look odd on a passenger car — the mechanism lies within the tire itself.
The miniature pump and other components would automatically regulate the air pressure, maintaining the proper specifications for the given vehicle.
Right now Goodyear doesn’t know when (or if) the technology would be marketable, but if it can be sold to the public, it could make a big impact on the nation’s gasoline use. And the first applications would likely be in semi-trucks, not passenger cars.
One out of three cars has severely underinflated tires, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Underinflated tires can reduce fuel economy between 2.5% and 3.3% in passenger cars and commercial trucks. At today’s prices, that equates to 12 cents wasted per gallon of gas, Goodyear says.
Improperly inflated tires also increase a vehicle’s stopping distance and affect the ride and handling and long-term life of the tires.
Related
Cars.com’s Guide to Tire Maintenance
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Alfa Romeo 4C, Toyota Smashes EV Record, Mercedes SLA In the Works: Today’s Car News
Posted on 30. Aug, 2011 by admin.
The Alfa Romeo 4C stunned us at its original debut back at March’s 2011 Geneva Motor Show, and now it’s set to do it all over again at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show in just two weeks’ time. [MotorAuthority] We drive the 2012 Ford Focus Titanium in New York. [GreenCarReports] Houston has followed the lead of L.A. and removed all…
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BMW Jumps On The Self-Driving Auto Pilot Technology Bandwagon
Posted on 30. Aug, 2011 by admin.
BMW is the latest to announce that it is working on self-driving or ‘autonomous’ cars, revealing today a new prototype based on the 5-Series and packed with the automaker’s new “Highly Automated Driving” technology. Eventually, BMW hopes that its cars will be able to brake, accelerate and pass other vehicles all on…
