RPMGO Car Blog |
- 2011 Ford Focus Electric – does it look familiar?
- Lamborghini LP 700-4 – New Details Emerge
- In Depth – Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
- Initial Review: 2012 Infiniti M35h
- Driving The 2011 Audi Q7 TDI
- 2012 Chevrolet Sonic Officially Revealed
- Top 50 Worst Cars In All History PART 1
| 2011 Ford Focus Electric – does it look familiar? Posted: 10 Jan 2011 05:25 AM PST As any self respecting car maker, Ford is planning to release an electric car this year. It’ll be available only in 2013, but Ford is pretty set on making a swell car.  Ford Focus Electric Since they’re going for green, Ford promises to use plenty of eco-friendly materials in the making of this emissions free vehicle. At the heart of the Focus Electric lies an advanced lithium-ion battery system engineered by Ford in cooperation with LG Chem. If you’re wondering about the delivery date, it’s 2013 for North America and Europe, so don’t hold your breath.  Ford Focus Electric But aside form all the tech stuff, there is something that bothers me. As an Aston Martin fan, I cannot help noticing the striking resemblance between Ford Electric’s front and the signature Aston grill. Sure the lines are pretty, but seriously guys, that’s all you can do?  Ford Focus Electric Source: Conceptcarz. Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Lamborghini LP 700-4 – New Details Emerge Posted: 10 Jan 2011 03:27 AM PST  Lamborghini LP 700-4 Lamborghini has recently unveiled new information about the 700-4 model (most likely to be called "Aventador") which will be the successor of the Murcielago. The new info regarding the car is in its body and chassis construction which will be made entirely from carbon fiber. In order to accomplish this, the company teamed up with Boeing Corp. and the University of Washington for creating this material. The body and the frame of the car feature a stiffness of 35,000 Nm per degree of deflection. This is more impressive than the stiffness found on supercars like the Koenigsegg CCR (28,100 Nm), the iconic Ferrari F50 (34,600 Nm) and way better than the outgoing model, the Murcielago (20,000 Nm). As said in previous entries, the car will be equipped with an upgraded engine that will have a different bore and stroke and will be able to output 700 PS and 690 Nm. The engine will be linked to a 7-speed automatic (single clutch with dual synchronizers) transmission, developed by Graziano Trasmissioni Group. When in "Corsa" mode, the shift times are just 50 miliseconds, a little bit more than a F1 car (40 ms).  Lamborghini LP 700-4 All these goodies come in only a 3,472 pounds package which will allow the car to reach 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, onto a top speed of 217 mph. The car will be officially unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show which will take place in March. Once it will be launched, we will offer all the info. Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| In Depth – Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Posted: 10 Jan 2011 02:53 AM PST  2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible After a couple of annoying delays, the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible is finally available and the wait was worth it. Four years ago Chevrolet showed us the Camaro Convertible Concept, a year later after the original Camaro Concept. They planned since then a convertible version but due to bankruptcy issues, the production model was unfortunately postponed. After the crisis has passed, sun worshipers can now enjoy the Camaro Convertible if they can afford it, of course. Taking the recipe from the standard Camaro, the convertible version sounds better, is better and is more fun to drive than the original model. It was a risky business for Chevrolet to remove the roof of the Camaro and at the same time maintain the car's eccentric look, but somehow they did it. In the coupe version, the roof of the car is pulled in tight over the massive flat rear fenders while for the convertible model, the roof meets the haunches in a more natural way and fills the space on the rear deck better. A neat trick is the AM/FM antenna which hides in the rear spoiler, maintaining the smooth look of the roof. At the moment the roof is available in black and tan, but later on the manufacturer will introduce other colors as well. Of course, driving without the roof improves the driver's visibility greatly and even more interesting is that with the roof up; the Camaro convertible is easier to see out of than its coupe sibling. Just as you have might expected, the rear window of the car is considerably smaller, but in actual visibility you wouldn't notice it that much. The downside is that from the windshield forward, the convertible is identical to the coupe which means that those huge A-pillars are still there and you will have some trouble looking through the corner. The visibility is quite low but those A-pillars are necessary for the rollover protection. You will forget about this downside once the wind is in your hair. In order to remove the roof, you need to grab the single center-installed latch, then pull it down and twist it to the right. After that, you need to push and hold the roof-control switch which is conveniently located nearby and let the car take care of the rest. It should take about 16 seconds to go topless. In order to have the necessary space for all of the roof parts, the trunk space has been lowered to 10.2 cubic feet in comparison to the 11.3 offered by the coupe version. If you decide to fold the roof, you will only have 7.9 cubic feet of space. A similar feature that you can find in the Cadillac XLR is the pull-out screen that is capable of protecting the soft roof from your cargo. A more difficult chore is putting the roof back on the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible. If you have got the $200 optional tonneau cover in place, it must go back in that tiny trunk. After that, the roof needs to come up and it will do so in about 25 seconds.  2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible The Camaro Convertible uses a front suspension consisting of struts, coil springs and an anti-roll bar while for the back it has coil springs and also an anti-roll bar. To stop it, Chevy engineers equipped the Camaro with 14-inch vented discs in the front and 14.4-inch vented discs for the back wheels. The car rolls on 8×20-inch wheels in the front and 9×20-inch rims in the back, covered by Pirelli PZero 245/40ZR20 103Y / 275/40ZR20. People over at Chevy claim that their Camaro Convertible is stiffer than the highly-acclaimed BMW 3-Series Convertible; we will let you decide that. The Camaro packs new V-braces under the front and rear of the vehicle, a new front shock tower brace, a new transmission brace and a new sheer panel situated below the driveshaft. All of the additional parts, including the ones for the folding roof, added 253 pounds to the overall weight of a car that was already quite hefty. The good side is that the weight distribution is now closer to the 50:50 magic ratio. Driving the car you will not notice the extra weight of the convertible and it feels just about the same as the coupe model. People over at Chevrolet said that they have been working very hard at improving the car's handling for both of the configurations. Both models benefit from updated damper settings for less understeer and better on-center feel. The downside is that this additional weight is felt in the engine performance because the SS V8-powered model will do the 0-60 mph sprint in 4.9 seconds which is 0.2 more than the coupe version. The good thing about the added weight is that the car feels more planted while driving in comparison to the coupe and it is more deliberate while cornering. This confidence during driving always allows a better driving experience. Although the Camaro Convertible might be fashionably late in this segment, the timing is just perfect for it. We are very curious to see how well this new model will sell if we take into consideration that it will only be available in the LT and SS trims and not in the entry-level LS. This means that the base price of the car will be $30,000 for the one powered with the V6 engine and $37,500 for the more powerful V8 engine. This means that the Camaro convertible is $2,000 more expensive than the Ford Mustang convertibles. Probably this difference in price tag will not affect sales, taking into consideration the fact that Camaro coupe buyers are already paying $500 more in comparison to Mustang buyers. According to the EPA ratings, the 2011 Camaro Convertible it will do 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. CO2 emissions stand at 1.03 lb/mile. All things considered, it is without any doubt one of the most interesting convertibles of this year. Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Initial Review: 2012 Infiniti M35h Posted: 10 Jan 2011 01:52 AM PST  2012 Infiniti M35h The Infinity M35h (Nissan Fuga Hybrid in Japan) is the company's first hybrid of the 21st century. Back in 1999, the company launched the Tino hybrid, following Toyota into the hybrid automotive era. Although it had a lithium-ion battery pack which put Nissan ahead of rival Toyota, the Tino was made in only 100 units which was just a splash in the ocean and the model was not relevant enough in order to put the company on the hybrid car map. Later on, Nissan borrowed Toyota's technology and made a hybrid version of the Altima which was a stopgas measure. Design-wise, there are no differences between the standard Infiniti M, except for the chrome-coated 18-inch alloy rims. The car will rival with the BMW 5-Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, once it will be available at dealerships starting with this spring. It will be Infiniti's first production hybrid car. The model is fitted with Nissan's 3.5-liter engine as well as one electric motor / two-clutch parallel hybrid system that the company refers to as "intelligent dual clutch control." This system is clever enough to combine a significant number of environmental technologies. Both the V6 engine and the electric motor are linked to a 7-speed electronic transmission that has a manual shift mode for old-fashioned drivers. The concept is similar to the one found in the Cayenne Hybrid from Porsche, but Nissan did not implement a torque converter which means that although it can provide better fuel economy figures, it will also produce more noticeable shift shock. Initially the company wanted to use the V6 3.6-liter power unit for the M Hybrid, but after searching for the optimal combination between fuel economy and power, they chose the 3.5-liter engine.  2012 Infiniti M35h Once you start the engine of the car you basically won't hear a thing, similar to most of the modern hybrids. The car packs enough power comparable with a V8 engine as the 302 hp / 258 pound-feet of torque @ 5,000 rpm offered by the V6 along with the 67 hp / 200 pound-feet of the electric motor, allow it to reach 60 mph in only 5.5 seconds which is quicker than most of the large V8-powered sedans. The car is almost quiet like a Lexus but feels like a true Infiniti – refined yet very sporty. The Infiniti M35h offers a pleasurable drive thanks to its double wishbone suspension with four-wheel active steering. With almost perfect weight distribution and a highly rigid chassis, the car is a delight to drive. Although it may sound like a bold statement, the M35h is the most fun to drive in the hybrid class.  2012 Infiniti M35h Similar with the all of the electric and hybrids cars available at the moment, the car is equipped with the AVSP– Approaching Vehicles Sound for Pedestrians feature that sounds from takeoff until the car reaches 20 mph in order to alert hearing impaired people as well as children when the car is running in EV mode. Other worth-mentioning features are the Bose 10-way sound system and the "forest air" climate control system. The car will do 25 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway, according to manufacturer estimates and the CO2 emissions stand at 0.72/mile (estimates). The estimated base price for the 2012 Infiniti M35h is $53,000. Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Posted: 10 Jan 2011 01:21 AM PST  2011 Audi Q7 TDI The Audi Q7 TDI is one of the few vehicles that were able to change the perception that diesel-powered cars are stinky, crude and black smoke-spewers. The 2011 model is better than its predecessor and the biggest improvement is the 8-speed automatic gearbox which replaces the 6-speed unit from the 2010 model. With this new gearbox, the Q7 shifts more smoothly and seamless. The engine is the same as before and still is capable of offering a pleasurable drive. Although it is a diesel, once you fire it up, you will not be bothered by the noise which is very perceptible in other diesel-powered cars. Upon start you can barely hear it and it gets even more silent as the power unit warms up. The TDI engine offers 406 pound-feet of torque at only 1750 rpm which means that you will not have to hit the gas pedal very hard to pass in traffic or accelerate. The steering of this SUV is typical for an Audi as it offers all the accuracy you could want without feeling even a bit nervous. The car will do just fine on straight roads and on highways but once you take it for some off-road adventure; the Q7 will feel like an athletic sedan that packs lots of torque. The 2011 Audi Q7 TDI will do 0-60 mph in 8.6 seconds which isn't very bad taking into consideration the fact that its gas-powered brother (4.2-liter V8) will do it in 7.6 seconds. The 2011 model is 27 pounds easier than the 2010 VW Touareg TDI, despite the fact that it has a third row of seats. Although the VW is a little bit heavier, it is in fact faster than the Audi as the Touareg will do the 0-60 mph sprint in 8.1 seconds. If you are not interested in the TDI versions of the Q7, your gas-powered choices are the V6 3.0-liter that outputs 272 hp (which replaced the 3.6-liter V6) and the more powerful supercharged V6 3.0-liter (which replaced the 4.2-liter V8) that churns 333 hp, both linked to an 8-speed automatic gearbox.  2011 Audi Q7 TDI Interior Interior-wise, the 2011 Q7 TDI from Audi comes with high-quality leather, comfortable and supportive seats as well as a clean layout. For the new model, the SUV packs a panorama roof and HD radio. The A-pillars are a little bit thick and will reduce the front side visibility but nothing to serious. If you haven't been inside a Q7 you will have problems opening the glovebox as there is no lever or handle. The glovebox can be opened by pushing a button located next to the MMI / navigation screen. Inside it you will find a useful iPod connection. With this engine, the Q7 TDI will do 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway and has a fuel range of about 660 miles. It is without any doubt, a modern SUV that handles very well and is both fast and efficient while at the same time keeping the engine noise to a minimum.  2011 Audi Q7 TDI All of these goodies come at a considerable price. The entry-level model costs $51,450 and comes with 19-inch rims with all-season tires, Audi Parking System, chrome accent package with full paint finish, power tailgate, 7-passenger seating, leather seating surfaces, heated 12-way power front seats, LED taillights, HomeLink universal remote, Bluetooth mobile phone preparation and HomeLink universal remote control. The Premium Plus trim will set you back $57,450 and offers MMI Navigation plus, BOSE Surround Sound, Audi parking system plus with rearview camera, Audi Xenon plus headlights with automatic self-leveling and integrated LED daytime running lights, driver memory and panorama sunroof. The top-of-the-line model is the Prestige and packs 20-inch rims with all-season tires, adaptive headlights, advanced key, side assist, ventilated front seats, warm weather package and power adjustable steering column. The Prestige trim is available for $63,450. Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| 2012 Chevrolet Sonic Officially Revealed Posted: 10 Jan 2011 12:41 AM PST  2012 Chevrolet Sonic After some preliminary info, the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic has been officially revealed, both in sedan and hatchback configurations. It will go up against the Ford Fiesta and the Hyundai Elantra once it will be available at dealerships. In comparison with the Blue Oval model, the Sonic offers more room for the backseat passengers and also more cargo room thanks to its rear bench folded flat design. The production of the Sonic will begin later this year at GM's Orion Assembly Center in Michigan, USA. Design-wise, the new model is quite different from the Aveo predecessor as now it has a more aggressive front look with generous headlight arrays. Inside the car will get better materials in comparison to the cheap materials you find in the outgoing model. The "Aveo" badge will still be carried for the European-spec model. One of the engines available for the new model from Chevrolet includes the efficient 1.4-liter turbo Ecotec capable of outputting 138 hp (103 kW), which is 18 hp (14 kW) more than the Ford Fiesta. According to the press release, it is the same power unit used on the Chevrolet Cruze in a lighter and smaller package. The engine is linked to a 6-speed manual gearbox. Some of the most important features of this Ecotec engine includes the electronically controlled thermostat, the variable-flow oil pump, chain-driven cams, piston-cooling oil jets and integrated oil cooler, roller-finger camshaft followers, dual overhead camshafts with VVT – variable valve timing and low-mass hollow-frame cast iron block. As standard, the car is fitted with an Ecotec 1.8-liter engine that is paired with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed automatic transmission.  2012 Chevrolet Sonic The car features as standard electronic power steering as well as StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover sensing technology. As far as connectivity is concerned, the Sonic pack 6-months Turn-by-Turn navigation, USB, Bluetooth, XM Satellite Radio as well as MyChevrolet mobile application with OnStar MyLink car connectivity. A few goodies that you won't see in many cars from this segment are the heated front seats, sunroof and remote start. Safety features consist of 10 airbags, electronic brake force distribution as well as brake assist with the Automatic Crash Response.  2012 Chevrolet Sonic Interior Look Inside the car you will find a detailed instrument cluster that has a round analog tachometer set within an asymmetrical LCD readout featuring a digital speedometer display. The tubular outboard climate outlets of the Sonic protrude from the instrument panel surface and the automatic shift knob features a "cobra head" look and for the cars fitted with manual transmission, the car has a chrome-finished knob. All of the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic models are offered with a MacPherson suspension in the front with a stabilizer bar and coil springs while in the back; the car is fitted with a semi-independent, torsion beam axle-mount compound link-type rear suspension that features a tubular robust "V"-shaped beam that has gas-chocked shocks. The car features power-assisted front disc brakes and drum brakes in the back. The four-channel ABS and the electronic power steering round up the safety features of the car. The Sonic is available with a rich array of rim sizes, including 17-inch wheels with sport tires. No pricing details have been revealed for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Top 50 Worst Cars In All History PART 1 Posted: 09 Jan 2011 11:49 PM PST  Horsey Horseless First, let's start with the Horsey Horseless created by Uriah Smith from Battle Creek, Michigan. As you can see from the picture (and it wasn't "fixed" in Photoshop) this (let's call it) car had a wooden head attached to the front in order to make it look like a horse and carriage. Smith suggested that this horse head should be hollow in order to contain volatile fuel, another brilliant idea in our opinion, wouldn't you say? I for one would like to see this so-called car for real, if there are any left as it isn't very clear if it was actually built. Also, I would like to meet someone that purchased this "car".  Ford Model T Here is a car that 99% will not agree as being suitable for this top – the Ford Model T. Yes we know that this is the car that put American on the wheels and so on. The "Tin Lizzy", who's mass-production technique, was discovered by William C. Klann, who visited a "disassembly line" of a slaughterhouse, gave Americans the chance to visit the country on four wheels. Nothing wrong you would say, no? However, putting all these aside, if it weren't for gas-powered vehicles, the air would be considerably fresher; the cities would not be suffocated by hundreds of thousands of cars and so on. Speaking of the Model T, it was a piece of junk with its crude instruments and body panels, think of it as a Yugo of its day.  Overland OctoAuto Now, here is a "looker", the Overland OctoAuto. Milton Reeves, the creator of this thing, didn't hear that the all cars should have four wheels because it's NORMAL. He must have had poor eyesight when he created the OctoAuto by welding in some bits to a 1910 Overland and by adding two more axles and four wheels. The car was presented at the first edition of Indianapolis 500. How many orders did he receive for this car? None of course! However, he didn't stop here because next year he made the Sextauto which had a 6-wheels / single front axle design that shared the same faith as the OctoAuto. Milton Reeves will remain in the history of the automotive world not because of these cars, but for the fact that he is considered the inventor of the muffler.  Scripps-Booth Bi-Autogo Who wouldn't like to drive a 3,200-lb motorcycle? If you could go back in the past, you could drive this awful Scripps-Booth Bi-Autogo (even the name is terrible). Let's not forget that it was powered by a V8 engine and it had training wheels. James Scripps-Both is the guy responsible for this monstrosity which is basically a two-wheeled vehicle that carries the 3,200-lb of weight on the 37-inch wooden wheels (the bling-bling of those days). The car will remain in history as being the first car powered by a V8 engine that was made in Detroit.  Briggs and Stratton Flyer Here is another vehicle that blew us away, the Briggs and Stratton Flyer. In the 20s, cars were no longer considered as a primitive experiment as Cadillac, Rolls-Royce and Hispano-Suiza were already making luxurious and potent vehicles that had the newest technical discoveries. This vehicle wasn't one of them. It was a motorized park bench on regular bicycle wheels. It had no windshield, no bodywork and no suspension! With its "massive" 2 hp engine and rear-wheel traction control, imagine what it was capable of doing, absolutely nothing. It was the 20s idea of the cheapest car, poorly implemented.  Fuller Dymaxion Fuller Dymaxion is the product of R. Buckminster Fuller, one of the nutjobs of the 20th century. Conceived as a flying automobile/drivable plane, it had inflatable wings and jet engines. This awful-looking thing was in fact a three-wheel ground-bound zeppelin that had an enormous levered A-arm carrying the rear wheel. The first one created died due to the wobbly rear wheel while the next two iterations were heavier, bigger and slightly more maneuverable. Another one was made and it featured a stabilizer fin on top but it didn't do anything to fix the instability in crosswinds. Its public appearance was doomed because of a fatal accident of unknown causes. Although it was a piece of crap, it remained one of the most futuristic cars of the 30s, along with other rear-engined vehicles like the KdF-wagen and the Tatra.  Chrysler/Desoto Airflow If it was launched 20 years later, it would have been a huge hit; we are talking about the Chrysler/Desoto Airflow. It had many engineering and design innovations including a steel-spaceframe construction, aerodynamic singlet-style fuselage, light weight construction and near 50:50 weight distribution. The first cars made had very severe engine problems which didn't made it very popular among Americans. Its appearance wasn't also very appealing to them which is why Chrysler changed the grill with one that had a more conventional design and the car also received a raised trunk, but it was too late.  Crosley Hotshot The first post-war American sports car was the Crosley Hotshot which was simply put, awful. With its 1,100 lbs weight and measuring 145 in. long, it was very slow and dangerous. Creator Powel Crosley Jr. fitted the car with a dual-overhead cam .75 liter 4-cylinder power unit that was brazed together from pieces of stamped tin.  Renault Dauphine The Renault Dauphine (it originally got the name Corvette) is considered by many one of the slowest cars of all time. People over at Road and Track took it for a "spin" and were able to reach 60 mph from start in "only" 32 seconds. Due to the fact that it was a very cheap car, it sold in more than 2 million units, although it was poorly constructed and very rust-prone.  King Midget Model III The King Midget Model I was launched in the late 40s and was sold as a $500 home-built kit, it was a very awful car, both inside and out. Introduced in '57, the Model III was powered by a 9 hp engine and still was a piece of junk. Luckily, Government safety standards ended its misery life. Post published on Rpmgo.com |
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