2011 Honda CR-Z Overview

Vehicle Highlights

The 2011 Honda CR-Z is a new, sport-themed gas/electric hybrid from this Japanese automaker. CR-Z is a 2-passenger, 2-door hatchback that comes in Base and uplevel EX trims. It shares some elements of its basic design with the Honda Fit subcompact car and Honda Insight hybrid 4-door. Its sole engine is a 1.5-liter gasoline 4-cylinder engine that pairs with an electric motor for 122 horsepower total. CR-Z requires no plug-in charging, and the hybrid system can shut off the gasoline engine at a stop. The car is not capable of running solely on electric power. Transmission choices include a 6-speed manual and a continuously variable (CVT) that behaves much like an automatic. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, front-side airbags, and curtain-side airbags. All CR-Z models have a "3-mode drive system," which drivers can change through buttons on the steering wheel. Normal mode is for everyday driving. "Econ" changes engine throttle response and electric-motor operation to prioritize fuel economy. "Sport" alters those same functions to suit performance driving. Automatic climate control and a tilt and telescopic steering wheel are standard. EX versions have a wireless cell-phone link. A navigation system is available on the EX, and versions so equipped are priced as separate models. This evaluation is based on preview test drives.

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Posted in Vehicle Highlights

First Spin 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe

The car nobody quite expected--not even some people at the division that builds it--has become a reality. The 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe goes on sale in early August in a choice of rear- or all-wheel-drive configurations, to be followed soon after by a high-performance V model.

The coupe rounds out what has become a full series of available CTS body styles, accompanying the 4-door sedan and wagon that are already on the market. It started as a designer's sketch that got passed around until now-retired General Motors product "czar" Bob Lutz saw it. He decreed that it should be built as a concept to display at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. The exterior of the production CTS Coupe is an almost-exact copy of the show car, which garnered "Most Significant Concept Vehicle" laurels in the '08 North American Concept Vehicle of the Year competition.

If anything in particular stood in the way of moving the 2-door CTS from design studio to dealerships, it was a belief that the market for coupes was "dead." Indeed, it is Cadillac's first coupe offering since the 2002 Eldorado.

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Posted in Cadillac , Future Cars

2010 Ford Fiesta Monster World Rally

Ford revealed today the official details on the Ken Block’s Monster Ford Fiesta that will campaign seven rally events in North America in 2010 for Ford, including the Summer X Games in August.

The Monster Ford Fiesta is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that is capable to deliver a total of 490 hp at 8,000 rpm, but due to a required turbo-inlet restrictor by the series, the Fiesta will be running in the range of 330 hp.

"I am very excited to finally be in the Fiesta," said Block. "The Fiesta is the car that beat me last summer at X Games. Ford has a great platform with the Fiesta, and I can’t wait to see what I can do in the Rally America championship and at the X Games later this year."

Read article More at http://www.topspeed.com/cars/rally-cars/ke191.html

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Posted in Ford

Car Babes and Thier Inner Most Thoughts

Ever wonder what a car show Babe is thinking when she lays eyes on you at a show. Sure, you might be thinking that she’s into you because she flashed you that little smile. Or maybe you think that you’ll go for drinks after the show if you just hang around her booth long enough. Hell, you may even think you’ll go all they way if you pony up and actually plunk down some hard earned greenbacks on a purchase. Odds are though you’re all dead wrong. Sure, these booth Babes are nice too look at, but I can assure you that if you look a little deeper into those eyes, you may come away with a different message entirely.

Scoure http://www.ridelust.com

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Posted in Car with Girl

AJ the Fiesta has been delighting Twitter followers with his automatic updates

Ford has been keen on integrating technology with its Sync feature in many of its vehicles. Now, the company has really begun to test the limits of what this integration can do.

Ford has already introduced device integration for the Sync center console, meaning that users can control their phones, iPods and other devices from steering wheel mounted controls or voice recognition software. But that only scratches the surface of what's possible, especially since Sync allows for apps, just like an iPhone or Android phone.

So Ford engineers developed an app that would connect a car's electronics system, which gathers data on virtually everything that's happening with a vehicle, with a Twitter page. The result was AJ the Fiesta, a 2011 Ford Fiesta who drove across the country. Along the way, the car sent out automatic tweets about what it was doing, like "It's getting pretty dark; time to put the headlights on." It could even tell when it was stuck in traffic.

The practical uses of this are debatable, but simply point to the potential of the technology. Ford has invested a lot in its Sync technology, and has partnered with companies like Microsoft and Google in order to turn cars into mobile devices much like a smartphone.

Those who wish to hear more from AJ can follow him on Twitter at the username "AJtheFiesta."ADNFCR-3028-ID-19899824-ADNFCR

Source http://www.pscars.com/

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Posted in Auto News , Tech and Maintenance

Porsche looks to electric future

Luxury automaker Porsche has plans to expand its fleet with a range of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, joining a host of other automakers in the push toward what looks to be an increasingly electric future.

Porsche has announced plans to introduce hybrid drivetrains as options on its Cayenne and Panamera models. In fact, the two cars will share the same V6 gasoline engine and 34 kw electric motor pairings. The Panamera, Porsche's first sedan, has sold well for the company, despite comments from Porsche purists about the model's break from tradition.

Those same purists might not be fans of Porsche's other plans: all-electric models of the company's Boxster. The company is currently testing three all-electric prototypes, with plans to produce one.

"We will definitely be offering an electric sports car in future," said Porsche CEO Michael Macht. "But such a concept only makes sense if it offers product qualities typical of a Porsche."

Porsche was previously mulling the option to mass produce its 918 Spyder electric supercar concept.ADNFCR-3028-ID-19908271-ADNFCR

Source http://www.pscars.com/

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Posted in Auto News , Green News

Geely wants to introduce full-size sedan to Volvo

The Geely Corporation may have just completed the acquisition of Volvo from Ford, but the company is already looking to make changes to the luxury car manufacturer so that it can better compete against rivals like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi.

According to the Financial Times, Volvo is looking to introduce a full-size sedan to better diversify its fleet and have an answer to the larger cars made available by its German rivals. Geely hopes double its annual sales to over 600,000 vehicles within the next five years.

The automaker is targeting its home turf of China as the biggest contributor to its future growth, and chairman Li Shufu says that market research shows that larger cars are particularly profitable in China.

"In the Chinese market, people want luxury cars… luxury they see through their eyes and touch with their hands," he told the news source. "At the moment we are competing with BMW, Audi and Mercedes, but we don't have a product to compete with the BMW 7-Series and Mercedes S-class. We need to fill that gap."

Ford never introduced a full-size sedan when it owned Volvo, largely because it did not want to compete with its own Jaguar brand, which was also recently sold to Tata Motors in 2008.

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Posted in Auto News , Car Industry

Danica Patrick and Shelby Cobra Sports Illustrated Swimsuit

First, we’ve got Danica Patrick in her 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit spread. Second, we’re got a Shelby Cobra (replica). Now go grab a beer BOOM! it’s a trifecta.

In fact grab a six pack because we’ve got plenty more in the image gallery.

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Posted in Automotive Cars With Girls

Amanda Ellis and Lamborghini Murcielago LP640

Fewer things go together as nicely as hot girls and high performance sports cars. We have to admit that there’s not much to say here, we will just let the photos do the talking! The only comment necessary is that both the girl and the car, a Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 are two items that we would love to have in the Top Speed garage!

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Posted in Car with Girl

The women of SEMA

The world’s greatest aftermarket car show would not be complete without a wide variety of scantily clad women walking around the exhibition halls posing for photos and promoting their patron’s product. These car show girls fill in the voids between the automotive

works of art, keeping attendees eyes moving from one item to the next and act like magnets attracting hoards of slack jawed males to their respective booths, like sirens marooning ships full of men. People then wait in endless lines for a little more than a wink and an oversized poster complete with the signature of a women they have most likely never heard of, but it is well worth it because she is so hot. So in addition to featuring everything from high end American hot rods to some of the nicest import tuner cars in the world, the 2009 SEMA show is also chock full of females.

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Posted in Car with Girl

Cars In Year 2020 Future Of Car Technologies

I am no astrologer but an Engineer with a vision and innovative thoughts. When I look at the cars around me I realize how much these car have evolved in last 10 years. The changes are huge and drastic considering technological advances. But bigger changes are yet to come, or should I say the changes are coming faster than ever before.

I keep reading and thinking about the technologies, and I also have several ideas in my mind that i would like to have in cars. In this article I will try to list the technologies which I feel will be really common in cars of future.

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Posted in Future Cars

Top 10 Electric Car Makers for 2010 and 2011

By 2011 year end, competition will be intense for electric car United States leadership. Tesla has the early lead in freeway-speed electric cars, but Nissan has over 13,000 deposits. Toyota and GM will fight for plug-in hybrid early market share. Ford will have multiple electric car and plug-in hybrid offerings. European and Asian competitors will enter the fray. Don’t count out the good old United States “can do” entrepreneurs with exciting innovation and venture capital backing.

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Posted in Clean Fleet Report

Ten Reasons for drop in Car Ownership

In the United States, we embarrassingly have more vehicles than people with driver’s licenses. AAA estimates that it costs $8,000 per year for each car owned, which creates a financial burden on cash-strapped Americans. To the rescue are 10 positive trends that helped Americans scrap 14 million cars in 2009, while only buying 10.5 million new ones. Ownership is declining because of 10 factors including urban density, transit, employer programs, and intermodal intelligence.

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Posted in Clean Fleet Report

2010 Cars with the Lowest Carbon Footprint

The cars with the lowest carbon footprint all save by using half the fuel of most cars. The Toyota Prius continues to the United States in fuel economy and lowest lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. This perennial favorite midsize 4-door hatchback delivers 50 miles per gallon (mpg) and is lowest on the list with 3.7 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent for the EPA annual driving cycle. The 2010 Clean Fleet Report of Lowest GHG includes many hybrids, one SUV, and one car that runs on CNG.

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Posted in Clean Fleet Report