ITALDESIGN

Volta.......Giugiaro creates a true "Hybrid" Supercar !!By L.Marvin & A Gardner............Photos by ITALDESIGN & L.MarvinJan 15, 2005, 23:59 PSTA high voltage concept & real world technology Yes, what you see is not some distant technology for another generation. Rather the "VOLTA" is both today's current Hybrid technology from Toyota, but also Fabrizio Giugiaro's reinvention into a modern supercar performance package. Wrapped in an all carbon fiber, F-1 inspired chassis!! What makes this even more amazing is that all of the parts and power systems come straight from the Toyota-Lexus current inventory of production!! What once...

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Posted in ITALDESIGN

kings of the hill

After three hours of shooting, here's my tentative take on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX35: Pros- small, light; easy to keep in your pocket at all times- zoom range is just about ideal for me- reasonably priced (300 USD)- takes decent-quality 1280x720/30fps movies- intuitive, responsive controls never get in the way of taking a shot- in-camera processing generally gets it right (although see below)- lots of metal, including metal tripod socket- continuous shooting just as fast as my Digital Rebel; plus it has a 2.5-mpix 6 fps mode, and a 0.9-mpix 30 fps mode (i.e., 720p movies)align: justify;"> Cons- Even on the Natural setting, photos have...

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Posted in kings of the hill

2010 Kia Forté Koup EX

My 2002 VW New Beetle GLS TDi finally self-destructed yesterday. The odometer was at 99,000+ miles. I had hoped to turn over 100k, but fell a little short. I was actually on my way to a dealership to look at these Kias because the VW has been giving me a lot of problems lately. Then it died on the side of the road six miles from the Kia dealer. I was expected at the dealership and had to call them for a tow. Not a position of power when negotiating. Whatever. In any case, it seems like a nice little car. I know it's kind of a starter car for kids a third my age, but it's comfortable, compact, gets good mileage and has a very long warranty. I'm...

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Posted in KIA

Kia SOUL Concepts

Kia unveiled three Soul concept cars at the Geneva motor Show. They are: Kia SOUL Diva, Kia SOUL Burner and Kia SOUL Searcher. The Kia SOUL Diva targets a style-conscious young-at-heart woman and comes in a combination of black, white and gold. The Kia SOUL Burner is the bad boy between the three concepts and comes with dragon tattoos over a black satin paintwork. The front bumper of Kia SOUL Burner features L-shaped day-light LED driving lamps and at the rear it has two vertical exhaust pipes. The Kia SOUL Searcher offering a place of tranquility within the urban jungle. Kia SOUL Searcher features a leather finish on the bonnet,...

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Posted in KIA

SEATS AND TRIM KIA

SEATS AND TRIM Rear seat center armrest Front seats: bucket Front center armrest: w/storage Split folding rear seat Rear seats: bench Max seating capacity:...

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Posted in SEATS AND TRIM KIA

ENTERTAINMENT FEATURES

ENTERTAINMENT FEATURES Speakers: 6 Steering wheel mounted audio controls CD player Wireless connectivity MP3 decoder AM/FM ra...

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Posted in ENTERTAINMENT FEATURES

2010 Mazda 3 Overview

Description The Mazda3 is powered by a choice of two different 4-cylinder engines, corresponding to the two quite different 3i and 3s models. Base Mazda3i models feature an economical 2.0-liter engine making 148 horsepower, while sportier Mazda3s models get a 167-hp, 2.5-liter engine. Both engines make slightly less power in California-emissions states. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard on i models, but sporty s models step up to a 6-speed manual; a 5-speed automatic is available with either engine. The 2.0-liter gets quite good fuel economy figures of 24 mpg city, 33 highway with the manual transmission, while the s model is...

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Posted in Mazda

2010 Toyota Prius Overview

Description Built on a totally new platform, the 2010 Toyota Prius is still considered a midsize car and is still a ?full' hybrid, meaning that it can run on the engine alone, battery alone or a combination of both as needed. There are three driver-selectable drive modes for the 2010 Prius: EV, Eco and Power. All are accessible from the center console by the push of a button. EV Drive uses battery power alone at low speeds. Eco Drive is designed to give you the best possible mileage using a combination of gas and electric power. The new engine utilizes no belts under the hood, resulting in better fuel economy and less potential maintenance....

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Posted in Toyota

2011 Honda CR-Z Road Test Review

Test Drive: 2011 Honda CR-Z Honda's Putting the Band Back Together With Its New Two-Seater By: Brent Romans , Senior Automotive Editor Vehicle Tested: 2011 Honda CR-Z EX 2dr Hatchback w/Nav (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6M) Pros: Nimble size and handling, quick steering, excellent fuel economy, sporty looks. Cons: No backseat, poor rearward visibility, missing some upscale features. Maybe you've heard the whispers. "Honda's lost its edge," the car enthusiasts say. They complain that the company's cars have gotten too big; its technological advances are matched by the competition; its cars are no longer sporty or fun enough....

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Posted in Honda

Test Drive: 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Special Edition

Vehicle Tested: 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Special Edition 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6M)Pros: Thrilling acceleration, comfortable ride, roomy cabin.Cons: Chassis deserves even stickier tires, sport seats too wide for some, controversial styling, subpar audio system.   The Subaru Impreza WRX STI has a strong — one might say rather rabid — following. On the order of Celtics and Lakers fans. We have a colleague here who regularly flies the Subaru flag via his WRX T-shirts and baseball caps. And why not? The Subie is a hoot to drive, with plenty of speed and attitude to go 'round. Still, we've had a long-standing gripe with the...

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Posted in Test Drive: 2010 Subaru Impreza

MDI Air Car

Compressed air offers consumers and protectors of the environment plenty to be excited about, and we’d like to see MDI succeed with this one.photo from MDI by Ross BonanderMDI Air Car Specifications * Propulsion system: Air Engine, 800cc moto-compressor, 4 flat-lying cylinders* Top Speed: 68 mph* Zero-to-60: NA* MPG: NA* Vehicle range: 120 miles* Fuel(s): Compressed Air* Tailpipe emissions: None The Manufacturer Says... “MDI has developed a high performance compressed air technology. When it is compared to traditional gasoline powered engines, MDI´s engine is far superior in terms of energy used and thermodynamics.”The Critics Say... “The Air...

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Posted in Air Cars Reviews