A Blend of Power, Beauty, and Soul in the 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

If you want to have a unique car, go for the Aston Martin. This carmaker is able to come up with some of the best cars in the market because of its ability to combine three important elements in one car. Power, beauty, and soul are the three qualities that you can have if you opt for an Aston Martin. Well, only a few are lucky enough to have these qualities since Aston Martins cost much more than other cars.

 

Now, to be one of the lucky people to own power, beauty, and soul in one car think about the 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Even by just looking at its appearance you will know that it is a sports car in every sense. The exterior is perfectly proportioned with long, low hood line all the while the front and the rear has minimized overhangs for a more streamlined look. This two-seater sports car displays a subtle aggressive appearance that makes it look like its ready to pounce on its prey at any minute. It is mostly made up of aluminum, magnesium alloy, and composite and steel body. The interior is elegant and comfortable for short and long distance travels.

 

The 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage is not all show. It is capable of superb road performance that will leave you breathless. It is equipped with a remarkable engine that epitomizes engineering excellence. The V8 Vantage has a 4.7-liter V8 engine that can rev up a maximum power of 420 bhp and 346 lb-ft of torque.  Smooth drive is expected since it is installed with independent double wishbone, coil springs, anti-roll bar, and monotube dampers. All these under-the-hood features enable the V8 vantage to give responsive handling and control.

 

Safety is also an important aspect that Aston Martin did not leave out in the V8 Vantage. The all-alloy structure makes the whole vehicle strong. Deformable front and rear crumple zones are also provided to protect the occupants in case of a crash. Side impact protection is also installed along the roof pillars, sills, door beams, and dashboard to effectively protect both the driver and passenger.

 

No doubt, the 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage is a sports car that anyone can be proud of. Its aggressive stance, elegant interior and superb performance will sure elicit envy from anyone who sees you parking it in your garage.

 

Going Electric with the Chevy Volt

A lot of people are already complaining about the unpredictable cost of oil in the world market. All people are affected by the rise of oil prices because when there is an oil price hike other commodities also increase in price. See it is a chain reaction. Even the automobile makers around the world are feeling the effects of the continuing oil price hike, and some of them are experiencing recession in their sales. It’s a natural occurrence because not many people will buy a car at this point in time when oil price is very high. For this reason, many carmakers are developing new vehicles that will run on alterative energy sources other than gasoline.

 

Chevrolet is one of the carmakers that ventured in producing cars that run on alternative energy sources. The Chevy Volt is the much-hyped about electric vehicle from this company. This vehicle runs purely on electricity so you’ll be driving gas-free if you own this car. This is a very environment-friendly car that will run mainly on lithium-ion battery. Through the batteries included on board is expected to power up the car for up to 40 miles or 64 kilometers. This is the estimated distance that an average driver in America travels everyday.

 

General Motors, the producer of this electric car, recently unveiled the very first model of the Chevy Volt. Now, we can have a look at the real deal behind this vehicle. T is really run by a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery that can generate as much as 150 of horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. With these under-the-hood features the Chevy Volt is capable of speeding up to 100 miles per hour. As said before the battery will only run up to 40 miles and after that you need to recharge it. The good thing about this is that you can plug it into a standard household 120v outlet. However, there’s a downside. It takes up to eight hours to fully recharge the battery. If you plug it in a 240v outlet the charge time will be shortened to three hours.

 

This new electric car will only be able to accommodate four passengers. These occupants will enjoy two informational displays, touch sensitive infotainments center with shifter. A navigation system with onboard hard drive for maps and music storage comes as an option in the Chevy Volt. 

 

The Chevy Volt’s production is expected to begin late in 2010 in the United States. It’s expected that this electric car will be more expensive than other hybrid cars.

Renault Megane Coupe to be Produced Soon

A few weeks back there was already a post made about the Renault Megane. That post was made right after the Megane’s photos were leaked to the internet. That model was the 5–door hatchback model that is meant to be a family car. The 5-door model is a stylish-looking vehicle that seems to be perfect for family use. Just as I was browsing the Internet I came across this news that Renault will be unveiling the 2009 Megane Coupe pretty soon. The EU patent office revealed some photos of the Megane Coupe. If you compare the 5-door model to this new Coupe you’ll see that the Coupe is a sleeker version of the former. The big difference can be see in the lower and raked back roof. The back portion is also smoothly sloped. If you judge it by its aerodynamic appearance you will see that it promises speed and excellent road performance.

 

I’m not sure if speed maniacs out there will be satisfied with the kind of engine that the Megane Coupe has. Well, the Coupe has a similar engine with the 5-door model. There are several kinds to choose from: 1.6L engine that can generate up 100 and 110 horsepower and 2.0L motor pumping 140 horsepower. There are also two new turbocharged units – the 1.4L TCe that can generate up to 130 HP and the 2.0-liter TCe with 180 HP.  So far those are the details provided about this upcoming model. Its maker has yet to unveil the specifications regarding the suspension, safety, and other interior features. But regarding the interior I’m pretty sure that it will have lush seat sand advanced features to make each drive enjoyable and comfortable.

 

The Renault Megane Coupe is indeed a sleek vehicle. Owning one would be a great thing. However, it’s not sure if this model will ever make it outside Europe. If that is the thing, it’s just too bad for the rest of the world no Renault for you.

 

Do you or have you owned a Renault before? Based on the specs provided how would it fare when compared to this 2009 Renault Coupe?

Robust Pickup Truck is a First for Volkswagen

What comes to your mind when you hear about the Volkswagen brand? I’m sure there’s only one thing in your head – the Beetle. Well, this brand really made its name because thanks to this tiny econocar that was manufactured from 1938 until 2003. Because of its economical quality the Beetle was readily adopted by a lot of consumers who wanted to save on their finances. The Beetle’s release somehow coincided with the Second World War. People during that time were really looking for a car that would help them economize on their budget, which probably helped in the Beetle’s popularity.

 

Little by little Volkswagen expanded its interest from hatchbacks to other designs. But now, Volkswagen is once again ready to venture to other styles of vehicles. At the upcoming 62^nd IAA Commercial Vehicles Show on September 23 to be held in Hanover, Volkswagen will be unveiling its very first pickup tuck concept. It’s only just days before the said event, yet pictures and some details of the Volkswagen Concept Pickup have already hit the internet. When mass production commences, this pickup truck concept will be known as the Robust. When you hear the name and you look at the vehicle, you will immediately see the connection.

 

Volkswagen Robust really lives up to its name as it boasts a muscular exterior. The first thing you will notice on this four-door short-bed pickup truck is its enormous grille and low air dam that dominates the whole fascia. Huge bars also embellish the truck bed that if you want to load huge stuffs support is already provided. When you look down you will also notice the big wheels that more to its tough appearance. Its exterior makes the Volkswagen robust look like a utility vehicle, but if you look inside the interior it’ not that utilitarian. It’s furnished with great features like the touch-screen navigation system, built-in compass, and pitch indicator. It is also said that this new vehicle will be integrated with rescue tools and equipment. So far these are the only details that have been leaked about this concept pickup truck from Volkswagen.    

 

The Robust is another first from Volkswagen. We have to wait for the September 23 before we can get a full impression of this concept pickup truck. Being new to pickup truck production, I think Volkswagen still has a long way to go before it can produce superb pickups like the Ford F150. Well, that’s only my own opinions. What’s your thoughts on this?

Honda Unveils New Safety Technologies

If I ask you what your utmost concern is when it comes to driving what would be your first answer? Could it be how fast the car accelerates or how safe you’d be on the road? Though I don’t have a car yet it has always been on my mind that if ever I buy one the feature that I would consider foremost is road safety. Accidents happen anytime and anywhere so, it is good to have devices to protect you. It will still some time before I can buy a car, but I think that a good thing also because by that time he cars on the market will have better safety features. I’m sure Honda’s newly developed airbag and multi-view camera will be installed in every vehicle already.

 

New i-SRS Airbag System

 

This Japanese maker recently announced that it has developed an air bag that inflates quicker than normal airbags found in today’s vehicles. The company calls it i-SRS airbag system. How fast does it inflate? Well, it blows up in just 0.015 seconds which is about half the time that normal airbags take and that is 0.030 seconds. That’s a big leap if you ask me. That fifteen dots improvement in speed can already make a lot of difference in saving a life during car accidents. Enabling this new airbag to inflate quickly is the spiral seam structure and gas release control valve. This also allows the bag to inflate horizontally instead of vertically. This new way is much more beneficial because there is a larger surface area so there is less chance that the driver’s head will hit the steering wheel or the dash. There are three things to keep in mind about Honda’s new i-SRS airbag system and these are:

• Faster Deployment
• Longer Period of Inflation and Protection
• Reduced Impact

 

Multi-View Camera System

 

In addition to the airbags, Honda also developed a new multi-view camera system that allows different views of the road and the surroundings. As a part of the vehicle’s navigation system the views captured by the camera are displayed on the navigation screen. There are several benefits provided by this multi-view camera system. Take a look below.

• Lessens blind spots
• Support smooth parallel or garage parking
• Support safe driving in a 3-way intersection

 

The cameras are located in four parts of the vehicle:

      Front

      Sides (driver and passenger side door mirror)

      Rear

      Hood

 

I really believe that both of these new technologies are great features that will make driving safer than before. The i-SRS airbag system will be introduced in the Honda Life that will be unveiled in Japan this November. The multi-view camera system on the other hand already being installed in the Honda models that are currently on sale.

Saab Announces New 9-X Air BioHybrid Concept

With the Paris Motor Show already coming up next month, car makers are already polishing up and making final touches on their creations that will be shown in the show. Some are already doing test drives on the cars that will be put on display. Saab is one of the makers that gave a little peek of its latest concept car, the 9-X Air BioHybrid. This model is the epitome of what people can expect from Saab’s next generation of convertibles. However, this new model shouldn’t be mistaken for the 9-X BioHybrid Concept hatchback that the company unveiled last March at the Geneva Motor Show. Though they have similarities, the Saab 9-X Air is more advanced than the BioHybrid hatchback. They share the same 1.4L turbo engine that uses E85 fuel or 85 percent bioethanol and 15 percent petrol.

 

The big difference lies on the vehicles’ exteriors. Instead of a hard roof, the Saab 9-X Air features a folding roof that is made up of canvas rather than steel. This canopy top is a symbol of the company’s evolution in the production of convertibles. Just below this folding roof is a pair of prominent rear pillars that arc upwards to the flat folding roof. The owner has a choice whether to keep the top up or down. When it’s down the car cannot be mistaken for anything else than a convertible but with it down, it looks like a conventional coupe only. The top folds in three small sections under a tonneau cover.  The rear screen also automatically retracts under the tonneau. Once the roof is down a complete glass surround goes up to protect the cabin. The interior looks so plush and luxurious; anyone will enjoy driving in this beauty once it goes to market.

 

I’m sure the new Saab 9-X Air BioHybrid will cause quite a stir in the coming Paris Motor Show next month. Wish I could be there to see all the goodies that are going to be displayed as well by other renowned auto makers.

 

Travel Down the Highways with Chevy Cruze

The Chevrolet brand is one of the most sought-after vehicles in the market. As a matter of fact this brand has 20 vehicles available ranging from subcompact cars to commercial trucks. And now, Chevy is ready to add to its line of vehicles with the announcement of the new 2010 Chevy Cruze. Chevrolet will officially unveil this new model at the Paris Motor Show which will transpire in early October. But even before the official showing, some photos of the said model were already leaked on the internet. These photos are like teasers for customers who are looking for a new replacement for their car.

 

The Chevy Cruze is a sleek-looking vehicle that has been designed as a coupe. It has four doors to make entrance and exit convenient. When you see this box cruising down the road, for sure you can’t help but be amazed by its exciting lines and right proportion. When you take a front view of this car you can’t help but notice the angled windshield going down the sloping rear. It also boasts large squinting headlights that give the car an aggressive look. Concave shoulder line, two-tier grille are some of the other eye-catching features of the Cruze.

 

Quality production is not only evident in the Chevy Cruze’s exterior, but most especially in the interior. High-quality development is seen in the soft-touch materials, and low gloss trim panels used in the interior. Aside from the interior, Chevy is also proud of the engines available for the Chevy Cruze. It will come in 16-valve 1.6-liter (1112hp/82 KW) and 1.8-liter (140 hp/103 kW) gasoline engines. More power, low emissions, and fuel economy are assured by these engines because they also have variable valve timing on the inlet and exhaust sides. The user will have a choice in the transmission because the Cruze comes with a five-speed manual and an automatic transmission.

 

Chevrolet is the fastest-growing mainstream brand in Europe. And the Cruze is expected to make the Chevy name even more popular.  Here’s a statement made by Wayne Brannon, Executive Director, Chevrolet Europe, “Chevrolet has always stood for expressive value and Cruze delivers on that promise like never before. It further redefines Chevrolet with its design, quality, materials and great style inside and out. The fit and finish for gaps and interfaces sets a new standard for this segment in Europe and around the world.” This statement just shows the company’s expectation from this new model as it goes on the market on March 2009. 

Toyota Tests Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle in the UK

Toyota is once again spearheading a technology that could be the pattern of the next generation of cars the PHV or Plug-In-Hybrid-Vehicle.  Toyota is one of the most active car makers to venture into the development of hybrid vehicles. I guess all car makers are finding new avenues of offering better and more economical cars to the market, especially in this day and age when oil prices have a way of skyrocketing with little notice. Environmental concern is also one of the driving forces why car makers are developing new alternatives to make a vehicle run. In pushing forward with this new vehicle technology Toyota has teamed up with French-owned power company EDF in testing the TMC-produced hybrid vehicles. The testing has started already on September 10. The testing is only being done in the United Kingdom. The test vehicle used is a customized Prius, which is a Toyota hybrid car.

 

Britain is the fifth country to take part in testing this new technology. Apparently, testing is expected to last for one whole year, maybe more to see the full potential of this plug-in technology. If you ask what can be expected during this period, Toyota has an answer to that. New infrastructure that will be used for the evaluation of the PHV will be set up according to the company. Things that will be evaluated are the vehicle performance and ease of use. Toyota will also get user feedback to complete this testing and evaluation.   The batteries used in the cars for testing have nickel-metal hydride batteries. But, Toyota is also planning to develop cars with lithium-ion batteries next year. 

 

The plug-in vehicles really have great potential. In fact, some auto experts believe that this plug-in technology is more advantageous than the technologies being used today. Engines made for plug-ins have larger batteries, which mean that the vehicle can operate at a greater mileage. In addition, this battery type can just be plugged into household sockets. Just think about that, by just plugging in your car in one of the sockets in your house it can be charged and ready to run once again. I’m not sure if this thought has occurred to these developers. If these plug-in cars can just be recharged at home, for sure power usage would escalate as well. Maybe just like oil, electricity price would suddenly skyrocket as well.

 

But this new plug-in technology is still a good thing. At least we’ll all have new vehicle alternatives. We just have to keep posted on how this Plug-In-Hybrid-Vehicle fares during the whole test period.

Citroen C3 is the latest Picasso

Those who love art pieces like sculptures and paintings have heard of the great Picasso. This artist’s name is actually very long that it’s so hard to remember. However, when you say Picasso everyone knows that he’s a very talented painter, draughtsman, and sculptor. He made his own mark in the world of art through his various works that are characterized mostly by the different elements of shapes and colors. He favored using cubes in creating his images and that was what his works became known for. Perhaps, this was also what inspired European car maker Citroen in making the third Picasso vehicle. We are already given a first glimpse of this vehicle even before it makes its official debut at the Paris Motor Show next month and its UK launch in 2009.

 

The new Citroen C3 Picasso is a very eye-catching vehicle indeed. Just by looking at its picture, I personally liked its overall exterior, especially as glass dominates the whole design. The driver will have an unobstructed view of the road because of the large, panoramic windscreen. A glass roof is likewise installed, which allows more light to penetrate to the interior. The front view of this little cube car is also very appealing especially the design of the headlights, grille, and the bumper. Everything on the outside of this car has smooth flowing lines; you can hardly see harp corners when you view it outside.

 

Even with its seemingly small cube-like shape, the C3 Picasso is really spacious on the inside. The seats are innovatively designed. They are not only to be used for sitting but also for accommodating cargo. Both the front and rear seats can be easily adjusted or folded to provide more legroom or flat cargo space. The interior was really given so much attention as ca be seen in the ultra-soft dashboard surface, high-grade interior trim, and sophisticated cruise controls and satellite navigation system. With insulation provided for this C3 Picasso, passenger comfort is ensured since outside noise cannot penetrate inside the vehicle.

 

Potential buyers have four choices when it comes to the C3 Picasso’s engine. There will be two new petrol engines – Vti 95 and the VTi 120; and two HDi units – HDi 90 and the HDi 110DPFS. These engines are fuel efficient, are low in CO2 emissions, and are capable of alert performance. Driving in the new C3 Picasso is safe because it has not only the standard safety features but modern safety systems as well. So, secure travel is assured in the Citroen C3 Picasso.

 

Rolls-Royce Opens New Showroom in Greater China

Without a doubt, Rolls-Royce is one of the leading European automakers. Looking back on its history, it is a wonder that this vehicle is able to succeed and be one of the top-selling brands all over the world. This company is always on the move to widen its sphere of influence especially outside Europe. Just the other day, September 10, Rolls-Royce officially opened a new showroom in Greater China, in Hangzhou particularly. The one who officially proclaimed the showroom open was Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ Chief Executive Officer Tom Purves. Some of the well-known personalities in the automobile industry who attended the opening were Colin Kelly, Asia Pacific Regional Director for Rolls-Royce Cars, Jenny Zheng, General Manager for Greater China, and Peter Goh, Dealer and Principal of Sime Darby Hong Kong Limited.

 

This latest showroom in Hangzhou is actually the sixth Rolls-Royce showroom to be opened in China. They chose a good place for this new display site. They have it in the commercial area of the city, just on the other side of the West Lake which is a famous tourist spot in that place. The space of the new showroom is over 400 square meters so, it can display up to four Rolls-Royce models.

 

Little do the visitors know that there is a surprise waiting to be unveiled. Well, a showroom really wouldn’t be living to every sense of the word if it doesn’t have anything to show, right? So, Mr. Purves undraped the new Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe. This is the first Rolls-Royce to be displayed in Hangzhou. Among the Phantom family this model is the most driver-oriented because of its advanced engineering and design. Aside from this model, Rolls-Royce has three more models for 2008, the Phantom, the Phantom Extended Wheelbase, and the Phantom Drophead Coupe. 

 

Well, I think Hangzhou residents are happy to have a Rolls-Royce showroom nearby. Some of them might even think of buying one to show off to their elite friends.