World of Wheels

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Volkswagen Concept BlueSport

Efficient, mid-engine roadsters aren’t anything new. As Lotus and Tesla have shown, if you start with a lightweight vehicle and tune the chassis properly, the end result will be an efficient and fun vehicle, no matter what propels the wheels. Volkswagen’s Concept BlueSport asks, “What if a diesel engine propels those wheels?”

To find out the answer, the diesel fanatics at Volkswagen have created a 2640-pound roadster powered by a clean and efficient turbo-diesel engine. In the minds of most car enthusiasts, diesel and sports cars have traditionally been incompatible. Diesel engines seem to have the wrong character for sports-car use: low-revving, smoke-belching, and as groan-filled as a porno movie.

The Concept BlueSport certainly looks like a sports car. Volkswagen’s latest design cues are in evidence as the final product could be the love child of a Volkswagen Scirocco and an Audi TT. So the big question remains, is the 180-hp, 2.0-liter turbo diesel four-cylinder engine—essentially a higher-output version of the Jetta TDI’s engine—an appropriate powerplant for a sports car?

The engine is certainly not likely to be belching much smoke. As the Jetta TDI has proven, the modern diesel can be as clean as a gasoline engine. It may be low-revving with the horsepower peak at only 4200 rpm, but the diesel’s torque peak of 258 lb-ft occurs just off idle at 1750 rpm. Despite its low-spinning nature, the BlueSport promises credible performance. Volkswagen claims a 0-to-60 time of 6.2 seconds with a top speed of 140 mph. Convincing numbers to be sure, but how will this engine sound? Will it play a sweet tune, or will it merely murmur like the diesel engine in the Jetta?

We’ll have to wait to hear what it sounds like, but according to Volkswagen, the BlueSport’s diesel engine will have the expected diesel efficiency. The BlueSport promises 50 mpg on the highway and 35 mpg in the city. So aside from what the engine might sound like, it appears that Volkswagen’s Concept BlueSport has a chance at successfully marrying the sports car with the diesel engine.

The BlueSport may presage a long-rumored production roadster from VW. Company officials are tight-lipped, but we wouldn’t mind seeing something this attractive, efficient, and quick in a showroom.

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2010 Ford Taurus

Back in 1985, the then-futuristic 1986 Ford Taurus set the world (and Ford’s sales charts) on fire with its spacey yet stylish design and family-friendly mid-size-sedan packaging, even nabbing a spot on our 10Best list. Of course, we all know what happened next: the car was only significantly updated once in two decades, and what was once revolutionary became an irrelevant rental queen. Moving the Taurus name to the large Five Hundred body for 2008 made news, but hardly proved the sales success Ford hoped it might be.

Now with the vastly improved 2010 Fusion holding down the mid-size sedan spot in Ford’s lineup, the Taurus really has no choice but to continue on as a larger and more luxurious vehicle. The Taurus’s extensive redo comes on the heels of the Fusion’s similarly extensive one, and based on what we’ve seen at its debut at the 2009 NAIAS in Detroit, it looks to be a whole lot better than it’s been in a long time.

Handsome Banality

Save for perhaps Lexus and Hyundai, it’s rarely any automaker’s intention to mimic another’s styling, and other than a very Subaru Legacy–ish grille, the Taurus seems to avoid looking much like anything else while also avoiding looking terribly like a Taurus. But as we’ve seen with other cars like the Toyota Avalon and Honda Accord, handsome banality can work for this buyer, so long as there’s enough style not to embarrass drivers when they pick up the kids at school.

Indeed, however indistinct, the Taurus is stylish, its proportions having been corrected with a lower roofline and a taller body, complemented by far-sexier front and rear lighting elements. Fender vents and scalloped doors help break up the thickness of the bodysides, while wheels range in size from a puny 17 inches to 20, the largest ever for a Ford sedan.

Upscale Interior Fitments

Befitting the exterior is a more upscale full-size interior. The flowing center stack reminds of the one in the Lincoln MKS and is just as button-ridden as most recent Ford dashes, but at least the graphics are elegant and the assembly quality is convincing. New assembly processes allow more creative color and trim combos.

New features include radar cruise control and collision-warning systems, push-button start, automatic high beams, blind-spot warning with cross-traffic alert, SYNC integrated audio/navigation, SIRIUS Travel Link with a screen that can be personalized with up to 32 pictures, and, most interesting, “Multi-Contour” massaging seats with “Active Motion” cushions that, according to Ford, subtly and continuously move beneath the driver, “stirring a change of muscular activation, helping a driver avoid back pain.” Other tech-y features include MyKey, via which individual keys can be programmed to restrict things like top speed and audio volume, and Ford’s capless fuel-filler system.

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Monday, January 12, 2009

2010 Toyota Prius

Among the battery of fresh hybrids and electrics being shown at this year’s Detroit show—which includes Honda’s all-new Insight—Toyota trots out its new version of the Prius, the hybrid that sort of started it all. This latest Prius marks the third generation of the iconic fuel miser, and it comes armed with magical-sounding 50-mpg combined estimated fuel-economy rating, topping the last car’s 46-mpg mark.

More Power Means More Greener...

A 1.8-liter, Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder replaces the 1.5-liter currently on Prius duty. It puts out 98 hp and 105 lb-ft of torque, up from 76 and 82, respectively. Toyota claims the increased torque allows the engine to run at lower rpm on the highway, saving more fuel. An 80-hp electric motor ups the hybrid system’s total output to 134 hp. That’s good for a 0-to-60-mph time of 9.8 seconds, according to Toyota—nearly three seconds quicker than we achieved with the current model.

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Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Ferrari California

This car company from Italy need na introduction. Ferrari is infact the leader in manufacturing sports car. It had produced car attract both man and women.
The Ferrari California is the much awaited car of Ferrari and finally it was revealed.
Ferrari's new convertible is really superb to drive and fun behind the wheels.
Ferrari California is a 8 cylinder GT and it is placed in themid front of the engine.
The dimensions are 4563 mm X 1902 mm X 1308 mm

It is powered by a 4.3 l V8 engine with direct fuel injection giving a power of about 460 HP and torque of 485 Nm and goes 0-100 km/h in just 4 sec.
It has 7 speed gearbox with steering wheel mounted F1 style paddles with a new dual clutch and gurantees a superb combination of performance and ride comfort.
In the front it is like a monster looking to go. It has a grill and slender for air intake for the massive engine.
It has single LED tail light inserted along the edge of the boot.
The boot capacity of California is 340 liters approx.
In the instrument panel some new features are added like the analog tachometer and rev counter and 4 TFT multi dispaly, and the entertainment system it has got a 6.5 inch touch screen with a USB connection, Bluetooth, hard disk, voice command and ipod connectivity.

So much is into this car... and just going to roar when it will come on the road....

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Enjoy...

Monday, January 5, 2009

Tips For Driving the Car in Fog

The most difficult part of driving is to drive the car in fog. The visiblity is completely lost in the fog and there are many accidents.
Most of the accidents occure at night time or during winters as there is lot of fog.
Here are some of the tips that you should follow while driving car in Fog

Fog lights are now coming in each car prefitted. So dont feel shy to use them .Use FOG LIGHTS.
If The car does not has fog lights then swith on the low beam of the car.
Do not switch on the HIGH BEAM, as it will just reduce the visibilty.
Use HAZARD LIGHTS
If you dont have the confidence to drive the car , just park the car and use the parking lights.
Drive close to the divider, so that you can follow the path properly

Plz follow these tips if you are driving the car in FOG.
Drive safe..

The all new Hyundai i20

With the market of small cars increasing, Hyundai is trying to increase there share in this segment. With hatches from every top model Hyundai has launched there new city hatch. The new i20 will face a lot of competition from the rivals company like the Honda Jazz, Maruti Swift, Fiat Punto.

The design of this car is according to the European market, styling of the car is bit European. Infact this car will be replace the Hyundai Getz in the market.

This new city hatch is good looking, looks attractive and roomy. Infact all the hatch are getting bigger and bigger, which was started of by the Skoda Fabia. The i20 is a big city hatch. The highest variant has got many new features which will meet the increasing customer expectation in terms of styling, features, technology and not to froget the safety.

The i20 comes with 1.2 l Kappa engine which will give a power of about 78 bhp abd 112 Nm torque.
In the front you will notice a change in he grill which is a bit European style and the fog lights are protruding out of the bumper and t also has body colored side mirror and which are electrically controlled from inside.
In the rear it has a wrap around tail lamp cluster which is according to the front.
Interior are fresh. They have followed a new trend , you will not see in other car. Plastic used in the car is good quality.
The cluster has got a small screen whicha show some of the basic information.
Keeping the safety of the passenger it has 6 airbags

This car will definitely be attracting many customers witha refresh style. If you are thinking of buying a new car,I can say that go and catch the new i.

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Enjoy....

Friday, January 2, 2009

Nissan's Micra

Nisssan is one of the leader in making world class car. They make cars which atrack every age roup and both the gender.
Now they have come up witha new car which is small in size and good as a big car.
Talking about the styling its like car made for girls. It is cute small car and will mainly attract the female of the society.

The first thing you will note about this car is the headlights and tail light. It is very differt from usual car styling. The tail lights are low and differt. there is a nissan logo in front and a trepozoidal grill
This car is an ideal city car ,as it is comapct there is very little problem of parking.
Micra is driven bya 1.5 l desiel engine and promisses to give a high milage.
Lets see how this will perform when it come into the market.

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Enjoy..

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Mazda 3 hatchback Revealed

Mazda is one of a very best Japanese car company and famous for making world class cars.
There latest car, Mazda 3 hatchback made world car premier at the 2008 Bologna Auto Show.This car will be at sale in 2010 with the sedan version also.

This car is powered by a 2.2 L turbodiesel engine in the Euro-spec version giving a power of about 182 HP and another varient giving a power of about 147HP.

Whats new in this is that extended roof line drops at a steep angle giving it a very unique look.
Mazda 3 Five door model will be launched witha 2.5 l inline engine giving 167 HP power and will features like key less entrty and push bitton start, which attracts the most.

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