AUTO CAR NEWS: June 2011

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Pontiac Firebird Esprit 350

V8 / 5.735 cc / 177 PS / 275 ft/lb (373 Nm) @ 2.000 / Vmax: 113 mph (182 km/h)

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Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640 (verde ithaca)

V12 / 6.496 cc / 640 PS / 487 lb/ft (660 Nm) @ 6.000 / 4WD / 0 - 62 mph (100 km/h): 3,4 s / Vmax: 205 mph (330 km/h)

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BMW has announced plans to sell all-electric versions of its popular Mini car in the U.S., starting from summer 2009.Mini join a growing band of car-makers planning to sell electric cars over the next few years, including global brands like Nissan, Subaru, Mitsubishi and Mercedes, as well as new start-ups and independent companies such as Tesla and Th!nk. Given the Mini’s style credentials and proven customer demand, this announcement is bound to ruffle a few feathers amongst the competition.

Bmw mini

Bmw 318d

Bmw 318d

BMW Group’s EfficientDynamics programme gives customers outstanding fuel economy and low emissions without giving up driving enjoyment. This was recognised again this year at the What Car Green Car Awards 2009. The BMW 318d took the honours in the Executive Car category.

The BMW 318d Saloon is BMW’s most fuel efficient and least polluting 3 Series ever. A BMW 318d Saloon records a combined consumption figure of 60.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 123g/km, while at the same time is capable of a zero to 62mph time of 9.3 seconds. It was the blend of these impressive performance figures that assured the parsimonious 3 Series model with top green honours.

BMW first offered EfficientDynamics as standard in 2007. A raft of models received Auto Start / Stop, Brake Energy Regeneration, Active Aerodynamics, low rolling resistance tyres, Electric Power Steering, on-demand ancillary systems and optimum gearshift indicator features.These technologies built on the existing lightweight engineering principles and direct injection engine technology introduced over the previous years

Bmw 318d

Bmw 520d

Bmw 520d

BMW classified dare premium diesel sedan car market through 520d sedan. For luxury car manufacturer has not been a lot of courage to bring the diesel sedan to Indonesia, for reasons still poor quality of diesel fuel in the country.Curiosity to premuim BMW 520d diesel cars getting bigger. DetikOto feel lucky to test drive the car. Let us discuss how the performance for Rp 768 million cars off the road in Jakarta.Looked outside, the car is cupuk masculine. Many people believes BMW 520d sedan is a gasoline-powered sedans like most. But in fact different. "Loh this diesel engine anyway, kirain gasoline." detikOto friend said when he heard the sound of the BMW 520d."If the gasoline engine sound as loud as it's baseball," he went on to ensure the character of the BMW 520d engine. Well, whoever would have thought the BMW 520d is a petrol drinker.BMW 520d very muscular appearance with a line from front to aft. BMW seems to not want to let go of the image of the BMW 520d as a European car high flavor. Appearances before a fresh with a blend of Xenon lamp and fog lamp round on the right and left.The car was about to be directed to Cibubur. Whoa, before membejek gas pedal is connected by Advance Diesel engine capacity of 2.0 liter turbo as well as review the interior side of the car.BMW 520d Diesel passenger cabin is very luxurious. The interior is equipped with CD player, cruise control. Fun steering not only be regulated up and down but also can be withdrawn and lowered according to the distance the driver's body.Also into the cabin does not have to turn the key, because the available features electrically-stop star so just press the button and pocket the key to staying alone. Well, if you want to view mirror back to the left will go down by itself. The car was on the way to Cibubur while looking for suitable locations to conduct a photo session.Engine hood is wide enough, initially impressed difficult to monitor the condition of the car especially when in the red light or traffic. However kelang 15 minutes, detikOto eventually get used to these conditions.Asiknya difficulty was also helped by a fairly wide windshield, so the visibility of the driver helped. Electrical systems are embedded in the car were also found on the chair seat height can be controlled via the electrical system, only backwards and forwards who are still moved through the manual.Transmission lever was placed in D, then the indicator light on the dashboard instrument panel was lit. BMW 520d Diesel gas pedal on the highway was dibejek suburbs (JORR) toward Cibubur.Wuss! 2.000cc capacity machine that can shoot 184 hp power and 380 Nm of torque is quite fierce.Karakater turbo engine is very responsive thanks to the embedded. Well, if you want to feel more performance, you can shift the gear lever D to the left, the manual mode.You can move your teeth fit keinganan by pressing the lever up and down the M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7, M8.BMW 520d Diesel equipped with safety features, the tire leak Run Flat Tires, crash sensors, brake assist, ABS, EBD. But unfortunately the wheel is still a little heavy, although the car is moving from point 0 km. The difficulty occurs when zig-zig on the highway.Enjoyment of other aspects of the car when the car in the condition of speeding, a feature of features in car speakers can raise the sound by itself when the car in the speeding. You also can enjoy a 7-inch touch screen, Radio CD, 6 loudspeakers, and a USB audio interface.What about suspension? When invited to a bumpy road, the BMW 520d suspension works very well, all the rocks and bumpy road dilibas perfectly without any constraints. Suspension is not giddy character and very soft.From the results pengetesa, detikOto get BMW 520d fuel consumption is 1:10 in the city, while outside the city capable of 1:14. A little more extravagant than BMW claims that reached 1:19,2.If you think about fuel consumption, it seems this car is perfect but have to think again if you want to go out of town.

Bmw 520d

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Review

Ford Mustang Boss 302 - For those with a bit more disposable income and less of a social conscience, Ford has something to offer in the form of the Mustang. Hell, even the base model V6 puts down 307 horsepower and is capable of over 30-mpg on the highway, but let?s be real here ? the V6 Mustang suffers from the paralyzing stigma of being a girl?s car. Like the Mazda MX-5, you can advocate for its competency for as long as you want, but most humans with an XY chromosome won?t buy your logic.

WATCH OUT SHELBY

I was lucky to drive the Ford Shelby GT500 last fall, the top dog, 550 horsepower Mustang with a supercharged V8, Brembo brakes and a bright red paintjob with white racing stripes. It was brilliant, and I pronounced it the last great muscle car. I was wrong. Ford still had something up its sleeve.

While the big dogs of automotive journalism got to spend extended time with the Boss on various race tracks (including Laguna Seca) I was limited to one day ? less than 24 hours in reality ? and decided to guzzle down a succession of 5-Hour Energy beverages and drive as long as possible before the car had to be returned.

The Mustang Boss 302 is actually down 110 horsepower and 130 lb-ft of torque from the Shelby, by nature of its 5.0L V8, which displaces a mere 440 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque (the 5.0 V8 model uses a similar engine, but with different internals that restrict it to 412 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque). For number?s geeks with little experience behind the wheel, the deficit between the Boss and the Shelby is appalling, but in the real world, the 302 is much better to drive.

The weight difference between the two is not drastic, with the Boss weighing 189 lbs less than the Shelby, but the way that power is put down makes the Boss much more appealing, with its smooth, steady climb up to a 7,500 rpm redline providing a glorious NASCAR-like soundtrack from inside the cabin (and, I was assured by some friends, a deafening roar from the outside).

The Shelby, saddled with 550 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, has trouble actually putting the power down to the ground ? hit the gas in third, and the rear end bucks from side to side like a drunken spring break reveler as the car scrambles for traction. With the Boss, there?s comparatively little drama, the short 3.73 rear end making for wickedly fast acceleration to 60 mph, while the optional limited slip differential keeps the traction. The Boss 302?s 6-speed manual is also much better to operate that the Shelby?s, which requires a good deal of effort.

STRIPPED-DOWN INTERIOR, AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY

Where the Shelby does win out is inside, where it gets a full suite of Ford features like a touch-screen navigation system with SYNC, a Shaker 1000 stereo, leather trim and less black grainy plastic. The Boss 302 is very Spartan, something we can live with, but might be off-putting to those who can actually afford this car. The optional Recaro seats deserve mention for being both comfortable and extremely supportive, and come with holes for shoulder harnesses, although using them with a non-fixed back seat seems like a poor idea. They?re a $1,995 option and come paired with a limited slip differential. That?s not a bad price, but on a vehicle like this an LSD really should be standard.

The stereo is a real piece of crap that wouldn?t be fit for a base Fiesta, and let?s be honest here ? a great deal of the whole muscle car experience is blasting loud music while cruising the main drag. Would it kill Ford to put something half-decent in a car that costs more than $40,000?

The exterior, however, is the exact opposite of the de-contended cockpit. Up front there?s a whole new grille and fascia with an integrated splitter. Out back are two absolutely massive rear exhaust pipes. Plus, the Boss 302 gets the GT?s power dome hood and rear decklid spoiler and when paired with the custom graphics and wheels looks 100 percent the track machine that it is.

A TRACK CAR YOU CAN LIVE WITH

That detail aside, the Boss is astonishingly easy to live with in every-day situations. The trunk is fairly spacious, the ride quality is excellent except over the worst pavement (where it really does fall apart, though we did have the adjustable shocks cranked up the full stiffness), the seats are comfortable and the clutch is easy to use. Driving it in urban rush hour traffic left us no more exhausted than driving a family sedan, though its physical heft and less than optimal rear visibility made lane changes and shoulder-checking a bit more complicated than it would be in a Taurus.

Another nice feature if you do want to drive your Boss every day is the adjustable steering settings, with Comfort, Normal and Sport mode for different assist settings. We could see using the lower two for a highway cruise, but anyone with a Boss personality is going to want to stick it in Sport and keep it that way.

THE VERDICT

Given the hype that tends to surround any muscle car, managing expectations is key for a car like the Boss 302. The new Camaro debuted with all the praises and hallelujahs the automotive press could muster, but it turned out to be a dud, while the Challenger was a neat but dynamically flawed vehicle. The Boss 302 manages to deliver on its promises, a more focused, refined Mustang that transcends the typical ?weekend toy? status that most high-performance cars (let alone track day special editions) tend to be.

It?s a shame that the time spent with the Boss was so limited, barely allowing for time to dig into the supposed handling prowess of the chassis, the 4-piston Brembo brakes (which worked very well during a triple digit panic stop) and the chance to wind out the big 5.0L V8 on the track, letting us explore all 7500 rpm. We?ll be eagerly awaiting a proper week-long drive with the Boss, but for now it?s safe to say that the Boss is the real deal, the apex muscle car that can also give foreign rivals reason to stay awake at night.