Sex-o-Cars

2011 Mazda 2

September 29th, 2010 Comments Off

Overview
The 2011 Mazda 2 has been completely redesigned inside, outside and underneath. The all-new five-seat, front-wheel-drive subcompact was designed to take on a wide range of competitors, such as the Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Accent, and Kia Soul and Rio.

First introduced in 2007, the Mazda 2 has been extremely successful, selling more than 400,000 units in Europe and Asia, and being named World Car Of The Year in 2008. Now, the U.S. market gets the third-generation Mazda 2 before any other market.

The styling is fresh and we find it arrestingly good-looking. Like all Mazda products of recent vintage, the 2011 Mazda 2 has been made to look much bolder and sportier than its previous incarnations. The body itself has been reshaped in a much more sporty fashion, with more sculpted sides, a laid-back windshield, and a jaunty little rear roof spoiler on one version. There's a new grille, hood, fenders, lamps, bumper and air intakes up front, with new body-colored door handles, new taillamps, a power liftgate, new 15-inch wheels, and exhaust system outlets at the rear. Underneath, there's a redone suspension and an improved braking system.

Under the hood, there is a single engine choice, a time-tested 1.5-liter double-overhead-cam 16-valve four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing to give it more flexibility in delivering low-rpm torque and high-rpm horsepower.

Fuel economy for the Mazda 2 is an EPA-estimated 28/35 mpg City/Highway.

Aiming for higher gas mileage without damaging the driving fun, Mazda focused on reducing weight with a vengeance, using a much higher ratio of high-strength steel in the body to lose 50 pounds, or 10 percent of the body's weight, with more welds and more weld-bonded adhesives in the body and its openings. And then they looked for hundreds of places to save a few pounds, like the wiring harness, the door locks and latches, the engine's radiator, the automatic transmission shifter, the pedals, and even the speakers in the stereo system. The final result was a car that weighs just a bit over 2300 pounds in basic form, a five-door hatch that is actually lighter than a two-seater Miata.

Dacia Duster

September 27th, 2010 Comments Off

Renault's Romanian subsidiary Dacia has unveiled the production Duster model, an affordable and rugged 4x4 vehicle that will be manufactured the European, Turkish and Maghreb markets and will go on sale in Spring 2010.

The Dacia Duster will be marketed in 4x2 and 4x4 versions in the European, Turkish and Maghreb markets. It will be produced at the brand's Pitesti plant in Romania, with sales beginning in Spring 2010.

It will gradually become available across the world, badged as either a Renault or a Dacia, following the example of Logan and Sandero.

The Dacia Duster will offer a choice of economical engines with low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The 4x2 diesel versions of Dacia Duster will emit less than 140g CO2/km, making them eligible for the Dacia eco? signature, while the 4x4 diesel versions will emit less than 150g CO2/km.

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

September 22nd, 2010 Comments Off

Design brings high-tech features to life

Another distinguishing feature comes in the form of the full LED headlamps, which are the world's first to offer all of the dynamic light functions using LED technology. This innovation boasts an impressive design - inside they are divided into three arrow-shaped layers from top to bottom: the upper layer contains an LED indicator, beneath which is a striking LED side light offers LED low beam functions. The side light can also be seen when the high beam is activated, thereby creating a unique night-time design. The lowest level of the headlamp houses the main beam and nightview functions. A total of 71 LED's provide an unmistakable appearance as well as a significantly enhanced view of the road compared with previous systems.

The typical Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class outline, with its elegantly long proportions, is the dominating attribute of the new model. The effect of the dynamic, athletic form has been enhanced with a new interplay of lines and surfaces. A unique "dropping line", which begins above the front wheel-wells and slopes downward towards the rear, represents a new interpretation of a renowned design hallmark of historic Mercedes sports cars.

2011 Hyundai ix20

September 20th, 2010 Comments Off

Hyundai will kick off an intensive period of product launches by unveiling two important new models at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.

First of these exciting new models is Hyundai's new B-segment MPV, named ix20. The Hyundai ix20 is the second European model to adopt Hyundai's new 'fluidic sculpture' design language which helps differentiate it from the boxy 'minivan' image typically associated with the segment.

On sale from mid November 2010 in the UK, Hyundai ix20 is expected to attract young families with its excellent all-round package: class-leading fuel economy and low CO2 emissions; the latest in active and passive safety technologies; and the company's groundbreaking Five Year Triple Care warranty.

The Hyundai ix20 will be joined at the show by the facelifted version of Hyundai's best selling i10 city car. The new Hyundai i10 features comprehensive visual and mechanical improvements, including a new 1.0-litre engine with CO2 emissions of just 99 g/km. The new version of the i10 will go on sale early in 2011.

2011 Infiniti M

September 18th, 2010 Comments Off

The Infiniti M Line takes Infiniti's saloon range in Europe - which also includes the Infiniti G37 - to a higher new level, inside, outside and on the road, too. The Infiniti M combines rear-wheel-drive poise with impeccable luxury credentials in a 4945mm-long saloon with space to spare inside the best designed and finished cabin that Infiniti has ever offered. As flagship saloon for the brand, the Infiniti M Line also revels in the uniqueness that is Infiniti, from the flowing lines of the Essence concept car-inspired profile and the integrity of the natural materials used, to the pledge of an utterly hassle-free ownership experience.

Infiniti's most technologically advanced and beautiful saloon yet, the third-generation Infiniti M will bring with it to Europe its unimpeachable reputation for quality among American luxury car-buyers. Every Infiniti M model will also arrive designed and equipped to succeed in some of the world's toughest executive car markets, blending qualities that have made it a popular car in the US with the high-performance abilities needed to compete on European roads.

The new Infiniti M Line has been able to call on key Infiniti strengths in order to satisfy more demanding drivers. These include lightweight componentry, adaptive technology, race-bred engine design, sophisticated chassis design with almost perfect weight distribution and proven double-wishbone suspension with the availability in some models of Infiniti's acclaimed sports handling technology, 4-Wheel Active Steering (4WAS). To the benefit of looks, ride and cabin room, the M also benefits from one of the longest wheelbases in the class.

2011 Nissan Maxima

September 15th, 2010 Comments Off

Whether you choose the new 2011 2012 Nissan Maxima GXE, Maxima SE, or the Nissan Maxima GLE, you’ll be driving a car that is as sleek as it is sophisticated. What’s more, with a host of 2011 2012 Nissan Maxima accessories, and a popular Maxima body kit, this car is one of the most customizable members of the Nissan fleet. Make the 2011 2012 Nissan Maxima part of your life – bookmark this site and check all of the 2011 2012 Maxima info and Nissan Maxima specs we have to offer today.

There are other reasons to buy a 2011 2012 Nissan Maxima sedan, though, and these have to do with looks. On the outside, the Maxima gets its debonair style from camera-lens-style headlights, chrome-rimmed taillights, large rear-door windows, and a new grille and bumper fascia that is bold and beautiful.

nissan maximaOn the inside, 2011 2012 Nissan Maxima amenities include a height-adjustable center armrest, 60/40 split-rear seat, trip computer, premium Bose audio system, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Other 2011 2012 Nissan Maxima parts that get attention are some of the Maxima accessories, which include floor mats and roof racks, to name a few. Finally, the 2011 2012 Nissan Maxima body kits enable you to add style to your front and rear bumpers, as well.

Even though Maxima had already chalked up seven years on Ward's AutoWorld "Ten Best Engines" list, Nissan was itching to do more with the 2011 2012 model, and it did. The new 255-horsepower engine has a bored engine, fatter pistons, and it is built on the award-winning VQ technologies that have won Nissan so many accolades in the past. Other 2011 2012 Nissan Maxima parts that add to the car’s superior performance include an optional 6-speed manual on the 2011 2012 SE, sport-tuned suspension, anti-lock brakes, a Traction Control System, and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution.

2011 Toyota Sienna

September 9th, 2010 Comments Off

It's tough to put swagger in a minivan. Toyota Motor Corp. has tried to claim its all-new 2011 Toyota Sienna is cool, fun and the kind of vehicle young, hip parents want in their lives. But that's simply not true. There's nothing particularly cool about a minivan. Cool is Corvette, cool is cruising to a Tigers' game on a summer night with the top down and 89X cranking on the stereo. There are no juice boxes in cool. Coolness is instantly removed when a person becomes a parent. This is a fact of life even Edna Garrett can agree with. But don't let dumb marketing get in the way of a great minivan.

The new Sienna offers parents all of the luxury amenities they could ever want. It's designed for function first but still pulls off style.

It might even make parenting a little easier -- which is the entire purpose of minivans.
Minivans in general are the single most utilitarian people hauler around. For families, it allows siblings to be separated to just out-of-arm's reach of each other and cuts down the "he's touching me" comments to a minimum. More importantly, every person in this vehicle will be comfortable.

2011 Dodge Durango

September 6th, 2010 Comments Off

Don’t be alarmed if you think the 2011 Dodge Durango looks a lot like a stretched Jeep Grand Cherokee with a crosshair grille, because that’s essentially what it is. While the underpinnings are largely shared, Dodge tells us that the Durango is more focused on hauling people—it has three rows to the Grand Cherokee’s two—than crawling over rocks. And so while Jeep boasts about off-road capability, Dodge will play up the crossovery-ness and on-road performance of the Durango.

After taking a pass on the 2010 model year, the third-generation Durango appears thirteen years after the original model was introduced. Unlike the body-on-frame SUV it replaces, the 2011 Durango now sits on a unibody platform that it and the Grand Cherokee share with the Mercedes-Benz M- and GL-classes. The base engine will be Chrysler’s new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 while the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 continues as the optional engine, just as with the Jeep. All-wheel drive will be optional, but Dodge won’t give specifics on what types of systems will be offered. We expect some sharing with the Grand Cherokee, with Jeep reserving for itself the more capable, off-road-oriented transfer cases. An optional air suspension also is likely for the Durango, especially given its claimed performance intentions and the availability of such a system on the GC. Towing capacity is quoted as 6200 pounds with the V-6 and 7400 pounds with the Hemi, which is down slightly from its truck-based predecessor. A trailer-sway-control system will be standard.

The styling is bold if a bit softer than the Grand Cherokee’s. The Durango finally loses the two-level front end that previously tied its look to those of the Dakota (on which it was based) and the larger Ram. Grille inserts on the model shown here have a chain-link appearance, and the front fascia extends low to the ground, giving a hunkered-down look and presumably helping with aerodynamics. There are striking similarities to the Grand Cherokee in the rear, with wraparound taillamps bridged by a chrome bar. We haven’t gotten a look at the interior yet, but we expect it to be very similar in style and execution to that of—you guessed it—the new Grand Cherokee.

Hamann Develops Appearance for Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

August 28th, 2010 Comments Off

The eye-catching coupe that is Mercedes-Benz's latest supercar, the 2010 SLS AMG, showcases gullwing doors that rise skyward. Despite the car's unique doors, however, some may want their SLS to stand out even more. German tuner Hamann has the answer in the form of new appearance and suspension packages.

The first thing you notice about Hamann's SLS AMG is its set of 21-inch wheels. Dubbed Design Edition Race Anodized, the two-piece wheels are forged from a lightweight aluminum alloy, and the wheel centers are painted matte black. To contrast the dark center of the wheel, the connecting bolts are made from titanium, and the forged aluminum wheel lip is left unpainted.

In addition to adding new wheels to the SLS, Hamann lowers the car by just over an inch. Incredibly, this gives the car an even meaner stance and ensures that the wheels fill out the entirety of the wheel wells. The lowered suspension was also designed to provide the car with better grip and a more progressive suspension feel. And although Hamann remains mum on engine output increases, a new exhaust and new 3.5-inch quad-tailpipes that replace the stock exhaust's oval units create a more menacing sound.

Saab 9-4X Review

August 26th, 2010 Comments Off

Consumer Guide's Impressions of the 2010 Saab 9-4X

The first crossover for General Motors' Swedish brand is more relevant than the SUV it replaces, especially in today's rough economy. But the 9-4X could be overshadowed by corporate siblings, and that would be bad news for struggling Saab.

What We Know About the 2010 Saab 9-4X

You know things are bad when even mighty Toyota posts double-digit sales losses, so imagine the woes of weak auto brands like Saab. General Motors' Swedish division has been struggling for years, but now it's on the ropes. U.S. sales were down over 32 percent for the first nine months of 2008 and could be over 50-percent lower by year-end versus 2007. Things are equally grim in Europe and other markets. While scary headlines and the global credit crisis get much of the blame, Saab also suffers from a limited and aging lineup. And that is not likely to change until the economy improves. Indeed, trade weekly Automotive News recently reported that all planned future Saabs have been put on hold--save one.

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