Fiat 500 Twin Air

With a facia like a Roberts radio the Fiat 500 Twin Air raises retro to new frontiers. Italian engineers at the press launch this week could not resist congratulating themselves on a conspicuous success. It sips fuel by the teaspoonful and has the lowest exhaust emissions of any production petrol engine. Even climate-change sceptics can not gainsay free entry to the London Congestion Charge zone, with 95kg/km of CO2 from the exhaust.

Pert, pretty and engaging, Fiat 500s have form. Remember 13bhp. The first 500 of 1936, the Topolino or Mickey Mouse, had a 569cc side-valve 4-cylinder at the front driving the rear wheels, independent suspension by transverse leaf spring, weighed 535kg (1179lb) and did about 53mph and 45mpg. More than half a million were made. Recreated in 1957, the engine was changed to a 479cc overhead valve vertical twin, put at the back and shorn of a transmission shaft its weight was reduced to 470kg (1035lb). It still gave only13bhp so it didn’t go much faster but it used less fuel; 50mpg against about 47mpg.
Like VW, with the born-again Beetle, the 4-cylinder retro-styled Fiat 500 of July 2007 shifted the engine to the front again, driving the front wheels. Safety equipment and crash protection made it heavier and now we have another vertical twin with a chain drive ohc to 4-valve heads. It is now 900kg (1984lb) but this little jewel of a car has a turbocharger, and with 85bhp and five gears will do 108mph and, on the extra-urban cycle, 76.5mpg.

At 60mph the new Twin Air burbles along at a restful 2,500rpm in fifth. Dr Lanchester’s clever balancer shaft hasn’t quite smoothed out the beat of the two cylinder engine but it is not an unpleasant buzz. You can’t call it swift at 11sec to 60mph and the gearshift is a bit woolly but what a little charmer. People smiled at in picturesque Berkshire, where the local authorities are speed camera-mad, obsessed with chicanes, road humps and so-called traffic-calming, outdated and largely discredited safety measures, which must do little for the residents’ peace of mind.
Veteran Fiat PR Peter Newton runs well-organised, informative launches, packed with information. Based at the splendid Forbury Hotel, cheek by jowl with Reading Gaol, well worth a Ballad.

The heart of rual autumnal Berkshire

The Unusual Baobab Trees (10 pics)

The Unusual Baobab Trees
Baobab or Upside-Down Tree grows in Africa and Australia. The legend says that after it was planted by God it kept moving, so God replanted it upside down. These trees can reach heights of 5 to 30 metres (16 to 98 ft) and have trunk diameters of 7 to 11 metres (23 to 36 ft).

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Antilla - The Billion Dollar House (6 pics)

Antilla - The Billion Dollar House
Antilla Mukesh Ambani or Antilia Mukesh Ambani House Mumbai World’s first Billion Dollar home. Antilia is a twenty-seven floor (560 ft or 173 m) building completed in Mumbai for Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries. This Antilla House is Mumbai largest home in the world. The family will occupy about 400,000 square feet. The Melbourne-based construction company Leighton Holdings began constructing Antilla but Antilia has been finished by another company. The construction is inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

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Derbyshire last week

Well, not quite. Jorge Lorenzo, Moto GP Yamaha, is looking carefully where he is going
Motorcycling teaches observation. Riders pay more attention than drivers. Bikers look for changes in the road surface; they look for drains, manhole covers, cambers, ridges, painted lines and oil stains. They develop an acuity others rarely achieve. On two wheels your life depends on wisps of wind, flecks of rain, the smell of wet grass. Jackie Stewart once told me how he could sense when a race crowd’s attention was not on him (as it usually was) but on the accident round the next corner.

Motorcycling is like that. Your senses are heightened; there is intoxication – literally – in the adrenalin. I motorcycled as a teenager. You watch
other road users carefully when so much depends on reading their body language.
Girder forks and single cylinders. Ex-WD machines were affordable

I was drawn to motorcycling. I had no hope of a decent car, but a bike was almost within reach and even a modest 250 had a decent turn of speed. Years later, I went to a Guild of Motoring Writers’ test day on the Chobham track, cheerfully riding BMWs and memorably a Honda 400 Four, far and away the fastest bikes I had handled. In my teenage years anything over 60mph induced double vision. Bikes were harsh, vibrated and their guidance was imprecise. At Chobham, engines were silky smooth, handling was transformed with oleo struts and better tyres, and a hundred and twenty miles an hour was a dawdle. I was spellbound.

Common sense prevailed. I knew that I would go ever faster, much as I had done with cars, and accidents would hurt. You can’t have a small accident on a fast motorcycle. It’s possible but unlikely. In a car you could have quite a big accident and get away with it. I abandoned the idea of a motorcycle. I rather envied those astride high-revving masterpieces, getting the adrenalin rushes and thrills those oily and clattery British vertical twins had inspired all those years ago.

Well, I don’t feel like that now. Bikers should get ASBOs and be banished.

Take noise. You can tell it's the weekend by engines revving to 7,000 on the bypass. It is like living within earshot of a grand prix.

It was mayhem in Derbyshire last week. There are 50mph limits everywhere thanks to bikes. Lines of traffic amble along decent undulating open roads, with good sight lines and gracious curves while bikers swerve round them. A traffic officer told me the limits are to try and reduce motorcycle casualties. Notices proclaim motorcycle danger areas. Yellow and black placards entreat drivers to Think Bike! Of course the adrenalin junkies take no notice. They gather in villages, bikes gleaming in chromium, resplendent in glossy paint, riders in coloured leathers and artworked helmets.

But these are not keen bright-eyed youngsters. They are white-haired, balding overweight born-again bikers, who can now afford machines three times as fast as the Triumph Thunderbirds and Norton Dominators they couldn’t run to as teenagers. They ride at weekends, they ride badly, and their observation is poor. You don’t need to be a traffic officer to see how unsafe they are so we suffer speed limits, notices and scary manoeuvres.

Born-again bikers should be restricted to what was in series production when they were sixteen. No more Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha multi-cylindered howling monsters. No more racy coloured leathers. They should act their age with a Barbour suit and a Corker helmet, on a Francis-Barnett, James Captain or BSA Bantam. LE Velocettes were quiet. Four-strokes should be bolted to Watsonian sidecars and American V-twins utterly forbidden.
Magnificent machinery. Norton Dominator

Rose McGowan Candids at Melrose Avenue in Hollywood (12 pics)

Rose McGowan Candids at Melrose Avenue in Hollywood

Rose McGowan goes for shopping making a long-awaited appearance strutting her beauty down Melrose Avenue in Hollywood on October 13th 2010. She is wearing lingerie in broad daylight and she looks freaking hot in it, and that goes for her tight jeans as well. Enjoy the Beauty of Rose McGowan.

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A Unique Sideways Bike by Michael Killian (5 pics)

A Unique Sideways Bike by Michael Killian
Unlike ordinary bicycle, the model Michael Killian's direction of movement of each wheel controlled independently, and the seat perpendicular to the direction of travel. This design gives the bike a functional similarity to the snowboard. The main characteristics of the bicycle as an efficient and simple means of transport stored, and at the same time, the model is very different from anything we've seen before.

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Amazing Architecture Turned Upside Down (13 pics)

Amazing Architecture Turned Upside Down
These House Inverted Against itself Stands Just Fine—We’ve all seen pics of artistic prank houses built totally upside down—but all on these just get a look one of this perfect example: Even the toilet brushes, potted plants and fruit bowls are in place. It’s a dizzying set of photos—I bet that walking through would lay you flat on your arse, but on the ceiling. No word if they’re selling this thing or not, but if you buy it, I’d ask for seatbelts (and maybe airbags too).

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Unique Handmade Kozo Lamps (15 pics)

The KOZO Lamps are handmade by Design 2009 Studio. The KOZO series lighting made of galvanized iron parts, Cool Tap light switch(developed by Design2009), and house a light bulb or a halogen light bulb!

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Spied: 2012 Toyota Prius MPV

We’re the first to get up and get down when we hear that someone’s raising the roof. But we’re curbing our enthusiasm a bit in the case of the Toyota Prius MPV, which our spies just nabbed testing here on American roads. The words “Prius minivan” don’t exactly get our blood boiling.

From the looks of things, the Prius MPV/crossover/mini-minivan thing will look exactly like, well, a Prius with a flatter, higher roof and an upright rear window. It appears to be sized somewhere between a Toyota Matrix and a Mazda 5, and to feature forward-hinged rear doors. Through the camouflage, it’s easy to see Prius-esque graphics on the front end and in the taillamps, as well as the Prius’s characteristic triangular D-pillar. The wheels are remarkably large for a Prius (the base sedan rides on puny 15-inchers); the rollers here are either 18s or really big–looking 17s. Inside, the MPV features center-mounted gauges like those in the regular Prius. Maximum seating capacity is unknown as of now, but squeezing in a third row, as Kia did on its diminutive Rondo, is a possibility.

Beneath the skin, expect to see the next generation of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive, although not necessarily one using pricey lithium-ion battery technology; the company has pledged to stick with nickel-metal hydride batteries for a long time to come. (As demand for plug-in hybrids increases, however, we expect Toyota could release a Prius MPV variant with the lithium-ion-powered setup from the plug-in Prius, which is due for the 2012 model year.) The MPV may, however, get a larger four-cylinder engine displacing 2.5 liters or so. Just how high Toyota can stretch this vehicle’s fuel economy remains to be seen, but hitting the sedan’s vaunted 50-mpg EPA combined mileage mark will be tough, given the MPV’s presumed weight gain, its taller profile, and the internal-combustion engine’s potential displacement increase.

We’re not terribly shocked to see this new body style emerge; it’s been an open secret that the Prius family would grow, even as the company has yet to officially confirm as much. Last year, Toyota told us that it is planning to launch no fewer than 10 new hybrids by 2012, and that an MPV was the vehicle most requested by current Prius owners. How much this version would cost relative to the current five-door is TBD, of course, but a starting point of around $25K wouldn’t be surprising.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

New Car: 2011 Dodge Charger

It’s been a long wait since we first caught a camouflaged 2011 Dodge Charger rolling around. But our desire for fresh sheetmetal and an interior devoid of hard plastics has finally been fulfilled, as Dodge released its first official images and a few sparse details on the next Charger. Who’da thunk the car could get any angrier?

Back in 2005, when the previous model made its debut, many decried the use of the Charger name on a sedan. If it was attitude the naysayers sought, they ought to be satisfied now. A larger crosshair grille is nicely accented by an enlarged lower intake and better integrated with the new hood—which is aluminum, and sports two scallops recalling Chargers of the late ’60s. The sharply creased hood lines and squinting headlights give the Charger a pissed-off, snorting-bull, I’m-going-to-destroy-you scowl.

Moving to the side, the eye is immediately drawn to a scallop that again recalls the late-’60s Charger. The line’s execution is very striking, creating a natural shoulder that looks much less forced than on the previous car. The greenhouse adds to the aggressive demeanor with a faster windshield angle and a skinnier A-pillar. The beltline stays flat—as opposed to the dramatic upkick on the last car—promising better outward visibility. Dodge says the wheel wells are tighter, and filling them with the available 19-inch rims only tightens them further.

Cues from the ’60s give the stern of this animal more personality as well. The taillight valance gets a recessed look, but is fully modern in its functionality: the lights themselves are composed of 164 LEDs. The exhaust finishers are no longer an afterthought, but instead are integrated into the lower fascia on all models.

Dodge has yet to furnish an interior image, but we’ve caught a glimpse before and we know the company is promising premium soft-touch materials. A new steering wheel and a full host of technologies are on the menu, including Uconnect and navigation. Customers will be offered their choice of four interior colors.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

MGB Twin Cam and Austin A30

Classic cars cost more than you expect. I loved my MGB and A30. They were fine in prosperous times but I am relieved, in a way, I don’t still have them. The A30 was pure nostalgia. The first car I ever owned was an A30 and recreating the noises and the feel of what you were driving as an early-twenty-something was enjoyable. I was late into having my own car. The A30 was a strong monocoque, it was quite sound when I bought it but keeping the dreaded tinworm at bay seemed never-ending. And I did like (see other blogs) to make a car feel like it was when new. I could do this with the MG. Pretty well all it got from its donor car was the chassis plate. As the accompanying piece from the Telegraph of 1998 shows, it was an attempt to create a Twin Cam MGB. Had it been more skilfully executed, it would have been a fine car. As it was, it proved troublesome but it looked sensational – perfectly period, and it was about as fast as my Z3, which meantime remains my regular everyday classic.

2010 Caterham Special Edition Seven Sport Cars By Lambretta

British sportscar-maker Caterham company Caterham Cars will be releasing a special edition of the Caterham Seven later this year.  The specialized automaker joined up with British fashion company Lambretta Clothing (named after the scooters) to create a new look for their version of the Lotus 7.

2010 Caterham Special Edition Seven Sport Cars By Lambretta

Few icons are as quintessentially British as the Union Jack and the Caterham Seven. Originally engineered by Lotus, the 7 is still built by British sportscar-maker Caterham, and has now been outfitted for a special edition by British fashion house Lambretta.

The British-owned fashion label, which is based in London’s famous Carnaby Street, has drawn on its characteristic flair and rich heritage in popular culture to create a bespoke, custom-tailored Caterham, which screams ‘Britannia’. The body paint, decals and livery leave you in no doubt of its geographic heritage with the Union Jack’s unmistakable hue of red, white and blue dressing the paintwork.

Under the skin, the engineering is pure Caterham.

Powered by a 1.6-litre Ford Sigma engine, which pushes out 125bhp, the 2010 Caterham Special Edition Seven Sport Cars By Lambretta can call upon 120lbs ft of torque to propel its lightweight frame to 60mph in six seconds. The marriage of a quick-fire five-speed gearbox, with a purposeful chassis, provides the responsiveness and handling characteristics every Seven is famous for.

Available immediately, the 2010 Caterham Special Edition Seven Sport Cars By Lambretta is priced at £26,995 OTR. Lambretta’s managing director, Rob Harmer explained: “Designing the exterior and interior of a car is an entirely different challenge to our core business of fashion and accessories, but there are clearly some shared philosophies between the two companies, which made this collaboration so exciting.”  

2010 Caterham Special Edition Seven Sport Cars By Lambretta

New Skoda Fabia Specs,Features and Prices Details

Skoda's Fabia is a popular small car among buyers who are looking for good value for money. The car's durability and functionality are very appealing above more subjective quality. It provides good levels of filtration and a decent ride for a car of this size. It has managed to transformation from a modest hatch to something more versatile. The Fabia is a hatchback with much better access and versatility.Skoda Fabia was launched abroad in 2000 and went in for a facelift in 2005. Now Skoda India is all set to launch the facelifted version of Fabia in India on 12th October 2010.

New Skoda Fabia Overviews

New Skoda Fabia wallpapers-stills

Design & Styling of New Skoda Fabia

As far as the overall design of the New Fabia goes, it is more or less the same but improved and that says a lot because the outgoing Fabia was highly rated. After making a sharp observation, one can found that the new headlamp design matches Fabia’s sharp edges and makes it look more confident on road with a wider vision. The lower air dam now get horizontal lines while the typical vertically lined upper grille, the signature of Skoda cars, still succeed. The tail lamps are also new with clearer lens. The small and round fog lamps are gone and now the new Fabia gets a larger boxy fog lamps. Following is a list of changes or additions in New Skoda Fabia:

- All New headlamps - Clear and large in size
- All New Tail Lamps - Clear and large in size
- All New Fog Lights - Boxy in shape
- New Front Grille - Vertical lined
- Revamped Interiors - New color combinations
- New engine options - Gets 1.2 litre petrol and 1.6 litre petrol
- New Alloy/Wheel cover design
- New Fabric/Leather for interiors

Engine Options,Price and Launch Date of New Skoda Fabia

- 1.6 litre 105 Bhp Petrol
- 1.2 litre 75 Bhp Petrol
- 1.2 litre 75 Bhp Diesel

Skoda India will launch New Fabia with three engine options - 1.6 litre 105 Bhp Petrol, 1.2 litre 75 Bhp Petrol and 1.2 litre 75 Bhp Diesel. It is expected that New Skoda Fabia will be launched on 12th of October 2010 and will be on sale from same day across all Skoda dealerships in India.It is expected that New Fabia will be available in atleast 7-8 variants which will be priced between Rs. 5.5 lakhs to Rs. 7.5 lakhs.

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2011 Fiat Linea T-Jet specifications-features-price details

we have include 2011 Fiat Linea T-Jet specifications,2011 Fiat Linea T-Jet reviews and 2011 Fiat Linea T-Jet Features here.Here we give a complete and detailed overview of 2011 Fiat Linea T-JetP.TOP SEED grant High resolution wallpapers of the 2011 Fiat Linea T-Jet.Addition of extra segmets of Vehicle can very the Price we given .Click each 2011 Fiat Linea T-Jet wallpapers and get high quality-high resolution 2011 Fiat Linea T-Jet stills.

2011 Fiat Linea T-Jet Overviews

2011 Fiat Linea T-Jet wallpapers-stills

FIAT India had allude to at announce the ‘T-Jet’ version of the popular Linea just following they launched the 90bhp Punto.The Linea T-Jet was originally due last month.Fiat has made many enhancements such as turbocharged engine, automatic headlamps, rain sensing wipers, reverse parking sensors, 0-100 kmph in just 9.2 seconds, etc.

1.4 litre turbocharged T-Jet engine is powered in Linea T-Jet which provide maximum power of 110 Bhp with maximum torque of 200 Nm. In just 9.2 seconds the car reaches 0-100 kmph and offers 120PS @5000rpm and torque of 200Nm @2500rpm. The T-Jet has a top speed of about 200 kmh and comes with 5-speed manual transmission. The car also gets more sound insulation to reduce noise discharge by the engine and the air conditioning units.

Engine Specification:

• Displacement: 1399cc, Turbo Charged Petrol
• Maximum Torque: 200 Nm @ 2500 rpm
• Transmission 5-speed manual
• Maximum Power: 110 Bhp @ 5000 rpm
• Engine Type: 1.4L Petrol/1.3, 1.4L Diesel

Performance:

• Maximum Speed: 220 Km/Hour
• 0-100kmph: 14.6 seconds
• Fuel Tank: 45.00
• Kerb Weight: 1280.00 kgs.
• Max. Horsepower (ps/rpm): 77 PS @ 6000 rpm
• Ground Clearance: 165.00 mm
• Brakes: Front Disk, Rear Drum
• Music System: CD player with 4 speakers
• Max. Torque (N m/rpm): 115 Nm @ 3000 rpm

Suspension:

• Rear Suspension: Half torsion
• Front Suspension: McPherson

Dimensions:

• Height (mm): 1494
• Wheelbase (mm): 2603 Kerb
• Weight Length (mm): 4560
• Weight (kgs): 1185 Seating
• Width (mm): 1730
• Capacity: 05

Features of 2011 Fiat Linea T-Jet:

• Responsive suspension system for great driving pleasure
• Dressed with dynamic outline having finest chrome outline
• Illuminated digital console panel
• Linea comes packed with fuel-efficient three engine variants
• Rear seat headrests
• Sporty wheel-rims and bumpers
• Spacious luggage capacity of 500 L
• The engine of Fiat Linea comes loaded with FPS (Fire Protection System) that stops the fuel supply to the engine, in case of need
• Maximum levels of safety of passengers by ABS and EBD. It also comes with side and roof bags.

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tips on car modification plan

1. Plan
The first step to change the car for a service that uses proven reputation modifier. With more experience like this, you can spend the early design changes to the car because he wanted to. If you choose to provide professional services to use, then make sure you have the budget to include additional salary. excessive budget to change the car is about 10% in terms of things that are not desired. One thing is not to be missed, make sure you are not candidates STOLEN mountain.

Furthermore, valuable input on the color, tires, interior, and other related matters.

2. Large
Do not know what car you want, then it is time to look at the wallet. Make sure you know how much of a change machine. Budgets are also influenced by what a change machine,

Research in advance what the price of spare parts and the time required for

3.Menemukan the right car
After making sure your budget is now looking for a decent used car polish, too. Less rust and damage, the more you scream wallet happy. But most importantly, make sure you research first about the car. At least you know the year of manufacture and specifications are followed.

4. Spare Parts List
After his freedom, it helps you to organize your shopping list. Write down where you store stuff so you do not buy the same item twice. Or

5. Kikis Cat
There are several methods presented several workshops that lead to erosion of paint. The most commonly used blasting media that your car back to its original color gray.

6. New Cat
Once your car 'naked' alone time for you to contact an experienced painter. References You can search through the garage and famous shopping that often provide services such as painting.

You can discuss with him about the color choice and brand. Although looking a bit pricey, but guaranteed you will not regret the outcome.

7. Engine
While your car is painted, it's time for things that are important and the most expensive to buy. Make sure you select the appropriate machine with the power you want. Next, please find a machine with the best price by type.

8. Brakes and Suspension
Search engines may be associated with the search for a suitable suspension system. Remember, it's better to have a lot of money to spend for these two things, because guaranteed durable.

Compared with the material you are looking for cheap but fast is broken. Compatible with all kinds and types of relationships with the brakes of your choice.

9. Details
After everything is installed, a little longer you will be able to buy a new car to enjoy, but a long serve targeted. But you must always remember details of people's attention, inside and outside handle.

Outside of playing too many colors, because of the possibility of disappointing results and even the unsightly appearance, but you may be very interested.

Choose a color and motion of the right techniques, because it is a factor. Similarly, the inside, added a touch of values.

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Spied: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle

Considering that the “New” Beetle has been on-sale since 1998 and that we’ve been talking about a replacement since roughly 2007, your skepticism of a successor is forgiven. After chasing rumors for years, we can finally show you the new New Beetle, caught testing in its homeland.

A casual glance might have you wondering just what we’re on about, but look a bit closer. Volkswagen tried hard to make this look like any old Beetle, but it’s a cleverly disguised mule. The giveaway is the roofline, particularly over the rear seats. For as much as Volkswagen touted the inherent interior space advantage of a round object, it was really only an advantage if you were Yao Ming and sitting in one of the front seats. In the back seats, it meant intimate knowledge of the rear window as experienced by the back of your head and Volkswagen knew it. That’s why this car has a flatter roofline that drops off sharply after the rear seats instead of right on top of them.

It’s also why the original Type I Beetle had a similar roofline, which furthers the New Beetle’s retro-tastic design motif. In fact, a lot of the new New Beetle’s styling is influenced by the Type I as the original retro car gets even more retro. The windshield on this prototype is more vertical, again like the original, and helps get rid of the notorious football field-sized dash on the current model. Moving farther forward, the hood has been stretched out both to compensate for the shorter windshield and, again, to make the car look more like the original Type I. Viewed from the side, the new design has a surprising bit of Porsche to its shape, possibly a nod to its heritage if not just a coincidence.

Not everything on the new New Beetle is retro-inspired, though. A fair amount of inspiration can also be traced to the 2005 Ragster Concept. While Volkswagen made a point of keeping the car’s short overhangs (again, like the Type I), it is getting new fascias. Up front, it looks almost as though the engineers hung the old fascia over the top of the new one to throw us off and the result is an ugly under-bite that does its job of disguising updates brilliantly. Expect a more aggressive fascia with larger air intakes to help fight the New Beetle’s “chick car” image. Above it, the new hood is wider and less round at the front, very much unlike the Type I and a bit less cutesy than the old New Beetle. The headlights, meanwhile, are a new design with separate projectors rather than the integrated units on the current car.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

New Car: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

Chevrolet has announced that the Camaro convertible will make its official debut at the Los Angeles auto show this November. It’s set to go on sale in February 2011, and will battle the Ford Mustang convertible for the dollars of sun-loving pony-car fans. Speaking of dollars, we also now know how many of them it will take to snag a ‘Maro droptop: $30,000, or about $6500 more than the base hardtop. It’s also about $2000 more than the cheapest Mustang convertible ($27,995). If the pricing gap holds true throughout the lineup, expect to pay at least $39,000 for the cloth-topped Camaro SS.

As we expected, the droptop will employ the same powertrain lineup as the Camaro coupe. The base engine is a direct-injected, 3.0-liter V-6 with 312 hp, while SS models score a 6.2-liter V-8 producing 426 hp. A six-speed manual remains the standard transmission, with a six-speed automatic optional for those who like their cruisin’ simple and their livin’ easy.

We also got another peek at the convertible, this time an SS model. Shot with its top down in an idyllic beach setting, it looks as handsome as the coupe, although we have yet to see the car with its fabric roof in place.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Paris Show 2010 Highlights: 2011 Volvo S60 & V60 R-Design

Volvo has unveiled the R-Design versions of its V60 and S60 models at the Paris motor show.

The new variants feature a specially developed chassis and new styling cues, including a redesigned front valance, a new diffuser housing twin exhaust tailpipes and five-spoke 18in Diamond cut wheels.

Interior changes include special leather/textile upholstery available in off-black and ceramic light, or there's an all-black variant, both with contrasting stitching. There are sport seats and an R-Design steering wheel, gear selector, sports pedals and floor-mats.

To improve body stiffness, a strut brace has been fitted under the bonnet and monotube dampers have been fitted at the rear, which feature compression and return damping via the same valve.

Volvo says this new damper system “gives shorter, faster fluid flow, which in turn means the damper responds more quickly”.

The bushings with which the rear dampers are attached to the body are 20 per cent stiffer compared with the standard chassis in the S60 and V60. The front and rear springs have been shortened by 15mm and spring stiffness is 15 per cent higher.

The R-Design variants are available across the entire V60 and S60 range from the 2.0-litre D3 to the high-performance T6.

Thanks to: Autocar

Paris Show 2010 Highlights: 2011 Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen has revealed the seventh generation of its Passat at the Paris motor show, ahead of order books opening in mid-October.

The new model is based on the same underpinnings as the outgoing car, although every body panel has been changed. It’s just four millimetres longer than the old car, at 4769mm, but its width and height remain unchanged.

Styling changes include a fresh front grille and headlight treatment, and more chrome and new tail-lights at the rear. Inside there’s a revised fascia with new instrument dials and finishes, redesigned seats and a slightly revised centre console.

The line-up of petrol engines comprises a 1.4-litre 120bhp TSI, a 158bhp 1.8, and a 2.0-litre 207bhp TSI. The diesels are a 1.6-litre motor with 104bhp, offering 68.8mpg and 109g/km of CO2 in Bluemotion guise, and a 2.0 with either 138bhp or 168bhp.

Manual and DSG gearboxes will be offered. VW says the new Passat will offer safety features normally reserved for luxury vehicles, including a “city emergency braking” function that automatically slows the car at speeds below 18mph when it senses an impending collision.

A fatigue detection system will also be offered as standard on the majority of the range. VW says the first deliveries of the car to UK buyers should take place in January 2011.

Thanks to: Autocar

Amazing Car Modification

Best and Ultimate Guide To Modified Car Insurance

 

Car modification is an area I have dabbled in myself and I must confess to finding great enjoyment in it. There will always be those who see anyone who modifies their car as a “Boy” or “Girl” racer. Of course, this may be the case for some, but others spend a huge amount of time and money on their beloved cars. The last thing on their mind would be driving dangerously and jeopardising the safety of their most precious item.

The modifying of your car can provide a welcomed focus and is certainly very enjoyable. There are many hobbies that appear superficially to follow a similar theme. Modifying a Pc and adding the latest parts, such as a new processor to increase performance is very similar to adding a new component to a car to increase speed and performance. Indeed, it can be said that to many of us, most things in life can come down to speed or performance in one way or another.

The topic that will never be far from this one is that of modified or performance car insurance. Of course if you modify and improve the performance of your car you will pay a higher premium price. Nevertheless, for some of us it can be a struggle to find a car insurance company even willing to insure a modified or performance car in the first place. Then you will have to consider paying an extortionate amount to cover your car, leaving most us a nervous wreck.

Modification Ferrari and Lamborghini

 

Unlike owners of brands like Ferrari, Porsche or Lamborghini, which compared to these cars, are common, these owners want to take car modification to the extreme….’how low can you go?’, ‘how big n bad is your spoiler?’. You can quite easily spend the same money on these cars as on purchasing a Ferrari.

The Most Unique Modification

Luxury Car Modification

Japan Modification

Blue Car Modification