Guide to Cars

Lexus LFA

Dewblackio — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:13:29 +0000

The Lexus LFA is a two-seat exotic sports coupe produced by Lexus as a concept car, “halo” vehicle, racing prototype, and production model. It is the second model in the F marque line of performance vehicles from Lexus, following the IS F. Three concept versions have been shown, each debuting at the North American International Auto Show with the LF-A designation as part of the LF Series concept line. The first LF-A concept premiered in 2005, followed in 2007 by a second LF-A with a more completely furnished interior and exterior. The third version of the LF-A, a roadster model, premiered in 2008. The production model, trademarked LFA, was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2009.

The production Lexus LFA features a new V10 engine and a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) body. The use of CFRP materials, which account for 65 percent of the LFA’s body composition, is to reduce overall weight for improved performance. The LFA is scheduled to go into production in late 2010, with a projected run of 500 hand-built vehicles at an estimated base price of $US350,000-375,000. A circuit-tuned variant is scheduled for 2012.

Hyundai Genesis

Dewblackio — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:05:08 +0000

The Hyundai Genesis is a full-size, rear-wheel drive luxury car introduced initially as a concept car in the 2007 New York International Auto Show.

Hyundai has introduced the vehicle worldwide, known internally as the BH model, and has initially market the Genesis as a “premium sports sedan,” in one body style with three possible engines. The Genesis will at least not initially be introduced to Europe. A coupe version was introduced at the 2008 New York International Auto Show and will join the sedan at a later date.

Hyundai targets 55,000 sales of the Genesis in 2008 (35,000 in Korea and another 20,000 overseas) and 45,000 in 2009, with sales goals of 50,000 per year in the United States. According to the Hyundai Chairman and CEO Chung Mong-koo, the Genesis is Hyundai’s first entry into the European dominated luxury arena. According to Hyundai Vice Chairman Kim Dong-jin, the name Genesis is a reflection that the vehicle is the first of many premium cars the company will introduce.

The Genesis sedan is a luxury sedan that was designed to compete with the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class, Infiniti M, and . Hyundai described Genesis as “Genesis offers the performance of a BMW 5-Series, the interior packaging of a 7-Series”. The Genesis sedan is roughly the same exterior size as Lexus LS 460 sedan, and spacious interior volume than Lexus LS 460, and the Genesis 4.6L outperforms Lexus GS 460.

Edmunds.com gave the car 9.5 out of 10 points, stating that it features a cabin comparable to a top-of-the-line Lexus, but pointed to lacking “brand cachet” as the main problem. Edmunds.com says “With badges removed, the Genesis could easily pass as a Lexus or Mercedes-Benz, although we doubt many brand-conscious people would give a Hyundai a second glance.” The Hyundai Genesis was named the 2009 North American Car of the Year.

Kia Soul

Dewblackio — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:58:39 +0000

The Kia Soul is a compact, mini MPV produced in South Korea for the global market. It was designed at Kia’s design center in California, and unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. Production began in late 2008, with the first vehicles appearing at European dealerships in February 2009 and North American dealerships in March 2009, as a 2010 model. The Soul comes in over 10,000 combinations of engines, colours, styling and accessories

Lamborghini Gallardo

Dewblackio — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:16:03 +0000

The Lamborghini Gallardo is a sports car built by Lamborghini. The Gallardo is Lamborghini’s most-produced model to date, with over 5000 built in its first three years of production. Each car costs about $180,000 to $210,000. The car is named after a famous breed of fighting bull. The Spanish word gallardo translates into “gallant,” and from Italian into “striking”.

The Gallardo offers two choices of transmissions, a conventional six-speed manual transmission, and an advanced six-speed electro-hydraulically controlled semi-automatic electrohydraulic manual transmission robotized manual, which Lamborghini abbreviates to “E-gear”. The “E-gear” allows the driver to make shifts much faster than a manual transmission would. The driver shifts up and down via paddles behind the steering wheel, and does not and cannot manually actuate the clutch.

For the MY2006 (launched in late 2005) Lamborghini introduced many changes to the car to counter some criticisms garnered by the press and owners. These were derived from the limited edition Gallardo SE. The exhaust system was changed to a more sporty one (including a flap to make it quieter around town), the suspension was revised and a new steering rack was fitted, the engine power was increased by 20bhp to a maximum of 520bhp, the biggest change was an overall lowering of the gearing especially in 1st to 5th. The result was a much improved car, it handled and turned in better, sounded better under full throttle and the extra power and lower gearing turned an already fast car into a seriously quick one.

The Audi R8 sports car, launched in early 2007, is based on the Gallardo platform, and uses a 4.2 litre V8 in place of the Gallardo’s V10 to avoid competing directly with the Gallardo. In December 2008, Audi unveiled a V10 Audi R8, with a detuned version of the Gallardo’s, placed between the R8 V8 and the Gallardo.

For the 2008 model year, an onboard computer, iPod connectivity with USB, heated mirrors, Q-citura stitching that originally could only be found on the Nera model, and a beige soft-top on the Spyder, were added to the Gallardo.

Mitsubishi Eclipse

Dewblackio — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:13:18 +0000

The Mitsubishi Eclipse is a coupe that has been in production since 1989 for left hand drive markets. It was named after an eighteenth century English racehorse which won 26 races,and has also been sold as the Eagle Talon and the Plymouth Laser captive imports through Mitsubishi Motors’ close relationship with the Chrysler Corporation. Their partnership was known as Diamond-Star Motors, or DSM, and the vehicle trio through the close of the second-generation line were sometimes referred to by the DSM moniker among enthusiast circles.

As of 2009, the Eclipse is officially available in North America, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, China, South Korea, the Philippines, and Brazil.

Saturn Outlook

Dewblackio — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:09:31 +0000

The Saturn Outlook is a premium full-size crossover SUV which replaced the Saturn Relay, which had declining sales and was phased out with the other GM minivans. The Outlook debuted at the New York International Auto Show, and is based on the new GM Lambda platform, which it shares with the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia. The Outlook features the second-lowest sticker price among GM’s Lambda SUVs, slotting between the baseline Chevrolet Traverse and the mid-line GMC Acadia.

Following the withdrawal of a bid by Penske Automotive to acquire Saturn, the Motors Liquidation Company of General Motors announced in September 2009 that it expected to phase out the Saturn brand by October 2010.

Chevy Camaro

Dewblackio — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:05:06 +0000

The Chevrolet Camaro is an automobile manufactured by the Chevrolet division of General Motors, classified as a pony car or muscle car. It went on sale on September 29, 1966 for the 1967 model year and was designed as a competing model to the Ford Mustang. The car shared its platform and major components with the Pontiac Firebird, also introduced for 1967. Four distinct generations of the car were developed before production ended in 2002. The nameplate was revived again on a concept vehicle that evolved into the fifth-generation Camaro, production started on March 16, 2009.

Dodge Ram

Dewblackio — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:52:50 +0000

The Dodge Ram is a full-size pickup truck from Chrysler LLC’s Dodge brand. The name was first used in 1981 on the redesigned Ram and Power Ram, though it came from the hood ornament used on 1930s and ’40s Dodge vehicles.

Dodge Ram trucks have been named Motor Trend magazine’s Truck of the Year twice: the second-generation Ram won the award in 1994, and the third-generation Ram Heavy Duty won the award in 2003. The truck is in its fourth generation as of the 2009 model year.

As of 2010 Dodge Ram trucks will be known as RAM trucks after Chrysler spunoff the Dodge Ram line into a new brand called RAM. This will be a division devoted to trucks only. Ram will offer 1500-5500 trucks.

The Ram is built at Saltillo Truck Assembly in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico; Saint Louis Assembly North in Fenton, Missouri, United States; and Warren Truck Assembly in Warren, Michigan, United States.

Ford Mustang

Dewblackio — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:21:57 +0000

The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Production began in Dearborn, Michigan on March 9, 1964 and the car was introduced to the public on April 17, 1964 at the New York World’s Fair. It is Ford’s second oldest nameplate currently in production next to the F-Series pickup truck line. However the F-series pickup truck has undergone major nameplate changes over the years. The Mustang was Ford’s most successful launch since the Model A.

Executive stylist John Najjar, who was a fan of the World War II P-51 Mustang fighter plane, suggested the name. An alternative view was that the Mustang name was first suggested by Robert J. Eggert, Ford Division market research manager. Eggert, a breeder of quarterhorses, received a birthday present from his wife of the book, The Mustangs by J. Frank Dobie in 1960. Later, the book’s title gave him the idea of adding the “Mustang” name for Ford’s new concept car. As the person responsible for Ford’s research on potential names, Eggert added “Mustang” to the list to be tested by focus groups; “Mustang,” by a wide margin, ” came out on top under the heading: “Suitability as Name for the Special Car.”

The Mustang created the “pony car” class of American automobile — sports car-like coupes with long hoods and short rear decks — and gave rise to competitors such as GM’s Chevrolet Camaro, AMC’s Javelin, and Chrysler’s revamped Plymouth Barracuda. It also inspired coupés such as the Toyota Celica and Ford Capri, which were exported to America.

Mustangs grew larger and heavier with each model year until, in response to the 1971-1973 models, fans of the original 1964 design wrote to Ford urging a return to its size and concept.

Although some other pony cars have seen a revival, the Mustang is the only original pony car that has remained in production without interruption after four decades of development and revision.

Nissan Altima

Dewblackio — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:01:44 +0000

The Altima is a mid-size car (originally a compact car) manufactured by Japanese automaker Nissan, and is arguably a continuation of the Nissan Bluebird line, which began in 1957. It has historically been larger, more powerful, and more luxurious than the Nissan Sentra but less so than the Nissan Maxima. The Altima is available in North America as well as the Middle East. In other markets, Nissan sells a related mid-size sedan called the Nissan Teana, built on the same FF-L platform used by the 2002–2006 Nissan Altima.

The name “Altima” originally referred to a trim line of the Nissan Laurel mid-size car sold in the Caribbean before 1992. In 1993, Nissan discontinued its much-criticized Stanza, replacing it with the US-made Altima, while remaining a compact car. The very first Altima rolled off the assembly line on June 15, 1992, as a 1993 model. All Altimas had been built in Smyrna, Tennessee, until June 2004, when Nissan’s Canton, Mississippi, plant began producing additional Altimas to meet high demand. Regardless of the manufacturing site change there have been numerous manufacturing defects that have resulted in safety recalls on production years 1994 through 2008.