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Saturday, January 23, 2010

2010 Porsche 911 Turbo


 The laws of physics are immutable. But so is Porsche's attempt to overcome them. Ever since the first brutish 911 Turbo was launched in 1974, Porsche has been disagreeable endlessly to accommodate its wildest beast.

That first generation automobile -- the 930 -- was a powerful tail-happy monster, as you'd expect when you hang a 260 hp turbocharged engine over the backwards axle, and intend the rear wheels through a locomote renowned for its lick but not its reflexes. The turbo holdup between throttle actuation and engine state felt same it could be rhythmic in transactions not moments. Sometimes it didn't feel so such same holdup as an overnight delay. Many older 911 Turbos, their tails wagging behind them, hit come to grief as a result.

As the generations hit passed -- this new help is program seven -- so Porsche has continuously wrestled with the fundamental damage inherent in a high-speed automobile having the weight organisation of a pendulum. They hit fitted bigger rear wings, the meliorate to glue that troublesome cut to the tarmac; they hit progressively reduced the turbo holdup (on the latest help there is virtually none); they hit fitted all manner of electronic minders to try to keep the automobile going where the utility intends; most successfully, they fitted four-wheel intend (from 1995), so the pawing face wheels would help pull the insubordinate rears into line.

And, after 35 eld of dogged development, they hit done a good job. Successive generations hit concentrated on boosting noesis and speed while, conversely, taming and civilizing the insubordinate steed. The 911 Turbo has embellish digit of the more routine usable supercars -- not least because of its reliability, build calibre and compact size -- as well as remaining digit of the swiftest.
 


 
For generation seven, tagged the 997 Turbo 3.8, the appearance remains virtually timeless from the earlier 997 Turbo 3.6, never mind the diode driving lights, new aero wing mirrors and revised diode tail lamps. 911 shapes, after all, rarely change. Rather, the engineers concentrated on more performance, a sweeter engine, low dioxide and render consumption, greater agility, more entertainment and less weight.

2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder


 Tossed out the window -- no, out the open cockpit, actually -- are the radio, the air con, conventional door pulls, and more. Porsche says the result is a weight savings of 176 pounds over the Boxster S, making the new Boxster Spyder, at a claimed 2800 pounds, the lightest model in the maker's production-car lineup.

 
 Perhaps stung by criticisms of \"diluting the brand\" (i.e., Porsche sport/utes and the new Panamera four-door), the iconic German pace factory has countered with a sporting piece nearly as clean and purposeful as James Dean's 1955 550 Spyder. As such, this newest, fastest Boxster also qualifies as the most toy-like model in the range, a pricey artefact for amend days and writhing anchorage -- and almost exclusively so. How daylong would the Spyder's charms last, I wonder, without refrigerated air and the onset of a broadcasting during a daylong stop-and-go change on a blistering summer day? (Not to worry: If you're opinion \"unpure,\" you can money on A/C, radio, nav, and whatever another options you like.)
 
So, no, in basic \"stripped\" form the Boxster Spyder isn't an saint daily driver; you'll want to be rich enough to own digit as your ordinal or third car. Ah, but for those days that call for a leather jacket and dynamical gloves...

In constituent to the jettisoned A/C and radio, the Spyder features aluminum doors (saving 33 pounds), lightweight sport containerful way (saving 26 pounds), an aluminum rear deck (saving 6.5 pounds), and the lightest 19-inch impureness wheels in the Porsche catalog. Also denaturized over conventional Boxsters are the side windows -- they're device and lower -- and the soft top, which for Spyder obligation is a manually erected intimacy that's little more than a hankey for blocking the sun (the lid, which stows away above the engine, isn't modify waterproof; indeed, Porsche admits it won't stand up to a automobile wash).

2009 Jaguar XF very fast


 Motor Trend Online editor Mike Floyd, composition in the Jag's logbook, challenged another effort drivers with the mass post: \"I dare any of you to write about the Jag without making a feline reference. I dare you!\" Hmmm. Is it possible not to make any \"catty\" comments when composition the wrap story after a year spent with Jaguar's XF Supercharged sedan? Let's see...

For sure, the XF SC welcomes much comparisons, being a thoroughly graceful, fluid, noble, and powerful luxury four-door. After our prototypal discernment of the car in 2008, we knew directly it was a dynamical star, but would the love endure? To encounter out-and support respond a lot of questions we (and you) have about the durability and reliability of Jaguar products-we added a Liquid Silver example (with healthy Spice/Char leather) to our long-term fleet.

 
 The XF SC is a bold effort, loaded with bits and pieces seemingly sure-fire to break-from air vents that automatically open and close to a gear-selector dial that, after you advise the Start button, levitates from the center console like some variety of priceless antiquity sailing up from its hiding place at the behest of Lara Croft. Jaguar says that during development-testing the transmission dial survived everything from intentionally spilled jugs of Coca-Cola to the squash of crawling babies-and, indeed, neither the dial nor the showy air vents gave us even a suggestion of trouble during the car's 12-month meet with us.
 
Ian Callum's design earned raves primeval on from nearly our entire staff, and that admiration didn't fade. This is a great-looking sedan, distinctive and flavorful modify when tearful in the payment pool that is West Los Angeles. Bolstering our current admiration for the XF's lines were its impulsive talents; from the effortless punch of its blown 4.2-liter V-8 to the deftness of its suspension, the Jag rates as one of the most enjoyable sedans in its class to hustle hard.

Aston Martin DBS: Bonds Have More Fun


 "Yes, we do, in fact, have one of the DBSs from the filming of \"Quantum\" in the States at the moment. Would you be interested in dynamical it?\"

The properly British-accented Aston Martin allegoric had me shaken and stirred. Time to dig out my Persol 2720-S shades (worn by Craig in \"Casino Royale\") and Omega Seamaster Professional Chronograph (performing all kinds of tricks from the wrist of Pierce Brosnan in \"Goldeneye\") and see what it might feel same to be Bond -- or at small a Bond geek -- for a day.

 
 The properly British-accented Aston Martin allegoric had me shaken and stirred. Time to dig out my Persol 2720-S shades (worn by Craig in \"Casino Royale\") and Omega Seamaster Professional Chronograph (performing all kinds of tricks from the wrist of Pierce Brosnan in \"Goldeneye\") and see what it strength feel same to be Bond -- or at small a Bond geek -- for a day.


 

 We recently place the updated-for-2009 DBS, equipped with the new available Touchtronic automatic transmission, finished its paces and found it to be the best-performing Aston histrion we've ever tested. But justice Craig never got anywhere near that one. What makes a real Bond car different from the others? Not so much, this instance around.

If you've seen the stylish 007 film, you'll know there are no machine guns, missile launchers, or defibrillators on Bond's stylish DBS. It's hardly bulletproof either; this poor Aston is riddled with machine-gun fire by the instance \"Quantum's\" hyper-thrilling opening sequence is over. Unlike our recent tester, the movie machines have six-speed manuals and are fitted with nonmandatory climb seats that aren't homologated for sale in the U.S. This car's exhaust system packs more bass and volume. The dark, warm gray paint colouration is called Quantum Silver. Then there was the set of Italian license plates in the trunk, as \"Quantum's\" motion environs was filmed around Lake Garda. I earnestly thoughtful sending the car back to Aston histrion one plate short of a pair.

2009 Aston Martin DB9 Volante


 Ford saved Aston histrion from the scrap heap. And after so many years, and so many millions invested, it's a dishonor the Blue Oval isn't able to enjoy the fruits of its labor. Because Aston histrion is on a roll.

Aston was sold in 2007 to a clannish investment assemble headed by David Richards; conceive of him as Britain's version of Roger Penske. Serious car man CEO Ulrich Bez remains at the helm. The model lineup is proliferating, including the upcoming Rapide litter and a high-tech, million dollar plus flagship called the One-77. The marque is erst again chasing an coverall win at Le Mans, five decades after it last did so. And of course, Aston histrion remains the moving merchandiser of pick for the world's favorite spy. Not intense for an appurtenances that, prior to Ford's involvement and Bez's guiding hand, had been at bankruptcy's sill likewise many nowadays to count.




It's hard to believe the DB9 is now five years old, as is the strong, light, and pliant VH chassis architecture on which it's constructed. This model was the first modern Aston Martin to be built at the company's then-new Gaydon, England factory, and carries on the design themes established a decade earlier by Ian Callum's DB7 and seminal Vanquish. The DB9 still looks fresh and bonny -- foppish proportions never go discover of style. It forms the basis for the edgier, sportier DBS range and has conventional a makeover for model year 2009.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

2010 Lexus RX 350


 Lexus' RX line has been a strong seller since it first went on sale in 1998. Its huge drawing (many eld have seen income of more than 100,000 annually) have prefabricated it the digit to beat in the luxury SUV category. The newborn generation returns for 2010 with a newborn look, refreshed interior, revised engine, newborn transmission, and newborn technology. It's still available in front- or all-wheel drive, with a 3.5-liter V-6 on its own or as conception of a organism system.
 
 On the outside, the 2010 RX 350 seems to be a contradiction: It was given crisper body lines and enough changes to exhibit that it's a new model, still it takes a certain look at digit to actualise it isn't, in fact, the senior RX sitting in front of you. And whatever could debate that the only abstract the changes achieved was that they made the SUV less attractive than it was before.
 
Along with the newborn style become newborn dimensions: The newborn model is 1.6 inches individual on a 1.0-inch-longer wheelbase, and it's 1.6 inches wider and a touch taller. Headroom is down, but other than that, driver and passengers have more expanse to stretch in the quiet cabin than they did before. The ordinal row is notably roomy, modify though the drawing show only minor improvements in head-, leg-, and hiproom. The driver-side door closes with a overconfident \"thunk,\" and slipping behind the steering rotate of the newborn RX is far from a shock to the system. If you've been in a Lexus, you'll recognize the layout and locations of most, if not all, of the controls. Our RX 350 came with a 12-speaker AM/FM/CD/XM with NavTraffic and NavWeather; aux jack; heated, airy face seats; and a one-touch open/close moonroof. One feature that's newborn for 2010 is the Remote Touch Controller, which functions much like a computer mouse for the nav system, but our tester wasn't equipped with this item.

Lexus HS250h


The LS, Lexus' competitor for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8, and BMW 7 Series, ever lagged behind its Teutonic rivals because driving it was a somewhat detached, uninvolved experience. However, for 2010, that may be changing: for the first time, Lexus is offering a sport package for the LS.

The package adds an extra $6185 to the bottom line, and is only offered on short-wheelbase, rear-drive LS models. That extra money gets you exterior visual cues, including body cladding; 19-inch, 10-split-spoke impureness wheels; summer tires; and a unequalled grille. There are also major differences inside. This is the first Lexus on the market where the vegetation (in this case dark brown tree burl wood) has a matte finish, a countenance that we'd like to wager in more of the company's vehicles. There is only one interior colouration scheme in this car, and the matte vegetation goes with Black/Saddle Tan cut leather with contrast stitching. Also unequalled are the sport way in front, which are comfortable on the highway, yet provide terrific bolstering and support in turns.

 
But the Sport help is not just an appearance package. There are those telltale styling cues inside and out, but there's a lot more to it. What makes this the most elating help in the LS line is the addition of a sportier transmission, newborn brakes, and a sport-tuned suspension. The 380-horsepower, 4.6-liter V-8 has ever been backed by an eight-speed semiautomatic transmission, but the Sport trans gets the IS F treatment: it comes with the IS F's paddle shifters and manual mode. Since both of these cars use the AA80E transmission (in the rear-drive LS), it would seem that this was a relatively logical step for the Sport. It brings the hurried shifts that we love in the IS F, and the eight-speed won't automatically shift if the automobile hits redline. In addition, it provides rev-matching throttle blips when downshifting. The newborn trans provides the hurried acceleration of the direct-injection V-8, plus the ability to manually curb shifts with either paddles or the shifter-and really curb them. Up front, there are 14.8-inch Brembo brushwood (these are larger diameter rotors than on the IS F) with high-friction brushwood pads. And the difference is noticeable. Response is excellent, as braking is hurried without being jarring.


 
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