Survival of the fastest

Enzo Ferrari The Fast Life

noreply@blogger.com (Yunus05) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:31:00 +0000

Born in Emilia-Romagna, and raised in Modena, Italy, Enzo Ferrari grew up with little formal education but an intense desire to race cars. During World War I he used to be a mule-skinner in the Italian Army. His grandfather, Alfredo, died in 1916 as a consequence of a widespread Italian flu outbreak. Enzo became sick himself and was therefore discharged from Italian service. On coming back home he revealed that the family business had collapsed. Having no other job prospects he sought unsuccessfully to find employment at Fiat and at last settled for a smaller automobile company called CMN redesigning used truck bodies into tiny, passenger autos. He took up racing in 1919 on the CMN team, but had tiny 1st success.

He left CMN in 1920 to work at Alfa Romeo and racing their autos in local races he had more success. In 1923, racing in Ravenna, he acquired the Prancing Pony badge which decorated the fuselage of Francesco Baracca's (Italy's leading ace of WWI) SPAD fighter, given from his mother, taken from the remains of the airplane after his mysterious death. This icon would need to wait until 1932 to be plastered on a racing auto. In 1924 he won the Coppa Acerbo at Pescara. His successes in local races inspired Alfa to supply him an opportunity of much more celebrated competition and he was lauded by Mussolini. Ferrari turned this opportunity down and in a funk he didn't race again until 1927 and even then his racing career was often over. He continued to work at once for Alfa Romeo till 1929 before beginning Scuderia Ferrari as the racing team for Alfa.

Ferrari managed the development of the factory Alfa automobiles, and built up a gang of over forty drivers, including Giuseppe Campari and Tazio Nuvolari. Ferrari himself continued racing till the birth of his first son in 1932 (Alfredo Ferrari, known as Dino, who died in 1956 ) .

The support of Alfa Romeo lasted till 1933 when money limits made Alfa withdraw. Only at the intervention of Pirelli did Ferrari receive any autos at all. In spite of the standard of the Scuderia drivers the company won few victories (1935 in Germany by Nuvolari was a prominent exception ). Vehicle Union and Mercedes controlled the era.

In 1937 Alfa took command of its racing efforts again, reducing Ferrari to Director of Sports under Alfa's engineering director. Ferrari shortly left, but a contract clause restricted him from racing or designing for four years.

He set up Auto-Avio Costruzioni, a company supplying parts to other racing groups. But in the Mille Miglia of 1940 the company manufactured two cars cars to challenge, driven by Alberto Ascari and Lotario Rangoni. During WWII his firm was concerned in war production and following bombing moved from Modena to Maranello. It wasn't until after World War Two that Ferrari tried to lose his nazi reputation and make autos bearing his name, founding today's Ferrari S.p. A. in 1945.

The first open-wheeled race was in Turin in 1948 and the first victory came later in the year in Lago di Garda. Ferrari participated in the Formula 1 World Championship since its introduction in 1950 but the 1st victory wasn't till the British Grand Prix of 1951. The first championship came in 1952-53, when the Formula One season was raced with Formula Two cars. The company also sold production sports automobiles to finance the racing endeavours not only in Grand Prix but also in events like the Mille Miglia and Le Mans. Indeed many of the firm's greatest victories came at Le Mans (14 victories, including six in a row 1960-65 ) instead of in Grand Prix, actually the company was more involved there than in Formula One during the 1950s and 1960s despite the successes of Juan-Manuel Fangio (1956), Mike Hawthorn ( 1958 ), Phil Hill (1961) and John Surtees ( 1964 ) .

In the 1960s the issues of reduced demand and insufficient financing forced Ferrari to allow Fiat to take a position in the company. Ford had attempted to buy the firm in 1963 for US$18 million but had been defied. The company became joint-stock and Fiat took a little share in 1965 and then in 1969 they increased their holding to 50% of the company. ( In 1988 Fiat's holding was increased to 90%).

Ferrari remained managing director until 1971. Despite stepping down he remained an influence over the firm till his passing. The input of Fiat took some time to have effect. It was not until 1975 with Niki Lauda that the firm won any championships with Niki Lauda that the skill of the driver and the ability of the driver and the deficiencies of the chassis and aerodynamics. But after those successes and the promise of Jody Scheckter title and the corporation's Formula One championship hopes fell in 1979, the doldrums. 1982 opened with a robust vehicle, the 126C2, world-class drivers, and promising results robust vehicle, the early races.

However, Gilles Villeneuve was killed results in the 126C2 in May, and colleague Didier Pironi had his career cut short in a violent end over end flip on the misty backstraight at Hockenheim in August. Pironi was leading the driver's championship at the time ; he would lose the lead as he sat out the remaining races. the time ; he would not see championship glory again during Ferrari's lifetime.

Enzo Ferrari died in Modena in 1988 at the age of 90 at the start of the dominance of the McLaren Honda mixture. The sole race which McLaren did the start of the Italian Grand Prix - this was held just weeks after Enzo's death, and, suitably, the result was a 1-2 finish for Ferrari, with Gerhard Berger leading home Michele Alboreto. After Enzo's death, thee Scuderia Ferrari team has had further success, notably with Michael Schumacher from 1996-2005.

Made a Cavaliere del Lavoro in 1952, to add to his honours of Cavaliere and Commendatore in the 1920s, Enzo also received a number of honorary degrees, the Hammarskjld Cavaliere del Lavoro in 1962, the Columbus Prize in 1965, and the De Gasperi Award in 1987. In 1994, he was posthumously inducted into the Global Motorsports Hall-Of-Fame. Enzo the De Gasperi Award in his fountain pen, although the reason posthumously inducted into this remains unclear.

After the death of his son, Alfredo "Dino" Ferrari, Enzo wore shades virtually each day to laud his son.

How fast can your car travel at top speed? Compare you car to some of the fastest cars in the world at thesupercars.org and also have a look at used ferrari 308 for sale.

The 2010 GT-R uses Nissan's 3.8-liter, all-aluminum VR38DETT engine

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:19:00 +0000

Nissan's high-performance GT-R returns for 2010 with 5 more horsepower for its twin-turbocharged V6.
The GT-R uses Nissan's 3.8-liter, all-aluminum VR38DETT engine. Although this 24-valve, DOHC V6 is loosely based on Nissan's familiar VQ engine, it has many advanced features, including a stiffer, closed-deck cylinder block; plasma-sprayed cylinder bores to reduce weight and friction; and an unusual wet/dry-sump oil system to ensure proper lubrication in high-g turns. Curiously, it does not use the sophisticated Variable Valve Event and Lift (VVEL) system from the 370Z; it has variable valve timing on the intake cam only. Each engine is hand-built by a single technician in a special clean-room facility, to ensure precise assembly.
The 3.8-liter engine features two IHI turbochargers, each with its own air-to-air intercooler. The turbines themselves are made of stainless steel, to reduce mass and improve spool-up time. Each turbocharger feeds one cylinder bank, providing up to 10.2 pounds of boost. The turbochargers are integral to the exhaust manifolds, making turbo upgrades more difficult.
The GT-R's power output has controversial since its debut. In 2009, it was rated at 480 horsepower, which several reviewers discovered was significantly underrated. For 2010, Nissan rates the V6 at 485 horsepower and 434 lb-ft of torque, crediting the extra horsepower to unspecified engine refinements.
Whatever its actual output, the GT-R has ferocious acceleration, rivaling many sports cars that cost far more. Because it does not use variable-geometry turbochargers, however, there is some turbo lag, with power coming on strongest above 3,000 rpm. Despite its power, the V6 is reasonably civilized; some reviewers actually complain that it is too quiet, lacking sporty character.
The twin-turbo engine is inevitably thirsty, but its 16/21 EPA rating is no worse than the Chevrolet Corvette Z06, and better than the less-powerful Dodge Challenger SRT8. Premium fuel is mandatory.
Ronnie Tanner is a contributing writer at SWEngines.com. He writes about Nissan GT-R Engine and other industry specific topics.

BMW M a Great Sports Car

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:04:00 +0000

What's a sports car? There have already been a few personal definitions to what a sports vehicle sounds to them. However, for the general public, a sports auto is a BMW.
BMW now adds up one more product to their still growing family of vehicles. And at this time, the new addition is the 2006 BMW M. It is a dragster. And it just proves that BMW meant business for this vehicle. Its past shows a colorful BMW tradition as well as a comprehensive research prior to it being really built. Just go through its stretched engine compartment, its long wheelbase, its short tail, and its two low set of seats that all in all provides a high powered and terribly obsessed driving experience, and one would be ready to picture that, indeed, BMW is yet on the road, again, to success.
What are the features of the BMW M roadster? Well, for power, it's got a front engine and a rear wheel drive system. Its engine is a DOHC in line engine with twenty-four valves. It is an iron block with an aluminum head. It can displace 192 cubic inches or some 3152 cc. It also has the capacity to produce some 240 bhp at 6000 revs per minute. Aside form that, it also has a five speed manual transmission. The suspension is provided in two options. The first is the independent front suspension. It has damper struts, lower control arms, coil springs, and an anti-roll bar. As laid out in the other one, it is an independent rear suspension with dampers, semi-trailing arms, coil springs, and anti-roll bars.
How enormous is the BMW M? It measures some 96.8 inches for its wheelbase. Its rear is 55.0 inches. It has a curb weight of 3084 pounds, plus a fuel capacity of 13.5 gallons. If you want to put in some cargo, you can always do so for it's got a meager cargo capacity of 5.1 cubic feet.
The steering of this roadster is a rack and pinion one with variable ratio and is variable power helped. It's got a turning circle of 34.1 feet. The brakes are vented discs for both the front and the rear. There is also the anti lock braking system. As per the wheels and tires of this car, the BMW M comes provided with seventeen x 7.5 inches front and seventeen x 9.0 inches rear cast aluminum wheels. There also are 225/45ZR-17 tires for the front and 245/40ZR-17 tires for the rear. These are both Michelin Pilot SX MXX3 tires.
As BMW ventures into high and complicated technology as well as great performance in their sports cars and other impending cars, vehicle Accessories Giant never stops delivering top of the line BMW new parts as an element of its dedication to its loyal shoppers around the world. worldwide. Rallying behind BMW's philosophy of producing only the best in the industry, Auto Accessories Giant with its wide array of galvanizing BMW accessories gives it purchaser's real quality BMW products at guaranteed low prices.

New Car Technology Advancements

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:55:00 +0000

Car technology is advancing at amazing speed so its no surprise that at least a couple cool things turn up each model year. Here are some of the latest innovations that will be coming out sometime in the near future that new car buyers can look forward to seeing.

Economy Mode

While we consider that most of us drivers are set in their ways and odds are we will never make the necessary changes to conserve on fuel. One example of such would be, we know that by simply not using our AC increases our fuel economy when we drive, but rather than just rolling down our window when we could to save fuel we opt to use the air conditioner to keep us cool. We are simply set in our ways when it comes to running our AC even when we could be just as comfortable at this time with a window down. With the new idea and innovation of the Economy Mode the car it will be able to determine what systems in your car are non-essential at the time and turn them off to save on fuel for the driver; examples could be the AC, Cruise Controls and others. The car would begin making these adjustments for the driver automatically. It’s not just an idea in fact; some Hybrids feature an economy mode that limits A/C use on several models right now.

Black Box Technology

Planes have them and cars will too, and why not the Black box on planes have be literally invaluable for many years with its ability to get detail records of trips and logs of what happens to a plane in flight or when accidents occur. It’s still being debated like most things that come to personal privacy and many people will no doubt object to the idea of the black box being implemented into their personal vehicles. The fact is that both Ford and General Motors already are using black Box technology in around two-thirds of the models built, but they are referred to as "recorders". Drivers can expect the advancement of these “recorders” to be able to tell police officers and insurance companies about car accidents, how fast you were driving, where you had driven that day and much more.

Cars That Park for You

Yes, a car that actually will do the parking is already in production today. There is already one type of system where the driver keeps his foot on the brake while the car amazingly enough parallel parks it’s self. Its future looks bright, as this type of application could be very useful in the future not just in parking but also use in other tight places like garages.

Let the Car do the Driving

It’s no longer just a dream or something we have seen in the movies, with the advancement of GPS and robotic technology setting your car on Auto Pilot where the navigation system guides the car to its destination while the driver sits back and relaxes will become a reality sooner than many people could imagine. Experimentation and planning is underway with the use of magnets and GPS to make this dream become a reality.

Crash Detection

Is already a reality with the Acura RL and it’s called the Collision Mitigation System. Hopefully, one day all cars will include this type of safety feature
. Where the cars decides on its own that a wreck is unavoidable and will warn the driver to brace for impacts as it automatically takes action for the driver by deploying the airbags hitting the brakes and tightens up seatbelts etc. all own its own.

Finding The Best Service Packages For Your Car

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Fri, 21 May 2010 15:23:00 +0000

Traveling is an important part of everyone’s life. And these days, traveling has become much more complicated. Now a day, it’s not only about traveling from one place to other, but it is about how you travel. There is lots of way to travel once place to another palce But People can prefer travel from car for travel very easily. The mode of travel has become more important than the travel itself. People prefer to travel in cars as traveling in a car is the best way to travel. Car is very perfect vehicle for traveling. By having a car you will feel more comfortable.

In this modern age, there is lots of cars provided in the market and Now we have purchase car from online, It is very easy way to booking online. Online car booking facility gives very nice.

Used cars are becoming more and more popular every year. People are realizing that a good used car can be had for the fraction of the cost of a new car. They figure that there is no point in buying a new car, when in one year they can get the same car with a huge discount on it. The only difference is that the car may have a few thousand miles. But that is usually not too much of a concern in today's day and age. Cars are made to last a long time, and a few thousand miles is not going to harm the car in the least beat.

If your newspaper is not giving you what you need go online. There are many car sites that specialize in providing used cars to the general public. Sites which offer many different options for the person who is looking for a used car, you can browse thousands of cars in your area and within a matter of minutes. This will allow you to maximize your time, and ensure that you do not miss out on any good deals that may be available. Visit Best Car Dealers blog for the best deals on Cars, Used Cars, Best Repossessed Used Cars

Cumberland ford having many online car service booking offers best affordable ford service, automotive service, used car service for commercial and passanger vehicles. Call 1300 789 139 for more information & Visit this site www.cumberlandford.com.au

Review of I Drive Safely Home Driver Ed

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:06:00 +0000

I Drive Safely provides online courses for driving safety. The benefits of taking an online driver's education course are that you can possibly reduce points or lower your insurance rates. Also, it will make you a better driver. These courses are reasonably priced with good reason. I Drive Safely provides the best ongoing customer service in the industry. The Better Business Bureau has given this company an A+ grade for the quality of their products and the delivery of their services.

In the last decade, this company has graduated close to 2 million drivers in various online driver training programs such as traffic school, mature driver training programs, and teen driver education programs. I Drive Safely is also very competent at keeping the content of their courses up to date. This is important for students looking for DMV or Court Approved courses, make sure that it is clearly indicated on the registration page.

Once you have registered, the following benefits make I Drive Safely rise above the competition;

• 100% Money Back Guarantee
• Live Chat
• 24 hours a day, 7 days a week customer support
• No hidden fees
• Unlimited Course Review

If you are not comfortable with the material the first time you go through it, than another benefit is that you can go over it an unlimited number of times until you feel like you have mastered the concepts. When you do log out and then log back in, you can start from the point where you were the last time you logged out. If there are any negative aspects to the I Drive Safely online driver education program it would be that the student does not have the presence of a real life instructor in a traditional classroom setting. For some students, this is the preferred environment. A qualified instructor teaching quality material is just as effective as learning the material from an online platform. Each learner will have their own preferences.

For those students who do not require the traditional classroom, an online course offers many benefits;

• Study from home at any time.
• No commute from home to the classroom.
• No cost for books or other study materials.
• Unlimited review of the material.

Whatever your online driver education needs, I Drive Safely is a solution for you. They offer courses for residents in all 50 States. Be sure to check if the course is approved in your State. It will be marked clearly on each registration page. Good luck with your course and drive safe!

My name is Kris Kolanko. I am co-owner and operator of the site http://www.wannadrive.com. Our goal is to provide new and current drivers with information and online drivers education that will help them obtain a license or find a driving school, anywhere in the United States. Feel free to explore our site and take advantage of all we have to offer.

2006 Mosler

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 15:07:00 +0000

The emission test regulations have kept the wild Mosler MT900s supercar away from North America until now.
The Corvette engined MT900s will go on sale in Anaheim, California starting in late fall 2006.

Althogh the Mosler only weighs 2,200 pounds, it packs a beefy 435 horsepower, 5.7 liter Corvette LS6 V8 engine. Once you light the fuse, the Mosler will speed from 0 to 60 miles/hour in 3.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 190 miles per hour.
The body is made of carbon-aluminum honeycomb just like aircraft bulkheads and you can purchase one for $189,000.

Spyker C8 Double 12 S

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:37:00 +0000

Base MSRP: $325,560

Top Speed: 215 mph

Acceleration: 0-60 in 3.5 seconds

Horsepower: 400

Country of Origin: Netherlands

Honda Grand Racing Pics

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:52:00 +0000

Best Tips For Choosing The Perfect Car Audio

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:54:00 +0000

Well, to enjoy the best music of your choice, it is essential to have a good car audio system that come with state of the art features and yet comes in your budget.

Well, it is worth to spend a bit more money on quality product rather than to buy cheap equipment that leads to numerous glitches. Good car audio equipment will definitely help you in getting quality product for suitable price.

What to choose between cassette player and CD/DVD?

While buying a new car audio system, one should always keep four factors in mind such as sound, source, power and bass. These are the basic check list items that should be kept in mind before investing in the car audio system. Depending upon the choice and budget, one can select between cassette player and CD/DVD car audio system. Presently, CD/DVD car audio systems are more famous than cassette players as the latter provides digital features that a large number of songs in a single CD or DVD in comparison to cassette.

For all those who are looking for high end car audio entertainment, one can go for high quality car audio system that comes with speakers, subwoofers and powerful amplifiers. All these equipment comes with a prior power output and power specifications in order to provide thumping and crystal clear sound. Basically, while choosing the car audio system, one should look for numerous desirable features that add to the utility of your prized car audio system.

What to look for in a car audio?

While going for the perfect car audio system, make sure it comes with large and well-spaced controls that provide hassle free use in a seamless way. The main purpose of having a neat display panel with large buttons and controls is to ensure that the driver is not distracted while searching the appropriate button for audio controls while driving. This makes sure that the driver keeps his/her attention on road. A good system display that offers clock, radio station and other database adds to the utility of the audio system. In case of a CD changer, many car audio systems offer in dash CD changers that can be found with affordable car audio players. Along with this, you can check out separate tweeters as it helps in offering great sounds. The same applies for separate subwoofers as it creates rich base and thumping sound while offering rich music.

Always remember:

So, choose the best car audio for your vehicle and enjoy the music of your choice. Just make sure you stay away from car audio from gray market along with those that come with small controls, faux equipments that make the handling all the more complicated. Always go for the originally manufactured equipments that come with a prior guarantee. So, the next time you plan to invest in a car audio system, go for the best system that offers best quality at affordable price.

The Latest Trend Of Hybrid Cars

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:14:00 +0000

Hybrid cars are the craze these days with their advanced features, modern design, and fuel economy leaving fewer impacts on the environment. The latest models of hybrid cars encompass many new trends that are absent in ordinary vehicles. Some of these latest trends are mentioned below:

Fuel Economy

Fuel economy is the ultimate bonus point of a hybrid car. It gives you a lot of leverage on your fuel consumption and the monthly gasoline bills. Although hybrid cars have always been known for their fuel economy capabilities, latest models are more efficient than the older ones. Additionally, they also come at much lower rates as compared to the earliest models of hybrid cars.

The combination of electric motor driver and a gasoline engine helps in a better performance on the road. The electric motor is perfect for a normal driving routine while the gasoline engine can be used on highways and mountainous tracks. The mileage on the electric motor has also been improved in the latest models of hybrid cars.

Design

Hybrid cars have attained an almost unparallel advantage over ordinary cars. The differentiating factor is the availability of sleek designs and modern accessories that come with these vehicles. Most hybrid cars now come with great designs and unique colours. Additionally, they keep the green factor in mind and ensure a complete compliance with the environment safety rules. The designs are thus totally environment friendly.

Exterior

Apart from the modern design, the latest trend in hybrid cars is the inclusion of technology for driving guidance. Parking assistance software, for example, help in a quick parking of a hybrid vehicle, including a complete guidance of difficult parallel parking. The exterior lights are brighter and consume very less energy as compared to an ordinary vehicle.

Interior

The interior of the new breed of hybrid cars is equally plush as is its interior. The modern style seating comes in leather with a high emphasis on the comfort factor. The seats are wider than the older models and are equipped with modern seat adjustment features that are adjusted through a remote control. Entertainment features are also installed including audio system, DVD players and TV screens. One can also install individual LCD screens at the back side of the front seats to give your car a touch of a modern airliner.

Transmission

Transmission system of the latest hybrid vehicles is that it can accommodate eight different speed levels in a quick succession. The brake system of the new breed of hybrid cars is completely based on electronics and gives a better performance on road. The braking is fast, but does not cause an abrupt braking that can injure the passengers or the vehicle.

New models of hybrid cars come equipped with electronic stability controls that help in a better driving experience and increased road safety. They are also equipped with Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VIDS) that helps the drivers in controlling the vehicle without any difficulty.

Danny Green is a car specialist. Get latest news and views about Hybrid Cars and compare prices to buy at http://www.lexus.co.uk.

McLaren F1

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:01:00 +0000

McLaren f1 was the fastest street legal production car until the koenigsegg CCR came along in 2004. After that came the Veyron and now the fastest street legal production car is the SSC Aero (257mph). Although these cars are faster in a straight line, the McLaren by far the best on a track and is still the fastest naturally aspired road car (All the successors are super/turbocharged).

Specifications

Vehicle Type: - production car, two doors coupe
Price: - $970,000
Configuration: - Mid Engine / RWD
Engine: - V12
Capacity: - 6064 cc
Torque: - 479 lb-ft at 4000 rmp
Horsepower: - 627 bhp at 7400 rpm
Transmission: - 6-speed manual
Wheelbase: - 107
Length: - 168.9 inches
Width: - 71.7 inches
Height: - 44.9 inches
Weight: - 2513 lbs
0-60 mph: - 3.2 sec
Top speed: - 240 mph

High Quality Auto Parts for Chevy, Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Jeep Now On Sale at Auto Parts Train

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:28:00 +0000

Good new for Chevy parts, Toyota parts, Nissan parts, Honda parts and Jeep parts users! Auto Parts Train, the country's leading auto parts dealer is now selling these top quality auto parts at the lowest prices. While you get satisfied from the auto parts' superior quality and performance, you can also save from Auto Parts Train's hottest deals on these products. Up to 50% discounts are offered plus you get more choices as Auto Parts Train includes auto parts for older and the latest models.

Just click through the link and see for yourself the best deals on high quality Toyota parts, Chevy parts, Nissan parts, Honda parts and Jeep parts offered by Auto Parts Train. Meanwhile let's take a look at the store's featured auto parts: the exhaust system parts.

Recognizing that automobiles are major causes of air pollution, Auto Parts Train [http://www.partstrain.com] supports environmentalists’ long-time crusade for a cleaner and greener environment by offering high quality exhaust system replacement parts. This number one auto parts store believes that the exhausts system is crucial to the vehicle’s performance as well; thus, it gives only the most reliable parts like catalytic converters and mufflers for almost all makes and models.

Let’s take a closer look at a car’s exhaust system, its components, how to control harmful emissions and Auto Parts Online store’s featured exhaust parts like Chevy truck exhaust parts, Toyota exhaust parts, Nissan exhaust parts, Jeep exhaust and Honda exhaust parts.

The Exhaust System

Emission requirements for automobiles have gone higher and higher as the years pass by. This is primarily due to the growing concern for the environment of motorists and non-auto users’ alike. Since 1980s, all vehicles (except diesel engine-equipped vehicles) are required to include a catalytic converter [http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByDepartment/Catalytic_Converter] in the exhaust system. This part is in charge of cleaning the excess gasses produced during the combustion so that they’ll be less harmful to the environment when sent out of the vehicle.

There are two types of exhausts system: the Dual Exhaust System (also twin exhaust system) and the Emission Control System. The first has two tailpipes; thus allows the engine exhaust more freely. It minimizes back pressure, making it easier for the engine to breathe in more air for a more efficient combustion. This type of exhaust also significantly reduces the excess gasses after each exhaust stroke of the pistons.

The second type is purely focused on restricting the amount of harmful gases in the exhaust. This type can be further grouped into two categories; the first type is designed to eliminate formation of “pollutants” in the engine itself while the other type is designed to alter the state of the harmful by-products before they are finally released out of the vehicle. If you have a Chevy truck equipped with a Chevy catalytic converter, it has this second type of emission control exhaust system.

Increasing Engine and Vehicle Efficiency

Increasing the engine and vehicle efficiency is also a way of reducing harmful exhaust. If you have an old Ford Mustang for example, you can control emissions by upgrading its engine parts and electrical parts. High quality electrical parts affect the way the air and fuel mixture in the engine is ignited and thus, they also affect the engine’s performance.

Vehicle efficiency can be achieved by keeping the vehicle light as much as possible. Replacing its body parts with lighter yet more durable and aerodynamic parts can be of great help. It helps in cutting fuel expenses at the same time in making your ride livelier. For your body parts needs, the store offers light and high-grade replacements body panels such as the hood, fender and door.

As a top Auto Parts Store with more than 25 years of experience in the car parts business, Auto Parts Train simply knows what you need and what you deserve—the best automotive products and the best deals as well. Hence, aside from giving you premium quality exhaust system auto parts, the store also offers great Auto Parts Discount deals for every replacement and aftermarket auto part you purchase. Best deals are offered on thousands of quality Ford parts, Chevy parts, Toyota parts, Honda parts, Nissan parts, Mazda parts, Volvo parts and Jeep parts.

Featured in the site are highly durable and heavy-duty auto parts for trucks, SUVs and other larger vehicles. These type vehicles are used for more challenging tasks; thus, they need hard-wearing parts. Moreover, they need to meet higher emission standards, so you need to have highly efficient exhaust parts. Find the best quality Jeep catalytic converters and Jeep exhaust manifolds at almost half the usual price. Exhaust manifold offered here are made of cast iron and have heat shield so they are sure to endure extreme heat and harsh driving situations. Auto parts such as mirrors, tail lights, headlights, radiators, wheels, are also available in a pocket-friendly price.

See for yourself Auto Parts Online’s top quality automotive parts and its exciting deals on virtually all kinds of auto parts such as Pontiac parts, Mercedes Benz parts, BMW parts, Dodge parts, Saturn parts, Volkswagen parts and GMC parts. Explore its easy to navigate and very informative site now.

Jaguar XKR

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:13:00 +0000

The long wait is finally over. The elegant, stylish and all new 2007 Jaguar XKR concept is finally revealed. Do you want to know the latest pick?

The four-seater two-door convertible vehicle is the forefront of the latest technology of future lightweight car structure of Jaguar. The lustrous car model was also made to show off unique design and outstanding performance. If you are into a smooth and sporty drive, Jaguar XKR is the right car for you.

According to the Director of Designs for Jaguar, Ian Callum, they are pre-occupied with the development of new and gorgeous fast cars. In fact, they are developing new ideas that can be applied for the car they are designing. The release of the Jaguar XKR last year was extremely overwhelming to the Jaguar Car Corporation. They were proud of the positive reactions of many and the vehicle has also over passed the most expectations. Callum also emphasizes that Jaguar XKR is a good definition of a “beautiful fast car”.

The Jaguar XKR is one among the most outstanding car models in the family. It has the features you are looking for in a sports car. The Jaguar XKR also has technology applied such as its aluminum monocoque body structure which is just like any other Jaguar car model. It also has the Jaguar XKR front bumper design that shows how sporty this car is. Jaguar XKR also uses a supercharged V-8 4.2 liter engine with a high class calibration and six speed automatic transmission that aides the driver to have a swift and fine drive on the road.

The new Jaguar XKR shows improved performance as well. Additional Jaguar XKR auto parts are installed on the engine components for a more relaxed and smooth driving. And for the first time, the makers have equipped the XKR with the Variable Inlet Camshaft Timing System that enables the engine to be adjusted in several situations depending on the speed and load volume. Spacious and high-class sports designed seats placed on the interior will definitely give the riders a comfortable ride.

With all these special features, you will never turn your back on a car like it. The new 2007 Jaguar XKR is truly an excellent and elegant sports car.

Car Wallpaper Enthusiasts

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:37:00 +0000

Car Enthusiasts - Rev up your desktops

Take a look at any of your average desktops. They are usually pretty plain and bland. Usually, it still has the default theme and wallpaper and looks just like the million other or so desktops out there.

Now there are a couple of things that you can do to spruce up your desktop and make it a bit more exciting. You can easily look online and find some good quality sites that would provide you with quality wallpaper, and desktops. Some even have themes for you to utilize as well.

Some of the most stunning wallpaper photos and backgrounds out there have to be those related to cars. Those car wallpaper graphics are so stunning that they literally seem to make the car jump off the screen.

Being a car enthusiast myself, I always try to get the most updated car wallpaper that I can. I just enjoy the look and feel of a brand new exotic car on my desktop. I might not be able to financially afford it, but I can easily revel in its beauty on a daily basis. You too can enjoy this feeling.

There are all sorts of different car wallpapers that you can find. They have created some on exotic cars, muscle cars and my favorite vintage cars. Car wallpapers are usually not that hard to find, but quality car wallpaper is.

By doing a search on Google you can usually find what it is you are looking for, whether it's a Shelby Mustang or even a Citroen. Whatever it is, just type in the name and style of the car followed by wallpaper and you should be able to find the right car wallpaper.

Once you have found the right one, there should be some dimension options for you to select. These dimensions are based on your monitor size so choose wisely. If you choose the wrong one, you will have a pixilated version of the wallpaper that will not look very good. It will look very distorted.

It doesn't take much to change your wallpaper. Just a couple of clicks of the mouse and you are done. The easiest way to change your wallpaper on a windows based computer is to right click on your desktop and select properties. Next, select the desktop tab and click on the browse button. Now, you just need to find the image that you downloaded and select that as your desktop. Press ok, and you should have your exciting new car wallpaper staring back at you.

If you choose the right one, you should feel an instant sense of gratification. Sometimes I even use it as motivation. I take a look at the exotic car and I just imagine what it would like to own it and to drive it. I can practically smell the motor oil already.

If you want to look through a pretty good selection of quality car wallpapers or car photos, you can take a look here at: http://www.exoticcarsite.com

Automobile Racing-Do You Know How Fast Can Indy Cars Go?

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:18:00 +0000

Just how fast can Indy cars go? Well, to give you an idea, Indy cars can make it down the length of a football field plus some in less then one second. Jet airliners takeoff speeds are between 160 to 180 miles per hour. Throw some flaps or slats and a pair of wings on an Indy car, point it into the wind and there would be take off; that is how fast Indy cars can go.

Back in 1911 Ray Harroun won the very first Indianapolis 500 averaging just a hair under 75 mph. However, how fast can an Indy car go today? The average speeds of Indy cars today range from 185 to speeds over 230 miles per hour. Qualifying speeds range from 215 to 227 miles per hour. The lowest qualifying speed was recorded back in 1912 when Theodore Pilette ran 75.52 mph for a quarter mile. for more detials:-Back then, you had to run at least 75 mph in a quarter mile to qualify. Kenny Brack did the fastest speed recorded in qualifications at 227.598 mph in a quarter in 2005, followed up by Billy Boat in 2002, running a quarter at 226.589.

So when you ask how fast can Indy Cars go, think of this. Indy cars can accelerate from zero to 100 mph in less than three seconds and use up a gallon of gas in less then two miles. Drivers experience G-force while driving through turns on the track equal to what the space shuttle leaves a launching pad. At speeds of 220 miles per hour, Indy cars generate 5000 pounds of down force. At that speed the tread on the racing tires turn to tar like consistency helping car to adhere to the track.

Indy cars have evolved through time to higher levels of sophistication. for visit detials:-.In the beginning of the 20th century, speeds of 125 mph on the track where considered impressive. Rules have been modified as technology has improved with racing organizations ensuring the safety of both the drivers and the fans. With the strict rules and regulations, today's Indy cars are far safer then their earlier counter parts such as the roadsters designs.

How To Handle The Roaring Road Rage

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:17:00 +0000

The phenomenon called road rage is defined as a very violent way of driving. Ever since the first (and fast) cars have begun to fill the roads there have been individuals who drive in an extremely aggressive manner. When talking about road rage, there are numerous aspects or factors involved in this description. In other words, accelerating the car very suddenly, flashing in a repetitive manner, driving while excessively using your horn or high beams, or abusing other drivers or motorists in traffic (either by driving dangerously or verbally) could be described as road rage. Most specialists in driver behavior or attitude say that people, who drive their vehicles too aggressively in a road rage manner, are more likely and possible to cause accidents than drivers who respect all the rules in driving.

While most laws make a difference between aggressive driving and road rage, all those behaviors are punished. There are 2 kinds of rules that should be respected while driving, driving rules and all the rules of common sense and when all of those are broken, the result could be described as road rage. Nevertheless, the laws in almost all countries around the world punish road rage with very large fines. The punishments for road rage are drastic or severe in all states; yet, it is still difficult to catch those aggressive drivers or motorists while breaking the law. Often, they can get away as there was not a police crew in that exact time and in that specific area.

Specialists in traffic behavior have tried to understand why some drivers can go on driving while respecting all the rules, while there are some drivers who are too violent on the street. If a police officer can catch a road rager antagonizing other motorists on the streets, he could have his driver’s license suspended. There are times that an individual could get highly annoyed or impatient from traffic congestion or an incident in traffic. Nevertheless, while some people could get irritated by being stuck in a traffic jam, this does not excuse road rage. Some say that a medical condition known as intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is the cause or reason behind road rage.

People afflicted with IED are known to suddenly suffer from quick anger outbursts. Most times without any warning just out of the blue, individuals with IED may start yelling angrily and throw things and the people around them could be a victim. Under these circumstances, just a small spark is sufficient to trigger an intermittent explosive disorder crisis and this could be really dangerous especially if that person is on the driver’s seat. These short and quick outbursts of fury are way too intense and they could be disproportionate in intensity as compared to the trigger. Nevertheless, not all specialists think the IED as a medical condition and they say that some persons have only used it as an alibi or to escape being punished for their misdemeanor.

So if you observe an antagonistic and hostile driver in traffic, do everything you can within your power to avoid him. You never really know what kind of driver is there in front of you and by avoiding trouble and chaos in traffic and driving carefully are the best methods to avoid becoming a victim of road rage.

Toyota corrects Prius mpg rating

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:30:00 +0000

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Toyota Prius In our Prius info overload post from last week, we highlighted the official (though preliminary) mileage rating for the 2010 model, which Toyota had told us would be 50 mpg city, 49 mpg highway (they’d already revealed the 50 mpg combined number in Detroit). We just got an email from Toyota saying that a “misinterpretation of preliminary data” meant that “the EPA fuel economy numbers we gave you were slightly incorrect.” The combined rating remains at 50 mpg. This is an important number for all the advertisements we’ll be seeing shortly, I’m sure.

The other two numbers, though, were incorrect. Today, Toyota PR told us that: While the combined rating of 50 mpg remains unchanged, the city rating went up one mpg and the highway number went down one mpg. Therefore the revised preliminary EPA fuel economy ratings for the new Prius are 51 city/48 highway/50 combined. There you have it. A deal-breaker? Certainly not. A minor (very minor) disappointment? For some, probably. Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius [Source: Toyota] Auto Blog: Hybrid , MPG , Toyota , AutoblogGreen Exclusive , Green Daily Toyota corrects Prius mpg rating to 51 city/48 highway/50 combined .Car Blog Green

2010 Porsche 911 Turbo ups the ante

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:18:00 +0000

Last fall, many will remember the unusual rivalry that came about between Porsche and Nissan all of which centered around the famed Nurburgring. Nissan’s then-new GT-R was said to turn a near unheard of lap time in stock trim around the ‘Ring while Porsche rebutted that Nissan’s new super car couldn’t beat their own Turbo or GT2’s lap time. What followed was a series of press releases and on-board timed videos as well as questions to what constituted full lap of the ‘Ring. It all became a bit silly watching two automotive giants duke it out over a strip of German asphalt in the name of improved lap times for marketing and bragging rights. Thankfully, it all quieted down. That is until now. Porsche has just released information on the updated 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo – one of the most storied models in their line-up.

Given last year’s battle royale with Nissan, the boys from Stuttgart aren’t pulling any punches. The revised Turbo weighs in 55 lbs lighter – something good to see companies paying attention to – and another 20 horsepower stronger than the 2009 model. Part of the additional horsepower comes from the fact that Porsche bumped the displacement of the engine from 3.6L to 3.8L along with the addition of direct injection. Over all, Porsche has slashed about 10 seconds from the existing Tutbo’s Nurburgring lap time to a highly impressive 7:39. However, this still puts Porsche 10 seconds off of the supposed pace of the Nissan GT-R according to Nissan’s figures – we’re already waiting for the Nurburgring times to be verified by each company.

Manhart Racing creates a V10 powered BMW M3 Wagon

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:53:00 +0000

BMW M3 is available as a coupe and as a four-door saloon. Power comes from a 4.2-liter engine. There is no wagon version, but that does not mean it can’t be created.

BMW tuner Manhart Racing decided to built the car that BMW for some reason hasn’t built yet; an M3 touring.

As Manhart Racing specializes in fitting various BMW models with the 5.0-liter V10 engine from the M5 E60 it was obvious they will use the V10 not the 4.2-liter V8 in their E91 M3 Wagon project.

After optimizing the electronic and incorporating HJS’s stainless-steel four-pipe exhaust system with two 200-cell racing catalytic convertors, the engine produces 550 horsepower, which is kept on a tight leash by the 7-speed SMG gearbox.

Manhart Racing claims that 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) comes in only 4.3 seconds and the top speed is 324 km/h (201 mph)

To give the standard E91 a true M3 Wagon look it got a new front apron, front side panels, side skirts and of course, the characteristic powerdome bonnet from the M3 saloon, M3-style rear apron and widened rear wheel-arches.

Volvo C30

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:17:00 +0000

The new Volvo C30 steps out and shows the model's full potential and personality. This can be seen in the fresh, self-assured design of the front. And it is emphasized by a wide range of options, including an urbane, bold accessory styling kit.

The C30 is Volvo's most playful and spontaneous car model. It appeals to customers who spend most of their time in the city environment and who impose considerable demands on the car's design, driving properties and personality. The Volvo C30 can be configured in an almost unlimited range of variants thanks to a wide selection of drivelines, design details and equipment levels. And the new Volvo C30, which makes its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2009, offers even more choice than before.

With the new front, it feels as though everything has fallen neatly into place and that the car's entire personality has been boosted to an entirely new level," says Daniel Backman, Product Manager for the new Volvo C30.

Bugatti Veyron 2009

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:55:00 +0000

The Bugatti Veyron is an impressive platform of top end automotive technology and - loyal to Bugatti's heritage « nothing is too expensive, nothing is too beautiful » - only the best parts and materials in the trade are used in the production process. And the Bugatti Veyron is a truly international car. One of the key- and most sophisticated parts, the 7 speed-sequential-DSG - double-clutch-gearbox, is made by motor sport specialists Ricardo in the UK, the unique 16 cylinder-8.0-litre-engine comes from the Volkswagen engine plant in Salzgitter in Germany.

The tyres - the first production tyres in the industry homologated for speeds above 400 km/h - are a joint development with Michelin. The carbon fibre monocoque is built by ATR in Italy, the front- and rear- structure in forged aluminium by Heggemann in Germany and the bespoke carbon-ceramic brakes by AP Racing in Great Britain. The paintwork is German, the leather Austrian, the windscreen is manufactured in Finland, and so it goes on.

Only 300 units of the Bugatti Veyron will ever be built. Production started at rate of 50 cars per annum, approximately one a week. Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S., however, is striving to achieve a higher number and plans to get closer to an annual output of a hundred in order to reduce the waiting period for customers.

It does not come as a surprise that over 30% of the Bugatti Veyron orders are tagged for the United States, traditionally by far the most important market for luxury cars. The USA are followed by Germany. 19% of total orders have been placed by German customers to date. The United Kingdom, classically a country with a very strong link to the legendary Bugatti brand, is third with 16% and the Middle East comes fourth with around 15%.

1998 through 1999: four design studies in 15 months' time In April 1998, the Volkswagen Group took over the Bugatti trademark, presenting the brand to the public for the first time at the International Motor Show in Paris with a study for a twodoor coupe it had commissioned Italdesign to create: the Bugatti EB 118. A few months later, in March 1999, at the Geneva Motor Show, a design of the EB 218, itself also created at Italdesign, caused a sensation with a four-door saloon using the same 18-cylinder, 6.3 litre engine with 555 hp.

This was followed, the same year, at the IAA in Frankfurt, by the centre-engine design, the Bugatti EB 18/3 Chiron; once again Giugiaro was responsible for the design. And shortly thereafter, in Tokyo, the Bugatti EB 18/4 Veyron celebrated its world premiere, a model designed at the 'Volkswagen Centre of Excellence Design' under the directorship of Hartmut Warkuss.

No more than nearly a year later, in autumn 2000 in Paris, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 was shown for the first time. The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 with the ultimate in performance features, the 1001 hp, 8- litre, 16-cylinder engine and its technological specifications - 1250 Nm at 2,200 rpm, peak speed of more than 400 km/h, four turbochargers and permanent four-wheel drive - features that have remained in place to this day, celebrated its debut at the IAA in Frankfurt in September of 2001.

Extensive construction work in Molsheim

Tandem to the ongoing activities in the product area, extensive construction work has been launched at the location in Molsheim. To begin with, the Château St. Jean - an edifice that Ettore Bugatti never used as a residence but rather only as a form of what, in today's parlance would be termed a customer service centre, was completely renovated.

The two stalls located to the south and the north of the castle, which in Bugatti's day served as stables, were telemetrically surveyed, dismantled and, using as many of the original elements of the structure, such as wall segments and woodwork, as were still usable, reconstructed in a faithful copy of the original structures. In this new 'Bugatti Era', these structures will for the most part have an administrative character; in one of the spaces, clients will also be able to receive their Bugatti Veyron in an historical setting.

The core of the investments made in Molsheim is the 'Atelier' in which production of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is beginning in September 2005. In its architectural form, this modern production facility has been given stylistic features dipping back into the history of the automotive brand. With a southern exposure, the light-filled, glassed main hall is only partly evocative of an automobile-manufacturing operation in the classical sense of the term - it reminds the beholder more of a 'Formula One laboratory'. The setting is dominated by clinical cleanliness and precision workmanship with highly developed component parts. And yet the 'Atelier' can still hold its own against the 'major players'.

A runway for the measurement of relevant functional-performance data and a generously proportioned water-spraying system for testing vehicle water tightness are to be found here, alongside a light chamber under the glaring lamps of which the slightest inconsistency in a car's paintwork mercilessly catches the eye. A small test course has been laid out in the green spaces in front of the building. It can be used to supplement the road-test programme compulsory for all Veyrons and which concludes the vehicle's production process. A logistics centre erected next to the 'Atelier' rounds out the complex of buildings in Molsheim.

Historic location

Thanks to Bugatti, Molsheim has been elevated from anonymity to find its own place on the map - not just of the automotive world. And this is certainly justified, both for the location of Ettore Bugatti's production facilities and his private residence, which is located immediately adjacent. With the purchase of the Château St. Jean and the property surrounding it, comprising some 140,000 m2 and the site of all other modern-day Bugatti activities as well, this has changed somewhat in purely geographic terms. To be precise, the property is situated in Dorlisheim which, while within sight of the former Bugatti factory, is nevertheless located on the other side of the Bruche River. This has been the source of inspiration for a 'postal sleight of hand' on the part of the new management at Bugatti.

To be able to carry the historic value of the location in Molsheim into the Bugatti future while at the same time satisfying the administrative regulations of the Land, a compromise was negotiated with local authorities. A Solomonic solution was arrived at with the latter - who took a very favourable view of the entire Bugatti project right from the beginning, providing their active support throughout its development. The correct and complete address of Bugatti 'Cru 2005' is: Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S., 1, Château St. Jean, Dorlisheim, F-67 120 Molsheim.

Bugatti is on the threshold of a new era. Its location is Molsheim. The company is international. Ettore Bugatti was born in 1881 in Italy. He completed his technological instruction in Germany, first with de Dietrich in Niederbronn in Alsace - at the time still a part of Germany - and then at Deutz in Cologne, before he built his first automobile in 1909 in Molsheim. Since 1998, Bugatti has belonged to the Volkswagen Group as a French company with a French headquarters.

The modern-day Bugatti team - every bit as international as the company itself - views the legacy of Ettore Bugatti as both a challenge and an obligation. Thus, Dr Bscher concluded his welcoming remarks with these words: 'We have brought the Bugatti Veyron from a visionary sketch into the reality of the contemporary automotive world. In doing so, we have laid the cornerstone for leading one of the most renowned and reputable makes of automobile from the virtuality of the past into the hard competition of the future. The Bugatti brand will rise to this competition. The Bugatti Veyron is the best sports car in the world, a car the likes of which the world has, in this form, never seen before. Its technical data are second to none. The Bugatti Veyron closes the gap between myth and vision. We believe that we have interpreted Ettore Bugatti's ideas in the 21st century in much the same manner as he himself may have done. Whether we have succeeded in this remains to be shown. But one thing is certain. The Bugatti Veyron is just the beginning. This automotive brand is alive - and will live on.'

Be sure to swing by AmericanTrucks.com and check out their large selection of F150 Tonneau Covers.

Nano: The world's cheapest car

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:19:00 +0000

Nano, the cheapest car in the world released today .

The features of the car are:

* The Standard Variant of the Car has a dealer price of rupees one lakh (US $2500) and is the cheapest car in the world. (Transport costs and Value-Added Taxes exclusive)
* A four-door car that can seat four-five passengers.
* As compared to Maruti 800, it is eight per cent smaller on the outside but on the inside
itprovides 21 per cent more leg space than the Maruti 800.
* It conforms to all the emission standards as well as the Offset and Side Crash norms followed
internationally.
* It is also compliant with the Bharat 3 norm and the Euro 4 norm with respect to keeping
pollution at bay.
* A 33-bhp car with a 624 cc engine.
* It will provide a mileage of 23 km/litre.
* The Nano Car will have two variants - a Standard and two Deluxe (Air Conditioned)
versions.
* There is no power steering in the car.

This car would revolutionalise manufacturing. The ‘Dream Car’ can boast of being the cheapest car in the world. The biggies worldwide have a long way to go and will have to re-look their cost structures now. As Ratan Tata said, “Pachauri need not have any nightmares.” The car conforms to all emission norms. Tongue-in-cheek Ratan Tata also made a comment on Mamta Banerjee when he said that the car was to be named the Mamta car or the Despite Mamta car. Tata’s will have one hundred thousand cars coming out of their Singur Plant every year for the next five years.

There were speculations that the car would fail to even meet the Euro 3 standard and would be an environment hazard.

2009 Opel Insignia Sports

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 10:00:00 +0000

2009 Vauxhall Insignia four- and five-door models at last month's British Motor Show in London, but GM's saved this - the 2009 Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer - for October's Paris motor show.

These first official shots show the smooth, dynamic forms of the original Insignia, itself inspired from the muscular GTC concept of 2005, carry over into the wagon form quite nicely. We do, however, see a touch of Audi's Q7 in the tailgate form, and we can't quite put our collective finger on where we've seen those tail lamps before - from a Renault Laguna, perhaps?

The Insignia Sports Tourer, available in European markets in spring 2009, boasts the same athletic, powerful and elegant design as its sedan counterparts. “However,” says Mark Adams, Vice President of GM Europe Design, “this is a stand-alone model and not simply a wagon version of the sedan. In fact, all the bodywork aft of the B-pillar is unique to the Sports Tourer. We’ve also ensured that its design combines the sculptural artistry and technical precision found in the notch- and hatchback models.”

Designers gave the rear of the Sports Tourer a unique yet cohesive appearance by pulling the “wraparound” tailgate far into the flanks and accentuating it with large, distinctive, fully integrated tail lights.

This dynamic look encloses an interior that offers ample space for five occupants and a highly competitive luggage compartment. The luggage compartment offers a volume of 540 liters. The Sports Tourer has retained an identical wheelbase of 2.74 meters as the sedan models and added around 80 mm to its length for an overall 4.91 meters.

Two new engines - a downsized gasoline turbo engine and a new turbo diesel - will join the seven engines already available from launch of the sedan models. In addition, an ecoFLEX variant with remarkably low fuel consumption and CO2 emission levels will be added to the range in the near future.

“Along with leading technologies and high safety standards, the elegant Opel Insignia Sports Tourer clearly expresses Opel’s strategy to make innovation and attractive design accessible”, says Alain Visser, Chief Marketing Officer for GM Europe.

Its newly developed chassis, designed to offer a high level of safety and comfort, can even be enhanced with the innovative, integrated FlexRide mechatronic system which raises stability and provides real time, electronically controlled damping. FlexRide also gives the driver the choice between three driving modes. In addition to the standard adaptive mode, the driver can either opt for a comfort-oriented mode (“Tour”) or a Sport setting. The Sport mode makes the Insignia Sports Tourer driving experience more active, as it changes the set-up of interlinked functions such as the steering, throttle control, damping and even the ambient lighting of the dashboard. Moreover, Insignia customers can even opt for the new, sophisticated Adaptive 4x4 system that proactively distributes torque to ensure superb stability while providing optimal traction and enhancing handling performance on all road conditions.

The introduction of the Sports Tourer benefits from the high levels of technology showcased at the Insignia’s launch, such as the innovative “Opel Eye” camera, which reads and memorizes traffic signs and warns drivers when they unintentionally veer out of their lane. Other innovative features are the new-generation AFL headlamps that adjust to prevailing traffic conditions with nine different lighting functions and the particularly back-friendly, orthopedically-certified ergonomic sport seats.

GM claims two new engines - one gas-powered, the other a diesel - will debut along with the Sports Tourer. Exact details are still unknown, but we're told engines offered in the four- and five-door versions (including the 2.0-liter turbodiesel I-4 and the 2.8-liter V-6) will carry over, as will the choice of front- or all-wheel-drive.

2009 Opel Insignia SportsGallery

Nissan Maxima Mistakes Itself For a BMW 7-Series

noreply@blogger.com (My Car Blogs) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 09:56:00 +0000

What happens when you try to build a car using parts from several different other cars.

Well a Nissan Maxima owner from Kuwait wanted to find out first hand so he started working.

He replaced the front of his Nissan with the front end of a BMW 7 series, the bumper of a

BMW M3, he replaced the front doors with sleek Lambo doors, he got the hood split in half

and got the rear wing of a Toyota Supra. You can check out the result for yourself, some will love

it,others will hate it, there’s no in-between.

As much as we would like to believe that we always know why people do the things they do, fact is that sometimes we don’t have even the slightest idea. Take this monstrously modified Nissan Maxima for example. It’s as if the owner of the Kuwaiti licensed plate vehicle went into an automotive supermarket randomly picking out accessories and parts for the mix. Here’s a shortlist of his “groceries”: BMW 7-Series fascia, BMW M3-like front bumper, Lamborghini style front scissor doors, two-part hood, gullwing rear doors and a Supra-like rear wing are just a few of the countless items that he added to the poor Maxima. What do you think?