Saturday, June 5, 2010

Nissan GT-R and Audi R8 transformers Populer

Transformer toys are great little playthings, and well, they bring out our love for cars and robots. These transformers toys put two of the most popular cars of the day in the shape of the popular extraterrestrial bots. The Nissan GT-R autobot looks cool and real enough, a well executed project. The Audi R8, however, isn’t that lucky; the decepticon R8 isn’t all that good, and if it were to ever face the GT-R autobot, the R8 decepticon would be in big trouble.

Special Fiat 500 Barbie

Fiat helped toy icon Barbie celebrate her 50th birthday recently with a special bright pink Fiat 500 car.

If you’re planning on rushing out to your nearest Fiat dealership for your very own bright pink version of one of the most popular cars at the moment you’re going to be disappointed as this car is a one off and has been created purely to celebrate the fashion doll icon.

Designed and built in a partnership between Fiat’s style centre and Barbie-maker Mattel, the paintwork is said to resemble nail varnish, while inside the city car the upholstery is in soft, silver laminated fabric. Further highlights include LED lit vanity mirror and bright crystal encrusted hubcaps. The car was driven by a real-life Ken and Barbie through the streets of Milan, before arriving at a fashionable Milanese department store.

“Barbie is a looker, smart enough to listen to everyone, a universal ambassador opting for a car that never divides, but frees everyone from having to declare their social status,” said Roberto Giolito, Fiat Style Director and creator of the Fiat 500.

New FT-86 Delayed Until 2013

Here's some not particularly good news regarding everyone's favorite automobile of the future - the Toyota FT-86. Word out of Japan is that the release of the car has been pushed back to 2013, possibly to rethink the design or even to accommodate hybrid technology. Considering the overwhelming positive response the concept has had, I can't see any reason why a re-design would be in order, but who knows what goes on behind closed doors at Toyota? If true, this could be a pretty big setback to the people around the world waiting for this car. Then again, Japan's automotive tabloids aren't always the most legit source of information. Hopefully we'll hear more about this soon. -Mike Garrett...

New Car Mugen Civic Hatcback

The European Civic Hatchback is a popular car on Speedhunters, so this should attract some interest. Its the new Mugen Civic Hatchback concept. However, its currently just a styling exercise. The car was shown at the recent Moscow Motor Show. This may seem a weird choice, but Russia is apparently Europes biggest Auto market. Mugen have traditionally stayed clear of Europe, so this might be a exercise to gauge reaction. Other than the over the top rear wing, I like the design. Its aggressive and sporty...

Car Spotlight Mazda Furai Concept

The Mazda Furai (pronounced 'foo-rye') concept has already graced the pages of Speedhunters a couple of times, but I thought this stunning concept deserved its own feature. The Furai is a concept car, designed by Mazda's Californian Design studio and Swift Engineering. It is built on an old Courage C65 LMP2 race-car chassis. The concept made its debut at the Detroit Motor Show earlier this year. The design is the fifth in the 'Nagare' series of Mazda concepts, all of which have...

CAR SPOTLIGHT BMW M1 HOMMAGE CONCEPT

In the third of our BMW M1 posts, we are going to cover the BMW M1 Hommage, a concept car designed to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the original M1 designed by Giorgio Giugiaro. The ‘Hommage’ was designed internally by BMW Group Design and mixes design elements from the original the M1, the concept that preceded that, the BMW Turbo and mixed with BMW’s modern design language. The car was shown as the prestigious ‘Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este' event...

10 Most Popular cars of America

1. 2008 Toyota Prius
MSRP: $21,500 - $23,770
Invoice: $20,210 - $21,816
Fuel Economy: 45 mpg Hwy/48 mpg City

The Toyota Prius sets the standard for environmentally friendly hybrid transportation. It delivers extremely good fuel efficiency in a front-wheel drive, five-door liftback.

2. 2008 Honda Accord

MSRP: $20,360 - $28,310
Invoice: $18,458 - $25,642
Fuel Economy: 31 mpg Hwy/22 mpg City

The Accord combines high technology and high quality with everyday economy of operation and keen attention to detail.

3. 2008 Nissan Altima

MSRP: $18,620 - $28,670
Invoice: $18,243 - $26,565
Fuel Economy: 32 mpg Hwy/23 mpg City

The front-wheel drive, five-passenger Nissan Altima combines performance and an attractive exterior as either a two-door coupe or a four-door sedan.

4. 2009 Toyota Camry

MSRP: $18,920 - $28,470
Invoice: $17,311 - $25,337
Fuel Economy: 31 mpg Hwy/21 mpg City

The benchmark Toyota Camry sedan continues its reputation of safety, reliability, and quality while offering fuel efficiency, space, and power.

5. 2008 Chevrolet Malibu

MSRP: $19,900 - $27,095
Invoice: $18,806 - $25,605
Fuel Economy: 30 mpg Hwy/22 mpg City

The redesigned 2008 Chevrolet Malibu emphasizes civilized road manners, quality construction and practicality, with clean, contemporary styling

The Green Nissan

Excellent mileage, a sturdy handling and great interior. These are the aspects that make the new 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid a worthy car. It’s environment-friendly enough, combining a four-cylinder 2.5-liter engine with an electric motor. This makes it accelerate satisfyingly yet still sustain the fuel economy and the emissions that are needed. Based on the EPA measurements, the Altima Hybrid achieves 35 mg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. This car model is exclusively for sale in eight states only. The states are as follows: California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The gas engine of this car is set up in a tandem with an electric motor with 40 horsepower. This is powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery. The engine runs as smoothly as it runs quietly. But don’t underestimate its power yet. Not until you get behind its wheel and see for yourself how a great ride this particular car is.

The other fast facts you should know about this car are:

1. The EPA named the Nissan Altima Hybrid as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PEZ).

2. It is 90 percent cleaner compared to some other new vehicles. It’s simply the best.

3. During low speeds, the gasoline engine shuts down and the electric motor takes over. This maximizes fuel economy.

4. The gas engine gets shut off when braking or coasting occurs. The energy from the movement is converted into electricity. This recharges the battery and nothing is wasted.

5. Smart displays give you more ease and convenience when driving.

Popular Cars Over $100,000

A mix of luxury and exotic sports cars make up this list of high-end vehicles.

Popular Cars Over $100,000

The Top 10 Most Popular Cars for March 2008: Part 1

Yahoo! Autos gave out the list of the top 10 most popular sports cars last week. The results are based on the number of visitors earned by each new car. Taking the number ten spot is the 2007 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640. This sleek and impressive two-door luxury sports car is available in two trims: the Coupe and the Roadster. Both are powered with a 6.5-liter V12 engine which gives off 640 horsepower. Both trims also come standard with a six-speed manual transmission. However, you have the option to get the six-speed automatic transmission. A sleek exterior and an equally sleek two-passenger cabin combined with a powerful engine make the freshened 2007 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 a car that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

The all-new 2008 Audi R8 sits on the ninth spot. Offered in two trims, the Coupe Quattro and the Coupe Quattro with Auto R Tronic, this car model is a two-door sports coupe which is able to accommodate two passengers. Both the Coupe Quattro and Coupe Quattro with Auto R Tronic come standard with a 4.2-liter V8 engine that gives off 420 horsepower. The six-speed manual transmission is also standard for the two trims. They also come with standard features of four-wheel anti-lock brakes, seat mounted front side airbags and a sound system comprised of an AM/FM radio with 140 watts, GALA® Speed Sensitive Volume and a total of 7 speakers. There’s also a CD player and MP3 player included, as well as a Sirius ™ Satellite Radio.

This year’s Honda Fit takes the eighth place and offers a variety of four trims. These are the 5-Spd MT, 5-spd AT, Sport 5-spd MT, Sport 5-spd AT. This model is a family or sports sedan and can accommodate up to five passengers. All four trims are are powered by a 1.5-liter I4 engine with 109 horsepower at 5800 rpm. Its torque reaches 105 at 4800 ft.-lb. A five-speed automatic transmission which comes with overdrive is also standard. The Honda Fit 5-spd MT and 5-spd AT can be coated in metallic paint if opted for and also has front and rear body color impact-absorbing bumpers. The Honda Fit Sport 5-spd MT and 5-spd AT, on the other hand, has body color rear roof spoiler and underbody aero cladding. There’s a front air dam and the same front and rear body color impact-absorbing bumpers as well. The option for metallic paint is also offered.

The seventh spot belongs to the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500. This car comes in two trim levels: Coupe and Convertible. They are both house a 5.4-liter V8 engine under the hood, which is able to give off 500 horsepower. Six-speed manual transmission with overdrive comes as a standard. These two trims have four-wheel anti-lock brakes and seat mounted front side airbags with head protection.

To close today’s first half of the top 10 is the 2008 Ford Mustang, which takes the sixth slot. This car model is available in eight trim levels: V6 Deluxe Coupe, V6 Premium Coupe, V6 Deluxe, V6 Premium, GT Deluxe Coupe, GT Premium Coupe, GT Deluxe, and GT Premium. This two-door car is classified as a convertible, convertible sports car, family coupe, and sports coupe. Able to accommodate four passengers, the V6 Deluxe Coupe runs standard with a 4-liter V6 engine that has 210 horsepower. The GT Premium Convertible, on the other hand, is powered by a 4.6-liter V8 engine which is able to give off 300 horsepower. The Premium and the Deluxe trims come standard with a five-speed manual transmission. However, there is a five-speed automatic transmission with overdrive that’s offered as an option.

The Top 10 Most Popular Cars for March 2008: Part 2

Last time, the bottom half of the Top 10 was revealed. Today, those who made it to the upper half of the list will be shown. Opening the other five cars that are included in the top five is the 2008 BMW 5 Series. This sleek and impressive model is offered in six various trims: 528i Sedan, 528xi Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535xi Sedan, 535xi Sports Wagon, 550i Sedan. All of them are four-door and can accommodate up to five passengers. The 528i Sedan is powered with the standard engine of a 3-liter I6 which gives off 230 horsepower. Its standard transmission is a six-speed manual. However, there is an option of a six-speed automatic transmission with overdrive for those who want more. The 550i Sedan, on the other hand, has a 4.8-liter V8 engine under its hood and is able to give off 360 horsepower.

The fourth place goes to the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class which has three trims. There’s the C300 Sport, C300 Luxury and lastly, the C350 Sport. The C300 Sport Sedan houses a 3-liter V6 engine capable of giving off 228 horsepower and comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission with overdrive. Is there an option? There is, with this model. One can opt for a seven-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. If the C350 Sport Sedan is more of your choice, it’s good to know that this trim is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 268 horsepower. Again, the option for the seven-speed automatic transmission is offered. This particular Mercedes-Benz model is given an overhaul for this year.

It’s a Mercedes-Benz yet again that takes the third spot, this time with their 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Six trims are available for this four-door Luxury Sedan: E350 Luxury Sedan, E320 BLUETEC Sedan, E350 4MATIC Wagon, E550 Sport Sedan, E63 AMG Sedan, E63 AMG Wagon. All of these trims are spacious, since they can all accommodate seven passengers. The E350 Luxury Sedan is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine and has a horsepower of 268. It comes standard with a seven-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. For the E63 AMG Wagon, there’s an impressive 6.2-liter V8 engine under its hood. It gives off 507 horsepower and its transmission is the same as the E350 Luxury Sedan. Please take note that this model is a remainder from last year.

The second place goes to the 2008 Dodge Challenger, a sports coupe roomy enough to handle five passengers. It’s offered in just one trim: the SRT8. This car model is powered by a standard 6.1-liter V8 engine with a horsepower of 425. The transmission is a standard five-speed automatic. This is a brand new model for 2008, designed for speed and maximum performance.

By this time, can you guess by now which car takes the number one spot?

The 2008 BMW 1 Series Coupe takes the spotlight. This two-door luxury coupe is offered in two trims: 128i and 135i. The 128i trim comes standard with an engine of 3-liter I6. Its horsepower is 230 and has a six-speed manual transmission with overdrive. The 135i is powered with a 3-liter, I6 turbo engine which gives off a horsepower of 300. It has the same transmission as the 128i. This car can seat up to four passengers and the starting price ranges between $28,600 and $34,900. It reportedly has great handling, ultimate speed and gives a great driving experience.

That caps off the Top 10 Most Popular Cars as given by Yahoo! Autos. For a more in-depth information and reviews regarding the cars mentioned in the Top 10, please go to the source link provided below.

The Prius Plug-In

Why can’t we get a 50 MPG car? The technology is there yet we cannot seem to break this barrier in the U.S. Over in Europe there are cars such as the Volkswagon Polo and Ford Fiesta that get upwards of 65 MPG. It seems that Electric cars lack in the range department and hybrid technology is fairly new. Toyota with their Plug-in Prius will definitely push the bar of fuel economy once more.

Introducing the Lexrolla Hybrid

Take 1 part Toyota Corolla, 1 part Lexus luxury, 1 part hybrid car, and you get the Lexus HS 250h; or the Lexrolla as I like to call it! Well Lexus has recently introduced a new car for the 2010 model year. The HS 250h will not only be the most fuel efficient car offered from Lexus, it will also be targeted to the entry level luxury crowd. Yes this car looks like a Corolla and a Civic mix, but never judge a book by its cover right? The 2010 Lexus HS 250h (Lexrolla) offers so much more.

The RAV4 Hybrid

You know it is inevitable; eventually all Toyota vehicles will be hybrid powered. And they should be. The Prius has sold over 1 million models in a few short years. And with any new hybrid news, the American public goes ape shit! Not to mention there is a huge gap in the small SUV segment. The only other small hybrid SUV is the Saturn Vue and who knows what is going to happen to it!

Prius Sales Soar Thanks to Cash for Clunkers

Toyota Prius sales soar as the Cash for Clunkers program went into effect. Under the first 80,000 Cash for Clunkers vouchers processed, the new Prius has become the fourth most popular car bought. The amazing thing is that of the ten most popular cars bought under the CARS program, the next generation Prius is the only hybrid.

Tamiya 1/24 Jaccs Accord – 24180 Popular

Tamiya 1/24 Jaccs Accord – 24180

These models present the opportunity to enjoy the building of popular cars at your leisure. Racing cars as seen in the world’’s Grand Prix, touring cars and prominent sports cars of the world are available. The dynamic body styling of racing cars are precisely reproduced. The interiors are accurate and realistic. Although the cars in this series are easy to build, great realism can be obtained. As an introduction to building car models or for the entertainment of building a collection, this series is highly recommended.

The UK’s most popular cars revealed

07 January 2009

by Adrian Hearn

The Ford Focus is the UK’s most popular car for the tenth consecutive year with more than 100,000 sold in 2008.

In total, 101,593 Focuses were sold in the UK with the Vauxhall Corsa the second biggest seller – shifting 99,574.

Third place in the list went to the Ford Fiesta with the Vauxhall Astra and VW Golf making up the top five.

However, on the whole 2008 wasn’t a good year for the new car market with overall sales down 11.3 per cent from 2.4million to 2.1million with this year’s sale predicted to fall to 1.78million.

Petrol cars took the biggest hit as cost-conscious motorists look to save money, falling 17.3 per cent while diesel sales fell 4 per cent.

This means petrol cars accounted for 55 per cent (down from 59) with diesels bridging the gap, making up 44 per cent (up from 40).

The UK’s most popular cars:

Ford Focus (101,593 cars sold in 2008)

2008 saw the launch of a face-lifted version of the second generation Focus and it has kept the popular Ford as the UK’s favourite car for the tenth year running.

We said: When you get the opportunity to tackle a fantastic road, in a beautiful location all you really NEED is a driving licence, a sense of fun and a car.

But what you WANT is a car which will enable you to exploit the opportunity, look the part and make you feel like saying “thank you very much” to it afterwards.

Auto Trader's Ford Focus car review
What Car? Ford Focus car review
Read what Ford Focus owners have to say on Drive the Debate

Vauxhall Corsa (99,574)

Now in its third generation, the Corsa continues to be a strong seller, thanks to its tidy looks, good selection of engines and trim levels and affordable price-tag.

We said: The fact it’s the car of choice for thousands of driving instructors is testament to its ability as an easy-to-drive supermini.

The Corsa is more fun to drive than its predecessors, with remarkably low running costs.

Auto Trader's Vauxhall Corsa car review
What Car? Vauxhall Corsa car review
Read what Vauxhall Corsa owners have to say on Drive the Debate

Ford Fiesta (94,989)

The sales of the Fiesta are staggering considering the new model didn’t go on sale until October, illustrating the all-round competence and desirability of the model it replaced.

We said (new model): Out on the open road the Fiesta feels as poised and precise as you could ever want, putting some more overtly sporting machinery to shame.

We said (old model): The handling is excellent, the suspension is firm but not harsh, while the steering has a sharp feel.

Auto Trader's Ford Fiesta (2002-2008) car review
Auto Trader's Ford Fiesta (2008-) car review
What Car? Ford Fiesta (2008-) car review
Read what Ford Fiesta owners have to say on Drive the Debate

Vauxhall Astra (90,641)

Even though it was launched in 2004, the latest Vauxhall Astra still has a cutting edge design, something that has helped keep it towards to top of the sales charts.

We say: You can’t get better than five stars from the EuroNCAP crash tests and that’s exactly what the Astra got.

Auto Trader's Vauxhall Astra car review
What Car? Vauxhall Astra car review
Read what Vauxhall Astra owners have to say on Drive the Debate

Volkswagen Golf (65,029)

Even though it’s about to be replaced, the fifth generation Golf is still a great car and VW knows this which is why the new model shares most of its parts with the five.

We say (old model): Volkswagen Golfs are cool cars - economic, solidly-built motors, which perform well while maintaining an element of class that few rivals can offer.

We say (new model): Finish standards, materials and comfort levels are excellent in the new VW Golf while new white backlit dials also promote the view that the new car now offers a smarter driving environment.

Auto Trader's Volkswagen Golf (2005-2008) car review
Auto Trader's Volkswagen Golf (2008-) car review
What Car? Volkswagen Golf (2005-2008) car review
Read what Ford Focus owners have to say on Drive the Debate

Peugeot 207 (53,462)

The Peugeot 207, with its good choice of engines and provocative design, is the only French car to make the top ten.

We say: Peugeot picked up five stars in the Euro NCAP tests for adults in the car and four for junior passengers. It was also awarded three stars for pedestrian protection.

Auto Trader's Peugeot 207 car review
What Car? Peugeot 207 car review
Read what Peugeot 207 owners have to say on Drive the Debate

BMW 3 Series (49,384)

For a premium car maker to appear in the top ten list shows just how popular the BMW 3 Series is.

We say: On the open road, the BMW 3 Series still displays impeccable driving manners and is a blast to drive thanks to its perfect 50:50 weight distribution.

Auto Trader's BMW 3 Series car review
What Car? BMW 3 Series car review
Read what BMW 3 Series owners have to say on Drive the Debate

Ford Mondeo (44,150)

As with the Focus and Fiesta, Ford has another great car in the Mondeo which handles brilliantly, is well built and has a large selection of engines boasting a good compromise between sporty performance and affordable running costs.

We say: Steers well, handles well, will deliver you to your destination in comfort. Drivers expect these qualities in a Ford Mondeo and the latest version delivers in spades.

Auto Trader's Ford Mondeo car review
What Car? Ford Mondeo car review
Read what Ford Mondeo owners have to say on Drive the Debate

Vauxhall Zafira (43,169)

The seven-seat Zafira is the only MPV to make the list. Launched in 2005, the second generation Zafira is practical, safe and handles well for a people carrier.

We say: In sharing many of its chassis components with the Astra, the Zafira can be thrown round corners with the kind of vigour that would have put the old model in a ditch.

Auto Trader's Vauxhall Zafira car review
What Car? Vauxhall Zafira car review
Read what Vauxhall Zafira owners have to say on Drive the Debate

Vauxhall Vectra (42,555)

While it wasn’t always looked upon as the most enticing choice in the family saloon segment, the Vectra proved to be a impressive sales success for Vauxhall thanks in a large part to the company car market.

The Vectra has been replaced by the excellent Insignia but you can still find a great deal – with some knocking around at less than half the list price.

We say: Vauxhall has done a great job of tailoring the Vectra’s ride and handling to its customers needs. It is easy to drive, making you feel at home, and immediately impressing with its hushed ride.

We say (Vauxhall Insignia): Even in the stiff Sport mode, the ride quality is excellent. For the bulk of our test route, we left the car in its normal setting, and found it a superb compromise, affording plenty of comfort, but very limited bodyroll through bends.

2010’s Most Popular Cars

The year is almost over and it’s time to welcome 2010…but before we do, check out the proposed hottest cars of 2010. BMW’s X3 comes in fifth, while the X5 is fourth. Third is the BMW X6, second is Audi’s Q5 and first is the Toyota Matrix. Check out the full story here.

Popular Cars In India

Honda City

Honda City ZX is one of the stylish sedan and have sophisticated and trendy exterior. It boasts marvelous interiors - luxurious and relaxing. It gives superior performance with VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) engine at all speeds. It has a very good front suspension with unique lateral force cancelling spring with AC system.

Honda City ZX Pros :- Stylish interior and exterior, Comfortable, More spacious.

Honda City ZX Cons:- Bad fuel economy, Pick up is not good, Poor suspension.

Maruti Alto

Maruti Alto is the best-selling car in India. Suspension, Performance, Mileage & beautiful interiors are best in its class. Rotatory control for A/C. Stylish fabric, Clear lens headlamp, Dynamic front grill and bumper,ALTO is a true value for money.

Maruti Alto Pros :- Good fuel economy and better mileage, Maintainence is easy, Easy to park, Easy to drive in high traffic, Service Station is easily availabe.

Maruti Alto Cons :- Less spacious, Pick up with a/c is quite poor, CD player is not available, Gear box is noisy, No legroom in rear seat.

Maruti Swift

Maruti Swift is Hatchback Type Small Car.Sporty look cajole youth, Spacious interior, 5-people comfortably sit,Powerful engine,Keyless ignition are optional, Power steering.

Maruti Swift Pros :- Great fuel economy in city , Good pick up with AC , Attracting sporty look, Easy to ride on Indian road

Maruti Swift Cons :- No parcel shelf, Boot less Spacious, Interiors of the car is not up to the mark, CD player is not available.