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| 2012 Porsche 911 |
2012 Porsche 911 (991) revealed - offcial trailer
Source:
http://www.automobilemag.comRabu, 30 November 2011
2012 Porsche 911 Video
Selasa, 29 November 2011
Images From the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show
AutoGearhead: These photos are taken from Los Angeles Auto Show 2011.
The Dok-ing XD electric car, created by Croatian industrialist Vjekoslav Majetic, on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The electric car is only nine feet long feet long, features gull wing doors and seats three passengers, with the driver in the center and two passengers set back on either side. The car show opens to the public on Friday and runs through Nov. 27.
The first production model Mastretta, the MXT, is shown on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Mastretta is a Mexican car maker and design studio established by Mexican industrial designer Daniel Mastretta.
A Ford F150 Raptor SVT pickup truck is shown on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show.The show will surpass 50 vehicle debuts with nearly 20 highly-efficient, 40 mpg plus vehicles to be exhibited.
Land Rover DC100 concept cars make their North America debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
An Aston Martin One-77 is shown on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The BMW i3 plug-in hybrid makes its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
A car detailer dusts a Rolls-Royce Ghost on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Chevrolet Vice President Global Marketing and Strategy Chris Perry speaks as the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible is unveiled at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. The ZL1 accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and can reach a top speed of 184 mph. The convertible will go on sale in the summer of 2012 as a 2013 model.
A model stands beside an Audi R8 GT Spyder on display at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.
The Volvo You concept car with coach doors and suspended seating is displayed at the 2011 LA Auto Show.
Actress Paula Patton is helped out of the BMW i8 concept car that is featured in the upcoming Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol movie by Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO of BMW North America as the car is revealed at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.
The 2012 Honda CR-V makes its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Olivier Francois, CEO of Fiat Brand and Chief Marketing Officer of Chrysler and Fiat, unveils the Fiat 500 Abarth car during the LA Auto Show.
A Ford Focus Electric vehicle on display at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.
A specially painted Kia Optima with US basketball star and Kia spokeman Blake Griffin's name is displayed at the 2011 LA Auto Show in Los Angeles.
Hyundai’s President and CEO John Krafcik, left, and Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun unveil the Hyundai Azera at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Frank Fisher, CEO of Chattanooga Operations, Volkswagen Group of America, top left, holds the 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year award for the 2012 Volkswagen Passat.
Sabtu, 26 November 2011
100 Years of Chevrolet and The Best Chevy Ever
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| 1969 Camaro |
By 1969 the Camaro was extremely popular. And though this was the final year of the Camaro's original iconic design, it went out with flying colors. The '69 Camaro paced the Indianapolis 500® for the second time.
It was the first and only year the legendary aluminum ZL1 engine was offered, and the Z28® SS/RS performance package qualified the '69 Camaro to compete in the Trans-Am racing series. It's still considered one of the hottest-looking rides of the classic muscle car era. It had a 290-horsepower rating but tested at close to 400.
This four-wheeled icon has graced the silver screen many times. In Almost Famous, a young William Miller watches his sister drive off with her boyfriend in a blue 1969 Camaro coupe. And a slightly earlier version stars as the famous black beauty in Better Off Dead.
Source: http://www.chevrolet.com
Kamis, 24 November 2011
Understanding Oversteer.
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| Oversteer: the car makes the turn too sharp and gets into a spin. |
An article from drivingfast.net says, when you reach the limits of grip on a corner, two scenarios can result known as understeer or oversteer. Oversteer, like understeer, results from the car reaching the limits of traction on a corner. In this case, the rear tyres reach the limit of adhesion before the front. This leads to 'the back coming out'. The good thing about oversteer is that you normally go through the hedge backwards, thus preventing expensive repairs to the front of your vehicle. If you manage to performed sustained, controlled oversteer this is know as drifting.
Symptoms of oversteer It's unlikely you'll ever experience oversteer unless you're driving a car near the limits of grip. You can recognise oversteer if, the rear of the vehicle becomes unstable and 'light' due to lack of grip and the car starts to rotate so the driver is facing towards the inside of the corner
There are four major active causes of oversteer, but what you're likely to encounter depends on the car being driven, causes include:
- Entering the corner too fast.
- Accelerating into the corner, too early or too aggressively.
- Braking into the corner or mid corner.
- Lifting off the throttle mid-corner. This scenario is also known as:
- lift-off oversteer
- snap-oversteer
- trailing-throttle oversteer
- throttle off oversteer
- lift-throttle oversteer
- lift-off oversteer
Whatever the cause of oversteer it is important to keep the front wheels pointing in the direction you're hoping to go. If you fail to do this, the most likely result is a spin. This technique is known as counter-steering or applying opposite lock. You should apply enough steering lock to point the wheels in the direction of the slide as shown below. Too little and you're likely to spin as the back continues to come round, too much and the car will rapidly over-correct, often resulting in a spin in the opposite direction. The skill can only be mastered with plenty of practice and should become instinct if you're planning to drive fast on a track.
Applying corrective steering needs to be done rapidly to catch the back of the car before it slides to a point which may be difficult to control. Once the slide has been controlled and the back starts to fall back in line, it's also important to get the steering correction off quickly too, otherwise you might find your self with oversteer in the opposite direction due to the resulting pendulum effect.(*)
Selasa, 22 November 2011
Understanding Understeer.
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| Understeer: The car does not turn enough and leaves the road. |
Auto Gearhead: Understeer is vehicle dynamics terms used to describe the sensitivity of a vehicle to steering. Understeer is what occurs when a car steers less than, or 'under' the amount commanded by the driver.
Automotive engineers define understeer based on changes in steering angle associated with changes in lateral acceleration over a sequence of steady-state circular turning tests. Understeer occurs when traction is lost at the front wheels while cornering, forcing you wide on a bend despite applying the correct steering angle.
Avoiding understeer.
The potential harm of understeer is the car out off the road. But fortunately, this emergency situation is fairly easy to overcome. The point is to slow the vehicle so that traction can be returned.
To avoiding understeer you can drive as smooth as you can, don't enter corners flat out, and accelerate as you exit, do not add a round steering wheel or brake, reduce round the steering wheel until the tire gripping again. The las is do not brake in a corner. The only exception to this is if you are using trail braking (late braking). In some situations on the track, it may be possible to get a better time by leaving your braking to the very last minute, forcing you to maintain braking into the turn. If this is the case, ensure most of the braking effort has been carried out in a straight line, and progressively release the brakes as you approach the apex. The resulting forward weight transfer can reduce understeer and improve 'turn in', however, it can also make the car more prone to oversteer. This is an advanced technique and should only be used once you are very confident with your car, the track and the conditions.
Simple modifications to make a car less prone to understeer.
If you have a track car and find understeer a problem, you can complete some relatively easy modifications which can make the handling more neutral. These include:
- Reducing the front tyre pressure
- Softening front springs or anti-roll bar
- Use softer front tyres
- Increase front down force (if aerodynamics fitted).
A video from the AMG Driving Academy Performance, an explanation about Understeer and Oversteer.
2013 Chevrolet Malibu.
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| Chevrolet Malibu |
The first of Chevrolet’s new family sedans, the Malibu Eco will take over the role that the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid held in the automaker’s lineup until it was dropped from the lineup after the 2010 model year.
Close in concept, both the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu and its predecessor use a mild hybrid setup that assists the gas engine with the electric motor, instead of either the gas engine or electric motor working independently of one another.
Based around Chevrolet’s 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, the combination produces 182 horsepower—the same as the base Malibu’s non-hybrid system. But with the eAssist technology, Chevrolet claims the car will achieve 26 mpg city/38 mpg highway. It will come with a lithium-ion battery pack in addition to automatic engine start-stop, and regenerative braking—all while only adding 130 pounds over the standard Malibu. Chevrolet is quick to point out that it compares well to the full hybrids in its class, but at a lower price.
Between the Ford Fusion Hybrid (40 mpg city/36 mpg highway), Volkswagen Passat TDI (30 mpg city/40 mpg highway with automatic transmission), Toyota Camry (40 mpg city/38 mpg highway), and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (35 mpg city/40 mpg highway), none achieve below 30 mpg in any standard, leaving the Malibu Eco in a tenuous spot per its press literature. At least it is more affordable than the aforementioned models.
New for the 2013 model year, Chevrolet has included a host of upgrades, including active aerodynamics that close hood vents at highway speeds to cut through the wind better, standard low rolling-resistance 17-inch tires mounted on aluminum wheels, the MyLink infotainment system, satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, OnStar, and eight airbags distributed throughout the interior. Other features are available like a backup camera, remote starter, a nine-speaker Pioneer stereo system, and leather.
The Chevrolet Malibu Eco goes on sale in the first quarter of next year, representing the first time the Malibu will be sold all over the world in Chevrolet’s lineup. It will initially be produced in Chevrolet’s South Korean factory. Following it, the Malibu LS, LT, and LTZ non-hybrid trims will start production in summer 2012 and hit dealer lots shortly thereafter. (Jacob Brown)
Source: Chevrolet
Senior GM designer Bryan Nesbitt explains the aggressive new styling in the all new 2013 Malibu and how the Camaro influenced it for a sportier look. Precise engineering also make it a contender for the most aerodynamic car in its class.
Be a Smart Driver to Save Your Fuel.
You might enjoy your time when it at a stop light, do not rev up your engine rpm. Do not drive aggressively out on the highway can lower your car's gas mileage up to 33 percent. Driving aggressively around town can pull down your vehicle's fuel efficiency by 5 percent. Drive like a grownup is better. Slowly accelerate after every stop sign and stop light. Go easy on the accelerator out on the highway.
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| Peugeot Cruise Control Stalk |
It's important to follow the speed limit. Speeding is a very expensive way to drive. Driving above the speed limit may get you where you want to go in less time, but it also means wasteful of fuel. "Driving at excessive speeds is going to pull down your fuel efficiency," says Jim Kliesch, research associate at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and vehicle analyst.
And the faster you drive, the bigger the fuel-economy hit on your car. Driving 75 mph instead of 65 mph will lower your car's fuel economy by 10 percent. Driving 70 mph instead of 55 mph will lower your car's fuel economy by 17 percent. So stop treating speed limit signs as suggestions and slow down already. Obeying the speed limit is the safest and cheapest way to drive.
Remove any excess items from your car to make your car more lighter. Less weight means better mileage. Carrying an extra 100 pounds in the trunk of your car may cut your car's fuel economy by 1 percent to 2 percent. A loaded roof rack increases your car's air drag and can pull down your car's mileage by 5 percent. Avoid carrying items on your car's roof whenever possible.
Go easy on the air conditioning. Roll down your car's windows and let in the summer breeze. Using the gas-hogging air conditioning as sparingly as possible will give your car's fuel economy a real boost. Air conditioning can drag down your car's fuel economy by 10 percent to 20 percent. But on days when air conditioning is a must, first try cooling your car the old fashioned way, rolling down the windows, opening the vents, peeling back the sunroof. You'd be amazed how much hot air you can clear out of your car just by opening up for awhile.
Do not waste fuel with let your car's engine runs idle, its fuel economy crashes down to zero miles per gallon. The larger your engine the more gas you wind up wasting while idling your car. Get with the times. Keep in mind, that modern vehicles don't need to warm up.
In the city with high traffic, avoid rush hour. Not only is stop-and-go traffic stressful and annoying, it's bad for your car's gas mileage. So avoid driving at rush hour whenever you can. Stagger your work hours so you can time your weekday commuting at less busy times of the day. You can save fuel and cut down on the wear and tear on your car by choosing the shortest route to your destination and combining short trips whenever possible. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer, multistop trip of the same distance with a warm engine.
Important!!! Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal or clutch pedal while driving. The slightest pressure on brake or clutch pedal could cause a drag that will require additional fuel.
Minggu, 20 November 2011
Review: Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4
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| Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 |
Auto Gearhead: Peugeot Citroen have been showing Hybrid4 concepts for three years now and finally the wait is over. The new Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 is here and we've driven it.
UK sales start in November 2011. This is a significant car on numerous counts. It's the first series production diesel-electric hybrid on sale. It's the first time you or I have been able to buy a PSA Hybrid4 vehicle. And, if Paris is to be believed, it may yet revolutionise the way hybrid cars are put together and sold.
Peugeot Hybrid4: a history lesson
A quick recap on the PSA hybrid solution. The French have long championed diesel, and there's been much oh la la and gnashing of teeth to be heard in the corridors of Peugeot Citroen HQ as the world switched on to petrol-electric hybrids, many of them fearsomely expensive, bespoke models with knee-high emissions and sky-high price tags.
PSA, with a lot of help from Bosch, has come up with what it argues is a much simpler system: Hybrid4. It takes an existing combustion-engined model - step forward 3008 - and bolts on a relatively low powered 27kW electrified rear axle. Clever electronics control the interaction between front engine and rear electric motor, with not a single physical link between the axles.
It means that every model in Peugeot Citroen's range can theoretically be hybridised relatively cheaply, at a premium of some £2500-£3500 over a regular cooking petrol or diesel engine. PSA is launching the diesel first (because they're French/because of its inherent 30% mpg benefit), but unleaded hybrids will follow.
Does the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 work well in practice?
First impressions are good. This really is a 'normal' hybrid car. There are no glitzy controls to scare you off, no weird-looking body panels. Your next door neighbours will be hard pushed to tell you're driving a clever-clogs sub-100g/km CO2 car. There's just that niggling doubt over a price tag of £26,995 which seems at odds with the 3008 Hybrid4's populist roots... Cheaper hybrids will follow, engineers assure us.
Step onboard and where you'd normally find the 3008's Grip Control button is a hybrid controller, letting you pick between ZEV for full electric mode (it'll run as a RWD for up to three miles if the battery is full); Auto (where everything is done for you); 4wd (where both axles are powered for better traction in slippery conditions); and Sport (where the automated manual six-speed transmission clings onto gears for longer).
Turn the key to start up and the silence is golden. Progress is smooth, as we pull away in Auto mode. Peugeot has tuned the gearbox to use the electric motor's torque to smoothe off gearchanges and progress is sweeter than in regular 3008's with the jumpy automated manual. Creep forwards and you can indeed drive in EV mode up to around 30mph before the 2.0-litre HDI diesel kicks in. The transitions are smooth and there's no kangarooing to speak of. Don't like the cheap plastic paddles, though, and it's hard to tell which mode you're in as the controller has tiny lights. But initial driving impressions are good.
The 3008 is no powerhouse; that modest rear electric motor is a fifth the power of a Prius's, remember. But you've got that stonking 2.0-litre HDI engine, which rows the chunky - 1660kg - 3008 Hybrid4 along very nicely. Regular 3008 traits remain: a lofty driving position for good visibility (bar some hefty A-pillars), storage spaces galore for family duties, a plump ride, quite agile steering and a slightly fiddly parking brake. You won't see a % power indicator in a regular or garden Pug, though. It's more Rolls-like.
We tested it in 38deg C heat with the air-con blasting away in mainly urban conditions - average speed 23mph - and gobbled diesel at a rate of 49mpg. We'd say that's quite impressive for a large five-seater that can double up as a van. The 3008's loadbay loses around 15% of its space, but you've still got 420 litres, stretching to 1501 if you drop the rear seats.
Just remember you need to pick the base car with 16in wheels if you want the magical 99g/km CO2 figure. At current tax rates, that'd mean you'd be exempt from annual road tax and London congestion charge for life. But the higher-spec Hybrid4 model we tested had 17s and 104g/km. Every digit counts nowadays.
Verdict
We admire the Hybrid4's plug-n-play nature. That you can apply this tech to any car based on the large or mid-sized PF2 or PF3 platforms in the Peugeot Citroen empire is a neat engineering trick. It's a clever way of hybridising large numbers of cars quickly, and a plug-in version with lithium ion batteries and a fourfold increase in ZEV range is coming in 2014.
While we may struggle to call a £27k hybrid affordable, it's obvious PSA has elected to launch the Hybrid4 at the top of the 3008 range. Once it percolates down to smaller engines, we'd wager it'll make more sense to more buyers. (Tim Pollard-First Drives)
Engine : 1997cc four-cylinder TD, 163bhp @ 3750rpm, 221lb ft @ 1580rpm
Transmission : Six-speed automated manual, four-wheel drive
Performance : 8.5sec 0-62mph, 74.4mpg, 104g/km
How heavy : 1660kg/steel
How big (length/width/height in mm) : 4365/2113/1610
Power Steering.
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| Rack and Pinion Type |
Auto Gearhead: Power steering has hydraulic and electric types. Todays, hydraulic power steering is used on almost all car models. Three major components of the power steering is hydraulic vane pump, control valve and power cylinder. To increase driving comfort, most modern cars use wide tires sized and low pressure, which could increase the surface contact area of wheel-to-street. As a result, the required power steering gets heavier.
Power steering can be lowered by lowering the gear ratio steering gear. However, this way will cause rotary motion of the steering wheel when the vehicle becomes more rounded, so it can not do a sharp turn.
To maintain steering and agility, at the same time make the power steering remains light, it takes a kind of steering aids. In other words, power steering, which has been widely used for large vehicles, are now also widely used for small passenger cars.
The Most Popular Car Color 2011
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| Motor Trend Car of the Year: VW Passat |
Results varied in Europe and Asia, though both continents had the same three color choices on top. PPG also conducted an online study of consumer choices regarding paint color, finding that 48 percent of car buyers make choices based on color, and 31 percent are willing to pay extra for a vehicle that expresses their personality through color. At its annual Automotive Color Trend Show, PPG will present ideas for future colors. Have any idea?.
