Friday, February 21, 2014

Die-cast : CMC 1969 Spyder Ferrari 312P

Nouveau CMC Ferrari une re-création magistrale d'une beauté de la course

ferrari1Par 1969 Ferrari avait déjà été embarrassé par Ford et ses GT40 depuis plusieurs années en LeMans et plusieurs autre locaux endurance racing. Aussi avait boycotté il force 1968 sport saison après que ses 4,0 litres 330 P4 a été interdit, après avoir remporté le championnat en 1967.

Donc les espoirs étaient élevés lorsque l'italien fière équipe de course prolongée la Barchetta et mettez des chaussures chaudes ouvrir roue Mario Andretti et Chris Amon dans sa cabine. Ce couloir est basé sur la formule à succès 1 Ferrari, le coureur de 312. Les stands de P pour prototype et derrière le conducteur était de 3,0 litres à aspiration naturelle Ferrari V-12, qui est le cas la nomenclature 312.

Première fois que laisse Andretti mettre la voiture sur le poteau pour 12 heures de Sebring, et il et Amon a réussi à terminer deuxième général, tout d'abord dans la classe. Cette belle 01:18 maquette CMC est ce spécialiste du châssis no 0868. Deux autres araignées 312P ont été faites et couru, l'un d'eux gravement endommagé lors d'un accident et ne jamais revenir à la piste. Quand cette Ferrari est venu à LeMans, son objectif pour le couloir, a décidé de reconfigurer la voiture avec une cabine couverte, pour aérodynamique mieux. CMC offre également ce modèle, le Spyder Berlineta maintenant.

Everything opens and the detail is fantastic, including the brass door hinges.Tout s'ouvre et le détail est fantastique, y compris les charnières en laiton.

Le modèle

Il est difficile de mettre de nombreux superlatifs avec une description de tout modèle de MCC. Cette 312 P est belle dans son exécution de la conception et de détail que CMC offre un modèle qui contient plus de 1 000 pièces, moulé sous pression et en laiton.

Tout d'abord, sa forme et sa Ferrari rouge de sang final sont exquis, en plus du nez que le coureur sort d'exposer le châssis finement détaillées, les radiateurs, les lignes de la suspension avant, cuivre, les tuyaux de freins et le dispositif de refroidissement. Une surprise cependant, les roues sont fixes, non réglable. Cependant, câblage, plomberie et châssis monocoque sont excellents.

Deux ciseaux de portes de style soulever en réalistes deux charnières et exposés aux tunnels de ventilation qui traversait les côtés de la carrosserie d'expulser la chaleur du pneu. Aussi, le corps en acier inoxydable est vu ici en travaillant avec le fascinant regard réaliste et sur le passager côté (même si le passager n'a pas voyagé le long) est un panneau électrique détaillé.

Beautiful in its simplicity is the 312P's interior.Belle dans sa simplicité est à l'intérieur de la 312P.

Avec portes qui facilement voir l'intérieur en cuir rouge avec épaule bleu harnais détaillées et des fermetures de sécurité photo-etched. Levier de la boîte métallique de vitesses et le script sont finement détaillées avec un minimum d'indicateurs de tableau de bord, comme standard à la fois, comme un volant trois branches avec logo cheval Cavallino en son centre.

Derrière la barre de pain noire est le capot arrière géant rotation vers l'avant pour exposer 430 hp V-12 de la Ferrari. Le modèle comprend également une cuillère à soupe d'air géant à cheval sur les en-têtes de métal qui font saillie à travers la couverture arrière de filature. Une petite épingle tenant la cuillère au lieu de cela, un plus pour garder alors qu'il est correctement placé sur l'écran sur votre bureau.

Le moteur est une œuvre d'art avec une série de tuyaux d'échappement blanche méandres à ses côtés et aller à l'extérieur, juste en dessous de la hotte. Tous les de câblage et de plomberie dans le lieu ainsi que de certains principes de l'électroniques et de nombreux détails de suspension est visible. Suspension indépendante avec bras de longueur inégale, ressorts avant et arrière, ainsi que des amortisseurs télescopiques et barres anti-roulis en vedette la 312P.

Gotta love the snakelike white pipes here.J'adore les méandres blanc tubes ici.

Il y a des freins à disque géants, qui peut être exposés en desserrant les écrous des fileuse trois ailes sur chaque roue, qui sont l'un cinq parle conception cheval course or. Tous les pneus rechapés sont et avec le logo de Firestone.

Marques de voitures uniques ne sont pas noirs. 25 dans un cercle blanc dans le capot, toit et portes, ainsi que les armoiries de Ferrari sur le nez et les côtés, juste devant les portes. C'est comment la voiture est apparue lorsqu'il a laissé la maison mobile à Sebring, les autocollants sponsors ont été ajoutés plus tard, mais cette présentation permet à votre beauté extérieure à briller.

Autres détails incluent laiton petits verrous pour portes de bronze et double ouverture des couvercles qui sont exposés à travers la buse de gaz. Tops comprennent également des verrous pour fixer la fermé. Les miroirs aussi deux coureur, bien monté, un dans le nez et l'autre sur les sports aspirants de la côté de porte du passager. Lumières sont également intéressants sous lentilles transparentes avec quatre points d'ancrage.

CMC delivers excellent brake detail behind removable wheels.CMC offre le freinage excellent détail derrière les roues amovibles.

Au total, la 312 P est un autre modèle stellaire par CMC qui continue sa position dominante parmi les fabricants de la fonte de la voiture de modèle haut de gamme.

À $400 + de ce modèle n'est pas pour tout le monde, à l'instar de Ferrari réelle. Mais ces détails qui rend une pièce maîtresse de table fantastique dans une voiture de sport ou l'affichage de Ferrari. Une Ferrari rouge qui était pilotée par Mario, pilote ce qui ne vous aime ?

FAST (statistiques): 1969 Spyder de Ferrari 312P
Fabricant: CMC
Échelle: 01:18
Stock non.: CMC095
Prix de vente conseillé: 419,99 $

CMC gives us a clean pre-qualifying version of Mario Andretti and Chris Amon's 1969 Sebring racer.CMC nous donne une version propre pré de Mario Andretti et Chris Amon admissible 1969 Sebring racer.

Check CMC's chassis detailing under the hood.Vérifier le châssis de la CMC détaillant sous le capot.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Freinage News : Prix Mini annonce un pour son toit de gen III

Mini hardtop, mini cooper, mini cooper models, mini models, mini cooper lineup, savageonwheels.comIci dans le Wisconsin printemps viendra pas assez vite. C'est vraiment ce que je considere chaud à 26 degrés pendant que j'écris ce billet de blog. Woohoo, éclatent les courts métrages. J'aime la marque Mini, parce qu'ils continuent à être consacré à son produit principal tout en trouvant de nouvelles façons d'étendre la marque. Lire plus ici sur les prix pour le troisième hardtop de gen et qui n'est pas nouveau.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

2014 Kia Forte EX

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Common sense Forte also sporty, fun, loaded with goodies
Kia1Kia cranks out another winner with its updated Forte compact sedan, a near sport sedan with a modern sporty look and common sense price tag and performance.

The Forte is stellar in nothing, but good at everything. Such solid execution from a car maker creates the dilemma auto writers despise, precious few nits to pick.

What Forte does well is deliver smooth modern looks and a fairly quiet interior that’ll easily hold four adults while providing comfort, a big trunk and all the amenities of higher priced sport sedans.

A base Forte LX comes with a 1.8-liter I4 that delivers a reasonable 148 horses with a torque rating of 131. Yet the tested metallic blue Forte EX, its top level model, packs a 2.0-liter I4 with direct injection that’s capable of 173 horses and 154 ft.-lbs. or torque. Not monster power to be sure, but sufficient to hurry the car onto a freeway or away from a stoplight.
Putting the power to the pavement is a 6-speed automatic with Sportmatic, which means you can shift manually if you want. Plus the EX adds 17-inch alloy wheels for $300. The base car comes with 15-inch steel wheels. This gives it more rubber and much better looking wheels.

Forte is front-wheel drive and handles well on dry or snowy pavement. Traction was good even in slippery fresh snow conditions and Forte turns into corners well.

Driver’s also get to select the steering effort they prefer. A button on the steering wheel hub allows you to dial in Comfort, Normal or Sport. Comfort delivers a light steering feel that really feels light and easy. Normal firms up the steering effort a bit, but is still enjoyable day to day. Sport makes steering effort much heavier, but it feels more precise. Fun!

Ride is good as Forte has a 106.3-inch wheelbase, right at the size that makes most cars feel more refined, no matter how chippy our roads may be. The MacPherson struts up front along with gas shocks and the rear torsion beam suspension with coil springs is nothing fancy. But they get the job done and keep costs down, no doubt. There also is a stabilizer bar up front.kia2

Stability and traction control are standard along with a hill assist system and four-wheel disc brakes, laudable at this price point.

Forte feels light on its wheels, but stable and easy to control, an easy car to drive and enjoy.

My single performance concern is gas mileage, as the EPA rates this at 24 mpg city and 36 highway. I did about 60% city driving this week and got just 21.8 mpg, a full 2 mpg less than the trip computer estimated. Granted we had fresh snow twice during the drive and several days of 0-15-degree weather. I also only used the Active ECO system once and that’s designed to make the car shift earlier at lower rpm to keep gas consumption down. But the car feels like it’s dawdling with ECO on.

Inside, the test car was fairly quiet and well insulated from road noise. This one added the Premium Package ($2,600) that upgrades the cloth seats that are standard, to leather with perforated butt pocket and back cushion. These were comfy with moderate contouring and the driver’s seat was powered, with a power lumbar and both ventilation and three-level heat. The passenger’s seat also was heated as were the outboard rear seats, also part of the package.

Kia delivers a handsomely styled and easy to use dash and control cluster. The main gauges are black with white numbers and sit under a well sculpted hood to avoid reflections. The dash is textured black with a black carbon fiber-patterned trim around the center stack, which is set in a flat black surround that makes the touch screen and other buttons and dials stand out.

Kia delivers a handsome dash and easy controls for the radio Kia delivers a handsome dash and easy controls for the radio.

Radio channel buttons are large on the touch screen, so easy to use while driving, as are the 10 audio selection buttons below the screen that allow you to dial in the functions or radio bands you’re after. Volume and tuning knobs are moderately sized. I wish most automakers could make their audio systems function this easily.

Forte comes standard with a manual tilt/telescope steering wheel that includes a bunch of buttons on its hub for things like phones, the trip computer, cruise control, radio volume and the steering effort button. A back-up camera also is standard, as are fog lights, and mirrors that fold flat to the doors once you turn off the car and lock it.
Digital devotees will enjoy the UVO eServices telematics in a slide-top cubby in front of the shifter that also has USB and other electronic connections.

Because the test car added that premium package the car also had a button on the dash to heat up the steering wheel, an awesome feature for Wisconsin. The package also adds two seat memory buttons to lock in your favorite driving position, a sunroof, plus push-button start and extra outside lighting, both in the side mirrors to light the pavement next to the car’s doors and a door handle light that lit the dimple around the handle. Both are helpful.

Nice sunroof to brighten up the interior. Nice sunroof to brighten up the interior.

A Technology Package ($2,300) adds Xenon headlights, a navigation system, HD radio, LED taillights and a dual-zone climate control system, which included large dials to help the driver or passenger easily select their preferred heat level. It was quite cold much of the test week and the heat came on relatively quickly, a big plus.

The test car had virtually everything on it that most folks would want, but I would add a flat-bottomed steering wheel that would not only give it a touch more legroom when entering and exiting, but would add a bit more sport to its interior.
On the practical side, the rear seat splits and folds down and the car features a large 14.9 cubic foot trunk. That’s excellent for carrying a family of four’s luggage.

Forte EX starts at $19,400 and with an $800 delivery fee and its options this one hit $25,515. That may seem high, but given all its goodies, the test car was an excellent value.

Comfy seats and good looks are standard in the Forte. Comfy seats and good looks are standard in the Forte.

If that pushes a bit beyond your budget, a base LX with six-speed manual transmission starts at $15,590 and is rated 25 mpg city and 37 mpg highway.

The LX with an automatic lists at $17,400. Included in the price is Kia’s 10-year, 100,000-mile drivetrain warranty, a 5-year and 60,000-mile basic warranty along with roadside assistance program for the same period.

Forte is a good value in many ways, but it’s also a pleasant family sedan with enough of a sporty edge in looks (inside and out) and performance to warrant a serious look.

FAST Stats: 2014 Kia Forte EX

Hits: Sporty looking compact sedan loaded with premium features, such as heated seats, ventilated driver’s seat, heated steering wheel, backup camera, adjustable steering effort. Comfortable well laid out interior, good power and ride with three steering effort levels. Big trunk for hauling too.
Misses: Not much, but I wish it had a flat-bottomed steering wheel and gas mileage wasn’t as good as you’d think, or EPA estimates.
Made in: South Korea
Engine: 2.0-liter, GDI I4, 173 hp
Transmission: 6-speed automatic W/Sportmatic
Weight: 2,837 lbs.
Wheelbase: 106.3 in.
Cargo: 14.9 cu.ft.
MPG: 24/36
Base Price: $19,400
Dealer’s Price: $18,400
Major Options:
Premium package (sunroof, leather seat trim, power driver’s seat w/memory and ventilated, heated front seats, heated outer rear seats, push button start, heated steering wheel, auto-dimming mirror w/Homelink, front door handle lights, outside mirror puddle lights, engine immobilizer), $2,600
17-inch alloy wheels, $300
EX technology package (Xenon headlights, dual-zone climate control, navigation w/Sirius traffic, HD radio, Supervision meter cluster w/4.2-inch color LCD, LED taillights), $2,300
Carpeted floor mats, $115
Delivery: $800
Test vehicle: $25,515
Sources: Kia, http://www.autos.yahoo.com
Photos: Courtesy of Kia

10 worst used cars

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Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Chasing classic cars: a multi-million dollar Corvette

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Yahoo Autos Yahoo Autos

I’m betting that myself and anybody who reads this post is not rolling in the dough. If you are, share the love:) I love watching the car auctions to not only see all the cars being auctioned off but also see the ones that go for huuuuuugh money. At a recent Barrett-Jackson auction rare cars went for big bucks. I mean they were throwing all kinds of money around like on this Corvette which only 20 were made. Read on.

Freinage News : Subaru Legacy a révélé au salon de l'Auto de Chicago

C'était ma première fois au salon de l'Auto de Chicago dans plus de 30 ans et ma première fois en tant que membre des médias. Traditionnellement, le jeudi est le jour que les entreprises révèlent leurs voitures neuves. Il y avait plusieurs, mais de loin le meilleur était Subaru pour son héritage de 2015. Wow ! Cliquez sur l'image ci-dessous. Nous aurons bientôt plus de vidéos vers le haut.

subaru legacy, 2015 subaru legacy, chicago auto show, auto show reveals

Monday, February 17, 2014

Nouvelle tête de GM veut accélérer le développement de produits

Rebecca Cook/ReutersRebecca Cook/Reuters

C'était une déclaration dans une interview avec le New York Times qui a été heurté par le nouveau chef de GM Mary Barra au salon de l'Auto de Detroit. J'aime son attitude et le fait que GM a fait leur habituelle grâce à l'embauche d'une personne, la Banque ou l'investissement. Je pense que vous le ferez bien. Continuer la lecture.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Freinage News : 2015 Subaru Legacy

subaru legacy, 2015 subaru legacy, subaru, subaru cars, subaru automobiles, savageonwheels.com, chicago auto show.Subaru apparemment pas ou peut-être voulu faire un zoom sur son héritage de 2015, basé sur le modèle conceptuel présenté ci-dessous. Plans d'espionnage dans le monde. L'introduction officielle arrivera au salon qui se déroule du 8 au 17 février. La seule information qui sont prêts à payer en ce moment, c'est que l'héritage plus récent sera plus sportive et plus stylisé que le modèle sortant. Lire la suite ici.

chicago-auto-show-logoBTW, Mark et moi nous serons au salon de l'Auto de Chicago Voir toutes les nouveautés de la semaine prochaine. Je ne peux pas attendre ! Comme un enfant dans un magasin de bonbons. Zut, quelques blogs à ce sujet me passionne. Paul facile, prenez une grande respiration, ne pas être distrait. Suivez ici et nous allons ajouter vidéos sur notre chaîne YouTube.

Wienermobile for a day

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Oscar Mayer WienermobileThe first version was created in 1936 by Oscar Mayer’s nephew, Carl G. Mayer, and variants are still used by the Oscar Mayer company today. I’ve always thought it would be cool to ride in one. Even better for a whole day. Boy would I show this off. Oscar Mayer has created a way for that to happen. Read on.

It’s a car, it’s a boat, no it’s the Amphicar

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My regular blog followers already know this about me so for the first timers, I really like unusual cars. Maybe part of the reason I owned an AMC amphicar, Amphibious Vehicles, savageonwheels.com, collector cars, classic carsPacer. Stop laughing, I really did. Maybe that’s also why I like the Amphicar. So my aunt and uncle live on Kelly Lake, about 30 minutes west of Green Bay, and told me about this guy who had this car that was also a boat, or a boat which was also a car. Being in TV at the time, I called the guy, set up a time and off I went with a photographer.

Designed by by Hans Trippel and built in Germany, production started in 1961. The company set a goal of 20,000 units per year based on the then booming American leisure market. Hans make potential customers aware of the new car and in 1962 he got it. His Amphicar set sail across the often-turbulent English Channel from France to Britain. Slam dunk on this right? It naturally captured the attention of both car and boating enthusiasts all over the world. He got the U.S. market’s attention because around 3,000 units of the the 4,oo0 total produced were sold because of it.

Powered by a Triumph four-cylinder engine of 1147 cc, 8.0 compression ratio, rated at 38.3 bhp., used a Porsche gearbox, just over 14 feet long, five feet long, and had a 13 gallon gas tank. Guess you didn’t plan any long trips. In the water the owner used the steering wheel to turn the car instead of a rudder like you’d find on a boat. Compared to most boats or cars, its performance was modest. It got about 32 mpg on land and about 1.5 gallons per hour in the water.

amphicar channel crossingBasically it’s a boat with wheels hung on it. The hull is all sealed up, and the two doors have rubber seals around their edges that press against seals on the door frames when the doors are shut, they form a watertight seal. Once the doors are shut along with the hood and the bilge plug are both secured, you just drive down to the water’s edge, put the transmission in neutral, engage the dual propellers of the water drive with the smaller stick shift on the floor and off you go. Kind of freaky for first time riders. In fact former president LBJ owned an Amphicar and loved the reaction. That’s LBJ’s car on the left.

A couple of reasons, one because it would leak, was made of steel so was prone to rust, noisy, and the profit margin on the car was too low. The west coast port-of-entry price in 1967 was only a little more than $3,000, twice the cost of a VW Beetle. Production ended in 1968.

There are collector clubs and very devoted members. “United We Float, Divided We Sink” has been the motto of Amphicar enthusiasts for a long time. They seem to be a fun bunch. During the fourth week in July, Amphicar owners convene at Grand Lake St. Marys in western Ohio. These events, amphicar channel crossingand similar ones nationwide, are called “swim-ins”. Pretty excited about this little car……yup, I see you shaking your head, yes? I went to Hemmings and found this ride. Love the seller’s opening line in the ad “Up for sail is a nicely sorted Amphicar. Runs and swims well”. While this one is priced at $55,000, the average price is around 32 grand. Nope, didn’t forget the video. Click on the image and come along for a ride or sail.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Freinage News : 2015 Mustang au Chicago Auto Show

Si ce n'est pas le cas, il doit être étroite. Il s'agit de notre première fois voir la personne 2015 Edition. Il a été construit à 50 ans de la Mustang, des facteurs spéciaux a agrégats frais. Regarder la vidéo.

2015 ford mustang, 2015 mustang, chicago auto show, new mustang, savageonwheels.com

Smoking hot cars at the Detroit Auto Show

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Automotive News Automotive News

Are you watching coverage from the Detroit Auto Show? If not, you’re missing some of the coolest concept cars like the Toyota FT-1, Kia GT Stinger, and 2015 Corvette Z06. Boy if these cars don’t get your heart pumping! Mark and I can’t wait for Chicago!

Friday, February 14, 2014

2014 Lexus RX 450 h

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H = hybrid in luxurious 450h crossover for a smooth quiet cruiser
lex450Lexus makes quiet, comfortable and reliable vehicles as well, if not better, than most car makers and its RX crossover has been a hit for years, being an early entry into the crossover, or tall wagon, market.

Certainly Lexus does nothing to embarrass itself with its latest RX iteration, and this was the 450h, which means it’s a hybrid. That translates to better gas mileage and quiet startup and running. But then all of the RX models are quiet as a church on a snowy Sunday morning.

Yet quietness is just one of the RX 450h’s virtues.

The metallic tan (satin cashmere metal is what Lexus calls it) test vehicle delivered good gas mileage with its hybrid assist system and in both Normal and Sport mode it accelerates well. Steering effort is moderate and handling is smooth and linear so you always feel in control.

A seamless all-wheel-drive system keeps it well planted even in heavy snow. I had this during a pre-Christmas snowstorm and traction was excellent.

Under the hybrid’s hood is Lexus’s proven 3.5-liter V6 that features variable valve timing and is backed up by a hybrid battery system that combined gives the RX a substantial 295 horses. There are three driving modes, with Normal and Sport allowing all those ponies to be used, although you’ll likely burn more gas. The ECO mode, which I used for several days, delivers lame low-end power. You creep, although smoothly, away from stoplights.

The hybrid uses an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission with an intelligence feature that helps it understand your power needs and driving habits. This system gives it an infinite amount of gear ratios, allowing the crossover to accelerate as efficiently as possible. It’s incredibly smooth, but again, most of us will prefer anything but the ECO mode.lex450 1

Lexus says the RX will pull 3,500 pounds, with the proper towing package. Note too that there are several other trims, with the base RX350 two-wheel-drive model featuring a silky 6-speed automatic and coaxing 270 horses solely from the 3.5-liter V6.

Braking is quite good too, with 12.9-inch vented front discs up front and solid rear disc brakes. Anti-skid and traction control systems also are standard.
I was surprised that I wasn’t as happy with the RX’s ride as in previous models, but I did have this in winter when frost heaves are more prevalent, and when all things mechanical stiffen up. A few days featured temps in the 5-15 degree range.

Whatever the reasons, the RX rode decidedly rough over bumps, such as raised seams and frost heaves. It handled pot holes and other road indentations well with its independent suspension all around and a double-wishbone rear system.

Inside, comfort was king, in all but one way.

The black leather interior, part of a $3,060 premium package, was stylish and comfortable, and of course, quiet.

lex450 int Lexus creates quiet and stylish interiors that feature real wood trim, like this in the RX.

Its attractive dash was simple to see and figure out quickly. It looked great, with a matte silver surround on the center stack and bamboo trim on the door armrests, center console, plus a bamboo and leather steering wheel and shift knob, part of that premium package. The bamboo is a light tan that really gives this interior a unique sophisticated look.

Seats are another Lexus strong point and these are extremely cozy and supportive, both front and rear. They’re well shaped and feature soft leather that makes long rides easy. Step-up is moderate for the RX making access easy and the rear seats split and fold flat for good longer cargo storage. Even with the seats up though there is ample room for a family’s luggage.

Yet I found two drawbacks here.

One, those rear seatbacks are mighty heavy to fold back up after they’ve been lowered. This is a grownup’s job.

Two, but more important in our climate, the front seats are not heated. I was shocked by that in a crossover with a list price of $47,810 and once it was loaded with a few option packages this one hit $55,550. Unthinkable that heated seats would not be standard, or part of the premium package. Instead, heated and cooled seats are a separate $640 option.

Ironically a week earlier I’d driven a $25,000 Kia Forte that featured heated seats and a heated steering wheel. Lexus may want to reconsider its content on the upscale hybrid model.

Yet there is a power rear hatch and power tilt/telescope steering wheel along with exterior mirror lights that are activated as you approach the vehicle to help ease entry at night.lex450 int2

The test crossover also included a $995 Mark Levinson surround sound system with 15 speakers, which was truly memorable. A $2,775 navigation package included the nav system with voice command, a backup camera and Lexus Enform system to help link you up electronically with all your various mobile devices and gives you Sirius satellite radio and traffic and weather alerts for a year.

The previously mentioned premium package not only adds leather seating and the gorgeous bamboo trim, it adds power folding heated outside mirrors, a 3-memory setting driver’s seat and a sunroof. Most importantly it gives you a blind-spot monitoring system in the exterior mirrors. This alerts you to vehicles in your crossover’s blind spots to prevent fender benders.

One other interior concern remains the Lexus radio system. It runs on the nav screen, but you must use a console-mounted mouse to access radio stations. There are no memory buttons on the screen or dash, so dialing in a station takes a couple steps, awkward to use while driving.

Otherwise the interior and driving ability of the hybrid RX is reflective of its price tag. Gas mileage, a key component of any hybrid buying decision, is better than your average gas-powered mid-size crossover with AWD.

lex450 2I got 23.5 mpg, 2 mpg less than the computers indicated. The EPA rates this at 30 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. About 60 to 70% of my driving was city.
By comparison the base RX350 with front-drive gets 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. It lists at $39,760 and going to AWD bumps that to $41,160.

Your call on the hybrid portion, but the RX remains a family friendly, comfortable and quiet crossover with good utility, especially with its AWD system.

FAST Stats: 2014 Lexus RX 450h

Hits: Reliable crossover with hybrid power that extends gas mileage, comfortable, super quiet and stylish interior, power hatch and rearview camera. Easy handling and all-wheel drive helps in snow.
Misses: No heated seats or steering wheel at $55 grand. Ride is stiff on bumps and hybrid has poor acceleration in ECO mode.
Made in: Japan
Engine: 3.5-liter V6 w/front electric drive motors w/hybrid drive, 295 hp
Transmission: ECVT-i
Weight: 4,652 lbs.
Wheelbase 107.9 in.
Cargo: 40.0 cu.ft.
Tow: 3,500 lbs.
MPG: 30/28
Base Price: $47,810
Dealer’s Price: $44,941
Major Options:
Mark Levinson premium surround sound system w/15 speakers, $995
Navigation system w/voice command, backup camera, Lexus Enform w/destination assist, edestination + Sirius NavTraffic, NavWeather, etc., $2,775
Premium package (leather trim, blind-spot monitor system, bamboo interior trim/steering wheel, moonroof, power folding auto-dimming heated outside mirrors, 3-memory driver’s seat), $3,060
Delivery: $910
Test vehicle: $55,550
Sources: Lexus, http://www.autos.yahoo.com
Photos: Courtesy of Lexus

2014 Toyota Corolla S Premium

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Simplicity, reliability, economy = Corolla

toyo1Our family owned a Toyota Corolla in the 1980s and it’s on that generation of Corolla’s reputation that Toyota has built its automotive empire.

Simplicity, reliability and economy were the building blocks and the revamped 2014 Corolla appears to continue that corporate line of thinking. There are no surprises here, except maybe that the compact sedan’s interior has been improved in look and feel, and its exterior rounded a bit more and given a sportier nose.

Beyond that, if you own the last generation Corolla you’ll feel the new one is much the same in ride and performance. It is a tad surprising that the ride did not improve more as the 2014 model’s wheelbase grows nearly 4 inches to 106.3 inches. That’s where most cars and crossovers begin to exhibit a more refined ride. This still feels like a small car.

Ironically too, this is about the size that Toyota Camrys, Honda Accords and Mazda 6 sedans were, just a few years back. All the compacts are growing in every dimension attempting to keep up with the expanding size of U.S. drivers. s plan in Mississippi, but some models also will be shipped over the border from Canada. Reportedly no Corollas will be imported from Japan.

My test car was the sportier S model, in fact the S Premium with a starting price of $20,400. It was an attractive metallic blue, something Toyota calls Blue Crush Metallic, with black leather interior, which is standard on the S model.
A base Corolla L still starts at a more modest $17,610, including destination charges and comes with a four-speed automatic, pretty old school.toyo2

The S came with Toyota’s new CVT, a continuously variable transmission with paddle shifters behind the wheel that allow you to shift through simulated gears, giving the car more oomph. It needed it, but only in standard ECO mode, which the car defaults to every time it’s started.

In ECO mode the 1.8-liter I4 with intelligent variable valve timing feels puny. It makes 132 horsepower, about the same as my 13-year-old Camry that is similar in size. Yet the torque feels much less aggressive as the CVT is programmed to slowly ramp the sedan up to speed, reducing gas consumption.

Press the Sport button on the console and the Corolla jumps to life, the CVT shifting more aggressively and helping the car pull away from stoplights with more vigor. In ECO mode you’ll get stares (or worse) from drivers who pull out and around you wondering if perhaps Grandma Moses is at the wheel.

You could opt for the Corolla S Plus that has a 6-speed manual transmission to allow you to use the car’s power to better advantage. It’s rated at 28 mpg city and 37 mpg highway, while the tested S with CVT earns a slightly better 29 mpg city rating and the same 37 for the highway.

In a week of cold weather driving, I got 26.6 mpg in about 60% city driving, but had done better with a 2013 model tested last year. An LE Eco model retunes the engine to create 140 horses, but links up with a CVT to get a 42 mpg highway rating. It also rides on thinner 15-inch tires. The tested S model has 17-inchers.

Handling is good though as the car feels relatively light at 2,865 lbs., and steering effort is moderate. The car corners well and remains stable. It’s not sporty though, and I’d like to see the precision, especially in the S model, brought to a higher level. Toyota might want to study the Mazda3 or Ford Focus.

Ride, as I implied earlier, is more small-car like than expected. Toyota says it has slightly improved the rear suspension from the previous model, but all the designs remain basically as they have been for years in the Corolla, MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam in back.

Braking is fine with four wheel disc brakes. Lower level Corollas still feature drum rear brakes while many car makers have upgraded their smaller sedans to include discs front and rear.

toyo3Inside, the new Corolla really looks and feels more upscale than its predecessor. The black leather seats feature gray stitching and the black textured dash is stylishly flat with matte silver and gloss black trim across it, and the doors. The look extends to the center stack and trim around the shift lever on the console.

Gauges are simple with a round tach and speedo and digital trip computer info between them. These gauges have blue rings behind the white numbers and are easy to see day or night. All the buttons and dials are well arranged for easy use too, the climate control dial being large along with the directional buttons.

The one kink here is the 6.1-inch digital touch-screen that houses the radio and navigation. The small radio channel buttons are way too tiny and tough to use while driving. Often I would tap the wrong channel button, OR, even more annoying, the radio would scroll the channel selections (36 allowed) up or down. It’s virtually impossible to use this while wearing a glove, something many of us Midwesterners find ourselves doing 4-5 months of the year. On the plus side, the S comes with a back-up camera that operates through the screen.

Like the blue rings behind the dash gauges. Makes them easy to see at night. Like the blue rings behind the dash gauges. Makes them easy to see at night.

Seating though is much improved from the last Corolla. These are comfortable and well contoured with the driver’s seat being powered. The S model also adds two-level heated front seats, run by buttons low on the center stack.

A plus for families, legroom has increased dramatically in back, about 5 inches. In fact legroom is reportedly better in the Corolla than in the Camry. For the record, the Corolla is nearly 3 inches longer than the previous model, but still 6.6 inches shorter than a Camry.

The rear seats split and fold down to increase cargo room, already a generous 13.0 cubic feet in the trunk. Note though that the seat back releases have been moved toward the center of the seat backs, so require a bit more of a reach to release.
My test car added a driver convenience package that gives the car a smart key w/push button start, adds the Entune premium audio system with CD & MP3 hookups along with 6 speakers, an auxiliary audio jack, USB port, hands-free phone capability and Bluetooth wireless along with an HD radio. That costs $1,510.

Another addition was a power sunroof for $850. Sadly while the roof slides, the sun visors do not, so blocking side sun can be precarious in winter when the sun assumes a low angle.

Bottom line? Add an $810 delivery charge and the S Premium model comes in at $23,570, a relatively moderate price considering the leather interior, back-up camera, larger tires and audio upgrades. Corolla is still available in a variety of trims for less than $20 grand, and that’s a big plus when you’re looking for simple, reliable wheels for the family.
But let’s be honest, there are a lot of worthy competitors these days, so shop wisely.

FAST Stats: 2014 Toyota Corolla S Premium
Hits: Sportier profile and styling, OK handling and good gas mileage. Stylish interior with good dash layout, well contoured seats with heated front seats, backup camera, big trunk.

Misses: Tiny hard-to-press touch-screen radio buttons, sun visors don’t slide, extremely low power in ECO mode and steering needs to be firmed up and ride smoothed more.

Made in: Mississippi or Canada
Engine: 1.8-liter, VVT-i I4, 132 hp
Transmission: CVT w/Sport mode
Weight: 2,865 lbs.
Wheelbase: 106.3 in.
Cargo: 13.0 cu.ft.
MPG: 29/37
Base Price: $20,400
Dealer’s Price: $18,889
Major Options:
Driver convenience package (Smart key w/push button start, Entune premium audio w/navigation, CD & MP3, 6 speakers, auxiliary audio jack, USB port w/iPod connectivity, hands-free phone capability, Bluetooth wireless, 6.1-inch hi-res touch screen, HD radio w/Traffic & Weather, Sirius XM radio), $1,510
Power sunroof, $850
Delivery: $810
Test vehicle: $23,570
Sources: Toyota, http://www.autos.yahoo.com
Photos: Courtesy of Toyota

Thursday, February 13, 2014

News de freinage : annonces de bol automotive

Super_Bowl_XLVIII_logoPayer une crapfull d'argent pour acheter des annonces dans le Super Bowl et à 4 millions $ et il a un, peut-être deux coups de feu à capter l'attention des téléspectateurs. Cette année Audi, CarMax, Jaguar, Kia, Hyundia, Toyota et VW tout balancer à la clôture. Vérifiez-les avant du temps. Mes favoris :

Audi - Doberhuahua : qui n'aime pas les chiens ?

KIA - la vérité : Laurence Fishburne reprend son rôle de Morpheus dans la matrice

Toyota Highlander : Croix agréable avec les Muppets. J'aime le meilleur deuxième.

VW : Les deux annonces sont mignons.