2008 Honda Fit

The Fit belongs to a class—basic transportation—that we once acknowledged with a patronizing pat on the head but now take more seriously. There are two reasons for this. The first is obvious: Soaring fuel costs and environmental concerns are making small cars increasingly popular. The second is not so obvious: Basic transportation no longer means deprivation. Not only does the Honda Fit deliver what you’d expect—high mpg numbers and low ownership costs—but it also delivers something you might not: high-quality interior appointments, a high level of usefulness, and a high fun-to-drive index.

The Fit scores well in those areas of unexpectedness. There seems to be more room inside this car than the tidy exterior could possibly contain, the seats flop and fold to yield great cargo versatility, and the interior appointments would do justice to an Accord.

But it’s the Fit’s agility and terrier spirit that win our hearts. With 109 horsepower, blazing acceleration isn’t part of the deal, but it’s worth noting that the Fit posted an astonishing speed in our lane-change test (71.4 mph), outhustling pedigreed athletes such as a Ferrari F430 Spider F1, and topped a seven-car comparison.

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 5-door wagon
BASE PRICE: $14,585
ENGINE TYPE: SOHC 16-valve 1.5-liter inline-4
Power (SAE net): 109 bhp @ 5800 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 105 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
TRANSMISSIONS: 5-speed auto, 5-speed auto with manumatic shifting, 5-speed manual
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 96.5 in
Length: 157.4 in
Width: 66.2 in
Height: 60.0 in
Curb weight: 2500–2550 lb

First Drive 2008 Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet

Nothing turns heads like a sexy convertible wearing Pininfarina badges on its flanks. The Italian design firm is world famous for creating pulse-quickening exotic cars such as the Ferrari 599GTB Fiorano and Maserati GranTurismo. However, the Pininfarina-badged droptop we recently took for a spin proudly wears a blue oval in the center of its grille. The Ford Focus coupe-cabriolet is designed and built by Pininfarina at its factory in Turin, Italy, at a rate of roughly 20,000 per year.

It might not have a prancing horse or trident on its hood, but the Focus is hardly a shrinking violet when it comes to drawing attention. As we drove through posh Parisian neighborhoods—where any other Ford would be considered so déclassé—the coupe-cabriolet got plenty of admiring glances.

Interesting Design
The front end is filled with four large grilles, a pair of fog lights, and just the right amount of chrome to be tasteful but not tarty. A bold crease flows up from the headlights and hood before working its way to the C-pillar and over the trunk. Aggressive wheel-arch blisters add visual muscle without making the car look steroidal.

Driven at six-tenths and keeping wheels firmly on the pavement, the coupe-cabriolet is a relaxed, refined ride. One reason for this composure came about purely by chance, when Ford France was unable to provide us a coupe-cabriolet with the 143-hp, 2.0-liter Duratec inline-four. The company suggested we try the turbocharged 2.0-liter Duratorq diesel. A diesel-powered convertible? We had images of the Italian-chic Ford rattling and wheezing down the road like an asthmatic Fiat Panda. As it turned out, our worries were unfounded. With 134 horsepower at 4000 rpm and 236 pound-feet of torque at only 2000 rpm, the diesel makes easy work of stop-and-start city traffic and revs lazily at highway speeds. A short dip into the throttle at 50 mph, and suddenly the Ford lunges ahead as though a small V-6 were under the hood. Other than some valve clatter at idle, the torque-rich turbo-diesel proved a perfect match for the car.

© Source: caranddriver

2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata

So effortlessly does the MX-5 respond to your steering inputs that you can guide the car along the most writhing road at breakneck speeds without effort or even apparent thought. This connection between the driver’s brain and the MX-5 is replicated in the car’s throttle response, braking feel, and transmission, which benefits from one of the most direct shifters on the planet. It all makes for an immensely satisfying drive and proves that a car doesn’t need pavement-wrinkling horsepower to deliver driving enjoyment.

This motorized pleasure is accessible to all because the Mazda MX-5 starts at about $21,000 and is surprisingly practical for a sporting roadster. It has a trunk that provides room for a pair of soft duffels and is uncompromised by the position of the convertible top. The standard manual top is the easiest to use in the industry, completely operable from the driver’s seat, and the optional folding hardtop is a model of compactness and light weight.

It adds up to a car that is not only irresistible to anyone who likes to drive but can also put a smile on your face on your daily commute.

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door roadster
BASE PRICE: $21,180–$27,355
ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter inline-4
Power (SAE net): 158–166 bhp @ 6700 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 140 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm
TRANSMISSIONS: 6-speed auto with manumatic shifting, 5- or 6-speed manual
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 91.7 in
Length: 157.3 in
Width: 67.7 in
Height: 49.0–49.4 in
Curb weight: 2400–2550 lb

Nissan Releases New Serena Minivan

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced the release of the new Serena minivan, which goes on sale at Nissan dealers throughout Japan. The new Serena, which has been highly acclaimed by customers for its class-leading interior roominess, excellent outward visibility, flexible seating configurations and driving ease, features revised exterior and interior styling, leading technology features and a new model lineup.

Marketed under the tagline "SHIFT_family ties," the Serena has been the top-selling minivan(*1) in the Japanese market in terms of cumulative sales for the first eleven months of 2007.

New Exterior Styling

Serena’s exterior styling has been enhanced with a more distinctive and modern front end design, including a new grille, new headlights, front bumper and fenders. The Highway Star model also features more dynamic front-end styling, with even stronger character lines.

Other exterior improvements include remote-controlled power-folding body-colored outside mirrors incorporating turn signal lamps on all models, redesigned wheel covers on the 20S model and the addition of AFS to bi-xenon headlamps as standard on the Highway Star model, and optional on all other models.

These additions improve upon an already highly practical and stylish minivan, with large side sliding doors and low floor height for easy entry and exit, standard sliding door automatic closing feature on both sides of all models and on the 20G model, standard remote-controlled automatic sliding side doors.

Eight body colors are available on the new Serena, including three new colors – a metallic Kingfisher Blue, a pearlescent Rose Red and a pearl metallic Cool Iron.
Revised Interior Amenities

Serena’s large interior provides ample legroom and headroom for comfortable long-distance travel and a cargo area that can easily accommodate large leisure equipment. Most notable about Serena’s interior is its versatility, with seats that are adjustable to 11 different positions and third-row seats that utilize assist springs for simple, easy operation.

The new Serena features a variety of interior enhancements, including revised instrument panel with standard Fine Vision instrumentation and new interior trim.

Special attention was paid to the new Serena’s seats, which feature new front- and second-row head restraints and Seat cushions, new Seat fabric, including the adoption of ATO-GUARD®(*4) treated Seat covers standard on the 20G model. Water-repellent fine velour Seat covers are available in a set with the personal table on the 20S and 20G models. Two types of seats are available.
Leading Technology, Comfort and Convenience Features

New available Serena technology equipment includes Nissan's advanced Around View Monitor(*2), a technology that is offered together in a set with the CARWINGS navigation system as a factory-installed option on the 20G and Highway Star models. The Around View Monitor combines with the wide outward view provided by Serena’s large glass areas, making Serena even easier to maneuver in tight situations.

Also new is an intelligent air-conditioning system which incorporates a one-touch automatic clean air filtering function, standard on the G20 and optional on other models.

Additional technical enhancements include an exclusive suspension system on the Highway Star model for more stable handling and improved ride comfort. A new Active Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) is also standard on the Highway Star model.
Environmental and Fuel Efficiency

The new Serena’s powerplant was designed with environmental efficiency in mind. To that end, it has been confirmed under the recently adopted Japan's JC08 mode(*3) that all two-wheel drive Serena models emit 75% fewer nitrogen oxides (NOx) and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) than the levels required under Japan's 2005 exhaust emission regulations. Four-wheel drive models also attain the same reduced emission levels under the 10-15+11 test mode.

Fuel economy for the two-wheel drive models has been clarified to closely match actual fuel consumption in real-world driving conditions, through tests conducted JC08 test mode, as well as on conventional 10-15 test mode data. To assist Serena drivers in matching those numbers, all models feature a new fuel consumption display function added to the liquid crystal display odometer and twin trip meter.
Pricing and Sales

Price range: 2,131,500 to 2,709,000, including consumption tax
Sales target: 5,800 units/month

Nissan Grand Lavinia introduced in Malaysia

Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) launched today the all-new Nissan Grand Livina, one of a family of new global models from the company.

The Grand Livina is a mid-size 7-seater MPV, designed and engineered in the Nissan Technical Center in Atsugi, Japan, first introduced in China in 2006 followed by Indonesia, Taiwan & South Africa this year.

Aside from its elegant and modern design coupled with its luxurious and versatile interior, the Grand Livina provides a sedan-like ride, comfort and handling that is unparalleled in this class of mid-size MPVs - hence it's communication tagline, "Drive's Like A Sedan, Fits Like A MPV". The Grand Livina also comes with new generation Nissan engines that offer brisk performance coupled with exceptional fuel economy to meet the needs of Malaysian drivers.

Using a monocoque body structure, the Grand Livina is powered by either a 1.8L MR engine or 1.6L HR engine with CVTC (continuously variable valve timing control) for improved performance and fuel efficiency. The 1.8L model comes with the choice of a four-speed automatic transmission while the 1.6L version is equipped with either a four-speed automatic transmission or five-speed manual transmission.

Price range : On-the-road prices (inclusive of insurance, road tax, registration fee and ownership claim fee) valid for Peninsular Malaysia will be from RM82,800 to RM95,300 (from USD 24,800 to USD 28,600).

In Malaysia, the Grand Livina is assembled at the Serendah plant of Tan Chong Motor Assemblies Sdn. Bhd.(TCMA). This new facility started production from August, 2007. TCMA invested 67 million US dollars for the new plant and has fully implemented the Nissan Production Way (NPW) which is Nissan’s international standard for global quality manufacturing and vehicle assembly.

“Today, we are very excited to introduce the 1st non-national CKD medium-size MPV in the 1.6 Liter & 1.8 Liter segment. We aim to capture 15% of the total MPV market with the Grand Livina and, in all, the Grand Livina is expected to contribute to as much as 30% of ETCM’s total sales,” said Dato’ DR Ang Bon Beng, Executive Director of Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd. “Grand Livina provides sedan-intenders an alternative choice for a high-quality and modern design with spacious and flexible seating.”

With momentum in new markets, Nissan plans to introduce this new family of global vehicles to more countries. During 2008, the Grand Livina will be introduced in the Philippines and the Livina into Indonesia. For each of those markets, the vehicles will be manufactured locally.

2004 Hummer H1

2004 HUMMER H1: ONE OF A KIND
"Unique." "The original." "The world's premier off-road vehicle." There are many ways to describe the HUMMER H1. Also fitting is "cornerstone," since it's the foundation upon which the HUMMER sales growth is built.

"The H1 is what started it all for HUMMER," said Michael C. DiGiovanni, HUMMER general manager. "It's the vehicle that drew the interest of adventurous consumers across the nation, as well as the interest of GM. It offers superior off-road capabilities rugged enough for the Baja and powerful highway performance."

More power and plenty of poise
HUMMER H1 is powered by a retuned 6.5L, turbo-diesel V-8 engine that for 2004 delivers 205 horsepower (152 kw) at 3400 rpm and an impressive 440 lb.-ft. (596 Nm) of torque at 1800 rpm. That's 10 horsepower (7 kw) and 10 lb.-ft. (14 Nm) of torque more than the 2003 powerplant. Yet enhanced performance is only part of the engine's story. The retuning also enables the 6500 to meet the more stringent emission requirements starting in 2004. It's mated to GM's Hydra-Matic 4L80-E electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission. Over time, this transmission monitors the customer's driving technique and adjusts for driving style. The New Venture Gear Model 242 transfer case enables the driver to customize the drivetrain configurations to match virtually any terrain.

H1 has a four-wheel fully independent suspension system and variable-rate heavy-duty coil springs. The front suspension incorporates a large stabilizer bar to improve handling and reduce sway when cornering. The truck's four-channel ABS four-wheel power disc brakes are mounted inboard as a component of the axle assembly, making them less vulnerable to damage than conventional wheel-mounted components.

"There's still nothing else on the road today with the panache of the H1," said DiGiovanni. "No other SUV can match its off-road capability and no other SUV - and very few vehicles in general - have the attention-grabbing styling of the H1. It remains the foundation upon which to build the HUMMER future."

Rinspeed sQuba Concept Car features dive and drive

Mover Q your amphibious car designs are redundant, maybe they were good enough for the previous spies but the next-gen demands a more synced-up version. In case you need to take pointers, make sure you are there at the Geneva Motor Show (March 6th thru 16th, 2008), where Swiss design company Rinspeed will showcase their sQuba Concept Car. The makers claim that it is the world's first real diving car. And if its aquatic feats were not enough, the car can (at the push of a button) drive autonomously. It can dive to the depth of up to 10 meters (33 feet).

The "sQuba" fulfills Rinspeed's boss Frank M. Rinderknecht long cherished dream of creating something that marries fictitious movie concepts to reality. Thus taking inspiration from "The spy who loved me", sQuba features an electric motor with powerful torque that drives the rear wheels. The thrust on the water is ensured by two propellers in the stern and two powerful jet drives in the bow propel the vehicle under water while diving. The car promises zero emissions thus zero pollution to the water. The light weight body with components made of futuristic Carbon Nano Tubes encloses in a streamlined manner the driver and passenger who are supplied with fresh breathing air by the self-contained on-board system. Rinspeed sQuba Concept Car is a one-off car. No commercial production is planned.