Friday, January 7, 2011

New Study states Driving a Convertible could Damage your Hearing

Driving a convertible car with the top down exemplifies the high life but feeling the wind in your hair could mean going deaf, experts have warned. The study examined noise levels in a handful of drop tops, like the Porsche 911, Nissan 350Z and Saab Aero and found that sound levels regularly exceeded the recommended work safety level of 85 decibels. Occasional spikes in noise levels due to increased speed or passing trucks pushed the sound to 90 db and above.
Drivers were warned to keep their hood up for long journeys or advised to don earplugs if they insisted on leaving the top down. The study, published in the Journal of Laryngology and Otology, also found that convertible drivers risked their hearing by turning up their radios while driving with the top down. It also advises that motorists keep the top up if the journey will be long and speeds will exceed 52 miles per hour.

Cadillac considering mid-engine sports car?

General Motors' Cadillac brand was said to be working on a new flagship, rear-wheel drive sedan to take on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7-Series, but a new report suggest GM could be taking the project in an entirely new direction.
While an S-Class rivaling sedan is still on the table, Cadillac is considering a few other options, including a Maybach-like highway cruiser, a four-door coupe not unlike the Mercedes CLS, a large coupe that would take on the Mercedes CL and, perhaps most interesting, a mid-engine sports car.
According to Car and Driver, GM execs are still high on the idea of a mid-engine sports car for Cadillac. The division first toyed with the idea with the Cien concept.
A production version of the CIen would give Cadillac an answer for the Mercedes SLS and Audi R8, but would require the development of a unique – and expensive – mid-engine platform. However, rumors of a mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette have been floating around for years, which could help spread out some of the development costs.
But even with some platform sharing, the Cadillac model would still command a price of at least $150,000. No decision on the project has been made, but one is expected by mid year.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Hyundai to bring Curb concept to Detroit Auto Show


Hyundai has announced the it will bring it's new crossover concept, the Curb, to the Detroit Auto Show. There hasn't been much news about the new CUV, and while the new concept has curves, swoopy lines, and huge wheels, it could be a future replacement for the Tucson. The interior of the car looks to be futuristic to a point where I could guarantee you it will look nothing like the production version of the interior.

The new Curb Concept will be revealed Monday, at the Detroit Auto Show, inside Cobo Hall. I can only hope Hyundai hits with this car like their other recent ones, but given so little information about the car, I don't know what to expect.

TomTom unveils latest navigation system

 
TomTom’s Go 2505 M Live navigation system debuted on Wednesday at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas will be it's first system to offer TomTom's HD traffic service, which provides drivers with accurate information for all major roads in real time and which updates every few minutes. The new system will also have hands-free Bluetooth calling and voice recognition included. The Go 2505 M Live will go on the market in mid-2011 for a suggested retail price of $349. Each system will come with a free-trial subscription.




Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Kia KV7 Crossover Concept

Kia has provided a first look at their new concept vehicle, the KV7. They have stated, "at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Kia will make another dramatic design statement with the world debut of an all-new, convention-challenging concept vehicle named KV7." As you can see from the rendering, the KV7 Concept is a crossover whose lines resemble an extended Kia Soul. The passenger door is roof-hinged "gull wing" door that opens up like the Mercedes SLS AMG.
Also, the front door is a conventional front-hinged design. Inside the second row there are bucket seats that can swivel so they can face each other or the back of the car. Also from the looks of the picture there also might be a mini-table in the second row. Traditional Kia rims are implemented into the design and the front of the KV7 looks like it will recieve the traditional grill and front of recent Kia vehicles.The press preview day for the Detroit show is scheduled for January 10 where the KV7 will be featured.

OnStar Coming to Best Buy

Starting in spring Best Buy will begin carrying an OnStar standalone rear-view mirror and non-GM customers will be able to equip it in their in their car also. The mirror bundles with the communications package that comes with Onstar devices. The mirror will be priced at $375, not including service plans, which is at least $18.95 a month.
GM has stated that "OnStar is certified to work on 99 percent of the top 20 selling non-GM vehicles over the last 10 years or approximately 55 million cars and trucks." The list of compatible cars will be posted on Onstar's official website. I am presuming that the cars in the list will include Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, and other cars of that category. Onstar has stated that the mirror will include feature like its automatic crash response, which detects a sudden impact and automatically calls an OnStar advisor. Other features include link to emergency services by pressing a button, as well as stolen-vehicle location assistance, turn-by-turn navigation, roadside assistance and hands-free calling. GM has also stated that the mirror will work even if a phone is not in your car. Your old mirror can be replaced with an Onstar mirror with the help of a technician or one of Best Buy's Geek Squad Auto Techs.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Hyundai Teases Veloster Another Time

The new 2012 Hyundai Veloster will now officially have three conventional forward-hinged door. The new car is a 4-door (it will have 3 doors and a hatch). It has also been confirmed that the Veloster will come with a direct-injected engine, probably a 1.6-liter. Other features include Bluetooth connectivity, an optional dual-clutch gearbox, and an estimated 40 miles per gallon.

The shape of the car closely resembles the Toyota Prius, Honda CR-Z, and the other cars of that class. It has the same split rear glass on the open rear hatchback as its competitors. The concept version of the Veloster was first revealed at the 2007 Seoul Motor Show. Hyundai has it's full unveiling of the Veloster January 10 at the Detroit Auto Show.

Rumor: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro to have 330 hp LFX V6

When the 2011 Mustang appeared with 1 more horsepower, Chevrolet responded with a 312 horsepower V6 Camaro for 2011. And rumors have it they aren't stopping there. There have been various reports that the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro will be equipped with a 325-330 horsepower LFX V6. The new engine comes packed with advanced technologies such as Spark-Ignition Direct-Injection, Dual Overhead Cams, Variable Valve Timing, and E85 capability.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Prototype

Lamborghini's new flagship that is set to replace the MurciƩlago has been spotted. It has a huge front fender which draws attention to the car but u cant miss the huge air intake behind the driver door. The new intake is for the newly developed 6.5-liter V-12 that produces 700 horsepower and 509 lb-ft of toruq. There will also be brakes on all 4 wheels to stop the incredible power of the vehicle.
 The Aventador is made completely of carbon fiber to help reduce weight. Lamborghini has also included a single-clutch transmission that the company says shifts faster than any dual-clutch unit. The Aventador has big shoes to step into, but it is off to a good start.

Pagani Teases Upcoming C9 Supercar [video]

There have been various spy shots of the new Pagani C9, but Pagani has finally released a video of their new supercar. The video is just a small teaser but at the end of the video there is a scale model of the C9. The new C9 has been confirmed that it will hit the market in 2011 and will replace the Zonda. Pagani has stated the C9 will be nothing like the Zonda, therefore has made 3,770 new parts for the car.
Under the hood of the C9 there will be a Mercedes-Benz 6.0L, bi-turbo engine V12 producing 700 horsepower and 740 lb-ft of torque. Pagani has also stated that the C9 will have a very advanced active aerodynamics package. The new C9 is set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show and it will boast a price tag near 900,000 euros.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

2012 Ford C-Max Revealed

Ford's minivan is finally hitting the states. The Ford Grand C-Max has been released in Europe and it is a 3-row minivan. The reception in Europe has been relatively well and it's often been called a mini mini-van. And now Ford has decided to bring this car over to the States. The engine that's going to be implemented in the base model is a 2.5-liter 4 cylinder engine that produces 168 hp and 167 lb-ft of torque. There will also be an optional 1.6 liter with EcoBoost (turbocharged) which has the same amount of horsepower as the 2.5 on regular fuel, but has 183 horsepower on premium fuel; torque is 173 lb-ft torque on both engines. Ford has also stated it's going to have good fuel economy hence the Eco in the EcoBoost engine.

The interior of the car has a 5+2 seating arrangement and the second row's middle seat can be folded and stowed away. The C-Max also has a hands-free liftgate release. Which is a device that lets the trunk of the car open when something waves past the sensor on the bumper. Ford says that the new C-Max is designed for "growing, busy American families." The U.S. C-Max will be updated in the 2011 January Detroit auto show and the car will go on sale in early 2012.


Smart to go Convertible?


 Daimler has patented a new Smart Roadster design. This patent design was submitted November 16, 2010 and it seems to be a Smart Fortwo-based roadster. The possibilities of this showing up for the Smart lineup isn't too high. Maybe it will even show up in one of the auto shows, but I'm not going to be praying at night for Smart to produce this design.

The New Toyota Yaris

In Tokyo, Toyota has unveiled the new Vitz. The name Vitz is the name for the U.S. bound Yaris in Japan. The new version has been completely refreshed. This is the first full redesign of the Vitz/Yaris since 2005.

They styling of the Yaris is more expressive and seems to have a Eurocentric design to it. Although the platform is a carryover, the wheelbase has been increased by 4 inches to provide more interior space. Toyota will be releasing a 1.3 liter engine for Japan, but the U.S. will be getting a 1.5 liter engine that produces 107 horsepower. Inside the Yaris there will be the new Yaris seats and it will keep the same simplistic look. Toyota has also hinted at a hybrid version of the Yaris that will be released in 2012.


BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Car spotted in Abu Dhabi

In a recent trip to Abu Dhabi a Teamspeed member spotted the new BMW Vision EfficientDynamics car on the track. It was also in gray which was different than the white concept version.
BMW's new EfficientDynamics car is rumored to be called the "i8" and is rumored to be powered by a three-cylinder diesel-hybrid powertrain that produces 328 horsepower. The super light weight car will be able to do 0-100 in 4.8 seconds and the best part about this car, it is expected to get 62.5 mpg.

Although it seems that this spotting seems to lead people to think that the new VED car will be released soon it is still uncertain. BMW has not announced a release date, but some sources have reported it will be released in 2013. Also, the car is also rumored to be priced around $200,000.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Hyundai Genesis Coupe to recieve all new 5.0 V8 engine?

If the Hyundai Genesis Coupe is to be the Mustang killer it was created to be, shouldn't it have a V8 option? Well Hyundai has announced its new 5.0 V8 engine that produces 429 horsepower. That would beat out the Mustang's current V8 which only produces 412 horsepower. So it would only seem natural to see this new V8 make it into the Genesis Coupe's engine bay for the 2012 model. 


The only problem is that Hyundai has stated that the new engine will not fit into the engine bay of the Genesis Coupe. I don't know whether Hyundai might have something rolled up their sleeve or if they aren't thinking of putting a V8 in the Genesis Coupe at all, but I'm sure many people including myself would love to see the Genesis Coupe with a V8 option.