Car News About Lotus

The aficionados of the car world zoomed in on the Lotus stand, eyes wide with incredulity and excitement. There were proposals for five brand-new models plus a low-emissions city hopper, all paid for with a $1.1 billion check from Malaysian parent company Proton. 

Skeptics said it was a pipe dream, but flamboyant CEO Dany Bahar kept insisting that the future product portfolio on display -- an intriguing mix of front- and mid-engine sports cars designed by Donato Coco (who, like Bahar, had defected from Ferrari) -- and the required U.K.-based infrastructure updates were fully funded. Six months later, however, facts had caught up with fiction. It was clear by then that the implementation of the proposed lineup would take much more time. Lotus would have to turn the Elise and the Evora (which originally were unloved by the new management) into vastly improved lifesavers, and the available funds would at best cover only one new product, namely the Esprit that's due to be unveiled at the 2013 Geneva show. 


To reduce expense and complexity, all models share a similar aluminum spaceframe, the same cabin and cockpit layout, a standardized driveline configuration, and a closely related control-arm suspension. R&D chief Wolf Zimmermann expects the parts commonality to be in the area of 50 percent across the range. "We are going with a choice of steel or carbon-ceramic brakes by Mov'it, a push-button parking brake by Continental, electronics by Bosch, lithium-ion batteries by A123, a multifunction steering wheel by Sparco -- the list is long. Together with these suppliers, we are working hard to keep the weight down and to improve overall efficiency. Are we getting there? I think so." 


The base Esprit should consume no more fuel than its chief competitors, is said to achieve about 24 mpg as a hybrid, and should be good for a planet-saving 48 mpg in plug-in-hybrid form. As befits a proper sports car, battery power not only turns the new Lotus into a part-time full-electric model, its instant torque provides a strong acceleration boost. 

Cherokee SUV Is Reportedly Next in Line to Receive the Smooth Shifting

Coming as no surprise, Jeep’s Grand Cherokee SUV is reportedly next in line to receive the smooth shifting--and fuel saving--ZF eight-speed automatic transmission filtering its way across Chrysler’s lineup.

Sources at Jeep have confirmed that the Grand Cherokee will receive it, but have also revealed that a more advanced nine-speed unit is also under investigation.
“Our approach to lowering CO2 is a deployment of lots of different technologies,” Jeep CEO Mike Manley recently revealed to Autocar. “Hybrids, improved aerodynamics, more diesels, eight-speed gearboxes and nine-speed gearboxes for front-wheel drive cars will all help us improve economy and CO2.”

Jeep’s European chief Joe Veltri has also revealed that the eight-speed unit is good for the Grand Cherokee’s entire lineup of V-6 and V-8 models, which means the high-performance Grand Cherokee SRT8 may also drop its five-speed auto in favor the new eight-speed unit.

When fitted to V-6 powered Chrysler 300s, the eight-speeder results in a four mpg increase that pushes highway fuel economy to an EPA-rated 31 mpg--up from 27 mpg highway over the five-speed equipped model. Inner city driving also nets a five percent gas mileage gain in the 300, now coming in at 19 mpg.

Already finding a home in the Chrysler 300, as well as some Audi and BMW models, the ZF unit has been confirmed for the Dodge Charger and could be fitted to everything from the Jeep Grand Cherokee to Ram pickups.

Five Wonderful and Affordable Cars

1. Jeep Wrangler

Price: $22,045
If you want a cheap off-roader, look no further than the iconic Jeep Wrangler. People have been climbing mountains in these things for decades. Not only do you get a capable little car, but you get a pass into a pretty cool community of motoring enthusiasts.

2. Dodge Challenger

Price: $24,895
Even though the new Challenger isn’t a purpose-built muscle car like the competition from Ford and Chevy (in fact, the platform is a previous-generation Mercedes sedan), it’s still a sweet, powerful, comfortable ride. If you want a muscle car that actually seats four, go with the Challenger. As it turns out, being an old Mercedes sedan masquerading as a muscle car has its benefits after all.

3. Volkswagen Golf TDI

Price: $23,995
Want a car that’s easy on gas but doesn’t have a battery that produces way more carbon emissions in production than it will ever save in fuel economy? Try the VW Gold TDI. It’s comfortable, fun to drive, and efficient, and it has a thoroughly modern turbo diesel, not one of the stinky, smelly, dirty powerplants of yesteryear. Plus, you get to make a choice that’s actually good for the environment, not one that’s only marketed as such.

4. Ford Mustang

Price: $22,310
The new V6 Mustang admirably fulfills the goals of the original 1964.5 Mustang. The first Mustang was designed to be a fun, stylish car for under $2,500. Today, inflation has taken its toll, but it’s still under $25,000. And the Mustang offers an enticing combination of 305 horsepower, surprisingly good handling, 31mpg, and sexy, retro-modern good looks.

5. Suzuki Kizashi

Price: $18,999
The Suzuki Kizashi is one of the most underrated cars in the world. While most of us associate Suzuki with sad little things that look more like Power Wheels than cars, the Kizashi is a nimbly handling, fairly powerful (180-185hp), efficient offering that really is worth considering next to the commonplace Jettas and Corrolas. Take one for a test drive. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Ford's Nair Takes the Wheel

Raj Nair attempted to quit his car racing avocation as the needs of his day job started to be too great. But the attraction of the track kept calling to him. Nair, 47, still follows motor racing as an enthusiast, and he hasn't lost his passion for motorbikes. But he's unlikely to wear his racing suit and helmet again anytime soon.

"I cannot remember how many times I retired and went back," said Nair, who raced open-wheel Formula Ford vehicles on circuits like Lime Rock, Mid-Ohio and Waterford Hills until he finally stopped for good in 2004.

During his 25-year career with Ford, Nair has worked on vehicles of every size and category -- from the Figo subcompact in India to the F-series Super Duty pickups in North America.

"Our global platforms are well-established, and now we'll capitalize on rolling out the top hats," Nair told Automotive News. "Ford will be continuing to deliver the vehicles with the DNA we've set up. We'll work on accelerating our product cadence and continuing to have the fastest model refreshes in the industry."

In his current job as vice president of engineering for global product development, he has been responsible for all engineering of light vehicles for the Ford and Lincoln brands. Before that, he headed product development, manufacturing, purchasing, quality and information technology in Ford's Asia Pacific and Africa region. From 2006 to 2008, he was executive director of commodity business planning, working on reducing Ford's material costs.

Asked what vehicle programs he is most proud of, Nair had trouble narrowing the list. "The two I'm most proud of are the F-series and Super Duty pickups. I was the vehicle line director who put those programs together and got the funding from senior management," he recalled.

Nair, a native of St. Louis whose India-born parents were both college professors, is a genial man well liked by his colleagues. He began his Ford career in 1987 at the factory level as a body and assembly launch engineer. As part of his co-op studies toward a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at Kettering University in Flint, Mich., he had spent five years at General Motors' St. Louis Assembly plant.

What You Should Know about 2011 Scion tC

The 2011 scion TC's only real shortcoming is styling. Its new exterior styling is a bit more expressive but is still fairly anodyne when compared to the likes of the Hyundai Veloster, Mini Cooper, and even the Chevrolet Sonic. That becomes even more obvious inside, as it seems Toyota designers still haven't learned the art of making cheap plastics look expensive. Its Circuit City-style radio unit likewise seems rather antiquated compared to the standard LCD touchscreen that comes with a Veloster. On the other hand, the Veloster isn't as rewarding to drive as the tC.

The tC has always been a surprisingly lively and well-rounded offering, but its redesign has quietly turned it into a legitimate sporty car for those on a budget. It starts with a larger 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which provides strong acceleration throughout the rev-range and yet remains smooth and snappy. It plays well with the slick, precise manual gearbox, encouraging smooth rev-matched downshifts.

On a small side note, we've officially reached the point where a normally aspirated engine is a welcome novelty, though you do pay for it with mediocre fuel economy. The tC also feels more tossable than its predecessor, even though it's not that light at nearly 3100 pounds. The handling is relatively balanced for a front-wheel-drive car, and the steering, which used to be limp and light, now has genuine feel and feedback.

Tesla’s New Model X Crossover

Tesla unveiled its brand new Model X crossover sports utility version this past week at a red carpet affair. CEO Elon Musk called the new SUV “revolutionary.”

“We’ve created a car that has more functionality than a minivan, more style than an SUV and more performance than a Porsche 911 Carrera,” he said.

The Model X has plenty to admire:

• The SUV, which will be available in early 2014, comes with either a 60 kWh or 85 kWh battery and is said to have a driving range of 80 to 100 miles. (Note: I have seen conflicting reports. A commenter informs me it will be closer to 200 – 270 miles; others have suggested the 180 – 260 mile range.)
• Musk told reporters that the base model SUV will be able to go from O to 60 miles-per-hour in 4.4 seconds.

• The ‘falcon doors’ are a neat futuristic spin, granting extra access to the racing harness in a tight parking space.
• The Model X will reportedly sell anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 depending on the model.

When we think of Tesla, or at least when I think of Tesla, our thoughts inevitably turn to Nikola Tesla himself – a man who has become a sort of mad scientist legend.

BMW X3 Has A Turbo Four-Cylinder

BMW is extending the usage of its N20 turbocharged four-cylinder engine by creating it the base powerplant for the 2013 X3 SUV. The BMW X3 xDrive28 will apply the twin-scroll turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that generates 240 hp as well as 260 lb-ft of torque. Twin-scroll turbocharging indicates that the exhaust stream of cylinders one and four adhere to a separate route to the turbine wheel from cylinders two and three. It minimizes back pressure at low engine rpm, enhancing throttle response.

BMW says the xDrive28i will go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, on its way to an electronically governed top speed of 130 mph. Fuel-economy ratings haven't been released.

In addition to the new engine, BMW has upgraded the list of standard features on the X3. Basic equipment now includes auto start/stop, Driving Dynamics Control with Eco Pro, a power tailgate and 18-inch wheels.

Driving Dynamics with Eco Pro mode can be accessed through the center console. The system improves fuel economy by optimizing drivetrain, heating, air-conditioning and electrical functions by dialing those functions back. It also displays driving tips on the iDrive and fuel saved as bonus miles added to range.

The stop/start system improves fuel economy by 3 percent, BMW says. The system can be switched off with a button by the ignition.

To know more information about BMW engine or other car parts, you can refer to carpart4u.com.

Must Know about Hybrid Cars

It's not likely a news flash that gas does not seem to be getting any cheaper. Most people are wondering how can they handle about the rise in price, and the answer is always to get a different car. That's simple, right? But what kind of vehicle should you pick up? Just maybe, you should try a hybrid car.

Hybrid cars are unlike battery electric vehicles because the batteries used in hybrid cars do not have to be charged by an external source. Instead, in order to get a charge, kinetic energy is generated by way of regenerative brakes.

A hybrid car is a vehicle that is run on electricity. A combination of a conventional propulsion system and a rechargeable energy storage system that is on board the vehicle work together to give the vehicle better fuel economy than cars that run strictly on gasoline.

Furthermore, some hybrid cars make use of their own combustion engine to create electricity. The combustion engine does this by spinning an electrical generator. The spinning does one of two things. It can either recharge the battery or in a more direct way, it can give power to an electric motor. This motor is what then drives the vehicle.

It is true that some people have experimented with electrical vehicles in the past. However, the introduction of the hybrid car outdid these types of cars when it came on the scene. Because the hybrid car is so innovative in the way it powers itself and the way it is able to save travelers money on fuel, it's called the car of the future. At least that's what some automakers believe, and many consumers agree with them. The next wave of the automotive market, Hybrid cars continue to be purchased by customers as the years go on.

Therefore, if you need a car that saves on gas and will make you the talk of town, maybe you should invest in a hybrid car and its car parts.

Advantages and Disadvantages on Hybrid Cars

Hybrid vehicles are regarded as the vehicle of the future. It has the ability to effectively save fuel and at the same time, it only produces low levels of toxic fumes. Due to these benefits, hybrid cars are now growing in popularity everyday. Many people are now thinking about getting rid of their traditional cars and obtain a hybrid car to help in cutting fuel consumption cost.

Hybrid car owners virtually do not feel the increasing cost in fuel prices. This is the main advantage of the hybrid car. There are other advantages that a hybrid car can give you. Recently, the President of the United States has signed an agreement that hybrid car buyers will be able to enjoy tax incentives. This means that by owning a hybrid car, you will be able to save money on taxes.

The brake system in hybrid cars is also configured to capture the energy released and uses it to charge the batteries inside the hybrid car. This means that unlike electric cars, hybrid cars do not actually need to be charged from your home electric outlet.

However, with all the advantages that a hybrid car can give you, there are also disadvantages. The main disadvantage of hybrid cars is that the retail price is quite expensive. Only people who have enough money can purchase hybrid cars. However, the twist in all this is that hybrid cars are actually cheaper when compared to conventional cars in the long run. If you compute the total fuel consumption of both cars, you will actually see that you can save a lot more money on hybrid cars.

Another issue about hybrid cars is that it is very risky in accidents. What makes a hybrid car work effectively is also what makes it risky if it ever gets involved in an accident. This is because hybrid cars stores high amount of voltage in its batteries. This means that there is a high chance of getting electrocuted when you get involved in an accident. This also means that it is relatively difficult for rescuers to get the drivers and passengers out of the hybrid cars because of the dangers of high voltage in the car.

A Shrewd Approach to Get a Vehicle

Getting a vehicle is not like purchasing a dress or a pair of shoes that you can make a decision on without arranging. It typically requires a large sum of money you most likely saved for a long time. It will not help to make you feel good to figure out that the car you got for a high price is not what you wanted. As a customer, you have the duty to properly choose the car you want to buy. It needs thorough research, weighing of alternatives, and negotiation. To reduce risk, it is ideal to buy from a dealer rather than a private seller.

If you made your research on the Internet, you will likely fail to find the exact car you prefer from the showroom near your place. Fortunately, your car dealer can order the exact model from its affiliated manufacturer. Consider ordering a vehicle with the same, exact features although the process may take a little longer than you expect. Many car dealers are armed with information that allow them find a model that closely matches or even exceeds the specifications you want.


Whether it is a brand new or used car, you must inspect its interior styling and exterior thoroughly. Look for any damage, from the top of the hood down to the tires, that the car might have obtained during delivery. 


To know more about cars, you can refer to carpart4u.

The 2012 Latest Auto Information Auctions

2007 NEW YORK INTL AUTO SHOW PRESS INFORMATION PROGRAM
US $9.99
End Date: Friday Feb-10-2012 12:34:53 PST

2007 Tokyo Motor (Auto) Show 40th Anniversary Information Guide
US $9.99
End Date: Friday Feb-10-2012 12:34:53 PST

Atlas Editions, Inc Firearm Collectible Information Card Browning Auto-5 Shotgun
US $4.99
End Date: Thursday Feb-09-2012 19:48:04 PST

Volkswagen AG Is Considering Expanding Production in Malaysia

Volkswagen AG is thinking about expanding production in Malaysia and has sent senior executives, which include management board members, to evaluate Proton Holdings Bhd’s operations for a potential relationship, a person acquainted with the matter said.

Europe’s largest auto maker is thinking of producing vehicles at Proton factories after its partner DRB-Hicom Bhd. DRB decided last month to buy 43 percent of Proton, the person said, decreasing to be identified because the talks are private.

Volkswagen has flirted with a Proton partnership in the past. The German carmaker called off cooperation talks with Proton in June 2010. The two companies also failed to reach an agreement in November 2007 after 12 months of negotiations. The partnership with DRB-Hicom was agreed in December 2010.

The Proton deal gives DRB control of two Malaysian car plants with the capacity to make a combined 350,000 vehicles per year. Proton’s vehicles are driven by taxi drivers across Malaysia and are among the cheapest cars and auto parts sold in the country. The company had two annualnet losses over the past five years.

Fisker Karma -- Low-calorie Sweetness

Fisker told us it has got $193 million in loan guarantees from the federal government up to now, mainly for its Karma plan, and goes on pursuing other funding sources.

"We have successfully raised an additional $260 million of equity in late 2011, bringing the total amount of private equity financing to more than $850 million," the company said. Fisker's production facility in Delaware is a General Motors plant that is being recommissioned.

The plant will make Fisker's Nina sedan, but production there has yet to begin. Vice President Joe Biden, Delaware Gov. Jack Markell and Fisker CEO Henrik Fisker were together in 2009 to announce plans for the production facility. During the time, union workers were guaranteed the opportunity to fill many of the 2,000 factory jobs producing the plug-in electric car and some specific car parts. It was not yet determined Monday how many of those jobs had ever been filled.

Audi Provides High-tech at the Low End

Even though Audi didn't have a brand new A3 on display at CES 2012, the firm did provide its dashboard. The entirely functional head device in this dashboard revealed Audi's latest cabin technology. More significantly, it demonstrated that Audi won't hold this technology for its high-end models.

The menus took the same circular format as in the A7, but Audi has further refined this interface for better usability. It is easier to find points of interest in the A3's navigation system, and Audi made it possible to use a free text search for locally stored music in the car. Where the A7 has a dial, buttons, and a touch pad for tracing letters, the A3 puts the touch pad on top of the dial, saving space on the console. This innovative layout worked very well during a demonstration at the Audi booth.

Other new cabin tech methods in the A3 involve what Audi calls a phone box, an area in the console enabled with NFC (near-field communication) that can pair with phones also using that technology. As of now, the phone still needs to plug into a USB port for charging, but Audi A3 is looking into installing an inductive surface. The new A3 also includes a head up-display, showing useful vehicle information such as speed and navigation projected on the car windows.

Chevrolet VS Ford

The Ford VS Chevrolet scenario made me think about two famous advertising and publicity quotes:

1.The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.

2.There’s no such thing as bad publicity.

The average cost of a Super Bowl 2012 Commercial starts at 3 million dollars for a 30 seconds spot. Chevrolet has paid the money for the advertising but Ford is one of the Traditional Best Cars in the US. Although the Chevrolet advertisement is well done and seems realistic many people know that Ford makes some of the best cars in the world!

In our opinion Chevrolet just gave Ford more than 3 million in free advertising and media exposure.