If there is one thing we can say about the 2009 Infiniti G37, it is that we liked it. We really liked it. Our Athens Blue Coupe could put a smile on your face and instantaneously make you forget about any troubles that might be clouding your day.
The car is beautiful on the inside and out, the handling is amazing and the exhaust note is nicer than the VQ35 powered Nissans, especially when you get higher up in the rev band. Our four passenger GT car is powered by a 3.7 Liter V6 with VVEL variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts to make an astounding 330 HP and 270 lb-ft of torque and shifted through a 7 speed automatic transmission.
Once you are behind the wheel you forget about the 19 inch sport rims or the chrome front grill, even the HID headlamps won’t seem impressive when you are sitting in the Stone leather seats, gripping one of the most comfortable leather wrapped multifunction steering wheels on the market, because all you will be able to think about is the road. The G37 engages you in a way that only a fun car can.
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The smallest SUV in BMW’s line-up made today its official debut. Set for a first appearance at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the new BMW X1 will go on sale in Europe by the end of the year, while in the USA it has been confirmed for 2011.
In Europe the new SUV will be offered with a choice of four engines - one gasoline and three diesels - and will be available in rear-wheel drive and xDrive all-wheel drive configurations.
The BMW X1 xDrive28i is powered by a straight-six gasoline engine that delivers 258 hp and a peak torque of 228 lb-ft. It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.8 seconds and reaches a top speed 127 mph, all this with a fuel consumption of 30.0 mpg.
The BMW X1 xDrive23d is powered by a 2,0 liter four-cylinder diesel engine that develops 204 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds and reaches a top speed or 127 mph. The X1 xDrive20d delivers 177 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds and can hit a top speed of 127 mph.
The BMW X1 xDrive18d and the BMW X1 sDrive18d deliver 143 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque and sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 10.1 seconds and 9.6 seconds respectively , while top speed if 121 and, respectively, 124 mph.
Full details in the press release after the jump.
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As promised Fiat offered today a preview of its future 500C set to be revealed in March at the Geneva Motor Show.
The 500C has the same dimensions as the coupe version: 3.55 m x 1.65 m x 1.49 m. It is also powered by the same three engines available in the hardtop: a 1.3-liter 75 hp Multijet turbodiesel, 1.2-liter 69 hp gad unit, or 1.4-liter 100 hp gas engine. The big difference is what Fiat calls, "a fully fledged window to the sky."
The 500C follows in the tradition of the original Fiat 500 and uses a rolling roof design that allows the car to retain the shape of the coupe. Because the car does not lose its B or C pillars, structural rigidity that can easily be lost when turning a car into a convertible should be minimized here. The soft top will be available in three colors (ivory, red and black) and sales should begin in Europe in the spring.
Press release after the jump.
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We here at Top Speed have thoroughly enjoyed our run with the subcompact Toyota Yaris. Since we received the tiny five door, we have thoroughly tested the car both on highway and off. The VVT-i 1.5 Liter four cylinder works hard at higher speeds, but is able to chug along with the flow of traffic. Despite the car’s smaller footprint, the Yaris is extremely spacious on the interior, and the cloth seats were extremely comfortable on our two hour highway stint. The Yaris did quite well on the open road, the car was able to get up to speed quickly, there was minimal exterior noise in the cabin and the seating position kept the controls in easy reach while allowing you to relax for the duration of the trip.
The Yaris shines in a crowded urban environment. The way that the wheels are pushed out to the far corners, just like the original compact car the Mini, allows for many of the same benefits. There is maximum use of the interior space, weaving in and out of traffic is a breeze and finding a parking space has never been easier. For those reasons and many more, we don’t mind trading in massaging seatbacks and fancy hard drive based navigation units for a simpler, less-complicated automobile. However our favorite feature of the Yaris are all the storage compartments hidden in the dashboard.
The Toyota Yaris is not only a great first car; it is also a great second car. Save the 599 for the weekends, tell your wife that you’ll be taking the Yaris to the office today, you’ll just have to be selective about which clubs to bring to the driving range after work, because an entire golf bag definitely won’t fit in the trunk. But for around $15,000 you can’t go wrong with a Toyota Yaris, it also comes with one of the greatest guarantees in the world, it’s a Toyota.
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Hybrid vehicles will most definitely be around for as long as we still use internal combustion engines in our cars. With models like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight selling like crazy automakers are going to capitalize on whatever sales they can generate at this point in time. So in an attempt to diversify the hybrid market, the Japanese automaker Honda is toying around with the idea of a hybrid sports car. The world’s largest producer of engines is hoping that the crowds at the Tokyo Motor Show accept their new CR-ZX this October with open arms.
Based on the Insight, the CR-ZX will be powered by a small displacement four cylinder engine, ranging somewhere from 1.3 to 1.5 liters that is expected to return almost 60 MPG while in a hybrid sports mode. The body features a very stylish large open mouth front bumper and a sleek three door hatch back profile. This future sports hybrid could compete with other green sports cars like the upcoming Volkswagen Blue Sport Roadster and perhaps even a hybrid 370Z. The hybrid Honda may not be quite up to the level of all electric vehicle like the Tesla Roadster, but if there was any automaker who could it’s Honda. We will just have to wait and see what the tuners at Mugen could do with a CR-ZX SiR.
Buick announced it will unveil the 2010 LaCrosse luxury sedan at the Detroit Auto Show on Jan. 12. The 2010 LaCrosse will be offered in three models - CX, CXL and CXS and with a choice of two V6 engines.
The CX is powered by a a new 3.0L direct injection V-6 that delivers 255 hp and and 211 lb.-ft. of torque and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The CXL gets the same engine as the CX, but adds leather-appointed heated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, fog lamps, outside rearview mirror with LED turn indicators and puddle lamps, and 18-inch wheels. Intelligent AWD is available.
The CXS is equipped with a 3.6L direct injection V-6 that delivers 280 hp and 261 lb.-ft. of torque; the engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The CXS gets a real-time active-dampening suspension; perforated, leather-appointed, heated and cooled seats, and chrome-plated 18-inch wheels (19-inch optional).
Press release after the jump.
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The impending sale of Saab to supercar makers Koenigsegg has raised a few eyebrows from a lot of people in the auto industry and rightfully so.
The question on everybody’s mind was the motive behind Koenigsegg’s decision to buy a mainstream car brand despite only being a small company that dedicates most of its time and resources on a number of supercars that go for an easy million out on the market.
While talks were still up for negotiations, not a lot of people put too much stock on it until talks began heating up last week and Koenigsegg co-owner came out on the news saying that they’re company has big plans for Saab down the road.
Apparently, one of Koenigsegg’s intentions was to use the resources – most specifically, Saab’s production facilities of electronic vehicles - Saab has accumulated over the years. One of Koenigsegg’s main projects include the production – finally – of its so-called car of the future, the NLV Quant.
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It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that with the current state of the economy, businesses the world over – including the auto industry – would plummet in ways never before seen in history. If there are any cars that are actually in demand these days, then they’re the few fortunate ones because the rest of their brethren have been sitting idly in showrooms.
One of the said cars that’s actually in-demand, so much so that it’s even got its own wait list, is the 2010 Toyota Prius. Despite having already beefed up its personnel in its production plants in Japan, the demand for the Prius has forced Toyota to open their plants 24 hours a day with the added benefit of overtime pay for its employees just to meet its soaring demand. Can you imagine that at this time? Neither could we.
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The third generation Prius made its world debut today at the Detroit Auto Show. With better mileage ratings, enhanced performance, and innovative design features, the 2010 Prius will go on sale in the spring.
The new Prius is powered by a new 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle, four-cylinder engine that delivers 98 hp and a peak torque of 105 lbs-ft. Prius has been a "full" hybrid since introduction. This allows it to run on engine alone, battery alone, or a combination of both.
The design of the new Prius’ front and rear corners are sharp, sporty and aerodynamic. Strong side character lines, rising from front to rear, define the glazed geometric shape. Viewed from the rear, wider rear treads provide a solid, firmly rooted stance.
Dimensionally, the new Prius has the same wheelbase as the current generation. Overall length is slightly increased by 0.6 inches, in part by moving the front cowl forward.
Press release after the jump.
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Why aren’t we surprised that New York City has driven away with yet another ignominious distinction to bolster their claim as a hazardous place to operate your vehicle. This time around, a recent survey/study released by Autovantage says that New York City is the home to drivers that suffer most from the ill-fated syndrome known as road rage.
Surely, we know what it’s like to drive in a city where traffic has become the norm rather than the exception and as far as traffic situations go, angry drivers are sure to follow. And yes, New York City is full of both of them.
The survey included a relatively small sample size – only the 25 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. – trying to keep into consideration the main causes for drivers to enter a fit of rage when behind the wheel. The poll consisted of 2,518 individuals, most of whom, we’d expect are veterans of tailgating, speeding, horn honking, and the occasional verbal assaults directed at their fellow drivers.
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