Cars And Automotive: November 2009

Audi A5 Sportback

The 1st official picture. Just a teaser so far.
Audi has also mentioned that the US market will not get this car.

I guess they still think Americans don't like hatchbacks...

Here is a teaser video.

So far the Sail is mainly for the Chinese market.
But it does look like some new Aveo of some sort to me.
So we might actually get this over here one way or another.

I'm sure the "new GM" will try to import any small car they make and see what sticks.
This looks like it came out about 10 years ago.
Pretty much like most compact sedans out there....

More real life pictures of the 2010 Taurus

2011 Mustang to get new 3.7Liter V6

Finally.
The Mustang won't be using the old Explorer engine anymore. Starting next year.

It is supposed to be getting a version of the 3.7 Liter already in used in other Ford models.
It will make over 275hp. Much closer to the Camaro's 300hp V6.

This should be a really nice car. There is really no need for V8s anymore in our new "2009 over $3 a gallon world".
(Which is what I just paid yesterday, by the way...)

Aston Martin DB8

Aston Martin DB8, originally uploaded by Rob Cherry.

Top Five Ferrari Cars Based on speed design and costs

Competition on the car market is huge. With over 20 car manufacturers and various models, it's definitely not a gap in the market. Ferrari however, has a huge automobile history. Ferraris are pure emotion. They aren't most reliable, one of the cheapest or practicable. But every Ferrari driver probably agrees that they are the best cars in the world. So which Ferrari gives you most thrill?

1. Ferrari Enzo (FXX)

A car is really good if Ferrari names it after its founder Enzo Ferrari. The Enzo FXX is a project still going, with the car getting updates still. The Enzo FXX is sold only when you're chosen by Ferrari and changes owner for about €1,300,0000. Maintenance is huge, about €40,000 per year. But everyone will look at you when you drive one, guaranteed. And when it's dark out… I dare you to take it out for a spin.

2. Ferrari F430 Ferrari's new race car, replaced the 360 in 2005. It has a maximum speed of 317 km/h and is sold starting from €180.000. Remarkable is that it's the official car of the Ferrari race classes and the car is rumored to be replaced soon.

3. Ferrari california Central front engine with maximum speed of 310 km/h. First Ferrari car with dual clutch and most recent Ferrari released. The California is the most aerodynamic Ferrari yet. It costs €140.000 and average maintenance costs are unknown.

4. Ferrari 550 Maranello It has an front V12 engine with an maximum speed of 323 km/h. Beautiful curves and nice a beautiful interior. It's not the best or most recent Ferrari but will give you a huge thrill. Why? Because it costs €70,000 if you search right, and maintenance average is lower than the 612. Biggest maintenance post is that the car eats tyres for breakfast.

5. Ferrari 612 Scaglietti It has an engine providing 533HP, a maximum speed of 315 km/h. It's biggest feature that sets it apart: it has four seats. It's still not a family car though, it will cost you €300,000 to purchase and if used as an everyday car about €10,000 per year to maintain.

Read this as intended with pictures of the interior and exterior. ferrari car top 5 list

Best looking cars of 2009

Best looking cars in each class 2009. The AutoBild group, a publisher of more than 27 magazines, each year asks their readers what they think is the best looking cars of that year. The tests are separated into 4 groups. On average 40 million people each year vote for the winners of the design award 2009. The results aren't final yet but here are the leaders at the moment.

Category A (small/compact cars)

3. Volkswagen Polo.

2. Citroen C3 Picasso

1. Renault Megana

Category B (Sedan/station wagons)

3. Porsche panamera.

2. BMW 7 series

1. Opel Insignia Sports Tourer

Category C (Coupe/cabrios)

3. Audi A5 cabriolet

2. Aston Martin DBS Volante

1. Aston Martin One-77

Category D (MPV/SUVs)

3. Lexus RX 450h

2. Saab 9-3X

1. Audi A4 Allroad

Interestingly in the last category the difference between then number 2 and 1 is huge in terms of votes. So the Audi A4 looks like a sure winner when the final numbers of this year's design awards come in. Can't wait.

The cars on this list are all voted on by autobild readers and site visitors. It doesn't represent the whole population but it does represent the opinion of a lot of people.

For pictures go to the site:
Best looking cars of 2009 according to autobild

Tuning a Mustang

Tuning a mustang can be simple or complex. There are a few ways to tune a mustang. The common way is through the use of a hand held tuner. The other way is by tossing the car on the dyno and testing tunes to get the maximum power and efficiency.
First, the hand held tuner. The typical mustang tuner is going to come with a few programs on it. Typically you get an 87 octane, 91 octane, and 93 octane tunes. Each tune has been dyno tested on a dynamometer which measures horse power and torque throughout the entire rpm ranges, so you can see the mustangs torque curves. The tuners also allow for speedometer recalibration for those who go to larger or different sized tires, or even for different axel ratios. They also read and clear DTC's (diagnostic trouble codes) or check engine lights. Typical gains on a diablosport predator mustang tuner are about 20 horse power. Most mustang tuners come with extra tunes for the people that have added an air intake or an exhaust system. Diablosport doesn't batch test their tuners when they make them either, they are all tested individually to ensure the best quality possible.

Second, you have the dyno tunes. Now remember, we mentioned that most mustang tuners were tested on a dyno before they are made for the masses. One thing that must be kept in mind here is that even though you might have ten of the same car that were produced on the same production line, the same day, they all seem to act just a little different. The tunes created on a dyno with the mustang that is being worked on are made specifically for that mustang and can generate slightly higher gains, but in most cases we're only talking about a few horse power. Tuning the mustang either way will also improve engine efficiency and improve fuel economy one to two miles per gallon, and sometimes even a rare three mpg. This is great for the weekend warriors that use their mustang to commute during the week, where they will have the maximum fuel economy, and then on the weekends they will have the maximum power.

Our preference here is the hand held tuner, because it gives the end user the ability to make the changes themselves. For example, you can tune your stock mustang and gain some really good power. You can then add a cold air intake, and alter the tune, and add an exhaust, and alter the tune. You can even add a supercharger or turbocharger system which require the use of a tuner to make the engine even run at all once the the forced induction system of your choice has been added. You also have the ability to get in touch with the manufacturer of the tuner. Diablosport for example, can create custom tunes for whatever someone is wanting to do to their mustang. You can see how four or five trips to the dyno guy for each time you add a part after having saved up for it, can get expensive. If all the parts that are ever going to be added to the mustang are all done at the same time, then the dyno tune is going to be the most accurate and produce the most power. If parts are going to be added over time, and for me, I'm always looking for the next mod for my mustang, then the tuner is the best way to go.

2011 Ford Mustang may get up to 30 mpg

The base model of the 2011 Ford Mustang will come with nearly GT power and could get up to 30 miles per gallon in highway driving, Ford Motor Co. announced today.

Ford will debut a new V-6 engine for the sports car this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show and says it will give the basic Mustang power to rival the performance-oriented Mustang GT, which has a V-8 under its hood.

The 3.7-liter powerplant, which replaces the 4-liter V-6 now in Mustangs, will produce 305 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque while also offering better gas mileage.

Ford projects the engine will get 19 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. The 2010 Mustang's 4-liter engine creates 210 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque, while achieving 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

The new Mustangs will be available at dealerships in the spring.

Stephanie Brinley, an automotive analyst at Southfield-based consulting firm AutoPacific Inc., said the additional power catches the Mustang up to the V-6 Chevrolet Camaro and should help it stay at the top in pony car sales next year.

"The V-6 Mustang is Ford's best-selling Mustang and this is a lighter car, so it should feel faster," she said. "For people looking for these kinds of cars, Mustang is still the place to go."

According to Autodata Corp., which compiles car sales statistics, Ford sold 56,469 Mustangs through October, down 32.4 percent from the same period last year.

The Mustang remains about 8,000 units ahead of the Camaro, which was reintroduced this year by General Motors Co.

The new powertrain suggests that the GT will have to show some big improvements soon, Brinley added.

The 2010 GT with a 4.6-liter V-8 produces 315 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. It gets 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.

By raising the base model's vitals and performance level, Ford likely will have to do the same to the 2011 GT, though the carmaker has not announced a new powertrain for that car.

The V-6 Mustang will come with a six-speed automatic or manual transmission, dropping its well-used five-speed.

Ford has promised to include six-speed transmissions on 90 percent of its vehicles by 2013 in another effort to make its vehicles more fuel efficient.

The new Mustang V-6 engine, built in Cleveland, boasts a number of high-tech features such as variable camshaft timing and variable valve overlap to improve the car's emissions, fuel economy and power. Ford has dubbed the system Ti-VCT.

"Drivers are going to notice improved low-speed torque and increased fuel economy and peak horsepower," Jim Mazuchowski, Ford's manager of V-6 powertrain operations, said in a news release. "Plus, there are benefits they won't notice, too, such as reduced emissions overall, especially at part-throttle."

Ti-VCT can lower the engine's emissions by controlling the NOx -- nitrogen oxide -- and hydrocarbons.

Ford will also announce at the Los Angeles show that it will introduce a performance package for the V-6 Mustang.

It will include a different rear axle for faster off-the-line acceleration, struts, stabilizer bars and brakes from the GT, unique badges and other features.

Toyota MR2 Hybrid Sports Car In the Offing

2005 Toyota MR2 Turbo Spyder could someday re-emerge with Synergy Hybrid Drive.

There's a feeling among car fans that hybrid vehicles are set to kill the driver-oriented sportscar. But many skeptics were silenced when Honda took the wraps off of its CR-Z coup concept recently. After all, anything that could bring back the CRX hatchback with extra power at no extra cost at the fuel pumps has to be pretty good right? Now it seems Toyota wants in on some of that hybrid sports car action.

Recent reports out of Japan are suggesting that Toyota may be working on a reborn hybrid sportscar of its own. The company once known for its sports-coupes recently unveiled the FT-86 concept, and might be ready to follow up with a gasoline-electric resurrection of the cult classic MR2. The budget-friendly mid-engine/rear-drive sportscar had a big following right up until the third-generation model was discontinued two years ago. But if the latest reports are to be believed the old MR2 is set for a hybrid comeback.

Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG 2009

2010 Kia Cadenza Pictures

The new Kia Cadenza luxury sporty sedan The Cadenza is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine boasting 290hp and 338 Nm of torque

2010 Ford Fiesta S2000 Pictures

Interior Ford Fiesta S2000 Pictures

2010 Ford Fiesta S2000 Pictures

2010-The new Ford Fiesta S2000, M-Sport and Ford's first global rally car, which will be eligible to compete in national rally championships around the world as well as the IRC and S2000 World Cup, is due for homologation in January 2010. However, it will make its public debut this weekend appearing as course car at the final round of the IRC series, the Rally of Scotland.The Fiesta S2000 has already completed nearly 3,000 km of testing both in the UK and Europe and that extensive testing programme will continue into the start of the next year in readiness for the car's competitive debut.

Bugatti Veyron Extended Warranty

Bugatti announced that it has introduced an extended warranty cover. The Bugatti Veyron extended warranty is extended to three and four years.

The Bugatti Veyron extended warranty covers every eventuality up to four years after the vehicles original delivery. The optional warranty for the Bugatti Veyron guarantees the mechanical and electrical components, the body- and paintwork, including a guarantee against rust throughout the entire vehicle.

The built-in telemetric system of the Bugatti Veyron can be used to provide early warning of any possible malfunction within the cars equipment. In the event of a failure, the warranty also provides for the delivery of replacement parts anywhere in the world.

In case your Veyron brakes down Bugatti S.A.S. will make you reach your destination. The warranty provides immediate breakdown service, plus towing free of charge if the car cannot be repaired on the spot. If they have to tow your car the Bugatti Veyron extended warranty also assures they will provide you with a replacement car of Audi A8 standards.

The Bugatti Veyron extended warranty will provide an anti-inconvenience check that can be used to cover any expenses resulting from a breakdown, such as hotel accommodation or travel tickets, without any need to produce receipts.

To enforce this warranty Bugatti has set up a special help line that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week where all calls are managed personally by a member of the Bugatti customer service.

The Bugatti extended warranty applies to a specific car and is transferable to the new owner Bugatti Veyron Extended Warranty in the event of the car being sold. For further details please contact your Bugatti dealer.

Zagato Bentley Continental GTZ

For 2008 the Bentley Continental GT has undergone a similar modification to the Ferrari 575 GTZ by Zagato in 2006. Perhaps the most noticeable change is the roof and tail section which recieves Zagato’s trademark double hump roof design and rounded tail. This is highlighted by the two tone paintwork, British Racing Green for the lower section and dark silver for the roof

Exotic Cars

Exotic cars are the ultimate in tuned cars. These vehicles come straight out of the factory tuned to perfection. While we all can’t afford exotic cars, many car tuning hobbyists create their own. In fact, with the right tuning car parts, know- how and maintenance, you can easily surpass the performance of even the most expensive and rarest vehicles on the road.

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Automotive advertising

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Now, nearly 20 years later, accompanied by an entire team of industry leaders, DeFalco Advertising has surpassed $150 million in annual billing with a client roster of 150 of the most successful auto dealers in the country.

If you aren't currently working with DeFalco Automotive Advertising, it's time to start.

2010 Maybach Zeppelin the realm of high-end luxury cars

2010 Maybach Zeppelin

Mercedes is bringing the 2010 Maybach Zeppelin to Geneva Motor Show in March. Maybach first used the Zeppelin name in the 1930s, when dirigible’s name symbolized modern luxury. Now the name’s resurrection will be used to get more in touch with old-world elegance. From the outside, the luxury brand’s new top-of-the-range model can be recognised by its two-tone special paint finish - a mix of “Rocky Mountains” light brown and “Taiga” black, but customers can choose whatever they want. Other features include unique 20-inch wheels, special “California” beige leather upholstery, and a set of silver champagne flutes.

The streamlined exterior mirrors, which produce even less wind noise, are new to Maybach. They have a more angular design and are separated from the door frame by a slender arm, giving them a more expressive look. They also feature an enlarged mirror surface together with integral indicators in the shape of a horizontal “V” for even greater perceptual safety.

2010 Maybach Zeppelin

The curving “ZEPPELIN” lettering that appears below the distinctive double “M” emblem on the radiator grille and on the boot lid instantly gives away the elite status of the new Maybach Zeppelin.

The 6.0-liter biturbo V12 has also been upgraded 28 hp to now make 640 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque. All this extra luxury does of course come at a price: €406,000 for the Maybach 57 Zeppelin and €473,200 for the Maybach 62 Zeppelin. At today’s rates, that’s about $524,000 and $610,000 respectively. While the price alone will ensure exclusivity, Mercedes says the Zeppelin edition will be limited to 100 units.

A Maybach brochure dating from 1930 clearly sets out the firm’s stall: “To create only the very best from the very best – a car that fulfils every last wish and stands out for its supremely refined elegance and power.” At that time, Karl Maybach had developed a luxury car, the likes of which had never been seen before. Maybach derived the design of its mighty twelve-cylinder drive unit from the same engine he had developed to power the daring airships of aviation pioneer Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin. Inspired by the Count’s visionary personality, he christened Germany’s first ever series-production twelve-cylinder car “Zeppelin”, and offered it to a highly discerning (and solvent) clientele with a displacement of either seven or eight litres (150 hp or 200 hp).

2010 Maybach Zeppelin

Even today, the name “Zeppelin” has an incomparable ring to it in the realm of high-end luxury cars. As the flagship model in today’s range of Maybach Saloons, the new Maybach Zeppelin does justice to its branding. The name is not merely intended to rekindle memories, after all: as in bygone times, Maybach is once again building the Maybach Zeppelin for distinguished drivers who are seeking something extra special, even in this most luxurious of automotive segments. Not only do the Maybach 57 Zeppelin and Maybach 62 Zeppelin stand out for their exquisite elegance, inventive ideas and phenomenal performance.

Press release

The Maybach brand is bringing out the new Maybach Zeppelin to spearhead its luxury saloon model range. The new model, which is receiving its premiere at the Geneva Motor Show, represents the absolute zenith in the high-end luxury saloon segment. This makes it a worthy successor to the legendary Maybach Zeppelin, which was revered worldwide as the ultimate in high-class automotive engineering in the 1930s. The hallmark features of the new Maybach flagship’s unique sense of style include a stunning paint finish, featuring a shoulderline in a contrasting colour, as well as the exquisite, meticulously crafted materials in the interior, whose long list of optional extras includes a world first – a highly sophisticated perfume atomiser. The new model’s performance even outclasses the rest of the Maybach range, making it the most powerful Maybach ever. In a nutshell: the Maybach Zeppelin epitomises stylish elegance and the art of vehicle manufacture at its most refined as no car has ever done before. The new Maybach Zeppelin is being built in a limited edition of just 100 worldwide.

Even today, the name “Zeppelin” has an incomparable ring to it in the realm of high-end luxury cars. As in bygone times, Maybach is once again building the Maybach Zeppelin for drivers who are seeking something extra special, even in this most luxurious of automotive segments. Not only do the Maybach 57 Zeppelin and Maybach 62 Zeppelin stand out for their exquisite elegance, inventive ideas and phenomenal performance, only one hundred of these special model versions of the high-end luxury saloons will be made worldwide.

Even greater power for the Maybach Zeppelin

The Maybach 57 S and the long-wheelbase version, the 62 S, serve as the technical basis for the new range-topping model. Supreme performance is assured in both cases by the 6.0 litre V12 biturbo power unit under the bonnet, which now delivers 471 kW/640 hp (+ 28 hp) and a peak torque of 1000 Newton metres.

A two-tone exterior identifies the new Maybach flagship

Whatever angle it is viewed from, the new Maybach Zeppelin radiates character and the sort of style which appeals to all the senses. From the outside, the luxury brand’s new top-of-the-range model can be recognised by its two-tone special paint finish. The shoulderline is painted right through to the background of the headlamp assemblies in Rocky Mountains light brown, which forms a stylish and scintillating contrast to the Taiga black finish used for the rest of the vehicle body. Dark red tail light units and a fine vertical partition in the tailpipe add striking visual touches at the rear. Naturally, customers may also specify their Maybach Zeppelin in any other paint finish they wish.

The Maybach Zeppelin’s newly designed 20-inch wheels in a Chrome Shadow finish complete the picture. These were first painted with a black undercoat, before having a silver topcoat applied using an elaborate painting process that causes the tone to gradually increase in darkness from the outside in.

Finest-quality leather and high-gloss piano lacquer trim

The new Maybach Zeppelin is a car for connoisseurs, as is immediately apparent from its interior. Here, the luxurious leather appointments in California beige leather form a delightful contrast with the exclusive leather in deep Stromboli black that gives added impact to the shoulderline on the inside too. At the same time, the lustrous deep black tone of the leather harmonises beautifully with the exquisite piano lacquer finish of the trim elements. The precisely crafted contrasting topstitching in the dashboard and on the doors reinforces the Maybach Zeppelin’s sense of dynamism. The unusual diamond quilting pattern on the seat cushions and backrests together with the black piping gives the opulently styled seats a character all of their own. The occupants’ feet rest on genuine lambskin carpeting.

The limited-edition special models bear a number of discreet identifying markings in the interior too. The centre console in the front, the partition screen that is available as an option for the Maybach Zeppelin 62, plus the silver champagne flutes included as standard are all marked with the lettering “MAYBACH ZEPPELIN”, while the door sill panels as well as the key ring are engraved with the word “ZEPPELIN”.

World first – a system for a fine interior fragrance

Customers are also able to opt for an especially refined equipment detail that is exclusive to the Maybach Zeppelin – an imaginatively designed, extremely high-quality perfume atomiser, the only one of its kind in the world. It easily eclipses all previous efforts to produce something similar, both in terms of its visual appeal and its operation. Its sophisticated technology and premium fragrances, which can be individually chosen, create a unique aromatic experience in the Maybach Zeppelin’s interior at the push of a button – stimulating the senses of the occupants not with an overpowering perfume but with a soft, delicate scent.

The system’s core component is an internally illuminated Plexiglass sphere on the rear centre console, into which Maybach Zeppelin owners can insert a vial of their preferred fragrance. A regulator pump then directs a gentle flow of air into the Plexiglass sphere, fanning the vial’s perfume molecules into the vehicle interior.

The ingenious control understands the human sense of smell

The perfume atomiser can be activated either from the driver’s seat or by means of a button in the rear centre console, with an additional thumbwheel in the rear for sensitive aroma control. The chosen fragrance gently wafts into the passenger compartment within ten to twelve seconds. On models with a partition screen, only the passengers in the rear are able to activate the atomiser.

The aroma experts took the human sense of smell into consideration when designing the control mechanism. As the nose adjusts to smells in such a way that it no longer perceives them after a short while, the perfume atomiser switches off after about ten minutes. Once the system has switched off, the fragrance – which does not seep into the interior’s materials or the occupants’ clothes – quickly evaporates. Reactivating the atomiser later allows the experience to be enjoyed all over again.

Artistic, hand-blown vials and specially developed fragrances

The system comes supplied with two select fragrances, which have been exclusively developed for the Maybach by a renowned perfumer from global specialist Givaudan: one light and refreshing, the other slightly heavier and woodier.

Maybach Zeppelin owners can also use other fragrances, or even have one specially developed and enjoy the luxury of immersing themselves in their very own, personally designed aroma. The fragrance holders are easily interchangeable. The specification includes a total of three valuable vials, which are hand-blown by a well-known glass artist.

The elaborate, silent-running perfume atomiser system is a patented Maybach innovation.

The Maybach 57 Zeppelin costs €406,000, the Maybach 62 Zeppelin has a price tag of €473,200 (German list price, excl. VAT). The perfume atomiser that is exclusive to the Zeppelin can be ordered for an extra €3950 (German list price, excl. VAT).

The new Maybach Zeppelin goes on sale on 3 March 2009, with the first models expected to be delivered to customers in September 2009.