Team Lotus reveals T128

Team Lotus - not to be confused with the Lotus Renault GP Team - has unveiled its 2011 Formula 1 car.

Even if that naming clash is still to be dragged through the courts, thankfully the team has decided not to swap last season’s green and yellow colour scheme for a gold and black one. At least that means spectators will be able to tell the numerous Lotuses apart.



The big changes are under the paintjob, though. Gone are 2010’s Cosworth engines, replaced by motors from Renault which have been combined with gearboxes and hydraulics systems courtesy of Red Bull Technologies.

Together with more aggressive aerodynamics and revised suspension, the Norfolk-based team seems confident that the improved package will be good enough to let drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli score some points in 2011.



Mike Gascoyne, Chief Technical Officer, said: ‘I think that basically this car looks like a front-running car in every area. We said very clearly that we want to start challenging the established teams and I think that's very achievable.’ Fighting talk indeed.



Related post:

Two Lotus teams in F1?

Khan Design's Freelander 2 also uses the new Land Rover Freelander 2

The project Khan Freelander 2 adds 20" RS-C alloy (or chrome) rims and a few changes on the exterior as well as the interior features. The interior is provided with leather seats, word steering wheels, revised trim (with some optional high gloss grand Black Lacquer Finish) and of course it will not be complete without its in-car video entertainment system.

Khan Design's Freelander 2 also uses the new Land Rover Freelander 2 factory performance body kit which is not yet officially introduced yet by Land Rover but most UK dealers have them already in their showrooms and are being offered with the rest of high quality Rover Freelander parts.

2011 The Defender X-Tech Limited Edition

With the vast range of models and specs on offer it may be a little daunting to the first time buyer. However don't be overwhelmed by the choices, because visiting a good specialist used Land Rover dealership means that you will be able to talk through your requirements with experienced sales staff who can advise on the model that best suits your needs. This applies to any used vehicle, and a specialist dealership should be your first port of call to avoid disappointedly kicking the tyres of a rust bucket that looks nothing like the "good as new, one careful lady owner" car that you were expecting.

As I was only borrowing this particular used Land Rover Defender for a few hours, I thought it prudent to avoid any off-road adventures. However travelling the back roads made it clear that the advances in technology have only served to enhance the performance of the Defender. I barely felt a jolt as I mounted the grass at the side of a single-lane country road in order to let another driver pass. And whilst I may love the classic models, one can't exactly pretend that they provide the most comfortable of rides over rougher terrain. The improved suspension of the updated Defender meant that even a vicious-looking pothole evoked merely a shrug from the vehicle.

The 2011 Honda Fit comes

Introduced for the 2011 model year, the Fit is Honda's smallest and most affordable product. In terms of size, the Fit hatchback is about 20 inches shorter than a Civic sedan -- yet if measured by interior volume, the Fit nearly matches the passenger space of the much larger, midsize Accord. Honda has managed this by using an innovative, highly versatile "Magic Seat" seating arrangement, a compact suspension design and the placement of the fuel tank underneath the passenger seat.

The 2011 Honda Fit comes only a five-door hatchback and is Honda's lowest-priced car for the U.S. market. Although the Fit is also the smallest model in the Honda lineup, it's about the same length and width as the Honda Civic when it was last offered in the United States as a three-door hatchback (back in 2000). However, the five-door Fit is significantly roomier inside due to its tall, upright body style.
The 2011 Honda Fit comes

The Honda Fit is popular Honda vehicle in Japan and Europe

The Honda Fit is a subcompact four-door hatchback perfect for getting you through times of increasingly expensive fuel with a cheerful, economical, less-is-more attitude. Built to Honda's usual exacting, world-class standards, the Fit proves that a hip, desirable car can be affordable for most anyone.

Already an established and popular Honda vehicle in Japan and Europe, we expect that success will also follow it here in the U.S. The Honda Fit is a smart, nearly perfect choice for consumers living in congested urban areas. The vehicle's strengths include snappy handling, interior adaptability and high quality, at a relatively low price.

The Honda Fit is popular Honda vehicle in Japan and Europe

The 2011 Honda Civic released before a complete design overhaul

Eventually, Honda is expected to mold the Civic to look more like its futuristic-looking counterparts sold in foreign markets. For the 2011 Civic, however, styling changes are unlikely. Honda will probably offer a few new body colors to distinguish the 2011 from the previous model, but other than that, the car will remain unchanged. The 2011 Honda Civic is expected to be the last model released before a complete design overhaul. See our gallery of photos to check out how the new Civic will look.


Specifications

Here are the known specs for the 2011 Honda Civic:
Pricing

No specific pricing information has been released, but the 2011 Civic should start at just over $16,000 and range up to $28,000 for the hybrid version. No invoice information is available at this time.
Fuel economy

The 2011 Civic with a manual transmission should have city/highway fuel economy car ratings of 26/34 mpg and 25/36 with an automatic transmission
Engine

1.8-liter four cylinder with 140 horsepower; SI Civic has 2.0-liter four cylinder with 197 horsepower
Drivetrain

Five-speed manual or five-speed automatic available on all but the SI; SI comes with six-speed manual
Acceleration

0-60 mph in about 9.6 seconds with automatic transmission; SI 0-60 time is 7.1 seconds
Model lineup

Honda may add a special performance edition to the Civic lineup for 2011, called the Type R
Car safety features

All current safety features will carry over to the 2011 Honda Civic, but Honda may opt to make electronic stability control available on all trims rather than on just the hybrid, EX-L, and SI trims
Suspension

The Si Civic has a sport-tuned suspension
Warranty

Three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and five years of corrosion protection

The 2011 Honda Civic should return essentially unchanged

Goto Honda Dealer Search and Give your Address or the Zip Code of the location where you reside. With Toyota marred with the recalls that spot seems to have gone to Honda Civic. In a fashion similar to th 2011 Honda Civic,the 2011 Honda Civic, likely to be launched in August or September 2011 will body styles that will be similar to the 2010 Honda Civic.

The 2011 Honda Civic should return essentially unchanged from 2010 as Honda prepares to launch an all-new 2012 Honda Civic. This tabs the 2011 Civic as a lame duck navigating the compact-car waters with a design that dates to model-year 2006. The 2011 Civic will repeat sedan and coupe body styles and again be available as a gas-electric hybrid sedan. Slightly larger than the coupe, the Civic sedan is roomier and rides softer. Should you wait for the 2011 Honda Civic or buy a 2010 Honda Civic?

Styling: The 2011 Honda Civic styling should carry over from 2010 with only a few new exterior colors to distinguish the two model years. The Civic four-door is notably roomy, with particularly generous rear-seat room for a compact car. Mechanical: The 2011 Civic powertrain lineup should segue into 2011 intact. Several have six-speed manual and automatic transmissions versus Civic’s less-efficient five-speed units. Optimists hope Honda will mark the end of this Civic design cycle by adding a high-performance model. The 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid will return as a sedan only and combine a 1.3-liter gas engine with an electric motor for a total of 110 horsepower. The Civic Hybrid employs a continuously variable transmission, or CVT. This Civic GX sedan has a 113-horspower 1.8-liter powered exclusively by natural gas.

2011 Ford Fiesta Reviews

But keep the pot boiling and you will find a rather nice power train here. I have heard that the Ford racing folks have already toyed around with a Fiesta or two, so let's see what happens power-wise in the future. Of course, it runs on regular unleaded and Ford projects gas mileage on the tested vehicle of 29 city and 38 on the highway. I got 31 mpg.

The gearbox is easy to get acquainted with and the light clutch pedal helps as well. The shift from fourth to fifth might be a stretch for some with short arms. Reverse gear is to the right and down, at a time when most makers put it to the left and up, so that might take some getting used to.

Keep the revs up and you will find this to be kind of a fun car out on curvy back roads, thanks to a well-thought suspension. There are independent MacPherson struts with a stabilizer bar up front, and a twist beam with coil springs to the rear. Ford promised to make as few changes as possible to the European Spec Fiesta and overall they did it. Handling is secure and while the feedback through the wheel isn't the greatest, there was little body lean and the SE model standard P185/60R15 tires hung on rather well. Look for a standing start to 60 time of about 9 seconds or so. On the interstate, the little four virtually dozes in fifth gear and is seldom heard from except on downshifts, and then not to any extreme. Ford promised this would be one of the quietest cars in the subcompact field and they delivered on that one also. So watch your speed on the interstates, because it is so quiet it is very easy to find yourself over the limit.
2011 Ford Fiesta Reviews

A review of the 2011 Ford Fiesta

I drove a fiesta when I worked in Europe and it was a great little car. My son was interested in buying one here, but when we went and looked at it, it wasn't the same car, much more cheaply made. It would be great if Ford was actually bringing the same car here with the same fit and finish. Yes, it's a cheap car and you get what you pay for, not sure that a Honda or Toyota wouldn't be a better buy. But it's the right move for Ford.

Second off the bat, let me say Ford has a heck of a car here, one that consumers worrying about the price of gasoline, or seeking a back-to-college car for the offspring, should put at the top of their list.

For U.S. consumers this is the second go around for the Fiesta subcompact, but for those in Europe this is the sixth generation Fiesta and it certainly has improved with age.

Let's get some basics out of the way first and then jump behind the wheel. Assembled in Cuautitlan Izcalli, Mexico, the tested Fiesta hatchback has a unitized steel body, is 160 inches long, rides on a 98-inch wheelbase, and is 67.8 inches wide and 58 inches tall. That makes it 14 inches longer than a Mini Cooper and three inches longer than the Mazda MX5 Miata. Or about the same overall size as the Honda Fit.

Only one engine is offered, a 1.6-liter inline four manufactured in Brazil (these things seem to matter to some readers). It has an aluminum block and head with DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder and is rated at 120 hp at 6,350 rpm with a rather meager 112 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm. Ford offers a slick shifting 5-speed manual or a dual-clutch automatic that I did not get a chance to try.

The engine is smooth and refined until you get near the 6,000-plus red line when things get a little raspy. It is both a joy and setback in this subcompact -- a joy if you keep the revs up above 3,500 rpm to extract all of the power that engine has. Get lazy about shifting on a back road and start up a long hill and you are looking at a two-gear reduction, and wondering if the torque should not be measured in pounds-feet but
A review of the 2011 Ford Fiesta

831 PS Audi RS6 Avant

As standard, the now discontinued Audi RS6 Avant came with a BMW M5-beating 571 bhp (426 kW / 579 PS) from its 5.0 litre twin-turbo V10 engine.

But now a couple of UK tuners have gotten together to raise that to a massive 819 bhp (611 kW / 831 PS), also increasing torque by over 50% to 977 Nm (720 lb/ft) in the process.



Dorset-based Turbo Dynamics is responsible for fettling the turbochargers, while MRC Tuning of Banbury adds a Stage 3 remap for the ECU, a new fuelling kit, 3” down pipes and revised air intakes.

The result is a 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time of just 3.6 seconds, plus an electronically limited top speed of 217.5 mph (350 km/h).



For anyone tempted to get hold of a used RS6 to convert, there are currently over twenty examples listed on Auto Trader. Prices start at just under £47,000.

2011 New Chevrolet Cruze coming soon

New Chevrolet Cruze: Chevrolet brought its architecture teams about the apple to actualize the Chevrolet Cruze, a car that changes the rules. Hop on the new Chevrolet Cruze and you will ascertain an affected cabin, able with an arrangement of allowances that far beat your expectations.

2011 New Chevrolet Cruze coming soon

2011 PEUGEOT 4002 Concept

Peugeot introduced a web-based amateur style competition at the 2002 Paris Motor Show, inviting aspiring designers to create a completely unhinged retro-futurist design that incorporated distinct styling features of a historic Peugeot model. A total of 2800 proposals from 90 countries were registered, and Stephen Schulze, a 32-year-old German graphic artist, was selected as the winner. At the 2003 Geneva Motor Show, Schulze was awarded a trophy and €5000, and it was announced that Peugeot would create a full-scale version of the design.

The winner was the talented Stephen Schulze of Germany and his stunning 4002 design. One of the most creative car design concepts in decades, the organically-shaped 4002 is both futuristic as well as replete with styling cues from Peugeots of the past, such as the headlights behind the radiator grille that was seen in the Peugeot 402 of the 1930s.

Expressing The Peugeot 20Cup

Expressing Peugeot's new alignment with sport, the 20Cup is an innovative concept, both « fun » and dynamic: suggesting an elegant synthesis between two worlds - that of the motor car by its front aspect and that of the motorcycle by its single rear wheel. This sporty, three-wheel roadster, shown in two examples, differentiated only by colour, promises real driving pleasure through the strong sensations it evokes.

Confirming its presence in high-level motor sport, Peugeot recently announced its new commitment to competition via the LMES Championship.

The new Peugeot 907 is a concept car

The new Peugeot 907 is a concept car from Peugeot. The body is built from carbon fiber. The car was never really meant to go into production, but just to be a prototype for featuring Peugeot's new designing techniques. The car would have large V12 engine mounted just behind the front wheels (for handling purposes) that would put out over 500 horsepower

A few more things to keep in mind when choosing a car for when you build your own electric car, power steering and air conditioning. If your car has power steering then you will need to have a separate motor for that. Also air conditioning drags on your battery so your battery will die sooner with an air conditioner. There is a way that you can still use your air conditioner though; you just have to use a special magnet system to work the compressor.

Electric cars and hybrids are becoming more and more popular. If you really want to build your own electric vehicle there are plenty of resources out there that can help you get your car up and running correctly. An electric car in the long run could be a benefit because you would save money on gas.

2011 The Peugeot 207 SW Outdoor

It was only a year ago that Peugeot, the producer of Peugeot oxygen sensor introduced the 207 in France and into the main European markets. It also became the fourth entry of Peugeot in the European small car market segment, along with the 107, the 1007, and the 206. And today the introduction of the 207 SW with its outdoor charm rounds up the 207 range.

An expanding range
The 207 SW which will be available in July is expected to broaden further the 207 range that has earlier launched a hatchback version. And like the 207 CC, the 207 RC together with the three and five door hatchbacks earlier introduced will also help in strengthening the 207 range.