July 31, 2003
Thirsty Diesel
Thirsty after driving you diesel vehicle ? In the future you may just drink some nice fresh “by-product” water… you don’t believe me ? Read on
Not only hydrogen powered cars have water by-product … though the diesel one will need some filtration … yeah.
July 30, 2003
Mini Cabrio
That cute car will go topless in a few months. Not only does this bode well for your tan, if you like performance, the vehicle will even be available Supercharged.
Start saving your pennies. Better yet, start buying lottery tickets.
BTW, if you fly to Miami for vacation, you may want to spend an extra $739 US for a week’s worth of Mini Experience. Think how cool it would be for these guys to stock some convertibles soon “:D”
Estima Hybrid
In Japan, Toyota sells the Estima Hybrid minivan, what we call “Previa”. This minivan gets 18.6 km/liter of petrol, which translates to 5.4 liters/100 km or 43.8 US MPG. It is based on technology used in the Prius, the Hybrid Synergy Drive.
The engine at the heart of this is the Toyota 2AZ-FE a 2.4 liter engine that will be the core of many mid-sized vehicles and in hybrid form, larger ones.
Now that is fuel economy and emissions control in one.
Cheap $
I have ready some scary statistics before, but take a look at the current money trends and how they affect cars, car companies and especially General Motors pension.
How would you plug a 19 Billion Dollar leak ?
Senators do
… what Senators do best.
The US Senate voted down, 35-65 against, a resolution proposed by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) that would have raised CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) to 40 MPG for cars and 27.5 MPG for trucks by 2015. (more”)
Essentially, the US stick to 27.5 MPG for cars and 20.5 MPG for trucks. There is some trailing requirements, such as 22.2 MPG by 2007 for trucks and a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposal to come “to raise CAFE to the highest possible level with economic factors taken into account”.
Methinks Japanese car makers are going to eat the “fuel economy cake” before their US counterparts wake-up. Well, I hope anyway.
Additionally, the “Sierra Club” has taken upon themselves to ridicule the 11MPG Hummer H2.
Freelander
Land Rover, owned by briefly by BMW and now Ford, is about to release the 2004 Freelander.
Although the look is even more Range-Rove-esque, the vehicle is actually a more compromised mini SUV then before due to lowered springs (30-mm) and road only tyres on 18 inch wheels. If this is the result of US & Canadian input in the specifications, then I must apologize for these silly changes, but must point out that “they didn’t ask me”.
As for how long this one will be marketed: 1 year. In 2005, we expect a new Freelander on a new “platform”. So much for effective use of money.
More info:
AutoExpress
July 29, 2003
X5 Hybrid
BMW has an interesting twist on the Hybrid car: take a big powerful SUV and make it measurably more economical while adding to it’s sheer power.
The X5 Hybrid uses a 4.4-litre V8 engine coupled with an electric motor fed by super capacitors that give a boost for only 7 seconds, the same amount of time it takes them to recharge.
Essentially, this may be called “Electric Turbo” …
Offering 30-40 per cent better acceleration than the standard car, while improving economy by a fifth, this hybrid shows you can have your cake and eat it.
July 28, 2003
New or Used ?
Buying a new car always entails massive first year depreciation.
Buying used always seems to incur expensive retroactive maintenance work.
Which is best ? Hard call, though I suspect the information by Phil Bailey might just be what you need to read.
I must remind myself to take my “old one” in for a review and a brake job.
Aka
Alias|Wavefront is no more. Today, celebrating their 20th Anniversary, the company changed it’s name to simply Alias and introduced new updated software for industrial design
July 27, 2003
Guinness Mini
Please excuse my tardiness to update this item, but I’m rather ill today. I blame the weather …
So onto some explanation of what this picture represents.
Recipe:
- EA F1 2002 - 1 CDs worth of F1 excitement, recently updated to F1 Challenge ‘99-02
- GT Racing 2002 mod weighing in at 265MB
- 360 Modena Challenge add-on for above so that you get N-GT cars and options for 47MB
- Mini Cooper Challenge mod as an 8MB file with add-ons for more teams
- Privateers 1 team add-on
And now you can enjoy some Mini Cooper racing. A good PC steering wheel is recommended.
Expect a standalone, meaning “much smaller” edition of this mod for “EA F1 Challenge ‘99-’02”. So far, “F1C” is considered the greatest evolution of the series and unfortunately the last. The FIA has licensed F1 driving games to SONY PS2 exclusivity for the next 4 years, locking serious PC driving simulator fans out of the joy. I expect “F1C” to be fan updated yearly because of this.
Even more details to follow…
July 26, 2003
Golf V
The new Golf has been unveiled, ready for a Fall sales!
Expect good deal on the older models sometime in Fall 2005 in North America.
Update: The Car Connection indicates a December 2005 release in NorthAm.
Even more previews:
VWvortex
CanadianDriver
AutoExpress
CarBC
CarDesignNews
July 25, 2003
Fuelaholic
Sierra Club is pointing out that Ford’s latest generation has worse average fuel economy in 20 years.
Somehow I doubt the 20 years bit, but certainly worse then last year.
LA Smog
4. State has authority over antiperspirants, room fresheners and perfume, which collectively are 2nd only to vehicle tailpipes for smog-forming fumes
more info
July 24, 2003
Birthday Echo
:D
The Echo Hatch starts sale when I turn-over a new year! Funky.
Price your next Toyota online, select Français or English, then Site Navigation and finally “Price Your Toyota”
July 23, 2003
Seat Tango
I sometime miss a nice concept car, reading about it when mentioned in some later context, usually as a comparison.
From the pen of the Italian designer Walter De’ Silva, formerly with Alfa-Romeo, now head of Audi, SEAT and Lamborghini brands for VW Group, presented at the 2001 Frankfurt Auto Show : Seat Tango
in this picture, somehow I see the pouncing Jaguar logo in front wheel-arch and door frame.
New Astra
Ok, who was peeking! What is up with all these identical cars ?
July 22, 2003
A Good Home
A 1954, ex-BC Forestry Service Land Rover needs a good home. If you are into classic vehicles please take a look at this.
Old Cars
Sometimes an old decrepit car still manages to wow. Below is a Chrysler Airflow.
Picture comes from a good article on the Honda Civic Hybrid from CanadianDriver.
July 21, 2003
Buying a Car
Looking to buy a car ? A tip from a good source always helps.
Hybrid Toyota(s)
Following on the heels of the 2nd generation Prius, Toyota may unveil a series of other “hybrid” vehicles:
- Sienna mini-van
- Highlander soft-roader/sports-wagon
- Camry
- Lexus sedan
- Lexus RX400H ( Hybrid version of the RX300)
One Lap TDI
On a “Turbo Direct Injection” kick, I have a good old article worth a read.
TDI Supply
Props to TDICLub for this piece of news
Original Geman URL
Volkswagen has agreed to supply 120,000 TDI engines annually for Daimler Chrysler Daimler Chrysler for installation in Chrysler and Mitsubishi models. The direct-Injection engines are to be use in nine different compact and middle class series of Chrysler and Mitsubishi starting in 2005. The American and Japanese mark of Daimler Chrysler remove their current weakness in the Diesel technology. At the same time the company is to take over if possible little technology of Mercedes for Chrysler and Mitsubishi. The agreement concerns the at present most modern four cylinder TDIs from Volkswagen, the two-litre with 16 valves and “pumpe duese”, which up-to-date with 103 KW (140 HP) achievement is used in the Touran and the AUDI A3. The engine is produced in the Volkswagen factory Salzgitter. For Daimler Chrysler lightly modified version can achieve modified performance. So far Volkswagens and Daimler Daimler-Chrysler have co-operated with the production of the transporters VOLKSWAGEN LT and Mercedes Sprinter. The supply of a small number of items of VW-V6-gasoline engines for the Mercedes v-class is in the meantime has been terminated.
“I believe a ‘Woohoo’ goes to both VW and Daimler-Chrysler” - me
Prius 2.0 Spec
83+ MPG ? Wow. “Whisper Mode” ?
The Toyota Prius 2.0 is all that
Land Rover
According to the poll carried out by “Top Gear” BBC show/magazine in the UK, the Land Rover, built since 1948, and now known as the “Defender” is the Greatest Car of all time.
I couldn’t agree more. If I had $10K Cdn, I could buy one completely refitted to modern standards. Sigh.
Hongik U
Car Design News is carrying a photo journal of the Hongik University’s Transportation Design Degree show of 2003. It’s nice to see concepts that are obviously targeted to a future or fictitious market.
July 20, 2003
Dodge SRT-4
“The most bang for the buck!” should be the battle cry of all Mopar fans as the Dodge SRT-4 makes its way to dealers. For the tidy sum of $30 K Cdn, you get a somewhat stealthy Dodge SX looking car with the performance of a baby-Viper.
If it weren’t for the non-functional hood scoop (why did they bother then ?), the Viper’s seats and a noisy muffler, it could be the ultimate “Q-Car”.
props to AllPar for a good review.
Democratic CAFE
Democratic presidential hopefuls are targeting Bush’s lack of “fuel economy” using an increased CAFE ( Corporate Average Fuel Economy ) as the stick.
It looks like the “fuel economy” may become the primary focus of the next US election. The Big3 of course chafe under the restriction, often using their “job cuts” threat and the UAW’s inherent blended interest as means of leverage.
For a nation that lives off car sales and imports 50%+ of its fuel, it seems foolish to continue hurdling into the “consumption abyss”, but they do.
Someone should clue the USA into “home grown” Bio-Diesel as a means to self-assurance.
Shell "Better Fuel"
Shell is promoting very hard their new Improved Fuel Economy blend. Essentially, the blend contains more detergents the keep carbon build-up down, reduce friction by 1% and thus improve milage and emissions.
July 17, 2003
Vauxhall VX Lightning
Affordable roadsters are make an appearance again, often as “Anniversary Cars” for their respective makers. Vauxhall, a proud British firm, in the grips of GM, produced the Vauxhall VX Lightning on the Pontiac Solstice roadster project car.
It is beauty and a “relative” bargain.
Dungeon Siege
Dungeon Siege was an addictive and pretty game at the onset of the story-arc, but devolved into a mayhem of combat later. Now I learned that neat fan-made mods exist for alternate settings.
Maybe it is time for me to re-try this game.
July 16, 2003
The science of lowering interior noise
Excellent article by Jim Kerr @ CanadianDriver
Interior noise levels in passenger vehicles have been decreasing for years. Hop into most new vehicles and the first impression will be how comfortable the ride is. Part of this comfort is provided by the quiet ride. Achieving this quiet ride is not easy. Any time an object passes through the air and rolls on a surface, noise will be generated. The trick is to allow only noises that are not objectionable into the passenger compartment.
iPod Beetle
VW & Apple got together to launch a campaign of shared concepts.
Similar values it seems …
July 15, 2003
Cross-Lander
From Brazil, via a 10 year contract with ARO of Romania, comes an old-fashioned military style 4×4, the Cross-Lander. Unlike most SUV crazed person, my folks and I have always needed a 4×4 to go to our cottage in the thick of winter and this one looks like a great compromise in quality and cost.
My hope was to find a turbo-diesel, 4 door, large bed, 4 wheel drive vehicle in the tradition of the Land Rover Defender and the Toyota Land Cruiser 78, neither of which gets road-worthy credits in Canada.
Will the Cross-Lander ?
Commentary from a private debate list (Google cache)
ARO historic
July 14, 2003
Got Beer ?
Tip of the hat to Bruno for this great site: Beer Is Good For You!
Though it may not be that safe at work…
Timewarp
Lou just pointed out my circa 2000 edition of coffeehaus.com Neato!
You can see other editions and notice my coffee fixation.
Renesis
Mazda RX8 First Drive in Canada. Some folks may even think of ditching their Miata for one. No ?
Subaru SUV
The rumours are being confirmed by a sketch (<- still hunting for this one) that Subaru is ready to tackle the SUV craze. AutoExpress implies that this is Range Rover class vehicle.
It seems that Subaru is making a bid to climb higher in the car making-food-chain. Volvo, Audi and Range-Rover as targets, Saab as an ally (?).
Interesting.
July 13, 2003
Pirates! Arr!
Just saw Pirates of the Caribbean, The Curse of the Black Pearl which turns a simple cursed pirate story into a visually stuning “Sunday Matinee”. A good mix of era-accurate visuals, a bunch of descent location shots and charming characters make for a fun movie. Though I’m biased, much like the heroine, I like “Pirates” too.
I found myself nodding, smilling or outright laughing to each well chosen moment, where the modern “Special Effects” enhanced an already well timed scene.
July 11, 2003
Wolfsburg
VWvortex presents a factory tour of Wolfsburg. Besides the “canned” pictures from VW and the “Ultra PR” feel, it is still a nice review on how VW works.
VW Tupi
The replacement for the VW Lupo is from the Brazilian arm of VW: the Tupi.
The new car carries cues from the Polo and should be on the South American market by year’s end and then Europe. No clear information about any super-miserly turbo diesel variant like the Lupo L3.
Things his ...
Before we return to our scheduled car topics, I must point out how some people’s choice of “web page” topics can be both entertaining and painful at the same time.
Let me introduced you to such a site: Things my girlfriend and I have argued about
I cried from laughter, I cringed in pain, I’m bemused and yet strangely entertained. Those darn Brits can write …
July 09, 2003
HK Vampire Slayers
“Buffy’s” creator, Joss Whedon, should be proud, Hong Kong is camping he style!
Take a sci-fi element, Year 20XX, add Vampires from Outer Space, a couple of Vampire Hunters, lots of wire-work, cutesie HK poster girls in trendy outfits and a plot-line that somehow includes ancient vampire lords and even mention of Vlad the Impaler.
I’m talking about The Twins Effect, a movie that looks like an “Arcade Game” tie-in … which it isn’t. Much worse then that, this movie is a “vehicle” for the hottest HK pop-group “The Twins”.
This movie will stun you with both action and the level on inane stupidity, and maybe the fact the Jackie Chan, among other HK stars, make extended cameos as well.
Heck, this would be a major draw at Montreal’s Fant-Asia, if the old “Imperial Theater’s” 4 million dollar’s worth of repairs are done. Hopefully next year then!
This movie is cheese, on the way to the lofty high grade “fromage” category. You have been warned!
You can find this movie online and English subtitles as well.
July 07, 2003
Street Racing
I read Canadian Driver regularly. The website manages to be informed, well written and current. The nod goes to my Dad for telling me about it.
I know you have all heard about “Street Racing”, may have even seen one, but I have never read a story that summarizes the issues in Toronto. Being a performance car fan, I have already made-up my mind that I will avoid a “flashy” car, but instead build a “stealthy” one: a Q Ship of sorts.
Jack Johnson : Posters
Chillin’ at work. Finally got a weight off my shoulders, Oracle ERP is happy again.
My new inexpensive Sennheiser HD-437 earphones on, Jack Johnson playing Poster.
All chill here.
July 06, 2003
Clutch & Shift
“It’s all fun and games until …” it cost more then the real world.
Not to prove that, but if you wanted to play a racing simulation … and wanted to have some quality steering gear, you would chose a Logitech MOMO Force.
If that wasn’t enough, say you want a clutch and handbrake, then visit Frex GP and be stunned.
$300 Cdn. for Shifter + hand Brake kit, shipped. Hmmm ….
Caldina
Seen this car before ? Toyota Matrix ? Nope.
This is the Toyota Caldina, rumored to be the next Scion branded vehicle arriving in California. Considered a Japanese “cross-over” vehicle, a term abused beyond recognition, this “station wagon” (my bad) is a platform cousin of the Japanese Allion/Premio sedan twins.
What may make this a hot prospect in North America is the “video arcade style” dashboard, the platform option of 4WD and the “GT-Four” versions’ S3-GTE engine delivering 172 bhp/ton. In plain english: this is one fast stealthy “station wagon”!
One thing that may bother your, it comes only in AT (automatic transmission).
Lincoln LS Tune
Props go to “Lincoln” for using the tune Get a Move On (RealMedia) by Mr Scruff in their new Lincoln LS TV/Online spots. Funny how a 280 HP strong V8 Lincoln is something not only people in hats drive. Dan, this might be just the one for you :D
At 138 bhp/ton for the V6 and 163 bhyp/ton for the V8, these Lincoln’s do seem to “Get a Move On!”
What make me sooo sad, is the Mr Scruff performed yesterday at the Montreal Jazz Fest, at Club Soda. I only found now. Sigh.
Diamond in the Rough
Diamond Star Motors was a joint ownership entity between Chrysler Corp and Mitsubishi, stretching back into the 80s. To the purists, this means the following cars: Eagle Talon, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Laser, Mitsubishi Galant VR.
What is rarely mentioned, due to shame or envy, is that the Chrysler Sebring & Dodge Avenger are also DSM cars, even if they do not share the whole platform of the others. The Sebring, named after the wonderful racing course, and the Avenger, named rather eloquently as a NASCAR type bruiser, are both based on the Mitsubishi Galant platform.
Since I own black ‘95 Avenger ES, based on the ‘94-’98 V6 Galant, it is equipped with a 2.5 liter engine matched with a 4 speed automatic transmission. This combination produced adequate power to weight ratio strait from the factory, unlike the 4 cylinder model, but the 4 cylinder model turned out to be the “tuner’s dream”.
The DSM/Mitsubishi 4A20 engine is a close cousin of the 4g62/63 , known in Street Racing circles as the engine of the “Lancer” family, thus Turbo capable.
So my choice of a V6-default-automatic was a good one for a 2800+ pound coupe, but had I known the 4 cylinder-5 speed tranny combo would allow for a turbo, or even an engine swap for the legendary VR4 Galant “Lancer Evo” spec engine.
Boohoo, no mods for me? Well, I discovered that simply isn’t true anymore. Over the last two-three years, Sebring/Avenger owners have finally begun to experiment (at a high $$ cost) with turbos, engine swaps and now 5 speed transmission mods. Hmm.
All of the sudden, my 8 year old car could be “renewed” to a 3.0 liter, turbo, 5 speed.
The question is: “Is it worth it ?”
Prices in US dollars.
3.0L 6G72 Engine swap: $650 labor + crated engine $2,550
Stage 1 Turbo kit: $2,650 - $3,400 + labor
RMDSM Swaybar kit: $275 + labor
So 10-12K Cdn with paint job.
End result is a rather unique vehicle, maybe a dozen like it around the world. Easily 280-300 bhp and equivalent torque. Fuel economy ? I wouldn’t guess how bad. Though the car would finally have a kerb weight of say 1305 kg and 200 bhp/ton, or almost twice the power. Not a supercar, but reasonable :D
July 02, 2003
911 GT3 RS
The title’s combination of numbers and letters will have a true petrol-head salivating, Porsche brings back the “road legal GT” in the guise of a new RS badge
This 40th Anniversary edition of the 1972 Porsche 911 RS is a limited time deal, a potential bargain for multi-millionaires at less then $200K Cdn.
Watch this car keep it’s price steady for years.
Leasing N.Y.
Ford Motor Co’s finance arm will stop leasing vehicles as of July 10th in N.Y. state due to a Vicarious Liability Law
Leasing about twice as popular in NY as rest of country because of business tax breaks and flexibility for driver to have new vehicle every few years
Top 10
Just spent a weekend chatting about all the great “Car Movies” and lo-and-behold, the BBC’s “Top Gear” show’s web-site presents The Top-10 Road Movies
Great selections!
Little Wolf
The VW Lupo won’t be coming to North America. Fans are tyring to change that though.
Mile for mile, seven Lupos carrying 28 people use the same amount of fuel as one Cadillac Escalade carrying eight people. And the little fleet of Lupos is much better looking.
Biotrol
DaimlerChrysler AG presented the world’s first synthetic diesel fuel
Professor Herbert Kohler, the Group’s Chief Environmental Officer and Research Director, said: “The new bio fuel, a colourless, clear liquid, is fundamentally different from all other fuels made from biomatter”.
Vengance
My lovely black 1995 Dodge Avenger ES is having heartburn. With 30+ deg C temperatures, the ride into Ottawa this past weekend was an eyebrow and stress raising experience: the engine temperature kept rising.
Sigh. I know I need new brake pads in the front, the front light-clusters need new lexan/plastic outer, high beam doesn’t work, one fog light is awol, the body needs to have paint chips and rust point fixed. And there was this gurgling sound for the last year and bit, which would maybe explain the overheating.
Overall, an 8 year old car with only 115,000 km should be in better shape no ?
So, on the return trip, with coolant all toped-up and rolling steady at 110 km/h (only), I kept debating what to do. Do I spend money to bring this car back to spec or do I spend money and buy an inexpensive new city car: read Echo. I just bought some amazing Pirelli P6000 Sport Veloce … oh well.
What do you think ?