New Car Prices and Reviews

Mazda Motor Corp on Monday held a commemorative ceremony to mark the production kickoff of the all-new Mazda Biante minivan at its Ujina Plant No.1 near Mazda’s headquarters in Hiroshima. Sales of the Mazda Biante are scheduled to commence in Japan on July 8.

Mazda President Hisakazu Imaki said, “The launch of the all-new Biante marks Mazda’s entry into Japan’s mid-size ‘tall’ minivan segment. In terms of sales volume, it is second only to the compact car segment, where we introduced the all-new Mazda Demio last year. As the latest product to embody Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom tradition, the Mazda Biante will enable us to appeal to an even wider range of customers with vehicles that ‘look inviting to drive, are fun to drive, and make you want to drive them again.’”

The 8-seat Biante minivan was developed under the concept,
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When it comes to the list of high-end cars, the vehicles from BMW’s subsidiary Rolls-Royce Motor Cars are definitely included in it. The Rolls-Royce Phantom, for example, is among the ultra-luxury makes of the company. Picture this model stretched out a limousine. It would emphasize more how pricey and top-of-the-line the Phantom is. Readers, imagine no more as Mutec Company mustered all its elements to come up with a limousine–the Rolls-Royce Phantom way.

Launched in the 1939 model year as a “step-up” car for buyers between economy Fords and upscale Lincolns, Mercury was known for its powerful V-8 engines, such as the one in this 1939 Mercury Eight, and became popular with hot rodders.
The dealers, in fact, could be the key to Mercury's fate. Although there are no stand-alone Mercury stores left, about 1,900 dealerships sell the brand in combination with Ford or Lincoln or both.Because of franchise agreements and state laws that protect car dealers, killing off a line of vehicles can be a real pain, as General Motors Corp. discovered when it pulled the plug on Oldsmobile eight years ago. GM set aside almost $1 billion to handle the transition and still spent more than five years battling dealer lawsuits.

One lawmaker wants to restrict driving by truants and high school dropouts. Another would regulate where global positioning system devices can be installed. Another wants a new state committee to study the danger that silent-running electric cars pose to blind pedestrians.

These ideas follow new laws banning computer and cellphone use by teenagers while driving, restricting adult drivers to hands-free cellphones, and barring smoking in cars when minors are present. The blitz of existing and proposed laws regulating use of the automobile, symbol of freedom, has Messer and other Californians pounding on their steering wheels.
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The lofty new modern art museum in Munich boasts a world-class collection of art, design, and architecture. But on May 19, the specially invited guests weren't there to gawk at the Picassos and Mirós. They were assembled to appraise the art Bavarians love best: The latest model from Bayerische Motoren Werke. More than 100 German car dealers crowded around the revamped 5 Series sedan, the heart of the BMW franchise. They gazed approvingly at the sleek surfaces and listened as engineers described the tight handling of the new steering and stability systems. Looming over the proceedings was a 10-meter high sculpture celebrating the beauty of auto design, created by none other than Christopher Bangle, the controversial American designer of BMW's new look,But to the auto world, the latest Bimmer to hit the road is always a subject worthy of high drama. The Internet chat rooms of the global car-buff community have been buzzing about the fifth-generation 5 Series for months now. And they have a lot more to talk about than the latest rendition of BMW's biggest money-maker....more

Clean diesel technology powered the top three winning vehicles and 12 of 17 entries overall in an American national engineering competition known as ‘Challenge X’ to design the ‘green’ cars of the future, an achievement warmly welcomed by the Diesel Technology Forum, an industry lobby group supporting diesel vehicle manufacturers in the US market, which says that over the next 16 months, more than a dozen new clean diesel vehicles will be available to consumers."

Seventeen universities fielded engineering teams to design a car that runs on smaller amounts of fuel made from renewable resources. Each team reconfigured a Chevrolet Equinox sport utility vehicle using hybrid, plug-in or fuel cell technology and alternative fuels sources such as biodiesel, ethanol and hydrogen. Twelve of the teams used diesel as part of their technology solution.

General Motors, the U.S. Department of Energy and others sponsored the competition, whose winner was announced at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

The aftermarket parts distributor Andrew Page will part company with the UK Parts Alliance (UKPA) buying group that it helped to form nine years ago with effect from 1st July, following management changes in the company.

The UKPA said earlier this month, “There have been a number of management changes at Andrew Page and as a consequence of this, Andrew Page cannot comply with the group strategy of the UKPA. Therefore they have decided to leave the UK Parts Alliance. Actions are underway to maintain national coverage and nothing changes with regards to the UKPA's strategy. It is business as usual".

The departure of Andrew Page means UKPA is left with eight member parts distribution companies, namely: Allparts Automotive Ltd., Camberley Auto Factors Ltd, CES (UK) Ltd, Central Auto Supplies, Dingbro Ltd, GMF Motor Factors Ltd, Mill Autoquip Ltd, and SC Motor Factors Ltd.
(www.ukpa.net, www.aftermarketnetwork.com, 16th May)

Breaking engineering design and price barriers was not enough for Tata Motors when it displayed the Rs 1-lakh Nano at the Delhi Auto Expo in January 2008. Now, India’s largest commercial vehicle maker has entered an automotive contest in the US for which it will develop an e-drive micro car and an electric hybrid, which, according to the contest rules, should be able to achieve 100 miles per gallon energy equivalent and also have a mass appeal.

According to the New York-based Progressive Automotive, Tata Motors UK has signed a letter of intent to participate in the contest “designed to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles”. Apart from being fast, these cars should also have mass appeal so that consumers.....more

SEOUL, South Korea - General Motors Corp. is considering launching its Chevrolet brand in South Korea to capture a larger share of the country's growing market for imported cars, a company executive said Friday.

The U.S. automaker will make a decision on the move after completing a study by the end of this year, said James H. Raymond, executive director of GM's Asia-Pacific vehicle sales, service and marketing division.

GM Korea currently sells Cadillac sedans at 41 million to 120 million Korea won ($39,000-115,000) each and Saab sedans at 37 million to 59 million won. continues

Stop by CorvetteGuys.com and check out their large selection of Z06 Wheels.

[source]

The new Ford Shelby Cobra Concept represents the next step in the evolution of Ford’s concept vehicles, boasting an eye-catching design and impressive performance statistics. Thanks to its high-quality engineering features, which allow the Cobra Concept to be as efficient and agile as a sports car, the model is already close to production standard.
In designing the Cobra Concept, the Ford-Shelby team drew inspiration from the Ford GT production model, maximising efficiency through the borrowed suspension and space frame. Despite the differing dimensions and characters of the two cars, the engineers were able to adapt the rear-mid engine setup from the Ford GT to the Cobra Concept’s front-mid engine platform.

The major inspiration behind the Cobra Concept is the famous Cobra 427, and Ford engineers manufactured a new aluminium-block V10 engine for the latest Cobra incarnation. With a displacement of 6.4 litres, the Ford MOD family engine delivers the raw power associated with the 1960s classic. The Cobra Concept achieves figures of 605 bhp and 501 lb/ft of torque without supercharging or turbocharging.
Stop by AmericanMuscle.com and check out their large inventory of Pypes Exhaust.

The fourth generation of Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, mainly produced in United States, was officially released at the North American International Auto Show in early 2007 (was held from 7-th to 21-th of January). The 2 door and 4 passenger fron-wheel drive Spyder model comes out from the GS with a 16 valve, 162 hp 2.4 L engine and more powerful GT model designation with 24 valve, 3.8 L engines which produce 260 hp along muscular bodylines. The GT models offer manual six-speed transmission or five-speed automatic Sportronic® one. Both model designations use the SOHC (Single overhead camshaft) based engines which allow to reach higher speed. In SOHC engines, the cam operates the valves directly.

TOKYO — Mitsubishi Motors Corp said Monday that it will start automobile production in Russia in 2011 jointly with French automaker PSA Peugeot Citroen. The two companies will build a new plant with an annual production capacity of 160,000 units in Kaluga, southwest of Moscow.
Mitsubishi will be producing automobiles in Russia for the first time ever. Peugeot Citroen will lead the joint manufacture of midsize sport-utility vehicles, which will be sold under the Mitsubishi, Peugeot and Citroen brands. The Outlander SUV, supplied by Mitsubishi Motors to Peugeot Citroen on an original equipment manufacturer basis, is seen as a leading candidate model for the joint production in Russia.
read on japantoday

By:Kelly
When you are searching for auto insurance quote you should do some analysis. It will help you to find out what kind of car insurance quote will be require for your vehicle. The coverage and the policies may vary from different states. Not all states need the same levels of insurance. So do your research accordingly your vehicle need and your budget and the state you are in.

When you search for the best possible car insurance quote, take in to account some factors. There are certain things which you should keep in mind like registration number and state where you registered your car, condition of your vehicle. If you want to do complete analysis, take help of online information. There are many sites which are providing through information about quote, policies and coverage.

While searching you should take consideration of various companies in the market and their policies. These companies decide your premiums only on risk factor. Insurance companies do search about your car and mark the risk factor associated with your car. They have various records with them. These companies keeps record of every insurance paid. They keep record of many thing such as car model, coverage amount, gender and age of driver, license number etc.

Ferrari has unveiled the name of the F149, and as expected its called the Ferrari California. Along with the name announcement, the boys at Maranello have released three photos of the car with its top down, which reveals that it is a convertible. The rear three quarter review also gives us a little glimpse of the car’s interior. It is a Grand Tourer car, with the engine mounted at the front.

The engine under the hood is a 4.3 liter V8 engine making 460 PS at 7,500rpm, which is quite an impressive state of tune because as compared to BMW’s new V8 in the M3, the Ferrari engine produces a similiar horsepower to liter ratio but achieves the horsepower at about 1,000rpm lower. Other neat tricks Ferrari has used to extract the most power out of this engine include direct injection and a “flat crankshaft”.
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With gas prices expected to remain high this summer, it makes sense to save as much as possible on other vehicle-related expenses, such as insurance.

You may feel the insurance company has all the power when it comes to setting your rates, but the truth is you’re the one in the driver’s seat.

“Insurance is one of the easiest vehicle-related expenses to control,” says Stephen Semprevivo, president of LowerMyBills.com, a free online resource for consumers to compare low rates on monthly bills and reduce the cost of living.

“From how and what you drive to the type of plan you choose, you control a lot of the factors that dictate your insurance costs.”

Here are five steps you can take to curb insurance costs this summer:

1. Comparison Shop

Prices can vary widely from company to company, so it pays to shop around for the best policy deal. Remember, though, that the cheapest deal isn’t necessarily the best. Look for a combination of good coverage and a good rate. A cheap rate isn’t worth much if the policy doesn’t meet your coverage needs.

Thanks to the Internet, it’s easier than ever to comparison shop across a range of companies. Web sites like LowerMyBills.com allow you to quickly and easily get information and compare car insurance carriers.

While any time is a good time to comparison shop for a better insurance rate, it’s particularly important to do so when you experience a major life change. Life events such as marriage or divorce, adding a child or driver, relocating or purchasing a new car can impact the insurance rate you may qualify for.
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2008 Mustang Shelby GT500KR Test Drive: Does Ford’s 540-hp Monster Live Up to Limited-Edition Hype?

the association between Carroll Shelby and Ford’s Mustang has been a long and profitable one. Now the 2008 Shelby GT500KR marks the newest flagship in that 40-year run of limited-edition iconic rides, with 1750 units headed to production at a fairly staggering $79,995—and that’s before dealer premiums. But it will be the most powerful Mustang ever to hit the dealership. We wondered which of the Shelby faithful would subject his $80,000 toy to the rigors of a track day near here on the West Loop of Miller Motorsports Park’s impressive facility—and found out that it wasn’t likely to be many. Stop by AmericanMuscle.com and check out their large inventory of SLP Loudmouth Exhaust.

Automaker forecasts first annual profit drop in seven years

TOKYO - Toyota said the strong yen and weaker U.S. sales took a bite out of January-March earnings and projected worse was to come — a 27 percent plunge in its full-year profit.

It would be the first drop in full-year profit in seven years for the automaker.

The results and outlook released Thursday highlight how the tough North American auto market is hammering profits. Meanwhile, unfavorable currency swings added to a growing list of problems for Toyota Motor Corp., including soaring material and energy costs and a stagnant auto market in its home market of Japan.Story continues below

Stop by AmericanMuscle.com and check out their large selection of 2010 Mustang Wheels.

Chevrolet announced the 2008 Corvette 427 Limited Edition Z06, a limited-production model that pays homage to the big-block Stingray models of the mid-1960s. The 427 designation refers to the cubic-inch displacement for the highest-performance engines offered between 1966 and ’69 – and is also the cubic-inch equivalent of the Z06’s 7.0L LS7 small-block V-8.

The 427 Limited Edition Z06 features a Crystal Red Tintcoat exterior, the first Z06 ever offered with a red metallic tintcoat paint. It also features graphics on the hood and fascia that evoke the style of the famed “stinger” hood design and graphics that were offered with 1967 models equipped with the 427 engine. Also unique to this model are “427” hood badges. Each example is numbered and signed by Wil Cooksey, the Corvette assembly plant manager who is retiring after 15 years on the job, and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

“The heritage of the 427 designation with the Corvette is legendary,” said Harlan Charles, Corvette product manager. “Recognizing the tie-in of the original 427 engine and the LS7’s 427-inch displacement has been on the Corvette team’s mind since the Z06 was introduced, and we’re thrilled to express it in this special model.”

Available under order code Z44, this special Z06 enters production this spring. Only 427 will be offered in the United States and Canada, with 78 more exported outside North America. That’s a total of 505 production vehicles – the same number of horsepower produced by the LS7 engine.

The special-edition Corvette carries a MSRP of $84,195 and includes the 3LZ premium equipment package with a custom, leather-wrapped interior. A navigation system is the only option ($1,750). As with other Corvette models, customer delivery is available at the Corvette Museum, in Bowling Green, Ky.

Round 3 of the 2008 SUPER GT took place on May 4th (Sunday) at Fuji Speedway (1 lap: 4.563kms), located in Oyama town, Shizuoka prefecture. All five NISSAN GT-R entries were saddled with added weight for the race in the form of a “Special Performance Adjustment”. The #12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R was the top qualifier in 10th, the car completing the race in 9th place.

The race, occurring in the middle of the Golden Week holidays, attracted 56,900 race fans to Fuji Speedway in warm but overcast and breezy conditions, the 500-kilometre event getting underway at 14:00. The NISSAN GT-R entries, after scoring consecutive 1-2 finishes in the first two rounds of the season, all finished down the order in qualifying after the imposition of the “Special Performance Adjustment”.

The lightest among the GT-Rs, the #24 KONDO Racing machine of Joao Paolo de Oliveira and Seiji Ara started 12th, but by the end of the opening lap had jumped to ninth. Starting driver Oliveira ran consistently, moving up one more position to eighth on lap 22. After all entries had made their routine pit stops and driver changes, the order settled down again on lap 40, and the car was running ninth. Seiji Ara continued the consistent pace, but on lap 66 a tyre blew, necessitating an unscheduled return to the pits and lost time. He went back out on track, but was unable to claw back the positions and ended the day 11th.

The #12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R (Tsugio Matsuda/Sebastien Philippe) started the day in 10th, but fell to 13th in the opening laps. Shortly after, a racing accident with the #22 GT-R caused the car to fall to 15th. The machine would rise as high as 7th in the latter stages but spun on its own on lap 81, settling into 10th and eventually finishing 9th.

Meanwhile the #3 YellowHat Tomica Moba Ho! GT-R suffered from mechanical problems, ending the race is the same position it started, 15th.

Neither of the two NISMO entries was able to reach the heights of the two previous races. NISSAN’s ace car, the #23 XANAVI NISMO GT-R (Satoshi Motoyama/Benoit Treluyer), was imposed the heaviest success ballast yet for its two consecutive wins. This, plus the Special Performance Adjustment, meant the car couldn’t show its previous prowess, and started 13th.

Every lap, the #23 machine was two seconds slower than the top cars, and though they saved their tyres and fuel with a one-stop strategy, the gap to the front was so big they were unable to improve their pace, finishing the day 14th.

Their teammates in the #22 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R (Michael Krumm/Masataka Yanagida) started 16th. The conditions in the car were favourable, and they were expected to move up in the early stages. However, a few problems, including making contact with the #12 car, the careless mistake by Yanagida resulting in a 10-second Stop and Go penalty, saw Krumm finish 10th – a points-scoring position. Unfortunately, on the last lap he made contact with another car while fighting for position, receiving a 35-second penalty, demoting the car to 12th.

Team Director Yoshitaka Iijima’s comments after the race:
“It was an unfortunate result today. The #22 car was beset with misfortune and mistakes, but ran well. Therefore I regret that the drivers received three penalties. As for the #23 machine, it was just too heavy with the Special Performance Adjustment. We simply weren’t able to show the performance of the car all weekend. In SUPER GT, the regulations don’t allow a winner to keep on winning. Also, this time the Special Performance Adjustment was heavier than expected. However, from here the situation changes. We’ll reflect on this ahead of the next round at Sepang where we’ll be doing our level best for all of our fans.”

see on automotive news for [Race Results] 110Laps

The most powerful Volkswagen Passat ever produced is now on sale.

The new Passat R36, available in either saloon or estate bodystyles, is equipped with a naturally-aspirated 3.6-litre V6 engine developing 300 PS and 258 lbs ft of torque. Drive is channelled via a six-speed DSG gearbox through a 4MOTION all-wheel drive system capable of diverting torque to either axle depending on the grip available. As a result the saloon is capable of accelerating from rest to 62 mph in 5.6 seconds while the estate takes 5.8 seconds. Both models have limiters in place to restrict the top speed to 155 mph.
A set of 18-inch wheels housing Volkswagen 'R' blue brake callipers and a ride height lowered by 20 mm help distinguish the Passat R36 from the conventional vehicle. A new front bumper featuring a trio of deep airdams is joined by the distinctive chrome grille section inset into which is the 'R36 badge'. A set of Bi-Xenon headlight units complete the changes. At the rear a set of twin tailpipes, routed to either side of the bumper, compliment a subtle lip spoiler. The only badging comprises a simple 'R36' logo and the Volkswagen roundel.
The changes continue to the vehicle's interior. Unique front seats designed to offer greater lateral support are placed behind a sculpted sports steering wheel integrated into which are paddles for the DSG gearbox. A set of recalibrated 'R' dials are fitted alongside turned aluminium dashboard highlights, alloy pedals and sill plates bearing the 'R' logo.
Prices for new Passat R36 start at £30,990 on-the-road for the saloon and £32,150 for the estate model. Options include a choice of four colours ranging from silver to black, blue and grey. A further option of 19-inch wheels will also be offered at a later date.
As with the Golf R32 and Touareg R50 the Passat R36 was designed, engineered and developed by Volkswagen Individual. Established in 2003 and based in Wolfsburg, Individual is assigned with producing bespoke and highly focused vehicles such as the 'R' line-up as well as the BlueMotion range. The Passat R36 represents the fastest accelerating vehicle currently produced by Individual and Volkswagen.

Audi has facelifted the A3 and while the tweaks can at best be described as mild, a new S3 Sportback has joined the line-up. The hot five-door runs the same 261bhp 2.0-litre TFSI engine found in the three-door S3, and of course the quattro four-wheel drive system is standard.

The exterior cosmetic surgery brings the looks of the A3 Cabriolet to the rest of the range. Tweaks include new headlights with standard daytime running lights and a new grille. The optional bi-xenons feature LEDs while the rear end of the A3 also gets new tail lights and a revised rear bumper that lengthens the car.

What about proper engineering tweaks for the facelifted Audi A3 and S3?

The VW Group’s new seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox will be available with the 1.6, 1.4 TSFI and 1.8 TFSI engines, while others engines will have the option of the six-speed S-tronic box. The semi-auto system is standard on the 3.2 quattro. Audi’s magnetic ride system also becomes an option on higher-end models, while tweaks to petrol engines cut consumption by as much as 15 percent.

Audi was the first premium manufacturer to offer a small hatch back way back in 1996, and the changes to the A3 should keep it fresh while Ingolstadt launches a whole raft of niche products over the next few years.

Body
• Two-door coupe body style with 2+0 seating
• Bonded aluminium VH structure
• Aluminium, magnesium alloy and carbon-fibre composite body
• Extruded aluminium door side-impact beams
• High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps (main beam)
• LED rear lamps and side repeaters

Engine
• All-alloy, quad overhead camshaft, 48-valve, 5935cc V12
• Compression ratio 10.9:1
• Front-mid mounted engine, rear-wheel drive
• Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system with active bypass valves
• Max power: 380kW (510bhp/517 PS) at 6500rpm
• Max torque: 570Nm (420 lb.ft) at 5750rpm
• Acceleration: 0-100km/h (0-62mph) in 4.3 seconds
• Max speed: 302km/h (191mph)

Transmission
• Rear-mid mounted, six-speed manual gearbox
• Alloy torque tube with carbon fibre propeller shaft
• Limited-slip differential
• Final-drive ratio 3.71:1

Wheels and Tyres
• Front: 8.5’’ x 20’’ Pirelli P Zero 245/35
• Rear: 11’’ x 20’’ Pirelli P Zero 295/30

Steering
• Rack and pinion, Servotronic speed-sensitive power-assisted steering, 3.0 turns lock-to-lock. Column tilt and reach adjustment

Suspension
• Front: Independent double wishbone incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bare and monotube adaptive dampers
• Rear: Independent double wishbones with anti-squat and anti-lift geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers
• Adaptive Damping System (ADS) with Track mode

Brakes
• Front: Ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 398mm diameter with six-piston callipers
• Rear: Ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 360mm diameter with four-piston callipers
• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Track mode
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
• Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
• Traction control

Dimensions

Length: 4721mm (185.9’’)
Width: 1905mm (75’’) (exc. Mirrors)
2060mm (81.1’’) (inc. Mirrors)
Height: 1280mm (50.4’’)
Wheelbase: 2740mm (107.9’’)
Fuel tank capacity: 78 litres (17.2 Imp.galls, 20.5 US galls)
Weight: 1695kg (3737lb)

Interior
Semi-aniline leather and Alcantara interior. Matrix alloy facia trim and Iridium Silver centre console finish. Carbon fibre door trims and door pulls. Auto-dimming rear-view mirror & garage door opener (USA & Canada only). Sports seats with ten-way electric adjustment, including height, tilt and lumbar. Memory seats & exterior mirrors (three positions). Dual-stage driver/passenger front airbags. Side airbags (Sports seats only). Heated seats (Sports seats only). Heated rear screen. Automatic temperature control. Organic Electroluminescent (OEL) displays. Trip computer. Cruise control. Hard Disk Drive (HDD) satellite navigation system1,2. Bluetooth telephone preparation1. Powerfold exterior mirrors. Front and rear parking sensors. Tyre-pressure monitoring1. Alarm and immobiliser. Remote-control central door locking and boot release. Battery disconnect switch. Battery conditioner. Tracking device (UK only). Boot-mounted umbrella.



In-Car Entertainment
• Aston Martin 700W Premium Audio System with Dolby® Pro Logic II®
• MP3 player connectivity

Options
• Lightweight seats with six-way adjustment, including front and rear height adjust (Does not include side airbags or heated seats feature. Not available in USA or Canada)
• 20’’ alloy wheels with graphite finish
• Satellite radio system (USA only)
• Piano Black facia trim and centre console finish
• Leather storage saddle
• Personalised sill plaques
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror1
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror with garage door opener (Europe only)
• Alarm upgrade (volumetric and tilt sensor)
• Tracking device3
• First-aid kit
• Ashtray and cigar lighter

Stop by CorvetteGuys.com and check out their large selection of Corvette Floor Mats.