2011 Honda CR-Z Review Specification

Okay, so the 2011 Honda CR-Z isn't absolutely the modern-day CRX redux that we were all acquisitive for. Mildly upsetting, yes, but conceivably this disappointment blah our antecedent consequence of this newest amalgam alms from Honda. We still acquire abounding questions about its anatomy and function, but charge to acquire the actuality that times acquire changed, Honda's artefact strategies acquire been realigned to the times and the CRX shall abide a avant-garde archetypal – abnormally the Si. Besides, this little two-seat amalgam isn't absolutely all that bad. Really.

What we acquire actuality is an inherently acceptable agent that doesn't accomplish a accomplished lot of sense. It alone has two seats and its EPA ammunition abridgement numbers are underwhelming. A Ford Fiesta, for example, is added functional, beneath big-ticket and gets about the aforementioned accumulated ammunition abridgement – at atomic compared to a manual-equipped CR-Z like our tester.

But don't address off the CR-Z completely. It may be a boxy advertise back looked at from a big account perspective, but on its own, it's a appealing acceptable little whip. Follow the jump to acquisition out why.

2010 Mazda Shinari

When Mazda invited us to Milan to see its new concept car, we knew it must be something important. Normally concept cars get their 15 minutes of fame at an auto show, and then it's off to the next press conference to see what the following automaker will introduce. Not so with Mazda's latest styling endeavor. The Japanese automaker wanted our full and undivided attention, with the center of international design and fashion in Italy as a fitting backdrop.

The Shinari concept, which roughly translates to "resistance to being bent," will serve as a the basis for Mazda's new design language, and many of the styling cues will make it to future production vehicles. That means that the Shinari will essentially affect the design of every vehicle coming from the Japanese automaker for the next several years. An important car for Mazda? You bet.

Pontiac Trans Am reborn

OK, not officially, but Lingenfelter Performance Engineering of Indiana has created what it thinks a modern Trans Am might have looked like had General Motors not pulled the plug on the Pontiac brand.

Called the Lingenfelter TA, the car is based on the current Chevrolet Camaro SS and takes the 1971 Trans Am as its design inspiration.

Not many of the Camaro’s panels survive the transformation intact. The front end is completely replaced, as are the rear quarter panels and all of the lights. Finishing off the exterior are 20" wheels, Nitto tyres and a Corsa exhaust system. Meanwhile, the interior is very 70s retro, and it features custom seats, centre console, door panels, carpets and a turned metal instrument panel.

Engine capacity has been increased from 6.2 litres (376 cu in) 7.5 litres (455 cu in) and, with modifications including a ported and polished cylinder head, forged aluminium pistons and a new inlet manifold, it now produces 655 bhp (488 kW / 664 PS) and 827 Nm (610 lb ft) of torque. Drive is via a six-speed manual transmission.

Cost of the V8 SS-based Lingenfelter TA is around $150,000 (about £98,000 / €118,000), including the donor car. However, if a V6 Camaro is used instead the price falls to around $85,000 (£55,000 / €67,000).

Mitsubishi i-MiEV costs

The economics of running an electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV are being questioned, incredibly, by Mitsubishi itself.

In figures that were provided to the BBC, the manufacturer seems to be warning anyone considering buying an i-MiEV that a normal petrol-powered car, such as the Fiat 500 Lounge 1.2, could actually be cheaper to own. That’s because the i-MiEV’s lower fuel and servicing costs might fail to offset the biggest cost factor: depreciation.



In fact, according to Mitsubishi, the i-MiEV only becomes a better value proposition when the expense of the London Congestion Charge is taken into account. However, with cars that emit 100 g/km or less of CO2 not having to pay the charge if changes currently under discussion are approved, the i-MiEV (and in fairness other electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf) become an expensive method to achieve free driving in London. And, of course, that is all totally irrelevant if you never drive in London.



Perhaps the point is that the depreciation characteristics of electric cars are a huge unknown. In preparing its numbers, Mitsubishi has just assumed that their car will be worth 49% of its list price after three years, the same as the Fiat 500.



It could easily be 59%, or 39%, or any other number - nobody knows. What potential customers need to consider though is that the i-MiEV and Leaf are first generation electric cars. The technology used is still in its infancy, and it can be guaranteed that the biggest issues - battery cost, life and range - will all be overcome in the coming years.



That could end up making first generation electric cars obsolete, in much the same way that the very first mobile phones are now viewed as antiques. If so, the result will be pitiful residual values.



Either Mitsubishi is being extremely honest, or it has just committed a huge public relations faux pas.



Read the BBC article here.

2010 Chevrolet Orlando MPV from concept to Real

This is 2010 Chevrolet Orlando MPV from concept to Real.The Orlando uses General Motors' Delta platform, additionally apparent on the new Vauxhall Astra and Chevrolet’s new Cruze range. Its UK agent agency includes a 139bhp 1.8-litre petrol assemblage and a 2.0-litre agent with either 129bhp or 161bhp.Chevrolet has taken the wraps off its arresting new Orlando MPV advanced of its official admission at abutting month’s Paris motor show.The bunched seven-seat crossover MPV was aboriginal apparent as a abstraction in Paris two years ago and abundant of that car’s administration has fabricated it into the assembly adaptation that will ability UK showrooms in aboriginal 2011.
See the official pics of the new Chevrolet Orlando MPV Although some of the concept’s bluff curve at the advanced accept been angled off, abundant of the rear three-quarters of the abstraction charcoal unchanged, including its angled window band and attenuated glasshouse, while its arresting caster arches can abode alloys up to 18 inches in size.


See the spy pics of the Orlando in winter testing.No autogenous pictures accept been released, but Chevrolet claims its bifold cockpit is aggressive by the Corvette and appearance the firm’s new blue-backlit centre console.The amount breadth is declared as “generous”, while the rear two rows of seats are raised, in animosity of the low roofline, in a theatre-style adjustment to accord rear cartage a bigger advanced and ancillary view. As in the barometer in the class, there's a array of basement configurations to addition amount capacity.

Several accumulator compartments are offered, including the concept’s accumulator breadth hidden abaft the advanced fascia of the audio system; this is appear by flipping the face of the audio and is declared as a “usefully ample area”. The Orlando additionally offers USB, MP3 and iPod connectivity.

Suzuki 2010 New Review Specification

Those of you cat-and-mouse for the new Suzuki Swift to get Stateside will accept to adjournment a little bit longer. After the Kizashi didn't absolutely accomplish the burst that Suzuki had hoped for, and with Suzuki sales in America crumbling, it appears that the Japanese automaker and 20% stakeholder Volkswagen AG will sit bottomward to anatomy a new action plan.Suzuki 2010 New Review Specification

Part of that plan includes putting the Swift's US accession on authority until at atomic 2011 so that appraisement and action could be evaluated. Some of the acumen abaft the adjournment has to do with the ascent Japanese yen, which has additionally biconcave the company's US business division.

Having already cut announcement spending significantly, Suzuki says that they are afraid to accession prices or cut agreeable to annul the barter amount issue. The baby auto will be awash in Europe and Japan until US bazaar capacity are finalized.

2011 Lexus IS-F in Paris Preshow

European admirers of the Lexus IS-F rejoice; this is one sports car that won't be axed on the added ancillary of the pond due to the addition of the added acrimonious Euro 5 emissions standards. Unlike the accepted ancestors of the Ford Focus ST, Honda Civic Type R and Mazda RX-8 -just to acknowledgment a few, the IS-F will accomplish it to the 2011 archetypal year acknowledgment to its tweaked 5.0-liter V8 that is now absolutely adjustable with the upgraded Euro 5 norms.

The blueprint area says ability charcoal banausic at 423HP with the IS F actuality able of accelerating from 0-100 km/h (62mph) in 4.7 abnormal and on to an electronically absolute top acceleration of 270 km/h (168mph).

Similarly to the blow of the 2011MY IS range, the flagship IS-F allowances from some attenuate exoteric and autogenous revisions. On the outside, the sports alehouse assets revised headlamps with LED daytime active lights and a new alternative accomplishment called "Starlight Black GF".

On board, changes accommodate new aphotic sliver fibre inserts, revised advanced bench architecture for bigger disciplinarian support, dejected instead of white bond for the covering upholstery and aftermost but absolutely not least, a new apparatus console architecture that repositions the tachometer, speedometer and about-face indicator aural the binnacle. U.S. buyers should apprehend agnate administration upgrades for the 2011MY (or 2012MY) adaptation of the IS-F.

The 2011 IS-F will accept its apple premiere at the Paris motor appearance abutting ages with sales in Europe to chase anon after.

2011 Lexus IS-F in Paris Preshow