car auto blaas

Alan Fogliadini, Harry Hoffman, Sr. , Joyce Jensen, Judy Sights
Chuck Small, Larry Volk

MANUFACTURER
JAZ Products

HISTORIAN
Ed Safarik

PEOPLE FROM THE PAST (Deceased)
Ed Adams, Gene Burkland, Jack Calori, Art Tilton

For the Hall of Fame members, in alphbetical order in case you are wondering about a particular dry lakes racer: http://www.oilstick.com/halloffamemembers/index.htm

I don't remember who was just mentioned doing this at the Dry lakes Racing Hall of Fame inductions, (the memory just is falling apart faster than ever) but the streamliner was fitted with an old fashioned gas tank level system, and its indicator on the dash showed the driver if the front was lifting while running the Bonneville course

Tere has posted a great look around at the Mendenhall's Museum: http://justacargal-s.blogspot.com/2011/05/mendenhalls-gas-up-bbq.html where the hall or fame takes place, it's a museum of petroliana

Pixar has released more goodies this week about its upcoming sequel, CARS 2, due to hit theaters in the U.S. on June 24. What we have for you today are the cars representing Germany and Spain in the movie’s championship race, the World Grand Prix.

First up is Max Schnell, who not only represents Deutschland, but also appears to be carrying the torch for all DTM racers in CARS 2. His last name, Schnell, is also a nice touch, being the German word for ‘fast’. He hails from Stuttgart, which is the home of both Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, but we think his design is actually inspired by the Audi A4, hence him wearing the #4. He’s also won more races at the Motorheimring (Pixar-speak for Nürburgring, and also German for Motorhome-ring) than any other car in the World Torque Champion League (Pixar-speak again for World Touring Car Championship).

Next up, representing the country of Spain, is Miguel Camino, who hails from Pamplona. Miguel gained fame in his homeland by participating in the famous Running of the Bulldozers and competing as a toreador in the dozer ring. He now races as car #5 in the Grand Touring Sport circuit. If we had to venture a guess at who Miguel is modeled after, we’d say Spanish F1 champ Fernando Alonso. Why? The shape of his headlights suggest a Ferrari influence, and Spain’s real greatest racer drives for Ferrari in Formula One.

Max Schnell

Max Schnell started as a humble production sedan from Stuttgart, Germany. An avid amateur racer, Max would practice alone in the back roads of the dense Black Forest-a trek that eventually caught the eye of a racing team owner. Soon Max was on a professional circuit, bearing the #4, and as his horsepower increased, he converted himself to carbon fiber, dropping his weight and getting into prime racing shape. He’s won more races at Motorheimring than any other World Torque Champion League car in history. A naturally brilliant engineer, he used logic and analytics to refine his build, and plans to approach the World Grand Prix in the same perfectly calculated manner.

Miguel Camino

Spain’s most renowned, admired and captivating car is Pamplona’s Miguel Camino. He first caught his home country’s attention by participating in the infamous Running of the Bulldozers. His flair, style and speed as a toreador in the dozer ring has inspired a generation of young bulldozer fighters, and soon that same speed and verve turned headlights of fans and competitors alike on the Grand Touring Sport racing circuit. Bearing the #5 and the fiery colors of the Spanish flag, Miguel Camino is hoping to race his way into more hearts at the World Grand Prix.

Audi has confirmed that its 2012 Q3 small crossover will receive its worldwide unveiling at the Shanghai Motor Show later this month. Before the Q3 debuts in the metal, Audi has released a series of sketches hinting what we can expect in a few weeks time.

When the production Q3 debuts it will sit on Volkswagen Tiguan underpinnings, but will be considerably more shapely than its less costly cousin. If these sketches are to be believed, the Q3 owes a little somethin’ somethin’ to Audi’s Cross Coupe Quattro concept shown in Shanghai back in 2007.

The Tiguan’s engines and transmissions should carryover into the Q3, which means a turbo four producing around 200 horsepower with a diesel option for Europe.

[Source: Audi]

There’s something to be said for being at the right place at the right time. Had our primordial ancestors evolved legs and lungs while the entire globe was still awash in warm sea water, they would have gone belly up and we might have never made it to the top of the food chain. At this point in history, our entire species can thank generations of ancestors for not being squished, drowned, beaten, eaten or stabbed before cranking out offspring that would further the human race. One misstep to the left could have been all it took to eradicate entire lines of Homo sapiens progress.

Those same laws of luck and fortune dictate which automotive traits will survive into the future and which will be left to be bookmarks of curiosity in the mechanical fossil record. General Motors knows this all too well. The company infamously birthed the EV1 in the mid-’90s only to find that its high costs of development meant the short-range electric couldn’t keep its head above water in a sea of relatively cheap fuel prices. At the time, there just wasn’t any land in sight for the electric movement.

What a difference 15 years make. Thanks to the trailblazing efforts of the hybrid fleet, more and more Americans now associate efficiency with electric power, and General Motors has given rise to what could possibly be the perfect evolutionary species to bridge the gap between hybrid and full-electric motivation – the 2011 Chevrolet Volt.

It’s been four years since General Motors first pulled back the sheets on the original Chevrolet Volt Concept. As you likely recall, that vehicle was a stylized dream that wore a vertical nose, high belt-line, chopped roof and massive wheels for a look that was, in a word, awesome. The concept was downright muscular and served as an excellent counterpoint to the econo-blob styling of the Toyota Prius at the time. Unfortunately, nearly all of the brawny build of the Volt Concept never quite made it to the production world.

Instead, the designers at GM were confined by the laws of aerodynamics, which means that the production Volt wears a shape that’s very similar to what Toyota came up with for its battery-assisted wonder child. At 177.1-inches long, the Volt is around four inches shorter than its platform mate, the compact Chevrolet Cruze, and 1.5 inches longer than the current generation Prius. The front fascia is appropriately swept into the hood and fenders with wrapped projector headlamps and a shield grille help to give the electrified four-door one of the lowest drag coefficients of any vehicle GM has ever produced. Only the low-slung Corvette rivals the 0.287 Cd of the Volt.

Even with all of its slippery concessions, the Volt is an attractive enough vehicle. Our tester came with 17-inch chrome-clad wheels that added a splash of style to the judicious use of chrome and piano-black plastic along the window line. The vehicle’s tall, abrupt Kamm tail rear takes some getting used to, especially with its slit brake lamps and somewhat awkward spoiler, but the design does have the effect of differentiating the Volt from the rest of North America’s roadgoing hardware.

Jump inside and it’s even clearer that you aren’t driving a run-of-the-mill internal-combustion mule. The center stack is awash in capacitive-touch controls that are simple to navigate if not difficult to read during daylight hours. At night, excellent back-lighting makes the small text labels somewhat easier to translate. A large LCD touchscreen handles everything from climate, navigation and audio information to data on the vehicle’s state of charge and efficiency, and the interface is perfectly intuitive.

Unfortunately, in what must have been a quest to skimp on weight and cost, GM built the cabin of the Volt with materials that would be more at home on a humble Cobalt. Hard, dark plastics abound as far as the eye can see, and while they’re nicely grained, they do little to make drivers feel any better about the vehicle’s lofty price tag.

We do have to give GM praise for the location of the vehicle’s start button, though. Mounted just north and to the left of the shifter, the button is at perfect thumb level. There’s no fumbling around or craning your neck in an attempt to find switchgear stashed behind the steering wheel. Here’s hoping that little trick begins finding its way to other products soon.

GM has also opted for a complete LCD gauge cluster in place of any standard dials. Those nostalgic for the old kit can give it up. The screen organizes and displays a wealth of information clearly and accurately, with vehicle speed represented in large, easy to read numerals above all else. We have to imagine that even if the Volt drivetrain doesn’t spread to the rest of the GM fleet, elements of its instrument cluster surely will.

We were treated to optional leather seating in our time with the Volt, and the light cream-colored thrones did much to brighten the otherwise dark interior. GM hasn’t skimped on details with the Volt, and the double-stitched seats include one line of electric blue thread that’s a particularly nice touch. Rear passengers will find somewhat cramped leg room and no comfortable place to put their inboard elbows, but there’s enough space up top to keep even the cast of Jersey Shore from scraping their hair on the headliner.

Interestingly enough, GM has opted to build the Volt as a hatchback. The rear cargo area offers around 10.6 cubic feet of room, which is plenty for stashing groceries and the like. Our only real issue with the design is that the hatch weighs a ton. Even with gas struts to assist in lifting and lowering the piece, it’s difficult to keep from slamming the door without using both hands. Additionally, with no partition to separate the cabin from the aft area, tire noise is especially prominent at highway speeds.

Under the hood, GM has stashed a tangle of technological wizardry. At its heart, the Volt uses a three powerplant system to get down the road. With a fully charged battery, the vehicle gets its gusto from an 111kw traction motor. Additionally, a 55kw electric generator is also onboard. Clutched to a 84-horsepower 1.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, the generator can jump in to provide power to both the battery and the traction motor at the same time should conditions warrant an extra push of power. Should the batteries drop to a certain predetermined state of charge, the internal combustion mill will jump in to generate electricity to power the front wheels.

GM has graced the Volt with a lithium-ion battery system that the company claims has no memory. That means that it doesn’t have to be fully drained in order to receive the most efficient charge possible. The tech also allows for rapid energy release – something that’s essential for all-electric power at highway speeds. The Volt can be charged using either a 120v plug or a 240v outlet. We were only able to dabble with the first option, and as such, we saw complete-drain charge times of around 10 hours through a standard household outlet. That’s a long time, especially considering that you’re only rewarded about 36 miles of all-electric range for your patience. The good news is that the 240v option will top off the cells in right around four hours. If you’re going to be parking a Volt in your garage with any frequency, make sure there’s a 240v plug nearby.

For all of the bellyaching that we could work up over how long it takes to fully charge the Volt, GM has done an amazing job of building an EV that drives just like any other vehicle on the road. Acceleration isn’t exactly neck-snapping by any means, but if you get frisky with the accelerator, you will be rewarded with a few quick spins of the low-rolling resistance Goodyear Assurance tires. The jump to 60 miles per hour takes around 8.53 seconds in the optional Sport mode, but plan for a little more time in the Normal drive configuration.

We were pleasantly surprised to see that should you need an extra shot of power for a quick pass on the interstate, the Volt will happily oblige. Torque from the 111 kw motor is always at the ready, and while acceleration seems to level off quickly, there’s enough on hand to get you out of trouble. Likewise, the engineers at GM did an excellent job working up the brakes to feel just as linear and progressive as anything you’d find on a standard vehicle. Despite being regenerative, the stoppers never felt grabby or clunky in anyway. Pedal feel is always firm and confidence-inspiring, which is great considering that the Volt tips the scales at a portly 3,781 pounds.

That’s plenty of mass to carry around, and combined with the fling-averse tires, it’s clear that the Volt is never going to be mixing it up on the dance floor with any sports sedans. Get too froggy with the wheel and you’ll quickly be reminded of just how much this vehicle weighs.

But that’s clearly not what the Volt is all about. Under a full-head of electric steam, the Volt is beautifully quiet in city driving up to around 40 mph. Once the speedometer ticks past 50 mph, there’s a noticeable amount of tire and wind noise, though the vehicle never feels taxed or uncomfortable. Again, it’s a level of refinement typically associated with the compact segment, not vehicles with an MSRP north of $40,000 like the Volt, but with the drone of an internal combustion powertrain absent in EV mode, outside factors like air and road noise can’t help but become more prominent.

GM has aced the logic behind the range estimation for all-electric power. If the screen says you have 36 miles before the internal combustion engine kicks in, you can feel safe betting your first born that you won’t run of juice before then – a small detail that builds big confidence in the viability of getting where you’re going.

Once you do drain the battery cells, the 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine kicks in to generate more electricity. While the small four-cylinder isn’t crude by any means, there’s little insulating driver and occupants from its vibration once it gets going. We’ve never noticed just how harsh an internal combustion engine can be until we’d been romanced by the smoothness of 36 miles of EV driving. We almost felt embarrassed every time the engine came on, like someone had just pointed out a lengthy piece of toilet paper glued to the bottom of our shoes.

We drove the Volt over the course of four days and put around 165 miles on the clock in mixed driving. During that time, we purposefully drained the battery a few times in order to give the 1.4-liter engine a workout, but also kept the vehicle on the charger and in a climate-controlled garage when not in use. At the end of our stint, we burnt a whopping 2.064 gallons of premium fuel for a final average of 79.94 mpg. Of course, we’ll have to wait for our next power bill to know exactly how much that stellar fuel economy cost us.

When GM first showed off the Volt Concept, it lurked on stage with a sexy white cord coiled daintily beside the front wheel indicating just how easy it would be to charge your car instead of filling up its tank. While the Volt is about as easy to charge as your cell phone, there is some aggravation involved. For starters, the vehicle requires a clunky adapter that roughly resembles Officer URL – the glowing face of law and order from Futurama. Coiling and uncoiling the meaty orange cord from the converter requires some coordination, especially if you happen to be juggling a bag of groceries at the same time. What you’re left with is a long cord strewn in front of the driver’s door just waiting to ensnare the clumsy or calamitous.

Still, it’s easy to tell when the vehicle is charging thanks to a series of lights and honks from the vehicle itself. The good news is that we never had any issues charging the Volt during our time with the vehicle. Simply plug in the converter, click it into the car and go on your merry way.

We won’t completely dive into the EV debate here. That’s an argument best left to the well-educated pages of AutoblogGreen. While we have our reservations about digging up massive quantities of lithium and coal simply to serve our transportation needs, the Volt is nothing less than an amazing piece of engineering. Quite simply, GM has pulled off something worthy of all the accolades heaped on this vehicle’s hood. Nearly 80 mpg is nothing to scoff at, and we’re guessing that the figure would likely climb if we were simply using the Volt to dart back and forth from work instead of running weekend errands all over creation.

Ecological concerns aside, the only hitch in this giddyup is the price tag that the Volt carries. With optional equipment like leather, 17-inch wheels, rear-view camera and the sultry Crystal Red Metallic paint of our tester, final coin for this machine sits at $44,180 with destination. That’s a fat stack of cash, especially considering that the much larger Toyota Camry Hybrid starts at $27,435 with destination and promises 33.5 mpg combined. Likewise, Hyundai only asks $26,545 with destination for its 37.5 mpg-capable Sonata Hybrid. It doesn’t take any advanced mathematics to realize that the nearly $13,000 premium it takes to score a Volt over a Camry Hybrid would buy a lot of gasoline, even at Road Warrior prices.

That said, Uncle Sam really wants you to buy vehicles like the Volt, which is eligible for a $7,500 federal tax rebate, as well additional state and local rebates depending on where you live. Some residents of Lansing, Michigan, for instance, are eligible for up to $15,000 worth of rebates on the Volt. GM also plans to cut the Volt’s price when production ramps up and the technology spreads to other platforms.

So where does the Volt fit in the evolutionary spectrum of personal transportation? Though it’s priced for early adopters, the vehicle demands few concessions from owners coming directly from hybrid or internal combustion vehicles. We’ve heard word that GM is planning to up production of the vehicle to 12,000 units by 2012, which means that the automaker is anticipating steeper demand connected to ever loftier fuel prices. Though the Volt seems to be serving as the missing link between our transportation right now and full electrification, the price will have to drop before we see them wheeling around every corner.

[Source: autoblog]

This pulled up next to me at a stoplight, and it's the first time I'd ever heard of a collector edition car. That is one presumptuous car company!

Cars are collectable in a subjective way, IMHO, based on factors not up to the car maker, unless it's smart enough to produce incredible Italian sports cars.

The LE based Camry collectors edition was new for 2001 according to Wikicars.org

Here is the information MINI has released on the Upcoming Cars in 2011 Countryman’s specs thus far:



Pricing: $30,000 - $40,000 MSRP; no invoice data available

Fuel economy: estimated city/highway car ratings of 28/37 mpg for base model and 26/34 mpg for S model

Engine: front-wheel or all-wheel drive 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine producing 120 horsepower; turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower on S model

Drivetrain: six-speed manual transmission comes standard; six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters optional

Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 7.6 seconds with the Cooper S Countryman and 10.5 seconds with the base model

Car safety features: anti-lock brakes, stability control, side airbags, head airbags, and traction control

Suspension: Cooper S Countryman has front strut/rear multilink suspension

Warranty: four-year/50,000-mile basic and powertrain warranty, 12-year/unlimited mileage rust protection, and four years or 500,000 miles of 24/7 roadside assistance



Were you excited to see Mini’s first all-wheel drive four-door model earlier this morning? Did we disappoint you by not showing more photos? Well have no fear, below are nearly 50 pictures of both the Cooper S and base Cooper Countryman, including interior and cargo shots. Enjoy.

We saw the FT-HS prototype in 2007, and all Supra car enthusiasts looked at it with hope… as their beloved sport toy was withdrawn from production in 2002. Unfortunately Toyota officially stated that this project didn’t have the top priority.

Now more details are being unveiled, as the new CEO of Toyota Akio Toyoda will probably push something like this forward. The prototype looked really good, so even if they will cut half of these “too modern for the real world” design elements, it can still look interesting.



Probably it will be a hybrid, as Toyota is trying hard to be considered as “eco”. I really don’t care about the hybrid solution to be “eco”, what I do care is the extra torque, it can give the driver through the back of his seat. It is supposed to be a sports car – fun car, not some marketing / treehugging vehicle that just looks good. Fortunately for all eco sceptics, there is a good probability that non battery powered versions will be available.

The Koenigsegg Agera R was one of the stars of the Geneva show grabbing many headlines with its unusual high-speed roof-box that was proposed as an accessory. However, there was plenty of information missing about this Swedish hypercar. Up until now, that is, as the exotic carmaker came out with all the juicy details.

Starting with the performance numbers, the Agera R lives up to the company's reputation. The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h [62mph] comes after just 2.9 seconds, while 0 to 200 km/h [124mph] takes only 7.5 seconds. Even more impressively, the 0-200-0 km/h [0-124mph-0] is covered in a mere 12.7 seconds, partially thanks to its ventilated carbon ceramic brakes.



The 5.0-liter V8 engine develops 1,115 horsepower at 6,900 rpm when running on E85 ethanol. However, in markets where this fuel isn't available, the Agera R can run on 95 octane petrol (940HP), or 98 octane (1,050HP). Top speed is rated at over 420 km/h (261 mph).

Koenigsegg also revealed the equipment features for the Agera R that include among others an adaptive rear wing, hydraulic lifting system, satellite navigation system, G sensor (the car can make its passengers feel up to 1.6G of lateral g-force), leather carpets and a silver key.

Koenigsegg charges extra for options such as visible carbon body, front winglets, rear view camera, heated seats, ski box roof, skis, Inconel exhaust system and winter wheel package. The pricing has not yet been announced, but the Agera R is expected to cost well beyond €1,000,000 ($1,410,000). Scroll down for the full specs.

It’s big, slow, and awkward-looking, but it’s an Accord. Apparently, it looks better in person and in motion than it does in pictures. Nevertheless, based on looks alone, we would pick the Toyota Venza (it’s main rival) over it any day. But, hey, that’s just our personal taste. It probably drives very well.



But it’s not us that got intimate with the Crosstour – find out what Edmunds InsideLine thought about Honda’s new crossover, and tell us what you think

Honda Accord Receives New Styling and Increased Fuel Economy for 2011



EPA fuel economy goes up to 23/34 city/highway mpg (+2/+3) on some models; more features and a new Accord SE Sedan model to debut



Set to go on sale in mid-August, the 2011 Honda Accord Sedan and Coupe receive significant updates including improved fuel economy, enhanced exterior and interior styling and the addition of a new leather-equipped Special Edition (SE) trim level. Available as either a sedan or a coupe in 4-cylinder and V-6 variations, the Accord offers a unique balance of style, performance, efficiency and value specific to each individual model.



“For 2011, the Accord evolves again with sharpened styling inside and out, fuel economy gains and a broader application of popular features,” said Erik Berkman, vice president of Corporate Planning and Logistics for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “The Accord is designed to deliver a consistently rewarding ownership experience in the areas that matter most to sedan and coupe drivers.”



Improvements to vehicle aerodynamics, engine friction and transmission gear ratios all contribute to fuel economy improvements. The EPA fuel-economy ratings1 for Accord 4-cylinder sedan models equipped with an automatic transmission improve by 2 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 3 mpg on the highway, for a city/highway rating of 23/34 mpg.



The 2011 Accord Sedan’s exterior expresses a more upscale and powerful presence with a new style for the front grille, front bumper and rear deck lid, along with a new wheel design.



Building on the sedan’s design character, the Accord Coupe’s unique muscular stance is enhanced with a bolder front grille design, new front bumper shape, enhanced brakelight appearance and a new wheel design for V-6 models.



Striking a balance between value and luxury, the Accord SE Sedan offers the additional features from the popular Accord LX-P with the added luxury of leather-trimmed seating, heated seats, driver’s power-lumbar support and a leather-trimmed steering wheel.



New features on certain models include steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters on the Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe, a USB Audio Interface on all coupe models and Accord EX and EX-L Sedans, and a rear view camera on sedans equipped with the available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation2 System™. Additionally, Accord EX-L V-6 models receive a two-position memory system for the driver’s seat. Additional interior updates on all models include new seat fabrics on models with cloth seats, an updated instrument panel design and more-refined accent points throughout the interior.



Interior styling on all models provides attainable luxury with generous standard equipment, world-class ergonomics and intuitive vehicle controls. The front seats are designed to provide generous lateral support and to complement the Accord’s sporty side. The fold-down, rear seatback offers cargo-carrying versatility and also includes a lockable pass-through for long items like snow skis.



New for 2011, the most frequently used climate-control buttons are now positioned on the left side of the control stack, closer to the driver for ease-of-use, and less-frequently used buttons are now positioned on the right side. Vehicle clock adjustment is also made easier by more prominent control lettering.



A 190-horsepower, 2.4-liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine is standard in the Accord EX and EX-L Sedans and Accord LX-S, EX and EX-L Coupes. The 2.4-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder engine in the Accord LX, LX-P and SE Sedans produces 177 horsepower.



The available 3.5-liter, 24-valve SOHC i-VTEC® V-6 engine produces 271-horsepower and takes advantage of Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) technology that can deactivate up to half of the cylinders while cruising to improve fuel economy. Preliminary EPA fuel-economy ratings3 for the 2011 Accord V-6 Sedan are 19 city/30 highway mpg, an improvement of 1 mpg in highway driving.



The performance-oriented Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe with the 6-speed manual transmission has a unique 3.5-liter V-6 VTEC engine (without VCM) that provides a performance-tuned valvetrain, intake and exhaust system to broaden the torque curve in the low- to mid-rpm range for enthusiast-level performance.



A 5-speed manual transmission is standard on 4-cylinder models and a 5-speed automatic is available. A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard on V-6-powered models. A 6-speed manual transmission is available exclusively on the Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe.



For safety, the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE®) is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. The ACE™ design utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment.



The double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension inspire confident handling performance while also providing a comfortable ride. The 2011 Accord Sedan comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, or 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels depending on the model.



Three audio systems are available – all with MP3/Windows Media® Audio (WMA) playback capability and an auxiliary input jack. The standard system provides a single-disc CD player, six speakers and 160 watts of power. Radio Data System (RDS) displays information broadcast by participating FM radio stations that often includes call letters, station type (searchable by genre) and programming information. Steering wheel-mounted audio controls come standard on every Accord. The Accord EX Sedan and LX-S Coupe add a 6-disc in-dash changer.



A premium 270-watt audio system comes standard on Accord EX Coupe and Accord EX-L Sedan models, and includes a six-disc CD changer and seven speakers including an 8-inch subwoofer. XM Radio® is standard equipment on all Accord EX-L models.



The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System (available on Accord EX-L) uses an 8-inch screen and an interface dial for user input. Features include the Zagat Survey® guide for restaurants, nightlife, hotels and attractions. Accord EX and EX-L Coupe and Accord EX-L Sedan models include Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® as standard equipment for connecting wirelessly with compatible mobile phones.



The Accord Coupe (4-cylinder) has 17-inch alloy wheels as standard equipment, with 18-inch alloys standard on the Accord V-6 Coupe. All Accords feature four-wheel disc brakes.



Currently more than 95 percent of the Accords sold in the United States are produced4 at Honda of America Manufacturing Inc.’s Marysville Auto Plant in Marysville, Ohio, and at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC, in Lincoln, Alabama. The Marysville plant is the sole global source of the Accord Coupe.



1 Based on 2011 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.



2 Certain functions that rely on a satellite signal will not work correctly in Hawaii and Alaska. These functions include but are not limited to automatic clock updates and time zone adjustments.



3 Preliminary mileage estimates determined by Honda. Final EPA mileage estimates not available at the time of printing. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.



4 Honda products are produced using domestic and globally-sourced parts.



Third-party trademarks: The Bluetooth word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., is under license. Zagat Survey® is a registered trademark of Zagat Survey, LLC.

Playing a quick game of automotive-animal word association, you'd probably link Lamborghini to a bull. Between the emblem on the hood, supercars named after famous fighting bulls and the farming roots of the company, the association is well established. Iulian Bumbu thinks otherwise. The aspiring Romanian car designer, who interned at Alfa Romeo's styling department after earning his master's in car design in Milan, created the design study you see here.



Called the Insecta, the radical concept's design elements were borrowed from bugs instead of bovines.

Combining organic shapes with Lamborghini's trademark geometric angles, the Insecta concept integrates themes culled from the body armour observed on certain species of insects. With its dimensions and powertrain borrowed from the Gallardo, the Insecta would pack a sting as sharp as its buzz, and it could make a compelling successor to the current LP560-4 – but Lambo would have to drop a load of bull first. Lamborghini Insecta Concept

Minivans will always be vehicles favoured by families. This type of vehicle offers the necessary storage space capacity so that the whole family can go to the preferred destination. Minivans also sport an impressive engine as this is a requirement in handling not only the body of the vehicle but also an increased number of passengers.



Space and power are the two factors that were greatly emphasized on the 2011 Toyota Sienna. Like its predecessor, the 2011 Toyota Sienna has the capability to hold up to eight passengers and the back storage is very impressive. The second line seating is even designed for a relaxing experience. This setting offers good spacing and its design is almost the same compared to the 2010 version so it still keeps a sportslike look.



What’s really impressive with the 2011 Toyota Sienna is the AWD option. This will help the driver to have better control of the vehicle which is very important for any minivan. It’s a family vehicle and any improvement of control should be considered. Under the hood, it sports a V6 engine which is another feature that should push the customer into considering this type of vehicle. Fuel economy is at 22mpg with AWD and 24mpg without the AWD.



Base price for the 2011 Toyota Sienna is $24,260 and it is already a good deal considering the capacity and power. This vehicle is easily a contender among other popular minivans in the market.

Minivans don’t grab many headlines when a new version is released and Kia is not a brand that constantly attracts attention within the car industry. However Kia is silently pushing their minivans into the market with a remarkable response thanks to the vans capabilities and price range. The 2011 Kia Sedona is an average-priced minivan with impressive features.



The 2011 version of Kia Sedona features 3.5L V6 engine. With this engine, the minivan can produce up to 271hp and 248 of torque. There is only one setting for control: six-speed automatic but this is regarded as an improvement, as the 2010 version was only fitted with a five-speed automatic gear box. The minivan also averages 21mpg in fuel efficiency.



One disadvantage about the Kia Sedona is its interior. Although it contains all the features expected from a good minivan, its upholstery and design is not on par with many other minivan manufacturers. However this is a small inconvenience as many electronic add-ons are already included within the base price. Another disadvantage is that the lack of optional third row seating in the back. Although often used for baggage, it is a needed feature for customers with big families.



Even with the dull design, the 2011 Kia Sedona offers something uncommon in minivans – increased traction control. Although other minivans handle the road as expected, the latest Sedona has significantly improved maneuverability. This allows better steering control which would be helpful in unexpected terrains.



Base price for the 2011 Kia Sedona is at $24,595. The minivan is offered in LX and EX versions.

The 2011 Toyota Yaris is one of a handful of models from Toyota that were recalled due to handling problems. With the reputation of Toyota, there are only two things you will expect – a perfectly working car or something that should be recalled. Fortunately, the 2011 Yaris is something that should be praised because it works well and offers something great to car owners.

The 2011 Yaris is a hatchback with very impressive mileage. It’s rate at 29mpg on city which is very impressive in its class. It can even reach up to 25mpg in an open road which pushes the boundary of an earth friendly vehicle. Of course, it comes with some disadvantages such as a lack of power but hatchbacks are built for city driving and the mileage alone is a very impressive feature.

But aside from mileage, the hatchback is built for family-type handling. The 2011 Yaris is offered in two transmission modes – the five gear manual transmission or the four gear automatic transmission. Either way, handling is a breeze in this vehicle. And because of the physical makeup of a hatchback, storing items for a long haul is not a problem.

If there’s one thing that should be criticized about the car, it is its slightly cramped seating. The seats are pushed forward so that additional space could be added in the back. But with a little bit of adjustment, this should not be a problem. Another concern is that the base price ($13,655 - $14,415) comes with very basic amenities and add-ons could be costly.

The first of four new golf-R version was painted in "Oryxweiß" with pearl effect. Assembled were typical for the most powerful Golf 19 Talladega rims. The seats come from the R-program and was a black, perforated leather . grafted The center panels of the front sport seats and the rear seat - to match the exterior paint -.. running in a light tone this also carry the door panels, shift boot, hand brake lever and the surrounds of the black floor mats, the inlays are in brushed aluminum.



Golf R "Carbon Steel Grey"

The second golf-R version was painted in exterior color Carbon Steel Grey. "What is considered white in the first variant in the interior was carried out at number two in a dark red. Also in this version, the 19-inch wheels and the decorative strips of aluminum on board.

http://www.foodjunkiescatering.com/#ProductionPage this works better in Google Chrome than Internet Explorer