The New Toyota Prius

In uncertain times, the multitudes need a hero. In a year when the spot price of light, sweet crude is an hourly news event, the Toyota Prius seems a likely candidate. A new Prius hybrid arrives in 2009 to fight the forces of OPEC and the evil oil empire. If the price of gasoline hits $5 at the pump, buyers are sure to give it a very bigHowdy Doody welcome.

Toyota, a ship so buttoned down it makes the recently departed William F. Buckley Jr. look like Huey Newton, has no plans for radical upheaval. The current Prius is a sellout in all its five-door jelly-bean frumpiness, so the car scheduled to be revealed at the 2009 Detroit auto show will be tweaked mainly to answer minor customer beefs with the current jelly bean. It will be slightly larger, a bit more spacious inside, and trimmed with more luxury options. The engine will grow and become a tad snappier in its sprint while returning even better fuel economy. A plug-in model should arrive in 2010.

New Toyota Harier

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Toyota's Toyopet dealerships, the automaker has worked with the legendary design studio to produce the Harrier Zagato for the Japanese market. It was unveiled today at the 2006 Tokyo Auto Gallery, a tuner/specialty car show now in its 6th year. Only 250 examples will be built.

A pure appearance package, the Zagato modifications take the sleek and sedate Harrier and give it the look of a rally car. The front fascia is overhauled with an open-look grille, new bumper, and a lip spoiler that houses round foglights. The changes continue as you walk around the car. Bulging, ventilated fender flares and lower body cladding carry the aggressive new profile to the rear, where you find revised bumper and a deeper roof spoiler. Gold five-spoke Zagato Design wheels complete the package.

Hyundai converts i10s into ‘Football-Themed Cars’ to mark the FIFA world cup

As the world’s biggest sports even it round the corner, Hyundai Motor Company, the official auto sponsor for the FIFA Association since 2000, is doing its best to put football fans in the center of the action in South Africa. To mark the sporting..

As the world’s biggest sports even it round the corner, Hyundai Motor Company, the official auto sponsor for the FIFA Association since 2000, is doing its best to put football fans in the center of the action in South Africa. To mark the sporting event this time, Hyundai’s has commissioned two very special i10s to be built. Both the i10s are covered in artificial turf and the center circle on the roof is a home to a 1.5 meter tall foot ball. On the other, the both vehicle features goal post on the bonnet of the car that driver peers through. Additionally, the other exterior features include the soccer ball wheels and the football shoe mirrors. Coming to the interior, it features grass look that matches the exterior and right down to the soccer-ball headrests. Converted by Bournemouth-based Andy Saunders, these i10 football cars will be used for promotional World Cup activity at various events up and down the country.

Via: Carscoop

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Original source : http://www.automotto.org/entry/hyundai-converts-i1...

Audi takes mobile internet to next level with factory-installed WLAN hotspot for Wi-Fi access

Taking the mobile internet to its next logical level, 2011 Audi A8 offers an optional factory-installed WLAN hotspot for Wi-Fi access. It makes Audi A8 the first car in the world to offer the feature. The option allows up to eight devices such as...

Taking the mobile internet to its next logical level, 2011 Audi A8 offers an optional factory-installed WLAN hotspot for Wi-Fi access. It makes Audi A8 the first car in the world to offer the feature. The option allows up to eight devices such as laptops, iPads and netbooks to connect to the internet while the A8 is in motion. Passengers in the front and rear can simultaneously access the internet and it’s made possible through a rooftop antenna of the Audi A8 via the car’s own UMTS module. This enables the most connection stability with great reception quality. And in order to activate Internet access with speeds up to 7.2 Mbit/s, the driver inserts a data-capable SIM card into the Bluetooth online car phone or by using a compatible cellular device with a SIM Access Profile. The new device, of course adds more to the 2011 Audi A8 with a 4.2L FSI direct-injection V8 that churns out 372-hp and a maximum torque of 328 lb-ft. Mated to an 8-speed tiptronic automatic transmission, the 2011 A8 will go from 0-62 mph in 5.6 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph.

Via: Worldcarfans

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Original source : http://www.automotto.org/entry/audi-takes-mobile-i...

Eduardo Alessi’s GEA sailboat 70 features transformable multifunction zones

With the intent to eliminate the hassle of recent sailboats’ different covered zones for different purposes, designer Eduardo Alessi envisions a concept sailboat that will give the occupants more freedom and ease to transform the multifunction...

With the intent to eliminate the hassle of recent sailboats’ different covered zones for different purposes, designer Eduardo Alessi envisions a concept sailboat that will give the occupants more freedom and ease to transform the multifunction zones as per their wish. Dubbed the GEA sailboat 70, the multifunction sailboat is covered with the big openable sun roof which can be converted into a living room with a telescopic openable table and 2 large sofas, a tanning zone and a sleep zone under the glittering sky, thanks to the ergonomic design of the concept that represents the nature and the ability to change.

Via: Tuvie / Behance

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Original source : http://www.automotto.org/entry/eduardo-alessi-s-ge...

Chopper One Dollar Chop is every bike freak’s penchant

I am not a big custom built fan but it’s a matter of time when you get struck on something like never before. Well, here is a bike that did exactly the same to me. Named as Chopper One Dollar Chop, it’s a latest custom built from the Italian...

I am not a big custom built fan but it’s a matter of time when you get struck on something like never before. Well, here is a bike that did exactly the same to me. Named as Chopper One Dollar Chop, it’s a latest custom built from the Italian builder, Ivano. This motorbike has lots of parts taken from the third party manufacturers yet Ivano built its key components that include smart fuel tank, crankcase, saddle and grips. This awesome road scorcher has a Screamin ‘Eagle 103 engine, American suspension fork, HPU Roundstyle and Performance Machine brakes. Apart from these, the bike feartures TTS 21 x 3, 5 front and Rick’s18 x 12 rear wheel, whereas its front and rear tires are 120/70-21 and 330/30-17 respectively. All these parts together make this motorbike every bike freak’s penchant.

Via: Bikepost

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Original source : http://www.automotto.org/entry/chopper-one-dollar-...

Autopia Europia – World’s biggest Auto mall has a race track on the top

Turkey recently got the attention for its gigantic Autopia Europia auto mall which is the biggest in the world. Apart from 200 car galleries displaying 2526 different kinds of vehicles and an area of mammoth 708,661-square-foot, Autopia Europia...

Turkey recently got the attention for its gigantic Autopia Europia auto mall which is the biggest in the world. Apart from 200 car galleries displaying 2526 different kinds of vehicles and an area of mammoth 708,661-square-foot, Autopia Europia features a full race track on top to test cars before you drive one home. The giant building also incorporates 24 banks, 56 bars, restaurants, and car park with a 900 car capacity, and cafes, offering you enough space to make you mind before you shell out money for an automobile. Designed by Turkish global architectural development (GAD) in collaboration with Dara Kirmizitoprak, Autopia Europia is so big that one needs to use Segways to navigate the monstrous structure.

Via: Dvice

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Original source : http://www.automotto.org/entry/autopia-europia-wor...

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2011 Saab 9-3 Convertible Luxury Sports Car

2010 Beijing Auto Show will be highlighted by the alternative-energy cars. Saab offers the 2010 model of diesel powered 9-3 Convertibles with 7% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions while keeping the performance as good as it was in older models. What the carmaker would like to emphasize is that there is no noticeable loss in performance.

2011 Saab 9-3 Convertible Sports Car

The 2011 Saab 9-3 Convertible handles as well as anything else out there. Steering and breaks on the Saab 9-3 Convertible's are masterfully engineered to be quick and sure. The standard engine pulls its weight with aplomb, and for those with a thirst for more power, the turbocharged 210-horsepower is deceptively quick.

Saab's new concert quality 300-watt sound system has no equal. Ventilation settings and seat positions can be saved in Saab'ss onboard computer. For those who seek even more performance, check our home page for links to retailers who offer 2011 Saab 9-3 convertible accessories you can order online. The BMW 3 Series interior space is not as large as the 2011 Saab 9-3 and neither is the trunk as cavernous. The new 9-3 is an above average entry-level luxury sports car that will give people cause to think twice about BMW.

There are two different versions of the 2011 Saab 9-3's new turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine. 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque are produced by the low-pressure turbo base engine coupled with a five-speed manual standard or a five-speed automatic.

The change is due in part to Saab’s ongoing EcoPower Technology development strategy, which concentrates on optimizing efficiency and minimizing the environmental impact of its products. The low emission diesel variants with the 150 hp/110 kW, single turbo 1.9-liter engine can generate 145 g/km CO2and fuel consumption of only 5.5 l/100 km over the combined cycle. Cars that have the 180 hp/132 kW, two-stage turbo power results to 144 g/km and 5.4 l/100 km. Acceleration from zero to 100 km/h and top speed are largely unchanged. However, fifth gear 80-120 km/h times are raised by less than one second.

The high-pressure Saab 9-3 Convertible turbo engine option produces 210 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque with a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. The 2011 Saab 9-3 Convertible offers 205 horsepower from its turbocharged four-cylinder coupled to a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic.

The new 2011 Saab 9-3 convertible comes as a 4-door, and a convertible, both of which are offered with a choice of three trim levels. The new 2011 "Linear" model comes with full leather seating, fabric door panels and gray trim in addition to a 150-watt stereo, keyless entry, the OnStar system, stability control and 15-inch alloy wheels. The "Arc" versions offers wood veneer and leather with poplar accents, power front seats, automatic climate control, a 300-watt audio system and 16-inch alloy wheels. (2011 Saab 9-3 Convertible facts)

The efficiency gains have been achieved by a series of fine-tuning measures including: the use of wider gear ratios, a longer final drive, idle and low engine speed remapping, and an optimized tire and wheel choice. These variants, which are offered only with manual transmission, are now being built in Trollhättan, Sweden, like all Saabs. In several markets, customers are offered with valuable CO2 tax-related benefits and are being introduced alongside 9-3 Sport Sedan and Sport Combi diesel models, which already feature the improvements.