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Friday, May 22, 2009
2009 Toyota Landcruiser Workmate Troopcarrier VDJ78R
Quick Info
2009 Toyota Landcruiser Workmate VDJ79R
Quick Info
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2009 Mazda 3 Maxx BL10F1
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Key Standard Equipment
| 15" Alloy Wheels | Brake Assist |
| ABS (Antilock Brakes) | CD Stacker - 6 disc In Dash/Cabin |
| Air Conditioning | Control - Dynamic Stability |
| Air Conditioning - Pollen Filter | Control - Traction |
| Airbags - Driver & Passenger (Dual) | Cruise Control |
| Airbags - Head for 1st Row Seats (Front) | EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution) |
| Airbags - Head for 2nd Row Seats | Power Steering - Electro-Hydraulic |
| Airbags - Side for 1st Row Occupants (Front) | Power Windows - Front & Rear |
| Audio - Aux Input Socket (MP3/CD/Cassette) | Spoiler - Rear Roof Mounted |
| Audio - MP3 Decoder |
Thursday, May 21, 2009
2010 Ford F-450 SD Crew Cab 4X4
The 2010 F-450 SD Crew Cab 4X4 is a 4-door, up to 6-passenger full size pickup, available in 3 trims, ranging... read more from the 172-in. WB XL Styleside DRW to the 172-in. WB Lariat Styleside DRW.
Upon introduction, both trims are equipped with a standard 6.4-liter, V8, 350-horsepower, turbo, diesel engine. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard on the 172-in. WB XL Styleside DRW, and a 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. A 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard on the 172-in. WB Lariat Styleside DRW.
The 2010 F-450 SD Crew Cab 4X4 is a carryover from 2009.
Chinese Cars for America
If you were suddenly dropped onto the floor of the 2009 Shanghai auto show, you would never know the there is a world economic crisis, and that worldwide automotive sales figures have shrunk dramatically over the past 6 months. Although nearly every country in the world is suffering from negative economic growth, China is projected by the World Bank to show a positive 6 percent result this year, up from a superheated run of over 10 percent about a year ago. With all the people crowded in the auto show conventional halls — even expanded this year to accommodate the increased number of cars — it is no wonder China has surpassed the U.S. in year-to-date auto sales.
That said, will cars made in China ever make it to our shores? In the past, American, Japan and European automakers have imported cars into China, and their current joint-ventures have produced locally made vehicles. But as the car-buying market explodes in the home market, it's clear that Chinese car manufactures clearly have an eye toward exporting Chinese-made cars to America.
Are Chinese cars ready for the world stage? Obviously there are many challenges, but the auto shows in China (which alternate yearly between Beijing and Shanghai), show some signs of progress. This year in Shanghai, in addition to the usual copycats, there were a number of cars and concepts that look like they could easily meet the consumer demands in America — sporty cars, SUVs, even electric vehicles. Here are our Top 5 Cars from China that could make it to the U.S.:
Brillance GT
The sporty-looking 2-door compact car is equipped with a 1.8-liter engine rated at 167 bhp and 173 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. This could very easily slot into the sport-compact category in the U.S.
Great Wall Gwkulla
Get past the hard-to-pronounce name and you'll see a stylish electric vehicle weighing 2300 lb. and powered by 50-kW permanent-magnet synchronous DC electric motor using lithium-ion batteries. The range is said to be around 100 miles between charges.
Great Wall Hover H7
Great Wall Hover H7
SUVs are here to stay, and the Hover H7 Concept is a midsize sport ute with a 3.0-liter V-6, 6-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The H7 is also laden with high-tech features such as an integrated LCD instrument panel display, night-vision system and integrated climate and multimedia controls.
Roewe MG6
Die-hard MG fans wish the now Chinese-owned brand would bring the British nameplate back to the U.S. But instead of focusing on a low-volume sports car, perhaps the company should consider bringing in the handsome Roewe BG6. This 4-door would work well in the global marketplace, with its sleek styling and aggressive stance.
Roewe N1 Concept
The most striking car at the Shanghai auto show, this midsize sedan has a great-looking front end with sporty headlamps and a flowing profile that's accentuated by a strong crease line connecting the fore and aft fenders. Inside, numerous styling details capture the eye.
Chevrolet Camaro SS
Times are tough at General Motors at the moment, but you wouldn't know it from looking at the brutish new Chevrolet Camaro.
It resurrects one of the US car industry's most famous badges. And the best news of all is that British enthusiasts will soon have the chance to experience the 6.2-litre V8 muscle car for themselves!
The all-new 2+2 coupé draws inspiration from the 1969 model, which is revered by enthusiasts. But where rivals shamelessly plunder their back catalogues, Chevrolet has fused famous Camaro trademarks, such as the aggressive nose and pronounced rear wheelarches, with modern details. Sharp edges bisect soft curves, and Chevrolet claims these design cues were inspired by the F22 fighter jet.
The body was penned in the US, but most of the engineering work was carried out in Australia using the same GM platform that underpins Vauxhall's VXR8. That's a promising base for the Camaro, as unlike some of its reborn muscle car contemporaries – and the Sixties original – the new model has a sophisticated multilink independent rear suspension set-up.
There is a V6 version available, but we tested the top-spec SS model, which is powered by the vocal 6.2-litre V8 also found under the bonnet of the latest Corvette. That means a thundering 426bhp, which gets to the rear wheels via a tough six-speed manual gearbox, and means the Camaro sprints from 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds.
Inside, the cabin echoes the styling of the exterior, so there are elements of the Sixties original, reinterpreted with a modern treatment. The dashboard has a high cowl and deep facia, with the main instruments in separate pods and four minor gauges set low behind the gearlever, just like the original.
So, despite the obvious use of some cheap and hard plastics, the Camaro's cockpit tries hard to be different. In practice, it's not quite so successful – the oversized steering wheel isn't easy to use and the optional sunroof robs headroom from taller drivers.
Fire up the V8, and it produces a suitably deep throb from the exhaust and a deliciously wicked crackle on the overrun. Yet somehow, the Camaro doesn't feel as quick as the figures suggest. This is due to the fact that it weighs a hefty 1,746kg, and the engine needs to be revved to give its best.
For economy and emissions reasons, the Camaro is saddled with long gear ratios – second takes you to nearly 100mph and sixth means just 1,500rpm at the motorway speed limit. Consequently, you have to work the Camaro hard to get the best out of it, and it often feels sluggish.
Our test route was fast and smooth with few corners, but initial impressions were slightly disappointing. There's plenty of grip from the big tyres, but the suspension is surprisingly soft, allowing a lot of body roll. Light and sometimes vague steering further spoils the driving experience, so the Camaro isn't as entertaining as we'd first hoped.
It will be amazing value when it goes on sale in the US, though, and there's no denying it's a potent reincarnation of the original muscle car. How much of a success it becomes in the UK will depend on whether GM finds a budget to build a right-hand drive production version (the design for which is finished).
It will also need a careful eye on pricing to maintain value for money, and a look at optimising some of the mechanical elements for more complex UK roads.
Rival: Vauxhall VXR8
The big Vauxhall shares the same engine and platform with the Camaro, but offers a significantly different experience. It's far more practical, offering a hugely spacious interior and an enormous boot, although like its US relation, fuel consumption can be very heavy if you use all of the performance. It does handle better than the Camaro, though, as its chassis is more suited to UK roads.
VW concept previews Polo GTI
The Polo just got a whole lot more interesting! This fiery little number is one of two offerings from VW at this years GTI meeting in Worthersee, Austria – where Audi and VW fans gather to celebrate their shared passion.
Known as the Polo Worthersee 09 it offers our first glimpse at how a high-performance GTI version would shape up. Unfortunately there's no fireworks under the bonnet – the show car is fitted with a standard 85bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine – but the outlandish looks more than make up for that.
The 'Flash Red' paint job is complimented by a pair of black racing stripes, while the wheelarches are stuffed with18-inch polished alloys. And the black on red theme continues with dark wing mirrors, radiator grille and the headlight backdrop - all adopting the menacing colour scheme.
It's a similar story on the inside too. A high-gloss black finish is applied to the air-vents, steering wheel and radio panel, while white and black leather along with red nappa leather piping is applied to the specially-made sports seats.
Fans of the iconic Golf GTI haven't been overlooked either. A unique Worthersee 09 edition is finished in eye-catching 'Firespark Metallic', which is repeated as a fine trim line on the 19-inch gloss black alloys and classic stripes on the GTI grille.
Unlike the Polo, the one-off Golf has been fettled for an improved dynamics. Lowered and stiffened suspension add to the car's sporty stance as well as its cornering ability and a retuned exhaust offers an even fruitier soundtrack. The 207bhp 2.0-litre TSI engine remains untouched however.
Both cars are being presented as design studies, with no plans for these special editions to reach showrooms. But if reaction to the Polo is sufficiently positive, it could act as inspiration for the forthcoming GTI.
Known as the Polo Worthersee 09 it offers our first glimpse at how a high-performance GTI version would shape up. Unfortunately there's no fireworks under the bonnet – the show car is fitted with a standard 85bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine – but the outlandish looks more than make up for that.
The 'Flash Red' paint job is complimented by a pair of black racing stripes, while the wheelarches are stuffed with18-inch polished alloys. And the black on red theme continues with dark wing mirrors, radiator grille and the headlight backdrop - all adopting the menacing colour scheme.
It's a similar story on the inside too. A high-gloss black finish is applied to the air-vents, steering wheel and radio panel, while white and black leather along with red nappa leather piping is applied to the specially-made sports seats.
Fans of the iconic Golf GTI haven't been overlooked either. A unique Worthersee 09 edition is finished in eye-catching 'Firespark Metallic', which is repeated as a fine trim line on the 19-inch gloss black alloys and classic stripes on the GTI grille.
Unlike the Polo, the one-off Golf has been fettled for an improved dynamics. Lowered and stiffened suspension add to the car's sporty stance as well as its cornering ability and a retuned exhaust offers an even fruitier soundtrack. The 207bhp 2.0-litre TSI engine remains untouched however.
Both cars are being presented as design studies, with no plans for these special editions to reach showrooms. But if reaction to the Polo is sufficiently positive, it could act as inspiration for the forthcoming GTI.
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