Introducing the breathtaking Jaguar XK and XKR

Introducing the breathtaking XK and XKR, Jaguar´s latest, most muscled athletes. Shouldered and powerful as always, but sleeker now with aluminum bodyshell drawn taut across the chassis, these dramatic sports machines are purposefully trimmed and tuned for heart-pounding performance. Exhaust song, power, control and comfort await notice with bold assurance. Inside or out, coupe or convertible, there´s not an ounce of excess. But there is anticipation...because on the road, the XK commands.

Jaguar received the highest numerical score in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) StudySM. Study based on responses from 35,805 owners and lessees, measuring 36 manufacturers and measures satisfaction of new-vehicle buyers who purchased or leased their vehicles in May 2008. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of owners surveyed from August-September 2008. Your experiences may vary.For more visit http://www.blogger.com/www.jdpower.com

Jaguar XF

The XF is the first sporting sedan to deliver Jaguar´s stunning new design language. Its bold new face looks to the future, while reaffirming the marque´s sporting DNA. The styling is modern, underpinned by Jaguar´s strength of driver-focused engineering and the emotional power of its design and craftsmanship. With a profile that is both athletic and assertive, the dramatic lines of a coupe envelop a spacious cabin with four doors and seating for five adults. This is a sports car and a luxury sedan. The latest in a long line of beautiful, fast cars.

Jaguar received the highest numerical score in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) StudySM. Study based on responses from 35,805 owners and lessees, measuring 36 manufacturers and measures satisfaction of new-vehicle buyers who purchased or leased their vehicles in May 2008. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of owners surveyed from August-September 2008.

2010 Honda Insight

All-new hybrid gets good fuel economy.

Honda appears finally to have learned how to play in the hybrid game. Simply putting a hybrid powertrain in a regular car doesn't cut it. If a carmaker wants to be taken seriously, it had better deliver a hybrid that looks like what the market has said it wants a hybrid to look like. And that, apparently, given the sales numbers, is a Toyota Prius. Hence, the all-new, Honda Insight is virtually a carbon copy of that market leader.
Beyond that obvious surrender to a take-no-big-chances market, however, the 2010 Honda Insight does manage to march to a slightly different drummer. It's smaller than the Prius, for instance, which isn't necessarily a plus, as interior room suffers. But it's lighter, which is a plus, as less weight contributes to it's being a somewhat livelier driver.

Beyond this, it generally stays the course, with the common array of standard features plus an optional navigation system and Bluetooth capability. It also can be ordered with gimmicky paddle shifters that imposes an artificial construct of seven electronically created ratios on the continuously variable automatic transmission.

When the new Honda Insight is measured against the outgoing-generation 2009 Toyota Prius, it definitely hums a different tune. Put simply, the Insight's EPA-rated City/Highway 40/43 miles per gallon trails significantly the 48/45 mpg rating for the Prius. Honda appears to believe its faithful will willingly trade a few miles per gallon for a modestly quicker car.

Perhaps the most significant change Honda brings to the hybrid market is price competition. With the Insight, shoppers now have two similar cars from which to choose. The 2010 Honda Insight's $19,800 Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price just slightly undercuts the $21,000 MSRP of the all-new 2010 Toyota Prius. The first-generation 2009 Prius retailed for $23,375.

The 2010 Insight comes in one configuration: a four-door, five-passenger sedan. One powertrain is available: a combination of a 1.3-liter, 88-horsepower, inline four-cylinder gasoline engine and a 10-kilowatt, 13-hp, brushless, DC motor. Power goes only to the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). In the top two of the three models offered, steering wheel-mounted shift paddles manage a computer-generated seven-speed, simulated-manual gearbox. The base model uses a standard CVT that's efficient and highly competent.

by :Tom Lankard, NewCarTestDrive.com

HYUNDAI GENESIS NAMED 2009 NORTH AMERICAN CAR OF THE YEAR

DETROIT - After months of expert test-drives, critical acclaim and independent awards, the Hyundai Genesis took top honors in the most exclusive award in North America when it was named 2009 North American Car of the Year.
A jury of 50 independent automotive journalists evaluated all the new cars introduced last year and chose the 2009 Hyundai Genesis as the best new model. The award was announced at a news conference at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.


“Genesis represents everything we’ve learned, so far, about engineering great automobiles – and we’re delighted that the judges have recognized the good work of our R&D teams,” said John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America acting president and chief executive officer. “And we’re not stopping here…Genesis will share company in Hyundai showrooms this spring with its rear-wheel drive platform-mate, the Genesis Coupe.”

This year the jurors considered more than 50 new vehicles before selecting the top three cars and top three trucks. The Volkswagen Jetta TDI and Ford Flex were the other finalists.

The North American Car of the Year award is decided by a jury of 50 independent, full-time automotive journalists from the United States and Canada. This is the 16th year of the awards, which were inspired by the prestigious European “Car of the Year.” They are administered by an organizing committee and are funded exclusively with dues paid by the jurors. Jurors judge the cars on a number of factors including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 780 dealerships nationwide.

Volkswagen Bluesport concept

When Volkswagen pulled the wraps off its Bluesport concept at last week’s Detroit Auto Show, it was quite apparent that the sporty drop top was more production-ready than any of VW’s past sports car concepts. Adding credence to the notion of the Bluesport making the leap from concept to production, two VW execs have indicated a road-going version of the Bluesport is on the way.

Speaking with Auto Motor und Sport, VW’s Ulrich Hackenberg indicated the Bluesport was headed to production, and even went so far as to quote pricing for the roadster – between €22,000 and €24,500, depending on engine options.


VW engineer Thomas Inglenath also supported Hackenberg’s claim, saying the Bluesport could be in showrooms as early as 2012.

Although the Bluesport concept was shown with a diesel powerplant, Hackenberg revealed the production car would be available with a wide range of engine options, including the company’s TSI powerplants. VW’s dual-clutch transmission would also be part of the mix.

Considering the Bluesport’s platform is expected to underpin a new-age Porsche 914 and Audi R4, it would seem to make sense – as far as economies of scale are concerned – that the VW version would get the nod for production. If the Blue sport ultimately does get the light, expect to see it in VW showrooms sometime between 2012 and 2014.

2010 Nissan GT-R Spec-V

Long anticipated by GT-R fans, Nissan’s new ‘SpecV’ variant of the popular sports car has finally made its debut. Although Nissan isn’t attending this year’s Detroit auto show, we’re happy to bring you 38 high-resolution photos of the SpecV for your viewing pleasure. The Japanese automaker says the enthusiast-targeted V model will deliver “race car-level performance in a street-legal vehicle.”


The GT-R Spec-V will be an extremely low-production car, with only 10 examples expected to roll off the assembly line each month. The Spec-V’s price tag will match its exclusivity, with prices expected to start in the six-figure range.

All-out performance fans will likely be disappointed with the GT-R Spec-V’s performance numbers. The Spec-V’s 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 merely matches the regular GT-R’s output of 478 horsepower, well short of its predicted 520-550 horsepower. However, a new overboost button does allow for more mid-range turbo boost.

Although the Spec-V’s engine bay has been largely ignored, Nissan engineers didn’t overlook the performance value of a lower curb weight. Therefore, many of the GT-R’s stock parts have been swapped out for carbon fiber units. Throw in an upgraded suspension and the GT-R Spec-V lapped the Sendai Highland Raceway two seconds faster than the series II GT-R.

The GT-R SpecV’s new exterior features include a carbon fiber rear spoiler, a carbon fiber grille, and carbon fiber brake ducts. The SpecV is available exclusively in Ultimate Black Opal (RP) body color. Inside, the SpecV’s two-seat interior offers Recaro carbon fiber bucket seats, while carbon fiber insets embellish the rear center storage box, instrument panel and other trim areas.

The aforementioned high gear boost control device momentarily increases boost of the engine’s twin turbochargers for greater torque in the intermediate-to-high speed ranges to provide stronger acceleration, while also allowing the engine to operate at a lower speed for improved fuel economy. Other modifications include a titanium-coated exhaust system and carbon-ceramic brakes that provide powerful stopping performance.

The GT-R SpecV is also equipped with lightweight, racing-style forged aluminum wheels that were developed for this model and have been sold by Nissan Motorsports International (NISMO) since September 2008.

2011 Chevrolet Volt

Chevrolet has released additional images of the well-traveled Chevrolet Volt show car. Considered a near-production prototype of the vehicle that GM hopes to have on sale for the 2011 model year, these latest photos reveal more sides of the Volt, including what’s underneath its aerodynamic sedan body.


Rick Wagoner, GM’s chairman and CEO, didn’t release many details about the Volt at the event. The Volt was driven onto the stage by GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, who was joined by GM’s President and COO, Fritz Henderson.

Look beyond the GM executives in the PR photos, which we brought you last week ahead of the Volt’s launch, including Lutz, Frank Weber, Vehicle Line Executive for the Volt and Bob Boniface, Volt Design Director, and you’ll see the production-ready Volt.

The General hopes to have the Volt, which is based on GM’s Delta/Global Compact Car Architecture platform, on sale in late 2010 as a 2011MY model. However, that timing may depend on how well the Lithium Ion batteries development progresses. A task given to Continental Automotive Systems and A123 Systems. It could very well be a 2012MY car by the time Volt’s start rolling down the production line.

Pending government incentives, GM will build the Volt at the Hamtramck, Michigan, plant that currently builds the G-body Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS.

Price wise, GM was hoping for an MSRP of around $30,000. It now seems that number may be closer to $35,000, though we don’t expect to hear official numbers for quite some time.

Background

The Volt project is an ambitious one. The aim is to create a vehicle that can deliver the equivalent of over 100 miles per gallon, while offering a top speed of 120 mph, and a zero to sixty time of 8.5 seconds.

The so-called plug-in hybrid has a charge time of three hours, and a range of 40 miles on batteries alone. For many customers, this means that the daily commute would require no gasoline.

As with any hybrid, an onboard generator recharges the batteries when the gasoline motor is running. What makes the Volt unique is that’s the only thing the gas motor does — in other words, it never drives the wheels directly. Maximum range — with a full tank of gas and charged batteries — is an impressive 640 miles.

The biggest news on the Volt’s development thus far is that engineers have come up with an algorithm for testing the durability of the batteries that can simulate 10 years of use — 150,000 miles — in just over two years of testing. Tests using the new algorithm are now going on around the clock in Detroit and Germany.

In an interview with Leftlane, Volt director Tony Posawatz indicated that several variations of the Volt could be in store for the future. Not only is the Volt platform being engineered to accommodate a hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain in the future, but interchangeable bodies remain a real possibility. Since the hydrogen layout keeps every component in the same location, it makes it possible for GM to design different body styles — such as a sedan or van — that can be placed on the platform. This versatility means your Volt could be an SUV one day and a two-door coupe the next. From what we’ve gathered, GM intends to launch an entire line of Volt-badged vehicles offering varying forms and varying batteries to allow for a wide range of list prices.

Volt will measure 177 inches long, making it a little shorter than the current Cobalt. The electric drive unit (utilizing a 220-cell, 16 kWh lithium ion battery) will put out 150 horsepower and 273 lb-ft. of torque and will top out at 100 miles per hour. Chevy says the Volt is especially quiet to drive thanks to both the electric motor and extensive sound insulation.

GM estimates that the Volt will cost about two cents per mile driven under electric power, well under the 12 cents per mile when using a gasoline engine. Volt will plug into either a standard 120V household outlet or a 240V outlet. It takes about eight hours to charge the Volt on a 120V outlet and three on a 240V. GM estimates that charging will cost about 80 cents based on current energy costs, less than a household refrigerator or freezer.

GM says that the interior will also be a strong point for the Volt. A driver-configurable, liquid crystal instrument display, seven inch touch-screen vehicle information monitor and optional navigation system will all highlight GM’s technologies. Bluetooth for cell phones and USB/Bluetooth for music will be standard.

Below last week’s PR images, you’ll find Leftlane’s exclusive coverage of the Volt reveal at GM’s Centennial celebration, as well as official images of both the interior and exterior of the 2010 Volt.