Archive for July, 2010

This is about as far south in California that you can go without adding Baja to the address. Here in the rolling hills east of San Diego, there is an excellent opportunity to examine the ride, handling and power of a new car, with roads ranging from Interstates toi mproved cow paths. Just about every vehicle we pass is a green and white Border Patrol truck, but this is one Mexican immigrant that is freely waved across the international boundary.  Read the rest of this entry »

The mid-size budget car from Buick stocks a 3.1-liter V6 engine that produces 175 hp.

Models begin at the base Custom and increase in luxury content for Century Limited. The passenger compartment of Century seats up to six passengers due to the standard front bench seat for three split 55-45 percent in sections.

Painted aluminum wheels show up in the special appearance package for 2002 Century models, while an optional storage console on Century Special Edition also puts twin bucket seats in front.

Fifty miles west of Detroit at the vast vehicle test facility of DaimlerChrysler in Chelsea, Mich., automotive engineers have constructed a twin-lane oval course of multiple miles across rolling hills that incorporates virtually every type of pavement a motorist might encounter while steering a car over city streets and various highways around the country.

There are smooth asphalt sluices like those on an interstate freeway, slabs of poured concrete separated by bumpy joints of tar such as found on vintage state roads, plus stretches of pavement littered with cracked asphalt or broken concrete, a collection of potholes simulating neglected urban streets, even short swatches of cobblestones and pavers bricks with mortar.

Engineers use these diverse surfaces to test the durability of a vehicle under development, as well as to measure the amount of noise and mechanical vibration generated by the vehicle when driven extensively over rough and smooth surfaces at different speeds.

We used the course to sample the power, poise and finesse of a new sport-tuned version of the flagship sedan from Dodge, Intrepid R/T.

Revamped with a slick new design in 1998, the mid-size Intrepid still looks as modern as any car on the planet. For the editions of 2001, Intrepid gains appointments and optional hardware for safety and comfort, then segments into three variations, each equipped with a different powerplant.

Intrepid SE packs the base engine, a 2.7-liter V6 out of an aluminum block with multi-valve technology inside and twin cams on top. Horsepower runs up to 200 points.

Intrepid ES also carries the 2.7-liter V6 as standard equipment, but offers as an option a 3.2-liter single-cam V6 that generates 222 hp and operates on regular-grade fuel.

Intrepid R/T increases the power quotient by packing aboard a single-cam 3.5-liter V6 rated at 242 hp, along with the Dodge AutoStick dual-mode automatic shifter.

Big 17-inch aluminum wheels mated to Michelin Pilot HX MX4X all-season performance tires also appear on the R/T equipment list, along with a large chrome-tipped exhaust outlet, front fog lamps and special R/T insignia.

The independent suspension components in front and back, designed to deliver reactive and adaptive handling traits, tune to touring mode for Intrepid SE and ES but for R/T set tightly in a performance stance.

Further, the rack and pinion steering system has firmer performance tuning for R/T.

What’s driving the performance-oriented R/T designation?

Read the R/T initials that tag special Dodge issues as “Road and Track” in recognition of Dodge’s muscle car heritage tracing back to the 1960s. In that era of muscle cars, the most powerful and sporty Dodges bore names like Charger R/T and Challenger R/T.

The R/T treatment with specific R/T badges applies throughout the Dodge lineup for 2001, from the Intrepid flagship sedan to a compact-class Neon sedan, mid-size Stratus coupe and the Dakota pickup truck, with all vehicles in the fleet bearing styling cues on the prow in the image of raucous Viper, Dodge’s exotic sports car.

One glimpse at Intrepid sleek exterior reveals the wow factor effected by the sporty design.

In addition to the Viper-sequel prow, Intrepid exhibits shapely hints of some vintage Ferrari or Aston Martin in the bold front treatment featuring a blunt-but-round-and-low nose and massive expanse of canted windshield glass.

The roof arches over sensuously shaped doors to merge rear roof pillars in a dip to the curt tail, where there’s a rainbow trace of brake lamps.

Interior lines reflect the exterior’s theme in curves through an airy cabin, due to the cab-forward design.

Although Intrepid wheelbase measures to mid-size proportions, the interior space adds up to full-size dimensions because the arrangement constructs more space for riders and less for a front-mounted engine.

Advantage: Intrepid comes with a full-size cabin for passenger comfort but has mid-size outer dimensions with the platform extended in length and width beyond normal conventions and wheels pinned to outer fringes of the rectangular plan.

The wide track and stretched wheelbase combine to produce a highly stable platform and, when coupled to the spacious interior, amount to something special in terms of smooth-riding comfort and aggressive agility for steering through a wily course.

On the Chelsea test track, we found that the Intrepid R/T handled each of the diverse pavement applications with ease. Even on irregular footing rolling over broken concrete or the aggregation of potholes, the four wheels floated independently and absorbed all rough stuff, leaving the passenger compartment in smooth suspension.

Yet stiffer suspension settings for the R/T performance tuning transcended to the steering wheel a harsher reality for the driver to help maintain awareness of the changing road surfaces.

And, despite so much rough pavement, noise and vibrations — filtering through the vehicle’s precise mechanical tolerances and sound-deadening insulation — were stifled to a bare minimum in the cockpit.

Superior control of noise and vibration inside Intrepid is the result of the car’s development in the computerized virtual reality of cyberspace, as all aspects of Intrepid evolution — designing, engineering, manufacturing — were channeled through supercomputers. As a result, the plan for Intrepid was created with far greater precision for component design and assembly, and the car derived from this virtual process was honed to perfection before its first part was ever cast.

The cabin layout sets a pair of high-back bucket seats on either side of a floor console where the transaxle lever mounts. In back, the three-place bench has indentions for two with a seatback that divides in 60/40 percent and folds down for access to the trunk.

Round analog gauges in the instrument cluster include a tachometer for the three trim versions.

Standard equipment for all Intrepid ranges from air conditioning and rear seat heat ducts to power controls for windows and door locks, plus an AM-FM stereo radio with cassette deck. The ES adds eight-way power controls for the driver’s seat, a remote keyless entry, premium cloth fabric for seat upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob.
The R/T goes further with an in-dash CD deck and four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock and front-wheel traction control.

Optional gear includes side-impact air bags, leather seat upholstery, convenience packages and a power sunroof.

2001 DODGE INTREPID SEDAN
Description………………Full-size sports sedan
Model options…………….Intrepid SE, ES, R/T
Wheelbase………………..113.0 inches
Overall length……………203.7 inches
Engine size………………DOHC 2.7-L V6
SOHC 3.2-L V6
SOHC 3.5-L V6

Transmissions/speeds………3.5-L: Auto/4 AutoStick
Rear/front drive………….Front
Steering…………………Power rack and pinion
Braking………………….2.7: Power 4-disc
3.2: Power 4-disc/ABS opt.
3.5: Power 4-disc/ABS/TCS

Air bags…………………2 (front) + opt. 2 (side)
EPA mileage est. city/hwy….3.5: 18/27 mpg
Price range………………$ 21,000 to $ 30,000

Watanabe noted that this measure is part of the strategy to reduce the environmental impact of the company and its vision of sustainable mobility. “These two presentations we are closer to our goal of selling one million hybrids annually in the next decade,” added the head of the Asian corporation. He explained that another of the ‘green’ is the planned introduction of a new V8 diesel engine in the range of the Tundra and Sequoia models “for the foreseeable future.” Read the rest of this entry »

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The success of the CX-7 is carried almost entirely to the CX-9, which is basically the first, but larger and more passengers. The CX-9 can carry 7 passengers while maintaining the concept of sportsmanship and aggressive design of the CX-7. But rather than look, Mazda says this crossover is not simply a stretched CX-7, but a completely different vehicle. Read the rest of this entry »

Cadillac : Top Gear had no intention of selling the V version of the CTS in Europe. Thus causing the disappointment of all users of these German superberlinas looking at this thing differently. But General Motors has left to deny this rumor, it seems that there was a “small” error in drafting the Top Gear.

It would sell the Cadillac CTS-V in Europe, the only change is that the hatchback sold in Britain will not have the steering wheel to the right. Why the Top Gear committed such an error is a mystery, anyway Good news for drivers of the brand.

Due to excellent sales results demonstrated Mazda in Switzerland is now the 2nd Among Japanese importers and the 13th Rank among all car brands. To know the brand the biggest increase in sales in the top 20 of the Swiss market and achieved the best annual result of the last 15 years.

Petit-Lancy, January 19, 2009. In Switzerland, Mazda excellent results can be presented: the statistics of car-Suisse, were in 2008, considerable 8’989 Mazda cars allowed. The so achieved growth of 29.7% compared to the 6’929 new registrations from the same period last year reflects the best years of earnings over the past fifteen years. Read the rest of this entry »

The excellent sales results Mazda in Switzerland make it occupies the 2nd place among Japanese importers and 13th place absolute as a trademark. This represents the best half of the last 10 years.

Excellent results for Mazda in Switzerland. Indeed the first 6 months of the year Mazda registers, according to statistics of self-Swiss 5’036 cars which represents an increase of 31.1% compared to 3’841 in the same period in 2007 and is the best half of the last 10 years.

Over the same period the total market displays Swiss 151’761 units which is equivalent to an increase of 4.6% compared to 145’100 in 2007. Just the last month of July Mazda has achieved a score of 897 registrations, an increase of 35.9%, while the Swiss market recorded a decrease of 4.6% for the same month.

In the internal classification of the most registered in the first 6 months Mazda2 with 1’672 units followed by 1,137 units with Mazda3 and Mazda6 with 888 units. In the range “3″ represents the MPS 17.3% of total sales..

It goes without saying that the Mazda BT-50 is a pick-up numerous talents. The proof is the many awards that were awarded at the global level and its thousands of drivers satisfied.

But there is not that work in life.Mazda and BT-50 has been further developed to adapt to your leisure.
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