Spring Rally-The Good Economy

I remember ten years ago when you could buy a car with zero luxury features for very little money, depending on the size of the vehicle. People were content with their choice, although much else in their life was as exciting as their mode of transportation. But as time, and people’s tastes, have changed, so have the cars.

Vehicles today come with normal extravagances such as power windows, air conditioning and a CD player. Of course, those of us who need it all can get home theater-quality sound systems, navigation system that can direct us around traffic, and temperature-controllable seats to make sure our fannies stay at the optimal temperature.

But more importantly, these economy cars are now fun to drive. No longer do you have to deal with numb steering, lifeless brakes, and a floppy chassis. Now, you can do the daily commute in comfort, but have fun on the weekends. Here are some cars that will give you both worlds.

2010 Ford Fiesta 5-Door

Ford has been making strides to turn around their image, and I have to say, it’s working. Both cars offered enough of a thrill, but are still be docile for the rush hour slog.

The 2010 Fiesta available was the European version, but it’s pretty much ready for its American debut. Available next year as a sedan and hatch (pictured), the Fiesta carries the majority of the styling from the concept cars, with the stretched headlamps and rounded front end in the front to the chopped rear end. It’s not the prettiest, but we in the West have never been big fans of European simplicity.

Inside, you’ll find a very futuristic-looking dashboard, with a curvaceous center console that has the radio controls high and the HVAC controls separate, making it easy to use. The white-on-black gauges are huge, and everything is made with acceptable plastics and vinyls. It’s surprisingly funky for a car expected to price around $12,000.

Front seat occupants are treated to a high seating position and loads of room in thinly-bolstered seats. Rear seat passengers do not get the same amount, with little legroom to enjoy. Space beneath the hatch is surprising good considering the short rear overhang.

The drive is what you expect from an economy car though; good, not great. The engine under the hood was a 118 horse, 1.6-liter four-cylinder with variable cam timing. It’s not the quickest, but it is surprisingly smooth and moves the little five-door with good acceleration. The steering is light, but responsive and the five-speed is effortless to shift.

2010 Kia Soul

To continue on funky hatchbacks, Kia has given us the Soul, a funky urban cruiser designed to work well in tight spaces while being affordable.

Lets get the bad over with first shall we? Well, it’s not the Heidi Klum of the auto world, nor is it Uma Thurman attractive. The Soul has this tiny grill stuff in-between two headlights that were cut and then reattached crookedly. What’s up with that fake plastic guard on the front? It’s front-wheel-drive for pete sake. Rear isn’t much better, with its odd fender flares and toaster-oven shape.

Inside gets better. The Soul’s interior is following a similar playbook the Fiesta is using: funky, yet functional. The radio sits almost on top of the dash, with the ventilation controls right below it. Depending on which trim you choose, you can have half the interior in either bright-red or a mocha-like color with separate eye-catching designs sewn into the seats. There’s plenty of room for both passengers and their cargo.

Driving around town, the Kia feels solid and peppy. The 2.0-liter four cylinder produces 144 horsepower and 137 lb. ft of torque. (A smaller 1.6 can be had in the less-expensive models.) In the street car, the four-speed automatic was just acceptable, with a bit too much gear hunt for me. The five-speed is good if a little knotchy. On poorer surfaces, the stiffer suspension and bigger 18-inch wheels on the Sport gave it a butt-busting ride, but helped in the control department.

Handling is sound, with good steering feel and weight. It felt very eager to be pushed harder, but doing so invokes very bad understeer. It will work around town very well, with a zippy engine and small stature.

Prices start at just under $14,000. If you want the top of the line with the wheels, and upgraded stereo and a garrish interior, you’ll pay just under $18,000. (We will be covering this vehicle in greater detail later on this summer.)

2010 Mazda3 Hatchback

Since the Mazda3 came onto the market in late 2003, it has been a very popular choice over the more mundane Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra, to name a few. It was the best of bunch in terms of relability, quality and fun-to-drive. But has this new second-generation changed any of that? No, not in the slightest. It may have grown an inch in length and it has put on a few pounds, but this little five-door still offers copious amounts of luxury and thrill for very little money.

Still available in four-door or five and two engine choices with various trim levels, the Mazda3 can offer something for everyone. With a base sedan starting in around $15,000 and a hatch for a few thousand more, you get power everything, six-speaker stereo, 6 airbags, 16 or 17-inch wheels, disk brakes with ABS, and seating for five.

There is a lot new for 2010, but I will just skim the surface as we are scheduled to be receiving a few different variants next month. First is the new interior. It’s been designed with more attention to detail than ever before. The top of the dash houses two small screens for the radio and HVAC display as well as the optional navigation screen. From there, the center console gracefully flows downward to house the vents and radio controls, then curves back towards the firewall to house the recessed temperature controls. The gauges and dash are still lit by a mixture of blue and red lighting.

There is also some new parts under the hood. The 2.3-liter has been bumped up to 2.5-liters and now produces 167 horsepower and a surprising 168 lb. ft of torque. Your choice of transmission includes either the five-speed automatic or a new six-speed manual, which was what the test car had. It all works well to make the Mazda3 quick to scoot and fun to drive with a terrific clutch engagement and nice, short throws from the gearbox.

Under way, the drive is just as how you remembered the older Mazda3, with a touch more softness to everything. The ride is less harsh over bumps, but there is still that razor sharp steering and stable body control that made this car such a treat. It loves to be pushed hard in the corners, where turn-in is crisp and there is plenty of balance from the sturdy chassis.

My initial complaints are few. For one, I think the dashboard is not efficiently designed, with the presets split around a mess of other buttons and the volume knob. It’s easily learned, but it shouldn’t have to be. Second, with the higher end trims with the Bluetooth and navigation, the steering wheel also becomes too convoluted with switches and buttons.

But lastly, and certainly not least, is the new exterior. I love the older models, with their clean, aggressive lines that gave the car a much more upscale look. Now, it’s almost smiling, trying to appeal to those who care more about looks than performance. And I truly do not like the character line down the side.

If you can get past the looks, it’s still one hell of a car.

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Testirali smo: Hyundai Tucson 2.0 CRDi 4WD Absolute+

Kupci sve više žele da preuzmu sudbinu u svoje ruke, što im pruža mogućnost izbora automobila za slobodno vreme, popularna SUV kategorija. Na normalnim putevima ponašaju se kao klasični automobili, ali po potrebi mogu i sići sa njih i po travi ili zemljanom putu putnike odvesti do izletišta, planinarskog doma, jezera ili rečice. U samoću, daleko od stresa i problema svakodnevnice. To je uloga koju Hyundai Tucson odlično obavlja…

Hyundai Tucson na evropsko tržište stigao je sa jasnom strategijom: ponuditi kvalitetan i komforan SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) automobil za razumnu sumu novca. Kao što nam je poznato, korejske automobilske kompanije u Evropi i Americi posluju odlično, a najveću zaslugu za to ima cenovna politika (čitaj: veoma niske cene). I, ne samo to. Automobili iz Azije prošli su seriju “plastičnih operacija” vođenih veštom rukom poznatih dizajnera, a zajedno sa evropskim dizajnom, usledila je i “kvalitativna” faza i ulepšavanje imidža. Automobil koji je prošao fazu prilagođavanja, dostupan za nisku cenu, upravo je Hyundai Tucson. Automobil koji su kupci odlično prihvatili stigao nam je sa blagim ulepšanjima, koja treba da produže tržišni život.

Hyundai Tucson meri razmak od tla od gotovo terenskih 195 centimetara, prilazni ugao iznosi 28, a silazni 32 stepena. Sasvim dovoljno! Ali, daleko od toga da je “naš” test automobil nezaustavljiv, jer je bio opremljen i običnim pneumaticima, kojima najviše odgovara asfaltna podloga. “To znači da je svaki oštriji uspon pokriven vlažnom travom i li blatom, biti neprolazan. Ali, mislim da ovaj problem lako može da se reši ugradnjom terenskih pneumatika, i da bi ovaj automobili bio sasvim drugačiji. Uostalom, ni konkurenti nisu ništa bolji. Da terenske mogunosti Tucsona treba shvatiti sa rezervom, govori nam i činjenica da automobil nema “pravu” blokadu diferencijala, kao ni redukciju. Ipak, pohvalio bih elektronsku blokadu diferencijala, koja se aktivira pritiskom na dugme koje se nalazi sa leve strane instrument table (4WD LOCK). u”kritičnim” situacijama, kada smo bili na granici zaglavljivanja u blatu, značajno je pomogla. Kao što rekosmo, ovo je automobil namenjen onima koji najviše putuju na asfaltnu, a povremeno odlaze na piknik u prirodu sa svojom porodicom.” - svoju priču o Tucsonu započeo je Vladan Petović. Podsetimo, Tucsonov pogon na sve točkove je upravo onaj koji smo i očekivali u ovom automobilu. U normalnim uslovima pogon je na prednje točkove. Kada oni proklizaju, elktromagnetna spojnica sa više lamela na zadnjem diferencijalu preuzima raspodelu snage među osovinama. Na zadnje točkove maksimalno može stići 50 % obrtnog momenta.

Veoma solidan turbodizel motor savršeno pristaje ovom automobilu, i ovo je jedina dizel opcija u ponudi kod nas. Nije preterano snažan, ali s dodatkom VGT, sistemom turbine promjenljive geometrije (Variable Geometry Turbine), performanse su sasvim zadovoljavajuće i sigurno će ispuniti očekivanja potencijalnog kupca najmanjeg hyundaijevog SUV-a. Motor je sposoban da ovaj, 1.685 ilograma težak automobil da ubrza sve do 177 km/h. U pitanju je 20-litarski 4-cilindrični Common-rail turbodizel motor, koji razvija 140 konjskih snaga pri 4.000 o/min i 305 Nm, u rasonu broja obrtaja od 1.800 do 2.500 o/min. “Obrtni moment je postavljen relativno nisko, što je tipično za savremene turbodizel motore. Ali, savremenim “mini terenacima” ovo rešenje odgovara, posebno pri eksploataciji na nepristupačnim terenima i terenima sa velikim nagibom. Ubrzanja su linearna, a Tucson snažno kreće već od 1700-1800 o/min, što ga čini izuzetno elastičnim i agilnim, kako za gradsku vožnju, tako i autoput, ali i off-road uslove. Moram da pohvalim i menjač (6 brzina manuelni), čiji prenosni odnosi su dobro proračunati. Precizan je, ali bi bilo dobro kada bi hodovi bili za nijansu kraći.” - ističe Petrović.

Utisak u unutrašnjosti testiranog primerka zaista je sjajan, ali uz konstataciju da je automobil bio opremljen Absolute opremom, uključujuči i atraktivnu svetlu boju kože i sve sisteme aktivne i pasivne bezbednosti. “Unutrašnjost Tucsona odlično je odmerena, a dimenzije volana stvaraju utisak da sedimo u nekom još većem automobilu. To je zato što se sedi povišeno, na dobro podesivom vozačkom sedištu, koje je blago profilisano. Sa vozačevom mesta vidi se hauba, što stvara još bolji subjektivan osećaj. Za svaku pohvalu su i ostave za sitnice, kojih ima na sve strane, a na dužim putovanjima sigurno će odgovarati i ostava zaflašu zapremine 1,5L u vratima. Generalno sam zadovoljan Tucsonovom unutrašnjošću, sve je na svom mestu, sa odličnom ergonomijom i bez previše eksperimentisanja.” - ističe Petrović.

I na zadnjim sedištima je sve u najboljem redu. Pored toga što su sedišta udobna, i što nude zavidnu prostranost, za svaku pohvalu je i njihova varijabilnost. Dovoljno je samo da podignete jednu ručicu i sedište će biti preklopljeno prema napred. Dovoljan je jedan potez rukom, i nastaje prtljažnik zapremine 805 litara, i to potpuno ravnog poda. Jednostavno i praktično. Osnovna zapremina prtljažnika je na nivou kompakta: 325 litara sa uspravnim zadnjim sedištima. Iako možda ne deluje puno, podsetimo da je prostor na zadnjoj klupi na zavidnom nivou, i da je više podređen putnicima nego prtljagu. Ipak, pohvale zaslužuje još nekoliko detalja u prtljažniku. Naravno, tu je i mrežica, koja obezbeđuje prtljag od pomeranja, a sve pohvale zaslužuje i staklo na petim vratima, koje se može nezavisno otvoriti. Kada nema potrebe da otvarate kompletna vrata prtljažnika, ili Vam to onemogućava šiblje, granje ili automobil prilepljen uz Tucsona, ovo rešenje pokazalo se kao fantastično.

Vešanje Hyundai Tucsona, što je uobičajeno za SUV kategoriju, usmereno je na udobnost u vožnji. Zahvaljujući zadnjem multilinku i stabilizatorima, Tucson se ponaša sasvim pristojno i sigurno će zadovoljiti prosečnog vozača. “Zahvaljujući debelim gumama sa visokim profilom, gradska vožnja sasvim je na nivou “klasičnih” automobila, uz dodatnu prednost, koja je kod nas posebno omiljena: penjanje na ivičnjake nije nikakva prepreka. Što se tiče pokretljivosti i agilnosti u vožni, vešanje Tucsona pruža sasvim pristojne karakteristike. Ako nešto možemo kritikovati, onda to može biti pomalo neindirektan kontakt sa podlogom. Isto važi i za volan, koji je prevelikog prečnika, i koji bi trebao pružati malo više informacija do vozača. To u gradskoj vožnji ne smeta, ali pri visokim brzinama, osećaj povezanosti sa asfaltom je jako važan. Što se tiče vožnje po krivudavom putu, Tucson se ne naginje previše u krivinama, ali ne treba preterivati, s obzirom na njegovu visinu. Moram da pohvalim ponašanje automobila na snegom pokrivenim putevima. I pored letnjih pneumatika, na putevima prekrivenim snegom, Tucson je samouvereno grabio napred, a kada je situacija bila “na ivici” aktivacijom blokade diferencijala, sve je bilo rešeno. Njegov 4WD sistem je i namenjen upravo ovakvim izletima na planinu.” - zaključuje Petrović.

Hyundai Tucson u novu godinu ušao je sa blagim osveženjem dizajna, o kojima nismo puno govorili. Izmene su kozmetičke prirode i primetiće ih samo oni sa veštim okom. Izmenjena su kućišta prednjih svetlosnih grupa, integrisana je hromirana lajsna na grilu hladnjaka, a nov je i dizajn aluminijumskih felni. Unutrašnjost je, kao što smo i istakli, ugrađeni kvalitetniji materijali. Hyundai Tucson je očigledno dosta profitirao od iskustva starijeg brata, stare genercije modela Santa Fe, od kojeg je nasledio i najvažniju Hyundaijevu karakteristiku: nisku cenu. Od većine direktnih konkurenata, Hyundai je jeftiniji. Iako “naša” testirna verzija sa savremenim turbodizel motorom 2.0 CRDi, sa pogonom na sve točkove 4WD, u najvišem nivou opreme, Absolute+ košta 25.990 Eura, za one manje zahtevnije tu je Hyundai Tucson 2.0 2WD Dynamic+, za koji je potrebno izdvojiti 17.990 Eura, sa carinom i PDV-om. Za navedeni novac, kupac dobija porodičan automobil za svakodnevne potrebe, ali i specifične aktivnosti članova porodice. Odlazak na put, traženje zabačene plaže ili skijališta. Sve to uz vrhunski komfor i bezbednost.

Hyundai Tucson 2.0 CRDi - Tehnička specifikacija Tip motora: Turbodizel Common-rail motor Broj cilindara / ventila: 4 / 4 Zapremina motora (cm3): 1.991 Maksimalna snaga (KS pri o/min): 140 / 4.000 Maksimalni obrtni moment (Nm pri o/min): 305 / 1.800 - 2.500 Maksimalna brzina (km/h): 177 Ubrzanje 0-100 km/h (s): 12 Prosečna potrošnja (L/100 km) - fabrički podatak: 7,1 Zapremina prtljažnog prostora (L): 325 / 805 Zapremina rezervoara (L): 58 Masa automobila (kg): 1.685 Dimenzija pneumatika: 235/60 R 16 Dužina automobila (mm): 4.325 Širina automobila (mm): 1.830 Visina automobila (mm): 1.730 Međuosovinsko rastojanje (mm): 2.630 Trag točkova napred (mm): 1.540 Trag točkova pozadi (mm): 1.540 Cena automobila (Eur): 25.990

IZVOR:AUTOMAGAZIN

Ssssay! SsangYong Motor Company Survives.

One of the more unpronounceable names in all of autodom is SsangYong Motor Company, a South Korean automaker who doesn’t export their vehicles to the US. That’s good news for a couple of reasons, one for having a name that doesn’t roll off of the tongue with ease. The other reason being the company has been on life support since January when it went into receivership, a move which placed the automaker one step away from bankruptcy liquidation. American car buyers are shying away from bankrupt Chrysler and troubled GM, why add SsangYong to the mix?

51% owned by SAIC, a Chinese automobile manufacturer, the loss of SsangYong probably would have been small to the  South Korea economy as the automaker ranks behind Hyundai, Kia and GM Daewoo in sales while just ahead of Renault Samsung among the five Korean automakers. Currently, SsangYong builds three models — the Rexton, Kyron and Rodius S, a family of SUV, crossover and people hauling vehicles built chiefly for the passenger market.

Ugliest Vehicle Ever Built?

By the way, the Wikipedia file photo shows the Rodius S which may explain just why SsangYong is having a difficult time of things.  Auto critics the world over have called the people hauler the ugliest vehicle ever made which is good news for GM as the Pontiac Aztek apparently has met its match. With seating for seven, nine or eleven passengers, the three or four row Robius S has all of the personality and appeal of a Cadillac hearse.

SsangYong does have a distributorship network in place for the UK where all three of the company’s current models are sold. That UK entity recently reported that the automaker is of more valuable operating as a going concern instead of being liquidated, meaning the company has passed an important test to ensure its survival. 

SsangYong C200 Diesel-Electric Hybrid

Moreover, the company is planning to cut its workforce and go ahead with a new model, the C200, which has been described as a compact urban vehicle. The C200 will offer the usual gas and diesel models but it also offer an unusual diesel-electric hybrid configuration which SsangYong hopes will help stimulate sales. Available in front or all wheel drive, the C200 is expected to go into production by year’s end, just after the company emerges from receivership.

Of course, given the current trend toward global consolidation, SsangYong’s future may hinge more on the fortunes of state-owned SAIC than on other factors, even the relentless growth of the Hyundai-Kia juggernaut which is on its own quest to eventually become the world’s biggest producer of passenger vehicles.

Sources: SsangYong Motor Company, Wikipedia

Hyundai Genesis Sedan (Full Review)

Inasmuch as luxury car buyers might turn their noses up when they hear the name Hyundai mentioned among BMW, Lexus and Mercedes, the fact remains that the Genesis holds its own against many of the top names in the business. And, with a price comparable to a Buick Lucerne or Toyota Avalon, the Hyundai Genesis is likely to attract customers looking to make their first luxury sedan purchase without busting the bank.

A Hyundai Surprise In The Form of the Genesis Sedan

Korean automaker brings high end luxury to the masses.

Say “Hyundai” and the image of an automotive brand producing the likes of the compact Elantra and the affordable Sonata comes to mind. But, in a bold and perhaps risky move, Hyundai has expanded its line to include a luxury model, one appropriately named Genesis.

Yes, this is a season of new beginnings for Hyundai (rhymes with Sunday) as the Korean automaker seeks to change the perception consumers have about its products while deciding against creating an all new luxury brand just as Toyota did with Lexus more than twenty years ago. With the Genesis, Hyundai has built a car that rivals the best German brands while pricing it closer to what people would pay for in a Buick Lucerne or a Toyota Avalon.

Taking Aim At German Luxury and Craftsmanship

The Genesis is actually two different cars, one a full sized sedan, the other a sport coupe. For this review I’ve covered the sedan, a vehicle Hyundai designed with Mercedes and BMW in mind. Indeed, the current Genesis has a strong resemblance to the Lexus GS, itself a European styled model just inches shorter than the Genesis but carrying a ten thousand dollar price premium over the similarly equipped Hyundai. That price differential is what Hyundai hopes will convince people to take a look at the Genesis when shopping for German or Japanese luxury.

Available in rear or all wheel drive, the two ton Genesis is powered by a base 3.8L V-6 engine or a 4.6L V-8. Both the rear wheel drive configuration and beefy V-8 engine are firsts for Hyundai, at least for the American market. Hyundai has been building larger cars for its home market of South Korea for many years; the Genesis represents the first of its kind for American export.

Should You Really Have A V-8?

My test model came equipped with the V-6 and not once did I feel that its 290 horsepower engine wasn’t enough to move the sedan. The V-8 produces 375 horsepower and runs on premium fuel; both engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The center console mounted transmission shifted effortlessly responding to my demands to see how quick it could be brought up to highway speed. Handling is very good, not spectacular, but the cabin is quiet and the ride is very smooth.

For the record, the V-8 will get you from stop to 60 mph in just under six seconds while the V-6 motor is about a half second slower. You’ll choose the larger engine if matching Audi performance is important to you, but if you go with the V-6 you will get ample power, better fuel economy and be able to fill up with regular gasoline.

In a League of its Own

Inside, the Genesis is like no Hyundai before it. True, the Hyundai Azera Limited offered a first glimpse at what Hyundai could do by building a well optioned sedan, but the Genesis clearly is in another league.

Seating five passengers, the cavernous interior is well appointed and offers more leg and head room than any of its competitors. The front seats are very comfortable, with leather seating surfaces and heated seats standard while a cooling option is also available for the driver. Rear seats can neither be warmed nor cooled, but the support and legroom offered is quite good. Surprisingly, the rear seat doesn’t fold down, an attribute commonly found in similar sedans.

An electroluminescent instrument cluster is complemented by a well designed center stack, itself containing cabin comfort, navigation and audio controls, many of which are duplicated on the steering wheel or placed adjacently to the transmission shifter. Sound is out of this world as the Lexicon 7.1 Discrete audio system features an 11-channel, 528-watt digital amplifier and 17 speakers. The Rolls Royce Phantom is the only other car in the world to offer this amazing sound system, a point Hyundai notes when they market the Genesis.

Every Safety Feature Imaginable

In developing the Genesis, Hyundai made sure that all of the state-of-the-art safety features were included as standard equipment. Beyond dual front airbags, the sedan includes front and rear-seat mounted side-impact bags as well as roof-mounted curtain side-impact bags. Anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, traction control, brake assist as well as specially reinforced front and rear crumple zones underscore the importance of safety.

Choose the premium or premium plus packages and you’ll also get a rear back up camera with front and rear parking assistance sensors, power rear sunshade and auto-leveling headlights among other features.

Trunk space is a full sixteen cubic feet, clearly at the higher end of its class. The opening is wide and the floor is flat; despite the rear seat not folding down, there is a pass through area for skis and similar lengthy objects.

Priced Like a Chrysler, Engineered Like a Mercedes

Despite concerns by some that the Genesis is a knocked down Lexus or Mercedes, those fears are quickly allayed as the sedan easily beats expectations. Base sticker price is in the low 30s and remains below $40,000 when fully optioned; slightly higher for the V-8. That price advantage will work towards convincing current owners of cars such as the Chrysler 300C and Pontiac G8 to consider the Genesis while giving BMW, Lexus, Mercedes, Infiniti, Cadillac and Audi drivers the message that the Genesis is a serious contender despite wearing the Hyundai name.

Photo Credit: Hyundai Motor America

Related Reading — First Drive: Hyundai Genesis Sedan

2009 Infiniti M35 Review

Remember the day when a luxury sedan was just a luxury sedan, a sports car was just a sports car, and an SUV was just an SUV? Nowadays, manufacturers are trying to make a vehicle that does everything. We have sports cars that cradle you with luxury features, crossovers that straddle the line between SUV and wagon, and luxury cars that have sports car characteristics. The Infiniti M35 fits right in the middle of the latter description, but so does the BMW 5-Series, Acura RL, and Audi A6, among others.

It’s hard to stand out in a class with blurred lines and so much competition, but that’s exactly what Infiniti intends to do with the M35 and M45 mid-size sedan.

We know Infiniti is no slouch when it comes to keeping their line-up fresh, and the M35 is no exception. For 2009, they upgraded last year’s 275 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 to produce 303 hp, and added two more gears to the old automatic transmission, for a total of seven. The M45 and AWD models (M35x and M45x) keep the same 5-speed automatic, however.

With a car that is both a luxury sedan and sports sedan, you usually get options to lean it one way or the other. Our review model was a M35 S, which means it’s equipped with the $1650 Sport package. This includes a tighter suspension, bigger wheels, stickier tires, sporty seats and trim, rear active steering for better stability, and “unique sport styling,” as they call it.

I had a lot of fun driving the M35; much more than I expected. The car is surprisingly responsive, and handled very tight for a big sedan. The 303 hp V6 under the hood produces plenty of power, which is usually right there when you need it. With the stability control turned off, it’s easy to break the rear wheels loose and have some fun sliding around corners, or ease up on the throttle and let the rear active steering and performance tires do their job, propelling you around turns like you’re on rails. Drive Shift (sport) mode keeps the RPMs high to ensure proper engine response when you need it, and the manual shift mode with rev-match blips the throttle on downshift to ensure you don’t lose revs in the lower gear. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think I was driving a sports car.

The interior doesn’t let you forget you’re in a luxury sedan, however. Big, comfortable, and infinitely adjustable front seats are heated and cooled, and rear seat passengers have plenty of room. The trunk is as big as most competitors’ trunks, which will fit everything but a bathtub. Standard features include auto on/off HID headlights that pivot when you turn around corners, a power moonroof, Bluetooth, dual climate, intelligent key, and driver-position memory. As with all new Infinitis, the M35 comes with magical self-healing clearcoat paint, which repairs light scratches by itself.

Our M35 came with a 14-speaker 5.1 Bose surround sound system, which is available with the Advanced Tech package. The two speakers embedded in the front seatbacks right behind your ears make any music sound life-like. The touchscreen hard drive navigation system is fast and good, although the maps were outdated, as with most nav systems. A standard RCA (red/white/yellow) connection and available iPod-integration jack (Tech package) give you choices to hook up media, but the lack of a standard 1/8” auxiliary jack leaves anyone using an MP3 player other than an iPod music-less; unless you opt for the 9.3 GB hard drive, which allows you to store your music in the car.

Also included in the Tech package is voice recognition and a rear view camera, while the Advanced Tech package adds Adaptive cruise control, that excellent sound system, and an interesting Lane Departure warning and prevention system. This technology detects when you’re leaving your lane without using your blinker, then beeps at you and applies brakes accordingly to nudge you back into your lane. While this is a great idea in theory, I have troubles seeing how it’s very useful. When I tested the system, I let go of the steering wheel and began to drift out of my lane slowly as if I fell asleep at the wheel. The brakes lightly applied themselves on one side of the car, which pulled slightly back into my lane, then began to drift off again. If I really fell asleep and didn’t wake up to the slight nudge back into my lane, I would have still run off the side of the road and into the ditch.

I have a few other minor complaints about the M35 which should be fixed. While I normally love cooled seats, these didn’t work very well. They made the small of my back very cold, and did almost nothing to the rest of the seat. The center stack controls, while mostly good, are a bit confusing and cluttered. The DVD slot in the center console takes up so much room that the storage space is almost useless. Finally, the rear-view mirror is mounted too high, causing me to scrape my knuckles against the course plastic every time I need to adjust the mirror. It’s worth noting again that there should be a standard auxiliary jack for those brave souls who haven’t bowed to the iPod monopoly, and own a different brand of MP3 player.

The 3.5-liter V6 is plenty powerful, but if you crave more, you can opt for the M45 with 325hp and 336 lb-ft of torque in its 4.5-liter V8. In the near future, I expect the M line to adopt Infiniti’s new 3.7-liter V6 already seen in the smaller G37. This engine produces 330hp, which is higher than the 4.5-liter V8 in the M45, so I suspect that’s why it’s not already available in the M.

Overall, I think the 2009 Infiniti M35 is an excellent car, and does a great job at combining the comfort and convenience of a luxury sedan and the fun-to-drive factor of a sports car. Plenty of space inside and more than enough cargo room make it a capable family-hauler that can be taken on long trips, as well as prove to be fun on curvy roads. Starting at $46,000, the M35 is in the same range as most competitors, and provides loads of standard features and even more available packages for customization.

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  Infiniti M35

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  2009 Infiniti M35

  
  

  From 17/25 mpg | MSRP from $45,800

  
  

  View used Infiniti M35 classifieds

  
  

  
  
  
  
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Competitors:

BMW 5-Series

Hyundai Genesis Sedan

Acura RL

Audi A6

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No Automakers Meet Obama’s New Fuel Economy Standard [I Feel Gassy]

The just-announced fuel economy policy changes demand 42 MPG for cars and 27 MPG for light trucks. A look at the data shows not a single automaker currently meets the new guidelines proposed today.

Using the Model-Year 2009 Fleet Fuel Economy standards provided by the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration (NHTSA), we determined the current ratings for passenger cars and light trucks and compared them to the goal for each of the greater automakers selling cars in the U.S. A few automakers, probable KIA and Hyundai, report their given conditions separately since of a different ownership arrangement. We also took a look at what barriers exist for them reaching those standards.

BMW

2009 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 27.5 MPG
Distance From 2016 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: -14.5 MPG
2009 Light Truck Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 23.1 MPG
Distance From 2016 Light Truck Fuel Economy Rating: -3.9 MPG
Barriers To Meeting New Fuel Economy Ratings: BMW currently offers no hybrid or electric vehicles and, as a matter of practice, has been increasing displacement not decreasing it. The use of diesel engines is a step in the right direction but they’re source behind where they destitution to be.

Chrysler

2009 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 28.3 MPG
Distance From 2016 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: -13.7 MPG
2009 Light Truck Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 23.9 MPG
Distance From 2016 Light Truck Fuel Economy Rating: -3.1 MPG
Barriers To Meeting New Fuel Economy Ratings: Chrysler’s biggest problem, in general, is the lack of appealing small cars with good fuel economy. Lacking any realistic vehicle put on the horizon, the Chrysler-FIAT deal was envisioned to solve this issue. Let’s see how that works out for them.

Daimler

2009 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 27.5 MPG
Distance From 2016 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: -14.5 MPG
2009 Light Truck Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 20.6 MPG
Distance From 2016 Light Truck Fuel Economy Rating: -6.4 MPG
Barriers To Meeting New Fuel Economy Ratings: Mercedes-Benz may have to reconsider its policy of bringing over G-wagens and GL-wagens if it doesn’t want to pay a refine, as the light truck numbers are low. The company has hinted at a smaller, possibly marked by electricity, model to bring up the average mileage but how many electric smarts do you need to overweigh an AMG G55?

Ford

2009 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 31.1 MPG (excluding foreign import)
Distance From 2016 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: -10.9 MPG
2009 Light Truck Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 24.7 MPG
Distance From 2016 Light Truck Fuel Economy Rating: -2.3 MPG
Barriers To Meeting New Fuel Economy Ratings: Ford sells a lot of trucks. Despite fluctuations in combustibles prices, the F-Series is bread + butter in favor of the company. The adding of EcoBoost should help propel passenger vehicles to a higher overall value, and rumors of similar turbo’ed engines in the pickups should help as abundantly.

GM

2009 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 31.3 MPG (excluding foreign import)
Distance From 2016 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: -10.7 MPG
2009 Light Truck Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 22.5 MPG
Distance From 2016 Light Truck Fuel Economy Rating: -4.5 MPG
Barriers To Meeting New Fuel Economy Ratings: Barriers? What Barriers? The Volt will save everything… right? GM could be a victim of its own success if it turns out they start selling far more Camaros than hybrids and other fuel efficient vehicles.

Honda

2009 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 36.5 MPG
Distance From 2016 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: -5.5 MPG
2009 Light Truck Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 26.2 MPG
Distance From 2016 Light Truck Fuel Economy Rating: -0.8 MPG
Barriers To Meeting New Fuel Economy Ratings: Honda typically ranks highest amidst brands, with equal reason they’re doing pretty well. But maybe now we know why they keep delaying the NSX.

Hyundai

2009 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 33.2 MPG
Distance From 2016 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: -8.8 MPG
2009 Light Truck Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 25.7 MPG
Distance From 2016 Light Truck Fuel Economy Rating: -1.3 MPG
Barriers To Meeting New Fuel Economy Ratings: Unlike most Asian brands, Hyundai has picked up steam through moving away from greener vehicles. WIll the Genesis sedan and coupe cut into the gains made by their dinky little Korean hatches?

Kia

2009 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 33.7 MPG
Distance From 2016 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: -8.3 MPG
2009 Light Truck Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 24.4 MPG
Distance From 2016 Light Truck Fuel Economy Rating: -2.6 MPG
Barriers To Meeting New Fuel Economy Ratings: Kia has human being big barrier to better fuel economy and it’s the Kia Borrego. Since not any some seems to want the $40K truck we don’t see Kia having a hard time satirical it out of the lineup.

Mazda

2009 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 32.2/31.0 MPG (Import/Domestic)
Distance From 2016 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: -9.8 MPG/11 MPG
2009 Light Truck Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 26.6 MPG
Distance From 2016 Light Truck Fuel Economy Rating: -0.4 MPG
Barriers To Meeting New Fuel Economy Ratings: The only hybrid vehicle in the Mazda lineup is a rebadged Ford Escape and, so far as we know, diesel hasn’face to face been considered an option. While the Mazda3 gets good mileage it’s at all times placed Zoom-Zoom over glug-glug.

Mitsubishi

2009 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 29.5 MPG
Distance From 2016 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: -12.5 MPG
2009 Light Truck Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 26.1 MPG
Distance From 2016 Light Truck Fuel Economy Rating: -0.9 MPG
Barriers To Meeting New Fuel Economy Ratings: The single saving grace for Mitsubishi, as it languishes in the U.S., is the iMiev full of fire car. But can the company produce enough electrics and hold outright long enough to make it economically feasible?

Nissan

2009 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 30.1/34.0 MPG (Import/Domestic)
Distance From 2016 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: -11.9 MPG/ 8.0 MPG
2009 Light Truck Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 23.5 MPG
Distance From 2016 Light Truck Fuel Economy Rating: -3.5 MPG
Barriers To Meeting New Fuel Economy Ratings: Nissan has built a reputation around their VQ V6 and don’t seem intent on taking it out of somewhat of their vehicles. To balance this, they’ll try to use the Nissan Cube and other small cars, but they’ll have to do more fully than the also-ran Sentra

Porsche

2009 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 27.0 MPG
Distance From 2016 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: -15.0 MPG
2009 Light Truck Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 19.3 MPG
Distance From 2016 Light Truck Fuel Economy Rating: -7.7 MPG
Barriers To Meeting New Fuel Economy Ratings: Porsche has historically been more content to pay fees than reform their ways given they’re a work brand. The lucrative Cayenne, as well, presents a challenge. They could combine with VW to raise the Porsche medium, but at the price of lowering VW’s.

Subaru

2009 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 29.0 MPG
Distance From 2016 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: -13.0 MPG
2009 Light Truck Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 28.4 MPG
Distance From 2016 Light Truck Fuel Economy Rating: -1.4 MPG
Barriers To Meeting New Fuel Economy Ratings: Subaru builds cars disproportionately more fun than you’d look forward to and the popularity of vehicles preference the WRX and the lack of a small, under-powered economy car is a threat to the brand’s overall mileage. Could we see the return of the Justy hatchback?

Suzuki

2009 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 32.7 MPG
Distance From 2016 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: -9.3 MPG
2009 Light Truck Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 25.7 MPG
Distance From 2016 Light Truck Fuel Economy Rating: -1.3 MPG
Barriers To Meeting New Fuel Economy Ratings: The current Suzuki lineup is such random and confusing it’s hard to know where they could doings. With the affront of the SX4 and Grand Vitara there aren’t any products with much note recognition. Just scrap the whole thing and gain us the Cappuccino.

Toyota

2009 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 38.1/35.9 MPG (Import/Domestic)
Distance From 2016 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: -3.9 MPG/6.1 MPG
2009 Light Truck Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 25.8 MPG
Distance From 2016 Light Truck Fuel Economy Rating: -1.2 MPG
Barriers To Meeting New Fuel Economy Ratings: Unless Toyota discontinues the Prius and decides to frame the Tacoma V8-only, the automaker is moving in the right direction. Let’s just hope this doesn’t torpedo plans for a unused Supra although we fear it might.

VW

2009 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 30.2 MPG
Distance From 2016 Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: -11.8 MPG
2009 Light Truck Fleet Fuel Economy Rating: 23.9 MPG
Distance From 2016 Light Truck Fuel Economy Rating: -3.1 MPG
Barriers To Meeting New Fuel Economy Ratings: Volkswagen’s greatest environmental asset is the TDI engine. It’s greatest weakness is the haughty price of diesel fuel and the possibility of Americans turning on their technology. The greatest barrier on the horizon is Porsche, so we have power to’t imagine them combining.

Conclusion

Not a single automaker popularly meets 2016 standards for combustible matter economy. In passenger cars, only Toyota and Honda, who have larger fleets of fuel-efficient cars are less than 10 MPG not present from the proposed standards. This means companies will each have to radically alter their lineups, reduce the production of vehicles we actually want to drive, or invest heavily in choice propulsion systems at a time when their involving death is severely constrained. Good hazard with that! Appliance vehicles, here we advance!

Car Clinic - Auto Vehicle Research Study

I have received this comment from one of my post. It seems that Michael Looi is inviting New Car owner (bought after June 2008) to participate this Car Clinic. The interesting part is participant will get incentive of about RM100. To get a better view, here’s his comment:

Dear Friends,My company will be doing a large scale Auto Vehicle Research Study, we call it a Car Clinic and would like to invite car owners to participate.

We are looking for NEW CAR owners only, meaning cars bought After JUNE 2008.

During the Car Clinic, participant will get a chance to see and feel a number of display car, they will be asked to evaluate the cars on display.

Of course all the participant will receive a CASH incentive for their effort. The amount is to be confirm but is in the range of RM 100.00

The Car Clinic will be held in MATRADE Exhibition & Convention Centre MECC (http://www.mycen.com.my/directions/mecc_matrade.html)

Date: 27th & 28th June 2009 (Saturday & Sunday)

Please see below for the Car Brands we are targeting, kindly remember we are looking for NEW CAR owners (bought After JUNE 2008)

If you or you know anyone who have bought the following car within June 2008 - May 2009, please pass me their contact.

Perodua Myvi (Std / Pre / SE)

New Proton Saga

Proton Persona

New Proton Exora

Suzuki Swift / Hyundai Getz / Honda Jazz

Honda City / Toyota Vios

Toyota Avanza

Nissan Grand Livina 1.6

Naza Citra

Do call me if you have any inquiries, my mobile : 012-266 5144; email: mikelooi@hotmail.com; office: 03-22975731

Thank you

Regards,

Michael Looi

So for those who are interested, hurry up… contact him.

Related posts:

1. AMY Search ‘in’ Malaysian Super Series
2. Honda Malaysia Wins 3 Awards in Asian Auto – VCA Awards 2008
3. Picture of Proton Exora vs Grand Livina vs Avanza

Rhys Millen Hyundai Genesis by Will Roegge (video)

Some time ago i publish post about Rhys Millen Hyundai Genesis Now i want to share with you video this amazing car from Will Roegge.

Rhys Millen Hyundai Genesis by Will Roegge

Some time ago i publish post about Rhys Millen Hyundai Genesis Now i want to share with you video this amazing car from Will Roegge.

Auto Sales: Looking For Signs of Recovery

April 2009 new car sales in the U.S. market were down once again, a drop of 34.4% over April 2008. Moreover, nearly 40,000 fewer new vehicles were sold in April compared to March 2009, even with one more selling day for April.

Finding Good News Amongst The Carnage

Reading some of the news releases from the manufacturers and you would think that April was a good month. Not surprising, since PR folks are looking for every possible ray of light and when they find one are eager to reflect the good news.

Take Ford: As the Blue Oval continues to map out its future, one where they’ll likely pass its chief rival, General Motors, sometime this year or next, the company was quick to emphasize the acceptance of their all-new mid-size sedans — the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln MKZ and the hybrid variants offered with the first two models. According to Autodata, Ford sales were off 31.5%, but the company sold more midsize vehicles than expected while also picking up market share. Best news of all, Ford passed Toyota in sales for the month.

Chrysler continues to struggle as its current bankruptcy state and pending relationship with Fiat unfolds. Although Mitsubishi posted the worst month over month loss of any full line manufacturer at 55.9%, Chrysler showed the biggest drop amongst the Big Six, falling 48.1% for the month. That bad news hasn’t stopped Chrysler from touting its good news which included both the Dodge Challenger and Chrysler Town & Country seeing a sales increase over the previous month while the Jeep Wrangler saw its sales increase by 7% over April 2008. Chrysler was also one of the most vocal in claiming that the market may have finally stabilized.

More Good News To Report

Among the other manufacturers offering their reports the following good news could be found:

• Kia says that its all-new Soul, the Scion-like urban utility vehicle sold 3,228 units for April.

• The Audi A5 increased 40% in sales over April 2008.

• Sales for the luxury Hyundai Genesis continue to climb, reaching 2,076 units for the month.

• Honda had the best performance of all Big Six automakers, dropping 25.3% for the month, its best month so far in 2009.  Sales of the redesigned Acura TSX are up for the year by nearly 6% over 2008.

• Wounded GM continues to lead all manufacturers maintaining a 38,000 vehicle cushion over its closest competitor which for April was Ford. Monthly sales for April were actually up 11% over March. With Pontiac winding down and with Saab, Saturn and Hummer all expecting to be sold or closed down before the year ends, GM’s hold on the top position looks precarious at best.

Looking Forward to the Coming Months

The months ahead are a big question mark for all manufacturers as future sales hinge on two events: an economic recovery as well as a “cash for clunkers” program now being considered by the U.S. Congress.  An improvement in the former and the implementation of the latter could go far to stimulate sales, perhaps bringing about a sustained recovery.

Related Reading — Sales Data Shows Promise Amid The Gloom

Toyoat,Honda,Nissan,Hyundai to expect losses on Quarterly Reports

Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co., Japan’s three biggest automakers, may report quarterly losses after the global recession crippled sales. South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co. may also say its advance fell to the lowest in at least seven years.

Toyota probably had a net loss of 678 billion yen ($6.9 billion) for the three months ended March 31 from a profit of 317 billion yen a year earlier, according to the median of four analyst estimates compiled by means of Bloomberg. Net income at Hyundai, South Korea’s largest automaker, probably tumbled 48 percent.

Vehicle make necessary in the U.S., the world’s biggest auto market, plunged hindmost quarter considered in the state of the unemployment rate rose to the highest in 25 years. Japanese carmakers acquire also slashed jobs and production and Toyota will cut managers’ pay while Japan, Germany and China began offering incentives for motorists to spur auto sales.

“This terrible environment will shape by the hammer the carmakers towards most of the year,” said Ichiro Takamatsu, leader investment officer at Alphex Investments Co., a Tokyo-based hedge fund. “The companies may only begin to recover toward the end of the year and in 2010 as sales will remain sickly.”

GM, Chrysler

The U.S. recession has also forced Detroit automakers General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC to turn to government aid to stay in business. Last quarter, Japan’s auto market shrank 24 percent, and overall sales in Europe fell 17 percent.

Honda’s failure to win, the carmaker’s first in at least 15 years, was round 243.2 billion yen last quarter, compared with a 25.4 billion yen profit a year ago, according to analysts. Nissan had a loss of about 405.6 billion yen, according to the analysts. That compares by a 137.6 billion yen profit a year ago.

Hyundai plans to report its quarterly proceeds on April 23. Net income likely fell to 205 billion won ($151 million), according to the median estimate of 11 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

Honda, Japan’s second-largest automaker, will report earnings on April 28. Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, is scheduled to release results on May 8, followed by Nissan on May 12.

Toyota added 1.1 percent to 3,760 yen, at the 3 p.m. close in Tokyo. Honda dropped 0.6 percent to 2,715 yen, and Nissan gained 1.6 percent to 508 yen. Hyundai rose 2.3 percent to 66,000 won in Seoul.

“Drastic Restructuring”

“Japanese automakers will have to take drastic restructuring measures to return to usual profit levels,” as their operating losses may top more than 1 trillion yen this fiscal year, Shinya Naruse, analyst at Nomura Securities Co., before-mentioned in a report on April 10.

Industrywide sales in the U.S., traditionally the most profitable market for Toyota, Honda and Nissan, plunged 38 percent in the before anything else three months of this year. In show difference, Hyundai boosted its sales 0.5 percent, as it offered more incentives to lure customers.

Toyota’s sales probably plunged 39 percent to 4 trillion yen from 6.57 trillion yen last station, the analysts said. The company to all appearance had an operating forfeiture of 588.8 billion yen, compared with a profit of 396.7 billion yen, the analysts said. The carmaker said today it would cut summer bonuses of managers in Japan by 60 percent from a year earlier.

Honda had an operating loss of 332.7 billion yen after sales slipped 39 percent to 1.87 trillion yen. Nissan will probably make known an operating loss of 272.3 billion yen on sales of 1.65 trillion yen, according to analysts’ estimates.

Stronger Yen

A stronger yen against the dollar and euro added to Japanese automakers’ losses, as they export about half of their vehicles from Japan. The yen averaged 93.63 per dollar in the three months ended March 31, compared with 105.44 a year earlier. The euro was bought at 122.41 yen in the share, compared by 157.88 last year. Toyota based on its estimates for the phrase on 90 yen to the dollar and 120 yen to the euro.

Every 1 yen get against the dollar and euro cuts Toyota’s annual operating profit by 35 billion yen and 5 billion yen, respectively. It cuts Honda’s operating profit by 15 billion yen and 2 billion yen.

Hyundai’s sales likely dropped 22 percent to 6.36 trillion won, and operating profit probably tumbled 60 percent to 211 billion won, according to the analysts. The won dropped 8.9 percent versus the dollar during the January-March period. A weaker won helps boost repatriated value for Hyundai’s exports, which accounted for 66 percent of the Hyundai’sitting revenue in 2008.

“It’s meaningful that Hyundai placid made profit after it boosted marketing spending to increase share,” said Stephen Ahn, the head of research at LIG Investment & Securities Co. “No matter what it costs, it’session now a condition of survival for automakers to keep up manufactory utilization and expand market share.”

Kia Motors Corp., South Korea’session second-biggest automaker, may require posted a net income of 34.8 billion won last specific place, compared with a 24.8 billion won damage a year earlier, the analysts said. Sales may have fallen 7.5 percent to 3.44 trillion won while operating profit in likelihood declined 22 percent to 80 billion won.

Racing bull: Hyundai Genesis Coupe! Rhys Millen

Newcomer Hyundai Genesis Coupe piloted by Rhys Millen under the flag of the main sponsor Red Bull debuted at competitions Formula Drift hardly more one week ago, in Long Beach. And though Millen has left already in the first round of competitions, his car arrested to itself special attention of fans. Turbo V6 of this car gives out exciting trills, and the car remains to one of the most attractive on a track.

Formula Drift – only one of a train of competitions where Millen plans to chase on the Genesis Coupe, besides this championship the car also will take part in annual race Pikes Peak Hill Climb and series Redline Time Attack. Certainly, we could not disregard Rhys Millen and his remarkable sport car, therefore we suggest you to admire photos of the racer and bolid both during competitions, and out of them. Besides you also will find the information about new bolid Hyundai and about the most well-known racer, in whose hands it urged to cover himself with glory.

Hyundai Genesis Coupe: Origin

Representation of the racing program of the company, in which Rhys Millen frameworks has constructed 550-strong Genesis Coupe, has taken place on a motor show in Chicago. According to the plan, in 2009 Rhys will bring the car created by his own hands on race Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, stages of championship Formula Drift and separate competitions of series Redline Time Attack.



Head Hyundai Motor America John Krafchik has told about it:" The today's presentation will allow Genesis Coupe to take part in three nice autosports series. We like to name Genesis Coupe the impudent relative of the North American car of year, sedan Genesis, and we hope that on a course of a season of Copes can use each once of energy splashing in this car ". Millen and his command – ideal companions of racing aspirations Hyundai as in a track record Millens are present shootings at cinema, participation in the numerous drift championships, a world record in race Pikes Peak and a recent trick with revolution on celebrating of New year in Las Vegas. Thus behind all its successes always there is a qualified command of the experts precisely knowing how to take a maximum of potential from a racing car. Possibility for the first time to test Genesis Coupe in action Millen take in presented in time of shooting of a preview trailer of racing program Hyundai. Then on racing track Road Atlanta it has spent at the wheel cars three days, and it has approached it at all points. The racer has declared: "Genesis Coupe Concept has inspired me on partnership with Hyundai which extends now on set of projects. The priority is a creation 550-strong Genesis Coupe with an easy and rigid body, and we will enclose in this all our knowledge and experience".

Hyundai Genesis Coupe: Work

Six experts RMR (own racing command Rhys Millen) have peeled all case of a car up to iron then it five days stay in water in an alkaline bath, to get rid of the rubber and mastic rests. Besides, for increase of ruggedness the case has undergone procedure of additional spot welding.



It has been decided to make and without that not heavy Genesis Coupe even easier, using carbon details everywhere where it is possible. Therefore the car has received carbon boot lid, a cowl, a roof, doors, side panels, a front bumper and thresholds. All established on the car carbon on the average on 50-80 % is easier than a detail, than their steel analogues. And for weight reduction it was not necessary to endow neither design, nor outlines of appearance of the car.

Thresholds have special bores for an air tap from under the car, and splitter on a front bumper and the built in choke tube create additional pressure, without slowing down thus the car. The rear choke tube is equipped by the long flutes regulating a current of air under the bottom, as to clamping force its increase is provided with rear wing APR GTC-500 which is completely adjusted under concrete lines and needs. The rear wing form is counted by means of system of the computing analysis of dynamics air (Computational Fluid Dynamics, CFD). The car cowl is ventilated, dissipating hot air, and its safety is provided with gears of lock-up Aerocatch.



Interior

Interior RMR Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe has changed to unrecognizability and now has not something in common with an interior of the serial car intended for comfortable daily driving. The place of magnificent attributes was occupied with a safety cage (mechanics RMR cooked it to a frame having removed a roof) that has made the case of a sport car even more rigidly, and fire-prevention protection. Besides, have been established distance pieces between lobbies and average racks and all are dismantled sitting then to the place of the pilot racing armchair Sparco has been established.

Suspenders

On RMR Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe adjustable antiroll bars from high carbon steels are established three-position regulated KW, and also. Besides it in RMR have created own adjustable bottom and rear suspension arms, and also rear suspension bars to provide more exact adjustment.



Engine:

The volume standard 3,8-litre Hyundai Lambda V6 has been increased to 4,1 litres. The motor has received turbo compressor Turbonetics and engine management system AEM. Sequental transmission HKS will connect it with wheels. Finally, total capacity of the power unit has made 550 horsepowers, and the maximum twisting moment – 705 Nanometers.

Wheels, tyres and brakes

Car has received 18-inch light-alloy wheel disks Enkei RPF1 and tyres Toyo Proxes R1R dimension 225/40 in front and 265/40 behind.

Formula Drift 2009 Event Schedule



Formula Drift at the 2009 Long Beach Grand Prix