Alizium Auto Blogs: июля 2009

Alicia Whitten: Mixed Midwest Hottie

Here’s another hottie in the import scene that wont disappoint! Her name is Alicia Ann Whitten and she’s from Omaha, Nebraska and is the perfect combo of Vietnamese, German, French, Irish, Dutch, Spanish, American Indian and Italian. Wow!. Alicia is featured in several different magazines such as Super Street, Modified Magazine, Import Tuner and Dsport along with some Calendars. Furthermore, she won the title of HIN Miss Minneapolis, is the Nos Spokes Model for 2008, and was voted by Maxim Magazine as top 10 Maxim Home Town Hotties. To top it off, she has a sweet and down-to-earth personality, hot bod, and pretty face, what more could a guy want?

ToyotaFest 2009

I know it seems unlikely to those who grew up in places where cars rust, or if you’re old enough to have looked askance at Japanese cars when they started rolling out on American soil in larger numbers, but there was a ToyotaFest this past Saturday. More than 350 Toyotas of all sorts showed up: Corollas, Starlets, a lone original-owner Tercel, plenty of Celicas, Supras, AE86s, MR2s, two red LHD Toyota 2000GTs, more Cressidas than we’ve ever seen in one place since they were sold new, and more Scion XBs than you would know what to do with. There was even an all-original, unrestored ‘58 Crown.

The nicest thing about events like ToyotaFest is that everyone respects everyone else. The XB folks appreciate the old-school stuff, the street-stock crowd seemed interested in the latest and greatest mods that people were making to their cars, the rear-drive faithful didn’t speak ill of the front-drive brigade, and young and old alike appreciated each other’s efforts. It’s an atmosphere that a lot of other car shows would be wise to emulate.

Is Ford alienating youth with newest feature?

How will teens respond to Ford's MyKey?

Starting next model year, Ford will begin offering a new feature designed to limit the freedoms teens have while driving mom and dad’s car.

MyKey, as Ford is calling it, will allow parents to limit the top speed of the car, sound a continuous alarm if the seat belt is not buckled and even limit the volume of the stereo system.

The feature will be standard on some 2010 Ford models, beginning with the Focus.

I can see Ford’s strategy here of giving concerned parents a way to control the driving habits of their teens. And I agree with the fact that teens are notoriously bad drivers and probably shouldn’t be allowed behind the wheel until they are 17 or 18.

Considering all that, you might think that I’d sing the praises for MyKey, but in fact I despise the idea for one simple reason: trust.

The fact is, America’s legal driving age is 16. Whether I like that or not it’s the law. As legal drivers, we need to trust teens to make the right choices behind the wheel just as much as we trust every other legal driver.

I wonder if Ford has considered this little fact: teens are fickle.

Especially the group of teens known as Generation Y. If these teens feel a lack of trust from a corporation now, they’re less likely to give that corporation their business a couple years down the road.

When it’s time for the teens of today to make their first vehicle purchase, do you think there’s any chance that they’ll buy a Ford? The same company that didn’t even trust them with the radio controls?

This is potentially a huge alienation of the next group of auto buyers, and a real opportunity for brands like Scion to step up and embrace teens with a very simple message: We trust you.

What do you think of MyKey?

-tgriffith

Jaguar XKR 4.2 V8 Supercharged Specification

Jaguar XKR 4.2 V8 Supercharged Petrol - Technical Specification

Performance

0 to 60 mph (secs): 4.9

Engine Power - BHP: 420

Engine Torque - LBS/FT: 413

Top Speed- MPH: 155

Safety

EURO NCAP Front and Side Impact test - Star Rating: 9

EURO NCAP Pedestrian test - Star Rating: 9

Insurance Group: 20

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 6

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: Unlimited

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Engine and Drive Train

CC: 4196

Compression Ratio: 9.1:1

Cylinder Layout: V8

Cylinders: 8

Cylinders - Bore (mm): 86

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 90.3

Engine Layout: NORTH-SOUTH

Fuel Delivery: SUPERCHARGED INJECTION

Gears: 6 SPEED

Number of Valves: 32

Transmission: AUTO

Emissions

CO2 (g/km): 294

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 4

Fuel Consumption

EC Combined (mpg): 22.9

EC Extra Urban (mpg): 32.6

EC Urban (mpg): 14.8

Weight and Capacities

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 70.6

Gross Vehicle Weight (kg): 2080

Luggage Capacity: 300 litres

Max. Loading Weight(kg): 415

Minimum Kerbweight (kg): 1665

No. of Seats: 4

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb (m): 10.97

Vehicle Dimensions

Height (mm): 1322

Length (mm): 4791

Wheelbase (mm): 2752

Width (mm): 1892

Width including mirrors (mm): 2070

Jaguar XK 4.2 V8 Specification

Jaguar XK 4.2 V8 Petrol - Technical Specification

Performance

0 to 60 mph (secs): 5.9

Engine Power - BHP: 300

Engine Torque - LBS/FT: 310

Top Speed- MPH: 155

Safety

EURO NCAP Front and Side Impact test - Star Rating: 9

EURO NCAP Pedestrian test - Star Rating: 9

Insurance Group: 19

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 6

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: Unlimited

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Engine and Drive Train

CC: 4196

Compression Ratio: 11:1

Cylinder Layout: V8

Cylinders: 8

Cylinders - Bore (mm): 86

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 90.3

Engine Layout: NORTH-SOUTH

Fuel Delivery: INJECTION

Gears: 6 SPEED

Number of Valves: 32

Transmission: AUTO

Emissions

CO2 (g/km): 269

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 4

Fuel Consumption

EC Combined (mpg): 25

EC Extra Urban (mpg): 34.9

EC Urban (mpg): 16.5

Weight and Capacities

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 70.6

Gross Vehicle Weight (kg): 2035

Luggage Capacity: 440 litres

Max. Loading Weight(kg): 440

Minimum Kerbweight (kg): 1595

No. of Seats: 4

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb (m): 10.97

Vehicle Dimensions

Height (mm): 1322

Length (mm): 4791

Wheelbase (mm): 2752

Width (mm): 1892

Width including mirrors (mm): 2070

Rolls-Royce 200EX: Power And Agility

Rolls Royce is all set to show the world their latest experimental car, the 200EX at the Geneva Motor Show. Rather than relying on clay or computer models, the developers produced a real car, with working parts for real-world testing. The 200EX is set to become the RR4 when it comes to full production in 2010. It’s a foot and a half shorter than the original Phantom, but still huge at almost 18 feet. This decrease in length will make sure that the car will be a bit more agile than it’s older, bigger Rolls Royce brothers, which were like road-going yachts. It will be powered by a 6.0 liter V12 and will generally be based on the BMW 750 iL. As usual, the distinctive RR grille will be there, albeit a bit different looking. The Spirit of Ecstasy will still fly over the long bonnet while the interior will still be the lap of luxury. $200,000.

Audi RS6: A designer's perspective

Many drawings from wanna-be car designers are popping up lately. Usually they look nice or at least have something special. Unfortunately I have to admit that I don't like this artist's impression of the next-gen Audi RS6. But please make your own mind.Related news: GermanCarBlog, P4MR, Audi RS6Source: autoblog.it

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