2008 Aston Martin DBS : A Classy Car

Aston Martin's latest flagship, the DBS, should satisfy the desires of anyone who mourns the departed Vanquish. Sporting a 510-horsepower V-12, massive wheels and a low-slung hood, the DBS competes with supercars like the Ferrari 599 GTB and Maserati Gran Turismo.

The rear-wheel-drive DBS crowns Aston Martin's three-car lineup. It shares its platform with the similarly styled DB9 and less-expensive V8 Vantage, both of which have convertible variants. The DBS comes only as a two-door hardtop.

Those who have seen a mid '90s DB7 or anything newer should recognize the DBS as an Aston. Its trapezoidal grille and low-slung hood mimic the V8 Vantage and DB9; the front air dam is larger, the bumper has a few more etchings and the rear sports an aggressive underbody air diffuser.

Aston Martin says the DBS' body is constructed from aluminum, magnesium and carbon fiber, all much lighter — and more expensive — than conventional steel. The car's frame is aluminum. Xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights and LED taillamps complete the package.

An adaptive suspension adjusts the dampers to changing road conditions, and it has a Track Mode for those who just can't stand any body roll. Twenty-inch wheels wear Pirelli P Zero tires.

The two-seat interior looks much like that of the DB9. The center control stack starts with the A/C vents up top and flows down to the center armrest. The dashboard, armrest, steering wheel and seats are upholstered in leather, and the climate and radio controls have silver accents.

Buyers get their choice of ultra-thin racing seats or chunkier, but still heavily bolstered, buckets. There's a small cargo area behind the seats that can hold a custom luggage set. A navigation system is available.

The DBS' mid-mounted, 6.0-liter V-12 generates 510 hp and 420 pounds-feet of torque, enough to propel it to 60 mph in about 4 seconds. The engine sits in front of the driver and passenger, but is pushed back toward the center of the car. The standard six-speed manual connects to a carbon-fiber driveshaft. There is no automatic or automated-manual transmission option.

Standard antilock brakes use colossal 15.7-inch discs up front and 14.2 inches in back — that's more than an inch wider than the discs on the 599 GTB and 2 to 3 inches wider than the ones on most heavy-duty pickup trucks. The DBS also includes traction control and an electronic stability system.

BMW GINA Light Visionary Model

BMW just unveiled its latest design philosophy — via a radical concept car — that will sure to raise some eyebrows in the automotive industry. Touted as the "game changer" for the "development of tomorrow's mobility," the new concept centers around the GINA principle, for Geometry and Functions In "N" Adaptions. What this means is the ability for BMW to think outside the box and innovate maximum ideas with mininum amount of the usual constraints associated with car design.

The first translation of the GINA philosophy into physical being is demonstrated in the Light Visionary Model concept. The only specs that may be familiar are the car's realistic 8-cylinder powertrain package residing in a roadster built from an aluminum space-frame chassis with two double tailpies and 20-in. alloy wheels at the corners. Other than that, it is the Visionary's exterior body that will catch all of us by surprise. It is skinned by four large pieces of flexible material that can stretch and contract based on a number of substructures that can move about on the chassis with electro and electrohydraulic controls.

There are four main pieces of skin that make up the Visionary's body: The largest component starts at the front of the car and extends all the way to the base of the windscreen, then down and across the two doors, ending at the rear edge. The next two fabric-like skins begin at the front lower rocker panels, then run across the rear wheel arches to the back. The last piece of skin makes up the rear deck. The roadster's scissor-type doors open with its outer skin wrinkled in a very clearly defined pattern, but they are stretched back into a silky-smooth surface when the doors close.

The fabric that covers the Visionary's body is constructed from a waterproof and temperature-resistant mesh netting on the outer layer, supported by a flexible metal- wire structure underneath to maintain the skin's tension and smoothness. Around a few areas where curvatures of the skin are called for, carbon struts are added to allow for higher flexibility while keeping the rounded contours.

The Light Visionary Model is striking not only because of its fabric outer skin, but also its utility in form following function. Because of the flexible skin, the headlights can be hidden or exposed when necessary. The side markers to signal lane changes are not visible on the outside until they are turned on during use — their light shines though the translucent (but not transparent) cover. Airflow around the car can be managed actively as the skin can be closed, opened or stretched based on need; the rocker-panel shape can be adjusted for better aerodynamics. And because the rear deck is covered by one single piece of fabric, the spoiler can be completely hidden when it is not in use.

Fusion Features are Fantastic

Ever dream of driving that Ford Fusion you saw on the ads? Well it's quite easy because the Fusion 08 of Ford features are fantastic for a dream car you can own.

The Fusion I4 SE has a 5-Speed Manual Transmission With Overdrive. Steering is not a problem with its Tilt Steering Column,Telescopic Steering Column and Power Rack and Pinion Variable Assisted Steering.

Its Suspension is powerful with its Rear Stabilizer Bar,Independent Wishbone Front Suspension With Coil Springs and Gas Shock Absorbers and Independent Multi-Link Rear Suspension With Coil Springs and Gas Shock Absorbers.

The Brakes are not a problem with the Fusion with its 4-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes and Front Power 299-mm X 25-mm Vented Disc and Rear Power 279-mm X 10-mm Solid Disc Brakes.

I am always more stringent with the safety features of the car, but Fusion has it. Front Side Airbags, Front and Rear Side Head Curtain Airbags,Emergency Fuel Shut-Off Device, Front and Rear Outboard 3-Point Seatbelts, Driver Airbag With Dual Stage Deployment, Passenger Airbag With Dual Stage Deployment, Front and Rear Crumple Zones, Side Guard Door Beams, Trunk Anti-Trap Device, Passenger Airbag Cutoff Sensor, Automatic Locking Retractors, Seatbelt Height Adjusters, Rear 3-Point Center Seatbelt and Front and Rear Pretensioners With Force Limiters . Plus it has Power Door Locks, Child Safety Door Locks Located On Rear Doors
and Vehicle Anti-Theft Via Alarm, Exterior Monitoring and SecuriLock(TM) Engine Immobilizer.

For your entertainment, Fusion cannot be outdone with itsIPod(R) Auxiliary Audio Input Jack Includes Portable Audio Connectivity for easy connection for your IPod. AM/FM Radio With 4 Speakers Total; CD Player; MP3 Player and Radio Antenna.

After reading you might wanna check it out at your favorite Car Dealer.

2008 CHRYSLER SEBRING SEDAN LX.....

This Sebring Sedan from Chrysler has an adaptive automatic transmission and also 4 eletronically controlled Adaptive Automatic Transmission.

Lets' talk about steering now,it has a Power Speed Sensing Rack and Pinion Variable Assisted Steering.

For the suspension,it has an Independent MacPherson Strut Front Suspension With Coil Springs and Gas Charged Shock Absorbers, Independent Multi-Link Rear Suspension With Coil Springs and Gas Charged Shock Absorbers, also has Front Stabilizer Bar.

For Breaking and Traction,it has a 4-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes. Front Power 294-mm X 26-mm Vented Disc and Rear Power 229-mm X 35-mm Drum Brakes.

Safety features includes Automatic Locking Retractors, Front Seatbelt Height Adjusters, Rear 3-Point Center Seatbelt, Front Pretensioners With Load Limiters, Seat Mounted Front Side Airbags, Front and Rear Side Head Curtain Airbags, Emergency Fuel Cutoff Device, Driver Airbag With Multi-Stage Deployment, Passenger Airbag With Multi-Stage Deployment, Crash Sensor Unlocks Doors and Turns On Interior Lights, Side Guard Door Beams, Trunk Anti-Trap Device, and Front and Rear 3-Point Seatbelts.

Child Safety Door Locks Located On Rear Doors, Vehicle Anti-Theft Via Sentry Key(R) Engine Immobilizer and Power Door Locks are also its features.

As for the Entertainment, it has an AM/FM Radio With 4 Speakers Total; CD Player; MP3 Player; Sirius(R) Satellite Radio (Includes 1-Year Of Service), Radio Antenna and Auxiliary Audio Input Jack.

Go check this car and see for yourself.

FORD MUSTANG 2008 SPECS

You might wanna read this, before you head to the auto shop. Ford Mustang 2008 specifications

# 300-hp 4.6L OHC 3V V8 and Tremec 5-speed manual transmission (5-speed automatic optional)

# Anti-Lock Braking System with Traction Control

# Side-impact airbags

# Auxiliary audio input jack

# Fog lamps

# 17" premium painted cast aluminum wheels

# 18" Polished Aluminum optional

# DVD Navigation optional

# HID Headlamps optional

+Fuel Economy:

15 city/23 highway with manual**

15 city/22 highway with automatic

* Side door intrusion beams

* 3-point lap shoulder safety belts

* Belt-Minder®

* LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren)

* Personal Safety System® for driver and front passenger

* Front seat side air bags

* Power 4-wheel disc brakes (Brembo front rotors and calipers on GT500)

* Remote keyless entry system

* SecuriLock™ Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS)

* Sequential multi-port electronic fuel injection

* Engine Electronics — powertrain control module

* Rear wheel drive

* Front suspension type — MacPherson struts with reverse “L” lower control arms, stabilizer bar

* Power rack-and-pinion steering

* Forward-leaning egg-crate grille

* Complex reflector halogen headlamps with integral parking/turn signal lamps

* Solar tinted glass

* 50/50 split-fold rear seat backs (coupe only)

* Air Conditioning (manual)

* Auxiliary audio input jack

* Speed control

* Tilt steering wheel

* Interval windshield wipers

* Center console with full armrest and storage

* Battery saver feature

* Driver's footrest

* Rear window defroster

* Day/night mirror

* Power side mirrors

* Cupholders (2)

* Front door map pockets

* Power door locks

* Power windows

* 12-volt powerpoints (2)

* Front floor mats with driver retention hook

Volkwagen's Jetta Sportswagen

Much about the Jetta Sportwagen didn't surprise us: the fold-flat back seat, the nicely finished interior, the slightly sporty demeanor. But we did raise an eyebrow at the five-cylinder engine's newfound liveliness--now with 170 hp and 177 lb-ft, it's not the sulky lump we remembered. Still, the 200-hp, 2.0-liter turbo (with VW's DSG automatic) or the new 2.0-liter, fifty-state TDI (140 hp, 235 lb-ft) with DSG or a six-speed manual strike us as more tempting options. We were also surprised at the massive glass sunroof (it's an option on all trim levels); too bad the mesh shade doesn't actually create much shade. But we were most surprised by the Sportwagen's starting price--it's expected to be just under $20,000, which strikes us as good value in the small world of small station wagons.

Detroit Car Show Two Month's Ago

The LandRover Features

If the Land Rover LR2 doesn't knock the socks off of shoppers for an SUV of this size and price, nothing will. It offers more content than they have reason to expect, compared to what's out there. Think of it as a baby Range Rover Sport, for at least 20 grand less. It costs about $8,000 less than the next Land Rover up the scale, the LR3, and has a more powerful and smoother engine: an all-new, high-tech, inline six-cylinder built by Volvo, mated to a sophisticated six-speed automatic transmission.

The styling is clean and handsome, and the interior roomy, with leather seating surfaces, wood trim, a panoramic sunroof, fold-flat rear seats, quality sound system and all the power stuff as standard equipment. The body structure is second to none in its rigidity and safety, with liberal use of ultra-high-strength steel in the door beams and other places. The list of electronic safeguards goes on and on. ABS, EBD, EBA, DSC, ARM, CBC, HDC, GRC (they're all explained below; each could save your life, or at the least keep the vehicle under control far better than any human). Also Terrain Response, with four settings for different driving conditions: pavement; gravel, grass and snow; mud and ruts; or sand.

The long-travel suspension uses all the acquired knowledge of Land Rover engineers, and delivers a firm and stable ride in all conditions, while providing superlative cornering for an SUV that's 68.5 inches high. The vented disc brakes are big and bomb-proof. The traction system is made by Haldex, the leader in all-wheel-drive design, and it's state of the art: electronic rather than hydraulic, making it faster and more sensitive than anything that's ever found its way into an SUV.

The Land Rover LR2 has it all, for a five-seat SUV. Safety equipment includes electronic stability control with anti-roll technology, and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist. There are seven airbags: two-stage frontal bags, side-impact bags for the front seats, airbag curtains for both rows, and a final small airbag for the driver's knees. There's also Hill Descent Control, which keeps the vehicle at six mph going down steep hills (even, or especially, on ice), and Gradient Release Control, which holds the vehicle on a steep hill for a moment before letting it creep up to that speed. All that's lacking in the safety equipment is a tire pressure monitor

MITSUBISHI GALANT '08.....

The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs about the same to get the Mitsubishi Galant to the dealership as the average midsize sedan. The average midsize sedan won't save you much money at the pump compared to the Mitsubishi Galant. The Mitsubishi Galant isn't much more expensive than the typical midsize sedan as far as MSRP.

The average midsize sedan is a better choice than the Galant when it comes to hauling capacity, especially if you often need to carry a lot of equipment or big pets. The Mitsubishi Galant and the average midsize sedan can accommodate the same number of passengers.

While the front cabin in the Galant offers a bit more head room than the average midsize sedan, there frankly isn't much of a difference. The average midsize sedan is not particularly more spacious for your passengers than the Mitsubishi Galant.

The Mitsubishi Galant and the typical midsize sedan have similar-sized engines, with a slight advantage to the typical midsize sedan. Torque equals pickup, and the typical midsize sedan will have picked up and gone by the time the Mitsubishi Galant finally gets moving. Torque is the force that lets you accelerate quickly, and in this respect, the typical midsize sedan is quite a bit more powerful than the Mitsubishi Galant.

The basic after-sale protection that comes with the average midsize sedan isn't quite as generous as the Mitsubishi Galant's. When it comes to after-sale protection against rust, the Mitsubishi Galant has markedly better coverage than the average midsize sedan.

MAZDA 3 - a premium automobile

The Mazda3 changed the way people thought about compact cars when it was launched as a 2004 model. This is a premium automobile, exciting to drive, styled adventurously, and fully equipped with luxury features. There's nothing austere, basic or cheap about it.

Last year, Mazda has upgraded the appearance of its s-model sedan and s-model five-door hatchback with a body-color grille, a redesigned front bumper with square foglights, and a new look for both the 16- and 17-inch, cast-aluminum wheels. Detail changes also improve interior appearance, and leather is now optional for all s-models, both sedan and five-door hatchback. An auxiliary audio input with 12-volt power outlet is now standard for all models, making them iPod-friendly.

Upgrades for last year also include some changes to improve the driving personality of the Mazda3. Reinforcements to the body shell improve overall chassis rigidity. The front dampers of the MacPherson strut suspension have been retuned to quicken steering response and reduce understeer, while the dampers of the multi-link rear suspension also have been retuned to match. Anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist are standard equipment for all s-models and optional for the i-model sedan. Traction control and stability control are now available for both the s-model sedan and five-door. All models are front-wheel drive.

The Mazdaspeed3 is a true high-performance car featuring a 263-hp, turbocharged, 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, the Mazdaspeed3 joins a group of extreme sports sedans that includes the Honda Civic Type S, Mitsubishi Evo MK IX, and Subaru Impreza WRX.
The Mazda3 is built in Japan, yet beneath the skin you'll find evidence of engineering from around the world. Volvo developed the body. Ford contributed the suspension design and sophisticated electronics. And Mazda engineered the four-cylinder engines and then tuned the complete car at its test track in Japan.

As a result, the Mazda3 has the personality of a true world car. It's space-efficient and exciting to drive like a European car. It's practical and economical like a Japanese car. And it's available with a surprising list of comfort and luxury features just like an American car.

The sedan and hatchback versions look quite different. The sedan has the traditional appearance of a four-door, five-passenger car. The five-door hatchback is like the high-fashion station wagons from European manufacturers, offering the practicality of the five-door configuration with an emphasis on a premium driving experience, which means plenty of luxury features plus plenty of driving enjoyment