The Team Principal of the i20 WRC, Michel Nandan said, “The car is on the road and I have to admit it was quite an emotional moment to see the latest specification of the i20 WRC in action for the first time.” He also said that they have some good plans regarding the testing session of the car for the rest of the year 2013. During the testing session, the car will run across the Europe in a variety of conditions to reflect its performance potential in different circumstances. This will help the team to understand the diversity of the car’s performance as well as allow them to study and evaluate different areas of interest thoroughly. The purpose of the tough and intensive testing session is to prepare the Hyundai Motorsport to enter in the Monte Carlo Rally 2014. The car is designed at the Hyundai’s R&D center Namyang, Korea and the car started its race preparation at the Hyundai Motorsport Alzenau headquarters, Germany.

When you navigate through the BMW website you’ll find the categories vary diversely, one common category that most companies have featured on their website is the build your own option. It allows customers to find a relationship with the car and to really get the feel that they are putting together their dream car piece by piece. Effectively this feature can work wonders and BMW has found a way to make that happen. They use a checkbox method, which allows visitors to navigate much easier and faster while choosing perks for their vehicles. One page perfectly displays all of the options specific to your choices, which is a plus because the more pages, the more loading screens, and the more time consumed, when all you’re really want is to see the final product. To your convenience you can monitor your actions while you do this and have something to refer back to I know this always came in handy during exam time in high school. But the final exam, the hardest decision of all will be choosing an ultimate car. There are so many options, but I say pay the ultimate price to get the ultimate reward. The top priciest cars to consider are BMWs M6 Convertible, and the M6 gran Coupe.

The convertible starts at 115,500 and is worth every penny. The vehicle boats 0-60 in under 4.3* seconds with the M TwinPower Turbo V8 engine, which is the most powerful engine ever-fitted in a BMW.  As for the M6 Gran Coupe it starts at 113,000 and features the M TwinPower Turbo V-8 engine as well, ready to burst with 560 hp. The ultimate decision is up to you, so choose wisely, but choose BMW. Contact BMW Rockville or your local dealer for the true price near you.

The most exciting feature of the car is the fabric top which can be folded partially or even completely. It takes just twenty seconds to fully open and works at a speed of around 20mph. A lot of attention has been given to interior designs. The elliptical door rims blend perfectly with the surroundings. The upholstery can be got in cloth or leather. You can get contrasting colored exterior mirrors that will bring about a sharp look to your car. The safety features are almost the same as in the Mini Cooper S model. Fast airbags, anti-braking systems, sensors are all in place so that you are always protected on road. High quality safety equipment is fitted in the car and there is also Dynamic Stability control and Dynamic Traction control that will assist your convertible to prevent any kind of mishap on road. The flexible rear axle guarantees maximum stability. The soft hood on top is a little delicate and so it might cost you when you go for repairs. There is a lot of space for the passengers sitting in front but not much can be said about the rear area. The 125 liter boot is not ideal for huge bags.

In all, the Mini Cooper S Convertible with the bundle of features is a decent buy. You will get an adrenaline rush whenever you sit behind the wheel.  Read more at miniofbaltimore.com.

Carpooling

If you don’t want to give up the independence that comes with having your own car, carpooling could be the best option. Instead of four cars being on the road at once, one person takes their car and gives everyone else a lift.

Pros: You save money on fuel, and also get a break from driving when it’s someone else’s turn to get in the driver’s seat. What’s more, because you won’t be driving your car every day, you’ll cut down on mileage – potentially prolonging the car’s life and cutting servicing costs; perhaps reducing the need for car insurance claims.

Cons: It requires a certain amount of organisation, and is only really suitable for routine journeys like the daily commute – as drivers will obviously have their own personal plans at other times. All parties are also tied to travelling to and from destinations at the same time, which means that if one member of the party is running late, it could impact on the whole group.

Joining a car club

Car sharing through a car club is similar to hiring a car. You pay an annual fee which covers insurance, fuel, and tax, and you book a slot online when you need access to a vehicle.

Pros: You don’t need to worry about the car when you’re not driving it, and some services offer specially reserved parking space schemes. There’s also no need to worry about many of the costs inherent in running a car all year round, as they are covered in the rental fee – this may be ideal for occasional use.

Cons: The biggest drawback is the ultimate lack of ownership and therefore flexibility. If there’s an emergency, you can’t simply jump in the car – and if your nearest car is already booked when you want it, you might have to travel across the city. Car clubs typically charge per hour or per mile, so it could be costly if you use the service regularly.

Ram, specifically Chrysler Group has signed on with Detroit to continue with their co-branding efforts until the end of this year. Where will they go next is the question to ask. Will they sign on with Detroit for a few more years, maybe consider another sport franchise nearby like the Lions or Tigers in MLB. Maybe they will just move onto a sports city like Boston or Cleveland. What the Chrysler Group says is they want to find another rabid city base.  A group of fans who don’t just enjoy their sports teams, but it is literally a huge part of their lives.

The co-branding efforts were admiringly a trial period that Chrysler wanted to try out and see what sort of leverage they could gain with a fan base like the Detroit Red Wings, and it proved to work incredibly well. So well that they are emphatically looking for the opportunity of working with other sports teams.

So let us take the time to look at a few different options:

Pittsburg, either the Penguins, Steelers, or Pirates. A black truck with yellow accents . In a city like Pittsburg, which is called the Steel City, what better way to connect with a target market like Pitt, than using their beloved sports franchises?
Boston, either the Patriots, or Red Sox.  Imagine now a Ram truck which can be a navy blue, with red and gray highlights. A bit of a Patriotic appearance. Making the edition America’s truck!

Detroit, but this time the Lions which could have an appearance of a light blue with gray. Or maybe Detroit Tigers, a gray with navy highlights.

Really there is no limit to what Ram wants to do with their co-branding efforts. The only real limit is themselves, and how each possible market will respond to a special Sports Franchise Edition. The above ideas we feel are feasible, but we have a hard time seeing a Miami Heat Special Edition or even a NY Yankees one. Places like Detroit, Pittsburg and even Boston or New England represent what Ram is trying to be for the hard-working man.  If you have ideas on what sports team you would like to see a special edition truck for, feel free to share.
To learn more about the Ram Truck models you can read about them by visiting arrigoauto.com and its research center.

There really isn’t much in terms of demand for a 75 year old gear box. In all actuality the BMW 328 only built a total of 464 during the years of 1936-1940. Because of how limited the number of these actual models were even manufactured BMW Classic and ZF are working together to create roughly 55 of these gearboxes. The intention of these old gearboxes is to benefit a tight niche of the vintage racing crowd. The new (once old) gearbox is being reproduced to its near origin by the efforts of BMW Classic and ZF. ZF who purchased a division of that gearboxes manufacturer, Hurth in the early 1990’s.

Short history of the BMW 328 Roadster: The 328 designs were credited to German Peter Szymanowski, who later became the Chief of Design for BMW after the WWII era. But in all actuality the designs were done by Fritz Fiedler. The BMW 328 was a renowned racer in Europe winning a number of events, and averaging speeds of about 104 mph. Just before the turn of the century, in 1999, the 328 was named a finalist, 1 of 25 cars to be named Car of the Century by a panel of automotive journalists.  If you look at the BMW 328, there is no mistaking that is a beautiful looking roadster, and because of its rarity is surely an important piece in automotive history.

This news comes as a bright moment for those racecar enthusiasts, and car enthusiasts who either have a model of the 328 personally, or are just excited by the thought they could see a running and working model of the 328 in the near future. Realistically they will not reproduce the 328 models to be sold to the mass population, but if you are curious of how the BMW 3 Series has grown in the years, you can read it on BMW of Towson website.

Image Credit: wikimedia

The timing of this announcement came just in time for the New York Auto Show, it also may have seemed a bit odd that Ford was looking to add such a feature, especially with their recent success of their Hybrid and EcoBoost engine models. But we are indeed submerged in a digital world, where people are always searching for newer and easier ways of doing things, and also to have a way to engage with others. Offering such a software or application will allow drivers to go online, track their driving and fuel-economy trends, then compare to others, so they can make the proper adjustments. Even though you might be adding 1-2 mpg overall, this might seem just a small bit at first, but over the long-term it is a huge savings.

Much like Nike Plus which is ever popular with the active running community, this personal fuel-economy application will allow drivers to “Go Further” much like the new Ford slogan states. The major feature though will be if they can somehow provide recognition to certain problems individuals have to address these and improve their fuel range. Or even offer a system to where drivers can compare or contrast certain factors with others who have better fuel-economy for the same model. Maybe even allow them to contact each other to discuss efforts. Ultimately this is a cool idea and it will be interesting to see what people are able to come up with. It is uncertain if the app or software will be solely for the Ford infotainment system or offered on smart phone operating systems.

If you are a developer and are looking to compete in this software developer challenge,  you can register at the Ford Challenge Post site. The winner or winners will receive $50,000 for their software.

To compare and contrast the fuel-economy of the newest Ford models, you can do by checking out the Tindol Ford Research Center.

The Cub design is something that is incredibly unique within itself. The structural size much like the others in the segment (MINI and FIAT) is subcompact hatchback, but unlike the others in its segment it has a special exterior design. If you look at the Cub from the front you will notice it appears the vehicle is cheerfully smiling at you. In the yellow body paint, it will remind you of a smiley face. This is a styling cue that KIA hopes will attract a younger, more adventurous audience.

How does the structural design match up against others in its class? Well the Cub is just under 160 inches in length, other compact KIA models currently on the market like the Soul, is only 5 inches longer, and the Forte is roughly 180 inches total in length. It is noticeable that KIA is looking to go shorter than before, as their intentions are to attract a more urban consumer base. The new Cub allows KIA to finally attempt to compete with a unique niche that has been dominated by MINI and FIAT for years.

Even though the MINI and FIAT models have proven to pack that turbocharged punch, the KIA Cub might be the new kid, but it offers a lot of the similar power and handling capabilities of its major competitors. With a turbocharged, direct-injected four-cylinder engine, that pushes out a strong 204 horsepower, this small hatchback can hit a top speed of 143 mph.  That sort of power in such a small container, makes the Cub a great compliment for those who are looking to travel around in a urban setting with a bit of thrill. Because let’s face it what is more fun than driving a fuel-efficient, hatchback with some zip that looks like it is smiling the entire way. A happy car is a happy driver, and vise versa.

Regardless of what you are looking for in a KIA model, or if you have a KIA model currently you can check out the inventory of your local dealer, or schedule service at JBA KIA.

Cherokee arrives in China market by 2013 year end. One out of every 5 vehicles in China is a mid-size SUV. Therefore, it is no surprise to see Jeep Cherokee making its international debut in Shanghai. China, after all is the world’s biggest automotive market. Known as the Zi You Guang in China, the sales start by the end of this year.

With a freshly designed exterior, the new Jeep Cherokee offers all the capability and efficiency. The designers seem to have propelled the vehicle in the new era with a shape that carries on the design heritage and still maintains a global appeal. This is a capable and efficient Jeep you are looking at, driving at its best in all road and weather conditions. Enjoy 30% improvement on fuel consumption.  What make for the all-weather capability are the 2 innovative 4×4 systems – Jeep Active Drive II, and Active Drive I. The interiors have become more stylish and modern. You will love that precision craftsmanship and use of high-quality materials. As for the tech features, there is 7-inch full-color reconfigurable instrument as well as 8.4-inch touc hscreen.

The Jeep Cherokee arrives for international markets with a diesel powertrain. The powerful engines and all-new eight-speed automatic transmission as well as the new Eco Mode feature make Cherokee the most fuel-efficient. Shanghai will get to see 2 new Jeep vehicles – the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. You will definitely find the styling much different. Cherokee has already created a big buzz here in china as well as the overseas media. It also has some strong following in regions in Europe, doing exceptionally well in some parts.

The interior of the new 2014 Buick Regal receives just a few changes and will get a customizable look. The 8.0 inch touch screen will be replaced by a 4.2 inch touch screen that will keep connected with Nav system, vehicle, audio and phone. The two tone cockpit of the car is really attractive that in some model comes with wood trim making it more enhanced and attractive then ever. Similarly, the cabin has also received some technologically advanced safety features based on camera and radar including rear cross traffic alert, Lane Departure Alert, Lane Change Alert, Forward Collision Alert, Collision Mitigation Braking and Side Blind Zone Alert. An advanced and adaptive Cruise control system is also added to the new 2014 Buick Regal that sense the intensity of traffic and control the speed according to the situation. The interior of the car will also contain two toned leather upholstery and a next generation IntelliLink infotainment.

Like other features of the 2014 Buick Regal, the powertrain of the this car is also very amazing. Under the skin of the car there are two different choices available, a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine produces 182 horsepower and 172 pound feet of torque and the second one is the most powerful 2.0 liter 4 cylinder engine Turbocharged 4 cylinder engine makes 259 horsepower and 295 pound feet of torque. Both types of the models are available in all drive version and both the engines are mated with a six speed automatic transmission. No doubt, it seems like one of the best innovations of Buick and so people would love to know the price of this car. Buick didn’t announced its price yet however it is expected that the car will start selling around $30,000.