Showing posts with label 3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 3. Show all posts
Saturday, February 22, 2014
3 Comments SsangYong Previews New Concept SIV 1
SsangYong may be a small fish in the global pond of automakers, but the South Korean company that was acquired by Indias Mahindra & Mahindra Limited in February of 2011, will have at least two world premieres at the Geneva International Auto Salon in March.
Joining the production version of the new 11-seater (!) Rodius MPV, will be a new concept model for a "mid-premium CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle)" named the SIV-1, which is an acronym for "Smart Interface Vehicle".
According to SsangYong, the study "defines the brand’s new design philosophy" for the immediate future.
While the crossovers shape and design looks similar to the 2011 XIV-1, and the 2012 XIV-2 Convertible and e-XIV concepts, the SIV-1 is in fact a much larger model measuring 4,500mm long, 1,880mm wide, and 1,640mm tall, with a 2,700mm wheelbase.
The only other details we get from the South Korean company is that the SIV-1 features a Mobile Auto System and four independent bucket seats.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo Car Model
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| 2013 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo Car Model |
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| 2013 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo Car Model |
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| 2013 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo Car Model |
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| 2013 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo Car Model |
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| 2013 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo Car Model |
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| 2013 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo Car Model |
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| 2013 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo Car Model |
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, although BMW also offers an eight-speed automatic transmission as an option for all engine variants. Both the transmission link with fuel-saving Automatic Start-Stop function.
Friday, November 29, 2013
Ford Fiesta 2014 3 Cylinder Offered In North America
In early 2012, Ford had announced the imminent release of its new 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine of 1 liter. At this time, considering the possibility to slide under the hood of the Focus and Ford Fiesta 2014. It goes without saying that, at first glance, this little mechanical seems better suited to the small size of the sub-compact. However, when you look at its specifications, it could probably also animate the Focus. The price of fuel being what it is, the American manufacturer had a great idea.
Mechanics of Ford Fiesta 2014
This small 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine with double overhead camshaft head was seen at the beginning of the Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris. In terms of North American consumers, it will be the Auto Show in Los Angeles they will for the first time. The power of this small 3-cylinder, 123 hp, compares favorably with that of the 4-cylinder 1.6-liter 120 horsepower found under the hood of the Ford Fiesta 2014Â subcompact. It is the same torque reaches 148 lb-ft compared with 112 pounds-feet of 4-cylinder. Consumers should not feel like driving a car with 3 cylinders. This engine offers a very smooth and quiet idle, very good acceleration and very sporty sound.
Innovative technologies of Ford Fiesta 2014
The EcoBoost 3-cylinder 1-liter Ford receives innovative technologies that improve performance and reliability. For example, one can speak of a crankshaft offset from the axis of the piston, oil pump with variable flow, a turbocharger, direct injection of fuel and a belt distribution immersed in oil. In addition, this little mechanical Ford Fiesta 2014Â with 25% fewer moving parts than a 4-cylinder engine, it was also calibrated with the crankshaft pulley and flywheel rather than a crankshaft balancer shaft which would have added weight, increased friction and power reduction.
Since its launch in 2012 the Ford Focus in the spring, the EcoBoost 3-cylinder 1-liter has gained some notoriety as it was named Engine of the Year by a jury of 76 automotive journalists from 36 different countries, it also received the Breakthrough Award from Popular Mechanics magazine and the Dewar Trophy UK. In addition, 30% of Focus sold in Europe are powered by this engine.
Ford Fiesta 2014
Ford Fiesta 2014: 3-Cylinder Offered In North America
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
New Kia Pro Ceed 3 Door Hatch Priced from £17 495 in the UK
Kia has released UK pricing and specification details for the all-new Pro_Cee’d that is available to order from today at prices ranging from £17,495 to £20,795. A high-performance version of the series named the GT featuring a 201bhp 1.6-liter turbo engine will join the range in the summer, with prices to be announced. The third body style of Kias compact model series after the Ceed five-door hatchback and Sportswagon, is available in two trim levels named "S" and "SE", and a choice of two engines, a 133bhp 1.6-liter GDi petrol and a 126bhp 1.6-liter CRDi diesel, both linked to a standard 6-speed manual gearbox. The 1.6 GDi in ‘SE’ trim is also offered with an optional six-speed DCT automatic transmission.
The S trim grade comes equipped with 16-inch wheels, cornering lights, LED daytime running lights, fog lights, rear lights and side repeaters, all the usual electric and safety amenities, plus cruise control with speed limiter and steering wheel mounted controls, air-conditioning, and an audio system with Bluetooth connectivity.
Moving up to the SE adds 17-inch alloy wheels, stainless steel door sill plates and pedals, sport seats up front, automatic dual-zone climate control, automatic rain-sensing wipers, a 7-inch touchscreen Euro-wide satellite navigation system, automatically-dimming rear view mirror and keyless smart entry system with start/stop ignition button.
The S trim grade comes equipped with 16-inch wheels, cornering lights, LED daytime running lights, fog lights, rear lights and side repeaters, all the usual electric and safety amenities, plus cruise control with speed limiter and steering wheel mounted controls, air-conditioning, and an audio system with Bluetooth connectivity.
Moving up to the SE adds 17-inch alloy wheels, stainless steel door sill plates and pedals, sport seats up front, automatic dual-zone climate control, automatic rain-sensing wipers, a 7-inch touchscreen Euro-wide satellite navigation system, automatically-dimming rear view mirror and keyless smart entry system with start/stop ignition button.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
2011 Audi Q7 3 0T
View Road Test Specs
Great New Engine, Same Old Q7
The Audi Q7 used to have two choices of gasoline-powered engines; now it has one. Those engines used to produce 280 and 350 horsepower, respectively; the new one has 272.
On the surface, this would appear to be a problem. You see, Audis full-size SUV has always been something of a big-boned chap. The old V8-powered Q7 tipped the scales at 5,420 pounds; the surviving diesel-powered TDI weighs 5,672, which is only a few hundred away from getting a commercial vehicle fuel-economy exemption from the EPA.
Now, this isnt to imply that the 2011 Audi Q7 has been given a steady diet of $5 veggie foot-longs to become a svelte representative of the SUV ranks, but it has lost just enough (its now 5,256 pounds) to give this new engine a fighting chance. And a fight this supercharged 3.0-liter V6 can certainly deliver, as it makes 295 pound-feet of torque (versus 266 for the old V6 and 325 for the V8) available at much lower rpm than its predecessors, which means a nice, wide power band and easier driving. This engine (dubbed 3.0T, despite the fact that it has a supercharger, not a turbocharger) has an energetic nature that the burly V8 never had.
The 3.0T is also more fuel-efficient than the outgoing guzzlers. EPA ratings of 16 city and 22 highway mpg are pretty impressive for a utility vehicle this size, especially considering that the V8 used to get 13/18. Credit for this must also go to Audis new eight-speed automatic transmission, which further lends a hand in helping the 2011 Q7 overcome its apparent horsepower disadvantage.
And how much does it overcome that disadvantage? Well, the Q7 3.0T goes from zero to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds — exactly as quick as the previous, more powerful V8 model. Such performance makes this new engine quite a winner in our book. However, what about the luxury SUV its attached to? Read on.
Performance
While the energetic performance of the new supercharged V6 injects some life into the Q7, this still remains a large vehicle and theres no getting around that. You notice its size especially while negotiating narrow streets and when parking. It lacks the ultimate handling acumen of BMWs X5 and its surprisingly firm suspension lacks the suppleness of the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class or Land Rover LR4. Yet the Q7 is well-balanced, and despite its size, it feels like a proper Audi from behind the wheel. Especially the steering, which has the highly speed-sensitive effort typical of the brand. Its tight on-center for a secure feel at speed, then lightens up when youre making a slow turn at an intersection or when you park.
The Q7s brake pedal has an especially long travel, which can be unnerving during an emergency stop. During Edmunds testing, though, braking distances proved to be acceptable for such a heavy vehicle, as the Q7 came to a halt from 60 mph in a tidy 122 feet.
Comfort
The Q7s front seats are supportive and comfortable over the long haul and offer sufficient adjustment. Ditto the second row, which provides the sort of sprawl space a family with growing teenagers will appreciate during a family vacation.
From there on back, however, things start to fall apart for the 2011 Audi Q7. The third row is tight on leg- and headroom, and isnt especially easy to get to. Its fine if youre just stuffing the neighbors kids back there, but for a 5,200-pound SUV, it seems silly that those growing teenagers have to be crammed into the caboose when the time comes to stick Grandma and Grandpa in row two on the way to Macaroni Grill. By contrast, full-size adults comfortably fit in the third rows of the Land Rover LR4 and Mercedes GL-Class, not to mention non-luxury models like the Buick Enclave, Dodge Durango and Ford Flex.
Really, if an SUV is going to be full-size on the outside, shouldnt it be full-size on the inside as well?
Function
This trend continues with cargo capacity. With that insufficient third row folded, the load height is notably high. This not only makes stuffing in heavy and/or bulky items difficult, it reduces overall cargo capacity to 72.5 cubic feet of space. Thats about 10 cubes less than the smaller Acura MDX and just a tad less than the comparatively tiny Toyota RAV4. Among vehicles of similar size and weight as the Q7, the GL, LR4 and Infiniti QX56 all hold more stuff.
The Q7 is not much better for smaller items either, as there are a limited number of storage nooks inside. The front center armrest is essentially split into two pieces: the first covers a shallow bin and the other houses two cupholders — one uncovered, the other protected by the flip-up passenger-side armrest. You can have a second mocha latte or some place for your wifes elbow, but not both.
Actually, the place usually reserved for cupholders right behind the shift lever is taken up with the buttons for Audis Multi Media Interface (MMI), which has been made more user-friendly than the one in the 2007 Audi Q7 that Edmunds drove as a long-term test vehicle. The layout of buttons aft of the shifter is roughly the same (and still requires some drivers to uncomfortably reach rearward to operate them), but the onscreen menus have been cleaned up for better functionality of the stereo and navigation system. Were particularly pleased with the easy operation of the Bluetooth phone system, which downloads your cells phonebook into the cars databanks and generally makes talking on the phone a quick and safer experience.
Design/Fit and Finish
Audi has long been the standard-bearer among luxury cars regarding interior materials and fit and finish. True to form, everything in the Q7 fits together beautifully and feels great. The steering wheel is one of the best in any vehicle, period. The overall design is a spitting image of most Audis, though our test cars black interior was a little dour. The more natural colors available create a warmer environment, though the lightest hues may be susceptible to staining.
The exterior benefits from the 2010 addition of Audis trademark LED running lights and additional brightwork in the grille. It all gives the Q7 a bit more flare, though the Q7 remains one of the more tasteful designs in a segment where things can get a little garish (cough, Escalade).
Who should consider this vehicle
The Q7 may have lost weight for 2011, but its still far too big given its relative lack of passenger and cargo space. As such, its hard to recommend it when there are more useful vehicles that give up little if nothing in terms of luxury. The 2011 Audi Q7 3.0Ts new supercharged V6 stands out from the crowd with its strong acceleration and reasonably thrifty fuel economy, but if this is important to you, any number of smaller luxury SUVs will carry just as many people and just as much stuff as the Q7 does but for less money.
So the new engine may be a winner, but the luxury SUV that surrounds it still has some catching up to do.
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