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2011 MINI Cooper Countryman
Posted by Alexander in Car Reviews, MINI on June 6th, 2011
When it was launched the MINI Cooper was the smallest car available in the U.S. It achieved popularity within short period of time despite not being the fastest or most practical car but for being different. In 2011 MINI introduced the Countryman, the first 4-door vehicle from MINI. Compared with the Cooper, the MINI Countryman is much bigger in size, it offers more rear cargo space, more room for passengers.
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- 2011 MINI Cooper Countryman
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- 2011 MINI Cooper Countryman
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- 2011 MINI Cooper Countryman
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- 2011 MINI Cooper Countryman
The 2011 MINI Cooper Countryman is offered in three models: base, S and S ALL4. Standard equipment include tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel, air conditioning, cruise control, power windows, power mirrors, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD stereo, auxiliary input jack, trip computer, cooled glove box and 17-inch alloy wheels. The S model adds sport seats and fog lights. There are numbers of other individual optional features available.
Standard safety features include dual front airbags, curtain side airbags, traction control, tire-pressure monitor, anti-lock brakes with brake assist, front side airbags and electronic stability control.
The Countryman is offered with two upgraded versions of the 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine found in the current MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper Clubman. The base model produces 121 horsepower and 118lb-ft of torque having fuel economy of 27mpg in the city and 32mpg on the highway. The Countryman S gets a turbocharged version of the 1.6 that produces 181 horsepower and 188lb-ft of torque achieving 26mpg in the city and 32mpg on the highway. The top of the line S ALL4 gets the same engine but fuel economy goes down to 25mpg in the city and 31mpg on the highway. The S ALL4 model gets MINI’s first all-wheel-drive system.
Category › Car Reviews
Title › 2011 MINI Countryman
Though 2011 MINI Countryman larger than other MINIs, but seats only four because of the two rear bucket seats. The materials used on the dashboard are appropriate for the price. The seats are supportive, and front passengers have plenty of headroom and legroom. There is plenty of room for two adults in back, even behind two larger adults up front. The MINI Countryman offers more driver and passengers storage options, and is offered in two configurations: a one-piece unit that runs the full length of the two seating rows, and a two-piece version with shorter rails front and rear.
There is a decent 18 cubic feet of space in the cargo area. The rear bucket seats do folds down but do not fold flat. With the seats folded the cargo space increases up-to 40 cubic feet.
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2011 Infiniti M
Posted by Alexander in Car Reviews, Infiniti on May 8th, 2011
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- 2011 Infiniti M
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- 2011 Infiniti M
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- 2011 Infiniti M
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- 2011 Infiniti M
The Infiniti M was first launched in the year 2003 with the combination of luxury and power. The new 2011 Infiniti M is completely redesigned with sleek and muscular look. The inside volume is significantly larger than before, but the overall vehicle weight is approximately the same as before.
The Infiniti M gets the same v6 and v8 engines but the new engines are bigger with more torque and horsepower. The Infiniti comes in two trim level the base Infinity M 37 gets
3.7L V6 engine with the output of 330 horsepower where the M 56 gets a 5.6L V8 engine producing 420 horsepower. Both the variants are available as FWD and AWD. Both engines now use a 7-speed automatic transmission with manual shift override. The new transmission features four driving modes, including Normal, Sport, Economy and Snow. Fuel efficiency is around 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.
The Infiniti M is packed with features like 10-way adjustable and heated front seats, active noise control, a rear view monitor, Bluetooth, a USB port, an intelligent key system with dual-occupant memory system. The Deluxe Touring Package adds leather seating surfaces, a Bose Studio Surround sound system with 16 speakers and a suede-like headliner
Category › Car Reviews
Title › 2011 Infiniti M
Standard safety features on all 2011 Infiniti M models include side-impact air bags, roof-mounted curtain air bags and dual-stage front air bags with seat belt and occupant classification sensors. Active safety features on all models include electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes. The optional Technology Package adds improves handling stability in slippery conditions.
The cabin is large and all the passengers will feel comfortably accommodated with plenty of head and legroom in front and rear. The boot is not the largest though, and access is a little restricted by the small opening.
2011 Ford Fiesta
Posted by Alexander in Car Reviews, Ford on April 22nd, 2011
The 2011 Ford Fiesta is a four door five passenger sedan, also available as hatchback. The fiesta might be small and inexpensive car but it has got all that you will need in a small car: build quality, upkeep costs, reliability and longevity along with comfort and driving pleasure. Fiesta is available in 5 trim-level, starting from Fiesta S to top-end variation SES.
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- 2011 Ford Fiesta Hatchback
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- 2011 Ford Fiesta Interior
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- 2011 Ford Fiesta Sedan
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- 2011 Ford Fiesta Sedan
All variations of 2011 Ford Fiestas are powered by a 1.6 liter inline-4 engine that generates 119 horsepower and 112 lb-ft of torque and achieves 28mpg in the city and 37mpg on the highway. A 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. With optional automatic transmission the fuel economy drops to 27mpg in the city and 35 on the highway. It can achieve 0-60 mph in 9.5 seconds.
The entry-level Ford Fiesta S comes with a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, 15-inch steel wheels, a capless fuel filler, power mirrors, a four-speaker AM/FM stereo and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat. The SE sedan adds power windows, door locks, a CD player and metallic cabin accents. The SEL sedan adds a rear spoiler, LED parking lights, a premium sound system, ambient lighting, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and the Sync multimedia voice-command system with sat-nav. The SE hatchback adds a rear spoiler and wiper.
There are some optional features available like keyless entry/ignition, heated leather seating, 17-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof, special paint colors, etc. As package one can opt for “Super Fuel Economy” where fuel economy is increased via aerodynamic tweaks, lightweight wheels and special tires.
Category › Car Reviews
Title › 2011 Ford Fiesta
Standard safety features include antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags.
The cabin feels roomy and comfortable, the rear occupants might find limitations of knee space. Adjustable steering column and driver seat makes fiesta Unlike other economy cars fiesta has premium feel in the materials used. The Ford Fiesta sedan got 12.8 cubic feet of loading space where as the hatchback can hold up-to 26 cubic feet, on folding down the rear-seats the loading capacity increases.
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2011 Chrysler 200 Sedan
Posted by Alexander in Car Reviews, Chrysler on March 26th, 2011
The Chrysler 200 Sedan is a four-door, five-passenger mid-size family sedan, available in four trim-level, Chrysler 200 Lx, 200 Tourning, 200 Limited and S. The new Chrysler 200 sedan is technically much improved version of last year’s Chrysler Sebring sedan. The makeover includes a vastly improved passenger cabin, updated exterior styling and a new 3.6-liter V6 engine.
2011 chrysler 200 sedan
The Chrysler 200 Sedan offers a choice of two engines. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder comes standard producing 173 horsepower and 166lb-ft of torque. The 3.6-liter V6 is standard on the S and available as an option on all but the entry-level LX produces 283 horsepower and 260lb-ft of torque. Power is delivered through a four-speed automatic transmission in the base LX, while the rest of the lineup features a six-speed automatic. A new dual-clutch six-speed automatic, which promises better performance and fuel economy, will be available on four-cylinder models later in the model year.
Terms
family, sedan, improved, Sebring, cabin, exterior, V6, equipped, premium, safety, quality, quieter
The entry-level Chrysler LX model comes equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission, 17-inch steel wheels, cruise control, air-conditioning, 60/40-split-folding rear seatbacks, full power accessories, cloth upholstery, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with audio controls and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player and auxiliary audio jack.
The Touring model adds a power driver seat, 17-inch alloy wheels, a six-speed automatic, automatic headlights, automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a trip computer, upgraded interior lighting and shift knob and a six-speaker sound system with satellite radio.
The top-of-the-line 200 Limited version adds an auto-dimming rearview mirror, 18-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth and a premium sound system with a touchscreen interface, leather upholstery, heated front seats, remote ignition, voice controls and digital music storage. Optional equipment for 200 Limited a sunroof and a Garmin-based navigation system with Sirius Travel Link data service. The S will be introduced later in this year with a V6 engine, 18-inch alloy wheels, sport front seats with suedelike inserts and Boston Acoustics speakers.
Category › Car Reviews
Title › 2011 Chrysler 200 Sedan
The Chrysler 200 comes equipped with long list of safety features including anti-theft alrarm, immobilizer, brake assistance, 4-wheel ABS, hill start control, electronic stability control, passenger and driver airbag with multi-stage deployment, accident response system, emergency fuel shut-off device, trunk anti-trap device, front and rear crumple zones, side guard door beams, rear 3-point center seatbelt, seat mounted front side airbags, front and rear 3-point seatbelts, front and rear side head curtain airbags and front and rear automatic locking retractors.
In the cabin the interior is identical to it’s predecessor but quality of material used are much improved. The new 200 is much quieter and comfortable with supportive seats and decent head and legroom. The back seats might be a little uncomfortable for a six fit adult. The 13.6 cubic-foot trunk is a little on the small side compared to other midsize sedans.
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2010 Chrysler Sebring
Posted by Alexander in Car Reviews, Chrysler on December 30th, 2010
Any visitor to a warm climate in the United States is bound to see an abundance of Chrysler Sebring Convertibles
2010 chrysler sebring
With the next-generation Sebring, Chrysler seeks to increase that popularity in less favorable climes with the
Terms
chry, inche, carrie, standard, previou, shift, tran, chai, auto, option, element, sport, pillar, time, sion, wind
addition of an optional power retractable hardtop, to deliver a sedan-like driving experience in adverse weather conditions while maintaining all the attributes of a convertible for sunny days.
We drove the new 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible on the Pacific Coast Highway and along twisty canyon roads north of Malibu, California, to experience top-down driving fun but also to test the stiffer platform on which the 2008 Sebring rides. The new version is two and a half times stiffer in torsional rigidity and one and a half times stiffer in bending than the model it replaces.
Offered in three trim levels, the first Sebring we drove was the top-of-the-line Limited, powered by a 258-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 mated to a new 6-speed automatic transmission
Category › Car Reviews
Title › 2010 Chrysler Sebring
with AutoStick manual shift mode. Fuel economy is rated at 16 mpg city and 26 mpg highway based on the new 2008 EPA standards.
The Sebring Limited Convertible with the power retractable hardtop and V6 engine was fun to drive in the dappled light of the California canyons. Sure it’s no sports car, but the 6-speed automatic and the robust 3.5-liter V6 work well together, delivering strong power when needed.
The Sebring Convertible is all about a fun, open-top touring car with enough room and storage for more than two occupants. The AutoStick manual shift feature allows the driver to choose the correct gear and hold it when circumstances require. The smooth transmission delivers quick upshifts or downshifts whether in fully automatic or manual mode.
Chrysler added extra reinforcements in the rear bulkhead and in the sill areas to stiffen the chassis, including adhesive-bonded high-strength steel tubes in each sill and two sets of braces bolted to the underbody. The result is a virtually shake-free ride—an accomplishment, given the extra stress and torsion placed upon a chassis long enough to accommodate the bigger passenger cabin—and one without a fixed roof or pillars to provide stiffness.
We didn’t drive the base Sebring Convertible powered by a 173-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder World Engine with a 4-speed automatic. However, based on the driving experience of the Touring with the 2.7-liter V6, we recommend choosing the V6 version. The 2.4-liter is rated at 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway based on the 2008 EPA standards, and has a 15 percent power increase over the 4-cylinder offered in the previous model.
2010 chrysler sebring roadtest
Available on all three versions—Limited, Touring and Base—the steel body-color power retractable hardtop is fully automated. There are no latches to release manually, and it stows completely under a hard tonneau cover in a total time of only 30 seconds.
The 2008 Sebring Convertible joins the redesigned 2007 Sebring Sedan and carries the overall design and style of the Sedan, which includes a number of elements from other Chrysler products. The Convertible is actually nearly the same as the sedan from the A-pillars (the sloping sides of the windshield) forward.
Inside, the new design carries over the wing-shaped theme from the grille, with a wing shape to the upper dash pad, emphasized by the standard two-tone interior. Materials contribute an upscale look and feel with soft-touch surfaces and gloss finishes, including a pebble grain texture for the dash cover.
2010 chrysler sebring review
A three-bezel instrument cluster provides information to the driver, with a large speedometer and information display in the center flanked by two smaller pods housing the tachometer and other gauges. The center stack incorporates an analog clock, climate control functions and the entertainment system, including the optional MyGIG multimedia navigation audio, entertainment and communication system.
The addition of the power-retractable hardtop option for the 2008 Sebring Convertible is sure to make it a better all-weather vehicle and create additional interest for this popular model. Improvements such as the standard hard tonneau cover, fully automatic top operation, styling updates and interior refinement combine to make the Sebring a strong consideration in the four-seat convertible segment.
2010 Smart fortwo
Posted by Alexander in Car Reviews, smart on December 26th, 2010
Drive the smart — a new, two-seater city-car from the capitalization-averse company — and you can’t help agree it’s agreat idea.
2010 smart fortwo
Why? Because of a maddeningly few rough edges in an
Terms
smart, tran, sion, seat, dimen, sale, adopter, street, wheelba, cour, sciou, fortwo, require, heave, binder, friend
otherwise fine package. In fact, we attended the introduction of the latest version of the smart fortwo full of hope (previous iterations have been on sale in Europe now for eight years). This bug’s ear of a car is charmingly unique, and shows the U.S.’s mini-car future.
Aimed at early adopters, Penske emphasizes attitude and not age is the pivotal demographic identifying a potential smart owner, and we’ve no argument there. Once past the cute, the smart is about making a statement, about saying you care. It’s the anti-consumption poster child, the stylish way of cutting back at the pump and saving half a parking space for the other human.
The smart fortwo is a fresh-step in packaging. Interior room for the
Category › Car Reviews
Title › 2010 Smart fortwo
two occupants is tremendous in all dimensions, and given the upright seating, clean interior graphics, panoramic windshield, glass roof and generous side glass, the cockpit is bright, cheery and open.
While it would take an NBA-sized adult to max-out the fortwo’s interior dimensions, a single grocery cart worth of goods can overwhelm the rear storage area. Easily accessed, the behind-the-seats storage is fine for incidentals, but a week’s groceries will require stacking the eggs atop the tomato sauce. And, of course, there is no rear seat or trunk to take up the excess.
The largest fortwo advantage is its Lilliputian exterior dimensions, making it a joy in urban centers. Streets are instantly wider, traffic less dense and the abbreviated wheelbase means the smart has a snake-like ability to slither around the double-parked and half-witted. That same short wheelbase gives the fortwo a rocking-horse gait, however, and the tallish center of gravity compared to its footprint means a boat-like heel on freeway ramps.
Smart’s solution is a manual transmission fitted with electro-mechanical servos, which are controlled by a floor-mounted shifter or steering-wheel-mounted paddles. It shifts deliberately and feels more like a robot taking Driver’s Ed than a proper automatic transmission. We hated it immediately. After two days, however, we made friends after discovering there were tricks to getting along this worst combination of manual and automatic. Unfortunately, it asks more of the driver than we think reasonable.
2010 smart fortwo
Almost as awkward was the primitive-feeling brakes. The pedal requires a noticeable initial effort followed by a long slack period before the completely effective binders take hold. Combined with the clunky gearbox and rocking-horse pitch sensitivity, the fortwo heaves up and down the speed scale, passenger’s heads bobbing like a chiropractic advertisement.
And while the smart’s avant garde looks suggest 60 mpg, it is expected to returns just 33/41 city/hwy mpg using the EPA updated 2008 testing procedure. For most people, the compromises in passenger and storage capacity, price, long-distance suitability and weird factor means the smart might get a look, but won’t boast the justifying mpg compared to more mainstream economy cars — new or used.
2010 smart fortwo
The real sales potential is to green commuters, as the planetary consciousness sweeping the U.S. begs for something new to drive to work. With a perceived ballet-slipper carbon footprint, the smart’s statement-making social cachet will easily earn it meaningful sales in that camp.
We definitely think America’s urban core is ready to see this “smart” solution on its streets, but it’s not a trick we’d try down on the farm.