Car Sangarz

The new Chevrolet Malibu could be delayed until 2011, nearly a year after its original U.S. market launch date, according to a report from Businessweek citing sources within the company. Likewise, the next next-generation Chevy Malibu may also be delayed by six months, into 2013, the report said.

Don’t know what the hell’s going on today but here’s another broken embargo. We solemnly swear that we had nothing to do with the Chevrolet Malibu breach. Don’t believe us? Take a peek-a-boo at Edmunds Insideline, that’s where we got the pics.

Design-wise, apart from Avalanche, Tahoe etc. inspired front end, cant’ say that I ‘m in to it as Chevy designers seem to have borrowed (unsuccessfully if you ask me) styling cues from here and there –eg. the VW Jetta rear window line and the Infiniti G35 tail lamps. The interior on the other hand is simple but nicely conceived.

The Toyota Camry comes with a 60-month/100,000km powertrain warranty and only a 36-month/60,000km roadside assistance warranty. OnStar is not standard on the Camry and it has a horsepower rating of 169 with a requirement of regular unleaded fuel only. The Toyota Camry also lacks the luggage volume of the Chevrolet Malibu. The Camry has 435L of volume, compared to the 428L the Malibu has of luggage volume. The Malibu also offers more legroom and headroom.

All four vehicles come standard with a manual transmission, but all four can be upgraded to include a six-speed automatic transmission. One of the benefits of selecting the Malibu over other affordable midsize cars is the fuel efficiency. The most efficient combination of engine and transmission comes with the four cylinder engine and automatic transmission, which get an EPA estimated 22 miles per gallon in the city and 32 miles per gallon on the highway. For those who want to upgrade to a six cylinder engine, the fuel efficiency drops to 17 miles per gallon in the city and 26 miles per gallon on the highway when coupled with an automatic transmission.

The automobile, which is in the car's seventh generation, uses the same engine as it did in the 2008 and 2009 Car. Chevrolet introduced a hybrid option of the Malibu in a 2009 model, but dropped the hybrid technology for the 2010 Malibu. Chevrolet introduced the next generation vehicle to the media in August 2009. The next generation production is set to begin in 2012.

GM also said that there’s growing interest for the Malibu in Korea, despite the fact that the midsize sedan has never been officially sold in the country. The Detroit automaker said that members of Malibu-related Internet clubs total about 30,000 in South Korea, despite the fact that the midsize sedan has never been officially sold in the country. However, this shouldn’t come as a surprise for those with some knowledge of the local car culture as there are myriads of dedicated online clubs for all models.

The redesign of the Malibu in 2008 has changed the car's outlook and performance drastically. It was recently ranked 10th out of 24 affordable midsize cars by a car review site. The ranking was based on performance, reliability and safety data. Chevrolet Malibu insurance is an area curious buyers would want to look at. Well, let us first know a little bit about the car. It has a distinctive two tone cabin, which gives it a very sophisticated and urban look. It looks better in fact than the Honda Accord or the Camry in this respect. It also gives an excellent fuel economy and thus is a very good, balanced family car.

The car won many awards when it was relaunched with a redesign in 2008.it grabbed the North American Car of the Year, Kiplinger Magazine's 'Best in Class' among others. Those of you thinking about the Chevrolet Malibu insurance aspects will have to wait a little longer and read further down.

The Malibu has got a decent 2.4 liter four cylinder engine with 6 speed transmission giving an excellent mileage and performance.

Surprisingly, the first country to get the new Malibu won’t be the States, but South Korea with production set to begin in Bupyeong, Korea this fall, followed by Jingjiao, China, at the end of 2011 and then Fairfax, Kansas and Detroit-Hamtramck, in the U.S., in early 2012.

Engine choices haven't been announced, but Ford has said that its popular 5.4L V8 will be offered. The FX2, a two wheel drive vehicle, will complement an existing off road model, the FX4. Ford builds more versions of its full sized pick up truck than any other manufacturer in the world.

Yes, the FX2 is another part of Ford's "Bold Moves" promotional campaign. While the new model is based on an existing truck, it does something that Ford is finally learning to do right: listen to its consumers. With the 2007 F-150 FX2, it appears that Ford has responded with certainty.

In the F-150, the 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine delivers 365 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque providing a towing capability of 11,300 lbs combined an EPA rating of 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. Ford says the turbocharged V6 increases fuel economy up to 20 percent and cuts carbon dioxide emissions up to 15 percent over a comparable naturally aspirated V8 engine.

Ford plans to introduce more turbocharged engines across its lineup within the next two years aiming to produce up to 1.5 million EcoBoost engines globally in a variety of vehicles.

Alan Fogliadini, Harry Hoffman, Sr. , Joyce Jensen, Judy Sights
Chuck Small, Larry Volk

MANUFACTURER
JAZ Products

HISTORIAN
Ed Safarik

PEOPLE FROM THE PAST (Deceased)
Ed Adams, Gene Burkland, Jack Calori, Art Tilton

For the Hall of Fame members, in alphbetical order in case you are wondering about a particular dry lakes racer: http://www.oilstick.com/halloffamemembers/index.htm

I don't remember who was just mentioned doing this at the Dry lakes Racing Hall of Fame inductions, (the memory just is falling apart faster than ever) but the streamliner was fitted with an old fashioned gas tank level system, and its indicator on the dash showed the driver if the front was lifting while running the Bonneville course

Tere has posted a great look around at the Mendenhall's Museum: http://justacargal-s.blogspot.com/2011/05/mendenhalls-gas-up-bbq.html where the hall or fame takes place, it's a museum of petroliana

This pulled up next to me at a stoplight, and it's the first time I'd ever heard of a collector edition car. That is one presumptuous car company!

Cars are collectable in a subjective way, IMHO, based on factors not up to the car maker, unless it's smart enough to produce incredible Italian sports cars.

The LE based Camry collectors edition was new for 2001 according to Wikicars.org

The 500 is a smaller car, with a stylish look and compact size. The car is a well-built yet sleek, almost 'cute' vehicle that is aimed at attracting drivers with an eye for style, construction and yes, even fashion. Fiat cars are hoping for the new car to integrate their brand with the American public, and is aiming at pushing an image of Italian sophistication. While I did just use the word fashion, Fiat is hoping that they will achieve more than just ephemeral popularity. The 500 coupe is an attempt by Fiat to wedge their brand name into the public consciousness, an endeavour that may prove difficult

The base version will get you a power cloth top, manual transmission, 15-inch steel wheels, seven standard air bags, air conditioning, AM/FM/CD/MP3 radio with auxiliary audio input, chromed exhaust tip, power windows and door locks, power heated mirrors, speed control, BLUE&ME Handsfree Communication technology with USB port, and leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls. The similarly equipped tin-top 500 is priced at $15,500.

The model bears the distinctive Pininfarina mar: the imposing and dynamic front is interposed by headlamps whose lines are horizontally developed, perfectly blending into the form of the fenders. The grille is instead crowded by the renowned Trident symbol in chrome. The dynamism of the side view is accentuated by the short front overhangs as well as by the long bonnet whether the three air intakes with chrome profiles lighten the front fender. The side panels are decked with chrome details to increase the car distinctiveness while the overall side dynamics are also highlighted by the 20-inch alloy wheels. The rear of the Maserati GranTurismo Convertible emphasizes its sporty and highly technological nature: the triangular tail lights uses 96 LEDs ensuring immediate nighttime recognition, while the aerodynamic diffuser is framed by two pairs of large diameter chrome exhausts tailpipes.

When the retractable roof is closed, the car has an elegant but decisively dynamic profile; the roof can then be opened in 24 seconds by one touch to the soft top control button. The Maserati GranTurismo Convertible is a genuine four-seater enabling all four passengers to enjoy the experience of driving with the top down to the fullest. The rear seats are designed the same as the front ones, providing a welcoming and an automotive space as pleasurable for the passengers as it is for the driver. A multi-layer soft top has been selected for the GranTurismo Convertible, allowing a wide range of color combinations while maintaining functionality, space and light weight requirements. The complete soft top system weights a mere 143 lbs and maintains the car's excellent low center of gravity either with the top open or stowed.

Remember the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale that was introduced last year at the Paris Auto Show? The Italian sportscar maker has brought a ‘softer’ version of the MC to the States that drops the “Stradale” word from its name. That is because the GranTurismo MC has a full automatic gearbox instead of the original Race Shift transmission and two extra seats in the back instead of a roll cage. Even so, the Granturismo MC is the fastest series production model Maserati has ever sold in America.

the 2011 Fiat 500 is also liked by its buyers due to premium grade materials used in interiors as well as its high class structural feel and exterior looks. One of the strongest competitors of this vehicle is expected to be the next generation BMW mini.

The Fiat Company has also tied up with the famous Chrysler group as a part of the global strategic alliance. The 2011 Fiat 500 will be equipped with the same engine as the ones equipped in the electric or gas hybrid vehicles.

As far as the comfort of the passengers and driver is concerned, the 2010 Fiat 500 is equipped with the classy folded flat front passenger seats along with the flip-up cushions. The interior design of the vehicle is matched with the body color, door handles, dash vents, speaker housings and the headrests as well.

There are tuners and there are tuners with some taking the easy way out going for a quick fix while others take up the challenge to create something truly unique. Italy’s Lucarelli-Monza belongs to the second category of tuners. The Monza-based tuning house has revealed details on its newest creation called the 500 Abarth Motore Centrale R230.

The Fiat 500 model soon became the iconic car after the development and design of the car by Dante Giacosa. The model made its debut in the year 1957 and since then Fiat has produced about 3,893,294 fiat 500 units until the end of the year 1975. The 2011 Fiat 500 will be an Italian made Mini Cooper with great looks.

The earlier generation of Fiat 500 were liked by most of its buyers, but the American market was exception for these cars, as its sales struggled a lot in the initial stages. But nowadays, the Fiat 500 is counted among the major cars. The sales of the Fiat cars has increased since 2004.

As its name implies, the heavily modified Italian hatchback gains a new layout with a mid-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive. Of course, such a radical change is not an easy task with the company having to re-engineer the entire vehicle.

With proper modifications, you can expect to generate anywhere between 300-600 hp out of a Mitsubishi Eclipse. Racers strive for maximum power out of the car and often use extreme engineering to achieve more than 800 hp. Turbo chargers are used frequently to up the ante of the vehicle by making strategic modifications in:

* Exhaust systems

* Intakes

* Clutch

* Fuel system

* Wheels

* Suspension

Mitsubishi Eclipse Performance Parts: Troubleshooting Exhaust Systems

The Eclipse is a four-seater sports coupe and because of its appeal, the manufacturers have always included an exhaust system that is easy to dismantle and troubleshoot. Here is what you can do for basic troubleshooting\

All Eclipse trim levels (GS, GS Sport and GT) will be available as SE Special Edition versions which includes “SE” side decals, black side mirrors and 18-inch dark finish alloy wheels, along with the high-end standard features available on the Eclipse GS Sport versions of both the coupe and convertible models.

Standard equipment includes leather upholstery with heated front seats and a power-adjustable driver's seat, rearview camera, Bluetooth hands-free phone access, heated side mirrors and a 9-speaker, 650-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system with SIRIUS satellite radio. The coupe version also includes a sunroof.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse was launched in 1989 in the North American automotive market. It was one of the three cars, along with the Eagle Talon and the Plymouth Laser, produced by Mitsubishi Motors. The Eclipse was manufactured by Diamond Star Motors (DSM) in Illinois. It had a front wheel drive, and was a 3-Door hatchback with a 1.8 liter inline four cylinder engine. The main feature of the Eclipse was its sporty and aggressive look. The Eclipse has gone through numerous performance shifts and body changes for more than two decades and is now widely available in North America, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, China, and South Korea.

The 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse came in three variants, the RS, GS and GT. The RS and GS came has a standard new 2.4 liter inline four cylinder engine, rated at 154 bhp. The GT sported a 3.0 liter V6 engine, rated at 205 bhp. In 2001, the Eclipse underwent a facelift and emerged as the Spyder convertible, available in the GS and GT variants, with the same engines as the hardtop coupe. The 2001 RS and GS sported a 2.4 I4 154 bhp with 5500 rpm and 163 lb-ft with 4000 rpm performance. The GT variant sported a 3.0 V6 205 bhp with 5500 rpm and a 205 lb-ft with 4500 rpm performance.

As Mitsubishi will cease production of the Eclipse after the upcoming 2012 model year without offering a replacement model, the SE Special Edition is the manufacturer's way of saying goodbye to a model series produced since 1989.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Stuttgart/Brackley, Germany/United Kingdom, Apr 29, 2011

After three flyaway races, Formula One’s European season begins next weekend with Round Four of the 2011 World Championship, the Turkish Grand Prix, at Istanbul Park on Sunday 8 May.


• Of six Turkish Grands Prix held since 2005, three were won with Mercedes-Benz power (‘05, ‘09, ‘10)
• The Turkish Grand Prix has been won from pole four times and never from lower than P2 on the grid
• The 120m run from the grid to the first corner is the joint shortest of the season with Monaco

Michael Schumacher
“It is always exciting when the calendar returns to Europe and the racing schedule becomes more intense. After returning from the first three races, I have enjoyed spending some time with my family in the short break, and I am now really looking forward to the action getting underway again. The venue for our next race, Istanbul Park, is a great track and provides a good challenge for the drivers. It’s anti-clockwise, has a lot of gradient changes and different corner layouts, so it’s quite nice to drive. I know that the team have been working very hard to continue the progress that we made during the last race weekend in China and, with the help of some developments planned for Istanbul, I am confident that we can enjoy an equally positive weekend.”

Nico Rosberg
“We had a more difficult start to 2011 than we had expected, and the first three races felt a little like a rollercoaster of emotions. We were all disappointed in Melbourne and Malaysia but, after leading the race in Shanghai, we have confirmed the potential of our car. The team did a very good job to take a step forward and we learned a lot from the weekend. Hopefully we can now make a further step for Turkey and produce another positive performance. After spending time with my family during Easter, I am really looking forward to the race at Istanbul Park. Turn Eight is one of the most challenging corners of the year: it’s taken at full throttle for over eight seconds, with forces of up to 5G. If I had to create a fantasy Formula One circuit, this corner would definitely be included.”

Ross Brawn, Team Principal
“The team and drivers have worked extremely hard in the short break before the European season begins to ensure that we continue to move forward. We have a fundamentally good car and we need to achieve its full potential in the races to come. The Chinese Grand Prix reminded everyone at the team what it is like to fight for a race. We didn’t succeed on that occasion but it’s a feeling that we would like to experience more often. When the car is working properly, we can be more competitive and the solutions we are bringing to Turkey will help us achieve this level more consistently. However, we also know that we need to push for more performance if we want to fight regularly at the front. The first three races have been a challenge but we have pulled together and will continue working hard to make progress.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
“The Turkish Grand Prix is the first race of the European season in the 2011 Formula One World Championship. It is a demanding circuit for both cars and drivers, and Turn Eight is the longest corner of the entire season. Nearly 70% of the 5.338 km lap is spent at wide open throttle which means that, in addition to the chassis and tyres, the engine is under considerable load. At the last race in China, our team took a step up in competitiveness relative to the first races in Australia and Malaysia. Our aim is to consolidate this level of performance in Turkey before building on it.”

* Official photo and details courtesy of MERCEDES GP PETRONAS *

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