The average life expectancy of a Hybrid car. The average number of years it would take to break even in fuel savings after investing in a premium diesel engine. And the average number of years that some industry experts expect the current crop of petrol engines with manual transmissions to last before emissions standards render them useless. Continue reading Green machines for clean motoring
THE days of the crude, old-fashioned Jeep Wrangler are coming to a close. But is it useful on a regular road? Jeep has reinvented its rough off-road king as a true hybrid — capable of being as respectable on the road as it is brilliant off it. The new Wrangler JK has an improved engine line-up, including for the first time a diesel, a leap forward in refinement, and a four-door Unlimited model pitched at families. “We had a huge challenge on our hands,” says Jeep product vice-president Mike Donoughe. Continue reading Jeep Wrangler JK: same but different
Many concept vehicles are really glimpses at future products that are already in the pipeline. That’s good and all, but sometimes, it’s fun to see what happens when designers are given no physical constraints and let their imaginations take over. The Volkswagen Nanospyder revealed in illustrations earlier this week is that sort of concept. Totally far-out, ripped from the pages of a sci-fi novel. The design was created for the ‘Design Los Angeles” conference that’ll be held later this month at the L.A. Auto Show. Continue reading VW Nanospyder concept looks into a green future
One thing’s for sure at SEMA: there is no correlation between the cars that look like they’ll steal your lunch money and the ones that actually do. Case in point: one Hyundai Elantra done up by David Brensend that, in addition to a healthy slathering of gouge-your-eyes-yellow and beautifully rendered flames, gets a diabolical joker airbrushed onto its hood. Continue reading DBPM does the Elantra
Subaru today announced the SPT Power packs, a new performance kit for the Subaru Impreza WRX and the Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT. The kit consists of the new SPT Performance Exhaust System, SPT High Flow Air Intake System and the SPT Heat Sheild. The SPT Power Packs give an extra 30 horsepower and 20lb-ft of torque on a stock 2007 STI. It gives the 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX an extra 10 horsepower and 17lb-ft of torque. On the 2007 Legacy 2.5 GT the SPT Power Pack gives an extra 30 horsepower and 30lb-ft of torque. Continue reading Subaru Announces New SPT Power Packs
Nissan today announced pricing on the 2007 Nissan Altima, which goes on sale this week at Nissan retailers nationwide. Along with its distinctive styling, the new fourth generation Altima utilizes the all-new Nissan “D” platform with improved body rigidity and a redesigned suspension with the development objective of making Altima one of the best performing large front-wheel drive sedans available globally. Continue reading Nissan Announces Pricing on All-New 2007 Altima
During the past 10 years, the Canadian automobile insurance industry’s underwriting results have changed dramatically as reflected by the significant variations in the direct loss ratio according to a special report by A.M. Best Co. From 1996 to 1998, the industry direct loss ratio remained flat at around 75. Premiums did not grow and claims incurred remained steady. Continue reading Canadian Auto Insurance Industry Undergoes Dramatic Ups and Downs
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”) began enforcing the new insurance law, Senate Bill 1500 (“SB 1500”), that requires the DMV to suspend a vehicle’s registration if the vehicle does not have a valid insurance policy or bond. This change closes a loophole that allowed some residents to provide invalid proof of insurance to the DMV when registering their vehicles and allowed some to cancel their insurance policy shortly after obtaining their registration. Continue reading New Auto Insurance Law in California
Fiat took the wraps off its new Bravo in Rome today before the company plans to offer the five-door hatch across Europe in the coming weeks. The Bravo returns to the market with a sleek and sexy Italian body that makes it appear far more expensive than the typical five-door hatches we’re used to passing on U.S. roadways. The Italian automaker says the new car embodies the synthesis of Beauty and Substance. Continue reading 2007 Fiat Bravo unveiled
Saturn has announced that its new 8-passenger crossover called the Outlook will have an MSRP of $27,990 for a two-wheel drive model and $29,990 for an all-wheel drive XE model. Uplevel XR models will start at $30,290 for two-wheel drive and $32,290 for all-wheel drive. All models will get General Motors’ 3.6-liter VVT V6 that produces 270 hp and 248 ft-lbs. of torque in the base XE and 275 hp and 251 ft-lbs. of torque in the XR thanks to a dual exhaust system. Continue reading Saturn Outlook
Toyota is teasing Aussie customers with a very hot-looking show car that takes the new Aurion in a very sporty direction. The car is purely a styling exercise, so there’s no news regarding any newfound goodness underhood, but Toyota Australia is careful to note that many of the appearance mods seen here are under consideration for a potential future sports model, which would likely be powered by “a supercharged or turbocharged version of an advanced Toyota engine.” Continue reading Toyota Aurion Sports Concept
Through the digital grape vine we came across an article on MSNBC that rehashes the impending battle between Ford, Chevy and Toyota on the full-size pickup front. We’ve heard this story before, hell, we’ve told this story before, but what caught our eye was close to the end of the article when MSNSB Business Editor Roland Jones tells us that the 2007 Toyota Tundra’s top engine, the i-Force 5.7-liter V8, will produce 381 horsepower. Wow! We’ve been trying to get that info out of Toyota since the Chicago auto show back in February, and Roland just lets it roll of the tongue like he were quoting rear-seat leg room. Unfortunately no torque numbers were mentioned, though we’re far from sure this number is accurate anyway. Continue reading 5.7-liter V8 in Toyota Tundra will produce 381 horsepower