Efficent 2009 Hyundai Elantra

CHICAGO, Feb. 6, 2008 -- Hyundai Motor America took the wraps off its Elantra Touring five-door compact at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show today. Making its United States debut, the all-new 2009 Elantra Touring is a sportier, more functional variant of Hyundai's popular Elantra sedan, and is slated to hit dealerships by the end of the year. Elantra Touring is based on the i30 CW model that was designed for the European market.

"The all-new Elantra Touring is a fun-to-drive, functional five-door," said John Krafcik, vice president, product development and strategic planning, Hyundai Motor America. "Elantra Touring provides buyers a unique offering in the compact segment, raising the bar as Hyundai likes to do in value, safety and quality."

The Elantra Touring, with its modern, sleek styling and fun-to-drive qualities, was developed by Hyundai in response to the growing demand for stylish and functional five-door vehicles, sales of which doubled from 2001 to 2006. Five-door vehicle sales are projected to be strong into the next decade. The Elantra Touring will also be the first five-door compact to offer standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC), in addition to a host of other class-leading safety technologies. As with all Hyundai vehicles, the Elantra Touring was designed and manufactured to meet the most stringent quality standards in the industry, exemplifying Hyundai's quality leadership position worldwide.

Flowing curves and strong character lines highlight the broad stance and long wheelbase of the Elantra Touring. The clearly defined, unbroken, rising beltline unifies the vehicle's functional proportions. Up front, the pronounced dual air intakes flow smoothly into the hood and A-pillar lines. Sharp projection headlamps, fog lights and available 17-inch alloy wheels complete the modern design.

The long wheelbase and generous width of the Elantra Touring, combined with Hyundai's expertise in interior packaging, have produced an interior that delivers class-leading comfort, functionality and practicality. Elantra Touring has the most interior volume (passenger volume plus cargo space) of any five-door in its class at 125.5 cubic feet. Elantra Touring's cargo capacity is 65.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down, more cargo space than many larger wagons and crossovers.

The Elantra Touring's exterior dimensions (176.2 inches long, 69.5 inches wide and 59.8 inches high) contribute to outstanding front legroom and front and rear shoulder room. In addition, every Elantra Touring has 60/40 split folding rear seats.

There is 24.3 cubic feet of luggage space with rear seats upright and 65.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat. A stow-and-go removable luggage cover stores conveniently out of site under the trunk area compartment. An optional restraining net is also offered.

The Elantra Touring was conceived from the beginning as a driver's car. Powered by the same fuel-efficient, 2.0-liter, in line four-cylinder found in the Elantra sedan, this sophisticated 16-valve powerplant employs Dual Overhead Camshafts (DOHC) and Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) for a very broad power band, coupled with high fuel efficiency and low emissions. Elantra Touring is certified as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV).

An ergonomically located gear shift with a SHIFTRONIC(R) manual feature controls the Elantra Touring's four-speed automatic transmission, delivering confident mode selection and quicker, easier, more precise manual overrides. A unique-in-segment B&M Racing sport shifter delivers smooth, short-throw shift control for the standard five-speed manual transmission.

A MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension have been fitted to perfectly complement the body structure's high rigidity. Ventilated 11.8-inch front and solid 10.3-inch rear discs with ABS and ESC provide excellent stopping power with added handling control.

The Elantra Touring is the first compact five-door to offer XM Satellite Radio(R) and USB/iPod(R) auxiliary inputs as standard equipment. When an iPod or flash drive is connected through the USB port, it not only plays music through the vehicle's six-speaker, 172-watt audio system, but it also charges the iPod and allows the driver to access tracks with the steering wheel audio controls.

Other standard interior features include a sunglass holder, two front and two rear cupholders, door bottle holders, dash storage, central console storage, front storage tray, front seatback pockets and a cargo area under-floor storage.

In terms of passive safety, the Elantra Touring features dual front, side and curtain airbags, for a total of six protective airbags in the vehicle. The Elantra Touring also contains active front headrests, seatbelt pretensioners and seatbelt reminders. The Elantra Touring will also be the first five-door compact to offer standard ESC, in addition to a host of other class-leading safety technologies.

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 780 dealerships nationwide.

Ultimate Street Car Challenge 2007 - Contenders

Prime the pump organ,adress the monkeys, find Grandma's teeth-it's almost time for the greatest spectacle of the year. No, not that Circus Super Lap Battle thing. We're headed for the freak show out back. Forget about lions and flaming hoops. We're talkin' bearded ladies and third nipples. Get ready for the one, the only...

Sport Compact Car Ultimate Street Car Challenge.

Once again, we've gathered a collection of cars and owners not content with being great. They demand the title: 'ultimate' and are willing to run through our cockamamie concoction of trials to prove it. The USCC isn't some watered-down, feel-good cocktail. It has flavor like a bitter winter brew, the kind that leaves a foul taste the morning after. But every year, when it comes around, you're ready for another sip. We start with the standard ingredients we're known for. Radar guns, dynos and accelerometers. Oh yeah, when it comes to performance data, we serve it raw. But as long-time readers know, it doesn't stop there.

While a certain degree of athletic proficiency is required, this pageant will also judge its contestants on looks, intelligence and character. That's right-our infamous panel of gurus will be giving thorough examinations from top to bottom. Our car show judges will be ruthless in their evaluations of fit and finish. If they miss anything, you know it'll get nagged about in the Girlfriend Test. Next, engineers will crawl under the hood and chassis, making sure all modifications are done right and locked down tight. We're even going to give 'em the ol' sniffer-in-the-tailpipe test.

USCC is a competition like no other. This is not a sanctioned boxing match where the best-trained fighter always wins. This is a street fight, where creative use of a two-by-four may not only win the round, but earn style points too. Innovative engineering and solid mechanical execution are the keys to emerging victorious.Past champions have come from all types of automotive disciplines and this year is no different. As much as we'd love to see a sport compact win this thing, it would be meaningless without beating old rivals along the way.

This year, the domestics are represented by what is without doubt the most wicked monster they've brought out yet. The last-generation Corvette Z06 has a reputation for stomping on 360 Modenas, Vipers and other baller-mobiles that make up our list of past champions. This particular Z06 has been tuned beyond anything we've seen so far. In any other competition, the 'Vette would be a sure bet, but not here.

The USCC is known for oddball creations no OEM would dream of engineering. This year, we have a trio of quirky almost-sport compacts that will likely bounce from the top to the bottom of the charts in the various events. First is a 300ZX, using the classic 'if you can't beat 'em, clone 'em' approach. Under the hood lies a healthy LS1 V8-much like last year's RX-7 that did so well. Next is the quintessential sport compact track car: a third-generation Integra. These days, motor swaps are about as common in these puppies as they are in their not-so-distant-cousin Civics. But, this is unlike any Integra you'veseen before.

Our ace in the hole is the Ariel Atom. Arguably, this isn't a sport compact. It's hardly a car. But it has a boosted 2.0-liter and falls into the super flyweight category. This little European creation probably stands the best chance at beating the big Chevy-even if it is powered by a little Chevy itself.

Speaking of Euros, they're in the mix too. We've dug up a group of geezers with a vintage BMW sporting a vintage motor swap. Yeah, good luck with that. If there's one thing old-timers are known for, it's bringing the biggest bag of tricks with them. Will they have what it takes? Do they even know what a Skyline GT-R is? They're about to find out. It's time to raise the curtain. Without further delay, we present the entrants of the 2007 USCC.

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Popular Car in America

To be the most popular car in America, a model has to posses a wealth of features- reliability, safety, inoffensive yet attractive styling, power, and good gas mileage. Considering these design features, what is the most popular car? These desirable traits come together in the Toyota Camry, making it the highest selling and most popular car in America since 2002.

Launched in limited numbers in America in 1982, the first Camry was compact cars available in hatchback and sedan body styles. A second generation model followed in 1987, upgrading available engine power and offering new safety features such as anti-lock breaks and all-wheel drive. The hatchback model would vanish, replaced by the wagon body style. First sold in America in 1992, the third generation of the Toyota Camry ditched its compact roots to become a mid-size family sedan. 1997 saw the debut of the restyled fourth generation Camry, followed by the introduction of the Camry Solara coupe in 1999. Available as both a hardtop and a convertible, the Solara was built with more graceful and youth-oriented styling than the Camry. In 2000, the Camry became the highest selling car in America for the first time in its history, with reported figures of 422,930 sold. The next timely iteration to the Camry occurred in 2001, when America’s most popular car became much taller and roomier. The wagon body style was dumped for the fifth generation Camry. The sixth generation, launching in 2006, marked a decided change in the Camry’s styling. The aggressive front fascia compliments the available 3.5L V6, giving the new Camry much more power than any of the previous versions. America’s most popular car is now also available as a hybrid, using Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive technology.

The Toyota Camry classically performs well in crash safety tests, with all models since 1997 receiving a “Good” frontal crash rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Strangely, the fifth generation Camry receives a “Poor” rating in side impact tests from the IIHS when not equipped with side-impact airbags. The side airbag option, introduced in 2004, improves the side impact rating to “Good”.

Sales of the Camry in America peaked in 2006, with the nation’s most popular family sedan selling 448,445 units. The Camry’s future includes a foray into the increasingly popular NASCAR Nextel Cup, making it the first non-domestic car to compete in NASCAR in recent years. 2007 also expects to see the Camry produced in America for the first time, finally bringing America’s most popular car a little closer to home.

Toyota Avanza

Toyota Avanza is a new look style of Toyota. It is comfortable for long trip, because it is an energy safer car. This car fit for 7-8 passengers, 2 at the front, 3 at the middle and 3 at the back. For your family, it is always the right choice for traveling in Bali.

1300 cc engine size, available in grey, black and purple color. This car also many times to be our Car of The Month as our customers just like it much. Since its creation in 2005, Toyota Avanza becoming more popular in Indonesia and also Bali as a number choice by families if they want to buy a car.

2008 Ford Bullitt Mustang

The 2008 Ford Bullitt Mustang made its debut at the L.A. auto show. With a price tag of $31,075, only 7000 will be sold in the U.S., with 700 destined for Canada. Dealers will receive cars in January, so don't lag if you want one.

Not as performance-oriented as a Shelby GT, but still sporting, the Bullitt lives up to the image of the 1969 fastback better than any previous Mustang. It lacks only the fastback and 4-speed. Driving the new car is surely easier, but it retains the cool image and sound of the original, thanks to special Dark Highland Green paint, unique wheels and a retuned exhaust to match the DVD sound track.

The 4.6-liter V-8 is bumped up to 315 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft. of torque. Equipped with a Ford Performance parts cold-air intake, an increase in peak rpm by 250, adaptive spark ignition that can measure fuel octane and a final drive of 3.73:1 the Bullitt pulls like it should and chirps the tires between full-throttle shifts, much like Steve McQueen does in the movie. As for how it handles the jumps, we'll have to wait and see.

2008 Ford Bullitt Mustang - Brian Blades, Road and Track

2009 Nissan GT-R

This is it! The most anticipated sports car in the U.S., the Nissan GT-R, has been revealed and is making its North American debut at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show. So what you see here is the full, undisguised GT-R in all its glory.

The most notable modification is to the face. Gone is the "running mascara" beneath the headlights, replaced by a body-colored bumper, which makes the face look much cleaner and more elegant. Some say the car looks like an F-18 fighter jet on wheels while others feel that it belongs on the set of Transformers. Either way, the styling speaks volumes of what this car is capable of on the open road.
Under the hood a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-6 that pumps out 480 bhp and about 430 lb.-ft. of torque. Nissan claims that the GT-R runs to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, which puts it in Porsche 911 Turbo territory. In fact, GT-R project chief, Kazutoshi Mizuno, says that the GT-R lapped the famed North Course at the Nürburgring faster than the Porsche 911 Turbo. Not bad for a car that we hear will cost about $70,000. The car goes on sale first in Japan, then in the summer of 2008 in the U.S. as a 2009 model. R&T was the only magazine to drive a U.S.-spec model. Check out our feature story in the January issue of Road & Track.

Maserati

"Società Anonima Officine Alfieri Maserati" was officially founded on December 14, 1914 in Bologna: a brand that was to become a legend on all the racetracks and the roads of the world.

Founders: The Maserati family constitutes seven brothers Carlo Maserati, Bindo Maserati, Alfieri Maserati, Mario Maserati, Ettore Maserati and Ernesto Maserati. The third brother who was also called Alfieri died in his infancy and hence the fourth brother was also given the same name. It was Alfieri who founded the company and begun producing some fabulous race cars that took his name and his brand "Maserati" across the world.

Alfieri efforts to manufacture world class race cars was ably assisted by his brothers Ettore, Ernesto and Bindo Maserati. Although Carlo was the first to venture in manufacturing cars, he breathed his last in 1910. It was his passion for cars brought his brothers to this field.

The first model that was produced under the flagship of Maserati's was a Tipo 26 in 1926, it was a two seater race car with 8 cylinder engine with 1.5 litre supercharged displacement that developed 120 bhp at 5300 rpm. Mario Maserati though did not venture his life into the engineering field like his brother also contributed; he presented a badge of the Trident that was evoked from Bologna famous statue of King Neptune.
The Tipo 26 made its debut in the racing tracks in Targa Florio, 1926 with Alfieri Maserati on the wheels and it emerged a superior racing car of its kinds. This was the first win for the Maserati with Alfieri the driving force behind the company and the car won his first victory. The company focused all its talent in producing other superior models for racing. Victories were sparse, Maserati's continued their domination in the racing sector and in 1929 they won the Tripoli Grand Prix and Mille Miglia. Alfieri never looked back and started venturing to improve his machines performances and subsequently the Tipo V4, 3.5 litres set the New World Speed Record.
Alfieri masterpiece design the Tipo 26M was one of the most renowned models that won him many victories in the racing circuits. Alfieri revolutionary ideas to fine-tune his engines brought 4 CTR a 4-cylinder, 1088 cc turbocharged model into existance, though that was his last designed car, since he died at 44 in 1932.

Maserati's brothers Ettore, Ernesto and Bindo Maserati took their respective places and revitalized their companies economic crisis and in the year 1933 the Maserati's 8C won the Belgian Grand Prix, Coppa Ciano and Nice Grand Prix. Everything looked stable and they continued to improvise the performances of their machines and the revolutionary model 8CTF won the Indianapolis 500, this is the only Italian car that had a triumphant victory in Indianapolis till date.
Though Maserati's dominated the racing circuits their financial conditions wooed and the Adolfo Orsi acquired Maserati in 1939. Under the new leadership the company was moved to Viale Ciro Menotti. Maserati re-entered the racing circuits under their new leadership in 1946 and won straight-away the Nice Grand Prix and Marseilles G.P. Maserati's desire to venture into manufacturing road cars were duly honoured by the introduction of A6, the first ever road car of Maserati. In 1957 Maserati continued its dominence in the racing circuits and sweeped all three places in Argentine Grand Prix and by the end of the season Maserati won the F1 Championship.

Economic crisis hit the company badly and the Maserati announced their decision to pull out from the racing arena and decided to manufacture racecars and their road versions. It was after this period Maserati (1957 - 1975) produced many successful cars in the Italian Car History. To sum up their successful models produced during this era are A6, A6G, A6G/54, 3500 GT Touring coupé, Vignale, 5000 GT, Shah of Persia Touring version, Vignale Sebring, Quattroporte, Mistral, Ghibli, and Indy.
In 1968, Citroen acquired Maserati from The Orsi family and they introduced the series of cars with Two Centre-Engined Models The Bora, Merak and Khamsin. It was the period of the worst Oil crisis the motor market subsided and Maserati was taken up by Alejandro De Tomaso and GEPI in 1976 and new model was introduced the same year in the Geneva Motor Show, The Kyalami. Maserati remained close to the market pace and it produced cars of diffferent models.

In 1993 Maserati was taken by the Motor Giants "Fiat" and currently it is managed by The Ferrari Management. Ferrari's technical strength and experience with Maserati's elegance proved to be very strong and they contributed much more powerful version of 3200 GT.

Maserati remains a Passion for both the F1 G.P. racers and the owners who own them.