Honda has launched a facelifted 2009 model year Acura RL at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, and it features a new version J37A 3.7 liter V6. Read more full technical details and view more photos and videos after the jump. Click here to read the rest of 2009 Acura RL facelift features new J37A engine
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As expected with all Proton model launches in the past year, graphic artist Theophilus Chin has whipped up a virtually kitted up version of the facelifted 2008 Proton GEN2. This concept art is rather conservative. I think the integrated dual exhaust tailpipes into the rear diffuser is a good look for the car. Two more images after the jump.
Related Posts: Click here to read the rest of 2008 Proton GEN2 Facelift Bodykit Artwork
2008 Proton GEN2 Facelift with CPS launched!
A Consumer Reports study in the US concluded that the best cars in the US are sold by Honda, taking into account reliability, performance, fuel economy, comfort, interior fit and finish, and ergonomics. It is also the only automaker in the rest to earn an overall reliability rating of Excellent.
Honda scored 78 on the test, followed by Toyota with 75 points and Subaru with 72 points. BMW, Mazda, Nissan, and Volkswagen are tied at 71 points, while American automakers like GM and Ford scored some of the lowest scores.
In the individual segment tests, Honda vehicles did not always come up tops, for example the Nissan Altima beat the new Accord (shown above, due on our local shores sometime this year) in the D-segment sedan category, but its vehicles consistently rated at the top of their respective categories. Shockingly, the Toyota Camry scored a below average reliability rating in the Consumer Reports study.
GM’s new models did rather well in their respective categories but its rating was dragged down by its older models. The results also showed that Japanese cars fared better than American cars.
Read the full findings here.
The new Skoda Superb was unveiled at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. As far as I know, Skoda hasn’t released a full technical release on the car yet, but there are some preliminary info on its specifications.
The highlight is of course the Twindoor which you can see in the photo above. It combines the rear boot opening of both a sedan and liftback, though I am not sure why anyone would want it - does anyone see disadvantages of a liftback boot design that requires this additional sedan-like opening? The boot holds 565 liters and folding down the rear seats to extend boot space results in 1670 liters.
Initially the Skoda Superb will come with 3 petrol engines and 3 diesel engines. The petrol engines consist of a baseline 122 horsepower 1.4 liter TSI engine, and next up is a 1.8 liter TSI putting out 158 horsepower. The top of the range petrol engine is the 3.6 FSI V6 producing 256 horsepower.
The oil burner options include a 103 horsepower 1.9 liter TDI, a 138 horsepower 2.0 TDI and a 168 horsepower common rail 2.0 TDI (the other two TDI engines use PD, or Pump-Duse injection, which is conventional unit-injection). There is also a special Skoda Superb GreenLine model equipped with the 103 hp 1.9 liter TDI.
Equipment options for the Skoda Superb includes a bi-xenon headlamps with AFS, a touch-screen navigation system, an automated parking system, and up to 9 airbags. The 1.8 TSI, 3.6 FSI V6, and 2.0 commonrail TDI engines also have the option of an all-wheel drive system.
More photos and a video available after the jump. Click here to read the rest of 2008 Skoda Superb featuring TwinDoor hatch
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The monster Volkswagen Touareg R50 is now on sale in the UK, retailing at a price of £61,885 (RRP OTR), a premium of £3,885 over the normal Altitude V10 TDI Touareg.
The price premium comes from tune-ups such as an uprated 5.0 liter V10 TDI engine putting out 350 PS instead of the normal 313 PS - the engine hits this at 3,500rpm, and 750Nm of torque instead of the normal 650Nm, yet puts out the same CO2 emissions as the normal V10 TDI, which is 333g/km.
Other than the engine, the R50 is also differentiated from the Touareg Altitude V10 by its 21 inch Omanyt design wheels, Touareg R-design bodykit, wheel arch extensions, blue brake calipers, and R logos on the pedals, door sills and Nappa sports seats.
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Click here to read the rest of VIDEO: Saab 9-3 Turbo “Power When You Need It”
Saab’s “Power When You Need It” advertisement shows us small things demonstrating great power - echoing the ability of of downsized turbocharged engines with relatively lower displacements to produce high amounts of power and torque. It’s nothing clever or witty, and maybe even cliche, but the nice background music gives the video a dramatic effect. Video after jump.
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The LIghtning GT is an electric sports car by British car manufacturer The Lightning Car Company, and it was announced at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. Development is still underway, and the production version will be ready by mid-2008.
Powered by four 120kW Hi-Pa Drive (from PML Flightlink Ltd) Permanent Magnet brushless motors, the Lightning GT will essentially have all wheel drive and a total of 650 horsepower and a total of 750Nm of torque each, available across the whole rev range due to the nature of electric motors. 0 to 100km/h takes 4 seconds. The motors are about 25kg each and expected weight distribution of the car is 48:52.
Power is stored in 36kW nano lithium titanate “NanoSafe” batteries, which Lightning says can maintain 85% total capacity after 15,000 charges. Aside from plug-in charging capabilities, the car also has regenerative braking. Total range is expected to be about 400km. The Lightning GT is built with a multi-tubular spaceframe, and uses a lightweight carbon fibre/Kevlar composite body. Both front and rear suspension use double wishbones with coil-over shocks.
More photos after the jump. Click here to read the rest of The Lightning GT powered by four in-wheel motors
General Motors has unveiled the Opel Meriva Concept at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. The Meriva Concept previews the production version of the next generation Opel Meriva, and GM has announced that the rearward opening rear doors will make it to the production version.
View the unveiling video as well as some presentations by GM employees after the jump, and notice they add the word Flex in front of just about anything! 
Related Posts: Click here to read the rest of VIDEO: Opel Meriva Concept
Opel Meriva Concept at Geneva 2008
The Saab 9-X BioHybrid Concept combines the design language from the Aero X in this revival of the old Saab 9X Concept, Saab’s earlier concept hatchback back at the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show. Read more on the concept after the jump. Click here to read the rest of Saab 9-X BioHybrid Concept
Click here to read the rest of VIDEO: BMW M1 - BMW’s only mid-engined car
This was the car that started it all for BMW’s M division back in 1970s, the BMW M1. It featured a 6-cylinder engine and is the only BMW series sports car with the engine installed in a mid-engine position. The body was designed by Giugiaro, and it was hand-built from 1978 to 1981, with only 456 built. Watch the video after the jump.
