Car Advice

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Ok, which is the ugliest. The Pacer, the Gremlin, or the Matador? Will Graphrix be showing his Gremlin at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance?
 
<p>Ahhh the Gremlin.</p>

<p><img alt="" src="http://img105.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2007/08/30/gremlin-47nxpr87h.jpg" /></p>
 
<p>Save for a downpayment, and have a BMW, too??</p>

<p>"BMW adds an all-new vehicle for 2008 with the rear-wheel-drive 1 Series Coupe. When it makes its debut early next year, the car will be the <em>least expensive</em> in the company's lineup.</p>

<p><img height="194" alt="BMW 1 Series" width="300" src="http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/top_2008_cars/bmw_1series_l.jpg" /></p>

<p> </p>
 
<p><u>From motortrend.com:</u></p>

<p>"Pricing is still a ways off, but expect the 128i to come in somewhere around $26,000 or so, with the 135i some $5,000 more."</p>

<p><u>Motortrend Review Excerpt:</u></p>



<p>"Designed to fill the price space between two icons, the Mini Cooper and the 3 Series the 1 Series features a lightweight aluminum front suspension and five-link rear axle, frameless doors, new L-shaped taillamps with LED highlights and corona daytime running lights ... the type of features that make more expensive Bimmers such magic.</p>



<a href="http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2007/112_0706_2008_bmw_1_series/photo_02.html">



</a>







<p>The 128i comes with the 230-horsepower, 200 pound-foot 3.0-liter with Valvetronic, and the 135i gets the twin-turbo 3.0 of course, good for 300 horses, 300 pound-feet from 1400 rpm, and BMW says, a 5.3-second 0-62 mph time and electronically limited 155 mph top speed.</p>





<p>The 135i gets a slew of M-inspired components, including an aero kit, sports suspension, 18-inch rims shod with 215/40 (front) and 245/35 (rear) performance rubber. Various M touches also grace the cabin, including sport buckets and pedals. Stopping the 135i is a high-performance brake system with six-piston fixed calipers out front and two-piston fixed calipers at the rear, with enhanced brake cooling ducts.</p>





<p>BMW says the 1 Series features a 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution, with the aforementioned, aluminum MacPherson setup at the front and five-link configuration out back. Speed sensitive electro-hydraulic steering is also part of the mix thanks to BMW's optional Active Steer system.</p>
 
<p>Here is the link for <a href="http://www.bmwusa.com/Vehicles/futurevehicles/new1/">bmwusa</a>.</p>

<p>And a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQpo8vomru4">you tube video</a>.</p>
 
News from the Frankfurt auto show:



German automakers are going green. After discounting the green vehicles as largely “niche” — and holding out longer than U.S. competitors

Ford and General Motors in embracing hybrid offerings — <a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/audi/">Audi</a>, <a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/bmw/">BMW</a>, <a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/mercedes_benz/">Mercedes-Benz</a>, <a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/porsche/">Porsche</a> and <a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/volkswagen/">Volkswagen</a> are each slated to show models that either highlight improved fuel economy or provide more eco-friendly engines.



Examples of new alternative powertrain models set to debut include the Mercedes Benz S-Class with new diesel and gasoline hybrids, a hybrid-driven <a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/porsche_cayenne/">Porsche Cayenne</a>, and a two-door BMW X6 design decoy with a hybrid engine that’s slated to be used in both the new X5 and X6 models, due in late 2008 and early 2009. The real X6, said to be a four-door, may be unveiled at the next Detroit Auto Show in January. A hybrid version of the new <a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/audi_a4/">Audi A4</a> has been rumored to show at Frankfurt as well.
 
<p>A hybrid Cayenne. Why does that make me think of Bren's fluffy green housing initiatives? Sure, we'll sell you a $1.2MM house that rates a $50 cheaper electric bill.</p>

<p>Wake me up when VW offers the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=5165">Polo TDI</a> in the US.</p>
 
<v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"> <img height="259" alt="Photo" width="380" border="0" src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/nm/20071008/2007_10_08t102033_450x307_us_japan_nissan_car_tech_1.jpg?x=380&y=259&sig=CDs46mqolcaVtBTACKlYgw--" /></v:shapetype>

Nissan unveiled a new version of its egg-shaped Pivo concept car that can drive sideways and has a small robot to assist with navigation or calm down angry drivers. The Pivo 2 three-seater electric car has wheels that can turn 90 degrees for easy parallel parking. Like its predecessor, which was unveiled two years ago, the new Pivo has a cabin able to revolve 360 degrees, eliminating the need to reverse.


 
Honestly, I don't do ostentatious (except for one watch), but I thought someone else might enjoy it. And IC, had you been flipping properties since the late '90s, you coulda had a Maybach!
 
Though car companies typically avoid making <a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/284/most-popular-cars-for-men-and-women;_ylc=X3oDMTE1cmlscjRlBF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEc2VjA2ZwLXRvZGF5BHNsawNtZW4td29tZW4-">gender-specific vehicles</a>, says Jim Hossick, vice president and senior consultant at AutoPacific, "some cars are more masculine or feminine by nature."

<p>To buy the Chevy Silverado heavy-duty pickup, some might argue that in addition to the $22,225 sticker price, you also need a Y chromosome. That's because 93% of the truck's buyers are men. In fact, males own about nine out of 10 heavy-duty pickup trucks on the road, according to findings by AutoPacific, a market research firm focused on the auto industry.</p>




<p>Womens' tastes run a little more refined. AutoPacific found that female buyers most often choose models by Saturn, Honda and Volkswagen.</p>

<p><img class="picture" alt="Volkswagen Beetle" src="http://f3.yahoofs.com/ymg/autos_content_landing_pages__3/autos_content_landing_pages-399984986-1193955316.jpg?ym1P.X.CzqhQotBO" /></p>
 
theres that volkswagen commercial where a guy drives up to a restaurant and its valet only. he gets so protective of the car that he threatens to stab the valets with his key. if there's one image vw doesnt need to encourage, its the one of weenie men who treat their cutsie car like a 5-yr old protecting his teddy bear.
 
<p><strong>Saab Aero-X</strong> is a <a title="Concept car" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concept_car">concept car</a> by <a title="Saab Automobile" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_Automobile">Saab</a> unveiled at the 2006 <a title="Salon International de l'Auto" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salon_International_de_l%27Auto">Salon International de l'Auto</a>. It is powered by a 2.8 L twin-<a title="Turbocharged" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbocharged">turbocharged</a> <a title="V6" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V6">V6</a> running on pure <a title="Ethanol" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol">ethanol</a> that produces 400 hp. 0 to 62 mph is predicted to be 4.9 s and top speed is limited to 250 km/h (155 mph). It has a 7-speed <a title="Automatic transmission" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_transmission">automatic transmission</a> controlled by paddles on the steering wheel.</p>

<p>Like the American-market <a title="Saab 9-2X" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_9-2X">Saab 9-2X</a>, the Aero-X has <a title="Four wheel drive" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_wheel_drive">four wheel drive</a>. The doors and windscreen are connected, so instead of using conventional doors or even <a title="Gullwing doors" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gullwing_doors">gullwing doors</a>, it uses a cockpit canopy where the entire top section of the car is opened. This offered the Aero X's driver full 180 degree vision, and also facilitates entry and exit from its low-slung cabin. The body is made in <a title="Carbon fiber" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_fiber">carbon fiber</a>. The suspension is electronically-controlled. Even though it is a compact two-seat sports car, it has reasonable storage, as the rear features two storage facilities, with a conventional hatchback and sliding drawer underneath.</p>

<p>The interior offers "clean Scandinavian interior design". The car has no ordinary dials and buttons; instead, data is displayed on acrylic 'clear zones' in graphic 3D images. All interior and exterior lights utilise <a title="Light-emitting diode" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light-emitting_diode">LEDs</a>.</p>

<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_Aero-X">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_Aero-X</a></p>

<p> </p>
 
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