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Jessica Biel
Jessica Biel
Jessica Claire Biel (born March 3, 1982) is an American actress and former model, who has appeared in several
Jessica Biel
2008 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
2008 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
Cool New Car Models
The 2008 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is largely unchanged. This four-passenger, 2-door coupe is Ferrari's flagship car. The 612 uses a 540-hp 5.75-liter V12 engine that teams with a 6-speed manual transmission. Optional is Ferrari's 6-speed F1A automated-manual transmission that uses a small console stick to engage reverse and drive. Shifting is done through steering wheel paddles, but the transmission can be set to shift like an automatic. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, and an antiskid system. The antiskid system has driver-selectable settings to limit its intervention during high-performance driving. Neither front side airbags nor curtain side airbags are available. An optional GTB package includes uprated sport suspension, specific exhaust tuning, and carbon ceramic brakes designed to minimize heat during panic stops. This evaluation is based on preview test drives.Cool New Car Models
Eva Longoria
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Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria landed her first television role in 2000, guest-starring in an episode of
2008 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
2008 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
Cool New Car Models
Cool New Car Models
The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano borrows its name from the test track where Ferrari tests both its road cars and Formula 1 racers, and it's designed to bring F1 to the streets.
Exterior
The long hood and short rear deck call to mind the 1971 Ferrari 365 GTC4 — called the Daytona by many. With its sweeping curves, air ducts galore and round taillamps, it's likely one would identify the 599 GTB Fiorano as a Ferrari even without the chrome prancing horse on the hood. It is unfortunate, however, that the headlights bring to mind the narrow, long design that Infiniti has been using for some years.
Interior
The 599 GTB Fiorano interior will let drivers believe they're F1 racers if they wish, but they won't feel as if they're strapped into a Spartan racetrack beast. There's tons of leather, with a lot of carbon fiber accents on the seats, doors and dash. The seats have huge bolsters and cutouts for a four-point racing harness.
What isn't leather or carbon fiber is likely brushed aluminum, so there's a nice mix of materials and textures. The steering wheel is loaded with controls, similar to an F1 racecar's wheel. Drivers can choose which setting they want for the vehicle dynamic control system — which incorporates suspension, traction control and gearbox settings. There's an engine-start button and shift paddles behind the wheel.
Under the Hood
Ferrari calls the 599 GTB Fiorano a front-mid-engine design, meaning the engine is mounted farther back in the chassis than in a pure front-engine car. Still, the engine is accessed from a front hood. The power plant is a 65-degree V-12 that's 5.99 liters (hence the car's 599 name) that makes 448 pounds-feet of torque at 5,600 rpm. It's limited to a maximum of 8,400 rpm.
The power is routed through a six-speed gearbox. The shift patterns can be changed to better meet slippery or dry conditions.
Safety
Traction and stability control are the highlights here. The F1-Trac system monitors the speed of front and rear wheels, predicts the maximum amount of grip and reacts accordingly. Ferrari claims the system increases acceleration by 20 percent over traditional traction and stability control systems, and the magnetic-fluid suspension is designed to reduce body roll and provide the driver with greater control as well.
A Racing and Track option package, which includes upgraded carbon-ceramic brakes, a four-point racing harness and roll bar, is also available.
Shakira
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Shakira
Shakira
Shakira's debut album, Magia, was recorded with Sony Music in 1991, when she was only thirteen years old. Though it fared well on Colombian radio and gave the young Shakira much exposure, the album did not fare well commercially, selling fewer than a thousand copies. After the poor acclaim of Magia, Shakira's label urged her back into the studio to release a follow up with more hit songs, to give the album potential. The album Peligro was released in 1993, but Shakira was not pleased with the final result, mainly taking issue with the production. The album was better received than Magia, though it was also considered a commercial failure, due to Shakira's refusal to advertise it. Although little known outside of her native Colombia , Shakira was invited to perform at Chile
2008 Ferrari 430
2008 Ferrari 430
Cool New Car Models
Lightweight, simple and striking with a distinctive engine and exhaust sound: every last detail of the Ferrari 430 Scuderia exudes uncompromising sportiness as a direct result of its close links to the world of racing, which is reflected in the car's name: "Scuderia". Seven-times World Champion Michael Schumacher was also involved in the car's development, with the result that the most advanced single-seater technology is now available to Ferrari's sportiest and most passionate clients. With a dry weight of 2775 lb (1250 kg) and 510 hp delivered at 8500 rpm by its naturally aspirated 4308 cm3 V8 engine, the Ferrari 430 Scuderia boasts an extraordinarily low weight-power ratio of just 2.45 kg/hp, which allows it to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds. It can also complete a lap at Fiorano in a time comparable to that of the Ferrari Enzo, the Ferrari that has come to epitomise Maranello's philosophy of transferring F1 content to its road cars.Cool New Car Models
Thanks to its sophisticated aerodynamics, F1-SuperFast2 gearbox and E-Diff coupled with the sophisticated F1-Trac traction control system, this sporty new mid-rear engined berlinetta combines ultra-nimble handling with blisteringly fast acceleration. The result? Absolutely superlative driving pleasure both on the road and on the track.
ENGINE AND ENGINE SOUND
The Ferrari 430 Scuderia's engine is an evolution of the Ferrari F430's 90° V8 which features a number of modifications to boost its specific power output from 114 hp/litre to 118 hp/litre. The inlet ducts and exhaust system have been optimised, most notably through the adoption of the exhaust geometries derived from the Ferrari F430 Challenge and the use of carbon-fibre on the intake manifold and for the filter housing to aid weight reduction.
Thanks to Ferrari's Formula 1 experience, the Ferrari 430 Scuderia's ignition system boasts special coils and, for the first time on a market-targeted car, a dedicated CPU capable of monitoring the ionising currents generated inside the combustion chamber between the spark plug electrodes. This means that every single sparking detonation is detected for every cylinder and sparking is faster and more accurate across the board.
The Ferrari 430 Scuderia's compression ratio has also been increased to 11.88:1, thanks in part to a new piston design.
Particular attention was paid to achieving just the right sound from the engine and exhaust as this has always been one of the real trademarks of every Prancing Horse car. Cutting-edge calculation tools were employed to optimise the Ferrari 430 Scuderia's intake and exhaust systems and sound damping, with the result that the exhaust and engine sound inside the cabin is clear, powerful and particularly thrilling in full acceleration.
F1-SUPERFAST2 GEARBOX
The F1-SuperFast2 is an evolution of the F1 gearbox used on all of Ferrari's models and reduces gear-shifting times to just 60 ms, the fastest time of any of the models in the Prancing Horse range, the lowest overall of any automated-manual gearbox. Significantly, Ferrari calculates the gear changing time according to the acceleration gap, not just the time it takes to engage the gear. The various stages are implemented in parallel (non-sequentially). In the case of the F1-SuperFast2, genuinely innovative integrated engine and gearbox management programmes allow the combined disengaging/engaging of the gears to take place partly in parallel with letting the clutch in and out.
E-DIFF2: E-DIFF WITH F1-TRAC
The E-Diff2 (which is integrated with the gearbox) is one of the primary components which clearly demonstrate the Ferrari 430 Scuderia's links to the track. In use for many years now in Formula 1, it is integrated with the car's stability control system.
The Ferrari 430 Scuderia is the first high performance road car after the F430 to sport an electronic differential. Torque is continuously distributed between the wheels via two sets of friction discs (one for each driveshaft) controlled by a hydraulic actuator.
The amount of torque actually transmitted to the driven wheels depends on driving conditions and brings considerable advantages in terms of performance, direction stability, active safety and handling feedback.
The F1-Trac traction control system, which is also derived from Ferrari's F1 experience, ensures that even more drivers will be able to extract the maximum performance from the car, thanks to the exceptional cornering, safety and stability it offers. Introduced for the first time on a road car with the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, it is faster and more precise than a traditional traction control system and optimises traction by modulating power delivery to help maintain the desired vehicle trajectory. The system estimates the maximum available grip thanks to continual monitoring of the relative speed of the wheels.
The integrated E-Diff and F1-Trac systems offers 40% more acceleration out of corners than a traditional traction and stability control system.
RACING MANETTINO
The manettino has already featured in several of Ferrari's road cars but the Ferrari 430 Scuderia features the special Racing version which puts the emphasis firmly on track-specific sporty driving and provides the driver with even more choice in terms of the car set-up. With this in mind, the ICE setting available with the F430 has been removed and a new CT- (Traction Control Off) setting has been introduced. This deactivates the car's traction control, but unlike the CST position, retains the safety of the car's stability control system to ensure a level of safety is maintained.
Another novelty with the Ferrari 430 Scuderia is a button on the centre console which allows the suspension to be controlled separately from the predefined manettino strategy. This allows the driver can maintain maximum performance even on irregular road surfaces.
Michael Schumacher made a particularly valuable contribution to this area of the car's development. In fact. he and the car development team worked together to ensure that the Ferrari 430 Scuderia delivers both exceptional performance and fantastic driving pleasure which is within reach of non-professional drivers.
BRAKES
The Ferrari 430 Scuderia boasts a specific braking system featuring CCM (carbon ceramic material) discs with specific dimensions to cope with the car's increased performance.
The front discs are now 18 mm larger than those on the F430 and are designed to dissipate the extra heat created by the higher performance and are even more hard-wearing for greater efficiency. These components, together with 6-pot calipers, guarantee blistering performance at all times and, equally importantly, consistently efficient braking during prolonged track use.
AERODYNAMICS
The Ferrari 430 Scuderia's external styling has been honed to improve its aerodynamic efficiency by increasing overall downforce whilst still retaining the same drag values as the Ferrari F430. The aerodynamic efficiency of the newly-styled rear diffuser has been enhanced by the addition of a revised profile for spoiler at the rear of the engine cover and by the large venturis that run from the front wheel houses to the rear bumpers, achieving the patented "Base Bleed" effect developed by Ferrari as part of the Ferrari FXX project. The Base Bleed effect has the double advantage of reducing the pressure in the rear wheel arch, thereby increasing downforce and lowering drag by blowing the car's "wake".
Furthermore, the new lower sill profiles ensure a more uniform distribution of air over the lower parts to ensure uniform distribution of the vertical load between the front and the rear of the car.
STYLING AND PERSONALISATION
The Ferrari 430 Scuderia's ultra-sporty character and blistering performance have led to the redesign of many of its exterior and interior styling features. This was done to give the F430-inspired model its own strong personality and to further enhance the aerodynamics of what is a very extreme car. The modifications made to the exterior focus on increasing downforce. In-depth research went into reducing the car's weight and has led to extensive use of carbon-fibre, including some of the bodywork components.
The cabin has been inspired by racing and, once again, the emphasis has been on weight reduction and using technical materials where possible.
The new "Super Racing" seat boasts an all-carbon-fibre structure and is available in several different sizes as well as being manually adjustable, including a recline adjustment for the seat back. The Carrozzeria Scaglietti Personalisation programme has also been enhanced to meet the Ferrari 430 Scuderia's specific requirements as well. The Racing and Track area, in particular, now offers carbonfibre kits for the Ferrari 430 Scuderia to enhance the message that this is a lean, track-focused driver's car. The headlamp assembly, engine cover, front spoiler, side sill kick panels and diffuser are all available in this high tech material. There is also now a choice of wheel rim colours and a specially designed carbon-fibre helmet is available to order.
Halle Berry
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Halle Berry
Halle Berry
In the late 1980s, Halle Berry went to Illinois Halle Berry Halle Berry Halle Berry
2009 Chrysler 300-Series
2009 Chrysler 300-Series
Cool Cars Car Models
The 2008 Chrysler 300 Series ranks 2 out of 9 Affordable Large Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 74 published reviews and test drives of the Chrysler 300 Series, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.Cool Cars Car Models
The 300 brings commanding exterior styling, vast interior room and a top-notch V8 trim with competitive pricing. It loses points for a fairly low safety rating compared to its competition, and Chrysler's mixed reliability reputation.
The 2008 Chrysler 300 has quickly become a cultural icon, one of those rare cars that alter our perception of an automaker. It's a car people hope to buy someday, for its classic retro styling and all-American appeal. While all trim levels provide capable handling, the 300 C and SRT8 trims have particularly powerful acceleration -- but the flip side is a drop in fuel economy -- and even in its least expensive trims, the 300 is no fuel-sipper. Automobile Magazine says "the 300 has collected an impressive array of awards and become a true sales success. This is the classic large-sedan formula -- wrapped in provocative sheetmetal and offered at an attractive price that Americans have always loved." Reviewers consistently note that the 300's appeal is in its American make and status-symbol potential, reviving styling and appeal of classic sedans. When the design was new in 2005, Motor Trend named it Car of the Year, praising its unique look for "redefin[ing] what the American sedan can and should be." Since the 300 was introduced three years ago and remains largely the same car today, some material in this review may date back as far as 2005.
For 2008, a few upgrades arrive. Softer surfaces and a reconfigured instrument panel should help address some reviewers' complaints about the cabin. The sheetmetal has undergone a mild refresh. Side airbags are now available, and a few luxury options, like Sirius Backseat TV and a MyGig hard-drive based entertainment, have been added.
Despite the updates, Chrysler is struggling to sell 300s. The brand's image as the home of big, powerful V8s can't be helping in a year of soaring gas prices.
If you're in the market for a large car, you should also consider the top-rated Toyota Avalon or if it's the 300's power and distinctive look that attract you, consider the muscular four-door Dodge Charger.
* "It may even turn out to be a product that defines a new automotive epoch. In short, the bracingly different 300 makes us excited again about American family cars." -- Detroit News
* "E-Class suspension, stability control, five-speed transmission and a stomping V-8, all with a cabin that's bigger than an E-Class for about $20,000 less than that Mercedes and priced competitively against other competitors. Why the heck wouldn't you want this car?" -- Forbes
* "The hemi-powered 300C tops off at close to $35,000, which is luxury-car territory. So it should be awfully good. That surprise is that it is." -- U.S. News
* "This is the classic large-sedan formula-wrapped in provocative sheetmetal and offered at an attractive price that Americans have always loved." -- Automobile Magazine
* "Chrysler's hot-selling 300 is a car that redefines what the American sedan can and should be, and its popularity is cutting a wide path in the marketplace." -- Motor Trend
* "All in all, the 300C is an impressive car at an appealing price. ... We're not suggesting it's the equal of a BMW 545i or Mercedes-Benz E500, but it's about a Honda Civic less expensive." -- Road and Track
* "The risky styling, the pricing, the catalog of engines and options-it all makes the 300C the most interesting sedan to roll out of Detroit since" the early 1990's. --Car and Driver
* "A landmark for Chrysler and the American auto industry."--The Auto Channel
* "Owners almost unanimously find the car exceeds their expectations in performance, quality and value."--AutoWeek
Lindsay Lohan
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Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan began her career with Ford Models at age three, but found little work as a fashion model. Lindsay Lohan persisted and eventually appeared in more than 100 print-ads for companies like Toys "R" Us. Lindsay Lohan also modeled for Calvin Klein Kids (usually with siblings Michael and Ali) and Abercrombie Kids.
2009 Chevrolet Equinox
2009 Chevrolet Equinox
Cool New Car Models
Cool New Car Models
The 2009 Chevrolet Equinox is largely unchanged. This midsize crossover SUV seats five and shares its basic design with the Pontiac Torrent and Suzuki XL7. Equinox comes in four trim levels: LS, LT, luxury-themed LTZ, and high-performance Sport. All are available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The LS, LT, and LTZ have a 185-hp 3.4-liter V6 engine and a 5-speed automatic transmission. Sports have a 264-hp 3.6-liter V6, 6-speed automatic transmission, firmer suspension tuning, and specific trim. Maximum towing capacity is 3500 lb. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, and curtain side airbags. Equinox's rear seat slides fore and aft up to 8 inches to increase passenger or cargo space. A navigation system and remote engine start are available. New for 2009 is a wireless cell phone link.
Martina Hingis
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Martina Hingis
Martina Hingis
2009 Chevrolet Corvette
2009 Chevrolet Corvette
Cool New Car Models
Cool New Car Models
The 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 marks the return of an ultra-high-performance model to this American sports car icon. The rest of the 2009 Corvette lineup is largely unchanged. ZR1 represents a revival of a moniker that graced super-performance Corvettes from 1990-1995. The 2009 version has a supercharged 638-hp 6.2-liter V8 engine. It teams with a 6-speed manual transmission. ZR1 also differs from other Corvettes by its unique suspension tuning and use of lightweight carbon fiber on the hood, roof panel, roof bow, front fascia splitter, and rocker moldings. As for the rest of the Corvette lineup, base models are available as a coupe or convertible. Convertibles have a soft top that folds with manual or power operation, depending on model or option selection. All base Corvettes have a 430-hp 6.2-liter V8 engine. An optional "dual-mode" exhaust system increases horsepower to 436. They're available with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission. The high-performance Corvette Z06 is only available as a coupe and comes with a 505-hp 7.0-liter V8 and mandatory 6-speed manual transmission. Z06 models also have specific suspension tuning, tires, and brakes. Available safety features across the Corvette lineup include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, and front side airbags. Base models are available with GM's Magnetic Selective Ride Control that automatically adjusts suspension firmness within two driver-selectable modes. Also optional on base Corvettes is a high-performance Z51 package that has a firmer, nonadjustable suspension.
Maria Sharapova
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Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova
As the fifth seed at the Australian Open, Maria Sharapova defeated former World No. 1 Lindsay Davenport in the second round and World No. 1 Justine Henin in the quarterfinals 6–4, 6–0, ending the latter‘s 32-match winning streak. Maria Sharapova then reached her second consecutive Australian Open final when she defeated Jelena Jankovic 6–3, 6–1 in the semifinals, before defeating Ana Ivanovic 7–5, 6–3 in the final, thus winning her third Grand Slam title and doing so without losing a set.
2009 Chevrolet Colorado
2009 Chevrolet Colorado
Cool New Car Models
The 2009 Chevrolet Colorado receives a new available engine and a few other changes. This compact pickup truck shares its basic design with the GMC Canyon. Regular and extended cab body styles are offered in Work and LT trims. A 4-door LT Crew Cab is also available. Regulars and extendeds have a 6-foot cargo bed. Crew Cabs have a 5-foot bed. All Colorados offer rear-wheel drive or part-time 4-wheel drive that should not be left engaged on dry pavement but has a low-range gear for off-roading. Standard on most models is a 185-hp 2.9-liter 4-cylinder engine. Standard on 4WD Crew Cabs and optional on other Colorados is a 242-hp 3.7-liter 5-cylinder engine. Available on extended and Crew Cab models is a 300-hp 5.3-liter V8. Four-cylinder models are available with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Five-cylinder and V8 versions use the automatic only. Maximum towing capacity is 6000 lb. Available safety features include ABS, an antiskid system, traction control, and curtain side airbags. Optional equipment includes an off-road suspension, sunroof, and leather upholstery. Sixteen-inch wheels are now standard on Work Truck models, and LT models are now available with 16-, 17-, or 18-inch wheels. Satellite radio is now standard on LT models. Also new for 2009 is a re-tuned version of the ZQ8 sport suspension package, which is available on V8 models and includes 18-inch wheels, performance tires, and unique upholstery.Cool New Car Models
Serena Williams
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Serena Williams
Serena Williams entered the 2008 Australian Open as the defending champion and seventh seed but lost in the quarterfinals to World No. 4 and third-seeded Jelena Janković 6–3, 6–4. This was her fourth straight loss in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam singles tournament. In the women's doubles event, Serena and her sister Venus lost in the quarterfinals to the seventh-seeded team, Zheng Jie and Yan Zi.
2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
Cool New Car Models
2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
The 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt gets more standard horsepower and a few new features. Chevy's compact car comes as a 2-door coupe or 4-door sedan in LS, LT, and high-performance SS trims. The SS sedan is new for 2009. LS and LT have a 155-hp 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine, an increase of 7 hp from 2008. The Sport model with its 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine has been discontinued. The SS has a turbocharged 260-hp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder. All Cobalts have a standard 5-speed manual transmission. Non-SS Cobalts with that transmission and 15-inch tires are called "XFE," which stands for "Xtra Fuel Economy." XFE versions have low-rolling-resistance tires and other drivetrain tweaks designed to increase fuel economy. A 4-speed automatic is available on the LS and LT. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, and curtain side airbags. Among the newly available features on the 2009 Cobalt include a wireless cell phone link and USB port for controlling iPods. Note that Pontiac sells a re-trimmed version of the Cobalt coupe as the G5.
Stacy Keibler
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Stacy Keibler
Stacy Keibler
When WCW was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 2001, Keibler's contract was retained by the WWF. She portrayed a heel character in The Alliance. She made her WWF television debut on the June 14, 2001 episode of SmackDown! when Shane McMahon brought her to the ring to distract Rhyno, causing him to los a match. Stacy Keibler originally teamed up with real-life friend Torrie Wilson, and the pair feded with Divas Trish Stratus and Lita. During this fed, the four Divas competed in the first-ever tag team Bra and Panties match at the InVasion pay-per-view, which Trish and Lita won by stripping their opponents.
2009 Chevrolet Aveo
Cool New Car Models
2009 Chevrolet Aveo
The 2009 Aveo is a four-door sedan or a five-door hatchback available in base and LS trim. Equipped with 1.6-litre DOHC 16-valve inline-four engine capable of churning out 103 horsepower at 6000 RPM it is being touted as a dependable car at a reasonable price. Not as sparse as one might predict, the new 2009 Chevrolet Aveo comes comes standard with full cloth bucket seats, a 4-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo. The all new contribution to the the small car segment, Chevrolet Aveo SUV will be launched to the consumers in the year 2009.2009 Chevrolet Aveo
Leaving little to be desired from its power plant, the peppy new 2009 Chevrolet Aveo runs with a 1.6-L, 4-cylinder engine, sporting 103 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 107 LB-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm. The driving characteristics of the new 2009 Chevrolet Aveo are smooth and steady with its front disc and rear drum brakes.
Torrie Wilson
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Torrie Wilson
Torrie Wilson
Torrie Wilson made her WWF television debut on the June 28, 2001 episode of SmackDown! as part of The Alliance during the Invsion angle in 2001. In her first storyline with the company, she portrayed Vince McMahon's latest affair. Torrie Wilson also regularly teamed with fellow WCW performer Stacy Keibler. The duo made their wrestling debuts in the WWF in a Bra and Panties match against Lita and Trish Stratus at the InVasion pay-per-view, which Stratus and Lita won by stripping their opponents to their underwear.2010 Chevrolet Camaro
2010 Chevrolet Camaro
Cool New Car Models
As it was then, so it is now. The Camaro, born more than 40 years ago as Chevrolet's reply to the pioneering Ford Mustang, is coming out of retirement (since 2002) for a new fight with the namesake ponycar. It's set to bow for 2010 in two coupe models--V6 and V8. The V6 cars will be offered in LS or LT trim, and the V8 is dubbed SS. The LT and SS models will be available with a RS appearance package that includes HID headlamps with integrated halo rings, a rear spoiler, specific taillamps, and 20-inch wheels. Convertible versions join up about nine months later. Chevrolet recently confirmed these plans after splashy concept previews at the 2006 and '07 Detroit Auto Shows. Recalling the days when the Big Three were the big players, Dodge revived its Nixon-era Challenger (1970-74) for 2008.Cool New Car Models
General Motors decided to bring back Camaro when the redesigned 2005 Mustang fast proved a hot seller. But Mustang sales have lately cooled, despite the addition of potent pump-primers like the Shelby GT500. Blame record gas prices and renewed public concern over what thirsty vehicles do to the environment. Ford Motor Company's many well-publicized travails are another factor. All this leads some industry-watchers to think the new Camaro could end up chasing a vanishing market, especially as GM still has troubles of its own. Nevertheless, the project is a go. And though GM has reportedly hit the pause button on several other new rear-wheel-drive cars, it's unlikely to delay this one after two years of making so much noise about it.
Convertible or coupe, the reborn Camaros will be much like the concepts, only less exaggerated. Factory installed wheels, for instance, will be no larger than 20 inches max, versus the show cars' 21s and 22s. Trim and paint will be toned down a bit, but Chevy has said they are offering 10 body colors. Otherwise, styling will be the concept's blend of today's Chevy Corvette and cues from the 1969 Camaro, resulting in a more-modern look than either the current Mustang or Dodge Challenger. The new Camaros should also hew closely to concept dimensions. That means about 7.5 inches more wheelbase than the 2002 models, a similar amount trimmed from overall length, and about 5.5 inches more width. These changes should produce a roomier four-seat cockpit, though space in back (and in the trunks) will remain tight.
Also per ponycar tradition, the new Camaros will offer a budget-friendly V6 engine and two performance-oriented V8s. Models using the V6 employ GM's newer 3.6-liter twincam design with direct injection, as found in the Cadillac CTS. The V8 will be the 6.2-liter base-Corvette engine, but in two flavors. Manual transmission models get the LS3 version that is good for an estimated 422 horsepower. When equipped with the 6-speed automatic, the V8 is dubbed L99. The L99 is fitted with GM's gas-saving Active Fuel Management cylinder-deactivation, and should put out 400 ponies. If gas prices keep rising, GM's Bob Lutz has suggested the company may look at powering the Camaro with turbocharged 4-cylinder engines. If Chevy decides to offer the four, it might not be available at the start of production. In addition, the latest buzz says an ultra-performance Z28 version might appear for 2011. It would use a version of the supercharged 6.2-liter "LSA" V8 from the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V with horsepower in the 480-500 range. At launch, all Camaro engines team with six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic transmissions. Four-wheel ABS disc brakes, traction control, and stability control will be standard on all Camaros. Coupes will have front thorax side airbags and curtain side airbags. Ragtops may come with jumbo seat-mounted front side airbags providing both torso and head protection.
We said "ragtops" for a reason. For the sake of affordability as well as tradition, Camaro convertibles will retain a folding soft top. A trendy hideaway hard-shell roof would have cost too much for GM's price target, and might have caused reliability and production headaches. As on the concept, the top powers up or down from a flip-up panel behind the cockpit-no need for a fiddly flexible tonneau to look your best, as on the last drop-top Camaro.
Camaro
The 2010 Camaro convertible takes many design cues from the classic 1969 model (concept pictured).
A Notable Feature of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro coupes and convertibles will be built at GM's plant in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, which has long ranked high in independent audits of vehicle quality, among the best in North America. Let's hope that record continues with the new Camaros.
Buying Advice for the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
Convertibles never sell as well as sister coupes, and the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro convertible should be no exception. Even so, it's no more likely to be a future collectible than the fixed-top Camaro, especially if demand comes close to GM's projected 100,000-unit yearly total. And even if that proves optimistic, resale values of all new Camaros will probably depreciate like those of any volume-production new car. Buy one to drive and enjoy, but don't expect to make money on it in the foreseeable future.
2010 Chevrolet Camaro Release Date: Dealers should have new Camaro coupes by March 2009. Convertibles could appear by the end of 2009.
First Test Drive: We think media previews will be staged in late fall or early winter of 2008.
2010 Chevrolet Camaro Prices: The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro V6 LS coupe will start at $22,995, with the V8-powered SS coupe starting at $30,995. Convertibles will cost more, but we aren't sure what the price premium will be.
2010 Ford Mustang
2010 Ford Mustang
Cool New Car Models
Nothing seems to go right for Ford Motor Company these days. Consider Mustang: Though its 2005 redesign had people lining up to buy, sales tapered off during 2006 and continued sliding in ’07. It’s the same story with most everything Ford sells in North America. That’s why the company has been forced to mortgage itself to the hilt, slash payrolls, and shutter plants--anything to make money again. And though overseas business mostly remains profitable, losses at home have the company burning through cash so fast that even CEO Alan Mulally says Ford is in a “race against the clock.”Cool New Car Models
The Mustang is hugely important to Ford, symbolically as well as financially, so execs are no doubt worried by the imminent resurrection of two good-old-days foes, the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger. They begin arriving nine to 12 months before Mustang’s scheduled 2010-model year makeover, by which time the current design will be a graying five seasons old. A full redesign? Not until 2012 or 2013, sources say. There’s just no money to do it sooner.
But let’s not be too hasty placing bets. The new Camaro and Challenger trade on nostalgia just as much as Mustang, which would only suffer by comparison from being more familiar. And Ford has shown a knack for making old horses look and feel young.
So what can we expect in the 2010 Ford Mustang? It’s said to be getting different sheetmetal ahead of the windshield and possibly out back, plus a husky new 5.7-liter “Boss” V8 might appear. Chassis tweaks and interior upgrades are also due, says the grapevine. But no one can be sure of very much right now, and even these measures could be delayed or scrapped by setbacks in the next 12 to 24 months. That includes problems facing most all automakers, such as a widely forecast worsening of the housing slump.
With that in mind, we can add a bit more to the 2010 Ford Mustang story. First, appearance. Recently spotted near Ford’s Dearborn, Michigan world headquarters was a coupe “test mule” wearing a heavily camouflaged front end. Despite the disguise, some features were visible, notably a bulged “power dome” hood with what appear to be long flanking air scoops near the outboard edges. Also evident were parking lamps moved from the bumper down into a deeper lower fascia, and a somewhat larger wide-mouth Mustang grille without the three chrome bars sprouting on other U.S. Ford-brand vehicles. Again, this may or not be the actual new face of the 2010 Ford Mustang. Even if it is, it might be reserved for a new Shelby model or some other high-power special. Or it could be tied to an engine option.
Which brings us back to the rumored “Boss” engine. A new V8 is a virtual necessity to keep mainstream Mustangs in the same performance corral with their reborn rivals. As Ford doubtless knows, the Camaro launches with a 6.0-liter Corvette V8 making at least 400 horsepower, while the Challenger bows in hot SRT8 trim with around 425 horsepower from a 6.1-liter Hemi V8. Though Ford now offers the most potent production Mustang ever in the new 540-horsepower Shelby GT500KR, that’s a very pricey limited-edition piece, and its basic “mod” V8 has already been moving Mustangs for 11 years. Let’s also not forget the likelihood of much stiffer fuel-economy standards--which could bring the industry’s current “horsepower race” to a screeching halt--and increasing pressure for clean engines to mitigate global warming.
Because the “Boss” is likely slated for various future Fords, not just Mustangs, it should go ahead as long as budgets allow. We don’t know if it’s a brand-new V8 or simply a re-engineered “mod”, but it could boast efficiency boosters like variable valve timing, cylinder deactivation, and direct fuel injection. It should also be an overhead-camshaft design versus the Detroit-traditional overhead-valve V8s in the Camaro and Challenger. Horsepower? It’s likely to be in the competitive region of 400-425. That would leave a big power gap with entry-level V6 models, so the “mod” 4.6 will continue, at least for a time, and be uprated to around 350 horses.
Speaking of V6 Mustangs, which far outsell the more-glamorous V8s, they, too, could conceivably get an engine swap. The obvious candidate is the upcoming 3.7-liter version of Ford’s new all-aluminum 3.5-liter V6. Slated to premiere with the 2009 Lincoln MKS sedan, the 3.7 might be tuned for Mustang to make around 300 horsepower, matching today’s 4.6-liter V8 and far surpassing the ancient 210-horsepower 4.0-liter iron-block V6.
We have no inside information, but there has been internet buzz about the possible reincarnation of the 1984-86 Mustang SVO. Like the original, the new SVO would be powered by a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. There are claims of the EcoBoost four putting out 300 horses and delivering nearly 30 mpg on the highway. We'll see, but if oil prices remain high, this could be more likely than the new "Boss" V8.
Whatever the engine, the 2010 Ford Mustang will likely offer a six-speed automatic transmission to replace today’s five-speed option. We think the rumored chassis changes will be relatively minor, so the old solid rear axle will continue, at least in mainstream models. But that should leave funds for expected interior upgrades, which should mainly involve better-quality materials than the mostly hard plastic surfaces that have been an ongoing complaint since 2005.
And that, folks, is everything we know or suspect about the 2010 Ford Mustang. We wish we had more hard news, but we won’t until there’s a clearer picture of the near-term prospects for Ford Motor Company as a whole. For now, all we can say to Mustang fans is stay tuned--and keep your fingers crossed.
A Notable Feature of the 2010 Ford Mustang
We haven’t heard of any particular innovation for the 2010 Ford Mustang, but any talking-point feature would probably be minor--like the current car’s multi-color gauge lighting--so as to hold down development costs and, presumably, sticker prices. Again, though, we can only wait and see.
Buying Advice for the 2010 Ford Mustang
Mustang loyalists--and you know who you are--will not look twice at the new Camaro or Challenger. Everyone else, though, should compare all three.
2010 Ford Mustang Release Date: As things stand now, according to one of our most well-informed spies, sales will begin early in the first quarter of 2009 after an expected January production start.
2010 Ford Mustang First Test Drive: Barring any delay to the above timing, pre-production models could meet the press in the fall of 2008.
2010 Ford Mustang Prices: We think Ford will launch its updated ponycar without incentives and pray the makeover is enough to kick-start Mustang sales like the 2005 version did. But if it isn’t, Ford will have little choice but to put cash on the restyled hood. At least price increases should be modest--perhaps no more than 10 percent above 2008 levels--in part because there’s less money to recoup with an update versus an all-new design.
2010 Ford Transit Connect
2010 Ford Transit Connect
Cool New Car Models
Ford Motor Company may be floundering in North America, but it’s doing swimmingly most everywhere else. Appealing products are the reason, and CEO Alan Mulally has decided to bring some of those to the U.S. in hopes of jump-starting sales without spending much money—fast running low, thanks to continuing big losses in North America. Among these foreign recruits is a compact front-wheel-drive commercial van built in low-wage Turkey for the European market, the Transit Connect, and its upscale twin, the Tourneo Connect. Ford has announced that the commercial van will be offered in select North American markets during 2009. Ford says Transit Connect is purpose built for small business owners, and it offers a fuel-efficient alternative to full-size commercial vans.Cool New Car Models
The Connect has actually been around since 2002 and has seen no major change since, yet it remains popular as a versatile, thrifty compact hauler in a region where cities are quite crowded and fuel quite expensive. Small utility vans are big business in Europe, favored as light-duty urban delivery vehicles and as errand-runners by plumbers and other trades. Yet families also buy them as roomier, lower-cost alternatives to conventional minivans and station wagons. Manufacturers have lately taken note by adding passenger versions, some of them quite deluxe. Moreover, a certain funky functionalism has made small commercial vehicles a minor fad among trendy European youth, a fact evidently not lost on Mr. Mulally. It’s the very reason the ugly-cute Scion xB made such a big splash in the U.S. Could a 2010 Ford Transit Connect, er, connect in the same way? We think so.
Ford created the Connect to supplement its larger Transit vans and trucks, the European equivalent of U.S. Econolines. Though the company claims Connect is a “dual-purpose” design “built on a unique, dedicated commercial vehicle architecture,” insiders say some of the DNA is shared with the U.S.-market Focus compact car. That’s a good thing, because it means the Connect is sort of “pre-wired” for U.S. safety and emissions regulations. About the only changes that might be needed are a few structural upgrades and provisions for curtain side airbags. Front-drive powertrains from the American Focus should bolt in with little trouble. Even Ford’s signature horizontal-bar grille is in place, part of a 2006-model freshening.
In Europe, the Transit/Tourneo Connect line comprises standard-length models with two or four side doors and stretched high-roof four-doors standing nearly 10 inches taller on a 10-inch longer wheelbase. Based on the examples Ford displayed at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show--and the preliminary specifications the company released--it looks like the North American Transit Connect will be the long-wheelbase version and it may sport a combination of Euro-market Transit and Toureno Connect features.
North American models use minivan-style sliding rear doors on each side. Ford's press materials say that privacy glass will be standard on the sliding doors, but we wouldn't be surprised if windowless doors were also offered. Out back, Transit Connect buyers will find swing-out cargo doors. Final details aren't clear, but Ford says North American versions will have two-row seating for five. The rear bench seat is split 70/30 to allow carrying two passengers together with slim items like a bicycle. Both seat sections tumble and fold to make a flat load deck, or can be removed for max cargo space.
The Connect is no tin box, with base curb weight listed at around 3000 pounds. So far, Ford's says the only available powertrain on our side of the Atlantic will be a gasoline-fired 2.0-liter four cylinder engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. Remember Transit Connect is front drive, so this combo is likely very similar to the one found in the North American 2008 Ford Focus. Ford estimates fuel economy at 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway.
Ford Transit Connect
Ford says the 2010 Transit Connect is a fuel-efficient compact van aimed at small businesses.
A Notable Feature of the 2010 Ford Transit Connect
The 2010 Ford Transit Connect will offer cargo volume of about 130 cubic feet behind the front seats. That's about the same cargo room as in Ford's largest SUV, the Expedition EL.
Buying Advice for the 2010 Ford Transit Connect
With its city-friendly size, big-space interior, and likely good fuel economy, the 2010 Ford Transit Connect should appeal to all sorts of commercial buyers. The perky slab-sided styling will certainly be hard to miss, and that, too, is a good thing, as the current Ford lineup is rather low on the attention-getting scale. The utilitarian Transit Connect van could be a surprise hit, if only because there’s nothing else like it on the U.S. market with the arguable exception of the Chevrolet HHR Panel wagon.
2010 Ford Transit Connect Release Date: Exact timing is unclear, but Mr. Mulally probably wants the Connect here as soon as possible, so we’d expect an on-sale date in the first quarter of 2009.
2010 Ford Transit Connect First Test Drive: Assuming the above proves out, media previews for the U.S.-market Connect should be scheduled for late in calendar 2008.
2010 Ford Transit Connect Prices: Setting competitive price points is tough for any automaker in today’s fast-moving global economy, but the 2010 Ford Transit Connect will likely come in at the low end of the compact-car spectrum. That could put cargo models at around $12,000 before options.
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