new modification car

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Honda : Green Car

Slowly but surely, PT Honda Prospect Motor (HPM) program continues to await the emergence of cheap and environmentally friendly cars at the end of this year. Secretly, car manufacturer Honda is targeting incentives for green car.
Jonfis Fandy, Director of Marketing and Sales Service HPM said that, until now the Honda is still waiting for assurance from government regulation. Honda hopes to participate in the program but offers eco-friendly concept car, aka the green car.
"The concept there are two, low cost and green car. We wants get into the green car. If a car with a price of USD 80 million, could not get enough safety standards. So it's not our target," said Jonfis at Mal Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, yesterday.
Slowly but surely, PT Honda Prospect Motor (HPM) program continues to await the emergence of cheap and environmentally friendly cars at the end of this year. Secretly, car manufacturer Honda is targeting incentives for green car.
Jonfis Fandy, Director of Marketing and Sales Service HPM said that, until now the Honda is still waiting for assurance from government regulation. Honda hopes to participate in the program but offers eco-friendly concept car, aka the green car.
"The concept there are two, low cost and green car. We wants get into the green car. If a car with a price of USD 80 million, could not get enough safety standards. So it's not our target," said Jonfis at Mal Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, yesterday.
As is known, the Government of Indonesia plans to spawn regulatory program inexpensive and environmentally friendly cars at the end of this year. The policy package, the government offers incentives for car manufacturers who want to invest all at once appointed Indonesia as its production base. About Brio - cheap car Honda - Jonfis claim is still memperlajarinya.Hasilnya be used as a reference, perhaps the product is marketed in Indonesia.
"In Thailand, Honda certainly join the Eco Car program. In Indonesia, it is still too early," said Jonfis.s is known, the Government of Indonesia plans to spawn regulatory program inexpensive and environmentally friendly cars at the end of this year. The policy package, the government offers incentives for car manufacturers who want to invest all at once appointed Indonesia as its production base. About Brio - cheap car Honda - Jonfis claim is still memperlajarinya.Hasilnya be used as a reference, perhaps the product is marketed in Indonesia. "In Thailand, Honda certainly join the Eco Car program. In Indonesia, it is still too early," said Jonfis.

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Chevrolet Volt

Controversy over whether the status of the Chevrolet Volt as electric or hybrid cars is fulfilled when sitting directly behind the steering wheel. Not only is explained directly by an expert, Steve L. Clarke as Vice President of Engineering Vehicles GM International Operations (GMIO), I also had the opportunity to try out the car immediately went on sale in November 2010 in the United States.
Opportunity to try a series of events Driving Sustainable Mobility in Nine Dragon Resort, Zhe Jiang Province, China.
As noted Steve, Volt electric vehicle is not unusual. "Volt presents a new segment in the global automotive market as an extended range electric car. Not just a pure electric car, also not a hybrid car," he said. "This car has many advantages over the pure electric car," he added.

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Honda Electric Car and New Hybrid

Secretly, this one Japanese manufacturer is preparing a new weapon in the battlefield environment friendly cars. Honda will present its first electric car and also the latest generation hybrid.
Carpet Los Angeles Auto Show in mid-November this will be the inaugural appearance of the first electric concept car Honda. In addition, a plug-in hybrid would be raised at the same time. Two of Honda's concept car will be on display along with the Honda FCX Clarity that carries the twin engines of hydrogen and electricity, in order to demonstrate Honda's vision in developing environmentally friendly cars.
President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Takanobu Ito will attend the press conference, during which he will give details of two new concept car is officially opening an exhibition in conjunction with the LA Auto Show.So, although curious, do not expect we can get the details of two new concept cars Honda now, because, as reported by the official release of the Honda on Thursday (10/28/2010) on November 17, 2010 the new Honda will reveal it.

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Raikkonen commits to WRC

Kimi Raikkonen’s team management has reportedly confirmed that he does not want to return to Formula 1 next year and wishes to stay with the World Rally Championship in 2011.

"We're no longer looking at opportunities in F1. Kimi seems to be focused on rallying at the moment," said Steve Robertson speaking to Finnish television station MTV3 as quoted on Autosport.

Robertson also clarified that currently the former Ferrari driver is focussed on rally and refused to rule out a return to F1 in the future. "Never say never, but right now our eye is not on F1.

"Nothing's been decided yet [for the WRC]. We'll let you know when there is something to say. At the moment nothing has been signed. We're talking to several teams," added Robertson.

Meanwhile, Citroen appears to be keen on finding a solution to keep the Finn in its Junior team with the former F1 champion agreeing to a personal sponsorship deal from Red Bull, which seems to be worth a lot less than the £5 million that he supposedly received from the Austrian outfit.

Besides Citroen, Mini could also be an option for the 31-year-old but with the limitations for the 2011 events and the extensive car development programme this could not be viable.

Another opportunity could be with the American outfit Monster Ford to race alongside Ken Block, however the teams seems to be struggling with finances.

The best choice for Raikkonen would be to take a break for a season from the rigours of the racing world and return with a bang in 2012 with some more manufacturers taking interest in all likelihood.

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BMW to launch bikes in India priced Rs 18 lakh onwards

After 13 years of its first attempt to enter the Indian two-wheeler market through a joint venture with the Hero Group, BMW revealed plans to launch BMW Motorrad.

The German luxury carmaker will start selling the flagship S 1000 RR as well as the R and K series models in December with prices expected to start from 18 lakh.
SOURCE-ET

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Toyota Etios launch nears; Will it blow the Swift away?

The most definitive car launch for the Japanese Major Toyota is just weeks away and boy are they rolling their sleeves up!
Right from the getting the music maestro, A R Rahman on board to increasing its dealership network from 82 to 150 in just 2 years, they have got it all figured out. And why not, after all a 3200 crore investment is at stake.
Yukitoshi Funo, Executive VP and member of the board for Toyota Motor said,

The success of the Etios is very critical for Toyota’s success. We have never developed a car as small as this and we will not do anything smaller than this. It is absolutely important that we succeed with the Etios

Funo san forgot about the Toyota iQ? That’s the smallest hatch on Toyota’s global portfolio. If there’s a hatch smaller than Etios, will that be Daihatsu’s job of bringing it here considering Toyota is open to idea of setting up a multi-brand strategy in our country?
The company has even managed to localize 70% of the car and further localization will follow suit. Just to give it a yardstick, Skoda Fabia, a hatch present in the market for more than 2 years has only managed 40% localization of its parts. Clearly, Toyota knows that it has to shed its ‘high price’ image very soon to be appeal to the masses.
Being developed as an India-specific product, the company also plans to introduce the Etios in places like Brazil.

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James Bond's 1964 Aston Martin DB5 is auctioned for Rs. 20.5 crore!!

James Bond's 1964 Aston Martin DB5 is auctioned for Rs. 20.5 crore!! It was used in Goldfinger and Thunderball by Sean Connery.

The road worthy car comes with dual machine guns behind the driving lights, revolving license plates,
ejector seat, rear blast shield, slicer wheel caps and console-activated
oil slicks!!!

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Hyosung enters India with the GT650R and ST7

Korea’s Hyosung has tied-up with India’s Garware group to establish an assembly plant for its bikes at Wai in Maharashtra.
The company has also launched the Hyosung GT650R sports bike and the ST7 cruiser in India. While bookings open shortly, deliveries will commence in the first quarter of 2011. The 650cc GT650R will be available in two variants; faired and naked and will be priced around Rs. 5 lakh. The 680cc ST7 will set buyers back by a whopping Rs. 6.5 lakh.
We are assuming that these prices are for the imported bikes and locally assembled ones should be cheaper because of lower duties and tariffs.

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Second Drive: 2011 Nissan Leaf - Some things you probably didn't know

These days, Nissan's overall marketing strategy is called "Innovation for All," and this applies not just to the company's high-profile Leaf electric vehicle, but to things like the company's direct injection gasoline engines, two-clutch, one-motor hybrid system and more. Still, nothing in the portfolio is as impressive as what's in the Leaf, which was on hand for journalists this week in Nashville, TN. That's where we got to learn a little more – okay, a lot more – about the world's first mass-market EV.

First, a bit of history. Nissan has been considering using lithium-ion batteries in vehicles since they showed up in cell phones in the early 1990s. Nissan's R&D in this field started in 1992 and, in the mid-1990's, Nissan was already testing the Prairie and Altra EVs, followed by the Hyper Mini in 2000. About 100 of those drove around in the U.S. – one even appeared in the movie Sleepover. That car was a stepping stone, because with just 50 miles of range and a top speed of 50 miles per hour, it wasn't ready for prime time. In 2003, Nissan had what Nissan's director of product planning, Mark Perry, called a "battery breakthrough" with the shift from cylinders to prismatic cells. It was at this point that Nissan really got serious about EVs, showing off battery-powered concept vehicles like the Mixim and the EV-02.

This long development lead time means is helping Nissan beat its major OEM competitors to market with a pure EV. Still, the competition is right behind the Leaf. In fact, if all press releases and other announcements are to be believed (we know they can't), we should see 30 plug-in vehicles on the market by 2015. That's a big change from today and, while everyone has their own predictions for how long it will take for plug-in vehicle market to take home, it appears that the technology is here to stay. What's it all about and how does it work in the Leaf? We answer those questions and more after the jump.

Let's start with a few over-the-road impressions. If you're looking for a detailed First Drive review, read this, as this is just a refresher. Actually, 'refreshing' is a good way to describe driving in the Leaf. Cruising through the hills and highways south of Nashville was an entirely pleasant affair. The car – and, just to get this out of the way in case anyone has any lingering doubts, the Leaf is a 'real car' in every sense of the word – will zip between trucks on the highway and provide you with near-silent city driving, all without a drop of gasoline. Just like General Motors can be proud of what the Chevrolet Volt engineering team has done to make that car an entrancing experience, Nissan's Leaf team deserves accolades for making what can only be called the best possible EV available in 2010 that doesn't cost over $100,000.

Nissan doesn't have an official 0-60 mph time, but the impressive low-end torque in the electric motor does provide very impressive 0-40 times. Perry notes that he's happy to let the media run its own 0-60 tests, and early results show this taking around seven seconds.

As AutoblogGreen contributor Chelsea Sexton described so well, the Leaf provides the driver with a ton of information about the battery pack, range and more. Perry said this was totally intentional. "We believe 'range anxiety' is a falsehood, because anxieties only show up when you don't have information," he said. "We're telling you everything that's going on in the car so you shouldn't be surprised." He's not kidding. The dashboard can tell the driver his average distance per kWh (something the Volt can only do through GM's OnStar website) and also has a constantly updated "distance to empty" number, which is a point-in-time reading based on how you're driving right then. This means that when you drive more efficiently, the car takes this into consideration and shows more relative range. If you want to see the number jump up, shift into eco drive mode, which gives you up to 10 percent more range by limiting acceleration and increasing brake regen. A conscious driver should be able to get at least five miles per kWh, but the car's scale goes up to eight miles/kWh.

The central display screen can also display a more detailed range/energy usage screen that shows where the battery's power is going: to the motor, the climate control or other systems. This "hypermiler screen" also tells you how much energy is being regenerated and how many miles you can add by turning off the air conditioner or heater. If all this detail is too much for you, you can just watch the 'trees' grow. On the left of the upper part of the dash is a tree meter and the more efficiently you drive, the more trees you "grow." It takes a little bit of careful driving to make them appear, which is how it should.

Sometimes, though, you'll be maxing out the battery. If you do, the navigation system can tell you where public vehicle chargers are. But how do we know how much energy we're actually using? Nissan has not announced how much of the battery pack's 24 kWh capacity the Leaf will use, but it's almost all of it. It has to be, to offer as much range as it does. The car has a "low fuel" light that comes on at 4 kWh, and Perry said this is not four kWh of the useable capacity, that's four kWh left in the whole pack. A second warning comes on at two kWh, and there's not much more to go below that. This is a much lower level than GM is willing to go with the Volt, but Nissan remains confident in its battery technology and Perry said Nissan is very happy with the Leaf battery's 100,000, eight-year warranty, which matches what the standard Volt will have. Perry also admits that Nissan has no plans to compete with the 150,000, 10-year warranty that the enhAT-PZEV version of the Volt will have in early 2012.

Nissan knows that the Leaf's batteries will degrade over time, which is why the warranty says that, after the eight years, drivers should expect about a 70 percent performance level compared to the original pack. Perry also said that, while unlikely, anyone who fast charges (at 440V) two or three times a day, something the Leaf manual will warn against, will see a quicker degradation.

The warranty is not related to battery capacity. The warranty is related to motor output. So if the battery has degraded to a point where the motor can't get enough power from the battery, then it's a warrantable event. But if someone abuses the battery – parks it outside in 140 degrees and all that - and they have 60 percent capacity after eight years, that's on them. They abused it.

The Leaf – many more small details

Here are a few more tidbits we learned in Tennessee:

• The Leaf's exterior sound operates until the car reaches 18 miles per hour. You can't really hear it from inside the vehicle, and above that speed, pedestrians should be able to hear the car because its tire noise.
• The headlights, maybe the Leaf's most controversial design choice, are designed to split the air flow and send it around the side mirrors to curb wind noise around the A-Pillar and mirror assemblies.
• There are no rare earth metals in the car.
• As some people know, many household electronics that are plugged into the wall draw "phantom power," even if they are not turned on. Perry says the Leaf is smart enough to not draw power once the battery is full. He does admit, however that if a Leaf is stored unplugged for a long time, it will lose one- to two-percent of its charge every 30 days. This also means that if the car is kept plugged in and not driven for this amount of time, a small amount of energy will be drawn from the grid. This isn't the smartest thing to do, though. Perry notes that a Leaf that sits for a long time should be parked at around 80 percent state of charge, as that's best for the battery.
• Nissan says the Leaf can be someone's "primary" car, if you define that as the one you use the most. You can define "primary" as one that can do everything, but the Leaf is not that car.
• There are a lot of recycled materials in the Leaf, some that originate from other cars, some from home appliances. Old plastic bottles are used in the production of the fabric, for example. All told, the Leaf is 99 percent (by weight) recyclable in Japan because of the country's robust recycling infrastructure. In the U.S., only about 94-95 percent of the car is recyclable.
• The electric motor offers 80 kW sustained power (no peak number is quoted).
• Some parts, like suspension components, are shared with Nissan's other B-segment vehicles (e.g. Versa).
• If you order your AeroVironment vehicle charger through Nissan for $2,200 and have a lease for the Leaf, it will add roughly $30-40 a month to the monthly payment.
• Nissan is partnering with an unnamed roadside assistance company (AAA?) that is looking at how to provide roadside recharging to get stranded drivers to a charge point.
• Nissan's marketing team has reached out to insurance companies to see what those costs might be for consumers. The initial response is that they will probably charge about the same rates as a compact car – at least at first. After a year or so, once accident and repair cost data is in, the rates will probably change.

Even with all of this revealed this week, we're sure there's more to come. One slide Nissan showed said that there would be 12,000 public Level 2 chargers in the U.S. by 2012. But that slide, made just five days before the presentation, was already out of date – the new target is 13,000.

Source-Autoblog

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Man hits 1M miles in Ford F-250... in four years

Every now and again, we come across news that a vehicle has eclipsed the one million mile mark. The vehicles are typically very old, and they're often pickup trucks. That's only partly true for Phil Marsella, who uses his relatively new four year-old Ford F-250 to deliver greyhound dogs to racetracks and families across America. Marsella reportedly drives his gas F-250, "Betsy," between 7,000 and 10,000 miles per week, or more miles than many drivers log in an entire year. And it appears as though Ford never expected the F-250 would surpass one million road miles, as the digital odometer stopped working once the milestone was reached. Marsella says that he's tracking the miles, though, with another 12,000 miles or so since one million.

All those miles must make for a pretty big maintenance bill, as trucks typically need an oil change in fewer than 10,000 miles, and tires and brakes usually don't last for more than 60,000 to 70,000 miles, though obviously with that much highway mileage, the binders should hold on a bit longer than that. That's two or three oil changes a year and a brake or tire job every few years for most of us, but Maresella hits those milestones in no time flat. The career driver claims his four-year maintenance bill is a cool $67,000. If Marsella continues at this pace, and his beloved truck remains road-worthy, in the next six years he could challenge the all-time record of 2.8 million miles in a single vehicle; a record that required 40 years of driving.


[Source: NBC Miami]

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2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 is the crème de la Chrysler

Chrysler made waves earlier today when it announced the company would have an armada of 35 vehicles on display at this year's SEMA show, but the star of the shindig is likely to be the new 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392.

While no one has ever accused the Challenger SRT8 of being light on grunt, Chrysler engineers have taken things up a notch or two with a new 6.4-liter V8 that produces 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, all while delivering 15-20 percent better fuel economy than the outgoing 6.1-liter V8 in the 2010 Challenger SRT8. The big V8 uses variable valve timing and cylinder deactivation to help keep consumption low.

The Challenger SRT8 392 also employs a reworked suspension with even firmer shocks, a quicker steering ratio and more negative camber than before, all of which are supposed to help the hefty muscle bruiser tackle the corners with a little more finesse.

Up front, there's a unique chin spoiler that helps channel air to the vehicle's radiator and provide additional downforce at higher speeds. It also just looks pretty dang sharp.

Chrysler says it will build just 1,492 inaugural editions of the Challenger SRT8 392

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BMW to launch new 2 Series model range

BMW M3

BMW is working on a new 2 Series model range which will be pegged between the 1 Series and the 3 Series.
The 2 Series will become BMW’s entry-level rear-wheel drive model when the 1-Series moves to a front-wheel drive platform in 2015.BMW has already filed trademark applications for the nameplates 228, 230 and 235 which hints at the possible engine choices for the new 2 Series as well. Even the M2 moniker has been registered by BMW, pointing towards a hot performance version of the 2 Series.

Apart from the 2 Series, BMW will also launch a premium all-electric hatchback based on the ‘Megacity’ concept by 2012.

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Ameriplan Health Services

A week ago I was exposed to sick, first I do not know, either from lack of health plan care themselves, or the rapid spread of the virus from person to person. Maybe it could be another season because I see it, not just one of two people who get sick are similar. After it occurred with a cold brain, health is a precious treasure of the various life aspects. Not only that, the pain is expensive and we will not be able to avoid these problems. However, there is one solution you can try the site ourdentalplan to save on your healthcare costs.

ourdentalplan is a site that specializes in health, with products Ameriplan. AmeriPlan provides discount plan healthcare membership that puts power in the hands of patients and not the insurance company. Medical plan is also work from home with the network of doctors, specialists, dentists, orthodontists, vision providers, pharmacists, and so it is more professional Chiropractors and reliability.

Services provided very satisfactory with a variety of benefits that will you get like Ameriplan Health, AmeriPlan Dental Plan Discount Vision, Prescription Programs AmeriPlan, AmeriPlan Chiropractic Discount. For more details you can see here. So, do not shortchange your health and try to love yourself. AmeriPlan is the right choice and trusted.

AmeriPlan also provide interesting articles about dental health care for you. What you need certainly very helpful. Now, are you waiting for? AmeriPlan join together and see for yourself with the best of their servants.

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Jaguar Land Rover bringing armoured cars to India

Tata owned Jaguar Land Rover has disclosed plans to launch its armoured vehicle range in India.
Aimed at wealthy buyers who need protection against possible assault, the company will launch armoured versions of the Range Rover and Discovery SUVs. The indicative and astronomical prices are Rs. 4.75 crore for the Range Rover and Rs. 3.75 crore for the Discovery. In comparison, a stock Range Rover costs just Rs. 1.06 crore.
Later Jaguar would also bring in an armoured version of the XJ sedan called XJ Sentinel priced at Rs. 5.5 crore! All models would be imported as CBUs from Jaguar Land Rovers plant in England where they would be fitted with a host of safety features for protection against automatic weapon fire, grenade attack and even a TNT blast.
While the market for such armoured vehicles is very limited in India, the company will find takers amongst our loaded politicians, industrialists and movie stars. Other luxury carmakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz also have similar products but they have not yet launched in India.


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First Drive: 2011 BMW X3

Refined, Not Redefined

Long before the segment-bending X6, BMW's crossover strategy was simple: offer the utility of a traditional SUV but in a package that's not only luxurious, but fun to drive. The original X5 Sport Utility Activity Vehicle kicked things off in 1999, and only a few years later, the smaller X3 arrived.

Now, luxury crossovers are a dime a dozen, and automakers are clamoring to be a part of the small CUV segment. In just the past few years, we've been introduced to the Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLK, Volvo XC60 and Infiniti EX35, among others. But as the X3 aged, its unusually harsh suspension and not-so-great interior plagued sales. In 2004, BMW moved roughly 35,000 X3s off dealer lots, and just last year, that number dropped to less than 10,000. Things aren't looking good for 2010, either.



Instead of trying to reinvent the formula, BMW has improved on the X3's original idea by offering more refinement, top-notch driving dynamics and heaps of technology focused on efficiency and connectivity. The end result is a compact crossover ready to regain its spot at the head of the class. Find out if BMW succeeded after the jump.


One of the primary issues that needed addressing was the X3's design. That's not to say the original X3 wasn't attractive, but its styling grew more outdated with each year, not only within the segment, but within the BMW lineup. The 2011 X3 uses the full suite of modern day BMW design language – larger, upright dual-kidney grille; angular, sideways-T taillights – and 80 percent of the time, it looks great.

The other 20 percent? When looking the X3 in the eyes, there's a strong character line below the headlamp cluster that's been softened, and the clear headlamp surround is more squared off. The end result is an oddly awkward front fascia, as if BMW's designers sculpted the new X3 and then realized they forgot to add headlights. It isn't horrible by any means, it just looks... off.

 We like the side profile of the new X3 with its stronger character lines and upward slope to the rear window, and things are crisp, clean and fresh out back. We highly recommend opting for the Sport Activity Package ($1,550 or $1,850, depending on model) as it adds the X-Line exterior trim treatment and larger, more attractive wheels. Still, standard-issue X3s like our tester aren't too hard on the eyes, and while the overall design is sleek and fresh, it lacks some of the unique visual interest that you'll find on a Volvo XC60 or Mercedes-Benz GLK.

The X3 is slightly larger than its outgoing model, gaining 3.1 inches in length (183.0 total), 1.1 inches in width (74.1 inches) and 0.5 inches in height (65.4 inches). BMW points out that the new X3 is similar in size to the first-generation X5, and this dimensional increase means the automaker's smaller X1 will have more breathing room within the X Series. However, because the X3's proportions haven't grown all that much, interior dimensions haven't been greatly improved, either. In fact, front headroom and rear legroom have actually decreased for 2011.

At first glance, the X3's interior feels a bit cramped for both the driver and front passenger, partially due in part to the wider center console and more sculpted, downward-sloping dash. If you've been in any of the latest crop of BMWs, the center stack will look extremely familiar, with the 8.8-inch iDrive screen placed front and center within the sloping lines of the dash. The integrated infotainment system has come a long way since its introduction in the 7 Series, and iDrive is more intuitive than ever. The X3's setup uses BMW's new ConnectedDrive software that offers enough features to make your iPhone jealous, including the ability to display e-mails when the vehicle is stationary, as well as a text-to-speech functionality that reads messages through the audio system while on the go.

Overall levels of interior refinement are top notch, and though the cabin isn't as stylish as what Volvo has done with the XC60, it isn't as cold and grey as the Mercedes GLK, and the controls are simpler and easier to navigate than the ones found in Audi's Q5. All of the seats are comfortable and supportive, especially the optional sport chairs fitted to our tester. Rear seat passenger room isn't as generous as the X3's size would lead you to believe, and the back seats cannot be moved forward or backward – something that would help greatly, especially when longer-legged folks are seated in the front.

At its launch, BMW will be offering the X3 in two flavors: xDrive28i and xDrive35i, using the same gasoline powerplants that we enjoy in the 3 Series sedan. An all-new xDrive20d four-cylinder diesel option is available in other markets, and naturally, BMW tells us that this model is "being considered" for American consumption. It's the typical response whenever we ask about diesel offerings, though BMW is seriously considering it, especially since sales of the diesel-powered X5 have exceeded original expectations.

We tested the higher-end xDrive35i, powered by BMW's delicious new N55 turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque is more than enough to motivate the 4,222-pound 35i, and even with all-wheel drive, this X3 can do the 0-60 sprint in just 5.5 seconds on its way to an electronically limited top speed of 130 miles per hour. The naturally aspirated 3.0-liter mill in the 28i offers 240 hp and 221 lb-ft, meaning it'll take you 1.2 seconds longer to hit 60 mph, but we don't envision this engine ever feeling sluggish or underpowered. Even BMW's base engines are sweet-working mills these days. Unfortunately, none of the X3s on our drive program were fitted with the 28i setup, but if our experience in the 3 Series is anything to go on, we don't expect any thumbs-down verdicts for the base X3 engine configuration.

Both the 28i and 35i use a new eight-speed automatic transmission with manual shift function (steering wheel-mounted paddles are available on the 35i), and though official EPA fuel economy numbers have yet to be released, we're fairly confident that even the potent xDrive35i will be able to achieve a combined MPG number somewhere in the mid-20s. U.S.-spec X3s are no longer available with a row-it-yourself manual transmission, and to be honest, we don't really mind. The eight-speed auto is good stuff, and as much as we love a proper manual box, there just isn't a business case for that sort of thing in small crossovers. We need to stop crying about it.

Having eight cogs to stir through aids efficiency, though the transmission has an odd tendency to hesitate ever so slightly just before a gear is engaged. This is extremely noticeable in the sportier drive settings when you aren't using the manu-matic function, and though this quirk is dulled a bit in the standard drive mode, it's still present. That aside, gear changes are still smooth as butter and unlike other eight-speed automatics, the X3 makes the most of its low-end torque power to avoid the constant need to downshift when prodded to pass. The optional paddle shifters are a nice bit of added driver involvement, but we much prefer leaving the shifter in D and letting the X3 do the work itself – with eight gears to choose from, you'll be clicking the paddles an awful lot.

The X3s that BMW brought for us to test were all European-spec models fitted with the automaker's new start/stop system – something that won't be offered on U.S.-spec cars. This is BMW's first application of start/stop with an automatic transmission, and we applaud the smoothness and fluidity of the engine firing up just before taking off from a stoplight. Will we ever see BMW's start/stop functionality on cars slated for North American duty? It isn't in the cards quite yet, but BMW's executives told us to test it and give feedback about whether or not we think it's a useful addition to the X3 experience. Our verdict: Offer it in the States, even if it's a stand-alone option. In a time when fuel economy numbers can truly make or break potential sales, adding another MPG or two to the X3's window sticker certainly can't hurt.

BMW is coming through loud and clear on the sport part of its SAV nomenclature, especially with the addition of the optional Dynamic Driving Control and Dynamic Damping Control systems. This is the same sort of setup found in the 5 and 7 Series cars, where drivers can switch between Normal, Sport and Sport + modes, and an all-new five-link rear axle system dramatically improves overall ride comfort – perhaps our biggest complaint about the last-generation X3. The added 1.1 inches of width and our tester's larger 18-inch wheels with 245/55-series tires help to keep things planted and solid on the road. All in, the X3 has lost the harsh ride quality of the first-generation model while still retaining a level of firmness and confidence that you'd expect from a BMW.

Things are perfectly pleasant with the X3 left in Normal mode, but for drivers with an enthusiast soul, Sport and Sport + is where it's at. Here, the throttle response is sharper and the electric power steering offers more weight and feedback, though still providing a linear steering feel lock-to-lock. Additionally, the transmission comes into tune to the sportier driving style – it's more eager to hold a gear up to the redline and keeps your tach needle pointed right in the heart of the X3's powerband. If you're worried about sacrificing fuel economy, the driving control systems allow you to configure Sport mode to only improve the chassis, leaving the transmission alone, and unless you're seriously pushing the X3 down some challenging canyon roads, the eight-speed auto does a fine job of providing power on demand in its normal drive setting.

The new X3 hits dealerships later this year with the majority of sales expected to begin in the first quarter of 2011. The cost of entry is $37,625 for xDrive28i models and $41,925 for xDrive35i models, and in true BMW fashion, there will be an extensive options list encompassing things like sport, convenience and premium packages. What's more, BMW will be offering custom interior and exterior color packages, and consumers will be able to receive videos of their individual X3 as it moves through the different build phases within the automaker's Spartanburg, South Carolina plant.

We don't find many faults with the 2011 X3, but if we're honest, there isn't a lot to get excited about, either. What BMW has done is simply rework and refine its small crossover instead of jumping through hurdles to redefine its image. That's fine, but the end result is a vehicle that reeks of anonymity. It's the perfect vehicle for people... who have things... and like to drive to places. It's an entertaining, involving steer out on the road, but it won't turn heads like a Mercedes-Benz GLK, it doesn't look as classy as an Audi Q5 and doesn't speak of uniqueness like the Volvo XC60. Still, anonymity isn't all that bad, particularly when you have 300 hp on tap.


Source-autoblog.com



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Kawasaki Neo Lawan Suzuki FU150

By Girifumi

Beberapa waktu lalu, di akhir Oktober beredar foto yang cenderung spyshot dari digital camera merek Casio. Isinya foto motor terbaru dari Kawasaki yang ada di gudang Cirebon.

Memang tidak dijelaskan secara detail. Pihak Kawasaki Motor Indonesia (KMI)-pun tutup mulut untuk ini. Tahun lalu, berhembus pula isu skuter matik dari pabrikan Jepang dengan logo huruf K besar ini. Seperti biasa, selalu menawarkan yang tidak biasa kepada konsumen. Konon, tidak akan dipakainya sistem Continous Variable Transmission (CVT) peranti penggerak roda khas skuter matik.

Mbalik maning nang laptop. . . Dilihat sepintas, mesinnya jelas model horizontal. Meski tampak begitu bebek dan cenderung kurang sporty. Setidaknya memudahkan dalam penggantian busi. Dan lagi, basisnya memakai mesin ZX 130. Kopling masih centrifugal alias otomatis. Meski ada yang bilang bakal ada versi kopling manual. Yakin, kopling centrifugal bakal mati dengan sendirinya bila ditanam pada motor berkarakter kencang seperti varian Yamaha F1ZR dan Suzuki Satria S.

Selalu tampil beda, itulah yang dikedepankan Kawasaki. Perhatikan saja lampunya. Bakal ngeri pecah dengan lampu depan ganda vertikalnya yang nyaris menutupi covernya. Bukan sebaliknya. Meski ini kurang beralasan, selama ini kita biasa saja melihat lampu ekstra besar Yamaha Nouvo Z, Honda Vario, Suzuki Sky Wave, mengapa tidak kita beri kesempatan untuk Kawasaki untuk berinovasi?

Posisi tangki lagi-lagi tidak lazimnya underbone. Bukan di bawah jok, bukan pula di depan layaknya ZX 130. Terletak di tengah. Memang bukan hal yang baru, di skuter matik Eropa ini sudah jamak ditemui. Setidaknya ini pertama untuk underbone. Dengan demikian, masalah center of gravity akan teratasi. Menyebabkan mudah mendesain bagian buritan dengan kaki monoshock. Berbeda halnya dengan ZX 130 yang di Malaysia beralih menjadi Modenas Citi. Perhatikan dengan baik bentuk baut pengikat suspensi belakang antara kiri dan kanan berbeda ! Beberapa user sempat protes, dikiranya cacat pabrik. Namun, ini disanggah oleh KMI. Karena memang demikian, untuk mengimbangi tangki yang terletak di depan. Bila keukeuh mempertahankan lengan ayun konvensional, titik keseimbangan tidak akan dapat dicapai.

Untuk mengakses tangki, sensasinya ala motor sport. Cabut kunci kontak, letakan di tutup tangki. Risih kali ya kalau tetap di jok?hiii. . . .

Pemilihan velg bukan model pejal untuk tiap bilahnya, memang menjadi pilihan KMI untuk varian underbonenya versi cast wheel. Yang menarik adalah bentuk cakramnya. Cakram depan memang lebih besar dari belakang. Namun dengan bentuk semi flower, yang secara teoritis memungkinkan melepas panas dengan lebih cepat.

Jok meninggi di bagian buritan seakan terpisah dengan penyekat jahitan memang tidak umum. Namun di Siam, pada underbone Suzuki menjadi special edition. Catet. . .

Bicara soal mindset konsumen, memang ada yang berpikiran konsumen adalah raja. Apa maumu duhai Raja akan kupenuhi, begitulah kira-kira Namun ada pula orang yang diberi anugerah untuk mampu melihat di masa depan. Bukan asal main terawang ala peramal, namun butuh pemikiran matang. Orang macam ini disebut futuristis. Soichiro Honda adalah salah satunya. Konsep underbone C50 saat itu, amat sederhana. Menciptakan motor murah yang operasional murah. Harga bisa ditekan dengan pemakaian logam yang sesedikit mungkin (bentuk frame yang unik kala itu), bila bisa diganti dengan plastik. Bahannyapun dari logam limbah. Mesin? Satu silinder, 50 cc, berpendingin udara. Barat sempat menertawakannya. Namun, bisa dilihat sekarang ini. Raksasa MotoGP adalah Honda ! Bukan Norton, AJS, Triumph, ataupun MV Agusta.

Wis ah. . . Mbak naning make selop, mbalik maning nang laptop.

Kawasaki tidak perlu berinvestasi lagi, untuk beberapa komponen pendukung. Macam kaca spion model pendek, setang jepit, bhell eh behel belakang.Yang pasti. Tahun 2008, pihak PT. Kawasaki Motor Indonesia (KMI) berkomitmen akan menjadi tahunnya. Bila Yamaha bisa menyalip AHM beberapa kali. Mengapa tidak dengan KMI yang setidaknya menggeser Suzuki? Memperbaiki layanan purna jualnya Sales, Service, dan Spare Part-nya merupakan langkah awalnya. Ada lagi yang menarik, sempat angka penjualan KMI dengan IKM (Inti Kanzen Motor) terpaut amat tipis yang bermain di angka 4000an. Di Jawa Timur sendiri, orang lebih memilih motor dengan merek Happy yang dirakit di daerah Malang. Modelnya memang meniru dari motor yang sudah ada, namun dengan harga lebih murah dan terjamin layanan purna jualnya membuat tagline Kawasaki di Jawa Timur tak berarti: Motor Jepang seharga Motor China. Motor Happy sendiri berikrar akan menservis motor Happy bila ada kerusakan kapanpun, TANPA BIAYA !!Patut disimak langkah KMI, selain moge 250 cc ZX 250 yang masih digodok, skuter matik, plus ayam jago mesin ZX 130. Begitu pula kemungkinan motor ini bakal diturunkan di road race. Road race sendiri adalah pendongkrak penjualan IKM disamping grasstrack.Welcome back to the jungle Kawasaki !!

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Cara Ganti Mika/Kaca Helm di Musim Hujan

Mungkin anda punya helm yang mika/kacanya sudah usang? Cepat-cepatlah menggantinya. Pasalnya, mika helm yang buram sangat berbahaya bagi pengendara maupun orang lain di jalan raya.

Saya pernah tertabrak teman dari belakang hanya karena mika helm yang digunakan buruk. Saat itu sekitar pukul 10 malam, kami berdua beriringan dengan Suzuki FXR. Saya di depan dan sobat saya di belakang. Akibat mika helm yang berwarna hitam dan mulai buram (dan baret), ia kaget ketika saya melakukan pengereman di depannya.

Motornya menghantam ban belakang motor saya dan kami berdua pun terjatuh. Fairing, spion, tuas perseneling, dan tangki motornya rusak. Syukur, motor saya hanya menderita patah handle kopling. Hitung-hitung ia harus keluar ekstra perbaikan 2-jutaan.

Mengganti mika helm gampang dan murah. Anda cukup mendatangi penjual mika helm. Tinggal pilih dan minta pasang sekalian. Di pasaran banyak pilihan yang beredar. Baik dari segi warna, model, dan tentu saja harga dan kualitas. Bagi anda di musim hujan ini pilih saja yang cocok dengan kondisi saat ini sebagaimana berikut:

• Pertama-tama, pilih mika bening. Toh pada siang hari sinar matahari jauh lebih redup di banding saat musim kemarau. Jadi tidak butuh mika model kaca film warna-warni (rainbow). Juga tidak butuh mika warna gelap/hitam. Malah saat hujan, justru anda sangat membutuhkan mika bening agar pandangan tetap terang.
• Soal model, akan banyak anda temukan di pasaran. Pilih saja yang sesuai dengan model yang dipakai helm anda. Untuk itu baiknya membeli dengan membawa contoh mika, atau sekalian membawa helmnya. Beberapa jenis helm di pasaran untuk tipe sport/fullface menggunakan sistem klip pada pemegang mika di kiri kanan. Untuk melepas dan memasang kembali mikanya, cukup dengan menekan tuas klip di balik mika. Ini dapat anda temukan pada model INK/AGV lokal atau merek-merek lain sejenis. Beberapa helm yang lebih mahal menggunakan klem dan klip. Pada helm Vemar Italia ini Anda harus mencungkil klem pengamannya guna melepaskan klip di yang justru terletak di atas mika.
• Harga!!! Tipikal orang Indonesia banget ya . Membeli barang yang dilihat harga dulu baru kualitas. Harga di pasaran untuk mika bervariasi antara 25-40 ribu. Sebaiknya anda memilih yang harga 40 ribu sebab jenis mikanya lebih bening dan kualitas finishing-nya lebih bagus. Kebanyakan yang berada pada kisaran harga 25 ribu berwarna kekuning-kuningan (kurang bening). Itu harga mika lokal atau import dari negara tetangga. Jika anda membeli mika import dengan lisensi Eropa atau Jepang, bisa-bisa anda harus menebus dengan angka di atas 200 ribu. Maklum kualitas kaca semacam itu harus melewati standar keselamatan yang ketat. Umumnya agar nyaman dipakai dan aman bagi mata anda. Di samping itu disertai beberapa fitur tambahan, misalnya lapisan film anti panas, anti fogging, dan anti debu.
• Kualitas. Bukan cuma batok helmnya saja yang butuh kualitas. Mika helm pun demikian. Sebagian sudah saya jelaskan di atas. Sebagai tambahan, mika helm yang bagus harus cukup bening, namun cukup dingin pada saat siang yang terik. Pada saat cuaca mendung dan gelap pada malam hari kaca bening juga harus bisa memberi ekstra cahaya ke rentina mata anda. Jadi tidak perlu buka tutup kaca helm lagi seperti yang lazim digunakan bikers jaman dulu. Juga pilih yang mika yang rata di setiap permukaannya. Hati-hati dengan mika helm yang terkesan cembung atau tidak rata di beberapa bagian. Sebab akan membuat kepala anda pusing pada saat berkendara. Umumnya barang manufaktur, ada harga ada kualitas. Namun jika anda jeli anda pun bisa mendapat barang berkualitas. Tentu dengan harga yang masih bersahabat.

Selamat mencoba mika baru, dan ekstra wasapada saat hujan!!!

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Cara Modifikasi Motor untuk Pemula

Banyak di antara kita yang suka modifikasi motor (modif), namun banyak pula yang tidak. Rata-rata yang mengaku suka malah menjadikan hobi. Bahkan banyak pula yang akhirnya jadi maniak modif. Sebaliknya, yang tidak senang modif menganggap modif berbahaya dan menimbulkan biaya lebih (boros).

Nyatanya, hampir-hampir semua motor sudah mengalami modifikasi sedikit atau banyak. Mungkin orang tidak menyadari telah melakukan modif karena tampilan motor masih standar. Padahal sejumlah item telah mengalami perubahan. Ganti busi yang lebih kuat, ganti stang yang lebih nyaman, ganti model lampu yang lebih cakep dan terang adalah modif sederhana.

Karena itu, yang penting dari modifikasi adalah tujuan dan fungsinya. Tujuan modifikasi yang baik adalah meningkatkan kinerja dan tampilan motor sehingga lebih aman, nyaman, cepat, dan gaya.

Lebih aman karena modifikasi yang baik akan menggunakan alat yang biasanya after market atau limbah copotan motor import yang kualitasnya lebih baik. Lebih cepat karena dengan modifikasi, baik kapasitas mesin bisa dimaksimalkan, atau kemampuan pengendalian (handling) lebih dioptimalkan. Nah, terutama ini: lebih gaya. Dengan modif, tampilan standar ga lagi culun. Perpaduan berbagai asesori maupun piranti body, ajrutan, cat, dsb, bisa membuat motor benar-benar menarik: lebih macho atau manis, tergantung selera.

Tentu saja modif butuh biaya. Tapi seperti slogan lama “there is

something money can’t buy”. Kepuasan adalah segalanya….

So, kata kuncinya adalah modif ringan, sedang, berat, dan ekstrem. Tinggal pilih sesuai selera dan kantong.

Siapa yang tidak kepincut dengan motor modif ala MV Agusta F4+Yamaha R1 di edisi ini? Jika Anda tertarik modif, mulailah sekarang. Tapi awas, sekali mencoba takkan berakhir sampai motor dijual.

Silahkan mencoba!

Contoh modifikasi edisi ini:
Model: MV Agusta F4+Yamaha R1
Aliran: Sport
Motor: Tiger 2000
Sok depan: Up-side down eks Cagiva Mito
Swingarm: Honda CBR400
Disk depan: Yamaha TZR125
Pelek dpn: Yamaha TZR125, 2,75-17
Pelek blkg: Yamaha TZR125, 3,50-17
Ban: Battlax, 100/80-17, 130/70-17
Footstep: Kawasaki Ninja
Knalpot: Karbon
Properti: Abrar Fitra

Catatan:

Artikel ini saya tulis pertama kali untuk DETIC di http://detic.honda-tiger.or.id/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=94

Sumber foto: www.motorplus-online.com dan www.honda-tiger.or.ida

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Hyundai Aims To Lead The Mid-size Hybrid Pack

At some point, the minds at Hyundai got serious about the company's mid-sized sedan game. Seemingly in a heartbeat, the Korean manufacturer went from being completely under the radar of the average American family sedan buyer to a viable alternative to default buys like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. That jump fell solely on the shoulders of the all-new 2011 Sonata, a sedan that has so far delivered the kind of styling, efficiency and low MSRP that sends consumers scrambling for their checkbook. But if you want to go the full distance in this segment, you had better come to the fight packing more than just a competent base model.

That's something you don't need to tell Hyundai. The company has shored up its Sonata line with a potent turbocharged 2.0-liter model designed to tango with V6-equipped competitors as well as the car you see above – a hybrid model that comes loaded with nearly all of the latest and greatest tech to keep fuel consumption at a minimum. Is it enough to put the Sonata Hybrid ahead of the electrified versions of the heavy hitters already prowling the scene?

The mid-size hybrid segment is a funny little corner of the automotive world. Most of the players at this table are little more than standard sedans that have had their mechanical innards gutted and replaced with mutant internal combustion/electric motor mashups. From their exteriors, there's generally been little to distinguish hybrid from V6 models other than wheel options and maybe a badge or two. But Hyundai has waded into somewhat uncharted waters by offering the hybrid version of the Sonata with bodywork that goes a long way toward separating the car from its siblings.

The keen-eyed out there are likely to pick up on a handful of small details that both add a bit of funky, slightly futuristic styling to the mix and help slim the vehicle's shape as it cuts through the air. Up front, Hyundai's designers and engineers worked together to come up with that slightly agape front fascia. There's more than a little catfish in that hexagonal opening, but it serves the purpose of setting the Sonata Hybrid apart from the rest of the family. (Note, too, that the 'bumper' bar has been subtly altered from the model that debuted at the New York Auto Show). Additionally, LED daytime running lights grace the front headlights and the low-set fog lights now boast a stylish upkick that wraps around the front fascia.

The profile of the 2011 Sonata Hybrid reverts to more well-established tricks of the mid-size hybrid trade, including re-sculpted side skirts and small but effective badges on the front fenders. Hyundai has also graced its hybrid with two unique wheel selections, a smaller 16-inch roller that shouts, "I'll see you at Mac World," and an optional, more attractive 17-inch five-spoke design like the one on our tester.

Move around back, and if you're paying close attention, you'll notice that the rear fascia is slightly squared-off on both sides. Those sharp edges help the Sonata Hybrid achieve its dizzyingly low .25 coefficient of drag. The standard Sonata makes do with a still enviable .28 cD. To complete the futuristic picture, Hyundai has also thrown in reworked taillights that are designed to evoke the image of an atom when lit.

But as different as the exterior of the Sonata Hybrid is from its standard internal-combustion brethren, things have been left largely untouched inside. Buyers will still find the comfortable thrones, attractive dash and heaps of soft-touch goodies layered over almost every surface just like in the base Sonata. One difference between the base Sonata and the hybrid comes in the form of decreased trunk space. While the standard Sonata yields an EPA-rated cargo volume of 16.4 cubic feet, the compact battery pack soaks up a full 5.7 cubes all by itself. But the largest change comes at the instrument cluster, where a helpful full-color LCD screen delivers pertinent information on the vehicle's battery state of charge, fuel economy and an "Eco Score." Likewise, the left instrument bezel has forsaken the standard tachometer in favor of a helpful guide that lets drivers know when the vehicle can be driven in all-electric mode.

And when is that, exactly? Officially, Hyundai says that the Sonata Hybrid can cruise on all-electric go-go at speeds of up to 62 mph, though in our testing we saw electric-only driving at 65 mph under light acceleration downhill. and there was some indication from the company's engineers that the car may be capable of doing even better. How do they do it? Under the hood, Hyundai has converted its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine to the Atkinson Cycle and added a 40-horsepower electric motor. The duo is good for a combined 206 horsepower and 193 pound-feet of torque, but the real star of the show is the car's battery pack.

In addition, the sedan makes use of an engine clutch that can separate the gasoline engine from the electric motor, helping the hybrid to clip along on electric power even at highway speeds, all without using an ounce of fuel. Hyundai has also made the interesting step of shutting off the gasoline engine entirely when the vehicle decelerates, further conserving fuel and allowing the regenerative brakes to recharge the batteries.

And what does all of that translate into once on the road? During our time behind the wheel, we saw just over 36 mpg in intermittent stop and go driving, though if you're ginger with the accelerator, numbers closer to 40 in combined driving weren't unheard of among the gaggle of writers the company had out to sample the Sonata Hybrid. Just out of morbid curiosity, we spent the last 30 miles of our drive hypermiling the hybrid. When all was said and done, we walked away with a sweaty 60 mpg, further proving that by and large, fuel economy falls on the shoulders of the nut behind the wheel.

When you're not treating the throttle like a hair trigger, the Sonata Hybrid rewards with a surprisingly normal driving experience. The run to 60 mph takes around 9.2 seconds, and thanks to the clutch separating the engine from the electric motor, transitions between internal combustion power and electric go-go are some of the most seamless in the industry. Part of the sensation that you're driving a real vehicle and not some slot-car track escapee comes from the fact that Hyundai opted for the company's proprietary six-speed automatic gearbox instead of a continuously variable transmission. Engineers may have been able to eek out a bit of additional fuel savings had it gone with a CVT, but selecting a conventional cogbox has gone a long way toward making this hybrid a more satisfying craft to pilot.

Impressively, despite the fact that this is Hyundai's first shot at a production hybrid, the electrified Sonata successfully avoids one of the biggest pitfalls of throwing an electric motor into an otherwise solid chassis. The regenerative brakes are progressive and feel just like what we expect stoppers to feel like. There's no danger of having your dental work ripped from your mouth thanks to an overly sensitive second pedal.

But that's not to say that Hyundai hasn't left room to grow in the Sonata Hybrid. Interestingly enough, the company chose to forsake forced-induction in favor of an updated version of its 2.4-liter mill. A little bit less displacement paired with a small turbo would probably help squeeze a few more mpgs out of this equation, but it undoubtedly would have swelled the per-unit cost on a model that's unlikely to make any money to begin with.

Even with that shortcut under its belt, the 2011 Sonata Hybrid is an impressive first showing from Hyundai in the hybrid game. As it sits, the car is eligible for a $1,300 federal tax credit, at least for the first month it's on sale. Hyundai says that buyers can snap up their own Sonata Hybrid starting this December, but unfortunately, the federal tax incentive program for hybrid vehicles is scheduled to dry up at the end of 2010, so interested parties would do well not to dawdle.

Hyundai hasn't yet said how much we can expect to pay for its new hybrid four-door, nor what kind of warranty the model will carry when it does hit dealer lots. Given the company's long history of providing copious content and an industry-beating warranty for reasonable money, we're guessing that neither will be a point of contention when the car goes on sale. Even with those questions left blank, the 2011 Sonata Hybrid has proven itself more than capable of running with the rest of the mid-size hybrids. Is it the best of the breed? We'll need some back-to-back time to know for sure.

SOURCE-autoblog

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