2011 Lexus CT200h Premium

 It’s more than a decade since the launch of Toyota Prius. Now, Lexus builds another car which is almost the same as Toyota Prius. The 2011 CT 200h crossover provides the car driver with luxury features and performance aside from better fuel-economy. The question is, will this model take away Prius sales or Toyota will be able to attract new customers with this luxury vehicle?

Lexus is reaching out to Gen X and Gen Y buyers who are looking for a fun vehicle but at the same time, environmentally friendly. Aside from being a green vehicle model, it also provides spirited performance.

The only problem is though it may look like fun to drive compared to Prius, it has a sluggish acceleration behind the wheel. It also goes from 0-60mph in 9.8 seconds which is exactly the same as Prius. Though it has a sluggish acceleration, it offers a multiple driving modes that include Normal, Eco, Sport, and EV. Transition from electric power to gasoline engine is smooth and the color will change according to the selected mode if the driver will use change mode.

Conclusion: If the consumer is looking for a car that will help the environment and give a luxurious feeling together with superior fuel economy, this is the right car.

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2011 Peugeot 508

Over the years, the mainstream of the European manufacturers such as Peugeot, Ford, Citroen, Fiat, GM etc. have abandoned the large portion of car sector. Some of them were not good enough e.g Fiat Croma and others were a bit weird in their design e.g Renault Vel Satis, Ford’s Granada, And GM’s Senator. Audi and BMW parking lot panache stretched their models to go along with a wider price brand. 

Peugeot was able to compete fairly with the likes of 605 and 607 but still, the sales were a bit flat-lined, peaking at just over 19,000 back in 2005. After few years, Peugeot came back with 508, a model that is decent enough to compete with Ford Mondeo in terms of size especially the bog standard steel wheeled, rubber matted BMW 5-series wagon.

Some people questioned its design and features since Peugeot 508 is a bit roomy but most of them believe that it’s what makes it different. This model is also powered with 2.2L diesel with 204 bhp and 332lb-ft of torque so it has mid-range performance. There is no need to look for the paddle shifts since this model is not designed as a performance car but rather a family car.

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2012 Chrysler 300

It’s been a while since Chrysler 300 is displayed in an Auto Show. Now, Chrysler 300 is back in the market and is ready for anything. The new 2012 Chrysler 300 has improved design and is equipped with more power on top of advance technology. As a matter of fact, this SRT8 model is leaner and meaner than before. It comes into showrooms with an entirely new exterior and high performance. Just a quick glance and you will notice that it is an entirely new car because of the big changes of the front which now has a sporting wing bade with front valance and blacked out mesh grille.

The 2012 Chrysler 300 also has an imposing stance. It has a four 20” alloy wheels and there is a chrome accented lower fascia and dual four inch diameter exhaust pipes too. Buyers’ also has the option to choose a black chrome package that includes black chrome grille surrounds, black chrome wheels, and black rear valance.

Another impressive thing that this model has is the 6.4L Hemi V8 which produces 465hp and 465 pound of torque. It can get from 0 to 60 in fewer than 5 seconds and will top-out at 175mph. And the most convincing feature of this model is the 25% increase in fuel economy thanks to Hemi Fuel Saver variable displacement system.

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2012 Honda CRV

Last November 10, 2011, the auto press has been invited at Baronette Renaissance Novi Hotel in Detroit to road test the 2012 Honda CR-V SUV. Reporters from different media including torquenews will have an opportunity to driver this new model from Honda.

The Honda CR-V model stays on top when it comes to SUV sales in America. It was reported that over 140,000 CR-Vs have been sold in 2011.

The 2012 Honda CR-V is heading to its fourth generation and moving toward a more sophisticated direction. The transformation includes new style, improved fuel economy and affordability. It is also equipped with new innovative technology.

Honda wants to know the benchmark and user-friendliness of their new 2012 Honda CR-V that is why they wanted auto critics to test drive the car. The members of 2012 CR-V R&D team and American Honda product planning executives will meet at Detroit for the briefing of CR-V development story and also, to provide insight into Honda’s sales and marketing plans.

 The first group of reporter drivers started to test the 2012 Honda CR-V at 10:00am and the second wave at 2:30pm. The reporters were just able to share their impressions to the readers last Nov. 16, 2011. This new model has improved interior and a better fuel-efficient engine. In addition, this model is a bit lighter and more comfortable compared to other models.

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Toyota Aqua Concept

The new Aqua concept will be introduced at Tokyo Auto Show. This new concept car will be called “Prius C”.

Toyota Aqua a.k.a “Toyota Prius C” is a compact 4 door car with a 4-seater, and a hatchback. It has a new and smaller version of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system.  This Prius is more compact and affordable compared to previous version of Prius.  It has 50mpg which makes it fuel efficient in American model and reports stated that the Japanese model gets 80mpg or better efficiency.

When it comes to its size, it’s almost identical to that of Toyota Yaris with 100 inch of wheelbase and 157.9 inch overall length. This model is smaller than 2012 Honda Insight. The only drawback of this compact car is the engine size. Toyota Prius C has 1.5L four cylinder-engine which is smaller compared to 1.8L engine of other Prius models. This small engine is the reason why it’s a bit fuel efficient but at the same time, it also makes the horsepower of the car lesser. Car enthusiast will have to see if this difference will affect the acceleration.

As a conclusion, we could consider this model a Compact type which will fit into crowded cities. The hatchback style rear end is taller than normal Prius which will give an improved visibility out the rear window. 

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2012 Ford Focus Electric

The new 2012 Ford Focus will be available in a price which is somehow affordable for the few. Why Ford does so?

After waiting for so long, we finally heard the good news that Ford Motor Company will sell drivers the all-new 2012 Ford Focus Electric. This is good news for those people who want to go gasoline-free completely. Customers can place their order online at Ford.com.

According to news release, today is a historic day as Ford opens up the first full production of all-electric passenger vehicle which is the Ford Focus Electric. This model will bring an option to customer to own a car which is fun to drive, fully electric and easy to own.

Ford stated that markets were chosen on several criteria like commuting patterns, hybrid sales trends and government policies. The price is not mentioned immediately but as you open the website, you’ll see that it costs around $39k. Maybe, it’s to make the model more historic since only few can afford it.

One of the best features of new 2012 Ford Focus Electric is its capacity to go 100 miles per charge. It was not reveal earlier in the news but it was found out that it has the same range as Nissan Leaf.

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Renault Frendzy concept at Frankfurt Show

Have you heard about a dual purpose car? A dual-purpose and all-electric Renault Frendzy works efficiently both on fully functional work and personal family vehicle. This new model was evaluated at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show.

Renault Frendzy concept will be a very interesting vehicle at Frankfurt Auto Show. This 100% electric vehicle has split personality and features that can make it a dedicated work type vehicle during the weekdays, and a family vehicle on weekends. Another good feature of this vehicle is the 37-inch widescreen monitor that information to outside passersby.

Renault Frendzy model is highly compatible with BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. The PlayBook will be plugged in to the center console of the Frendzy and integrate to its environment which means that it will take the color scheme of Frendzy’s interior. It can also take inventory of packages kept in the cargo area and even track their destinations with RFID chips if being used as a delivery type of vehicle. These chips will help driver calculate the best and most efficient delivery route. In addition, when the car is used as a family vehicle, the whole color of the interior will change to warm orange color to evoke the thoughts of camping. 

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2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Close-up

The 2011 Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 went under a test at Rocky Mountains at altitudes over 8,000 ft.  Those people who often commute between business or homes in city and mountains considered Grand Cherokee a reliable ride for mountain life and mobility.

Mike Manley, president and CEO for Jeep Brand, said that the all-new 2011 Grand Cherokee created a premium SUV benchmark.  Quadra-Lift air suspension system and Selec-Terrain traction control systems separate Jeep from the crowd and take it to the newt level of 4x4 capabilities. The terrain selector also configures the vehicle to run smoothly on mud, snow, sand or rock. These features are found on Range Rovers.

This model also has sports mode. The vehicle will go to its most aerodynamic stance and converts itself to two-wheel drive. This stance allows the new Grand Cherokee to reach 19 mpg on the open road out of 5.7-liter V8 MDS VVT power plant. Aside from sports mode and terrain control systems, it also has an all-new front and rear independent suspension which utilizes the front and rear suspension cradles. The rear suspension allows the spare tire to be stored in the vehicle.  This model will surely provide driving convenience.

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