Discover the Unknown with a Land Rover

Land Rover has been manufacturing the greatest off-road vehicles since 1948. It is also the second oldest four wheel drive vehicle brand in the world. After Jeep of course and both have been used for military purposes (Jeep for the United States and Land Rover for the British Army). The first Land Rover was actually built on a Jeep's chassis and essentially inspired by the Jeep because the chief designer owned an American World War II Jeep. Since 1989 their logo has not changed, but their vehicle's style has, including their performance.

 

Land Rover has many models that they manufacture today. The Range Rover, Range Rover Sport,Range Rover Evoque, Defender, Discovery,  and Freelander. But today I would like to share with you the 2014 Land Rover Discovery. It receives a new look, new badges, new fuel stretching technology, improved audio systems and a new range of driver assistance, comfort and safety features to broaden its appeal even further. The core attributes are carried over into the 2014 models and are now available to order. It has lots of space, fits seven people, and has a lot of space in the back if the rear seats are down. The middle row of seats can also be lowered to fit larger items and or more items. The Discovery is a great vehicle to take camping, or adventures into the unknown. It gets 35 miles to the gallon, which is thanks to its diesel 3.0L SDV6 engine. Diesel vehicles get better gas mileage than gasoline powered cars and this Discovery is great for any sort of adventure.

If you enjoy Top Gear, please check out what they said about the previous Land Rover Discovery.

iBeetle Coming Soon

The Volkswagen Beetle and the iPhone from Apple will be coming together in the beginning of 2014. 

Two well known icons will be joining forces to create a iPhone user friendly automobile.

Volkswagen will have a special app called "Volkswagen Car Net the Beetle". It allows the user to connect by a wireless connection to the car for music, phone calls, and access to an oil gauge and chronometer (basically a stopwatch). There is even a specially design dock for a iPhone 5 that is on the dashboard. This will be available as a convertible and a hardtop.

This doesn't sound all that exciting though. Or should I say "yet"? But not much is known or relieved about this new Beetle right now. It doesn't look that new and different from what cars can already do today. Most new cars come with an auxiliary connection for your favorite MP3 player, iPod, iPhone, Android, or whatever device you so desperately hold tightly in your hands. Hopefully this will at least help keep the electronic device out of the hands of the driver and keep the steering wheel in their hands.

Lexus Intelligent Sport

The Lexus IS (short for Intelligent Sport and was originally known as the "Altezza") has been given a very sporty new look. They are bred on Lexus's favorite race course in Japan and is also a very well known race track in motorsport. The Fuji Raceway is where lots of cars go to be tested and designed to specifically beat lap records and out perform their competitors. Plus, Japan's most famed and precious land mark, Mt. Fuji (which the track is named after), can be seen from the track.

So the new 2014 Lexus IS costs anywhere between $34,000 and $45,000 (and higher depending on options) depending on which model you like best. There are four editions to chose from and the higher the price the better performance and styling. There is the Lexus IS 250, IS 250 F Sport, IS 350, and IS 350 F Sport. The "F Sport" models where designed off/on the Fuji race course in Japan, hence the "F" in the title, which stands for Fuji. So they have much better brakes, suspension, tires, and transmission. The IS 250 comes with a 204 horse power engine that gives you 30 miles per gallon highway and the car comes with a weather and traffic update in real time. The IS 250 F Sport comes with everything mentioned with the IS 250 and beefed up suspension and bolder styling. The dashboard display is also different and inspired by Lexus's supercar the LFA. The Lexus IS 350 comes with a 306 horse power engine that produces 28 miles to the gallon highway and larger front brakes and better pistons. The IS 350 F Sport comes with the same engine, plus special adaptive suspension and better gear ratio steering. All of this really only matters to those interested in numbers and power but I come in and say that they have such a great design. They look like they are just eager to tare up the tarmac and break some lap time records and racing events. It will become the best in show and performance. The form of the car does not just follow its function, it raises the intensity of the function.

The IS 250 and 350 are identical in appearance.

The IS 250 F Sport and 350 F Sport are also identical in appearance.

The New American Pony

The sixth generation Ford Mustang has been reviled!

It looks as though Ford has decided to make the 2015 Mustang look even more retro in the esthetics of the car. There are a few aspects that Ford focused on. A lower, wider stance with a reduced roof height, and wider rear fenders. This is the return of the fastback Mustang because of its sleeker profile enabling more steeply sloped windshield and rear glass design. Also the rear of the car looks pure concept; with its three-dimensional, tri-bar tail lights with sequential turn signals, makes the car look retro and modern. Depending on the package, Ford offers a V6 engine, and a V8 engine for those interested in that increased power compared to last years model and an EcoBoost engine for better fuel saving capability. Although the convertible edition will be out later in 2014, it is very exciting that Ford plans to manufacture one. It is a soft top convertible of course, no room for a hard top convertible because that would take up space in the trunk. It does have the bush button start as well, nice feature now a days and since this is still a new reveal the gas mileage is unknown.

The Mustangs are still being built in the Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan, Metro Detroit. In addition to Mustangs, Ford Fusions are also manufactured there.

Fiat's Duet

I very seldom use the term "cute" to refer to a car. Cars are usually aggressive, rugged, or elegant looking. Dodge designs a lot of aggressive looking vehicles, Jeep makes rugged vehicles because they have a military background, and Rolls Royce makes elegant cars for the prestigious and royal (like the Queen of England for example). So I typically I have used "cute" for a Volkswagen beetle thanks to Herbie the Love Bug or a Mazda Miata. They can be referred to as cute because of their size and face. One feels joyous in them. There meant to put a small on your face. That is where Fiat comes in. Fiat is a great little Italian car manufacturer and they make great little cars. They now manufacture two cars for the United States. The Fiat 500 and the Fiat 500L. The 500 is a little two door hatchback and the 500L is a four door hatchback they can both be compared to the Mini Coopers because of their size. The Fiat 500L has room for five occupants. This is why the "L" stands for "large" because the Fiat 500 only has room for two adults (it has a small back seat that a car seat could possibly fit on, but really it is for grocery items and or luggage). It sells for roughly $19,164 says Edmunds.com with their true value estimate. The Fiat 500 sells for about $16,163 and does 31mpg city and 40mpg highway. This is an excellent car for someone in the city or any fuel saver. Because of its size it does really well on fuel. Fiats says they focus on three things when designing a car; style, practicality, and fun! These truly are great cars, fun to drive, they make you smile, and you are excited being inside one!
Check out the two Fiats side by side to show you their size comparison. The one in the front is the 500 and the one in the back is the 500L.

Fiat is celebrating 55 years of production now and you can really see how much more advanced they are by comparing the original Fiat 500 to the new one. For one, it is much smaller than the new and that is because of the safety standards of today but in reality they look very much the same. 

And to celebrate their 50th anniversary Fiat has put together a Fiat 595 Abarth limited edition. It celebrates Fiat's racing heritage by giving it the Abarth decor and performance.

Stealth Fighter on Wheels

Ever wonder what a stealth fighter jet would look like on wheels? Well an Italian car manufacturer imagined just that. Lamborghini has released the Sesto Elemento. That means "the Sixth Element" in Italian, referring to carbon, which is an element that was used in the majority of components for the car's structure. It is a carbon fiber and plastic composite. The car is lighter than a Ford Fiesta and it awakes louder than a lion. Thanks to all of the carbon fiber and the windshield which is made of plastic rather than glass, to save weight, the car is 2,202.42lbs. There is also no rear window, just some air vents to keep the engine cool. Another way Lamborghini shed some weight was that they did not use actual seats. The seats are, simply put, pads stuck to the body work. The dash board is almost none existent too. There is a digital screen for a gauge above the center of the steering wheel and most of the switches are on the steering wheel. The driver's window doesn't roll down it has a sliding section that opens. There is no door handle on the inside, it is a little ribbon of red leather and the doors on the inside are like a skeleton. The design is nice and simple, angular and smooth, very basic and everything is black, red, or white. The body isn't even painted. The color that you see is the exposed carbon fiber-plastic composite. The tailpipe is made of a glass-ceramic matrix composite which gives it the ability to withstand very strong heat up to a temperature of 1,652 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of its extreme light weight, the Sesto Elemento has a greater power-to-weight ratio than a Bugatti Veyron. Lamborghini says that extreme light weight is the future of supercars and that they don't need to strap a couple turbo chargers and a few radiators to a 1,000hp engine. The engine in the Sesto Elemento is the same you get in a standard Lamborghini Gallardo. A V10 aspirated engine with 570hp and a four wheel drive system. It will reach 60 miles an hour in two point four seconds. Just shy of two and a half. That is the same figure as a Bugatti Veyron. It costs three million dollars and only twenty will be in existence.
There is only one problem and that is... It is not road legal. So it is just for fun and the rich. Thing is, they are already sold out.

The Seventh Generation Stingray

Chevrolet has brought the Corvette Stingray back and it is so much different than before. Chevrolet has been making the Corvette for sixty years and the Stingray name has been used on only four previous models. Now it is back for the fifth time and it has such a different flare then any Corvette ever. The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray does not appeal to traditional Corvette enthusiasts. The recognizable Corvette traits are no longer involved, the tail lamps have been redesigned and the head lights as well. Besides the fact that the car is over all larger than the original due to safety standards today, the new design is still dramatic for its time like the original. It remains in American muscle car territory and is Chevrolet's best two door sports car. Because it has been redesigned, the aesthetics of the car appeal more toward a wide range of automotive enthusiasts. Europe for one, is very interested in this new Stingray. Top Gear stated it is "America's New Top Model" and that they are very excited for its appearance. Also, it stands out among the other Stingrays in a good way, yeah not many traditional enthusiasts will like it, but it simply looks epic.

The C7 in its name stands for the seventh generation Corvette, hence the six previous Corvettes lined up behind the new one. With a 6.2L LT1 V-8 engine that produces 450 horse power, Chevrolet is not messing around. It can reach sixty miles an hour from not in under four seconds. One can experience more than 1g of cornering force while racing this new Vette. The Corvette Stingray was a long anticipated car since its concept was released in 2009. Strangely, there is not much similarity between the concept and he actual production car. Usually the concept gets to be over the top and when it begins production, it gets toned down a bit. I only wish the production car looked exactly like the concept. It payed tribute to the original Corvette Sting Ray. I'd have it hung on my wall...

Fisker's Bankruptcy Costs Millions

Fisker is a prestigious, all electric, supercar manufacturer. They produce a car they call the Karma, it is a four door sedan, and most people who can afford it are millionaires. Embarrassingly, they had a recall on their batteries a while back. It involved the car burning to a crisp while it was stationary in a parking lot. However the real issue is that Fisker has filed for bankruptcy and their hearing is scheduled for January 3 2014. Not due to their recall. This well known all electric supercar manufacturer and has lost millions of dollars. Due to Hurricane Sandy, Fisker lost 338 cars in a shipment to the United States and their insurance will not cover them. In addition, Fisker's steep decent began with a $529 million loan gifted by the commitment of the US Department of Energy. Furthermore, the DOE suspended funding in 2011 after Fisker drew $192 million on the Obama administration's green-energy loan. This is also after the fact that they failed to reach multiple sale checkpoints for its four door supercar.
They filed chapter 11 bankruptcy, which means they have a chance at reorganizing the company and will possibly get to build in an old General Motors building in Delaware. Although, there has already been a lawsuit filed from a former employee who did not get his 60 days notice of termination, along with 160 other former employees. This is a load of issues and dollars Fisker has to deal with now and it does not look good, for this once ground braking automotive manufacturer, but I would like to see them continue...

In light of everything going on, Fisker has cost taxpayers $139,000,000. 

That means you and me.

www.csmonitor.com

www.topgear.com/uk

Jeep Brings the Cherokee Back

 The Cherokee is back and Jeep was busy redesigning its appearance. Although Jeep was still producing the Grand Cherokee during the missing appearance of the Cherokee, the smaller edition was missed. The new Cherokee is not small however, but compared to the Grand Cherokee it is smaller. The original Cherokee though, will still be known as the best Cherokee Jeep has ever made. It was ans is classic, very rugged, and people today like to lift it and give it better tires for trailing adventures. With the reveal of the newly redesigned 2014 Cherokee, many Jeep goers are not very thrilled with its new design. The tri-headlight design is ugly and it doesn't look rugged enough to be called a Jeep. It doesn't appeal to regular Jeep owners, maybe rather to a newer, more inexperienced Jeep crowd. Possibly a little more luxurious sport utility vehicle was their goal. However, the trail rated edition "Trail Hawk" Cherokee comes with extras that are standard. Higher clearance including a good approach and departure angle, they are new features which all aid for better off-road maneuverability. Including the "Rock" setting on the traction control which aids the driver during climbs, descents, and rough terrain, this system electronically figures out what needs to be stiffened or given more power to help maneuvering about.

 The Cherokee has some other great aspects that should be noted. Its fuel economy is great, 31 miles to the gallon and a gasoline tank with a driving range of nearly 500 miles. It V6 engine allows for towing capability of 4,500 pounds. The body panels are made of a high-strength steel content for better strength. FIAT group was the designers behind the architecture of the Cherokee and the result is better quality and reliability as well as lower cost and production time is quicker. And the reason for the tri-headlight design is that the top lights are supposed to be the daylight running lamps, the middle ones are the regular head lights and the lower lights are the fogs. Kind of strange but make sense. The designers thankfully kept the signature grill design which if it wasn't for that it would be impossible to be recognized as a Jeep.

Going back to that signature grill design you can see it in the original Cherokee along with their traditional square headlights. It also has a much more rugged look, in other words, the owner wouldn't be so afraid as to get it dirty. One can also notice how much bigger the vehicle is due to the safety standards of today. It would be difficult for car manufacturers to build cars today that are the same size as they were from the 90's or 80's. So the original Cherokee is smaller anyway and the new one is bigger because of safety standards not design alone.

Another Special Edition Bugatti Veyron

This is Bugatti's third racing legend edition. The Bugatti Veyron Meo Costantini is a very limited edition of Bugatti's 1,200hp Grand Sport Vitesse with a different appearance. Bugatti will only make three and their going price is $2.8 million. Its 8-liter W16 engine (16 cylinders in the shape of a W rather than a V6 for example) it achieves an unparalleled torque of 1,500 Newton meters from 1,200 hp at 3,000-5,000 rpm, and can accelerate from 0-62 mph in 2.6 seconds. Its top speed has been clocked at 253 miles an hour which is faster than an F1 car. F1 cars are raced in the IZOD series and European events and are much lighter than a Bugatti. This also means that this is the fastest convertible in the world. Bugattis are also known to be the most expensive cars in the world. The car is constructed mostly of carbon fiber and the parts that are not painted are hand-polished aluminum that is given a clear coat of lacquer. This also means that Bugatti is the only car manufacturer to produce a car with clear-coated aluminum bodywork. Bugatti's new color "Bugatti Dark Blue Sport" is a reflection of French's signature classic motor sport blue color of Bugatti's racing heritage. As a reference to Costantini's victory at Targa Florio, the silhouette of the historic race course is painted on the underside of the rear wing that comes out to slow the car down at high speeds (air-brake).

It also has  Meo Costantini's name embroidered on the seats and door panels. On the door panels is beautiful simple line work of Bugatti's racing history with Meo Costantini.

Subaru Saves Lives

If you know anything about Subaru, I hope safety is the first thing that comes to mind. Because safety is at the forefront of their design. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests lots of new cars and in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 Subaru was and is the only car manufacturer to have earned IIHS's Top Safety Pick for all of their models. Yes, every single car they manufacture in the past four years has earned Top Safety Pick from IIHS! Subaru is the only company that earned this award for every car they manufacture. Check it out!

You can even check out all of the vehicles IIHS tested and watch the crash tests. By doing so, you can become more knowledgeable of the safety of vehicles today and it is my genuine concern that if you can afford a new vehicle that you look at the crash tests and ratings before purchasing a vehicle. IIHS YouTube channel

Subaru Saved My Life is a collection of stories from people who were able to walk away from an accident because of their safety.

Their new Forster is the only small SUV to ace all areas in IIHSs new small overlap crash test. IIHS has started this new small overlap crash test because this type of accident is where a fourth of serious injuries occur in vehicle crashes.

 Subaru has advanced technology in their new cars that can prevent low speed crashes and avoid accidents. This technology is called EyeSight. On the front and rear of the Forster, Outback, and Legacy, is a camera that can see and detect things before the driver can. The sensor can trigger a warning signal to the driver and if needed apply the brakes. EyeSight can also detect if the vehicle sways outside of its lane and warn the driver. Subaru also has Vehicle Dynamics Control, which is a stability control system that detects steering and braking and aids in these areas for better control of the vehicle.

www.subaru.com/engineering/safety

Elevated Style

Toyota has redesigned their Corolla to appeal to the younger crowd of car buyers today. It is now a bit sporty like it once was in 1986, although the one I am thinking of was a two door hatchback, rather than a four door sedan. Hopefully Toyota will come out with a two door in addition to the four. As young adults know, style matters, and this is what Toyota has been achieving when designing the Corolla in the past. As they are famous for their Japanese style when it comes to racing, they know what looks good. Most of their cars in the past are very popular among the crowd who likes to go side ways, as in the sport of drifting, and Toyota is well known and respected in the racing industry. Most of the Japanese cars are also very versatile. They are easy to modify, tune, and customize. So with the newly designed 2014 Corolla, Toyota hopes to continue to appeal to a young crowd. Their car is also very economical which is something most new car buyers look for. The sticker price tag from the dealer shows a cost of $18,210 and edmunds.com states it to be worth $17,650. Gas mileage is also very good, 27mpg city and 36mpg highway and the ride is nice a quiet. Toyota also allows for special appearance choices, like interior colors, and alloy wheels. This allows for better customization and uniqueness for the owner. Another plus is that Toyota is known for their reliability so the customer can expect their new Corolla to last for more than 200,000 miles if it is well cared for.

Honda Odyssey Vacuum

Honda has been making the best selling mini van since 1994 and it has been very popular because of the amount space inside and their usability. With their new 2014 model, they have introduced a built-in vacuum option and are the first to do so. Not sure how this will look in the next ten years, like what it will cost to have it fixed or replaced if and when it breaks. The only think I don't like about this new feature is that it is another electricity consumer in the vehicle. With most mini vans rolling of the market with electric sliding doors and rear door, built in TV and DVD player, built in GPS, digital display on the dashboard, and automatic parking are all options and features that use electricity from the battery. Thus, creating a lot of electricity usage and extra weight for the vehicle which means less miles to the gallon. The electric sliding doors are really heavy and if and when they break they are completely useless. Because they are electric the only way to open and close them is to push a button. There is no manual skills involved, so if and when it breaks it will be stuck. With all of these electricity consumers some vehicles come with a separate battery for said features so that the starter has it's own power source.

However, this new feature of a built in vacuum looks to be very useful, convenient, and beneficial. It can be a hassle to vacuum out a van at a local do-it-yourself car wash. The hose might not reach far enough and using a household vacuum can be difficult. So this is an interesting step that Honda has taken and I wonder who will follow...

Toyota's Endeavour

If you are looking for the most reliable pickup truck ever, look no farther than Toyota!
Their new Tundra has the capability of towing anything from a little U-Haul trailer to a United States Space Shuttle. Yes that's right a Space Shuttle! Specifically the Endeavour Space Shuttle on October 13th 2012. The truck was completely original from the factory, nothing was modified or added. This is a Tundra that anyone could buy and it still has the same towing capability. Watch the video!

Toyota's trucks are also known for there incredible lifetime. There are trucks that have lasted more than three lives of a normal vehicle. My current vehicle is a 1986 Toyota pickup (Tacoma/Hilux) and it has 217,000+ miles on it and the reason for my father purchasing it brand new in 86 was because he knew someone who had one with 300,000 miles on the dial. Top Gear put a Toyota Hilux through many trials, like setting fire to it, drowning it in the ocean, and placing it on the top of a building before demolition. In all of that the truck was still able to be started and drive. Watch the video!

Top Gear has also taken a new Toyota Hilux to the North Pole and a volcano in Iceland!

So Toyota has truly accomplished an endeavor!

2012 Car of the Year

Top Gear was awarded the most widely watched factual programme of the year 2012 and has much more to offer than the TV series. In addition to its TV viewers, Top Gear has some readers who prescribe to their magazine. In their magazine you will find over two hundred pages of descent information about new and old cars out today. They also provide lots of good information that any car shopper should know about a car and comparing similar cars to find out which is best. Every year they award certain cars for best in its category or best overall. The Pagani Huayra was awarded best Supercar of the year. However, I am interested in sharing the best car overall, of this past year from Top Gear. Drum roll please...

 Yes, the Toyota GT-86 was Top Gear's choice and I simply can't wait to drive one. However, there is an interesting thing going on here. You see, this car is a triplet... There are three identical vehicles on sale today with the same engine, overall appearance (both inside and out), ruffly the same price, and they each have a different badge. Other than the GT-86 from Toyota you will find the Scion FR-S and the Subaru BRZ. They each have their own slight differences and signature color.

Now there was no plagiarism involved, no lawsuit, and no one stole the idea or anything of that sort. This was a joint effort. No matter which of the three cars, they each have both Toyota and Subaru names on the engine (Scion is a "daughter" company of Toyota so no need for their name).

So this is actually very cool, two very highly respected Japanese car manufacturers worked together to build an amazing two door sports car. Which is surprising for Subaru to release a vehicle without four wheel drive (the one and only they manufacture). They have high standards in safety which could explain the partnership. So would you rather one over the other? And why? They are the same but with a different name. Would you rather drive a Subaru or a Toyota?

They each go for about $26,000

http://www.topgear.com/uk/