Friday, December 7, 2012

BMW 4 Series

BMW 4 Series Concept Front
BMW 4 Series  Concept  will begin deliveries starting late summer - early Fall of 2013 and it’s currently rumored to be projected for a “just over” € 2,000 euro higher price tag than the F30 3 series.

With the 4 Series Coupe Concept being revealed to overwhelmingly positive reactions, the question on many a fan’s mind is what the production version may be priced at when it hits the market in late summer of 2013. With its 4 Series badging, the coupe has now been slotted above the 3 Series in the lineup and the presumption is that the 4 Series price premium above the 3 Series will increase more than ever.

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Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Honda Civic 2013

Honda Civic 2013
Honda Civic 2013 is equipped with a suite of class-leading standard features. Standard equipment on every Honda Civic includes Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, Bluetooth® Audio, rearview camera, color i-MID display, USB/iPod® connection, Pandora® Interface, an SMS text feature, steering wheel audio controls, exterior temperature gauge and sliding center-console armrest. Even with hundreds of dollars of standard features added, the 2013 Civic arrives with only a modest $160 increase in MSRP across the lineup, with pricing for the exceptionally well-equipped 2013 Civic LX Sedan beginning at $18,165.

Honda Civic 2013Honda Civic 2013
Powertrains

The 2013 Honda Civic lineup includes sedan and coupe models with a conventional gasoline engine and "Si" performance models. Civic also offers a high fuel efficiency "HF," hybrid and exclusive natural gas alternative-fuel sedans.

Heavily revised for the ninth-gen Civic introduction for model year 2012, the Civic's all-aluminum, 140-horsepower, i-VTEC® 1.8-liter 16-valve four-cylinder engine is unchanged for 2013, continuing to provide exceptional responsiveness, refinement, and fuel efficiency. Providing 128 lb-ft of torque at 4300 rpm, the Honda mill is paired with either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. In the Honda Civic Sedan and Coupe, this powertrain has earned an EPA fuel-economy rating of 28/39/32 mpg city/hwy/combined when equipped with the automatic transmission. In the Civic HF Sedan, those figures climb to 29/41/33 mpg.

Now available in 37 states, the 2013 Honda Civic Natural Gas continues as the only mass produced natural gas sedan available in the U.S. In the Civic Natural Gas, the 1.8-liter engine produces 110 horsepower, and earns an EPA fuel economy rating of 27/38/31 mpg2 (city/hwy/combined). The 2013 Civic Hybrid features a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine equipped with Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA®) system, which when coupled with its Lithium-Ion battery pack, produces 110 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque. Paired to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), the Honda Civic Hybrid earns a city/hwy/combined EPA rating of 44/44/44 mpg. The Civic Sedan and Coupe, Civic Natural Gas and Civic Hybrid models all feature Honda's ECO Assist™ technology, which with the push of the green, dash-mounted "ECON" button, can help drivers operate the vehicle more efficiently.

Along with strong fuel efficiency, the Civic lineup also offers strong performance. The 2013 Civic Si Sedan and Si Coupe models are equipped with an all-aluminum, 201-horsepower, i-VTEC® 2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve engine paired to a 6-speed manual transmission. Even though it provides 170 lb-ft of torque and offers exhilarating performance, the Honda Civic Si has a remarkable 31 mpg EPA highway fuel economy rating.

Honda Civic 2013Honda Civic 2013
Body

For 2013, the Honda Civic has received a host of changes that far exceed the typical mid-model refresh. The front and rear styling of the 2013 Honda Civic Sedan has been completely altered for a more youthful and premium feel, including sheet metal changes that include an all-new hood and trunk lid. Up front, a new open-mouth lower bumper with a horizontal chrome accent and a sportier, black honeycomb mesh grille is anchored by new integrated fog lights on EX-L and above trims. The grille is flanked by new clear-lens corner lights to provide a more premium look. The 2013 Civic's more sculpted front end flows into a new taller, more deeply faceted hood.

In back, a new rear bumper design and new rear trunk lid are capped by a clean, horizontal chrome trim piece. The all-new design of the jewel-like taillights now carries into the trunk face, providing a more finished and upscale look. The rear bumper features integrated reflector treatments and a new lower diffuser panel finished with a honeycomb mesh vent. While the expressive exterior styling of the 2013 Honda Civic Coupe remains unchanged, restyled wheels on all models help sharpen the look of the 2013 Civic.

Constructed of 55-pecent high-strength steel, the 2013 Honda Civic's body minimizes weight and maximizes strength for greater rigidity. The 2013 Civic's body has seen a host of changes to the front floor, side sill, A-pillar, upper wheel housing and front bumper extension. This addition of high-strength steel is expected to pay refinement dividends and provide a stiffer structure for the numerous chassis updates for the 2013 Civic. In addition, the Civic's new structure is designed to help it excel in the new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) small overlap crash test.

Honda Civic 2013
Chassis

Under the skin, the 2013 Honda Civic has had significant alterations aimed at enhancing handling refinement and noise isolation. A reworked Electronic Power Steering (EPS) setup reduces friction and provides a quicker ratio, while stiffer wheels, stiffer front springs and a thicker front stabilizer bar with new Teflon-lined mounting bushings are designed for more fluid suspension action and a flatter, more responsive cornering attitude.

The rear suspension also receives a thicker stabilizer bar, increased spring rate, new Teflon-lined stabilizer-bar bushings, and reworked suspension bushings to increase both bump- and roll-motion stiffness. With its retuned MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension, handling linearity, responsiveness and overall vehicle composure have been increased, while at the same time improving ride quality and the characteristic Honda fun-to-drive feel. For 2013, front brake-rotor diameter on automatic-equipped Civic LX, EX and EX-L Sedans and Coupes jumps 20 mm from 262 to 282 mm for improved stopping performance.

A large range of new noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) countermeasures work together to reduce road, engine and wind noise in the 2013 Civic's interior. This includes a stiffer front subframe, new thicker windshield and front door glass, and additional soundproofing material in the dash, floor, doors, and rear tray to help reduce unwanted road noise, and provide a more serene ride and quieter cabin.

Honda Civic 2013 InteriorHonda Civic 2013 Interior
Interior

Inside, extensive refinements in design and construction gives the entire 2013 Honda Civic lineup a more premium feel, with an all-new tricot headliner, new soft-touch materials on the instrument panel and upper door treatment, and revised textures and panel junctions throughout the instrument panel and center console. Subtle silver accents in the interior lend a higher-quality look, along with door panel and seat fabric upgrades. Providing a more upscale environment, black carpeting and a trunk lid finisher are now standard on all Civic models. For the first time, Civic is available in both cloth and leather with an all-black interior.

The 2013 Honda Civic provides a host of new class-leading standard features, including Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, Bluetooth® Audio, rearview camera, color i-MID display, Pandora® Interface, USB/iPod® interface, SMS text message function, steering wheel audio controls, exterior temperature gauge and a sliding finished center armrest. Available on Honda Civic EX, EX-L, Hybrid and Natural Gas models, the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with voice recognition now includes a multi-view rearview camera and provides routing and guidance to individual addresses and more than 7-million points of interest within the continental United States. With its 16-GB flash memory system, it offers fast route calculation and includes FM traffic, a subscription-free service that alerts drivers to traffic conditions.

Honda Civic 2013 Engine
Safety

Named a "2012 Top Safety Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Civic returns for 2013 with a re-engineered Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ II (ACE™ II) body structure. The changes that went into the ACE II body structure were designed to help increase the protection provided to vehicle occupants in a frontal collision, including the addition of front end structures to help disperse crash energy in narrow overlap frontal crashes. These changes should also help the Civic obtain top marks in the new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) small overlap frontal crash test.

Also new for 2013, the Honda Civic features Honda's new SmartVent™ front seat side airbag construction that recently debuted in the 2013 Honda Accord. The new SmartVent™ airbag design helps mitigate the risk of excessive side airbag deployment force, while eliminating the need for the prior Honda Civic's Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS). The elimination of OPDS allows improved heating of the seatback on Civic EX-L models. Additionally, the 2013 Civic is equipped with a side curtain airbag with rollover sensors, nearly two years ahead of regulatory requirements.

A first in the compact segment, the 2013 Honda Civic Hybrid will provide standard Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) systems. FCW is designed to detect a possible collision with another vehicle or object ahead and provide visible and audible alerts to the driver. LDW provides visible and audible alerts if the driver begins to drift out of a detected lane without using the turn indicator.

The 2013 Honda Civic's additional safety technologies include standard dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with traction control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and a pedestrian injury mitigation design in the front of the vehicle.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

2013 Ford Fusion

2013 Ford Fusion
The new 2013 Ford Fusion, Ford is pitching what appears to be quite a game changer in Detroit.  From design to drivetrain, the 2013 Fusion represents an evolutionary step forward for the brand, a vehicle that not only embraces the standards of next generation design and technology, it works to push those standards.  We at TheCoolist are in Detroit for the North American International Auto Show, picking up the trail of a Ford story that began a year ago next month
2013 Ford Fusion2013 Ford Fusion Interior

Ford revealed the Ford EVOS Concept, an aggressively-styled stunner with a hybrid heartbeat.  From our perspective, the EVOS concept was a new direction for Ford, a move away from conservative design philosophies and that repeated razor-style grille.  Today, the technology and design cues presented in the EVOS are embodied in the 2013 Ford Fusion, a vehicle that presents a whole lot of promise.

The new Ford Fusion is a clear step forward in styling.  It feels almost European in design, giving a nod to Aston Martin up front and BMW in the back.  Gone is the aforementioned razor-style grille, opting instead for an aggressive, slatted breather with headlight eyes perched above and behind.  The hood features raised lines that add to the Fusion’s aggressive character, echoed on the sides on a continued angle.  The rest of the vehicle is a bit more conservative, feeling like a comfort-class cruiser for a full family.

2013 Ford Fusion2013 Ford Fusion
Where the new Ford Fusion really pushes the pedal is in the power department.  The 2013 iteration provides a range of engine options all the way up to a plug-in hybrid system capable of 100 MPGe.  This system puts it squarely in competition with the Chevy Volt, Toyota Prius and others as soon as it hits market.  The plug-in model, dubbed Ford Fusion Energi, sits atop the 2013 Fusion offering, but the entry models present fuel savings as well.  The base-model 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine presents 179 horsepower and up to 37 mpg on the freeway.  In between these (and other) options is the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid, a non-plug system that provides 47 mpg in the city and up to 62 miles per hour on pure electric power.
2013 Ford Fusion2013 Ford Fusion Interior2013 Ford Fusion2013 Ford Fusion2013 Ford Fusion

2013 Toyota Rav4

2013 Toyota Rav4
2013 Toyota Rav4, Toyota officially unveiled its latest RAV4 model which looks really good. The fourth generation of this crossover SUV delivers a dynamic exterior with a sleek roofline and proportional head and taillights which provide a more athletic appearance. The standard package also includes privacy glass, cruise control and daytime running lights. To complete the exterior appearance, Toyota opted for 17 or 18-inch alloy or steel wheels (depending on the level trim chosen by the customer) wrapped in quality tires.
2013 Toyota Rav42013 Toyota Rav4
By stepping inside this stylish 2013 RAV4 model you will notice a spacious cabin with a new dash panel, comfortable seats and a urethane steering wheel which for the upper level will be wrapped in leather. In addition, the new crossover will come equipped with high performance technologies including automatic climate control, power side mirrors, a 6-inch LCD touchscreen and Bluetooth connectivity. The XLE and Limited trim levels will also feature the Entune multimedia system, GPS Navigation and the Blind Spot Monitor system. You should also know that this RAV4 provides a larger and easier to access cargo area of 38.4 cubic feet. If you also fold the rear seats, you will be able to benefit from around 73.4 cubic feet of cargo space.
Under the hood, this 2013 crossover hosts a four cylinder engine with a capacity of 2.5 liters which is quite a novelty considering that the previous models were powered by V6 engines. This new engine will be able to deliver 176 horsepower and 172lb ft of torque while being paired with a six-speed transmission.

2013 Toyota Rav42013 Toyota Rav4 Interior2013 Toyota Rav4 Interior2013 Toyota Rav42013 Toyota Rav42013 Toyota Rav4