.jpg "New Generation Honda- Hybrid Cars")
Honda has finally pulled the Insight off of life support, according to autoblog. In a press release issued today, the Japanese car manufacturer announced that production of the most affordable hybrid will cease this summer. Honda will be strengthening its focus on advancement of their Earth Dreams Technology powertrains.
.jpg "New Generation Honda- Hybrid Cars")
Manufacturer has more experience with electromotive technologies than Honda and we are committed to applying our expertise to a wide range of products in the coming years," said Michael Accavitti, senior vice president of auto operations at American Honda. "Our hybrid vehicle strategy will focus on new models aimed at delivering the class-leading fuel economy and performance our customers' desire in segments that represent.
.jpg "New Generation Honda- Hybrid Cars")
The next three or four years Honda will be making changes to their line up with focus on the new two-motor system found in the 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid which gets 50mpg, making it the most fuel-efficient rating for a 5-passenger sedan in America.
.jpg "New Generation Honda- Hybrid Cars")
For four straight years, the second generation Insight was named “Greenest Vehicle” by the American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy (say that three times fast) and a “Top Choice” by Edmunds. The second generation introduced in 2009 offered fuel-efficient hybrid performance with 5-door hatchback practicality, but its demise puts the sportier CR-Z on the chopping block next.
.jpg "New Generation Honda- Hybrid Cars")
.jpg "New Generation Honda- Hybrid Cars")
.jpg "New Generation Honda- Hybrid Cars")
.jpg "New Generation Honda- Hybrid Cars")
.jpg "Allen Wong's Lamborghini Aventador")
GT Spirit reported earlier today (March 26, 2013) that American App developer of Rego Apps and youngest owner of a Lamborghini Aventador Allen Wong, posted a video just two days ago on his personal youtube chronicling how he picked up his former neighbor’s kid from school in his Blue Lamborghini Aventador.
.jpg "Allen Wong's Lamborghini Aventador")
According to the video, the 17 year old's father passed away not to long ago and her family’s too poor to afford a car. Her mother is currently an alcoholic and steals from her social security to buy cigarettes and alcohol. In an attempt to brighten her spirits, Wang decided to pick her up one day from school in his Lamborghini Aventador supercar and bring her to Times Square to enjoy an afternoon in one of the kindest gestures that this kid will remember for the rest of her life.
Supercars are all about having fun, reaching new extremes and testing your limits. Oftentimes, owners forget about others and focus only on themselves. Not so in the case of Allen Wang. This simple gesture reminds us to share with others and to offer a kind gesture whenever possible. Props to Allen Wong.
GT Spirit reported earlier today (Oct 31, 2013) that a Lamborghini Aventador unfortunately crashed in a weather related accident in the United Kingdom. The Aventador is owned by a London based family that rent the cars high-end out under the trading name of Platinum Exclusive Travel and can usually be seen with registration plates ending in PET. The Lamborghini was out with a potential customer when it lost control on the highways of the United Kingdom resulting in the unfortunate wreckage pictured.
The Lamborghini Aventador is a very fast car by any measure today. With a 6.5 Liter engine pumping out 700 HP at 8250 rpm, any driver would be wise to take some caution when putting the pedal to the metal. All this power is routed to all four wheel via Lamborghini's infamous all wheel drive system. That doesn't mean that this Italian Beast is totally controllable given four wheel drive's infamous handling in inclement weather ( as demonstrated by the picture above.)
The owner of this Aventador isn't worried as he already has another one on order from the factory.
.jpg "Journalists get preview of Audi’s 2015 A3")
With all their twists and turns, switchbacks and hairpins, and ups and downs, the roads and byways that wind through the Santa Cruz mountains south of San Franciso offer a perfect place to test the capabilities of a modern sports sedan.
In other words, an ideal environment for Audi to bring its new A3 this past week to give auto writers from around the country the opportunity for a hands-on, behind-the-wheel experience.
In other words, an ideal environment for Audi to bring its new A3 this past week to give auto writers from around the country the opportunity for a hands-on, behind-the-wheel experience.
.jpg "Journalists get preview of Audi’s 2015 A3")
The German automaker is venturing into new territory with the 2015 version of the A3.
After serving as a hatchback since its introduction to U.S. audiences less than a decade ago, the A3 now has morphed into sedan configuration which the company figures will have more appeal for domestic buyers than the previous five-door model.
Coming later in the year are a droptop version, the A3 Cabriolet, and a clean diesel model, the A3 TDI, and they will be joined in 2015 by a gas-electric hybrid version.
After serving as a hatchback since its introduction to U.S. audiences less than a decade ago, the A3 now has morphed into sedan configuration which the company figures will have more appeal for domestic buyers than the previous five-door model.
Coming later in the year are a droptop version, the A3 Cabriolet, and a clean diesel model, the A3 TDI, and they will be joined in 2015 by a gas-electric hybrid version.
.jpg "Journalists get preview of Audi’s 2015 A3")
When the A3 first goes on sale this spring, it will offer buyers the choice of two four-cylinder engines, a 1.8-liter turbo with front-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter turbo with Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system.
The 1.8 model is rated at 170 horsepower with 200 pound-feet of torque from 1600 to 4400 rpm. The 2.0 bumps up horsepower to 220 and torque up to 258 pound-feet at only a small cost in fuel consumption. The 1.8 has EPA estimates of 23 miles-per-gallon city, 33 highway. Numbers for the larger 2.0 are 24/33.
With a zero-to-60 mph clocking of 7.2 seconds, the 1.8 models sports power that would be adequate for most situations and satisfy all but the most power-hungry drivers, and an afternoon drive backed that up. The 1.8 handled the steep upgrades around the headquarters hotel with a pleasing aplomb with no particular stress on the engine.
The 1.8 model is rated at 170 horsepower with 200 pound-feet of torque from 1600 to 4400 rpm. The 2.0 bumps up horsepower to 220 and torque up to 258 pound-feet at only a small cost in fuel consumption. The 1.8 has EPA estimates of 23 miles-per-gallon city, 33 highway. Numbers for the larger 2.0 are 24/33.
With a zero-to-60 mph clocking of 7.2 seconds, the 1.8 models sports power that would be adequate for most situations and satisfy all but the most power-hungry drivers, and an afternoon drive backed that up. The 1.8 handled the steep upgrades around the headquarters hotel with a pleasing aplomb with no particular stress on the engine.
.jpg "Journalists get preview of Audi’s 2015 A3")
But a full day in the 2.0 confirmed what could be expected. Facing elevation changes on a route that went from near sea level along California’s Pacific Coast Highway to altitudes of over 2,700 feet, the 2.0 virtually glided up the mountains with the eagerness of a thoroughbred racehorse in a stretch run for the roses. For the record, the 2.0 bursts from zero-to-60 in 5.8 seconds according to Audi’s timers.
.jpg "Journalists get preview of Audi’s 2015 A3")
At 3,362 pounds, the 2.0 is about 187 pounds heavier than the 1.8, but both acquit themselves very well when it comes to agility and handling tight, mountain-road curves that often call for quick steering.
And both the 2.0 and 1.8 do so in style and comfort. The A3’s profile is slightly larger than the two-door TT coupe and slightly smaller than Audi’s popular A4 sedan.
Yet the A3 offers virtually the same legroom in front (41.2 inches) and back (35.1) as the somewhat larger A4 (41.3 and 35.2, respectively). Cargo capacity for the A3 (12.2 cubic feet) and the A4 (12.4 cubic feet) are virtually the same as well.
And both the 2.0 and 1.8 do so in style and comfort. The A3’s profile is slightly larger than the two-door TT coupe and slightly smaller than Audi’s popular A4 sedan.
Yet the A3 offers virtually the same legroom in front (41.2 inches) and back (35.1) as the somewhat larger A4 (41.3 and 35.2, respectively). Cargo capacity for the A3 (12.2 cubic feet) and the A4 (12.4 cubic feet) are virtually the same as well.
.jpg "Journalists get preview of Audi’s 2015 A3")
And the 2015 A3 also offers an advantage in pricing over the A4 with a starting MSRP of under $30,000 for the 1.8 (not including destination and delivery) and $32,900 for the AWD quattro 2.0 model.
MSRP starts at $35,595 for the 2014 A4, and that’s with a six-speed manual transmission. The new A3 has Audi’s six-speed S Tronic dual-clutch transmission as standard in both the 1.8 and 2.0 models.
It’s going to be interesting to see how buyers respond when it comes to selecting between the A3 and the A4, and Audi may be wondering about that as well. For now, though, the edge would seem to go with the A3.
MSRP starts at $35,595 for the 2014 A4, and that’s with a six-speed manual transmission. The new A3 has Audi’s six-speed S Tronic dual-clutch transmission as standard in both the 1.8 and 2.0 models.
It’s going to be interesting to see how buyers respond when it comes to selecting between the A3 and the A4, and Audi may be wondering about that as well. For now, though, the edge would seem to go with the A3.
.jpg "Journalists get preview of Audi’s 2015 A3")
.jpg "Journalists get preview of Audi’s 2015 A3")
.jpg "Journalists get preview of Audi’s 2015 A3")
.jpg "Journalists get preview of Audi’s 2015 A3")
.jpg "Journalists get preview of Audi’s 2015 A3")
.jpg "Journalists get preview of Audi’s 2015 A3")
.jpg "Journalists get preview of Audi’s 2015 A3")