Friday, June 5, 2009

Speaking of little cars, here comes the Zastava Yugo Cars



As proof fans of that the Zastava Yugo Cars converged with other loyal followers in Belgrade Park. The gathering was a surprise not only because of the attendance but because of the colorful cars that greeted spectators considering that most of theses cars now sported candy-flavored hues.

Most of the Zastava Yugo Cars which showed up at the Park were restored and were repainted with their owners bonded by a common devotion to the Yugo. Even the earliest Yugo Fica model showed up at the place eliciting oohs and aahs from both audience and fellow owners.

The large attendance of Yugo lovers is expected to once again stir a demand for Zastava Yugo Cars. Who knows, you might find one of these Yugoslavian and Serbian cars in the internet so start looking now. No need to be a communist to start lining up for one as proven by these people.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

2009-Acura-RL



The 2009 Acura RL is a low, sleek midsize luxury car that seats five. It has a great looking beltline and a tight, mean looking front and rear. In all, it's a look that puts the fun back into a midsize car. The tail lights sort of tuck into the trunk in a way that says speed while the headlights broaden the grill in a manner that bespeaks character. Even when this car is standing still it's easy to imagine it stretching around the curves on a mountain road or slipping into a tight spot in freeway traffic.
The interior is just as exciting. Bucket seats, stick shift, fingertip controls and well laid out gauges all scream sport and comfort. And the standard leather upholstery and leather wrapped steering wheel add their touch of class. Priced from $46,280, it isn't cheap, but that's expected from Acura. The question is whether it delivers more than less expensive luxury sedans like the Lincoln MKZ. Powered by an overhead cam V6 300 horsepower 3.8 liter engine, the fuel efficiency rating is 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. The five speed automatic transmission delivers whatever is asked of it. And you can add to that a better than industry average warranty. The Acura RL comes in three models, all four-door sedans - the base, the Technology Package and the Technology and CMBS package. As you would expect, there are a host of great gadgets available. The base model comes standard with dual-zone climate control, 10-way power bucket seats, keyless access and starting, power sunroof, Bose sound system, wireless cell phone link and several other goodies. The other packages add even more freebies. According to the NHTSA the Acura RL is just about as safe as you can get, with a five star rating in every area they measure. The RL sports the high end braking system and airbags everywhere that you would expect, along with front-seat active head restraints and an emergency inside trunk lid release. Well then, is there anything wrong with the Acura RL? Actually, there are a couple of issues. One is the mileage. 16/22 is just too low for a car this size, especially with today's high fuel costs. Another is the seating capacity. As noted, the car is rated for five passengers, but only two adults can ride comfortably. The front seat is fine, but the back seat is just too small. Another problem is the price. A car this size is usually for young adults, either single or with new families. At this point in their lives, many of them cannot afford even to look at the RL. Still, with great styling inside and out, the 2009 Acura RL seems to be Japanese engineering at its best. It's worth looking at if you want a luxury mid-size car.

2009-Acura-MDX



The 2009 Acura MDX is a four-door sport utility vehicle that is a carryover from the prior model year. This seven-passenger SUV includes a powerful engine, advanced navigation unit, and several features to enhance passenger comfort. This luxury model, compared on size to the Audi Q7, is both elegant and modern, with a streamlined, graceful exterior. Buyers can upgrade their 2009 MDX with a number of packages that include accessories like sophisticated entertainment equipment and a power liftgate. However, some potential buyers might be turned off by the high sticker price. Nevertheless, consumers can rest assured knowing that they will certainly be getting their money's worth.
Under the hood, the Acura MDX is fitted with an impressive 300 horsepower 3.7L V6 engine. While the engine has generous power, some consumers could be disappointed with the lack of options. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard and includes Sequential Sportshift. This feature creates smoother shifting, keeps the transmission in the appropriate gear, and can adapt to manual mode for more driver control. Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive improves handling in high-performance circumstances. For example, when going around a curve, the SH-AWD will select the proper gear and hold it, rather than switching in the middle of a turn. Also, the Acura MDX gets around 15 city MPG and 20 highway MPG - around the median fuel efficiency for a mid-size SUV. Inside, the 2009 MDX includes tri-zone climate control. This allows the driver, front passenger, and rear passengers to each control the climate to meet their specific needs. Steering wheel mounted controls let the driver connect to the Bluetooth system, adjust the volume or radio station, and access the navigation system directly from the steering wheel. A multi-informational display is located in the instrument cluster. This digital readout will alert drivers when maintenance is needed on their MDX and if a tire has too much or too little pressure. One of the biggest selling features of the 2009 MDX is the Acura Navigation System. Available with the upgrade to either the Technology or Sport Package, this in-dash navigation unit includes an eight-inch LCD screen and a voice recognition system. The voice recognition can understand commands and automatically insert the data into the unit, without a driver even having to lift a finger. AcuraLink Real-time Traffic will provide drivers with up-to-date traffic reports, and the Zagat Survey feature can give owners restaurant suggestions in the area. However, buyers should be aware that even with the purchase of an upgrade package that includes the nav unit, the extra features on the system expire after 90 days and require a fee-based subscription to continue services. Overall, the 2009 Acura MDX includes a great number of features that are sure to impress even the most discriminating buyers. However, families on a budget might be hard pressed to come up with the $40,790 base price. Not only that, but with only one engine and transmission choice, those that are looking to customize a drive train will need to look elsewhere. Of course, for buyers that are searching for cutting edge technology and driver and passenger comfort, the Acura MDX is hard to beat.

2009 Acura TL



The TL has been Acura's best selling model for quite some time. In recent years, however, sales have begun to dip for a number of reasons. In an effort to breathe some life into the model, they have decided on a substantial redesign for this year. The result is the 2009 Acura TL.
If you're familiar with the brand, the first thing you will notice is the drastically redesigned exterior. At first glance, the TL has what can probably be described as a futuristic appearance. The most noticeable characteristic is the "beak" that comes down under the grille. This unique feature will probably be one of those "love it" or "hate it" things. This unusual design is carried through on the rear of the car as well. Overall, the car is actually larger than previous models. It's also larger than its two top rivals, the Infiniti G and the Lexus ES. The TL comes standard with 17" wheels, and 18" and 19" are available as options. The interior of the Acura TL also receives an upgrade this year. The styling and technology options give the car a more upscale feel than previous versions. Standard features include 8 disc CD changer, USB and iPod connectivity. If that's not enough, you can upgrade to the Technology Package, which includes the voice activated navigation system and premium sound. Under the hood, you have the choice of two different power plants, both of which are paired with a five speed automatic transmission. The first is a 280 HP 3.5L V6 and the other is a 308 HP 3.7L V6. Gas mileage is reasonable at 18/26 in the base model, and 17/24 in the all wheel drive version. On the road, drivers can expect the same quality and performance they have come to expect in the Acura TL. The safety features in the 2009 TL are comparable to those in the Jaguar XJ-Series and most other new cars. If you're tired of the cookie cutter style of auto design these days, you may find the 2009 Acura TL to be quite refreshing. The redesigned exterior provides a very unique look as it goes down the road. Coming in at around $35,000 for the base model, the TL continues to be one of the most impressive sport sedans on the road today. Love it or hate it, the TL will definitely get your attention.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

VW Scirocco R with 265HP 2.0 TSI


The high-performance 'R' version of the Scirocco that was previewed as a concept study at last year's Bologna Motor Show has finally been revealed in production form. The new Scirocco R is powered by a reworked version of the previous Golf GTI V's 2.0-liter engine boasting a higher pressure turbocharger as well as other modifications such as new intercooler that help boost output to 265HP and 350Nm or 258.2-lbs/ft of torque. The reason why VW chose the older generation 'EA113' four-pot over the Golf GTI VI's newer 2.0 TSI codenamed 'EA888' is said to concern the lower development costs.