Nik J Miles

Posts Tagged ‘Iveho’

“All-New 2012 Kia Rio provides new fuel saving technology”

Kia has certainly come a long way since their vehicles were first marketed here on our shores. The Korean automaker is now definitely a force to be reckoned with on all levels of their existing stable. We’ll deal here with their latest Kia Rio lineup.

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Toyota pulled the wraps of the secretive 2013 Avalon premium mid-size sedan in early April at the 2012 New York International Auto Show.  Re-conceived for a new assault on the premium mid-size sedan segment, the all new Avalon will offer improved dynamic performance, refinement and a spacious, comfortable interior with a new level of convenience technologies.

The striking Avalon design was created by a young team of designers from Toyota’s Calty Design Research Inc. facilities in Southern California and Michigan.

Structural and chassis improvements with improve ride quality, straight-line stability and handling should make it more of a driver’s car. Read the rest of this entry »

“Kia introduces their first ever U.S. Hybrid vehicle – The 2012 Optima”

The Sonata Hybrid from Hyundai bowed first, claiming the best mid-size sedan highway fuel economy. Now Hyundai’s Korean sibling Kia has introduced their first ever Hybrid for the U.S. market – the Optima for 2012, boasting the same EPA mileage ratings from the same basic powertrain. In fact the Optima, which is not an exact clone of the Sonata, is pretty darned close, even within the same pricing range.

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ZF, the famous German transmission maker, announced they will be supplying the 2013 Ram 1500 trucks with eight-speed automatic transmissions.

The eight-speed automatic will be standard equipment on Ram trucks with the award-winning Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 engine.  The efficient new engine and transmission is expected to deliver best-in-class fuel economy.

The eight-speed (8HP) will also be offered on the famous 5.7-liter Hemi V-8. Read the rest of this entry »

“Mercedes-Benz SL 550 for 2013: A Grand Sport Tourer”

A legend celebrates 60 years

The iconic SL retractable hardtop from Mercedes-Benz for the 2013 model year is lighter, quicker and more agile than its predecessor as it enters its sixth generation. Badged as an SL550 here on our soil and as the SL500 in other markets, the alpha-numeric designation in either case bears no relativity to the actual displacement, which is really 4.6-liters.

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By Barbara Schaffer

Richmond, Calif. – Typically a year or two after a new vehicle is introduced, the sales peak and then decline until the next new model is introduced four to six years later.  Evidently the Ford Escape didn’t get the message.

When Escape debuted in 2000 as a 2001 model sales were good and reached more than 164,000 during the first full year of production and then went on to average more than 185,000 units annually through 2010.  During that time there was a minor freshening in 2007.  Then in 2011, the year before the debut of an all-new model, Escape sold a record 254,293 to become the best-selling SUV in America.  They definitely didn’t get the message.  Read the rest of this entry »

Four years ago, Ford Motor Company was the first to introduce a new system to add gasoline to a vehicle without removing a cap, and now that system has spread to most of the Ford lineup.

Now General Motors is announcing the introduction of a better capless fueling system on the new Cadillac XTS luxury sedan. 

“This new system has advantages for both the car and the driver,” said John Hamilton, Cadillac fuel fill systems design engineer. “It helps keep hands free of dirt and fuel, paint free of scratches caused by a swinging cap, and the engine running smoothly.” Read the rest of this entry »

 Volvo C30  R-Design

By Barbara & Bill Schaffer

Of the three Polestar modified cars, the C30 feels the most dramatic on the road and much of that is due to its smaller size.  Already one of our favorites for its sporty handling and the styling, which resembles a contemporary version of the P1800ES from the early 1970s.  Powered by a 227-hp, 236-lb.ft. of torque turbocharged five-cylinder engine, the 3,200-pound vehicle accelerates from 0 to 60 in 6.8-seconds and has a track top speed electronically limited to 149 mph.

Shifting is handled by a six-speed manual transmission or the five-speed Geartronic with the manual shifting “auto stick.”   Read the rest of this entry »

Volvo XC60 R-Design

By Barbara & Bill Schaffer

Now in its third year the Volvo XC60 is one of our favorite premium compact crossovers.  From the dramatic styling to the world-class safety systems to the strong performance, the XC60 stands out in the crowded category.

For 2012, major changes include a new R-Design engine, new trim level and more features.  Adding more bite to the latest model, the 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder engine gets the Polestar software treatment, and like the S60 version, horsepower and torque receive a nice bump to 325-hp and 354-lb.ft. of torque.  Essentially the same drivetrain as the S60 and about 400 pounds heavier, the XC60 can produce a 6.9-second 0 to 60 mph time and the same top speed electronically limited to 130 mph. The weight and less aerodynamic body drops the fuel economy numbers to 17 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. Read the rest of this entry »

Volvo S60 R-Design AWD

By Barbara and Bill Schaffer

One year after the introduction of the S60 T6, which could best be called the brand’s performance leader, the sport sedan gets a boost from the Polestar treatment.  Boasting 25 more horsepower and 29-lb.ft. of torque, the new R-Design version drops the 0 to 60 mph acceleration time to 5.3 seconds while the top speed is electronically limited to 130.

As the best performing Volvo ever, the S60 R-Design is a product of software tuning where the alterations are made electronically in a method similar to the chips used by some aftermarket tuners.  Software modifications are an easy way to improve performance without modifying hardware, so the original warranty is still in affect and the fuel economy is the same as the T6 version – 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.  Read the rest of this entry »