Jaguar XJ

In its 2009 Buyer’s Guide, the Environmental Transport Association named the Jaguar XJ Britain’s greenest luxury car. It is the third consecutive year that the Jaguar XJ 2.7 Diesel has received this prestigious award. The criteria considered by the ETA in its review of 1,300 vehicles include fuel efficiency, emissions, power, and engine noise.

The all-new Jaguar XJ will be revealed in London in early July 2009, with first customer deliveries occurring in early 2010. It’s the first Jaguar to utilize the aerospace-inspired aluminum body architecture. The automaker’s Gen III petrol and diesel engines are available in the new Jaguar XJ.

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Smart Fortwo was really popular in 2008 when Penske Automotive Group, the official sold over 24k total sales. The sales for 2009 do not look as good. So far only 7,451 Fortwo cars have been sold and Penske Automotive wants to sell at least 25k this year.

With all these in mind Penske has decided to offer some incentive for all Fortwo buyers. Until the end of July you will be able to qualify for 4.2% financing through Daimler Financial Services for every new 2009 Smart Fortwo. What do you think? Is that enough to convince you to purchase a new Fortwo.

via autonews

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2009 Volkswagen CC

The 2009 Volkswagen Passat CC has won the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick award. “The TOP SAFETY PICK award from the IIHS is a tremendous honor for our CC,” said Mark Barnes, Chief Operating Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc.

“We are thrilled when organizations like the IIHS recognize the hard work of our engineers who are dedicated to the safety of our customers. This award further validates Volkswagen’s Prevent and Preserve Safety System approach to vehicle safety.” To get the Top Safety Pick rating, a vehicle must score tops in front, side and rear impact results. The CC fits into the IIHS’s ‘midsize, moderately priced cars’ category for measuring purposes.

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2009 Phantom Interior

The 2009 Rolls Royce Phantom seems to be caught in an odd moment in time.  On one hand it honors traditional grilles and the winged hood ornament yet the Phantom also tries to work in modern geometric shapes on its front end and dashboard. The classic details end up being more plausible than the hipper bits, especially inside. Quality and comforts are plenty inside the 2009 Phantom. The front seats offer up regal perches and sit high enough to offer an ideal view of the iconic hood ornament.

The rear seats are even more impressive, with more than ample leg room.  Finish details are everywhere you turn: leather and cashmere surfaces, sheets of beautiful veneer applied everywhere but the windows and the chrome poured over buttons to give them a cool massiveness.  Extra touches include sunroof, automatic climate control, andLexicon audio system as well as the customary satellite radio, Bluetooth and DVD screens.

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2009 Chevy Silverado

The 2009 Chevy Silverado holds its line well when going down interstates and moves through turns without billowing around. The workhorse powertrain also makes a good showing during more practical applications such as towing. Navigating this or any other full-size crew-cab pickup, for that matter, around crowded city streets and parking lots, however, can cause you to sweat because you feel as if you’re taking up the whole road and actually, you are! The wide and plush seats provide long run comfort and rear-seat passengers have it nearly as good as those in front.

The rear seats also have a flip-up mode to make a tall cargo space. The attractive cabin is relatively quiet at freeway speeds, with wind rush around the mirrors being the only noticeable violation. If you really need the capabilities of a multitasking pickup and but want lots of luxury, too, then consider the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado LTZ crew cab.

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2009 Honda Accord

The EPA has classified the 2009 Honda Accord LX-P sedan as a large vehicle yet it still keeps its midsize handling dynamics and remains a strong competitor in the family sedan segment. Cruising around town, the 2.4-liter engine accelerates vigorously, with ample power to pass slower vehicles. Steering is tight and precise, and when forced, the Accord reveals a capable chassis concealed beneath the body roll. The 2009 Honda Accord’s roomy interior makes it easy to get in and out of and finding a comfortable driving position is a breeze due to a tilt-telescoping steering wheel. You’ll notice that the seats are firm and well-bolstered, and the cloth upholstery is soft and comfortable.

The trunk has a large opening, but the location of the rear struts makes the usable space in the back of the trunk narrow like an hourglass and with this limitation, the Accord to has less usable trunk space than its competitors. The Accord’s styling can best be described as simple and clean with high-quality materials throughout the well-built interior. This improved quality, blended with Honda’s reputation for reliability, makes this 2009 Accord a solid bet in the midsize sedan segment.

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2009 300SL Panamericana

The 2009 300 SL Panamericana is based on a reproduction from Hoope’r, Gullwing-AG in Germany, who produce the nearest model you can get to the real thing. Arturo Alonso and his company, Gullwing-America , altered this already Iconic automobile into an exotic vehicle for the 21st century. A beautiful blending of the Carrera Panamericana cars of the 50’s and new technology have produced this incredible sports car.

Alonso himself raced the Carrera for years in a Mercedes 300SE, where the love for this legendary Race and the Mercedes was born. Its power comes from a 5.5-liter Mercedes engine that is also used on the Mercedes McLaren SLR. Gullwing-America has lowered the car to give it a sportier look and feel. It has side mufflers, a special grille, no bumpers and 17-inch AMG wheels. There will be an optional V6 available next year in addition to the 5.5-liter engine.

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Special Edition A-Class

The new Special Edition model of the A-Class by Mercedes-Benz comes with design features reserved only for this edition, in addition to abundant, high-grade appointments. This special model is defined by exclusive features such as 16-inch titanium silver light-alloy wheels in a new 9-spoke design, the black radiator louvres, and a “Special Edition” badge on the mirror triangle.

The interior of the Special Edition 2009 is accentuated by a two-tone colour scheme in black and grey as well as shiny black trim with a pattern and black velour floor mats with grey edging and an embroidered Edition label. A Seating Comfort package is also standard equipment, with seat cushion angle adjustment and lumbar supports for the driver and front passenger. The new Special Edition 2009 of the A-Class is limited to 5,500 units.

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2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata

In order to try and reduce pitching and rolling and sharpen steering responses, Mazda revised the 2009 MX-5 Miata’s shock and spring rates. The stability-control system has been reprogrammed to be less intrusive as well, while the six-speed manual transmission has upgraded carbon-coated synchronizers for more fluid shifting.

 The 2.0-liter MZR four-cylinder has a new oil cooler, a new forged-steel crank and connecting rods, new pistons with stronger wrist pins, and stouter valve springs. Changes to the intake ducting also bring back some of the more seductive engine sounds of the original Miata. This little roadster remains one of the most entertaining cars to drive. It is agile, light and always ready for fun.

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The limited-edition 2009 Bentley Brooklands is a four-seat superior luxury coupe that comes in only one trim, but of course, it’s loaded up with standard features. Continuing on with Bentley’s race-winning heritage, the Brooklands carries a 6.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that comes from the Brooklands’ companions- the Arnage and the Azure. Its official output is 530 hp and 774 pound-feet of torque while that may seem like overkill, keep in mind that the V8 has some serious weight to cart around.

The Brooklands is 17 feet+ long and weighs nearly 3 tons. Without a doubt, this Bentley makes a statement. It is a contemporary representation of a bygone automotive era when women wore long flowing dresses and wealthy gentlemen desired a large, luxurious coupe that was supremely stately, yet powerful. Regardless of what they are wearing, todays driver will need to come up with at least the base price of $348,085.

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One thing that might not be directly appreciated when looking at the 2009 Volvo XC70 T6 from outside is the huge amount of space inside. Its ride is supremely smooth but in the end it is a fairly unexciting piece of machinery. The interior is modern and seating comfort is high in all positions ,however tall rear seat passengers will probably note a lack of leg room.

The rather high door sill height is not a position that would be inconvenient for most people, but those with limited range of motion, joint pain or other physical limitations in regards to leg-raising might want to note this aspect of the XC70 before buying. This vehicle appears to be a jack-of-all-trades so it could mean the XC70 T6 has more appeal than the average vehicle by offering a bit of everything a family might need rolled into one. Overall, the XC70 T6 is a very well-made but not terribly exciting vehicle.

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2009 Chevrolet Cobalt

The Chevrolet Cobalt is a good option if you are looking for affordable, high-value transportation. It is quiet and polished for a small car and it has crisp handling with a smooth ride. It’s well rounded and compares well with the Honda Civic or Ford Focus. The design scheme inside the Chevrolet Cobalt is basic and straightforward and the chosen materials are adequate and the fit and finish are overall good.

The instruments are well placed and easy to read, with nice graphic details throughout. The coupe is a fine choice for drivers who are usually solo or with a friend, while the sedan is the more practical choice for drivers who often transport two or three passengers.

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2009 Audi A4

The 2009 Audi A4 is a brilliant road car and is much better balanced than previously. It’s manageable enough to handle bumps like a larger car but firm enough to feel strong and stable to its top speeds. The front-wheel drive version is perhaps not as finely precise as a rear-drive 3-Series but quattro defnitely holds its own against the other all-wheel-drive cars and performs well in the rain compared with other sporty cars.

In spite of the larger outside mirrors wind noise is quieted, road noise is kept to a minimum and the engine is detected only when you’re working it. The least-expensive model is nicely detailed and has an interior hard to beat at the price , although the top-end versions are equipped like autobahn missiles. The budget minded will notice that a larger trunk, more power, better mileage, standard leather, and a reasonable price make a powerful argument for this car.

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A gigapan image is a picture taken by a robotic device which actually sticks more smaller images together to make a very high-resolution final image. That’s basically the technology that was used by some folks at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.

No matter if you have been present live at the Geneva Motor Show or not, you will have to check this images out. They will show you some incredible details which will bring you as close as possible to the real deal. Simplyu follow the link to accesses the pictures.

via image-engineers

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If you’re going to the auto show in Geneva, keep an eye out for this baby here. The 2009 BMW Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo has been leaked well ahead of the show. We don’t have all the details yet but it looks like this BMW make quite an impression. It features a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine capable of getting you 507 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. It will go from 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds and the max speed will be 173 mph, although it’s electronically limited. The Geneva Motor Show will debut next week so we’ll probably get more hot details about the Aplina. Stay tuned!

via AutoZeitung

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