Motorist News http://www.smartmotorist.com Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:35:14 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.smartmotorist.com/motorist-news/nissan-versa-sedan-could-be-alternative-to-buying-used-car.html There was once a time when our Car Tech test car, the Chevrolet Aveo5, reigned supreme as the cheapest car in America. News from Nissan changes all of that today. Unless the Tata Nano makes it over here any time soon, Nissan will hold the title of offering the cheapest new car for sale in the United States. Nissan announced that starting Novermber 18, there will be a model of the Versa, called the Versa Sedan 1.6, available for $10,685 (including destination). The Versa is a decent-size car, good enough to get four adults from point A to point B with minimal drama. The inclusion of a full factory warranty makes this a fantastic option for a first car or a budget alternative to buying a used vehicle. It's not good looking. It's not fast. But, it is the new cheapest car in America. Mon, 03 Nov 2008 06:45:58 +0100 http://www.smartmotorist.com/motorist-news/bmw-to-unvail-electric-mini-cars-could-travel-up-to-250km-on-a-single-charge.html The world's first electric Mini will be unveiled next month - capable of almost 100mph and with a range of more than 150 miles on just one charge. One of the most iconic vehicles in history, 500 of the new cars developed by Mini owners the BMW group will be shipped to America. BMW has gone with a lithium-ion battery pack with an overall capacity of 35kWh. This sits in the rear of the car and leaves only 60L of trunk space. Acceleration from 0-100km/h takes 8.5 seconds for the 1,465kg electric vehicle and top speed is electronically limited to 152km/h. The car's range is about 250km on a single charge, which takes about 2.5 hours. Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:59:30 +0100 http://www.smartmotorist.com/motorist-news/mazda-to-unveil-2010-model-mazda-3-sedan-version.html Mazda Motor Corporation has confirmed that the sedan version of the all-new Mazda3 (known as Mazda Axela in Japan), fully redesigned for the first time in 5 years, will be revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19, 2008. The Mazda3 offers more interior room than the current model, largely because it is built on the longer platform of the upcoming third-generation Ford Focus, due for release in 2010. The new Mazda3 is said to weigh a lot less than the current Mazda3 model. This modification will ensure a more pleasurable driving experience and will make the 2010 Mazda3 extremely fuel and cost-efficient. Fri, 24 Oct 2008 06:58:15 +0100 http://www.smartmotorist.com/motorist-news/ferrari-california-2009-and-ferrari-430-spider.html The Ferrari California is a convertible two-seater. According to Ferrari, is the most advanced model that has built the Italian brand throughout its history (mainly by engine, chassis and suspensions).Will come up for sale in early 2009 and will have a price of 197,205 euros. The production next year is already sold. The new Italian Ferrari 430 Spider includes, like the closed version, a number of technical features that make it almost an F-1 street. Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:00:07 +0100 http://www.smartmotorist.com/motorist-news/-toyota-rear-curtain-airbags-to-protect-back-passengers.html Toyota has announced the development of a curtain airbag SRS (Supplemental Restraint System, Supplementary Security System) in the moon-back-the first in the world to protect the heads of back passengers in the event of an impact from behind. Toyota continues to develop its technologies and providing security in the event of a collision, which has led to successes such as the rapid market introduction of curtain airbags and SRS knee-to equip their vehicles with a better capacity Response to a greater variety of accidents. Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:59:33 +0100 http://www.smartmotorist.com/motorist-news/honda-to-lunch-new-hybrid-car-cr-z.html The new Insight, the near-production version of which will be unveiled at the Paris International Auto Show next month, looks nothing like the original. Coming out next spring, it will precede a second hybrid, to be called CR-Z. Oaktec is a UK-based specialist in efficient car designs. They hope that the Civic Hybrid powertrain can be modified to produce more power and gain an advantage at the track. The 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid is a 4 door, 5 passenger sedan that achieves 40 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway. You don’t have to sacrifice looks to get the great gas mileage. The world’s cheapest hybrid car has been unveiled by Honda in an attempt to win over motorists facing high fuel costs. Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:19:54 +0100 http://www.smartmotorist.com/motorist-news/volvo-ocean-race-edition-car-ready-for-gruelling-ocean-adventure.html Volvo has launched three special edition cars to celebrate the Volvo Ocean Race which starts in Alicante, Spain next month. The Volvo V70, XC70 and XC90 are available in Ocean Blue. “The Volvo Ocean Race will also cross India this year for the first time to promote the Volvo brand,” Voijs said. LONDON - EHS Brann Cirencester has created a below-the-line campaign to push the Volvo XC90 range, tying in with the carmaker's sponsorship of the Volvo Ocean Race, which starts in October. Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:34:39 +0100 http://www.smartmotorist.com/motorist-news/auto-market-still-faces-challenging-conditions-for-year-2008-even-2009.html NEARLY every major automaker saw its US sales drop in August, but many are seeing signs that the worst slump in recent history may have bottomed out. Most upbeat were executives from General Motors Corp, which posted a 20.3 per cent sales decline from a year ago but a 31 per cent improvement over July's totals. Ford sales dropped 3.6 per cent compared with July, due in part to its continuing plan to reduce low-profit sales to rental car companies and other fleet buyers, Sun, 14 Sep 2008 11:05:36 +0100 http://www.smartmotorist.com/motorist-news/new-recreational-vehicle-coco-mini-car-now-in-us.html Environment-friendly, energy saving and sustainable development cars drew wide attention. Given the market trend, the management of Kandi has conducted a series of market research and technology research, initiating the new energy car program two years ago. Kandi Technologies, Corp. (KNDI), one of China's leading designers, manufacturers and exporters of all terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility vehicles (UTVs) and its number one exporter of go-karts, announced today. The solution for high gas prices has finally arrived in Dallas: the country's first Kandi Coco. Check out the new super-mini Kandi Coco car, from China, which sorta looks like a convertible Smart Car. Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:14:24 +0100 http://www.smartmotorist.com/motorist-news/nissan-hybrid-electric-car-to-deliver-more-power.html Having fallen behind Japanese rivals Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. in hybrids, Nissan has made the electric vehicle the pillar of its green strategy. Nissan has developed a parallel-powertrain hybrid system which connects an electric motor to the engine and transmission via two separate clutches. It basically sits between the engine and the transmission. Initially, the system would allow at least some fleet users to transition to fully electric vehicles. The goal would be to expand the system for broader consumer use eventually. The latest electric vehicle prototype is a version of the Cube model that Nissan sells in Japan modified to carry three lithium ion batteries under the floor and an 80kW motor and inverter. Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:03:02 +0100