Cars Beautyfull wallpapers: August 2010

Axon Automotive Wallpapers and Specs

UK-based Axon Automotive made its debut at the Sexy Green Car Show in Cornwall last year and they are making headlines again. They have officially debuted their upcoming Axon plug-in hybrid electric city car at the Milton Keynes Science Festival.

The element that makes this PHEV stand out is its light weight. The car is made from carbon fiber and it is paired with existing engine technology. According to test data from the company, it gets about 83.3 mpg US/100mpg UK. Tthe company’s website states that the Axon will be available to consumers in 2010 and has room for two adults and luggage. Other sources cite limited availability in 2011 with full production in 2012.

Interested in solar power? See if group discounts are available in your city
Don’t forget to: Sign up for our electric car interest list.
Axon Automotive is a spin-off from Cranfield University (the chocolate car was also created from a company that was spun off from a university). The car offers two modes: a fully electric mode for neighborhood travel and a flexible fuel engine (either gasoline or bioethanol) for long distance and highway speeds. One thing that I noticed was the flex fuel component — a major shortfall of U.S. based PHEVs with the exception of the Chevy Volt.

When charging using a typical energy mix, for emissions generated during electricity generation, the Axon emits just under 50 g/km of CO2. This emission number is a mix of electric and gasoline and the tests were conducted by the government. (Emission reductions in PHEVs have been a point of contention in the U.S. as most electric vehicles are being charged using electricity produced from coal – a high emitter of CO2). To encourage the reduction of greenhouse gases, the UK has an annual road tax that drivers must pay based on estimated emissions. If the driver purchases this PHEV, they can reduce their yearly tax in half. Not a half-bad idea.

In an article published by Green Car Congress, Dr. Steve Cousins, Axon’s Managing Director said, “By designing light cars and giving them good aerodynamics you can radically lower vehicle emissions. As a plug-in hybrid we have no limitation on range but we can maximize the benefits of electrics day to day without the cost and weight of large batteries.”

The company is promoting the Axon as an “eco car.” Not only is the carbon fiber recyclable, but the seats are made from recycled fabrics (jeans and pinstriped suits) and the door panels are made from recycled carbon fiber as well.

The Axon will be manufactured and available for purchase first in the UK. From there, the company plans to roll out the PHEV in Spain, France, Ireland, Denmark, and Holland.

BMW X5

* Turbo compressor
* 4,395 cc 4.4 liters V 8 front engine with 89.0 mm bore, 88.3 mm stroke, 9.3 compression ratio, double overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder
* Premium unleaded fuel 91 and petrol
* Fuel consumption: EPA 08 city (mpg): 12, highway (mpg): 17, combined (mpg): 14, 507 and 315
* Gasoline direct injection fuel system
* 22.5 gallon main premium unleaded fuel tank 18.7
* Power: 414 kW , 555 HP SAE @ 6,000 rpm; 500 ft lb , 678 Nm @ 1,500 rpm

Specs

Honda Prelude

Specs

Nissan Cube

The Nissan Cube is quite a hit of 2009. Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com named it as one of the top ten coolest cars that were released in 2009 under $18,000. The Wall Street Journal called the Cube "a surprisingly luxurious ride," better than the Scion xB. The Nissan Cube is getting all the attention for its fuel economy, interior size, technology, safety, and of course the cool factor. So why is the Cube so cool? Here are five unique features of the Nissan Cube.

The Cube is asymmetric. One of the coolest things about the Cube is its curvy wraparound rear window. The Cube has many curves in the inside and out, making it a very cool ride. The exterior exhibits high-style all around, making it super fun for anyone to drive. The Krom Model Cube comes with an exclusively integrated body design, a custom grille, front and rear fascias, body sills, and a rear roof spoiler. Not to mention sixteen inch Krom aluminum-alloy wheels that are ideal for city driving.

The ripple effect is unstoppable. The Cube was inspired by nature in a big way. All the Cube models interiors are filled with the ripple image. There is one huge ripple on the ceiling, and several other ripples within the cup holders and the speakers. This cool effect is futuristic in look and naturalistic in nature. There are also customizable accessories available so that you can pick the color of your interior. The new time is coming and the Cube is the ultimate tool to get there.

The Cube has advanced technology. A super cool feature of this car is the start/stop engine button on the interior. With the new Nissan Intelligent Key one can unlock the doors and start the engine before entering the car. There is also a Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System available that makes driving and communicating much safer and effective. The interior has curvy air vents and reclining and slide able seats, making it a cool ride for all your friends to hop in.

The Cube has awesome audio features. Not only does the interior have accent lighting, tons of space, and curvaceous highlights, it also has the coolest audio system of today. You can upgrade to a premium sound system that includes two tweeters and a Rockford Fosgate subwoofer and amplifier. The Cube also has MP3/WMA CD playback and iPod system capabilities. This car is ideal for car pooling with friends. There is also a steering-wheel-mounted control panel so that you can view your songs and play your music with complete control.

The Cube is incredibly safe to drive. It comes equipped with six standard air bags including both seat belt sensors and an occupant-classification system built into the seats so that if you move, the bags will move with you. Standard roof-mounted air bags protect occupants' heads and the front seat Active Head Restraints reduce the chance of whiplash and major injury. Every Cube comes with advanced traction and the newest braking technologies on the market. There is an Anti-lock Braking System and a Vehicle Dynamic Control that helps the driver stay on path. A Traction Control System is also built in to maintain a grip on snowy roads, and the Electronic Brake force Distribution sends more force to the rear brakes when the back seat is full.

Specs

Renult Clio

It my knowledge kown as Renault Clio for two and a half years now, it is an 05 plate with on 35,000 miles on the clock. I have to admit, out of the cars iv had, this has been the best.

The renault clio, like every other car has evolved in shape as new ideas and models have been introduced. I have a Renault Clio 1.2 16v Extreme at the moment and couldnt fault it one bit. Since i bought the car from a friend, i have had no issues with it, only 2 Flat tyres.

Look of the car:

The car itself looks very nice, doesn't have an big rear like the megane or an ugly front like certain other cars. I would say the exterior is for both women and men. The clio comes as standard with alloy wheels, quite nice to be honest for a standard issued item.

Handling:

In all honesty, this small car handles like a go kart, nippy going round corners and handles brilliantly. No groans all round on the handling side. A big help in the rain when the ground is slippy.

Petrol Useage:

Everybody knows that the cost of petrol is always on the rise, therefore we have to watch what we are putting into the tank. At the moment, £10 will give 2 bars of fuel on the clio and to fill it up to the brim, around £45 is needed. That is not all that much compared to some of the bigger engines. Even with a full tank, this lightweight car is still extremely nippy on straights and round corners.

There would only be a couple of downsides to the clio that i can fault:

One of them is the space in the back of the car, If there are 5 people travelling in the car at the same time, it can get awfully cramped in the back seats. My chair tends to be quite far back and when someone is sitting directly behind me, i have to pull it forward a fair amount restricting my legs to drive.

The other down side would be boot space, not a very big boot but depending on what it is used for, may not be a big bother to many people.

The car i had before the Clio was an 52 reg corsa which i had a few problems with, although there tends to be a bit more room in this car, the handling wasnt so good and also the engine started to make a really funny ticking noise when i drove it.

All in all, the clio is a nice, small nippy car. I have also driven a 2 litre Clio sport and am hoping to be able to buy one in the near future as this animal is quite possibly even more amazing! The beast roars as you press down on the accelerator to see what it can do.

Specs

2010 Subaru Impreza WRX sti Info and Pics

2010 subaru impreza wrx sti

The Subaru Impreza WRX is a turbocharged version of the Impreza that Subaru introduced to Japan in 1992. However, this all-wheel-drive sports compact, available as both a sedan and a wagon, was not available in the U.S. until 2001, the start of the vehicle's second generation.

Subaru introduced the third-generation Subaru WRX for sale in 2008. This had been a highly anticipated launch, and fans and critics alike were expecting big things. Unfortunately, they didn't really get it. While the 2008 Subaru WRX for sale had a lot of potential, the problems overwhelmed it. For the optimistic among us, expectations for the reworked 2009 Subaru WRX for sale were high.

Fortunately, Subaru responded to the criticism. They upgraded underperforming aspects of the WRX by using parts from the higher-performance WRX STI. The main area of focus was the suspension. With the STI suspension along with wider tires, stabilizer bars, and better spring rates, the handling comparison between the 2008 and 2009 Subaru WRX for sale are night and day.

Starting in 2009, the WRX definitely got its magic back, and it is now the perfect complement to its more-athletic big brother, the STI. The 0-60 mph acceleration is now in the low 5-second range, and it accomplishes the quarter-mile in under 14 seconds with a top speed of approximately 99 mph. The closest thing to a comparable for the WRX is the Lance Ralliart, so if you want to test-drive a comparison that would be the one. However, the Ralliart doesn't come close to matching those figures.

The 2009 Subaru WRX for sale also outperforms the Ralliart with the 265 horsepower and 244 pound-feet of torque that it's turbocharged 4-cylinder engine produces. In addition, the turbo from the WRX STI gives the WRX a low- and mid-range potency to which the Ralliart pales in comparison. This is a much different experience from the 2008 turbo, which gave us just 224 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque. The only real complaint that people will have is that a sixth gear would have been a nice, but not critical, improvement for highway driving.

As always, the WRX sedan's styling is a unique one. Either it speaks to you, or it doesn't. There doesn't seem to be a lot of middle ground in this regard. Some people don't like how the style downplays the handling and acceleration capabilities. However, people who love the Subaru WRX don't care about such things, and likely revel in it. The exterior isn't exactly boring after all. It boasts a graceful, sloping nose, and the aggressive hood scoop at least hints of the performance hidden under the hood.

At first glance, the interior isn't spectacular or innovative. However, it is handsome, and the center console is framed in tasteful metallic trim. The rest of the interior, which is mostly soft-looking hard plastic where it's not upholstery, works off this centerpiece. The hard surfaces go a long way to providing an amazingly quiet ride.

The 2009 Subaru WRX for sale is the perfect choice for the driver seeking four-door sport and fun without paying a premium. The WRX isn't exactly cheap, but most comparables are at a much higher price point. The 2010 model that followed was only a minor revision on that 2008 success, and the upcoming 2011 model looks to be more of the same. If the 2010 WRX was the last one you test-drove, you owe it to your car-loving self to give it another chance.