Mazda's Furai concept, unveiled January 14th, at the 2008 North American International Auto Show.The Furai ,which means 'sound of the wind' in Japanese, is the fifth radical design in Mazda's Nagare series of concept cars. Mazda says the Furai was created with a particular emphasis on guiding air over and through the vehicle's body. Based on a Courage C65 racing chassis for the American Le Mans Series, it has a 450 hp, Renesis-based R20B three-rotor rotary engine, tuned to run on ethanol and ethanol gasoline blends.It is the first time a racing three-rotor rotary engine has been fueled by ethanol.
Track cars are, by their capabilities, ill suited for highway use, and also not strictly road-legal. Some supercars can be raced, but are not properly equipped for it. The aim of Furai is to bridge this gap. Mazda neither intends to race Furai, nor is it a supercar that the company plans to build and sell. Furai is a design that lives between these these extremes. Franz von Holzhausen,
Mazda's North American director of design, who is behind the Furai, explains: 'We are looking for a way to bridge the gap between Mazda Motorsports and the production vehicles in our lineup. The mind sets of road-car and racing car fans are quite different, so the purpose of Furai is to find a meeting point for these disparate interests.'
Driverless Cars Close To Reality.
It is no longer science fiction stuff. Driverless cars are close to reality and one can expect them to hit city streets within the next decade.
The driverless car concept embraces an emerging family of highly automated cognitive and control technologies, ultimately aimed at a full 'taxi like' experience for car users but without a human driver. The concept is not new. The history of such vehicles starts in 1977 with the Tsukuba Mechanical Engineering Lab in Japan, which built the first such vehicle. Since then various manufacturers around the world have been working to develop and perfect such vehicles. DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) organizes the Urban Challenge, a race in which autonomous vehicles navigate city streets, in an effort to encourage research and development in this area. This race is now an annual event.
General Motors has announced that its CEO, Rick Wagoner will be unveiling a prototype of a self driving SUV on Tuesday at the Consumer Electronics Show. The vehicle is nicknamed the 'Boss'. GM expects the technology to be ready for testing by 2015 and commercial production to begin by 2018.
The benefits of such vehicles are immense and they will go a long way in reducing accidents as well as traffic congestion.It is estimated that almost 95% of the over 40,000 traffic fatalities each year in the US are caused by human error.These are expected to decline dramatically with such cars. They would also go a long way in reducing congestion and traffic jams, as vehicles move along at remote controlled speeds, constantly tracked on giant radar screens. They may ultimately zip along on special tracks or along designated corridors.
Much of the technology for developing such a car, such as radar-based cruise control, various kinds of sensors and satellite based tracking already exists. Experts feel that it will be possible to apply this technology to cars.
The challenge will be to get people to trust the car and in getting legislators to allow them on public roads.The most important problem will be to tackle the legal issue of liability for accidents as no person will be in charge.
The driverless car concept embraces an emerging family of highly automated cognitive and control technologies, ultimately aimed at a full 'taxi like' experience for car users but without a human driver. The concept is not new. The history of such vehicles starts in 1977 with the Tsukuba Mechanical Engineering Lab in Japan, which built the first such vehicle. Since then various manufacturers around the world have been working to develop and perfect such vehicles. DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) organizes the Urban Challenge, a race in which autonomous vehicles navigate city streets, in an effort to encourage research and development in this area. This race is now an annual event.
General Motors has announced that its CEO, Rick Wagoner will be unveiling a prototype of a self driving SUV on Tuesday at the Consumer Electronics Show. The vehicle is nicknamed the 'Boss'. GM expects the technology to be ready for testing by 2015 and commercial production to begin by 2018.
The benefits of such vehicles are immense and they will go a long way in reducing accidents as well as traffic congestion.It is estimated that almost 95% of the over 40,000 traffic fatalities each year in the US are caused by human error.These are expected to decline dramatically with such cars. They would also go a long way in reducing congestion and traffic jams, as vehicles move along at remote controlled speeds, constantly tracked on giant radar screens. They may ultimately zip along on special tracks or along designated corridors.
Much of the technology for developing such a car, such as radar-based cruise control, various kinds of sensors and satellite based tracking already exists. Experts feel that it will be possible to apply this technology to cars.
The challenge will be to get people to trust the car and in getting legislators to allow them on public roads.The most important problem will be to tackle the legal issue of liability for accidents as no person will be in charge.
Cars That Challenged Toyota In 2007.
The year 2007 will be remembered as the one in which Toyota Motor Corporation nudged past General Motors to become the world's biggest automaker.It is expected to sell 9.36 million vehicles as against 9.2 million by G.M. It already was the world's most profitable and valuable car maker. But this has come at a price. Lexus, Toyota's luxury brand has slipped to 5th place from last year's first in new car predicted reliability. Toyota has also slipped to third place in overall safety ratings. G.M. on the other hand has turned in the most improved performance which goes to show that with sufficient attention to detail, the American car companies are in a position to hold their own against foreign competition.
Here is a look at some of the cars, apart from Toyota, that caught the eye in the year that has just gone by.
2008 Audi R8 : Audi unveiled the 2008 R8, its first ever mid-engine sports car. The car has a 420 hp V8 engine and all wheel drive. It uses the mid-engine Lamborghini Gallardo platform and is positioned against the BMW M6, Porsche 911 and Aston Martin Vantage. It goes from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds and sells for about $110,000.
2008 Cadillac CTS :The new Cadillac CTS may have been born and bred in Detroit yet it offers an alternative to more expensive foreign machines. It is rated as not just the best handling Caddy in history, but probably the best handling American sedan ever. Its top of the line 3.6 liter V-6 DI engine produces 304 hp and goes from 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds.It is priced at about $47,000.
2008 Honda Accord :The all new 2008 Accord, both the sedan and coupe versions, have the look of high performance machines and the moves to back it up.Its sleek exterior has been completely re-designed with an aggressive, sportier look. It is powered by either a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine or a 3.5 liter V-6 engine. It comes with Honda's Variable Cylinder Management, which is a fuel saving cylinder de-activation technology. It goes from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds and is priced at about $ 31,000.
2008 Chevrolet Malibu :The 2008 Chevy now looks as good as the Camry and Accord. The expensive version is powered by a 252 hp double-overhead-cam 3.6 liter V-6 engine. It goes from 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds. It may be the most satisfying mid- market mid size sedan from GM for a long time. For about $20,000 it is a steal.
2008 GMC Acadia :GM has finally got it right with a fine crossover SUV with its Acadia. Powered by a 3.6 liter V-6 engine which produces 275 hp, it can tow up to 4500 pounds when properly equipped. It is priced at about $37,000.
2008 Infiniti G37 :This new generation coupe from Nissan is an updated version of the G35 coupe. It is directly positioned against BMW's 335i.It is powered by a 3.7 liter V-6 engine producing 330 hp. It goes from 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds. It is priced at about $35,000.
2008 Volvo XC70 : The 2008 Volvo XC70 bridges the gap between a station wagon and an SUV.Powered by Volvo's latest 3.2 liter V-6 engine it produces 235 hp. Its off-road capabilities are improved and it has all of Volvo's trademark safety features. It is priced at about $35,000.
The year 2008 should be an exciting one as Toyota tries to cement its place as the world's number one auto maker while GM finally seems to be making the right moves to regain its lost position.
Here is a look at some of the cars, apart from Toyota, that caught the eye in the year that has just gone by.
2008 Audi R8 : Audi unveiled the 2008 R8, its first ever mid-engine sports car. The car has a 420 hp V8 engine and all wheel drive. It uses the mid-engine Lamborghini Gallardo platform and is positioned against the BMW M6, Porsche 911 and Aston Martin Vantage. It goes from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds and sells for about $110,000.
2008 Cadillac CTS :The new Cadillac CTS may have been born and bred in Detroit yet it offers an alternative to more expensive foreign machines. It is rated as not just the best handling Caddy in history, but probably the best handling American sedan ever. Its top of the line 3.6 liter V-6 DI engine produces 304 hp and goes from 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds.It is priced at about $47,000.
2008 Honda Accord :The all new 2008 Accord, both the sedan and coupe versions, have the look of high performance machines and the moves to back it up.Its sleek exterior has been completely re-designed with an aggressive, sportier look. It is powered by either a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine or a 3.5 liter V-6 engine. It comes with Honda's Variable Cylinder Management, which is a fuel saving cylinder de-activation technology. It goes from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds and is priced at about $ 31,000.
2008 Chevrolet Malibu :The 2008 Chevy now looks as good as the Camry and Accord. The expensive version is powered by a 252 hp double-overhead-cam 3.6 liter V-6 engine. It goes from 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds. It may be the most satisfying mid- market mid size sedan from GM for a long time. For about $20,000 it is a steal.
2008 GMC Acadia :GM has finally got it right with a fine crossover SUV with its Acadia. Powered by a 3.6 liter V-6 engine which produces 275 hp, it can tow up to 4500 pounds when properly equipped. It is priced at about $37,000.
2008 Infiniti G37 :This new generation coupe from Nissan is an updated version of the G35 coupe. It is directly positioned against BMW's 335i.It is powered by a 3.7 liter V-6 engine producing 330 hp. It goes from 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds. It is priced at about $35,000.
2008 Volvo XC70 : The 2008 Volvo XC70 bridges the gap between a station wagon and an SUV.Powered by Volvo's latest 3.2 liter V-6 engine it produces 235 hp. Its off-road capabilities are improved and it has all of Volvo's trademark safety features. It is priced at about $35,000.
The year 2008 should be an exciting one as Toyota tries to cement its place as the world's number one auto maker while GM finally seems to be making the right moves to regain its lost position.
40% Hike In Auto Fuel Efficiency Likely By 2020.
After months of wrangling Democrat lawmakers wrapped up a deal on fuel efficiency standards Friday.Significantly the deal has been approved by John D. Dingell the auto industry's Congressional ally.As per the final version of the Bill the new auto fleet has to achieve average fuel efficiency of 35 miles per gallon by 2020, about 40% higher than current averages.At Dingell's insistence it has tougher standards for cars than light trucks. Fuel efficiency standards, known as corporate average fuel economy standards or CAFE were adopted in 1975 following the Arab oil embargo of 1974 and had set an efficiency standard of 27.5 mpg which has remained unchanged so far.
Democrats plan to make these proposals a part of the wider energy bill that the House of Representatives is expected to take up next week.The Bill is expected to contain a provision that would require the country's major utilities to generate at least 15% of their electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar power. This measure looks set to be opposed by the utilities who say this will cause a sharp increase in power prices in some parts of the country. The Bill also seeks to provide subsidies for biofuel production, a move opposed by the oil industry.
In a statement Saturday, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers chief Dave Mc Curdy said 'Upon adoption of this legislation, Congress will have established aggressive, nationwide fuel economy requirements, concluding a long standing debate.' The Alliance is the voice in Washington for the top automakers including Toyota.
Rick Wagoner CEO of General Motors said the new rules would ' Pose a significant technical and economic challenge to the industry.' He said GM would tackle the changes ' with an array of engineering, research and development resources.'
The bill is expected to boost plans by automakers to adopt more fuel efficient technologies for conventional engines and alternatives such as gas-electric hybrids and vehicles running on biofuels. Manufacturers are set to receive credits for vehicles running on biofuels for the first time.
Interestingly a bill containing similar standards approved in June by the Senate was opposed by automakers who said that it would restrict the choice of vehicles, threaten jobs and push up costs. The companies had suggested a standard of 32 mpg by 2022 instead. Chrysler had estimated that it could add $ 6,700 to the cost of each Chrysler vehicle.
But the new plan gives the industry more flexibility to plan new vehicles. It contains separate standards for cars and trucks, extends credits for producing vehicles running on biofuels, and allows automakers to receive separate credits for exceeding the standards which can be applied to other model years.
Dingell also secured extension of the 1.2 mpg credit for the production of each flexi-fuel vehicle which can run on ethanol blends of 15% gasoline and 85% ethanol till 2020. They were due to expire by 2010.
The deal is expected to keep the United Auto Workers union happy as well because it discourages the shifting of production of small cars overseas as the fuel economy credits could be applied to larger, less efficient models.
The flexibility provided in the Bill seeks to set at rest concerns about safety standards as it was feared that rigid efficiency standards would not only restrict the choice of vehicles but also compromise safety, as automakers shifted to lighter materials in an attempt to maintain fuel economy.
Environmental groups estimate the new standards would save 1.2 million barrels of oil per day by 2020 besides reducing pressure on gasoline prices. It seems to be a win-win situation for everybody if it goes through.
Democrats plan to make these proposals a part of the wider energy bill that the House of Representatives is expected to take up next week.The Bill is expected to contain a provision that would require the country's major utilities to generate at least 15% of their electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar power. This measure looks set to be opposed by the utilities who say this will cause a sharp increase in power prices in some parts of the country. The Bill also seeks to provide subsidies for biofuel production, a move opposed by the oil industry.
In a statement Saturday, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers chief Dave Mc Curdy said 'Upon adoption of this legislation, Congress will have established aggressive, nationwide fuel economy requirements, concluding a long standing debate.' The Alliance is the voice in Washington for the top automakers including Toyota.
Rick Wagoner CEO of General Motors said the new rules would ' Pose a significant technical and economic challenge to the industry.' He said GM would tackle the changes ' with an array of engineering, research and development resources.'
The bill is expected to boost plans by automakers to adopt more fuel efficient technologies for conventional engines and alternatives such as gas-electric hybrids and vehicles running on biofuels. Manufacturers are set to receive credits for vehicles running on biofuels for the first time.
Interestingly a bill containing similar standards approved in June by the Senate was opposed by automakers who said that it would restrict the choice of vehicles, threaten jobs and push up costs. The companies had suggested a standard of 32 mpg by 2022 instead. Chrysler had estimated that it could add $ 6,700 to the cost of each Chrysler vehicle.
But the new plan gives the industry more flexibility to plan new vehicles. It contains separate standards for cars and trucks, extends credits for producing vehicles running on biofuels, and allows automakers to receive separate credits for exceeding the standards which can be applied to other model years.
Dingell also secured extension of the 1.2 mpg credit for the production of each flexi-fuel vehicle which can run on ethanol blends of 15% gasoline and 85% ethanol till 2020. They were due to expire by 2010.
The deal is expected to keep the United Auto Workers union happy as well because it discourages the shifting of production of small cars overseas as the fuel economy credits could be applied to larger, less efficient models.
The flexibility provided in the Bill seeks to set at rest concerns about safety standards as it was feared that rigid efficiency standards would not only restrict the choice of vehicles but also compromise safety, as automakers shifted to lighter materials in an attempt to maintain fuel economy.
Environmental groups estimate the new standards would save 1.2 million barrels of oil per day by 2020 besides reducing pressure on gasoline prices. It seems to be a win-win situation for everybody if it goes through.
All New Nissan GT-R Coming To US
The 40th Tokyo Motor show opened to the public last month, in Chiba City and will run through November 11th.What's special about this year's show is that upgraded special events that involve audience participation and experiences have been offered to generate excitement about vehicles. On display are the latest space age designs, eco-friendly cars and the usual 'muscle cars' designed with scant regard either for mileage or the environment.
The star of the show is undoubtedly the all new Nissan GT-R. The original Nissan Skyline GT-R hit the street in 1969, but it was not until 1990 that the GT-R became famous. This was after Nissan introduced the first of three twin-turbocharged all wheel drive and all wheel steering cars R32, R33 and the R34. It was never officially sold by Nissan in the US which earned it the nickname Godzilla.However importing one was not difficult and hundreds of them found their way to the US. Its reputation got a further boost when in the 2003 film, 2 Fast 2 Furious, the film's hero raced one through the streets of Miami.
At the2006 New York Auto Show, Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan announced that the GT-R36 would be sold in the US through Nissan.
The Nissan GT-R has a front mounted, 3.8L twin-turbo 6 cylinder V6 engine producing 473 horsepower. It has a 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission with three driver selectable modes.It accelerates from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds and can reach a top speed of 193 m.p.h. GT-R Test mules have been spotted at various places, frequently alongside a 2006 Porsche 911 Turbo, speculated as being used by Nissan as a benchmark car.
Nismo, the motor sport arm of Nissan will be entering the Nissan GT-R in the super GT500 class for the 2008 season.
Its launch in the Japanese market is scheduled for December 2007. The US launch will follow in May/June 2008 and the European by the end of 2008.
The car is not cheap with the base version expected to cost around $70,000.Further the engine and rear mounted Dual Clutch gearbox are built by hand, limiting production to around 1,000 cars a month. This car will be followed by a more powerful GT-R Spec V, which will be available in the US as a 2010 model.
It is expected that the GT-R will live up to its hype.The most expensive car Nissan has sold in the US will certainly be worth its price.
The star of the show is undoubtedly the all new Nissan GT-R. The original Nissan Skyline GT-R hit the street in 1969, but it was not until 1990 that the GT-R became famous. This was after Nissan introduced the first of three twin-turbocharged all wheel drive and all wheel steering cars R32, R33 and the R34. It was never officially sold by Nissan in the US which earned it the nickname Godzilla.However importing one was not difficult and hundreds of them found their way to the US. Its reputation got a further boost when in the 2003 film, 2 Fast 2 Furious, the film's hero raced one through the streets of Miami.
At the2006 New York Auto Show, Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan announced that the GT-R36 would be sold in the US through Nissan.
The Nissan GT-R has a front mounted, 3.8L twin-turbo 6 cylinder V6 engine producing 473 horsepower. It has a 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission with three driver selectable modes.It accelerates from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds and can reach a top speed of 193 m.p.h. GT-R Test mules have been spotted at various places, frequently alongside a 2006 Porsche 911 Turbo, speculated as being used by Nissan as a benchmark car.
Nismo, the motor sport arm of Nissan will be entering the Nissan GT-R in the super GT500 class for the 2008 season.
Its launch in the Japanese market is scheduled for December 2007. The US launch will follow in May/June 2008 and the European by the end of 2008.
The car is not cheap with the base version expected to cost around $70,000.Further the engine and rear mounted Dual Clutch gearbox are built by hand, limiting production to around 1,000 cars a month. This car will be followed by a more powerful GT-R Spec V, which will be available in the US as a 2010 model.
It is expected that the GT-R will live up to its hype.The most expensive car Nissan has sold in the US will certainly be worth its price.
Toyota's 50th Birthday In The US Nears
On 31st October 1957 Toyota set up a dealership in Hollywood. In 1958 it launched its first car in the US market called the Toyopet Crown. That year it sold 288 of them and also one Land Cruiser. Its performance in the first few years was so bad that it seriously thought of quitting the US market.
But instead of doing that it sat back and analyzed the reasons for its failure. It quickly understood that the ugly looking and underpowered vehicle would never sell in the US and it eventually withdrew it from the market.
All this is now history. In its 50th year in the US Toyota is on track to sell 9.34 million vehicles worldwide, surpassing GM to become the largest car manufacturer in the world by numbers. It had already become the most profitable car manufacturer several years back. Today its market capitalization is greater than the Big Three put together plus Honda plus Nissan! The Big Three plan to close down 26 plants over the next five years and to shed thousands of jobs.Toyota on the other hand is opening a new plant in Texas this fall and another in Ontario in 2008. Today 60% of the cars Toyota sells in America are made here. It is not outsourcing to make profits. It is creating jobs in the US. It's offering union wages and health benefits. Above all it is selling cars made by Americans to Americans at a profit.Its cars have a 'retail turn rate'-that is the number of days a dealer has to keep a car before selling it of 27 days. For Ford it is 82, GM 83 and for Daimler Chrysler it is 107 days.(figs. for 2006).
Toyota has successfully challenged the American model of manufacturing and management. There are several, by now familiar, reasons for it. The first is the belief in 'kaizen' or continuous improvement, and in 'jidoka' or not letting a defect go from one machine to the next. Then there is the secret designation for certain projects known as 'irei' which roughly means 'not ordinary' and refers to vehicles which the company will go to any lengths to perfect. In the early 1990's, the Prius enjoyed this designation. Toyota plans decades in advance and is not unduly concerned with quarterly and annual balance sheets. True, it enjoys certain cost advantages, like lower health care costs, but what people overlook is the huge cash reserves it has built up and the massive amounts it is spending every year on research and development. Of late it has been hit by vehicle recalls due to manufacturing defects and has recently lost the top spot of being the safest car, slipping to third place, but it is still the clear leader of the pack. It is currently able to sell all the cars it produces in the US, and with the US having more cars per household than drivers, it should be able to do so in future as well.
But instead of doing that it sat back and analyzed the reasons for its failure. It quickly understood that the ugly looking and underpowered vehicle would never sell in the US and it eventually withdrew it from the market.
All this is now history. In its 50th year in the US Toyota is on track to sell 9.34 million vehicles worldwide, surpassing GM to become the largest car manufacturer in the world by numbers. It had already become the most profitable car manufacturer several years back. Today its market capitalization is greater than the Big Three put together plus Honda plus Nissan! The Big Three plan to close down 26 plants over the next five years and to shed thousands of jobs.Toyota on the other hand is opening a new plant in Texas this fall and another in Ontario in 2008. Today 60% of the cars Toyota sells in America are made here. It is not outsourcing to make profits. It is creating jobs in the US. It's offering union wages and health benefits. Above all it is selling cars made by Americans to Americans at a profit.Its cars have a 'retail turn rate'-that is the number of days a dealer has to keep a car before selling it of 27 days. For Ford it is 82, GM 83 and for Daimler Chrysler it is 107 days.(figs. for 2006).
Toyota has successfully challenged the American model of manufacturing and management. There are several, by now familiar, reasons for it. The first is the belief in 'kaizen' or continuous improvement, and in 'jidoka' or not letting a defect go from one machine to the next. Then there is the secret designation for certain projects known as 'irei' which roughly means 'not ordinary' and refers to vehicles which the company will go to any lengths to perfect. In the early 1990's, the Prius enjoyed this designation. Toyota plans decades in advance and is not unduly concerned with quarterly and annual balance sheets. True, it enjoys certain cost advantages, like lower health care costs, but what people overlook is the huge cash reserves it has built up and the massive amounts it is spending every year on research and development. Of late it has been hit by vehicle recalls due to manufacturing defects and has recently lost the top spot of being the safest car, slipping to third place, but it is still the clear leader of the pack. It is currently able to sell all the cars it produces in the US, and with the US having more cars per household than drivers, it should be able to do so in future as well.
2008 Volvo C30-A Cool Car
The all new Volvo C30 two door hatchback goes on sale in the US later this year as a 2008 model. Unlike the usual Volvo family car which typically appealed to buyers above forty, Volvo has given the C30 more style and more speed and also a sporty look with which Volvo hopes to attract younger customers.
The C30 utilizes the S 40 T5's power train-a 2.5 liter 218 horsepower turbocharged inline-5 and it has a six-speed manual transmission(a five speed automatic will be optional). It generates 216 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 236 pound -feet of torque between 1,500 and 4,800 rpm.The C30 is quick, going from 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds.It has a top speed of 146 mph(149 mph for the manual version).
It seats four with individual bucket style back seats that are moved a bit towards the center to provide forward visibility around the front seats.The front as well as rear seats are comfortable. However cargo space is somewhat limited, only 8.2 cubic feet with the seats up. but with the rear seats folded it increases to 30.9 cubic feet.
The interior will be familiar to Volvo drivers. The distinctive 'floating' console is present as part of the design.In addition to standard front, side ,and side curtain airbags, the C30 protects with seat belt pretensioners for all four seats,a whiplash protection system(WHIPS), a side impact protection system(SIPS), and dynamic stability traction control(DSTC).
Car audio enthusiasts are certain to appreciate the Volvo C30's standard 160 watt stereo system. Also available is a Premium sound system with a digital 5 x130 W ICE Power amplifier from Alpine, Dolby Pro Logic II Surround, and 10 loudspeakers from Danish loudspeaker manufacturer Dynaudio. Total output for the Premium Sound System is 650 watts.
The C30 offers a Custom Build ordering process with 17 different exterior colors and 12 interior combinations. Its starting price is around $23,000. It has been designed under the supervision of Peter Horbury and was his last car for Volvo before he left to join Ford in North America.
The C30's nearest competitor in the US is likely to be the Volkswagen GTI, which is similarly priced and has similar specifications as well. Other competitors are the Audi A3, Mazda 3, and the Mini Cooper S.
The car is already on sale in Europe and will be available from this month in the US as a 2008 model.Volvo says its compact dimensions are suitable for driving and parking on cramped city streets. Although fuel economy could have been better, the features it offers, along with the Volvo quality are likely to make the car a winner.
The C30 utilizes the S 40 T5's power train-a 2.5 liter 218 horsepower turbocharged inline-5 and it has a six-speed manual transmission(a five speed automatic will be optional). It generates 216 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 236 pound -feet of torque between 1,500 and 4,800 rpm.The C30 is quick, going from 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds.It has a top speed of 146 mph(149 mph for the manual version).
It seats four with individual bucket style back seats that are moved a bit towards the center to provide forward visibility around the front seats.The front as well as rear seats are comfortable. However cargo space is somewhat limited, only 8.2 cubic feet with the seats up. but with the rear seats folded it increases to 30.9 cubic feet.
The interior will be familiar to Volvo drivers. The distinctive 'floating' console is present as part of the design.In addition to standard front, side ,and side curtain airbags, the C30 protects with seat belt pretensioners for all four seats,a whiplash protection system(WHIPS), a side impact protection system(SIPS), and dynamic stability traction control(DSTC).
Car audio enthusiasts are certain to appreciate the Volvo C30's standard 160 watt stereo system. Also available is a Premium sound system with a digital 5 x130 W ICE Power amplifier from Alpine, Dolby Pro Logic II Surround, and 10 loudspeakers from Danish loudspeaker manufacturer Dynaudio. Total output for the Premium Sound System is 650 watts.
The C30 offers a Custom Build ordering process with 17 different exterior colors and 12 interior combinations. Its starting price is around $23,000. It has been designed under the supervision of Peter Horbury and was his last car for Volvo before he left to join Ford in North America.
The C30's nearest competitor in the US is likely to be the Volkswagen GTI, which is similarly priced and has similar specifications as well. Other competitors are the Audi A3, Mazda 3, and the Mini Cooper S.
The car is already on sale in Europe and will be available from this month in the US as a 2008 model.Volvo says its compact dimensions are suitable for driving and parking on cramped city streets. Although fuel economy could have been better, the features it offers, along with the Volvo quality are likely to make the car a winner.
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