BMW Confirms Concept CS for Production

BMW fans in Dubai were recently treated to the BMW Concept CS that BMW calls a “concept study of a four-door Gran Turismo for the luxury segment.” The Concept CS, on display at the 9th International Middle East Motor Show at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, was designed by Lebanese born Karim Habib, and presents BMW’s vision of a four-door saloon car that combines the luxury of a Gran Turismo with the performance of a sports car. But the big news is that only last month the BMW board of management confirmed that the Concept CS will go into production in the next few years. This is according to BMW Group Middle East managing director, Phil Horton!

It terms of exterior design, the low-slung concept car with its dynamic front-end design exudes performance. At the front, the BMW signature kidney grille and the highlight are striking. The flared wheel arches, with their 21-inch light-alloy wheels, emphases the wide track of the car and enhances the Gran Turismo stance. The rear end, with its quad exhausts and slender tail lights, is also quite sleek.

The aesthetically designed interior, with its driver-oriented cockpit, top-quality materials and high quality of finish, is all luxury while the low seating position of both the front seat occupants and the rear passengers, leaves no doubt of that this is a performance car. There are quite a few innovations in the cockpit, including the dashboard with a newly developed metal structure that embraces the various surface elements, and the use of high-tech ceramics for the controls and instruments, as well as the BMW iDrive Controller.

No information on the drive train has been released yet, but the concept car featured a 6.0-liter V12 engine, with some reports claiming that it is essentially the 5.0-liter V10 engine from the M5 with two extra cylinders.

The Concept CS reminds me a lot of the BMW 850 Ci from the 1990’s, so could I please have a coupe version with two doors?

BMW Confirms Concept CS for Production

BMW fans in Dubai were recently treated to the BMW Concept CS that BMW calls a “concept study of a four-door Gran Turismo for the luxury segment.” The Concept CS, on display at the 9th International Middle East Motor Show at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, was designed by Lebanese born Karim Habib, and presents BMW’s vision of a four-door saloon car that combines the luxury of a Gran Turismo with the performance of a sports car. But the big news is that only last month the BMW board of management confirmed that the Concept CS will go into production in the next few years. This is according to BMW Group Middle East managing director, Phil Horton!

It terms of exterior design, the low-slung concept car with its dynamic front-end design exudes performance. At the front, the BMW signature kidney grille and the highlight are striking. The flared wheel arches, with their 21-inch light-alloy wheels, emphases the wide track of the car and enhances the Gran Turismo stance. The rear end, with its quad exhausts and slender tail lights, is also quite sleek.

The aesthetically designed interior, with its driver-oriented cockpit, top-quality materials and high quality of finish, is all luxury while the low seating position of both the front seat occupants and the rear passengers, leaves no doubt of that this is a performance car. There are quite a few innovations in the cockpit, including the dashboard with a newly developed metal structure that embraces the various surface elements, and the use of high-tech ceramics for the controls and instruments, as well as the BMW iDrive Controller.

No information on the drive train has been released yet, but the concept car featured a 6.0-liter V12 engine, with some reports claiming that it is essentially the 5.0-liter V10 engine from the M5 with two extra cylinders.

The Concept CS reminds me a lot of the BMW 850 Ci from the 1990’s, so could I please have a coupe version with two doors?

Sketches of the Mitsubishi Concept-RA

Mitsubishi has released sketches of the Mitsubishi Concept-RA that the car manufacturer will unveil at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show in January. The Concept-RA is a small, lightweight, eco-friendly, four-wheel drive sports coupe concept that will set Mitsubishi fans’ pulses racing because the sketches show a resemblance to the original Mitsubishi Eclipse, and the Concept-RA is a technological marvel.

Mitsubishi has thrown all sorts of acronyms at it: S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control), ACD (Active Center Differential), AYC (Active Yaw Control), Sport ABS (Antilock Brake System), ASC (Active Stability Control), and of course MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control)! In plain English, that means the concept car features Mitsubishi’s all-wheel-drive system and the twin clutch automated manual transmission from the Lancer Evolution X.

The Concept-RA, however, is powered by a new high-output, high-efficiency clean diesel 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine with MIVEC continuously variable valve timing control. The engine features piezoelectric injector common-rail direct fuel injection, and a Variable Diffuser / Variable Geometry (VD/VG) turbocharger. Maximum power output is rated at 201 hp while maximum torque is 310 lb-ft.

The Concept-RA also features an aluminum space frame made from extruded aluminum sections and die-cast aluminum members, as well as an engine hood, fenders and other body panels made from impact-resistant, recyclable plastic resin. These provide the Concept-RA with crashworthiness while reducing vehicles weight.

Sketches of the Mitsubishi Concept-RA

Mitsubishi has released sketches of the Mitsubishi Concept-RA that the car manufacturer will unveil at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show in January. The Concept-RA is a small, lightweight, eco-friendly, four-wheel drive sports coupe concept that will set Mitsubishi fans’ pulses racing because the sketches show a resemblance to the original Mitsubishi Eclipse, and the Concept-RA is a technological marvel.

Mitsubishi has thrown all sorts of acronyms at it: S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control), ACD (Active Center Differential), AYC (Active Yaw Control), Sport ABS (Antilock Brake System), ASC (Active Stability Control), and of course MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control)! In plain English, that means the concept car features Mitsubishi’s all-wheel-drive system and the twin clutch automated manual transmission from the Lancer Evolution X.

The Concept-RA, however, is powered by a new high-output, high-efficiency clean diesel 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine with MIVEC continuously variable valve timing control. The engine features piezoelectric injector common-rail direct fuel injection, and a Variable Diffuser / Variable Geometry (VD/VG) turbocharger. Maximum power output is rated at 201 hp while maximum torque is 310 lb-ft.

The Concept-RA also features an aluminum space frame made from extruded aluminum sections and die-cast aluminum members, as well as an engine hood, fenders and other body panels made from impact-resistant, recyclable plastic resin. These provide the Concept-RA with crashworthiness while reducing vehicles weight.

2008 Saab Turbo X Review

Saab is set to unveil the limited edition Saab Turbo X for the first time in North America at the 2007 New England International Auto Show in Boston. The Turbo X celebrates the 30th anniversary of the first Saab 900 turbocharged car and will be flanked by the black 1985 Saab 900 SPG!

As an anniversary edition, the 2008 Saab Turbo X is based on the new Saab 9-3 range, with Saab promising that the Saab Turbo X “delivers levels of driver involvement and dynamic chassis control never experienced before from Saab.”
The first turbocharged model offered by Saab was the 1977 Saab 99 hatchback that debuted in the third quarter of 1977. With the new Turbo X, Saab hopes to evoke the iconic appeal of the first black 99 and 900 Turbos. Like the original Saab 99 Turbo, the new Turbo X will only be available in black, in metallic jet black to be more exact, with matte gray trim.

Powering the Turbo X is a 24-valve, 2.8-liter turbocharged 60º V-6 engine that produces 280 hp at 5,500 rpm and 295 lb-ft. of torque from 2,150 to 4,500 rpm. Power is transferred to the wheels via a six-speed manual transmission with the option of a six-speed automatic transmission also available. The 280 hp 2.8-liter engine gives the Saab Turbo X a brisk 0 to 62 mph acceleration time of just 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.

The new car will also feature Saab’s innovative XWD all-wheel-drive system combined with the car’s sport-tuned suspension, brakes and electronic control systems. The XWD system is designed to control drive torque, not only between the front and rear axles but also between the rear wheels, to optimize handling and stability. An electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) transfer up to 40 percent of torque between the two real wheels, depending on which wheel has more grips. The suspension and brakes have also been uprated. The suspension has been lowered by 10 mm, with the coil springs and dampers tuned to minimize body roll. Together with 18-inch light alloy wheels with 235/45 R18 tires these modifications ensure excellent grip.


The 2008 Saab Turbo X will be available in four-door Sport Sedan and five-door SportCombi forms with only 600 of them being made available in the U.S. from the second quarter of 2008. Pricing will starts at $42,510 for the Sport Sedan and $43,310 for the SportCombi.

2008 Saab Turbo X Review

Saab is set to unveil the limited edition Saab Turbo X for the first time in North America at the 2007 New England International Auto Show in Boston. The Turbo X celebrates the 30th anniversary of the first Saab 900 turbocharged car and will be flanked by the black 1985 Saab 900 SPG!

As an anniversary edition, the 2008 Saab Turbo X is based on the new Saab 9-3 range, with Saab promising that the Saab Turbo X “delivers levels of driver involvement and dynamic chassis control never experienced before from Saab.”
The first turbocharged model offered by Saab was the 1977 Saab 99 hatchback that debuted in the third quarter of 1977. With the new Turbo X, Saab hopes to evoke the iconic appeal of the first black 99 and 900 Turbos. Like the original Saab 99 Turbo, the new Turbo X will only be available in black, in metallic jet black to be more exact, with matte gray trim.

Powering the Turbo X is a 24-valve, 2.8-liter turbocharged 60º V-6 engine that produces 280 hp at 5,500 rpm and 295 lb-ft. of torque from 2,150 to 4,500 rpm. Power is transferred to the wheels via a six-speed manual transmission with the option of a six-speed automatic transmission also available. The 280 hp 2.8-liter engine gives the Saab Turbo X a brisk 0 to 62 mph acceleration time of just 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.

The new car will also feature Saab’s innovative XWD all-wheel-drive system combined with the car’s sport-tuned suspension, brakes and electronic control systems. The XWD system is designed to control drive torque, not only between the front and rear axles but also between the rear wheels, to optimize handling and stability. An electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) transfer up to 40 percent of torque between the two real wheels, depending on which wheel has more grips. The suspension and brakes have also been uprated. The suspension has been lowered by 10 mm, with the coil springs and dampers tuned to minimize body roll. Together with 18-inch light alloy wheels with 235/45 R18 tires these modifications ensure excellent grip.


The 2008 Saab Turbo X will be available in four-door Sport Sedan and five-door SportCombi forms with only 600 of them being made available in the U.S. from the second quarter of 2008. Pricing will starts at $42,510 for the Sport Sedan and $43,310 for the SportCombi.

The 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R

The Nissan GT-R, heir to arguably the most popular of modified cars, the Nissan Skyline GT-R, has made it to North America! Earlier this week, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn unveiled the GT-R for the first time in North America at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The GT-R made its world debut late last month at the Tokyo Motor Show and has already sparked a plethora of news articles. But let’s begin with the car itself.

The all-wheel drive 2009 Nissan GT-R follows long line of Skyline GT-R’s that date back to the 1964 Skyline GT 2000 that competed in the GT-II class at the 2nd Japanese Grand Prix. But the GT-R and the Skyline have parted ways, with the GT-R becoming a separate model in the Nissan lineup, with true supercar performance! Following in the tradition of the R32, R33 and R34 Skyline GT-R’s, the new GT-R is powered a detuned race bred, the twin-turbo VR38VETT V6 engine. The VR38VETT is based on the 3.5-liter VRH35 V8 engine that powered Nissan race cars such as the R89C, R90C and R390 GT1 and in detuned form, pushes out a healthy 480 hp at 6,800 rpm and 430 ft-lbs of torque! That translates to a blistering 0 to 62 mph time of just 3,5 seconds and a quarter mile of just 11,5 seconds! That means it’s faster to 62 mph that the Porsche 911 GT2!


But the GT-R, with its all-wheel-drive and all-wheel-steering, has really been built to take on the Nürburgring. A feat it has accomplished in just 7 minutes and 38 seconds during testing in September. That’s not as quick as the Porsche 911 GT2 that completed a tour around the Ring in six seconds less, or the 7.3-liter V12 engined Pagani Zonda F Clubsport with its carbonfibre chassis and body that did it in 7 minutes and 27:82 seconds!

Power is fed to all four wheels via an all-new GR6-type dual clutch paddle shift transmission and a rear-mounted independent transaxle that provides better weight distribution. The all-wheel-drive system can split torque distribution from 50-50 percent to 2-98 percent during hard acceleration, braking and cornering.

But this does not mean that the GT-R will be a handful on the road. The car comes with a special “Set-up” selection switch on the instrument panel that allows the driver to select “Normal”, “Comfort” or “R” (for Racing) settings. Each setting changes transaxle shift points, Bilstein damping rates and the vehicle dynamic control!

The GT-R was unveiled alongside the all-new 2009 Nissan Murano and will be available from the second quarter of 2008 but from a select group of Nissan dealers that meet specific and stringent certification standards. With pricing starting at only $69,850, the new GT-R is a true performance bargain! Pre-orders will taken from January 2008 so get in early! If that isn’t enough power for you, you can always wait for the 2010 Nissan GT-R Spec V that is currently under development and is expected to be available from the second quarter of 2009!

The 2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R

The Nissan GT-R, heir to arguably the most popular of modified cars, the Nissan Skyline GT-R, has made it to North America! Earlier this week, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn unveiled the GT-R for the first time in North America at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The GT-R made its world debut late last month at the Tokyo Motor Show and has already sparked a plethora of news articles. But let’s begin with the car itself.

The all-wheel drive 2009 Nissan GT-R follows long line of Skyline GT-R’s that date back to the 1964 Skyline GT 2000 that competed in the GT-II class at the 2nd Japanese Grand Prix. But the GT-R and the Skyline have parted ways, with the GT-R becoming a separate model in the Nissan lineup, with true supercar performance! Following in the tradition of the R32, R33 and R34 Skyline GT-R’s, the new GT-R is powered a detuned race bred, the twin-turbo VR38VETT V6 engine. The VR38VETT is based on the 3.5-liter VRH35 V8 engine that powered Nissan race cars such as the R89C, R90C and R390 GT1 and in detuned form, pushes out a healthy 480 hp at 6,800 rpm and 430 ft-lbs of torque! That translates to a blistering 0 to 62 mph time of just 3,5 seconds and a quarter mile of just 11,5 seconds! That means it’s faster to 62 mph that the Porsche 911 GT2!


But the GT-R, with its all-wheel-drive and all-wheel-steering, has really been built to take on the Nürburgring. A feat it has accomplished in just 7 minutes and 38 seconds during testing in September. That’s not as quick as the Porsche 911 GT2 that completed a tour around the Ring in six seconds less, or the 7.3-liter V12 engined Pagani Zonda F Clubsport with its carbonfibre chassis and body that did it in 7 minutes and 27:82 seconds!

Power is fed to all four wheels via an all-new GR6-type dual clutch paddle shift transmission and a rear-mounted independent transaxle that provides better weight distribution. The all-wheel-drive system can split torque distribution from 50-50 percent to 2-98 percent during hard acceleration, braking and cornering.

But this does not mean that the GT-R will be a handful on the road. The car comes with a special “Set-up” selection switch on the instrument panel that allows the driver to select “Normal”, “Comfort” or “R” (for Racing) settings. Each setting changes transaxle shift points, Bilstein damping rates and the vehicle dynamic control!

The GT-R was unveiled alongside the all-new 2009 Nissan Murano and will be available from the second quarter of 2008 but from a select group of Nissan dealers that meet specific and stringent certification standards. With pricing starting at only $69,850, the new GT-R is a true performance bargain! Pre-orders will taken from January 2008 so get in early! If that isn’t enough power for you, you can always wait for the 2010 Nissan GT-R Spec V that is currently under development and is expected to be available from the second quarter of 2009!

latest Dodge Viper 2008

I had never been given the opportunity to spend more than just a few minutes in the latest Dodge Viper – until now. The only time I had driven this 500+ horsepower beast was on a track at Chrysler’s proving ground in Chelsea, MI. At that time I was blown away by the handling, the power, and the major improvements over the previous generation Viper.

Now that I’ve used the Viper for my daily commute to and from work, I’m not as enamored with the car as I was that day in Michigan.

It wasn’t very hot yesterday – temp was in the high 70s – and I had the top down. When I got in the car, I found that the previous driver had put the air condition on full with high fan. I found out why in about 10 minutes of stop and go driving.

The big V10 engine under the hood of the Viper generates an amazing amount of heat. The very hot exhaust is routed through the door sills to the side outlets. After ten minutes I felt like was sitting in an oven. The doors were hot, the floor was hot, the seat was hot and I could see waves of heat coming from the vents in the hood. I called a friend who I knew had spent some time in a Viper to ask if it was normal, as I was fully expecting the car to burst into flames at any moment – he assured me that it’s just the way the Viper is.

The other issue in stop and go driving is the fact that clutch is quite heavy, and the pedals are very close together. The engine takes up a lot of room, so the pedals are all off to the left. This is not as big of an issue when you’re not constantly braking and shifting.

Yes, driving the Dodge Viper in rush hour traffic really turned me off. But now that I've had a few days of non-rush hour driving, I've really grown to like this beast.

First off, the Viper really looks good. Bright red, of course, with shiny chrome wheels. Large exhaust pipes are visible on the sides below the doors, which helps carry the performance styling, but as I have pointed out earlier, cause the cabin to heat up uncontrollably. You also have to be careful getting in and out when they are hot, especially if you're wearing shorts.
But driving it has become quite enjoyable. The shifter is in just the right position, and shifts can be made pretty quickly. While the clutch is heavy when you have to repeatedly press it in traffic, it does engage predictably and is easy to shift smoothly.

Steering on the freeway takes two hands - with the wide front wheels, they tend to weave when the road surface is uneven. But on a smooth surface, handling is impressive. Entrance ramps can be taken at twice the suggested speed with ease. However, my daughter, who was riding along with me on a particularly fast ramp, was convinced we were riding on two wheels. Too many cartoons, I guess.

But the best part of this car is when you have space in front of you and can just open the throttle. The sound of that V10 engine is not what I would call pleasing like that of a HEMI V8 in the Magnum SRT8. Its best described as a ferocious roar, the kind of sound that scares little children. But accompanying that sound is the most amazing acceleration. It takes your breath away, and as you shift through the gears, the power just keeps on coming, as does the smile on your face. Dodge claims 60 mph comes up in under 4 seconds, and I have no reason to doubt that.

Sure, the Viper has its drawbacks, and as I mentioned before, would not be the best of daily drivers. But the Viper provides a lot of performance for $85,000, and if I could avoid driving it in traffic, I could easily get used to having it around.

latest Dodge Viper 2008

I had never been given the opportunity to spend more than just a few minutes in the latest Dodge Viper – until now. The only time I had driven this 500+ horsepower beast was on a track at Chrysler’s proving ground in Chelsea, MI. At that time I was blown away by the handling, the power, and the major improvements over the previous generation Viper.

Now that I’ve used the Viper for my daily commute to and from work, I’m not as enamored with the car as I was that day in Michigan.

It wasn’t very hot yesterday – temp was in the high 70s – and I had the top down. When I got in the car, I found that the previous driver had put the air condition on full with high fan. I found out why in about 10 minutes of stop and go driving.

The big V10 engine under the hood of the Viper generates an amazing amount of heat. The very hot exhaust is routed through the door sills to the side outlets. After ten minutes I felt like was sitting in an oven. The doors were hot, the floor was hot, the seat was hot and I could see waves of heat coming from the vents in the hood. I called a friend who I knew had spent some time in a Viper to ask if it was normal, as I was fully expecting the car to burst into flames at any moment – he assured me that it’s just the way the Viper is.

The other issue in stop and go driving is the fact that clutch is quite heavy, and the pedals are very close together. The engine takes up a lot of room, so the pedals are all off to the left. This is not as big of an issue when you’re not constantly braking and shifting.

Yes, driving the Dodge Viper in rush hour traffic really turned me off. But now that I've had a few days of non-rush hour driving, I've really grown to like this beast.

First off, the Viper really looks good. Bright red, of course, with shiny chrome wheels. Large exhaust pipes are visible on the sides below the doors, which helps carry the performance styling, but as I have pointed out earlier, cause the cabin to heat up uncontrollably. You also have to be careful getting in and out when they are hot, especially if you're wearing shorts.
But driving it has become quite enjoyable. The shifter is in just the right position, and shifts can be made pretty quickly. While the clutch is heavy when you have to repeatedly press it in traffic, it does engage predictably and is easy to shift smoothly.

Steering on the freeway takes two hands - with the wide front wheels, they tend to weave when the road surface is uneven. But on a smooth surface, handling is impressive. Entrance ramps can be taken at twice the suggested speed with ease. However, my daughter, who was riding along with me on a particularly fast ramp, was convinced we were riding on two wheels. Too many cartoons, I guess.

But the best part of this car is when you have space in front of you and can just open the throttle. The sound of that V10 engine is not what I would call pleasing like that of a HEMI V8 in the Magnum SRT8. Its best described as a ferocious roar, the kind of sound that scares little children. But accompanying that sound is the most amazing acceleration. It takes your breath away, and as you shift through the gears, the power just keeps on coming, as does the smile on your face. Dodge claims 60 mph comes up in under 4 seconds, and I have no reason to doubt that.

Sure, the Viper has its drawbacks, and as I mentioned before, would not be the best of daily drivers. But the Viper provides a lot of performance for $85,000, and if I could avoid driving it in traffic, I could easily get used to having it around.

2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

Mitsubishi redesigned this vehicle and so they released 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. This convertible sports car is a two-door vehicle that comes in two trims, the GS and GT. It can accommodate up to four passengers. The GS trim is equipped with a 2.4-liter l4 engine that can produce 162-horsepower while the GT trim comes with a 3.8-liter V8 engine producing up tp 260 horsepower. For the GS trim, a five-speed manual transmission is standard, and a 4-speed automatic transmission is optional while the GT trim contains a standard six-speed manual transmission and an optional five-speed automatic transmission. This convertible is worth to look at both in the outside and inside, because every aspect has been gorgeously designed.

2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

Mitsubishi redesigned this vehicle and so they released 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. This convertible sports car is a two-door vehicle that comes in two trims, the GS and GT. It can accommodate up to four passengers. The GS trim is equipped with a 2.4-liter l4 engine that can produce 162-horsepower while the GT trim comes with a 3.8-liter V8 engine producing up tp 260 horsepower. For the GS trim, a five-speed manual transmission is standard, and a 4-speed automatic transmission is optional while the GT trim contains a standard six-speed manual transmission and an optional five-speed automatic transmission. This convertible is worth to look at both in the outside and inside, because every aspect has been gorgeously designed.

2007 HUMMER H2 SUT

A carryover vehicle from 2006 is the 2007 Hummer H2 SUT. This luxury pickup is available in three trims namely, Luxury, Base and Adventure. This four-door pickup can accommodate up to five passengers, but if you would like to extend it up to six people, there is a third row seat available. A 6-liter V8 engine boosts this car and can produce up to 325 horsepower. A standard four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is also available for this car. Other standard features include ABS, OnStar assistance, and heated leather seats. An optional rearview camera is available for this year’s model. However, side airbags are not available for this model.

2007 HUMMER H2 SUT

A carryover vehicle from 2006 is the 2007 Hummer H2 SUT. This luxury pickup is available in three trims namely, Luxury, Base and Adventure. This four-door pickup can accommodate up to five passengers, but if you would like to extend it up to six people, there is a third row seat available. A 6-liter V8 engine boosts this car and can produce up to 325 horsepower. A standard four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is also available for this car. Other standard features include ABS, OnStar assistance, and heated leather seats. An optional rearview camera is available for this year’s model. However, side airbags are not available for this model.

2008 Saturn Sky Review

Saturn makes some of the safest cars, but most of them aren’t considered to be supercars. That is until the came out with the convertible Saturn Sky. It has the perfect smooth lines that a convertible should have and just staring at it makes you envision yourself driving it down the road at high speeds.

Built on GM’s new global rear-wheel drive compact performance platform, the Sky rolls on 18-inch wheels and high-performance all-season tires. Extra design trinkets include forward-canted side vents, faux hood vents, multiple grille openings with dashes of chrome, and a rear undertray with incorporated backup light.

The exterior combines taut, sharp lines, fluid surfaces and a pronounced fender peak. Several of the vehicle’s key body panels are produced using sheetmetal hydroforming, such as the sharply creased clamshell hood. In the engine bay is 177 horsepower, 2.4-liter, Ecotec engine with variable valve timing. The Red Line performance variant gets a power boost from a turbocharged 2.0-liter that pumps-out 260 horses, and is GM’s first direct injection offering in North America.

Both 4-cylinder engines come standard with a 5-speed Aisin manual with short-throw shifter, or optional 5-speed automatic. The 2-seat cockpit features a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, metallic sill plates, stainless steel pedal covers, Red Line-specific gauges and a digital boost gauge.

The price of the Sky is about $24,000 and about $3400 of that are features like - air conditioning, ABS, cruise, power everything (except the top, which is manual in all Kappas), keyless entry, floor mats, an alarm, and OnStar for a year. You have to admit that owning a car like that with those features is worth the money.

2008 Saturn Sky Review

Saturn makes some of the safest cars, but most of them aren’t considered to be supercars. That is until the came out with the convertible Saturn Sky. It has the perfect smooth lines that a convertible should have and just staring at it makes you envision yourself driving it down the road at high speeds.

Built on GM’s new global rear-wheel drive compact performance platform, the Sky rolls on 18-inch wheels and high-performance all-season tires. Extra design trinkets include forward-canted side vents, faux hood vents, multiple grille openings with dashes of chrome, and a rear undertray with incorporated backup light.

The exterior combines taut, sharp lines, fluid surfaces and a pronounced fender peak. Several of the vehicle’s key body panels are produced using sheetmetal hydroforming, such as the sharply creased clamshell hood. In the engine bay is 177 horsepower, 2.4-liter, Ecotec engine with variable valve timing. The Red Line performance variant gets a power boost from a turbocharged 2.0-liter that pumps-out 260 horses, and is GM’s first direct injection offering in North America.

Both 4-cylinder engines come standard with a 5-speed Aisin manual with short-throw shifter, or optional 5-speed automatic. The 2-seat cockpit features a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, metallic sill plates, stainless steel pedal covers, Red Line-specific gauges and a digital boost gauge.

The price of the Sky is about $24,000 and about $3400 of that are features like - air conditioning, ABS, cruise, power everything (except the top, which is manual in all Kappas), keyless entry, floor mats, an alarm, and OnStar for a year. You have to admit that owning a car like that with those features is worth the money.

2008 Corvette Review

Automakers hasvedone wonders with the brand new 2008 Corvette including many changes that will amaze you and keep you wanting more. Along with the great look of the vehicle you can’t help but love the amazing speed that the vehicle can reach. Speeds that allow it to out race some of the top supercars like the Audi R8 and the Porsche 911 Turbo.

The changes involve everything from an all-new, larger and more powerfulV-8 engine to refinements in driving characteristics that solidify theCorvette’s position as the preeminent American sports car, and further the argument that it is one of the world’s best. There are also a host of exterior and interior refinements that raise the Corvette’s luxurystatus and enhance the feeling of craftsmanship.

“Corvette is an uncompromising sports car that rewards its owners withimpeccable performance and great comfort,” said Ed Peper, Chevroletgeneral manager. “The changes and enhancements to the 2008 Corvettereflect continual improvements that speak to Chevrolet’s unflaggingcommitment to building the best sports car, and with nearly 55 years ofexperience, the Corvette just keeps getting better and better.”

The 2008 V8’s displacement is bumped from 6.0 liters to 6.2 thanks to an increase in cylinder bore from 101.6mm to 103.3mm. This 6,162cc V8 also gets new cylinder heads derived from those for the 7.0-liter LS7 V8 featured in the 500-horsepower Corvette Z06, with low-restriction, large-capacity intake ports plus lightweight, hollow-stemmed intake valves that are about 9 percent larger.

Once you add a strengthened block, a new high-lift camshaft, a revised valve train and LS7-style fuel injectors plus a new intake manifold, the bottom line is 430 hp at 5,900 rpm, some 30 hp more than before. Torque output is 424 pound-feet at 4,600 rpm.

The six-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission on Coupe and Convertible is improved with new hardware and a new controller calibration that deliver quicker shifts. This change bolsters thefeeling of performance and driver control when using the shifting paddles.

Most of the visual updates for the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette lie in the cockpit. There’s a metal sill plate to greet you as you open the door, then some new brightwork on the center stack and the center console. Most important, there’s a new, optional two-tone leather trim package that finally drags the Corvette’s interior out of the 1980s at long last. “We kept hearing complaints that the styling of the Corvette’s interior wasn’t on par with the exterior,” says Tom Wallace, the Corvette’s chief engineer, “and I think we’ve addressed that.”

The price for the new 2008 Corvette hasn’t officially been released yet, but the increase is said to be a modest one. At the moment the current price is $44,250. There will be at least a $1,000 increase is not more. You can expect to see these new vehicles by August of 2008.

2008 Corvette Review

Automakers hasvedone wonders with the brand new 2008 Corvette including many changes that will amaze you and keep you wanting more. Along with the great look of the vehicle you can’t help but love the amazing speed that the vehicle can reach. Speeds that allow it to out race some of the top supercars like the Audi R8 and the Porsche 911 Turbo.

The changes involve everything from an all-new, larger and more powerfulV-8 engine to refinements in driving characteristics that solidify theCorvette’s position as the preeminent American sports car, and further the argument that it is one of the world’s best. There are also a host of exterior and interior refinements that raise the Corvette’s luxurystatus and enhance the feeling of craftsmanship.

“Corvette is an uncompromising sports car that rewards its owners withimpeccable performance and great comfort,” said Ed Peper, Chevroletgeneral manager. “The changes and enhancements to the 2008 Corvettereflect continual improvements that speak to Chevrolet’s unflaggingcommitment to building the best sports car, and with nearly 55 years ofexperience, the Corvette just keeps getting better and better.”

The 2008 V8’s displacement is bumped from 6.0 liters to 6.2 thanks to an increase in cylinder bore from 101.6mm to 103.3mm. This 6,162cc V8 also gets new cylinder heads derived from those for the 7.0-liter LS7 V8 featured in the 500-horsepower Corvette Z06, with low-restriction, large-capacity intake ports plus lightweight, hollow-stemmed intake valves that are about 9 percent larger.

Once you add a strengthened block, a new high-lift camshaft, a revised valve train and LS7-style fuel injectors plus a new intake manifold, the bottom line is 430 hp at 5,900 rpm, some 30 hp more than before. Torque output is 424 pound-feet at 4,600 rpm.

The six-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission on Coupe and Convertible is improved with new hardware and a new controller calibration that deliver quicker shifts. This change bolsters thefeeling of performance and driver control when using the shifting paddles.

Most of the visual updates for the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette lie in the cockpit. There’s a metal sill plate to greet you as you open the door, then some new brightwork on the center stack and the center console. Most important, there’s a new, optional two-tone leather trim package that finally drags the Corvette’s interior out of the 1980s at long last. “We kept hearing complaints that the styling of the Corvette’s interior wasn’t on par with the exterior,” says Tom Wallace, the Corvette’s chief engineer, “and I think we’ve addressed that.”

The price for the new 2008 Corvette hasn’t officially been released yet, but the increase is said to be a modest one. At the moment the current price is $44,250. There will be at least a $1,000 increase is not more. You can expect to see these new vehicles by August of 2008.