Hug your kid at home, but belt them in the car. The automobile thread!
polycounter lvl 12
So another year is here and we all know what that means... SHINY NEW CARS :poly142: (or anything on wheels with a motor built for human locomotion)
In this thread you can talk about your favorite upcoming car and maybe add a little picture and description about it.
I'll start with one I am always researching, it's the Tesla Model S.
This marvel of engineering is just genius, it runs on Lithium Ion Batteries and is designed to have the performance of a sports car!
5.6 to 60MPH, 300 Miles/Charge and, of course, ZERO emissions! Look about BMW and Mercedes.
There is a plethora information about this beautiful vehicle and you can read and watch more by visiting the link below, it will guide you to some vimeo videos about the car and it's features.
http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/tesla-vehicle-engineering
In this thread you can talk about your favorite upcoming car and maybe add a little picture and description about it.
I'll start with one I am always researching, it's the Tesla Model S.
This marvel of engineering is just genius, it runs on Lithium Ion Batteries and is designed to have the performance of a sports car!
5.6 to 60MPH, 300 Miles/Charge and, of course, ZERO emissions! Look about BMW and Mercedes.
There is a plethora information about this beautiful vehicle and you can read and watch more by visiting the link below, it will guide you to some vimeo videos about the car and it's features.
http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/tesla-vehicle-engineering
Replies
Electric Raceabout
Good reading on that blog too, thanks for the share, never heard about this one before.
Also this:
The Jaguar C-X75, a beautiful blend of electric and turbine power. Still a concept... but damnnnnnnnn
Making sure I get this right...
0-100km/h 3.4s
0-160km/h 5.5s
0-300km/h 15.7s
780 Break Horse Power
Runs on Lithium-ion battery's with a secondary gas range extender, which derives it's power from 2, 94bhp gas micro-turbines.
Conclusion: BEAST!
The MV Agusta F3 2012 (it's released 2011)
A new italian bike in the 600cc class. Much like the Triumph Daytona 675, this machines engine will be an inline three cylinder engine featuring 675cc. Estimates are around 140 BHP(~120-130 WHP). Weight has not been disclosed but they're aiming for "lightest in it's class" so somewhere around 160kg is my guess.
The beauty of a inline 3 cylinder bike is that it got the torque of a twin and the revs of a inline four making it very nimble and powerfull. Easy to ride and stable.
Plus the sound is somewhat unique and amazing.
Yeah the italians sure do know how to build nice motorcycles, + the quality really has increased, recently would go as far as to say that it's equal or better than bmw
sad that moto morini filed bankruptcy
I think the Tesla Model S will be there! How much are those tickets?
http://m.jalopnik.com/5614255/new-lancia-stratos-is-ferrari-f430+based
I'm not sure if this is a genuine dodge concept. but. Heres something i wouldn't mind driving. I'm a big fan of the old chargers but i didnt like the last model. This is looking badass though.
The front end is just rounded out a bit.
The Audi R8 GT also looks swanky.
I've already seen a few of them on the street. Can't wait to see the Boss 302s
[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Driving-Like-Crazy-Vehicular-Hell-bending/dp/1848870795/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1294782104&sr=8-2[/ame]
I believe the phrase was... "Another slow five point oh". :poly142:
^ Fastest/most exciting car I've driven to date. 92 Boxster. So much fun without all the traction control crap thats present on today's cars :P
Thems 5.0's almost go toe to toe with C6's (in a straight line) and go very toe to toe with M3's on the track! I'd say ford should be quite proud of themselves on that one...
Guy at work got one...makes my 2009 GT jealous as hell
It's a running gag from the old fox-body days. Gotta say I dig the new styling approaches the blue oval's taken in recent times. I'd still take a 'vette over a mustang any day (and any generation), but the 'stang has definitely held its own quite well over the years. :thumbup:
If I had the HUD they put in the newer vettes I dont think I could ever drive another car again though
edit: also that Charger would have been AWESOME. If they did that and then made a smaller version like a Dodge Dart or Dodge Demon...something in the 3300 pounds range...I would take back anything bad I had ever said about them.
Still, there's something to be said for having a second row of seats. I know when I was working at Cryptic, before I had the '01 I was borrowing my dad's '95 Cadillac STS, and having that extra row of seats came in real handy for lunch trips with coworkers.
My dad's got a non-v xlr, and is looking to swap it for a cts-v when they release a retractable hardtop... which is why the Corvette is getting a supercharger in a few days.
Oh and thanks for that info Notman.
I am always impressed at how much you can squeeze into a C6's trunk (friend has one), but it definitely wouldn't hold my guitar in case and marshall.
The ideal setup for me I think would be 5.0L manual for my daily driver, Evo X MR for my girlfriend, Z06 or that Boxster Spyder as a side toy...'Course affording all those would be a helluva a long ways off...
I got a chance to drive the Mustang GT just after the redesign, and it had a special powertrain software to pump up the horsepower. It was hella fast, but I was uncomfortable the whole time. No elbow room, and the position of everything just felt odd. Given that I'm 6'5", so I know I'm not the 'norm'.
Funny thing though, we have a long sweeping curve at work, and I figured I'd drop the clutch and slide the car through the curve. That thing was so pumped up, that it just spun the car around and had me pointing the other way in a blink. I just about shit myself, because that section of road is lined with trees, and it was a manufacturer vehicle. I slowly drove off for lunch, then found out that most of my coworkers heard all the squealing tires, but couldn't see things because of the trees
Heh I like it! I love the 370Z (possibly called something else in the US/JP) too though. We don't see a whole lot of Corvettes over here in the UK, in fact barely any US cars at all.
I kinda agree though, it's not the most attractive car on the road but it sure looks like it'll kick your ass when you stand next to it. I'm sure a Vette is equally imposing, but as I said, here in the land of compacts and little French cars, the Nissan has a certain presence on UK roads!
When you say 'beaten' do you mean just in a straight line from 0 or do you mean really beaten? I thought I heard the GT-R is still the fastest production car (again, not just in a straight line... who drives everywhere in straight lines anyway?!).
The Cost-Performance ratio is just awesome too, I mean these are like £40k. Nothing new even comes close at that price.
My inner Magnum PI loves the Tesla Roadster, but you gotta leave the top down. Zero to 60 in 3.6 seconds is plenty fast for me.
I'm 6'3" and I love the way the car fits around me, but I can see how if I was just a little taller it could throw everything out of whack pretty easily...
For the spin story, it's almost not fair to drive the car on stock pirelli's, ford picked an outright terrible tire (and size) for the car. I just got some Nitto 555's (255/50/17) on my car and it's like a totally different beast. Previously the car would get squirrely if I gave it maybe 50-60% throttle from a dead stop into a 90 deg turn (say pulling out of my apt complex onto the main road), anything more and I would be backwards for sure.
Now though I can give the thing 90-100% throttle at the same turn and all I get is a chirp with zero wiggle. It's madness (and probably wholly unhealthy for ticket avoidance).
I ran into a guy with an 07-09 GT500 yesterday at lunch and actually kicked his ass....for about 50 feet
Wonder where they get the gas for the tires, because it doesn't use air.
For that price though, nothing even comes close.
The 'beaten' comment comes from the Zr1 getting a better 'ring time. Granted, that may not mean much for much longer If the 'ring owners don't get their finances in order.
I was just referring to this... it may be old though, the ZR1 is up there but it's behind the GTR in Oct 2010, that's in the wet too. As I said, possibly outdated however;
http://hubpages.com/hub/Top-10-Fastest-Nurburgring-Laps-Production-Cars
Jaguar XJ220
Koenigsegg CCR
SSC Ultimate Aero TT
Bugatti Veyron Super Sport (beast, might be the fastest production car)
[ame]
I used to ride an 1970-something Puch Dakota (moped, topped 45km/h) to work until last spring when the too much stuff was falling apart and I didn't want to keep investing money in such way overpriced expensive spare parts. The Kawasaki W800 has the look and a bit more power than my old moped.
I probably won't get one because I'm not sure I want to pay that much money for the right "look". Still a nice bike though. Will probably end up buying a Yamaha XJ6 Diversion F or Suzuki GSX650F instead. I am currently riding a Kawasaki EN500 -00.
You know what. If I had the choice, I'd drive one of these above all of those. Especially if I was on a bendy road/track.
And no...I dont mean I want to drive JC's wrinkly face.
Ever thought about a boneville?
http://www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/motorcycles/range/classics/bonneville/2011/bonneville
this one's neat as well
http://www.ducati.com/bikes/monster/696/index.do
Thing is, one part of me is going "A sweet looking cafe racer is the way to go", other part is leaning towards "Torque! Speed! FASTER DAMNIT!". I'm leaning towards the later. Also these cafe racer bikes are not as capable bikes when it comes to handling, brakes, etc. as XJ6 and GFX650F I mentioned earlier.
Here's my criteria for a new bike so far.
-More powerful than my existing 500cc custom
-ABS brakes
-Fairing (up for debate)
-Year 2006+ model
-No more than 70k SEK (~7500 EUR). We generally have more expensive vehicles here in Sweden.
I'm just waiting for the snow and ice to thaw so I can go try bikes at the dealers
Oh, and the Triumph Thruxton is the sexiest in their classic segment
If you want a nice combo of looks, handling and torque, these are absolutely bloody incredible. Fast, fun and mean:
Street Triple R.... still beyond me why they put those ugly orange decals on though.
EDIT: Ah I see you're debating a fairing. Yeah the naked bikes will tear your skin from your skeleton at anything past 80 or so. Especially when it's windy
I'd so go for one of these if they came with ABS. Which I think is just a matter of time. I drive a motorcycle for commuting to work as well, in a fairly big city. Lot's of assholes who will pull out right in front of you.
Here's a nice comparisson of what might be in store for none ABS riders if they ever freeze in a dire situation and fully grip brakes compared to a ABS rider. I took my license last year and we got to do lots of maneuver test and what not which really gave you good insight to these matters.
[ame]
The yamaha and the suzuki seem to be good deals for the money you want to invest, dont know about the handling there though.
You might want to check out kawasakis er-6F (also known as ninja 650 R) l seems to fit into your idea of a bike here as well. (http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Product-Specifications.aspx?scid=6&id=501)
Street triple (non R and the smallest monster ( 696 ) fit here as well for a naked bike though they are both a bit more pricey
both around 8000, Street triple with 106 bhp, but no abs available
the monster with 80 bhp but abs + both weight around 170 kg
e:// also you should be able to pick up any of those used in pretty good condition
Oh, and compared to my Jetta, that clutch was HARSH. My leg was worn out by the time I drove it to work.
It's the Lexus CT200h, starting at $29,995, and it does a very nice 42mpg.
Personally, although I hate to look like I'm on the Eco bandwagon, but I'm really looking forward to the Volt. The whole reason I got into electronics, was to work with electric vehicles. Unfortunately, they canceled everything by the time I finished my degree, which is why I changed to a software degree. Anyway, the Volt is a great return to that development. I've seen a few around down, and they look pretty good too. Would I rather it look like a 'vette? Sure, but excitement isn't JUST about appearance
Im thinking of getting the 2012 focus ST
I think ford really hit the nail on the head with their new models (design-wise at least). I cant think of a single car in the new lineup that doesnt look good.
or..... if i can still find any, a 2012 Golf R
It's all good man. I'm not a fan of Ford, well I'm and I'm not at the same time? Not sure, but their quality hasn't been the best, I hear that their new stuff can compete with some of the EU and JPN stuff, but who knows?
But you're right, it does loook sexy as fuck.
There were rumblings of an SVT re-badge for the US, but I dont think it ever picked up any steam.