2009 Saab 9-5 Griffin Edition Takes Off in Detroit

2009 Saab 9-5 Griffin Edition

DETROIT : December 23, 2008 – In the luxurious 9-5 Griffin Edition, making its premiere at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this January, Saab offers levels of premium standard equipment that are unprecedented in the 62-year history of the Swedish car brand.


As underlined by its U.S. advertising tagline, “Born From Jets,” Saab’s illustrious aircraft heritage is part of its design philosophy that runs throughout its range of automobiles. With the vigor of its turbocharged engine and agile road manners, the Saab 9-5 Griffin Edition resonates with its aircraft namesake, the Gripen (Swedish for Griffin) – the first of the new generation of multi-role combat aircraft to enter into active service, developed by Saab Aircraft AB in Sweden.

“With the 9-5 Griffin Edition, Saab reaches a new altitude in terms of premium standard equipment and value,” said Steve Shannon, executive director, marketing and product, Saab Automobile USA.

Available in four-door Sedan as well as five-door SportCombi models, all versions feature Saab’s signature 2.3L, 260-horsepower (194 kW) four-cylinder engine and can be matched to five-speed manual or automatic transmissions without extra charge.

The exterior of the 9-5 Griffin shows influences from the recently updated Saab 9-3 family, such as the use of matte chrome for the front grill, as well as the frames around the Xenon headlamps. The Sedan has a rear spoiler on the trunk lid, while the SportCombi can be recognized by its roof spoiler and roof rails in matte chrome finish.

Unique five-spoke, 17-inch alloy wheels, plus Griffin badges on the front fenders adorn both body styles. In addition to Polar White, this special edition Saab 9-5 is available in six metallic colors, including Jet Black, Snow Silver, Nocturne Blue, Pepper Green, plus the new Carbon Grey and Glass Grey.

On the inside, every 9-5 Griffin shines with high-gloss interior trim, floor mats with grey piping, as well as the use of accent color stitching on the steering wheel, shift lever and handbrake. This premium stitching also applies to the Aero-inspired leather-appointed sport seats. They are available in two two-tone variations: black with parchment inserts and parchment with black inserts. Additional standard equipment includes a rear parking assist system, plus heated outside mirrors that are not only power-adjustable and foldable, but also auto-dimming.

Expected to start arriving in Saab dealer showrooms in January 2009, the 9-5 Griffin will be priced starting at U.S. $42,775 for the Sedan and $ 44,045 for the versatile and stylish SportCombi (prices include destination charges). In addition to the rich standard equipment, including an automatic transmission, the only options for the 9-5 Griffin are metallic paint, ventilated seats and a navigation system.

[Source : GM - SAAB]

41 mpg! All-new FORD Fusion hybrid IS NOW America’s most fuel-efficient mid-size car

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

DEARBORN : December 23, 2008 – The all-new Ford Fusion Hybrid is now officially America’s most fuel efficient mid-size car with a certified 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, topping the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway.


“The new Ford Fusion Hybrid not only significantly exceeds the competition but also embodies Ford’s 100 percent commitment to fuel efficiency leadership, quality, innovation and advanced technology,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. “The Ford team set the bar high – to develop America’s most fuel efficient mid-size sedan – and that’s what they delivered.”

The 2010 Ford Fusion’s final fuel economy certification was completed this week at Ford’s testing laboratories in Allen Park, Mich., and the vehicle will carry an EPA label of 41 mpg for city driving and 36 mpg on the highway when it goes on sale this spring. The Fusion Hybrid, which beats even the much smaller Honda Civic hybrid by 1 mpg in city driving, can travel more than 700 miles on a single tank of gas.

To deliver the class leading fuel economy performance, Ford’s engineers spent the past three years developing in-house the vehicle’s next-generation hybrid propulsion system. It allows the Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrid to travel up to 47 miles per hour in pure electric mode, faster than the Toyota Camry and all other hybrids currently on the road. In addition, the system’s Advanced Intake Variable Cam Timing allows the Fusion and Milan hybrids to more seamlessly transition from gas to electric mode and vice-versa.

“The Fusion Hybrid’s ability to run at a much higher speed in electric mode allows drivers to maximize fuel efficiently in many driving situations,” said Praveen Cherian, Fusion Hybrid program leader. “For example, this would allow drivers to travel around their subdivision and parking areas in all-electric mode.”

Fusion’s advanced hybrid system features :

• Smaller, lighter nickel-metal hydride battery, which produces 20 percent more power than Ford’s previous hybrid system. The battery’s improved chemistry allows it to be run at a higher temperature and cooled using cabin air.
  
• New 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (155 horsepower / 136 lb.-ft. of torque), which is mated to an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission.
  
• Enhanced electronic throttle control, which reduces airflow on shutdowns, reducing fueling needs on restarts.
  
• Smart climate control system, which monitors cabin temperature and only runs the gas engine as needed to heat the cabin. It also includes an electric air conditioning compressor to further minimize engine use.
  
• Regenerative brake system, which captures the energy normally lost through friction in braking and stores it. Nearly 94 percent energy recovery is achieved by delivering full regenerative braking, which means only 6 percent of braking is through traditional friction brakes

2010 Ford Fusion Related Articles :

Nov. 19, 2008 - Break Cover : All New 2010 Ford Fusion
Oct. 19, 2008 - 2010 All-New Ford Fusion : Better Fuel Economy with 6-speed Transmission Lineup

Images : 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid










[Source : FORD]

Original Lamborghini Miura Turin Salon Chassis Found!

Original Lamborghini Miura Turin Salon Chassis

DORCHESTER : December 23, 2008 - 43 years after its Turin Show debut the one-and-only 1965 Turin Salon Lamborghini Miura chassis, designed by chassis genius Gian Paolo Dallara, and the raging bull company's first-ever transverse mid-mounted V12 engine (0293) has been acquired by Los Angeles based collectors


The iconic show chassis had been stored for the past 30 years in Cyprus by that country's original Lamborghini concessionaire, Marios Kritikos. While visiting the Lamborghini factory in 1977, Mr. Kritikos took a fancy to the historic show unit. After successfully negotiating a future home for it, he arrived at the factory with his Range Rover and trailer, loaded it and drove away. That was in April of 1978. The original invoice for the chassis survives, together with unpublished period photographs of the chassis being built in 1965, on display at the December, 1965 Turin Salon, and at the Lamborghini factory in July, 1966. Mr. Kritikos documented his collection of the car on April 7th, 1978.

The 1965 Turin Salon Miura represents the very first mid-engined supercar theme for all marques, and is rightly considered to be the Holy Grail from which all road going supercars descend. Its re-emergence represents the most important Lamborghini discovery to date.

Thirty years later, in December of 2008 representing both parties and facilitating the transaction were Miura specialists Joe Sackey and Gary Bobileff. Only one month after its discovery it has been imported to the US and now resides in the restoration facility of world-renowned Gary Bobileff, where it will undergo a complete refurbishment to bring it to its former show glory.

The last time the general public saw this automotive icon was 43 years ago on display at the Turin Salon. It will make its USA debut in the summer of 2009. Details to be announced.

[Source : Auto Channel]

First time for KTM to offer performance kits - Convert your KTM into a factory bike

2008 KTM 450 SX-F

MATTIGHOFEN, Austria : December 23, 2008 - It is the first time for the KTM Austria Motorsport Division to offer exclusive Factory-SXS-Kits with high-end RACE components for ambitious owners of KTM four-stroke SX bikes.

2009 KTM 450 SX-F Kits

Replacing the successful SXS model line up KTM collected all the experience and know-how of the very successful KTM Factory Team in order to offer exclusive Race kits at the highest possible tuning level. The goal is to give fast MX1 and MX2 riders the chance to tune their KTM SX bikes to the highest possible level of performance and reliability in order to make these bikes competitive against pure factory machines on international GP level as well as at national championships. MX2 and MX3 World title and many podium results in the 2008 GP season have proven the high technology level of KTM.

For the MX season 2009 there will be two engine kits available, one for the 250 SX-F and one for the 450 SX-F.

[Source : KTM]

Toyota Prius takes DEKRA lowest defects rate of compact class

2008 Toyota Prius - Euro Market

COLOGNE : December 23, 2008 - The Toyota Prius is the most reliable car in the compact class in Germany Mileage range up to 50,000 kilometers.


The defect report, the Expert organization on the basis of more than 15 million evaluated Main investigations has created, so that shows the quality and reliability of the advanced hybrid system.

As a best-selling hybrid vehicle in the world is the Toyota Prius from a petrol engine and an electric motor. This is an average consumption in EU-Norm-Cycle of only 4.3 liters per 100 kilometers achieved, which corresponds to a CO₂ emissions of 104 g / km. Due to its high efficiency drive is the Prius in August 2008 from Verkehrsclub Deutschland, VCD (Traffic Club Germany) repeatedly to the environmentally friendly car on the German market has been elected.

Besides the Prius were the shortcomings DEKRA Report 2009, the Toyota models Aygo, Yaris, Avensis and RAV4 in the various categories of vehicles and run areas in the first three ranks place. This underlines the investigation of the independent testing and high reliability long-term quality of Toyota vehicles. The new report appears DEKRA shortcomings in January 2009 and offers all motorists have an important guidance.

[Source : TOYOTA]

Hyundai Develops Own Six-Speed Automatic for Improved Fuel Efficiency

Hyundai 6-speed automatic transaxle

SEOUL : December 23, 2008 - To help meet its goals of improving fuel efficiency and reducing CO₂ emissions of its vehicles, Hyundai Motor Company has completed the development of an all-new 6-speed automatic transaxle that will boost fuel economy by more than 12.2 percent.

Hyundai engineer testing new 6-speed transaxle

Developed over a four-year period, this new 6-speed automatic gearbox offers numerous technical merits. Despite the extra gear, it's 12kg lighter than the 5-speed it replaces. The new 6-speed went into production this month (December) and will see its first application in Grandeur/Azera models beginning in January 2009.

[Source : HYUNDAI]