Wednesday, April 30, 2008
2008 Maserati Quattroporte Review
The Maserati Quattroporte promises all of the above. The legendary Italian manufacturer has a strong tradition of competition and sports car building and has fused their technology and sporting pedigree into the opulence of a luxury saloon.
The tested car was the brand new 2008 Executive GT Automatic; the flagship variant of the luxury four-door five-seater Quattroporte. Styled by noted Italian automotive designer Pininfarina, this car takes design cues from the ?70s. There?s a retrospective and nostalgic look to the rear quarter of the Quattroporte; the ?C? pillars and boot area are reminiscent of some of the sports saloons of thirty years ago.
The front end and grille are aggressively styled and the combination of all of the athletic curves and muscular lines, combine to make the entire car a boldly styled and achingly handsome, if intimidating form.
At cruising speeds, the big car is unflustered, dignified and sweeps along motorways and ?A? roads with grace. Inside the sumptuous leather cabin, everything?s calm, the famously immoderate way that Maserati furnishes its cars is obvious wherever you look and the driver?s seat is a very pleasant place indeed. My only mild grumbles are that there?s less legroom in the rear than a Lexus LS or a Jaguar XJ and that the wind noise is a bit louder than I would have expected.
Engine noise is a different story, it just fantastic. The big Ferrari-sourced V8 produces a deliciously thunderous growl when you goad it. It?s worth just sitting and gunning it, listening to the big twin exhausts barking in symphony with the roar of the tuned motor. On the drop-off there?s a lovely series of muffled cracks. Working hard through the gears is inspiring ? it makes all the right noises.
� Source: caradvice
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Tuesday, April 29, 2008
2008 Lexus IS F Review
The letter F is an auspicious one in Lexus lore. Back in the mid-'80s, when the Lexus brand was still in the planning stages, Toyota insiders referred to the prospective luxury division as "Circle F." And the car that put Lexus on the map, the LS 400, was known internally as Flagship One, or F1. For 2008, the letter F is back: The company has decided to crash the �ber-sport sedan party with the 2008 Lexus IS-F, a hard-edged performance car based on the IS-series sedan and aimed squarely at perennial magazine-cover fodder like the Audi RS4, BMW M3 and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG.
The IS-F marks the official launch of Lexus' F line, and it's akin to the aforementioned competitors' in-house performance divisions. As such, Lexus has gone to great lengths to differentiate the IS-F from its more sedate IS-series brethren. Take the IS-F's exclusive power plant, for example, which begins life as the gas-swilling half of the LS 600h L's hybrid engine and then gets a thorough makeover from Toyota's longtime performance partner, Yamaha. The end result is a 5.0-liter V8 that churns out 416 horsepower and 371 pound-feet of torque, compared with 306 and 277, respectively, from the IS 350's already potent 3.5-liter V6. Likewise, the IS-F eschews the IS 350's six-speed automatic transmission for a heavily modified version of the LS 460's eight-speed unit that boasts Ferrari-quick upshifts and automatic throttle blips on downshifts. The singularity and complexity of this powertrain serve notice to the old guard that this Lexus means business. Like its F1-cum-LS 400 forebear, the 2008 Lexus IS-F is designed to go toe to toe with the best.
Outside the engine room, however, the IS-F has a few kinks to work out. For one thing, while its extensively revised suspension is dynamite on the track, the IS-F falls well short of the ride-handling balance for which certain rivals are justly famous. For another, its exterior styling cues range from the controversial (e.g., the reshaped hood and snout required to accommodate the 5.0-liter mill) to the downright tacky (e.g., the quad-stacked tailpipes that aren't actually connected to the exhaust system). Its German competition, on the other hand -- as well as the upcoming Cadillac CTS-V -- feature relatively compliant rides and subtle aesthetics.
There's no doubt that the IS-F is a serious driver's car, but we can't help but wonder whether its hardcore personality is a little over the top for this segment, notwithstanding its commendably hushed interior and rather incongruous lack of a manual transmission option. Enthusiasts with 60 large to plunk down on a sport sedan may find the IS-F a smidge too fast and furious for their tastes.
Nonetheless, the 2008 Lexus IS-F is a thrilling car on its own merits, and its uncompromising nature indicates that Lexus is willing to do what it takes to ensure that its sporting F models will be competitive with class leaders. The company has already hit two home runs with the letter F, and while it hasn't quite knocked the IS-F out of the park, it's still a promising first step toward challenging the established heavyweights for the factory performance crown.
� Source: edmunds
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2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Review
What's New for 2009
A 2.4-liter 168-horsepower four-cylinder engine is newly standard on the GTS trim level this year. The DE and ES trim levels retain the 2.0-liter 152-hp four. The GTS also gains new gauges this year, while the FAST Key keyless ignition/entry system migrates to the Sun and Sound Package, leaving the hard drive navigation system as a stand-alone option. The ES trim gains an optional Sport Package that includes some of the GTS's styling elements, such as the big rear wing.
Last year, the Mitsubishi Lancer had a minor problem. Visually, it promised to be more than its humble price tag would imply. The GTS trim level, in particular, boasted a giant rear wing and 18-inch wheels that fervently declared, "I can go fast." Problem was, it actually didn't. The car's 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produced class-competitive 0-60 sprints, but it had virtually no low-end power, requiring the driver to maintain an objectionably loud engine speed of at least 3,200 rpm in order to achieve even moderate passing power.
For the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer's lower DE and ES trim level, the old engine carries over for the more sedate-driving, economy-minded consumer. But for the driver who wants his or her fast-looking car to be, well, fast, Mitsubishi has dropped a larger 2.4-liter engine into the GTS's engine bay. Thanks to increased displacement, it produces 16 more horsepower and, more importantly, 21 additional pound-feet of torque. This engine is not only more responsive, it's also substantially quieter. Zero-to-60-mph times drop by about a second, and fuel economy -- although not particularly impressive -- is about the same as the smaller engine.
The 2009 Lancer isn't a mainstream economy car like a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla, as it lacks the refinement, fuel economy and reputation to match up with these cars. But that's fine by us. In addition to its aggressive styling, the Lancer boasts above-average handling and an impressive array of high-tech features that until recently were reserved for luxury automobiles. Those interested in finding the sportiest option available could be happier with a Mazda 3, but if you're looking for a car that stands out as a viable alternative to the small sedan status quo, this Mitsubishi is worth a look.
� Source: edmunds
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Review of GSM-handset Samsung F250
Mobile-review have posted their review of the Samsung F250. Here is the final impression.
Impressions
The reception quality put up by the F250 is in line with other Samsung-branded devices. The ringtone volume is quite decent, as it can be heard in various environments. The silent alert is average strength-wise, no significant improvements have been made here.
With its price tag of 220 USD (150 Euro), the F250?s only direct rival is the Nokia 5300. However, in view of the reasons we listed at the beginning of this write-up, these two are not of one breed and on top of that they target different audiences. The F250 is a potent music-minded solution if you are not heavy on bells and whistles and use your own headphones. But at the same time, it doesn?t seem particularly feature-rich in its own class given its weedy implementation of Java, entry-level camera and functionality that hasn?t gone beyond standard feats and abilities.
The main thing about the F250 is its no-nonsense unfussy design that can attract and repulse many at the same time, and a slew of color schemes. On balance, it is a somewhat overpriced budget offering, but by and large given the lack of direct competition is still pretty interesting. It is quite another matter, though, that consumers who are in the market for an affordable slider are very likely to set their eyes on other solutions that look smoother and go for less at that. But as far as Samsung?s line-up is concerned, the F250 is supposed to have this segment covered.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Brilliance FRV - 2008 Beijing Auto Show Preview
The newest model from China's Brilliance Automotive, the compact FRV hatchback, rolled off the assembly this week and will make its public debut later this month at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show.
The FRV was first unveiled as a concept at last year's Shanghai auto show. Brilliance reportedly spent $140 million to develop the car under the internal code name A1 and has constructed a $90 million assembly line at its manufacturing facility here in Manchuria to build it. Initial annual capacity is 100,000 units, which could make the FRV the company's best-selling model.
Prices in China will start at less than $10,000. The FRV will be marketed in Europe in late 2008 or early 2009, rebadged as the Brilliance BS2.
Power is supplied by a 106-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. The FRV measures about 165 inches long overall, about a foot longer than a Chevrolet Aveo 5.
What this means to you: The FRV could be part of the product portfolio that Brilliance hopes eventually to bring to North America.
� Source: edmunds
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Citro�n C-Elys�e - 2008 Beijing Auto Show Preview
Citro�n and local partner Dongfeng are unveiling an updated edition of the Elys�e compact, called the C-Elys�e, at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show.
The Elys�e is an evolution of the old Citro�n ZX and is assembled by Dongfeng Peugeot Citro�n Automobiles.
The C-Elys�e sedan features new front-end styling and is powered by a 1.6-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine. The car also gets new taillamps and alloy wheels as well as a revised cabin in several trim levels.
What this means to you: Hardly a showstopper, but always a steady seller in China.
� Source: edmunds
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PC Mag reviews Falcon Northwest FragBox 8500
The Falcon Northwest FragBox 8500 has undergone rigorous testing from the folks at PC Mag, and here's their take on it.
All things considered, naming the Falcon Northwest FragBox 8500 the new Editors' Choice in this category was a no-brainer. Most important, you can play Crysis on it. It's the system to buy right now if you're interested in a Wolfdale-powered gaming PC but don't want to break into the $3,000-plus stratosphere. You'll be paying a bit more than budget gamers for performance and portability, but you won't regret it. The FragBox is here to kick ass. Let it be your opponent's.
Guess it pretty much sums it all up, eh? A power-packed portable computer that will put most desktops to shame. The main drawback I see is the lack of SLI-support which will definitely put fanboys off.
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