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Showing posts with label 10 worst cars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 10 worst cars. Show all posts
Saturday, April 9, 2011
The new model is a synthesis of style, creative flair, passion and cutting-edge technology, characteristics for which Italy as a nation is well-known. For this reason Ferrari chose to add the name of its homeland to the traditional figure representing the displacement and number of cylinders. The Ferrari 458 Italia is a completely new car from every point of view: engine, design, aerodynamics, handling, instrumentation and ergonomics, just to name a few. A two-seater berlinetta, the Ferrari 458 Italia, as is now traditional for all Ferrari’s road-going cars, benefits hugely from the company’s Formula 1 experience. This is particularly evident in the speed and precision with which the car responds to driver inputs and in the attention focused on reducing internal friction in the engine for lower fuel consumption than the F430, despite the fact that both overall displacement and power have increased. However, Ferrari’s track experience makes its presence felt in the 458 Italia not only in terms of pure technological transfer but also on a more emotional level, because of the strong emphasis on creating an almost symbiotic relationship between driver and car. The 458 Italia features an innovative driving environment with a new kind of steering wheel and dashboard that is the direct result of racing practice. The Ferrari 458 Italia has a compact, aerodynamic shape, underscoring the concepts of simplicity, efficiency and lightness that inspired the project. As with every Ferrari, the car’s styling has been very heavily influenced by the requirements for aerodynamic efficiency, as can be seen from the downforce of 140 kg at 200km/h generated by the new model. The front features a single opening for the front grille and side air intakes, with aerodynamic sections and profiles designed to direct air to the coolant radiators and the new flat underbody. The nose also sports small aeroelastic winglets which generate downforce and, as speed rises, deform to reduce the section of the radiator inlets and cut drag. The new 4499 cc V8 is the first Ferrari direct injection engine to be mid-rear mounted. It has a very low piston compression height typical of racing engines which contributed to achieving its compression ratio of 12.5:1. Equipped with the traditional flat-plane crankshaft, the engine delivers 570 CV at 9000 rpm and, with an outstanding power output of 127 CV/litre, sets a new benchmark not only for the whole Ferrari range and the history of company, but also for the entire market segment. Maximum torque is 540 Nm at 6000 rpm, over 80 per cent of which is available from 3250 rpm. Specific torque is a record 120 Nm/litre. The engineers have developed specific, sportier gear ratios to match the power and torque curves of the new V8, guaranteeing high torque even at lower engine speeds and allowing the car to reach its maximum speed in top gear.The Ferrari 458 Italia produces just 320 g/km of CO2 and fuel consumption is 13.7 l/100 km (combined cycle), the best in the entire segment. The Ferrari 458 Italia has a dry weight of 1380 kg with a power-to-weight ratio of 2.42 kg/CV. Weight distribution is also optimal with 58 per cent over the rear axle. The result of the engineers’ endeavours can be summed up in to two simple statistics which together perfectly encapsulate the Ferrari 458 Italia’s exceptional performance: 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 3.4 seconds and a maximum speed in excess of 325 km/h. The brakes also feature a prefill function whereby the pistons in the callipers move the pads into contact with the discs on lift off to minimise delay in the brakes being applied. This combined with the ABS has cut the 100-0 km/h braking distance to a mere 32.5 metres.
Friday, March 11, 2011
We all have our favorite cars during the past decades. While Time Online Edition in the US has released “The 50 Worst Cars of All Time” on its website. Not everyone thinks they’re horrible cars. All cars have their good points and bad points and only the opinions matter. So I picked the top ten worst cars that are in the category of 1990 to present. Check it out!
10. 1995 Ford Explorer
Photo Source: pennsylvania.inetgiant.com
How could this bestselling vehicle running for 14 years be part of the worst lists? The Explorer pioneered most of the SUVs in the market. Most people, mostly women I know of, like to drive high and big cars especially when with their kids. As the Explorer became bigger and higher, people find it more safe especially if they use it for camping. The Explorer is a heavy duty vehicle and is responsible for their passengers. What makes this vehicle worse is that it eats too much fuel. Even though most people do not notice how much they fed up this machine, it is also eating up your savings.
9. 1997 GM EV1
Photo Source: thetruthaboutcars.com
General Motor EV1 is one of the very first electrical motor vehicle ever created. EV1 was successful at first and many find it a favorable experience. So what makes it a worse car? First of all it is small since it is a two-seater vehicle. Not your family type of car and you cannot get too far with an electric car because you will need to charge it unlike fuel cars there are gasoline stations. When the company’s PROMISE to replace the stinky internal combustion smell, they never could do it. Why? Because building the car is expensive and batteries at this time cannot supply the demands of the company. So then General Motors Corporation terminated to continue this project and killed the electric car.
8. 1997 Plymouth Prowler
Photo Source: featuredcars.com
This car was built to in a “retro” style. Supposed to look like from the forties or fifties but it doesn’t look so much as it is meant. It looks more like a hotrod or a ford falcon don’t you think? Not. It is powered by a 3.5 liter V6 offering 187kW. I don’t think the body style is worth it though. What makes this car worse is because they do not even have manual transmission. As a result, a lack of firmness of this little car would be threatening the driver and the passenger’s like more than delivering them safely.
7. 1998 Fiat Multipla
Photo Source: rpmgo.com
Multipia is a time honored name for Fiat. The company made this micro-van based on 50’s and 60’s. By the looks of this car, I became uninterested in it. Why? Because it has several sets of eyes that looks like an irradiated tadpole. The front of the car has a bulky forehead and he back has a glass cabin too. My friend has one of these in Europe and it works beautifully but tragic when it comes the looks. Well, if you say does the look matter? Well, depends either way, people would look at your car famous or worse vehicle.
6. 2000 Ford Excursion
Photo Source: consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com
Remind me how this soccer-mum car became part of the worse car again? A lot of people are fond of having a car like this for camping, land cruising or for tugging boats. The Excursion is capable of towing 10,000 pounds since it is weighs 7,000 pounds and almost 19 foot long and 6.5 foot tall. This humongous vehicle has a weight limit of 40kg. The only problem for this car is when you cannot see what you have run over until you felt or heard a cry. It is like a monster car if you ask my niece. It is just too bug running around the city to shopping malls and to schools.
5. 2001 Jaguar X Type
Photo Source: ooyyo.com
Surely the Jaguar needed an extremely luxurious make over to compete with the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes Benz C class. Ford pretended it was something it wasn’t. The car charged entirely too much money for the car itself. It can never be win the division with the BMW 3 series and Mercedes Benz C class. In conclusion, the X Type was killed on 2009 due to the fact it pretended to be a proper Jaguar when its not.
4. 2001 Pontiac Aztek
Photo Source: goshycab.com
When the Pontiac Aztek was unveiled, most people I know certainly did not like this. It looks like a case losing the plot. The Aztek violated one so called rule in designing a car: We like cars that look like us. With its multiple eyes and nostrils, it looks deformed and scary. And it looked shaved and in a plastic clad mess. If only you heard the gasps of the people made on the Detroit auto show on the day Pontiac Aztek was revealed. My comment? Don’t expect much next time so that you would not be disappointed.
3. 2002 BMW 7 Series
Photo Source: cartomotive.com
The BMW 7 Series is the very first car to offer an iDrive system. iDrive is a joystick with multiple buttons for the driver to adjust several vehicle settings like audio, navigations, climates and air conditioning. Drivers spend a lot of time to press and adjust things inside the vehicle while on the road which actually causes the driver to be pissed. For this, consumers and journalists criticized as soon as it was tested. Don’t worry BMW has gradually improved the iDrive since 2002. But the 2002 BMW 7 Series, is still a pain. Too much for technology.
2. 2003 Hummer H2
Photo Source: www.get1car.com
The Hummer H2 was introduced shortly after the 9/11 attack. Talk about bad timing. It looks militaristic and arrogantly huge. Driving H2 empties you tank fast since they quenched themselves a gallon per 10 miles. And don’t get me started with the batteries. They also have serious issues with the batteries. My friend had his H2 in shops almost twice in a week. Imagine having to spend so much money. But it is also how you care for the care itself. My friend says the car feels safe and the cost wouldn’t matter. Well, you just came complaining the cost on me the other day mac!
1. 2004 Chevy SSR
Photo Source: usa.autothalom.com
The Chevy SSR is a retro looking, hotrod pickup truck with composite body panels and a convertible top. The problem is the mechanical part of the SSR were borrowed from GM Corporate’s SUV program which eventually makes the vehicle’s machine heavy, underpowered and lazy. Well, if you are fond of collecting retro vehicles here’s one. You might not need to drive heavily everyday so it is okay to have the SSR after all.
Surely we all have our comments and opinions of what our worst cars are and may be have some reaction to the lists. We have cars on this lists that we love and there is nothing wrong with it really. Maybe it is just their taste? This is only base on Time Online Edition’s list anyway. I am sure you totally disagree with most of them. We would love to hear your ideas on this one. - Motorsports International
Reference: http://www.caradvice.com.au/107048/the-50-worst-cars-of-all-time-by-time-online-edition/
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