2010 Kia Soul

Designing a box type sport vehicles is usually challenging for car manufacturers. Case in point: Scion xB and Honda Element. The concept of the car is not that bad but the design should make you think twice if you're looking for something that can impress and perform.
Apparently, the 2010 Kia Soul Sport has learned a lot from its competitors. The Korean manufacturer was able to come up with a relatively better designed box sports car. Instead of a strict box idea that did not work for Scion xB and Honda Element, Kia Soul Sport has some curves on the side.
As expected, the interior of the Kia Soul is very impressive. There is enough legroom for the passenger and the driver. The control panel even comes with impressive features such as Bluetooth and USB Docks. Sirius Satellite Radio coupled with 6-speaker system will make everyone inside have an audio experience rarely found in this type of vehicle. The only problem with the interior is the limited cargo space which was sacrificed for the legroom.
The downside of the 2010 Kia Soul Sport is its engine and controls. What you'll get is 2.0Liter 4-cylinder engine. This type of engine only gives you 142 horsepower which means you might have some trouble when you’re dealing with heavy loads. It's only limited to 5-speed (manual) and the higher gears are relatively slower to react. But it's not a car that you wanted to race so you’ll never experience the trouble of losing control while on the road.
In terms of safety, the car comes with the highest rating. For sturdiness, Kia offers 5 year or 60,000-mile warranty. And the price is only $18,000 complete with gadgets mentioned.

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2010 Volvo XC60 Review

Volvo is placing their bets on their latest crossover. The 2010 Volvo XC60 is one of the manufacturer's "saviors" considering it's currently having a hard time earning and even finding a buyer. It's a tough year for the European manufacturer which is why they're coming out with something that can help them get out of the sales slump.
The XC60 is a good looking and well priced vehicle. The complete package will cost you no more than $50,000 and that already includes all the entertainment system and monitoring options in your vehicle. Staying true to its brand, Volvo is still one of the best manufacturers when it comes to safety.

Under the hood, the XC60 can compete with the currently popular crossovers. It comes with 3.0-engine which can give up 281 horsepower under certain conditions. It's relatively heavier (4,174 lbs) but the engine power should be able to handle the challenge of pushing a heavy vehicle.

The notable feature of the XC60 is the handling. The six speed auto transmission is very responsive that you should be able to experience gear changes even in demanding conditions. The complete package also comes with manual transmission conversion which increases control on the crossover.

Now for some bad news: the default navigation system of XC60 is one of the worst in the industry. It's not a touch screen system and you have to use a joystick far from the system which makes handling on the navigation system very difficult. But with its price and options, you can change the navigation system for less than $300 and have a great crossover vehicle.

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2009 Mercedes-Benz G550 Review

At first glance, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz G550 is box-type SUV that will never gain any glances on the road. The G550 has a plain box look even though it has a sleek front. You can even say it's a little bit boring and will offer nothing for its potential customers. Still the manufacturer is listing the G500 at $100,000 a piece so it should worth something.

G550 uses two factors that will make it appealing to potential customers: its name and the insides. Mercedes-Benz is one of the leaders in military-type vehicles and the G550 is a testimony of what they can do. It's a relatively simple military-type machine but powerful enough to convince anyone with the right finances to purchase the vehicle.

How powerful? The G550 spots a 5.5-liter engine with V8 power. This power is needed since the G550 weights more than 5,500 lbs and more with passengers. But even with the weight, the G550 can reach 60mph in only six seconds. The G550 comes with seven speed configuration to give you that extra gear if you really want to outrun anyone. The only downside is that its suspension is not really for the off-road. But the G550 is not specifically built as an off-road vehicle.

The interior of the vehicle is in a word: enjoyable. You can complain all day that the G550 doesn't come with options but it comes with everything you need. The adjustable seats and electronic controls on almost anything from the driver's seat is very impressive and the 5.1 sound channel can get you that crisp sound that you need while on the road.

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Nissan 2003 Interstar Review

Most vans in the market merely focus on cargo or driver’s convenience. A van could have great cargo capacity but will limit movement of driver and a passenger while other vans offer convenience to drivers but sacrifices storage capacity.

The Nissan 2003 Interstar tries to diminish the limitation by manufacturing a van that offers the best of both worlds. This particular van can have a maximum wheelbase of 3578mm with 1990mm in width. The height varies per specific model but the minimal configuration can give owners a very impressive cargo capacity.

The storage capacity of Nissan 2003 Interstar is paired with relatively powerful engine. But the van is not a gas guzzler as it uses turbo diesel engine – powerful enough to handle large cargo without the expensive fuel. The minimum engine configuration of the Nissan 2003 Interstar has 1800rpm and the maximum configuration could have 2,000rpm.

The van’s design is specifically geared towards storage. Two doors at the back are supported by a sliding door in the passenger’s side. Although there could be an additional sliding door in the driver’s end, the present configuration is good enough for large haul. For driver’s entertainment, the Nissan 2003 Interstar could be fitted with CD player. Rear parking sensor, electric windows and adjustable window heat is also part of the basic van configuration. Under seat storage and large mirrors are also provided for better rear movement.

The Nissan 2003 Interstar offers an impressive storage capacity without the gas guzzling engine. Although it has fewer doors compared to other vans, the van is still good enough for hauling.

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2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost

Ford is currently looking for its own "it" car. The one mighty manufacturer has been lagging behind in sales as more consumers are opting to look the other way. Quite a bad news for Ford but this situation actually pushed them to be innovative and be smarter with their cars in order to turn some heads.
Enter the 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost. A 3.5 liter engine configured to have the power of a V8. But before you dismiss the vehicle as another gas-guzzler, the car is actually configured to consume like a V6. Not as impressive as hybrids but better gas consumption because of the toned down fuel demand. The car is rated to last 22mpg on highway.
The body of Ford Flex EcoBoost is the definite sign that car manufacturer is trying to start something new. The car has the look of a wagon but can be mistaken as an SUV. But it's wide and imposing body can make anyone think that it resembles a mini-truck. The option for 20-inch tires can transform the car into a massive machine on the road.

Inside it is a classic Ford - everything is spacious and comes in bulk. The seats offer great legroom which is an impressive feature considering it's designed to hold seven passengers (driver included). The dashboard is relatively simple as it features analog meters with GPS and entertainment control in the middle.
Ford maybe facing one of its biggest financial challenges but that doesn't mean they can't be innovative. The 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost is one car that might help the ailing company survive the economic challenges.

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2009 Audi TTS

TT or Tourist Trophy is always a part of many car manufacturers. Tagging a car "TT" is not just because the car manufacturer wanted the car to stand out in the crowd. The tag is meant to provide speed, ease of control and beautiful design inside and out.
But it's hard not to compare one TT car to another. The 2009 TTS Audi is unfortunately ranked in the middle among the pool of TT car designs. It's not as aggressive compared to Roadster but still better to Porsche Cayman.

The 2009 Audi TTS features 3.2 liter engine coupled with V6 prowess. The car is toned down by 15hp which makes it relatively weaker compared to the other TTS cars to be released by Audi in the near future. Unfortunately, the better models are yet to be announced for release in US.
But it's not all bad news for 2009 Audi TTS. As already indicated; the 2009 TTS Audi is a lot better compared to Cayman in terms of speed and pricing. $50,000 will give you the basics of The Cayman but the same price will give you more options when you opt to go for the 2009 TTS Audi. From the outside, Audi has perfected the look of a small car with big features. Although not as ergonomic as other Audi in the past, it's still a beauty.
The 2009 Audi TTS may not be the best Audi out there because of other impressive TTS models. But the car’s price, looks and power should be more than enough to convince some consumers.

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Lincoln MKS EcoBoost

The 2010 MKS EcoBoost is the latest line of luxury cars from Lincoln set to appeal to almost every car enthusiast. With this car, Lincoln is now officially part of the “big luxury car” business as the 2010 MKS is measured at 204 inches and weighs 4,305 lbs. The luxury car is massive which only means one thing – better interior with more legroom.

But the 2010 MKS EcoBoost is not just a big brother of the 2009 edition. The “EcoBoost” tag is not just a fancy name for the latest edition of the 2010. This version will be using a fuel friendly V6 instead of a V8 with 3.5-liter engine which will provide better mileage at 25mpg (highway). Of course, this luxury car is far behind hybrids but it’s a lot better than its competitors.

The captivating part of the 2010 MKS EcoBoost is that the manufacturer was able to retain much of its power – 355 horsepower should be more than enough to help you speed through 60mph in merely six seconds. But the speed and power is just half of the story. Because of the V6-engine and the expanded body, the car is heavy enough to improve control of the car without having to burn the tires to accelerate driving.

A full featured 2010 MKS EcoBoost will cost no less than $54,000 which will be completed with the classic Lincoln interior and 8.5 LCD GPS System, relatively bigger seats and simplified dashboard for easy access of media and the rest of the car system.

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2010 Jaguar XJ

Jaguar has always been about powerful sports car with uncompromising quality completed with amazing design. Although they may have some down moments in their history as a manufacturer (SUV?) because of the economy, they are back on track as the aggressor with Jaguar XJ. Fortunately, the new leader of Jaguar (Tata Motors) recognized the company's future is by keeping its image intact. After all, why go for another sport when you are already winning in one?
The Jaguar XJ is the latest iteration of supercars from the English car manufacturer. Followers of the brand will immediately distinguish the name as a predecessor of Jaguar XF and XF-R. But except for the name, everything else in Jaguar XJ is different.

Before dealing with the engine, the aerodynamic design of Jaguar XJ is very impressive. At first glance, the car looks like a regular four-door with an extended front. But the sleek top with contours that flows from the front end of the car certainly increases the aerodynamics of Jaguar XJ.

As expected, Jaguar XJ is no push-over for its engine. Sporting a V8 engine, the most powerful model of Jaguar XJ (SuperSport) will push the car up to 510hp. Direct injection of 5.0 liter engine assures speed on time when you really need it.
But the best innovation and surprise is probably on its dashboard. The car will now feature 7.1 channel sound systems - unheard of in any sports and luxury cars. You'll be surrounded by 20 speakers which is frankly overkill but it's a remarkable overkill.

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Mini First in the UK

It’s quite odd that MINI dubbed their latest offering as “First” but if there is any car that could become a lot of “first” for MINI, it would be this model. The “First” is the most affordable car that will roll out of MINI as it is currently priced at £10,950 in UK. Converting the price to USD would be $17,950 but it should be a lot more affordable once it reaches the US shores. Unfortunately, the date this car starts rolling out in USA was not yet revealed.

What’s exciting about the Mini First is that the price never diminished the power and speed of the car. With 1.4 liter under its hood, it’s enough to boost the car with 75 horsepower. Of course, 75 horsepower is just chump change when you compare it to sports car as it can reach 62mph in nearly 14 seconds but considering the price and its ability to move through traffic, the MINI First is highly efficient in city driving. The price didn’t even diminish the fuel efficiency. Since the horsepower is limited, the car will allow you to drive to a whopping 53 miles before it asks for another gallon.

Adding to the fuel efficiency feature is Auto-Start Stop feature which allow easy breaking and starting, Brake Energy Regeneration and Variable Valve technology for stability during driving. Suspensions in front and rear also work independently so you’ll be able to run MINI first in relatively rugged roads with ease.

The price, the standard systems and its fuel efficiency is more than enough to get you excited for this car. Hopefully, it reaches US shores soon to help consumers save on fuel.

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2010 BMW X6 M

BMW decided to do something drastic with their M line this year. Instead of little add-ons to their "M" brand year after year, they have completely changed its specifications. Fortunately, this did not destroy the M line but rather improved its brand.
The revamp of the M line started with V8 engine. This 4.4-liter turbocharged beast is reputed to reach 60mph in merely 4.5 seconds. But that data has been achieved without launch control. This means the speed of BMW could still improve. Thinking about the speed of this car is almost scary.
But the improvement of speed doesn't come as the sole reason of its improvement. This will be the first car that will feature all-wheel drive technology. So far, the car has a very impressive engine under the hood and the control significantly improves with an all wheel drive feature.
The features of the new X6 M don’t end there. The six-speed feature of X6 is truly remarkable since the car will now allow shifting without losing torque. The all-wheel-drive might prevent some power to be fully implemented but if you're not racing, the six-speed power with efficient control should be more than enough.
Last but not the least; the latest M will cost at least $89,000 which is an impressive pricing if you consider other turbo-charged cars in the market.
This improvement on X6 M certainly shows the aggressiveness of BMW in bringing out the best to beat the competition. Look out for brother, the X5 M which will be revealed in a few months which will almost have the same design concept and power.

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