Learning More about the Electric Cars and their Power

The adoption of electric cars has been a bit slow in the past decades because of the limitation of technology. But for the past few years, car manufacturers have been pushing for hybrid (gasoline/diesel with electricity) and eventually moving to pure electric vehicles. Along with the increasing number of electric cars is the improving technology in battery efficiency.

Number One Challenge: Charging Efficiency

The biggest problem facing electric cars is charging efficiency. While it costs a lot less than gasoline and diesel, charging a car 10 years ago could take days before it could have a decent run. Today, the development of efficient batteries with powerful car design means charging a car to its full capacity will only take hours. Car manufacturers are also developing charging stations for home use and even commercial use so that electric car owners can easily recharge their vehicles anywhere.

Powerful Electric Cars

The development of electric cars is not only limited on practical transportation. There are also car manufacturers that are pushing for electric sports cars that can easily rival some of the best gasoline-powered cars today. The most popular is the Tesla Roadster with mileage of up to 393kms and the capacity to maintain up to 201kph. The latest model is the 2.5 version that comes with significant improvement on the design.

Another powerful electric car is the Artega SE with mileage of up to 124 miles and speed of up to 155mph and the manufacturer claims that the full charge only requires 90 minutes. There’s also the Lighting GT with mileage capacity of up to 200 miles in a 10 minute-charge.

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Meet Tuatara – the World’s Fastest Production Car

American car manufacturer Shelby SuperCars is aiming for the “world’s fastest production car” crown with its Tuatara. The 1,350 horsepower mammoth of a vehicle has the capacity of reaching 275mph. Shelby SuperCars is looking to beat Bugatti’s Veyron, the current fastest production line vehicle with a 268mph top speed.

The choice of name is quite unique. “Tuatara” is a New Zealand reptile. A direct descendant from the dinosaurs, the reptile was able to survive harsh conditions from changing environment because it has the capacity to change its DNA in a very rapid rate. Shelby SuperCars opted to adopt the name because they believe they have made significant changes not only on small portions of the vehicle but in its entire makeup.

Under the hood, the Tuatara sports a turbocharged twin7.0-liter V-8 engine. At first glance, it’s just like any sports vehicle with some upgrade in the engine. But the charged-up engine is encased in carbon chassis with carbon fiber on the outside. Even the wheels come in carbon fiber to ensure that it’s lightweight with optimal capacity in handling top-speed. The super sleek design of the vehicle even pushes the envelope for a super car. Curved in the rear, Tuatara takes full advantage of aerodynamics to easily reach the full speed. Its seven-speed manual transmission practically completes the packaging for the sports car. With that kind of power and optimal speed, you need more than six-speed manual transmission for additional control.

Pricing and torque is not yet available but it should peg a price only the really rich and speed crazy could afford. It should be interesting to see if it can beat the Bugatii when it hits the road for an actual speed test.

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Appreciating the Beauty of BMW’s Art Cars

The BMW Art Cars are a series of BMW vehicles that have become a work of art. The cars were used as canvass by some of the world’s most renowned artists. These cars are regarded as BMW’s testimony of their dedication to art beyond what you see in regular canvasses. These vehicles are well known for their eccentric design but can still work as regular vehicles.

History of BMW Art Cars

The first BMW Art Car was made in 1975. There were actually no specific plans to create a series of art vehicles for BMW but it started when Herve Poulain asked Alexander Calder to paint his BMW CSL 3.0. The car was used in Le Mans in the same year which immediately made an impression for the manufacturer. Since 1975, a vehicle from BMW became a canvass for an artist almost every year. By 2010, the BMW Art Cars already have 17 vehicles.

The BMW Z4

Traditionally, the BMW Art Car becomes a canvass for the artist. However, the BMW Z4 in 2009 becomes a unique tool for the work of art. Instead of becoming a canvass for Robin Rhode, the artist used the vehicle to paint in the giant canvass. Although the car is not part of BMW Art Cars, the car and the canvass is still in display along with the 17 vehicles.

World Tour

Because of the increasing interesting for BMWs Art Cars, the manufacturer opted to tour the vehicles for public display. BMW also made an official website for the vehicles that provides additional information about their art Luxury cars .

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BMW 7 Series Review

The BMW 7 Series offers a premium driving experience at a premium price. It’s always expected that BMW will compete in the luxury vehicles market and launch something competitive that it eventually becomes a popular vehicle. The 7 Series is the perfect example of BMW’s dedication to bringing out the best along with premium pricing. It’s an expensive vehicle but it is worth it. That BMW 7 Series started in 1978 and the car manufacturer continues the tradition in building highly competitive luxury vehicles.

The 2011 BMW 7 Series continues the trend of the manufacturer’s luxury sedan. It’s a spacious vehicle with an attractive build which makes it standout among other sedans. It’s a very comfortable vehicle because of the space and the interior design is simplistic but focuses on easy driving rather than building a complicated dashboard.

The base version of BMW 7 comes with Twin Turbo 3.0 Liter engine that produces up to 315HP. It’s a powerful vehicle even though it’s still the base version. The most powerful model is the 760Li featuring 6.0 Liter with V12 engine that can produce up to 535HP with 550 lb per ft of torque.

The only downside of the vehicle is the noise. It’s not necessarily noisy but the wind noise can easily distract, especially those who are already familiar with the other series of cars from BMW. It’s still a great car but to the audiophile it could be a bit bothersome.

Verdict: The car can be comfortable but the noise could be distracting.

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Volkswagen Polo Review

Volkswagen continues to make a mark in the automobile industry with its cheaper Polo model. The car is a reasonably priced hatchback for size-conscious consumers and definitely something to consider. After all, Volkswagen is known for its ability to produce high quality vehicles especially in cars with size limitations.

The Polo from Volkswagen comes with an impressive design for a hatchback. It’s not something that will immediately stand out among other vehicles but it has done enough to look presentable. The simplistic design reflects the dedication to quality build by Volkswagen. It’s not flashy, but the vehicle is very sturdy.

The manufacturing build of Polo is clear even on the first drive. It’s smooth, reacts quickly and doesn’t have any additional qualms especially on sharp curves. City driving with heavy traffic in the Polo is a breeze because of easy controls. This feature complements the high mileage capacity of the vehicle which is highly economical in its class.

While the initial driving impression of the new Volkswagen Polo is impressive, it doesn’t fare well under the hood. The 1.2L engine might not be powerful enough in some road conditions. But the Polo is built for city driving and the engine should be good enough for casual driving.

Overall, the Volkswagen Polo presents an impressive hatchback for buyers to consider. It gives customers a classy feel without being too expensive and walks the fine build quality. The engine might not be at par with some of the powerful hatchbacks in the market but it should be good enough for city driving.

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2011 BMW X5 Review

BMW continues its trend of producing impressive luxury SUVs through the 2011 X5. Following in the footsteps of the 2010 version, the new 2011 BMW X5 features an improved design with an exterior that is sure to make heads turn. The interior has also seen improvements and now boasts impressive legroom allowing the car to easily handle seven passengers through its third row option.

Aside from the subtle but equally impressive changes on the design, the engineers of BMW have also made some revision to the engines. The result is a more economical vehicle, especially on the gasoline engines. The base vehicle features a 3-liter, 6-cylinder engine with automatic transmission and fuel capacity of 23mpg on a motorway.

When it comes to handling, customers familiar with the BMW brand always expect the best – and this model is no exception. Smooth transmissions between gears with reliability in handling are only some of the features drivers will enjoy with the 2011 BMW X5.

Of course, there are a few drawbacks for the X5 and among them is the iDrive controls. While this is a revolutionary method of controlling the vehicle, drivers will have a hard time dealing with iDrive because of its learning requirement. Another drawback for the vehicle is its price. Even though it’s a bit more affordable than the 2010 model, it’s still more expensive than other luxury SUVs offering similar features.

But aside from the iDrive dashboard and price, the BMW X5 is an impressive vehicle. Maneuverability, fuel economy and power are just some of its most impressive features and the vehicle is sure to persuade many customers to purchase.

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The 2011 Volkswagen Touareg Review

The Touareg captures the imagination of car enthusiasts when it comes to mid-size luxury vehicles. It’s not an imposing vehicle that turn heads but it’s still an attractive car that can easily rival some of the best in its class. Since its first edition in 2002, it has become a popular car option for those seeking a good looking luxury vehicle without the debilitating price.

The main feature of the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg is the redesign on the exterior and additional engine options. The exterior is now sleeker than its previous predecessor which greatly improves its look. The interior has also seen some forms of improvement as the 2011 version is roomier than its predecessor. The design is also a lot more impressive because of the rugged yet stylish look.

The 2011 version is now available in three engine types: the base engine featuring the VR6 FSI, the TDI-engine for diesel and the hybrid. The hybrid is naturally the most fuel efficient 21/25 mpg. Although the most affordable is the VR6 FSI engine model, the hybrid and diesel versions are better because of fuel efficiency.

The hybrid of the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg is also known for its smooth operation. Car owners of the hybrid Touareg will immediately notice the smooth transition on different power sources. Unfortunately, the smooth transition between power sources could be costly as the base price is at $51,000. The rate is a bit expensive as there are other hybrids in the same category at a better price; it is still competitive as there are other hybrids that cost more than the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg.

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2011 Ford Ranger SuperCab Review

Ford’s ability to sustain the good features of a vehicle with small adjustments for modern demands is perfectly exemplified in the 2011 Ford Ranger SuperCab. You will not see much of a difference from the 2010 version as Ford believes that too extreme changes to the 2011 model will only destroy the image of the Ranger SuperCab.

The option to stay the same with subtle changes can be seen in both ways. It could provide significant advantage for customers who already own the 2010 Ford Ranger SuperCab since it will look like they own a brand new vehicle. Would be owners, on the other hand, will feel that they are actually purchasing a model from last year.

But aside from the feeling that you’re purchasing something relatively old, it’s still an amazing vehicle. Under the hood is the 2.3-litre engine that gives out 143 of horsepower which should be good enough for heavy hauling. With this power, even the standard rear-wheel drive can easily handle heavy hauling especially on ideal road conditions. Would be owners can upgrade to four-wheel drive with this the same engine. Fuel economy is acceptable as it can run at an average of 24 mpg.

The interior of the vehicle doesn’t have a lot of extras but many owners of Ford Ranger’s would attest that what you need is comfort more than accessories when you have this type of vehicle. As a result, the 2011 Ford Ranger SuperCab comes with a simple interior but spacious enough even for tall passengers.

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2011 Nissan Juke Review

At first glance the 2011 Nissan Juke is something out of an animation studio: compact with a unique looking rear and curves that will make you think it has some secret compartment somewhere. Some say it is an ugly Crossover/SUV, but a closer look reveals it’s nothing more than a quirky vehicle looking to make some mark in a highly competitive automobile industry.

The 2011 Nissan Juke comes with a 1.6 L engine with 188 horsepower. It’s perfectly built for city driving, with a mileage of up to 32mpg in highway setting. Unfortunately, customers looking for power will not get much from the Juke.

But the surprising feature of the Nissan Juke is its adaptability. City driving or heavy traffic driving in this vehicle is a breeze thanks to its maneuverability. An impressive steering wheel and suspension greatly improves the driving experience. The AWD feature of the Nissan Juke doesn’t even limit its maneuverability as the AWD mode of the vehicle improves the vehicle’s traction.

Although the 2011 Nissan Juke has a very impressive exterior design, the inside structure is greatly flawed. The seats are comfortable but the backseat doesn’t give enough space for the passengers. You really have to lean forward so that your head will not bump on the vehicle roof. This is actually the biggest flaw of the vehicle – you’ll love the design but once you get inside with your friends, passengers in the back will complain of the seating space.

The 2011 Nissan Juke features an impressive design. But the lack of space at the back and power for off-road driving limits the appeal of the vehicle.

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2011 Honda Odyssey Review

Honda Odyssey is a unique vehicle in the highly competitive world of mini-vans. Its uniqueness sets the tone for the model which could easily leave other mini-vans makers thinking again about what their vehicle offers its customers as the 2011 Honda Odyssey is good step up from its predecessor and the competition.

The interior of Honda Odyssey is built with one thing in mind: flexibility. The second row comes with full customisation so that passengers can easily adjust their seating before traveling. The third row is foldable which provides extra room for small families for longer travels. Some complain about the Odyssey’s dashboard because of the buttons but it’s another addition to improve passengers’ customization.

The interior is not the only impressive feature for the 2011 Honda Odyssey. Superior handling due to its sleek box design complements the powerful V6 engine. Normally, a V6 engine in a mini-van would run louder than normal but the Odyssey offers something different because it runs with very minimal noise. It even features 27/18 mpg in city and highly setting. Additional traction and stability control increases maneuverability of the vehicle.

Amazing interiors, quiet engine and additional control functions come at a price. The base rate of the 2011 Honda Odyssey is $27,800 which is one of the most expensive in its category. Additional options could easily bump up the rate of the vehicle. But to those who have the financial capability, the vehicle is top in its class and should provide the needed service and comfort for the driver and multiple passengers.

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