Hey there.  I’ve only had this blog up about a day and I’ve gotten some hits, which surprised me.  I’d love to get some more readers and some feedback on how I’m doing so far with this blog and what you all would like to see in the future.  This blog is only as good as it’s content. If i’m not putting up news and information that you want to read, it’s kind of pointless, right?

So, I’m asking and encouraging you all to please leave comments, emails, anything at all.  I’m even going to set up an instant messenger account (either on Yahoo or Skype) for those of you that would like to talk to me directly and exchange ideas. I would really appreciate the feedback.  Constructive criticism is always welcome as well.

Thanks everyone!

-TripleDeuce

Chevrolet has finally unveiled the details of it’s Cruze world car in U.S. spec along with some crisp HD photos.  Of course I haven’t driven the damn thing, but half the fun of talking about new cars is speculation. Will be better than the old dog Cobalt it replaces? What’s up with the smaller displacement engines? Will they be any good? Is this Cruze going to end up being another awful rental car? Well only time and some proper test driving will tell.  But we’ve got specs and pics and i think that’s enough to have a nice conversation over, so let’s get to it!!

The Cruze is an all new car Chevy has come up with. From the outside, the Cruze looks like a proper step towards modern for Chevy’s compact sedan offering.  The front looks like it means business.  The headlights are sort of this angular Nike swish that come come away from the grill and shoot back into the bodywork. A subtle line streaks beneath the belt line for the length of the car in sort of a BMW 5 series kind ofway until you get to the taillights…which again remind me of a BMW 5 series.  Really, it’s a compliment…I swear.  The dimensions of the car are a bit bigger everywhere.  It’s been lengthened to give more backseat leg room, widened for better handling and more shoulder room, and heightened for more headroom.  All in all, this Cruze is quite handsome and loads more interesting to look at than that defunked Cobalt and should  give you the feeling of being in a bigger car than you really are.

Chevy intend for this to be a world car, so I’m sure they’ve done their homework.   At least I hope they have because they really can’t afford to be wasting anymore [of our] money.   But let’s not forget that they have developed a habit of tuning their chassis’s on the Nurburgring in order to compete with European offerings, something Dodge/Chrysler still hasn’t caught onto *shakes head*.  So it should handle crisply and that’s promising.   I drove a Cobalt for a week and i couldn’t wait to get back in my 93 Honda Accord.  Yeah, that’s right. A 93 Accord was a damn blessing.

In the power department, the Cruze will be offered up with two engine choices as well as two transmissions.  We get a turbocharged 1.4 liter flat 4 cylinder engine making around 138hp and 148 ft-lbs of torque or you can level up and get the 1.8 with a bit more horsepower, but not as much torque.  Personally, I’m not sure I like these.  I’m not sure how much the car weights, but wouldn’t a 2.0 liter or 2.4 have been more appropriate?  Oh well, this is all a game of fuel economy anyhow. the 1.4 turbo is supposed to get 40 miles to the gallon. Nice!  Both of the tranmissions offered with these engines have 6 gears and will come in manual or automatic.  If I do get the opportunity to review the car for you guys, I’ll get the auto box since that’s what most will likely buy.

The interior is a quantum leap ahead of the Cobalt.  The Cruze just looks cool inside. It’s the best way I can describe it from the pictures. I’m not counting on all the materials to be of the highest quality, but it all does give the appearance at least of being more upscale than its predecessor.  I would, however, count on more soft touch materials on the arm rest, doors, steering wheel and dashboard.  The silver plastics against the glossy piano black plastics is a nice contrast.  All of the controls look like they have been laid out in an ergonomic fashion against an interesting center stack and the LCD display screen doesn’t look like it’s based off of a something built during the 80’s

There’s still a lot that we don’t know about the Cruze.  But, on paper, it looks like it should be an interesting and refreshing entry into it’s respective market.  I imagine direction competition coming from Mazda3,  Ford Focus, Kia Forte and Honda Civic(good Lord they need to come out with a new one of those!!!).  The Cruze is slotted to hit showrooms in the third quarter of 2010.  I’ve got my eye on you, Government Motors.

To see an annoying promotional video for the 2011 Chevy Cruze, check below!!

**note**: It’s better with the sound off

Kind of reminds you of the Cobalt, except you don't get that look on your face like you want to vomit

I've gotta admit, I'm not hating how it looks

I'm reminded a bit of the interior of the new For Fiesta. That's not a bad thing though.

-TripleDeuce

Den här är enkel och fin. Räkna på leasingkostnaden för fyra olika KIA-paket. Bra folkhems-action om du frågar oss.

Testa Kia Easy Business

Chevrolet has finally unveiled the details of it’s Cruze world car in U.S. spec along with some crisp HD photos.  Of course I haven’t driven the damn thing, but half the fun of talking about new cars is speculation. Will be better than the old dog Cobalt it replaces? What’s up with the smaller displacement engines? Will they be any good? Is this Cruze going to end up being another awful rental car? Well only time and some proper test driving will tell.  But we’ve got specs and pics and i think that’s enough to have a nice conversation over, so let’s get to it!!

The Cruze is an all new car Chevy has come up with. From the outside, the Cruze looks like a proper step towards modern for Chevy’s compact sedan offering.  The front looks like it means business.  The headlights are sort of this angular Nike swish that come come away from the grill and shoot back into the bodywork. A subtle line streaks beneath the belt line for the length of the car in sort of a BMW 5 series kind ofway until you get to the taillights…which again remind me of a BMW 5 series.  Really, it’s a compliment…I swear.  The dimensions of the car are a bit bigger everywhere.  It’s been lengthened to give more backseat leg room, widened for better handling and more shoulder room, and heightened for more headroom.  All in all, this Cruze is quite handsome and loads more interesting to look at than that defunked Cobalt and should  give you the feeling of being in a bigger car than you really are.

Chevy intend for this to be a world car, so I’m sure they’ve done their homework.   At least I hope they have because they really can’t afford to be wasting anymore [of our] money.   But let’s not forget that they have developed a habit of tuning their chassis’s on the Nurburgring in order to compete with European offerings, something Dodge/Chrysler still hasn’t caught onto *shakes head*.  So it should handle crisply and that’s promising.   I drove a Cobalt for a week and i couldn’t wait to get back in my 93 Honda Accord.  Yeah, that’s right. A 93 Accord was a damn blessing.

In the power department, the Cruze will be offered up with two engine choices as well as two transmissions.  We get a turbocharged 1.4 liter flat 4 cylinder engine making around 138hp and 148 ft-lbs of torque or you can level up and get the 1.8 with a bit more horsepower, but not as much torque.  Personally, I’m not sure I like these.  I’m not sure how much the car weights, but wouldn’t a 2.0 liter or 2.4 have been more appropriate?  Oh well, this is all a game of fuel economy anyhow. the 1.4 turbo is supposed to get 40 miles to the gallon. Nice!  Both of the tranmissions offered with these engines have 6 gears and will come in manual or automatic.  If I do get the opportunity to review the car for you guys, I’ll get the auto box since that’s what most will likely buy.

The interior is a quantum leap ahead of the Cobalt.  The Cruze just looks cool inside. It’s the best way I can describe it from the pictures. I’m not counting on all the materials to be of the highest quality, but it all does give the appearance at least of being more upscale than its predecessor.  I would, however, count on more soft touch materials on the arm rest, doors, steering wheel and dashboard.  The silver plastics against the glossy piano black plastics is a nice contrast.  All of the controls look like they have been laid out in an ergonomic fashion against an interesting center stack and the LCD display screen doesn’t look like it’s based off of a something built during the 80’s

There’s still a lot that we don’t know about the Cruze.  But, on paper, it looks like it should be an interesting and refreshing entry into it’s respective market.  I imagine direction competition coming from Mazda3,  Ford Focus, Kia Forte and Honda Civic(good Lord they need to come out with a new one of those!!!).  I’ve got my eye on you, Government Motors.

To see an annoying promotional video for the 2011 Chevy Cruze, check below!!

**note**: It’s better with the sound off

-TripleDeuce

Hello!!! Glad you found the place. Welcome to The Steering Column. I’ve started this blog because for the last 4 years, I have turned into an absolutely car-crazed nerd. I’m always keeping up with the latest in car news and now I want to share it with as many people as i can.

This blog is intended to appeal not only to car enthusiast, but also people just looking for general car info. My intentions are to deliver current news and valid information about cars currently on the market and soon-to-be on the market along with my somewhat off-beat sense of humor.

If things go well where, my plan is to bring you videos of me reviewing cars as well reporting the top stories of the day.

Thank you for your support.

-TripleDeuce

As vendas da Hyundai Motor Corporation e sua afiliada Kia Motors estipularam uma meta de comercializarem 5,39 milhões de veículos em 2010.

Segundo informações da agência de notícias Reuters, o número representaria uma alta de 16% em relação às vendas estimadas obtidas pelas duas montadoras em 2009.

De acordo com o diário Maeil Business Newspaper, fontes ligadas à empresa sul-coreana afirmaram que as projeções foram revisadas por conta do bom desempenho apresentado em mercados emergentes, como a China e a Índia.

Consultado pela Reuters, um porta-voz da Hyundai afirmou que nenhuma decisão ligada às vendas para o ano que vem foi tomada.

No Brasil, as duas montadoras são representadas por importadores distintos que, recentemente, entraram em choque por meio de campanhas publicitárias.

Entre as polêmicas envolvendo as empresas, a Kia Motors do Brasil acusou a Hyundai CAOA de divulgar informações falsas em seus anúncios, deixando de citar o utilitário esportivo Sportage como concorrente direto do Tucson, fato ignorado pela importadora.

Em outro anúncio divulgado pela Hyundai, a marca utilizou um ranking divulgado pela agência Automotive News para informar que superou a Ford em vendas mundiais.

No entanto, a Kia alega que a CAOA não teria citado que o feito foi obtido ao analisar as vendas acumuladas de Hyundai e Kia, já que ambas pertencem ao mesmo grupo na Coréia do Sul.

The new Kia commercial (I don’t know which car it’s for, I didn’t pay that much attention) is obviously ripping off The Fratellis “Chelsea Dagger”.  Well, they rip off their car designs, might as well rip off their theme music too!

I don’t know what car it is, but one of them looks like a knock off Honda Accord.  My husband calls it the “Afford” (in a truly derogatory way).  Kias and Hyundais are designer imposters of cars.  And everyone knows that the imposters are never as good as the products they’re imitating.

Speaking of bad imitations, I just saw Shakira on Saturday Night Live (I know, it’s a repeat).  What happened to her?  She’s a cheap Beyonce knock off.  She’s lost everything that made her unique.  Even her outfit was a rip off of an outfit I saw Beyonce wearing.  And that song, She Wolf, is embarrassingly bad.  Seriously, if you’re going to howl, do it with feeling.  WTF is that half-hearted howl?  It’s a limp, damp handshake of a howl and nobody likes a limp, damp handshake.  I feel embarrassed for Shakira whenever I hear that awful song.  And that’s the single off that album.  I can’t imagine what shit the rest of the songs must be.

Useful Māori phrases

from Omniglot.com

A collection of useful phrases in Māori. Click on the English phrases to see them in many other languages.

Guide to abbreviations: inf = informal, frm = formal, sg = singular (to one person), dl = dual (to two people), pl = plural (to three or more people).

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• rawa

  1. (particle) too, indeed, really, so, very, quite – an intensive particle following immediately after the word it relates to. It may be used after all types of bases, but particularly with negatives, adjectives and verbs as described below.   Ka nui rawa ō moni!You’ve got too much money! (Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 120;Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 44;)
  2. (particle) eventually, finally, as soon as, by the time – following verbs without verbal particles in subordinate clauses and usually followed by mai, atu, ake or iho.   Tae rawa atu ia, kua moe kē a Herewini.When they eventually arrived Selwyn was already asleep. (Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 113;)
  3. (particle) not at all, never – following negatives to strengthen the assertion of the negation.   E kore rawa rātou e whakaae ki tēnā.They will never agree to that. (Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 90;)
  4. (particle) too – when following an adjective it expresses the superlative and is often followed by atu.   Ka nui rawa ō moni!You’ve got too much money! (Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 120;Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 44;)
  5. (particle) very, extremely, so, most – when preceded by an adjective and followed by atu it expresses the superlative.   He ātaahua rawa atu tēnei wāhi.This place is extremely beautiful. (Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 120;Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 44;)
  6. (particle) all the way, completely, right to, right above – when following location words.   I kumea te waka ki uta rawa.The canoe was dragged all the way up the beach.
  7. (particle) until, till – following kia and a verb.   Me tatari koe kia tae rawa mai te pahi.You had better wait until the bus arrives.
  8. (particle) must, really had better – following me and a verb, it intensifies the meaning of the obligation.   Me hoki rawa mai koe ā mua o te weheruatanga o te pō.You really had better return before midnight.
  9. (particle) highest – when following runga.   I piki a Tāne ki te rangi o runga rawa.Tāne climbed to the highest of the heavens.

• kaua

  1. (interjection) do not, don’t, had better not – for negative commands. Other dialectal forms include aua, kauaka and kauraka.   Kaua koe e haere!Don’t you go! (Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 67;Te Pihinga Study Guide (Ed. 1): 40-41;) See also auaka, kauaka, kauraka.
  2. (interjection) should not – used in negation following kia.   Me whakatū he pōti mō te waipiro, kia whakaaetia, kia kaua e whakaaetia ki Te Rohe Pōtae.A referendum should be held as to whether or not alcohol should be allowed into the King Country.
  3. (interjection) must not – sometimes used in negation following me.   Me kaua a Kura-mōnehu e tere te whakaae atu ina tono a Rōra kia moe rāua.Kura-mōnehu shouldn’t be in a hurry to agree when Rōra requests that they wed.
  4. Used when negating a single phrase, not the whole sentence.   Nō te Rātapu ia i haere ai, kaua i te Rāhoroi.She went on Sunday, not Saturday.

• kia

  1. (particle) when, until – used for future time.   Kia oti ngā mahi, ka whakatā tātou.When the jobs are completed we’ll rest. (Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 77;)
  2. (particle) to, that – to indicate a purpose, wish, or effect. Used in this way if the second verb is passive or a stative, or if the subject of the subordinate clause is different from that of the main clause, i.e. the person, people, thing or things doing the actions in the two parts of the sentence are different.   I tonoa rātou kia waiata.They were asked to sing. (Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 98;)
  3. (particle) be, let be – indicates that it is desirable for something to occur. Used this way in giving commands involving statives (adjectives) and experience verbs.   Kia tūpato!Be careful! (Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 27, 58;) See also kia kaha!.
  4. (particle) Used to ask and say how many things are needed.   Kia hia ngā tīkiti māu? Kia rua.How many tickets do you need? Two, please. (Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 63;)
  5. (particle) not yet.   (Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 56-57;) See also kāore anō … kia.
  6. (particle) so that, in order that.   See also kia … ai.
  7. (particle) should not.   (Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 64-65;) See also kia kaua … e ….
  8. (particle) so that … will not/would not.   (Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 31-32;) See also kia kore ai … e ….

• kia ahatia!

  what can be done! so what! what business is it of yours? what’s it got to do with you? what does it matter? never mind! – an idiom used to indicate a lack of interest by the speaker for the comments of another person because they are of little importance.   I kī taurangi koe ka whakaaetia au kia haere ki te pikitia. Kia ahatia! Me noho koe ki te whakaoti i ō mahi mō te kura.You promised that I would be allowed to go to the film. So what! You must stay and finish your homework. (Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 115;)

• kia … ai

  so that, in order that.   Huakina te wini kia rere atu ai te rango.Open the window so that the blowfly can fly away. (Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 99;) See also kia.

• ka kīa atu

  I told you so.

• Kia ora!

  (interjection) hello! cheers! good luck! best wishes!   (Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 1;)

• kia tika rā!

  you reckon! is that right! you are joking!

• kia kaha!

  be strong, get stuck in, keep going.   See also kia, kaha.

• kia rite tonu

  so that it’s just like – usually followed by ki.   See also rite tonu.

• kore

  1. (stative) be nil, nothing, not, no longer, zero, zilch, nought – used in negatives after verbal particles, e.g. e, ka, kei, kua, me, i or ki te.   Ki te kore a Pio e tae mai, ka raru tātou.If Pio doesn’t arrive we’re in trouble. (Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 67, 89-90;)
  2. (particle) Used following a reason or asking why something has not taken place or will not take place.   He aha koutou i kore ai e whakarongo?Why didn’t you all listen? (Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 23;) See also nā te aha … i kore ai e … ?.
  3. (particle) without, -less, lacking – used before or after nouns to indicate the absence or lack of that thing. Sometimes written as a separate word, sometimes joined or hyphenated.   He wāhi kore wai tērā moutere.That island is a place lacking water. (Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 55, 89-90;) See also parakore, kāinga kore.
  4. (verb) no longer – used after kua as a verb to express the loss, absence, destruction or departure of something. It is usually used to mean that something is no longer the case.   Kua kore au e haere ki Rānana.I’m no longer going to London. (Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 89-90;Te Pihinga Study Guide (Ed. 1): 55;) See also kua kore.
  5. (particle) Used with kia to say ’so that something would not happen’.   I kumea te poti ki uta rawa, kia kore ai e riro i te tai.The boat was pulled right ashore so that it wouldn’t be carried off by the tide. (Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 31-32;) See also kia kore ai … e ….
  6. (particle) might not, may not, mightn’t – when used after kei it indicates that an action might not happen.   Kei kore e ea ā tāua nama.Our debts mightn’t be paid. See also kei kore.

• kia kore ai … e …

  (particle) so that … will not/would not.   I kumea mai e rātou a Tākitimu ki uta rawa, kia kore ai e riro i te tai.They pulled Tākitimu right up the beach so that it would not be carried away by the tide. (Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 31-32;) See also e, kia, kore, ai.

• kia kore atu

  it’s not possible.

• kia tapawhā!

  square it up!

• kia pai mai

  that is really good! – an idiom to exclaim about the quality of something. Other appropriate adjectives can substitute for pai.   See also kia … (mai) (hoki) ….

• Kia tau!

  settle down! chill out!

• kia … (mai) (hoki) …

  what a – an idiom to emphasise a characteristic of a person or quality of something, both good and bad.   Kia ātaahua hoki te rangi nei.What a beautiful day. See also kia pai mai.

• kia kaua … e …

  (particle) (noun) that … should not … – used in indirect commands.   I reira ētahi tāngata e whakahē ana ki tēnei, kia kaua tātou e haere ki Hawaii.There were some people there who objected to this, that we should not go to Hawaii. (Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 64-65;) See also kia.

• kia … ana

  (particle) following ‘kia’ denotes continuous action, usually when also following ‘waiho’ or ‘tuku’.   Ka whakatauria me tuku rātou kia haere ana.It was decided that they should be allowed to go. (Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 151;)

• kāore anō … kia

  (particle) has not yet, have not yet – the usual negative for affirmative sentences that begin with kua. While anō is usually present it is sometimes omitted. Kia may be replaced by i. There is usually a change in word order from the affirmative sentence, although this is not essential.   Kāore anō te wai kia hū.The water hasn’t boiled yet. (Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 56;) See also anō, kia.

A Hyundai Motors Corporation, que engloba as marcas Hyundai e Kia, anunciou a revisão de sua meta de vendas para 2010. O grupo sul-coreano informou que prevê a comercialização de 5,39 milhões de veículos durante o ano que vem. O número é 16% maior que o apontado anteriormente. A conta leva em consideração os números das duas marcas.

A revisão das metas de vendas do grupo foram revistas principalmente pelo bom desempenho registrado em países como China e Índia. No Brasil, os valores também são bons, embora as duas empresas atuem com importadores diferentes – e, aparentemente, grandes rivais. No entanto, um porta-voz do conglomerado oriental informou que nenhuma meta de vendas foi refeita até o momento.

Riyadh, 26 November 2009 - Pabrikan otomotif asal Korea Selatan, KIA Motors Corporation, akhir Desember akan meluncurkan varian sedan mewahnya, KIA Cadenza, di ajang perhelatan Riyadh Motor Show 2009.

Seperti disebut autoexpress, varian sedan yang akan menggantikan sedan Amanti itu akan ditawarkan dalam dua pilihan mesin. Pertama, mesin berkapasitas 3.500 cc Lambda Valve 6,. “Tenaga yang dihasilkan mesin itu mencapai 273 daya kuda,” tutur sumber KIA.

KIA juga mengklaim akselerasi kecepatan 0-100 km per jam dicapai dalam tempo 7.2 detik, efisien dalam konsumsi bahan bakar, yaitu 11.25 kilometer per satu liter.

Tipe kedua adalah, mesin 2.400 cc yang dilengkapi dengan teknologi Theta empat silinder yang mampu menyemburkan tenaga hingga 175 tenaga kuda.

Generasi pertama nanti, KIA hanya menawarkan varian dengan sistem penggerak roda. Nantinya tidak menutup kemungkinan diproduksi varian dengan sistem penggerak empat roda (all wheel drive).

Meski hanya menampilkan gambar luarnya saja, KIA juga sedikit memberikan gambaran tentang interior mobil. Di bagian ini, perusahaan otomotif Negeri Ginseng itu memperkuat sentuhan pada KIA dashboard, mood lighting yang memberikan kesan bersahabat dengan penumpang.

Begitu pula dengan lingkar kemudi, sandaran jok yang dapat direbahkan, ventilasi udara pada bagian jok depan, serta piranti anti kabut (automatic defogging) pada kaca depan.

Namun sayang, hingga saat ini belum ada keterangan resmi ihwal harga yang bakal dipatok untuk varian sedan itu.

Foto 01 | Foto 02 | Foto 03 | Foto 04 | Foto 05

These past few weeks I have been lazy as usual.  A lot has happened.

I have found the new woman for me.  It is a strange story.  She is the same woman that my friend BG had been dating from Maine.  She and I have had some underlying connection or chemistry and I just spoke to her, and we decided to meet, and since then it has grown for both of us.

I eventually spoke to BG about it, but, she was fast and did something similar before I did.  She did ask for my opinion about it and I gave her a bad idea, that was a mistake on my part to suggest it to her.  I should have taken down the tone in her message.

So we got together, and since then we’ve been growing closer together.  I did speak to her about how Kia is still in my heart and how I am not really ready for something so serious.  She says she is convinced that this will be the best thing that either of us has done in a long time.

I think It will be great for her, great for me, and I want to know where it goes.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder returns to the Mitsubishi lineup after a one-year hiatus as a 2009 model, with a full-power, convertible top that folds completely into a fully covered, self-closing bin. All with the driver doing nothing more than releasing a couple of latches and pushing a button.

The Spyder comes with a choice of four-cylinder or V6 engines, each available with manual or automatic.

The Spyder offers all the pleasures of open-air motoring with few of the displeasures. The top, especially, is a quality structure. It’s finished inside, with all the struts, pivots and bows hidden behind sound-deadening fabric. With it up, the interior feels and sounds much like the coupe, although perhaps a little claustrophobic. With it down, the steeply raked windshield pushes most of the air up and over the open cockpit, allowing almost-normal conversation; hats are just as essential for avoiding sunburn as for controlling wind-blown tresses.

Despite weighing about 200 pounds more than the coupe, due to bracing added in the conversion to a convertible, the Spyder gives up only one mile per gallon to the coupe in fuel economy in all but the top-level V6 with automatic, and that drops only two mpg and only in the highway estimate.

In pricing, the ‘07 Spyder actually costs less than its predecessor. The base GS model lists at $355 below the ‘05, the GT more than $2000 below the top ‘05 model, and both with more content.

Measured fun per dollar, the Eclipse Spyder is well worth a look for anyone shopping for a sporty convertible.

Model Lineup

The 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is a two-door, four-seat roadster based on the latest Eclipse coupe.

The GS ($25,389) comes with a 162-horsepower four-cylinder engine and a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission ($900). Standard features include cloth upholstery; air conditioning; cruise control; the usual power accessories and fitments; tilt steering column; a premium, Rockford Fosgate, 650-watt stereo with AM/FM/MP3 capability connected to nine speakers and subwoofer; and 17-inch, flat-flanged, five-spoke, alloy wheels wearing all-season tires. The Leather Package ($980) adds leather-surfaced, heated front seats; heated outside mirrors; and a center-top dash display with ambient temperature and compass.

The GT ($28,269) comes with a 260-hp V6 with either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic ($900). Standard upgrades on the GT are confined to the center-top dash display, an oversized exhaust tip and a red rocker cover on the engine. A Premium Package ($1730) adds leather-trimmed, heated front seats, automatic climate control, heated mirrors, six-way power driver’s seat, rubber-nibbed, aluminum pedals, and flat-flanged, 18-inch, seven-spoke, alloy wheels with all-season tires. A wind deflector is also available.

Also offered on both GS and GT are two premium paint colors, Satin Mesei (visualize metallic green) and Sunset Pearlescent ($130), over and above the more traditional red, white, silver and black (blue is slated for late availability). Mitsubishi has signed off on three dealer-installed equipment packages (i.e., installation not included), as well. These are an aero kit, with front corner airdams, sport side sills and rear wake modifier ($1820); an accessory package, with alloy fuel door, wheel locks and floor mats ($179); and an appearance package comprising the aero kit and appearance package ($1999).

Safety features standard on both models include dual-stage front airbags, front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, front seatbelt pre-tensioners and force limiters, child safety seat anchors (LATCH) and antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution.

Originally Reported By: Tom Lankard

(888) 498-0660 – 1133 Motor City Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80905 Contact Us Click Here for Videos

We could name a number of midsize, import-badge sedans that ride comfortably and quietly, handle responsively, and offer an optional V6 that provides ample power for passing. All feature roomy, nicely appointed cabin space, and all represent good value in the family-car market. Mitsubishi Galant does all that, but offers sharp styling, the kind that turns heads in traffic. Not everyone will like what they see, but none of them will accuse the Galant of being a wallflower. The current-generation Galant was launched as an all-new model for 2004, and Mitsubishi has improved and refined it every year since then. New for 2009: The 2009 Mitsubishi Galant brings a freshened look outside, improved materials inside, and revised suspension settings designed to provide greater comfort and a more engaging driving experience. The 2009 Galant GTS gets a new five-speed automatic transmission. Also new for 2009 is a high-performance model called the Ralliart, with more horsepower, tighter handling, and sporty styling. Ralliart is Mitsubishi’s motorsports arm and has been a dominant force in the World Rally Championship, which includes the Monte Carlo and other famous events, and cross country endurance raids, such as the Paris-Dakar Rally. Mitsubishi hopes the Galant Ralliart will challenge the Acura TSX and TL, as well as the MazdaSpeed6. The Galant Ralliart seems a long way from the Galant VR4 rally cars so successful in the early 1990s, but so what? The more we drove the 2009 Mitsubishi Galant Ralliart, the more we liked it. It struck us as a comfortable, big midsize sedan with some sports appeal. It isn’t as agile as a MazdaSpeed6, but it’s roomier and more comfortable. It certainly isn’t as upscale or refined as an Acura, but it costs less. It’s an easy car to live with that does not give up comfort or convenience for its added performance. At times, it reminded us of a Chevy Monte Carlo (yes, we know it’s a two-door) and it seems nicer than a Pontiac G6. In any case, the Galant Ralliart was an enjoyable car that never annoyed us. And we’re easily annoyed. Galant has achieved across-the-board five-star ratings in the federal government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offset-frontal and side-impact crash tests. The insurance industry’s Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded Galant its highest ranking (“Good overall”) in its frontal-offset and side-impact crash tests. Model Lineup The 2009 Mitsubishi Galant comes in four trim levels, but they are not the same four as last year. The upper-middle LS has been discontinued, the GTS slightly demoted, and the new Ralliart added at the top of the range. Galant DE ($19,899) and ES ($20,999) are powered by a 160-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and come standard with a four-speed automatic transmission. Mitsubishi’s Sportronic system, which allows a semi-manual shifting when desired, is now standard on all Galants. The DE comes with air conditioning; height-adjustable driver’s seat; height-adjustable steering wheel; power windows, mirrors and door locks with remote keyless entry; 140-watt, four-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo; rear-seat heater ducts; carpeted floor mats; and an engine immobilizer. Standard tires are P215/60R16 all-season radials on steel wheels. ES adds ABS with EBD, six-speaker stereo with MP3 playback, cruise control, and a more deluxe cloth interior with a driver’s seatback pocket and sun visor extenders. Appearance upgrades include color-keyed exterior door handles, titanium interior accents, and ice-blue LED illumination for climate and stereo controls. ES options include the Sport Package ($1,000) with 16-inch alloy wheels, dark-bezel halogen headlamps, crystal ellipsoid rear lamps, a color-keyed rear spoiler, and the Ralliart’s Rockford Acoustic Design audio with Sirius satellite radio. The ES Premium Package ($2,000) adds leather seating surfaces, faux leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, power glass sunroof, auto-dimming rear view mirror with Homelink, and additional minor goodies. GTS ($24,999) features a 230-hp, 3.8-liter V6 and a five-speed automatic transmission with a Sportronic feature. GTS adds leather seating, faux leather and audio controls on the steering wheel, heated front seats with eight-way power for the driver, dark-bezel headlamps, fog lamps, and a tire-pressure monitor. The instrument panel features white-faced gauges and woodgrain accents. Front brakes are larger, while wheels and tires upgrade to 215/55R17s on 17-inch rims. GTS options include the Sun and Sound package ($1,000), which combines the power glass sunroof and Rockford Acoustic Design audio with an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Homelink transmitter, a security alarm, and more. Ralliart ($26,999) is powered by a 258-hp, 3.8-liter V6, with a sports suspension, upgraded brakes, and larger wheels and tires. It comes with the five-speed Sportronic automatic. Ralliart has a unique look inside and out. Upholstery is perforated leather, and the pedals are aluminum. All of the GTS luxuries are standard, plus automatic climate control, a power glass sunroof, auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink, and a unique Rockford Acoustic Design audio system that includes the hardware for Sirius satellite radio plus a six-month subscription. Optional on Ralliart is a DVD navigation system with a seven-inch touch screen ($1,850). Safety features include dual-stage front airbags, side curtain air bags, and front seat-mounted side-impact air bags, and four-wheel disc brakes. All-wheel drive is not available. Anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution start with the ES model. A tire-pressure monitor comes on GTS and Ralliart models.

Originally Reported By: New Car Test Drive

(888) 498-0660 – 1133 Motor City Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80905

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No, io dico… Ma si può essere più idioti? Nasce in una Carens e la chiamano Kia. Porella…

Quem falar que os carros coreanos não tem estilo, desculpa mas precisa atualizar o seu discurso. Essa máxima caiu já faz algum tempo. Prova disso são as fotos deste post. Com vocês: o Cadenza, ou o sucessor do Opirus (este sim era uma caixa sobre rodas)

O carro ficou lindo. Arrisco dizer que no mesmo patamar do VW Passat (o alemão), referência no segmento. Se de um lado as tradicionais montadoras sofrem de falta de estilo, as fabricantes coreanas não tem medo nenhum de ousar.

O carro será apresentado oficialmente noSalão de Dubái,daqui a um mês. Mas, a Kia resolver desfazer o mistério e lançou essas fotos oficiais do modelo. E também alguns dados interessantes sobre o carro.

Todos os Cadenza terão motores a gasolina, tração dianteira e câmbio sequencial de seis marchas. Os motores, ainda não foram mostrados, mas sabe-se que terão potência entre 165 e 290 CV.

Na questão de equipamentos o carro é mais que completo. Controle de estabilidade e de tração, aquele jogo de letrinhas (ABS, EBD, etc), sensores de estacionamento, crepuscular, tela LCD com GPS, enfim tudo que o dono do carro precisa para não querem mais sair do carro.

Achou pouco? Além de tudo que foi dito acima, o Cadenza ainda pode vir equipado com um teto solar panorâmico, luzes por LEDs, etc.

Na Coréia do Sul o carro se chamará K7 e chegará em janeiro. Depois disso, gradativamente no resto do mundo.

Os preços e as versões ainda não foram anunciadas. Mas com certeza o carro terá um ótimo custo-benefício como já é tradição entre os sul coreanos.