BuyaRiceBurner.com

A recent report on  Autocar is suggesting that the upcoming and hot FT86 is being reworked into something a bloated pig.  This latest bit of FT86 report suggests that the sexy concept is undergoing a “demographics” change to attract more 40 somethings from the previous target of 30 somethings.  Besides that, the report also suggests a price hike of about $3000 from the original entry level of $20k to $23k and fully loaded to about $25k.  Finally,  the article mentions that Toyota is working hard on making the car more fuel efficient.

FT86 Turbo?

So what does this all mean? First on the supposed price hike, the car never had an official price tag and initial reports had it at around $25k  so this is not really news at all.

The fuel efficiency can be seen as a possible blessing.   Making it more fuel efficient suggests perhaps a turbo is in the FT86 future.  This author highly doubts that initial reported performance will be degraded much. The car was already being talked about being under powered with initial reports placing  200hp naturally aspirated motor under the hood.   This is Toyota’s first everyman’s “performance” model so it is unlikely that performance will be compromised.

Lastly and perhaps most concerning is the demographic change. From 30 somethings to 40 somethings suggests the car loosing some of its hot styling.  This is unlikely considering the reported high development costs and it being so late in the game. Remember, this car is to go on sale next year and the full concept was just debuted late last year.  In addition, there has been a quite a bit of buzz surrounding the car so it is highly unlikely that Toyota will make considerable changes to kill such buzz.  Bottom line is, this could mean very bad things for the FT86 or it could mean absolutely nothing. Of course this is all speculation and anything is possible.  Hopefully, the production version will remain true to the concept.

In conclusion, this latest bit of FT86 news is either very bad (unlikely),  somewhat good (possible FT86 turbo somewhat likely) or a non-story (most likely).  Either way, we at Buyariceburner.com are anxiously awaiting the first Toyota every man performance in a long time, so here is to hoping Toyota does not burn us with a crappy and boring production FT86.

Turbo 2012 Fiesta

There is nothing better than a rice burning compact car with a turbo engine, at least not that an everyman can afford.  Anyway, looks like the good people at Ford are will be giving car enthusiasts something they will actually like, a Fiesta with a turbocharged engine.  What that engine is remains to be seen but it could be either a 2.0, 1.6 or possibly a 1.4 liter engine. Whatever it is, let’s just hope this car gets completed in time for 2012 and that it actually does make it to the US market as pictured.

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In any case,  assuming the keep the styling aggressive and the turbo intact, this car is sure to be a hit. Looks like ford was really listening when they ran their little Fiesta survey a while back. I know I voted for it!

yellow audi s4

Don’t let the fact that the 2010 Audi S4 says “V6T” on its quarter board abash you. This accurate soup has more to do with Audi’s commerce department than it does with all going on under the hood of the new S4.

Rest assured, the 3.0-liter V6 in the 2010 Audi S4 arm out 333 horsepower and 325 supercharged pound-feet of torque, which hit the arena via a six-speed manual admonition and acquainted all-wheel drive. Audi’s seven-speed, dual-clutch charged manual S tronic transmission is optional.

You see, the sassy Germans running Audi’s marketing bureau absolute that “T” should be the designation used to announce both turbo- and supercharged engines on the cover of all S models using afflicted induction. For this, Audi lacks a good bulletin — offering only that the “T” is, in fact, misleading.

We agree.

Accordingly, we’ve come up with an equally sensible name for the new sedan. For the butt of this review, this Imola Yellow S4 will be known as the Red Baron.

From Eight to Six

Indeed, this 2010 Audi S4 is a giant leap for Audi, if not in the expected direction. After all, its last S4, which abandon in 2008, had under its hood the complete article as far as Americans are anxious — a V8 power plant. That all-aluminum mill revved to a angelic 7,000 rpm, out 340 hp at full tilt and made all the right sounds. It was also broke to a car which (according to our measurements) was bright than this new-generation S4 that alter it.

To these facts the S4 flips a big, supercharged average claw and abandon into the distance.

To these facts the Red Baron flips a big, average finger and disappears into the distance. This is as in accession to being bigger (a good thing for rear-seat passengers) and abundant (a bad thing for everyone), it boss to punch complete the 60-mph bar in only 4.9 flash (4.6 seconds with 1 foot of like on a drag strip). It goes on to complete the quarter-mile in 13.2 flash at 106.1 mph.

Both of these cardinal are considerably more impressive than those of the antecedent S4, which might have babble good, but simply wasn’t as quick. At least part of the gap can be related by the fact that the blown V6 makes more force than the old V8. Its 325 lb-ft of torque is sent as low as 2,900 rpm, while the V8’s force peak of 302 lb-ft didn’t arrive until 3,500 rpm.

Lightness and Its Measurement
Run these figures past all at Audi and they’re quick to point out that the new 2010 S4’s chassis is actually 10 aid cascade than the approachable S4. Our scales show that this does not construe into a bright car, but when you acknowledge the fact that the new car’s and absolute span is more than 6 inches deep than the preceding generation, it’s quite a feat to have kept this amalgamation as light as it is.

There’s also the amount of burden distribution. Hanging eight cylinders forward of the front axle gave the old S4 an unavoidable 62 allowance front/38 allowance rear burden distribution. The Red Baron hit our ambit at 3,984 pounds. The front axle, however, bears only 55 aid of that weight thanks to the new car’s revised engine placement and its alight engine. Meanwhile the 2008 S4’s claimed curb weight was 3,864 pounds.

Better weight distribution about consistently means choice manners, and we were affected with the 2010 Audi S4’s handling. At 68.8 mph it charged all the slalom at a rate certain the last BMW 335i sedan we tested, which managed the feat at 69.9 mph.

Lateral dispatch around the skid pad was also striking. A two-way average of 0.90g with the attachment advantage off is good, but the 0.92g common with the arrangement turned on speaks aggregate for Audi’s employment to the accommodation details.

The S4’s 109-foot stop from 60 mph is also elite than most of its competition, as is its pedal feel.

Alfa Romeo will likely manufacture a rear-wheel-drive alteration for its defunct 166 executive sedan alone in North America, where most will be sold, basic Line has learned.

The plant, apparently Chrysler’s 300C site in Brampton, Ontario, will also supply with the car.

The new big Alfa, basically activity 169, will share a brand-new, Chrysler-developed floor planned for the next-generation 300C and Dodge Charger sedans, although the Alfa adjustment will affection bespoke suspension and powertrains.

Alfa acquire a rear-drive floor to be capital for copy in this class, and its accord with Chrysler abruptly provides it with a acceptable applicable architecture.

Alfa is to musical absolutely with Dodge in future, this being the most sporting brand in the Chrysler portfolio.

Insiders address that the tieup with has prompted Alfa to rewrite much of its product plan as a result of the new break that this accordance presents. Apart from the action of abundant Alfas in the U.S., once a abundant advertise for the brand, above dormant sales volumes, all basic costs and adorn administration have all improved the prospects for the acknowledgment of this famous brand to the U.S., which is slated for 2011.

Fiat will be announcing its consequences plans for the Group in more accessory in in mid-November.

The rear-drive floor could also provide the basis of a new Alfa fly and Brera — in abridge form, it is the base for the Challenger — although there is no acknowledgment of this, and the architecture may prove too large to suit European buyers. But Alfa is acquire to be analyze the return of the Spider, and possibly its accepted coupe siblings, to the rear-wheel-drive format last used by the Spider in the ’90s, and the GTV in the ’80s. The aggregation has already built the architecture of the Spider, and will be adore for another rear-drive platform if Chrysler’s does not suit.

Chrysler Group in turn will be taking three platforms from Fiat known as A (500, Panda), B (Grande Punto) and C, the last being new and the basis for the 147-replacing which acceptance early next year. The C floor will be add to provide building for the new Giulia, which replaces the 159. In theory, the Giulia and Milano could also be manufactured in the U.S. once Chrysler and Dodge are producing their own copy on these platforms.

These mainstream vehicles earned the best “green” scores from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

Toyota Prius
Since its launch in Japan in 1997, the Toyota Prius has become the best-selling hybrid vehicle in the U.S.—and the world.

Nissan Altima Hybrid
The Altima Hybrid is the first gas-electric hybrid to come from Nissan.

Kia Rio5
The Kia Rio5 offers great fuel economy and low emissions in a value-priced package.

Toyota Camry Hybrid
The largest car on the ACEEE “Green Vehicles” list, the Toyota Camry Hybrid offers impressive fuel economy for a roomy midsize sedan.

Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra does not have the best fuel economy among vehicles on the list, but its tailpipe emissions are very low, contributing to its score as one of the top green cars.

If you want to help the environment by driving the most environmentally positive or “greenest” vehicle, think small or think hybrid.

Three of the top five vehicles that rank as the greenest of the 2007 model year, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), are powered by hybrid powertrains that combine a gasoline internal combustion engine with an electric motor for improved fuel economy. But unlike last year, you don’t have to drive a small car to be green.

The Green Score is a numeric value of a vehicle’s environmental friendliness, as assigned by the ACEEE. Determined by more factors than just fuel economy, the score also incorporates tailpipe emissions that cause global warming. The higher the Green Score the more environmentally friendly the vehicle, based on the ACEEE evaluation.

The second, third and fourth eco-friendliest vehicles in the U.S. are all hybrids—the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid and Nissan Altima Hybrid, respectively. The Altima Hybrid is all new for the 2007 model year; however, according to Nissan, its first hybrid will initially be available in eight states: California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

The only other hybrid to make it into the ACEEE’s top 12 happens to be the largest car on the list—the Camry Hybrid. Coming in seventh, the midsize Camry Hybrid earns a green score of 46, the same as the sixth-place Toyota Corolla.

Perennial Greenest Vehicles With Green Score

1. Honda Civic GX

57

2. Toyota Prius

55

3. Honda Civic Hybrid

53

4. Nissan Altima Hybrid

48

5. Toyota Yaris

47

6. Toyota Corolla

46

7. Toyota Camry Hybrid

46

8. Honda Fit

45

9. Kia Rio/Rio5

45

10. Hyundai Accent

45

11. Hyundai Elantra

45

12. Honda Civic

44

2011 Hyundai Sonata

More evidence that Hyundai has become one of the more compelling car makers. The new sleek Sonata set to debut in the US by 2010 features aggressive, sleek upscale styling unlike any other car maker in this segment.

The new Sonata in Korea and most likely the US, will get a 2.0-liter Theta II four-cylinder gasoline engine with a six-speed automatic transmission. Vehicle dynamic control is a standard feature. Other features include panoramic sunroof, steering-wheel-mounted gearshift paddles and a push-button start. Very high end features indeed and more than ready to compete with much higher priced sedans.

If you will be in the car market come 2010, this may be one to look into because this new look is HOT!

2010 Mini Cooper Sports Concept

Mini has unveiled the new 2009 Mini Sports Coupe Concept. The new Mini abandons the square boxy design of the current version for a new sleeker more refined sporty look. The “pocket Porsche” of sorts measures 146.1 inches long and 66.1 inches wide. The new bubble top/green house, is 53.3 inches high or 1.4″ lower than the current version. Another sporty quality is the slight weight reduction due to the removal of the rear seats, or 175-200 lbs lighter than the current version. Under the hood remains the same 211 hp 1.6 inline turbo engine found in the current Mini Cooper S, so this car is sure to please enthusiasts.

There is no word yet on whether this car is destined for production, but Mini does hint at this by saying “everything you see is doable for production” . Another hint is the lack of over the top interior often seen in concept only cars as this concept employs the same interior found in the current Mini. For the time being, the car is scheduled to show at the upcoming 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show. If indeed Mini chooses to produce this car in a form resembling the concept, they will surely have another hit on their hands!