car Modifications

Anderson Germany Lamborghini Gallardo White Edition Performance kit takes the horsepower from 560 to 600 hp. This is done with series of modifications that include the use of software optimization and the addition of a modified air filter and a sport exhaust system with additional Rennkats. The tuning package includes a remote-controlled valve adjusting system that lets driver opt from three different levels of noise and also reduces approximately 22 kg in weight. A special sport suspension module combined with a precise undercarriage significantly changes the driving dynamics. Three-piece, shiny black rims – each with a white painted deep dish – in dimensions of 9×20 inch with 245/30-20 tires in front and 12.5 x 20 inch with 325/25-20 rear provide adequate adherence with the asphalt surface.

Externally visible modifications include carbon trim, widening aero kit consisting of front apron, side skirts, rear bumper diffuser and a rear spoiler. And window and tail light tinting should be mentioned also. The look is completed by LED lights on the sides of the vehicle and contrasting red-painted calipers.

The Lamborghini Gallardo White Edition interior features exclusive white carbon details. There are the vents, the hand brake lever, the shift paddles, the dashboard, the steering wheel, door handle inlays, the shift lever and the border of the internal light in the roof lining.
The seats of the White Racing Edition are finished in black Alcantara and black and white leather; the edges of seats are entirely in white; doors and seats have diamond-shaped stitching.

The new Sierra HD underpins the All Terrain HD concept, with a modified, production-based 4WD chassis and the Duramax diesel/Allison 1000 six-speed powertrain. The enhanced suspension and unique body dimensions, including increased ground clearance and wider track, as well as greater approach/departure angles, deliver off-road capability while maintaining HD levels of payload and trailering capacity. The All Terrain HD is painted Iridium Metallic – a dark charcoal color that reveals a reddish, anodized inflection when viewed from certain angles.

Based on the chassis of the 2011 Sierra HD trucks, the All Terrain HD features a fully boxed steel frame with exceptional strength and torsional stiffness. It incorporates the production models’ new independent front suspension and asymmetrical rear leaf-spring suspensions, but with a wider 73-inch (1,853 mm) track (front and rear) that enhances stability during off-road and highway driving. A production Sierra 2500HD has front and rear tracks of 68.8 inches (1,748 mm) and 67.3 inches (1,709 mm), respectively.

The GMC Sierra All Terrain HD concept is propelled by the new, production 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel V-8 and Allison 1000 six-speed automatic transmission powertrain combination offered in the 2011 Sierra HD trucks. The Duramax is rated at 397 horsepower (296 kW) and 765 lb.-ft. of torque (1,037 Nm).

The powerful 6.6L Duramax is more fuel-efficient – with up to 11-percent greater fuel economy than previous versions – and reduces NOx emissions by up to 63 percent. The powertrain’s efficiency is assisted by the Allison 1000 transmission, which requires less engine power to funnel torque to the axles. It also incorporates a “smart” exhaust brake feature that helps save wear on the brakes on downhill grades, a feature available on production Sierra HDs.

For the past 31 years, Japan has selected a Car of the Year award recipient. Over 60 jurors, composed mainly of Japanese journalists, vote on a vehicle worthy of the Car of the Year title, and the auto that receives the most nods drives away with the crown. Last year, that honor went to the redesigned Toyota Prius hybrid, which narrowly edged out the Honda Insight. This year, however, Honda took top honors with its all-new 2011 CR-Z.

Car of the Year jurors praised the CR-Z because of its ability to balance driving pleasure and fuel economy. Jurors also noted that Honda managed to wrap all that high-tech gadgetry inside a unique body design. Upon receiving the award, Honda’s president and CEO, Takanobu Ito, stated:

The slow-selling Honda Insight hasn’t exactly stolen any of the Toyota Prius’ thunder since its introduction last year, and with new green cars like the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf ready to join the battle, the future of Honda’s hybrid hatch doesn’t look too bright. Still, the Japanese automaker has given the Insight a host of improvements for the 2011 model year, including a new base model that retails for $18,950 (including the $750 destination charge).

So, what do you lose gain with the base Insight? For starters, a downgraded stereo system is on hand, with a single CD player and two – yes, two – speakers. Audiophiles need not apply. Remote entry is standard on the base Insight, but if you want amenities like cruise control, a USB audio interface, center armrest and floor mats, you’ll need to opt for the mid-grade LX trim. In other words, the new price leader is something of a municipal and fleet special. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the pricier EX now comes standard with steering wheel-mounted audio controls and can be optioned with navigation.

The Insight’s 1.3-liter inline-four with Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist carries over largely unchanged, with fuel economy rated at 40/43 miles per gallon, city/highway. 2011 Insight models are arriving at Honda dealers as you read this, and for the full details on what’s new, follow the jump for Honda’s press release.

After a nine-year run, the Honda Element will officially be killed off after the 2011 model year. The Element has suffered from slow sales numbers over the past few years, and in the model’s death notice, Hondaspecifically cites that a large amount of customers prefer the better refinement and improved fuel economy of the automaker’s CR-V crossover.

Since its debut in December of 2002, more than 325,000 Elements have been sold in the United States. During its lifespan, we saw the introduction of the bolder-looking SC model in 2007, and just last year, Honda began offering the 2010 Element with a dog-friendly package (pictured). Modest facelifts over the years have helped keep the Element somewhat fresh, but newer competitors on the scene have helped expose weaknesses in refinement and power. That said, Honda’s boxy sport-ute has long been praised for its utility-oriented and easy-to-maintain interior – not to mention kicking off the modern styling trend of boxy vehicles.

Honda has hit rough water with sales of its new CR-Z, Accord Crosstour and Insight models According toAutomotive News, the three models are underperforming in a big way.

Take the Insight hybrid, which is falling 40,000 units short of even the most conservative estimates inside the company. Outsold 8-to-1 by its Toyota Prius rival, Honda has only managed to shift 19,325 units through November – the company originally targeted sales of 60,000 to 80,000.

Likewise, thus far this year, Honda has sold nearly 20,000 fewer Crosstour models than its biggest competitor – the Toyota Venza, selling just 25,927 units compared to the Toyota’s 43,325. Need we remind you, Honda’s original sales goal for the Crosstour was 40,000 units per year, a number we were deeply skeptical of after first driving the vehicle at its launch last November.

Although it hasn’t been on the market that long, early sales for Honda’s new CR-Z hybrid coupe aren’t any more encouraging. Automotive News reports that Honda had conservatively intended to sell around 15,000 of the two-seat hybrids per year, but so far, only 4,373 have made their way off of dealer lots and another 3,000 are currently sitting in inventory. Thankfully, there is one bright spot in the Honda stable – the 2011 Odyssey. The minivan bowed in September, and it’s performing well against a minivan segment that has heated up with a range of new competitors.

Chrysler has chosen vastly different fates for its Sebring and the Dodge Avenger, despite the two essentially being identical vehicles. While the Sebring underwent a complete personality makeover for 2011 and emerged with new sheetmetal and a new nameplate to match, the Avenger was left to soldier on with more conservative tweaks. The Dodge version of Chrysler’s midsize sedan still wears the same basic body lines as before, masking over the significant adjustments to the vehicle’s interior, drivetrain and suspension. While theChrysler 200 may be stealing (okay, borrowing) the show, the 2011 Avenger is no less improved, at least when equipped with the company’s new 3.6-liter V6 engine.

With 283 horsepower and respectable fuel economy, the new six-cylinder turns the Avenger into a vehicle that no longer takes its driving cues from capital punishment, though lower-rung trim levels don’t fare as well. Buyers who opt for the old 2.4-liter four-cylinder will be met with visions from the vehicle’s less-than-award-winning past, including plenty of engine vibration and fuel economy that’s not on par with new hardware coming out from the competition. All this begs the question: Is there room for both the Dodge Avenger and the Chrysler 200 under the new company tent?

What do you get when you cross a conventional off-roader with an MPV? A Mitsubishi Delica D:5.

The new Mitsubishi Delica D:5 is a monobox type minivan that's unique as it combines the sturdiness of a Sport-Utility Vehicle (SUV) with the user-friendliness of a minivan.

Its massive interior has room for eight, and although the variant in Singapore comes with a mere two-wheel-drive (2WD) system, it is based on the same platform as the Outlander.

The fifth iteration of the series, D:5, inherits and builds on the strengths of the Delica brand philosophy: a vehicle that transports its occupants to their destination safely and comfortably under all driving conditions.

Hence, covering running performance, body structure and cabin environment, the Delica D:5 underwent a full redesign - just to strengthen that very philosophy.

Exterior
The bow-tied designers and engineers at Mitsubishi have certainly worked hard to come up with lines that are bold yet pleasant on the eyes for the exterior of this huge car. The dimensions are still those of a boxy van but the designers have managed to make it attractive, thanks to several eye-catching details on the front and rear ends.

Styling wise, the boxy-designed car carrying the 2.0-litre DOHC MIVEC engine is similar to the Hummer fascia when viewed from the front. The clean lines and smooth surfaces that combine well with chunky alloys and chromed front grill give the D:5 a very handsome look, setting it apart from the rest of its competitors.

It is also this powerfully crafted vertical bar grille that joins the headlamps together in a straight band to project a wide, purposeful look, allowing the big square-like headlamps to be a good match for the oversized body.

The rear end shares a similar treatment with the combination lamps and tailgate garnish running the full width of the rear in a single band in a frill-free and clean design. Similar to the front bumper, the rear one also came in metallic grey, which was a perfect match to the white pearl colour of the test car.

Of course, if this doesn't suit your taste, the D:5 also comes in a two-tone cosmic blue body with metallic grey bumpers or the warm white pearl body with the cool silver bumpers.

The Mitsubishi Delica D:5 presents a striking road-presence with a boxy body sitting on large wheels and tyres. And with the linear styling treatment, it produces an ageless exterior design that readily communicates its functional qualities.

Interior
The new D5 is a huge car and a sneak peak at any picture should convince you. But what completely did for me was stepping inside.

This car is designed to welcome eight occupants in excellent conditions of comfort. No doubt that other cars can also achieve what Mitsubishi has pulled off for the D:5, but the quality of the seats and overall space in this big papa is unrivalled.

The interior's functional space allows for larger baggage and other items. And although the third row seats don't fold as easily as those in the best MPVs, it doesn't take long for one to figure it out. A couple of steps of lifting and hooking the seats and the job is done, increasing the depth from 1200mm to 1610mm.

Inside, the futuristic silver centre console with three circular knobs that control the air-conditioner give the cabin bags of character. Neat and convenient touches such as the powered sliding side doors and electric tailgate can also be controlled from the dash and the key fob - something very similar to the Toyota Estima.
One of the relaxing features that is available for the rear passengers is the availability of the multimedia DVD entertainment system. A video screen with DVD player is located at the top of the second row bench and is easily accessible to all rear passengers.

Moreover, ceiling lights at the front makes the cabin a very soothing place to be. Not only will the occupants' minds be at ease with the comfortable and spacious interior, long trips will no longer be boring.

Mitsubishi has undoubtedly created a cabin that appears to cocoon the occupants and instil a reassuring sense of being safely protected.

The Drive
On the go, the D:5 is surprisingly surefooted and cushy. The 2.0-litre DOHC MIVEC engine, producing 150bhp of power and 197Nm of torque, provides good accelerations when and wherever you need it, from highways to sloping roads.

Due to the stature of the car, the ride is decidedly comfort-biased. It is almost like a grand tourer that dishes out well-insulated, fatigue-free jaunts across long distance driving.

Additionally, the steering (with audio controls) is relatively precise and with the MIVEC engine teaming up with the INVECS III six-speed Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), it makes driving in heavy traffic easier and less stressful.

While the D:5 is prone to body roll around fast corners, tyre grip is decent. And if you decide to press on, the nose will run wide. Moreover, engine noise can be a tad loud during acceleration but once the gigantor is cruising along the highway, it settles down nicely. Nonetheless, the D:5 is composed, and its tall driving position means great visibility.

Conclusion
The Mitsubishi Delica D:5 is certainly functional when it comes to space management and delivery purposes. So if you ever intend to look for a vehicle that can haul eight passengers with ease, you know where to look for one. This is a vehicle that climbs, crawls, and gets you where you need to be - in a safe manner.