Renton80's Weblog

Audi has plans for big showing

renton80 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:40:17 +0000

The quad-ring obsessives over at Fourtitude have the inside scoop on what Audi plans to unveil in Detroit this January, and enthusiasts stand to benefit from a duo of performance products in the form of an R8 concept and what’s likely to be the production version of the TT-S.
Audi’s midship masterpiece has only been on the market a few months, but it’s been all but confirmed that bigger things are on the way. The rendering above was supposedly released to a handful of lucky press outlets a few weeks back and it obviously foretells a future convertible variant of the R8.

Tags: Car Parts, Concept Cars, Convertibles, Coupes, Supercars, Audi

Subaru begins teasing us with new Forester mini site

renton80 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:35:42 +0000

While we’d like to think that the launch of the new Subaru Forester teaser site somehow corresponds to the leakage of images we saw yesterday, we’re forced to assume that coincidences are just that. Regardless, Subaru still hasn’t learned that displaying a darkened image of its newest product (ala STI) doesn’t stop tech-~~savvy~~challenged bloggers from doing a screen capture and lightening up the shot to reveal the new Forester’s rump.
You’d be forgiven for seeing a Honda Pilot upon first glance, but the lower ride height and bland bottom quickly eschews that comparison. According to Subaru, “It’s comming [sic]“, and despite the fact that the mini site is for the Japanese market, we doubt little will have changed when the Forester makes its debut in Detroit.

Tags: Car Parts, Wagons/Estates, Japan, Subaru

Hyundai’s worst kept secret: More shots of the Genesis surface

renton80 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:31:40 +0000

Over the last couple of weeks, a number of spy shots showing the upcoming Hyundai Genesis have surface and they’ve left absolutely nothing to the imagination. The production version will be pre-released at an upcoming party coinciding with Hyundai’s 40th anniversary and then, two weeks later, the Genesis will make its official debut in Detroit this January.

These newest shots are some of the clearest we’ve seen yet, including several interior pictures that show a well-appointed cabin with an iDrive-like wart sitting below the gear lever. There’s a lot of 5-series in the exterior, particularly the trunk lid and much of what’s aft of the C-pillar, while we get a distinctly Toyota Crown feeling from the front end, hood and roofline.

Gallery: Hyundai Genesis spied in the buff

Tags: Car Parts, Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Hyundai

LEAKED! Every angle of the upcoming 2009 Kia Borrego SUV

renton80 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:23:36 +0000

Kia probably was hoping not to unveil every nook and cranny of its new Borrego SUV (called Mohave in Korea) this way, but the internet is a cruel mistress and it just goes to show that you shouldn’t park your new SUV on a red carpet in public if you don’t want people taking pictures of it. These snapshots of Kia’s new SUV from every angle inside and out have surfaced on Kia-World.net, which you can view in the gallery below. It’s a sharp looking vehicle, though still a body-on-frame SUV. As we’ve mentioned previously, a full-size SUV will be a tough sell for Kia in this CUV-crazed market. The Borrego will be armed with a V6 (a 3.0L unit according to badging on this particular vehicle) and the brand’s first V8, however, and promises excellent NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) levels for an SUV.

Tags: Car Parts, SUVs, Kia

2009 Dodge Ram ditching leaf springs for coils

renton80 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:19:19 +0000

In a move that only serves to prove how competitive the full-size truck market is in the U.S., Dodge will reportedly be swapping out traditional leaf springs in the rear suspension of its redesigned 2009 Dodge Ram in favor of a new coil sprung rear axle. The move may seem counter intuitive, as leaf springs have long been the go-to gear for rear suspensions in pickups due to their heavy duty nature that allows for greater towing and payload capacity. Dodge, however, appears least interested among its competitors in going after best-in-class towing and payload ratings. The current Ram 1500 tops out with an 8,750 lb. maximum tow rating, far below the 10,000 lb.+ ratings of its cross-town rivals and the Toyota Tundra.

Tags: Car Parts, Trucks/Pickups, Dodge

2009 Ford F-150 may feature Hydraulic Launch Assist

renton80 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:15:57 +0000

Five years ago Ford debuted the F-350 Tonka Concept, a big yellow concept truck that portended the design of future Super Duty trucks. Along with the chunky looks, the Tonka concept also featured a trick bit of eco-tech called Hydraulic Launch Assist (HLA). The system uses a hydraulic pump/motor and high pressure accumulator to recapture kinetic energy when braking, which can then be released when the truck is accelerating to assist the engine. It’s a type of mild hybrid system really, though its effect promised to be substantial.

Tags: Saturn SW Parts, Trucks/Pickups, Green, Ford

Nissan releases new interior sketch of Forum Concept

renton80 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:11:07 +0000

Back in October, Nissan released an exterior sketch of the Forum Concept, which will debut in January at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. The Forum Concept is basically a combination wagon, minivan, hatchback and CUV. To be more precise, it’s a “family hauler” or “people mover”. Following up on the exterior sketch, Nissan released a new sketch today of the concept’s interior. It’s a typical concept interior, about halfway between total pie-in-the-sky feasibility and possible production. Nissan tells us in its press release that the inner sanctum of the Forum will include a Bose Media System that’s operated with a proximity sensor-based controller, which we take to mean that you can wave your hand in front of the stereo and Neil Diamond will begin playing on queue.

Tags: Saturn SL Parts, Concept Cars, Minivans/MPVs, Nissan

Mitsubishi Concept-RA may hint at Eclipse for Europe

renton80 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:08:10 +0000

This is not just rumormill, this is rumors of hints and suggestions made by anonymous people. Just last week we wondered whether Mitsubishi’s Concept-RA would lead to a new — and proper — Eclipse. What Car? went further, and although citing nothing more than “insiders,” said that the red zinger “could be a forerunner for a new Eclipse coupe, which could go on sale in Europe.”

True, that’s a lot of coulds. But it wasn’t so long ago that the Eclipse was an object of desire, and there can’t be any doubt that Mitsubishi would love to see those days return — especially after watching rival Nissan revive brand lust by slowly reinjecting its products with feeling.

Tags: saturn parts, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Mitsubishi

The B3 Changes

renton80 — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:29:02 +0000

The B3 obtained a major facelift for the 1992 model year in 1991. It was from then on known internally as the B4 (or Type 8C). Changes from the B3 included a longer wheelbase, a fully redesigned petrol tank and rear axle to enable the use of folding seats, 15″ wheels and more prominent wheel arches, redesigned and painted rear and front bumpers as well as higher-quality materials for the interior.

Tags :Acura rl fender

Give way 4 the B4

renton80 — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:24:18 +0000

The final B3 80s and 90s were sold as 1992 models in North America; in Europe, all B3s were discontinued at the end of the 1991 model year to give way to the B4 series; a few Audi 90 Sport quattro with the 2.3-litre 20V engine are, however, known to have come off the assembly lines as late as early 1992.

Tags: Acura rl muffler