It’s obvious that caravans are again cool. The Caravan Club statistics confirm it; last month they had more new members than ever. Although it’s usual to have 5,600 new members, last month there were 7,210. This is a record for the 100-year history of the Caravan Club.

There many reasons for this recent popularity of caravanning. Nikki Nichol of the Caravan Club thinks that among them are the high temperature in July and the security crisis at UK airports in August. She also said that the new members were influenced to join the Club by the presence of many popular persons like Margaret Beckett, Mark Owen of Take That and Lorraine Kelly.

There’s also a younger generation of fans like Kate Moss, Jenson Button, Sean Penn, Nicole Richie, Jamie Oliver and Lenny Kravitz who made caravans popular, as they chose to buy a luxury caravan that can sometimes cost almost £500,000.

Nikki Nichol declared: ‘Caravanning has become very fashionable. Young couples who want to go surfing or travelling are trying it, as are families and retirees, and it’s been made stylish by the revival of the VW Campervan and designer Airstream caravans, which were recently adapted for narrow European roads.’

Jamiroquai singer Jay Kay is the owner of a very fancy caravan that looks like luxury car, with leather seats, alloy wheels and metallic body.

Sam North, manager of the International Caravan and Motorhome Show declared: ‘It’s new launches like the C-Liner or the Airstream that are helping change the perception of motorhomes and opening up a whole new audience. It is no longer Carry on Camping, bad cabarets and tin boxes on wheels.’

At the moment, caravanning is the most popular UK holiday hobby, as it represents 17 per cent of all holiday trips taken in Britain and the Caravan Club has 936,000 members.
When she presented the advantages of caravanning, Nikki Nichol said: ‘More people are realising that you have total freedom on a caravan holiday: you don’t need to worry about hand luggage and airport security, and the good weather this summer has certainly encouraged people to enjoy their holidays in the UK.’

Alison White
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/caravans-become-popular-again-71471.html

Men are the major car buyers in the United States. They buy about 63% of all new vehicles sold. And while men tease women about being emotional, impractical, and intuitive, these roles are often exchanged in the purchase of automobiles. Here it is the woman who is makes logical and practical choices while the man often bases his selection more on vanity desires than practicality.

Consider for instance, engines. The larger the engine, the more gas required to operate it. Therefore, to realize fuel economy, one needs to purchase a car equipped with a small engine. But men don’t like to do this. In spite of fuel costs, men tend to opt for the big engine. As one man stated, “Four cylinders is only half an engine.”

The five most popular vehicles purchased by men had a 372 horsepower rating. And what does all that power mean? There is a psychological connotation here. Heavy-duty power is masculine. Subconsciously there is an association between engine power and personal power. So the man driving the high powered automobile feels powerful. Whereas, a four cylinder car can make him feel like a wimp. To males, a car isn’t just a car, it is a status symbol.

Men are highly visual animals. So they are attracted by the appearance of a vehicle. They love leather interiors, power windows, and sleek designs. Although women like a little flair, it is a low priority.

When Henry Ford supposedly said that the American public could have any color car they wanted as long as it was black, people attributed this remark to his eccentricity. However, even though Ford was eccentric, it may have been Ford’s gender that prompted that idea. For men gravitate to black cars and especially matte black. They also like gray if it is not too shiny. The male also favors alloy wheels and power windows.

Men are also attracted to high performance cars. The faster it can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour, the more desirable the car. A man’s car has to handle well on the road and be fast. The luxury car with the highest male ownership is the Audi RS4, which can go from 0 to 62 miles per hour in forty-eight seconds. The brand cars that have sold the best to men are: Dodge, Lincoln, Jaguar, Porsche, Infiniti.

State of the art accessories are on the man’s list of preferences. A quality stereo is important.

When price is under consideration, men will spend more on a car than women. Women hardly ever exceed the $40,000 mark. Men buy as high as they can afford or get financed.

Men even admit to emotional purchase of cars in mid-life crisis. A desire for an impractical car is an accompaniment to middle age. And some men feel that materialistic possessions are a way of feeling good about your self. The blues of aging creates a need to feel good about yourself. And a brand new car is the ultimate materialistic possession. A typical car that pilots one through the period of aging blues, has a powerful engine, is extremely attractive, and is envied by your friends. Red is a desirable color.

Brenda Williams
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/how-men-buy-cars-681323.html

The stock A4 is a good-looking car – the new one even more so. It does the job it’s designed for, and stylishly too. The shortened front body overhang makes it look purposeful, while the longer bonnet and wheelbase lend the impression of being a large saloon. With a Cd value of 0.27, it’s aerodynamically efficient too, and can easily take a volume of 480 liters of luggage to boot. The new A4 is offered in India with a choice of two engines, 3.2FSI petrol and a 2.0TDi diesel. Both engines are direct-injection types. 
Depending on engine spec, you can choose from a range of 16, 17 or 18-inch alloy wheels. Optional xenon plus headlights make for improved visibility at night. The Audi A4 DTM on the other hand is a very different beast all together. If the standard car can be termed a cat, the DTM version would probably be a saber-toothed tiger, and that’s why it’s so menacingly successful on the track. It’s about performance, power and handling. It’s the fourth-generation Audi A4 DTM, and is known as the “R14” internally at Audi Sport. The DTM version is built around a steel DTM Touring Car space frame made of aerospace industry grade steel, with the driver’s safety cell being made out of very strong carbon fiber composite, as used in F1. As accidents tend to happen at a much higher speed on the racetrack, for the driver’s safety, the front and rear crash structures are also made of the same material. It’s 4800 mm long, 1850mm wide and 1200mm short. The standard A4 is, in comparison, 4586mm long, 1772mm wide and 1427mm tall. 
The engine of the DTM A4 is not available in the road car that you drive in India – it’s a normally aspirated (no turbo or supercharging) 4000cc V8 engine with a 90deg angle between the cylinder banks. It breathes through four valves per cylinder, and despite the mandatory intake air restrictors, still develops approximately 460bhp of power and over 370 lb/ft of torque. It’s a rear-wheel-drive car and power to the rear wheels is transmitted via a 3-plate carbon-fiber clutch and a sequential 6-speed sport gearbox. To keep the power delivery honest, the A4 DTM has an adjustable limited-slip plate differential and constant velocity sliding type tripod universal joint shafts.
Aerodynamics plays a huge part in car racing and it’s also the case in DTM. As in F1, when a part falls off (and parts can fall off in DTM as the cars go body-to-body into a corner trying to muscle each other off) the car’s performance is compromised. But like an iceberg, there is more aerodynamic trickery under the car than can be seen – along the underbody of the car, air passages, slots and steps abound so that air pressure under the car can be harnessed to make the A4 DTM stick to the road like a leach clings to skin. The cockpit of a DTM car is very different too. While the standard car’s cockpit is given to creature comforts, a DTM driver’s cockpit, or workplace if you like, is a stark contrast due to its multitude of gear shift lights, rev counter, indication of engaged gear, lap timer, speedometer, etc. Switches, buttons, digital displays, as well as traditional levers and pedals characterize an A4 DTM cockpit. Did I mention the buttons? 
You have buttons for the radio (for pit to car communication, not AIR FM Rainbow) and for activating the speed limiter in the pit lane. More buttons for selecting headlight high beam and activating the drinks supply. The left paddle behind the steering wheel actuates brake valves for the parking brake. The right hand side paddle actuates brake caliper cooling! The sequential gearbox is actually manually operated. There is no AC, so adjustable inlets for fresh air into the cockpit have been provided for the driver. Then there are even more buttons, for adjusting brake balance, the display brightness, and, handy after a crash, the fire extinguisher. You have the main electric switch, with ignition and starter buttons on the right and a hazard warning light system for when the car stalls on the grid.
Once the buttons have been memorized, there is the rest of the A4 DTM. It has a servo-assisted rack and pinion steering, front and rear independent double-wishbone suspension, a pushrod system with spring/damper units, adjustable gas pressurized dampers and a hydraulic dual-circuit brake system that actuates light alloy brake calipers on ventilated carbon brake discs at both front and rear. The driver can adjust the brake balance to his or her liking. The A4 DTM runs on Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres, 265/660 R18s mounted on 10×18inch aluminum forged rims at the front, and 280/660 R18s mounted on 11×18in rims at the rear. With the driver included, the total weight of the car is 1,050kgs.
Obviously, such a purpose-built racer will never see Indian roads, except perhaps during a blue moon. The whole exercise is a demonstration of Audi being ‘Vorsprung durch Technique’ or ‘ahead thanks to the use of technology,’ which describes Audi’s effort in DTM perfectly – they’re leading the series.

Priya Singh
http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/dtm-touring-car-industry-information-507203.html

Volkswagen Fox – it’s made out of pineapples don’t you know?

I’ve reviewed so many cars over the past six months or so, that I may have been guilty of getting used to the thrills and spills of driving fast ones. If this is the case, my assignment this week brought me back down to earth – very slowly might I add – with a bump. The car in question is the Volkswagen Fox – the baby of the German manufacturer’s fleet.

The car has a 0-60mph time of…wait…for…it…17.5 seconds. Top speed is 91mph and no there isn’t a turbo attached to the puny 1.2 litre engine. Yet to lambaste the Fox for being slow and unexciting is to completely miss the point of the car. The giveaway is in the model name of the car I tested – the Volkswagen Urban Fox. You see in this time of petrol prices soaring, roads becoming more congested and the car being the global warming villain, the Fox could well be where the smart money lies when it comes to getting around town.

I don’t like to use the word ‘cheap’ but there’s no other way to describe the Fox, with prices starting at £6,430 to be precise (in the UK I should add). To get four brand new wheels onto the road, with a Volkswagen badge adorning your car for this money is quite simply a remarkable feat. The cost saving doesn’t end there either, with the Fox falling into insurance group one – the cheapest banding around. Fuel consumption almost looks made up with combined urban and extra urban figures of 46.3mpg.

Blimey this is starting to make a lot of sense. The Fox is quite tall too, so despite the diminutive length, the driving position is not too dissimilar to that of a larger 4×4 vehicle. The advantages of making the car tall, aren’t limited to the driving position, as headroom and legroom are also boosted by the extra inches up top. There’s plenty of glass around the car, making all round visibility excellent and parking a doddle.

Outside of its favoured habitat things do go a bit awry with the Fox – particularly on the motorway. Now before you shout “the little thing’s not meant for the big roads!” if we’re being objective, there’s going to be occasions when you’re going to leave the big smoke and hit one of the multi-laned snakes cutting through the country. By-passing (no pun intended) the 0-60mph time, the Fox is – and I hate using this word as much as ‘cheap’ – slow. An overtaking manoeuvre requires the forward planning of a chess master and snooker champion all in one. Changing from fifth gear to fourth made little difference to my forward motion and worryingly, nor did a further shift down to third.

The tall sides also act as a pair of very large hands that grasp hold of every gust of wind or buffeting from a passing lorry, making the Fox a wee bit skittish in the outside lane. However, once off the motorway, the Fox feels far more assured navigating country twists and turns, thanks to a longer wheelbase than most in its class and wider track. In fact, rather than welding the accelerator pedal to the floor, a gradual motion combined with a neat gearbox brought great rewards in the great outdoors.

Parked up against it’s rivals the Fox sits comfortably in the ‘not ugly’ bracket but struggles to make it into the ‘pretty’ range either. As with Volkswagen’s other small hatchback the Polo, the Fox is subtly styled compared to its rivals, in this case the Citroen C1, Toyota Aygo and Peugeot 107. Yet there is something more grown up and civilised about the Fox when viewing it alongside the almost immature stylings of the other city cars.

An interesting fact for your next pub chatter – Volkswagen are committed to reducing the environmental impact of producing cars and are keen to promote recycling and greener vehicles. In the case of the Fox, it’s built in Brazil where the Curana plant grows. Fibres of this plant from the pineapple family are mixed with a recyclable synthetic material which makes the material for the roof lining and rear parcel shelf. No the car isn’t edible.

The Fox has been manufactured using the latest laser welding technology which means it’s a very rigid car helping it garner 4 stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests and features ABS as standard. Optional extras include alloy wheels, air conditioning and a CD player.

The Fox has a big fight on its hands, not necessarily from its competitors, but from the car it replaces – the much loved, and cute Lupo. Either way, the evidence is clear. Next time I get behind the wheel of a 2.0 litre turbo’d monster, I’ll be wishing I was a far sensible human being and was driving a Volkswagen Fox.

Gareth S Jones
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/vw-fox-made-out-of-pineapples-508954.html

Mahindra & Mahindra unveils its most eagerly awaited Xylo in the Indian car market. This new car is a perfect amalgam of comfort, luxury, and performance.

The tough and rugged Xylo is known to bring a serious threat to the era of sedans in the market and change the perception that rules the segment. The company with pride calls it the ‘Great Indian Travelling Machine’, a machine that is known to spark a revolution in its own segment.

Stylish Exterior

The new Mahindra Xylo is ardently designed with masculine structure that reflects attitude and elegance. The exterior appeal is further accentuated with aggressive front grill, integrated bumpers, wrap around tail-lights, body-coloured door handles, twin-coloured outside rear view mirror, sporty alloy wheels, and aerodynamically designed ski rack. Further to that, body side cladding with chrome rails and rear lamp clusters with structured edges adds elegance to the car’s design.

With a contemporary and classy look, the car is available in an assortment of eight dynamic shades comprising Fiery Black, Mist Silver, Mint Green, Lucky Lilac, Gold Shimmer, Toreador Red, Java Brown and Rocky Beige.

Plush Interiors

Artistically created with detail and elegance, the car interiors are eye-catching and inspiring. It is complemented by three elegant shades including Black, Walnut, and Granite.

The interior of the car is adorned with futuristic car features comprising spacious cabin, theatre style seating, flatbed front seats, doors fitted with puddle lamps, foldable flight trays, conveniently placed laptop and mobile charging points, three-position lumbar support, integrated foot rest, digital drive assist system, and 2 Din entertainment system.

The Mahindra XYLO is the only car that is personified with flatbed front seats to enjoy new degrees of comfort on long drives. It also has the surround cool dual car air-conditioners that are roof mounted to ensure unrestricted flow of air in every car corner.

Powertrain and Performance

The Mahindra Xylo is powered with an fuel-efficient 2.49 Litre mEagle CRDe engine that delivers 112 bhp. This refined engine allows the car to accelerate from standstill to 60 km/h in just 5.8 seconds. The advanced engine technology is coupled with a five-speed manual gearbox.

In addition, the dual pilot injection along with advanced engine damping, hydraulic lash adjustor technology, and auto tensioner helps improve drivability. Furthermore, long wheelbase and multi-link suspension system improves handling and stability.

High-End Technologies

The new Xylo is technically adorned with plenty of innovations and a variety of high-end technologies. One of the most revolutionary technology in the Xylo is the Digital Drive Assist System (DDAS ) that gives the driver an excellent feel of an aeroplane cockpit.

The DDAS with the help of an on-board computer reads and provides useful information about the average mileage, remaining amount of fuel in the tank, and the distance permissible with the fuel left over. It also an an inbuilt warning system that prompts the driver to take safety precautions like wearing a seat belt when behind the wheel.

In addition, the ergonomically designed car seat with height adjustment and illuminated keyhole ring adds to the technological beauty of the car.

Improved Safety

Tough and rugged steel body structure makes the car strong and reliable when it comes to disperse crash energy across the car structural frame.

A transponder based Engine Immobilizer helps to immobilize the engine in case of wrong or unlawful entry. Ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumpers makes reverse parking an easy and hassle free task. With these sensors installed, the car starts beeping when it comes within a range of 120 cm to any vehicle or object. In addition, car safety technologies like fog lamps, crumple zones, tubeless tyres, and an in-built warning system reminds the driver to follow safety precautions like wearing seat belts.

Available Variants

This new car is introduced in four different variants to suit varied needs and tastes of Indian car buyers. These variants are E2, E4, E6, and E8 that are priced at Rs 6,24,500, Rs 6,69,500, Rs 7,32,500, and Rs 7,69, 500 respectively. All these variants conform to stringent BS III emission norms.

The base version E2 has power steering, power windows, central locking, flat bed front seats, and transponder based immobilizer as standard features. Other features like surround cool dual air-conditioner, fabric seats, two Din car audio system, intelligent reverse assist, alloy wheels, remote locking, reverse fog lamps, foldable flight trays, and ski rack are available as optional car features depending on the variants.

Carazoo.com
http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/mahindra-introduces-xylo-to-indian-car-market-721294.html

Set aside your £20,935. That is, if you want to own the newest version of the Land Rover Freelander 2. This is the priced that was given out and announced by the brand just recently and the company further informed the motoring public that the Land Rover Freelander 2 would be available in showrooms and dealerships come the end of this year. If you remember, this vehicle first made its public appearance during the British International Motor Show this year which was held in the city of London.

Now if you would like to purchase the really spruced up version of the newest Land Rover Freelander 2 model, then you would have to shell out more cash. Sure, even the base version does come with Land Rover climate control parts standard and so would the upgraded version have. But still, there are some people who would just love to have the best versions of the vehicles available. Now the fully accessorized one would be having a tag price of £33,990.

This new one is said to be quite fresh and has got an even more dynamic design compared to the vehicle model before this one came into being. Plus, the Land Rover Freelander 2 comes with a Terrain Response feature and has got two new choices for engines. There is the 2.2 liter turbocharged diesel and the 3.2 liter straight six petrol engine.

The base is the Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4S and it comes with a 2.2 liter TD4 diesel engine. It also has sixteen inch alloy wheels that come as standard. Up next is the TD4 GS version and instead of sixteen inch wheels, this one has got seventeen inch alloy wheels with six spokes and is sold for £23,435. The TD4 XS is the next level and this one has got, of course, more upgraded features like the Alpine stereo system and nine speakers. But this one is going to cost you £25,385.

Carol Mitchel
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/prices-for-land-rover-freelander-2-all-set-58920.html

The all-new third-generation LX features more technological advancements that provide additional power, safety, roominess, both on- and off-road capability, and most importantly, luxury.

Vice President and General Manager, Bob Carter, of Lexus Division Group said the all-new LX 570 is packed with the luxury appointments and seamless technology our buyers expect of a Lexus vehicle. He also said this vehicle sets a high-water mark for Lexus by providing more on- and off-highway prowess than ever before, while at the same time providing the amount of interior space, comfort, luxury and ride quality our customers demand.

This all-new car from Lexus has improved power performance from. It is equipped with a powerful 5.7-liter V8 engine that will produce 381 horsepower. The engine will be matched to a new six-speed sequential-shift automatic transmission designed and built for large tasks. Both the engine and transmission are controlled and linked by sophisticated electronic management systems that help ensure optimal performance and fuel economy, with minimal emissions at all times.

With its upgraded power train matched with a new chassis and suspension system, the LX 570 has a towing capacity of 8,500 pounds.

A Four-Wheel Electro-Hydraulic Suspension with Active Height Control (AHC) and Adaptive Variable Suspension is used. The new cross-linked system allows each wheel to react to the driving surface it is in contact with and also to react to the actions of the opposing wheels. Using a valve at each corner and a center or master valve, the cross-linked suspension system detects the extension or deflection of each of the LX 570’s 20-inch wheels and counters that with appropriate response at the opposite wheels.

The Lexus LX 570 also includes a new Crawl Control feature for increased throttle control when maneuvering over rough or difficult surfaces. In low range, Crawl Control will help maintain appropriate low speeds allowing the driver to concentrate on steering the car on the desired path. Similar to cruise control in maintaining vehicle speed, Crawl Control also actuates a set of virtual locking differentials to minimize tire slippage and to maximize chassis behavior.

While Crawl Control can be compared in some ways to cruise control, the driver constantly maintains control over the vehicle. Without canceling the Crawl Control mode, the driver can reduce vehicle speed by braking, or alter the speed higher or lower by adjusting a speed selector switch.

The new LX 570 also features a multi-terrain ABS braking system. This new technology is designed to help reduce stopping distances on slippery surfaces such as sand or gravel.

Among its other advanced technologies, the Lexus LX 570 also offer a new blind corner monitor feature designed for use in urban settings such as exiting a parking garage. With cameras located within the grille and under the passenger side-view mirror, the driver can easily check hard-to-view areas by simply pressing a button on the dashboard and viewing the camera images on the navigation screen.

The luxury styling of the new LX 570 emphasizes the Lexus identity by combining the muscular strength and sense of security expected in a four-wheel-drive utility vehicle with the simplistic originality of the Lexus L-finesse design theme. It is therefore more dynamic and refined than its predecessor. The bold theme of the new LX carries over from front to rear with a wide stance and brawny cabin proportions that are accented with subtle character lines and luxury touches such as chrome-plated door handles and moldings. Added to these is the cargo rack.

The LX 570 is huge and very masculine that the cargo racks, at a glace can be seen as a truck cargo tracks. These are very essential in putting up additional loads to the vehicle.

The cut-line above the front fenders adds to the performance image of the new LX while the wheel arches add an element of ruggedness to its clean profile. The running boards are fitted closer to the body to provide a more integrated appearance.

In the rear, the LX features a sculpted rear door for a more dynamic look and wide combination lights for a large size vision. The combination lights and license plate are accentuated with tasteful chrome accents. A six-spoke 20-inch alloy wheel design creates a two-dimensional appearance that is very sporty yet elegant.

The styling is complemented with Adaptive Front Headlights, a power back door, puddle lamps, headlight washers and a front wiper deicer.

The interior is very spacious. And for enhanced safety, the new LX features a segment-leading 10 standard airbags including driver- and front-passenger knee airbags, second-row seat-mounted side airbags and third-row curtains. Among the many safety features on the new LX are Active Front Headrests, a first for a Lexus utility vehicle, second-row seat belt, and a direct tire pressure monitor system.

The Lexus LX 570 has indeed several luxury amenities. Additional to those mentioned earlier are theclimate controlled front seats and heated rear seats, a 19-speaker Mark Levinson audio system with Reference Surround Sound and a hard disc drive capable of storing up to 2,000 songs, a rear seat entertainment system with a nine-inch screen, the Lexus Intuitive Park Assist, a first-in-its-class Pre-Collision System with Adaptive Cruise Control and Lexus Link.

Luxury packages further include semi-aniline leather interior trim, a cool box in the front center console, illuminated scuff plates, unique wheel finish, a Smart Card key, and Bubinga wood trim, a wood used to craft fine furniture, instruments.

Gertrude
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/the-luxury-in-the-2008-lexus-lx-570-fullsize-luxury-utility-vehicle-134426.html

2007 is such an amazing year for Volkswagen not only because its CrossPolo and CrossGolf are doing well in terms of sales, but also because their sporty all-rounder version of the Touran is likewise revving up orders. As a matter of fact, Volkswagen’s German partners are now taking orders for this latest addition to the Cross family. Sales and advance orders to date are pouring in which simply shows that this series is a favorite amongst customers. One out of ten Polos comes from this special edition series.

The third member of the Cross family is currently made available for order since the beginning of the year- the Volkswagen CrossTouran. This vehicle is not only strikingly styled but has become a practical and lifestyle-oriented vehicle. The Touran is a front-wheel drive and boasts of major new features which include additional ground clearance of approximately 12 millimeters plus a variety of visible body elements.

Some of the vehicle’s notable features are its new front spoiler which comes in a “matte chrome” look, silver-anodized roof rails and dark headlamp mounts, lower bumper sections, side skirts, wheel arches and side protective molding that made extra strong high quality composite materials.

The Touran is also loaded with impressive standard equipment package and top-of-the-line Volkswagen accessories which includes both fog lights as well as range of interior details such as the one-of-a-kind CrossTouran steering wheel in perforated leather, the fold-down passenger-seat backrest with table and through-load feature, and of course the folding tables on the backs of the front seats.

Another stunning feature of the vehicle is the mixed tire arrangement wherein it combines 6.5-inch wide and 17 inch diameter alloy wheels with 215/50 tires at the front . For its back tires it has combined 8-inch wide, 17-inch alloy wheels with 235/45 tires just to give it that unique visual appeal.

The Touran is available in color schemes ranging from “Candy White” to “Deep Black” and an exclusive “Red Rock Metallic”. For its interior colors customers has a choice between orange/grey and the more subtle “latte macchiato”.

Volkswagen for its European market launching in spring of 2007 will incorporate three petrol driven engines and three TDIs (standard fitted with diesel particulate filter) with outputs ranging from 75kW to 125kW. The 125 kW TSI Twincharger with standard DSG is expected to grab the spotlight. Volkswagen will offer the CrossTouran for as little as 24,743.79 euros.

Cross for Freedom, Fun and Adventure

The special Cross family of Volkswagen exudes visual appeal of an off-roader with the comfort of a sedan. Although distinct from each other the Cross vehicles share common robust exterior and additional ride height.

According to Christoph Stürmer, analyst at Frankfurt-based market-intelligence specialists Global Insight, “This model strategy demonstrates that Volkswagen is right up-to-date. Cars like the CrossTouran offer the psychological advantages of an off-roader and have a huge appeal to customers because they communicate the feeling of dependability.” In short, Stürmer just want to point out that the comfort of the Cross is brought about by its muscular styling, true and tested technology plus its superior outward visibility which is made possible by the high seat position that it possess.

The Volkswagen Cross Family takes its roots in the Polo Fun launched in December of 2003. Its first production of the Cross was sold out in a matter of months. The year 2006 saw the birth of an entire new series with the launching of the CrossPolo in January. Volkswagen was confident that it will become a hit amongst customers but just the same the unit sales figures came as a surprised for them. As a matter of fact, even the marketing specialists at Volkswagen were amazed when they saw the sales figures. The Cross was such a phenomenal success in Germany that one out of ten Polos sold is a Cross model.

The CrossGolf which was first shown at the September Paris Motor Show will be put on sale in December. The CrossTouran which was unveiled at the Bologna Motor Show completes the Cross family. TDI, TSI, DSG and Twincharger are the registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG or of the other companies belonging to the Volkswagen Group in Germany and other countries.

About Volkswagen

The German motor car is an icon of the 20th Century and only few automakers can parallel the legendary cars that Volkswagen has produced. Volkswagen’s “The Beetle” is a best selling car of all time. Everybody loves the refreshing and innovative design that this car possess. Volkswagen’s bus has also become a symbol of an era while the Golf became a modern masterpiece and became an indelible part of the cultural and personal lives of millions around the world.

In an era of the privilege few, Volkswagen has provided a affordable and practical means of transport for a great number of people that just cannot afford the high cost of other brands. It was in the year 1934 when Ferdinand Porsche has conceived the idea of creating the first peoples’ car for Europe and a year after, a working prototype was launched.

And by the end of 1942, the German automaker Volkswagen has produced 70,000 vehicles. Three years after the war in 1945 Volkswagen has produced almost 2,000 vehicles for the Allied Forces and the new German Post Office. It was in the year 1948 when Volkswagen has produced 25,000 vehicles and it was also in this same year when the first two Beetles were shipped to the US. The following year, 1949, Volkswagen has again produced another 25,000 units of vehicles including the Karmann convertible which became the best-selling convertible in the world. To cut the story short, Volkswagen has grown into a corporation and emerged as a true global force in the auto industry especially with its acquisition and re-development of famous names such as Audi, SEAT, Skoda, and Lamborghini.

Natalie Anderson
http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/volvos-beautiful-cross-family-98992.html

The 2008 model year of the Volkswagen Touareg, the first ever sport utility vehicle (SUV) model from the Wolfsburg-based car manufacturer is making its North American debut at the 2007 New York International Auto Show.

Named as the Touareg 2, the vehicle is poised to stir the American car fans at the show with the vehicle’s updated exterior styling featuring the company’s signature Volkswagen “face” design highlighted by the chrome front grille. Other exclusive features of the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 include redesigned headlamps and darkened taillights, redesigned aerodynamics, sporty rear spoiler with integrated third brake light, optional Bi-Xenon headlights with AFS II that improves night time driving visibility in cornering, and several wheel options for different VW Touareg 2 model trims. For the VR6 FSI, 17-inch alloy wheels are standard while the 19-inch alloy wheels are standard for the V8 FSI and V10 TDI Twin Turbo models. Moreover, the 2008 VW Touareg comes with all-new exterior colors for the customers to choose from. It includes Alaska Gray, Cranberry, Galapagos and White Gold.

Interior highlights of the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 include redesigned luxury seating system featuring standard 12-way power driver’s seat, standard Sirius Satellite Radio, park distance control, power lift gate, new instrument cluster with larger display, new silver metallic trim, available ten speaker Dynaudio premium sound system, and optional keyless access with a start/stop button. Bunch of optional packages are also available like the Lux, Lux Plus and Technologie packages.

The VW Touareg 2 also comes with a host of safety features and driver assistance systems to enhance the vehicle’s handling. These include new rollover sensor system to detect rollover situation and activate the side and side head curtain airbags, enhanced tire pressure monitoring system (TPS), Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP), hydraulic braking assist, a preventative braking pressure build-up system, and rain brake support. In addition, the Touareg 2 also comes with the world-first “ABSplus” braking system from Volkswagen.

At the heart of the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 comes a three power plant options for the customers to choose from: the powerful 3.6-liter VR6 FSI, the recently upgraded 4.2- liter V8 FSI, and the monstrous 5.0-liter V10 TDI Twin Turbo.

The 3.6-liter VR6 FSI engine replaces the standard 3.2-liter engine of the Volkswagen Touareg. The engine now produces 280 hp, an additional 40 horsepower compared to the previous engine. The 4.2- liter V8 FSI features unleaded fuel direct injection system and pumps out 350 hp and produces 325 lbs. ft amount of peak torque. Lastly, the 5.0-liter V10 TDI Twin Turbo for the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 pumps out 310 hp and produces a stunning 553 lbs. ft. of peak torque output, allowing the Touareg 2 to achieve an impressive towing capability of about 7,716 pounds. All of these engines are equipped with quality VW timing parts like VW timing chain. The Touareg 2’s standard gearbox powers the vehicle’s permanent 4XMOTION four-wheel drive (4WD) system. Moreover, the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 also features off-road control systems like Hill Roll Back Assist and Hill Descent Assist.

The 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 will arrive in Volkswagen dealerships this spring carrying a base manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $39,320.

Benjamin Hudson
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/2008-volkswagen-touareg-2-us-debut-in-new-york-130163.html

Though the 2008 Pontiac G8 will be available in dealerships early next year, Pontiac introduced its all-new, rear-wheel-drive performance sedan at the Chicago Auto Show.

As the first North American application of General Motors (GM) new global rear-wheel-drive architecture, the G8 is developed by GM’s Australian subsidiary Holden.

The G8 has a styling packages such as a dual-port grille, fog lamps, bold wheels and a confident, wheels-at-the-corners stance. The design accents the car’s performance lineage, with fenders that flare over the wheels, seemingly hugging the wide tires, making it very sporty.

Distinctive elements include hood scoops and front fender vents, and projector-beam headlamps housed in crystal-clear lenses. Jewel-like tail lamps are found at the rear. These are mounted in housings and feature bright detail work surrounding the red lighting elements. G8 models all have red tail lamp lenses and twin chrome exhaust outlets. At the rear of the roof, all models have a mounted antenna.

On its power train,

the base G8 model has a 3.6L DOHC V-6 with variable valve timing. Rated at 261 horsepower (194 kW), it is paired with a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode.

Combined to give the G8 a confident, sharp driving experience are the 114.8-inch (2915 mm) wheelbase, 62.7 inches / 1592 mm wide front and 63.3 inches / 1608 mm rear tracks. These give a fully adjustable, four-wheel independent suspension system.

In the rear, the four-wheel independent suspension system has a MacPherson strut design in the front and a four-link coil-over-shock design. Tuning uses a direct-acting front stabilizer bar, decoupled rear stabilizer bar and lateral ball joints on the rear suspension. This system transcends increased lateral stiffness for enhanced handling.

The front suspension features fully adjustable caster, camber and toe while the rear suspension has fully adjustable camber and toe, which enables more precise, tailored suspension tuning.

When starting the engine, the brand assured that the Pontiac exhaust will release gases smoothly, making it more comfortable for the driver as well as the persons outside the car who will breathe in the exhausted gases.

As to its four-wheel disc brake system, the car has standard anti-lock and traction control features. The system is partnered with a standard electronic stability control system. Its features vented front and rear disc rotors, with twin-piston alloy calipers in front. The rear brakes feature alloy calipers with single-piston actuation.

The G8’s interior delivers both comfort and convenience, packaged in a level of sophistication not often found in other cars within its price range. A driver-oriented instrument cluster positions the gauges for easy, direct line of sight. Between the large, round tachometer and speedometer, an electronic driver information center is located.

Attention catcher details include jewel-like instruments, selective use of satin and chrome trim and rich-feeling, grained textures throughout. The instrument cluster glows with crisp. While white light on the primary instruments and Pontiac’s signature red lighting enlightens the rest of the instrument panel cluster.

The seats offer firm support to hold passengers and occupants in place during aggressive cornering. As an option, the G8 models will also offer two-tone cloth or leather combination that pairs black with either red or blue inserts and color-matched instrument faces on certain exterior color combinations.

With an all-new Pontiac exhaust system, G8 uses 362-horsepower (270 kW) 6.0L V-8 engine and optional six-speed manual transmission.

Pontiac General Manager John Larson said the company’s commitment to its performance DNA is showed in the balance of rear-wheel drive and the availability of V-8 power in G8. He further said they expect this vehicle to be very competitive in the segment where it belongs, even against cars that cost far more expensive.

Jerick Brooks
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/allnew-pontiac-g8-to-unleash-in-2008-134939.html