Sweet ,restored Single Cab Pick-up,sherbet And French Vanilla,beautifully Done on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Don't buy that crossover! Buy a cladded wagon instead!

If you're looking to buy a car soon, and you're like most Americans, there's a strong chance you're considering buying a crossover SUV. That's what people want nowadays. People like the tough, tall exterior that suggests adventure and preparedness, they like the high seating position, they like the all wheel drive many have and they like the practicality. Because of this, crossovers have rapidly supplanted typical cars such as sedans, wagons, and more as the most popular vehicles in the country. But they're compromised, too. They're often heavy, thirsty, and expensive compared with more conventional cars. The good news is, there's an alternative, a happy medium between the straight crossover and the traditional car. They're lifted wagons, and they're the best crossover SUVs around. And for those who may not know what we're talking about, we're talking about cars and wagons that have been given a suspension lift for more ground clearance and a higher ride height, and often have all wheel drive standard or optional. They also usually have chunky plastic body cladding to make them look tough and durable. Examples include the Subaru Crosstrek, Audi A4 Allroad, Buick Regal TourX, and Volkswagen Golf Alltrack, among others. Because of the suspension and body modifications, these vehicles fit the trendy crossover mold quite well. And in the case of long-running nameplates such as the Subaru Outback and Volvo Cross Country models, they even have some heritage as outdoorsy machines. They also provide the higher driving position that crossover buyers love. And in some cases, such as with the Golf Alltrack, we've learned they offer better ride quality than their road-oriented siblings. View 9 Photos So these tall wagons offer the key things crossover buyers want, but what makes them better than traditional crossovers is that they have the advantages of the cars they're based on. For instance, the aforementioned Golf Alltrack still drives mostly like a Golf, which is to say, it's nimble, feels peppy, and is easy to maneuver because of its relatively small size. We can't really say the same for the Tiguan, which feels generally more sluggish and uninteresting than the Alltrack. And we mention Volkswagen's compact crossover because it starts at nearly the same price as the Alltrack. Some of the difference in giddy-up can be explained by weight. Normal crossovers can be fairly portly, while these lifted wagons are notably lighter.

Recharge Wrap-up: Arcimoto SRK video, BAIC EV at CES

Kelley Blue Book took a spin in the Arcimoto SRK three-wheeled EV at CES in Las Vegas. In the video above, KBB Managing Editor Micah Muzio gets behind the handlebars for a spin around an empty parking lot. He notes a gradual throttle tip-in, though from the video, it appears the trike has a bit of pep. While the hydraulic brake pedal requires a bit of extra effort, the regenerative brake lever located on the right handlebar is effective and easy to use. The steering is a little heavy, but manageable, at low speeds. He calls it "kind of a fun little conveyance," adding, "Maybe this is the future." See the full review in the video above. CARB Chairman Mary Nichols spoke with German television about Volkswagen's emissions scandal. In a photo she posted on Twitter, Nichols can be seen in front of cameras with CARB's test bay in the background. In the bay is a Volkswagen Jetta TDI. She says in her tweet, "Discussing VW cheating case w/German TV in front of ARB lab test bay & '07 diesel Jetta. Time to move on to #EVs!" Late last year, a group of environmentalists and Silicon Valley leaders – Elon Musk included – sent Nichols an open letter suggesting CARB help urge Volkswagen to give up on diesels and focus on electric vehicles. See Nichols's post on Twitter. South Korea's most popular EV is the Renault Samsung Motors (RSM) SM3 ZE (also known as the Renault Fluence ZE). The all-electric vehicle has sold 1,767 units since its arrival in Korea since November 2013, with 2015 sales reaching 1,043 units. This makes one in three EVs in Korea a RSM SM3 ZE. The car has been selected as Korea's official government vehicle, and RSM has supplied over 100 EV taxis, 60 of which are in Seoul. Read more in the press release from Renault. BAIC EV announced it has established an R&D center in Detroit at CES. It will work with its other centers in Silicon Valley and Aachen, Germany in order to develop automotive technology and evaluate global demand. The EV branch of the Chinese automaker also debuted its i-Link information system, which uses 4G to connect car telematics to the cloud. The i-Link system also provides wireless phone charging, remote inquiry services and connects sensing technologies to the internet. Read more in the press release below.

VW confirms development of 10-speed dual clutch, 134-hp/liter diesel

Each year, the Vienna International Motor Symposium showcases some of the up-and-coming technologies automakers are engineering for the use in passenger cars, and Volkswagen AG CEO Martin Winterkorn revealed some big developments VW is working on for its future products. Winterkorn discussed a multi-faceted approach that VW is looking to reduce its fleet fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.
Some of the bigger news he discussed included a "high-performance" diesel engine that will produce 134 horsepower per liter and a 10-speed DSG automatic transmission. While no specific applications were mentioned, we can only hope this is for the Audi R4 we keep hearing about.
Another topic he touched on that caused us to perk up our ears was had to do with VW's plug-in hybrid technology. While we know the PHEV versions of the Audi A3 and Porsche Panamera are on the way, Winterkorn also said that these two models will be followed up by Golf, Passat, Audi A6 and Porsche Cayenne plug-in models. Scroll down for a press release highlighting the automaker's future fuel-saving initiatives.