CAR 21 Century

SEAT Ibiza 2009 review - three-door car

The new three-door SEAT Ibiza 2009 is the pleasure to review. The fourth generation of this compact car is based on the compact car platform yet has a larger size, and is agile, powerful and pleasure to drive. The SEAT Ibiza grips the road well, is easy to manoeuvre and instills trust and safety with its muscular body. Designed by Lamborghini stylist Luc Donckerwolke, the Ibiza offers new Arrow Design face, standing out from the crowd with its lower headlights and dynamically shaped radiator grille. We ought to notice in this review the excellent play of lines, a combination of concave and convex surfaces, and the energetic line above the rear wings - all of which also contribute to the athletic face of the SEAT Ibiza. The design uses high quality materials and precisely fitting components, resulting in sporty yet subtle elegance. Comes with a 1.4 TFSI engine at 180 HP. Despite its larger size, the Ibiza 2009 is lighter than its predecessor, reducing consumption and emissions by roughly 10%. SEAT.
Mazda CX-7 recreational vehicle

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The Mazda CX-7 crossover SUV will go on sale in November. This recreational vehicle will be priced below $50,000 and use a 2.3-litre direct injection (DISI) turbocharged engine providing plenty of power and torque. Expect good good fuel economy, a torque peaks of substantial 350Nm at just 2500rpm, 18 inch wheels, and dual front, front side and head protecting curtain airbags standard.
Aston Martin Rapide

For $250,000 they say the Aston Martin Rapide is the best way of getting three girls to go out with you at once. Probably true...


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MIT plans 'Stackable' Cars for the Future


"Imagine a shopping cart - a vehicle that can stack - you can take the first vehicle out of a stack and off you go," says Mr Chin an architect and engineer at MIT's media lab and a member of Prof Mitchell's research group. "These stacks would be placed throughout the city. A good place would be outside a subway station or a bus line or an airport, places where there's a convergence of transportation lines and people." MIT has been working on these 'Stackable' Cars for the for the past 4 years. They will generate zero pollution and will be customizable. A final design will be presented to General Motors in a few months, which will build a prototype. Something to look for in the near future.

(full story)

(therawfeed)
Million-Dollar Bugatti Is Coming to U.S.

The $1 million dollar Bugatti Veyron, now the world's fastest factory-produced automobile, is about to arrive on American shores. It features a massive, rear-mounted 16-cylinder engine with 1,001 horsepower, needs just 2.5 seconds to accelerate from zero to 62 miles per hour, and burns rubber so quickly that its makers had to hire France's Michelin SCA to develop a special compound for its tires. Its top speed: 252.9 mph. 6 U.S. Bentley dealerships will sell this fortune of a car. Who will buy this car? Not I just yet.
Toyota Fine-X Fuel Cell Hybrid

Toyota just revealed its Fine-X fuel cell hybrid concept cat at the Tokyo Motor Show. Design was centered on comfort and practicality more than performance which for urban drivers. Some highlights include: on-the-spot rotation, and the ability to easily perform parking and U-turns which is afforded by the combination of four-wheel independent drive, four-wheel independent steering and a large-steering-angle steering mechanism with electric in-wheel motors housed in each of the four wheels.

Toyota's Fuel Cell Hybrid: the Fine-X. (Ployer)

Toyota's Fuel Cell Hybrid: the Fine-X. (Ubergizmo)
volvo gravity powered car concept

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Volvo has tested a concept that doesn't use gasoline or even have an engine, but it does need to be on an inclined plane though. The Volvo concept uses Sir Isaac Newton's fave force to power it, propelling it up to speeds of 54mph. Though fastest in the Extreme Gravity Competition held in California, which saw other automotive heavyweights such as Audi and Bentley competing, you won't see this concept on the road ever.

Fuel prices, pah! Get a gravity powered car (T3)
Koenigsegg CCR


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Koenigsegg is a local Swedish supercar builder whose vehicles are street-legal in some countries and not in others. Not yet street-legal in the United States, Koenigsegg plans to start selling them in America in 2006. Currently, 14 models of Koenigsegg's CCR flagship are on the market. The CCR uses a 4.7-liter, 806-hp V-8 engine. I found this picture on the Forbes list of World's Most Expensive Cars 2005.
Nike Gran Turismo 4 concept racer

So your not going to be seeing this one on the road any time soon, but you can find it in the next version of Gran Turismo. When asked to create a specialized automobile for GT4, this is what Nike lab churned out. Every inch of this video game vehicle was inspired by the athletes Nike works with and for everday. Now that is really sweet of them!

BMW X6 (2008)

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This is the new BMW X6 (available in 2008). It looks like a cross between a sports car, coupe and a SUV. The technical details are not available yet, but this one is gonna rock!

Drool Attack: BMW X6 (I4U)
BMW X6 für 2008: Der Sport-SUV (Auto motor sport)
QT Fun Car

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Here's a new concept in affordable sports car motoring by Unique Motor Company ... These cars are low-power, performance fun cars that fit even the inexperienced driver. The Qt features a 5-speed 505cc twin injection engine, water cooled by Lombardini. This is one cool toy! A stock one starts at $13991.25 ... thats like two Geo's.
New BMW 1 series Sports Hatch

Here's my first glimpse at the new BMW 1 series in Cannes, France where the lowest model 116i starts at 28,800 Euros (34,912.90 USD). The BMW 1 series Sports Hatch comes in models 116, 118, or 120, easily fits four, has enough cargo space for two, and is perfect for the streets of Europe. These aren't available in the US... but are very popular in Europe. It would be an adventure to purchase this car overseas and deliver it back to the states... off course, after testing the Autobahn. (I think there’s a 500 mile prerequisite matter that needs to be settled with some spontaneous driving.)