2010 Toyota Supra



Even if they're right, there's still the question of how much of the concept design could be retained for a "mid-price sports/GT." For example, the FT-HS powertrain assumes a 3.5-liter V6, familiar from many current Toyotas, but also a new Hybrid Synergy Drive that has yet to be developed. Toyota says the concept has a total 400 net horsepower, good for 0-60 mph in around four seconds, but has yet to project fuel economy or emissions ratings, except to say that both would be really good.



The Basics

Vehicle Type: sporty/performance coupe

Drivetrain

Drive wheels: rear

Engine: 3.5-liter V6/electric

Horsepower: 400

Torque: 375 pound-feet (CG estimate)

Transmission: continuously variable automatic

Dimensions

Wheelbase: 104.3 inches

Length: 170.3 inches

Width: 73.2 inches

Height: 50.8 inches

Base curb weight: 3750 pounds (CG estimate)

For more information on hundreds of new cars of today and tomorrow, check out:

* Consumer Guide New Car Reviews and Prices: Road test results, photos, specifications, and prices for hundreds of new cars, trucks, minivans, and SUVs from the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide.
* 1993-1998 Toyota Supra: Read Consumer Guide's full report, including ratings, prices, specifications, and fuel economy.
* Sporty/Performance Cars: The 2010 Toyota Supra will compete in the sporty/performance class. Here's Consumer Guide's roundup of all the sporty/performance cars on sale today.
* Fuel-economy leaders: The EPA admits its fuel economy numbers are estimates. Ours are real. Here are the fuel-economy leaders as determined in Consumer Guide tests.
* Future Cars: Check out what's just on the horizon.

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TESLA 2009 ROADSTER


Even for those who have paid a $50,000 initial deposit previously must dig deeper into their pockets as Tesla decides to up the original price of all its Roadsters by at least $6,700 pointing to its survival as the reason for the move.

The Tesla Roadster was initially priced at $92,000 in 2008 and has been bumped to $109,000 in this present year. Tesla is basically asking customers to pay for features that were originally included as standard in the car. The spokeswoman for Tesla said that for customers who would want to receive the car in its original price tag would do so minus a few features of which one of these include a high-power connector that charges the Roadster’s batteries in just a little over three hours. This connector, which was initially included as standard, now costs $3,000 as an option and without it recharging time can reach a whopping 37 hours! Also included are the $2,300 forged-alloy wheels, a $400 SolarPlus windscreen, and a new destination charge of $1,000

The 2009 Tesla Roadster is an electrically-powered, two-seat, open-top, rear-drive sports car. It does not have an internal combustion engine and therefore uses no gasoline and produces no emissions. Its lithium ion batteries are recharged with electricity in your home, and an optional Mobile Connector allows you to charge from any available 110v or 220v electrical outlet. But this is not a golf cart - its acceleration time and handling rivals many supercars.

The 2009 Tesla Roadster's 375 volt AC induction air-cooled electric motor has an output of 248 peak horsepower (185kW) and 276 ft/lbs (375 Nm) of torque, with an EPA-estimated range of over 200 miles. Depending upon on how far the battery has been discharged and what source is being used to charge the batteries, the custom microprocessor-controlled lithium-ion battery (with 6,831 individual cells) can be recharged in as little as 3.5 hours. The Roadster uses a resin-bonded and riveted extruded aluminum monoquoque chassis with four-wheel independent double-wishbone suspension. Standard features include air conditioning, heated leather sport seats with inflatable lumbar support, CD/MP3 player with iPod interface, forged alloy wheels, power windows and remote keyless entry. The premium leather seats are available in nine colors or combination of colors. The available premium audio package includes satellite radio, navigation and 7 speaker sound system with subwoofer. Other options include microfiber cloth seats, Bluetooth cellular phone integration, matching body-colored carbon fiber hardtop with full headliner, metallic and premium paint, and a Mobile Connector for travel charging.

Finally, a sports car without the guilt of exhaust emissions and poor fuel economy. The Tesla Roadster is essentially new for 2009 (a very limited number of Roadsters were available for the 2008 model year).

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2009 Suzuki SX4 Performance



Suzuki introduced its new SX4 hatchback to the market in Japan. On sale in Europe since March, and headed to the US in Q3 2006 as an '07 model, Japan gets a range of SX4 models with two engine choices. The 1.5-liter four makes 110 horsepower, while the 2.0L generates 145. (In the US, we're getting only the 2.0.) All cars receive a 4-speed automatic and in Japan, customers can choose between 2WD or AWD. US cars will all come with AWD standard

• 1,995 cc 2.0 liters in-line 4 front engine with 84.0 mm bore, 90.0 mm stroke, 10.5 compression ratio, double overhead cam and four valves per cylinder J20A
• Unleaded fuel 87
• Multi-point injection fuel system
• 13.2 gallon main unleaded fuel tank 11.0
• Power: 107 kW , 143 HP SAE @ 5,800 rpm; 136 ft lb , 184 Nm @ 3,500 rpm

2009 Suzuki SX4 Handling

• Four-wheel ABS
• Four disc brakes including two ventilated discs
• Electronic brake distribution
• Spacesaver steel rim internal spare wheel
• Strut front suspension independent with stabilizer bar and coil springs, torsion beam rear suspension semi-independent with stabilizer bar and coil springs

2009 Suzuki SX4 Sport Exterior

• Body color front and rear bumpers
• Day time running lights
• Driver and passenger power partial-painted door mirrors
• External dimensions: overall length (inches): 177.6, overall width (inches): 68.1, overall height (inches): 60.8, wheelbase (inches): 98.4, front track (inches): 59.1, rear track (inches): 58.9 and curb to curb turning circle (feet): 34.8
• Complex surface lens halogen bulb headlights
• Luxury trim alloy look on gearknob and alloy on dashboard
• Metallic paint
• Fixed rear window with defogger
• Tinted glass on cabin, rear and side
• Weights: curb weight (lbs) 2,668
• Windshield wipers with variable intermittent wipe

'09 Suzuki SX4 Interior

• 12v power outlet: front and 1
• Air conditioning
• Roof antenna
• Audio system with AM/FM and CD player CD player reads MP3
• Cargo area light
• Cargo capacity: all seats in place (cu ft): 15.0
• Clock
• Computer with average fuel consumption, instantaneous fuel consumption and range for remaining fuel
• Full dashboard console with open storage box, full floor console
• Delayed/fade courtesy lights
• Front seats and rear seats cup holders fixed
• Door ajar warning
• Door pockets/bins for driver seat, passenger seat and rear seats
• External temperature
• Floor mats
• Driver front airbag with multi-stage deployment, passenger front airbag with occupant sensors and multi-stage deployment
• Bucket driver and passenger seat
• Height adjustable 3-point reel front seat belts on driver seat and passenger seat with pre-tensioners
• Front seat center armrest
• Two height adjustable head restraints on front seats, three height adjustable head restraints on rear seats
• Illuminated entry system
• Internal dimensions: front headroom (inches): 39.6, rear headroom (inches): 37.6, front hip room (inches): 51.0, rear hip room (inches): 42.6, front leg room (inches): 41.4, rear leg room (inches): 35.8, front shoulder room (inches): 53.3, rear shoulder room (inches): 52.8 and interior volume (cu ft): 89.0
• Low tire pressure indicator
• Remote power locks
• Power steering
• Front power windows with one one-touch, rear power windows
• Front reading lights
• 3-point reel rear seat belts on driver side, passenger side and center side
• Three fixed bench front facing rear seats with zero adjustments
• Rear view mirror
• Remote fuel filler door release
• Front and rear side curtain airbag
• Front seat back storage
• Cloth seat upholstery with additional cloth
• Seating: five seats
• Front side airbag
• Four speaker(s)
• Plastic steering wheel with tilt adjustment
• Tachometer
• Driver vanity mirror
• Ventilation system

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Subaru Forester



A new Forester has recently debuted. It's roomier, less wagonlike and boasts a more upscale interior. New or used, the Forester offers buyers the strengths of easy maneuverability, sure-footed handling in slippery weather, solid build quality and different styling from the rest of the pack.

Current Subaru Forester

The current Subaru Forester was introduced for the '09 model year. Based on the most recent Impreza, this Forester is larger and offers more ground clearance than its wagonlike predecessor. The result is a compact sport-utility that is decidedly less compact, offering the same type of sizable maximum cargo capacity and interior space available as its principal competitors.

As before, Subaru offers a pair of horizontally opposed boxer four-cylinder engines with all-wheel drive as standard. The 2.5X models feature a naturally aspirated unit that produces 170 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual is standard and a four-speed auto is optional. The XT models get a turbocharged version of this engine that churns out 224 hp and 226 lb-ft of torque. All XT's get the automatic.

The Forester comes in four trim levels: 2.5X, 2.5X Limited, 2.5XT and 2.5XT Limited. The base model is very modestly equipped, but some of the XT's features are available in a Premium Package that includes alloy wheels, sunroof and a reclining rear seatback. The Limited models gain luxury items like leather upholstery, a power driver seat, automatic climate control and an upgraded stereo. They can also be outfitted with an optional navigation system.



As with its previous iterations, the current Subaru Forester is a strong entry in the constantly growing compact SUV segment. Although the four-speed automatic hampers its performance and refinement, this new Forester is nevertheless an impressive entry. With a comfortable cabin, ample cargo space and lots of available equipment, the Forester stands up well to best-selling competitors from Honda and Toyota.

Past Subaru Forester Models

The previous Subaru Forester, the second generation, was produced from 2003-'07. Although it didn't look much different from the previous version, improvements included more interior room, a stiffer body structure, a revised chassis and more standard feature content.



Performance for this Forester ranged from adequate to exciting. Most Foresters sold from 2003-'05 came with a 2.5-liter flat-4 engine good for 165 hp, while the '04 and '05 XT models featured a 210-hp turbocharged version of the same engine. This model was a hoot to drive, especially when fitted with the five-speed manual gearbox. From '06 and later, the standard Forester engine grew to 173 hp, while the XT swelled to 230 horses.

Originally, this Forester came in base 2.5X and upgraded XS trims, with the XT (later XT Limited) arriving for '04 and the XS L.L. Bean trim for '05. The latter was a bit fancier thanks to some extra features and special styling details. The XS was replaced a year later by the X Premium Package, followed for '07 by new models known as Sports X and Sports XT. Despite all these trim name changes and additions, the XT never wavered from being the more powerful and better equipped Forester.


All things considered, this Subaru Forester was one of the more sensible, yet fun-to-drive vehicles in the small SUV world. Along with its nimble handling, comfortable cabin, solid build quality and (with the XT) thrilling performance, there are also impressive crash test scores. Savvy consumers who like to balance their practicality with enjoyment should find plenty to like in this Forester.

The first-generation Forester bowed in 1998. With SUV-like styling cues on its tall wagon body and the confidence-inspiring grip of its all-wheel drive, the first Forester was an instant hit. Performance from Subaru's 2.5-liter, 165-hp flat-4 was snappy for the time, and back then packed the most power one could get in a small SUV. Other strong points for the original Forester include comfortable seats, plenty of storage options, impressive crash test scores and composed handling that shamed its rivals of the day, including the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.


As this generation ran toward its end point (2002), gradual improvements were meted out, such as more torque for the engine and increased luxury appointments (including leather seating). The lack of major changes required to keep the first-generation Forester viable underscores the fact that Subaru got it right the first time. Add in an impressive reliability record, and a well-kept, lower-mileage Forester is a no-brainer choice in the compact SUV used vehicle segment.

* 17 x 7.0-inch 5-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels
* Panoramic moonroof
* Body-color side mirrors and chrome door handles
* Steering wheel with audio and cruise control switches
* Retractable rear tray
* Reclining rear seats
* Raised roof rails
* Rear privacy glass
* Optional All-Weather Package (Available Summer 2008)
* Available iPod® Interface Kit

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Smart Fortwo Specs



People have different tastes. This is why the smart fortwo is available in three lines with equipment to suit every taste on board. The pure – for those seeking functionality. The pulse – for those of a sporty disposition. And the passion – for those with a penchant for elegance and comfort. Of course they all come with the full scope of safety equipment and a host of innovative ideas as standard.

smart fortwo Specs
When shopping for a car, it’s imperative to know how the smart fortwo specs differ by trim. If a particular feature is of value to you, you’ll want to make sure that the trim model you’re considering purchasing comes correctly equipped. Above, we present the smart fortwo specs in an easy-to-read format so you easily see at a glance how the trims differ.






Brakes
Brake Type Power
Brake ABS System 4-Wheel
Disc - Front (Yes or ) Yes
Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in) 11.0 x - TBD -
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
Drum - Rear (Yes or ) Yes
Rear Drum Diam x Width (in) 8.0 x - TBD -

Cargo Area Dimensions
Trunk Volume (ft³) 7.8

Cooling System
Total Cooling System Capacity (qts) 4.5

Electrical
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary) - TBD -
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps) - TBD -

Engine
Engine Order Code
Engine Type Gas I3
Displacement 1.0/61
Fuel System MPFI
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM 70 @ 5800
SAE Net Torque @ RPM 68 @ 4500
Exterior Dimensions
Wheelbase (in) 73.5
Length, Overall (in) 106.1
Width, Max w/o mirrors (in) 61.4
Height, Overall (in) 60.7
Tread Width, Front (in) 50.5
Tread Width, Rear (in) 54.5
Min Ground Clearance (in) - TBD -
Liftover Height (in) - TBD -

Fuel Tank
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal) 8.7
Interior Dimensions
Passenger Capacity 2
Passenger Volume (ft³) 45.4
Front Head Room (in) 39.7
Front Leg Room (in) 41.2
Front Shoulder Room (in) 48.0
Front Hip Room (in) 45.4

Mileage
EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG) 33
EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG) 41

Steering
Steering Type Pwr Rack & Pinion
Steering Type Rack & Pinion
Steering Ratio (:1), Overall - TBD -
Lock to Lock Turns (Steering) - TBD -
Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft) 28.7
Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft) - TBD -

Summary
Vehicle Name fortwo
Vehicle Name fortwo
Body Style 2 Door Coupe

Suspension
Suspension Type - Front McPherson
Suspension Type - Rear DeDion
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm) - TBD -
Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm) - TBD -
Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)
Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)

Tires
Front Tire Order Code
Rear Tire Order Code
Spare Tire Order Code
Front Tire Size P155/60R15
Rear Tire Size P175/55R15
Spare Tire Size

Trailering
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Transmission
Drivetrain Rear Wheel Drive


Trans Type 5
Trans Description Cont. Manual
Trans Description Cont. Again
First Gear Ratio (:1) 3.31
Second Gear Ratio (:1) 1.91
Third Gear Ratio (:1) 1.26
Fourth Gear Rato (:1) 0.94
Fifth Gear Ratio (:1) 0.71
Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
Reverse Ratio (:1) 3.23
Clutch Size (in)
Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1) 4.53
Vehicle
EPA Classification Minicompact
Weight Information
Base Curb Weight (lbs) 1808
Wheels
Front Wheel Size (in) 15 x 4.5
Rear Wheel Size (in) 15 x 5.5
Spare Wheel Size (in)
Front Wheel Material Steel
Rear Wheel Material Steel
Spare Wheel Material

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Scion TC 2009



Scion today announced the 2009 tC sports coupe, the best-selling vehicle in the Scion lineup. The car remains unchanged, and the tC Spec Package is discontinued.

The company is offering a Sporty Package distinguished by an upper mesh grille, lattice lower grille and projector-type low beam headlights with black trim in front, and tail lights similar in style to the headlights with round combination lamps.

A 2.4-liter double overhead-cam four cylinder engine with Variable Valve Timing with intelligence powers this CARB-certified Ultra Low Emission Vehicle to produce a punchy 161 hp. The tC features a five-speed manual transmission or an available electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission.

The tC model is available in a choice of seven colors: Flint Mica, Super White, Black Sand Pearl, Classic Silver Metallic, Sizzling Crimson Mica, Wave Line Pearl and Nautical Blue Metallic. Exterior colors are complemented by a high-quality dark charcoal fabric interior.

2009 Scion tC Model Changes
For 2009, the sporty Scion tC carries over little changed from its restyling last year. 17-inch 6-spoke aluminum wheels are now standard, and the seat fabric has been updated.

2009 Scion tC Value
The 2009 Scion tC makes a strong appeal to young buyers, with its sporty yet economical performance and an appearance--inside and out--that feels more sophisticated than other vehicles in its price range. Many of its finer details, such as seating comfort and refinement are in a class above. And for those with a little extra money, some of the features and appearance cues of a luxury sport coupe can be added on.

2009 Scion tC Strengths
Value-for-money; superb front seats; sporty handling; wide range of standard features; customization options.

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Saturn Aura Hybrid 2009



Like Saturn's other gas-electric models, this special version of the Aura sedan delivers a hybrid powertrain that improves fuel economy and reduces emissions. The Aura Hybrid's EPA fuel economy rating of 28 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway represents up to a 30 percent improvement in EPA combined fuel economy compared to the non-hybrid Aura XE model.


Like the Vue Hybrid, the powertrain in the Aura features an electric motor mated to a 2.4-liter engine. The system delivers fuel economy gains by providing electric power assist during acceleration, cutting off fuel early during deceleration, and shutting the engine off at idle or while coasting. The system also captures electrical energy through regenerative braking. The vehicle produces 164 horsepower at 6400 rpm and 159 pound-feet of torque at 5000 rpm.



A new six-speed transmission provides Driver Shift Control (DSC), which enables the driver to manually shift through gears via steering wheel-positioned paddles.

A wide range of audio systems are available, all from GM's new family of premium radios that feature intuitive controls and flush mounting for enhanced refinement. A six-speaker radio system is standard and includes an auxiliary input jack for portable audio players. Saturn's Advanced Audio System also is available. It includes an AM/FM/CD/MP3 radio with eight-speaker sound, a 240-watt amplifier and rear-seat audio controls with two wireless headphones. XM Satellite Radio is available on all models.

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