Monday, January 30, 2012

Detroit Auto Show see strongest opening weekend in existence

The 2012 Detroit Auto illustrate is off to a gallop start. Organizer approximation more than 750,000 people are predictable to show up to take in the most recent hardware from the world's automakers. Sunday saw 102,918 people be present at the exhibition, which is an augment of more than 3,800 people from last year. Similarly, Saturday twisted out to be the main opening days for the Detroit Auto demonstrate in five years. All tell, 195,024 people stroll through Cobo hall to take in the tourist attractions. This year, the show skin more than 500 vehicles, so there's abundance to see.

And it's not just wild exotics and far-flung concept, either. With key innovative reveal like the move Dart, Ford Fusion and Cadillac ATS, company can get in model they can wait for to see on the show room floor within a few short months. Be sure to make sure out the roundup of our show coverage as well as our top five editor's picks if you miss them.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Smart Car Crash Tested

Hilarious video recording of smart four two crash tests (including hitting a concrete wall at 70mph) for a while now. Well, the NHTSA has finally crashed a few smarts in the name of insurance ratings security and the verdict is in: the smart is safer than you might think. The diminutive German car gets four stars for driver security and three stars for the passenger in the frontal crash test.



Side impact testing revealed five-star presentation, although a door did open throughout the test, "increasing the likelihood of passenger ejection." Granted, "Starflation" has been an issue for the NHTSA, but like an underachieving elected official, the smart is simply playing the opportunity game. The fact that the minuscule ride didn't explode into a million pieces of wound-irritating fiberglass is probably sufficient to surprise the average American consumer, who likely sees the smart as a small step up from a Segway scooter in terms of safety.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Fashionable: Lexus LF-LC Concept

Since its beginning in 1989, Lexus’ focus on the “hard” science of quality and dependability has been exciting. Even though it has some sporty models in its portfolio, the premium Japanese automaker is still frequently known for building luxury cars better known for superiority than performance. Lexus realizes the significance of its “boring car” standing and is intent to change the course. On the eve of the 2012 North American International Auto Show, we had an exclusive, secretly peek at the new Lexus LF-LC concept car, a core from which all potential Lexus models may draw motivation.



Kevin Hunter, president of Calty Design Research, eminent that they were given a clean sheet of paper to blueprint the LF-LC. The assignment was to come up with a new 2+2 hybrid coupe conception to redefine Lexus’ future design language. Only some written attributes were given as criteria: Avant-garde loveliness, Originality, Driving joy and Unequaled technology. No wonder the Calty team, including Ian Cartabiano and Edward Lee for exterior, and William Chergosky and Ben Chang for interior, was excited to work on this rare project. In fact, the designers were also told exclusively by the president and CEO of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, to make sure the concept is required to have the “wow” factor.

The face of LF-LC incorporates essentials of the Lexus spindle grille that also appears on the freshly introduced GS. Each L-shaped headlight contains three LED projectors that are similar to forward-looking camera lenses. The pointed snout set off by large perpendicular air scoops that flank the grille, plus the ribbon-like fender surfaces bending and folding aft, are some of the elements of the strong front-end management. In profile, the LF-LC has a muscular lean-back stance delineated by a simple flowing roofline that’s cantilevered at the A-pillar to give an airy feel to the passenger log cabin. Large air scoops are nestled within the wide nurture fenders. And approximately the back, the Lexus spindle outline is repeated with bold quality lines in the fascia, capped with taillights designed with depth to simulate the appearance of a jet engine with its afterburners on. Thin, vertical fog lamps fall from the edge of the taillights and well complement the stacked quad exhaust pipes.