New Faces More Elegant Audi A6

This luxury sedan comes with new display includes parts exterior and interior. On the exterior the new design can be seen in sectors such as front headlight equipped with an LED, bumper, fog light rectangular shaped, equipped rear view mirror Turning LED Lights, Side Molding chrome and chrome wheels that make it appear more luxurious sedans. On the stern side also marked a new design like the LED rear lights are equipped, the curve of the trunk (Trunk Lid), instantly integrated bumper air diffuser and the exhaust pipe.

While the interior of the Audi A6 equipped with Driver Information System to facilitate the driver in driving. Also 7-inch screen MMI dashboard decorate the front. Side of the entertainment at this luxury sedan more so when the CD player equipped with an SD card reader, just below the screen. Changes in the interior gives the impression of luxury, attention and perfect impression Audi A6 cabin.


Besides changing the look of the kitchen include pacemaker that uses 3.0 TFSI engine is equipped with quattro technology, which is the latest innovation from Audi. Quattro technology is capable of super drive system provides power from the engine to a two-axle. Distribute power to four wheels, giving the best performance for vehicles in all conditions. Audi A6 was the latest engine produces power of 213kW (290hp) with composition and is equipped with a V6 engine supercharger. Audi A6 in the tag of USD 953 million off the road with brilliant color options black, phantom black, quartz gray, night blue, white ibis ice silver dab

2011 Maybach 62 expensive four door car

This is the most expensive four-door car. Maybach 57 and 62 is the first car from the Maybach model since the company merged with Mercedes-Benz. This car was born from Mercedes-Benz Maybach concept on display at the Tokyo Motor Show 1997.

Both models are variants of ultra luxury. Figures on the model shows a car in the decimetre long. Maybach 57 is a car that is designed to be driven solely by the owner, while the Maybach 62 for owners who use the driver. The engine is picked from the Mercedes Benz 5.5-liter, twin-turbo V12 that generates 550 PS.


Lha what about Rolls-Royce Phantom, Lamborghini Murcielago and Aston Martin Vanquish? All that remained included in the supercar category. However, the prices are still less than the cars that have been mentioned above!

Recall dos hondas Fit e City

A Honda anunciou um recall que envolverá aproximadamente 127.000 unidades do City e novo Fit no Brasil. O motivo da chamada é o sensor do pedal do acelerador eletrônico, cuja falta de vedação adequada permite com que sujeira do assoalho entre no componente, podendo causar problemas de aceleração e desaceleração do motor. Segundo a marca, a falha será sanada com a inserção de uma proteção adicional.

O chassi dos veículos envolvidos no recall vão de 93HGE87709Z100001 a 93HGE6760BZ103544 para o Fit (ano/modelo a partir de 2009) e de 93HGM2660AZ100032 a 93HGM2620BZ110022 no caso do City (ano/modelo 2010 em diante).

A Honda informa que o reparo dos veículos começará a ser realizado nesta próxima segunda-feira (18) em qualquer uma de suas concessionárias. A empresa também comunica que o procedimento é simples, mas recomenda o agendamento prévio para sua realização. Mais informações podem ser obtidas no site www.honda.com.br/recall e pelo telefone 0800-775-5346.

Fonte

Vamos ver quem faz mais fumaça?

Quem faz mais fumaça Ken Block com seu Ford Fiesta 2011 ou AJ Allmendinger com seu V8 da NASCAR:

Volkswagen Amarok é "International Pick- Up Of The Year 2011" no salão de Hanôver

A Volkswagen Amarok, a primeira pick-up global da marca alemã venceu a primeira edição do prémio "International Pick-Up Of The Year 2011" apresentado na 63ª Salão Internacional de Hanôver, a mais importante exposição europeia de veículos comerciais e industriais.

A pick-up da Volkswagen conquistou 61 dos 91 pontos em discussão, relegando para segundo plano a Toyota Hilux e a Nissan Navara, respectivamente segundo e terceiro classificados.

Com lançamento no mercado português agendado para o próximo mês de Outubro, a gama da Amarok será composta por duas variantes do motor 2.0 TDi com potências entre os 122 e os 163 cavalos (biturbo), e três tipos de tracção: 4x4 permanente, 4x4 não permanente (ambas denominadas 4Motion) ou simples tracção traseira 4x2.

A Amarok 4Motion com tracção total não permanente distingue-se exteriormente pelo “4” vermelho na sigla do modelo, enquanto o Amarok 4Motion com “4” a preto na sua identificação, apresenta-se com tracção total permanente e como uma solução para quem privilegia o conforto. Em todos os três sistemas de tracção existe um bloqueio electrónico do diferencial que melhora a tracção em todos os tipos de terreno. Adicionalmente um bloqueio mecânico do diferencial traseiro estará igualmente disponível, para as utilizações mais difíceis.

A gama estará articulada em três níveis de equipamento – Entry, Trendline e Highline, sendo que todas as versões estarão equipadas, de série, com airbags, ESP, ASR e ABS. Os preços para o mercado português ainda não foram anunciados.

Texto Volkswagen

Recall da linha Peugeot 307

O problema dos modelos 307 Hatchback e Sedan de 2008 e 2009, e 307 CC e SW, modelos 2007 e 2008 é a possibilidade de falha na identificação da posição do comando do
acendimento dos faróis, que pode provocar um apagamento sem a solicitação
(comando) do condutor.

O atendimento se estenderá por tempo indeterminado e o cliente poderá agendar o reparo gratuito na concessionária de sua preferência ou por meio do CAEP (Central de Atendimento Especializado Peugeot), pelo telefone 0800 703 24 24. A ação envolve 4.285 veículos com chassis não seqüenciais compreendidos nos intervalos da tabela abaixo:

307 Hatchback (modelos 2008 e 2009)
8G076137 a 9G036907

307 Sedan (modelos 2008 e 2009)
8G076043 a 9G031405


307 CC (modelos 2007 e 2008)
7S009244 a 8S011331


307 SW (modelos 2007 e 2008)
7S009634 8S011440

2011 Scion tC (base price $18,800)

The tC coupe gets a full makeover for 2011, centered around a brand-new 2.5 liter, 180 hp engine (vs. 2.4 liters and 161 hp previously). The engine features electrically-driven power steering to cut parasitic drag and boost performance and economy. Eighteen-inch wheels and a six-speed manual transmission will be standard - along with a large, panaroma-style sunroof.

This will be the most aggressive Scion to date and marks the evolution of Scion from "sporty Toyota" to emerging performance brand in its own right.

Cars Are Safer Than Ever, But What About Us?

Cars Are Safer Than Ever, But What About Us?, Air bags and crumple zones certainly make a car more crashworthy. But they don't make it less likely we'll crash the car. That's still up to us, to a great extent. Here are a few common-sense tips that will help keep you from crunching the sheetmetal:

* Staying awake - Some of us can stay alert longer than others, but eventually, we all get tired. The trick is making a pit stop before fatigue begins to seriously degrade our ability to drive safely.

The general rule is at least one stop/leg stretch/cofee/bathroom break for every four hours of driving time - and a stop for the night after eight to ten hours of driving in any given 24.

Pushing it beyond that is almost asking for trouble.

* Staying reasonable - When another motorist cuts you off or rides your bumper, the temptation is to flip them the bird or otherwise make your displeasure known. But that can (and sometimes, does) just escalate the situation. Two drivers hurling insults at each other and using their cars as tow-ton projections of their rage can lead to tragic - and 100 percent avoidable - results.

Even if you've been objectively wronged, the best policy is to give the inconsiderate/rude/dangerous driver as wide a berth as you can. Use your cell phone, if necessary, to call the cops if the other driver is genuinely being reckless. Let the cops deal with it. And drive on.

You have no way of knowing how far the other driver might take things. You could be ready for a shouting match. He might have a gun.

* Stay polite - Extending common courtesy to your fellow motorists eases tension on the road and makes for a much more civil - and safe - experience.

So, let merging traffic merge. Don't park your car in the fast lane with the cruise control set at 1 mph over the speed limit. Pay attention to what's going on around you - and be ready to move when the light turns green - not too busy chatting on your cell phone to notice. And if you inadvertently do something you shouldn't have or didn't mean to do - such as pulling out in front of someone - a smile and "I'm sorry" hand signals can defuse tensions quickly. We all make mistakes - and most people are quick to forgive - provided the mistake is acknowledged.

* Stay focused - If you are the driver, your focus should be on the road at all times; everything else - the kids, what's on the radio, fiddling with the GPS or making a call, etc. - ought to be secondary. As cars have grown in complexity, potential distractions have multiplied - and the number of accidents attributable to "distracted driving" continues to increase.

Though it's very tempting to multi-task behind the wheel - especially when you spend two or three hours per day in your vehicle - it's a temptation you should try to resist.

* Stay prepared - Though modern cars are exceptionally reliable it's still smart to anticipate potential problems - and try to be prepared for them. That might include keeping a can of emergency tire inflator/sealant in the vehicle - especially when you are headed out on a long trip (or are someone who might have difficulty changing a tire by yourself). A cell phone, pad and pencil (not pen; they can leak or just stop working), emergency flares, loose change (for using pay phones when cell service is unavailable) are good things to have in the glovebox or trunk, too.

Most important of all: If you're traveling alone, it's smart policy to let someone know where you're headed - and when you expect to get there. Just in case.

Camaro Bumblebee bate em carro policial de verdade nas filmagens de Transformers 3

Um carro de policia cortou caminho pelos sets de filmagens de Transformers 3 e acabou dando de cara com Bumblebee, que por sua vez pensou ser um Decepticon e bateu de frente. Pois é, o Decepticon levou a melhor...

Dream is Possible, If You Have 1,000 euro

Legendary Italian yachts «Azimut» are advertised under the motto "Capture the Dream".

I rent the dream!

To buy such luxury dream is expensively, but to rent for some days, basically, is possible (1,000 euro/24 hrs)...

Female Drivers are Better Than Male Drivers - A Proven Fact

Female Drivers are Better Than Male Drivers - A Proven Fact, A title like that can get you lynched in our house but I honestly believe lady drivers have achieved a driving competence a country mile ahead of men. My husband is a superb driving technician. He understands every cog and wheel in the engine and knows exactly how the pistons should work and how the engine should sound if it is working efficiently, and all that sort of depressing stuff.

Behind the wheel of a car he is absolutely the most obnoxious character who ever applied rubber to tarmac. Two tiny, almost imperceptible horns pop up on his head, and a cute little spiky tail sticks out from his bottom as he drives along, screaming obscenities at pedestrians and tail-baiting other unfortunate motorists in an attempt to intimidate and dominate the road.

Whenever I am unfortunate enough to be the front seat passenger during these excursions into insanity, I hang onto the nearest armrest for dear life and hope the end will happen quickly in the event of the unthinkable. As soon as the car is parked again and the seatbelts are off, my husband returns to his nice normal, affectionate squishy self, just like an episode of Jekyll and Hyde.

My most dreaded scenario is one in which an elderly lady might accept a lift from him, innocent of risk to her emotional health.

In the course of taking the passenger seat I have come across at least half a dozen such drivers, at least four of them being male and the other two female. One enterprising lady, not satisfied with verbal abuse, wrote a series of obscenities on large white cards and would select an appropriate one and hold it against the window of her car as she raced past the poor driver she imagined had offended her. In spite of such appalling behaviour by a minority of females, abusive women on the road are still outnumbered two to one by men.

Of course it is pointless to attempt to dissuade these drivers from behaving in this way. They are psychologically compelled to act out aggression on the road and any argument you might submit to them about test driving a gentler approach meets with more aggression and usually a request that you mind your own business, couched in offensive language. Without fail, this person will always end the conversation by reminding you that he or she is a better driver than you are.

A particular hate of my husband’s is the female driver as an entire species, whom he has decreed to be incompetent down to the last gear crunching, clutch burning, lipstick toting, over-coiffed air-head. Yet my own experience of lunacy in cars definitely indicates the male is the more reckless, and of course we cannot both be right.

Men are unable to drive a vehicle unless they rely on the horn and flashing headlights to warn us, more grounded lady drivers of their imminent arrival in the space three inches off our front bumpers.

Men with a particular addiction to road abuse like my husband will fill every journey with a running commentary on what the driver in front is doing; how fast he is travelling, how slow he is travelling, how much faster his car could go if he only knew how to drive it, and his or her parentage being called into question at frequent intervals.

Drivers travelling beside and behind us are also subjected to a forensic character analysis but the driver directly ahead is usually the target of the worst expletives. Should that driver be towing a caravan he is consigned to that part of my husband’s imaginary filing cabinet reserved for the mentally deranged, pedestrians and people who encourage multiple births. Such people are treated with a little more consideration by him, however - one of many facets to his compassionate, endearing but undeniably looney personality.

Women enjoy more favourable insurance premiums than men, and why? The reason is plain to see – women are not only more careful, they are more considerate, more intuitive and more able to stay calm when provoked by the many aggravations present on the roads today. They also have fewer accidents but you cannot remind my husband of that because it makes him go purple.

Search Best Car Deal Aberdeen Airport UK

If you are interested to save money while doing car hire aberdeen airport, then just visit the site carhiresaving.co.uk to make best car hire deal in Aberdeen Airport UK.

In this site you can find so many car ranges different price and save money by using some special offers offered by that company team. Searching our favorite car is really easy and that can be done by entering the city name, town name, relevant airport name.

Comparing the price ranges of the car hire companies will lead to select the cheap company cars for hire and in that way we can save money. So, to save money it is necessary to comparing different cars and their price ranges of the different companies. When we do so, then at last we will find that carhiresaving is the only company that provides car hire in affordable price. So, search and find the best and cheap car hire deal in Aberdeen Airport UK with the help of the carhiresaving.co.uk.

Best Deal on Cheap car hire

Car hire rates will surely varies in different places in the same country. Here is the place where you can find the different range of cars in cheap prices and make a big deal for your vacation. HireCars.co.uk guarantees hundred percent for their customers’ satisfaction.

Apart from the best deal, people can get experienced service for their needs and can even do booking from anywhere with the help of the Internet. Payment process can also be done online or otherwise we can pay when we pick up car. So, we need not worry of the payment and you will get back really a great thing for your money.

You can do booking at any time through online for any place such as car hire Edinburgh, Glasgow etc. and can hire any type of car for your need. There is no hassle while hiring car and no need regret. Also you can also compare different cars and their prices. This will helpful to find the great choice to make best deal on cheap car hire price.

Spanish Vacations

It’s wonderful to the Spanish lands on wheels of your own. The land is full of historical wonders and natural luxuries. The prominent things that are included in Spanish vacation are beach rides, bullfight shows, relishing the delicacies and its historical tour. Thus it would be beneficial for a tourist to hire a car rental service right from the airport to enjoy the beauty that the land has to provide. Companies the offer car hire do flock the city premises but to choose the best you need to do a bit of research.

One of the best companies that you can sign the deal with is car rental Spain . The company does offer great deals and a wide range of vehicles starting from the cheap budget cars to the luxurious sedans. Whether you are on a business tour or if you have planned a quiet vacation, car hire is very important and you have nothing to lose as the prices are very cheap. Whereas if you opt for the local means of transport, you travel hassles round the city will be far more and the total money that you will have to spend at the end of the vacation will exceed what the car rental will have cost.

Spain is one of the hottest travel destinations around the world and once you are there, you get to know the facts for yourself. The Spanish extravaganza is known all over the world and it’s sure a very beautiful place. With the god gifted terrains the man made constructions too have something unique to say. With various beauteous locations you would not want to miss any of them. A car rental will be a great idea and when one has the means it will be foolish not to use it.

Paradise's Caribbean Cruises

Caribbean Sea lays between Northern and the South America, Atlantic and Pacific ocean. All history of these islands is an annalistic history of wars, intrigues, and scandals between the countries.

Caribbean Ways

The starting point of cruise across Caribbean Basin is conducted in ports of Florida, Havana or Barbados.

In general, the starting place depends on a cruise direction: East, Western or Southern. From Mexico start the Western cruises, from Puerto Rico — Southern cruises.

Cruise over the Caribbean islands will open for you islands: Barbados, Saint Lucia, Grenada. It's result of long-term presence on these islands of the British aristocracy.

By the way, cruises over Caribbean basin are considered as prestigious enough travel. On Caribbean Islands the richest people of a planet have a private rest rooms.

Cruise over Caribbean sea gives the chance to get from the winter at summer. Here always warmly, the tender sun, and luxury sand. Here all exists every day to only declare: "Life is beautiful!" The Caribbean Cruises is truly paradise islands for travellers.

Thus, over Caribbean basin it is recommended to go to sea cruises with an anticipation of the tender sun and magnificent pastime on a snow-white yacht...

Luxury Sands of Caribbean Islands

Find Cheap Car Hire Waterford Airport

Waterford is an amazing place with lot of wonderful sceneries with warm sunshine. There are plenty number of places to visit in Waterford with our whole family. At the same time, if we are new to that city it is really not possible travelling from one place to other without any guidance. But, with the help of the car hire service providing companies, we can find the important places and visit there. However, it is necessary to find the car hire companies who providing their services in cheap price.

There are numerous of options for transportation and we cannot get the joy that we will get in roaming in car. With the help of the car, we can almost go anywhere expecting different transportation facilities. So, it is important to Cheap car hire Waterford airport while disembarking in Waterford airport. Visit the website 121carhire and do car hire Waterford airport.

Vídeo do SLS AMG GT3 na pista

Will The New Hybrids Save the Day, or Just Make Driving More Expensive?

Will The New Hybrids Save the Day, or Just Make Driving More Expensive? A new generation of hybrid gas-electric and all-electric cars - including the 2011 Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf - has arrived, with much hype attending their launch.

There is the promise of dramatic increases in fuel economy - but less mention of real-world downsides, including high purchase price and total operating costs. Here's a look at what's on deck - including both the Good and the Bad:

* 2011 Chevrolet Volt - Though technically a hybrid because it has both a gasoline engine and a battery pack/electric motor, it differs from current hybrids in that its gas-burning engine does not directly propel the vehicle at any time. Instead, the gas engine functions as a portable, onboard generator - providing electricity to power the car's electric motor when the batteries run low. The battery pack and electric motors are what actually move the car down the road. The Volt also has "plug-in" capability, meaning its batteries can be charged up via common 110 Volt household outlets when it is parked, such as while you are at work or overnight at your home.

The Good: By carrying around its own charging source, the Volt won't be dependent on fixed charging stations; nor will owners have to wait for hours while the battery recharges - two of the biggest practical/commercial problems with all previous electric-powered cars. The Volt's small gasoline-burning engine is also extremely fuel-efficient, mainly because it doesn't have to actually power the car directly. GM claims the Volt will be capable of "triple digit" fuel economy - perhaps as high as 230 miles per gallon, according to early press materials. Finally, the Volt is roughly about the same size as current Chevy Malibu sedan - so it will be suitable as a family car.

The Bad: Sticker price for the Volt is a whopping $40,280 or about the same price as luxury sedans from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Even with federal subsidies in the form of tax breaks equivalent to as much as $7,000, the up-front costs of the Volt are likely to be prohibitive to cost-conscious buyers. The Volt's high purchase price will also take many years to amortize in the form of down-the-road savings on gasoline - unless the cost of fuel dramatically increases over the next few years.

Buyers should also keep in mind that the electricity used to power up the Volt's batteries from 110 Volt plug-in outlets isn't free. Recharging will increase consumers' utility bills, though the actual amount will depend on how often the Volt is recharged this way - and also on whatever the kilowatt cost per hour of electricity happens to be in your area (and at that time of recharging).

* 2011 Nissan Leaf - The Nissan Leaf is a 100 percent "pure" electric car, meaning it has no internal combustion engine of any kind, either to propel it or to power its batteries. It is propelled entirely by its electric motor, which in turn is powered by onboard batteries.

The Good: Owners will never have to worry about rising gas prices or filling up again. And because it has no internal combustion engine, the Volt qualifies as a Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV), entitling its owner to special privileges such as use of restricted roads in states such as California as well as federal (and possibly state) tax breaks.

Nissan says the Leaf has an "everyday average" range of around 100 miles on a full charge, which means it should be practical enough for daily use by most drivers. The hatchback sedan layout is practical and versatile. Nissan claims acceleration/performance will be comparable to a conventional V-6 powered family sedan.

The Bad: The Leaf requires special 220 Volt recharging stations. Unlike universal 110 Volt outlets, 220 Volt outlets are not yet common, which will impose a practical limit on the Leaf's real-world range until such outlets are commonly available.

In addition, an actual 220 Volt charging station will be needed (as opposed to just the existing 110 Volt outlets already available in virtually every home and business). This will add another layer expense, especially if the home or business requires updates to its existing electrical service to accommodate the new 220 Volt line and recharging station.

The final negative is initial purchase price. Nissan hasn't released final pricing information yet but has indicted that the Leaf will cost about as much as a "typical family sedan" - which implies an MSRP in the high teens/low $20k range. As with the Chevy Volt, it will probably take many years of driving to work off the higher up-front costs in the form of savings on fuel.

* 2011 Toyota Prius - The "next generation" Prius is more or less the same as the current (2010) version, with one important difference: It offers factory-equipped plug-in capability so that owners can recharge its battery pack via any common 110 Volt household outlet. This will significantly increase the car's ability to run on electric/battery power alone, as well as increase the maximum speed the 2011 Prius can be operated solely in electric mode. In the current Prius, the gasoline engine automatically kicks on at speeds of about 40 mph; in the plug-in Prius, it should be possible to operate the car at speeds of more than 40 mph in electric-only mode, making it possible to drive it on major secondary roads and possibly even highways without using the gasoline engine at all.

The Good: Of the three models under discussion, the plug-in Prius will be the most affordable in terms of up-front costs, with an expected starting price only about 10 percent higher the base price of the current (2010) Prius. It's also proven technology. The Prius has been in production for more than 10 years and has an excellent track record as far as the reliability/durabilty of its hybrid components. The addition of plug-in capability will improve efficiency without requiring the buyer to take a gamble on potentially iffy, unproven technology. The Prius is also a roomy, comfortable car that can serve as a family's primary vehicle.

The Bad: At the time of this writing there are unresolved questions about the Prius' braking system and potential problems with unwanted acceleration. Both issues may be the result of some defect within the software that controls these systems.

Buyer concern about the safety of the Prius is very real and even when the problem is identified and fixed, the negative perception may affect resale values, including those of the 2011 plug-in model. Cost - both up-front and total operating cost - remains a question mark, too. The current (2010) Prius has a base price of $22,800 so if the estimates of the cost of the 2011 plug-in version (about 10 percent higher) are accurate, the base price of that model should be about $2,280 higher, or just over $25,000.

The additional $2,280 could buy about 844 gallons of gas at current prices (about $2.70 per gallon). In a standard (non-hybrid) economy car capable of averaging 35 miles per gallon, 844 gallons of fuel would propel the car about 30,000 miles, or the equivalent of three years' worth of "free" driving. When you factor in the lower purchase price of a standard economy car, it might take 6-8 years of driving before you reached "break even" in a plug-in Prius.

The bottom line: These next generation hybrids boast amazing technology but the economics are murkier. Consumers should factor in total operating costs, not just the touted miles-per-gallon, before coming to any decision.

Cars (and Concepts) That Deserved to Be Crushed

Cars (and Concepts) That Deserved to Be Crushed, Automotive good ideas gone bad range far and wide, whether it's a classic like the exploding Pintos of the early '70s - or a late model gem like the Pontiac Aztek.

Here are ten epic failures that will be remembered for as long as the warranty claims (and class-action lawsuits) linger:

* The entire American Motors Corp. (AMC) lineup - From dreadful dreadnoughts like the malformed Matador to demented detritus like the Gremlin and Pacer, no other automaker ever managed to build such a seemingly endless conga line of bizarre, poorly conceived (and often, poorly built) cars within such a short span of time (from the late 1960s to the early-mid 1970s). Only bankruptcy eventually succeeded in stopping the madness.

* Chrysler's "lean burn" engines - While Honda was developing highly efficient combustion chambers to lower engine emissions via engineering advances (the Compound Cortex Combustion Chamber, or CVCC cylinder head used in the first-generation Civics in the mid-70s) which allowed the cars to meet federal exhaust emissions standards without catalytic converters, Chrysler was duct-taping its obsolete V-8s with leaned-out carburetors that mainly made them even harder to start than they were before - and prone to stalling in the middle of busy intersections. The added plus was wimpy performance and terrible gas mileage.

Now you know why "rich, Corinthian leather" (and Ricardo Montalban) never made a comeback.

* General Motors' diesel V-8 - Imagine a luxury car that was both slow and inefficient as well as prone to early and catastrophic engine failures and you have a taste of the bitter flavor that was the diesel-powered Oldsmobiles and Cadillacs of the late '70s and early '80s. These "diesel" engines were in fact converted gas engines, which lacked the strength to deal with the high-compression combustion of diesel operation.

The resultant debacle not only soured an entire country on the otherwise perfectly sound concept (real diesel engines), it helped hustle Oldsmobile to the boneyard of automotive has-beens - and nearly killed off Cadillac, too.

* The Sterling - Here's an oldie but still a stinkie. Japanese automakers rarely make big-time mistakes, but this was pretty close. Back in the late 1980s, in collusion with British car-maker Land Rover, Acura Legends were re-sold as "British" Sterling 825s and 827s. The alliance was as enduring as the Hitler-Stalin non-aggression pact - and just as awkward. Parts for these cars - especially interior pieces - are all but impossible to find. Dealer support is nonexistent. Resale values are lower than a well-worn Yugo.

If Truman had had another bomb left to drop, the childhood home of the dude who would grow up to create Sterling would have been a worthy target.

* Pontiac Fiero - A great idea ruined by upper management cheapskates, who thought it would be an amusing con to use Chevette-sourced underthings (front suspension, engine) in a car that looked sporty but couldn't live up to its billing. First-year sales were great - until the word got out. They then nose-dived like the Concorde, forcing the car's cancellation just four years after it came out and just in time to hand over the entire market for a car of this type to Mazda, which brought out the Miata a year after the Fiero was sent to the crusher.

* "Cab forward" design - Remember? When Chrysler Corp. hawked this layout in the '90s, it was supposed to be an automotive Great Leap Forward. But after a succession of belly-flops ranging from the luckless LHS to the Dodge not-so-Intrepid, the whole works was discretely packed up and shipped off the land of unwanted toys. Chrysler reverted back to front-engine/rear-drive ("cab normal") vehicles like the current 300 series and Charger - which, not surprisingly, actually sell well.

* Geo - Circa Ronald Reagn's first term, and desperate to rehabilitate its image, GM figured the only way to get people to consider buying a GM small car was by giving their crappy little economy cars a new name. Hence the "Geo" nameplate. Sold alongside Chevrolets, some Geos were ok (at least, the ones like the Prizm that were just re-badged Toyotas). But others were far from fabulous, notably the depressing three-cylinder Metro and the sad-sack Storm "sports coupe" - both of which may sometimes still be glimpsed on seedy used car lots in rural backwaters to this very day.

* The "new" GTO - The Holden (GM's Australian subsidiary) Monaro was a perfectly good car - powerful as well as fine-handling. But it was neither a Pontiac nor a GTO. Tacking on the badges didn't make it so.

It didn't help that the resurrected "GTO" was blandly styled (it looked a lot like a hot-rodded Cavalier) and close to Corvette expensive - making it all but impossible for even the handful of rednecks who might have wanted one to be able to afford one.

* Firestone's Wilderness A/T tires - Mix marginally competent drivers, top-heavy SUVs, high-speed driving and defective tires - and let the barrel-rolling (and endless litigation) begin! This late 1990s debacle all-but-ruined the reputation of what had been the country's best-selling SUV - the Explorer - even though the root cause of the problem had more to do with improper use and sketchy tires than with the "Exploder" itself.

* Chevy SSR - What's heavy, ugly, top-heavy and clunky? No, it's not your mother-in-law. It's the SSR, or Super Sport Retractable hardtop. Blechh! GM built this Frankenstinian atrocity for a few years in the early-mid 2000s. It looked like a '40s pick-up and had some interesting features - including a "torque-o-meter" gauge to let you know how much power the huge, Corvette sourced V-8 was putting out. But like the even more execrable PLymouth Prowler, it was a fake hot rod - a factory-built, store-bought Guidomobile for guys who want to be seen as sporty car-crafter types but who probably couldn't find the dipstick on a dare. With a base price of almost $50,000 it was the perfect accompaniment to a tract-home McMansion.

Reviewing the 2010 Toyota Corolla

Reviewing the 2010 Toyota Corolla, Ok, it's nothing much to look at - and let's be honest, nothing special to drive, either. But the Toyota Corolla has the one thing that matters most to literally millions of consumers: a reputation for being the best-built, most long-haul reliable economy sled on the road. And that's no small thing.

WHAT IT IS

The Corolla is Toyota's entry-level economy sedan. It's also the best-selling car of all time, eclipsing both the VW Beetle (old model) and the Model T Ford.

Prices run from $15,450 for a base model with 1.8 liter engine and manual transmission to $20,150 for the sporty XRS with larger 2.4 liter engine and automatic transmission.

It competes against other compact economy sedans like the Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Accent and Honda Civic, among others.

WHAT'S NEW FOR 2010

Stability control is now standard equipment on all Corollas.

WHAT'S GOOD

Bulletproof reputation; historically high resale values. Competent all around. Roomy, comfortable interior - especially the back seats. 35 mpgs on the highway.

WHAT'S NOT SO GOOD

You pay more up front for those higher down the road resale values. Mediocre warranty coverage. Not much in the way of personality; a transportation appliance.

UNDER THE HOOD

The Corolla is intended to be an economy car more than anything else, so it comes standard with an efficiency-minded 1.8 liter engine that produces 132 hp. This engine is available with either a five-speed manual transmission or (optionally) a four-speed automatic.

The little Toyota takes just over 10 seconds flat to get to 60 mph, about the same as a Prius hybrid.

Gas mileage is very good: EPA rates the Corolla at 26 mpg in city driving and 35 mpg on the highway.

An optional 2.4 liter, 158 hp engine is available as part of an XRS sport package. This engine also comes with either a five-speed manual transmission or an automatic (a five-speed, upgraded over the base car's four-speed).

The Corolla XRS gets to 60 mph about a second sooner, but you pay a price at the pump (as well as up front) for the improved performance: EPA rates the XRS Corolla at 22 mpg city and 30 mpg highway.

ON THE ROAD

One of the reasons the Corolla's so popular is its exceptionally good fuel economy. You may actually do better than the EPA ratings. I did.

First day I had the car, I drove it from my house to a hiking trailhead about 35 miles distant - and back. The gas gauge hadn't budged from "full" by the time I got home. It still read "full" after another, similar out and back trip. By mid-week, I had put close to 200 miles on the car and the gauge read just under three-quarters full. And I do not drive gently.

If you do drive gently, close to 40 mpg should be possible in this car - which is very close to what a Honda Insight (or a Toyota Prius) hybrid returns in average, real-world driving. But the Corolla costs eight to ten grand less to buy - which works out to five-six years of "free" gas - plus it's got a simple, reliable conventional four-cylinder engine that should have 200,000 miles or more of reliable service in it - vs. the hybrid's complex, expensive electrical systems (and battery) that will likely require wallet-draining service long before 200,000 miles rolls around.

Ok, it's not as precise-handling as a Honda Civic or a VW Golf. Most Corolla buyers won't notice or care. It steers, handles and stops predictably, easily and comfortably. That's really all that matters to most potential buyers.

The fifteen-inch steel wheels and all-season tires give a quiet, smooth ride and those steel wheels will last forever (unlike easily damaged alloy rims) while the all-season rubber should take you 40,000 miles or more before it's time for a fresh set.

If you want a bit more zip, there's an S package that adds 16-inch wheels, plus firmer suspension settings; or you can go up to the XRS, with its larger engine.

But the as-it-sits base trim Corolla is the one that makes the most sense, since it's not trying to be something it really isn't.

There are no surprises here - just a good, solid, placid little sedan that gets you where you want to go without any hassles or excess expense.

AT THE CURB

Corollas are everywhere - so no one's going to notice your unless you give it a flame paint job or tack a huge wing on the trunk. But the car's conservative styling has staying power. It takes a long time for a Corolla to look old, even when it is. Toyota changes the exterior and interior appearance of the Corolla only gradually with each successive generation - along evolutionary lines. This may be one of the factors behind the car's impressive retention of its value. Three or four year old Corollas routinely sell for 70-80 percent of their MSRP, brand new.

Five years from now, your 2010 Corolla won't look like yesterday's bad idea.

Another plus: Though the Corolla is classified as a "compact," it is much roomier than you might expect.

It has a pretty amazing 41.7 inches of front seat legroom - which for comparison exactly matches the front seat legroom in the mid-size 2010 Buick LaCrosse I recently test drove. And how about this: The Corolla has more rear seat legroom (36.3 inches) than a Lexus ES350 (35.9 inches)! It really can seat five people - comfortably.

I have driven several other compact sedans that advertise five-pasenger capacity but really can't carry more than two adults (up front) and maybe a couple of kids in the back.

The trunk is on the small side (12.3 cubic feet) but with so much room in the cabin, this car can take on a lot more than you might think.

Up front, there's a dual door glovebox, tilt and telescoping wheel (unusual in an entry-level car, even today) and a handsome, functionally laid-out dash with everything you need and nothing you don't. Well, ok - there's that 160 mph speedometer... .

THE REST

There are several lower-priced, very similar cars out there - including the $13,645 Hyundai Accent Sedan, the $13,320 Ford Fiesta and the barely $10k Nissan Versa 1.6, among others. These cars can beat the Corolla on price (Versa) or fuel efficiency (Fiesta), spunkiness (Scion xD), driving zip (Mazda3) or even features-for-the-dollar (Kia Forte). But none of these Johhny-come-latelys has the history - and thus, the buyer confidence - enjoyed by the best-selling Corolla.

Also keep in mind that while some of the competition is lower-priced starting out , in many cases the price difference equalizes when you factor in the cost of almost-essential optional extras such as air conditioning and an MP3-playing stereo - both items standard in the $15,450 base model Corolla.

The only major accessories not included in the base car's price are power windows and door locks, which do come standard in the slightly more expensive ($16,850) LE.

All Corolla's standard ABS, side-impact air bags, full-length curtain air bags, traction/stability control and anti-whiplash "active" headrests.

The warranty coverage isn't the greatest; three years/36,000 miles for the whole car and five years/60,000 miles for the powertrain. Of course, competitors like Kia and Hyunda have been forced to offer better warranty coverage precisely because of the Toyota's sterling reputation.

And we really won't know for sure how good those other cars are until about ten years from now. Look around today and you'll see a lot of older Corollas running around. Will that be true of the other makes with better warranties than today's Toyota circa 2020?

Buyer's note: Toyota will redesign this car for 2011, so there are probably some great deals to be had on the remaining inventory of 2010s.

THE BOTTOM LINE

You can buy something that costs less, has more stuff, looks wilder - or that's more entertaining to drive. But there's still nothing out there quite as Blue Chip-solid as the Corolla.