In 1959, a groundbreaking new subcompact coupe emerged in England using a transverse-mounted engine and an efficient, boxy front-wheel-drive layout. It achieved truly mini-compact exterior dimensions along with a surprising amount of usable space inside. Because it was affordable, stylish, fun to drive and easy to park anywhere, the British Mini and Mini Cooper quickly achieved icon status around the world -- including the U.S., where it sold as a brief counter-culture favorites.
After a lengthy break, the Mini Cooper returned to our shores in 2002 under BMW's direction to resurrect the legend. As before, the current Mini Cooper hatchback coupe and convertible appeal to a diverse audience. Its high style is embraced by pop stars and celebrities, while an affordable bottom line enables middle-class commoners to easily scrape together the entry-level price of admission. It's a uniquely sporting blend of classic British mini-car heritage and charm combined with precise German engineering and construction underneath.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Toyota Yaris car
Toyota Yaris
Working on the Toyota Yaris, designers European design studio ED-2 firms Toyota sought to invent a compact car. Gourmet appearance of the Toyota Yaris gives many reasons for admiration, but wait until you see his salon.
Not necessarily be racing driver to get pleasure turns to perform. Thanks to its striking manageability the Toyota Yaris is designed to rewrite the rules of car dynamics management.
2009 Toyota Yaris Sedan
Mini Cooper Concept cars
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Mini brand new cars
Despite one of the worst U.S. auto sales slumps in more than a decade, the BMW-owned Mini brand is on a roll. The Mini Cooper hatchback offers the best of both worlds in the white-hot compact segment -- a car that's both tossable and fuel-efficient. Mini's U.S. dealers are selling nearly every Cooper and turbocharged Cooper S they can get into showrooms. In addition, the well-received Cooper Clubman variant -- which arrived in the midst of the recent gas-price crisis -- has just joined the Mini lineup.
The slightly larger, second-generation Mini was all-new for 2007, so not surprisingly the 2009 Mini Cooper lineup isn't changing too much, save for a couple updates. Those seeking the open-top Mini experience will have to wait, however; the Cooper convertible remains on hiatus until the version based on the updated model arrives sometime next year.
For 2009, the automaker's relatively simple lineup continues: the Cooper and the performance-themed Cooper S version of its three-door hatch (the larger Clubman shares the same model designations). Just two engines are offered: a base, 1.6L four-cylinder mounted over the front axle making 120 hp and 118 lb-ft of torque and a version of the same mill fitted with a twin-scroll turbocharger in the Cooper S, bumping power to 172-hp and 177 lb-ft of torque.
A base Cooper can reach 60 mph in approximately 8.5 sec with a top speed of 126 mph while the S does 6.7 sec and 139 mph, numbers made more impressive when considering the Mini's EPA fuel-economy ratings of 28 city/37 highway and 26/34, respectively. Both models do require premium gas, however. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the Cooper and Cooper S, while each car also can be ordered with a six-speed automatic featuring a sport mode and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
Famed for its "go-kart" handing, the 2009 Mini Cooper continues to offer a responsive suspension featuring MacPherson-style spring struts on the front axle, a central-arm rear axle, and anti-roll bars to aid performance. The S takes these principles even further with harder springs, stiffer shocks and anti-roll bars, and larger vented disc brakes to give the company's go-fast model serious canyon-carving credentials, especially for a front-drive car. For 2009, the brand's DSC stability-control system is now standard on all Minis, with Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) an available option. Essentially a sportier version of DSC, the DTC system adjusts its level of interference during spirited maneuvers to maintain safety, while still allowing a good amount of driving fun. Base Cooper owners can also order up an optional sports suspension.
The slightly larger, second-generation Mini was all-new for 2007, so not surprisingly the 2009 Mini Cooper lineup isn't changing too much, save for a couple updates. Those seeking the open-top Mini experience will have to wait, however; the Cooper convertible remains on hiatus until the version based on the updated model arrives sometime next year.
For 2009, the automaker's relatively simple lineup continues: the Cooper and the performance-themed Cooper S version of its three-door hatch (the larger Clubman shares the same model designations). Just two engines are offered: a base, 1.6L four-cylinder mounted over the front axle making 120 hp and 118 lb-ft of torque and a version of the same mill fitted with a twin-scroll turbocharger in the Cooper S, bumping power to 172-hp and 177 lb-ft of torque.
A base Cooper can reach 60 mph in approximately 8.5 sec with a top speed of 126 mph while the S does 6.7 sec and 139 mph, numbers made more impressive when considering the Mini's EPA fuel-economy ratings of 28 city/37 highway and 26/34, respectively. Both models do require premium gas, however. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the Cooper and Cooper S, while each car also can be ordered with a six-speed automatic featuring a sport mode and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
Famed for its "go-kart" handing, the 2009 Mini Cooper continues to offer a responsive suspension featuring MacPherson-style spring struts on the front axle, a central-arm rear axle, and anti-roll bars to aid performance. The S takes these principles even further with harder springs, stiffer shocks and anti-roll bars, and larger vented disc brakes to give the company's go-fast model serious canyon-carving credentials, especially for a front-drive car. For 2009, the brand's DSC stability-control system is now standard on all Minis, with Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) an available option. Essentially a sportier version of DSC, the DTC system adjusts its level of interference during spirited maneuvers to maintain safety, while still allowing a good amount of driving fun. Base Cooper owners can also order up an optional sports suspension.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)