The AutoExec Wheelmate Desk on Amazon

Heh. Check out the user photos here.

Volt Spotting

I saw this Volt parked in Southfield today. A lovely dark red specimin.

Notice how GM is hiding the exhaust. Can you see a tailpipe? The muffler is that light gray thing on the left side. I can't tell where the tail pipe exits, it is well hidden. I'm not sure about the wisdom of the reverse lamp location, it seems like it would get grimy under there from road grime during the winter months.

Disappearing Drive Problem Solved

I have this problem on my Windows 7 desktop PC at home, that from time to time my secondary 1.5TB WD Caviar Green hard drive disappears from the system, as if it wasn't installed at all.

It turns out to be a bug in how Windows wakes up SATA drives--there is a time-out, and apparently some large SATA drives don't wake up fast enough, and are assumed to be missing.

There is a Microsoft hotfix for the problem here.

If your large SATA drive isn't the primary drive, then you won't see the BSOD or error messages, obviously.  Instead it will just be disappearing.

Some Double Rainbows

There were some scattered showers this evening, with patches of blue sky, it was very striking. I caught these gigantic double rainbows with my (weak) cell phone camera.

Shocking News: Americans Won't Pay More For Electric Cars

From Edmunds Green Car Advisor:

About two out of three Americans say they wouldn't be willing to pay more for an electric car than for a comparable gas-powered vehicle, while just 17 percent said they'd pay more than a $5,000 premium for an EV, Nielsen Co. said, citing its September poll of more than 2,300 people.

I guess the good news is that about 30% of Americans would pay extra for an electric car--but most of them would not pay more $5,000.  

To me, the reason is obvious.  People are still mostly motivated by costs, not by environmentalism, and the reduced range of an electric vehicle is also a point of concern for the average person.  Now, if gas prices would stabilize around $4/gallon, I am sure the numbers would shift.

Mahindra Trucks... Still Dead

Despite some sputtering noises to the contrary, it appears to me that Mahindra's plan to import diesel light trucks into the U.S. is still quite dead.

In addition to jerking around the dealer network and potential customers, and creating ill will, Mahindra has to overcome a legal battle with its original distributor, Global Vehicles.

Also, not to pile on or anything, but while Mahindra may have certified its emissions for the EPA, I have not heard anything about NHTSA certification to FMVSS or crash testing.

Revenge GTM-R Sport car

At the Auto Show in Detroit was the premier Revenge GTM-R Sport car.
Tuning company Revenge Design is fine-tuning Pontiac cars, GTM-R – the first self-development, which was established with the assistance of experts from the Factory Five Racing, created the model for small-tuning the package.

The Best Car Gallery Model Sport Car

Best Model Sport Car

Pagani Sport Cars Pagani Zonda 750 Hypercar 2010

The Italian hypercar manufacturer Pagani has released the first details and images of the new Pagani Zonda 750 sport cars. Latest model Pagani Zonda 750 sport cars introduces in market with superb quality and enhance features this new model is it’s based on the limited-production Zonda Cinque, but is added eminent by its exceptional purple paint format and a specially-designed back window to

Pagani Sport Cars Pagani Zonda 750 Hypercar 2010

The Italian hypercar manufacturer Pagani has released the first details and images of the new Pagani Zonda 750 sport cars. Latest model Pagani Zonda 750 sport cars introduces in market with superb quality and enhance features this new model is it’s based on the limited-production Zonda Cinque, but is added eminent by its exceptional purple paint format and a specially-designed back window to accommodate the huge above your head air intake. At the exterior you can notice the special body finish, plus a series of customized elements. The hypercar follows the Zonda Uno and Zonda HH, both two brand new one-off models.

Pagani Sport Cars Pagani Zonda 750 Hypercar 2010

The first is the latest and one of David Heinemeier Hansson Meier, a software mogul. The vehicle, which turned the scales at 1210 kilograms (2667 pounds). This fantastic model has amazing shape, design sport cars and super purple color which seems quite excellent the cars conjectures circulating is that the Pagani Sport Cars Pagani Zonda 750 Hypercar 2010 means the horsepower figure on the Mercedes AMG-built 7.3-liter V12, which would surely push the Zonda’s already artless concert into the next dimension.

Pagani Sport Cars - Pagani Zonda 750 Hypercar 2010 is powered by a 7.3 liter V12 engine developed by AMG, outputs 678 hp and 780 Nm of torque. The Zonda 750 will probably get from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, the top speed is 350 km/h.

This is a new generation of fantastic sport cars model it has excellent speed capacity you can easily drive fastest anywhere. In market there are lots of sport cars model are available but this one is new and has enhance capacity to other model we are really impressed with this new sport cars model which comes in excellence performance it comes with superior wheels and strong body it is just for two people there is details are not given about its releasing or pricing yet but we hope that it will be soon comes in market!

Pagani Sport Cars Pagani Zonda 750 Hypercar 2010

Volvo V60 pricing announced (UK)

Volvo UK has announced prices for the all-new V60 sports wagon. Starting from £23,145 for the entry-level ES 1.6 litre T3 150PS with stop/start, rising to an eye-watering £37,895 for the flagship 3.0 litre 304PS T6 AWD SE Lux Geartronic Premium.

The V60 is available in four trim-levels (ES, SE, SE Lux and R-Design) and six engines (four diesels, two petrols). Deliveries start in December.

Entry-level ES trim comes standard with cruise control, electronic climate control, front passenger airbag cut-off switch, front and rear mats, infotainment system w/5”colour screen, steering wheel mounted audio controls, 16” alloy wheels, leather steering wheel and gear stick, and a 6 speaker audio system.

Low-mid spec SE comes with Tylosand T-Tec upholstery, 17” alloy wheels, electric folding door mirrors w/puddle lights, rain & light sensor, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

Upper-mid spec R-Design adds 18” alloy wheels, bespoke interior, twin rear exhaust pipes and exterior styling features. Volvo anticipates that the UK will be the largest market in Europe for the R-Design model, accounting for 20% of R-Design sales.

Flagship SE Lux includes SE spec plus leather interior w/electric front seats with memory and adaptive bi-xenon headlamps with headlamps washer jets.

A ‘Premium Package’ is available on all but the entry-level ES. This consists of leather interior, DAB digital radio, satellite navigation system and an upgraded audio system.

Base D3 2.0 litre diesel engine kicks out 161bhp and 400Nm (295lb ft) of torque. Combined fuel economy is 51.4mpg (46.3mpg for Geartronic) and CO2 emissions are 144g/km for the manual model. The 2.0 litre D5 produces 203bhp and 420Nm of torque.

On the petrol front, the base 1.6 litre T3/T4 – available as a 6 speed manual or Geartronic gearbox – has 178bhp, 240Nm (177lb ft) of torque and will take the manual version from 0-60mph in 8.0 seconds and on to a top speed of 137mph. Stop/start means CO2 emissions are 156g/km and fuel economy of 42.2mpg with the manual gearbox.

The 2.0 litre T5 kicks out 237bhp and 320Nm (236lb ft) of torque. In the manual model, it will emit 189g/km of CO2 (194g/km on the Geartronic option) and will return up to 34.9mpg on the combined cycle.

Range-topping 3.0 litre T6 with AWD pumps out a muscular 300bhp and gives combined fuel economy of 28.5mpg and CO2 emissions of 237g/km. It will go from 0-60mph in under 6 seconds and will continue on to a top speed of 155mph.

Photo Gallery: 2011 Volvo V60

The Volvo V60 makes its entry onto the car market with its sights firmly set on giving the all-new S60 sedan model a tough match over the title of "The Most Dynamic Volvo Model Ever".

"Many of the customers who had an advance look at the new V60 during the development process feel that its attitude is at least as sporty as that of the all-new S60," says Volvo Cars Design Director Peter Horbury.

No less than 90% of the annual Volvo V60 production of 50,000 cars will find European buyers with the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, UK and Sweden being the largest markets.

The V60 is available with four inline-4 petrol engines, including two 1.6 litre GTDi units that produce up to 240Nm of torque and either 150nhp or 180bhp, and two 2.0 litre GTDi (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection) models that produce either 203bhp and 300Nm or 240bhp and 320Nm.

Range-leading 3.0 litre inline-6 kicks out 304bhp and 440Nm of torque. This powerful engine has an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph.

Diesel offerings include an 115bhp, 270Nm 1.6 litre inline-4, and two inline-5 engines. The first is a 2.0 litre model that kicks out 163bhp and up to 400Nm, while the D5l model churns out 205bhp and up to 420Nm.

"The typical sports wagon customer is an S60 buyer who would like some extra space and flexibility, but without the slightest compromise on sporty design and exciting driving properties," says Volvo Cars President and CEO Stephen Odell, and adds:

"The competition is razor-sharp and the customers in this segment know exactly what they want. That is why we have further boosted the interior's sense of exclusive quality and packed the car with safety- and comfort-related technical innovations. The result is a truly unique sports wagon, in total harmony with its sporty attitude."

Luggage capacity is rated at 430 litres behind the rear seats. The new Volvo V60 is built at the production plant in Torslanda, Sweden. The first cars will be delivered to customers in Autumn 2010.

Sports Cars Aston Martin V12 Vantage wallpaper

Sports Cars Aston Martin V12 Vantage wallpaper

Sports Cars Alfa Romeo 8C Wallpaper

Sports Cars Alfa Romeo 8C Wallpaper

Costum Car Accesories

There’s loads more accessories out there and too many for me to put down here, but these are some on the most popular. Take a look at some show cars and you can see some people can easily spend as much if not more than the cost of the car when customising their car.
 

New Car: 2011 Chrysler 200

Chrysler has taken the wraps off their new compact executive sedan; the 200. The 200 replaces the unloved Sebring and will be offered with two petrol engines; a 173bhp (175PS) 2.4 litre 4-cylinder, linked to either a 4 speed or 6 speed automatic transmission, and a 283bhp (287PS) 3.6 litre V6 with the 6 speed automatic.

The 200 debuts Chrysler's new fascia, which is conquered by a large, multi-slat chrome grille. A reworked chassis over the Sebring means a softer ride and improved NVH (noise, vibration and harshness).

Internally, Chrysler has ditched the Sebring’s hard, plastic, poor-quality interior in favour for more upscale, soft touch materials and a new instrument and centre console design is featured.

Unlike the Sebring, the 200 won’t reach European shores because Chrysler say it believes that the larger 300C covers the market well enough.

The 200 will hit dealerships late this year.

Press Release:
 
Offering consumers exceptional craftsmanship inside and out, a refined and spirited driving experience, innovative technology, an abundance of standard safety features and an extraordinary level of standard content, the 2011 Chrysler 200 is an exciting alternative for customers that want style and substance, all at a surprising value.

Virtually every system in the sedan is new or upgraded for 2011, giving the Chrysler 200 its own identity and space in the highly competitive mid-size sedan segment. Exterior and sheet metal upgrades include: front and rear fascias and fenders, grille featuring the new Chrysler brand winged badge, hood, rear decklid and exterior mirrors, new projector headlamps and fog lamps, new LED taillamps and a LED center high-mounted stop light.

The Chrysler 200 gets a new powertrain lineup featuring the 2.4-liter I-4 World Gas Engine mated to either a four-speed or six-speed automatic transaxle, or the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transaxle; improved ride and handling tuning which includes stiffened body mounts and softer ride rate, improved suspension geometry with a raised roll center, a new rear sway bar, and new tires and an extensively upgraded treatment for the reduction of noise, vibration and harshness including acoustic laminated glass for the windshield and front door windows.

Quality materials abound in the beautifully updated new interior for 2011. Updates include a new instrument panel, bezels and gauge face, upgraded seats with a new design that incorporates more cushion material and revised spring geometry as well as new leather and cloth seating materials, new "soft touch" armrests and dash, and new heating and cooling outlets in the instrument panel with improved design and functionality.

The new 2011 Chrysler 200 provides drivers a beautifully inspired sedan that doesn't compromise safety or practicality and offers the best value in its class. The Chrysler 200 will be built at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant in Sterling Heights, Mich. and will arrive in dealerships in the fourth quarter 2010.