Category Archives: Dailycar
Getting young drivers insurance for your BMW 120
For BMW enthusiasts, any car made by the legendary German manufacturer is more than just a possession or a hobby – it is a passion. If you are under 25 and lucky enough to find yourself behind the wheel of a popular new model like the BMW 120, you will want to make sure you scour the market for the very best deal you can find on young drivers insurance or, if applicable, student car insurance .
2012 Coda Sedan
The word floated around the room and landed gently on our notepad during the morning press conference. Initially, it seemed like a perfect fit. But the more we learned about the new all-electric 2012 Coda sedan, the more we realized that “simple” was nothing but a misunderstood first impression.
Strictly discussing physical appearances, the Coda four-door is easily the least interesting vehicle we have set our eyes on in years – “unassuming” is an understatement. Yet an in-depth look reveals the plain-Jane façade is deceiving. Hidden beneath the ho-hum sheetmetal, under the hard plastic dash and below the thin-pile carpet is an ingenious all-electric propulsion system. Not just forward thinking, it shows genuine promise and innovation.
We recently spent several hours with Coda, visiting its first retail store, learning about the technology inside that uninspiring bodywork and taking an hour-long test drive in the Los Angeles Basin. Our visit answered a lot of questions. Who is behind Coda? What is the Chinese connection? How does the Coda sedan drive? Most importantly, how does newcomer Coda expect to compete against other EVs in the segment?
Taiwan’s All-Electric Studio X-Gene Avant GT
It’s called the Avant GT and it looks like someone tried to make a Porsche Panamera out of a Honda Crosstour. The pure-electric model was first shown in Shanghai earlier this year and it’s the product of five companies – none of which have any real experience building cars – including Taiwanese design firm Studio X-Gene, financial partner Altair ProductDesign and technological partners Delta Electronics, Wistron and Qisda.
The Avant GT is being marketed as, “a pure electric sports grand tourer” – which I suppose makes it Taiwan’s Tesla or Fisker wannabe. Let’s see what the company bigwigs have to say about it, starting with Studio X-Gene executive director Albert Yang:
“The Avant GT is a unique project for Studio X-Gene and represents the quality of automotive design expertise available in Taiwan today. Partnering with Altair ProductDesign proved invaluable. Combining our design knowledge with Altair’s engineering and optimization expertise has allowed us to deliver this exciting, high-performance new vehicle to the Shanghai Auto Show and really make an impact on the automotive community.”
When will it be on sale? We don’t know. How much will it cost? We don’t know that either, though we guess we’ll find out soon enough.
BMW Debuts M TwinPower Turbo 4.4-Liter V8 in Latest M5 Roll-Out
If you’re going to get a BMW, make it a sedan. That’s because you’ll be hard-pressed to find another automaker who can create as sporty of sedans as BMW, while there are scores of coupes that take to the road with a bit more ferocity than what the Munich-based company can get off the assembly line. There’s certainly no luxury sedan that currently packs as much punch as the fifth-generation M5 recently released onto German roads. If you don’t believe that, think again after reviewing the following:
-The front apron is designed to optimize the revolutionary M TwinPower Turbo package contained within the high-revving 4.4 liter V8. Not only does the widening of the grill slats increase cooling for the massive beast behind it, but air-channeling forward-mounted flaps ensure the best aerodynamics possible.
Ferrari Offers Winter Driving Course in Aspen for the Low Price of $11,399
Some things just don’t make sense, no matter how vivid your imagination is. Envision Land Rover racing at Le Mans, or Maseratimanufacturing an SUV. Doesn’t it sound absurd? Actually, scratch the last example about Maserati: it will actually happen.
Well, up until recently, you wouldn’t imagine a four-wheel drive Ferrari either. Thankfully, despite sporting the 4RM AWD system, the FFremains a pure sports car. Now, Ferrari wants to show its versatility to its American customers, so it’s adapting its “Pilota on Ice” driving program for the US.
From January 2012, Ferrari owners and their guests (strictly – no interlopers allowed) will get the chance to experience a two-day driving course in Aspen, Colorado. Eight specially prepared examples of the new Ferrari FF will be waiting to show both students and their guests the dynamic abilities of Maranello’s newest V12 GT on even the most treacherous conditions.
Just make sure you already own a Ferrari and have US$11,399 to spend. Ferrari will accommodate participants at the Nell Resort in Aspen where they will enjoy, apart from the two day driving program, champagne receptions and two group lunches at the track. And oh, there’s also a photo package and event memorabilia.
