Tuesday, 14 February 2012

Ford Kuga gets 200 PS 2.5L inline-5 engine

Ford is adding the 200 PS 2.5 litre turbocharged inline-5 engine from the Volvo T5 cars and the Ford Focus ST to its Ford Kuga SUV. The inline-5 engine producs 200 PS at 6,000rpm and 320Nm of torque between 1,600 to 4,000rpm, which can take the car to a top speed of 208km/h. The new engine will be displayed at Paris 2008 in a special Ford Kuga Individual which demonstrates Ford’s new Individual styling program. It adds 20 inch wheels wrapped with 255/35ZR20 tyres, a new larger rear spoiler, new bumpers and skirts which extend lower by approximately 50mm for a lower look, body-coloured wheel arches, and the rear twin exhaust pipes integrate nicely into the rear bumper styling. The Kuga also retains its Haldex generation 4 intelligent all-wheel drive and is mated to a 6-speed manual as standard, though a 5-speed Durashift 5-Tronic automatic sourced from Aisin is available as an option.

Sunday, 12 February 2012

eco friendly car in USA

When you think about American-made cars, you tend to think of “gas-guzzling” SUVs or the muscle cars that were manufactured in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Times have changed, however, and most people want to purchase new cars that are more eco-friendly and consume less fuel. Though American manufacturers were extremely slow to roll out this type of vehicle, in recent years many of the most environmentally friendly cars have been made in the U.S. Chevy Volt 230
The Chevy Volt 230 isn’t like the typical hybrid vehicles available. The car includes two modes; EV mode, which is when the car is running solely on the battery, and extended mode, which is gas powered. The car starts in EV mode, and it can run for about 35 miles exclusively through the battery. It then switches into extended mode; running for an additional 375 miles before you fuel up or recharge the battery. Ford Escape Hybrid
One of the cool features of the Ford Escape Hybrid is its ability to drive up to 44 MPH in electric mode. When you go past that speed, you still get relatively good gas mileage at 34 MPG for city driving. Another nice feature of the vehicle is that it doesn’t have the typical feel of a hybrid vehicle; it has lots of space and can be thought of as a smaller version of an SUV. For parents who need to take their kids to soccer games or dance classes, the extra room can come in quite handy. Ford Fusion Hybrid
Similar to the Escape Hybrid, the Fusion Hybrid can run solely on electric power up to 47 MPH. For gas mileage, you should expect to get about 36 MPG for highway driving. You can also choose which fuel you want to use – either regular gasoline or E85. Another cool feature of the Fusion Hybrid is the inclusion of a SmartGauge display next to the speedometer. It’s being added to the 2012 models, and allows you to see the fuel economy history of your vehicle. Chevy Cruze Eco
The Chevy Cruze Eco performs at an impressive 42 MPG for highway driving. It beats out similar cars like the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, and according to Chevrolet, it “has the best highway mileage of any gas engine in America.” The Cruze definitely has a sportier feel than the average green car out there. From the 17-inch, 5-spoke wheels to its 138 HP engine, it’s not a typical eco-friendly compact car. Chevy Aveo
The Chevy Aveo is one of the most affordable options if you’re looking for a green vehicle. It starts at around $12,000, but it still has good performance and features. For highway driving, you should expect to get fuel efficiency of about 35 MPG. This isn’t bad by any means, and it actually beats out similar foreign cars like the Nissan Versa and Hyundai Accent. Even though it’s a less expensive model than some of the previously mentioned vehicles, it still has some of the features that you would want and expect, like satellite radio and OnStar navigation. When it comes to eco-friendly cars, there are now many American cars that are fuel-efficient and perform well; in many cases they are actually better options than foreign cars. If supporting American companies is important to you, then be sure to take a closer look at these vehicles. Tony Sutherland is an insurance consultant and he recommends checking online for auto insurance quotes when you are considering an out-of-state move. For example, if you live in Virginia you can instantly request Pennsylvania auto insurance quotes online.