Review: 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible

Chopping the top off a car isn't as easy as it sounds, especially when the fixed roof is replaced with a folding one of the steel variety - the panels and system of motors and hinges add significant weight. Worse, in order to get the whole mess to fit in the trunk, folding hard tops often require a bubbly, arching roofline and an ungainly, long rear deck. If you've had the displeasure of studying a Volkswagen Eos, you know what we're talking about.

Now, Infiniti - which hasn't produced a droptop in ages - has created a hardtop convertible G37 that has lost almost none of its elegant coupe sibling's visual appeal. And although the retractable roof and robust structural bracing add some 450 pounds to the car's mass, the G37's driving experience also has been largely preserved. That means blistering acceleration, brilliant ride and handling, and a cockpit that's among the prettiest in the business.

Even though the G37's chassis is new from the A-pillar rearward, the experience from behind the wheel is identical to that of the coupe. The familiar VVEL 3.7-liter V-6 carries over, but it produces five fewer horses due to a slightly more restrictive exhaust. Transmissions migrate over as well - buyers will choose a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic. We prefer the automatic, which dampens much of the V-6's roughness and provides better off-the-line acceleration, thanks to delightfully short gear ratios. A sport package that mirrors the coupe's - although without the limited-slip differential - is available with the automatic (and standard with the stick), but all-wheel drive is not offered.

Lowering the roof requires nothing more than a lengthy thirty-second button press, and air movement is very well controlled inside the cabin, especially with the optional wind blocker. To ensure year-round comfort, you can order heated and cooled seats, and headrest-mounted Bose speakers are available, too.

So what's so difficult about making a convertible, you say? It's the decision about what compromises a manufacturer must make for the sake of beauty. In order to keep the G37's sexy silhouette, Infiniti had to relocate the rear suspension's upper mounting points so the top would fit in the trunk. It does - but it leaves almost no room for cargo. With the top down, you'd be hard-pressed to fit two Ziploc freezer baggies back there. That is, if you can get the trunk open in the first place - the heavy lid lacks any kind of handle and is difficult to open.

Asking rear-seat passengers to hold your luggage will be an exercise in the art of persuasion. They have almost five inches less legroom than they would in the back of a BMW 3-series droptop - so they won't be happy. Just reassure them that they look fabulous in the G37, and drown out their complaints with that trademark Infiniti exhaust song.

On Sale: June
Price: $46,000/ $57,000 (base/as tested, est.)
Engine: 3.7L V-6, 325 hp, 267 lb-ft
Drive: Rear-wheel

CAR CUSTOMIZATION

Car customization and modification can be classified as both, an industry and a hobby or we can say it is the interest of an individual. People renovate their cars just the way they renovate their homes. This renovation process of the cars is called car customization and modification. Mostly we see this trend of modifying cars and adding extra to it to enhance its performance and looks in the young generation. The young generation is more inclined towards modifying their cars and adding more to it. Not only in Pakistan but around the whole world this is gaining more and more popularity.

There are different areas of car modification and customization. There is the engine modification, the body modification and suspension modification.

The engine modification basically involves the replacing of pistons and bearings of the car. Different turbo charges and performance chips are added to improve the performance and the speed of the car. These changes increase the acceleration and the top speed of the car. The nitrous oxide kit can also be used to add extra pump and speed to the car. Nitrous oxide cylinder is fitted with the carbonator of the engine and adds turbo speed to the car by increasing the fuel consumption of the car by almost 300%. By the usage of this cylinder the car can reach a high speed in no time. However it is mostly used in sports cars for racing purposes.

The body of the car is also modified giving it a new look and sleek style. The first and foremost act of body modification is replacing the existing or what we call stock front and rear bumpers by new extended bumpers or adding different extensions to the existing ones. The side skirts of the car also play an important part in the body modification as they can also completely change the overall look of the car. The hood and trunk are also modified to further improve the look of the car. The trunk is sometimes completely reconstructed and given a totally different look. Rims and alloys also play a very big role in the beauty of the car. The chromes and spinners are very popular and among the expensive ones.

Low profile tires are also used. 17inch and 19inch tires are the low profile tires but due to the various reasons 19inch is not mostly used in the cars because of the bumpy roads. Wider tires are sometimes also used in the cars. They can increase the road grip of the car.

There are also several options available for modifying headlights. Headlights can be further enhanced by opting for xenon or HID’s. HID’s are available in two colors: white, pink purple in Pakistan. Xenon has a wider variety. However HID’s are higher density lights and prove more effective. This is also the reason behind their higher price. Furthermore, neon lights can also be attached to the bottom of the car, which adds to the car’s appearance. These neon lights can be found in a variety of colors and sizes.

Exhaust pipes affect a car’s performance and appearance. A car’s speed and sound vary depending on the size of the exhaust. A bigger exhaust would increase the air intake and thus increase the fuel consumption of the car.

The car’s suspension can also be altered. Cars with low suspensions, which are often referred to as ‘low riders’, carry a sportier look than most other vehicles. Lower suspensions also increase the car’s grip on the road. However, one major drawback of this feature is that low suspensions make it nearly impossible to drive on bumpy roads, which is especially important on Pakistani roads.

As important as the car’s exterior is the car’s interior. First of all, as most of the younger generation would agree, the sound system is an essential component in terms of adding value. Seats can also be changed. Seats with body massagers are replaced by the original ones. LCD’s and in-dash screens can also be connected to further pick up the interior of the car.

In Pakistan, car customization is only common in some of our major cities: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar. It is a growing trend and there is an increased inclination towards customizing and modifying older cars rather than new ones. A good example of this is with American muscle cars such Buick, Chevrolet, Mustang, and Jeeps. Amongst the newer cars that are usually modified are Vitz, Corolla and Civic. Not surprisingly, the younger generation seems to be the one which is most attracted by car customization. This is partly because modified cars have become a status symbol as well as a craze. There are several workshops across the major cities that specialize in car customization. A lot of the body kit enhancements are made from the same material which is used to make water tanks in homes and buildings. Since this is still a relatively new industry in the country, the availability of part is an issue and therefore, parts need to be imported from abroad. This, in turn, makes car customization in Pakistan a costly luxury.

The most economical car….

With inflation rates soaring and prices reaching an all time high, we all need to economize in one way or the other. When speaking of economical cars, the Suzuki Mehran stands head and shoulders above the others. High mileage and very low maintenance costs attract an extremely large number of consumers to this car. The fact that this car attracts such a large number of consumers gives the Mehran an extremely high resale value and allows it to be sold with great ease.

Simple steps we could take to reduce accidents

In order to reduce accidents in Pakistan it is important for all of us that we should thoroughly implement traffic laws. That is stopping at lights, using indicators while turning or changing lanes; not using high beams which would reduce the visibility of other drivers, staying within the speed limit would reduce the chances of accidents, and eliminating the use of cell phones while driving and by monitoring drivers license center to ensure that bribes are not taken from applicant who are applying for the licenses.
Safety is utmost important and it is very important for every driver, whether young or old that they take simple safety measures such as wearing seat belts because seat belts make sure that a person is not hit with something inside the car while in a crash which increases the chances of survival.

Ever thought of GPS- Navigation in Pakistan?

If you have been waiting for GPS-Navigation then the countdown is over. GPS navigation is being introduced in Pakistan by Data Solutions Private Limited and Tracking World Private Limited. The GPS –Navigation that is being introduced in Pakistan, initially would have maps available for the major cities such as Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Multan, Gujranwala, and it would also include all the national highways.
In car GPS-Navigation system would also provide the option to search for several points of interests which include of fuel/CNG stations, ATM’s, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, and shops. You may find address and phone number information for most of POIs.
In-Car GPS is made possible through Garmin GPS units. The prices of these units range from Rs. 43000-48000. Lahore based Tracking World say that, customers can pay one time fee for these navigation units and map to use GPS service for life time.

Cars in Pakistan vs. Cars abroad

Local cars in Pakistan are basically neither luxury nor sports. They are basically for daily purposes such as taking students to schools and universities. There is not much passion about cars in Pakistan that is if it is not backed by financial resources. There are only limited families which are elite class because of whom we see few cars that are high in luxury and spectacular in looks in Pakistan. In countries with high GDP per capital such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Japan the luxury is being stretched to its limit. The taxis over there are minimum Toyota Camrey that is being perceived as a luxury car in Pakistan. Cars such as Maybach, Rolls Royce, Phantom and Bentley are considered to be luxury cars in countries which have a high GDP. These cars are engineered to the limit of engineering.
The general perception of luxury in Pakistan is fully implemented in cars like Civic and Corolla. The maximum features a Civic or a Corolla has include individual suspension control, power steering, power windows, abs breaks, air conditioning, motorized seat adjust, automatic transmission, sunroof. Whereas features of luxury car companies such as BMW, Mercedes Benz, Rx 8 are fitted with gadgets that one cant even think of that include Air conditioning with individual climate control and rear outlet, Cruise control, massaging seats, heated seats , automatic parallel parking, traction control, heated steering wheel, trip tonic transmission, GPS controlled driving. There are no limits to the gadgets that are fitted to confirm the comfort ability of the riders. The engine technology of these type of cars are far superior then the technology used in local cars for example: Mazda RX 8 that is 1300 cc produces 232 hp. Whereas Honda city that is also 1300 cc produces 120 hp. This difference is due to the fact that Mazda uses rotary technology for the engine by which Rx 8 is equipped.
There are few reasons due to which luxury cars are not that much successful in Pakistan. Due to high import duties and taxes in Pakistan we get the prices inflated as compared to international market. For example, if we a buy a pure luxury car such as Mercedes Benz S550 in Pakistan, it would cost Rs 20 million. Where as the cost of the same car is $ 87000 which comes out to be around Rs. 7 million. There is a great difference in prices that makes S class affordable in countries abroad however due to high taxes and import duties it is very hard to afford this category of luxury car. Lack of specialized labor available for luxury cars and high maintenance cost also act as a barrier. Since there is only limited luxury and sports car available in Pakistan, there is only few people who deal in these cars hence it is difficult to find specialized labor for maintenance of these cars. The body parts or engine parts of luxury and sports cars are not available in Pakistan hence they have to be imported if some parts are required for the car. This process takes time and it adds up to the cost because the parts are being imported from another country. Bad infrastructure acts as another barrier for importing luxury and sports cars. Most of the sports cars have a low suspension. Roads in Pakistan are very bumpy with lots of high speed breakers which make it difficult for lower suspension cars to be driven over here. Due to these reasons mostly people prefer to have a local car because they are affordable, have a relatively cheap maintenance cost, specialized labor is also available for maintenance and local cars to some extent can support the infrastructure of Pakistan.

2008 Audi R8

Time was that if you wanted a proper supercar, you went to the Italians -- Ferrari or Lamborghini. But for 2008, German automaker Audi has introduced their first mid-engine supercar, the R8. With a 420 horsepower V8 nestled behind the passenger compartment, all-wheel-drive, and a shape to die for, the 2008 Audi R8 sure has the right resume. But how does it work in real life -- is this the stuff of which dreams are made?

2010 Chevrolet Camaro

The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is easily the most-anticipated new car of the 2010 model year, with head-turning styling, gobs of power, and an amazingly reasonable price. Does the all-new 2010 Camaro live up to the hype? Read on. Price range $22,995 - $38,905, EPA fuel economy estimates 16-18 MPG city, 25-29 MPG highway.
Let's start with the looks. Chevrolet's goal wasn't to re-create the original Camaro, as Chrysler did with the Dodge Challenger; rather they seem to want to tap into the broad appeal of the Ford Mustang. Chevy figures that about one-third of Camaro buyers will be nostalgia-seekers, and the rest will buy the Camaro because it's cool in the here-and-now -- "21st century sports car" is their term. There are cues from Camaros of the late 60s, but it's a thoroughly modern design, and if you think it looks cool in pictures, you should see it in person. Some cars look like they're going fast when they're standing still. The Camaro looks like it's going to beat you unconscious, put you in a silly hat, invite a couple of other Camaros over to take photos of you, then e-mail them to all your friends and co-workers. Call me crazy, but I like that in a car.
If you've ever dived into an ice cold lake on a warm sunny day, you know what it's like to climb into the Camaro's cabin after admiring the exterior. In 27 words: It's a sea of dour grey plastic, with the gauges and climate/stereo controls crammed into two small clusters as if huddling together for warmth and companionship.
The short windshield gives the driver a pillbox gunner's view of the world, and the low driving position (despite a height-adjustable driver's seat) and big, broad hood make it hard to see out. Over-the-shoulder visibility is lousy, but well-shaped side mirrors make lane changing easy. Still, maneuvering in heavy traffic had me reaching for the Rolaids.
The back seat is easily accessible and comfortable for people of all shape and sizes, provided they don't have legs. And the trunk is big at 11.3 cubic feet, but the small opening means you can't actually put anything inside.

New Mazda RX-7 On The Way, After All? New RX-8 And RX-9 Coming As Well?

After our going to lengths to dispute the likelihood of any RX-7 coming to us any time in the next decade, Inside Line reckons it’s had an inside source at Mazda’s Hiroshima HQ confirm that a new Mazda RX-7 is indeed on the way, though no dates were given.

According to IL’s source, Mazda’s efforts to promote the Renesis engine over the past decade means the company will not allow the rotary engine to fall into the pages of history yet again.

IL’s man on the inside said that development of a new RX-7 is “well along”, and that the next-gen sports car will feature a front-midship-mounted 16X rotary engine making upwards of 201kW (270hp) without any form of forced induction.

The new 16X engine is believed to be built on a 800cc x 2 configuration, as opposed to the 13B’s 654cc x 2 format. Despite the higher capacity, fuel economy is improved by some 20 percent – a factor which will go a long way towards improving the rotary’s image as an oil-burning engine with poor economy and high emissions.

Inside Line says the new (FE?) RX-7 will feature a new twin-clutch six-speed manual transmission, with a feature that will allow drivers to set the revs at which the clutches engage.

An all-new chassis is supposedly part of the project, and Mazda has managed to cut as good as 100kg (220lb), bringing the car down to around 1197kg.

Little else was offered regarding a new RX-8 and the oft-rumoured (and possibly hydrogen-powered) RX-9, except to say that projects for both cars are underway

Inden-Design Mercedes SL 65 AMG

After this modification the car introduce itself with impressive high-tech components. The complete front-, rear- and bodyside lines now appear in a new brightness - just like: the headlights, the bonnet and the front- and rear valance, based on the design of the new SL-2008. At the rear valance they attached a carbon rear diffusor and a sport exhaust system in the new look of the original SL65 AMG. So now the complete redesigned car is hardly to discern.

Inden-Design Mercedes SL 65 AMG

But this is not everything we changed.

The 3-parts aluminium rims are sized 10,5×19 inches at the front suspension and 11,5×19 inches at the rear suspension.

The high performance tires are sized 255/30-19 and 305/25-19.

The tires are spinning curtly near the plate after a light of the wheel arch border, also as a result of the lowering. The ABC-sports running gear became optimized rather downcast by the Inden-Design-controller.

The exclusive and powerful engine performance emphasizes the technological ambition which was committed to this project. If you kick down the accelerator, a storm is brewing, which is rapidly deplated. The Inden-Design modificated

AMG-engine is suited for full acceleration and also for relaxed cruising. The engine, which is arranged with a re-engineered turbo charger, a increasingly powerful intercoole, an extra gear oil cooler and an engine improvement over a engine electronics, now proud carry out 680 HP.

For the interior of the White Angel indene design uses a sports valance from the Black Series model in Alcantara.

Inden-Design Mercedes SL 65 AMG

Audi R8 LMS - GT3

Audi is set to present a world premiere at the Essen Motor Show from November 28 to December 7: the brand with the four rings will be unveiling a race version of the Audi R8 with over 500 horsepower. During the press conference on November 28, Audi will also be presenting its plans for the 2009 motorsport season. This year’s winning Le Mans car and Timo Scheider’s victorious DTM car will be lining up in Essen alongside numerous attractive production models.

Audi R8 LMS - GT3

The version of the Audi R8 specially developed for customer teams will be celebrating its world premiere in Essen. From fall 2009, therefore, Audi Sport will for the first time offer a racing car that was specifically developed for customer use.

“Ever since the Audi R8 was unveiled we’ve been inundated with inquiries about a race version. With the Audi R8, we will offer customers a racing car packed with sophisticated technology and characteristic Audi quality, but which is nevertheless easy to handle,” says Head of Audi Motorsport, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich.

The first prototype completed its first tests in mid-August with Audi works driver Frank Biela at the wheel.

The new GT sports car will be joined in Essen by other successful members of the Audi motorsport family: this year’s winning Le Mans car, the Audi R10 TDI driven by Rinaldo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish, and the Audi A4 DTM in which Timo Scheider clinched the championship title just a few weeks ago. On Friday, November 28 at 2 pm, the Audi motorsport boss will be appearing on AUDI AG’s stand in Hall 3 to report for the first time on Audi’s plans for the 2009 season.

The motorsport highlights will also be accompanied by an attractive selection from Audi’s current model range. The production R8 together with the RS and S models are the link between motorsport and series production. In Essen, the brand with the four rings will be showing the Audi R8, the Audi RS 6 Sedan, the Audi TTS Coupé as the top-of-the range model in the TT line, the Audi S3 as the top model in the A3 line and the Audi S4 as the sporty highlight in the A4 family. The S4 will be celebrating its German show premiere in Essen. It will be joined there by the Audi Q5 3.0 TDI quattro, the Audi Q7 V12 TDI quattro and the Audi A5 Coupé 2.0 T quattro.

Audi R8 LMS - GT3

Vorsteiner V-RT Edition Porsche 997 Turbo

The Vorsteiner V-RT (Vorsteiner Race Technologies) latest aerodynamic & forged wheel package is finally being released to the public to add to the current V-GT lineup for the 997 Carrera. The all-new V-RT parts will be available for world wide release after March 23rd, 2009. Please our website at www.vorsteiner.com/porsche for any public updates.

Vorsteiner V-RT Edition Porsche 997 Turbo

The exterior aerodynamic package consists of 3 primary packages. Up front is a new replacement front fascia that features larger carbon fiber air intakes for the radiators and elimination of the fog lights like the factory 997 GT2. A removable dry carbon fiber front lower spoiler adds additional down force to the front end while protecting the front bumper from any steep inclines or road hazards. The principal challenge of this front bumper was maximize weight savings . This was achieved by eliminating the fog lights, and replacing the factory plastic air ducts and hardware with carbon fiber ducting as a molded single component of the front bumper.

The V-RT rear bumper is also designed to offer the 997 Turbo with a wider stance with enlarged side intercooler extraction vents that house a replacement dry carbon fiber shroud that is approximately 35% larger for improved airflow through the intercoolers. The rear bumper also features a new molded carbon fiber rear diffuser with integrated twin aero fins that encompass the quad sport exhaust tips.

The V-RT rear end is completed with a carbon composite rear deck lid/engine cover with twin ram air scoops that feed air into the engine bay and air intake for maximum airflow and cooling. Additionally a carbon fiber wing blade enhances the final appearance while increasing down force to the rear of the vehicle at high speeds.

The V-306 twin 7 spoke 3-piece forged wheels shown are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires. The wheels feature a race-inspired center mesh design in 20×8.5J and 20×12J that are also available in 19 inch configurations with many personalized finish options.

Vorsteiner V-RT Edition Porsche 997 Turbo

Rolls Royce 200ex Concept RR4

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has confirmed further details about the production version of 200EX, the experimental car shown at the Geneva motor show early in March 2009.

RR4 Rolls Royce 200ex Concept - More Images Below

Rolls-Royce CEO, Tom Purves announced the details at a press conference in New York where 200EX is currently being shown to potential customers on the first leg of a world tour.

Speaking at the event, Mr Purves said, “There has been a great deal of interest in this car since we first talked about producing a new model series in the autumn of 2006 and the reaction 200EX received at its unveiling at Geneva was very positive. As we move another step closer to the start of production at Goodwood, it is exciting to be able to share some of the specific technical details with customers and the media.”

He continued, “RR4 will deliver an authentic Rolls-Royce experience to owners, so expect peerless comfort and build quality. However, we have consciously engineered this car to be more involving and dynamic for those owners around the world that will wish to drive it themselves.”

RR4 will be powered by a brand new 6.6 litre turbo charged V12 engine unique to Rolls-Royce. The engine will be combined with an 8-speed automatic ZF gearbox. This new drive-train will significantly improve fuel and CO2 efficiency over the already class leading Phantom series of cars. Engine power will be upwards of 500bhp.

Further details about RR4 will be released over the coming months.

Rolls Royce 200ex Concept - More Images Below

Rolls-Royce 200EX

2009 BMW 135i Performance Package

The heralded BMW 135i Coupé is set to take on the muscle of Albert Park at this year’s 2009 Australian Grand Prix.

BMW 135i Performance Package - More Images Below

A specially equipped 135i Coupé, bearing the famed tii livery and featuring BMW Performance gear, will take part in the Ultimate Speed Comparison.

A race between a V8 Supercar, fully prepared BMW Sauber Formula 1 car and road going BMW 135i Coupé, the Ultimate Speed Comparison is a crowd favourite which pits three high performance forms of motoring against each other in a one lap race to the finish line.

The Ultimate Speed Comparison is held on five separate occasions during the race weekend. The event is run with a timed handicap, giving each car a chance at taking line honours.

The BMW 135i Coupé is fitted with a number of performance and cosmetic upgrades from the BMW Performance stable, which is renowned for a range of exclusive and dynamic sports accessories.

A full BMW Performance aerodynamic package, road holding suspension set up, cross drilled and weight saving brake package and BMW Performance 18″ light-alloy wheels are fitted to the car.

Carbon fibre mirror covers and carbon fibre look bonnet with integrated roof and boot sports stripes, further accentuate the sporting character of this unique vehicle.

The 135i Coupé bears ‘tii’ decals front and rear to highlight the fascination of motorsport and heritage of the BMW brand.

Inspired by the famous BMW 02 model introduced in 1966, which in its time was acknowledged as the epitome of supreme agility and thrilling driving, the BMW 135i is also distinguished by its compact dimensions, low weight and perfect balance front-to-rear.

A powerful 6-cylinder twin turbo engine, generating 225 kW ensures the car can reach 100km/h in just 5.3 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h.

The pilot for the BMW 135i at this year’s Ultimate Speed Comparison will be motoring journalist Paul Gover, who took the BMW M Coupé through its paces at last year’s event.

Christian Klien will be at the helm of the BMW Sauber F1 race car, while Greg Murphy will take on both BMW’s in his V8 Supercar.

BMW has taken part in the Ultimate Speed Comparison since its inception.

“BMW is pleased to support this fantastic spectacle,” says Tom Noble, General Manager Marketing, BMW Group Australia.

“The Ultimate Speed Comparison has proven to be a particularly popular segment on the Grand Prix schedule and perfectly embodies ‘The Ultimate Driving Machine’ claim,” he says.

Over its short time in the market, the BMW 135i Coupé has claimed a number of coveted awards, such as the 2008 Drive Car of the Year (Best Sports Car over $60,000) and Australia’s Best Cars, Best Sports Car 2008 taking on the likes of many exotic high performance sports vehicles.

Unlike the F1 car or V8 Supercar, Australians can purchase the BMW 135i including the BMW Performance parts fitted.

A comprehensive range of BMW Performance components is available exclusively through the BMW dealer network.

All BMW Performance components reflect the BMW brand in their technology, design, quality and safety.

BMW 135i Performance Package - More Images Below