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AU Test Drive: Subaru Outback 2.0 Boxer Diesel Posted: 14 Jul 2008 07:54 AM CDT Last week, I had the chance to test drive the Subaru Outback, equipped with the 2.0 liter boxer diesel engine. I took the car on Monday and, because I only had the car until next day, after I picked it up from Subaru Motors Trading, I decided to take it to the seaside (where else, considering it’s summer?), especially that I had in mind a beautiful place to test its off-road abilities. First of all, let me say that the Outback surprised me from the start, the exterior looks really good, with a lot of sporty touches, the interior is also pretty impressive: I had the top of the line trim level, with Ivory leather, 3 spoke steering wheel with leather and cruise control commands or panoramic moonroof (great in the summer). Like I said, the version I had was powered by the 150 hp 2.0 liter boxer diesel engine. Can’t say that I was thrilled with the engine in the city, because, besides being a diesel (not really my fav), it’s actually kinda lazy. And I should mention that the car was equipped with the 5-speed manual transmission. However, despite that, I must say the car’s handling and behaviour is excellent. The high ground clearance and the very comfortable suspension make the ride in the Outback really smooth. I actually drove it on some very bumpy roads and it does great. One small minus would be the fact that in the city it’s kinda hard finding a good parking spot, considering that the car’s width is 4.7 meters. But, when you leave the city and hit the highway, that’s where the Outback really feels good. The car is very stable, even at 125 mph (its top speed) on the bended sections of the highway. Off-road, the Outback also does pretty good, being pretty comfortable and managing to cross almost all of the obstacles (except for a small sand area where, with all the Symmetrical Permanent All Wheel Drive, it didn’t manage to get through). But that’s ok, considering that if you want to ride on the beach, you get yourself a beach buggy, not a Subaru Outback. The fuel consumption was pretty good, considering the car’s dimensions and the way I drove it. I did about 360 miles (580 km) and the car “drank” about 15 gallons (60 liters). So the average was somewhere around 23 mpg (10 liters per 100 km), which I think it’s ok. Probably, regular driving will get you somewhere around 33 mpg (9 l/100km) in the city and 27 mpg (7 l/100 km) on the highway. I liked : - The handling and road behaviour: very stable even at 125 mph; - Really comfortable ride; - Sporty look (air scoop on the bonnet or the double exhaust pipes); - Ivory leather interior; - Large luggage space, especially with the rear seats folded down; - The panoramic moonroof; I didn’t like : - The engine is pretty lazy in the city (would’ve love to drive the petrol version); - The controls (the central console looks great, but the plastic controls near the steering wheel feel kinda ‘cheap’ and they also make a small noise when activated). Overall, I must say that the Subaru Outback really impressed me. I was expecting a common wagon car, I found the Outback to be a very comfortable and stable car, with good handling both on the street and off-road and with some sporty accents. Not bad at all. Would I buy it? I don’t think so, because it’s not my type, but if I’d be in the Subaru’s target (sporty break with off-road abilities) it would definitely be an option. Photo Gallery: Subaru Outback 2.0 Boxer Diesel Bookmark, E-mail or Share

Toyota gives up on next gen Lexus SC and Avalon Posted: 14 Jul 2008 06:34 AM CDT According to Inside Line, Toyota is planning on canceling the next generation Lexus SC and the Camry-based Avalon. The decision to drop the Lexus SC was caused by the slow sales of the model, in the first six month of 2008 Laxus managing to sell only 1,230 units (40 percent less than last year). Priced at $67,120, the SC is powered by a 288 hp 4.3 liter V8, which averages 16 mpg (city) and 23 mpg (highway). And with the current rising gas prices the car was doomed, especially with Lexus preparing the LF-A sports car, based on the same RWD platform. As for the Avalon, because the next-generation 2012 Camry is well underway, Toyota is having serious doubts on whether to continue Avalon production or not and may opt to produce a long-wheelbase Camry for such markets as North America and the Middle East. Source: Insinde Line Bookmark, E-mail or Share

Video: Mercedes Benz SL65 AMG Black Series Posted: 14 Jul 2008 06:06 AM CDT Last week we wrote about the awesome Mercedes Benz SL65 AMG Black Series and new we’ve got a video update on the car. Looks really exciting! Enjoy! Bookmark, E-mail or Share

Nevada brothel offering gas rebates Posted: 14 Jul 2008 06:02 AM CDT Apparently, the owners of a Nevada brothel thought that a good way to boost ’sales’ would be to offer customers gas vouchers. And it seems that the idea was pretty good, because, according to James and Bobbi Davis, the owners, they’ve already had to order another $1,000 set of gas vouchers because the first $1,000 were spent in the first week. The vouchers are worth $50 each and are given to customers that spend $300 (about one hour’s worth of services). The 50 bucks covers the cost of a round trip drive from Las Vegas to the ranch, located in Beatty, Nevada, 130 miles northwest of Vegas. Bookmark, E-mail or Share

Less known ‘victims’ of $4 gas prices Posted: 14 Jul 2008 05:37 AM CDT The rising oil prices have definitely had repercussions on anyone driving a car or a truck. Not to mention independent gas stations, because drivers have cut back on driving or choose to refuel at stations with lower prices, putting nearly 3,000 gas stations out of business, over the past 12 months, according to oil-industry trade publication NPN Magazine. But, as expected, the “victims” of the fuel prices are spred through other industries as well and here is a list of 10 less known “casualties”, published by Forbes: Landscaping Industry. Trucks that average 10 mpg are used to tow lawn mowers and heavy equipment. Independent Movers. “Deadhead” costs are putting a lot of independent movers out of business. “Deadhead” is when a truck drives empty hundreds of miles to pick up another load. Children’s Camp Grounds. Parents now choose to camping programs closer to home. Truck Drivers. A report says that 935 trucking companies with at least five trucks went out of business in the first quarter of this year. Elderly Food Programs. Nearly 60% of ‘Meals On Wheels Association of America’ programs have lost volunteers who can’t afford gas. Recreational Boating. With the average boat tank holding 90 gallons of gas (lasts for eight hours at modest speeds), most boaters are planning shorter trips. Cab Drivers. The cost of driving a taxi has soared 38% in June 2008, compared with June 2006. Independent Gas Station Owners. 3,000 stations closed over the past 12 months. Volunteer Firefighters. According to The National Volunteer Firefighter Council, communities will probably see fewer volunteers responding to emergency calls, especially if the emergency occurs a good distance away. Driving Schools. Driving schools are raising rates by as much as $20 to $50 per package and some of them dropped services like picking up and dropping off students at their homes. Source: Forbes Bookmark, E-mail or Share

IDEA ERA concept car Posted: 14 Jul 2008 04:40 AM CDT The Italian Design Institute I.DE.A celebrates 30 years since it was established by Franco Mantegazza as a family run company and, with this occasion, they built a concept car in only 30 days. The ERA concept car, a roadster without doors inspired by the cars from the '40s, is only a design concept, but it can be equipped with a 4 cylinder FWD engine or with a V6 RWD one. The car has two seats, a fuel tank with a central position and can be quipped with manual/sequential gearbox. The car dimensions are 4300 mm in length, 1840 mm wide and 920 mm high, having a total weight ranging from 1500 to 2000 kilograms. It can be equipped with 245/40 R19 tyres. "Its smooth curves come to life from taut yet harmonious lines which give the car its elegant yet powerful appearance. Its simple interior, composed of a visible tubular structure, expresses the car's pure essential nature typical to sports cars" says the I.DE.A website. Via CarBodyDesign Bookmark, E-mail or Share

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