Archive for the ‘Automotive blogs’ Category

Buick Previews Small Premium Car with Avant Concept

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

For the U.S people, size does matter as far as cars’ design is concerned. They like their cars to be as super-sized as possible. Today where the trend is to recognize the big value in small things, Buick is hoping to tap into that in the
automotive sector with the Avant.

With the increase in urban population and fuel prices, owning a large car is becoming less and less practical. It hasn’t changed overnight–and it’s not going too–but there’s been a definite progression back toward smaller vehicles in the U.S., and Buick’s paying attention.

Buick is drawing its resources in densely-populated and congested China to help deliver a new small premium platform, and this video reveals some of the concepts flying behind the scenes at Buick: doors that slide instead of swinging open when in tight spots; seating that re-configures itself based on the number of occupants; a unique “micro-pergola” sun roof.

All of these features are clearly concept-only for the present, but they illustrate Buick’s desire to think outside the box in approaching the small premium segment, something that’s going to be a pre-requisite to convincing us free-range North

Nissan GT-R transmission rocks

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

Nissan GT-R transmission rocked the auto-world with its arrival, offering trulysupercar performance at just a fraction of the price.

Finally GT-R found its way to showrooms ad quickly became apparent that there was a consequence for all this performance with the transmission becoming a costly Achilles heel for many owners.

The GT-R transmission is, arguably, became the worlds most effective and efficient all-wheel-drive system on board, asking the gearbox to bear the brunt of its performance with many breaking after just a few short months on the road.

First-generation Launch Control system was the cause, resulting catastrophic gearbox failure and a $20,000 repair bill which was not covered under Nissan’s warranty.

Realizing this issue, Nissan introduced a softer, new-generation Launch Control system (LC2) in its revised 2009 GT-R, as GT-R owners got together to file a class-suit action.

Setting this dispute with Nissan, offers the first-generation LC system to any owner a new 5 years/60,000 miles once they upgrade to LC2.

Nissan will fully cover the transmission with LC2 for breakages as long as VDC is left on – warranty claim would be voided if Launch Control is used without VDC.

The risk of a full launch with VDC off, well but you get to keep your warranty.

It applies to owners of the first generation GT-R in the US. All Australian-delivered GT-R’s are the updated 2009 model which means they are unaffected by this issue.

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