More Jaguar XF-R Spied Just Ahead of Probable Detroit Debut

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Jaguar is putting more heat on the Teutons with a confirmed XF-R, spied here in blazing red. Seen clearly are 20-inch wheels, a small rear spoiler, chrome-tipped quad exhaust pipes and air intakes on the bonnet. According to sources at Jaguar, the XF-R is as close to launch as May 2009. Some media speculation says the XF-R will be on public display at the upcoming 2009 Detroit Motor Show.





The British marque is riding the crest of the wave ever since it introduced the Ian Callum-designed XF in 2007. Said to be carrying a 5.0-litre direct injection engine instead of the old trusty 4.2 V8, the XF-R could run about 500hp/ 378kW under its hood.





Another rumour says an even more potent XF-R R will pose a 600hp/ 447kW threat to the likes of Mercedes E 63 AMG, BMW M5, Cadillac CTS-V and Audi RS 6.

Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 - Wallpaper

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Original Lamborghini Miura Turin Salon Chassis found

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Only one 1965 Turin Salon Lamborghini Miura chassis was ever made, and it was designed for the Turin Motor Show in 1965. A transverse mid-mounted V12-powered machine (Lambo's first), has not been seen publicly in over thirty years.





The story of the chassis, recently purchased by a group of collectors in Los Angeles, is a worldly tale. After touring the Italian company's Bolognese factory headquarters in 1977, Marios Kritikos, a Lamborghini dealer from Cyprus, spotted the chassis and knew he had to have it. Designed by Gian Paulo Dallara, the chassis was loaded on a trailer hitched to Kritikos' Range Rover a year later, and was driven out of town.





The first ever mid-engined supercar concept sat in Kritikos' collection, untouched since its debut in Turin. Once discovered by a collector in California, the sale of the machine was negotiated by two Miura specialists, and the vehicle went state-side. Found with the car were items like its original bill of sale, and a collection of photographs from both Lamborghini and Kritikos. Now it is being restored in San Diego at the Bobileff Motorcar Company, where it will be brought back to its original Turin-show condition.

The chassis will make a US debut next summer

2009 Scion xD

Article file under http://www.edmunds.com/scion/xd/2009/review.html





Introduction

All three cars in the Scion lineup are sort of deceptive. From a distance, each seems like nothing more than an economy car with a little added exterior style. But look a little closer and it quickly becomes clear that each Scion is surprisingly comfortable, with a nicely assembled interior plus lots of standard and optional equipment.





The 2009 Scion xD is the perfect poster child for the whole lineup, as it's both inexpensive and reasonably refined. This subcompact hatchback distinguishes itself with a lengthy list of standard equipment and dealer-installed extras -- especially the audio options, proving Scion totally understands its customers.





While other automakers have made only auxiliary input jacks standard equipment, Scion has gone one step further with a regular aux jack and a dedicated iPod port that provides power and stereo head unit control. The xD is also one of the least expensive vehicles to currently offer an integrated navigation system.




As expected, the Scion xD delivers good fuel economy but still has adequate power. Even on the highway, the four-cylinder engine isn't excessively rev-happy. If you're about 6 feet tall or more, you might find the xD's interior a little cozy. Lack of legroom is the main problem, but the car can feel narrow, too.

Scion vehicles, with their gen-Y styling, are clearly aimed at younger buyers. However, you'll frequently find retirees driving Scions, as their value is undeniable -- the secret that they are basically low-priced Toyotas is out. Depending on use and personal preference, however, there are a few economy cars that come off a little better than the 2009 Scion xD. Nissan's Versa is roomier inside, the Honda Fit is a better all-around package and the often-overlooked Hyundai Accent has been a longtime favorite of ours.

On the other hand, the xD is a much better car than the Toyota Yaris, even though both cars are built by the same company. Ultimately, the Scion xD is a very good commuter car or first car. It's not the best economy car out there, but it's far from the worst. Anyone looking for an inexpensive, reliable and slightly sassy small car should add the Scion xD to their short list.

2009 Ford Edge

Article file under http://www.edmunds.com/ford/edge/2009/testdrive.html















Performance

Our front-wheel-drive 2009 Ford Edge Limited test vehicle was powered by the same 3.5-liter V6 found in every Edge. This capable engine cranks out 265 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque, and it's hooked to a six-speed automatic — the only available transmission. At our test track, the portly 4,312-pound Edge sped from zero to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds, a few paces behind segment luminaries like the Nissan Murano and Toyota Venza V6. The culprit here is the copious curb weight, up about 400 pounds on competing front-wheel-drive crossovers.

For the most part, the Edge's powertrain is solid. Shifts from the six-speed automatic are unobtrusive, yet kick-downs in passing situations are satisfyingly quick. The engine note won't rouse your inner Earnhardt, but it's refined enough for most tastes. In any case, the numbers don't tell the whole story: Flooring the front-drive Edge's accelerator from a stop produces tire-roasting wheelspin, even with traction control on, and the power doesn't really fall off until you've hit highway speeds. Fuel economy is a bit below average at an EPA-rated 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined.

Sedanlike handling is supposed to be one of the selling points of crossover SUVs, and here the Edge falters. Its steering is annoyingly light and vague, with lots of play on-center. Body control around corners is adequate — note that our tester had the optional sport suspension — but the Edge always feels large and unwieldy. In our slalom test, the Edge sauntered through the cones at a decidedly SUV-like 56.5 mph.

Braking is another trouble spot. Unlike past examples, this 2009 Ford Edge produced acceptable 60-mph-to-0 stopping distances in its first few runs, though 134 feet isn't anything to write home about. However, by the fifth stop we encountered significant brake fade, with stopping distances rising to 152 feet. Obviously, most people aren't going to do five panic stops in a row in real-world driving, but even here the Edge's brake pedal is characterized by excessive dead travel and a general sense that the brakes aren't quite up to the task