2012 Jaguar XKR-S Review

  

2011 was a rather big year for Jaguar. Not only was this the year they celebrated the 50^th anniversary of their much loved E-type, but also the 20^th anniversary of their much over-looked XJ220 supercar.

FAST FACTS

1. The XKR-S uses an up-rated supercharged 5.0-liter V8 to produce 550-hp and 502 lb-ft of torque. 2. Other additions include a custom aero kit, a lowered suspension, 20-inch wheels, and larger brakes. 3. Look for a 0-60 mph time of 4.2 seconds. 4. Priced at $132,000 the XKR-S is almost $30K more than the XKR.

For 2012, Jaguar is offering a model that brings both the E-Type and the XJ220 together in one package. The car in question is the XKR-S. Like the E-type, it is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive grand touring sports car. But like its big brother, the XJ220, it has a boosted motor that develops 550-hp and will serve as a halo for the iconic British brand.

The R-S version adds even more, thanks to a new hood, extra openings to feed air to its powerful motor, and a carbon-fiber lower front spoiler which works with the new carbon-fiber rear spoiler to give the car more stability at high speeds.

That supercar look continues when you open the door. Gone are the big sofa seats, replaced now by a set of the best “Performance” seats (Sport seats in Jaguar’s language) we have ever set eyes on, but you have to compromise on comfort when you buy an XKR-S, as the sport seats still have all the adjustments available in all other XK models. In total, you have 16-points of adjustments for this seat, so if you can’t find a comfortable driving position in this, you probably don’t know how to use the door mounted seat control switches properly.

Apart from the seats, the only visible change inside is a slightly different looking steering wheel. Beyond that, the interior remains the same, which means lots of space and high tech gadgets for people in the front seats, and nothing for those in the rear seats. The XK was never a proper four-seater, and now thanks to those sport seats, there is even less room in the back. Trying to stick anyone in these rear seats would be cruel, so best to use the space to toss in some grocery bags.

GOES FAST, SOUNDS FAST

If you are the sort of person who takes their 5.0-liter, supercharged V8 sports car to go grocery shopping, you should buckle up your fruit, because this Jag can sprint from 0-60 mph in just 4.2 seconds. Not bad for a car that weighs 3,916 lbs., but then 550 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque can move any mass quickly.

We quickly learned that this car prefers to have its tires nicely warmed up before you get the best acceleration times. On cold tires, it slithers and slides its rear end in search of grip, while the traction control works very hard to reign in the power, but not too much to make the experience boring. The R-S is aimed towards driving enthusiasts after all.

When the tires are at their optimal temperature, the car hooks up smoothly and catapults you forward immersed in its glorious sound track. All supercharged Jaguar’s sound good, but nothing they have ever made has ever sounded as good as this R-S. When you open the taps in this car, it sounds more like gunfire than anything automotive.

Once your mind adapts to the speed and noise of this car, you can start concentrating on the ride quality. Just cruising around on the highway, you’ll find it to be firm, but not harsh. It is certainly a bit firmer than a regular XKR, so you will feel it going over expansion joints on the highway, but it’s never unbearably rough – a trait shared with lesser XKs.

Thanks to its excellent steering feel, which has been given a tighter setting in the R-S version, it is easy to place the car on the road, and given the massive amounts of grip you get from those 295/30/20 (10.5-inch wide) rear tires, you can choose your own line through the corners.

ADDED SPORT, BUT BIG CAT SHOWS ITS GRAND TOURING ROOTS

On twisty back roads, you’ll be encouraged to put the six-speed automatic transmission in “Sport” mode and activate the “Dynamic” mode which lets you swing the back out a little more, while still keeping a keen eye on excessive oversteer. The limited-slip differential feeds the power to both wheels evenly, but on really tight bends, this car is not in its favorite environment. Coming out of a slow corner, it often wastes its power as it struggles to find grip. As entertaining as it is, the car simply feels overwhelmed. The R-S is a big and heavy car, and while its suspension set up is tighter than the normal XKR, it does not bite in as hard into the corners as an Audi R8 would. What this cat prefers are long, high-speed, sweeping corners.

If you happen to be heading to the Autobahn with your R-S, we advise that you put the transmission in the “S” position. This sharpens the throttle and lets the driver use the steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters to go up or down through the gears. Since this is still a conventional automatic based system rather than a single or dual-clutch gearbox found in cars like the Audi R8 or Nissan GT-R, the gear changes are not as quick as they should be.

On the plus side, this is still among the quickest shifting automatics around, and it is ultra smooth when you just want to relax and cruise to your destination – something that a Jag buyer is definitely interested in. Cruising is something the R-S does rather well. When you’re not monkeying around, it’s quiet and refined, and you can then truly enjoy its “other” sound system, the Bowers and Wilkins 525-watt stereo with eight-speakers.

THE VERDICT

Our more relaxed drives proved that despite all the hardcore trimmings and its immense capabilities, it’s tough for the XKR-S to escape its routes as a Grand Tourer – but it may perhaps be the grandest of them all, able to dice it up with the best while making minimal sacrifices.

Read More

Umbrella Girls MotoGP 2011

Gelaran MotoGP yang telah berlangsung di tahun 2011 kemarin menjadi tontonan yang menarik bagi pengunjung yang hadir langsung di sircuit maupun penonton dilayar kaca. 

Tragedi kecelakaan dan meninggalnya pembalap MotoGP Marco Simoncelli semakin mewarnai ketegangan Balapan MotoGP di tahun 2011.  

Balapan MotoGP menampilkan aksi-aksi memukau dari pembalap MotoGP yang diantaranya: Casey Stoner (Repsol Honda), Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Racing Team), Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda), Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda), Ben Spies (Yamaha Racing Team), Valentino Rossi (Ducati Marlboro) dan banyak lagi yang lainnya. Selain itu yang sangat menarik mata penonton pada setiap awal pertandingan yaitu para wanita cantik dan bertubuh seksi yang bertugas sebagai Umbrella Girls atau Peddock di garis START.


Nih buat cuci mata kaum lelaki aku sediain gallery umbrella girls motoGP (wuih seksi dan cantik uy..).

Mau foto-foto yang lainnya? dijamin lebih mantap MANTAP!! (download disini)

Read More

Nissan e-NV200 Concept 2012: Minivan Ramah Lingkungan

DETROIT – Nissan kembali menunjukkan keahliannya dalam membuat mobil listrik. Di Detroit Motor Show 2012, Nissan e-NV200 Concept mendebut dunia.

Nissan e-NV200 Concept memiliki wajah khas EV (electric vehicle) seperti adanya pelabuhan (port) untuk mengisi energi listrik di bagian wajah mobil yang lebar, logo berkelir biru, dan lampu depan yang menyapu dengan aksen LED. Nissan menganugerahi mobil berbasis NV200 ini dengan kaca-kaca besar. 

Nissan menyelipkan satu motor listrik 80 kW bertorsi 380 kW. Akselerasinya sangat cepat dan lembut. Seperti Nissan Leaf, minivan ini sangat menyenangkan dikendarai.

Dan, tentunya sebagai mobil listrik, dia tidak butuh bahan bakar fosil. Tidak pula mengeluarkan emisi. Sungguh sangat ramah lingkungan.

Nissan NV200 diproduksi di Eropa, China dan Jepang. Nissan memasarkannya di 40 negara saat ini. Pada akhir 2013 taksi di New York akan menggunakan NV200 dengan desain khusus. 

Read More

2012 Toyota Camry SE Review

More manufacturers are trying to eat Toyota’s lunch with dramatic mid-sized options aimed at taking at least a small number of Camry buyers away. The organic Hyundai Sonata and Euro-styled Kia Optima are the two biggest challengers for now, with a broad range of four-cylinder power options, including hybrid electric or turbocharged.

FAST FACTS

1. SE models get 17 or 18-inch wheels, a stiffer suspension, custom bodywork with a rear spoiler, steering-wheel paddle shifters, silver trim and a leather-wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel with audio and Bluetooth controls. 2. SE options include a rear-view camera, heated seats, a power moonroof, as well as leather and faux-suede seats. 3. The SE trim is available with a 178 hp 4-cylinder with a class-leading 25/35 mpg or a 268 hp V6 with a 21/30 mpg rating. 4. 4-cylinder Camry SE models start from $23,000 with the V6 at $26,640.

In contrast, despite its near-identical size and similar styling, the 2012 Camry is in fact, all new. You won’t find a single body panel that swaps over from older to newer, and if you park the two side-by-side, the differences are more apparent. But that’s just fine with Toyota – most of its customers actually value the ‘driving appliance’ tag enthusiasts generally paint on it. They don’t want to stick out. They don’t want to be the loner. For them, the Camry will suit their needs just fine – much better than the last generation, in fact.

SE: FOR THE RARE SPORT-MINDED CAMRY DRIVER

But to appeal to the paper-thin slice that puts a greater value on driving enjoyment, Toyota has regularly offered an SE package that generally packs a thimble-full of extra visual punch.

So, surprise, surprise: Toyota’s efforts on the new Camry SE go far beyond the usual wing-‘n-sticker brigade. We shouldn’t be so shocked. After all, this is the same company that went above and beyond with the SE version of the Sienna minivan, turning it into a genuinely enjoyable machine.

The Camry SE follows the same recipe: the front strut suspension is stiffened and lowered slightly, while the rear gets a more thorough makeover, including a fractionally longer, solid stabilizer bar that replaces the more pliant tube design. Also, Toyota engineers removed some of the fluid-filled bushings with more-rigid ‘pillow-ball’ designs for greater control. The result is hardly razor sharp and kidney-killing in its firmness, but compared to the regular isolation chamber Camry, the SE is a pleasant change.

4-CYLINDER A FUEL ECONOMY LEADER, V6 OUTSHINED BY TURBO RIVALS 

Like the rest of the Camry line, the SE is available with either a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 178 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque or an optional 3.5-liter V6 with 268 horses and a useful 248 lb-ft of torque. Both engines use the same six-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels alone. Mechanically, they’re identical other than the V6 getting wider 225/45/18 all-season tires on 18-inch wheels – four-bangers get 215/55/17s on 17-inch wheels of the same design – and dual chrome exhaust tips instead of one.

Upgrading to the V6 only adds 180 lbs to the 3,240-lb 2.5 SE, but the four-cylinder wins in fuel economy: 25/35 mpg (city/hwy) compared to 21/30. It is critically more efficient than the Hyundai/Kia twins, but is down on power – though doesn’t feel that way in daily driving. The V6 has no such victories, losing to the more potent and less thirsty turbo-fours.

The four-cylinder version is quick enough for most situations – we’re guessing 0-60 mph in the eights – and plays out more as a momentum machine. The steering doesn’t have a lot of feel to it thanks to the new electric power steering system, but the car is tidy to drive, if still overly comfy compared to its rivals. Braking is actually pretty good, with no overly active ABS getting involved in normal situations.

The V6 offers more options to the driver since it has 90 more horses to play with and feels like a rocketship in comparison. The larger tires help the car respond quicker, although it does have that extra weight over the nose.

Ultimately, both cars will probably never be driven anywhere near the limit intentionally, and if they are, Toyota’s Catholic nun-like electronic safety suite will severely rap your knuckles with a ruler by cutting engine power severely when activated. No fun for the enthusiast, but not surprising given the expected customer profiles.

SPORTIER LOOK, MUCH IMPROVED INTERIOR

The visual changes amount to an Acura TL-like front fascia, blacked-out grilles and headlamp surrounds, lower side sills, and a rear spoiler. Even with the added adrenaline, the Camry SE may still cause bouts of yawning.

Inside, the SE builds on the already improved 2012 cabin, which now features higher-quality materials, more luxurious touches like stitching on the dash, and more supportive seats in every Camry. SE exclusives include a three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio and Bluetooth controls, silver trim and... paddle shifters. They’re perhaps the most useless feature on the car given a) the number of customers who would actually use them is so small it’s incalculable, and b) Toyota doesn’t like drivers thinking for themselves, and it’s an easy bet that the computer would automatically reject any shift request that it deems unacceptable.

Standard equipment is long and generous, including Toyota’s Entune audio system, an attempt at hitting Ford’s SYNC where it hurts. Here, it comes with a 6.1-inch touch-screen display that can be used to access songs, vehicle data, phone books and text messages. In V6 models, it also features a navigation feature.

SE-only options include a convenience package with a rear-view camera, heated seats and auto-dimming rearview mirrors, leather and faux-suede seating and a power moonroof.

THE VERDICT

Critically, Toyota has addressed one major problem, and that’s value. The four-cylinder SE starts at $23,000, the V6 at $26,640; both essentially unchanged from before despite the increase in standard equipment. For the dozen or so customers out there who are desperately looking for a ‘sporty’ Camry, this is the best yet. But compared to similarly equipped Optimas and Sonatas, the SE doesn’t hold up on the ‘sport sedan’ front; Hyundai, and especially Kia, deliver more go and more whoa for less dough.

Read More

10. Top 10 Most Expensive Cars 2012

The list of the Top 10 most expensive new cars is even more shocking that you might expect. Released by Forbes, you can forget the Ferrari 458 or the $300,000 Lamborghini Aventador because even at the low end of the scale these models start at right around the one million mark.

10. Porsche 918 Spyder: $845,000

In 10th place, at $845,000 is Porsche’s upcoming flagship, the 918 Spyder. When it does arrive later this year, it will come powered by a high-revving V8 engine making more than 500 hp, mated to a plug-in hybrid system that adds over 218 hp. Porsche claims a 0-60 mph time of 3.1 seconds, with an incredible 78 mpg rating.

1 of 10

next

Read More

09. Top 10 Most Expensive Cars 2012

9. SSC Tuatara: $970,000

The successor to the Ultimate Aero, once the world’s fastest production car, the SSC Tuatara is priced for speed at $970,000. This new model, which is expected to go on sale in 2012, is powered by a 7.0-liter twin-turbo V8 making as much as 1,350-hp. Weighing just 2,654 lbs, SSC claims it can hit 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 275 mph. That would put it just ahead of the current top speed record holder, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, which also appears on this list.

prev

2 of 10

next

Read More

08. Top 10 Most Expensive Cars 2012

8. Hennessey Venom GT: $1,000,000

Known for building twin-turbo Dodge Vipers and other high-performance machines, the Venom GT is the first ground-up car built by Hennessey Performance. To call it all-original, however, might be a bit of a stretch, with the chassis a donated (and then stretched) Lotus Elise platform. Powering the car is a supercharged 6.2-liter GM-sourced V8 engine making 1,200-hp. Price: $1 million.

prev

3 of 10

next

Read More