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origin of the discovery of mirror

>> Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Many biker's menggangap rearview mirror as "a display of" sheer, assuming there is also a rearview mirror to make the motor look less cool and slang.



So many of the biker off the rearview mirror or replace the rearview mirror that looks less slang, but unfortunately the mirror is not working. That kind of thing is very dangerous for the riders themselves and also endanger other motorists.


You do not know its history in the rearview mirror? Here's the history of the rearview mirror. Once in the early 1900s when the car is still a new thing, and racing cars started to grow, each participant's race car mechanic always brings.

This mechanical task is to fix the car if it breaks during the race. With the increasing development of technology, so the engine is more sophisticated and less mechanical damage and no longer needed.
Mechanical function was later changed to "observer" that help the driver. So then in charge of observing this mechanical state of the car behind them, so the driver can know if there are other peseerta car that will "overtake" them. Every car racing cars participating in this era always carried two passengers, one charge of driving a car and another charge of observing the situation behind them.


Later in the year 1911 at the Indianapolis 500 race, one participant was having trouble finding mechanics to become observers to monitor the situation backwards. As a way out he then put a mirror in his car. By using this mirror he can see if there are any other race participants will precede or nyalip. Because the transported load is lighter, the car could walk faster and finally he won the race. The next year all participants of the race car rearview mirror installed in their cars, and since then all the cars using the rearview mirror.

So for the biker who has not pakek mirror and mirror not meet the standard, plug the rearview mirror that really works. Do not wear the rearview mirror, rearview mirror or just for display only. Dangerous for other motorists and also let the police officer not on the ticket. so ... keep good buddies all vehicle glass mirror.

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General Motors Board Decides To Keep European Opel Unit

Last Month General Motors Co. decided to sale their European Opel unit to Canadian auto parts maker Magna International. This month however, General Motors Co. has decided to keep Opel themselves.



This decision was made Tuesday after a long meeting in Detroit; the CEO of General Motors Fritz Henderson reported that General Motors will present its reconstructing plan forOpel to the German government soon. Magna's co-CEO Siegfried Wolf reported that Magna would continue to support both General Motors and Opel through-out the future.

General Motors has had a very tough time through-out this recession. They lost more than $8 billion through-out the past 4 years and have received $50 billion forgovernment aid. They announced the selling Opel in hope that their profit would go up in both Latin America and Asia.

At 54,000 workers and sells in cars such as Vauxhall, Opel, Cadillac and Chevrolet General Motors has the fourth highest auto sales in Europe coming in after VW Group, PSA Group and Ford Motor CO. European sales dropped 6.6 percent through the month of December and sales of Vauxhall and Opel cars have dropped even further coming in at 11.4 percent.


While General Motors had to file for bankruptcy earlier this year, Opel was kept out of the filing. Sixty-five percent of Opel was under the care of a trust while the other 35 percent was withheld by General Motors.

General Motors was not the only company having many problems during this recession. Several auto industries went into bankruptcy and were kept open due togovernment aid. Numerous companies ended up selling out some of their money making cars while others had to discontinue some famous cars. Now auto industries are beginning to pick up but they are still not doing so hot because American's just do not have the money to buy cars.


During this summer, the "Cash for Clunkers" program was a huge success among auto industries. American's were able to use their rebates so they could trade in their old gas chugging cars for a new fuel efficient one. All the while this program was great for business, when the program ended so did the business.

Unemployment rates keep rising which means more people are becoming jobless and less able to afford their mortgage let alone a new car. It is like a domino effect and it all starts with unemployment, once unemployment is figured out and American's stop losing their jobs and others find jobs, the economy will strengthen thus getting us far way for the outskirts of a recession.

So, why not figure your employment out right now? Obviously Paintless Dent Repair peaks your interest because you came to this site, since you're here I'll tell you more about Paintless Dent Repair and how you can be your own boss with your own business. Paintless Dent Repair Technicians are in very short supply, there are many cars out there and people are looking for the fastest, cheapest way to get their car fixed and back out on the road and you can help them. A technician pulls dents and dings from vehicles through glue-pulling which means there is no waiting on the sanding, painting or drying. You can ownyour own business or work out of a dealership, it's up to you. You could earn up to $100 per vehicle you fix which balances out to a nice check at the end and let's face it any money is better than no money. Don't procrastinate any longer.

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Moto Gp Grid Girl Show and The historical motogp


Grand Prix motor refers to the top class of motorcycle racing, currently divided into three classes of machine different: 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP (over 990cc). Motors used in MotoGP is made specifically for motor racing, and not sold to the public (street version of the motor for 125 and 250cc classes available). This contrasts with the various production categories of racing, such as World Superbike, that feature modified versions of motorcycles available for general.

History
Road Racing World Championship was first organized by the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) in 1949. At that traditionally have been held several races at each event for different classes of motors, based on engine capacity, and classes for sidecars (Motor bersespan). Existing classes when it is 50cc, 125cc, 250cc, 350cc, and 500cc for single-seater racing motorcycles, and 350cc and 500cc sidecars for motorcycles. Entering the 1950s and throughout the 1960s, motorcycle engines, four did not dominate the entire class. In the late 1960s, the motor engined two did not begin to master the small classes. In the 1970s, motorcycle engines, two did not really get rid of 4 stroke engines. In 1979, Honda tried to restore the engine 4 stroke the top class by lowering the motor NR500, but this project failed, and in 1983 Honda even winning with a 500cc bike not his second. In 1983, 350cc class finally abolished. 50cc class was replaced by the year 1984 80cC class, but class often dominated by the Spaniard and the Italian was finally abolished in 1990.



Class sidecars are also excluded from the world championships in the 1990s, leaving the 125cc, 250cc, and 500cc classes.

GP 500, the premier class of Grand Prix motor racing, has changed dramatically in recent years 2002. From the mid-1970s until 2001 the top class of GP racing limited four-cylinder and engine capacity of 500cc, both types of engines 4 stroke or 2 stroke. As a result, which can survive engine is 2-strokes, produces power and greater acceleration. In 2002 for the first time, manufacturers are allowed to enlarge the total capacity of a special machine for 4 stroke engine to a maximum of 990cc, and gave freedom to choose the number of cylinders used between three to six with a certain weight limit. With the motor bolehkannya 4 990cc no, the 500 GP class renamed to MotoGP. After the year 2003 does not exist anymore two machines that do not fall in the MotoGP class. For 125cc and 250cc classes in particular still using two machines do not.



Race for the MotoGP class is currently held as many as 17 series in 15 different countries (Spain held the third race weekend). Used in the title race every weekend with several stages.







Friday free practice at the title and the first official practice, and then carried out practice Saturday both official and QTT, where the drivers trying to make the best time to record determine their starting position. Own race was held on Sunday, although there was a series of Saturday is held in the Netherlands and Qatar. Grid (row starting position) consists of three drivers per line and usually every racing series was followed by about 20 drivers. Racing held for about 45 minutes and the driver raced along the specified number of rounds, without entry to the pit change tires or refuel.

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Fuel Efficiency In The 2010 Ford Ranger

This year Ford has built their 2010 pickup trucks with flexibility, versatility and value and that includes excellent fuel economy, especially with the Ford Ranger. The fuel efficiency in the 2010 Ford Ranger is not only better than ever, but it also gives you options. As a Small light weight in the pick updepartment, customers can choose between the ''?compact pick-up truck''? sized efficient I-4 engine for maximum fuel efficiency or the larger and more powerful V-6 engine for maximum payload capacity.


The Ranger's EPA-estimated fuel economy rating for the rear wheel drive 5-speed manual transmission is 22 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway for the 2.3 liter, 143 horsepower I-4 engine available for the XL and XLT models. The automatic transmission performance delivers 19 mpg inthe city and 24 mpg on the highway. Now that is something that the consumer can get excited about.

The 4.0 liter, 207 horsepower V6 engine with rear wheel drive and 5-speed manual transmission available on the XLT and standard on the Sport models has an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 16 mpg inthe city and 21 mpg on the highway while boasting a large towing capacity of 5,760 pounds. The estimated ratings for this engine with an automatic transmission and four wheel drive are 14 mpg inthe city and 18 mpg on the highway.


All in all, the 2010 Ford Ranger power performance demonstrates competitive horsepower numbers that could be higher when compared to other manufacturers' models, but offers an excellent fuel economy in comparison to competitors, especially for the models utilizing the 2.3 liter I-4 engine.

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Racing History Of Motogp

 Road Racing World Championship was first organized by the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) in 1949. At the time it has traditionally been on hold several races at each event for different classes of motors, based on engine capacity, and classes for sidecars (motorcycles bersespan). Existing classes when it is 50cc, 125cc, 250cc, 350cc, and 500cc single-seater racing for motorcycles, and 350cc and 500cc sidecars for motorcycles. Entering the 1950s and throughout the 1960s, motorcycle engines, four did not dominate the entire class. In the late 1960s, the motorcycle-engined two did not begin to master the small classes. In the 1970s, motorcycle engines, two did not really get rid of 4 stroke engines. In 1979, Honda tried to restore the engine 4 stroke by lowering the top class of motor NR500, but this project failed, and in 1983, even Honda was winning with his motorcycle 500cc 2 stroke. In 1983, finally abolished 350cc class. 50cc class was replaced by 80cC class in 1984, but classes are often dominated by a rider from Spain and Italy was finally abolished in 1990. Class sidecars are also excluded from the world championships in the 1990s, leaving the 125cc, 250cc, and 500cc classes.



GP 500, the premier class of Grand Prix motor racing, has changed dramatically in 2002. From the mid-1970s until 2001 the top class of GP racing and limited four-cylinder 500cc engine capacity, both types of engines 4 stroke or 2 stroke. As a result, are able to survive is the engine two-strokes, produces power and greater acceleration. In the year 2002 until 2006 for the first time, manufacturers are allowed to enlarge the total capacity of a special machine to machine can not be a maximum of four 990cc, and 800cc in the season turned into 2007.pabrikan also given the freedom to choose the number of cylinders used between three to six with a weight limit particular. With the motor bolehkannya cc 4 stroke was large, the 500 GP class renamed to MotoGP. After the year 2003 there was no second machine that did not go down in the MotoGP class. For 125cc and 250cc classes in particular are still not using two machines.


Race for the MotoGP class is currently held as many as 17 series in 15 different countries (Spain held the third race weekend). Used in the title race every weekend with several stages. Friday free practice at the title and the first official practice, later on Saturday performed the second official practice and QTT, where the drivers trying to make the record the best time to determine their starting position. Own race was held on Sunday, although there was a series that was held Saturday is in the Netherlands and Qatar. Grid (row starting position) consists of three drivers per line and usually every racing series, followed by about 20 drivers. Racing held for about 45 minutes and drivers throughout the race specified number of rounds, without admission pit to change tires or refuel. Racing will be repeated in case of a fatal accident in the early races. The composition of the grid is not changed according to qualifying results. The drivers may enter the pit, if only to replace the motor because of rain during the race.


MotoGP Racing success is inseparable from the organizations involved within a few organizations who are members of the commission, among others FIM Grand Prix, Drona, IRTA and MSMA.

FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme), is the highest body in the world who care about motorcycles. FIM was established in 1904 was not only taking care of motor racing, but also became superintendent of production motorcycles are sold en masse, particularly about the safety and feasibility. In the ordinary motor racing, FIM is the agency in charge of and responsible about the regulatory and technical implementation of the race, also on the status, extent, and the criteria of a motor racing championship.

Drona is the organization administering the MotoGP race, or in other words, Drona is the promoter of the MotoGP championship. Drona is responsible for the quality of care events and also sponsors the event.


IRTA (International Road Racing Team Association), members of this organization consists of teams who follow the MotoGP race. This organization serves to channel the aspirations of the team and the drivers involved. With this organization the drivers can provide input and determine the rights and interests, including the contract value, safety and feasibility of the circuit.

MSMA (Motorcycle Sport Manufacturer Association), an organization composed in MotoGP from the manufacturer, motor manufacturers who follow the MotoGP championship, such as Honda, Yamaha, Ducati, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and other manufacturers. The function of this organization, among others, to decide the technical regulations on the regulation of the motor along with other organizations involved in the commission Grand Prix.


SPECIFICATIONS

Each of the regulations concerning each class is formed by the FIM race as an organization that authorities do it. FIM forming and issuing new regulations that are considered in accordance with the development race. At the beginning of the new MotoGP era in 2002, not 500cc motorcycle-engined 2 and 4 can not be allowed to be used in the 990cc race. Ultimate power from the motor-engine 4 stroke motorcycle engine that outperformed the two did not get rid of the whole machinery of the two no competition, and the next racing season there is no second motor was used.

In the year 2007, FIM will impose new regulations that the MotoGP bikes will be limited to 800cc 4 stroke. Reasons suggested the reduction of engine cylinder capacity is to increase the security of drivers, given the energy and peak velocity generated MotoGP machines has increased dramatically since 2002. MotoGP current speed record is 347.4 km / h printed by Loris Capirossi on a Ducati motorcycle circuit with Catalunya, Barcelona in 2004. As a comparison, the current F1 speed record is 369.9 km / h printed by Antonio Pizonia with BMW cars, the Monza circuit in 2004.

The decision to restrict the choice of engine capacity to 800cc (than with other methods of power restrictions, such as reducing the number of gear transmission is allowed) by the observers Honda MotoGP is very profitable. Honda uses a five-cylinder engine, and only need to reduce one cylinder to fix their machines to suit the new regulations, while other manufacturers have to redesign all of their machines. Restricted to 800cc also led to controversy that seems to present the motor used in the Superbike championship to be the fastest in the 1000cc motor racing circuits around the world.

Machines used in the 125cc class is limited as much as a single cylinder and with a minimum weight of 80 kilograms, while the 250cc class is limited to two silnder with minimum weight 100 pounds.

Motors for the MotoGP class is allowed to use the machine with the number of cylinders between three to six cylinders, and there are variations in the weight restrictions depending on the number of cylinders used. This is due to an engine with more cylinders, power output is also greater, and weight limits are increased. In 2006, the machines used in MotoGP is a four-and five-cylinder engine. Honda uses a five-cylinder, while the Yamaha, Ducati, Kawasaki, and Suzuki used four cylinder.

Motors are used in motor Grandprix made not only for racing only, but also as a venue for power struggles among manufacturers and technological advances. As a result all the MotoGP machines made by using very expensive materials and light such as titanium, and carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. Motors are also using technology that is not available for public consumption, for example, is a sophisticated electronic devices including telemetry, engine management systems, traction control, carbon disc brakes, and modern engine technology adopted from the F1 car engine technology.


If the motors used in the MotoGP class only raced at world championship level, motors used in the 125cc and 250cc classes are relatively more affordable. The price of a more or less the same 125cc motorcycle with a car. These motors are often used in a national motor racing championships around the world.

One of several key challenges faced by drivers and engineers MotoGP MotoGP bike is how to channel the incredible power of the engine - more than 240 dk (179 kW), through the contact points of two tires and the asphalt surface with a circuit width is only about the human arm. As a comparison, F1 cars generate more than 950 dk (700 kW) but with four tires, so have the point of contact with the asphalt surface ten times wider than the MotoGP bike.


Engine Specifications

# Configuration: 4-cylinder v (Grade GP), 2-cylinder (class 250 cc and 125 cc).
# Capacity: 800 cc (Grade GP), 250 cc (250 cc class), 125 cc (125 cc class).
# Valve: 16-valve (GP), 8-valve (250 cc, 125 cc).
Job # valve: DOHC, four-valves per cylinder (GP), two-valves per cylinder (250 cc, 125 cc).
# Fuel: Without lead (no fuel control), 100 octane.
# Supply of fuel: fuel injection.
# Aspiration: Aspiration of normal.
# Strength: Kira - about 250 or 225 dk.
# Lubrication: Wet.
# Maximum / minimum engine speed: 17500-18000 rotations per minute.
# Cooling: Single water pump.

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The solar gard Girl

>> Tuesday, June 29, 2010

This girl will not stop blinking and make you Unnerved , until you decide to buy a car glass "Solar Gard" one of the products being advertised by him,..hahaha...See This :


Just Kidding,..ahahahahaa...... You Like This?? :)

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History Of Ducaty Company

Well definitely surprised? Just read the Origins if this Ducati. Which Ducati Superbike ruled in the arena and the Almost undermined the dominance of Japanese manufacturers in MoptoGP, it Used to Be a manufacturer of electronics. Ducati is a Family Owned company supplying a radio transmitter. More precisely, it's 1926 in Bologna, Italy.

But the long struggle was destroyed by the Cruelty of the Second World War in 1944. Two years later Pls Milan Fair, Ducati Brother (the founder) tried to move on to another product. One of the associates, ie Cucciolo's introduces miniature engines for Motorcycles.


In 1952 the Ducati family other saw opportunities in the automotive industry. Just Rush to design a capacity Of 175 cc Cruiser Motorcycles with automatic transmissions.



The success brought Cruiser 175 cc engine to the market opening new opportunities for product delivery. A year later Ducati dared to make a motor with a capacity of 1998 cc of fuel-efficient and power. And that was the Forerunner to the development of motor capacity of 125 cc engine.


Later in the year 1954 an engineer named Fabio Taglioni join and bring the latest construction machinery. He Called it Taglioni design. It is said that this was the Forerunner to the construction of The Desmo Which have large energy.


Now, two years after his dream exhaled, really Taglioni realize by creating four-stroke race Tourist Tourist kitchen gravity bobot 174 and 174 special. Even directly made any type of sports. Add splashy, kitchen runway is capable of penetrating 135km / h. That figures are plotted as the fastest bike in its time,



In fact, in 1958 donated Taglioni desmodromic system for Triumph. Development began in 1955.
But the funny thing is, even the Ducati racing debut with a two-stroke engines with a capacity of 250 cc in 1960. Mike Hailwood at That Time Can be allocated to develop a racing engine manifold two-step, and repeatedly to reach the podium. After that, even leave the arena Racing Ducati.


Original manufacturer's new 1972 Bologna, Italy Fell back on the rink four-stroke class. On 23 April 1972, Taglioni desmodromic spawned a new weapon 750 cc twin cylinder.


Finally, Claudio and Gianfranco Castiglioni take over a part of the Cagiva Group. Until now Involved in two motorcycle racing arena. Namely Superbike and MotoGP.

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Folding car like carpet

William Lark, inventor Hiriko Citycar, posing beside the car electric vehicle creations during a presentation in Berlin, Germany, last Thursday (27 / 5). Cars by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is now being produced in the province of Álava and the Basque country, Spain.



Car for two people was deliberately developed to a dense urban environment. Because, Hiriko can be folded. So, the owner or user does not have to bother to find a place to park.





The plan, folding car will be produced in 2012. Before the sold and marketed to the public, the car will be tested once in five big cities in world. That is indeed the right solutions.


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History Of Train Locomotive

The train is the transportation of vehicles with the power of motion, either walking alone or bundled with other vehicles, which will be or are moving on rails. The train is a means of mass transportation that generally consists of a locomotive (vehicle with a power walk on his own motion) and a series of cart or carriage (coupled with other vehicles). Circuit train or car is relatively broad size so it can accommodate a passenger or goods on a large scale. Because of its nature as an effective mass transport, some countries try to use as a maximum as the main mode of transportation both inland transportation within the city, intercity, and interstate.




History

The same history as the history of railway transportation is generally beginning with the discovery of the wheel. Originally known as horse-drawn carriage which consists of only one train (circuit), then made the carriage which attracts more than one circuit and running at a certain point which is made of iron (rails) and is called gauge. This is used especially in mining areas where there are lorries which is bundled and drawn by horse power.


When James Watt discovered the steam engine, Nicolas Cugnot making three-wheeled vehicles fueled steam. People refer to the vehicle as an iron horse. Then Richard Trevithick made locomotive engine coupled with the carriage and use it on the show in front of the public. George Stephenson, who won the race to improve racing locomotive locomotive and used in Liverpool-Manchester line. At that time steam locomotive that used constructed grasshopper. Completion for the improvements made to obtain a more effective steam locomotive, a big powerful, and able to train more attractive.


The discovery of electricity by Michael Faraday made several discoveries that followed the discovery of electric equipment electric motors. Electric motor is then used to create a trolley which is the origin of electric railways. Then Rudolf Diesel diesel trains create a more powerful and more efficient than steam locomotives. Along with the development of electric and magnetic technology is more advanced, made magnetic trains that have speeds above the normal train speeds. Japan in the 1960s Super Express Train operates Shinkanzen with the Tokyo-Osaka route that eventually developed that covers all of Japan. Then the French operate trains with names similar to the TGV.

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how to raise the bulldozer over cars (Pics)

>> Monday, June 28, 2010

as strong as the strength of human muscle,human brain must be more powerful...So Like This Picture And tou will see the most amazing picture,..You wanna see like this :





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Cool Lamborghini Concept Car - Minotauro

Pictures of the super cool Lamborghini Minotauro concept design by Andrei Avarvarii. Minotauro (Italian for “minotaur”) was in the Greek mythology a creature with the head of a bull on the body of a man. It was chosen as a name for the car after a brainstorming that identified one distinctive feature of the Lamborghini cars. That they are beasts you fight and let you live to tell the tale.

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New 2010 BMW F800GS Motorcycle - Lava Orange Metallic / Black Satin and Alpine White

2010 BMW F800GS is the newest vehicles from large companies BMW. This vehicle has a engine capacity 798cc (800cc), 2-cylinder, 4-stroke, 4-valves per cylinder, 2 overhead camshafts, BMS-K management, closed 3-loop 3-way catalytic converter, the EU-3. With a large enough engine that it is expected that these vehicles can reach the top speed of 125 MPH or 85 hp @ 7.500 rpm. Sleek chassis makes the

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Rendered Speculation: Scion tC convertible cometh?

>> Saturday, June 26, 2010

to go topless. The site names a handful of unnamed sources that say Toyota's youth-bent brand is looking for an easy way to inject some life into its lineup – something that could be easily accomplished by cutting the roof off of the newly unveiled tC coupe. The car just received its first significant redesign in six years, and as such, IL seems to think the time is ripe to add a convertible model to the mix.



The site makes a compelling case for the move, including the fact that there are very few affordable drop heads on the market right now. Throw in the fact that Toyota just sent its one and only convertible, the Solara, packing for good, and it seems to make sense.

We have to wonder exactly how many freshly-minted college grads would snap up a convertible tC, though. After all, Scion is easily as popular with the AARP crowd as it is with the younger set, thanks largely to the brand's vehicles that are bigger on function than they are on style. We're looking at you, xB. Would a convertible help to drop the brand's demographic by a few generations? Maybe so, but considering we haven't heard word one from Toyota on this front, we'll have to leave this one in the rumormill pile a little longer.
source by autoblog

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2008 Scion xB

2008 Scion xB – Click above for high-res image gallery

In the latter part of the 1990s, Toyota realized it had a problem on its hands. Although its sales had been climbing steadily for years, the average age of its customers was also climbing. That's fine in the short term, but over the long haul if a company isn't attracting some younger clientele into its showrooms, sales will eventually begin to dry up. After several years of unsuccessfully trying to attract more youthful customers with cars like the Echo, the Japanese behemoth tried a new tack in early 2003.



That was when Toyota announced a new brand called Scion that would be targeted at the so-called Generation Y crowd. Unlike Lexus, Scions would be sold in existing Toyota showrooms. The Scion roll-out kicked off in California and a few other markets in the Southwest and eventually spread throughout the country. The first two Scions were the xA and xB, which were both based on the previous generation Yaris/Vitz platform. By late 2006, the xA and xB were ready to be replaced as the first second generation Scions made their debut at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show in February. The new xB started appearing at Scion stores in early summer and landed in the Autoblog Garage in September. Find out what we thought of the xB Rev. 2 after the jump.
The first thing anyone familiar with the original xB will notice upon walking up to the new one is its size. While the car is still recognizable as an xB, it has clearly hit puberty and the growth hormones have kicked in. The new dimensions are due largely to the model trading in its little Yaris platform for the larger Corolla architecture.



The new xB still has a wagon-like shape but the details and proportions are very different. The car is a full twelve inches longer and almost three inches wider, but loses an inch and a half in stature. The nose looks longer and the roof-line now has a chopped look to it. The glass in the D-Pillars has also been replaced by solid steel. Where the original had an almost delicate look to it, the second generation model has far more visual heft. Unfortunately, the heft is not purely visual. The curb weight of the xB has ballooned by 636 lbs to 3,086 lbs. You might think all that extra girth would translate into increased interior volume. You would be thinking wrong. The only major interior dimensions that grow are shoulder and hip room. Head room drops by six inches in the front seats and four and a half in back. Front leg room also drops by six inches. Cargo room behind the rear seats, however, does grow by half a cubic foot to 21.7 cu. ft.


Styling as always is highly subjective and the new xB is no exception. The lower and wider stance of the wagonette certainly looks more aggressive and the flares around the wheel wells with their adjoining sills have a hint of PT Cruiser and HHR. The new look will probably be a good starting point for those who want to customize their rides. The base of the windshield has moved forward but maintains the fairly upright angle of the original, meaning it sits pretty far out in front of the driver. That enhances the impression of room inside, although it also means that the driver has a really long reach to adjust the mirror.

The more diminutive original was propelled by a 1.5L four-cylinder that just wouldn't cut it in the 2008 model, especially an extra 600 lbs. to carry around. So the Corolla architecture brings with it the 2.4L four-cylinder used in the tC coupe and the larger Camry sedan. Output jumps from 103 to 158 HP and twist goes from 101 lb-ft to 162 lb-ft. Whatever else we may think of the new xB, it can certainly get out of it's own way. Unfortunately, it's not all that refined in doing so. The initial throttle tip-in feels way too aggressive. Launching in any kind of dignified manner requires a very gentle toe on the accelerator. While some people may like the idea of chirping the front tires at every intersection, on wet or slippery surfaces the standard traction control will kick in regularly, but back to that later.

The automatic transmission only has four forward gear ratios that can be activated by the now almost obligatory sequential tap-shift mechanism, although this seems pretty pointless. Then there is the enclosure for the shift mechanism. It sits in a pod that protrudes from the center of the dash. A very wide pod! A pod much to wide to be necessary for the shifter. Upon noticing this pod (as if it could be missed!), I looked for a storage bin or something useful on the underside. Alas, it appears to serve no real useful purpose other than consuming an inordinate amount of space adjacent to the drivers right knee. While front seat occupants of the new xB may have more hip and shoulder room, thanks to the shifter they have less knee room.



Let us make this perfectly clear to anyone and everyone who designs vehicle interiors. Instruments (especially primary ones like the speedometer and tach) belong in front of the driver. In the era of MySpace, Facebook and Digg, it may seem like the social thing to do is share vital information with the passengers, but functionality must come first and foremost in a car. Another dubious decision was combining the clock display into the trip information display. If you want to monitor your fuel mileage, you can't see the clock. You have to toggle through all the bits of information to get back to Father Time. The lower half of the fuel and temperature gauges remains glaringly blank, so why didn't they just stick a dedicated clock into one of those. Again, the task of switching display modes is made worse because of the long reach to the switch.

The center position of the gauges is said to have a safety benefit, as you're not taking your eyes quite as far off the road, and noticed that it might indeed be true. The other nice touch about having the gauges in the center of the dash is that the panel is not shrouded at all by the steering wheel. The HVAC controls are wonderfully simple and elegant, and they are positioned well.


Our example had a premium sound system that was also iPod capable; a $389 dollar expenditure. There are dual auxiliary inputs, so you can interface directly with your iPod, via a specific jack, or you can use another flavor of player via the 1/8" mini jack. Once you do manage to figure out the Pioneer's control scheme, it's not difficult to operate. Unfortunately, the LCD display of the stereo doesn't play nice with polarized sunglasses.

Although we liked the direct control of the iPod through the head unit, our main complaint had to do with pausing. After a previous post, it became apparent that pressing the power button on the head unit would pause the iPod. The joystick controller on the right side of the head unit generally mimics the iPod click wheel with an upward push bringing up the menu and left and right being back and forward. So why not have a downward push be play/pause? Odd choice.

The xB we drove was also equipped with a dealer installed TRD drone amplifier. The accessory list labels it as a sport muffler, but any performance impact was probably negligible while the audible impact was just annoying.



The idle of the four banger was lumpy, but it loved to rev. A hard stab of the accelerator would keep the automatic in the same gear almost to red-line and acceleration was therefore adequate. The added torque of the bigger engine was much appreciated. As always though, it comes at a cost. What started out as an economy car is now anything but. While the environmental groups have been ripping Toyota lately for its "duplicity" on CAFE standards and bringing out big thirsty trucks like the Tundra, they apparently haven't yet noticed the change from xB Rev.1 to Rev.2. The original xB had EPA ratings of 26/31 mpg (after the adjustment for the new 2008 procedures, originally they were even higher). The 2008 model is rated at 22/28 and we averaged 23.4 mpg over our week with the car. My '05 Mustang averages 24 mpg over the same driving cycle.

On the road the xB does have reasonable grip when equipped with the larger 16-inch wheel/tire combination, and it now comes standard with electronic stability control. Stability control systems can be a good thing if done right. Maybe someday Toyota will get one right. I haven't driven every Toyota so-equipped, but every one I've tried so far from the first Avalon that had ESC in the late '90s to the current Tundra and xB has been downright awful. I know Toyota likes to stick by its suppliers that its mantra includes Kaizen or continuous improvement. But when it comes to slip control systems it might be time for Toyota to look elsewhere. When you have a stability control system as noisy as this one (and the Tundra, as well), there is absolutely no need to have a warning alarm going off, too. The Toyota engineers responsible for this system need to go try out a General Motors or Honda vehicle equipped with stability control. The system should not be jerking the steering wheel around in your hands to keep the car going where the driver intends. The ABS and traction control that share the same hardware also suffer from the same excess noise.

The second generation JDM Toyota bB

The original xB was based on the JDM bB, which also underwent a redesign recently. Unlike the US market xB the bB is still based on the smaller Yaris architecture and is comparable in size to the original. The car we get as the xB will also be sold as the Corolla Rumion in Japan. I suspect most fans of the first xB would have preferred that Toyota stuck with the new bB instead of growing the car. The 2008 xB that we get starts at $15,650 with a manual transmission and adds another $950 for the self-shifting unit. The exterior design has some nice details if you're partial to the overall look.

If Toyota sets the interior team to work on a revamp, it would probably be a big improvement. Following Volkswagen's lead with a smaller direct injected turbo under the hood and swapping the 4-speed torque converter box for a 6-speed DCT would probably do wonders for the mileage without hurting performance, as well. If you're after something closer in size to the original, the xD is now available and the Honda Fit offers lots of utility and a vastly more attractive and comfortable interior.
source by autoblog

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SEMA 2009: 0-60 takes the Scion xD rallying




0-60 Magazine/Sparco Scion xD Rally car - Click above for high-res image gallery

Screw convention! Why do you have to build a rally car out of something sporty? Or powerful? Or off-road-worthy? According to 0-60 magazine at least, you don't have to. You can build a rally car out of just about anything. Take this Scion xD for instance. It's probably among the last cars you'd picture

taking off-road, but seeing what it looks like after 0-60 and Sparco got their mitts on it, you might want to reconsider. They added a ton of safety gear, enough lights to rival the nearby Luxor's candlepower, and basically just butched it up enough to make it look less like... well, an econobox. It should be a blast to drive. Maybe we'll try to find ourselves an Irish copilot and take it out for a spin.

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