2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart

A great week is to have a 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer for a test drive. It was absolutely terrific, but this was no ordinary Lancer. This was a Sportback Ralliart model, complete with enough racing features to provide an exhilarating drive. There were a few downsides, however.

Mitsubishi has their Lancer EVO, which is fairly popular and performs well. This new Sportback model of the Lancer provides more versatility by combining a sporty car with the convenience of a five door wagon-like vehicle. There is even a rear cargo floor that can be dropped about three inches to provide additional cargo space if needed.

The Sportback is provided in two trim models - the GTS and the Ralliart. My test model was the Ralliart, which offers a lot more power, and All-Wheel-Drive. The GTS has Mitsubishi's 2.4 liter engine that is quite efficient and provides 168 horsepower. The Ralliart has a 2.0 liter, inline four cylinder, turbocharged engine that spits out 237 horsepower. There is only one transmission in the Ralliart and that is a six speed automatic Twin Clutch Sportronic Shift. That is the same automatic transmission in the Lancer Evolution.

The automatic feature is operated normally, but can be handled manually by the magnesium paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. I tried the paddle shifters quite often during my test drive and they work extremely well. I am just not inclined to use paddle shifters very often in any car and generally leave that driving mode to those who like to dream about being racecar drivers.

The exterior of the Lancer Ralliart is striking. It offers a swept back appearance that sometimes appears as a standard Mitsubishi look and other times as something new. My test model was called Wicked White. The interior was black. The interior is generally comfortable, except for the seating. There are a few silver accents and the fit and finish is well done. Most of the interior, however, is plastic, and mostly plain black. There are a lot of features that help make the driving experience pleasant.

Optional Recaro seats were added to my test drive model. These have extra side bolstering that help hold you in the seat on sharp corners or fast turns. I like the Recaro seats. The spec sheet said that the driver's seat was adjustable, but that only meant it moved back and forward. There was absolutely no way to raise the height of the seat. Although I may aspire to be a six-foot person, I have not arrived at that lofty height yet, so I must rely on the seat to raise me to where I can see over the dashboard. It was definitely a challenge. The steering wheel does not telescope, so I had to pull the seat as far forward as possible just to reach the pedals and steering. Once that was all done and the seat back positioned, it was a fairly decent ride. I wish there had been a center armrest to help out on a lengthy highway stretch.

If you are looking for a vehicle that will provide a very sporty ride with all the convenience of a hatchback, then the Lancer Sportback Ralliart might be just right for you. I really liked the advanced All-Wheel-Drive, especially during the inclement weather.

Starting price of the GTS is just $19,190,but the Ralliart version begins at $27,590. My test model had a bottom sticker price of $31,060, but it had a lot of added convenience features including a terrific Rockford Fosgate sound system. EPA mileage figures are 17-mpg city and 25-mpg highway.

If a sports car feel with the convenience of a small hatchback appeals to you, check out the 2010 Lancer Ralliart, complete with all the driving excitement and turbocharged sporty fun at a Mitsubishi dealership yourself.

2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring

The 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring is a full featured car, offering plenty of space. Unfortunately, that space came at a premium price: weight. Tipping the scales at nearly 3100 pounds might cause some automakers to consider introducing a beefy 4 cylinder or even a lightweight 6 cylinder engine to the mix. Unfortunately, these options in turn increase overall weight, which is why Hyundai tapped their tried and true 2.0L DOHC inline-4 cylinder for the job.

Some call it the little engine that could, but Hyundai officially refers to it as the Beta II. Hyundai's Beta II engine can deliver 132 hp in PZEV tune or 138 in its general arrangement, both at 6000 rpm. Horsepower comes on strong at approximately 3200 rpm and pulls strong almost all the way to the red line. Torque figures produced by Beta II-powered Hyundai Elantra Touring editions are even more impressive, with the full 136 foot pounds available to the front wheels at 4600 rpm, but nearly 80 percent of that torque available well before the 3000 rpm line is crossed on the tachometer.

It might be easy to conclude that the engine is all about brawns, but the opposite is actually true. Instead of being all about raw power, the engine is actually an incredibly refined engine, featuring smooth variable valve timing, and computer-adjust manifolds. Additionally, the 2.0L engine that sits under the hood of the new Elantra Touring is also very frugal with its use of fuel and produces very low emissions. Hyundai did not see fit to make any updates to the engine found in the 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring, but that as mostly because they hit the nail on the head the first time and did not need to make significant refinements. After all, the old express tells the wise not to fix what is not broken.

History of Alfa Romeo Cars

Any car enthusiast worth their salt will know the Alfa Romeo brand, but do you know how they got to be one of the world's most important car manufacturers? Founded one hundred years ago in Milan, the Alfa Romeo brand has recently celebrated its centenary on June 24th 2010. It all began in 1906 when the French car firm Alexandre Darracq decided to join forces with Italian investors and create the Societa Anonima Italiana Darraca (SAID), the roots of the famous brand. Initially the company planned to manufacture their vehicles in Naples, but the site was changed to Milan and a factory was established there instead. A new company began as an offshoot of the business and the manufacturers created the Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili, which would become known as A.L.F.A. The 24 HP was the first break out into the market, designed by Giuseppe Merosi.

With World War I drawing resources elsewhere, the ALFA factory submitted to a cessation in production for three years, recommencing in 1919. Italian entrepreneur and engineer Nicola Romeo became the new director in 1915 and oversaw the war effort, producing munitions in place of motor vehicles. When car production started up once more, Romeo changed the company title to Alfa Romeo and released the first model under this new brand: the Torpedo 20-30. The car company entered a golden age, producing high-class racing cars as well as consumer road vehicles. However, in 1928 Nicola left the firm and Alfa struggled to retain its position.

In1932, with government assistance, the Alfa Romeo brand was rescued and they took control of the company's direction. Under the government of Mussolini, Alfa Romeo became the national car manufacturer but in World War II the factory was badly hit by bombers. Previous production of luxury cars turned into mass-production of popular models. But following the war, Alfa Romeo managed to retain pole position as a leading vehicle at the Grand Prix. In the 1960s it developed the GTA (Gran Turismo Allegerita) which won the Sports Car Club of America's Trans-Am championship. Despite falling into further financial struggles in the 1970s, the Fiat Group created a new company to manage the production of Alfa Romeo under the Alfa Lancia Industriale S.p.A. Since February 2007 the company has been part of this group, but part of the Fiat cohort since 1986.

10 Interesting Facts About Rolls-Royce

New York, Paris and London chauffeur services use them and the rich and famous love them. The Rolls-Royce brand is synonymous with prestige and luxury and when you think of one of their cars you cannot help but associate quality.

For such a well established brand there are still many facts that most people are un-aware of.

1. Did you know Rolls-Royce should always be written with a hyphen in the middle to reflect both the founders' surnames?

2. Charles Rolls and Henry Royce founded the company over a hundred years ago in 1906. Incidentally a photo of the Charles Rolls and Henry Royce was never taken of them together.

3. More than six out of 10 Rolls-Royce cars ever sold are still roadworthy. The oldest still on the road is a 1904 10hp owned by Thomas Love Jr. of Perth, Scotland.

4. One of the first Rolls-Royce cars to be developed was the Rolls-Royce 10 which stood for 10 horse power. This was sold for £395.00 back in 1904 and is equivalent to £32,000, only 16 were made.

5. The mission and objective of the car manufacturer set out by the founders as a company was to provide a tangible transport alternative to horses and trains. When the company was first created the horse and carriage was still the main mode of transport.

6. Arguably the most famous Rolls-Royce car model is the Silver Ghost, 6,000 were originally made and the Ghost part of the name signified the quietness of the engine. The success of the Silver Ghost led Rolls-Royce to open a second factory in Springfield, Massachusetts but closed down after 10 years because people in the USA preferred the British made cars.

7. The Rolls-Royce R engine is the only engine to obtain land, air and water speed records.

8. The famous Rolls-Royce emblem was designed by Charles Sykes and is called the "Spirit of Ecstasy" and no two figurines look the same. Incidentally Henry Royce disliked the figurine stating it ruined the cars lines.

9. The famous car manufacturer actually stopped manufacturing cars in 1971 after the company was crippled by the development of the RB211 jet engine. The company restarted manufacturing of their cars when they were taken over by various other firms such as Vickers, BMW and Volkswagen.

10. Nowadays this famous car manufacturer which is now owned by BMW is as strong as ever and makes cars which are shipped all over the world. In 2009 they sold 1,212 Phantoms to the rich and famous including P Diddy, David Beckham and Simon Cowell to name just a few. A large amount of sales can be attributed to wedding and chauffeur companies all over the world buying their luxurious vehicles to hire out. You can find them in lots of major cities all over the world and many London chauffeur services provide Rolls-Royce phantoms for hire for up to £1200 per day.

Great Features For New and Used Cars

BMW has recently announced that its vehicles will be the first to feature internet access capabilities via an internet enabled mobile phone. This means you'll be able to look up whether the Great Wall of China really was built to "keep the rabbits out" while you're in your car.

Today, motor vehicles offer more features and capabilities than we ever thought possible. From the humble car phone beginnings, here are some of the most technologically advanced features you can find in new or used cars:

* Rear view camera - many models now offer rear view cameras that allow you to see behind the vehicle as you reverse. This can be an especially important feature for larger family vehicles that have substantial blind spots. Car owners also have the option to purchase and fit a camera to their current vehicle.
* Keyless ignition - in the 1980s, manufacturers began installing keyless entry on their vehicles - a remote controlled the boot and door locks. Today, many vehicles now include a keyless ignition system that allows a driver to operate the vehicle without needing to fumble around looking for the keys - you'll be less likely to lock yourself out.
* Safety features - advanced safety features including anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control have made modern vehicles safer to drive in a number of conditions. If you're purchasing a used vehicle with any of these safety features, do your own car check to ensure that all of these systems are functioning properly - warning lights on the dashboard are a bad sign and should be addressed immediately.
* Satellite Navigation - many onboard computers include satellite navigation systems to help you get around. Of course, satellite navigation units are available at most electronic retail stores so it's easy to fit out any vehicle with a system and take it with you if you decide to sell your car.

When it comes to features, keep in mind that many "extras" are now considered standard, especially in the used car market. Air-conditioning, ABS systems and power windows are just some of the features that can help boost the resale value of your used car. Of course, if you're in the market for a used vehicle, a REVs Check to ensure the car you're looking to buy is clear of debt is more important than any bells-and-whistles features.