Pink Donkervoort D8 GT Cars
Black Donkervoort D8 GT Cars
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Friday, April 30, 2010
The New Cars Dacia Duster
Silver Cars Dacia Duster
Blue Dacia Duster Cars
Fron Of Dacia Duster Cars
Behins Of Dacia Duster Cars
Dacia Duster Cars From Back
The New Cars Covini C6W Spider
Silver Covini C6W Spider Cars
Covini C6W Spider Cars from Back
Covini C6W Spider Cars From Behind
Front Of Covini C6W Spider Cars
White Cars Covini C6W Spider
The New Cars Citroen DS3 Racing
front Of Citroen DS3 Racing Cars
Phink Citroen DS3 Racing Cars
Citroen DS3 Racing Cars From Back
Citroen DS3 Racing From Behind
White Cars Of Citroen DS3 Racing
Driven: Nissan Leaf
Having announced that they were to be building the Leaf EV at their Washington plant in the UK, Nissan have been taking the car around the UK on a whistle-stop tour of Europe.
Whilst the car was on display at one of the few public showings, Tarmac managed to get a drive in the prototype. Whilst the test car is based on the Tiida model, the running gear is very similar to that which will be seen in the production Leaf in a few years time.
First impressions of the concept car are good. It looks, too all intents and purposes, like a regular car. This of course is for good reason, as regular cars are what people actually want. With the best intentions in the world, electric quadricycles like Reva's G-Wiz will never become commonplace as they can't offer the space and pace that people accept from the cars they're used to.
To this end then, the Leaf is off to a good start. It's a five-door hatchback with space for five, a good boot, and an inoffensive shape that manages to retain a bit of character. The front is modern and equipped with large headlights similar to those on the Ford Fiesta, and the rear has a hint of the last-generation Renault Megane about it. Even the interior is much like a normal car, with normal controls and two hooded instrument clusters. Only the large digital display in the centre console really hints at the Leaf's high-tech drivetrain.
From this point, the package starts looking quite different from regular cars. The shape has been specially designed for aerodynamic efficiency - those lights split airflow over the mirrors to reduce drag, and thanks to LED technology consume less power, too. The large Nissan badge on the nose sits on a hinged flap that opens up to reveal two charging points, one for quick chargers that can provied up to 80% charge in half an hour, and the other for a more leisurely charge. Range is around 100 miles which doesn't sound like a lot, but most research seems to suggest that the majority of journeys in the UK are over fewer than eight miles, so even if you didn't put the car on charge every night most people would still have enough for ten journeys.
The batteries themselves are stored under the cabin floor. The electric motor they power delivers 80kw of power, or around 107bhp. They also give a huge 280nm (206lb ft) of torque from zero rpm.
Sitting behind the wheel of the Tiida-based test car and moving off, this torque is immediately noticeable. Movement is instant and remarkably smooth in a way that even the best automatic transmission in a regular car can't manage. Throttle response can't be faulted. The silence is rather eerie at first but it makes the car seem supremely relaxing to drive - I suspect that the utter silence and smooth power delivery would make even the worst city driving seem far less stressful. As would the controls, which are simplicity in themselves - a tiny joystic selects drive (left and back), reverse (left and forwards) and a little button on the top selects park.
The test car didn't have regenerative braking but the production Leaf will do. As such, the brakes felt quite sharp, having probably been beefed up in the test car to make up for the lack of engine braking. Normally, simply backing off the power would see significant braking from the motor - to the point where using the car's brakes would be an uncommon occurence in town.
Propulsion aside, it again feels just like a regular petrol or diesel powered car. It's difficult to make too accurate a judgement on the finished product given that I only got a three laps of a very short circuit in which to test the car, but both ride and steering seemed fine - presumably no different from the petrol-powered Tiida. Again, this is important in attracting the buying public to the car - all the benefits of EV technology but with none of the drawbacks of cars like the G-Wiz.
Overall, I came away very impressed with the Leaf and itching to have another go. Electric cars are rapidly getting to the point where they can be considered serious alternatives to petrol and diesel cars for many people.
Of course, this is very much price-dependant. The number being thrown about at the moment is around £27,000 which is a lot for a small family car, but as with any technology the early adopters will bear the brunt of higher prices and this will bring down the unit cost for the manufacturers.
The Nissan Leaf is a good car even at this early stage, and a serious indication by Nissan that electric cars can walk the walk as well as talking the talk.
You can follow updates on the Nissan Leaf on their twitter page: https://twitter.com/UKNissanLEAF
All photos: ©Tarmac 2010
Whilst the car was on display at one of the few public showings, Tarmac managed to get a drive in the prototype. Whilst the test car is based on the Tiida model, the running gear is very similar to that which will be seen in the production Leaf in a few years time.
First impressions of the concept car are good. It looks, too all intents and purposes, like a regular car. This of course is for good reason, as regular cars are what people actually want. With the best intentions in the world, electric quadricycles like Reva's G-Wiz will never become commonplace as they can't offer the space and pace that people accept from the cars they're used to.To this end then, the Leaf is off to a good start. It's a five-door hatchback with space for five, a good boot, and an inoffensive shape that manages to retain a bit of character. The front is modern and equipped with large headlights similar to those on the Ford Fiesta, and the rear has a hint of the last-generation Renault Megane about it. Even the interior is much like a normal car, with normal controls and two hooded instrument clusters. Only the large digital display in the centre console really hints at the Leaf's high-tech drivetrain.From this point, the package starts looking quite different from regular cars. The shape has been specially designed for aerodynamic efficiency - those lights split airflow over the mirrors to reduce drag, and thanks to LED technology consume less power, too. The large Nissan badge on the nose sits on a hinged flap that opens up to reveal two charging points, one for quick chargers that can provied up to 80% charge in half an hour, and the other for a more leisurely charge. Range is around 100 miles which doesn't sound like a lot, but most research seems to suggest that the majority of journeys in the UK are over fewer than eight miles, so even if you didn't put the car on charge every night most people would still have enough for ten journeys.The batteries themselves are stored under the cabin floor. The electric motor they power delivers 80kw of power, or around 107bhp. They also give a huge 280nm (206lb ft) of torque from zero rpm.Sitting behind the wheel of the Tiida-based test car and moving off, this torque is immediately noticeable. Movement is instant and remarkably smooth in a way that even the best automatic transmission in a regular car can't manage. Throttle response can't be faulted. The silence is rather eerie at first but it makes the car seem supremely relaxing to drive - I suspect that the utter silence and smooth power delivery would make even the worst city driving seem far less stressful. As would the controls, which are simplicity in themselves - a tiny joystic selects drive (left and back), reverse (left and forwards) and a little button on the top selects park.The test car didn't have regenerative braking but the production Leaf will do. As such, the brakes felt quite sharp, having probably been beefed up in the test car to make up for the lack of engine braking. Normally, simply backing off the power would see significant braking from the motor - to the point where using the car's brakes would be an uncommon occurence in town.Propulsion aside, it again feels just like a regular petrol or diesel powered car. It's difficult to make too accurate a judgement on the finished product given that I only got a three laps of a very short circuit in which to test the car, but both ride and steering seemed fine - presumably no different from the petrol-powered Tiida. Again, this is important in attracting the buying public to the car - all the benefits of EV technology but with none of the drawbacks of cars like the G-Wiz.Overall, I came away very impressed with the Leaf and itching to have another go. Electric cars are rapidly getting to the point where they can be considered serious alternatives to petrol and diesel cars for many people.Of course, this is very much price-dependant. The number being thrown about at the moment is around £27,000 which is a lot for a small family car, but as with any technology the early adopters will bear the brunt of higher prices and this will bring down the unit cost for the manufacturers.The Nissan Leaf is a good car even at this early stage, and a serious indication by Nissan that electric cars can walk the walk as well as talking the talk.
You can follow updates on the Nissan Leaf on their twitter page: https://twitter.com/UKNissanLEAF
All photos: ©Tarmac 2010
Ford Fiesta revised for 2010 (UK)
There are upgrades to some of the trims: Studio models now get electrically adjustable/heated door mirrors, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, auxiliary entertainment socket and two additional speakers.
Flagship Titanium models also now get Bluetooth and USB connection as standard (previously worth around £200).
All models now have a new paint option called Ink Blue. The Titanium model can now be specified with a cheaper Titanium X pack. This consists of leather seats, 17” alloy wheels and rear electric windows for £750 (£1k previously), however, this pack is only available on the 1.6 litre petrol engine whereas it was also available on the 1.6 TDCi engine.
Ford has also retuned or altered much of the Fiesta's engine range. To comply with Euro V emissions standards, all diesel engines now have a particulate filter fitted, including Econetic models.
Power for the 1.6 TDCi diesel engine is also raised from 89bhp to 95bhp. Petrol engines have been tweaked as well to lower emissions:
• 1.25 litre 80bhp
CO2 emissions - 129g/km. Previously 133g/km, saving 4g/km
• 1.6 litre 95bhp
CO2 emissions - 107g/km. Previously 110g/km, saving 3g/km
• 1.6 litre 118bhp
CO2 emissions - 134g/km. Previously 138g/km, saving 4g/km.
The changes place the 1.25 litre engine into a lower VED band (D), lowering the tax from £110 to £90 a year.
The revised Fiesta is on sale now from £11,645 for the entry-level Studio 3dr and £11,945 for the Studio 5dr. While that sounds steep, discounts of upto £4k + off the list price are available.
Subaru Impreza receives free upgrades (UK)
Subaru is offering complimentary performance upgrades worth £3,200 to buyers of its top Impreza models.
The Subaru Impreza WRX and STI Type UK will come fitted with the popular Prodrive Performance Pack, which cuts 0-62mph acceleration times from 6.5 seconds to 5.9 and 5.2 seconds to 4.8 respectively.
All this extra speed is down to a high-flow sports exhaust and remapped engine management software. Handling and looks are also improved, courtesy of 18” multi-spoke alloy wheels.
The price of Impreza WRX has also been reduced by £95, and now costs from £18,995, while the STI Type UK starts at £27,590.
Toyota to build new factory for Prius hybrid
Demand in Japan has outstripped supply since the car was launched - the car is built at two factories and waiting lists were at six months - and while Toyota will have to cut production by about 10%, it predicts demand will rise again.
The main drop-off has been in the U.S, where Prius sales are reported to have fallen 40%. In the UK, more Prius's were sold than ever before, while it has been the best-selling car in Japan for the past 9 months.
Seat Ibiza Ecomotive set to beat Toyota Prius CO2 emissions (UK)
Sources at SEAT say it will use the Polo Bluemotion's 1.2 TDI 75bhp to achieve its target 85mpg fuel economy figure while emitting less than 89g/km of CO2 - all without relying on a complex hybrid drivetrain.
Instead, SEAT engineers will optimise the Ibiza aerodynamics to cut drag, add 15” steel wheels to reduce rolling resistance, lengthen the car's gearing and add stop/start plus regenerative braking.
Against the clock, the Spanish baby is expected to mirror the Polo's performance figures hitting 62mph from standstill in 13.9 seconds and topping out at 107mph.
Pricing has yet to be announced for the Ibiza Ecomotive, which is expected to go on sale early next year, but it should be less than the Polo with prices kicking off at around £13,000 for the 3dr SC model.
As well as the new diesel, the brand also confirmed it will add a punchy 1.2 TSI 105bhp petrol engine to the range. The flagship non-FR engine is expected to boast some impressive statistics, averaging over 55mpg while emitting less than 120g/km of CO2. Against the clock the new engine should ensure the Ibiza posts a 0-62mph time of less than 10 seconds.
Nissan Pathfinder pricing announced (UK)
The interior has also been upgraded with revised door trims, new seat fabric and new instrument dials. Practicality has also been improved due to new door storage bins that can now hold an A3 map book and a 1 litre drinks bottle at the same time.
Nissan is also offering a new integrated navigation, communication and music system called Connect Premium. It's an optional extra costing £1,300 and features live traffic updates and points of interest.
The 2.5 litre engine now produces around 190bhp, while pulling power increases to by 47Nm to 450Nm. Nissan claims CO2 emissions have fallen by 40g/km to 224g/km, which drops it two tax bands from the most expensive band M to band K. It also means showroom tax drops from £950 to £550 at current rates.
Nissan has stated the 3.0 litre V6 diesel will produce around 231bhp and will have a maximum pulling power of 550Nm. The engine will be available from June on 2011 MY Pathfinders.
The Pathfinder range starts from £28,495 on the road and is on sale now.
More books on architecture
I previously wrote about some textbooks about software architecture. I have have since received three more books.
The first, Software Architecture: Foundations, Theory, and Practice, I disregarded fairly quickly. I think it is too verbose (712 pages!). I could not find the brevity and clarity I think a good textbook should have to should support understanding instead of overwhelming the reader with facts.
I have not had the time to read through The Art of Software Architecture: Design Methods and Techniques yet, it arrived today in the mail.
Software Architecture and Design Illuminated covers a number of different types or styles of architectures, and does so in a manner familiar to the students at SE & M (i.e. in UML models and in Java code examples). It takes a completely different approach to quality attributes compared to Software Architecture in Practice (SAiP), it is structured according to different architectural designs and explains what they are good and bad at. So rather by learning by reason about concepts if focuses on learning by examples. This means that the coverage of quality attributes and tactics is not as comprehensive as in SAiP, for example attributes and tactics related to embedded systems are lacking in comparison since there are few examples of those in the book.
However since the course presently is structured according to theory and not examples of different types of architectures it would require more update of the course compared to the other texts.
The book also has some on-line material for instructors which I have not yet been evaluated.
Summary: Good book which I think presently is the best undergraduate book out there. I like the example-based approach, but it might just be appealing to me because of the fresh approach to an already familiar subject.
The first, Software Architecture: Foundations, Theory, and Practice, I disregarded fairly quickly. I think it is too verbose (712 pages!). I could not find the brevity and clarity I think a good textbook should have to should support understanding instead of overwhelming the reader with facts.
I have not had the time to read through The Art of Software Architecture: Design Methods and Techniques yet, it arrived today in the mail.
Software Architecture and Design Illuminated covers a number of different types or styles of architectures, and does so in a manner familiar to the students at SE & M (i.e. in UML models and in Java code examples). It takes a completely different approach to quality attributes compared to Software Architecture in Practice (SAiP), it is structured according to different architectural designs and explains what they are good and bad at. So rather by learning by reason about concepts if focuses on learning by examples. This means that the coverage of quality attributes and tactics is not as comprehensive as in SAiP, for example attributes and tactics related to embedded systems are lacking in comparison since there are few examples of those in the book.
However since the course presently is structured according to theory and not examples of different types of architectures it would require more update of the course compared to the other texts.
The book also has some on-line material for instructors which I have not yet been evaluated.
Summary: Good book which I think presently is the best undergraduate book out there. I like the example-based approach, but it might just be appealing to me because of the fresh approach to an already familiar subject.
GM to launch Chevrolet in Korea
Daewoo may be General Motors’ only established brand in the Korean auto market, but it will soon add another: Chevrolet. GM revealed today at the Busan motor show that it will begin selling bowtie-badged vehicles in South Korea in 2011.
The Alpheon is being positioned in the Korea market as a luxury model at the top of the Daewoo range. It is fitted with a 3.0-liter V6 and a six-speed automatic transmission. GM Daewoo said the car will go on sale in the second half of the year.
GM Daewoo says the "Alpheon becomes a stand-alone luxury product brand in GM Daewoo's product portfolio." Much like its Korean couterpart, Hyundai, have made inroads into the luxury sedan segment with the Genesis model.
Press Release
GM Daewoo's All-New Luxury Sedan Debuts at 2010 Busan International Motor Show
Alpheon is GM Daewoo's entry into the upper-midsize segment
Busan, Korea - GM Daewoo Auto & Technology (GM Daewoo) unveiled its much-anticipated luxury sedan, the Alpheon, at the 2010 Busan International Motor Show today.
"With the introduction of the all-new Alpheon luxury sedan, we have added another attractive model to our product portfolio and our first entry in the fast-growing upper-midsize segment in Korea," said GM Daewoo President and CEO Mike Arcamone. "I am confident that the Alpheon will surpass the demands of the most sophisticated luxury sedan buyers in Korea."
Another highlight of the GM Daewoo stand is a seven-seat compact multi-purpose vehicle, the Orlando show car, which is making its first appearance at an international motor show in Asia.
In addition, GM Daewoo has on display the Lacetti Premiere and GentraX race cars, and a Matiz mini-car artistically wrapped in pink.
With "Advancing Style" as its theme for this year's Busan International Motor Show, GM Daewoo has 18 vehicles on display that showcase its automotive industry design expertise.
Alpheon - Stylish Luxury Sedan
The Alpheon is based on the same GM global architecture as the Buick LaCrosse, one of the three finalists for 2010 North American Car of the Year.
GM designers and engineers from Asia, Europe and North America targeted the luxury sedan as a global product that would meet the highest quality and performance standards in the most sophisticated markets.
At first glance, the Alpheon's sculpting design flows in all directions, giving the vehicle a tightly wrapped appearance and a fast, coupe-like profile. Its dynamic and elegant body styling is highlighted by sharp side lines, short overhangs and fenders wrapped precisely around large wheel housings, giving it the presence of an upscale large sedan (2,837-mm wheelbase and 4,995mm body length).
With a unique emblem on its front "waterfall" grille, the Alpheon becomes a stand-alone luxury product brand in GM Daewoo's product portfolio.
The innovative design philosophy continues in the Alpheon's interior. The flowing shape of its instrument panel design offers a distinct, confident and upscale impression. The refined look is an integrated center stack design that incorporates ice-blue light-emitting diode (LED) ambient lighting along with premium infotainment features. Adding to the use of soft-touch materials and low-gloss trim panels rather than traditional wood applications is indicative of exceptional and luxurious craftsmanship.
Powered by a 3.0-liter V-6 engine combined with a six-speed automatic transmission, the Alpheon will ensure responsive performance when it is launched in the second half of this year in Korea.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Six Myths about Nulled Scripts, or There’s No Such Thing as Free Lunch
Most of you have already seen popular software brands and packages available on certain websites such as Germany-based Rapidshare and the likes. The software is offered free of charge or for a nominal price with the labels “Nulled” or “Software Name + keygen”, etc. This essentially means that the software anti-piracy mechanisms have been illegally tampered with or re-engineered. This is a common plague that the entire software industry is suffering from to a certain degree, and the more popular the software becomes, the more frequently its defenses are being tested (sometimes successfully).
Many potential customers share one or more of the six common myths about the use of nulled scripts. Let us take a closer look at those myths...
Mercedes Benz SLS AMG Wallpapers
Mercedes Benz SLS AMG
Mercedes Benz SLS AMG
Mercedes Benz SLS AMG
Mercedes Benz SLS AMG
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