Lexus RX 350 - What the Auto Press Says
The 2009 Lexus RX 350 ranks 3 out of 16 Luxury Midsize SUVs. This ranking is based on our analysis of 29 published reviews and test drives of the Lexus RX 350, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.
The RX 350 offers one of the best combinations of powerful performance and interior luxury in its class. In fact, along with the RX 400h hybrid version, it's our 2009 Best Luxury Crossover for the Money. For a refined SUV package, you can't do much better than this. The RX 350 even offers good fuel economy for its class. But if you want a more environmentally friendly vehicle, consider the RX Hybrid, which provides more miles per gallon without sacrificing performance. Or, for an equally luxurious option, try the Acura MDX.
After a refresh last year, the Lexus RX 350 is relatively unchanged for 2009. It continues to receive wide praise. "Overall, the Lexus RX 350 not only impressed me with its engine and suspension refinement but also by its ability to appeal to the senses, even with its quirky style," says Automobile.com. "It encompasses the casual elegance that many buyers are looking for in this segment, with a bias towards safety. Yes, it's hard to go wrong with the RX."
The RX 350 comes in front- or all-wheel drive. New for 2009 is a special Pebble Beach Edition, which features unique styling and a special paint color. The RX is also available as a hybrid, the RX 400h, which is reviewed separately.
Ferrari F430
The Ferrari F430 is a sports car produced by the Italian automaker Ferrari as a successor to the 360. It debuted at the 2004 Paris Motor Show.[1] European left-hand drive sales began in November 2004, but right-hand drive sales did not start until Spring 2005, and the North American market did not get the F430 until Summer 2005.
Overview
The F430's chassis is heavily based on its predecessor, the 360. Internally, both cars are referred to with the same model number (F131), though the F430 has the Evoluzione tag attached to show that it features some major changes. Internally, the car is simply known as the "Evo".[2]
The MSRP for a Ferrari F430 is between $168,005–$227,000 in the United States.[3] The F430 is sold starting at about £120,000[4] in the United Kingdom, approximately €175,000 in the European Union and $389,000 for the base model to $450,000 for the Spider F1 Sequential in Australia.
Design
The rear end of the F430
F430 Side Mirror
The body has been redesigned to be more curvaceous and aerodynamic. Although the drag coefficient remains the same, downforce has been greatly enhanced. A great deal of Ferrari heritage is found in the car: at the rear, the Enzo's tail lights and interior vents have been added. The car's name has been etched into the Testarossa-styled driver's side mirror. The large oval openings in the front bumper are reminiscent of Ferrari racing models from the 60s, specifically the 156 "sharknose" Formula One car and 250 TR61 Le Mans cars of Phil Hill.
Engine
Along with a restyled body, the F430 features a 4.3 L V8 petrol engine derived from a shared Ferrari/Maserati design. This new powerplant is a significant departure for the F430's line: the engines of all previous V8 Ferraris were descendants of the Dino racing program of the 1950s. This fifty year development cycle comes to an end with the entirely new 4.3 L, the architecture of which is expected to replace the Dino-derived V12 in most other Ferrari cars. The engine's output specifications are: 360.4 kW (483 hp) at 8500 rpm and 465 N·m (343 lb·ft) of torque at 5250 rpm. The F430 will reach a top speed of 197 mph (317 km/h).[citation needed]
Brakes
The brakes on the F430 were designed in close collaboration with Brembo[5]. The result has been a new cast-iron alloy for the discs. The new alloy includes molybdenum which has better heat dissipation performance. Another option Ferrari is providing are Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide (C/SiC) ceramic composite discs. Ceramics have much higher resistance to heat and brake fade than metals, the F430's brakes offer not only good performance but also a longer lifespan. Ferrari claims the brakes will not fade even after 300-360 laps at their test track.
Features
The F430 includes the E-Diff, a computer-controlled limited slip differential which can vary the distribution of torque based on inputs such as steering angle and lateral acceleration.[1]
Other notable features include the first application of Ferrari's manettino steering wheel-mounted control knob[1]. Drivers can select from five different settings which modify the vehicle's ESP system, "Skyhook" electronic suspension, transmission behavior, throttle response, and E-Diff. The feature is similar to Land Rover's "Terrain Response" system.
The Ferrari F430 was also released with exclusive Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 EMT tires. "A car with such performance needs to be equipped with the best tires on the market," said Jean Jacques Wiroth, European director of Original Equipment Sales and Marketing for Goodyear tires, adding "we are proud that Ferrari chose the Goodyear Eagle F1 with run-flat technology." The Eagle F1 GSD3 has a striking V-shaped tread design and OneTRED technology.[6]
Performance
Car and Driver magazine found the car's performance worthy of the Ferrari heritage, and recorded a 3.5 sec 0-60 mph acceleration run in the F430[2] This makes it the third-quickest Ferrari road car ever made, following the Enzo and the 599 GTB. That being said, the 3.5 second 0-60 mph run was made on a European spec car, which has launch control, a feature designed to help launch the car from a standing start at high RPMs. Much like the E-Diff and the manettino, the launch control is a technology borrowed from Ferrari's Formula 1 racing program.[1] The launch control is unavailable in U.S.-spec F430s, presumably due to liability issues. The U.S.-spec F430 can do 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds .[citation needed]
On the BBC Top Gear TV show, shown on the 17 July 2005, The Stig achieved a Power Lap time of 1:22.9. While the laptime was 0.89 seconds less than a Lamborghini Murciélago, the F430 was slower than the 360 Challenge Stradale at 1:22.3. The slower lap was blamed on the F430's Bridgestone tires supposedly having less grip than the Challenge Stradale's Pirellis.
Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson has commented on the F430's handling being absolutely brilliant, a marked improvement over the 360; he claimed that the Ferrari holds the road so well that "even the most butter-fingered, incapable driver could drive the F430 around their test track only one second slower than the most skilled test driver". He has in fact proclaimed, on more than one occasion, that the Ferrari F430 is "just about the best car I've ever driven", a status he previously attributed to the F355 (but never the 360).
The car develops about 300 kgf (2.9 kN/661.39 lbf) of downforce at top speed (without rear wing).
Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe comes to Delhi for Rs 40 million
New Delhi, March 1, 2009: Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe comes to Delhi for approximately Rs 40 million. This is the costliest car being sold in New Delhi.
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The car was launched at glittering ceremony in New Delhi Saturday in the presence of a large number of Rolls Royce admirers. A few months ago Rolls-Royce Motor Cars opened its second showroom in the country, in New Delhi. Located at The Shangri-La Hotel in Connaught Place, the new Rolls-Royce showroom is managed by Select Cars Pvt. Ltd., which is owned by the Kapur family.Till now only three Rolls-Royce cars were being offered in India – the Phantom (Rs 3.15 crore), Phantom Extended Wheelbase (Rs 3.55 crore) and Phantom Drophead Coupe (Rs 3.50 crore). With prices like these, Rolls-Royce cars certainly aren’t meant for anyone but the very rich, but the company, which sold 12 of its cars in India last year, hopes to sell about 20 cars in the country this year. ‘We have, till now, crossed last year's number and hope to sell between 16-20 units in India this year,’ said Grieve.Priced at Rs 40000000, it may be in your hands if you happen to be who knows a new age millionaire. And by the way they are now in their millions in the country.You may think as to who will go for such expensive cars at a time when India too is facing the danger of full blown recession, but you will be amazed to find out that actually during recession the sale of luxury vehicles have grown manifold. In 2008 BMW saw its sales target exceed expectations.A reviewer while writing in Motor Trend magazine says, “At 100 mph, you can't hear the clock in the new Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe. That's because the clock doesn't tick. But you can't hear much of anything else, either, apart from the rustle of wind around the A-pillars. It might be the sportiest Rolls-Royce ever -- faster than a Porsche Boxster to 60 mph and boasting a myriad of detail changes to suspension, steering, and transmission tune designed to sharpen its responses -- but the Phantom Coupe is first and foremost a luxury car”.Another reviewer says, “Rolls-Royce Phantom is the most personal sporting coupe one can own. You choose your coupe's exterior color from among 44,000 possible selections. You specify an interior trim from one of six luscious veneers like Rosewood, Elm Cluster or Mahogany Flare (Piano Black is soooooo boring, darling)”.He goes on to say, “You select interior upholstery from eight sumptuous leather options. ("We only use bull hides," Andrew Monahan, the leather shop foreman declares. "Their leather is not stretched.") You even choose between a conventional painted hood or one in gleaming stainless steel”.
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