Hummer cars

 

 

Hummer was a brand of trucks and SUVs, first marketed in 1992 when AM General began selling a civilian version of the M998 Humvee. In 1998, General Motors (GM) purchased the brand name and marketed three vehicles: the original Hummer H1, based on the Humvee; and the H2 and H3 models that were based on smaller, civilian-market GM platforms.

By 2008, Hummer's viability in the economic downturn was being questioned, and it was placed under review by GM management. Rather than being transferred to Motors Liquidation Company as part of the GM bankruptcy in 2009, the brand was retained by GM, in order to investigate its sale.

In 2009, a Chinese manufacturer, Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company, announced that it would acquire Hummer, pending government approvals, but later withdrew its bid. On February 24, 2010, Reuters reported that the Chinese ministry of commerce had prevented the deal, although a ministry spokesperson denied rejecting the application, which had been stalled for eight months. At the end of February, General Motors announced it would begin dismantling the Hummer brand.

Although the automaker announced two days later that it had been approached with new offers, by April 2010, any sale became unlikely, as inventory was depleted and Hummer dealerships began shutting down. After filling a rental-car fleet order, the last Hummer H3 rolled off line at Shreveport on May 24, 2010.

Origin

The original Hummers were first designed and built by AM General Corporation, which was formerly AMC-Jeep's General Products division,[8] in its Mishawaka, Indiana, assembly plant. The vehicles were created under a contract for the United States armed forces. The first model, the Humvee, was built in a variety of military-based equipment and versions. The US$1.2 billion contract won by AM General in 1983 was to produce 55,000 Humvees by 1985, which was later increased to 15,000 additional units.

AM General had planned to sell a civilian version of the Humvee as far back as the late 1980s. Having the same structure and most mechanical components, the civilian Hummers were finished in automotive gloss paint, adding passenger car enhancements such as air conditioning, sound insulation, upgraded upholstery, stereo systems, wood trim, and convenience packages.[10] The civilian model began in part because of the persistence of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who saw an Army convoy while filming a movie.

In 1990, two matching white Humvees were driven from London to Beijing over the rough roads of central Soviet Union. The Hummers made the trip with ease, for they were built to drive on off-road terrain. The highlights of this journey were broadcast in the United States on ESPN. This publicity would pale in comparison to the attention that the Humvee received for its service in Gulf War Operation: Desert Storm, the following year. Also, a privately-owned Humvee was modified into the first Snow-Vee, including the addition of caterpillar tracks, a new rear compartment and a new engine. This vehicle was designed for use in and just below the Arctic Circle, and the Antarctic.

In 1992, AM General began selling a civilian version of the M998 Humvee vehicle to the public under the brand name "Hummer".

Lamborghini (the manufacturer of extreme Italian super sports cars) and Blancpain (the world’s oldest luxury watchmaker) are uniting their phenomenal engineering skill and honoring the huge success of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo racing series with a very special super sports car: the new Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Blancpain Edition.

The super sports car from Sant’Agata Bolognese boasts a dry weight of no more than 1340 kilograms (2954 lb) – the lightest road-going model in Lamborghini’s range.

Blancpain has been producing innovative masterpieces of watch-making art in Switzerland’s Vallée de Joux since 1735. Each timepiece is assembled by one single watchmaker, reflecting the quality and individual attention with which Lamborghini builds its super sports cars for the road, and its 570 hp Super Trofeo race cars.

Both brands share an enormous passion for racing. Blancpain is not only intensely involved with the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, but is also official timekeeper for the FIA GT1 World Championship – where Lamborghini cars also compete against other prestigious marques. In July, Lamborghini secured its first win in the newly-formed championship at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, where former Formula One driver Riccardo Zonta and Frank Kechele charged to a first-place finish.

In this special configuration, the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Blancpain Edition shows the spirit of competition – the mighty rear spoiler for maximum stability and the engine cover for optimized ventilation were derived directly from the race car featured in the world’s fastest one-make series. The Edition is also equipped with Skorpius wheels with yellow-painted brake calipers and discs made, of course, from carbon-ceramic composite. One striking visual feature that fits perfectly with the matt black paintwork is the carbon-fiber used to make external components, such as the diffuser and mirror casings.

The interior of the Blancpain Edition further reinforces the extremely sporty character of the Gallardo without sacrificing the comfort of the driver and passenger. The entire interior is finished in black Alcantara with yellow accents and visible carbon-fiber. The Blancpain logo is placed on the exterior and also featured on the seats and cockpit in yellow stitching. Propulsion for the Gallardo LP 570-4 Blancpain Edition comes courtesy of the 570 hp V10 power unit from the series Superleggera production car – as is the case for the Super Trofeo race car. Superb traction from the all-wheel drive ensures perfect stability in every situation.

One key factor is the exterior and interior components made from carbon-fiber. Carbon-fiber is ideal for the manufacture of sports cars as its use allows for weight reduction and improved mechanical features. The car’s performance is thus enhanced thanks to a better power-to-weight ratio and reduced total mass, which means that CO2 emissions are also lower.

The V10 power unit with 5.2 liters (317.6 cu in) of displacement generates 419 kW (570 hp) in the Gallardo Blancpain Edition. This puts the power-to-weight ratio of the vehicle at only 2.35 kilograms (5.18 lb) per hp and guarantees breathtaking performance. This super sports car handles the dash from zero to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.4 seconds and flies past the 200 km/h (124 mph) mark only 6.8 seconds later, ultimately exceeding 320 km/h (199 mph).

Here comes the world’s number one company ‘THE BMW’. In the recent times AUDI passed MERCEDES in the overall rating of a car and a company but it cannot beat BMW, it is at number one till now. Ok lets talk about some cool stuff in BMW these days. BMW recently launched a new campaign titled ‘BMW is Joy’. This tag line is explained as "Part of a big-media strategy the company is doing to raise its profile worldwide with a more emotional, optimistic voice". So its now indotucing a brand new BMW 550i GT, the best automotive ‘The Ultimate Driving machine’.

 Thankfully, the inside is a completely different story. Unlike the divisive exterior, BMW has done a really great job and we all should hats off to it. We really enjoyed what we saw and sat on immensely. The seats are plush and comfy, the huge, two-pane sunroof is, well, huge and the telephone integration rivals Ford's SYNC system . The 550 I is more 7 series than more 5 series.

The new Gran Turismo's wheelbase is identical (121-inches) to the short wheelbase 750i, which helps make the 550i GT one of the few vehicles with more room in the back seat than the front. The back of the rear seats can be stuffed with DVD screens with wireless nheadphones. It has nice HVAC controls and spacious center compartment.

 

Sadly, 
The air conditioning is pretty underwhelming and the only transmission choice is an automatic. No manual, no dual-clutch or SMG – there's not a paddle shifter to be found. There's just BMW's useless new gear selector, a button-festooned phallus that does little but take up space and infuriate you in parking lots. Sure, you can pull it to the side and pretend to row your own by pushing and pulling.

The hopped up twin-turbo, direct-injection, double VANOS 4.4-liter V8 with its 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of all-day torque is a peach. Leading you to think such an engine coupled to BMW's new eight-speed automatic transmission would make for a very quick car. Under certain conditions, it is exactly that. Lots of buff books have clocked it at taking just 5.3 seconds to hit 60 mph. But for the most part, the 550i GT tends to feel heavy, ponderous and out of tune.

These are issues present in essentially all new BMWs spec'd with nav, and increasingly, most new luxury cars, but BMWs have always been about driving first and coddling later, and the 5GT reminds us that Bavaria's priority list is beginning to flip-flop.


In trying to be all things to all people (or, at an as-tested price of $76,775 on road , all wealthy people) the 550i GT isn't really anything. You can't in good faith have a utilitarian, high-riding, hyper-gizmo'd hatchback also be a credible, driver-focused GT.

Base price	$65,000 (est)
Vehicle layout	Front-engine, RWD/AWD, 4-5-pass, 4-door, hatchback
Engine	4.4L/400-hp/450-lb-ft twin-turbo DOHC 32-valve V-8
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Curb weight	4950 lb (mfr)
Wheelbase	120.7 in
Length x width x height	196.8 x 74.8 x 61.4 in
0-60 mph	5.4 sec (mfr est)
EPA city/hwy fuel econ	15/21 mpg
CO2 emissions	1.13 lb/mile

Lexus LF-Gh

The reveal of the Lexus LF-Gh concept vehicle presented the world with its first look at the future of Lexus. The design is bold. The stance is aggressive. And, its purpose is to redefine premium luxury with the perfect blend of style, performance, efficiency and advanced technology.

Rolls-Royace GHOST

Price

The Brand New ROLLS-ROYACE GHOST costs u US $245,000 in base price

Introduction  Introduction

The 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost is the latest model to come from this storied manufacturer, and it's positioned as the brand's entry-level vehicle. At a quarter-million dollars worth of starting price, that's quite a misnomer. As with all Rolls-Royce vehicles, the new Ghost surrounds occupants in top-notch luxury and unmistakable style. Attention to detail and craftsmanship border on the obsessive. However, we wonder if it's really worth the added cost over a Mercedes-Benz S600 or Jaguar XJL Supersport. Still, for shoppers with the financial means, the 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost is an intriguing choice. As for Rolls-Royce, it’s the business savvy and engineering might of BMW that has kept the stately and exclusive automobiles at the very forefront of the ultra-luxury segment. Since 2003, when the brand was transferred from Volkswagen to BMW, the line has included just one model—the Phantom and its four different variations.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options


The 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost luxury sedan comes in a single four-door body style in one well-equipped trim level. Standard feature highlights include 19-inch alloy wheels, an active air suspension, a sunroof, front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry/ignition, auto-dimming mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, automatic xenon headlights, power-closing rear doors, leather seating and trim, a pair of umbrellas stored within the front doors, heated front and rear seats, 10-way power and massaging front seats, four-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a navigation system, adaptive cruise control and a 16-speaker premium audio system with a 12.5GB hard drive music server, satellite radio, a CD/DVD player and USB/auxiliary audio inputs.

 Luxury features that come standard on the car (in most markets) include deep-pile carpeting, violin key switches, chrome door handles, chrome vents with organ-stop plunger controls and a four-zone automatic climate control system. The Ghost also has the flashier, traditional Rolls touches: the retractable Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament, power-operated coach doors, 16-speaker Lexicon audio system and gauge set with a power reserve meter in place of the more common tachometer.

  Powertrains and Performance

 All Ghosts come with a turbine-smooth 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 that produces 563 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rolls-Royce quotes the 0-60-mph sprint as taking less than 5 seconds, while top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.

Company estimates put the 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost's fuel economy at a relatively impressive 13 mpg city and 20 mpg highway.

 Interior Design and Special Features

Exotic wood veneers and metallic accents are used liberally throughout the cabin, where passengers are cosseted in the finest leathers. Though plush carpeting is of course standard, one may opt for genuine lambswool mats that will have you taking your shoes off. As nice as the Ghost is, however, it's really not that much nicer than a Benz S-Class or Jag XJ, and certainly not as grand as the Phantom.

Despite the dizzying array of high-tech luxury features, the Ghost presents a relatively clean dash and console. Part of the reason is that the multi-display screen is hidden when not in use behind a wood panel. The BMW-sourced multi-controller knob is mostly intuitive (unlike the earlier versions of BMW's iDrive) and elegant buttons and knobs recall the keys of musical instruments such as a flute or saxophone.

Price

The Brand New ROLLS-ROYACE GHOST costs u US $245,000 in base price