2011 Kia Optima SX : Review.

In an alternate universe, we're tearing through the blissfully serpentine asphalt twisting through Topanga Canyon outside of Los Angeles; a pull of the steering wheel paddle shifter drops the transmission into second before we enter a sweeping corner. Hard on the brakes, and then back into throttle to power out; we're now three-up in the new turbocharged 2011 Kia Optima SX, and quickly bearing down upon a BMW 5 Series. Sound like a dream? Hardly: the Optima SX hungrily devours challenging corners, and its turbocharged engine backs up its good looks with plenty of bite.

The 2011 Optima SX is part of an ongoing paradigm shift for Kia. Until very recently, the Korean automaker was content in building the blandest of transportation devices, designed neither to offend nor excite, and priced at bargain-basement levels. Now they're done with that. Over the past year, Kia has introduced disturbingly appealing vehicles at market-beating prices, and doing its best to shake its previously dodgy image. With the Optima SX, Kia has built a car that can legitimately vie for the title of best midsize family sedan on the market.

Let's not pretend about what we're looking at here. Since Hyundai and Kia are corporate bosom buddies, nearly all the hard parts and mechanical bits beneath the skin are shared with the also-new Hyundai Sonata Turbo. As is the case with the base Optima, the chassis features a McPherson strut front suspension, a multi-link setup in back, and a complete alphabet soup of stability aids. The top-of-the-line SX model receives upgraded 12.6-inch front discs, more aggressive damper tuning, and -- most importantly -- the all-new Theta Turbo GDI  . read more >>>>>>>>

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Pamela Anderson: Beauty and the beast.

The Range Rover looks gorgeous and that striking white finish is probably the best choice Pamela should have made for such a car. Of course, we can't know for sure if the SUV is indeed Pamela's or she's just driving it but the simple fact that she's seen behind the wheel of a Range Rover is applaudable.
As for Pamela, we don't know for sure what happened but she no longer makes staring at some digital photos attractive. Not only because her gray outfit looks pretty weird, but also because her face appears to be some kind of drawing table for kids. Truth is, Pamela Anderson was a real beauty when younger, but the first signs of the numerous surgeries she had in the past are making themselves noticed.
We won't go further with this story because the beautiful memories remain and we'd really want to keep Pamela in our minds as the hot bunny that smiled from the walls of our bedrooms.

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Nissan Navara 2011: Review.

The luxury of a flagship SUV, the rugged ability of an off-roader and, for business drivers, plenty of tax benefits... there’s plenty to like about today’s pick-up trucks.

Nissan’s Navara Double Cab is one of the finest on the market – and it’s been given a fresh look inside and out, plus a 3.0-litre V6 diesel has been introduced.
Is it the best version yet?
The Navara has never been shy or retiring, and an all-new nose, revised headlights, more aerodynamic bumpers and 18-inch alloy wheels make it even more distinctive.
Inside, the influence of the 370Z coupé is clear in the revised centre console, which gets chunky, quality switchgear.
There’s also lots of equipment in flagship Outlaw spec, including cruise control, sat-nav and a 6GB music hard drive. Oh, and a rear parking camera – very useful, as the Navara is 5.2 metres long!
The brawny 228bhp 3.0-litre diesel engine produces 550Nm of torque, allowing the Nissan to carry 1,069kg in its vast load bed and tow a 3,000kg trailer. Thanks to selectable four-wheel drive and a rugged ladder frame chassis, the newcomer is capable off-road, while it’s pretty comfortable on tarmac, too. Our only gripe is that the ride becomes unsettled all too easily. But as a working tool that fulfils many roles, the Navara comes up trumps.

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Replica of the world's first automobile

Edmonton businessman David Morris is the dealer principal of David Morris Fine Cars Ltd., a Mercedes-Benz dealership. This past week he took delivery of one of the most unique ``new'' cars ever shipped under the auspices of the Mercedes-Benz factory delivery system - a replica of the world's first automobile, an 1886 Benz, which M-B has dubbed the Mercedes-Benz Classic. Morris's vehicle is one of 110 commissioned by Mercedes-Benz.

``The original is in the Deutsches Museum in Munich,'' Morris said. ``A handful of these replicas were built by Daimler-Benz apprentices; another one is in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.'' Daimler-Benz AG was the corporate name for the maker of Mercedes-Benz automobiles up to 1998; it is now called Daimler AG.
According to Mercedes-Benz, Benz's original design was the first automobile that was not based on a converted carriage, as previous inventors had done.
Morris, who flew in from his winter residence in California to uncrate his new showpiece (which is now displayed prominently in his dealership's new- vehicle showroom, was bitten by the car bug at an early age. A framed black-and- white photo shows him as a young boy sitting behind the wheel of an English pedal car. Later, he successfully raced Formula Ford open-wheel race cars, and eventually sponsored the late Canadian racing legend Gilles Villeneuve when he was racing Formula Atlantic cars before becoming one of the world's most renowned racers, driving Ferrari Formula 1 cars.
In addition to owning the Mercedes dealership, Morris is a Rolls-Royce enthusiast and currently has one undergoing restoration.
Of the 110 Mercedes-Benz Classics built and made available to Mercedes-Benz dealers, Morris says the majority of them have been sold into Europe and Asia. Morris's three-wheeler is believed to be the only one in private hands in North America.

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Daimler celebrates it's 125th Birthday.

125 years after Carl Benz filed his “Vehicle with gas engine drive” under Patent number 37435 at the Berlin Patent Office in 1886, Daimler AG is celebrating the motor car’s birthday.

On January 29, 2011, the inventor of the automobile is inviting international guests from the automotive sector, personalities from the world of politics, economy and society to a celebration at the Mercedes-Benz World in Stuttgart. The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr Angela Merkel, is to be the guest of honour of the evening. The list of guests includes numerous friends and partners of Daimler. This event is to be the starting point of a jubilee year with multiple activities centred on the motor car’s 125th anniversary.

Dr Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the board of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: “The invention of Daimler and Benz changed the world for the better - and it will continue to do so. As the inventor we also have the claim to shape the future of mobility: with fascinating brands, green technologies and new business opportunities. We have many ideas!"

The consistent further development of ideas, the will to permanent improvement and the firm belief in one’s success were the remarkable characteristics of the founding fathers of Daimler AG . 125 years on, those leading principles still form the unshakeable basis of Daimler’s philosophy and will remain its guiding star in the future.

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