Aston Martin Vantage R

Once you’re engaged, the Aston responds neurally: steering is sharp in either the Comfort or Sport modes, and it’s easy to make smooth transitions in corners and through lanes.

The Vantage is glued, and transitions in lanes and curves feel seamless. Braking is smooth and deep. It’s a sumptuous life inside the Aston Vantage cabin. Leather swaddles the interior, where foot room and head room are par for the class. With a long list of standard features, the Aston Vantage leaves plenty of leeway for customization.

The base Coupe is priced from $119,000. Standard features include power leather seating; a 160-watt audio system with a six-CD/MP3 player and integrated iPod connector and USB; and automatic climate control. Options on the test car included a Bluetooth kit that paired more quickly than any car we've tested; a navigation system that’s not easy to use with the controls provided; satellite radio; and memory and heated seats. With those options and custom trim, the Vantage tested here came to a total of $152,465.

Mazda RX8

Most people know that Mazda builds sporty cars. The heart of the Mazda RX-8 is its high-revving, 1.3-liter rotary engine called the Renesis. This, along with balanced suspension tuning, sharp steering and a svelte 3,000-pound curb weight, makes the rear-wheel-drive RX-8 one of the best-handling cars on the market.

The Mazda RX-8 is a four-seat coupe with a pair of rear-hinged "suicide" doors that ease access to the rear seats. Every RX-8 is powered by a 1.3-liter twin rotary engine, with an output that depends on the transmission. Items available on the Touring and Grand Touring include a limited-slip rear differential, automatic xenon headlights, power driver seat, memory functions, heated seats, leather upholstery, automatic climate control, keyless ignition/entry, surround-sound audio, Bluetooth and a navigation system.

The R3 is a high-performance variant packing 19-inch wheels, an aggressively tuned suspension, Recaro sport seats, exterior body modifications and some of the other trims' high-tech convenience features.

The rotary engine requires high engine speeds to make serious power, but the delivery is virtually vibration-free and noise levels are subdued. Introduced for 2004, the Mazda RX-8 heralded the return of the rotary-powered sports car to the United States after a near decade-long hiatus. Initially, the RX-8's automatic transmission was a four-speed unit.

Audi A6 3.0T

Audi gives buyers a choice of three different engines for the A6: a 255 hp 3.1 L V6, a 300 hp 3.0 L supercharged V6, and a 350 hp 4.2 L V8. Our test model featured the supercharged engine, which is all-new for 2009 and provides the best balance of price and performance. About the only thing holding the car back is a rather hefty 4,100 pound curb weight, but in real world driving conditions we rarely wished for more power. Shifting duties are handled by a 6 speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic® that features sport and manual modes. Shifts are quick and quite smooth, and the sport mode does a nice job of keeping the engine in the right gear for more aggressive driving. The A6 also comes with a revised version of Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive that features a more rear-biased torque distribution (40/60 instead of 50/50) to provide more responsive handling.

Although Audi did a great job of tuning the suspension to balance ride quality with handling, the A6 is a pretty big car and doesn’t hide this fact when cornering. Out on the freeway, the A6 is perfectly poised and relishes taking wide sweeping turns at speed.

Once on the road, however, our ears were assaulted with a startlingly loud squeaking noise emanating from the right rear seat. Given the otherwise superb build quality, we suspect that the seat was manhandled during previous testing and we’re confidant Audi would fix such an obnoxious noise under warranty.

Dodge Charger SRT8

The interior is a virtual sea of plastic, save for the leather seats and leather trim around the door-mounted window controls. The seat stitching is uniform and tight. Surprisingly, I found a large piece of rusting steel wool under the intake runners.

The first thing I adjust when I get into a car is the driver’s seat. The Charger’s power front seats never quite felt “right” no matter what I did. In front of the seat controls is a small rocker switch that moves the pedals fore and aft depending on leg length.

The steering column tilts and telescopes. Surprising for a muscle-car, the Charger’s HVAC system included both heated seats and dual-zone climate controls. Using it for other features such as the cd/radio/satellite/other controls was straightforward. I drove it to our favorite coffee shop in Capitola and the engine thrived in the uphill sweepers of Hwy 17.

The Brembo brakes work exceptionally well. Under less cardiac stress and off public streets, our brake tests showed that the Brembos halted the Charger faster than a fly caught in a spider’s web. Using maximum brake force at high speed did not upset the dynamics of the Charger, nor did the brakes lock up.

Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV

The Maxima was very rock solid in terms of build quality. The door handles look nice and felt good. The steering wheel felt thick and sturdy and the car seats were extremely snug. The quality of the interior was Infiniti-level and looked and felt expensive.

The instrument panel was pretty straight forward and functional. I like the white backlighting at night, and the dials have white lines that work well during the day. Nissan provides a place to insert the keyless fob just to the left of the steering column if you don’t have a convenient pocket. The stereo controls were fairly easy to learn and use. The seats were extremely snug and comfortable.

The driver’s seat kept me in place on turns and I was really surprised at how sturdy it felt. There’s also plenty of head room and rear leg room for tall people. There are too many buttons on the steering wheel! The controls on the old G35 steering wheel were better designed. GM also has good steering wheel controls on the backside, they work well when driving. I kept hitting the left lever for volume and it keeps changing the navi options on screen.

I also fail to understand the rationale behind the ugly Compact Flash jack on the center console. The Maxima has the iPod connect option with a cable in the armrest and supposedly iPod controls through the stereo and touch screen. Then I connected my wife’s iPod Touch since a lot of accessories don’t work with iPhones. However, the Maxima could not read the songs on the iPod Touch either! We listened to “80s 0n 8″ channel in Sirius all weekend.

Ford Shelby GT500

At nearly 2 tons, this hyperactive Mustang is more Clydesdale than quarter horse, but thanks to this year's tweaks to the suspension, transmission and tire fitment, the latest Shelby GT500 is a horse of a different color compared to the previous version. During our saddle time, we took the Shelby GT500 through the winding roads of Napa Valley and also threw it around a road course at Infineon raceway. A supple ride, easy clutch, comfortable seats, a much-improved cabin and coddling features (such as dual-zone climate control and Ford's Sync system) make the speedy Shelby easy to live with.

Performance
Under the functionally vented hood, the Shelby GT500 houses a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 that now sports a cold-air intake, a feature that contributes to the 40 additional horses gained for 2010. Unlike before, however, the latest GT500 isn't strictly a straight-line machine — it also impressed us when hustling through the turns. A max-effort stop from 60 mph ate up just 106 feet of pavement, while successive hard stops showed no fade, and the pedal controlling those beefy stoppers was easy to modulate.

Comfort
Although the front buckets don't have the multitude of adjustments that some full-on sport seats offer (e.g., adjustable side bolsters and extendable thigh support), they're well-shaped and firm enough for proper support on long trips

Function
Like the rest of the Mustang stable, the GT500 features a complete refresh of its audio and climate controls, while maintaining a few old-fashioned touches (like the twist-knob headlight switch) for this old-fashioned type of car. This includes Ford's excellent Sync electronics interface, which allows easy control of cell phones and iPods through voice commands.
Design/Fit and Finish
Leather and faux-suede sport seats with a racing stripe down their center highlight the cabin.

Bentley Continental GTC Speed

It shouldn't come as a surprise that the 2010 Bentley Continental GTC Speed is a nice automobile, as the Bentley name doesn't get slapped to just any old thing. In Bentley-speak, GTC refers to the convertible version of the Continental GT coupe. The Speed bit signifies that this Bentley is "Born of the same heart as the GTC, but with a different soul. Sportier. Overall, we'd have to say the 2010 GTC Speed is worth the extra cash over the "regular old" GTC.

Performance
Bentley's W12 also benefits from twin turbochargers, and the GTC Speed gets a tweaked version good for 600 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque (versus 552 and 479). It all adds up to a colossus of power that motivates this all-wheel-drive convertible from zero to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, even though the 5,562-pound GTC Speed weighs as much as a Chevy Tahoe. The rear-biased all-wheel drive and adjustable suspension settings allow for more enthusiastic driving than you'd ever think possible. However, the GTC Speed never inspires you to treat it as anything other than an incredibly fast touring car.

Comfort
Lower the beautifully lined soft top, erect the folding wind deflector over the backseat, raise the windows and marvel at how little noise and air infiltrate the Bentley's cabin. With the top up, you'll be hard-pressed to find a quieter soft-top convertible.
The adjustable self-leveling air suspension constantly monitors ride height and damping depending on road conditions to provide the best ride possible.

Function
In grand British tradition, the Continental GTC Speed is ergonomically challenged, although it's actually the Germans' fault this time. The navigation system is almost unusable due to its dial-up processing speed, ancient graphics and cumbersome controls. As convertibles go, the GTC Speed's top-up visibility is good thanks to the large rear side windows.

Design/Fit and Finish
In our test car, supple diamond-quilted leather seats in Burnt Oak brown were accented with optional Magnolia tan border stitching.

M6 by BMW

BMW is now offering a Competition Pack as an option on the M6 and, according to them, this gives the car ‘enhanced driving dynamics'.

It's better than the standard car - just, we'll come to that in a bit - but whether lowered suspension (by 12mm at the front and 10mm at the rear), new tyres and a modified M differential are worth the £2,180 price tag (on top of the £83,700 list price of an M6, remember) is up for debate.

Afraid not. If your pen is hovering over the tick box for this option, you've already got an M6 coming.

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is a car that's so good it can turn you into a ridiculously picky person. The day I tried the 599 HGTE, there was a window of opportunity at the Fiorano test track. Unfortunately the track was cold, damp, greasy and inconsistent.

Well, the springs are a bit stiffer front and rear, and the car is lowered by 10mm. Which means the car will roll and pitch less in the steady state. Time's up. Remember, the engine hasn't changed. But there's a new exhaust in the HGTE pack that gives it a richer baritone. Ditto the split-rim wheels.

The HGTE also gets cast-finished prancing horses front and rear, instead of polished. The standard car feels more suave. The HGTE is without doubt a better supercar.

Audi R8

The much-anticipated Audi R8 spyder likely will make its world debut in production guise at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

The drop-top version of the head-turning German supercar would share mechanicals with the coupe, which offers a V8 making 420 hp and a V10 with 525 hp. The R8 has a mid-engine layout and channels power to the ground with all-wheel drive.

The SRX by Cadillac's

The SRX is Cadillac's entry in the competitive mid-size luxury SUV market that includes competitors such as the Lexus RX350, BMW X5 and Mercedes ML-Class.

The SRX is based on GM's Theta Premium platform -- an enhanced version of the regular Theta architecture, which forms the basis for the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and 2010 GMC Terrain.

The 3.0 delivers 260 horsepower at 6950 rpm and 221 pound-feet of torque at 5600 rpm, while the smaller turbocharged mill cranks out 300 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 295 pound-feet of torque at 1850 rpm.

The First Car

The history of the automobile reflects an evolution that took place worldwide. In 1769, the very first self-propelled road vehicle was a military tractor invented by French engineer and mechanic, Nicolas Joseph Cugnot (1725 - 1804). Cugnot used a steam engine to power his vehicle, built under his instructions at the Paris Arsenal by mechanic Brezin. The following year (1770), Cugnot built a steam-powered tricycle that carried four passengers.

In 1771, Cugnot drove one of his road vehicles into a stone wall, making Cugnot the first person to get into a motor vehicle accident. Steam engines powered cars by burning fuel that heated water in a boiler, creating steam that expanded and pushed pistons that turned the crankshaft, which then turned the wheels.

During the early history of self-propelled vehicles - both road and railroad vehicles were being developed with steam engines. (Cugnot also designed two steam locomotives with engines that never worked well.) Steam engines added so much weight to a vehicle that they proved a poor design for road vehicles; however, steam engines were very successfully used in locomotives. Historians, who accept that early steam-powered road vehicles were automobiles, feel that Nicolas Cugnot was the inventor of the first automobile.

Suzuki GSV-R Motorcycle

Suzuki GSV-R Motorcycle

Suzuki stole a march on their MotoGP rivals in Malaysia last month when wild card Nobuatsu Aoki raced a prototype version of the 2008 GSV-R machine.The new machine featured all-new bodywork and chassis, and a brutally loud exposed under seat exhaust system, although Nobuatsu Aoki didn’t race a new engine designed for more top speed and horsepower which is still not fully developed.

Japanese rider Nobuatsu Aoki has tested the new motor in Japan, but alarmingly so far results had not been as successful as anticipated, with the 2008 engine no more powerful in its current guise than this year’s V4 motor.

Latest wallpapers and posters of sports cars

Honda CBR 125 2008

Honda CBR 125 2008

Meet the new CBR125R, which is set to take up from where the NSR left off. The new 4-stroke 125cc replacement is sure to appeal to a wider segment of new and young riders looking for some competitive spice in their first real motorcycle.

Honda vfr 800 V Tec

Honda vfr 800 V Tec

The issue has taken time to resolve, but the solution is clever. Previously the VTEC equipped VFR ran on two valves per cylinder below 6800rpm, and four above. Now the motor switches to four valves at 6600rpm and back to two at 6100. Mechanically the system is identical to old (an oil pressure actuated pin moves into a chamber above the valve stem to engage the valve, and moves out to disengage), but the really clever stuff is electronic.

worlds new sports cars wallpapers

Honda Lcr Motor Sport

Honda Lcr Motor Sport

Among them was the No.27 machine belonging to team LCR and ridden by hotshot rookie Casey Stoner. Having battled with Daniel Pedrosa for the 250cc championship in 2005, Stoner also stepped up to the MotoGP class in 2006 and wasted no time in showing the world what he was capable of, taking pole position at Round 2 Losail and a 2nd place finish at Round 3 Istanbul.

HONDA RC212V Gallery

HONDA RC212V Gallery

We are satisfied with the progress of the RC212V prototype. Under the leadership of Takanori Okuma, the project team has remained well on schedule with the development and testing programme set by HRC. We are confident that winter testing will be positive and look forward to being competitive in this exciting new era for MotoGP.

Honda Zodia Best Motorcycle

Honda Zodia Best Motorcycle

Some of the Zodia's more shocking design elements, such as the trailing-link front suspension and single-side swingarm, are now seen in the Rune.The Zodia transferred engine power to the rear wheel via Honda's innovative hydro-mechanical automatic transmission, the HFT (Human Fitting Transmission). Braking was supplied by unique rim-mounted brakes assisted by Honda's latest generation of Linked Braking/Antilock Braking System.