Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack 2015 Review

Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack 2015 Review

Dodge knows a good thing when you have. And we would argue that the 485-hp 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 is a very good thing. Dodge makes another model Charger R / T, this time-and lowering the price of admission, which circulates good. Power for the proletariat!

"We are now in the process that can make 6.4 at a price that people" said Bob Dodge executive Brodersdorf. "Not everyone can get a Hellcat. Not everyone can have an SRT. But we want to ensure that the element of power. And I package makes feces."

Less luxuries

We would agree. Like its coupe counterpart, the Challenger R / T Scat Pack Charger R / T Scat Pack is just as hard in power as SRT Model 392, but is a little easier on the flyers. Some of the SRT 392 services such as leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, an electrically adjustable steering column and HID headlights, turn to the list of options. The SRT team Bilstein adjustable dampers the way fixed-rate Bilstein, and front disc brakes slightly reduced to 14.2 inches with four-piston Brembo Grabber, compared with 15.4 / six-piston Brembo in the SRT 392. This 20-inch to change wheels in design, but not in diameter, although the tire width decreases significantly from the SRT 275/40 Pirelli P Zeros 245/45 Goodyear RS-A all seasons, optional rubber Goodyear F1 Supercar. The style is almost identical, with the exception of Scat Pack black rear spoiler and grille plate Scat Pack.

Within the SRT is rad, wheel flat bottom is replaced by a so-called "yield" wheel-ish flat bottom a thick, contoured edge and perforated leather, and the seats of fabric have the Pack Scat Bee consider backups the front seats. Scat Pack only a "splash screen" is on when the instrument is started, too. Best of all, the performance pages Dodge and throw this being taxes and accounting. Hoping to lower weight with the (slightly) lower decoration rent? Sorry, but Dodge Scat Pack says the 4,400 pounds to 10 pounds lighter than the 392nd SRT

Turn them on

But as the SRT 392, the Scat Pack feels spectacularly fast. From a traffic light, it's oh so easy to illuminate the optional three-season Goodyear, thin, wide and only 245 mm, when the rear end connects quickly with a sensible application of the accelerator pedal. Sharpens throttle response and speed of transmission of a "Sport" button on the lower instrument panel and manual changes are called with a start in the palette of zinc. All the while shouting the Scat Pack with the same banshee wail, have come to love all use SRT logo.

Dodge claims that 60 mph is reached in the middle and upper range of four seconds, with the mark of a quarter mile in the middle of last 12er. We think that's a little shy. Oh, and he claims that the Dodge Scat Pack Charger can be at 175 miles per hour.

During our first trip was only about 40 miles, much of it was along the California entertain Ortega Highway (Highway 74). From this limited exposure, we learned that the car remains very flat during cornering and holds in the corners, to lower socket on the border (the ruling of heavy Hemi for a distribution of 54/46 percent by weight Chrysler scales). The ride is firm, but none of the fragility of Scat Pack Challenger models have observed before sign. Obviously, the sedan longest distance between axes has its advantages.

As in the SRT 392, steering feel is one of the best features of Scat Pack, for the tremendous torque engine makes it easy to loose rear wheels to break some of ox-by-the-back tricks, although the distance long wheelbase ensures that the rear end not to move too fast, so perfectly catchable in the corners. It braking is also impressive, maintaining excellent pedal feel and strong response from Dodge that happens braking from 60 mph to a dead stop in less than 120 meters, very impressive for a car of this size.

During the Scat Pack of $ 40,990 starting price is $ 7.390 less than the $ 48,380 SRT 392, adding things like a sunroof, leather upholstery, ventilated seats and can close the price gap, so you might consider springing for SRT grippier, better equipped 392, if you want things like adjustable shock absorbers and brakes super grade. It keeps it simple, however, and the Scat Pack is an incredible deal charger achievement, which is very entertaining themselves.

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BMW M135i 2015 Review

BMW M135i 2015 Review

At one point, a six-cylinder engine was the hallmark of a recent hot hatch and offers quiet operation and superior performance. The Volkswagen Golf R32 was a good as the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz offers the slightly larger sport coupe Class C with a V-6, too. With the introduction of more fuel economic order and the corresponding reduction of the six-cylinder hot hatch is a thing of the past, except for BMW. The hatchback 1 Series, sold worldwide, but not in the US, remains a straight-six engine. It's called the M135i, and if available, with four-wheel drive and an automatic eight-speed, we tested the purist version with rear wheel drive and a six-speed manual.

As the series 2, only smaller

Series 1 is a close relative 2 Coupe, which he represents in a rear-wheel-drive architecture with longitudinally installed engines based. The chassis moves Series 2 and is equipped with an aluminum double-pivot front damper-strut suspension and a five-arm rear axle. The M135i rear wheel 245/35 front and 225/40 tires wrapped around 18-inch wheels.

The electromechanical power steering is tuned considerably lighter than older models such as the BMW 5 and 6 Series, which makes the car feel to work very flexible. With its relatively short wheelbase, the M135i love to spin, but is tolerant and easy to control. Interestingly, turn off the stability control system automatically sets the car at the Comfort mode, but that's not a bad thing: The more gas sample mapping allows easy modulation.

We like the N55 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder turbo makes the right notes and has no trouble moving the M135i with enthusiasm. Acceleration from zero to 60 mph in under five seconds, says BMW; Top speed is governed to 155 mph. Flogging this compact hatch on rural roads is pure bliss. The engine sings a beautiful song, but artificially increased, overtaking handled effortlessly, and the shifter has affectionately short spear. The power button M135i came with a current update also saw the rise of the engine power 315-322 hp.

Despite its sporting qualities of the M135i it is a long distance cruiser fine, too. With different driving modes, it can act as a special covenant well behaved, it benefits from the rigid architecture and comfort features that are shared with exclusive offers from BMW. BMW, of course, is particularly proud of its telematics and connectivity systems. 1-series is an excellent example of what the future holds: It is equipped with a SIM card, as Tesla, can receive updates of the current system of BMW. The company knows exactly where the car is and what it does, a little scary.

Six says, "We'll see."

Series 1 is slightly narrower and shorter than the coupe 2, but offers more space and practicality. Unfortunately, this does not offer attractive has a bright future in BMW. The next generation 1 Series will be based on 2 new series, unfortunately, not the rear-drive 2-Coupe, but the front wheel drive 2 Series Active Tourer and Grand Tourer. And the engine is not capable platform for a six-cylinder. Buyer lucky to live where the current 1st sold must take while you can.

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Mercedes-Benz C350e Plug-In Hybrid 2016 Review

Mercedes-Benz C350e Plug-In Hybrid 2016 Review

"Plug-in Hybrid" is dead. Mercedes-Benz has announced its reasonable disturbing, all the names of the covers for an "e" more subtle the model annexed to alphanumeric. With the recent announcement that the roads Mercedes models equipped 2,017-10 connector are met, we welcome anything that sensual shock to many capitals reduced.

Riding high

Candidates today, C350e, follow the plug-in hybrid S550 door. As the name implies, the C has six figures, although Mercedes claims that booked economy numbers of three cylinders. The key is C electrified powertrain. Equipped with a four-cylinder engine of 208 hp and an electric motor makes 80 horsepower pump, C moves a large, peaceful wave of 443 pound-feet of torque overall system. MB strengthened in classic fashion, there is an explosion of seditious power, but a steroidal serenity, conduct neo-S-class current C-Class.

No joy here CVT drone killing. Benz transmission is the proven seven-speed automatic. But instead of a torque converter, the transmission, the electric motor bolted to a wet clutch torque converter efficiency smoothness with directly coupled. In the Mercedes, they do nothing to change the blades than to regulate renewable energy, we are looking to you, Cadillac ELR consideration Fangio honest way to turn tricks.

A series of four driving modes (Eco, Comfort, Sport and Sport +) pair with a quartet of power management selections (hybrid, electric mode, and load, allowing everything from hiking hillside injection antisocial intention of saving jams E -. Area cruise only keeps battery power Mercedes ridiculous in the optimistic European cycle, the car is good for 20 miles on electric power alone We did about eight in the streets of San Francisco.. Once out of town, we found the C to be a good cruising, relaxed on the highway 1 and a surprisingly willing partner in empty roads. The 350e should not be confused with an AMG product in the near future, but if push requested.

Inside, there is a class C. How important uses was mediocre, very cheap-feeling. Now this means comfort, style and excellence in materials. Unfortunately, the COMAND infotainment system still drags the other two German luxury brands in usability. The test vehicles was particularly well with Burmester sound system, the sound of rather anemic four-cylinder engine equipped camouflaged. Note to Carbon Canyon Carver affected: A to MP3 power plant. Are they want.

Only ZEV States

We really have one problem with the C350e which will keep for sale at a base price estimated at $ 40,000-Mercedes only in states that mandate zero-emission vehicles in California this fall, it will sell a destination in at usually reserved for expensive electrical econoboxes limited range. The other big wait and see is fuel consumption. Mercedes quoted Euro numbers cycle 98 to 112 miles per gallon. This, of course, assumes that you have plugged vehicle. Daimler is only released closer to launch EPA data, or even when pushed discuss approximate figures, but given that the cycle of Euro tends optimistic that EPA ratings, we'd expect rough parity with the current Chevy Volt.

When we add a B-road weapon under the impression that the C350e is, we apologize. We were pleasantly surprised just to be with his skills in this environment. Weekend warriors do well to seek the BMW M235i or hoarding their pennies for the Mercedes C63 AMG. But as a do-it-all capital-G German sedan capable of issuing short-range, the C350e makes its mark. We want the Germans to stop boasting of Euro cycle electric autonomy, since this number is negligible. The plug-in C That niggle aside leaves, is another great entry into a region whose logbook is generously sprinkled with good grades.

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Honda S660 Mid-Engine Roadster 2015 Review

Honda S660 Mid-Engine Roadster 2015 Review

Honda is on a mission to return at their own pace sports. We have already seen the new Acura NSX; the Civic Type R was unveiled at the recent Geneva Motor Show; Company comeback as an engine supplier in Formula 1 is underway; and now Honda has added a new sports car, a little smaller in its range. First shown in concept form at the 2013 Tokyo show, the S660 is a spiritual successor to the small impact Roadster of the 1990s.

As the pace, the S660 has a mid-engine design with a 660 cc three-cylinder turbo, which keeps it within the parameters of a kei car (a special class of ultra small compact car) in its home market, Japan. Sure, it looks good, but why should Americans care? Well, as we reported in January, an inside source told us that the company is also currently working on an export version with a more powerful 1.0-liter turbo pump rumored horsepower and over 125 provided for USA , That is enough to make this little funster a spin right.

Showfloor monitor the Paddock

As we arrived at Sodegaura Forest Raceway, 90 minutes south-east of Tokyo, were three S660s in the paddock. They looked almost identical to the concept car of 2013, the new model generated. The S660 is the result of an internal competition, which began four years ago, in which more than 400 young engineers presented ideas for new vehicles for company executives and design S660 reached the top.

Honda has developed a mid-engine, rear-drive chassis only for the S660, the aluminum structure that uses steel stiffer than the previous S2000. Japan-spec S660 may be equipped with an engine of 63 horses boring force, but said, the chassis could have much more power, hence the 125-PS version. You can feel the rigidity, even during fast cornering and under braking.

Small car, small engine

Tipping the scales at just 1830 pounds (Honda) S660 uses the same three-cylinder turbo engine in the car N-Box popular kei found. However, to improve the response, engineers have reviewed quickly produce Turbo acceleration outside the line geometry and stronger pair of midrange.

In order to increase overall engine performance, the red line of 7,000 rpm to 7,700 rpm increases, while a deep sink helps to cope with the high g forces during cornering and braking. The turbo spools up to about 2,500 rpm and delivers a good dose of torque to redline. It is 5000-7700 rpm, the engine really comes to life, however, let out a loud, shrill metallic roar that punishes his little displacement lies.

As the glorious shots S2000 legendary gear and lever, the S660 has a positive feeling, six-speed manual transmission with short translations that fits perfectly to the engine. It also has well positioned pedals and a clutch of light.

Of course, there is a lot of power on tap, but although he threw at 60 mph into a corner, it is difficult to move the planted back. Honda "Agile Management Assistant" a brake system in the inner wheel spin and improve cornering stability while Yokohama Advan tires specially developed 16-inch Neova offer levels hitherto unknown in traction kei cars.

All those who feel and the fact that traction control can not be turned off, ie, there are no taxes to play with. But no understeer, or only one at-the-limit neutrality quite rare these days. As for the direction, which is done in one additional wheel 13.8 inches, it is essential to feel enough weight, provides clear answers and provides decent feedback on what the front tires are doing.

The cabin is small, but comfortable. A six foot controller setting two inches behind the wheel gear and switching without going over your knees against the steering wheel straight, of course. The large central tachometer Create an elegant tone, while the dash-mounted screen gives drivers the option of a g-meter lateral forces and deceleration in real-time displays.

Our only problems with the S660 are the lack of power and almost uncomfortable folding roof must be deconstructed manually and placed in the small trunk. But other than that, the S660 takes the genre to new heights kei car, only Honda can bring hope to our country.

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