Ferrari Enzo

It goes without saying that almost everyone knows what a Ferrari is. It’s red, it’s fast and it’s certainly a luxury not everyone can have. Every kid, boys and girls, wants to grow up to own a Ferrari. Many man work and toil just to save up enough money to get them a decent Ferrari.
Ferrari Enzo

The founder for Ferrari is Enzo Ferrari. Born on the 18th February 1898 in Modena, Italy, Ezno did not have a very formal education because he was not particularly interested in his studies.

Ferrari Enao (Red)

Ferrari Enzo

He then left the tracks and secured a job at Alfa Romeo. He took the job as a car racer with them and found bigger success than he did previously. After racing for Alfa Romeo for more or less 20 years, he left the company to set up his own company, the Auto-Avio Construzini to subsequently build his own racing cars under his own name, Ferrari.

Ferrari Enao (Light Silver)

Ferrari Enzo

The Enzo Ferrari was the Ferrari that was named exactly after its owner. This Ferrari was built in the year 2003 and it was built using some of the Formula 1 technologies. These technologies include F1-style carbon-ceramic brake discs, carbon-fiber body, and sequential shift transmission. To build a car with the best performance, the designers of this Enzo Ferrari also went as far as to use banned Formula 1 technology which is the active and integrated aerodynamics.

Ferrari Enao (Pink)

The Enzo Ferrari has the largest engine as compared with the other Ferraris. Despite that fact, the Enzio Ferrari was made with inspirations from the racing tracks. With this reason, the frame of Enzio Ferrari was made out of carbon fiber and aluminum honeycomb panels.

the inspirations from the Formula 1, this Enzo Ferrari uses an electro hydraulic system that automatically activates the clutch and the gear changes. This is actually a semi-automatic gearbox and it helps the driver of the Enzo Ferrari to change their gears in 150 milliseconds.

Ferrari Enao (Blue)

The uniqueness of this Enzo Ferrari also lies with the embedded electronic system that they used on the sport car. These embedded electronic systems are included to ensure the comfort of the driver while driving the Enzo Ferrari. The designers included a central computer that can synchronize the engine, the suspension, and the transmissions.

Ferrari Enao (White)

The car is referred to as the "Enzo Ferrari", "Ferrari Enzo", or just the "Enzo". The Enzo Ferrari is named after the founder of the business, Enzo Ferrari, race driver and entrepreneur who first created the Scuderia Ferrari racing team and then the Ferrari car manufacture.

Ferrari Enao (Silver)

Being one of the most powerful and fastest naturally aspirated (NA) cars, the Enzo sports many features found in Formula One cars. Interestingly, the McLaren F1 still remains the fastest naturally aspirated car despite being produced a decade before the Enzo. The Enzo makes use of many F1 technologies, such as sequential shift transmission and a body composed of light yet strong carbon fibre. Equipped with traction control and dynamic rear wing, the car also has features to improve the cars performance which are not allowed in Formula One. The Enzo was produced between two thousand and two and two thousand and four, with a total of four hundred units produced within the two years. Many Enzos trade for close to one million British pounds now.

Ferrari Enao (Yellow)

The initial units produced were sold before the actual production even began. Ferrari sent letters to its existing customers who had purchased the F40 or F50, and three hundred and forty nine cars were sold in this effective manner. Additional cars were then produced due to the demand, bringing the total number of units to three hundred and ninety nine. The four hundredth Enzo was produced and then auctioned at the world renown Sotheby's auction house, selling for nine hundred and fifty thousand Euros, a sun which was presented to the Pope to aid the Tsunami survivors of two thousand and four.

BMW Z4 Road Ster

BMW Z4 (Titanium Silver)

The BMW Z4 is a rear-wheel drive sports car by the German car maker BMW. It follows a line of past BMW roadsters such as the BMW Z1, BMW 507, BMW Z8, and the BMW Z3. The Z4 replaces the Z3. First generation production started in 2002 at BMW USA's Greer, South Carolina plant, with production of both roadster and coupe forms. When debuted, it won Automobile Magazine "Design of the Year Award". Starting with the 2009 model year, the second-generation Z4 is built at BMW's Regensburg, Germany plant as a retractable hardtop roadster. In 2009, the BMW Z4 won the Red Dot Design Award.

BMW Z4 (Deep Sea Blue ) View 1

The first-generation BMW Z4 was designated the E85 in roadster form and E86 in coupé form. It was designed by Danish BMW-designer Anders Warming.^[1]

From 2003 the Z4 Roadster is available as a 3.0i (3.0 L I6 with 231 hp), a 3.0si available with the new generation 3.0 L I6 with 265 hp (198 kW) , a 2.5si with a 2.5 I6 with 218 bhp (163 kW; 221 PS), a 2.2i with a straight-6 170 bhp (127 kW; 172 PS) engine, or a 2.0i with a 150 bhp (112 kW; 152 PS) 2.0 L I4. The Z4 coupé is available only in the high-performance 3.0si trim powered by the 3.0 L 255 hp (190 kW) I6. The Z4 (E85 Roadster/E86 Coupe) was built at the Greer plant.

BMW Z4 (Deep Sea Blue ) View 2

Z4 M Roadster

The Z4 M is powered by a 3.2-litre straight-six engine (S54B32). Performance figures are: 3,246 cc displacement, 333 brake horsepower (248 kW) at 7,900 rpm, 269 lb·ft (365 N·m) of torque at 4,900 rpm, 8,000 rpm redline. Output per litre is 107 bhp (80 kW; 108 PS) , and power-to-weight ratio is 9.9 lb/bhp. Acceleration to 60 mph (96km/h) comes in 4.8 seconds. (0-62mph / 100km/h is 5.0) and top speed is limited electronically to 156 mph (251 km/h).

BMW Z4 (Black Sapphire)

Engine: The new BMW Z4 2009 variant sDrive35i has a 3 litre twin turbo inline 6 engine and new dual-clutch 7-speed automatic gearbox.

Expected to have superb road performance, this latest car delivers 400 Nm of torque and 306PS of power

BMW Z4 (Orion Silver)

Colors & Finishes: Available in 6 Paint Finishes - Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Deep Sea Blue, Orion Silver, Space Grey, and Titanium Silver.

BMW Z4 (Black Sapphire)

BMW Z4 (Silver Grey)

BMW X5 M

There’s something deliciously inglorious about a 2.3 tonne car that covers the quarter mile quicker than an HSV GTS. There’s something positively decadent about an SUV that will outhandle a Nissan 370Z. And there’s something completely self-indulgent about hauling your family across the countryside at warp speed, all while sitting in complete luxury. Meet the latest addition to the M stable: BMW’s X5 M.

BMW X5 M Look 1

When the big blue beast fills your rear-vision mirror, there will be no mistaking it for a garden-variety BMW X5. Two huge openings in the outsides of the front bar reveal intercoolers behind them, hinting at the X5 M’s potential. Below them sits a jawline that wouldn’t be out of place on a champion boxer, with aggressive prongs jutting out on each side – in fact, the entire bumper is shared with BMW’s other ICBM, the X6 M.

BMW X5 M Look 2

It doesn’t stop at the front, either. Flared wheel arches house massive 20-inch wheels, with 275mm tyres up front and a colossal 315mm set on the rear. The rear bar is also lowered and scalloped, cutting away at the bottom to reveal the four exhaust pipes which convey so much of the X5 M’s character. Yes, it’s the sound that really impresses.

BMW X5 M Look 3

This M has a deep bellowing growl that sounds nothing like its naturally aspirated V8 brethren. The M3 has a crisp, wailing roar, sounding exactly like a V8 should at lower RPM, while it gets better and more trumpet-like as it spins to over 8000rpm. The X5 M’s is completely different, due in part to its two turbochargers which alter its acoustics. It’s more of a warbly, horizontally-opposed-style sound, with a distinctive thumping beat that ascends very quickly as you flex your right foot.

With 4.4-litres of capacity and two, twin-scroll turbochargers, the X5 M will crank out 408kW and a massive 680Nm from just 1500rpm. You can feel it, too. This SUV will haul from 0-100km/h in just 4.7 seconds – that makes it the equal quickest SUV on sale in Australia today, a title it shares with Porsche’s much more expensive (and smaller) Cayenne Turbo. Because peak torque is delivered from such a low rpm, the X5 M is fantastically tractable, pulling in sixth gear by just breathing on the accelerator. In fact on part throttle, its drivability is brilliant, as it’s a sinch to thread through gaps in the traffic with its near instant response.

We say “near instant” because there’s a hint of softness as the turbos spool up – we’re talking milliseconds here – but for the size of the engine and for having two snails hanging off it, it’s effectively lag-free. As you paddle through the ratios there’s a fantastic, deep “whump!” from the exhaust and a hefty shove as the car whacks in the next gear behind the engine. Alternatively, you can just leave it in Sport mode. The beauty is Sport mode downshifts as you brake, setting the car up for the next corner with a lower ratio ready to go. It’s so intelligent that after using it for a while, we left the paddles alone, and just let the automatic think for us. Sport mode also keeps the revs up, always maintaining boost for the two turbochargers nestled in the banks of the V-configuration.

But the automatic is has a split personality. Sport will whack each gear in, making for very quick changes, yet in normal mode, it’s as smooth and seamless as any six-speed should be. Driving it normally, you’d be forgiven if you couldn’t feel the changes, nor detect what kind of engine lurks under the bonnet. Perfect for keeping the drive smooth and the family happy.

BMW X5 M Look 4

Although it launches harder than any other SUV you would have ever felt (and will have you giggling like a four-year-old) it piles on speed in such a linear fashion that it’s hard to keep track of how quick it actually is. And it’s the top end where your eyes will be wide open. It does not let up. Ever.

BMW X5 M Look 5

Let off the leash of ludicrously low speed limits, the X5 M will run to its speed limiter with no effort at all. We saw 240km/h on test, yet it still kept pulling. It’s a good thing, then, that it comes equipped as standard with a Head Up Display, keeping your eyes firmly focussed on the road in front of you, while being able to check your speed in a millisecond. Really, the HUD should be standard fare on any performance car; kudos to BMW for including it on its M cars.

BMW X5 M Look 6

And another M feature, the M button on the steering wheel, allows for personalised settings to come into play once it’s pressed. You can set it to default to the Sport setting which opens the exhaust up and allows the maximum decibel level to bounce off walls and echo between city buildings. Oh yes, you will accelerate again and again just to hear it, and to watch bystander’s jaws drop as the bright-blue bullet of a barge rockets up the street.

There’s nothing more satisfying than blowing the doors off some cocky, pimple-faced P-plater in their “worked” SS Commodore in a ginormous 2.3-tonne luxury SUV. But the acceleration is only part of it. Its grip and handling are so impressive that it’s only when you’ve gone for a drive that you start to understand.

BMW X5 M Look 7

We pitted the X5 M against a Nissan 370Z on a country run at, ahem, interesting speeds. Through the long sweeping bends and undulating terrain, the 370Z would turn in sharply, but the suspension and tyres struggled to keep up with the constant direction changes, leading to a nervous, floaty feeling. The BMW, on the other hand, was flowing from bend to bend, anchored to the blacktop and begging you to go faster, soaking up imperfections and dispatching distance with such distain you’d be forgiven for thinking you were travelling a lot slower than you actually are.

BMW X5 M Look 8

I’m struggling to think of any other four-wheel-drive that you can get sideways in the dry – let alone one with 315mm rear tyres – but the X5 M ticks that box if you’ve got the space and the cast iron cajónes to match. It’s rear-biased, and sort of feels like a tall Gallardo in its handling. The big Beemer’s steering helps your confidence, too, with plenty of feel and excellent weight. Turn in isn’t as sharp as the car’s acceleration lends you to believe, with the first few degrees not yielding much yaw, but once more lock is applied it delivers a heft that couples with feedback to live up to the M badge. You soon realise that the steering is actually very accurate, with the perfect ratio for parking, city driving and track work (if that’s your thing). If it is, then the X5 M will handle it, pardon the pun.

Even the ride is excellent. It’s stiff, but we had the opportunity to really test it, with a passenger who had just undergone a hernia operation. The ride was compliant enough that he didn’t bust a gut, if you get my drift.

BMW X5 M Look 9

The brakes particularly deserve special mention. Behind those gorgeous wheels sit massive rotors with whopping calipers that clamp down time and time again with zero fade. You’d think that after hauling up 2305kg over and over they’d give up the ghost, but not so. The pedal’s feel and travel remain consistent no matter what you throw at them.

But the X5 M is not without practicality. There’s heaps of space for all five passengers; foot, leg and head room for the rear row being particularly good, while the boot is just enormous – 620 litres is nothing to be sneezed at. There are also elastic straps which cover half the boot’s sides, enabling the carrying of shopping, sports gear, or whatever you want not to roll around while you’re carving up the corners. We packed the family into the car for a week and there were no complaints from anyone. Rather, cries of “Go faster, Daddy!” were shouted from the back row.

BMW X5 M Look 10

The seats are altogether brilliant in their support and bolstering, not to mention the perfect driving position. The chunky steering wheel also features stitching in the M colours, a nice little touch. It also comes equipped with just about everything – HDD high res nav, digital TV, DVD, automatic lights, wipers and mirrors, carbon-fibre trim, heated seats, self-levelling and turning headlights, a deep dual-lidded glovebox, reversing camera and the best touch – an overhead-view camera. This allows you to see each side of the car so you won’t kerb your 20-inch wheels, as well as helping you park equidistant in between the white lines of parking spots.

BMW X5 M Look 11

Its as well specced as you’d like, so what’s the catch? Well, if there was a black mark, it would have to be how much 98RON the X5 M likes to drink. At best it was 14 litres/100km and at worst 27.5L/100km. It averaged somewhere in between. But I guess if you can afford the car, you can afford the fuel.

BMW X5 M Look 12

If you can afford the car, you’re going to be one very happy chappy. The ride is certainly firm, but it’s not harsh (the electronic damping switch doesn’t really do much, though), it’s got enough room, it’s comfortable, it handles and brakes like a big Mitsubishi Evo, and it shoves you into your seat quicker than you can say “408kW and 680Nm”. The X5 M’s sound will have you addicted, while there’s still plenty of toys to play with.

And, if like our test car, you option the sun blinds for the rear doors, you’ve got the most perfect, most excessive family car money can buy.

The biggest hassle I had this week was trying to pry the keys from my wife’s hands. Oh, and trying to ignore the calls of “Go faster, Daddy!”

BMW X5

If you have ever visited a BMW vehicle lot, you were likely confronted with numerous unique models. They all appeared great, you did not know which one to select. Nevertheless, have you ever examined the BMW X5? Do this, walk into a BMW dealership near you and ask to see the BMW X5.

BMW X5 View 1

Interior Design

The BMW X5 is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV sold by BMW since 1999. Now a good six years into its life cycle, the BMW X5 is headed for a redesign. The 2006 BMW X5 is a solid performer, with all-wheel drive and plenty of power from the optional v-8. To keep the drivers and passengers safe, the 2008 BMW X5 is equipped with crash activated headrests.

You will observe the streamlined interior as well as the colorful exterior. It comes with all the add ons, if you prefer, that make life on the road as comfy as possible. With a smooth ride and plenty power to get you to wherever you need to go, and in style.

BMW X5 View 2

All you have to do is locate a BMW dealership close to you. The BMW is so renowned, it genuinely is a status symbol today, that there are BMW dealerships all over. You are likely to find one, or still several, BMW dealerships near you. Just stroll in and let them know that you wish to look at a BMW X5. Just by mentioning that, you will be allowing the dealer realize that you are aware of precisely what you desire and what you want is a superior machine.

The chief attribute of the BMW X5 is its size as the vehicle can carry five passengers comfortably and all of the stuff needed to transport them to their various activities. Magnitude that can be measured; with a capacity of up to 1750 litres, the luggage compartment of the new BMW X5 is an exemplary combination of versatility and volume.

BMW X5 View 3

When a person is living well financially, and we all have our own degrees of success, we like to express that success in various ways. The drivers of the BMW X5 parade their success in the selection of their automobile. The BMW X5 was built with precision and style in mind and all of that is evident the moment you turn the engine over.

Practicality

A five-seater as standard, this car is also available with an optional folding third row of seats to convert it into a seven-seater. The BMW X5 is practical and spacious for a family vehicle and would suit the rigors of family life well. The BMW X5 is exceptionally stable for a vehicle of its height. Not only is it a revolution in bmw design and development, the BMW X5 is also one of the most powerful in its range.

BMW X5 View 4

The BMW X5 is constructed solely in South Carolina, but likely the diesel engine does not meet the rigorous us government [epa] pollution requirements. BMW X5 is fitted with a computer chip to give the temperature, gas mileage, an approximation of how long the gas will last. The new BMW X5 is the only car in the segment available with both active steering and adaptive drive (a combination of active roll stabilization and electronic damping control), designed by BMW, as well as the first in its category to be furnished with runflat tires as standard equipment.

You can listen to the soft hum of all that power underneath the front hood. Whatever characteristics you prefer, or if you select them all, you will find that just being behind the wheel of your new car is different than many cars on the market. You will realize you really enjoy driving, that you savor being behind the wheel of this extraordinary car.

BMW X5 View 5

Features and Cost

An additional option of note is the supplementation of the optional park distance control, the new BMW X5 is available with a backup camera: a video system which eases parking maneuvers particularly in enclosed areas or spots with poor visibility. The BMW X5 is a can be a costly car to buy, and the options that are offered would raise the price yet higher if the purchaser wished these options on their vehicle. However, generally people looking to buy a BMW have the means to afford these extra amenities.

Seek out a BMW dealership close to you and let them know exactly what you want. Simply by asking for the X5, can you sincerely demonstrate to the dealer that you are serious about your research. You went in there with one goal in mind and that is to purchase the best car on the market. You went in there to purchase the BMW X5 and when you at long last drive it off the vehicle lot, you will recognize why so many individuals select the X5 as their choice of premium motor vehicle.

Official Information:-

BMW X5 Series was launched in India in 2007. The Sports Utility Vehicle offers two models to the Indian consumers. Stunning looks, muscular frontage, plush interiors and huge space in the cabin are the highlights of the five-door SUV. Powered by dynamic eight-cylinder petrol (found in the 4.8i variant) and six-cylinder diesel (found in the 3.0d variant) engine, BMW X5 Series promises to deliver impressive city and highway mileage, along with low fuel consumption.

Engine
The 4.8i model of BMW X5 series is powered by 8-cylinders petrol engine, which produces a power of 261 kW @ 6250 rpm and a torque of 475 Nm @ 3400-3800 rpm. On the other hand, the 3.0d variant of the series comes equipped with a 6-cylinders diesel engine, generating a power of 160 kW @ 4000 rpm and a maximum torque of 480 Nm @ 1750 rpm. High responsiveness and refined power are thehighlights of the sophisticated V8 petrol engine, while the straight six-cylinder diesel engine boasts of remarkable fuel consumption, muscular power and elastic acceleration. Both the engines are linked to six-speed transmission system, which ensures that the massive power of BMW X5 engines is transmitted to the drive wheels.

Design And Comfort
The dominant character of BMW X5 series never fails to create a long-lasting impression on the beholder. Its fascia flaunts body-colored bumper – with integrated fog lights, the trademark double-kidney shaped front grille and stylish xenon headlights. The rear portion is adorned by distinctive taillights. The cabin of this five-door SportsUtility Vehicle (SUV) perfectly combines luxury and spaciousness. There is immense space and a number of storage options in the sizeable interior. BMW X5 comes with folding option for the third row of seats, which converts it into a seven-seater SUV.

BMW X5 View 6

Interiors

A huge storage capacity is the highlight of the plush interiors of BMW X5. The instrument cluster is optimally positioned for driver’s convenience. Dashboard and the central console get a sleek wood-trim finishing, which further enhances the flair. The central console comes with armrest and storage compartment. Cup-holders are provided in the rear seat armrest. Automatic front climate control, automatic air-conditioning and recirculation control are standard features of BMW X5 series SUVs.

Ride And Handling
The unique X-drive system of BMW X5 maintains perfect traction, even on uneven roads. Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) sensors are used by this system, which facilitates vehicle control by detecting early signs of instability. Optimum road holding is also provided by this system. The finely tuned suspension system of BMW X5 series provides outstanding handling and improved stability.
Safety

The perfect combination of advanced active and passive safety features makes BMW X5 one of the safest SUVs in India. The network of suspension system is designed precisely, to absorb bumps and jerks and provide comfort for its occupants, during long journey. An array of electronic sensors are present in the automobile, which work together to provide maximum protection to the passengers. Airbag package, seat belt pretensioners, force limiters, steering column crash system, central locking system and alarm system are among the standard safety features of BMW X5.

Variants, Price And Color

There are two variants of BMW X5 Series – the 4.8i and the 3.0d. The 4.8i variant is priced at Rs. 76 lakh (approx), while the 3.0d version comes with a price tag of Rs 62.5 lakh (approx). The cars are available in vibrant colors that include Monaco Blue, Black Sapphire, Silver Grey, Platinum Bronze, Titanium Silver and Alpine White.

Fiat 500

Fiat 500 (Red)

NEW YORK—The stylish but stark basement of a classic brick building in SoHo, the New York City neighborhood where art, fashion and commerce collide is a fitting place to pitch the virtues of the Fiat 500. Known also as the Cinquecento, the 500 is the first Fiat to come stateside since the Fiat X1-9 of the early '80s and perhaps the first of additional tasty Italian cars heading our way now that Fiat and Chrysle

r have merged.

Like the current Mini, the 500 is a nostalgia piece, an updated version of a charismatic original. In this basement, there are two 500s glistening beneath spotlights: an original 500, the one sold in Italy from 1957 to 1975, and the retooled version, due to go on sale domestically within the next few months. The question is, will American's embrace this Italian import like they have the Mini?

Fiat 500 (White) View 1

The Specs

The original 500 is extremely attractive—it would only be cuter with dimples—and brings to mind two actresses named Audrey—Hepburn and Tatou. The remake has a similar appeal, albeit a slightly more masculine one, thanks to its wide stance, bulbous silhouette and bug-eye headlights.

Fiat 500 (White) View 2

Talking with the designers, engineers and public relations people on hand I got the sense of a mixture of enthusiasm and trepidation.

I suspect that the enthusiasm flows from confidence about the 500's distinctive personality, which—like BMW's reincarnated Mini Cooper—draws heavily on the car's cultural legacy. "There are 27 million Italian-Americans," says Laura Soave, CEO of Fiat in North America. "This is bringing back a little piece of history to them that they can share with their families."

I'm sure Soave doesn't mean to exclude other buyers—presumably, an Irish- or African-American customer would also be welcome—but I get her point. The reborn 500 may well resonate with Italian-Americans, since it hews fairly closely to the aesthetic and spirit of the original. Soave points up the 500's advantage in this regard by comparing it to the Mini—a British original redesigned by a German carmaker—and the Ford Fiesta. Those cars, direct competitors with the 500, lack the "emotion" and "heritage" of the car that defined at least two generations of Italian drivers. Never mind that Chrysler is Fiat's partner and the 500 will be assembled in Mexico—Soave wants you to join her in celebrating its distinctive Italian-ness.

Fiat 500 View 2

One thing that the new 500 will feature is more power than the original (whose engine may as well have been made by Briggs and Stratton). Built in Michigan, the 1.4-liter, four-cylinder MultiAir engine produces 101 hp at 6500 rpm and 98 lbs-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. The MultiAir technology "maximizes performance and minimizes emissions," basically by fine-tuning the intake-valve timing and lift, says Joe Grace, the Fiat vehicle line executive.

Honda Odyssey

Honda Odyssey

We have our first teachable moment in the redesigned 2011 Honda Odyssey at the Torrey Pines Gliderport of all places. Back in the 1930s, this idyllic cliff overlooking the Pacific really was a testing ground for the engine-less airplanes that dropped troops into hostile territory. Now, we're just watching paragliders fly away from the cares of the world.

And then it dawns on us that we can't jump off the cliff, because we're driving a minivan. And a minivan, even an apparently cool minivan like the Odyssey, isn't for the faint of heart. Maybe you have the luxury of shirking responsibility, but we've got mouths to feed, pacifiers to retrieve and tummies to rub.

Although Honda has taken a few risks with the styling this time around, the 2011 Honda Odyssey doesn't pretend to be anything other than a one-box vehicle with three rows of seating. It goes on sale September 30 with a base price of $28,580, and Honda officials tell us the first batch of vans will smell like ointment and pre-moistened wipes by October 7.

I've Fallen in Love With Seats
Your best bet is to inhale the aroma of obligation, and just enjoy the 2011 Honda Odyssey's seats. The whole point of buying a minivan is the useful seating configuration, and Honda has fiddled with its familiar slidey-seat formula to impressive results in our top-of-the-line Odyssey Touring Elite test vehicle ($44,030) and every Odyssey below it — regular Touring, EX-L with Navigation, EX-L with Rear Entertainment, plain EX-L, EX without leather, and finally, because-you-don't-love-your-family-enough LX.

To start, Honda made the 2011 Odyssey wider. It's 2 inches broader across the shoulders than the 2010 model at 79.2 inches, and that's spread across a wider track — now just over 68 inches front and rear. The Odyssey's wheelbase is still 118.1 inches, but the van is almost an inch longer overall at 202.9 inches.

That extra width makes room for a real center seat in the 2011 Honda Odyssey's second row. It's wide enough for a deluxe car seat and comfortable enough for a 170-pound adult, and the seat scoots forward so you can coo over that person. The second-row outboard chairs also adjust fore/aft, plus you can laterally scoot them 1.5 inches closer to each sliding door. This allows you to get three car seats across (with LATCH provisions in each position) or three teenagers across with no thrown elbows, except in the LX, which forgoes the center seat and tops out at seven-passenger capacity. Legroom, always an Odyssey strong suit, is up almost an inch in the middle row to 40.9 inches. There's even a fold-out ring for a trash bag back here, eliminating the front passenger's main job.

Life is just as good in the 2011 Honda Odyssey's third row, which is now sized and cushioned to accommodate 6-footers. Legroom is a generous 42.4 inches, and thanks to various noise-dampening measures undertaken during the redesign, grandparents seated back here have a good shot at hearing you muttering under your breath from the driver seat about how they burped the baby wrong and that's why he just puked on your shoulder.

Larger, comfier seats are usually a pain to reconfigure, but the Odyssey's 60/40 third-row seats are actually easier to fold flat this year; a new strap design eliminates the need to lean into the van to execute the maneuver. The second-row chairs still do not fold into the floor, but they are lightweight enough for a fit adult to remove and carry into the garage without herniating a disc. The liftgate is power-operated on EX-L, Touring and Touring Elite models, but the thing is so light and ergonomically designed, it's kind of fun to shut it the old-fashioned way.

New Transmission for Some
Once the kids are asleep or plugged into one of the entertainment systems — either the conventional DVD system in the EX-L and Touring or our Touring Elite tester's widescreen setup complete with HDMI input — you can fly down a back road in the Odyssey. Once again, it's the fun minivan in a vehicle class where nobody expects to have fun.

Culturally, the minivan is a rite of passage to the un-hip, elasticized-waist side of parenthood.

The big story for drivers is the arrival of a six-speed automatic transmission — the first appearance of this transmission in a Honda-badged product. For now, though, you can only have the six-speed on 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring and Touring Elite models; other Odysseys stick with last year's five-speed automatic. Everybody gets the familiar 3.5-liter V6, which now makes 248 horsepower (an increase of 4) and 250 pound-feet of torque (+5) thanks mainly to a revised intake.

If you're set on buying an EX, definitely don't test-drive the Touring. Once you've experienced the six-speed transmission's shorter 1st gear, closer ratios (identical to the Acura MDX) and quicker shifts, there's no going back to the five-speed, which provides merely adequate performance. Six-speed Odysseys also deliver slightly higher EPA fuel mileage ratings — 19 city/28 highway/22 combined versus 18 city/27 highway/21 combined for the five-speed. Either way, though, you'll still be driving the most fuel-efficient minivan of them all, save for the small-fry Mazda 5. All 2011 Honda Odysseys are front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive won't be offered.

"The penetration rate for AWD in the minivan class is only 5-7 percent," Art St. Cyr, chief engineer on the Odyssey, tells us. "To make room for the prop shaft, we'd have to raise the floor, reducing interior volume just to accommodate a small percentage of people."

Honda conservatively estimates that six-speed-equipped 2011 Honda Odysseys will hit 60 mph in 8.8 seconds — exactly the number we recorded in a 2010 Odyssey. We suspect the new van is a few tenths quicker, but it won't touch the 265-hp 2011 Toyota Sienna (7.9 seconds).

Good Handling for All
What the 2011 Honda Odyssey gives up in straight-line speed, it more than makes up for the first time you go around a corner. It has the flattest cornering attitude of any minivan we've ever driven. Honda has reduced the steering effort at low speeds on the 2011 model (via a variable-flow hydraulic power steering pump), but the Odyssey's steering is still more direct and precise than the Sienna's electric-assist setup.

Ody nerds will note that the 2011 van's chassis is basically a carryover from the 2005-'10 generation, but Honda engineers have stiffened and lightened the unit-body. Company officials tell us it's 22 percent more rigid overall, 59 percent more rigid at the rear-subframe attachment points and about 100 pounds lighter (per trim level) due primarily to increased use of high-strength steel.

Honda has fitted new dampers and softer rear bushings to give the 2011 Odyssey a more compliant ride, and indeed, our Touring Elite tester copes well over concrete-slab freeways. Spring rates are also higher in the rear, and there's a slightly larger front stabilizer bar. Of course, wheel sizes have increased, too, but in the usual Honda fashion, the new all-season tires offer plenty of sidewall, whether you end up with the 235/65R17s on LX and EX models or the P235/60R18 Michelin Primacy MXV4s on Touring versions.

Honda officials tell us these Michelins were selected for their low rolling resistance — one of many small reasons the Touring models are more fuel-efficient. Oftentimes, such tires make a minivan stop-resistant as well. However, we've been assured that the 2011 Honda Odyssey will deliver the shortest braking distance of any minivan thanks to larger brake rotors, new brake pads and a new master cylinder. It has to beat the Sienna's 127-foot 60-0-mph distance.

More Stuff, Carpet Pre-Treated With Cheerios
Honda tries to keep things simple by packaging vehicles in trim levels rather than allowing myriad permutations of options, but with the addition of yet more modern conveniences, the 2011 Honda Odyssey line has gotten more complicated.

The 2011 Honda Odyssey LX has the basics — an engine, a bunch of airbags, an auxiliary jack and manual, three-zone air-conditioning. The EX ($31,730), meanwhile, isn't quite the step up it used to be. It'll work for you if you just want alloy wheels, power-sliding doors, second-row sunshades, a power driver seat, a better audio system (with 2GB of hard drive space for ripping CDs) and automatic climate control.

If you want a USB input, you have to get the EX-L ($35,230), which also includes heated leather front seats, Bluetooth, a back-up camera and XM Radio. In addition, you can have either the $2,000 hard-drive-based navigation system (with 15GB of music storage space, FM-based traffic updates and enhanced wide- and overhead-view displays for the back-up camera) or the $1,600 rear entertainment system on the EX-L, but not both.

Conveniently, the 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring ($41,535) comes with both nav and rear entertainment, plus a laminated windshield, third-row sunshades, driver-seat memory, and front and rear parking sensors. The Touring Elite comes with that deluxe rear entertainment setup capable of playing movies in true 5.1 surround sound through an upgraded 12-speaker array, along with HID headlights (low beams only) and a blind-spot warning system.

You cannot get keyless start, adaptive cruise, telematics or a pre-collision system — all stuff that's available on the Sienna.

Smartypants
Before we all got excited about crossovers, the minivan segment accounted for more than a million units in sales each year. In the grim year of 2009, the class shrank to 442,070 units, but more than 100,000 of those vans were Honda Odysseys. Honda has sold 71,584 Odysseys in the first eight months of 2010.

"Minivans are going to come back because of Generation Y," Erik Berkman, vice president of corporate planning and logistics for American Honda, tells us. Still, the automaker's near-term forecast is conservative. Honda expects to sell just over 110,000 Odysseys in 2011 and a bit more than that in 2012 when it hopes the segment will rebound to 600,000 units.

Buying a minivan isn't an easy thing to do in the United States, because culturally, it's a rite of passage to the un-hip, elasticized-waist side of parenthood. However, if you're a real car lover and you drive a 2011 Honda Odyssey with an open heart, you're not going to choose a crossover over this van.

Acura ZDX

Acura ZDX 2012

The expected release date for the 2012 Acura ZDX is late in 2011. It is too soon to know exactly what form that release will take. No details have been given out about body styling changes, but it should keep the flush rear door handles and glass roofline that it is known for. If tradition continues, it will have a well-appointed, cubby-laden interior, trendy exterior, and passionately aggressive performance. The color choices for the 2012 ZDX are anticipated to continue with a palate of metallic and pearl that is reminiscent of the muted colors and mists of an autumn storm.

Performance

Under the hood, it is expected that crossover enthusiasts will continue to find the 300 horsepower 3.7-liter aluminum V6 engine with the variable valve timing and lift control that Honda is known for. That most likely means that the Acura ZDX's diet of premium grade fuel will maintain the current EPA fuel economy rating of 16/23 mpg for city/highway driving as well.

History

The ZDX is a newcomer to the Acura line with a history that began at the New York auto show in 2009. It was Honda's first vehicle developed start to finish on North American shores at the Acura Design Studio in California and the assembly plant in Ontario, Canada. It was also the first to have a female designer on the design team. The ZDX is built on Acura's MDX underpinnings that give it a touch of SUV handling in a coupe. At an off-road testing ground in Michigan, the handlers were surprised and impressed by the performance to the 2010 model. Because the model is so new, there are no established records of resale value, but Kelleys Blue Book projects that the ZDX will retain its value slightly better than comparable crossovers.

Acura ZDX (Red) 2012

Safety Features

Standard safety features include all-weather traction with all wheel drive, blind spot warning system, vehicle stability assist, tire monitoring, airbags, and active front head restraints. It meets and exceeds all government child safety regulations.

Acura ZDX (Red) View 2 2012

Acura ZDX (Blue) 2012



Acura ZDX (White) 2012