Carsut – Understand cars and drive better

Tag: cars

  • BMW Z4

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    The BMW Z4 is no doubt one of the most stunning sports cars available on our planet. 90% of car lovers will love this two-seater sports car and 10% of haters usually are gay. A view either from the front, side, or rear, it looks strikingly cool. It is cool to drive this car to a five-star hotel front door and throw the key to valet and let them park the car. It is cool to drive this car to club or disco at night to show off and it is definitely cool to drive this car to college.

    On top, the Z4 features sleek retractable hardtop. With just one press on the button, the hardtop will be folded to the back in an elegant way within seconds. When the top is raised, the trunk is big enough for large items. Other than the outlook, there are numerous of inner beauty can be found in this car including high mpg, reliable engine, and comfortable ride. Special features such as paddle shifters, controllers at steering wheel, and a set of nice stereo systems make the car lively and energetic.

    Design

    The 2012 model is now 148mm longer. The designer put the car seats a little bit further back towards the rear axle in order to create more space for passengers. A view from the side, the silky FR (front-engine Rear-drive) roadster has a long hood but the side mirrors are place nicely in the middle. Other than elegant, stylish, and luxury, what else we could describe the car? Look at the photo took by Carsut photographer, it says a million word, isn’t?

    Engine and Performance

    There are four power options available for the Z4:

    The BMW Z4 sDrive20i is powered by a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine that produces 181 hp and 199 Nm of torque. From 0 to 62mph it takes 6.9 seconds which isn’t disappointed for many roadster lovers. The car hit a top speed of 146 mph and has a curb weight of 1470kg.

    The BMW Z4 sDrive28i is powered by an award-winning turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine that provides 240 hp and 260 Nm of torque. It is partnered with a standard manual transmission but there is an eight-speed automatic transmission is available as an option. It takes less than 6 seconds from 0 to 60 mph.

    The BMW Z4 sDrive35i is a little bit more powerful. It is equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 engine that produces 300 hp and 300 Nm of torque. Same as the sDrive28i, rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission is standard. It takes only 5.2 seconds to reach 60mph from a standstill position. It is more powerful but the mpg is much lower compared to sDrive28i.

    The BMW Z4 sDrive35is is for buyers who want to achieve 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds. It uses a revised 3.0-liter inline-6 engine that pumps 335 hp and 332 Nm of torque. A seven-speed automated dual-clutch manual transmission (DCT) is the only available transmission.

    Interior

    While the camera move to the interior, it gives a feeling that “I want to sit in, start the engine, and step hard on the gas pedal” The cabin is designed nicely with high quality leather and it is roomy. Back in old days, some good looking sports cars are powerful but they are not comfortable to drive for long journey because of the small and tight cabin. But now BMW has proved it with the Z4, go and get a test drive at any BMW dealers and you will know what we mean.


    BMW Z4 interior

    Safety

    The 2012 BMW Z4 convince its customer with many standard safety features including ABS brakes, stability control, traction controls, side airbags as well as knee airbags. Parking sensors that helps the driver to control the park distance and BMW Assist emergency communications are optional.

    Fuel Economy (MPG)

    • BMW Z4 sDrive20i: combined 41.5mpg
    • BMW Z4 sDrive28i: 24/34/27 (Manual) and 24/33/27 (Automatic)
    • BMW Z4 sDrive35i: 19/26/21 (Manual) and 17/24/19 (DCT – automated Dual-clutch Manual transmission)
    • BMW Z4 sDrive35i: 17/24/19

    Why people love Z4?

    • Beautiful and eye-catching outlook.
    • Fuel efficient.
    • Creative interior (Wooden dashboard are optional)
    • Comfortable ride with large trunk.
    • Thousands of aftermarket parts for the Z4 available across the country in cheap price.

    What is not so good?

    • Expensive price tag and expensive optional features.
    • Not a daily use car for people who does not get use to the sport setting.

    Price

    • United States: MSRP from $48,650
    • United Kingdom: from £32,650.00

    BMW Z4’s competitors or similar cars: Mercedes-Benz SLK, Porsche Boxster, Nissan 370Z, Honda S2000, and Audi TT.

    In conclusion, for BMW fans or BMW fans-going-to-be who look for a two-seater sports car that looks cool, practical to be used, and fun to drive, this is it! BMW Z4 is the one.

  • Google self-driving car hit Nevada’s Street

    Google Car

    We have heard of Google robotic car that will drive itself years back and now it is no longer just a dream. Yesterday, Google self-driving car officially licensed in Nevada and it takes a blind man for spin. This blind man is legally pleased in the front passenger seat and he just let the Google car handles everything.

    The Google car is a Prius with 100,000 miles on it. It is equipped with GPS, radar, radio sensors, Artificial Intelligence software, and video cameras to actually “see” the traffic as well as pedestrians. The rest of the vehicle parts are nothing special but just an ordinary Prius. It is driving all by itself at Nevada’s curviest road without hitting anything. The first blind man who sat in the Google self-driving car is 95% blind and he is far beyond legally blind. The Google car knows where to stop and where to turn base on Google maps and Google on-the-road images. There are no hands, no feet, and it is totally nothing. We are pretty sure this blind man had a great time in Google Car.

    The license to this driverless car requires at least two humans to be in the car at all times, with one typically in the front seat ready to take over the control in case of emergencies. Earlier in spring, Google mentioned “safely completed over 200,000 miles of computer-led driving.” However, safety issues are still consumers’ biggest concern.

    Google robotic car

    Car manufacturers spent millions of dollars to develop a new car and have them to crash into walls to test the safety just to produce a reliable and safety car. Although the Google car does not have to crash into walls, it has costs billions of efforts to develop a robotic car or self-driving car like that. At least up till this stage Google has marked a new milestone for the automatic car project and this has allowed us to imagine the future roads with unlimited automatic cars. Well, there will be no more drivers flirting then.

    The license for autonomous vehicle features new red plate and an infinity symbol and AU letters. These “test vehicles” could be on demonstrations again anytime on the road in Nevada. So Nevadians, stay tuned!

  • What kind of cars billionaires actually drive

    “I wanna be a billionaire, so fucking bad, buy all of the things I never had” What kind of cars you will choose to drive if you are a billionaire? Many of us may think that billionaires must have a fancy car and that will at least cost more than $100,000 dollars. Well, some of the billionaires who love cars own a few super exotic cars that cost over million dollars while some are surprisingly using cars below $50,000. Let’s see what kind of cars some of the top billionaires choose.

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  • Ten cars must see at Beijing Motor Show

    Beijing Motor Show is an important platform for all the car manufacturers to get more sales as well as to gain their reputation. With more than 1.3 billion people in the country, China is the world’s most populous country and this is the sweetest thing for manufacturers. Other than that, the buying powers in China especially several big cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Shenzhen are optimistic too.

    At the 2012 Beijing Motor Show, every car manufacturer is showing off best of best they had to gain attraction and also to net some customers. So, what are the ten cars must see at the Motor Show? For those who could not make it to the show and do not have much time to view every single car at the show, this top ten list could be delicious for you.

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  • 2012 Volvo S80 Reviews and Pictures

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    The 2012 Volvo S80 consists of three major things a mid-size luxury car must have – luxury and comfortable cabin, advanced technology, and delicious performance. This mid-size four-door luxury sedan has many of the qualities from inside out. The following lines that run through the car from its extensive roofline to its smooth rails are simply beauty. Inside, the blend of perforated leather, walnut, and some stainless steel buttons are what makes the S80 looks magnificence yet tasty.

    One of the top selling points for the Volvo S80 is the safety innovations that protect the driver and passengers on the road, that’s what makes the Volvo for life. Standard safety features include Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DTSC), Blind Spot Information System (BLIS – A system where the car will inform the driver with a light in the appropriate door mirror if the sensor detects an object enters the driver’s blind spot area), Intelligent Driver Information System (IDIS), Lane Departure Warning (The driver will be alerted with sound if the car crosses a lane marking unintentionally), and City Safety system (Brakes will be applied automatically if the sensors detect impending collisions). Several airbags are available in the 2012 Volvo S80 including front and rear head airbags, dual front side-mounted airbags, and side curtain airbags. That’s a big “WOW” for all these safety features.

    Volvo S80 Blind Spot Sensor Light
    Volvo S80 blind spot sensor and light

    At the back, the trunk offers 14.9 cubic feet of cargo room. How big is 14.9 cubic feet? It fits an adult comfortably! If there is a need for more room, the rear seats are foldable to give an extra space.

    Exterior colors available for the S80 includes the popular Biarritz Blue Metallic, Black Stone, Electric Silver Metallic, Ember Black Metallic, Ice White, Oyster Gray Metallic, and Savile Gray Metallic. As for interior, consumers can choose either Blond, Espresso Brown/Soft Beige, Off-Black, Soft Beige, or Toscana Tan/Off-Black depending on what you prefer.

    Power and Performance

    Two types of powertrains available for the S80 which are the 3.2-liter inline-6 engine that delivers 240 hp and 236 Nm of torque and the all-wheel drive 3.0-liter inline-6 engine pumping 300 hp and 325 Nm of torque. Both of them are mated with a six-speed automatic transmission.

    What is good about the car?

    The interior design and a-list of advance technology found in the car are the most scrumptious part of the car. Most car seats are adjusted by a normal electric buttons but the S80 is one of its kinds, it is adjusted by a stainless-steel seat-icon button that fitted in the center console. For many cars, it’s always the driver or front passenger gets the chance to control the stereo but not in the S80. The S80 offers a stereo controller and two headphone jacks for back passengers. Check out all the images above one by one and you will know what we mean.

    What could be better?

    The car is having a controversial outlook. Some love it while some hate it. According to a study done in China and found one reason that most Chinese prefer other car is because the rear of the S80 look similar to the Chinese’s coffin.

    Volvo S80 and coffin

    The outlook did not change much since the second generation released in 2006, may be Volvo is planning for a redesign in 2013?

    Fuel Economy

    • The front-wheel-drive 3.2-liter engine offers fuel economy ratings of 20 mpg (8.50 km/l) city and 29 mpg (12.33 km/l) highway.
    • The all-wheel drive Volvo S80 turbo-charged T6 engine offers fuel economy ratings of 18 mpg (7.65 km/l) city/26 mpg (11.05 km/l) highway and 21 mpg (8.93 km/l) combined.

    Volvo S80’s competitors and similar cars: Acura TL, Cadillac CTS, Hyundai Genesis, Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Infiniti M, and Lexus ES 350.

    Price

    • United States: Starting at MSRP $37,950

    What Carsut says?

    Compared to its competitors listed above, there are many cars offer better handling with more power. Some are with higher price tags while some are cheaper than the S80. In a nutshell, the Volvo S80 is without a doubt a humble ride for those who look for a luxury car with reasonable performance, a great number of safety features, and cutting-edge technology but less eye-catching appearance.