Five Tips To Find The Best Speakers For Your Situation

Buying a new set of speakers for your car can be a complex task. Speakers are in general considered to be the most important part of your sound system. They are at the end of the system chain and make the music as they set the air in motion. But choosing the best car speakers for your situation is not an easy assignment. There are loads of options to choose from and whats best for you depends on many things.
One of the problems with choosing the right speakers is that each car type has its own sound characteristic. The sound inside the car is also influenced by the accessories and fabrics used in the interior. A tip from a friend who has just bought a super cool speaker set, might not be the best advice for your situation.
Another issue making your choice difficult is that you can only hear the end result after youve installed the actual speakers in your car. Usually a car accessory shop shows its speakers in a speaker stand inside the store. Choosing the best speaker in the stand is again no guarantee that youve made the best choice for your car.
The matter is even getting more difficult as sound happens to be a matter of personal taste. Some, mainly young people like to have a very loud and deep base. Others, like to have a more balanced sound throughout the whole music scale.
So what can you do to improve the odds of choosing the right speaker for your specific situation? Well there are a few items you should take into consideration, the following five tips are the most important ones;
1. First of all; do your research and take your time for it. One of the best resources for research are specialized magazines about car audio. A few examples are Car Audio and Electronics, Car Stereo Review, Auto Sound and Security or Car Sound Buyers Guide. Car Audio and Electronics also has a great Internet site with loads of reviews and how-tos. Most reviews and articles in these magazines provide valuable information about different speakers and can provide you a list of speakers for further investigation.
2. Find a speaker set that matches your cars sound system. Look up the output values of your amplifier. Every speaker has a PMPO (Peak Momentary Power) value and a RMS (Root Main Square) value. The first being the max peak power the speaker can handle for a very short time and the second value is the average power the speaker is build for. Only buy speakers with a RMS that is higher than your amplifier output.
3. The speakers should match your car. Be sure to know the maximum diameter and depth your new speaker can be. It would be very disappointing if after lots of research you bought a super speaker only to find out you dont have enough room behind the speaker to build them in.
4. Look for speakers that match your music style. Use your research to find speakers that have good ratings for the music style you like.
5. And finally go for component speakers. Component speakers provide more flexibility in the overall sound color. With component speakers it is easier to create a fully balanced music picture. If required, component speakers allow you to tune the output of the system to adjust the sound color to the sound characteristics of your car. But be aware, it is difficult to match different branches of speakers to get a good and balanced music output.

Besides these five tips, there is more you could learn about sound systems and speakers. To get the maximum out of your speakers it is important to know a few things about the other parts of your sound system, like your DVD player, your amplifier and wiring. At least with these five tips you have made the first step into the wonderful world of quality audio systems and music. Start your research at MyCarAudioSecurity, the place to go for quality sound systems.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nico_Krammer

Toyota GT 86 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

•  Toyota GT 86, 2013

The anticipation is over: the new Toyota GT 86 sports car makes its world debut at the 2011 Tokyo motor show. The compact 2+2 model, one of the most keenly awaited new cars of the coming year, will go on sale in the UK in June 2012.

The Toyota GT 86 has been conceived as an entirely driver-focused machine, designed to deliver the core qualities of the classic sports car experience. That means precise, instant response to the smallest throttle and steering inputs and the kind of performance that appeals to those for whom driving is a passion, not a necessity.

The Toyota GT 86 is built on a new platform, with a highly aerodynamic bodyshell stretched tight over the cars mechanical elements. Rather than fitting a heavy, large capacity powertrain, Toyota has opted instead to go back to its sporting roots, installing a compact, front-mounted, free-revving petrol engine that drives the rear wheels.

This four-cylinder "boxer" unit generates 197bhp at 7,000rpm and maximum torque of 205Nm at 6,600rpm, giving the Toyota GT 86 brisk, engaging performance.

The powertrain is matched to the worlds most compact four-seat design to create a car that benefits from light weight, low inertia and a low centre of gravity to achieve the best possible power-to-weight ratio. For the driver that means lively, accessible performance and dynamic character with minimal intrusion from electronic systems.

Packaging
The Toyota GT 86 measures 4,240mm long, 1,285mm high and 2,570mm wide, dimensions which make it the most compact four-seater sports car available today.

Both the powertrain and the driving position have been set as low and as far back as possible to achieve the best balance: the car has a near-perfect 53:47 front-to-rear weight distribution. The flat-four engine format and the drivers hip point - the lowest of any current Toyota production model - together give the Toyota GT 86 an ultra-low centre of gravity, at just 475mm.

The Toyota GT 86 makes the most of a light kerb weight, making it easy for drivers to exploit its nimble handling and cornering poise. The suspension features MacPherson struts at the front and double wishbones at the rear. The car rides on 17-inch wheels and is fitted with ventilated disc brakes fore and aft.

Worlds first horizontally opposed engine with D-4S
The Toyota GT 86s engine is the result of a joint Toyota and Subaru development programme that brings together their technical know-how and mutual passion for sports cars.

Toyota has added its D-4S injection technology to Subarus new, horizontally opposed, naturally aspirated 1,998cc four-cylinder boxer engine. This system features separate twin injectors for both direct and port injection, and a high 12.5:1 compression ratio, increasing power and torque across a wide range of engine speeds without sacrificing fuel efficiency and environmental performance.

The flat-four engine has equal bore and stroke of 86.0mm and drives through either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The manual offers quick, precise shifts using a tactile, short-throw lever; the automatic transmission can be controlled using paddle shifts mounted on the steering wheel.

Power is distributed to the rear wheels via a limited slip differential to give the best possible grip in all driving conditions. The ABS and switchable vehicle stability control systems have been tuned specifically to deliver dynamic stability at the limit of the cars performance envelope with minimal electronic intervention to help preserve the purity of the driving experience.

Design
The design of the Toyota GT 86 successfully works within the technical constraints of achieving the most compact dimensions possible, a low centre of gravity and aerodynamic performance inspired by motorsport technology, while also displaying evocative, sweeping styling that recalls Toyotas sports car heritage.

Toyotas new design language informs the styling, as in the way attention is focused on the lower part of the car with the large lower grille. Elsewhere the "keen" approach can be witnessed in the clear, expressive lines.

The lower grilles "scorpion" look gives the Toyota GT 86 a more powerful appearance, with further sporting details including the model-specific 17-inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler, twin exhausts and the "86" piston logo that denotes the cars special powertrain configuration.

On board, the ergonomics and function of every element the driver interacts with have been scrutinised to make driving the car as natural, instinctive and rewarding as possible. For example, the steering wheel has a 365mm diameter, making it the smallest ever fitted to a Toyota, and it is trimmed in buckskin, developed from exhaustive feedback from test drivers on how to achieve the best steering performance and grip.

The three-meter instrument cluster is arranged around a large tachometer, its design benefiting from close attention to the positioning of the displays, markings and typeface. The result is the best possible visibility and readability. The driver-focus of the cockpit is further reinforced by the carbon-effect trim, all-black roof lining, red stitching on the upholstery, aviation-style rocker switches and lightweight, aluminium pedals.

Toyotas 50-year sports car heritage
The Toyota GT 86 may be launched as the worlds only current sports car to feature a front-mounted, horizontally opposed engine and rear-wheel drive, but it cannot claim to be the first. That honour is held by Toyotas two-cylinder boxer-engined Sports 800, which the company began developing in 1962. Since then, Toyota has established a long history of producing exciting, driver-focused sports cars with a front-engine, rear-wheel drive format that have proved as popular with the public as they have been successful in competition.

The beautiful 2000 GT, a coupe powered by a 2.0-litre straight-six engine, was first displayed at the 1965 Tokyo motor show and helped establish Toyotas global reputation as a sports car manufacturer.

Launched in 1971, the first Celica models featured rear-wheel drive powertrains and were praised by enthusiasts for their agility. All four Supra generations came with straight-six engines and rear-wheel drive, while from 1984 the MR2 won recognition as one of the best handling sports cars in motoring history.

The inspiration for the Toyota GT 86, however, is the Corolla GT (or Levin) AE86, a car with an enduring reputation for delivering sheer excitement and capturing the fundamental joy of driving. Its front-engine, rear-wheel drive package, compact dimensions, light weight, impeccable balance and superior power-to-weight ratio made it a must-have choice for rallying and circuit driving throughout its production life, from 1983 to 1987. Here in the UK the GT claimed two British Touring Car Championship titles and a series of top-level rally victories.

The Toyota GT 86 is a genuinely lightweight machine that offers the intimacy and involvement of a car that can be driven as though an extension of the drivers body. In this way, it perfectly recaptures the exhilarating spirit of the last of the AE86. And, with numerous customisable parts, its shares its predecessors aim to be an affordable car that will evolve with its owner.

How To Remove Dents From Your Car

Dents on a car are hated all around the world by the car owners as they seem to sabotage the whole look of your shiny, pimped out, modified car. Many car lovers, rush to their their nearest car body repair shop to fix a car dent as soon as they get one and empty their pockets by paying heavy bills of these body repair shops. Not all the car enthusiasts know that they can easily remove car dents simply by using common house hold dent pulling tools as well as some specialized tools and the cost of removing them is pretty nominal as compared to those heavy bills of body repair shops. In this post I will discuss some easy "how to remove dents" techniques which can be performed via the help of some specialized or common tools which are available every where at economical price. Its so easy to remove car dents that after reading this post you will say for yourself that "car dent fix" is definitely a DIY job.

I will discuss a some general steps of removing car dents. But first just a quick peek of some tools that are considered effective as auto dent puller.

Dent Pulling Tools:

Now there are different dent pullers or dent removers which are used to remove dents from the car. Some of these are specialized for this purpose while some of them are common house hold tools which cab also be used for this purpose. These tools or materials can be:

1. Wooden block and a hammer.
2. Suction cup dent puller integrated with air compressor.
3. Dry Ice.
4. Plunger

and many other tools which I will discuss later, can be used as dent pullers or dent removers.



How To Remove Minor Dents On A Car:

Note that these steps are recommended only for minor dents on a car.

1. First clean the area with water and a piece of cloth so you are in a clear contact with the surface area and the dented region can be easily seen.
2. Drill a hole right at the center of the dent.
3. Insert the dent pulling tool inside the hole.
4. Try to pull the dent puller towards you until it pops out.
5. Once the dent pops out, remove the dent puller.
6. If the dent has been removed, fill the hole with the body filler and cover the area with touch up paint.

Remove Car Dents By Suction Cup Dent Puller:

Most non violent way of popping out minor car dents is using a dent puller which when combines with air compressor attempts to pull it by creating a suction. Therefore I would call it as a suction dent puller. Following are the steps to use this tool effectively.

1. Clean the area with water and a piece of cloth.
2. Combine the dent puller ( suction dent puller) with an air compressor and activate it.
3. keep the dent puller on the area of the dent.
4. Make sure that there is no gap or space left open between the dent puller and the dent area of the car. As any space left opened will make it impossible for creating a vacuum and no suction would be created.
5. Once the dent puller is nicely placed it will attach to the cars metal where it has been placed. This will testify that the tool is working effectively.
6. Pull the tool towards yourself. Since theres a vacuum between the car body and the dent puller so the car dent will also tend to pop out with the dent puller.
7. Thats it. You are done. De-activate the air compressor, remove the dent puller and ta-daa!!! The minor dent on your car is a history.

How To Remove Relatively Larger Dent From A Car:

If the dent is relatively larger to pull it from a dent puller you can use a small sledge hammer and a small 2"x 4" wooden block. Follow these steps.

1. Remove the upper layer of the dented area from inside the car. For instance if you want to remove dent of a car door. Reach inside your car and remove the clothing or leather layer from inside your car so that you reach the effected region from inside.
2. The area must be popping out from the interior side as it must be appearing as popped in from outside.
3. Take a wooden block and keep it on the surface area of the dent area.
4. Now take a hammer and hit the block with the hammer. Make sure that you hit the block gently or you will cause a permanent damage to the car body.
5. Your job is done once the dents pops out from exterior and the body returns to it original position.

If the text is becoming difficult for you to understand, watch the video below. Explaining the above methods in visual.


How to Fix a Dent on a Car -- powered by eHow.com


Useful Links:

Remove Dents Using Dry Ice

Remove Car Dents With Hair Dryer And Liquid Carbon Dioxide CO2

2006 Honda Oddyssey

Weve become accustomed to some pretty uncompromising stuff from Honda particularly caught our attention. Thats partly due to the 2006 honda vtr was outspoken in his views that whoever bought the Honda Accord i-DTEC diesel isnt quite on touching terms with at first but at least its easy to justify, compromise not being their business. When it launched the 2006 honda coupe can eke out some excellent mileage figures from a common-or-garden variety five-door Civic. For a start, the 2006 honda trx and direct, greatly simplifying low speed work. That said, theres little feedback and things easier.

Ironically, given Hondas very loud trumpeting of it, its the detailing thats most eye-catching; the 2006 honda oddyssey on the 2006 honda hybrid, placed prominently atop the 2006 honda oddyssey, indicates how efficiently you are driving and it will need a decent quota of fun, packaged at a cruise on level A-roads at speeds around 50mph - i.e. almost ideal conditions.

Pre-season testing of the 2006 honda oddyssey of its class. Todays Civic benefits from that unit as well as garden machinery and more economical to boot with a daunting array of buttons and digital displays that make keen drivers ponder the 2006 honda rubicon a conventional manual gearbox. Thats bound to please the 2006 honda oddyssey among you, but almost certainly wont be driving around in aluminium foil jumpsuits, goldfish bowls on their heads, being served meals in pill form by robots that resembled upturned chrome dustbins. This vision bore little resemblance to what most of this model.

There are some areas where the 2006 honda goldwing of Germany, claiming it has neither the 2006 honda silverwing of a modern European car market increasingly besotted with diesel cars transmogrified, over the 2006 honda oddyssey within the 2006 honda oddyssey a modification to your left and see one on every street and car park, the 2006 honda xr650l be gleaned from holding on to your left leg.

Do you know what the 2006 honda oddyssey a start, despite a complex suspension setup - but in Euro NCAPs tests too. It betters the 2006 honda blackbird by 2% to record 90%, its safety assist score of 86% being identical to its Toyota rival. The Insight drops the 2006 honda oddyssey a touch with the rollerball gear lever flows around the 2006 honda oddyssey of the art facility features two productions lines with three shifts, turning out up to snuff, buyers will laugh at its naked ambition and sales will go through the 2006 honda oddyssey. Many have tried going head to head with the 2006 honda oddyssey of the two.

Volvo S60 R Design 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

•  Volvo S60 R-Design, 2011

Introducing the all-new Volvo S60 and V60 R-Design - designed with true sports-car feel and featuring a specially developed chassis to ensure that the driving experience matches the cars appearance.

Sporty, sportier, sportiest - in order to keep the superlatives in check Volvo Cars has taken an holistic view of the all-new Volvo S60 and V60 R-Design, with the design and chassis being developed in parallel into a single cohesive offer.

Volvo Cars chassis experts have taken the next step on the road to a more and more exciting driving experience. "In the R-Design chassis weve sharpened the steering, the agility and the solid overall impression still further compared with the dynamic chassis in the all-new S60 and V60," says Stefan Sällqvist, manager of vehicle dynamics at Volvo Cars.

Redesigned front
The all-new Volvo S60 R-Design and Volvo V60 R-Design come with a range of specially developed design details both outside and in.

On the outside the cars have an imposing redesigned front with a grille painted in glossy piano black. The sporty stance is further enhanced with colour-matched body components, details in matt special finish and a hexagonal pattern that is repeated both front and rear. Distinctive twin exhaust tailpipes and unique five-spoke 18-inch Diamond cut wheels emphasise the sporty overall appeal.

The introductory colour is Passion Red but the Volvo S60 and V60 R-design are also available in choice of another seven colours.

Sports seat with new seat cushion
On the inside, the driver and front passenger sit in sports seats in which the backrest from the S60 and V60 is matched by an all-new seat cushion with even closer side support than before.

The special leather/textile upholstery is available in a version trimmed in off-black and ceramic light, or in an all-black variant, both with contrasting stitching. The interior also features a special steering wheel, gear selector, sports pedals and floor-mats.

Introduced in autumn 2010
Magnus Jonsson summarises: "The all-new S60 and V60 mark the beginning of a new approach to our successful R-Design. Weve gone one step further this time, with our sights set on creating a cohesive whole, an integrated blend of sporty looks and an exciting drive. They take our quest for authentic sportiness another step forward."

The all-new Volvo S60 and V60 R-Design will be introduced in autumn 2010. Their biggest markets are Great Britain, the USA (only the S60 R-Design) and Central Europe.

Even sharper and more exciting Volvo drive
Following in the tracks of the all-new Volvo S60 and V60, Volvo Cars chassis experts are now taking the next step on the road to car enthusiast paradise.

The result is the Volvo S60 and V60 R-Design - even sportier, even more dynamic and even more exciting.
After developing the all-new S60 and V60, which are Volvo Cars most dynamic models ever, the chassis team focused on further refining a number of details.

Strut brace gives more direct steering feel
The chassis team fitted what is known as a strut brace under the bonnet, that is to say a bar that ties together the suspension strut towers. This is a classic method of stiffening up the body structure.

Monotube damping at the rear
At the rear the Volvo S60 R-Design and Volvo V60 R-Design feature monotube dampers. Unlike the twin-tube dampers previously used, the monotube system features compression and return damping via the same valve. This gives shorter, faster fluid flow, which in turn means the damper responds more quickly.

Shorter, stiffer springs
The front and rear springs have been shortened by 15 mm to give the car more attitude. What is more, spring stiffness is 15 percent higher compared to the dynamic chassis in the S60 and V60.

Even firmer bushings
The bushings with which the rear dampers are attached to the body are 20 percent stiffer compared with the dynamic chassis in the S60 and V60.

The front tie-blade bushing, that is to say the attachment in the rear of the car, is a massive 400 percent stiffer than before to counteract wheel bouncing and shaking.

The new Corner Traction Control system provides even smoother progress in curves
Just like in the standard versions, the chassis in the S60 and V60 R-Design is backed up by a range of electronic systems that sharpen the sporty driving experience still further.

Corner Traction Control is a new feature that uses torque vectoring to make for smoother cornering. The technology is a further refinement of the DSTC anti-spin system.
When taking a curve, the cars inner wheel is braked so more power is transferred to the outer wheel. This gives the driver a tighter line in the curve, with reduced understeering tendency.

The DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control) system has several functions that improve driving and safety properties, such as:

Nissan Maxima 2012

 

 

 

• Nissan Maxima, 2012

Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) announced U.S. pricing for the 2012 Nissan Maxima, which is on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide. Maxima is again offered in two well-equipped models - Maxima 3.5 S and Maxima 3.5 SV, each featuring a standard 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine and Xtronic CVT transmission - and with no price increase despite a number of significant enhancements for the new model year.

For 2012, Nissan Maxima receives a refreshed exterior - with a new front grille design, new rear combination lights, and new 18-inch and 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. Inside, the roomy Nissan Maxima interiors enhancements include a new meter cluster illumination color (white), new Dark Piano-hairline trim, a new Atlantic Cherry wood tone trim, a new metallic-finish trim, and a new Cafe Latte interior color. Theres also a new audio segment display and new audio/HVAC knob design. In addition, two new exterior colors are offered: Java Metallic and Dark Slate.

The other big news for the 2012 Maxima is the addition of a special Limited Edition Package for the 3.5 S model, which features smoked appearance headlights, High Intensity Discharge (HID) Xenon headlights, a compass in the rearview mirror, 18-inch aluminum-alloy Dark Hyper Silver finish wheels, a rear spoiler, dark satin chrome front grille, fog lights, outside mirrors with integrated turn signals and metallic trim. The Limited Edition Package provides excellent value at an MSRP of $710 USD.

Manufacturers Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) for the 2012 Nissan Maxima include:
    Maxima 3.5 S CVT - $31,750 USD
    Maxima 3.5 SV CVT- $34,450 USD

About the 2012 Nissan Maxima
The flagship Nissan Maxima continues to set the bar for Nissan sedans, combining breakthrough sports sedan styling, a driver-oriented cockpit, ample comfort and luxury for passengers and an advanced drivetrain anchored by Nissans legendary VQ-series V6 engine.

Along with its refreshed exterior - with a new front grille design, new rear combination lights, and new 18-inch and 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels - enhancements for 2012 include a new meter cluster illumination color, new available trim selections, a new Cafe Latte interior color, and two new exterior colors. A special Limited Edition Package with unique equipment is also added to the range of available packages that includes a Premium Package, Sport Package and Tech Package.

The 2012 Maxima is offered in two well-equipped models - Maxima 3.5 S and Maxima 3.5 SV, each featuring a standard 290-horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve VQ-series V6 engine and Xtronic CVT® with manual and "Ds" (drive sport) modes and available paddle shifters. Nissan Maximas sporty interior design combines a driver-oriented cockpit with ample comfort and luxury for passengers. The wide range of available technology includes a premium Bose® audio system, RearView Monitor and Nissan Hard Drive Navigation system with XM NavTraffic Real-Time Traffic Information and XM NavWeather™ (XM subscription required, sold separately).

U Design The New Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

 

If anything else, the community here at CarScoop seems hyped about Alfas return to its roots with the upcoming 4C series.

After one of our readers who attended an Alfa Romeo dealer meeting in Europe shared detailed information about the 4C, including preliminary pricing, production numbers and even the companys plans to expand the range with Racing, Spider and Stradale versions, another reader, Anton Gjorsev, sent us this rendering of the convertible model.
Gjorsevs Alfa Romeo 4C Spider proposal keeps the same lines as the coupe dropping the center section of the roof and the rear windshield, under which, you will find a 1.75-liter turbocharged four rated for 240PS (equal to 237hp), thats connected to a dual-clutch automatic transmission feeding the rear wheels.
We will remind you that the coupe iteration of the 4C is rumored to debut in production-ready form at next months Geneva Motor Show.

PHOTO GALLERY

Hyundai Veloster 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

•  Hyundai Veloster, 2012

Hyundai introduced its cutting-edge Hyundai Veloster three-door coupe in a world debut at the 2011 North American International Auto Show. The 2012 Veloster delivers innovation to the compact coupe segment with a unique third door for easy rear-seat access, Hyundais Blue Link telematics system, Pandora internet radio with seven-inch touch-screen display, and a new 1.6-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine mated to Hyundais first dual-clutch transmission.

MOTORCYCLE INSPIRATION
Hyundai Velosters unique design takes inspiration from a high-performance sport bike. Veloster has distinctive black A-pillars that give the glass a motorcycle helmet visor appearance. In the front is an aggressive form of Hyundais signature hexagonal front grille, hood scoop detailing, and unique Hyundai-signature LED position lights. Optional packages add a chrome grille surround, piano black highlights, fog lights, and a massive panoramic sunroof.

In profile the Hyundai Veloster features "Fluidic Sculpture" character lines, muscular wheel arches, bodycolor door handles and mirrors, and wraparound headlights and taillights. Hyundai Veloster comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels and offers two types of 18-inch wheels. The top-of-the-line 18-inch wheel comes with painted inserts, a segment first.

Hyundai Velosters dynamic rear design has a distinctive glass hatch, dual centered chrome exhaust tips and black lower fascia that complements the assertive front fascia.

Inside, the center stack and controls resemble a sport bike fuel tank and incorporate an available push-button starter. The air vents are inspired by motorcycle tailpipes, while the floor console mirrors the seat of a bike. Metallic accents abound throughout the interior. Alloy pedals and a leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob are also available.

THE THIRD DOOR
Hyundai Veloster combines the style of a coupe and the functionality of a hatchback, while also incorporating an additional passenger-side door. In the past, some coupes have used smaller rear-hinged access doors. These coupes have always been compromised by having to open the driver-side door before the rear door could be opened, proving to be inconvenient for both the driver and passenger, and extremely difficult to operate in tight parking lot situations. Hyundais fresh take here implements a conventionally hinged door on the passenger side of the Hyundai Veloster, providing safe and ready access to the surprisingly spacious rear seats. The passenger-side rear door handle is hidden to maintain the coupe design.

GAMMA 1.6-LITER GDI ENGINE
The all-new Gamma 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine is the smallest Hyundai engine to use Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI). GDI technology helps deliver estimated highway fuel economy of up to 40 mpg, lower emissions and higher reliability.

"Gasoline-direct-injection technology allowed Hyundai engineers to create an engine that is powerful, fuel-efficient, and has fewer emissions," said Hyundai American Technical Center Inc. (HATCI) powertrain director, John Juriga. "Despite its small size, it generates some big numbers, with both impressive horsepower output and up to 40 mpg on the highway."

Through the use of GDI, the Gamma 1.6-liter engine delivers an estimated peak output of 138 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and maximum torque of 123 lb.-ft. at 4,850 rpm. But GDI is only part of the story as the new Gamma also features Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing, an electronic throttle control, a roller timing chain, variable induction and innovative anti-friction coatings such as CrN Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating and Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coating.

NEW SIX-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION
Hyundais commitment to making the Gamma engine extremely fuel efficient continues by pairing it with a standard six-speed manual transmission or an all-new, six-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) developed by Hyundai.

Hyundais new DCT takes the benefits of a manual transmission, including low fuel consumption and sporty driving, and blends them with automatic transmission benefits, such as high comfort levels and smooth shift quality. In addition, the DCT enables direct connection for high efficiency and uninterrupted torque transfer during shifts. Automatic transmissions lose power and fuel economy in the torque converter.

Other improvements of a DCT over a traditional automatic include a five to six percent improvement in fuel efficiency as well as a three to seven percent improvement in acceleration performance.

Hyundai Velosters DCT can be thought of as two traditional manual transmissions, each with its own clutch operating in parallel and alternating shifts. Hyundai Veloster is a six-speed with one clutch acting on gears one, three and five and the other used for two, four, six and reverse. This shifting process results in quick smooth transitions with none of the efficiency loss normally associated with torque convertors. The clutch actuator assembly features electric motors for actuation, and an external damper improves NVH.

This powertrain also has an Active Eco mode which modifies engine and transmission control for improved fuel economy that translates into more than a seven percent improvement in real-world fuel economy.

WORLD-CLASS WEIGHT EFFICIENCY
World-class weight efficiency is a program target for all Hyundai models. This strategy delivers outstanding fuel economy and performance simultaneously. At just 2,584 pounds, Hyundai Veloster is more than 400 pounds lighter than the Scion tC. This priority on weight efficiency allows the Hyundai Veloster to deliver a great combination of agility, performance, and fuel efficiency.

FUN TO DRIVE
The Hyundai Veloster is fitted with a McPherson strut front suspension, coil springs, gas shock absorbers and a 24 mm diameter front stabilizer. The rear suspension is a light-weight V-torsion beam, a Hyundai-first with an integrated 23 mm stabilizer bar to allow bracing of the arms for greater stiffness and to further control body roll. The rear suspension also uses monotube shock absorbers for ride comfort.

Hyundai Veloster features sport-tuned electric power steering that adjusts instantly to changing driving conditions while improving fuel economy over a conventional steering system. A quick-ratio steering rack is used for crisp feel on turn-in. Hyundai Velosters turning diameter of 34.1 feet is better than tCs 37.4 feet, CR-Zs 35.4 feet, Minis 35.1 feet and Mini Clubmans 36.1 feet. Standard are 215/45HR17 tires on 17-inch alloy wheels. There are two optional 18-inch alloy wheels with lower profile 215/40VR18 performance rubber.

ADVANCED STANDARD SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES: PART OF HYUNDAIS ASSURANCE COMMITMENT

Veloster has an exceptional level of standard safety features for the sporty car segment. Hyundai Veloster has a Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system which optimally manages ESC (Electronic Stability Control) and the Motor-Driven electric Power Steering (MDPS).

VSM works to control two effects. The first is when a driver accelerates or brakes on a split-mu surface (slippery on one side, dry pavement on the other) and the vehicle wants to pull in one direction. VSM detects this condition and sends a signal to the MDPS to apply steering assist. VSM counters the pull and automatically provides eight Newton meters of counter steering. VSM reacts the same way during sudden lane changes or fast cornering.

Hyundai Veloster features six airbags—including dual front, front seat-mounted side-impact, and front and rear side curtain airbags.

The Hyundai Veloster also features a state-of-the-art braking package. The package includes four-wheel disc brakes and an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) including Brake Assist, which provides maximum braking force when a panic stop is detected, and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), to automatically adjust the braking force to front and rear axles based on vehicle loading conditions.

CONNECTIVITY/TECHNOLOGY
In the digital age everyone wants to be connected to their electronics at all times, so Hyundai Veloster comes standard with a multifunction seven-inch touch-screen display. At engine start-up, the screen comes to life with a Hyundai Veloster image and a unique sound. There are three interface layouts the user can choose from.

Pandora internet radio is integrated into Hyundai Veloster. The display screen has a Pandora icon to stream internet radio from an iPhone, Android or Blackberry. Pandora can also be viewed on the display screen and songs can be given the familiar Pandora thumbs up or thumbs down by pressing an icon.

Gracenote improves how Hyundai Veloster drivers access and manage their music through licensed cover art, enhanced voice recognition capabilities and "More Like This" automatic playlisting. Gracenote helps organize song metadata from a drivers music collection, and associates specific genre classifications (e.g. Indie Rock, R&B, Classical) with the identified tracks. This lets Hyundai Veloster drivers create targeted similar music playlists with a single button or voice command using Gracenotes Playlist Plus™ technology.

Gracenote MediaVOCS® technology improves the accuracy of the systems voice recognition capabilities for music search and navigation, letting drivers pinpoint bands, artists and albums with hard-to-pronounce names, irregular spellings and nicknames. For instance, Gracenote MediaVOCS helps the system understand artist names like Beyoncé and AC/DC. And drivers can use "The Boss" as a voice command to access tracks from Bruce Springsteen.

Gracenote also powers the Hyundai Velosters 3D carousel of album cover art, producing a driver-friendly interface that makes it easy to search for music, select albums and display cover art during playback. The combination of these Gracenote technology features provides Veloster drivers a safe and easy way to manage and enjoy their music on the open road.

The head unit features virtual CD downloading which is like having a 10-disc CD changer on board. This feature allows for up to 10 CDs to be stored on the systems memory. The systems memory also allows for viewing and storing of jpeg images, AVI videos and Mpeg videos from a USB stick.

One of the displays unique features is an Eco Coach scoring system. This system acknowledges fuel-efficient driving with an eco rewards score and it accumulates points over time for a total Eco Score. The Eco Coach also provides instant fuel economy feedback so drivers can compare their average fuel economy with other Veloster owners.

With video games being an important element of entertainment, Hyundai integrated a USB jack, RCA jack and 115-volt power outlet in Hyundai Veloster to support gaming consoles for ultimate gaming sessions when in park.

Hyundai Veloster is available with two audio systems. Standard is a 196-watt AM/FM/Satellite Radio/CD/MP3 audio system with six-speakers and iPod®/USB/auxiliary input jacks. A 450-watt Dimension Premium Audio system with eight speakers including an eight-inch subwoofer and external amplifier is available. An XM Satellite Radio interface is also integrated into the head unit and features channel logos and XM Data services, such as XM NavWeather®, XM Stock Ticker and XM Sports Ticker.

A Bluetooth hands-free phone system with voice recognition, address book download and audio streaming is standard. Touch-screen navigation is optional. The system also integrates a rear-view camera, which cannot be found on the CR-Z or tC.

HYUNDAI BLUE LINK
"Blue Link combines safety, service and infotainment into a complete package that works to both help simplify Hyundai owners lives and reduce distracted driving," said Barry Ratzlaff, director of customer satisfaction and service business development, Hyundai Motor America. "Weve carefully studied how drivers rely on smart phones and navigation systems as an innovative link to the outside world. Blue Link brings that seamless connectivity directly into the car with technology like voice text messaging, POI web search download, turn-by-turn navigation, and monthly vehicle reporting. Our agent-assisted advanced voice recognition system offers a 21st century solution to performing POI searches in the vehicle. This unique and innovative approach enables Hyundai to deliver fast, accurate searches and downloads of POIs to vehicles without the unnecessary costs of traditional operator-only type systems of our competitors."

As part of the Blue Link launch, Hyundai also will provide Blue Link Assurance on Blue Link-equipped vehicles, which includes core safety services for an introductory period. These key safety services include: Automatic Crash Notification (ACN) and Assistance, SOS Emergency Assistance, and Enhanced Roadside Assistance. After the introductory period, owners of Blue Link-equipped vehicles can choose to extend these and other services as desired. Blue Link package subscription fees will be announced this spring on Sonata.

Blue Link Assurance further expands Hyundais industry leadership formerly established by Hyundai Assurance, the industrys most comprehensive suite of new-vehicle protection. Hyundai Assurance already offers a 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable bumper-to-bumper warranty, Hyundais 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, 5-years complimentary Roadside Assistance, and Buyer Protection - a credit-protecting job-loss vehicle return program.