| In Accord with Honda standards
It is one thing to give a car a facelift, but it is a whole lot more difficult to make it look better than its predecessor and to get buyers to pay more for the replacement model. Being a focused premium sedan, the Honda Accord's going has been easy. With great brand image and reliability built into its bodywork, this premium sedan managed to outsell the competition in the segment, despite its relatively higher pricing. The seventh generation Honda Accord is probably in the middle of a full-blown model makeover and before the eighth is rolled out globally during the next couple of years, a facelift to the current model is a simple way of ensuring that the Accord's appeal is maintained. Of course, a facelift is a regular model-year change that cars are put through in big auto markets such as the US.
Man gets jail on drug, gun charges
A Steelton man told a Lancaster County judge Thursday a jury wrongly convicted him Monday on drug and gun charges. Judge Paul K. Allison sentenced Lonnie Alexander "Bobby" Stewart to 5 to 10 years in state prison anyway. Stewart, 36, insisted he was innocent. "I didn't know there were drugs or guns in the car," Stewart said. "Honest, that's God's truth." Manheim Township police arrested Stewart and Donell P. Brantley Jr., 21, about 3 a.m. Sept. 26, 2005, after stopping them for driving erratically in the 1200 block of Lititz Pike, according to court documents. Officer Thomas Miles contacted the owner of the Mazda 626, who was not with the two men, and received permission to search it. Miles found a duffel bag containing a loaded handgun, 24 grams of cocaine, $1,900 cash and drug paraphernalia.
Photos: Using your iPod while you drive
In-car tech is changing rapidly with satellite navigation systems, DVD players and even in-car broadband now available. A growing number of car manufacturers are now offering iPod or MP3 connectivity as an option and it seems people are as keen to bring their iPod into the car as they are to take it on the train. Mazda's new MX5 hardtop roadster (above) is one of the latest models to feature an integrated iPod system as standard. As an added bonus, the MX5 also comes with a free iPod Nano.
Photo credit: Mazda
Road Test: 2007 Dodge Nitro SLT
The key and fob is an all-in-one unit that saves space in your pocket “ I must say that I'll never get tired of this concept. Walking up to the Nitro you can't help but notice how high the sides panels are compared to the size of the windows. I start to grin. Grabbing the big beefy door handle and pressing the pie plate sized button, I opened the door with anticipation. Unlike so many SUV's on the market today, you actually have to step up into this truck. The test vehicle is an SLT - the middle version in the range of Nitro offerings, and the one Dodge say is going to be the most popular among purchasers. There's an R/T version coming soon that delivers 20" rims and tires as standard equipment “ that should make it an even bigger climb to get in.
Grabbing the steering wheel, I swing myself up and into the truck.
How to be filthy rich
MY better half, Miss Barefoot, is regularly the bridesmaid but never the bride ¿ something that hasn't gone unnoticed by both our families. While many of her girlfriends tell tales of their boyfriends staging elaborate plans to whisk them away for a special romantic evening, poor old Miss Barefoot gets the following: Barefoot: Babe, what do you say, let's go out tonight. Miss Barefoot: How thoughtful of you! Have you reserved a table at a nice restaurant (note: secretly thinking 'is this the night?') Barefoot: Eating out for dinner? Come on it's cheaper to make it at home. Anyway, there's a seminar on tonight called the "Massive Passive Cash Flow Generator Evening". I've booked it in your name because these guys seem to get hot under the collar if they notice my name on the door.
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Mazda MX-5 |
| Year |
2007 |
| Make |
Mazda |
| Model |
MX-5 |
| Engine Location |
Front |
| Drive Type |
Rear Wheel |
| Weight |
3078 lbs | 1396.2 kg |
| MPG City |
25 |
| MPG Highway |
30 |
| Engine |
| Engine Configuration |
I |
| Cylinders |
4 |
| Engine |
VVT |
| Aspiration/Induction |
Normal |
| Displacement |
2.00 L | 122 cu in. | 1999.6 cc. |
| Valves |
16 valves.
4 valves per cylinder. |
| Valvetrain |
DOHC |
| Horsepower |
170.00 HP (125.1 KW) @ 6700.00 RPM |
| Torque |
140.00 Ft-Lbs (189.8 NM) @ 5000.00 RPM |
| HP to Weight Ratio |
18.1 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio) |
| HP / Liter |
85.0 BHP / Liter |
| Redline |
6700 |
| Bore |
3.44 in | 87.4 mm. |
| Stroke |
3.27 in | 83.1 mm. |
| Compression Ratio |
10.8:1 |
| Fuel Type |
Gasoline - Petrol |
| Fuel Feed |
Fuel Injected |
|
Multi-port Electronic Fuel Injection |
| Ignition System |
Distributor Less Ignition |
|
Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight |
| Standard Transmission |
| Gears |
5 |
| Transmission |
Manual |
| Final Drive |
4.10 |
| Optional Transmission |
| Gears |
6 |
| Transmission |
Automatic |
|
Sport |
| Optional Transmission |
| Gears |
6 |
| Transmission |
Manual |
| Final Drive |
4.10 |
| Dimensions |
| Cargo Volume |
5.30 cu. ft. |
| Fuel Capacity |
12.7 Gal |
| Seating Capacity |
2 |
| Doors |
2 |
| Exterior |
| Length |
157.301 in | 3995.4 mm. |
| Width |
67.701 in | 1719.6 mm. |
| Height |
49.001 in | 1244.6 mm. |
| Wheelbase |
91.701 in | 2329.2 mm. |
| Front Track |
58.701 in | 1491 mm. |
| Rear Track |
58.901 in | 1496.1 mm. |
| Front Overhang |
4.61 in | 117.1 mm. |
| Interior |
| Front Headroom |
37.401 in | 950 mm. |
| Front Legroom |
43.101 in | 1094.8 mm. |
| Front Hip Room |
53.21 in | 1351.5 mm. |
| Front Shoulder Room |
53.201 in | 1351.3 mm. |
|
Vehicles with similar dimensions |
| Suspension |
| Suspension |
Front : Double Wishbone
Rear : Multilink |
| Steering |
| |
Rack and Pinion |
| Steering Overall Ratio |
15.0:1 |
| Turns lock to lock |
2.70 |
| Turning Circle |
30.801 ft |
| Brakes |
| Front Brake Size |
11.401 in | 289.6 mm. |
| Rear Brake Size |
11.001 in | 279.4 mm. |
| Tires / Wheels |
| Tires |
P205/50R-16 |
| Wheels |
16 X 6-1/2 J aluminum alloy |
|
