Ridiculously cute Nissan Figaro (1990)

The Figaro was introduced at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show under the slogan "Back to the Future". It was built by a Nissan special projects group called Pike Factory, which also produced other niche automobiles such as the Be-1, Pao and S-Cargo. It was based on the K10 Nissan Micra aka March. Only four colours were available: Topaz Mist, Emerald Green, Pale Aqua and Lapis Grey. Each colour symbolised a season of the year. When the car was launched, Topaz Mist was the least popular colour. There were only 2,000 produced in Topaz Mist hence they have become increasingly rare. The Figaro was sold without the Nissan name.

The Figaro was equipped with leather seats, air conditioning, CD player and an open roof. It was designed by Shoji Takahashi, who won a design competition with the car.

Only 80 were originally available with an additional 12,000 added to production numbers to meet demand. Prospective purchasers had to enter a lottery to be able to buy one of these cars. Limited edition cars came with passenger side baskets and cup holders. These now fetch hundreds on internet auction sites.

There are specialist dealers in the UK who supply parts and servicing for this car.

Size

• Interior Width: 1310 mm (51.57 in)
• Interior Height: 1130 mm (44.49 in)
• Treadwidth: Front: 1335 mm (52.56 in), Rear: 1350 mm (53.15 in)
• Riding Capacity: 4 seat belts, 4 people

[edit]Weight

• Max laden weight: 1235 kg (2723 lb)
• Max rolling weight: 1835 kg (4045 lb)
• Max load (front axle): 620 kg (1367 lb)
• Max load (rear axle): 625 kg (1378 lb)
• Max trailer weight (without brakes): 310 kg (683 lb)
• Max trailer weight (with brakes): 600 kg (1323 lb)

[edit]Performance

• Turning Circle (pavement to pavement): 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in)
• Fuel Economy: 7.3 L/100 km (39 mpg_-imp; 32 mpg_-US)
• Fuel consumption rate: 60 km/h (37 mph) running, on level ground: 4.1 L/100 km (69 mpg_-imp; 57 mpg_-US)

[edit]Engine

• Bore and Stroke: 68.0 mm × 68.0 mm (2.68 in × 2.68 in)
• Compression Ratio: 8.0:1
• Max Power: 76 PS (56 kW; 75 hp) at 6000 rpm
• Max Torque: 10.8 kg·m (106 N·m; 78 lb·ft) at 4400 rpm
• Fuel Delivery: ECCS
• Fuel Type/Capacity: Regular Unleaded/40L (8.8 imp gal or 10.6 US gal)

Fisker goes bankruptcy?!... Yeah, I guess we all knew it was coming...

Fisker Automotive looks to be headed towards bankruptcy protection. Automotive News reports the automaker could file Chapter 11 as soon as this week as the US Department of Energy attempts to get the company to give back around $200 million in federal loans. The manufacturer's lawyers have already drawn up the necessary paperwork and are ready to file within the next few days, according to an unnamed source. The DoE is pushing Fisker toward bankruptcy after months of bickering between the two parties. Fisker had been courting buyers in both China and Europe in an attempt to stay solvent, but failed to bring in the necessary funds.

As a result, Fisker hasn't built a single vehicle since last summer, and no one has stepped up to buy any more of the $100,000 hybrid vehicles. Last Friday, the company laid off some 75 percent of its workforce in the US, leaving only around 50 executives behind to avoid breaching its contract with the DoE. Right now, the company has around $30 million in cash on hand and is staring down the barrel of a $10 million DoE loan payment in a few weeks. (www.autoblog.com)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I live in Los Angeles. and I see way more Tesla model S than Karma... Fisker shook the automotive industry in some extent but wasn't good enough to be a game changer after all.

1970 DATSUN 240Z Police Car...JDM!

When I was a kid, I thought I've seen those 240Z highway patrol cars. But my memory got blur over the years... then asked some friends of mine who are old enough to see the cars on the road. Nobody has seen them. Was it for real? Or some cars were made for a movie or something?! So I search on the web. Found it! They were actually existed for real from 70's to 80's. I never thought about being part of highway patrol... but that could be cool, chase after folks and cut tickets everyday...lol

It says Kanagawa Police Department.

I kept on searching. some more interesting images. These are rather newer models...

First gen Honda NSX

R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R

Mazda RX-8

2014 Range Rover Sport -New York Auto Show review

Long awaited Range Rover Sport is finally going on the street... The exterior is heavily influenced by its younger brother. The headlights get the same treatment as Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque. Over all, the body isn't as square and edgy as before... Personally I've always liked squareness of Range Rover series. Now it looks more like "conventional" SUV. Don't get me wrong. I think it's a refinement. It just lost the distinctive feel the previous version had. The windshield looks far in forward position now. As a result, the entire proportion is changed. Yeah, Third row seats, right? It makes sense if you have more than four kids. Do you? Well, I need to see this car in person.

Photos by http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/27/2014-land-rover-range-rover-sport-new-york-2013/

Somebody tell me! Should I get Wrangler or FJ Cruiser?

Life is a adventure. So is car purchasing... If you are kind of person who like to go on a trail road, or go out on camping in woods every now and then, you must have at least once debate yourself, "Which one is better, Toyota FJ Cruiser or Jeep Wrangler?" I've had this debate for a couple of months now...

I don't mean to drive into swamp or clime up on rocky road. But I want to know my car has capablity of doing those things. In many forums, people talk about which car is the true offroader. (check out edmonds.com at http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.efee0e8 It's hilarious!)

Many say Jeep Wrangler has advantage in off-road capability. However, It's Chrysler quality after all... 95% of time, I'll be not on the dirt but freeway. Also I want to feel safe specially when I have my daughter in the back seat.Wrangler is one of the most dangerous vehicle out there when it comes to side impact collision.

Then why don't I go for FJ Cruiser? ...'cause  I like the way Jeep looks! I'm not into two doors but four door version called unlimited. Proportion is just right. It looks solid.

Uh... I guess I'll be talking myself tonight again...

How long do we have to wait?! Volvo XC90

Well, I thought it was a nice looking SUV...more than 10 years ago. Don't get me wrong. It's still a nice looking, well-proportioned vehicle. The Volvo XC90 represents the last generation of cars that has clean looking side panels. Strong shoulder line runs all the way from the front to the rear. Looking at other models from the OEM last several years, most likely the XC90 of new generation would get a treatment somewhat similar to current XC60. Needless to say, Volvo is well known for it's advanced safety technology. But, my problem is, the latest models don't necessarily talk about through design... They are not German, Japanese, or American. I really hope the all-new XC90 will be very original.

Here are some concept CG images available on the web nowadays,

I'm really hoping that the new XC90 will have plug-in hybrid as an option... I don't think anybody would race with Full-sized (or close to be full-sized) SUV. When it has satisfying torque, that's all I want. Also please keep the interior as Scandinavian as possible. Simple layout with good materials. Honestly I'm tired of looking another Gundam-inspired design. (a.k.a. Ford)

So far it sounds like the XC90 will be out in the market in late 2014 as 2015 model... I don't wanna wait any longer!

2014 Chevy Corvette... The return of Stingray

Corvette stingray (C7) is finally out on the street. 

The all-new LT1 small-block V8 holds on to the same 6.2-liter displacement as the C6, here producing 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque backed by either a seven-speed manual or a six-speed paddleshift automatic. And although GM has yet to release the car's weight (we only know it won't be under 3,000 pounds as previously rumored), it's promising a better power-to-weight ratio than the Porsche 911 Carrera and Audi R8. In fact, Chevy pledges the C7 will run from 0-60 in less than four seconds and Z51 Performance Package examples will achieve cornering grip of over one g right out of the box. Further, 60-0 braking distances are said to be consistent with that of the outgoing Grand Sport and so are its lap times – impressive for a standard model.

It's clearly the vette. This may be the best design Chevy ever created yet.

“Iconic.” It’s possibly the word most overused in the last decade. Randomly applied to everything from ’70s television has-beens to retail establishments, and from shoes to athletes, it’s been rendered practically meaningless. But in the case of the Corvette, the word still carries the weight of a blacksmith’s anvil.

Love it or hate it, for more than 50 years, the Vette has unapologetically stood as a universal symbol for homegrown American performance. So when Chevrolet announces it has a new one in the pipe, people get weird. Rumors of mid-mounted engines, piles of carbon fiber, and turbocharging swirl. But now that the drapes have finally sloughed off the 2014 C7 Corvette Stingray—yes, the famed name returns on the base car—we have only truth.