The best cars of the year

It may look like that, but it was certainly not a walkover for the Hyundai i10 at the Business Standard Motoring Car Of The Year 2008 (COTY) evaluations.
There were those among the jury who would have liked the quick and flashy Suzuki SX4 to win the honours and there were those who liked the utilitarian virtues of the Mahindra Renault Logan better.

Business Standard Motoring Car Of The Year 2008 � Hyundai i10

The Hyundai i10 wins the honour by being a contemporary car that is built in India for the world. Being a small car with a 66 bhp engine carried over with modifications from the good old Santro meant that it could not outshine its competitors in the objective parameters.

Business Standard Motoring Best Value 2008 � Chevrolet Spark

General Motors India's smallest car on sale has a lot going for it, yet it did not make it to the top honours this year because the i10 is simply an overall better car. Still, the Spark redeems itself on various counts.

Business Standard Motoring Jury Award 2008 � Mahindra Renault Logan

If not for the i10, the Logan would have been our winner this year. It did so well across the board that we just had to give it our Jury Award

Business Standard Motoring Performance Car Of The Year 2008 � BMW 325i

218 bhp at 6500 rpm. 25.1 kgm of torque between 2750 and 4250 rpm. A 2497cc inline-six. A power-to-weight ratio of 142 bhp per tonne. 0 to 100 kph in 8.98 secs. Top speed of 240 kph. But these are only the numbers and they are too cold to explain how scintillating the BMW 325i is to drive.

Business Standard Motoring Premium Car Of The Year 2008 � Volkswagen Passat

Europe's largest car manufacturer has made a debut in India with a car that simply overwhelms you for the price it's asking. The Volkswagen Passat is a clever car. It is loaded with an incredible array of features that are not available in cars that are substantially more expensive.

Audi R8

So, you’ve just won the lottery and don’t have a clue what car to buy to make a good impression to all those hot girls you see every day. Well, wonder no more, because we’ve got you covered. Actually, not us, Playboy has. Because they’ve just made public their list of “2008 Cars of the Year”. According to the press release, were chosen by “an expert team of automotive writers who traveled the world and test drove every new model hitting the showroom floor this year”. Yeah, right, like when you say “Playboy!”, the first thing that comes up to our minds is “an expert team of automotive writers”.
Click on the ‘Read More’ link to see the full list, from the press release, with the Audi R8 being voted as the coolest car around

Playboy’s 2008 Car of the Year: Audi R8
This mid engine sexpot boasts a 420 bhp, 4.2-liter V8, and hits zero to 60 in a sexy 4.4 seconds
Best Luxury Sports Coupe: Maserati GranTurismo
Features a 405 bhp, 4.2-liter double overhead cam V8 packs 339 foot-pounds of torque
Smartest Purchase: Smart Fortwo
Sits eight feet by eight inches long and weighs a whopping 1,807 pounds
Best Sports Sedan: Cadillac CTS
With a base engine of a 3.6-liter V6 that develops 263bhp, it is just as quick as the CTS-V
Best SUV: Land Rover LR2
Equipped with a Terrain Response feature that adjusts the AWD and suspension for driving conditions
Best Crossover: Buick Enclave CXL
Proudly sits on 19-inch wheels and is available with a luxury package including articulated headlights
Best Convertible: BMW 335i
Not only does it whip from zero to 60 in 5.5 seconds, its light-weight steel top retracts in 22 seconds
Best Earth-Day Car: Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec
Outfitted with three catalysts and a filter in the exhaust that erases every trace of smoke and N2O
Best Pint-size Performance: Volvo C30

The German tuner G-Power created an outstanding tuning program for the BMW M5. Dubbed “Hurricane”, the G-Power M5 is powered by an impressive 730hp, that’s 224 hp more than the standard M5’s 507 hp output. And, as you’d expect with those numbers, the car is also pretty fast. Recently tested on the Nardo track, it reached 322 km/h (200 mph) but it seems an electronic problem prevented it from reaching G-Power claimed top speed, of over 350 km/h (217 mph).
That’s about all the details we have for now, but stay tuned, because G-Power said it would reveal more on the “Hurricane” program sometime soon and rumors say they’ll even announce an 800 hp version.
Meanwhile, you can check out more photos of the BMW M5 Hurricane

BMWX6

Here’s something really cool, a video of the new SUV from BMW.

NISSAN Forum concept officially announced

Scheduled to make its world debut at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show, the Nissan Forum Concept was officially announced today. The seven seater family car concept was developed by Nissan Design America and gives us a glimpse of future family transportation, trackless sliding side doors, no B-pillars and an interior featuring a multi-position swiveling 2nd row seat and next-generation entertainment. All that powered by a clean diesel engine featuring CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) technology.
Rachel Nguyen, director, Advanced Planning and Strategy, Nissan North America, Inc. said: “From a conceptual standpoint, FORUM is closer to a family limousine than the minivans Gen Xers have grown up with. But unlike a real limo – or sometimes traditional minivans – the FORUM driver is just as important as the passengers [..] It offers a sophisticated space for adults and an engaging space for children – allowing both groups to enjoy themselves in their own individualistic ways while being connected in one vehicle. Like every Nissan, this dramatic FORUM Concept combines passionate driving, emotive design and an abundance of advanced, user-friendly technology.”

Bailey Blade to come into market in 2008

35 year old Neal Bailey is trying something really cool. He wants to create a modern sports car that is inspired from the classic sports car and he has chosen the Shelby Cobra as his source of inspiration. We’re sure this was a really brave decision, because it’s not everyday we see someone trying to create its own sports car and, if the Bailey Blade project succeeds, hats down for Neal. The Bailey Blade is based on a heavily modified chassis from a replica Cobra, tweaked to fit an independent front and rear suspension. Bailey also aims at the Europeans, so the Blade will meet European standards, plus that a right side steering wheel will be available. Neal hopes to have a full working prototype by next summer and he also hopes to make the first sales at the end of 2008.