Garage Diorama - 1/43 Project (Final-Phase)

It is more than a week since my last update in respect of the garage diorama project.
This was already completed before Christmas but due to holiday season the post was delayed.

For those who waited for the project thank you and I really appreciate…..

HAPPY HOLIDAY’S EVERYONE & WISHING YOU MORE MODEL CARS FOR 2010…..

2010 Lotus Exige S Type 72 Special Edition

The Lotus Exige S Type 72 celebrates the most successful F1 car of all time, the Lotus Type 72 Formula One car, which achieved 20 Grand Prix victories between 1970 and 1975.

The Lotus Type 72 was driven by such Lotus greats as Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ronnie Peterson and Jacky Ickx and won three Formula One Constructorsâ€TM Championships (1970, 1972 and 1973) and two Driversâ€TM World Championships (the first being won by Jochen Rindt in 1970 and the second by Emerson Fittipaldi in 1972).

The colour scheme of the Exige S Type 72 commemorates the famous and easily recognisable black and gold Lotus Type 72 livery and is finished by the same sign writer who painted racing cars for Team Lotus.

Performance through light weight has long been a Lotus philosophy. The 935kg Exige S Type 72 sprints to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds and to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 145 mph, 233 km/h. The Exige S Type 72 also offers class leading fuel economy and emissions, with fuel economy of 6.5 litres/100 km (43.5 mpg) on the Extra Urban Cycle and CO2 emissions of 199 g/km.

The Exige S Type 72 is a powerful supercharged mid-engined sportscar that is equally at home on the racetrack or open road. The intercooled engine has VVTL-i technology ensuring impressive performance all the way to the rev limiter at 8500 rpm.

The Sport Pack comes as standard on the Exige S Type 72 which has a bespoke high quality interior, including black micro fibre ProBax sports seats with gold stitching. Each car comes with a special build plate commemorating one of the F1 car's 20 Grand Prix victories. The exterior of the Exige S Type 72 features unique black and gold light weight wheels and is finished with hand-painted gold Type 72 and Exige S logos, (the Sport Pack also includes a T45 steel main roll hoop, Lotus Traction Control, twin oil coolers and an adjustable front anti-roll bar).

All Lotus cars offer outstanding handling and performance, and the Exige is no exception offering excellent dynamics and great driver involvement. Lotus ride and handling gives an inspiring driving experience and the mid-engined layout of the Lotus Exige S Type 72 offers fantastic balance and agility.

Luke Bennett, Operations Director for Lotus Cars Limited stated, "The Lotus Exige S Type 72 is an evocative sportscar, combining cutting edge handling and performance with the iconic Type 72 colour scheme, one of the most famous racing liveries of all time. The Exige provides an intense driving experience either on road or track and this limited edition is a worthy car to celebrate such a legendary racing car."

Clive Chapman, Director of Classic Team Lotus said, "The Type 72 was a very significant car for Team Lotus and indeed for the world of F1. It was a revolutionary design that pioneered the use of side mounted radiators to achieve its distinctive "wedge" profile, which delivered a significant aerodynamic advantage. Furthermore, by minimising unsprung weight and using a torsion bar, rising rate suspension, tyre performance was excellent. The Lotus Type 72 design was so advanced that it was competitive for an extraordinary six years."

The Exige S Type 72 options include: Air Conditioning, Limited Slip Differential and the Performance Pack, which includes a power increase to 240 PS, larger AP Racing brakes, enlarged roof scoop (compared to the standard Exige S) and Lotus variable traction control and Lotus launch control.

To commemorate the impressive number of Grand Prix wins the Type 72 achieved, Lotus will be producing 20 of this special edition for the UK, a further 20 cars for mainland Europe and there will be a limited run of cars in Japan and selected markets around the world.

Lotus Exige S Type 72 prices:

UK Price: £35,995 MRSP, excluding on the road costs of £950

Euro zone price: €40,332, including delivery and other on the road costs, excluding local country tax.


Exige S:
199 g/km CO2

8.5 l/100 km (33.2 mpg) Combined Cycle

11.9 l/100 km (23.7 mpg) Urban Cycle

6.5 litres/100 km (43.5 mpg) Extra Urban Cycle

Merry Christmas !

Best wishes for a Happy Holiday Season and the New Year.

Some Tips for Perfecting your Parking Skills

Whether you live in a busy, bustling city or a quiet country dwelling, being able to drive safely and confidently is important, and one of the most common things that drivers of all ages find tricky is parking. Though absolutely essential, the seemingly simple act of parking a car can become cumbersome and time consuming due to several factors, from surface terrain and reduced visibility to even an unfamiliar new car.

To avoid accidents and save time, there are plenty of small tips to bear in mind the next time you go to reverse park into a tight space, or parallel park on a congested street, but here's a few of them to get you started.

Small scrapes and bumps are very common in car parks, where space is usually of a premium. When you find the best spot to park in, first decide whether to reverse in or go nose first, and then remember to go slowly. Though you'll hopefully not cause any serious accidents while parking, it can still be expensive to fix that scratched paint work if you're not careful. Simply reducing your speed immediately gives you a far greater margin for error and allows you time to consider each movement and amend any mistakes as you go.

Next is observation. By being aware of what is around you on all sides, it can reduce the likelihood of accidents and will improve your spatial awareness, so when you come to get out of the car, you won't find that you're parked too close to even open your driver's door! A simple fix to prevent you from denting your bumper (or anyone else’s) is parking sensors. They can be used both front and rear and will help you park more accurately in no time.

In a busy street or packed multi-storey car park, it’s easy for drivers to get competitive over parking spaces. Don’t. Remember that keeping control of the car is essential at all times, so you should try to avoid any actions that could provoke other drivers. Maintain common courtesy while parking that you would use throughout your day to day life, as this will keep you relaxed and focused as you go to park.

Finally, don’t forget the little things that will make the job of parking easier. Before you begin the manoeuvre, make sure you’re aware of what’s around you and, just as importantly, make sure fellow drivers are aware of you. Signal clearly and early, allowing drivers plenty of time to give you room to park, and be considerate of how much space you take up too - always aim for the minimum.

Though there are plenty of car insurance companies out there, follow these simple tips and hopefully your parking will be bump-free in the future.
http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/some-tips-for-perfecting-your-parking-skills-1621828.html

First Drive: 2011 Toyota Sienna

2011 Toyota Sienna minivan early next year.

The Sienna looks new inside and out, though careful reading of its spec sheet reveals it's got a lot in common with the last version. It just makes economic sense--though some shoppers will wonder if it made more sense to tear up the Sienna's floorpan and install fold-away second-row seats. The Sienna goes without that clever arrangement, while Chrysler and Dodge and Nissan tease shoppers with the promise of a two-seat, cargo-filled van.

To counter those come-ons, Toyota's putting a few spiffs in the Sienna. For one, you can haul a full 4x8 sheet of plywood inside, if you have to--even if you have to remove the second-row seats or scar them for life. If you treat your Sienna with more respect--and your passengers too--Toyota's seen fit to fit a pair of aircraft-style first-class seats on some Siennas. Tilt them back, tune in two videos on the 16.4-inch-wide LCD screen, and you could practically live in the Sienna, if you parked it on the right side of any Manhattan street. You could probably charge $1200 a month, in fact.

There are other arrows in its quiver, too. The Sienna still offers all-wheel drive, unlike every other minivan. A new SE edition has tighter tuning and 19-inch wheels, for those who refuse to give up the tendency to rub sidewalls for guilty pleasure. And for 2011, Toyota's turned back the clock to fit a four-cylinder engine in the Sienna--and with 187 horsepower and a six-speed automatic, the four-cylinder will give frugal shoppers a serious, convincing alternative to lavish V-6 power.

Toyota says the base price of the 2011 Sienna will come in below the current vehicle's $25,000 price point. At that point, it's a worthwhile investment that gives the Sienna a fighting chance against the plasticky Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country, the price-cutter Kia Sedona, the also-ran Nissan Quest and TheCarConnection.com's favorite minivan, the Honda Odyssey.

2010 ART Mercedes G55 AMG G streetline

2010 ART Mercedes G55 AMG G

Garage Diorama - 1/43 Project (Phase-II)

Update for the garage diorama project.

Red paint was applied on the fabricated single post car lift as well as the trusses.

The roof/ceiling is made from corrugated plastic and black cardboard from a laptop packaging box. I cut three equal size hole on the cardboard that will serve as a roof lights.

Phase III/final phase will be post soon...........

2010 Ford Focus ECOnetic Pictures

The new 2010 Ford Focus ECOnetic takes a successful formula to the next level by combining new technology with clever details, making the most fuel-efficient Ford Focus up to now.

2010 Ford Focus ECOnetic

2010 Ford Focus ECOnetic

Dedicated Ford Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo and Transit ECOnetic models have already established themselves as credible alternatives for customers prioritising low carbon motoring and high levels of fuel efficiency. Now, the next-generation Ford Focus ECOnetic changes the rules again, and introduces Ford of Europe’s first production application of the optional Ford Auto-Start-Stop system.

Ford Focus ECOnetic

Ford Focus ECOnetic

Electric Renault Zoé Z.E. Confirmed for Launch in 2012

Renault Zoé Z.E. EV Concept Picture

Renault's new electric-car concept, the Zoé Z.E, will go on the market in 2012.

Rinspeed's EV rental car-train combo

Every year, Swiss tuner Rinspeed dreams up another wild car for the Geneva Auto Show, from tuned Porsches to a submersible Lotus to last year's iPhone-controlled EV.

This year's car is tame, even — gasp! — production-capable when it goes on display in March. At 8.2 feet long, the two-seat electric UC? (Urban Commuter, you see) is Smart-sized, yet takes design cues from the larger Fiat 500. The car's 75-mile range and 68-mph top speed don't break any EV barriers, a helpful way to trim costs for Rinspeed's grand plan: an electric car-sharing service integrated with an elaborate electric train network.

Should you wish to travel more than 75 miles, simply drive to a designated station and pull up to a reserved spot on-board, where the QC? can be charged as you're whisked away to your next leg. With Europe's high taxes and sophisticated mass-transit systems, it actually sounds practical.

So far, other companies have taken small steps. In October, an California fleet company said it would rent electric cars at Danish train stations by 2010. Last month, Daimler began producing its electric Smart ForTwo in France, and also started a pilot car-sharing service in Austin, Texas, of gasoline ForTwos. In June, Ontario battery manufacturer Electrovaya
offered hourly EV rentals in Baltimore, and Paris is trying to build a rental fleet of 2,000 electric cars by 2010.

Rinspeed UC Electric Concept Set To Jolt 2010

Rinspeed UC? Picture

The two-passenger UC? electric concept car is slated for a Geneva show debut from Swiss specialty carmaker Rinspeed.
In what may be the first instance of a question mark's use in a vehicle nameplate, Rinspeed on Wednesday previewed its two-passenger UC? electric concept ahead of its debut at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show. The Swiss specialty house said the name is short for "Urban Commuter" or "You see?"

The UC? is described as a "lightweight lovebug" and bears a passing resemblance to a Volkswagen New Beetle. It has a top speed of 68 mph and a range of 75 miles. It is operated with a central joystick and delivers 91 pound-feet of torque, said Rinspeed in a statement.

"The most important aspect of the vehicle is that there is a good chance that it will be built in series production," Rinspeed said.

In an intriguing twist, the UC? is designed to link individual and public transport. Its makers envision that it can be loaded off and onto railway cars "to cover long distances by train, comfortably, without traffic jams and stress-free." Users would book time to recharge the UC? at a mobile carport with an integrated battery charging station.

Rinspeed said it envisions that large-volume manufacturers will build the car and says "intensive dialogues at the highest levels are already well underway" but does not disclose which companies could build the UC?.

Mini Beachcomber

Gah! Are they serious? What were they smoking in the Mini design studio when they came up with this?

What you see here is the Mini Beachcomber Concept, the 1960’s Mini Moke reimagined through what had to have been a purple haze. BMW’s bringing it to the Detroit auto show, though why is anyone’s guess. There’s been a lot of talk about a Mini crossover utility vehicle in the pipeline, and we can only hope this isn’t what it will look like.

“MINI crosses borders, enters new dimensions of driving pleasure, and wins over additional target groups” is what BMW says about the concept car. Sounds like something the marketing wonks at Pontiac could have been saying at an Aztek product review meeting. Seriously guys, WTF? This kinda goes against everything the Mini embodies, no?

It’s not that the Beachcomber is without its merits. It has such usable features as all-wheel-drive (which Mini terms the “ALL4 all-wheel drive”) and the four seats can be shuffled around to allow you to do a variety of tasks. But Mini has seen fit to do away completely with the roof and doors. Mini says it did this so as not to “limit the intensity of the occupants’ encounter with their surrounding world. This makes the driver and up to three passengers one harmonious entity communicating directly with their surroundings – whether cruising through town, enjoying rough tracks in the mountains or breezing along the beach.”

Or getting whacked in the face by a branch, but don’t let us ruin your fun being one harmonious entity.

And this quote from the press release had us chuckling: “Access to the front and rear seats is nevertheless exceptionally convenient and easy thanks to the omission of doors and the entry cutouts extending all the way down to the seat bottoms, allowing the driver and passengers to get in and out in one smooth and flowing process.”

Yeah, notice how smoothly you flow through those entry cutouts when you hit that huge rock in the trail and the Mini Beachcomber comes to an abrupt halt.

But c’mon, that’s not really going to happen, is it? There’s no way Mini is going to produce this, although the all-wheel-drive and such will be in their upcoming production Mini-ute. Seriously, can you just imagine the reaction from other 4X4 owners at the rock crawling competition if you were to show up in the Mini Beachcomber?

Photos: BMW