All Aston Martins Are Beautiful, Right?

Behold, the car that takes that statement and runs it through the shredder, turning it into little squares: the Aston Martin Lagonda (1976-1989).

It was designed by a man who only knew how to use a ruler, a T-square and two different angled drafting triangles. He probably wanted to make the wheels square as well.

It even had two sets of headlights. One pair that brackets the tiny, stunted grill, and another that pops up. Like this:

Scary, isn't it?

But there's more squareness.

The rear end is typically '70s. Slats for taillights and the whole nine yards. Although, it's the tamest part of the car.

Then there was the interior...

More angles, covered in leather and fitted with wood. This was the best picture I could find, but I've seen others. The rest of the inside is the same, more angles, more leather, but with surprisingly comfortable looking seats.

It was the electrics (like many British cars) that let the Lagonda down. The instrument panel was completely digital, the first one in the world, and it failed constantly.

Gauges, the computer, anything really, would stop working at random moments.

The Lagonda is so bizarre, unreliable, and (with the headlights up) ugly, that anyone should rightly hate it. But I don't. Partly because it's an oddball car, but also because of its profile.

It's so rakish, low slung and swept back.

It would slice through the air, rocketed forward by the massive V8 engine under its hood. When swaddled in its soft, yet angular leather, and cruising at over 100 mph, one knows that overdrive is necessary.

A Box, By Studebaker

Behold, one of the coolest cars in existence: the Studebaker Lark Wagonaire station wagon.

If you've never heard of it, I'm not surprised.

Studebaker was a car manufacturer that went bust in 1966. It was actually the oldest car make at the time, because it originally made the Conestoga wagons that we associate with the Oregon Trail and pioneers.


I'm not calling it the most beautiful thing in the world, but there's something endearing about it's simple lines.

But the best thing is this:

Yes, the back roof slides forward. That, all by itself, makes this car cool.

There was also something else. This station wagon, this little compact (for the 60s), could be ordered with a turbocharged V-8 engine and a four-speed manual.

So a Studebaker, a bit of a dowdy, grandpa-like car, could keep up with the hulking muscle monsters like GTOs, Mustangs and Barracudas.

How awesome is that?

Since the company is no longer with us, this inherent awesomeness didn't translate into sales. In fact, these are the only two decent pictures I could find on the internet.

But the idea didn't die. GMC came out with the Envoy XUV, which had a motorized sliding roof. It lasted from 2003 to 2005.

Perhaps the idea just isn't that practical. People get trucks when they carry something upright.

But think about it. You're driving down the road with your new Frigidaire sticking out of the roof. Wind whistles around its square shape and the turbocharger howls under the hood.

That's when overdrive is necessary.

New SKY engines from mazda at Tokyo Motorshow next month

Mazda  the SKY-G and the SKY-D is new engine from Mazda .Mazda will be show the next generation petrol and diesel engines at the Tokyo Motorshow next month. The engines are called  respectively for the petrol and diesel versions.
right click to save as the image.

The SKY-G engine is a 2.0 liter unit with direct injection and an improved variable valve timing system which gives it a 15% fuel economy and torque advantage over the current MZR engine in the Mazda 3 2.0 Sport. Direct injection was previously found only on the turbocharged 2.3 liter engine but is now available in the ‘regular’ engines.

The Mazda SKY-D engine is a 2.2 liter unit that offers fuel economy of approximately 20% better than the current 2.2 liter diesel engine. It features a newly designed engine block that reduces mechanical friction to the level of a gasoline engine. Other features include piezo injectors and a two-stage turbocharger. It doesn’t sound like its a twin-turbo setup, but instead is probably a variable geometry turbocharger.

BMW 1 Series top car of the year

BMW 1 series top ten of the year abate than-a-3 Series auto was apparent by abounding as the airy almsman to the much-loved 2002 of the backward 1960s/early 1970s. We didn't absolutely buy into that. Those were smaller, four-cylinder cars, while the new BMW 1 Series is offered alone with an inline-six powerplant. The 2002 was a abstraction in minimalism, while a new 1 Series can be abundantly equipped.


 

Choose amid the 128i, powered by a 3.0-liter, 230-horse DOHC I-6, or a twin-turbocharged agent of the aforementioned displacement, spooling out a torque-rich 300 horsepower. Both engines can be had with stick or automated transmission. Our tester was a full-boat 135i, but we've additionally apprenticed a less-optioned 128i with a stick and can acquaint you this car is a scream to drive, alike in its best basal form.


As with abounding Bangle-era Bimmers, the arguing point is design. Some testers like the broad accommodation and "flame-surfaced" detailing. Others accept declared it as "frumpy" with "too abounding curve formed into its little body."

So does the BMW 1 Series accept the appurtenances to be the 2009 Motor Trend Car of the Year? Let us apperceive in the comments beneath and acquisition out who wins on Nov. 18.

Open Job Vacancy with the Lotus F1 Team

Great news for you technician or programmer
Litespeed F3 Team

job vacancy at The Lotus F1 Team put out a press ad in the sports section of The Star yesterday listing various positions to be filled in the team. The list is quite extensive and all you have to do is email your CV and cover letter to 1MalaysiaHR@lotusf1team.com.

A quick glimpse at lotusf1team.com shows it doesn’t really have much content yet. The domain lists ex-Lotus employee and Litespeed co-founder Nino Singh Judge as the admin and technical contact.

* Aerodynamics – Project Leader Aerodynamics, Junior Aerodynamicist, Head of CFD, CFD Engineer.
* Composites Design – Head of Composite Design, Senior / Junior Composite Designer, Composite Engineer.
* Composite – Head of Composite Layup Shop, Senior / Junior Layup Technician, Head of Composite Trim Shop, Senior / Junior Trim Shop Technician
* Electronics – Head of Electronics, Senior / Junior Electronics Engineer, Senior Control Engineer, Control Software Engineer
* Factory – Factory Manager, Senior / Junior Maintenance
* Gearbox Design – Head of Gearbox Design, Senior / Junior Gearbox Design
* Gearbox Assembly – Head of Gearbox Shop, Race Gearbox Technician
* Hydraulics – Head of Hydraulics Shop, Race Hydraulics Technician, Test Hydraulics Technician
* Mechanical Production – Head of Mechanical Production, Senior / Junior Machinist, Fabricator
* Mechanical Design – Head of Mechanical Design, Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, Senior Mechanical Designer
* Pattern Shop – Head of Pattern Shop, Senior / Junior Pattern Maker
* Production, Production Control and Purchasing – Head of Production, Senior Production Engineer, Mechanical Buyer, Composite Buyer, General Buyer, Aerodynamics Buyer
* Quality Control & Inspection – Head of Inspection, Senior / Junior Inspection Technician
* Design Office – Drawing Office Manager
* R&D – Head of R&D, Senior R&D Engineer, Senior R&D Technician
* Race Engineering – Test Engineer, Race Data Engineer, Test Data Engineer, Aero Support Engineer
* Race & Test – Logistic Manager, Race & Test Travel Secretary, Clothing & Team Gear
* Race Team – Race Chief Mechanic, Race Parts Mechanic
* Stress Analysis – Senior / Junior FEA Engineer
* Sub Assembly – Head of Sub Assembly, Sub Assembly Technician
* Test Team – Test Chief Mechanic, Test Part Mechanic, Test Team Truckie, Test Team Mechanic
* Vehicle Science – Head of Vehicle Dynamics, Vehicle Dynamics Engineer, Senior / Junior Software Engineer
* Marketing & PR – Head of Marketing, Marketing Manager, Tri-lingual Website Designers, Graphic Designers, Executive Assistant, Business Development Manager, Sponsorship Manager, Sponsor Account Manager, Head of PR / Tri-Lingual PR Officer, Press Officer, Hospitality Coordinator
* Finance – Financial Controller, Finance Manager, Finance Executive
* Legal – Head of Legal, Legal Manager, Legal Executive
* HR – Head of HR, HR Manager, HR Executive
* IT – Head of Information Technology, CAD Manager, Senior IT Engineer, Race IT Engineer, Test IT Engineer, IT Technician

It’s not really clear at the moment whether all jobs are available immediately. I have a feeling alot of the positions would probably already be filled by Litespeed F3 engineers. The Aerodynamics and Gearbox department will probably have to deal with FondTech and Xtrac respectively as when the team was announced, they were mentioned as suppliers to the team. Cosworth will be supplying the engine. I think what Malaysian can immediately look out for are the Marketing & PR, Finance, HR and Legal departments.

2010-2011 New SUVs, Trucks, and Minivans

2011 Hyundai Sonata,New SUV

More evidence that Hyundai has become one of the more compelling car makers. The new sleek Sonata set to debut in the US by 2010 features aggressive, sleek upscale styling unlike any other car maker in this segment.

The new Sonata in Korea and most likely the US, will get a 2.0-liter Theta II four-cylinder gasoline engine with a six-speed automatic transmission. Vehicle dynamic control is a standard feature. Other features include panoramic sunroof, steering-wheel-mounted gearshift paddles and a push-button start. Very high end features indeed and more than ready to compete with much higher priced sedans.

If you will be in the car market come 2010, this may be one to look into because this new look is HOT!

Old Chevrolet vs New Chevrolet, Who Wins?

Behold, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's celebration of their fiftieth anniversary.

They decided to demonstrate, visually, just how far car safety has come since 1959.

So, naturally, they smacked a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air sedan into a brand new 2009 Chevrolet Malibu.

That, in my mind, is rather like throwing a typewriter and a computer off a building to see which one will work after the drop.

Neither one of course. And you just destroyed an antique, you twit.

I'll digress so that you can watch the video. In a nice show of symmetry they simulated a 50mph offset head on crash. Only the first few seconds have sound, but it's still strangely satisfying.




Now that you're done with that, I'm assuming you watched it, I'll sum a few things up.

The driver in the silver car almost walked away, only suffering "slight knee injury."

The driver of the brown car "died instantly."

Why? The steering column (what the wheel is attached too) wasn't of the collapsible variety and airbags were about fifteen years or so away. So, when the cars struck, a massive, solid metal, horn button rushed up to the man's head.

That would be like having a steel baseball hitting your head at 50mph.

Of course, the old car fanatics are quite pissed that the IIHS decided to ruin a classic car. I'm a bit miffed myself, if only because my theory of old cars being safer now has a large, Malibu sized, dent in it.

All the same, the IIHS need to test a Lamborghini next. Why? Because it's a very fast car and it might get them away from the mob of gear-heads out for their blood. So for the threatened scientists, overdrive is necessary.