A famous adage asserts that change is the only thing that is constant in the world, and in the automobile industry where nothing is sound and permanent, no one has embodied innovation more than British car designer Lee Noble. Having designed almost 2000 vehicles, he has earned a reputation not for designing the most visually-appetizing cars in the market, but those which are guaranteed to take the experience of driving to an even higher plane. The case is no different for his latest offering to car buyers and enthusiasts everywhere: The 2012 Arrinera Venocara.

Performance

Equipped with a massive eight-liter 6.2-Liter engine and yet is made of lightweight materials to ensure that its speed will not be compromised by the sheer size of it engine. That is not to say, however, that the engine will be merely a detriment to the vehicle, as it is exactly what makes the Arrinera stand out from other vehicles which only succeed in the visuals and fail miserably once put on the roads for a test.

Exterior & Interior

The vehicle’s chassis is also made of materials that is lightweight and has high resistance to deformation, ensuring the protection of the driver as well as the passengers of the vehicle. And finally, the Arrinera also boasts of an interior which can rival that of other vehicles which are called “supercars,” as it is made of leather and other materials of excellent quality.

With over 30 years of experience in car designing under his belt, Lee Noble has truly carved a niche for himself in the automobile industry. And the 2012 Arrinera will be another testament to his dedication to innovation and his desire to take driving to a whole new level.

Specifications

The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Hybrid is available in two trims. It is a full-sized pickup truck that operates on electric and gasoline.

Performance

The Silverado 1500 Hybrid pickup truck is equipped with V8 engine. It has an engine displacement of 6 liters per 366 cubic inches. It has 4 automatic transmissions. The pickup truck during light payload conditions can operate by using the electric power, engine power, or the blending of the two. During heavy payload conditions, the pickup truck is supplied with an electric aid together with its four cylinder engine.

The amount of the engine’s horsepower is 332 while its torque is 367. The maximum capacity of payload is approximately 1511 pounds. The approximate maximum capacity of fuel tank is 26 gallons. The fuel economy for city is 20 miles per gallon while the fuel economy for highway is 23 miles per gallon.

Exterior & Interior

This pickup truck comes in 8 exterior colors. The hydraulic engine is greatly optimized with its exhaust and induction parts which decreases unwanted vibration and noise providing a calm and silent driving experience. The technology of hydro-forming is integrated in the front body frame of the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Hybrid pickup truck which increases the protection of the passengers during collisions. The wheels are made of chrome material. It has automatic headlamps, fog lamps, and daytime running lamps. The total length of this pickup truck is 229.9 inches and its total width is 80 inches.

The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Hybrid is capable of accommodating 6 passengers. It has an economy indicator located on the instrumentation panel which tracks the vehicle’s use of electric power. It is also capable of providing notifications about the performance of the Hybrid System. The climate control is available in single zone and dual zone.

The audio features of this pickup truck include SiriusXM Satellite Radio which is available in trial subscription for 3 months, mp3 playback, CD player, and am/fm radio. The seats are cushioned with leather or cloth material. The seats for driver and passengers are provided with support to the lumbar section of the body for added comfort. The steering wheel is also cushioned in leather.

Safety

The Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid provides 6 air bags for frontal impact protection, side impact protection, and thorax impact protection. The body frame of the pickup truck is also designed with a frame made of steel material. The steel body frame provides the passengers with protection against collisions. It blocks and receives the force and the shock produced during collisions. The services offered by OnStar produce an additional safety features for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid 1500 truck. The automatic crash response of OnStar is available for a trial subscription of 6 months.

The Competition

The Silverado Hybrid is compared to other trucks such as the Toyota Tundra (MSRP $28,765; 15 city / 20 hwy) and the Ford F150 (MSRP $32,260; 15 city / 21 hwy). Both fall short on fuel economy against the Silverado Hybrid.

Pros & Cons

A disadvantage of this truck is its low payload capacity compared with its competitors. It also has the highest price scale among its competitors. Its advantages are its fuel economy, engine displacement, engine torque, and safety features.

The figures of its fuel economy exceed the figures of its competitors. Its engine displacement and engine torque rank the highest among its competitors. The main safety feature of the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Hybrid provides state-of-the-art protection.

Overall Rating
65 out of 100

What others say:

“Little different than conventional models, Silverado Hybrid handles similarly to other large pickups, with noticeable body lean in fast turns. The brakes are responsive, though the pedal is a bit soft due to regenerative charging that replenishes the hybrid battery.”Consumer Guide

“If you like the idea of dual-mode hybrid technology in a full-size pickup, the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Hybrid crew cab and its GMC Sierra twin are the only games in town.”Edmunds

Specifications

Out of 4 trucks analyzed, the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD ranks third. Although the car’s standing is not quite impressive, it gained a lot of great reviews to most of its users. From its latter version, Chevrolet Silverado HD on its newest model greatly improved, according to most of the people who have used the car. It receives a serious overhaul on its 2011 version which affects most of its specifications, especially its engine. The Silverado HD is one of the most recommended vehicles for heavy duty work.

Performance

There are two engine options that people could choose when they purchase the 2011 Silverado HD, which are both great according to some previous buyers. The standard one is the Vortec 6.0 Liters gas-powered V8 which can create a 360 hp and 380 of torque. This engine performs pretty well and can give some real savings for car shoppers. However, getting an upgrade to use a Duramax 6.6 Liter V8 turbo diesel engine will not be bad idea for people who really want to have a blast on their ride. The Duramax engine can give an absurd strength of 397 hp and torque of 765 lb-ft. Those high numbers truly blew the minds of most of Silverado’s users.

In addition from the car’s two strong engines that people could choose from, some of the other great things that are improved on Chevrolet Silverado HD are its handling, braking, and towing abilities. The Silverado Chevy now provides a greater control on twist and turns on the road for drivers, using some of the new systems that are embedded on the car. It has auto press on its steering and a smart exhaust brake system which any one will surely loved. As a little extra on its performance, the company increased its towing capability which now can take a weight of up to 21,700 pounds.

Exterior & Interior

On the other hand, the thing that shoppers might not be happy about Silverado HD is its overall design. Some of the car’s users was also impressed about the improvement on the Chevy’s sheet metal exterior, but are very much disappointed with the retained plastic materials on its interior. The good thing about it is that the company offers to its customers some optional upgrades to its interior. Also, people might appreciate the very comfortable seats which are adopted from its previous version.

Safety

In terms of the safety of the car, the Chevy’s Silverado HD is on clouds. The reason behind it is that no official boards have crash tested this model of car. But this doesn’t mean that people can’t trust the protection that this car can give. The company has installed some new systems that will improve the safety capability of the car. Some of those new features are rear parking assist, fog lamps, and side curtain airbags. Moreover, the car rated as 7 out 10 to its reliability which can assure that people will be safe using this Silverado Chevy.

The Competition

Compared to other trucks, there are certain areas that the Silverado HD did not fare well. In terms of interior, the Ford Super Duty (MSRP $31,690) surpassed it. Despite those facts, the Silverado HD still has an acceptable rating and still is one of the most sought after trucks.

To wrap it all up, the Chevrolet Silverado HD excels in performance and styling. On the other side, is poor choice in the use of plastic for its interior design has some people frowning.

Overall Rating
73 out of 100

What others say:

“Silverado HDs are surprisingly pleasant and manageable for such large, hefty vehicles. Straight-line stability is excellent, though Silverado’s significant size and weight limit cornering speed, as does the expected big-truck body lean. Steering is well-weighted, direct, and responsive. ”Consumer Guide

“Chevrolet accomplished its goal of giving the 2011 Silverado HD best-in-class capability. In terms of hauling and towing, it is a virtual tie with the Ford Super Duty.”MSN Auto

“Notably improved with added capability, the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD is an excellent choice for a heavy-duty truck.”Edmunds

“If you are a satisfied past or current Silverado HD owner, you will love these much-improved new ones despite their mostly carryover styling.”KBB

Specifications

There are not a lot of vehicles that can seamlessly combine elegant interior and body design with an optimum driving experience, but the 2012 Audi RS 5 is able to do that, establishing itself as one of the most anticipated sports cars.

Performance

Featuring a V8 engine capable of reaching speeds of up to 250 to 280 kilometers per hour that is sure to satisfy any driver’s proverbial need for speed, the Audi RS 5 is one of the fastest sports cars in the market.

Furthermore, the Audi RS 5 also ensures that the driver will be able to save more fuel compared to other flashy sports cars, thus making it a cost-efficient investment for prospective buyers. And of course, in adherence to the tradition of the Audi car company, the RS 5 also promises to be a visually-pleasing vehicle with its elegant design. The pleasing aesthetics of the vehicle also continues on its interior, which is made from the combination of high-quality black leather and Alcantara.

Styling

The RS 5 is truly a vehicle which stands out, even when placed alongside other vehicles by Audi. The company itself has billed the RS 5 as the star athlete among their future line of sports cars, a high-performance and powerful vehicle that is masked by an elegant exterior, which is saying a lot about this vehicle.

Specifications

The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 comes in 8 different exterior colors. It is a truck designed to endure tough roads. This truck is available in two models.

Performance

The engines of the Silverado 1500 are offered in V6 and V8 engines. The V6 engine runs on gasoline fuel while the V8 engine runs on gasoline and ethanol fuel. They both have 4 automatic transmissions. The V6 has an engine displacement of 4.3 liters per 262 cubic inches while the V8 has an engine displacement of 4.8 liters per 293 cubic inches.

The amount of horsepower ranges from 195 to 302. The torque ranges from 260 to 305. The engine is equipped with electronic fuel injection with four wheel drive train. The approximate fuel economy for city ranges from 13 to 14 miles per gallon. The approximate fuel economy for highway is 18 miles per gallon. The maximum capacity of the fuel tank is approximately 26 gallons. It is a sturdy truck equipped with a maximum capacity of 10,600 pounds of towing capability.

Exterior & Interior

The 2011 Silverado 1500 has a total length of 205.6 inches and a total width of 79.9 inches. The estimated total payload capacity of this truck ranges from 1693 pounds to 1966 pounds. The wheels are made of steel and chrome materials. The chrome material is specifically added to its tubular steps, mirror caps, door handles, and recovery hooks for heavy-duty purposes. The front frame of the truck is designed to be hydro-formed for excellent and durable frame reinforcement.

The seats of the Silverado are available in cloth and vinyl fabric. The steering wheel is cushioned in leather and it can also be adjusted. The front and rear floors are covered in mats. The sound entertainment employs the use of CD player and changer, mp3 playback, am/fm radio, and the SiriusXM Satellite Radio with trial subscription of 3 months. A USB port is also installed which allows USB-capable audio devices to be played on the truck. The driver seat supports the lumbar portion of the body for added comfort and convenience. The technology of Bluetooth allows the use of mobile phones for calls without the use of hands.

Safety

The Silverado 1500 contains 6 air bags designed for thorax impact, front side impact, and rear side impact. The body of the truck is reinforced with a steel frame intended to receive the force created during collisions. The control board of the truck has an installed monitor display for tracking the level of tire pressure.

The technology of StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control System prevents collisions by tracking the driver’s performance and takes over the control of the vehicle during lack of lateral traction, over steering, and under-steering. The truck also has fog lamps and daytime running lamps. The incorporation of the OnStar services with this truck strengthens its safety features. The OnStar service for automatic crash response tracks and provides help if the service detects a collision. Other OnStar services include crisis assistance, vehicle diagnostics, and emergency services. These services are only available for 6 months in a trial subscription.

The Competition

The Silverado 1500 V8 can be compared to other truck models at the same price range such as the Ford F-150 (MSRP $29,510; 15 city / 21 hwy) and the Dodge Ram 1500 (MSRP $28,865; 14 city / 19 hwy).

The only disadvantage of this truck is that it provides lesser amount of payload. Its advantages are its safety features, its engine performance, and its price. The V8 engine provides massive amount of torque and horsepower. The price of the truck is also the lowest scale among its competitors.

Overall Rating
69 out of 100

What others say:

“Throughout the Silverado lineup, the cabin is unexpectedly hushed and refined, thanks to increased sound deadening and tight build quality. Wind noise has been further reduced for 2011.
The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado has a roomy, refined interior; front seats could be more supportive, though.
”Car Connection

“With the Z85 suspension, Silverado handles similarly to other large pickups, with noticeable body lean in fast turns. The Z60 and Z71 suspensions improve handling slightly. The steering is nicely weighted, if a bit numb. The brakes are responsive, though one test example suffered from slightly spongy pedal action.”Consumer Guide

“Ride quality is decent and handling is secure. The new six-speed automatic slightly improves fuel economy and acceleration. Reliability has been average.”MSN Auto-ConsumerReports

“Large turning circle; bland base interior design; limited cabin storage.”Edmunds

“If you need to tailor your pickup truck to your exact requirements, the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado enables you to do just that with a wide variety of configurations, bed lengths and trim levels.”KBB

Specifications