The 2011 Chevrolet Traverse is a stylish, fuel-efficient car that can compete in the market with its 5-star safety quality. Traverse can provide you with the comfort and protection your family and your cargo need.

Ranking 3 out of 23 in the list of Affordable Midsize SUVs, Chevrolet Traverse is manufactured for those searching for practicality and space. The Traverse is dedicated to drive large families around the city in style along with its eccentric exterior design, spacious and modern interior, high performance, affordability and fuel saving capacity.

Performance

The Chevrolet Traverse is powered by a six-speed automatic transmission engine, 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 which produces 281 horsepower in LS and LTD models, and an extra 7 horsepower in LTZ models. Comparing the Traverse to other eight-seating SUVs and crossovers, it provides a better fuel economy. Moreover, the Traverse provides fine and stable ride. However, unpleasant responses rise about the car’s long braking distances and its automatic transmission. On a lighter note, it offers buyers car-like handling, responsive steering and good maneuverability.

Interior & exterior

The 2011 Traverse is considered as one of the more stylish SUVs out on the market, says reviewers, combining the sloping roofline of the Buick Enclave and the front end of the Chevrolet Malibu.

The Chevy Traverse is of surprisingly high-quality, which tandems functionality with utility. The seats of the Traverse configures in two ways; eight seats arranged in three rows with the third row exceptionally comfortable even for adults, reviewers say, or seven seats with optional second-row captain’s chairs. However, the seats are not available with leather, power seats or heated seats, you’ll have to upgrade in such cases.

The interior features of the Traverse include a cruise control, front and rear climate control, an auxiliary audio input jack, power windows, and a steering wheel that can be adjusted, though it’s a little scarce on standard features. High-tech gadgets are available with the 2LT and LTZ models of the car, which include a power lift-gate, a rear entertainment system, and a navigation system with rearview camera.

In terms of spaciousness and functionality for the family, the Chevy Traverse comes first in line with its top of its class cargo capacity and ample room of approximately 116.4 cubic feet of space with the second and third row seats folded down.

The Competition

While most reviewers agree that the Traverse has a lot of competitors in the market, such as the Ford Flex (MSRP $29,355; 17 city / 24 hwy) proves to be competitive in terms of style, interior comfort and engine power. The Ford Flex comes with an optional EcoBoost engine that can provide a massive 355 horsepower, though the engine would take toll on the Flex’s price.

Another competitor would be the Honda Pilot (MSRP $28,470; 18 city / 25 hwy) that has the same comfortable third row seats as the Traverse’s and costs the same as the Traverse. The Honda Pilot can also provide the added benefit of space for three seats in the second row. The GMC Acadia (MSRP $32,605; 17 city / 24 hwy)and the Buick Enclave (MSRP $36,600; 17 city / 24 hwy) is practically the same as the Traverse though more upscale and costs a little higher.

Safety & Reliability

The Traverse is hailed by reviewers as one of the safest cars in the market. Its safety features include: front airbags for the driver and the front passenger, side-curtain airbags for all three rows, rear body airbags, thorax side impact airbags, StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control System, Traction Control System, OnStar Automatic Crash Response and Roadside Assistance, and four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes. For 1LT models, a rearview camera is optional.

The 2011 model hasn’t undergone any crash tests yet. Nonetheless, the previous safety praises for the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse model earned the current model almost similar expectations since the two are mechanically similar. The 2010 model was given top scores of five stars for occupant protection and crash tests and four-star rollover scores by the federal government. Additionally, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety granted the 2010 model top scores of “Good” in front, side and rear tests.

The Predicted Reliability rating for the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse is 6.0 out of 10 as given by J.D. Power and Associates based on the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power’s automotive studies. The Traverse is offered in the market with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and five-year/100,000-mile power-train warranty.

Overall Rating
78 out of 100

What others say:

“With ample space for up to eight people and most of their gear, comfortable seats, and compliant ride quality, the 2011 Chevrolet Traverse is passenger-friendly in every way.”Car Connection

“Traverse is a large vehicle, but it’s reasonably agile with little lean in corners. Accurate steering and responsive brakes contribute to making Traverse easy to maneuver despite its size.”Consumer Guide

“Compromised outward visibility; large size hampers maneuverability; a few subpar interior materials.”Edmunds

“Changes for 2011 are limited to some new paint colors, a relocated USB port and the availability of heated cloth seats on LT models.”KBB

Specifications

General Info

Vehicle Type: Crossover SUV	Base Price: $29,430.00
Fuel Tank Capacity: 22 gallons (83 liters)	MPG: 16 city / 23 hwy

Dimensions

Length: 205 in. (520 cm)	Width: 78.4 in. (199 cm)
Height: 70.4 in. (178 cm)	Wheel Base: 118.9 in. (302 cm)
Curb Weight: 4859 lbs (2204 kg)	Ground Clearance: 7.2 in. (18 cm)
Luggage Capacity: 24.4 cu ft	Maximum Seating: 8 people

Performance

Engine: 24-valve DOHC V6	Displacement: 3.6 liter
Horsepower: 281 HP	Max RPM: 6300 RPM
Torque: 266 lb-ft @ 3400 rpm	Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic
0-60 mph: NA	Max Towing Capacity: 5200 lbs (2358 kgs)

Available Trims & Engine

Option:Traverse 1LT AWD	MSRP: $32,010; MPG: 16 city / 23 hwy
Option:Traverse 2LT AWD	MSRP: $34,590; MPG: 16 city / 23 hwy
Option:Traverse LTZ AWD	MSRP: $38,250; MPG: 16 city / 23 hwy

It is no secret that the BMW M3 is one spectacular vehicle. But for the people that still want more out of their sports cars, tuner shops are all over the place to make them even more ferocious.

Style & Power

G-Power is already known for tuning M3s (the prime example being the G-Power M3 GTS complete with 635 horsepower), it seems that they have more tricks up their sleeve. Their newest M3-based creation is the 2011 G-Power BMW M3 Tornado RS, is going to take the M3 into supercar killing territory.

While the G-Power M3 GTS is already a super strong race-ready road car that can take on just about anyone, the G-Power M3 Tornado RS is much, much better. This car is equipped with G-Power’s top of the line ASA T1-723 supercharger. Forged pistons co-created with Mahle and a modified crankshaft that increased the V8’s displacement to 4.6 liters are some of the modifications made to make the engine ready for this supercharger.

A carbon fiber airbox that is 8kg lighter than the stock aluminum airbox, and a customized cooling system allows the V8 engine to keep its cool even under intense pressure. All these modifications pile up to create a maximum output of 720 horsepower, enough for a zero to 200 kilometers per hour acceleration time of less than 10 seconds.

Exterior

Its body shell, modified by multiple carbon fiber bits that lowers curb weight and improves aerodynamics, is a sight to behold too, and only adds up to the edge of this vehicle. Ceramic brakes aid in stopping even during super high speeds, and 20 inch wheels give this supercar legs. No matter what your definition of the supercar is, the G-Power BMW M3 Tornado RS should fit seamlessly.

Specifications

Performance

Engine: Supercharger V8	Displacement: 4.8 Liter
Horsepower: 720 HP	Torque: 516 lb-ft
0-60 mph: 3.7 seconds	Maximum Speed: 205 mph (329.8 km/h)

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt was named the North American Car of the Year, it is not a hybrid car; nor is it electric car. The Chevy Volt ranks 2 out of 21 in the list of Upscale Midsize Cars based on 25 published reviews of reliability and safety data.

The Volt is unique that is closely compared to the its closest competitor, the Nissan Leaf. Comparatively speaking, the Chevy Volt is hard to match with other cars in the market.

Performance

The Chevy Volt’s exceptional electric power-train, provides 149 horsepower, which gives it an edge among other cars on the market. Overall reviews say that a Chevrolet Volt drive provide buyers satisfaction. Its 111 kilowatt electric motor and 16 kilowatt lithium-ion battery can deliver an electric power that can last travels between 25 and 50 miles. During trips, if the batteries’ power runs out, a 1.4-liter four cylinder gasoline motor kicks in keeping the Volt on the go. When the Volt goes over 70 mph, the motor also acts to add power to the wheels.

When a Volt is fully-charged and has a filled fuel tank, it can run for about 310 miles, the same range as that of a gas-only car. The Volt must be filled up in a gas station once every 300 miles. In contrast, a Nissan Leaf, which runs on purely electricity, is limited at a 100 mile range between charges. On the other hand, the Toyota Prius, though its travel distance is not near with the Chevrolet Volt’s, acquires a combined EPA fuel economy rating of 50 miles per gallon.

Charging the Volt would take about 10-12 hours from a 120 volt outlet; from a 240 volt outlet, charging will only take about four hours. However, charging would be of less concern because of its gasoline engine. Moreover, because of the Volt’s gasoline engine, its limitations are the same as any gasoline-powered car and operating it should be much less expensive than operating a gasoline-powered car since electricity is less expensive than gasoline. Despite the Volt’s acceleration and power, its low rolling resistance tires results to a harsh ride over rough pavement, plus its regenerative braking system will take some getting used to.

Exterior & Interior

The Chevrolet Volt has an exterior design dedicated for minimizing wind resistance and saving energy. Though it practically looks like any other hybrid car on the market, its features are not of the usual eco-friendly car. Some reviewers say that it looks better than a Prius.

The interior of the Chevy Volt is stylish and has a futuristic feel with well-engineered electronics, unique design and quality materials. Some have complained that only the two passengers in front will benefit from the ride. Generally, the Chevy Volt’s cabin is smaller compared to frontrunners since the battery pack is placed on the rear end of the car occupying the rear seat space.

Reviewers also mentioned that the Volt’s interior features work well along with Chevrolet’s technological innovation of cutting down the cabin technology’s energy consumption. The Leaf offers similar features as those of the Volt’s such as; a seven-inch high-resolution screen, which displays various information to the fancy of the car owner, a high-resolution touch screen control for features like the standard radio and the Bluetooth systems, and a six-speaker standard stereo Bose system that was intended to use minimal energy.

The Volt also has a Smartphone application in which owners can manage their car battery packs like controlling charging times, a similar system with Nissan Leaf.

The Competition

If you are looking for a car that can accommodate bulky or numerous cargos of a large family, the Chevy Volt is not for you. The 2011 Chevrolet Volt has a small cargo space of only 10.6 cubic feet in the rear, which is smaller than that of the Honda Civic (MSRP $15,805; 28 city / 36 hwy) and the Toyota Prius (MSRP $22,120; 51 city / 48 hwy).

Safety & Reliability

The federal government rated the Chevy Volt five out of five stars in the side and rollover tests, while four out of five stars in front crash tests. With these ratings and for receiving the scores of “Good” in front, rear and side impact crash tests and roof strength tests, the Volt is dubbed as a 2011 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The standard safety features of the Chevy Volt include: stability and traction control; the OnStar service from GM to detect a crash or contact first responders even if the occupants are incapacitated; antilock brakes; twofold stage impact airbags located in front and on the sides for the driver and passenger in front; driver’s knee airbag; and backseat side-impact airbags. A promising feature of the Chevy Volt is its pedestrian alert feature, together with the American Federation of the Blind, was developed to sound a noise to alert pedestrians that the Volt is coming.

Though it is difficult to predict the reliability of the Volt on the streets, Chevrolet is offering generous warranty coverage for the buyers’ assurance that includes a five-year/100,000 mile warranty for the gas engine, a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, five years/100,000 miles of courtesy transportation and roadside assistance and an eight-year/100,000 mile battery pack warranty.

Overall Rating
69 out of 100

What others say:

“Especially in near-silent EV operation, the 2011 Chevy Volt certainly doesn’t provide the experience of a ‘regular’ car; but a quiet cabin, simple but well-put-together interior, and top-notch engineering make it very welcoming.”Car Connection

“Steering effort is consistently light, with a fairly precise but artificial feel. Body lean is well controlled, even during fast cornering. Braking feel is fine, though there’s a slight “let up” just before the car comes to a stop, requiring just a bit of added brake-pedal pressure.”Consumer Guide

“The 2011 Volt is essentially an electric car with a 1.4-liter gasoline engine to charge its Lithium-Ion battery when needed.”MSN Auto-ConsumerReports

“Questionable value; small backseat for two people only; touchy brakes; no power front seats; home charger is a necessity.”Edmunds

“If you are intrigued by the idea of an electric car but feel like their limited mileage range won’t fit your needs, the extended-range 2011 Chevy Volt is a perfect compromise between the EV you want and the gasoline-powered vehicle that more practically fits into your daily routine.”KBB

Specifications

General Info

Vehicle Type: Hybrid Hatchback	Base Price: $31,645.00
Fuel Tank Capacity: 9.3 gallons (35 liters)	MPG: 35 city / 40 hwy
Battery Range (Electric): 35 mi	EPA MPG Equivalent: 95 city / 93 hwy

Dimensions

Length: 177.1 in. (449 cm)	Width: 70.4 in. (178 cm)
Height: 56.6 in. (143 cm)	Wheel Base: 105.7 in. (268 cm)
Curb Weight: 3781 lbs (17175 kg)	Ground Clearance: NA
Luggage Capacity: 10.6 cu ft	Maximum Seating: 4 people

Performance

Engine: Electric-Gas Inline 4	Displacement: 1.4 liters
Horsepower: 149 HP Electric	Torque: 273 lb-ft
Horsepower: 83 HP Gas	Transmission: Automatic
0-60 mph: 8.9 seconds	1/4 Mile: 16.7 seconds

The 2012 Nissan Pathfinder Concept brings future owners the comfort and style they’ve been looking for in an SUV. The Nissan Pathfinder will be on display at the 2012 North American International Auto Show.

This revolutionized car will bring customers a brand new innovative technology with better passenger comfort and to top that a fuel efficient performance.

The Nissan Pathfinder Concept will go on the market this Fall season of 2012. This great car comes with a modern and stylish design that will catch the attention of car enthusiasts.

Passengers will also be able to travel comfortably with the car’s seven passenger SUV capabilities. The Pathfinder Concept also comes in a 3 row flexibility feature that is why it can host up to 7 passengers! This new design and concept is clearly a game changer for the Nissan car brand.

Performance

This new car still comes with an aerodynamic design and is pumped up with a CVT or Continuously Variable Transmission. This type of transmission is partnered with a V6 engine which helps the car become the most fuel efficient in the history of Nissan’s cars. The company estimates that it will give 25% more in fuel economy whether the car is used in the city or the highway. It also has an intuitive four wheel drive system that will allow it to have a competitive towing capacity.

Added Features

All of these features will surely bring the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder Concept at the top of the market. There is still more to be known with this new car that will be launched this year. Although there may have been news on the essential design of the Nissan Pathfinder Concept, more is to come on its debut.

Future car owners will just need to wait a little more to find out more about Nissan’s new innovation. Still, it is quite exciting to know that you can have the comfort of an SUV and still get great savings with a fuel efficient car like the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder Concept.

Everyone seems to be going the green these days, and this trend is particularly popular with car manufacturers worldwide. Of course, it’s more out of necessity than anything else, but every car enthusiast and fans of speed are looking at the future from a very bleak point of view.

With almost every automobile maker dropping cylinders from their engine configurations and either adding a turbo or large battery pack to increase efficiency, it appears to be slim pickings for performance car enthusiasts. However, look deeper and you find that there are quite a few excellent cars out there that can go ahead and do what not many expect them to do – go fast! Real fast!

Next Gen

Prime among the next-generation sportscar is the 2012 Acura NSX. Now, the NSX name is legendary, with the original car offering dollops of performance and driving pleasure and yet, offering great efficiency and reliability too.

Now, Acura has unveiled what will be the new NSX. And with it, comes a lot of cutting-edge technology that will allow it to perform, if not better than its predecessor, while at the same time, being very conservative. Basically, it’s a quick car that’s more than friendly to our beloved but burdened planet.

Green Performance

The Acura NSX Concept displays flowing lines and gorgeous curves making it an unmistakable sportscar. But it gets even better under the skin. There are a pair of electric motors, and a brand new direct injection V6 gasoline engine with the much lauded VTEC technology, paired to a dual clutch transmission.

The electric motors driving the front wheels feature a bilateral torque adjustable control system, which when paired to the Sport Hybrid super-handling all-wheel-drive system, give it great cornering abilities, making either positive or negative torque generation to the front wheels possible.

Supercar Potential?

Apart from that, the use of racing technology makes this one very lightweight car, with a power to weight ratio that rivals some supercars. This allows the new NSX to accelerate like few others, while at the same time being highly efficient as well.

The new NSX will makes its debut in the next three years, and knowing Acura, we can expect a few more interesting highlights to make it to the production version. Quite a car to look forward to!