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Archive for October 21st, 2009

Volvo Gets Sportier And Futuristic

The sporty car segment of the auto industry has more to give. From sleek sedans to retro roadsters the said segment has a wide variety of options to entice car aficionados. These sporty cars are priced from a minimum of around 16000 to just over 40000.

One of the stunning cars on the roads these days is the Pontiac Solstice a roadster introduced at the 2004 North American International Auto Show. The car uses the GM Kappa platform which it shares with the Opel GT and Saturn Sky. According to some enthusiasts driving a Pontiac Solstice is like driving a sharpened pencil. This is how thrilling the Solstice could be. As a fact the car has been a runaway success for Pontiac. In the first 10 days of availability there were already 7000 recorded orders. In addition before winter came 6000 more orders came in. Last year the car was also nominated for the North American Car of the Year award and Design of the Year award from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada AJAC.

One of Pontiac Solstices close rivals is the MX5 Miata from Mazda. The Mazda MX5 is a roadster famed for its lightweight materials and flexibility. The car was designed with a conventional frontengine rearwheeldrive layout and fourwheel independent double wishbone suspension. It comes with an enhanced interior and a brand new elegance.

When it comes to the futuristic interior in a sporty car the Mitsubishi Eclipse would capture attention. The twodoor fourseat sport compact car was named after an 18th century racehorse which has won a total of 26 races in its entire racing career.

The iconic American sports car called the Corvette is Chevrolets pride entry. For more than 5 decades Corvettes have combined powerful engines simplicity and affordability. The long list of stunning sporty cars also includes the Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Both of the cars received a minor facelift but still manage to tickle nostalgia.

Another great brand in the sporty car segment is Ford having the Mustang as its entry. The automakers ponies are known for their groundbreaking power and performance. The Ford Mustang is equipped with upgraded suspension bigger stabilizers and a much improved security. The Ford Mustang sold more than 1 million units in its first 18 months in the market.

The long list does not end there because an enticing addition is delivered by Volvo. According to enthusiasts Volvo XC90 epitomizes a classy family vehicle that is as safe as a tank. It is a luxury vehicle that offers a long list safety and convenience features. Aside from that Volvo made it a lot sportier and futuristic this time.

The 2007 base model of the vehicle comes with a 3.2 liter inline sixcylinder engine that delivers 235 horsepower considerably more than the previously available 2.5liter 211horsepower fivecylinder engine. The vehicle also comes with an even bigger 4.4liter 311horsepower V8 that was first introduced in 2005. To boost the performance of the Volvo XC90 the automaker enhanced its Volvo power steering pump and other auto parts.

The Volvo XC90 with the sixcylinder engine costs 36830. The vehicle with the V8 engine is priced at 47120 while the Sport version which comes with a stiffer suspension and some special styling cues cost 49995. Aside from sporty and futuristic design another selling point of the vehicle is safety. It is one of the 13 vehicles that has been rated a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. All versions of the Volvo XC90 have antilock brakes an electronic rollover prevention system stability and traction control and every kind of airbag around including sidecurtain airbags covering all three rows of seats.

The upgraded version of the Volvo XC90 is especially made for the younger market. This is the very reason behind the sizzling new appearance. According to the Power Information Network a unit of the McGrawHill Companies MHP the typical buyer of the Volvo XC90 is a relatively youthful 44 years old 5 years younger than the average for the segment and 61.5 per cent of Volvo XC90 buyers are between the ages of 36 and 55 as opposed to just 52 per cent for the segment.

About the writer:  Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit Mi. she is a native of the motor city and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field.