Posts Tagged ‘automatic transmission’

The STS (S-Series Touring Sedan) is a full-size luxury sports sedan / executive car manufactured and sold by Cadillac. It is equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission with performance algorithm shifting and driver shift control.

Cadillac first used the Seville name to indicate the hardtop coupe version of the top-of-the-line Eldorado convertible (covered much more extensively in its own Generations feature). These “Eldorado Sevilles” carried all the equipment of an Eldorado convertible, were powered by the same drivetrains, rode atop the same chassis and were priced about the same.

Built atop the basic rear-drive Sigma architecture that Cadillac uses for the CTS midsize sedan and SRX crossover sport-ute, the new STS may not be a “Seville” but it does promise to be the best STS yet. The Northstar V8 is still a prominent part of the package, but a potent 3.6-liter V6 is also available. As this is written all we have are first impressions. But those impressions are encouraging.

Both the V6 and V8 versions are engaging to drive, too. “With 255 horsepower and 252 pound-feet of torque,With 320 hp and 315 lb-ft of torque, there’s more than enough power to make this car feel quick. Cadillac claims a 0-to-60-mph time of less than 6 seconds and it feels that fast behind the wheel. Some of the credit has to go to the standard five-speed automatic transmission, as it serves up perfectly executed shifts no matter how hard the pedal is pressed.”

With all-wheel drive as an option, a sophisticated suspension and quite likely the best Cadillac interior ever, the STS is an attractive proposition even if it does look an awful lot like its smaller brother, the CTS.

The base Cadillac STS features a direct-injected 3.6-liter V6 rated at 302 horsepower and 272 pound-feet of torque. This impressive power plant and its accompanying six-speed automatic provide similar performance and better fuel economy than the available 320-hp 4.6-liter Northstar V8.

A full-size luxury sedan in its physical dimensions, the Cadillac STS is priced in line with other premium midsize sedans that offer V6 and V8 engines. There are five trim levels — V6 Luxury Sport, V6 Luxury, V6 Premium, V8 Luxury and V8 Performance. Common features on all models include leather seating, dual-zone climate control, a Bose sound system and OnStar. The V6 Luxury adds perks such as Bluetooth, heated/ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and rain-sensing wipers. The V6 Premium highlights include 18-inch (versus 17-inch) wheels, upgraded braking/steering/cooling systems, auto-dimming xenon headlights, upgraded audio and a navigation system. The V8′s trim levels are identically equipped save the Premium, which also boasts adaptive suspension, blind zone/lane departure alert, a sunroof, a head-up display and adaptive cruise control.

In reviews and road tests, our editors have found the strengths of the Cadillac STS to be its nimble road manners, powerful engine options and high-quality audio system. The midlife changes greatly increased the STS’s appeal and competitiveness — especially with the new direct-injected V6 — but it’s hard to fully endorse this full-size luxury sedan when Cadillac’s own CTS is an excellent car that only gives up a bit of interior space to its big brother.

Infiniti has brought renewed G37, sedan affected by the change of clothes with imagination by M. The adoption of the new family-feeling is revealed in the clear mask and air intakes, both from most surfaces. Also changes the front bumper, with new housing of the fog, while the latter evolves in the frieze at the base of the housing door-plate and in the form of exhaust.

No change involves the 3.7-liter V6 engine, credited with 328 horses, and available in conjunction with the seven-speed automatic transmission and the Sport outfit only with the manual six. The interior gets new trim and color combinations, as well as a swimming platform for a different version with automatic transmission. Read the rest of this entry »

Infiniti at Geneva presents the M sedan and its future ecological variation M35 Hybrid, also brings the debut of the 3-liter V6 diesel engine from 238 hp. The Berlin M, already known in other markets, debuted in Europe with the aim of carving out a prominent place in the segment, and, starting with the M37 V6 3.7-liter gasoline and especially with the upcoming M35 Hybrid: This version, expected in Spring 2011, and offers an infinite system Direct Response Hybrid with two clutches that regulate the interaction between thermal V6 3.5 liter engine and electric 68 hp and 270 Nm of torque through the 7-speed automatic transmission with Adaptive Shift Control ASC, for ‘At no torque converter. Read the rest of this entry »

The Italian brand will present DR at Bologna Motorshow a new version of its low cost SUV DR5. After the debut of the 1.6 petrol and bifuel and having also launched the 1.9 engine with 120hp multijet Fiat EcoJet, DR is preparing to launch version 2.0 I-matic.

The engine is a 2-liter 4-cylinder petrol 140cv, with maximum torque of 180nm at 4000 rpm. This is a Euro 4 engine, also available in version bifuel both CNG and LPG. The drive system is intergral Borg Warner electronically controlled and there will be also a 4-speed automatic transmission Read the rest of this entry »

Spy photos that we show today regarding the 3-door variant of Riichi M1, supermini of premium brands of Chinese Chery. The M1, 5-door is also sold in Italy as DR1, the new model launched some weeks ago by DR Motor and subject to our road test. The M1 is a long three-door 330 cm or 32 cm in less than a 5-door. It ‘very likely that this car also arrived in Italy as a 3-door variant of DR1, and also because a spoofed copy has already been caught near Macchia d’Isernia. Read the rest of this entry »

Volkswagen introduces the Italian market’s renewed bus T5 version 4Motion, which for the first time can match the all-wheel drive and automatic transmission. The models Caravelle, Transporter, Multivan and California can then count on 4-wheel drive combined with 2-liter TDI engines BITD 180 hp and 140 hp, available with manual or 6 speed, only about 180 hp, with a 7-speed dual-clutch DSG.

The four wheel drive system uses the new clutch plates Haldex4 electronically controlled, which compared all’Haldex2 works quite differently: the oil pressure that determines the distribution of torque to the rear wheels is now run by an electric pump that feeds oil tank with a pressure of 30 bar Read the rest of this entry »

Bentley has announced the price for the UK market the new Mulsanne, equivalent to 220,000 British pounds. At current exchange rates, the price is around € 243,000, but wait until the official price for the Italian market, as the current Arnage range is located on the wire of the 300,000 €.

Bentley has already received much interest in the new car, with bookings bode well for a flattering sales success: the first deliveries will take place in the spring of 2010 has already come forward leaks about future versions of coupes and convertibles. The Mulsanne presented at Frankfurt Motor Show features a 6.75-liter V8 from 512 hp and 1020 Nm of peak torque, coupled to an automatic transmission to 8 reports.

Months now I write often dense for Rapide, the highly attractive 4thesio model that will launch the British marque Aston Martin. It is high time and the Aston Martin gives the official figures of its new model in advertising.

Looking at the Rapide in front of you will find that something reminds you. And not without justification and an almost unchanged the front comes from the equally formidable DB9. Read the rest of this entry »

To attract a much wider clientele, Volkswagen has decided to marry two segments namely holders SUVs and sports cars. Called Concept T, the prototype is powered by a V6 3.2 241 hp relayed transmission 4Motion permanently associated with an automatic transmission. As for performance, the concept T reaches 100 kph in 6.9 seconds and its speed is limited to 230 km / h. This concept holds for ingenuity with windows that slide at the opening of doors, a sunroof “T-bar” with the parties before that can be withdrawn and a chest panel retractable seat belts to 5 points and display Head-up data. Aesthetically, the Concept T displays similarities with the Concept R and the Golf GTI both unveiled in Frankfurt.

Vermont’s green mountains blur into a rich pallete of summer as I motor along Route 7 north of Bennington, Vermont. An occasional patch of yellow or red is the harbinger of fall, which will soon come to New England. As I shift into sixth gear and settle in for a smooth and tranquil high-speed run up this straight stretch of macadam, I recognize that at-peace-with-the-world feeling that motorcar enthusiasts get when the day is good and the ride is great . . . and the top is down. Read the rest of this entry »