Exotic Car and Supercar News
We’ve had an exciting time over the past 12 months in the world of exotic cars. It has all been about sheer power, which does not necessarily make for more exciting driving, nor is more power always more fun.
What stirred it all up was the fact that Bugatti managed to get its Veyron 16.4 exotic car into production. Then, they took it to one of the longest straights on a test track in the world and upped the record to 248 mph. If anyone wants to go faster, they will probably have to go to the Bonneville Salt Flats, which can be quite dodgy.
The record had been held by the Koenigsegg at 242 mph, which just beat the long-standing record held by the McLaren F1 supercar. Bugatti’s efforts caused a few people out there to look for more power. Not surprising, really. For example, Saleen found it could screw some more power out of its supercharged Ford engine to get 750 bhp, and a speed of about 240 mph from its S7 exotic car. One or two others decided to go for 1,000 bhp, just so they could say their car would do, say, 245 mph - after all, no one could prove that it wouldn’t go that fast! Actually, there are quite a few engines available from tuners that produce 800-1,000 bhp.
Pagani, which is concerned more with overall performance on the roads than out-and-out power produced a more sporty version of the Zonda. This Zonda F has suspension aimed more at the track and 602 bhp as standard. But you can have 650 bhp if you like! The Zonda F is also lighter than the Zonda, so the performance of this exotic car is extraordinary. It is a truly exotic car, a supercar with masses of power at any speed - it does not depend on a turbocharger waking up to get the power - and the handling to match.
More recently, Koenigsegg has produced the CCX. Powered by a twin-supercharged engine producing 806 bhp, this exotic car is more practical than the other Koenigseggs. Koenigsegg says it will do about 245 mph, and all this from an engine based on a 4.7 liter V-8. True, nearly all the parts are different, including the cylinder block and heads, but even so it just shows how much power can be got from a standard production engine, heavily modified, and with twin superchargers.
It has much bigger front and side air intakes to improve cooling, and both the front and rear bumpers meet US crash regs. On top of that it has more headroom than the CCR, and yet is just as fast - and expensive. But that is the way with exotic cars!
Meanwhile Ferrari went its own way and introduced the 599 GTB Fiorano, powered by a 6.0 liter engine able to drive it up to over 200 mph. And this car is a front-engined two-seater with luggage space. Of course, Ferrari has also made a limited edition model, the FXX, intended to help with Ferrari’s development. The FXX has a similar V-12 to the 599 GTB Fiorano, but souped up to 850 bhp! Now that is currently the ultimate exotic car, although it is intended mainly for use on the race tracks.
John Hartley is editor of http://www.fast-autos.com, an online magazine devoted to fast cars and supercars. He has written from many of the world’s top auto magazines, and has written about 10 books about cars and the auto industry, including ‘Suspension and Steering Q&A’ and ‘The Electronics Revolution in the Motor Industry’. He has been writing about fast cars and testing them for over 20 years, and has been involved in race car design, and has also raced cars.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Hartley
Bone Crossed Mercy Thompson Book 4
Bone Crossed Mercy Thompson Book 4
New in the #1 New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series.
In a world where “witches, vampires, werewolves, and shape-shifters live beside ordinary people” (Booklist), it takes a very unusual woman to call it home. By day, Mercy Thompson is a car mechanic in Eastern Washington. By night, she explores her preternatural side. As a shape-shifter with some unusual talents, Mercy’s found herself maintaining a tenuous harmony between the human and the not-so- human on more than one occasion. This time she may get more than she bargained for.
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars Plot Differences
(NO SPOILERS!)
First, don’t get me wrong. I really enjoyed reading this book, as well as the first three. This has to be one of my favorite series. Yet, I found the plot of the fourth book to be a bit lacking when compared to the others. Maybe it was just me, but I found that I did prefer the third book over this one. Still, I can’t wait for the next one!
5 Stars Ms. Briggs does not disappoint
Ms. Briggs latest story is intriguing and a wonderful read. While I would like to see a little more of the romancez(smex) written in the scenes I was very happy with the overall story.
3 Stars Good, but not up to par
The previous three books were absolutely wonderful. This one was not quite so good. I think that Briggs succumbed the problem many series have. Once the main love interests actually get together the story fizzles a little. I am happy Mercy and Adam have finally gotten together and accepted their relationship but I hope the next story has the old zing back. It felt like two different stories and neither one of them was very spellbinding. I found Marcilia very annoying. I don’t find her scary just annoying. It felt like the two major plots of the book were disjointed and had nothing to do with each other. I think that Briggs has a very strong series here and while this was a good book, it didn’t meet the standard she has set by her previous books in Mercy Thompson’s world. Hopefully she will get back into stride with her next one.
5 Stars Excellent, As Always
Bone Crossed starts a week after Mercy’s traumatic experience in the previous book. I won’t give any details about what she went through because I don’t want to ruin that book for anybody who hasn’t read it. As any victim who goes through a horrible experience, Mercy is having to deal with emotional issues. She has always been a strong independent character so her panick attacks and inablility to get on with things embarrasses her and makes her feel weak. Not one to feel sorry for herself, she does the best she can to to hide her feelings.
Mercy’s vampire friend, Stefan, drops in on her, literally, tortured and starved by vampire queen, Marsilia. Marsilia found out that Mercy killed one of her vampire soldiers and knowing of Mercy and Stefan’s friendship, tortured and starved him in hopes he would kill Mercy when he saw her. Marsilia lets it be known that Mercy is a traitor to her, thus making Mercy an enemy to anyone who cares to retiliate. While trying to deal with this problem, a friend from Mercy’s past shows up wanting Mercy to visit her to confirm that her house is haunted. Meanwhile, Adam and Mercy are trying to cement her place in his pack.
Bone Crossed is a busy book with several plots going on at once. The reader is treated to a lot of action as well as to a lot of humor and tender moments. A lesser writer may not have been able to pull all the plots together but we all know Patricia Briggs isn’t a lesser writer. She is one of my favorites and Bone Crossed does not disappoint.
5 Stars Another Hit!
She did it again, another success. It was a great read and i loved Stefan in this book, hope to read more about him!!
P.S. Less romance than usual, probably because of what happened in IK, but i liked it more like this.
Garmin Portable Friction Dashboard Mount for n vi Series and StreetPilot C5XX Series GPS Navigators C530 C550 and C580
Every Garmin product is designed to meet the most demanding standard: customers’ satisfaction. That’s why Garmin equipment is manufactured to give you reliable service for years to come, with intuitive features you can grow into over time - all at a price you can afford.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars It works
When I purchased the Garmin Nuvi 760; I decided to purchase the portable friction dashboard mount as well. I’m glad I did. I have read some reviews that the dashboard mount flew off the dash when they where going fast and have to do a sudden stop or going up a hill, etc; But I’m glad that I didn’t have to experience any of those problems. It stays where I put it and it easy to move and put away, and the best thing you don’t have a thief friendly window mount stuck to your windshield. (Just by seeing the window mount may make thieves think your car have a GPS in it and may want to do a smash and dash to get it. But with the dashboard mount, it’s easy to hide.
I would recommend the dashboard amount; it’s a great accessory for any Garmin GPS.
5 Stars Garmin Portable Dashboard Mount
I LOVE this dashboard mount! Expensive but worth it. Really works well - GPS fits on easily, I can remove it and put the mount on the floor each time I get out of the car EASILY and the tilt of the GPS it adjustable so you can always see the screen.
5 Stars Outstanding product!!
Got a Nuvi 205 for Christmas, didn’t like the window mount and found this product with almost 2000 very positive reviews. They were right!! It does exactly what it is supposed to do, works on our 2 Toyota products and Dodge pickup. Took about one or two minutes to change the mount from the window to the dashboard device, even with no directions, and five stars is appropriate in our opinion. Good price compared to other sites that we explored also. Bill
5 Stars Best thing I ever had!
With no sense of direction, I can for the first time take a stress free drive to anywhere. This is too good to be true.
5 Stars Great Dashboard Mount!
Good and stable. Take it apart and put it in a GPS bag if need be. The four weighted corners bend and flex. It also has a solid center. Easy to put together and take apart.
Biography Henry Ford Tin Lizzy Tycoon
Biography Henry Ford Tin Lizzy Tycoon
He made the automobile accessible to the common man. The common man made him rich.Henry Ford was one of the great innovators of our time. When the car he invented became so popular he couldn’t build them fast enough he came up with the modern assembly plant to meet demand. The rest is history. BIOGRAPHY
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Exotic Car and Supercar NewsWe’ve had an exciting time over the past 12 months in the world of exotic cars. It has all been about sheer power, which does...
