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Fast and Furious Movie Review

I know some of you have seen the premier of the newest Fast & Furious including myself. Staring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster… this new movie brings about some extra Drama and a nicely put together plot. Some may criticize what I have to say but I can honestly say after getting past the CGI effects and few silly lines, it is a decent movie. I give it 4 and a half stars out of 5. You have lots of serious cars that actually look nice. This time whoever picked out the cars did a great job, by far the best out of all of Fast and Furious movies.

I just love the crazy unrealistic car moves and the ending leaving an opening to additional installments to the fast and furious to come.

Guys, all I have to say is… go see this movie if you are a gear-head or what we like to call everyone who visits this site.. tunedTECH.ca This one ranks up with the original part one The Fast and The Furious with more realistic parts and just a better movie over-all. I want to get everyone’s opinion on this movie. Post your comments now or lets talk about in the forum, if you plan on seeing it on opening day or right after.

Fast & Furious opens April 3rd and 4th

You want to see more trailer videos click here Fast & Furious trailer video

Fuel Economy Standard to be raised to 27.3 MPG for 2011 in U.S

The Fuel-economy standards for all light vehicles will rise to the average fuel consumption limit of 27.3 mpg for 2011 model year vehicles. That is a rise of 8% from the current rule. This new rule was issued today and is based off of regulations using a new system that sets standards for individual models based on their size.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement, “These standards are important steps in the nation’s quest to achieve energy independence and bring more fuel-efficient vehicles to American families.”
This is the first fuel economy mandate set by the Obama administration. Overall, the new energy law will lift standards by about 40 percent by the year 2020 making ALL vehicles average 35 mpg or better.

Considering this, that should ultimately put more Americans to work to be innovative and produce vehicles that actually SAVE GAS! RIGHT???

GM CEO Rick Wagoner Calls It Quits

General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner will step down from his position immediately as recently reported by various news associations. This comes about maybe as a slight surprise on the eve of President Barack Obama’s expected announcement of a deadline for Chrysler and General Motors to finalize their terms for restructuring or deciding on a Chapter 11 bankruptcy package.

As the economy shows no apparent signs of improvement except for the recent stock market rallies the auto industry continues to suffer and look for some type of outlet. The outlet for Rick Wagoner was specifically requested by the Obama administration.

Rick Wagoner spent 32 years with GM and in part over-seeing the operations of General Motors all through its better days and recent slump.

Below after the jump is the official message from Rick Wagoner and GM’s board restructuring announcement.

GM Message from Rick Wagoner

On Friday I was in Washington for a meeting with Administration officials. In the course of that meeting, they requested that I “step aside” as CEO of GM, and so I have.

Fritz Henderson is an excellent choice to be the next CEO of GM. Having worked closely with Fritz for many years, I know that he is the ideal person to lead the company through the completion of our restructuring efforts. His knowledge of the global industry and the company are exceptional, and he has the intellect, energy, and support among GM’ers worldwide to succeed. I wish him well, and I stand ready to support him, and interim Non-Executive Chairman Kent Kresa, in every way possible.

I also want to extend my sincerest thanks to everyone who supported GM and me during my time as CEO. I deeply appreciate the excellent counsel and commitment of the GM Board and the strong support of our many partners including our terrific dealers, suppliers, and community leaders. I am grateful as well to the union leaders with whom I have had the chance to work closely to implement numerous tough but necessary restructuring agreements.

Most important of all I want to express my deepest appreciation to the extraordinary team of GM employees around the world. You have been a tremendous source of inspiration and pride to me, and I will be forever grateful for the courage and commitment you have shown as we have confronted the unprecedented challenges of the past few years. GM is a great company with a storied history. Ignore the doubters because I know it is also a company with a great future.

GM Statement on Officer and Board Announcements

GM is announcing the following changes in the corporate officers and the board of directors:

Rick Wagoner is stepping down as chairman and CEO, effective immediately. Wagoner, 56, was named president and CEO in 2000, and assumed the role of chairman in 2003.
Fritz Henderson, GM president and chief operating officer, will serve as CEO. Henderson, 50, was named to his current position in 2008. He was previously vice chairman and chief financial officer.
Kent Kresa, chairman emeritus, Northrop Grumman Corporation, has been named interim non-executive chairman of the board of directors. Kresa became a GM director in 2003
GM is awaiting further announcements by the President and the Task Force on Automotive Reconstruction, and we will have additional comments at that time.

GM Board of Directors statement, attributable to Kent Kresa, Chairman

“The Board has recognized for some time that the Company’s restructuring will likely cause a significant change in the stockholders of the Company and create the need for new directors with additional skills and experience. The Board intends to work to nominate a slate of directors for the next annual meeting that will include a majority of new directors taking into account the addition of new directors, retirement, and decisions by individual directors not to stand for re-election, although the specific individuals who will be nominated or choose not to run or leave the board are not yet known.”

New 2010 Cadillac SRX

The SRX represents yet another new direction for General Motors and its premium division. Its mission statement would now appear to read: keep it small, keep it lively and above all keep it fuel efficient. Focusing on those points was likely a challenge in itself, but the new SRX also had some pretty big shoes to fill.

The outgoing model was a compelling alternative to some of Caddy’s bigger rigs, in particular the XXL-sized Escalade. The first-generation SRX, which was introduced for the 2004 model year, owed its popularity to providing plenty of Cadillac-style amenities in a wagon package that could accommodate up to seven passengers. All-wheel-drive and a 4.6-litre V8 were offered as options. The upcoming edition that arrives this summer will be a scaled-down version of the original, which is surprising since most automakers — including Cadillac — have been heading in the opposite direction with successive editions of their products. The tale of the tape reveals the incumbent SRX to be close to 13-centimetres shorter overall and the distance between the front and rear wheels has been significantly reduced by 15 centimetres. It’s only in width where the new model outpoints the old by more than six centimetres. As well, cargo volume behind the rear seat and with the second row folded flat has decreased by about 10 per cent. That’s not a huge amount, but the previously optional third-row bench is no longer offered. The new SRX is a significant departure when it comes to design. The previous boxy — and even top-heavy — look is now sleeker and is fronted by a much bolder grille that provides a major point of differentiation from the other wagons in this Caddy’s class. On the inside, Cadillac’s stylists have displayed admirable restraint in fashioning the cabin.

The wood and alloy trim are tasteful and the neatly stitched leather (and leather-like) dashboard and seat coverings appear as crisp as an expertly tailored suit. What lies beneath the business end of the SRX clearly displays further evidence of Cadillac’s restraint. The vehicle’s original base 3.6-litre V6 has been scaled back to 3.0 litres of displacement, although horsepower has been slightly increased to 265 from 255.

Optional is an all-new 2.8-litre turbocharged V6 that hammers out an estimated 300 horsepower. That’s 20 ponies less than the outgoing V8, but Cadillac is broadly hinting that fuel economy will be significantly better without any major power disruption. Additionally, the automatic that functions with the 3.0 comes with an “eco” mode that adjusts the shift points for maximum fuel economy. Each engine receives its own six-speed automatic transmission, both of which feature control paddles for those who prefer the hands-on approach to shifting.

Though the V8 is history, all-wheel-drive (AWD) returns as an option, but in an improved package. Up to 100 per cent of the torque can now be seamlessly transferred to the rear wheel — just one rear wheel — that has the most grip, or the outside rear wheel when turning at high speeds. AWD also comes with shock absorbers that can instantly adjust for varying road conditions to improve ride quality. Bear in mind that the standard SRX drives the front wheels where most Cadillacs favour the rear. Whether this is a shift in Cadillac culture remains to be seen.

Of course, being a Cadillac, a lengthy list of comfort/convenience items comes with the nameplate. Additional items for purchase include: larger 20-inch wheels (18s are standard); three-dimensional-imaging navigation system with a pop-up screen; adaptive headlights that swivel in sync with the vehicle steering; upgraded audio system with hard-disk-drive storage capacity; and dual-screen entertainment units. Of course there are the requisite six airbags (including full-length side-curtains), but safety is augmented by special high-strength steel in the rocker-panel area that adds extra side impact protection. The new SRX should make converts of those who believe that big size and an equally brawny V8 are luxury-model mainstays. What this car really delivers is improved fuel economy and lively performance in a trimmer, more tasteful wrapper.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: 2010 CADILLAC SRX

TYPE Four-door, front- /all-wheel-drive five-passenger mid-size wagon.

ENGINES 3.0-litre DOHC V6 (265 hp); 2.8-litre DOHC V6, turbocharged (300 hp)

TRANSMISSIONS Six-speed automatic with optional manual-shift controls.

MARKET POSITION Up-level wagons are all the rage these days, which makes the SRX desirable and politically correct as larger sport-utility vehicles have fallen out of favour.

POINTS * Great design vastly improved over original. * V6 engines tuned to deliver power and fuel economy. V8? What V8? * A front-wheel-drive Caddy? Is this a sign of the things to come? * No more third-row seating * Enhanced all-wheel-drive system engineered to provide better traction.* SRX represents new direction for Cadillac in developing smaller, more efficient luxury vehicles.

SAFETY Front airbags; side-impact airbags; side-curtain airbags; anti-lock brakes; traction control; stability control.

THE NUMBERS L/100 km (city/hwy): 14.0/8.2 (3.0, FWD, est.) Base price: $47,000 (est., incl. destination)

BY COMPARISON

LEXUS RX350

Base price: $47,000

Refreshed for 2010, offers comfort, quality. Optional hybrid.

AUDI Q5

Base price: $43,400

New-for-2009 wagon with sporty handling. AWD standard.

LINCOLN MKX

Base price: $45,000

Superior styling with decent power and fuel economy. Well priced.

2012 Tesla Model S

Following in the footsteps of its glamorous all-electric Roadster, Tesla has just unveiled its latest creation, the long-awaited Model S. Designed by ex-Mazda stylist Franz von Holzhausen, the Model S is a slick, streamlined five-door fastback. From the front, it looks a bit like Maserati’s six-figure Quattroporte sedan, particularly the shape and detailing of its grille and front fenders. From the rear, the Model S has a strong resemblance to Jaguar’s XF sedan, most notably its sweeping roofline, tail lights and the chrome trunk garnish. Turbine-style 21-inch alloy wheels and a full-length panoramic sunroof are also fitted.

In contrast to most sedans, the Model S offers seating for seven; there’s room inside for five adults facing forwards, plus two rearward-facing jump seats for children. Like a Porsche Boxster, the Model S has two trunks. With a small, nine-inch electric motor, a floor-mounted battery pack design, and an overall length that’s longer than an Audi A6, the Model S looks to offer plenty of interior space. One highlight of the Model S’ interior is its centre console, which houses a 17-inch touchscreen LCD display in place of a traditional console with buttons and knobs. In addition the car features 3G internet connection and a push-button gear selector.

So the new Model S looks good and is surprisingly practical, but how does it perform?

Tesla claims that the Model S will be able to accelerate to 100 km/h in around six seconds and it has a top speed just shy of 200 km/h – plenty fast for a luxury family sedan. Telsa’s CEO Elon Musk says a high-performance model will be on the way capable of cracking 60 mph (96 km/h) in less than five seconds. Also earmarked for production is an all-wheel drive model.

Recharging the Model S is a matter of hooking it up to an electric outlet; it can be charged at 110-volt, 220-volt and 440-volt levels. A full recharge at 220 volts takes approximately four hours, though the battery can be “quick charged” in 45 minutes.

As the Model S was designed for daily use, it has been equipped with higher capacity batteries than the Roadster. The base Model S has a range of approximately 260 km, though the removable battery pack can be upgraded to units boasting ranges of 370 km and 480 km.

Tesla is also looking into a rental program, where Model S owners can rent a higher capacity battery for longer trips.

With a $7,500 tax rebate factored in, pricing for the Tesla Model S is expected to start at less than U.S. $50,000 – half the cost of the Roadster. If all goes according to plan, production should begin during the third quarter of 2011. Tesla plans to ramp up produce to 20,000 units per year.

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