When I first clapped eyes on the all new Kia Forte in the dark multi storey car park, I must admit that I was taken aback, for this really did not look like any other Korean sedan that I had ever seen. The entire design and look had a very European feel to it. From the front you have the aggressively styled lights and a lovely honeycomb grille and the rear end is pert and has a sporty look to it. As an overall design package it is a complete success, I defy you to find one angle at which this new Kia Forte looks bad. Well maybe only if you look at it from under the car… but from any other angle, it is really very easy on the eyes.
The European feel and looks don’t just end at the exterior, the interior is equally as impressive. The dashboard has soft feel plastics where it matters and the instrument binnacle obviously derived its inspiration from Alfa, which is a very very good thing. The meters look great. All major controls and meters are clear and easy to read, and they have a good weight to them which is quite rare for a Korean car, or even Japanese for that matter. +Continue Reading
All the electronic gadgets and driver aids you find in cars these days are largely attributed to the emergence of high-performance computers. The real stars, however, are those tiny devices we call sensors, because these things have evolved to become smaller, more accurate and immensely more robust. This means that they can be installed in tight spaces where conditions may be harsh (hot, high vibration, extreme pressure) and still supply the computer with accurate and timely data. Despite having grown smaller, the sensor’s role in the electronic management of the modern vehicle’s performance has never been bigger. Every car manufactured today needs sensors in the engine, while at the high end, cars like the BMW 7 Series and Lexus LS rely on a bewildering array of sensors for the control of engine performance, gearbox activity, braking, body/chassis dynamics, traction, air-con …
and the list goes on. +Continue Reading
After the engine and gearbox, power is transmitted to at least two driven wheels. In a straight line, the torque is distributed equally between them. The moment it negotiates a turn or a curve, it is necessary for the outer wheel to rotate faster (greater circumference) than the inner one.
But in something like a go-kart which has a relatively narrow track, small tyres and not much power, both driven wheels can rotate at the same speed in the corner with the difference in circumferential distance being accommodated by slipping on the track surface. +Continue Reading
Fascinating admission from the new boss of Toyota. He’s talking about the fact that these days in Japan many kids, when they’re old enough to get a driving licence, just don’t bother: “It is often said that young people have drifted away from cars. But it’s not the customers who’ve drifted away, it’s us, the manufacturers.”
Akio Toyoda, a member of the founding family, and the boss only since June, is on a mission to make damn sure Toyota perks up its sales by grabbing us with a new generation of exciting cars. The Lexus LFA is very much his baby, as he’s been working on it since the project’s inception in 2000. And it doesn’t want for excitement. But a 560bhp, £340,000 supercar is hardly one for the kids. For starters, insurance would be no picnic. +Continue Reading
What do Formula1 stars like Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Timo Glock have in common?
They were all past champions in GP2, a recognized feeder series for F1. Even runners-up Heikki Kovalainen (2005), Nelson Piquet Junior (2006) and Lucas di Grassi (2007) were offered roles as test drivers in the year following their achievements – all for Renault F1, interestingly. Both Piquet Junior and Kovalainen eventually made the graduation to a race seat. +Continue Reading
Japan’s executive triumvirate of Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Nissan Cefiro/Teana have been at loggerheads for the longest time. But each of them has followed its own development path, resulting in three very different cars today, even though they still target more or less the same customers. And how their evolutionary paths have diverged.
In its pursuit of maximum comfort and minimum effort, the Camry has dialled out any semblance of character, that intangible automotive asset which can spell the difference between an ordinary commute and a joyful journey. This Toyota is fuss-free and also fun free. The Teana, previously known as the Cefiro, has thankfully stopped copying the Camry and started innovating. The end result is a modern Japanese Lancia in all but name; a handsome saloon almost artistic in its design and quietly luxurious to boot. The Accord, meanwhile, has neither the elegance of the Teana nor the pillow-smooth ride of the Camry. Instead, the big Honda is big on handling and “feeling”. Yet it is also roomy and comfy, in line with Camry-class requirements. +Continue Reading
When I first clapped eyes on the all new Kia Forte in the dark multi storey car park, I must admit that I was taken aback, for this really did not look like any other Korean sedan that I had ever seen. The entire design and look had a very European feel to it. From the front you have the aggressively styled lights and a lovely honeycomb grille and the rear end is pert and has a sporty look to it. As an overall design package it is a complete success, I defy you to find one angle at which this new Kia Forte looks bad. Well maybe only if you look at it from under the car… but from any other angle, it is really very easy on the eyes.
