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Test Drive of the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR: Much too heavy

Many of us have been getting exited with the release of the 2008 Shelby GT500KR however; we have been left with a bitter taste in our mouths as the vehicle is a little on the heavy side. It just seems such a shame that we have that nice 5.4-liter V8 engine that pushes out 500 horsepower and much of that is needed to get this 4,000 pounds beast moving forward. Ford has put a supercharger in the engine bay however; this has been put in the worst place possible, which is right in the front.

The result of this is that the car feels a little unresponsive around corners; this is also made worse by the suspension which does not seem to be able to handle the fast corners. Do not despair though as this is a common fault with a lot of American cars, and just can’t come close to performance cars from countries like Germany and the UK.

Please do not despair though as the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR has got something going for, and that is that it has to be one of the best performance bargains. You go shopping around and see if you can find a car as powerful as this foe such a little price. Carbon fiber has been used in a number of places around the exterior like the mirror covers, front splitter as well as the hood. One thing that does seem strange though is “where have the 20-inch rims gone from the concept,” what we now have on the production model are small 18-inch wheels. When look at the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR from the outside things look more aggressive as the vehicle sits much lower to the ground than the old model

For a full test drive review visit: AutoBlog

Test driving the 2009 Infiniti FX CUV

There are a host of great CUV’s ready to hit the market like the BMW X6 however; there is one that has got our attention now and that is the 2009 Infiniti FX. It would be so nice to get the opportunity to have a test drive of this CUV but we can only but dream, well those guys over at AutoBlog have managed to secure a test drive and they spent a little time just getting to know the Cross Over Vehicle.

While looking at the exterior of the 2009 Infiniti FX you will notice that it has kept the basic shape of its predecessor although the 2009 model does have a wider track as well as a longer wheelbase. Weight distribution is perfect thanks to front-midship architecture that is used on the G35 sedan.

There are a range of 2009 Infiniti FX models to choose from, the entry-level is the VQ35HR V63.5-liter which pushes out 303hp. However if that is not enough power for you then you could opt for the bigger FX50, the engine used in this beast is the VK50VE V8 5.0-liter and manages to produce 390hp. Both of these models come with a seven-speed automatic transmission with an option for manual shift. If you look at the paddle shifts you will notice that they are the same that are used in the Nissan GT-R.

For a full review on the 2009 Infiniti FX test drive visit: AutoBlog

Review of the 2009 Acura TSX: Price under $30,000

The 2007 Acura TSX was a great car and as a result got some great reviews from both the media and also owners as well. Ok so we know that the first generation Acura TSX was a little on the boring side when it came to its styling, and the engines in the range lacked power. However the engine gave you a smooth response and the overall car handled well.

Well now it is time for the 2009 Acura TSX to show what it is made of, and the first thing that you will want to know is the cost. Well the price of these sedans start at just under $30,000. When you take your first look at the new Acura TSX you will notice that it is larger than the previous model, well 2.6 inches wider and 2.4 inches longer. However the overall height is 0.6 inches lower, so looking at the vehicle straight on the car has a more aggressive stance.

The ride is very comfortable thanks to it being wider and sitting a little lower, the direction turn is very quick and responsive. The steering is very precise thanks to it being perfectly weighted, so overall handling is great. However the power response from the engine still lacks a little something, ok the 2.4 liter engine is more than enough for everyday use, but it just lacks that little bit of power that you would sometimes want to call on.

It seems as if Acura knew that the engine lacked a bit of power, which is why the engineers have played around with the valve timing, this gives greater compression and more intake and exhaust flow. However no matter what they do, the 2.4 liter engine still is not a great option, you should choose a larger one which are more refined.

The 2009 Acura TSX does come with some nice gadgets in the interior like the XM satellite radio with six-disc CD/DVD changer which is linked to a ten-speaker system, also the navigation system with its real-time traffic and weather is a great piece of technology. Also included in the entertainment system is the standard Bluetooth and USB port interface, so you will never run out of music on your journey.

To sum up the TSX, it is a sedan that gets the job done, ok so you are never going to stand out in a crowd and shout out “I have a 2009 Acura TSX.” However for a car that costs just under $30,000, it is a cheap luxury option for those who can’t stretch their budget to a BMW or Mercedes.

Source - AutoBlog