2013 Dodge Dart: Motoramic Drives

"You don't need to put on your sunglasses and hide because you're embarrassed about your ride," the Chrysler flack was saying as we sat in a dim chamber at the W Hotel in Austin, a velvet-tinged barroom which, eight hours earlier, had played host to several vulgar birthday parties for cologne-slathered men in off-brand golf shirts. "The Dodge Dart is a vehicle you can be proud of."

After years of incompetence and humiliation with the much-derided Dodge Neon and other models, Chrysler is desperate to reclaim its rightful share of the compact-car market. Enter the Dart. A dependable early compact, the Dart enjoyed a nice run from 1960 to 1976. But despite the continual drum circle chanting about the Dart's "iconic styling," there's a Texas-sized gulch between the new car and the Darts of yesteryear.

This new version, the first full collaboration between Fiat and Chrysler since the Italian automaker bought Chrysler, has much to prove. The revived Dart is based off Fiat architecture, using the same essential parts as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Dodge engineers have lengthened the platform by a foot and widened it a couple of inches, turning it from a hatchback to a sedan, but that makes for a thin disguise. It's basically an Italian car wearing an American mask. But instead of marketing its new creation as a sporty little Italian job, Chrysler is placing its chips on a brand more well-known for being continually mocked on Car Talk than for automotive excellence.

The Dart comes in five different trim levels, from the SE, costing a very affordable $16,790 for the standard package, to the R/T, which will come in at $23,290. There are three different engine options: Chrysler's 2.0 and 2.4-liter Tiger , and, more significantly, Fiat's 1.4L Multiair turbo, the same engine used in the Fiat 500 Abarth. The 2.4 delivers 184 horsepower, while the other two offer 160. The different models, in combination with the different engines, claim anywhere between 29 and 32 mpg, though Dodge recently announced a "Aero" model of the Dart that it claims will get 41 mpg.

On a beautiful spring day, off we drove in our Darts into the Texas Hill Country. My drive partner and I started in a fully-loaded 2.0L "Limited" edition, which costs just under $20,000. The steering was solid and intuitive, but the brakes acted a little mushy. The ride felt flat overall, the middle of the pack. It got better when I downshifted into "manual" mode, which allowed me to open up the six-gear automatic transmission. At that point, the Dart hummed a little. No one was going to confuse it with a sports car, but you also can't get a new sports car for $20,000 anymore. This little Alfa Romeo disguised as an American icon started to seem modestly cool.

While it might be a stretch to say that the Dart is cool-looking, it does veer to the left of the compact segment's typical vanilla offerings, with a sloping front and headlamps that make it look a bit like an angry bee. The interior had a semblance of vibe. Our seats were real leather and reasonably comfortable, accented with funky "citrus peel" stitching and electronic adjustments. The dashboard was modern and intuitive, the back seat fairly roomy, the glove box deep enough to swallow a human arm past the elbow, and the UConnect" touchscreen in the center console, with its built-in GPS and satellite radio controls, was as good as those systems get. At 8.4 inches, it was larger than most.

During a requisite barbecue-and-fajita food stop, I took a Honda Civic and a Hyundai Elantra that Dodge had arranged as competitive drives around a little country loop. Dodge had stacked the deck; the cars were both bare-bones compared with the fully loaded Darts we were driving. Even so, the Dart won the showdown. It drove cleaner than the Civic and just as well as the Elantra.

After lunch, Dodge gave use the keys to a "Rallye" sport model with a 1.4 liter engine. With its red-and-black canvas seats, molded plastic interior, and "Fast Five" dashboard styling, it felt like a cheap version of the BMW 328i. My drive partner and I made attempts to open it up, but the Dart has its limitations on open highway. The car will only go so hard before it starts grinding up to 7000 RPMs, and it's not like each successive rev is going to open up vast vistas of motoring possibility.

A few words about gas mileage. Such things are important when it comes to every segment, but matter in particular to economy-minded compact buyers. From my test drive, it seemed like Dodge's claims of high 20s and low 30s aimed a little high, and that the 41 mpg number promised by the Aero model might as well have been from another planet. We averaged 24 or 25. To be fair, we were on highways and country roads mostly and were trying to open up the throttle. But when I took a different model out on some local errands in Austin later, driving mostly city streets, I used a much lighter foot and didn't do much better.

Let's not pretend the Dart has an easy trail ahead. The Asian cars last forever and have almost ridiculous brand loyalty from their consumers. Dodges, to be charitable, don't have the same reputation for durability. The Dart does have a fighting chance against American segment competitors like the Chevy Cobalt and Ford Focus, which lack the the Dart's Italian DNA.

That said, the Dart is a decent car for the price. It's stylish enough, drives strong enough, and is well made enough to keep the guys at Car Talk from reaping too much fresh fodder. I didn't have to put on my sunglasses and hide.
2013 Dodge Dart specifications
CLASS     Four-door, five-passenger sedan
ENGINE     4-cylinder; 1.4-liter, 2-liter, 2.4-liter
TRANSMISSION     6-speed automatic
POWER     160 hp-184 hp
TORQUE     145 ft-lbs to 184 ft-lbs
MILEAGE     25 mpg city/36 mpg highway; some models vary
CONS     Mediocre driving experience, handling
PROS     Good value for the price; interior amenities; fun Italian-inspired design

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The 2015 Chevrolet Camaro and Monte Carlo

We Look At Some Fast Future Plans for 2015 Chevrolet Camaro and Monte Carlo

It looks as though Chevrolet 2015 is going to be redesigning the Camaro with more focus on efficiency which usually sounds like the death of the muscle car. But Chevy may play it smart and do what any rational company would do in order to save a staple for American muscle. The most obvious change up for the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro is weight reduction as the vehicle is no light weight and can use a little diet and exercise. We see the board is going forth with the initiative to try and drop anywhere from 400 to 750 pounds from the 2015 Mustang. For his been working with DuPont in order to come up with composite and carbon composite material in order to give the vehicle the structural rigidity it needs as well as improvement and lighten up the overall weight. Just by doing this vehicle will accelerate faster, handled better, and stop quicker not to mention better gas mileage. So it looks like Chevrolet will be focusing in on going about doing the same thing that 2015 Camaro. With Café standards rising we see our manufacturers getting nervous as they need to up the average of the efficiency with their vehicles yet if they kill the speed then they will kill off the customers. Chevrolet also asked to decide whether to keep the retro styling that is selling the Camaro right now.

2015 Chevrolet Camaro and 2015 Monte Carlo

So looks like 2015 Chevrolet might take the best route and offer two sports cars being the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro as well as a 2015 Monte Carlo. Both of these will be sharing the Holden chassis as well as similar powertrains but it looks as though the 2015 Monte Carlo will be going for a much more modern take on sports cars while the 2015 Camaro offers the retro styling. If Chevrolet can do this they should benefit from many sales. It looks as though the 2015 Camaro SS as well as the 2015 Monte Carlo SS will both share a similar direct injected V-8 to be found on the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette. There’s no word on whether Chevrolet is working on Turbo forced induction for these engines were not but we should see either six or eight speed automatic transmissions becoming available and fuel efficiency around 35 miles per gallon.
 

What Should Chevrolet do with the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro and Monte Carlo?

Tell us what you think Chevrolet should do with the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro and 2015 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

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iPad Impact on Apple Laptop Sales Revisited

Is Apple cutting the MacBook's throat with the iPad?

The question -- whether the company's tablet cannibalizes sales of its own portable computing line -- is ultimately impossible to answer, or at least quantify: One can't look into a counter-factual crystal ball to view an alternate universe without the iPad.

But Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, believes that the iPad does block sales of at least some Apple personal computers.

"I think there was some cannibalization from iPad," Cook acknowledged earlier this week during his company's quarterly earnings call with Wall Street.

Cook offered that view while answering a question about the poorer-than-expected sales of Apple's laptops, which were up just 2% over the same period the year before -- in line with the computer industry's overall average increase, according to IDC.

The 2% year-over-year increase in unit sales was significantly lower than Apple's laptop line usually garners: In the first quarter of 2011, for example. Apple sold 53% more notebooks than it did the year before.

The post-New Year's Day drop-off was also larger this year than last. In the first quarter of 2012, Apple sold 900,000 fewer MacBooks than it did the quarter immediately prior; the first-quarter 2011 decline was only 156,000.

Cook has regularly admitted the iPad's cannibalization impact, but has never speculated about how many Macs have not been sold because of the tablet.

"There is cannibalization clearly of the Mac by the iPad," Cook said in the January 2012 earnings call. "But we continue to believe there is much more cannibalization of Windows PCs by the iPad and there's many more of them to cannibalize. And so we love that trend."

Analysts don't know how significant iPad cannibalization is, either, although -- like Cook -- they suspect it's happening. "If there is cannibalization by the iPad, you would definitely expect it to be in notebooks," Ezra Gottheil of Technology Business Research said in an interview earlier this week.

And the relatively puny growth rate last quarter of Apple's laptop sales could be caused by something completely different.

Both Gottheil and Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets noted that the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are both due for a refresh, which may have kept informed buyers from purchasing the current models.

"The [current] Macs are long in the tooth," said Gottheil. "And with expected refreshes, there might be some pent-up demand as people wait for the new."

Apple may have hinted that a refresh of the Mac is in the cards, and sooner rather than later, when Oppenheimer reported that inventories at the end of March were sufficient for 3-to-4 weeks of sales, less than the company's target range of 4-to-5 weeks.

Like most technology companies, Apple draws down stocks as it prepares to launch new models.

Only one thing seems certain: Apple does not plan to merge the two -- iPad and MacBook -- into a single device to eliminate cannibalization of the latter by the former.

Cook made that clear earlier this week when he took swings at so-called convergent devices, hybrids that blend the functionality of a tablet with the power and keyboard of a notebook.

"Anything can be forced to converge," Cook said. "You can converge a toaster and a refrigerator, but those things are probably not going to be pleasing to the user. "We're not going to that party. Others might. Others might from a defensive point of view. But we're going to play in both [computers and tablets]."

Cook was likely aiming his words at the expected devices that partners of rival Microsoft, including Intel, have been touting for Windows 8, the operating system most figure will launch this fall.

White pooh-poohed the idea that Apple would merge the iPad and, say, the MacBook Air, its lightest-weight and thinnest laptop.

"I agree with what Tim [Cook] said," White answered during an interview this week. "While there is some overlap [between tablets and notebooks] I think they're really two different worlds. I don't think people will ever abandon the notebook altogether."

Other analysts have been more skeptical of Cook's comments, and saw them as a preemptive strike against a form factor Apple actually fears.

White didn't buy it.

"[Windows] notebook makers have had problems with tablets, they're nowhere with tablets," said White. "So of course they'll try to make it look like they're converging tablets and notebooks. They have everything to lose by not having a tablet and everything to gain if they can convince people [these hybrids] are tablets.

"That's why they want them to converge," White said.

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Range Rover Evoque Review

A 2013 Range Rover Evoque Review

This Range Rover is the one that we’ve been seeing for years as a concept. And for years I have stated that this vehicle looked like it could not face a dirt road. The vehicle looks great but as far as when it comes to Range Rover’s I don’t picture a sleek and aerodynamic small SUV but then again there’s that mistake called the LR2 that somehow seems to be part of the Land Rover name. To me the 2013 Range Rover Evoque review is that it looks like it should be sporting a Jaguar brand more than a Range Rover but it makes sense as Range Rover has become a staple for luxury SUVs. During the debut of the Land Rover Evoque we watched as the vehicle was shown off like an article of designer fashion and was taken to some fabulous parties in order to mingle with a who’s who of who cares whilst any male individual is looking for an SUV that could commute as well as go off-road and on the weekends, was simply overlooked. So even if the Range Rover Evoque a formidable off-road vehicle we won’t see too many burly men driving these.

Range Rover Evoque Review Time

The Range Rover Evoque comes in both three door and five door versions looks very sleek by design. The power source comes from a Ford Ecoboost turbo 2.0 L that delivers 240 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque. Like any other vehicle without a twin scroll Turbo charger it will have a limited delay on throttle response. The good news is that this Range Rover Evoque mpg and hp is good as it can still move as it gets from 0 to 60 in around 7 seconds and can deliver nearly 30 miles per gallon on the highway. The interior styling of our Range Rover Evoque review vehicle was impressive as it still reminds you of a full-size Range Rover as it offers trim pieces such as stainless steel and soft leather. For technological amenities you get a touch screen 8 inch monitor that offers side and rearview cameras as it is very hard to see out of this vehicle because of its windows are designed to provide more form than function. The massive glass roof makes for an incredible skylight feature for inside keeping the cabin lit with natural light. The suspension setup on a magnetic ride makes for an impressive overall ride comfort and can handle some decent off road and at high speeds.

2013 Range Rover Evoque Review Bottom Line

 
The Range Rover Evoque price starts out at $44,000 and for that price I believe this vehicle still too much. Not by much but I still think it should be around for $5000 cheaper. The good news is that you probably have horrible resale value just like every other Range Rover therefore you should be able to pick up one for cheap in just a few years. And as for what Jody of the 2013 Range Rover Evoque I think it’s much better than any other small Land Rover. So that should turn to be a good vehicle for long-term ownership. The Evoque also doesn’t have the old Land Rover air suspension that was a total nightmare for owners. So in conclusion my 2013 Range Rover Evoque review states that you should buy a previously leased one in 24 to 36 months time. Send us your Range Rover Evoque Review by writing to us in the comment section below.

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The 2013 Cadillac XTS

We review the American 2013 Cadillac XTS Land Yacht

Cadillac holds the helm of American luxury for today as we see that Lincoln is certainly not delivering on the looks department and Chrysler is just Chrysler. So as the fancy ambassador for America, Cadillac has had to step up to the plate and deliver a full size luxury sedan that plays the part. Since the demise of the Deville and DTS, Cadillac has been in need of a fresh face in order to play the role of the full size luxury land yacht. The starting price of around $45,000 we need to see if Cadillac can play the part and draw in customers away from the Europeans and Asians. It looks as though Cadillac have sculpted the 2013 XTS to have a type of linear yet rounded design and for me it works. This is a good looking vehicle and I would much rather drive this over what you get from BMW, as you would be getting a base model five series with the four cylinder and ugly looks or spend $51,000 on a base model Mercedes-Benz E-series. It’s looking like the 2013 Cadillac XTS is a bargain for the price as a gives you plenty of amenities that are unique to Cadillac. I will say that the 2013 Lexus GS will be a comparable adversary to the 2013 XTS as it will offer similar pricing as well as options but for some the new GS’s front fascia will be too contemporary in design.

The 2013 Cadillac XTS Specs and Features

 
The Cadillac XTS 2013 comes with a V6 engine that produces 300 hp and comes in two different powertrain options being either front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive. It looks as though the XTS Cadillac will be using several techniques in order to boost mileage as it should offer hosted 30 miles per gallon on the highway for the front-wheel-drive version and around 29 miles per gallon for the all-wheel-drive version. The transmission will be set up as a six speed automatic thus helping to keep RPMs lower. We are seeing the engineers and designers taking extra time in order to sculpt and add active vents in order to keep wind resistant and drag coefficient as low as possible while still giving the engine the proper cooling it needs during city driving. The suspension for the 2013 Cadillac XTS is the new active magnetic ride dampening control that Cadillac is utilizing. The XTS comes standard also with Brembo brakes that help this large vehicle come to a standstill much faster than you’d expect.

2013 Cadillac XTS Thoughts

As for the interior we see a lot of technological advancements as well as more attention to detail and as you climb in to the cabin it’s harder to instantly recognize that this is a Cadillac unlike previous years whenever you felt as though you are simply climbing into just a Chevy with leather. This Cadillac certainly seems like there’s a big difference between this vehicle and the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. Let us know what your take is a on the 2013 Cadillac XTS and if you think it can compete.

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Max Payne 3 is a 35GB install on PC

If you’re a fan of the Max Payne games, and intend playing it on PC, be glad that hard drive prices are returning back to normal following the flooding last year. The reason being, Rockstar Games seems to be going for a world record in storage requirements for Max Payne 3.

The system specifications for the third game in the series have been released, and the hard drive requirements certainly stand out. The minimum space required on your disk? 35GB.

That strikes me as a massive amount of data, but it could have some other implications for the game. First of all, the Max Payne 3 will be offered for digital download as well as in boxed copy form. A 35GB download is going to seriously eat into your data allowance for a month if you’re on a limited broadband account. And if you buy a retail copy, that’s going to be a minimum of four DVDs in the box, right?

The other concern I have regards load times for the game. Shipping with that much data means anyone with a decent rig is going to get some nice, crisp HD graphics. But how long is it going to take to load a level with that much detail?

Hopefully, we can trust that Rockstar has kept loading times to a minimum while making the bullet time-focused game look stunning. For many though, I imagine downloading this game may be too much and they’ll be buying a boxed copy instead.

As for the rest of the requirements, they aren’t too bad:

    Windows 7/Vista/XP
    Dual-core 2.4GHz Intel or dual-core 2.6GHz AMD processor
    2GB RAM (16GB supported)
    Nvidia 8500 GT 512MB or AMD Radeon HD 3400 512MB

One last question I’d like answering: what kind of storage requirements does the console version have? Surely it’s going to be significantly less, but still a bit of a headache for those with near full hard drives.

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Verizon Android 4.0 push-dates leaked for Razr, Rezound?

The latest bit of evidence hints at a May push for Ice Cream Sandwich to some of Big Red's big Android sellers.

The wait for an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich may finally be over for a number of Verizon smartphone users, as of next month. That's if we take for genuine some leaked screens of what appears to be Big Red's device upgrade schedule, posted to Reddit.

The anonymous poster claims to "work, in some capacity," for the carrier and posted screen shots showing that Verizon plans to push Ice Cream Sandwich over the air to HTC Rezound users on May 9 and Droid Razr / Razr MAXX users on May 21. If you're one of the few rocking a Xoom 3G or 4G tablet, it seems your update is unfortunately on hold.

It's also noted that Verizon typically pushes out updates in batches over a two-week period, so Rezound and Razr owners probably shouldn't expect to see that little Android icon unpacking the update on the exact dates above.

I don't plan to hold my breath for the next sweet little taste of Android, though. For the past few weeks, I've been keeping a close eye on my own Razr on Verizon looking for that friendly Android to give me the good news. And yet, other rumored upgrade dates have come and passed. Then, earlier this week, I got the notification on my phone that a system update was available -- the moment had come! Hallelujah!

The update soon downloaded and installed, and my Razr restarted itself and seemed to be unchanged on reboot. I quickly tapped over to the system settings to see what was up and indeed I had been updated... to Gingerbread 2.3.6.

You are quite the tease, Big Red. Nonetheless, I'm sure I'll be keeping a close eye on my phone next month for the delivery of the next bit of Android dessert.

If you're an Android user, let us know in the comments when you think you might get 4.0 or when you got it (please no gloating from the Galaxy Nexus crowd).

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The 2014 Ford Mustang

The 50th Anniversary 2014 Ford Mustang

This pony car is turning 50 and though you might expect it to be signing up for an AARP membership instead its in the parking lot doing doughnuts while flipping off society. The Ford Mustang has always been a staple for horsepower and sport for the buck. Though we have seen the good days and bad days for the Ford Mustang as well as a runt that shared the same name we have seen today’s Ford motor company injects steroids in this horse’s ass. The problem with the Ford Mustang is that the company is doing away with the retro styling that has become popular for today. For 2015 Ford plans to go a new route as a more aerodynamic exterior is placed upon a lighter weight chassis. Ford is set forth with an initiative to drop several hundred pounds of weight people in the lineup in order to boost efficiency and it appears that they party started working with DuPont to mass produce carbon fiber components. So it should be interesting to see what the Mustangs curb weight will be for 2015.

2014 Ford Mustang GT

 
This is the 50th anniversary Ford Mustang and though it’s probably not be worth anything right now we might see these vehicles up on auction block of a Barrett Jackson auction in 30 years bringing in multiple amounts of more money. Since it looks to be the last of the retro design we will see many different classic themed anniversary packages available from Ford Motor Company as well as third-party manufacturers such as Shelby and Roush. My advice would be to pick up a 2014 Ford Mustang because these vehicles are currently impressive as is. Even with the base Ford Mustang we are seeing 305 hp which is more horsepower than GT’s used to have. What’s even more impressive is that you get up to 31 miles per gallon highway and there are plenty of performance add-ons if you wish to boost your horsepower. If you have a little extra dough then definitely go for the 2014 Ford Mustang GT as it produces 420 hp on premium gas making it a force to be reckoned with. Plus there’s a ridiculous amount of performance parts for this vehicle. Plus still being able to get 26 miles per gallon from that big ass V8 engine is pretty impressive.

2014 Ford Mustang Shelby

 
I’m sure there’s going to be some ridiculous Ford Mustangs coming out for 2014 as I am getting sweaty palms just thinking about vehicles like the Ford Mustang GT 500. I’m sure we’ll see several numbered anniversary Mustangs coming up for sale that will have incredible amounts of horsepower. So if you’re like me and you want the last year of this muscle car era go around then get to a dealership and start signing your life away on a 2014 Ford Mustang that is worth more than your life anyways.

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Archos Arnova G3 tablets start popping up online, sells for affordable prices

Archos is known for releasing media-centric Android tablets for a higher price. The last model they released was Child Pad, a 7-inch which doubles as a child-proof baby sitter. Today the manufacturer detailed a new line of tablets, Arnova G3. The Archos Arnova G3 series features customized software, large hard drive options, and will sell for a much lower price than previous releases.

Archos Arnova 10B G3

10B G3 is the largest slate from the line-up. It has a 10.1-inch screen with 1024 x 600 LCD display. It is powered by a single-core 1GHz Rockchip 2918 processor, a spec which doesn’t seem fit for a tablet with this screen size. But it does have 1GB RAM enough for multi-tasking and smooth transition. 10B G3 will have internal storage of 8GB, full HD playback via HDMI-out, and will run Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box. The price? A measly $200 for these satisfying specs.

Archos Arnova 9 G3

Arnova 9 G3 has a 9.7-inch screen like the new iPad. Display has a 4:3 ratio with IPS panel for wide-angle viewing. Screen also supports 5-point multi-touch. It still has the same 1GHz single-core processor and 1GB of RAM as the 10.1-inch model. The 4GB model is selling for $199.99 and this higher value can be attributed to its denser, higher-resolution display.

The Arnova G3 series will also be available in 7-inch and 8-inch models but they’re yet to be detailed by Archos. Both tablets will probably cost less than $200. Last week, Gemini Devices released JoyTabs 7, 8, and 10. These slates come in 7-inch, 8-inch, and 10-inch models and range from $200 to $300. The G3 series is significantly cheaper but specs-wise, JoyTabs pack more powerful hardware. All three are running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich too. A day before that, XTex announced MyTablet 7, a 7-inch ICS tablet selling for $150. MyTablet 7 actually has decent specs even though it’s selling for a low price.

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Lenovo launches IdeaCentre A720 AIO, IdeaPad Y480, and ThinkPad Edge E430 – the first Ivy Bridge-powered laptops

Shortly after the launch of Ivy Bridge processors, Lenovo unveiled a series of computers powered by Intel’s latest lineup. Three new products were announced by the company – IdeaCentre A720 AIO, IdeaPad Y480, and ThinkPad Edge E430.They’ll be powered by quad-core Intel Core i7 and have the latest version of Lenovo’s Enhanced Experience, EE3. And because they have EE3, it takes them an average of 24 seconds to boot while most of their competitors take 41 seconds.

IdeaCentre A720 AIO

This desk-bound, all-in-one (AIO) PC has a 27-inch multitouch display which can be folded down to a point where it lies flat. It ends up being parallel to the tabletop, making it easier to use the touchscreen. Contrary to what Apple CEO Tim Cook believes is “unintuitive” after trashing the idea of MacBook iPad hybrid, A720 feels otherwise. From what we know, IdeaCentre A720 has impressive specs. Under its hood will be a 2.3GHz Intel Core i7 3610QM, 8GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M chip, and a Blu-ray drive. It can be configured to an HDD (1TB) and SSD (64GB) combo for increased system responsiveness and storage space expansion. It will launch in the first week of June with an estimated price of US $1,200.

IdeaPad Y480

Y480 is basically a multimedia beast with the same quad-core, Ivy Bridge processor as A720. It gets GeForce GT 650M for its graphics card for an enhanced multimedia experience. The dark gray metallic finish of IdeaPad Y480 is new but it has the same one-piece touchpad design as most of its competitors are. Other specs include 8GB RAM and 1TB HDD. The 14-inch model will be available starting next week with starting price of US $899.

ThinkPad Edge E430

This model has the classic look of ThinkPad laptops and even has the red ThinkPad TrackPoint we’re accustomed to. Another not-so-new design feature is its soft-touch lid and standard 14-inch screen. It will be marketed towards business users. Users have the option to choose between a discrete graphics card (NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M) or an integrated one. SSD, HDD, and SSD/HHD configurations are also possible with Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E430. Specs such as 1TB storage, 8GB RAM, 720p web cam, and 5GB cloud storage make it a mainstream option too despite its professional appearance. The laptop will be available beginning mid-May for US $549 which makes it the cheapest of the trio.

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Custom Ducati Monster S4R

The Ducati Monster is the bike that customizers love. Take the original design and with a few tweaks here and there you end up with something truly beautiful. Monster owners love personalizing their bikes and although some are better than others, this design by Paolo Tesio is definitely amongst the best.

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2013 Maserati Kubang SUV concept

Maserati will place the Kubang on sale towards the end of 2013. This is the second SUV concept they have created and is based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee. 

The Kubang was displayed at the recent Beijing motorshowChina is Maserati’s second biggest market and Maserati enjoy strong sales in the country. As a result, Maserati have invested into the country and expanded operations with new showrooms and service networks.

 A few problems I detect, one being the name… ku BANG, maybe that will be the noise the engine will make once blows outta the crap Jeep chassis. And yes that is the second problem, the fact that a Maserati is now based on a Jeep Grand Cherokee. *sigh*. Rather look at a Porsche Cayenne, a Lamborghini Urus or a BMW X6/X5M. Or if they all a bit too expensive then look at a Toyota Fortuner.

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Asus Zenbook Prime spotted in the wild

The UX21A and UX31A are the successors to the Zenbook Ultra

The Asus Zenbook Prime has been thrust into the public spotlight after last month's rumors of an incoming Zenbook Ultra refresh.

The new UX21A and UX31A are similar in appearance to last year's UX21 and UX31, but reportedly house a slew of welcome upgrades.

Intel's Ivy Bridge processor is slated to release in June after delays from manufacturing difficulties, and the new chip still powers the Asus Zenbook Prime.

In addition to the upgraded processor, the new ultrabooks will house Intel's Wireless Display (WiDi), a new backlit keyboard, and the option for matte 1920x1080 displays on both the 11.6-inch UX21A and the 13.3-inch UX31A.

Best Ultrabook: 16 to choose from

Divergent reports have clashed over whether the Zenbook Prime will utilize the Ivy Bridge chip's integrated HD Graphics 4000 solution or a rumored discrete Kepler GPU.

Asus reportedly hasn't commented either way, leaving the possibility of a separate graphics processor open.

Pricing will reportedly come in at $1,050 for the smaller ultrabook and $1,100 for the larger, and they're expected to release in the next few months.

Zenbook Prime vs. Macbook Air

In reviewing the original UX31, TechRadar said, "It stands toe-to-toe with Apple's MacBook Air in the fight for the title of best luxury ultraportable."

Admittedly, it drew a lot of inspiration from Apple's ultra-light laptop, and the Zenbook Prime doesn't look to be altering that. Plus, the Zenbook Prime promises to perform even better than its predecessor.

The newly backlit keys are another step in the right direction, so here's hoping Asus also revamped some of the ultrabooks' software design choices, like the unattractive volume control graphics.

Another glaring issue with the original was the lack of response in the mouse button, which could also be easily fixed with the UX31A and UX21A.

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Mini-Me Ferrari 360 Modena Spider Based on the Toyota MR2

"Finally, the style of Italy meets the dependability of Japan," reads the seller's description of this Ferrari 360 Modena Spider replica that is built on a Toyota MR2 donor car from the year 2000, and which we found up for grabs on eBay.

As is common in these type of builds, the replication of the Ferrari model is restricted to the exterior body panels with the interior left mostly intact (sans the Ferrari-badged seat covers).

The Italianized Toyota has allegedly covered 109,000 miles (about 175,000 kilometers) and according to the AutoCheck history report, it was involved in an accident back in 2007, hence the salvage title.

The cloned Ferrari MR2 is located in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and is listed on eBay with a 'Buy it Now' price of $20,000.

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The 2013 Subaru Legacy

The Best Car That Always Gets Overlooked Is the 2013 Subaru Legacy

Subaru has been in the American market for years now and has continued to gain a following as individuals purchased vehicles such as the Impreza, Legacy and Forester and would drive them until the wheels fell off. We see that the vehicles that Subaru delivers are all-wheel-drive with the exception of the BRZ. Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel-drive setup has proven to be effective and reliable as it can place power to each wheel giving the Subaru great abilities on roads that are covered in snow and ice. The Subaru’s lately have actually started to look attractive in exterior design and though the previous generation Legacy GT probably had the best looks of any Legacy I have seen it still doesn’t keep me from wanting a 2013 model.

The 2013 Subaru Legacy 3.6R

 
The new Legacy is continually overlooked by potential customers due to the fact that there isn’t much advertising done as well as many individuals don’t think of Subaru whenever they think of family sedan. In reality Subaru has made a brilliant vehicle that offers a little bit of everything and for even me being the persnickety car nerd only find one fault Subaru Legacy. Starting off and get an all-wheel-drive Subaru legacy that delivers 31 miles per gallon under $20,000. If you’re looking for a little more power than my suggestion would be to go with the 2013 Subaru Legacy 3.6R is offers 256 hp and a ton of torque. The price jumps of $25,000 but you get a few added options such as some ugly 17 inch wheels. If you have plenty of money then you can go for the stellar 2013 Subaru Legacy GT.

The 2013 Subaru Legacy GT

 
Subaru Legacy GT is a fast and responsive sedan did when behind the wheel you can forget that you’re a family man because you instantly transform into a rally cross champion. Boasting the same engine as the 2013 Subaru WRX you have a massive amount of performance parts to upgrade your vehicle if you feel the need to. Otherwise if not still keep up with many of the European sedans the cost $10,000 more. My only complaint with the 2013 Subaru Legacy GT as well as the other Legacy’s for 2013 is the wheels that they put on these vehicles are atrocious so don’t be turned off by the whole car just because wheels are crap. Just simply budget for a decent set of wheels possibly some sport springs you will have quite the sexy ride. Should be able to find pretty good deals on the 2013 models as the 2014 Subaru Legacy is expected to get an overhaul. As more information comes in we will be sure to post it in order to keep you updated. If you have anything you would like to add then feel free to write to us in the comment section below.

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2014 Lexus SC

The Return of the 2014 Lexus SC

Whenever you have a great hit among the automotive industry then you take a hiatus as sales began to slump in the later years, then there is constantly going to be individuals questioning if you are planning to reintroduce the model again. Word was that Lexus was working on a sport that was ultra luxurious and will be running under the SC badge. What we saw was the prep school version of the Lexus LFA it certainly looks the part of one of a luxury sport coupe should. The problem is that only about five people in the world would be buyers or something of that luxurious magnitude. The one we have received word on is that Lexus is working on a sport coupe and sport convertible that will run alongside the Lexus IS and share mechanical components as well as price level. Word is that Lexus is looking to use an elongated version of the Toyota FT–86 chassis in order to make sport coupe front engine and rear will drive and possibly with the option of all-wheel-drive. If this is the case then we will probably see the 2.0 L horizontal four cylinder being the starter engine as this offers 200 hp and 34 miles per gallon thanks to direct injection. For the next engine size up we can only speculate as we have no word as to whether Lexus will use the horizontal 3 L six cylinder or a Turbo version of the 2.0 L. We have seen drift teams placing the IS-F V8 into the FT-86 body so we know it’s possible to have a big V8 in case Lexus wants to build a 2014 Lexus SC-F.

The Power and Efficiency of the 2014 Lexus SC

The issue with sports cars today is that they have to be able to also deliver efficiency while producing plenty of power. And for that reason will be seeing less V8 engines and more turbocharged V-6 or H-6 engines will also utilize direct injection and variable valve timing. If the 2014 Lexus SC can deliver a 300+ horsepower coupe or convertible that rear wheel drive with a limited slip differential and on the FT-86 chassis with a nice contemporary interior design and Lexus’s global grill with some HID headlights would make for an incredible looking and handling vehicle and I’m sure would attract buyers of all ages.

2014 Lexus SC News

 
I do hope that Lexus goes through with the 2014 Lexus SC as I’m sure it would be a bit amongst the masses. It will be interesting to see if they go through with it because it should be delivering around the same time as the redesigned 2014 Lexus IS. So we will continue to update this page as soon as we get word on what’s going on. If you have anything you’d like to share with us then feel free to write to us in the comment section located below as well as check out our other articles on new cars for 2013.

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Review: ‘The Witcher 2 Assassins of Kings – Enhanced Edition’ for Xbox 360

“The Witcher 2″ is arguably one of the best, most mature, dark, bloody, and game changing RPGs (Role Playing Games) to come along so far. PC owners have had the chance to enjoy this adventure for almost a year now, but the time has finally come for Xbox 360 owners to rejoice. “The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings – Enhanced Edition” has finally made its way to the home console, and even with its flaws, it’s still a solid experience.

Taking its rich plot from “The Witcher” novels, the game follows the gifted witcher, Geralt of Rivia. Geralt finds himself in a world of chaos, with warring kingdoms and bloody conspiracies. Swearing to remain out of the corrupt Kings’ wars, Geralt seemingly finds himself constantly in the middle of battle, fighting for his name, his freedom and his life.

This isn’t your granddaddy’s RPG. Young kids shouldn’t be allowed to go anywhere near this bad boy. Between the sex and the violence, the game has been classified as a mature RPG, and that’s exactly what it is.  The storylines are pretty intense, pulling players in at every corner. I’ve played my fair share of RPGs, but “The Witcher” really makes the player pay attention to every detail. It’s so rich and engrossing. Players will get sucked into the world around them pretty quickly.  There isn’t a lot of hand-holding in this game. Either you figure things out, or you die trying.

Let’s be honest: if I had a choice between playing the game on a supercomputer or the 360, I would choose the computer. It’s like asking someone if playing “StarCraft” would be better on a console. It’s not. I say this for two reasons: control and overall graphics power.

I’ll start with the look of the game and then move on to the controls. As hard as it may be to believe, the Xbox is a six-year-old system, with six-year-old hardware stuffed into it.  An ultra PC nowadays can handle what “The Witcher 2″ brings to the table a smidge better then the hardware of the Xbox. It doesn’t make the game any less enjoyable, but it’s clear if I had a choice, I’d go with the PC version. Since I haven’t owned a PC in ten years though, I am very happy to play this excellent Xbox port. Developer CD Projekt RED has done a great job porting this game over.  You will notice texture pop-ins and occasional twitchiness at times, but overall, it looks very nice. Additionally, by installing the game to the 360′s hard drive, you can actually alleviate some of that.

Control, control, control! There are certain types of games that are simply easier to play on a keyboard and mouse system. First person shooters, real time strategy, and role playing games are just a few genres that don’t always port over well to home consoles. “The Witcher 2″ on the other hand has great control, but navigating the menu systems might take a little time to get used to.  I would say players will feel a little awkward when they first pick up the controller, but after a couple of  hours, it comes to be like second nature.

I have to mention again that this game is truly an engrossing experience. There are countless other RPGs with open worlds to explore, but most of them still feel like you’re on rails. Yes you get to choose where to go, but it’s all rather linear. “Witcher 2″ gives the player a broader sense of freedom and exploration. You do what you do because that’s what matters the most, altering the story on as little as a whim.

Let it be known that this isn’t “Fable.” You’re not out to save the world and be a shining light to society. Most of the decisions the player makes will see your character murdering for profit, enjoying the bed of a working girl, or tripping around drunk and belligerent. The game’s direction can change so radically from decision to decision that the replay value is exceptionally high. Play it through once and get one kind of experience, while playing it through again will be as if you’re playing a totally different game.

At the end of the day, “The Witcher 2″ holds its own against its PC counterpart. There are some minor graphical issues and control headaches, but overall, it’s a very enjoyable experience. The story and character development are some of the best I have seen in a long time. Rated M, “Witcher 2″ is violent and racy, but also smart and witty. Between the cinematic score and great voice acting, players will be engrossed in this unique adventure. After all, when you open up a game that comes with an 89-page quest handbook, you know fun times are to be had.

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Vorsteiner Announces New Wheels for Lamborghini Gallardo, Aero Package Coming this Fall

Aftermarket tuning company Vorsteiner has released a new set of wheels for the Lamborghini Gallardo series.

The collection, which includes 1-piece and 3-piece forged alloy rims codenamed VS-110 and VS-310 series respectively, is said to have been designed specifically for the V10 Italian supercar.

The tuner added that the wheels can be custom painted or powder coated to the customer's preferred finish and specifications.

In addition to the announcement on the wheels, Vorsteiner said that it is preparing a collection of new carbon fiber aerodynamic parts and performance accessories for the Gallardo, both of which will be released onto the market the fall of 2012.

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O2 mobile wallet app launches text message payments

Mobile network O2 has launched a smartphone app that allows users to transfer up to £500 via text message.

It also allows customers to "digitise" their debit and credit cards to speed up purchases from online stores.

The firm also intends to allow users of phones with near-field communication (NFC) chips to make contactless payments in high street shops.

It is the latest of several firms to charge retailers a transaction fee for making it easier to shop.

The service will be free to consumers at first, but O2 said that it would charge 15p for each money message sent by text at a later date.

The network provider said that more than 100 retailers had agreed to accept payments from the service. They include Debenhams, Comet, Sainsbury's Direct and Tesco Direct.

Users can also benefit from a search facility that compares how much goods cost, the ability to load money onto the app from their debit cards and a "transaction history" that keeps track of what they have spent.

The firm said it had held off introducing contactless payments as only a handful of retailers had installed the necessary systems.
It added that it was also in discussions with a rail operator to add a button to buy train tickets.
Security risks

James Le Brocq, managing director at O2 Money said: "We believe it will transform the way people manage their finances and spend money."

One of the biggest stumbling blocks for uptake of such technology is fears about security. He noted that all personal details, pin codes, passwords and other financial data were held on remote central servers rather than on the mobile device.

"O2 wallet has been trialled internally for months and has undergone extensive 'stress-testing' with security experts," he added.

"This is, we believe, the safest and most secure way to deliver mobile payment services."
Project Oscar

Eden Zoller, analyst at Ovum, said the service was part of a wider plan.

O2 and its rivals Vodafone and EverythingEverywhere are working on a national mobile payments service - dubbed Project Oscar. They had hoped to have it up and running in time for the London Olympics.

But the project is held up in Brussels, subject to an anti-competitive investigation.

"For O2 if this project is in danger of being stalled or even derailed it make sense to move ahead with a solo initiative," said Ms Zoller.
It is not the first time O2 has experimented with mobile wallets. In 2009 it tested using mobiles as an Oyster card replacement to pay for travel on London's Underground network.

Last summer saw the launch of the UK's first mobile payment service with Orange and Barclaycard teaming up to offer contactless payments in a range of stores, including Pret a Manger, Little Chef and the National Trust.

Juniper Research estimates that one in six mobile devices will be NFC-enabled by 2014.

O2 currently has 200,000 customers with NFC-enabled phones in the UK.

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2013 Volvo

Sleeker Designs for 2013 Volvo

Volvo is often an auto manufacturer that gets looked over as individuals are looking for a European import, most focus in on the Germans. What we see with Volvo is that the company for years has made vehicles that were focused on safety, as it was top priority. Somewhere along the lines a designer came to Volvo and said your vehicles are great and all but how about we make them look good. I personally was turned off by Volvos for years as there’s nothing that appealed to me other than the safety aspect. But now in recent years vehicles such as the 2013 Volvo V40 are showing that Volvo is working to make it sleeker and sexier looking vehicle in order to appeal more individuals. The problem is that the US market doesn’t receive several Volvos and for that we have a less exciting lineup then the UK does. Hopefully in the next few years that will change but for now with a look at what’s vehicles will be arriving from Volvo 2013.

2013 Volvo Vehicles

 
Volvo C30 – Focused on better fuel efficiency

Volvo C70 – Updated powertrain

Volvo S40 – Will not receive for 2013

Volvo S60 – Hybrid and efficient drivetrain makes this an appealing vehicle

Volvo S80 – Look for a sleeker body with efficiency in mind

Volvo V40 – Debut at Geneva but no word on US sales

Volvo V50 – Also no word on this vehicle for the US

Volvo XC60 –Some updates expected

Volvo XC70 – Refresh of looks and possibly engine

Volvo XC90 – The has received a few updates

2013 Volvo Cars and SUV’s

 
It appears Volvo is working on better fuel efficiency and lower emissions just like everyone else. As a result we should see several of the Volvo vehicles getting an updated engine if not two. It is as though Volvos working on better efficiency by utilizing direct injection technology as well as variable valve timing and higher compression ratio from the cylinders. So look for there to be some decent options for Volvo 2013 cars. We also may start seeing a 2013 Volvo EV appearing on US soil as Volvo is working to introduce the electric vehicle to the US market although it’s more likely for it to arrive as the 2014 or 2015 vehicle. With new designs we should see more customers be attractive to the Volvo name and therefore boosting sales. The problem is that Volvo has tough competition against every vehicle they produce. So it will be interesting to see if Volvo will bring more vehicles that are currently being sold overseas but not in the US. We will continue to update the page there we find out information on 2013 Volvo vehicles. So be sure to check back with us if you want to learn more about 2013 cars then feel free to

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Samsung is giving out Ice Cream Sandwiches! See if your device is on the list

Samsung has released a list of 12 Android phones that will soon get upgraded to Android 4.0. Will your handset get ICS? Find out below.

Despite releasing the flagship phone for Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), the Galaxy Nexus, Samsung has been a bit slow and cagey about its plans to upgrade devices. Until now, at least. The South Korean manufacturer has posted a list of U.S. handsets that will get the ICS update “as quickly and as smoothly as possible.” Things are looking good if you’re on any carrier outside of T-Mobile. We’ve posted the full list below. 

AT&T

    Galaxy S II (SGH-i777)
    Galaxy S II Skyrocket (SGH-i727)
    Galaxy Note (SGH-i717)
    Captivate Glide (SGH-i927)
    Galaxy Tab 8.9 (SGH-i957)

Sprint

    Nexus S 4G (SPH-d720) ICS (Update is Available)
    Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch (SPH-d710)

Verizon

    Galaxy Tab 10.1 (SCH-i905)
    Galaxy Tab 7.7 (SCH-i815)
    Galaxy Nexus (Just kidding! You are currently king of the Android world)

T-Mobile

    “We are in close communication with T-Mobile to ensure that eligible devices are upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich in the coming months and will provide updates as we have additional details to share,” writes Samsung.

Wi-Fi Tablets

    Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus Wi-Fi (P6210)
    Galaxy Tab 8.9 Wi-Fi (P7310)
    Galaxy Tab 10.1 Wi-Fi (P7510)

It’s good to see Samsung taking updating more seriously, though it has already been five months since ICS came out. For more information on why you want ICS, check out our Android 4.0 feature breakdown. HTC has also claimed that 16 of its devices will get ICS in the near future. Hopefully, these updates actually happen. 

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