General Motors Corp. is putting a six-speed automatic transmission mated with a four-cylinder engine in the 2008 Chevy Malibu, giving the automaker some fuel-efficiency bragging rights in the hyper-competitive midsize car segment.

The new powertrain debuts immediately in the high-end Malibu LTZ and next year in two lower-priced Malibu models. The LTZ’s fuel economy, as estimated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is 32 miles per gallon on the highway - up from 30 mpg on the existing four-cylinder Malibu with a four-speed transmission. » Read the rest of the entry..

Kia Magentis, metronews.ca

Kia’s Magentis has been updated and restyled for 2009 to bring its looks and character in line with the automakers goal of building exciting cars. Competing with the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Chevrolet Malibu, the Korean sedan .

An aggressive headlight and grille treatment give the Magentis a bit of a scowl, while the rear end is set off with a sharp-edge hood and a set of dual-outlet exhaust pipes. These are attached to either a 2.7 liter V6 engine with 190 horsepower, or a 2.4 liter inline four cylinder powerplant with 175 ponies.
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2008 Honda Accord EX-L Sedan, By Don Hammonds, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Just when you get accustomed to pleasant looking, go-along-with-the crowd Honda Accords, the company throws a curve ball, in the form of sexy, curvaceous all-new coupes and elegant, BMW-like sedans.

First and foremost, the 2008 model is all about technology.

There’s the next-generation variable cylinder management, in which some cylinders shut down for fuel economy during cruising. There’s the “advanced compatibility engineering” body structure that maximizes the body’s ability to disperse crash energy in a frontal collision. There’s a new 270-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6. And that’s just the beginning of the list.
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A model stands next to a Toyota FT-HS at the Auto China 2008 auto show in Beijing Sunday, April 20, 2008. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Sales of some individual models to newly prosperous Chinese drivers soared by up to 100 percent in the first quarter over the same period of 2007, said executives speaking at the Beijing auto show. » Read the rest of the entry..

With the equipment gasoline hitting near $4 a gallon these days, you might want to spend your time at the auto show this year checking out hybrids and smaller cars.

If you want to save on gas and carry your family, take a look at the 2008 GMC Yukon Hybrid.

It gets about 25 percent better fuel economy in combined city-highway driving, and about 40 percent better mileage in city driving. Although figures have not been set by the EPA, GM said the Yukon could get about 20 mpg in the city, about 22 on the highway, and about 21 overall.
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The 2008 Savana Passenger Van is a 3- or 4-door, up to 15-passenger full size van, available in 8 trims, ranging from the LS G1500 Regular Wheelbase RWD to the LT G3500 Extended Wheelbase RWD.
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The supply supermarket chain Sainsbury’s with Britain’s largest fleet of hybrid power vehicles. The Toyota company is to take delivery of 400 Prius models, in a move towards cleaner and greener motoring for its staff. This is the largest ever UK fleet deal for Prius.
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autos.yahoo.com By Mike Monticello and Photos by John Lamm
Fisker Automotive has announced a joint venture with Quantum Technologies to build this sleek 4-door sports sedan. But unlike Fisker’s previous entries, the Tramonto (a rebodied Mercedes-Benz SL) and the Latigo (a rebodied BMW 6 Series), this car is a completely original design from the ground up. But the real kicker is that the new car will be a plug-in hybrid.
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TrimMaster B104 Exercise Bike

• Backlit LCD Console simultaneous displays all the relevant training information

• 16 levels of resistance

• 12 Pre Set workouts

Features

Backlit LCD Console displays Simultaneous display of speed, time, rpm, distance, effort (watts), calorie consumption and pulse (hand grip) to give you a varied choice of workouts to suit your particular needs and keep you motivated

Programs 12 pre set • 4 heart rate controlled • 1 user programme
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The Schwinn range of high quality air resistance and specialist spinning exercise bikes includes the Airdyne Evolution Pro, an essential part of many commercial gyms. All Schwinn magnetic resistance exercise bikes have heart rate control, while Schwinn spinning bikes meet the most demanding training criteria.

The Schwinn Evolution SR Exercise Bike features a mechanically adjusted resistance system with wool/felt resistance brake pads. The drive system uses a 17.5kg high inertia flywheel.
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