2011 Cadillac CTS and Mazda CX-9 GT

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The CTS 2010 is expected to come supplied with a new engine and it will make a style wagon. The sport wagon model silk and CTS will be powered by a V6 3.0-liter power capable of producing up to 270 hp, while the 2010-9 CX AWD GT model will be the first group of Mazda, which will have capacity to accommodate up to 7 passengers.

The other engine available for the 2010 CTS is a model V6 3.6 liters producing power levels of up to 304 hp. Both engines are mated to a six standard manual transmission and is likely to be offered with 6-speed automatic also.

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The high-performance CTS-V model will also be offered in 2010, powered by a V8 engine of 6.2 liters supercharged that can result in power levels up to massive 556 hp. The engine of this model will be coupled to a level of 6-speed automatic, and it will also offer 6-speed manual transmission as an option.

As for the finishes being offered by CTS 2010 model are concerned, it can offer in a wide variety of trim models, ranging from basic four-door rear-wheel silk high-performance CTS-V. The base model 2010 Cadillac CTS will have a length of 191.6 cm, width of 72.5 inches and height of 59.2 inches. It will have the wheel base of 113.4 inches and curb weight 3872 pounds.

The AWD will be a 2010 sport utility vehicle designed especially for the needs of the family that provides more space for passengers and for cargo. Motor vehicles available for the 2010-9 CX AWD GT model will include a 3.7 liter power capable of producing up to 273 HP at an angular velocity of 6250 rpm. The engine is mated to a level of 6-speed automatic transmission.

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The Best of Both Worlds Of Luxury Cars With Convertible Tops

For years, a convertible roof was a feature only offered with sports cars or muscle cars. Ford Mustangs, Chevy Camaros, and other similar vehicles would always come with a convertible option, giving their drivers a unique top down, wind in the hair experience. These convertibles offered a feeling of freedom that most drivers could only envy. However, for those drivers who preferred luxury automobiles, there were other restrictions to worry about. Most luxury vehicles were designed to offer a smooth, comfortable driving experience, not a fast, sporty one. With the exception of Porsche, Ferrari, and Lamborghini, which always had a focus on combining speed with high end amenities, other luxury automotive companies couldn't provide a similar exhilarating driving experience. When the manufacturer saw a demand for a car that combined sportiness and classic luxury, a new option arose: the luxury convertible car.

This car changed the expectations that customers had for their high-end vehicles. Auto makers such as BMW and Audi were now able to offer a sportier car, with a convertible top, that didn't only focus on the driver. High-end sports cars are two seat speedsters, and are designed solely with the driver in mind. For example, a Porsche 911 turbo is clearly not meant to be a passenger car, while the BMW 3 series could provide the speed, convertible top, and 5-passenger comfort. This new breed of convertible, coupled with increased horse power, would give the owner a full sports car driving experience without the limited cabin space. Because these cars don't skimp on the amenities either, they are still viewed as complete luxury vehicles.

With the burgeoning success of these crossover vehicles, companies like BMW, Mercedes Benz, and Audi felt that they could earned the clout to offer a full on sports car to the market as well. Convertibles like the BMW Z4, Mercedes CLK200, and Audi TT would give these companies the chance to ride out the sports car wave that they started with their transitional luxury sports cars. Buyers now had options to choose from, regardless of what manufacturer they preferred, or the price tag they were looking for. Now there will always be the option of a high end luxury vehicle that boasts a convertible top and increased horsepower and a traditional convertible sports car that offers all the speed and agility of their Porsche counterparts.

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New Skoda Car to Arrive in Australia

Skoda leading automaker in Czech Republic and a subsidiary of Volkswagen maker of the unparalleled VW engine part has announced recently that it will return to Australia in October. It can be recalled that Skoda used to be treated as a big joke in the automotive world but with the disciplined that it gets from its German parent company; Skoda has been able to obtain Teutonic know-how, engineering and quality standards which has helped it to become the automaker it is today.

Skoda vehicles are to be distributed by Volkswagen Group Australia after its debut at the Sydney Motor Show. The lineup for Australia will include mid-size front-wheel-drive Octavia sedan and wagon plus the funky-looking five-door-wagon-cum-people mover called the Roomster. Both of these models were built at a modern plant at Mlada Boleslav near Prague.

To lead the range is a high-performance 147 kW, 2 liter FSI turbocharged Octavia RS. Volkswagen also plans to add the VW Polo-sized Fabia next year to the range of vehicles to be sold in Australia. The VW Polo-sized Fabia has been previously presented at the Geneva Motor Show. And by 2009 Volkswagen will launch a new generation version of its long-wheelbase Superb sedan.

The basic selling point of Skoda is its prices and this same strategy is what the automaker will also employ in Australia. The prices of Skoda vehicles to be sold in Australia will start from $16,000 for the Fabia and up to the mid $40,000s for the Superb.

And although Skoda vehicles are built using VW engine parts and components it is still 5 to 8 percent cheaper that its equivalent Volkswagen models due to the low-cost production price at Eastern Europe. Volkswagen Group Australia executive this makes the Skoda especially appealing to cost-conscious Australian buyers who wants European cars.

The plan to sell Skoda in Australia has been developed last year, however pricing and local identity issues have delayed the plans. But now since everything has been finally settled the moving is finally moving forward with its plans.

Matthew Weisner Volkswagen Group Australia general manager, press and public relations have been appointed head of Skoda Australia and part of his responsibility is to re-launch the brand. The first Octavia and Roomster are to be sold through 15 VW dealerships. Wiesner also emphasized the Skoda and VW would be distinct even with BMW which sells its Mini brands through associated dealers. "You won't see shared Volkswagen-Skoda showrooms. We've got to give them more separation. Obviously we need to protect what we've done with Volkswagen but at the same time grow the Skoda branding," said Weisner.

But eventually half of VW's 56 dealers nationally will be made to sell Skodas. "By the end of 2008 we'd like to have about 25 dealers. The regional-rural side of the business will be very important, particularly with Skoda's turbo-diesel line-up," added Weisner.

After-sales services are also going to be improved and with the well developed network and highly trained technicians, servicing and logistics is not going to be a problem. Despite the seemed to be flawless sales plan of Volkswagen in Australia, Weisner is still worried that the company's lack of profile may affect the sales turnover. It should be noted that Skodas have not been sold in Australia for almost 25 years.

"We've got to be creative about how we sell the Skoda message. We need to reasonably clever in how we go about it. It's a pretty congested market, so we have to come up with a reasonable answer to the question of why you would consider a Skoda," explained Weisner. He also described himself as"cautious but optimistic" about Skoda.

Presently there 41 different passenger car brands that are fighting to take a slice of the sales pie and Skoda must try to find its way through the ultra competitive market. Another fear of Weisner is that the Skoda may cannibalize VW sales. But then he said, "Yes, we have to be mindful of that. That's why it has taken such a long time to put this together. We need to be very careful how we approach both marques, because there's no point robbing Peter to pay Paul. You get one opportunity to do it properly."

Weisner also admitted that positioning Skoda without affecting the VW sales is one of the challenges that he is facing right now. "We're hoping the Skoda buyer will be an aspirational European buyer who might not have been able to stretch themselves before. They might always have been Japanese buyers who have aspired to Europe and hopefully we'll give them that opportunity," said Weisner.

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Skoda Laura One Of The New Luxury Sedan

Skoda marks its presence in the luxury segment in India with its Octavia and Laura. Skoda Octavia has spelled success ever since it was launched. Laura picked up slowly and still marks a good presence on the Indian roads. A new version of Skoda Laura was also launched, Skoda Laura Ambient also made a quiet entry in to the market subsequently. Although the both the models have marked a subtle presence, nevertheless, both have their unique characteristics that make their owners be proud of their style and elegance. Skoda Laura competes with against Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry in its segment.

The Power and the Technology

Skoda Laura is based on the A5 platform that is accompanied with cutting edge technology which tries its best to match the Indian road and driving conditions. It has a 1.9 Pump Dense Technology engine that is known for its low emission which is BS III complaint. This engine also delivers good fuel efficiency. It gains its top speed as 189Kmph. It comes with automatic and tip-tronic transmission that has six forward and one reverse gear. It has McPherson suspension in the front while the rear wheels have multi-element axle with one longitudinal and three transverse links. It has dual braking system in front and back and comes with power steering.

The exteriors are plush and stylish with extremely elegant look. It is a 4-door 5-seater car and a shining fully galvanised body. Interiors also carry stunning look that are well designed for maximum comfort. The overall design quite resembles with Skoda Octavia. It has a storage capacity of 560 litres that can be extended up to 1350 litres by folding the rear seats.

You can experience the rich upholstery, adjustable driver seats that have memory setting options so that it remembers your preferences. A long wheelbase gives a lot of room to the driver and makes driving the vehicle a real pleasure. It has an illuminated and refrigerated glove compartment with ample storage amenities. It carries all the safety measures that are usually present in any luxury car in the same segment.

The new Skoda Laura can give 11-16 kmph fuel efficiency on the city roads. It is priced at Rs 16-17 lakh in India and is amongst the elite peers in its segment that offers enticing looks clubbed with superb technology. It is available in 5 colours in India to choose from - Storm Blue, Candy White, Black Magic, Diamond Silver and Sahara Beige.

However, smaller changes in style and technology can further enhance the worth of the model. The front vent sometimes makes it difficult to see in front. The tyres still need to be improved upon for Indian road conditions. Moreover, the car still needs further adaptability for Indian driving conditions. The audio system can be still better but on the whole the car is a queen in the luxury segment that is tough enough to give a good competition to Accord, Camry or Sonata.

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The Great Skoda Octavia

At the beginning of December 1895 the mechanic Václav Laurin and the book-seller Václav Klement, both bicycle enthusiasts, started manufacturing bicycles of their own design, patriotically named Slavia in the nationalist atmosphere of the end of the 19th century. A few years later, in 1899, the Laurin & Klement Co. began producing motorcycles, which were soon successful and gained several racing victories. After initial experiments at the turn of century, producing of motorcycles was gradually replaced by automobiles form 1905 onward.

Many, many years later in the creation of Skoda Octavia, the company laboured hard in producing the most advanced technology therefore making every part to be high in quality and with outstanding technical specifications. Basically, the Skoda Octavia is a small family car created by Skoda Auto in the year 1996. The name itself was patterned after a certain model which was originally released in 1959 and 1971.

The vibrant and fresh interior of the Skoda Octavia will guarantee every passenger to have a relaxed feeling while boarding to their destination. It is mounted with excellent Volkswagen Group switchgear as well as good quality plastics. Space is never an issue since there is sufficient room for both front and rear seat occupants and it is designed in such a way that it will be a cosy place to stay in. The hatchback's boot is huge. Its dashboard which was fashioned using PU technology is transparent with smooth curves and surface that will be very pleasing to touch. Controls are properly arranged and numerous storage compartments are mounted that will only make staying inside as comfortable as one longed for in a vehicle. Moreover, all of its upholstery are carefully made therefore creating beautiful ambiance within. And with all these features, what more would you look in a vehicle?

In essence, the first generation Skoda Octavia which was launched in the year 1996 paved the way to make the company renowned in the automotive world. Upon its released, it harboured a huge success because of its strength, sophistication and value for money. The model was based purely on Volkswagen Golf but considerably with larger body that tenders better comfort. And although the chassis is not working really well, it can still go along with ease even on twisty curves and will go fine even on extra long journeys. One seen problem with this vehicle is it creates enormous wind noise which can go even on the cabin at motorway travelling speed and because of its flaws; the company decided that in the year 2000, the first generation will have a facelift. After then, it was still being marketed most particularly in Germany, Asia, and West Europe where it bears the name as Octavia Tour.

The revolutionized in Skoda Octavia model only proves of the company's commitment to improve their model to answer the demand of their supporters. And they are also highly sensitive to what their critics had to say because they believe that these people would help them in the improvement of their models making them a competitive brand in the automotive world.

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The History of Skoda Cars

Skoda is in existence today due in part to the foul letter of reply sent by a German bicycle manufacturer to a customer in 1894.

Bookseller by trade, 26- year old Vaclav Klement's bicycle was in need of repair. He sent a letter of request, written in Czech, for service to the German manufacturer of his bicycle. The letter was answered. It stated, "If you would like an answer to your inquiry, you should try writing in a language we can understand". Consequently, this was all Vlacav Klement needed to get-the-wheels-turning. In 1895, Klement opened his own bicycle repair shop. He partnered with an established bicycle manufacturer, Vaclav Laurin, in Mlada Boleslav ( today's Czech Republic).

In 1898, Klement and Laurin bought a motorcycle, which turned out to be a faulty design. After Laurin lost a front tooth in a minor crash while operating the motorcycle, the two men asked the advice of German ignition specialist, Robert Bosch. They then developed a different electromagnetic system. Thus, the first Slavia motorcycle made its debut in 1899.

Business was good. In 1900, with a crew of 32 employees, 150 motorcycles were built and exported to London for the Hewston firm. Klement and Laurin's company was now established within Austria-Hungary and internationally.

The company first began building cars in 1905. Klement and Laurin's car factory was destroyed in 1924 after a fire. They had no choice but to seek a partner. They merged with Skoda Works of Czechoslovakia. Production was then under the Skoda name.

Skoda became the fourth brand of the German Volkswagen Group in 1991 and became a major player in the European car market. By 2005, Skoda was selling over 30,000 cars per year in the UK. Skoda owners in UK have ranked the brand at or near the top of customer satisfaction surveys throughout the 2000s. The brand is now known for quality, reliability and design is being sold in Australia.