Auto review - Ferrari California vs. Jaguar XK Convertible (honda parts)

November 23rd, 2008 Admin Posted in automotive |

By Anthony D. Morgan

The new Ferrari California will satisfy even the most demanding of owners in term of its superb vehicle dynamics and driving pleasure. The new model will be available exclusively as a convertible with a folding hard top. Both chassis and bodywork are aluminium, in line with the rest of the current range. The California will be powered by a new V8 engine mounted for the first time in the marque’s history in the mid-front position.

As per the traditional Ferrari transaxle layout, the engine, which allows the Ferrari California to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4.0 seconds, will be coupled to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission that boosts the car’s performance while enhancing the driving pleasure, improves ride comfort and reduces fuel consumption and emissions (c.310 g/km CO2). The comfort is further enhanced by a new multilink rear suspension system. The Ferrari California is also equipped with the exclusive F1-Trac traction control system which made its debut on the 599 GTB Fiorano and has been further honed to suit the typical driving conditions expected for this new GT. Brembo brakes featuring carbon-ceramic material disks as standard guarantee superbly efficient braking.

The Ferrari California is aimed at owners who desire a car which embodies everything the Prancing Horse represents in terms of sporty design and innovation, but also seek a car with greater versatility than ever. The car will be officially unveiled to the public at the Paris International Car Show. However, over the coming weeks, new photographs and further details about it will also be published.

The all-new Jaguar XK Convertible is visibly more assertive and sportier than the model it replaces, but in true Jaguar tradition it is also elegant, understated and mature. In hard-top guise it has classic, ground-hugging Coupe proportions, with long hood, steeply raked windshield and rear window, arch-filling wheels, and minimal overhangs. The front-wing power vents are a new Jaguar styling signature recently seen on the special edition XJ Super V8 Portfolio; the distinctive oval grille opening, prominent hood power-bulge and practicality-enhancing rear Liftback all echo the classic E-type, while details like the sweeping front and rear light shapes and powerful stance catapult Jaguar sports car design firmly into the 21st century.

The sleek Jaguar XK Convertible is an adept combination of style and substance. The car rides on a lightweight yet rigid aluminum structure, yielding a sporty nature with a quiet and sophisticated ride.

It has a powerful V8 engine, which drives the rear wheels with a six-speed automatic transmission that allows manual operation via steering wheel-mounted paddles. It has a high level of standard equipment and few options, including adaptive cruise control which maintains a set distance between the car and traffic ahead.

The Jaguar XK Convertible takes all the virtues of the V8-powered coupe and adds a power-operated ragtop for sky-high enjoyment.

Anthony D. Morgan is a auto mechanic and car expert for 8 years. You can read his reviews of Ferrari California and Jaguar XK Convertible on his daily autoblog.

Troubleshooting a BMW Transmission that Will Not Go Into Reverse
By Astonish Articles

An automatic transmission is just that- automatic, consequently most people tend to pay very little attention to it until a major problem rears its ugly head.

Picture the scenario- you are driving along in the lap of luxury, the satellite radio blaring and the heated seats on. You have become accustomed to the comfort level and great driving experience brought to you by BMW.

You decide to stop at the local convenience store on your way home to grab some ice cream for the kids and a bottle of water for yourself. Upon returning to your car, you start it up, check your rear view mirror, put the shifter in reverse and then the unthinkable happens- the engine just revs as if it is in neutral and the car goes nowhere!

This article deals with the reasons behind an unexpected loss of reverse in certain BMW automatic transmission equipped vehicles, specifically the 3 series and 5 series vehicles that use the ZF5HP19 or steptronic transmission. This includes the popular 323i, 323ci, 325i, 328i, 330i, 525i, 528i, 530i, X3 and X5 models well as some others built in the 1999 to present model years.

To eliminate confusion, this does not apply to vehicles equipped with the GM 5L40 E transmission, just the ones with the sometimes problematic ZF5HP19. The 5L40 E has some issues of its own that are beyond the scope of this article but are certainly going to be the subject of another.

The failure rate for these transmissions seems to be very high and is expected to become much more of a problem as time goes by.

Typically, the vehicle is working perfectly while driving forward but when it is put in reverse there is a complete and permanent loss of movement to back up.

Reverse is typically a major feat for any transmission to accomplish- imagine the demands that are placed on a gearbox as it is asked to reverse the torque of your engine so that you can back up your nearly 4000 pound vehicle.

By far, the most common cause of the reverse problem in BMW’s is the failure of the D-G clutch drum. Specifically, the snap ring that retains the D or reverse clutch breaks out of the clutch drum resulting in an inability for the clutch pack to apply.

The good news is that there is hope in regards to a proper repair. The factory has released an updated part that so far appears to be a permanent fix for this problem.

In our testing and in conjunction with several hundred successful repairs at our facilities, the new part seems to be metallurgically superior in several ways.

We have found that there is an improved radius area as well as slightly thicker casting. In addition to this, the grove that retains the snap ring is also relocated further away from the edge of the drum.

With this issue addressed and attention to detail in several other areas of the ZF5HP19 unit, the transmission can be repaired to “better than new” condition by a competent transmission rebuilder / remanufacturer. In fact, when properly repaired, the ZF gearbox becomes quite robust and can provide an almost indefinite service life.

For more information on Car Transmissions or to find a Used Transmission visit SWTransmissions.com

Automotive System Integration Growth Advances
By Mike Trudel

It doesn’t seem too long ago that the electrical system in a vehicle was mostly concerned with lights, starter motors, radios and windshield wipers. Those days are long gone. The automotive industry is currently realizing a dramatic increase of electronic equipment for onboard vehicle control. In modern cars, a variety of electronic control units (ECU) delivers sophisticated real-time control functionality.

In the automotive industry, there is little doubt that electronics growth will continue. To remain competitive, it is crucial to seamlessly integrate the new technology. Whether it’s an entertainment system, keyless entry, a back-up camera or touch screen navigation, the role of the automotive manufacturer is increasingly becoming that of a system integrator working closely with its suppliers.

There is a long tradition in the industry of working with suppliers, and a number of suppliers that exist deliver similar systems to vehicle manufacturers. Automotive suppliers are more than happy to fill the needs of manufacturers, and the ever increasing importance of electronics in automobiles brings with it a growing challenge and need for low-cost, reliable electronic systems. These systems are not isolated and must communicate with each other.

Historically, automotive electronics have relied on proprietary, dedicated wire communication schemes (at least for many sensor systems) and directly wired power outputs. This has led to excessive wiring, and wiring consumes space, adds weight and expense, and can be difficult to maintain.

Fortunately, advances in vehicle-networking standards are addressing these issues with the wide adoption of Controller Area Network (CAN) and Local Interconnect Network (LIN) architecture. These network standards are providing a balance between performance and cost optimization across automotive systems. CAN provides a high-speed network for chassis, powertrain and body-backbone communications, while LIN answers the need for a simple network for sensor and actuator subsystems that reduces cost and improves robustness through standardization. Together, the vehicle networking standards and advanced mixed-signal processes provide an opportunity for automotive manufacturers to introduce affordable new electronic systems as well as reduce costs. They also improve maintenance and reliability while providing advanced convenience and safety features, like collision avoidance.

The widespread adoption of CAN and LIN standards is an important development for automotive electronics and becomes much more significant in conjunction with recent advances in mixed-signal semiconductor processes.

Adopting standardized vehicle-networking architectures and using more highly integrated mixed-signal ICs bring several advantages at the system level. The first is an improvement in a system’s robustness and diagnostics. By adopting standardized networks for two-way communication, diagnostic and failure information can be obtained when there are issues with the system.

The second is a reduction in wiring requirements. Using standardized vehicle-networking architectures, it is possible to build a feature- and diagnostic-rich system that requires only three wires. Reduced wiring requirements have less cost, less weight, will be easier to install at the factory, and will help reduce the potential for failure.

Integration also leads to other advantages and savings. Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) and housings can be smaller, allowing for improved and more flexible placement in the vehicle, with less concern about where and how to run the wires. Through the use of fewer components, there are fewer items to keep in inventory, qualify and monitor. Some of these factors also lead to a reduction in weight and space consumption, factors that are always important in vehicle design.

This advance is another step in increasing the intelligence and capabilities of automotive systems. We’re already witnessing this increased intelligence and capability with complex navigation systems, Internet access, passenger entertainment, ABS brakes, engine management systems and advanced stability control. The next generation of mixed-signal automotive integrated circuits (ICs) will integrate even more performance and processing power. It will provide programmable features and added flexibility that will be used to address the automotive electronic system needs of tomorrow. As these systems become more advanced, the possibilities are limited only by the applications that vehicle designers can imagine and that the end customer is willing to purchase.

Mike Trudel, Freelance Writer.

Delphi Corp. is poised to apply its expertise and know-how to provide vehicle manufacturers and consumers with in-vehicle entertainment and connectivity. To learn more about Delphi Corp., please visit www.Delphi.com/4Innovation or www.Delphi.com/4Connected.

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