Friday, February 26, 2010

Top Ten Cars of the Decade Countdown 8 Chevrolet Corvette

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As an established American icon, the Corvette didn’t need much improvement to carry its success into the 2000s. But thankfully, improvement is exactly what we got. A whole lot of it. The sixth generation Corvette (known internally and to fans as the C6) first arrived on the scene in 2005.

Appearing outwardly similar to the previous generation, many experts were convinced that the then-new Corvette was nothing more than a glorified mid-model facelift. But the arrival of the C6 soon transformed that skepticism into outright enthusiasm. Sharing less than 20 percent of its parts with the previous model and with a newly developed 6.0-liter V8 producing 400 horsepower in the base model, the C6 changed the face of the sports car game forever.

And after the introduction of the 505-hp Z06 and 638-hp ZR1 models, the C6 could now give most super cars a run for their money. The C6 has proven that American muscle is still alive and well, and has guaranteed that the Corvette nameplate will survive well into the next decade.

To find Chevy Corvette pricing and incentives your neighborhood, click here.

*If you prefer to find a used Chevrolet Corvette, click here.

Top Ten Cars to Look Forward to in 2010 7 BMW X1

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The 2011 BMW X1 is BMW’s latest foray into their slowly expanding “Sports Activity Vehicle” segment, or as many would label, Crossover. Lower, lighter and shorter, the X1 (which is already on sale in Europe) will fit below their X3 and offer a more focused driving experience by the way of a shorter wheelbase and revised steering and braking feel, which could very well be the benefactor of the 135i’s fabulous 6-piston calipers and massive vented brake rotors.

The X1 will definitely give CR-V and RAV4 shoppers a sportier and more luxurious option.

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The X1 will come with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system, standard. Potential engine options are aplenty, but our prediction will be BMW’s svelte inline six, which would be re-tuned to give the X1 around 260hp as opposed to the 230hp found in both the 328i and 528i.

Wishful thinking would have us convinced that the 335d’s twin-turbo diesel mill will be an option. And could you blame us? 425 lb-ft of torque, all-wheel-drive, and the peace of mind knowing that larger-than-usual road irregularities would not get in our way on the spirited commute to work.

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The 2011 BMX X1 is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. sometime in late 2010/early 2011, with a price around $35,000.