2016 Nissan Altima SL review

2016 Nissan Altima SLPHOTO BY NISSAN

A modest, well-equipped midsizer for the non-enthusiast driver

I know that the Nissan Altima wants, nay, needs to compete with the best in the midsize sedan segment, aka, the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. I still want to throw its continuously variable transmission out the window. But other than that, there’s a lot to love about this refreshed midsizer.

The sheetmetal gets a good amount of massaging for 2016. The Altima now comes with the family face with V-shaped lights and a flowing silhouette. In back, the taillights are reshaped for a handsome overall look. Some might think the front end is a little too busy -- I am not one of those people.

This hot rod get a 2.5-liter four making 182 hp and 180 lb-ft, and honestly, that’s probably enough. It’s good for 39 mpg on the highway, for chrissakes. Now, the problem is getting that power to the wheels. Nissan sticks with its Xtronic CVT, which seems to do OK in the more powerful Maxima sedan, but not as good in this.

Taking off feels just about right. Put your foot about halfway down, and you get a nice buildup of thrust to 35 or 40 mph, and then it settles in. Sometimes when you need a downshift, it feels just like a regular automatic -- it takes a beat as the tach raises and then you’re outta there. Other times, though, it won’t give you that downshift feeling with a half stab, and you have to put it to the floor so as not to be cleaned out when merging in the fast lane. I guess the Maxima feels good because it has more than enough power, whereas this has just barely enough. Trust us, when you get on the expressway, you’re better off putting it to the floor and backing out than not pushing the throttle down enough and needing to find some speed in the last few feet of the ramp.

2016 Nissan Altima SLPHOTO BY NISSAN

There aren’t many cars that are considered corner carvers in this segment -- the Mazda 6 is the closest -- but this Altima is a little more numb than the rest. The light steering does make it easier to park and creep around at slow speeds, but loaded up on an expressway curve, there’s no notion of what your tires are doing. Likewise, the suspension is sufficiently soft to soak up potholes, but it does rock side to side, and fore and aft. Comfy though.

Road and wind noise seem to be isolated from the cabin. I did hear the expansion joints on the highway, but no more than I normally do. Like the Sentra, the Altima received more sound-deadening material as well as acoustic glass in the windshield with its last update.

The interior is a decent place to spend time. The seats are good looking, perforated leather, just heat, no cooling. They’re substantially supple, too. They don’t have a lot of lateral support, but again, you’re not going to be experiencing a ton of gs in an Altima. The radio is great, works easily with iPhones, but it was playing my podcasts at a low volume, so when I switched to the radio, it was blasting. Not a big deal, though. The back seat seems to have a good amount of space, as does the trunk, into which I threw a set of golf clubs widthwise without a thought.

-- Jake Lingeman, road test editor


2016 Nissan Altima SLPHOTO BY NISSAN


Read more: http://autoweek.com/article/car-reviews/2016-nissan-altima-sl-review#ixzz46GIeFVW2

Hinrich J. Woebcken takes over VW U.S. top spot as diesel deadline looms

Difficult road ahead for new CEO as scandal continues to take a toll

Volkswagen named Hinrich J. Woebcken the CEO of Volkswagen Group of America. Woebcken will be pulling double duty -- he recently became the head of the North America Region as well, a position created in the days following the outbreak of the diesel crisis in fall 2015. As head of the North America Region, he will occupy the spot above the CEOs of Canada and Mexico as well.

In taking over as U.S. CEO, Woebcken replaces the popular Michael Horn who abruptly announced his resignation in March after a tumultuous five months following the revelations of emissions cheating by the company. Horn enjoyed the support of the U.S. dealer network that rallied behind him in immediate aftermath of the scandal, and is credited with minimizing the financial impact thanks to generous incentives. Horn was also seen as a crucial figure for pushing through the $1,000 Goodwill Package for owners of affected diesel cars in the States.

Woebcken's takeover of the U.S. post was formally announced during an employee town hall meeting in Herndon, Virginia, last Friday.


Read more: http://autoweek.com/article/vw-diesel-scandal/new-vw-us-chief-hinrich-j-woebcken-takes-over#ixzz46GG8SBpn

A multi-cylinder engine is a reciprocating internal combustion engine with multiple cylinders, Below are several engines pistons alignment:

Sources:

Wikipedia.com

Mechanics tips

Car Air conditioning Diagram

Hey, check this diagram explaining the AC principal components, I hope it might be helpful for you.

Car Air conditioning Diagram

Clutch Mechanism diagram

Clutch Mechanism Diagram

Brake System in vehicles

Braking system simple diagram

ABS Brake System

Drum Brake

Disc Brake

Source: http://www.mikesadvancedauto.com/

Toyota FJ Cruiser Review

The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a midsize SUV that harks back to the company's iconic FJ40 Series of Land Cruisers. Like the old FJ40, the Toyota FJ Cruiser has superior off-road capabilities. It's built on a truck-based, ladder-frame chassis and features a stout suspension and drivetrain, sharing its underlying hardware with Toyota's 4Runner SUV. Toyota designed the FJ Cruiser to be a bit more specialized, however. Compared to the 4Runner, it's smaller, less expensive and more capable in off-road situations, and it's meant to appeal to younger and more active consumers.

Most Recent Toyota FJ Cruiser

The Toyota FJ Cruiser was produced from 2007 through 2014, with only relatively minor changes made throughout that eight-year run. A midsize SUV, the FJ Cruiser focused on off-road performance and thus in personality and in some cases styling (such as the grille and headlights), paid homage to the original FJ40 of the 1960s. The FJ Cruiser featured two standard front doors supplemented with a pair of smaller, reverse-opening rear doors to provide easier access to the rear seat.

The sole engine used was a 4.0-liter V6. Output depended on the year, as the first three years it was rated at 239 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque while for 2010 and later the specs stood at 260 hp and 270 lb-ft. Rear-wheel drive was standard and two different 4WD systems were available. One was a part-time system, while the other was a full-time system. All FJ Cruisers except those with the full-time 4WD came with a five-speed automatic; those with the full-time 4WD had a six-speed manual along with a locking rear differential.

There was just one trim level with the FJ Cruiser. Standard feature highlights included 17-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, power windows and locks, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat, water-resistant cloth upholstery, Bluetooth phone and audio, a CD player, satellite radio and auxiliary/iPod/USB inputs. Options (which sometimes depended on region and model year) included alloy wheels, a rear wiper, a rearview camera, an electronic locking rear differential, rear parking sensors and extra gauges. Several off-road-oriented features (such as heavy-duty suspension components, tires, roof racks, driving lights, rock rails and cargo covers) were also available, as were similarly themed packages that usually included specific styling details.

FJ Cruiser

Source: Edmunds