My Dream Car........

Toyota Fortuner. . . .

Toyota Fortuner is expected on Indian roads by June 2009. It will be priced at around 18 lakhs. The project for Fortuner was launched in late 2004 and since then it is one of the better selling multipurpose vehicles in lot of Asian countries.

Toyota Fortuner is already a hit in other Asian markets. Indian love big diesel cars and that is why Toyota is bringing its all new Toyota Fortuner in India by mid of 2009. The available variants for Indian markets will be 2.7V Petrol & 2.5G Diesel. Toyota Fortuner will be assembled in India at Toyota’s Bidadi factory in Bangalore.

Toyota Fortuner comes with many advanced features like overhead rear seat Bluetooth connectivity, air conditioning vents, cruise control and navigator. It has also got excellent safety features like traction control, bigger - better disc brakes and vehicle stability control.

 

Primary design features for Toyota Fortuner will be:

* New projectors and headlight design.
* Sporty front grille
* Better looking then other SUV in this price range
* Better and comfortable sitting.
* Air conditioning can be adjusted at seat level.
* Leather seats are foldable
* Technologically superior: BA, VSC, EBD, TRC, Cruise Control and Navigator

Toyota Fortuner Reviews:

The new Toyota Fortuner range has taken the South African market by storm – to such an extent that virtually from its launch date, there has been a long and lengthy waiting list for this exciting SUV.
It's been a long time a-coming but if the response from the market is anything to go by, it's been worth the wait.

Most things with engines and wheels built by Toyota are dependable, safe, comfortable, well-priced and economical to run, albeit more functional than exciting.

That's until the Fortuner came along.

Without a doubt one of the handsomest SUV's on the road, it is based on the ever-green Hilux pick-up chassis and it literally brims with fancy equipment, although it's not just a fancy pants with all talk and no walk.

Its off-road competence is impressive, especially the 4x4 models.

There are five models in the new range, all of them sporting standard equipment such as ivory leather seats, dual zone aircon, power windows and mirrors, alloy rims, tinted windows, power steering and an impressive audio system.

Other nice goodies include anti-lock braking (ABS), high mounted back brake, driver and front passenger airbags, remote central locking, immobilizer, alarm, seven seats (the second row with 60:40 split and tumble function, and the third row with fold-away seats), fog lights, roof rails and even mud flaps.

What will have special appeal for the faw-baw-faw, two-toned khaki shirt brigade is the Fortuner's 30 degree approach angle, 25 degree departure angle and its 220mm ground clearance.

The new range consists of two 3.0-liter diesels, with a choice between the 4x2 at R294,200 and the 4x4 with a price tag of R331,900.

The cheaper model produces 120kW at 3,400rpm and 343Nm of torque at between 1,400 and 3,200rpm. It is a rear wheel driven, turbo charged five-speeder.

The more expensive option is a permanent four-wheel drive linked to a five-speed manual powered by the same engine as the 4x2.

The petrol drinkers start with the 4.0-litre V6 4x2 at R306,000 and goes on to the 4.0-litre 4x4 which costs R343,600.

Both vehicles are driven by the same engine that produces 175kW at 5,200rpm and 343Nm torque at between 2,400 and 4,800rpm.

The flagship of the range is the 4.0-litre 4x4 with automatic transmission. This five-speed two-pedal option makes the same power as the other two, but its torque is up to 376 at 3,800rpm. Even at R346,575 this model is a very attractive package, particularly to Toyota's own loyal band of bakkie-owners.

I drove all the new vehicles over good tar highways as well as dusty and indifferent gravel roads, before taking the backseat as a 4x4 expert clambered and crawled up and down some really awesome mountain trails.

For a vehicle so classy, its combination of power and agility is quite amazing.

I also enjoyed its smooth, quiet ride on the open road where it handled long, fast sweeps in its stride as it cruised comfortably well above legal speed limits.

All the models across the range are not shy on space, even with four adults aboard.

Other good features are the luxury feel of the interior, the excellent sound system, the user-friendly instrument lay-out and its pavement posing appeal. The Fortuner will look classy outside any upmarket restaurant or wine bar.

 Like most vehicles of this type, the Fortuner is destined to appeal to families with 2.3 kids and a dopey Labrador, yummy mummies on the school-gym-shopping run, and to the guys who do the daily grind of home-office-home in their suits and ties when they would rather be wearing shorts and vellies and slugging a few beers next to the river somewhere in the heart of Botswana.

But, so what - it is style, looks, bum space, competitive pricing, the illusion of safety and dreams of faraway places that sell this type of vehicle - and this why the Fortuner will always been in demand even in a keenly-priced, highly-competitive market.

Toyota Fortuner Manual (Diesel) Features and Specifications:

Overview:

Make	Toyota
Model	Fortuner
Variant	Manual
Body Type	SUV
Number of doors	5

Fuel Efficiency

City Mileage	-
Highway Mileage	-
Fuel Capacity	65 litre
Fuel Type	Diesel
Fuel Grade	-

Engine Parameters:

Displacement	2982 cc
Bore	96 mm
Stroke	103 mm
Cylinder Configuration	4-inline
Valve Gear Operation	DOHC
Compression Ratio	17.9 :1
No. Of Valves	16
Aspiration	-
Fuel System	Common Rail Direct Injection
Horse Power	163@3400 ps@rpm
Torque	343@3200 Nm@rpm

Steering and Suspension:

Steering Type	Rack and Pinion
Power Steering	Yes
Front Suspension	Independent double-wishbone with coil spring and stabilizer
Rear Suspension	4 link with Coil Spring and Lateral Control Rod

Dimensions:

Length	4695 mm
Height	1795 mm
Width	1840 mm
Wheelbase	2750 mm
Clearance	-
Boot	- -
Front Head Room	- -
Front Leg Room	- -
Rear Head Room	- -
Rear Leg Room	- -
Kerb Weight	min: 1895 kg max: 1895 kg
Gross Weight	2510 kg

Drive Train:

Type	Manual
Gears	5
Drive Line	FWD

Comfort Features:

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Cruise	-
Power Door Locks	Yes
Power Windows	-
Power Mirrors	-
Power Seat	-
Moon Roof	-
Sun Roof	-
AM / FM Radio	Yes
Cassette Player	Yes
CD Player	Yes
Navigation	No
Leather Seats	-

Safety Features:

Antilock Braking System	Yes
Driver Airbag	Yes
Passenger Airbag	Yes
Front Airbag	-
Rear Airbag	-
Depowered Airbag	-
Child Safety Lock	Yes
Central Locking	Yes
Keyless Entry	Yes
Anti-theft System	No

How to give KISS. . . . . ! !

Dating Humor:
How To Kiss Someone Passionately

A kiss is one of the most intimate and sensuous things you can experience with another person. Unfortunately, while there’s no "right" way to kiss, many people experience anxiety about kissing or don’t know how to ask for a kiss. Fear not! Whether you’re getting ready for your first kiss, or you’re an experienced kisser and just want to improve your game for your first kiss with a new partner, you’ve come to the right place.

We've all seen so many great kisses in the movies. It all looks so simple and seems to happen spontaneously. But hey, it's the movies –and it's scripted. Real life is much different.

This is an instructable on how to kiss. Kissing can be a hard thing to do until you get comfortable doing it, and while nothing can fully prepare you for a kiss, this how-to will explain some of the basics of kissing a partner and explore some simple kissing do's and don't's.

Note: I am by no means a kissing expert. The information in this instructable is based upon experience and some simple research on the subject.

Let's get started with just a simple kiss.

Pre Kiss. . . .

The lead up to the kiss can actually be the most difficult part of kissing. Figuring out whether your partner is ready to kiss you or not can be a challenge of its own.

If you see one or a combination of these indicators, there is a good chance that your partner is thinking about kissing you.

• eyes become soft and heavy
• eye contact is made and sustained
• head turns slightly
• lips are licked or bitten
• your partner makes physical contact with you beyond what seems appropriate for normal conversation (e.g. he or she brushes your hand, touches you on the shoulder or leg, or fidgets with an accessory)
• easy conversation comes to a stop, but eye contact is not broken
• your partner smiles in conjunction with any of the above behaviors

To give your partner the cue that you wish to kiss him or her, you can try one or a combination of these things.

• soften your gaze by relaxing the muscles around your eyes, somewhat like smiling but without engaging your mouth
• smile often, though
• make eye contact and allow it to linger for a few moments longer than you normally would
• find ways to subtly (but respectfully) touch your partner

Bad Effects of Lipstick = Kiss of Death?

Could it be true that some lipsticks have high lead content which endangers the health of women who use them and the guys they kiss? If this report from the China Daily is to be believed then maybe we should ban such lipstick:

US research shows may leading brands of lipstick contain dangerously high levels of lead.

Women are being warned about using some lipsticks after concerns were raised several big-name brands could contain lead.

The warnings come in the wake of last week's ruling that a class action in the United States against luxury goods giant LVMH - the manufacturer of Dior Addict Positive Red lipstick, which has been found to contain lead - could proceed.

The blood-red Dior lipstick was among dozens of lipsticks found to contain lead, after US lobby group Campaign for Safe Cosmetics commissioned an independent laboratory to test lead levels in 33 brand-name lipsticks.

Deodorants and anti-perspirants also have some negative health effects according to my friend Claire.