The Car Geek

Come to a bad time

2008-06-10T01:32:00.000-07:00

The 2009 model year version of the Ram looks like a Charger. And that makes the Ram look more aggressive. The body and the rear of the 2009 Ram is unchanged. But since production of the 2009 Ram is still far off, it is possible that there will also be changes made to the rear and body of the Dodge Ram. With General Motors and Toyota both having new full-size pickups in showrooms, Ford is understandably keen to push up the development cycle of its pivotal Ford F-150, likely due as a 2009 model.

The ford and Chrysler came to sudden fall and at horrible time as they get ready to bring their new updated pickups to the market, the full-sized pickup segment. At 1.65 billion the segment is expected to fall about 500,000 units this year to an all-time-low.

The Ford’s best-selling vehicle is the Ford F-Series and the Dodge Ram is no less for Chrysler. Before the market gets any worse both companies were counting heavily on the two updated models but are now scrambling to get rid of their 2008 inventories. With the $4 a gallon average aside, even devoted large-pickup can’t afford to buy a new model since the trade-in values are decreasing significantly as demand weakens. For the past three months sales in the pickup segment have been falling. Ford’s F-Series, the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. lost its number one spot last month to the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and the Toyota Camry.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally says, “The most important thing is to just bring down the production but also have a very successful launch,” “Later on, we’ll figure out what is the right (production) footprint for the long term.”

BMW M1 Hommage concept

2008-05-31T00:11:00.000-07:00

CAR has the new issue to reveal, The BMW is preparing the M1 Hommage concept for production." We have the know-how, we have the right engine, we even have the infrastructure to build such a car,’ vows BMW board member Herbert Diess. The supercar was shot exclusively for CAR, and following interviews with BMW executives, the July issue reveals key project details including:

• The timetable for production
• The three-strong powertrain line-up
• The lightweight body construction
• The plan for ‘heron-wing’ doors, and a driver-focused, multi-layered interior
• And why BMW’s new supercar won’t be called M1

The head of design Adrian van Hooydonk told the CAR that the car was nothing more than a celebration of BMW design and had no plans of making production version, when the BMW released the M1 Hommage concept at the Concorso d'Eleganza 2008 di Villa d'Este. The car was revealed with no engine, no interior, and it is simply had working headlight and a steering.

According to CAR, BMW is working on the production model. “We have the know-how, we have the right engine, we even have the infrastructure to build such a car,” said BMW board member Herbert Diess.

The July issue of CAR reveals the timetable for production, and why the car won't be called the M1 and the powertrain line-up. . Supposedly the lightweight body construction with ‘heron-wing’ doors will be driver focused with a multi-layered interior. It is expected to go head-to-head with the Audi R8.

Defective pumps overcharge customers as fuel prices soar

2008-05-14T22:56:00.000-07:00

Every one of us could be in store for a sharp increase in vehicle costs as auto manufacturers are oblige to transact with adverse exchange rates, increasing raw material rate and new fuel-economy and productions rules. These issues are growing cost pressures on car producers and it shows the trouble will expected be passed on to purchasers.

As fuel rates persist to skyrocket to record highs, many consumers are ever more keeping cautious of just how much they are paying at the loading station or pump. However, latest information in the U.S. asserts defective fuel pumps can be partially responsible for the higher cost of fuel and customers are being overpriced with no further notice.

This trouble is approximately happens to some rural places where older loading stations have just kept on using their original and old pump. The stations’ minor sales amount and low income limits mean improving or changing the pumps with latest products that can hold the higher prices is almost not possible. A new pumps price is between $10,000 and $15,000 apiece, while upgrading cost over $650 for every pump.

A momentary answer for this problem has done, called ‘half pricing’, is permissible in some places. The procedures engage posting the price of half a gallon of fuel, and after that, doubling-up the sum shown on the pump after loading.

This isn’t the first time the crisis has take place, on the other hand. In 2005, the jump past $3 per gallon led a lot of stations to improve or change their pumps with meters capable of $3.999. The upgrade was quite limited, and now lots of of those holders are experiencing very similar circumstances again and again.

Ford - A cheerful situation for a turnaround

2008-05-12T21:08:00.000-07:00

As several cheering marks begin to become known from Ford Motor's turnaround tactics, a lot of the credit is probably go to Mark Fields (president of Ford Motor Co.) Also known as the “The Leading Man”.

Ford Motors proclaimed $100 million earnings in the quarter, although sales lagged General Motors and Toyota. I think Ford as a totally underrated corporation that at last is manufacturing first-rate vehicles, in many places around the globe, moreover, I don't believe expensive gasoline costs will have greatly outcome on the turnaround.

Ford's continuing Way Forward improvement preparation - with full-year profitably assurance for coming 2009 - has become face-to-face into a trade and industry slump that has effect sales all over the industry.

Soaring gas prices have caused purchasers to insist many small cars, which are worse profitable in all compare to the large SUV’s that have influenced Ford's incomes for long time. Its upcoming brand-new small car model, Fiesta, won't arrive to public in the USA until 2010.

If the profitable quarter keeps on going, Ford Motor for this time is promoting for merely 14 times next year's profits. With incomes about to $40 billion in the quarter, a business person who is smart and high-personality definitely might cut the fat as of that as well as reverse a profit, and that is precisely what turnaround expert CEO Alan Mulally is doing.

I'm pleased that citizens and the stock market at last understand that Ford is creating a brilliant product. Ford has been for many years but in reality they seem to have gotten it as one now. Cars are lastly receiving as much consideration as trucks and it confirms.

Honda Civic GX: Part Of 'Greenest Vehicles Of 2008' List For The Fifth Straight Year

2008-02-26T17:20:00.000-08:00

Honda’s continuing effort in enhancing environmental-friendly and fuel efficient vehicles had paid off by earning top honors from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) as the "greenest vehicles of 2008". This award recognizes the company’s dedication in the application of efficient alternative fuel technologies. According to the Auto Channel, the Civic GX natural gas vehicle took the crown of being one of the greenest vehicles with a rising thermostat for the fifth straight year.

The 11th annual ACEEE's "Green Book(R) Online" results were announced by the American Honda Motor Co., Inc. a few days ago. The Civic GX topped the list along with the gasoline Civic, Fit and Civic Hybrid. In addition to this, this is the eighth consecutive year that a Honda car achieved the top ranking and the seventh successive year that Honda vehicles seized a minimum of four spots in the top 12.

"The ACEEE awards speak to the commitment Honda has made to lead the industry in lowering emissions, increasing fuel efficiency and reducing dependence on oil. Honda continues to set the standard for socially and environmentally-responsible automotive products and our commitment to alternative fuels will further expand with the zero emissions FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle coming to market this summer," says John Mendel, the executive vice president of American Honda.

The company holds a long and glorious history of environmental leadership that includes the unveiling of the America's first hybrid, the Honda Insight.

The first vehicles to meet stricter emissions standards, includes:

The first gasoline Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV), the 1996 Honda Civic.
The first gasoline Ultra-Low Emissions vehicle (ULEV), the 1998 Honda Accord.
The first gasoline Super Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV), the 2000 Honda Accord.
The first Advanced Technology Partial-Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV), the 2001 Civic GX natural gas vehicle.

Museum Of Modern Arts To Feature Mercedes-Benz Bionic Car

2008-02-21T22:30:00.000-08:00

I never knew some automakers can make great philosophers too. Not until, I came across Daimler Chrysler’s philosophy. As we all know, Daimler Chrysler is the leading automobile manufacturer in terms of technological advancements. And it lives by these philosophies: Thinking the unthinkable. Looking beyond the horizon. Leaving familiar paths and giving new ideas a chance.

Daimler Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz Technology Center’s commitment to safety, comfort and most importantly to environmental compatibility complemented by its engineer’s creative minds paved the way for the Mercedes-Benz bionic car -- a concept vehicle inspired by nature but utilizes the diesel engine technology for practical use. According to daimlerchrysler.com, this bionic car features qualities similar to a fish -- with streamlined contours and outstanding aerodynamics. Biologists, bionics scientists and automotive researchers took the challenge of finding the ideal creature that suits their concept of a car transformed from nature to technology. Finally, they found all the qualities they’ve been looking for in Ostracion Cubicus better known as the boxfish -- agile and streamlined at first sight but is a good swimmer.

By finding homes in the coral reefs, lagoons and seaweeds of the tropical seas, the boxfish has developed good maneuverability -- great characteristics that is common with Daimler Chrysler’s ideal car.

The Mercedes-Benz bionic car, a four-seater compact car with two doors, windscreen, glass roof and a tailgate, 4.24 meters long, 1.82 meters wide and 1.59 meters high. It also incorporates cameras as substitute for exterior mirrors and rear wheels covered with sheets of plastic flush-fitted door handles.

The bionic car is equipped with a 103 kW per 140 horsepower direct-injection diesel engine, consumes 4.3 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers and has a top speed of 190 kilometers per hour. Hopefully, it comes with high-quality oil filters as well though it promises about 80 percent lower nitrogen oxide emissions using its selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology.

Starting on February 24 up to May 12, this bionic car from Mercedes-Benz will be displayed in the “Design and Elastic Mind” exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, which honors and recognizes the powerful innovations and latest developments in science, research and design.

Indeed, by exploring the beauty of one's philosophy, anyone can turn simple things into amazing achievements.

Teens Unite To Prevent Car Crashes

2008-02-15T17:38:00.000-08:00

Car crashes is among the primary cause of several fatalities for teen drivers in the past years. It’s sad to know that they pay a major price for being too neglectful and aggressive behind the wheel whereas control arms won’t even save their precious lives. As a result, dedicated teenagers in the U.S., students from 25 different schools, came together and compete to generate a significant and convincing safe driving communication campaigns. According to the Auto Channel, the program is intended to encourage their friends and classmates of the hazards of perilous behavior while driving.

Project Ignition sponsored by State Farm(R) and organized by the National Youth Leadership Council(R), announced the ten finalist schools for this year. Here are the finalists in the fourth year of the program:

Ada High School - Ada, Okla.
Bergen County Technical School - Paramus, N.J.
Bishop McNamara High School - Forestville, Md.
Harry D. Jacobs High School - Algonquin, Ill.
Howenstine High Magnet School - Tucson, Ariz.
Louisburg High School - Louisburg, Kan.
Medina Valley High School - Castroville, Texas
Nease High School - Ponte Vedra, Fla.
Owen Valley High School - Spencer, Ind.
Upper Arlington High School - Columbus, Ohio

"Project Ignition embodies the true meaning of service-learning and how teens can have a direct impact not only on the lives of their peers, but also on the community. Teen driving behavior and habits are a major factor in teen driving accidents. Project Ignition uses service-learning as a tool for young people to educate themselves and their neighbors on the risks they face every time they get behind the wheel," says Dr. James Kielsmeier, the president of NYLC.

Nearly 7,000 teens, ranging from 16 to 20 years old, were involved in deadly car accidents in the United States last year. The death rate for drivers’ age 16 to 19 years, based on miles driven, is four times that of drivers' aged 25 to 69 years according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"Today's young people are faced with hazards both inside and outside the vehicle. Through service-learning, the Project Ignition program empowers teens to influence their peers and make a positive impact on driving behaviors and attitudes. State Farm's goal is to make the roads safer for all drivers and help save lives," says Kellie Clapper, Assistant Vice President of Community Relations for State Farm.

GEMA Plant, Noted For Operational Excellence By Shingo

2008-02-11T19:58:00.000-08:00

Focus. Practice. Commitment to outstanding results. These highly-regarded “virtues” in business processes make a Shingo Awardee - considered as the “Nobel Prize of Manufacturing.”

Based from a report in Autochannel, on the 20th Annual Shingo prize for Operational Excellence Conference in Dallas, Texas scheduled this coming March 31 to April 3, the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) plant in Dundee, Michigan that holds facilities in producing fuel-efficient engines for Chrysler will be receiving the 2008 Shingo Silver Medallion for Operational Excellence. Last year, it also bagged the same award making it as the sole automotive manufacturer to receive such recognition.

According to Vice President for Chrysler Limited Liability Company (LLC) Manufacturing and also a member of the GEMA Board of Directors, Richard Chow-Wah, it is a pleasure to be receiving such recognition which he considers a confirmation that they accomplished their mission of setting a revolutionary pace in engine manufacturing by maximizing manpower, processes, technologies and systems. Meanwhile, Global Engine Manufaturing Alliance LLC President Bruce Coventry dedicates the success to the committed and hardworking members of the GEMA team. According to him, the 330 GEMA employees including the 265 partner employees who keep the facility going just the way an Acura Legend tie rod enables your Acura car wheels to turn deserve the applaud and the honor.

He pointed out, “At the same time, in the spirit of continuous improvement we recognize there are many opportunities in our processes. We understand that manufacturing excellence is a never-ending journey, not a final destination.”

GEMA is known as a producer of 1.8-, 2.0-, and 2.4-liter engines used for Chrysler Sebring sedan and convertible, Dodge Caliber, Avenger and other vehicles using what are considered as the “World Engines,” these units developed by the joint efforts of Chrysler, Hyundai Motor Company and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.

According to shingoprize.org, the GEMA plant in Michigan, which has been operating for three years now, was also a recipient of the Top Plant Award given by the Plant Engineering Magazine in 2007 while in 2006, it was given the Environmental Achievement Award from the Environmental Management Association.

Johnson Controls Open Li-ion Plant

2008-01-31T18:04:00.000-08:00

The call for green vehicles is steadily increasing. Automakers are also responding to this call by manufacturing vehicles which use very little petroleum fuel or none at all. Toyota manufactured the Prius, a gas-electric hybrid which means that it is powered by a small internal combustion engine and sometimes supported by an electric motor which draws power from a nickel-metal hydride battery.

These batteries are being used because, well, it’s the only choice. But it will soon be phased out as lithium-ion batteries are starting to crop up. Li-ion batteries are favored by many over Ni-MH batteries as it weighs considerably less than the latter and stores more power. The only catch is that battery developers have not yet come up with a very good solution to make Li-ion batteries safe for automotive application.

That problem will soon be over though as Johnson Controls announced that they have opened the first Li-ion battery manufacturing facility in the world. That could only mean that the company has found a way to manufacture Li-ion batteries safe for vehicles. The Auto Channel reported that the said assembly facility will be manufacturing battery packs for "hybrid, plug-in, fuel cell and electric vehicles". I am sure that these battery packs will be as safe and reliable as Acura coil springs.

Mary Ann Wright, vice president and general manager for hybrid battery business for Johnson Controls, said: "This manufacturing facility demonstrates our ongoing commitment to hybrid technology. We are the first company to produce the batteries for the automotive industry and have recently announced a number of production and development contracts. We are confident that we will continue to be a global leader in the development and manufacture of advanced energy solutions for automotive batteries that make cars more energy efficient."

Car Shoppers Still Not Convinced With Diesel

2008-01-28T22:18:00.001-08:00

A study done by Kelley Blue Book’s marketing research team was recently concluded and the results showed something quite interesting. A small number of new vehicle shoppers have disclosed that they still are not convinced with diesel being a good source of fuel with only 6% believing in diesel.

The study continued to disclose these facts:

40% of the respondents still go for hybrids
20% are for hydrogen fuel cells
17% would rather have flexible fuel systems

Consumers interested in hybrid vehicles still continue to bloom and this simply means that the need for BMW parts made specifically for hybrids would also go higher. Also, consumers who took part of the KBB study said that they still look at diesel engines as the dirty and noisy ones. It looks like no matter how good the new diesel engines are marketed, it would take quite a while before shoppers get the idea that these engines are no longer like the old ones.

Jack Nerad is the executive market analyst and the executive editorial director for KBB and on the study, he disclosed via The Auto Channel, “Many automakers are looking toward diesels as a very workable solution for the future, especially in light of the recently passed energy bill, but the results of this study should give them pause and make them realize they need to do a better, more thorough job of winning over the American consumer.”

On the Right Track

2008-01-23T17:24:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if you'll agree with this: For humans, beauty and power define greatness but for cars it's in the quality and safety. Later, we'll analyze what humans and cars have in common. For now, let's focus on the latter.

Kia Motors is now gaining a good reputation for advocating those two points - quality and safety, authorities of the car industry revealed to Autochannel.com. This happened after the car manufacturer earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick Award for 2008. Kia vehicles were among the 34 awardees that received the institute’s recognition.

Good publicity for its latest special edition called the cee'd SR Spectacular that features front electric windows, USB port, 5 doors, CD and MP3 player with 6 speakers, 16" alloys, air-conditioning and 6 airbags earned various positive comments.

Autocar remarked, "This is the car that will shift Kia into the big league and challenge Europe's leading hatches." Stylish and sporty, this new Kia car was designed in Europe and was made in Slovakia.

According to What car?, "Kia's light, responsive steering makes it nimble a around town and feels assured when pushed on country roads."

The quality of a car steering has a great effect on the value of your ride. It's a good thing that Kia vehicles have an electronic stability control (ESC) designed to provide comfort and protection to drivers. Through sensors and a microcomputer, a vehicle's response to the driver's steering input is being monitored thus enabling it to apply the vehicle brakes as well as modulate engine power that keep the vehicle traveling in accordance with the steering wheel position's path.

Yet, even a Kia steering is not free from steering failure. If it does, an water pump may offer a solution. A car's water pump is responsible for fluid circulation as the engine runs.

As many as 10,000 fatal crashes can be avoided annually if all vehicles will be equipped with ESC, said Institute President Adrian Lund. With car manufacturers like Kia Motors committed to their consumers' safety, the car industry is on the right track towards greatness. By the way, I forgot to tell you, LATER for me means an hour OR a decade-worth of wait - it depends on my mood. Anyway, you may proceed with your own analogy.

Hummer Reigns Supreme

2008-01-22T17:03:00.000-08:00

Last year, Hummer's website was named the best by J.D. Power and Associates. This year, after six months, the automaker's site once again achieved the highest ranking in the 2008 Manufacturer Web Site Evaluation Study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates.

Steve Witten, the executive director of marketing/media research at J.D. Power, outlined the things that made Hummer the winner saying: "HUMMER continues to set the standard with a Web site that satisfies shoppers through fast performance and streamlined navigation. A focus on a user-friendly site that delivers robust information to shoppers both quickly and easily has put HUMMER's site in the top spot three times in the past four waves of MWES."

According to The Auto Channel, the automaker's site received 867 points out of a 1,000 scale. Although the automaker retained its lead in the rankings, its index dropped by 2 points.

With more and more consumers looking to gain information regarding vehicles or purchase auto part like fuel injectors on the World Wide Web, automakers continued to improve on the design of their sites to provide information to consumers.

Witten said: "Traditional point-and-click Web site navigation is changing as a growing number of shoppers use search engines to link directly to automotive manufacturer model pages rather than the home pages."

Witten also pointed out Lincoln's site which made it to the top three this year to be one of the sites which have been improved to suit the needs of site visitors. "As a result, manufacturer vehicle model pages are beginning to contain more functionality than ever before. Lincoln's Web site, in particular, combines rich content on its model pages with fast, clear navigation," Witten added.

Ford Bids Goodbye To Gas Caps

2008-01-17T21:38:00.000-08:00

If ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That’s the mantra we’re accustomed to follow. But are you supposed to fix it when it’s already broke? I don’t think so. Obviously, it might hurt you; might as well throw it away.

Gas caps aren’t broke and useless. But FoMoCo will soon be bidding goodbye to them. In 2006, the automaker promised to wipe caps off its lineup. Now, the promise has finally made good.

Yes, the Dearborn-based automaker has found a new ally in capless system, the technology it uses in NASCAR. Ford will be offering the technology on select models such as the 2009 F-150, which was displayed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Aside from the next-gen F-150, the capless system is also featured on the 2008 Explorer sport utility set to roll out into dealerships this fall. It will also be available on the 2009 Flex crossover and Lincoln MKS sedan.

“The capless refueling system already is available on the 2008 Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle, and it's coming to the 2009 Flex crossover and Lincoln MKS luxury sedan,” said Matt O'Leary, chief engineer on the pickup.

O'Leary said it's [capless system] something that they'll appreciate every time they fill up. "People just don't like the cap," he said. "Anyone who drives a vehicle hates that." Meanwhile, he expects auto rivals to eventually develop their own versions of the system which will be offered in their lineup.

Car Stuff has this to say about the innovative system: “The system, which came from Ford's NASCAR racing experience, first appeared on the 2003 Ford GT sports car. It has two small spring-loaded tabs that pull back a flap inside the fuel filler neck as the nozzle hits them. When the nozzle is pulled out, the flap closes.”

But not everyone is flabbergasted by the system. Aaron Bragman, auto analyst at Global Insight, called the system a nice "surprise and delight" feature, but said no one would buy a Ford because of it. "It's a nice addition, but by no means a decision-maker," he added.

Ford rival, General Motors, is adamant about the innovation. Mark LaNeve, GM North America vice president for vehicle sales, service and marketing, said: “The removal of the gas cap never shows up like a problem in any of our research.”

The Dearborn automaker said all of its vehicles will be capless. And for now, I don’t if it’s gonna be a hit. The innovative system may not be as remarkable as the discovery of seatbelts but I think it’s worth a try. Given the opportunity, I’m gonna hit the ignition switch to experience a capless drive.

An Innovative Small Car

2008-01-11T17:24:00.000-08:00

The Tata Nano has been widely anticipated by Indian consumers as well as by the global community. Last year, Tata Motors announced that they are in the process of developing what would be the world's least expensive car. The auto industry has been abuzz with that proclamation. Even major automakers have failed or did not try to address the issue of producing small and cheap cars that will be within the reach of millions of families. But Tata, an Indian automaker, has beaten them to the punch.

Mr. Ratan Tata, the chairman of the Indian automaker, recently talked about the Nano and how it came to be. He said that his goal is to provide a car for common folks which will be safer than scooters.

He said that they first intend to use materials like plastics but it will not be practical as they are aiming for large volume production output. "Initially I had conceived a car made by engineering plastics and new materials, and using new technology like aerospace adhesives instead of welding," said Tata. "However, plastics didn't lend themselves to the volumes we wanted because of the curing time required. Volumes mean the world in this context: if we produce this car and if it is for the wider base of the pyramid, we can't settle for small numbers because then the purpose is defeated."

He described how they were able to cut costs on the Nano but at the same time, come up with a quality vehicle which can be compared to Acura headers in terms of reliability. "We did things like make similar handles and mechanisms for the left- and right-side doors; we developed our own small engine which could sit under the rear seat, enabling us to craft a smaller overall package; we looked at a new type of seats; and we worked at cutting costs everywhere," said Tata.

"We have put our instrument cluster in the middle, not in front of the driver. This means the same dashboard will work for a left-hand-drive vehicle. There are a lot of such innovations that are low-cost and future-oriented," he concluded.

And The Winners Are…

2008-01-09T17:23:00.000-08:00

We know that Edmunds is one great place to research about car pricing, specs, features, and whatnot. They also test drive vehicles which means we can have an idea of how a vehicle drives even without having to try them out ourselves. But it is still important to test drive a vehicle you want to buy to see if it fits you to a tee. Anyway, as Edmunds is widely regarded as prime source of information about vehicles, we should take heed of what vehicles does Edmunds' editors wanted.

The Auto Channel reported that the Inside Line, Edmunds' online car magazine recently named the winners of the Edmunds' Inside Line Editors' Most Wanted Awards. Wow! That's quite a mouthful eh?

Anyway, Scott Oldham, editor in chief of Inside Line described their selection as: "The vehicles chosen were our favorites – the ones that we didn’t want to give back after testing them." With that description, you know you are getting the best deal for your money with the vehicles picked by Inside Line editors.

The 2008 GMC Sierra Denali is one of the winners. According to John Pearley Huffman, a Inside Line's contributing editor: "Think of the Sierra Denali as the perfect truck for the contractor who actually loves his job and happens to have hit the Lotto. And just bought a boat." That must be some serious pulling power huh? Surely, a burly radiator will fit in that Denali.

Another winner is the 2008 Mazda3. Josh Jacquot, Inside Line's Senior Road Test Editor praised the Mazda3 saying: "Bottom line, the Mazda3 is Edmunds’ Inside Line Editors Most Wanted Award winner because it offers a driving experience for beyond expectations and, more importantly, beyond its price tag." There you are guys, the best deal for your money.

Other winners are the 2008 Porsche 911 GT3, 2008 Honda Odyssey, and the 2008 Audi R8 adjudged as an Instant Classic.

WSJ/NBC Poll Cites Gas Prices As No. 1 Economic Concern

2008-01-07T18:23:00.000-08:00

Look around – what do you think is our main economic concern these days?

The latest survey from Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll cites gasoline prices as the economic woe that affects most Americans, according to the Auto Channel. As such, the Car Care Council warns people that putting off vehicle care and maintenance can make matters worse.

"The best way to fight higher costs at the gas pump is to keep your vehicle running properly. You can't control the price of gas, but you can control how much gas you burn by proper maintenance and how you drive," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. "Performing simple and inexpensive maintenance can save as much as $1200 a year in gas cost."

The Car Care Council offers these gas-savings maintenance and driving tips to make motorists save big money at the pump:

Check your vehicle gas cap. About 17% of the vehicles on the roads have gas caps that are either damaged, loose or are missing altogether, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.
When tires aren't inflated properly, it's like driving with the parking brake on, and can cost a mile or two per gallon.
A dirty spark plug causes misfiring, which wastes fuel. Spark plugs need to be replaced regularly.
Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10%, saving about 15 cents on a gallon.
Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by as much as 22% on the highway and five percent on city streets, which results in seven to 49 cents per gallon.
Sitting idle gets zero miles per gallon. Letting the vehicle warm up for one to two minutes is sufficient.
Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each mph driven over 60 results in an additional 10 cents per gallon. To maintain a constant speed on the highway, cruise control is recommended.

Yes, it is essential to take care of your car’s body parts. But maintenance should go hand in hand with safety driving.

To learn more about "Be Car Care Aware" campaign, visit http://www.carcare.org/.

Hail The ‘Grease Cars’

2008-01-03T19:56:00.000-08:00

Now that our country is facing terrible global warming concerns, everyone should think of better solutions.

Aside from the production of hybrids, another good remedy is the use of grease cars. Yes, grease cars – those that burn vegetable oil. So move over gas-guzzlers and welcome the grease cars, the latest trend in the industry composed of environmentally-conscious drivers.

As defined by an article, grease cars are diesel vehicles converted to also burn leftover food-grade vegetable oil (aka SVO for straight vegetable oil). The oil can is available in local restaurants. Grease car conversions and fueling take some leg work, but advocates say in the end you save money, help the environment and consume less "foreign oil," said the article.

“The first grease cars were developed in 1980 on a Volkswagen Golf in Germany, according to Elsbett.com, but thousands of Americans have grease cars nowadays,” said Cynthia Shelton, director of the California-based National VegOil Board.

What are the steps required to do the greasing? Robin Lloyd shares the following steps:

First, they lineup a waste oil source in advance. You don't want to convert your car and then scramble for fuel. Contact local restaurants to reach an agreement. Some restaurants pay to have the oil carted away so they might be pleased for you to take it for no charge. Spector and Uviller live in Manhattan, so they get their waste oil from a French restaurant literally across the street.

Next comes the vehicle. The purchase of a new diesel car has been tricky in some parts of the country, including the Northeast, because of air emissions rules, but new low-sulfur diesel is changing that, or you can buy a used diesel car.

Choose a conversion kit by comparing the offerings from sites such as greasecar.com, goldenfuelsystems.com and votechusa.com, or reading the vegcar.net or vegtruck.com blogs.

Finally, greasers set up a filtering system or station. Some food scraps tend to remain in waste oil, so you have to filter it out. You can buy filtration systems for $700 or make your own from parts for less.

According to the National VegOil Board, the vegetable oil used is not certified by the EPA. This is why drivers of grease cars also have to research local oil collecting, hauling, storage and relevant laws regarding the matter.

As automakers are improving their engine, radiator and fuels, the effort should not end there. We have to find some ways to remedy the predicament; this isn’t just for us but for the coming generations.

[credit: MSNBC]

Legend's Birthday Blowout

2008-01-01T20:26:00.000-08:00

When it comes to high performance vehicles, it is hard to leave the name Carroll Shelby out. According to The Auto Channel: "Carroll Shelby dominated sports car racing in the mid-1950s, twice being named Sports Car Illustrated’s "Driver of the Year". His crowning achievement came in 1959, when he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans."

Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Automobiles which Carroll Shelby founded had this to say: "Carroll Shelby is an American hero who changed the face of automotive performance. We’re going to kick off a year long celebration of this amazing man’s life with a serious party. Working with Team Shelby, we’ll throw a party Carroll’s way with lots of ways for enthusiasts to enjoy their cars. It will be one of the single most important events of 2008 for Shelby fans."

The Auto Channel further narrates:

"After he retired from racing in 1960 due to a heart ailment, Carroll Shelby began a new chapter in his career. In 1962, he forged a relationship with Ford Motor Company that created performance magic. Attracting talented individuals from California’s aerospace and hot communities, as well as tapping the resources of Ford, he founded Shelby American to create the legendary Cobra sports car.

"In 1965, Ford asked Shelby to turn its new Mustang into a dominant muscle car. Over the next four years, the Shelby team put Mustang at the pinnacle of the performance world with the Shelby G.T.350 and Shelby G.T.500. The relationship also resulted in a limited edition Shelby GT350-H with Hertz Rental Cars in 1966."

Performance enthusiasts also know that cars manufactured by Shelby are as reliable and as durable as Acura mufflers.

The R8 Dominates

2007-12-30T04:38:00.000-08:00

The face of the future is here, courtesy of the Audi R8! Automobiles will never been the same again… this is the beginning of the revolution of premium cars. Oh yeah, radiators are totally smokin’. Anyway, much has been said about the R8 - it’s perfect, right? All the best words that you can say about the vehicle have been brought up already. Anyway, I just want to add another R8 highlight. The Audi R8 just earned the 2008 Automobile of the Year from Automobile Magazine. Whew, this ride is definitely a winner!

Here are some quotes which I got from my source:

“The R8 absolutely captivated the automotive world this past year. It propels Audi into a whole new league of driving dynamics, and it emphatically caps Audi’s steep ascent from the somnambulant lull in which it languished in the early 1990s. The R8 is a thrilling new sports car from a company that’s stronger than it’s ever been,” says Jean Jennings, President and Editor-in-Chief of Automobile Mag.

“We honor the designers and the engineers who have so perfectly realized a truly civilized grand touring coupe. It is far more comfortable than cars of equal performance, and it features a highly focused environment for the driver but a relaxed and more open space for the passenger,” says Design Editor Robert Cumberford.

IBC Names Canada's Most Stolen Cars For 2007

2007-12-21T02:35:00.000-08:00

What are the most stolen cars for this year? Any idea?

If you think your 2-door 1999 Acura Integra is safe from thieves, how come it’s on the 4th spot of most stolen cars? You love the Acura CSX A/C condenser, but is the car one of the most desirable (in thieves’ point of view)?

The top 10 cars stolen in Canada, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada:

1999 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
2000 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
2004 Subaru Impreza WRX/WRX STi 4-door AWD
1999 Acura Integra 2-door
1994 Dodge/Plymouth Grand Caravan/Voyager
1994 Dodge/Plymouth Grand Caravan/Voyager AWD
1994 Dodge/Plymouth Caravan/Voyager
1998 Acura Integra 2-door
2000 Audi TT Quattro 2-door Coupe
1994 Dodge/Plymouth Shadow/Sundance 2-door Hatchback

If you are a proud owner of the mentioned cars, be wary. The IBC said the majority of these cars are being targeted by organized car thieves who then ship the vehicles overseas.

The Globe and Mail reports:

The 1999 and 2000 two-door Honda Civic SiR was the most frequently stolen vehicle for the third year in a row, the bureau said, primarily because it lacks an approved electronic immobilizer, which requires a special key or small electronic device to start a vehicle's engine. When activated, an immobilizer shuts off one or more parts of the engine's electrical system, such as the starter, ignition or fuel system. The device disarms when an authorized security code is received from a transponder during an attempt to start the engine. Staff Sergeant Jim Peebles, who heads the Edmonton Police Service's Tactical Response for Auto Theft Prevention program, said that if car owners don't want to invest in the immobilizers - which cost an average of $400 - a simple steering wheel lock like The Club can also help. "[Thieves] want to be in and out as quick as possible. The ease to steal those vehicles is what attracts them," he said.

So what does the government do?

In Vancouver, an aggressive "bait car" program has foiled hundreds of attempted car thefts since it was launched in 2002, police said. Equipped with GPS tracking technology, as well as video and audio recording equipment, bait cars, trucks and vans are planted in target neighborhoods of the city. When a thief opens the door of one of these vehicles, an activation alarm is sent to the monitoring station, where technicians can remotely disable the vehicle at any time. "We've had a number of incidents where the criminals themselves are ... realizing the jig's up and they're right away commenting that it's a bait car, inside cars where we've got video footage of them," said Vancouver police spokesman Constable Howard Chow.

How To Do It Right: An Impact To Auto and Homeowners Insurance Claim Customer Satisfaction

2007-12-19T17:19:00.000-08:00

J.D. Power and Associates' 2007 Insurance Claims Study said that there is a huge impact on homeowners about the filling of insurance claim for them to repair the damage.

Jeremy Bowler, the senior director of the insurance practice at J.D. Power and Associates, said, "It becomes extremely important to manage customer expectations as far as how long it will take for their vehicle or property to be repaired or replaced. Proactively contacting the customer, keeping them informed and explaining the process at each step can soften the impact of a particularly long claim process - enhancing customer confidence and satisfaction with their insurer."

The customers are expecting their cars to be fixed in the maximum of 14 days. They also expect to experience the following factors: claims settlement, claim servicing, first notice of loss, estimation process, repair process, and rental experience.

"As the number of representatives a customer interacts with increases, so does the likelihood that the customer will need to repeat information regarding the claim, which negatively impacts their overall impression of their insurer and adds to the amount of time spent in the claims process. Customers with a local agent are most likely to be satisfied with claims servicing if they report the incident to the agent and that agent remains as the primary claim contact thereafter," Bowler also added on his statement.

The Auto Channel has the story. I also look for Acura condensers because my old car needs it. Visit the site just incase you need to know more about it.

What’s Your Perfect Dog Car?

2007-12-16T04:50:00.000-08:00

Here's a news release headline that could shock: "Honda Element Wins First Ever Dog Car of the Year Award." Dogcars.com said the boxy Element's "versatile cargo space, easy-clean flooring, crate-friendly rear design and optional all-wheel drive were... the key ingredients for the perfect dog car." Among the other vehicles earning 5-paw awards were the Buick Enclave, Dodge Grand Caravan, Scion xB and Volvo XC70. Toyota Plant Faces Production Challenges

Toyota Motor Corp. annually ranks at or near the top of capacity utilization studies, but the Japanese automaker faces challenges at its San Antonio truck plant. The plant, which started production in late 2006, makes the Tundra full-size pickup. It likely will be underutilized next year as Toyota deals with a difficult market for full-size trucks, Global Insight, a Waltham, Mass., economic forecasting company, predicted in its outlook for 2008. Toyota is struggling to keep the Tundra on pace for its sales target of 200,000 units a year, which would be needed to keep the plant busy full-time, said Detroit Free Press. A slowdown would be a rare miscalculation for Toyota, which averaged 103% capacity utilization in the 2007 Harbour Report on North American auto plants. Acura Evolves Tetsuo Iwamura, president and CEO of American Honda Motor Co., said his company was serious about turning around the Acura brand, which has seen sales slump this year. Talking with journalists and analysts at Honda's holiday reception last week, Iwamura would not directly answer questions about whether the manufacturer of Acura CL oxygen sensor would add a rear-wheel drive, V8 sedan to its lineup. Iwamura, meanwhile, said Honda understood what luxury buyers expected and would fulfill those expectations.

Lexus, BMW, Cadillac and Mercedes-Benz, the leaders in the luxury segment, all have rear-wheel drive and V8s. Have you noticed it too?

Honda Further Develops ASIMO Robots

2007-12-11T17:12:00.000-08:00

Honda is not only known about their cars but also for their advances in robotics. The automaker is expanding their development of robots called ASIMO. The latest technology that the automaker has developed allows robots to act without human input and act in a way that they would not interrupt services in an office.

The Auto Channel reported that the Japanese automaker has developed a technology which allows humanoid robots to either step back and yield right of way for other robots or humans or just continue walking. This means that two or more humanoid robots will be able t o work together perfectly in any environment. The automaker also developed a technology which makes it easier for ASIMO robots to carry tray and push carts. The new technology also allows these robots to recharge themselves when their battery level reached a preset level. These robots are also made to help each other out. So, if a robot is charging, other robots can take over that robot's task.

Two ASIMOs will be tested staring today at the second floor lobby of the automaker's Aoyama, Japan headquarters. In a nutshell, here's what Honda added to the already advanced ASIMO humanoid robot:

New function to work together In situations where more than one ASIMO works together, information regarding the current status of each ASIMO will be shared constantly among the multiple networked ASIMOs in order to share tasks in the most efficient manner. More precisely, first, the distance between the current position of each ASIMO and the site where each task needs to be performed will be calculated. Then, taking remaining battery levels into consideration, the most time efficient way to share tasks among the multiple ASIMOs will be determined. Based on this decision, each ASIMO autonomously performs its assigned tasks.
New function to avoid oncoming people ASIMO identifies oncoming people through its eye camera, calculates traveling direction and speed, predicts forthcoming movements of oncoming people, and chooses the most appropriate path so that it will not block the movement of others. When there is not enough space, ASIMO will step back and yield the right-of-way.
New autonomous battery charging function A new battery charging station was developed for ASIMO's autonomous recharging. When the remaining battery level falls below a certain level, ASIMO will automatically identify and walk to the closest available battery charging station and re-charge while standing.

With those new technologies and functions, these humanoid robots have become more advanced that simple auto parts such as Nissan Altima parts.

What’s The Perfect Car For Santa?

2007-12-10T22:50:00.000-08:00

We have always known Santa Claus as the big old fat guy in a red suit, distributing gifts during Christmas Eve to all nice kids all over the world! And he is always associated with the cute little elves, his magical sled and of course Rudolph and the rest of the reliable reindeers.

All of us have his or her personal wish lists this Christmas, even Santa too! Remember that Christmas is for everybody - there are no exceptions just to remind you. So, if we were to guess what’s on Santa’s wish list, a dazzling car with splendid rib belts could be one. I’m not saying he’s tired of riding his sleigh for centuries now but I think the big man deserves a special present too… something that he can probably use during his spare time, right? That’s why specialists at RM Auctions have come up with a very imaginative guess at what a man like Santa Claus with a perfect taste would write in his Christmas wish list. And oh, it’ll always come in red!

Let’s take a look at Santa’s possible wish list below:

1930 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton
1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt
1959 Ferrari 250GT California Spyder
1922 American LaFrance Type 48 Triple Combination Pumper
1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz ("The Raindrop Car")

Allstate Foundation's Teen Driving Tips

2007-12-10T15:37:00.000-08:00

We all know that teens are the most common victims of road accidents especially during holidays. This is the time where most teenagers are out of town and are having a great time with their friends. And we know what they do and they usually they drink and drive home not knowing the possibility that accidents may come their way.

A national survey was done by The Allstate Foundation and they finally revealed the following tips to help these teen drivers be safe even during the holidays. The Auto Channel posted the tips online on their official website. Here are the tips:

Holiday Driving Tips for Teens:

Keep your eyes on the road. According to a national survey of teens conducted by The Allstate Foundation, 56 percent of teens talk on their cell phones while driving, and 13 percent read or write text messages. Driving with distractions is a major cause of crashes. Make it a goal to celebrate 2008 with your friends instead of the mortician.
Slow down. The survey also found nearly 90 percent of teens admit to speeding. Speeding is one of the main causes for teen car crashes. Be a rebel and drive the speed limit this holiday season.
"Holla" at your friends. Half of teens from the survey said they wouldn't speak up if a friend was driving recklessly. Would you speak up if your life was in danger? If not, make a New Year's resolution to grow a backbone.
Use your buckle. Roughly two-thirds of teens who die in car wrecks are not buckled up, reports the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This season, give your friends the gift of life and tell them to buckle up.

Tips for Parents on How to "Holla" about Smart Driving in the New Year

Practice what you preach. Be a positive role model when you're behind the wheel. Your teen is more likely to be a calm driver, put down the phone and mp3 player, wear a seat belt and follow the rules of the road if they see you do the same.
Don't rush the training process. Just because teens have permits or licenses, doesn't mean they're ready for every driving condition. The roads are especially dangerous during inclement weather. By easing into the training process, you'll ensure your teen will be ready for most situations.
Empower your teen. Being a passenger in another teen's car can put your teen at risk. Make sure your teen knows it's okay to say something if he/she is uncomfortable while riding with a friend and help your teen to practice what to say in these situations.
Understand your state's laws. Every state has Graduated Driver Licensing to help new drivers get their initial on-the-road driving experience under lower-risk conditions, protecting them while they are learning. Familiarize yourself and your teen with these requirements, and establish your own rules for when, where, how and with whom your teen may drive.

Cars With Great Over All Resale Value

2007-12-07T17:29:00.000-08:00

Cars.com released the Best Overall Car Resale Values on their official website. To some car buyers, the residual value is not important when buying cars but it should also be one among the first things you should keep in mind. Cars.com assures that all models of 2008 will come to its original value after three years.

Meanwhile, here is the list of the Best Overall Car Resale Values

Infiniti G37 Coupe (sport ) 63%
Jeep Wrangler Sahara (2-door) 62%
BMW 3 Series 328i (convertible) 61%
Toyota Tacoma Double-cab (PreRunner V-6) 61%
Porsche 911 Carrera (coupe) 60%
Honda Civic Si (sedan) 60%
Mini Cooper S (convertible) 60%
Ford Mustang GT Premium (coupe) 60%
Honda CR-V (EX) 60%
Subaru Impreza 2.5i (sedan) 59%

Infiniti from the Nissan Motor Corporation topped the top ten list having a 63% residual value. There absolutely no Acura cars with an Acura CL 2.3 radiator on the list but the Jeep Wrangler Sahara goes to the second spot with a 62% residual value. After the Sahara, comes the BMW 3 Series. The Toyota Tacoma follows with Porsche on the fifth spot. Honda Civic also comes next with 60%. Mini Cooper S with 60% also comes on the seventh spot having Ford Mustang GT Premium on the eighth spot. Honda and Subaru come on the ninth and tenth spots respectively.

The next time you buy a car, you should put into mind the importance of the residual value. This will give you more cash when the time comes that you are ready to sell your car.

Another Safety Study Held At The GreenRoad

2007-12-05T16:18:00.000-08:00

Looks like the car industry is very much concerned about the safety of kids on the roads so much so that they are conducting studies to further access the different factors that could control accidents encountered by teens. GreenRoad Technologies, Incorporated, the well renowned leader in driver safety technologies, was announced to be collaborating with AAA Colorado and has selected the GreenRoad Safety Center for their study that could help improve the safety of teen drivers on the road. Six months testing will allow the study staff to install the Safety Center on 200 AAA Colorado member teen drivers' cars. This will help them identify the different behaviors and mannerisms of these teens during driving that could lead to accidents.

AAA Colorado's goal is to promote driving safety among parents and teens by providing a tool that shows how teens are driving but "does not invade their privacy or monitor where they are driving” as reported by The Auto Channel, where you can also get information about car parts like Acura TL parts.

"AAA Colorado offers programs to ensure that new teen drivers are operating their vehicles as safely as possible. Through our partnership with GreenRoad, we hope to change teen driving behavior and ultimately reduce teen road accidents and fatalities," said AAA spokesperson, Eric Escudero.

The Safety Center will be using a sensor in order to identify the driver’s skills and safety in five categories:

speed
braking
acceleration
lane-handling
turning

The sensor will automatically identify any wrong move that the driver has executed and it will make the driver understand the mistake he did. Moreover, complete driving sessions will also be viewed using a webcam to show all the safety levels and detailed information on areas that need improvement.

The divers were given ratings through color coding:

green (safe)
yellow (moderate)
red (aggressive)

Dan Steere, GreenRoad Chief Executive Officer, said, "Statistics show that car accidents are the leading cause of deaths for teens in the United States. Now technology is making it possible for us to see risky driving behavior and change it before an accident occurs. GreenRoad's mission, in partnership with AAA, is to help teens and parents take action that can ultimately save lives."

The Ten Best

2007-12-03T21:17:00.001-08:00

We all have out own type and taste when it comes to buying anything. What your neighbor wants for a daily driver may not be what you want. But there are resources of information regarding vehicles that we listen to. Take, for instance, the Car and Driver magazine. Recently, the automotive authority named its ten best vehicles of the year.

According to The Auto Channel, here are the winners and how many times it was included in the list:

BMW 3 Series - 17
Cadillac CTS - 1
Chevrolet Corvette - 14
Chevrolet Malibu - 1
Honda Accord - 22
Honda Fit - 2
Mazda MX-5 - 9
Mazdaspeed 3 - 2
Porsche Boxster/Cayman - 9
Volkswagen GTI - 3

One can immediately notice that Chrysler and Ford failed to land even a single model in the list making General Motors the only North American automaker to have a vehicle in the ten best list. Also noticeable is the absence of any Toyota vehicle in there. One can also marvel at the Accord's record 22 times being included in the list. Honda really knows what they are doing.

Csaba Csere, the editor-in-chief of Car and Driver, had this to say: "The increased competition between domestic and foreign manufacturers has created a tougher annual contest, but the eight repeat winners deserve accolades for continuing to deliver outstanding quality, performance, value and driver satisfaction. Last year, we saw a return of the small car to the list. This year, the strong showing by General Motors proves that the company's stable management and consistent strategy is really starting to pay off. For the new Chevy Malibu to make our list demonstrates that, for the first time in about twenty years, GM can compete with the likes of Toyota and Honda in the important family sedan segment."

These ten vehicles are chosen by Car and Driver not only because of their looks which can be covered by an Acura CL car cover but also because of their safety, performance, fuel efficiency, and other attributes.

Retrospection: Acura's Beginning...

2007-11-29T05:07:00.000-08:00

Do you know how the maker of Acura CL axle started out in the automotive industry? It isn't an overnight success, you know...

Edmunds.com gives us a clearer picture…

Acura is an upscale automaker known for offering cars with impressive levels of luxury, features and performance. Generally, Acura cars are not considered as glitzy or as glamorous as the premium European makes. Depending on your viewpoint, this can be a positive or a negative trait, but either way there's no denying the quality of Acura's vehicles, nor their compelling prices and overall value. The company also continually scores well in J.D. Power quality and satisfaction surveys.

The history of Acura is relatively short. Parent company Honda introduced the Acura brand to the U.S. market in 1986 in an effort to create a separate luxury division for its products. At first, it was just a two-car show: the Legend sedan, which was the first true Japanese luxury car sold in America, and the Integra sport coupe and sedan. Though essentially a marketing creation for the North American market (there are still no "Acuras" sold in Europe or Japan, only Hondas), the Acura brand was immediately successful. Consumers liked the features, performance and upscale image of Acura cars, along with the fact that Acuras were backed by Honda's reputation for reliability and low ownership costs. In 1991, Acura introduced its crown jewel: the NSX sports car. The all-aluminum NSX was a true rival to the era's top performers and, in typical Acura fashion, undercut them in terms of price.

For the new millennium, however, Acura was fully dedicated toward revamping its product range.

We should take advantage of every opportunity that comes our way. Life has to be better each day and not the other way around.

Don't quit. That's the formula. Otherwise, you'll lose even when you're armed with the best laid plan.

Prepare For The 2007 New England International Auto Show

2007-11-27T16:26:00.000-08:00

We only have one sleep to go before the grand opening of the 2007 New England International Auto Show! This is the only succeeding show hosted by the new Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. The doors are set to open on November 28, at 10:00 AM. The show will feature over 800 new vehicles from 42 exhibition areas. Now I’m excited to see what’s in Honda’s exhibit… could be a hybrid with a Honda Passport brake booster. Or it could be something else.

Anyway, according to TheAutoChannel.com, the 2007 New England International Auto Show that is hosted by Amica Insurance and The Boston Globe will be open for public viewers from Wednesday through Sunday, December 2. The show will offer the ideal setting for the possible car buyer to witness all the fresh 2008 models under one big venue.

"The New England International Auto show comes at a perfect time for the consumer who is looking to replace their current vehicle - two weeks after the insurance institute has released improved crash test ratings; and during a period when our Massachusetts dealers have the answer to high fuel prices with the widest variety of vehicles powered by the most number of different power plants in automotive history. Cars, trucks, vans, crossovers, hybrids, electrics - and countless variations of such - will be on display in the best facility we have ever had for our show," says show producer Barbara Pudney.

"In addition to the car displays, there will be features to entertain the entire family, including the Kid Stop Pit Stop, registration to win a 2008 Dodge Caravan, courtesy of the New England Dodge Dealers, autograph sessions with world rally driver Alex Roy, NASCAR Rookie of the Year David Ragan, and former Red Sox ace Dennis 'Oil Can' Boyd, plus a motorcycle stunt show, a Harley give-away, and Ultimate Garage contest, and a chance to go to a NASCAR driving school. It really is a family show," added Ms. Pudney.

Dodge Challenges Ford, Chevy Police Cars

2007-11-24T05:07:00.000-08:00

Police cars have to be fast. They have to be reliable. Ask the police – which car is best for chasing criminals?

With the heightened competition in the police car segment, expect remarkable products. One of the promising police cars on American roads comes from Dodge.

The sporty upstart Dodge Charger is aiming to challenge the Ford Crown Victoria as chief of police cars. Chrysler's full-sized model launched in the previous year is no immediate threat to the Crown Vic or Chevrolet Impala, the market's other major player. But the Charger is increasing traction in a market that sells 75,000 vehicles annually as national tests cite its speed and handling.

"We've been steadily gaining market share and acceptance for the police vehicle since its inception," said Chrysler LLC spokeswoman Shawn Morgan. "We see that trend continuing." It is a small dent in the automotive industry, which expects to sell about 16 million cars this year. But it is an important niche for automakers because it gives them a chance to put their products to the test when life — or at least the law — is on the line, said the International Herald Tribune.

"That vehicle has to accommodate a bunch of requirements — it's an officer's first-aid station, comfort area for accident victims, command post for a crime scene. Next thing you know it's involved in a high-speed run, responding to a heart attack, chasing a criminal," said Lt. David Halliday, who leads the Michigan State Police's annual police vehicle tests that serve as a national standard for law enforcement.

"We really ask (the automakers) to do an enduring duty for the public that's often underestimated," he added.

Automakers do not break out data for sales to law enforcement agencies, but overall sales for the full-sized Charger were 97,833, up 1.5% for the first 10 months of 2007 compared with last year, the report added. According to Autodata Corp, the Crown Victoria's sales were 51,286, down 7.2% during the same period. The Impala's total sales through October were 270,504, up 12.6%.

John Felice, director of North American fleet operations at Ford, said the decline is due to a drop in retail sales, which accounts for a small percentage of the Crown Victoria's sales. He said Ford forecasts flat sales this year for police cars and controls about 80% of the market.

The IHT said the latest round of police vehicle tests on 2008 models found the Charger with the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine had the fastest acceleration, highest top speed and among the shortest braking distances.

"Law enforcement has always liked good performance in a vehicle," Halliday said. "For example, the (5.7-liter) Charger has a top speed of (nearly) 150 mph (241 kph). If you're in the market for a vehicle that has that kind of performance, that kind of vehicle will fit the bill."

Halliday believes the Charger might be garnering attention because it offers a new option in the market, long dominated by Ford and General Motors Corp.'s Chevy division.

"Competition is good for law enforcement," Halliday concluded. "It strengthens the industry in making the vehicles capable across the board for a variety of missions."

It seems like the maker of Dodge seat covers is on the right track and chasing its rivals pretty closely.

It’s Car Shopping Time For Burglars!

2007-11-23T21:52:00.000-08:00

While you’re busy shopping for gifts and other items, burglars have their own way of shopping as well… They’ll take all your stuff such as cell phones, groceries and other valuable stuff inside your unattended car. The holidays provide an easy access to burglars to do the thing their good at - and that is stealing of course! They have the skills to open whatever car in sight. Even your Acura car with a secured Acura vent visor can be their easy target!

According to TheAutoChannel.com, a vehicle is robbed in Texas with its valuables stolen every 2 1/2 minutes. Apparently, these felonies go up during this season when shopping raises and drivers don't take the required safety measures to secure their valuable items left in their vehicle.

"We know that auto burglars scout mall and other large parking lots, waiting for the opportunity to break into a vehicle. Within seconds, they take your items, your identity, and, oftentimes, your car. Texas drivers need to understand that their careless actions actually help auto burglars and thieves do their job better," says Susan Sampson, the director of the Texas Automobile Burglary and Theft Prevention Authority (ABTPA).

The Texas ABTPA provides three essential safety tips to motorists to avoid these crimes all through out the holidays and all year round: Hide your stuff from sight and lock your vehicle and get the keys. Burglars stole almost 100,000 cars in Texas last year. Approximately half of those victims left the keys inside their vehicles.

Judy Razo was one of the victims, and she thought she made the correct safety measures when she made sure to lock her car after parking it on a hectic street.

"I left one of my bags in sight in the back seat and not only did the burglars break my window, they stole my bag, which had my cell phone, money, credit cards and about $3,000 worth of camera equipment," said Razo. "When they took my belongings, they also stole my identity."

Spy Scandal Pressure Escalates

2007-11-22T17:48:00.000-08:00

I can smell politics everywhere I go. It isn’t just in the Congress or the White House. Say Formula One. Sigh. It’s written all over the sport.

Earlier, McLaren Mercedes went on the offensive against Renault. In a concerted attack, the Woking team sought to emphasize that the French team’s possession of its technical secrets is as bad or even worse than McLaren’s possession of Ferrari’s dossier.

A leaked briefing memo from McLaren dubbed “Renault-gate” affair seen by The Times claims that Renault had more than 780 individual drawings, allegedly stolen from McLaren, on their F1 computers that amounted to “the entire technical blueprint of the 2006 and 2007 McLaren F1 cars.”

The memo also names what it calls the “Renault seven”, a group of 7 senior figures in the Renault design and technical team who McLaren say discussed the McLaren technical information. Among them is the Renault chief designer, the head of research and development, the head of mechanical design, the head of transmission design and the head of vehicle performance, divulged Times Online.

According to some experts, the leak from McLaren is the team’s attempt to dismiss the stigma in F1 that the illegal transfer of technical information from the Woking team to Renault is of an altogether lesser order of importance than McLaren’s possession of Ferrari secrets.

McLaren’s transgressions resulted in them being meted a £50 million fine by the FIA. What’s more, the team sponsored by the manufacturer of Mercedes 380sl radiator was thrown out of this year’s constructors’ championship and their 2008 car was subjected to long-term scrutiny. Should the same penalties be applied to Renault, watchers in the industry believe that the team would quit Formula One.

The “Renault-gate” affair came to light in September when it emerged that Phil Mackereth, the former McLaren engineer who joined Renault in March 2006, had taken with him several old-style floppy disks containing McLaren technical drawings, the report continued.

McLaren said the 33 files, which offered a complete technical picture of McLaren’s cars in 2006 and 2007, were uploaded on to 11 Renault computers and were discussed by up to 18 Renault personnel.

In their submission to the FIA, McLaren’s solicitors, Baker & McKenzie, has this to say: “It is clear that McLaren’s confidential design information was knowingly, deliberately and widely disseminated and discussed within the Renault F1 design and engineering team, thereby providing them [Renault] with a clear benefit and unfair advantage.”

Max Mosley, the president of the FIA who has never seen McLaren boss Ron Dennis in person, may take a dim view of the team’s decision to leak information from their confidential submission to the WMSC. There are also other powerful F1 voices who do not buy McLaren’s version of this matter.

GM Recalls 90,000 Cars

2007-11-20T17:48:00.000-08:00

We are aware that both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) are strict when it comes to safety and security of cars that US auto makers and foreign car brands make. The cars have to pass their standards in order to be secured as a safe commodity in the market.

General Motors had to experience a recall of the car models they made under Chevrolet and Pontiac. The problem does not concern the Nissan hard body but some safety issues on vehicle parts like like timing chains, safety foams and engine components. The 2007 Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent, 2001 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra with the 8.1-liter engine, and the 2.2-liter Saturn L-Series line were affected models. 90,000 vehicles had to undergo recall so as to replace these existing car parts problems.

According to GM, Equinox and Torrent vehicles with roof air bags or sunroofs will be given more safe features like they will be adding more foam around the windshields to protect passengers against head injuries in an accident. Affected Saturn models also get a new timing chain which, according to GM, would separate during driving if not replaced. Both Silverado and Sierras also get new crankshaft position sensors.

NHTSA called the owners of these cars to go to the nearest GM dealership to have their cars recalled. The replacements of the faulty car parts are free of charge. This replacement will secure that these drivers are then safe during their drives. The recall of the GM models will begin next month and if you are one among the owners of these brands, call the GM dealership now and ask about the proper thing to do.

BMW Sauber Eyes Asmer Move

2007-11-20T02:30:00.000-08:00

Perhaps, you are also excited to know who’s gonna occupy BMW Sauber’s vacant test driver seat at Formula One. Mind you, he could be Marko Asmer. Remember the name.

BMW Sauber team head honcho Mario Theissen has revealed that Asmer, a British F3 Champion, is a leading contender for BMW's vacant test driver seat. "He would be a potential candidate for a future test drive, one of several I have to say," Theissen told Autosport.

But the German chief explained that aside from the Estonian driver there are a few other candidates. "Obviously I will have a closer look at who emerged from Formula BMW, because I know them from the past years and I want to see how they develop. And then there are a few others," he said.

The Hinwil-based team is in the market for a test driver after Formula One's Contract Recognition Board ruled that the 2007 incumbent Timo Glock could leave BMW. The German driver wanted out of his contract so he could take up a race seat with Toyota, said Sporting Life.

And Theissen confirmed that a few drivers would be handed the opportunity to prove their credentials in testing at Jerez, as the team look for Glock's replacement.

"We might have one, two or maximum three guys in the car at the December test in Jerez, and then we should come to a decision before the end of the year," he added. To note, former Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos has been touted as another worthy choice.

It can be recalled that Thiessen plucked Robert Kubica from the F3 series. Thus, it’s not shocking to know that he will again unearth a youngster of a similar caliber.

The F1 team sponsored by the maker of BMW 533i radiators has consistently flaunted its prowess in the racing arena. With a potential test driver like Asmer, BMW still has a long way to go…

Volkswagen And Passat Cars Recalled In China

2007-11-19T16:02:00.000-08:00

We have been receiving reports about recalls going on in China. Just a few weeks ago, the Toyota Motor Corporation had recalls for its Camry cars because of faulty floor mats that extended to its brake pad which can cause car accidents. Now another set of recalls will be given to some Volkswagen and Passat cars.

China's Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile Company Limited which is owned by both Dongfeng Motor Corp and Peugeot Citroen has been recently reported to undergo recalls for cars they made. The particular models are the '206' and there are 5,609 units affected by faulty car parts.

It is not because of Volkswagen radiator trouble but the recall is because of gearbox flaws as China News Agency reported today.

The recall is from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) who said that these affected models were built between Jan 22 and July 5 of 2006. There were no noted injuries or accidents in connection to its failure but to secure future safety, these cars should undergo recall according to AQSIQ.

Letters has been sent to owners of the said model and they were asked to bring their affected cars to any authorized Peugeot dealership within their area. The recalls are free of charge. The faulty gearbox will be replaced with heat exchanger and torque converter.

On other reports, another set of Volkswagen cars were noted to have problems with its equipments. There are around 2,240 Passat GPs manufactured under Shanghai VW and these are now being recalled because of faulty control keys of the luggage compartment that may lead to property losses as AQSIQ reported. These models were said to be made between August 11 and August 24 of 2007.

If you wish to see the details, http://www.gasgoo.com/ and The Auto Channel has the complete story on their official websites.

More Vehicle Data for New U.S.News Car Rankings Website From Chrome Systems

2007-11-14T16:48:00.000-08:00

Chrome Systems, Inc. Are you familiar with this name? If not, let me give you a short description… Chrome Systems Inc. is an industry leader in collecting, enhancing, and distributing best-in-class automotive data like info on the performance exhaust and all other automotive stuff. Got it?

Anyway, according to TheAutoChannel.com, Chrome Systems has announced a joint venture with U.S. News Rankings & Reviews to bring out vehicle pricing, fuel economy data, and configuration services for the automotive class of its newest Internet site which you can now visit at www.rankingsandreviews.com. This site is designed to sanction consumers to make the mainly informed vehicle buying decisions by presenting standings and meta-reviews. RankingsAndReviews.com offers consumers with vehicle design, research, and pricing tools, made possible by Chrome.

“Having Chrome information on our website complements our car rankings with the pricing, specifications, and options information that consumers need to find the best vehicle for them," says Chad Smolinski, the Vice President of U.S. News Rankings & Reviews.

"We are extremely pleased to be partnering with U.S.News Rankings & Reviews to deliver comprehensive and accurate vehicle information for the best buying decisions. For over 20 years the automotive industry has depended on Chrome to deliver the most accurate, timely, and detailed vehicle data. We're proud that through this new partnership we can reach more consumers and help them easily and quickly research and build vehicles to meet their lifestyle needs," says Peter Batten, Chrome Systems General Manager.

GEM Reveals Electric Cars At LA Auto Show

2007-11-07T17:09:00.000-08:00

After ten years of being in the car market, GEM is finally celebrating this victory and is still proud to be a producer of electric cars which they will be showing at the forthcoming LA Auto Show. They promise that the units will be more interesting and more revolutionary this time.

We have seen GEM grow from a simple company to be the most reliable source of electric cars and more customers have been looking forward to see more revolutionary cars from them. There are a total of 35,000 GEMs distributed today plus the 14,000 units in California alone. Wait until November 14 to see both Chrysler and GEM at the LA Auto Show.

Theautochannel.com revealed GEM facts & figures:

Affordable: Low cost - low maintenance

Inexpensive - Six models that range from $6,795 to $12,495
72-volt battery system powers a range of 30 to 40 miles on a charge
GEMs can be recharged in any standard 110-volt outlet

Fuel consumption: Pennies per day

In the U.S., the average car trip is between four and six miles on low speed roads.
The all-electric GEM vehicles cost only pennies a mile to operate and receive a range from 30 to 40 miles on a charge

Reliable: Excellent performance – over 200 million miles driven

2007 Blue Sky Merit Award from WestStart-CALSTART for improving air quality in California and worldwide
Nearly 10 million gallons of gasoline saved
Over 150 tons of tailpipe pollutants spared from reaching the air

Models: Six models - Street legal in 40 states - 35 mph or less*

Passenger and cargo models - including the new eL XD utility vehicle - hold up to six passengers
Assembled in the U.S.A.
Greener fleet options for city parks, police departments, sports teams, master planned communities and university campuses

Too bad that they don’t wear Dodge door handle covers but the company assures that the car parts that fill the entire cars are made up of great quality as well.

'Why Not?’ Says Toyota

2007-11-06T00:33:00.000-08:00

WHY NOT?

Two words that are filled with possibilities.

They can turn a challenge into an opportunity.

An obstacle into an inspiration.

It's a question we ask ourselves at Toyota every day.

Because we're continuously looking for new ways to improve

What we do. By asking tough questions.

Can we make a car that has zero emissions?

Can we improve the economy of a community?

Can we enrich the lives of people around us?

Why not?

That’s the text of an ad campaign launched today by Toyota Motor Corp. The said campaign centers on the question – Why not? It includes print, online and TV ad.

The 3 new print ads will appear in more than 20 magazines, including Time, Newsweek, Fortune, Real Simple, and Architectural Digest, reported CNN News. Each ad focuses on one of the pillars of the campaign. They are the following:

Economic impact: focuses on Toyota's new plant in San Antonio, Texas, which directly employs 2,000 people and adds thousands of other new jobs to the area. The headline reads: "Can a pickup give 2,000 people a lift? Why not?"
Environmental commitment: discusses Toyota's aspirations for zero emission vehicles and zero waste in its plants. The headline reads: "Can you have an impact by making none at all? Why not?"
Social responsibility: features Toyota's Driving Expectations Program, which teaches valuable defensive driving skills to teens and their parents. The headline reads: "Can the most important safety feature in a car be a teen driver? Why not?"

The TV commercial, meanwhile, is directed by an Academy-award winning cinematographer Robert Richardson. He won Academy Awards for cinematography for "The Aviator" and "JFK," and Erich Joiner, who was involved in the iconic "Got Milk?" advertising campaign and won "Best Video of the Year" from MTV for Van Halen's "Right Now."

The theme of the commercial is inspired by the "Earth Art" movement, and features time-lapse photography of the creation of a Prius made from natural elements of the earth. The sculpture is built up and then eventually fades back into nature, leaving a bare field again.

"Since we began corporate advertising, we have focused on educating Americans about Toyota and our growing presence here," said Steve Sturm, group vice president of Toyota Motor North America. "But on our 50th anniversary in America, we have an opportunity to broaden our message and show how the core Toyota values drive everything that we do. People want to learn more about who we are as a company."

The 30 and 60-second TV spots include a voice-over which reads: Can a car company grow in harmony with the environment? Why not? At Toyota, we're not only working toward cars with zero emissions, we're also striving for zero waste in everything else we do. Because the best way to have an impact on the environment is to have as little impact as possible.

The campaign was created in collaboration with advertising agency Dentsu America, Inc. in New York. Commenting on the campaign, Tim Andree, chief executive officer, Dentsu America, said: "Between our prominent placement on NBC Nightly News and a coordinated print, TV and online presence, the media launch of this campaign will be bigger than anything we've ever done for Toyota's corporate advertising. Our strategy is reflective of how our target audience consumes media."

Toyota Canada could ride the hype of the company’s milestones. Let’s just see what will unfold in the coming months.

Keep Your Car In Good Shape

2007-11-05T16:28:00.000-08:00

Keeping my cars in good shape gives me the assurance of longevity. So to preclude my self from purchasing new cars too soon, I see to it that my cars are well maintained. Toyota engine, Volkswagen A/C compressor, Porsche suspension and other auto parts, needs regular maintenance.

According to a Consumer Reports survey, with proper care, many cars now can last 200,000 miles or more with few if any major repairs. The annual survey found 6,769 readers with 200,000 miles or more on their vehicles, including 488,000 for a 1994 Ford Ranger pickup.

When comparing the costs of purchasing and keeping a car for 225,000 miles over 15 years to buying and financing an identical model every 5 years, Consumer Reports found savings could be more than the original purchase price, and even greater if the savings are invested.

Purchasing a car with a good track record is pretty much essential, and Consumer Reports, which does not accept advertising and is published by the non-profit Consumers Union, names several Honda, Lexus, and Toyota models as good bets. But the magazine article and a Consumers Union release also emphasize the make-them-last strategy.

Consumer Reports worth-noting information tidbits include:

- Follow the maintenance schedule in the owner's manual (skipping even one oil change can damage the engine and accelerate wear).

- Use only parts and fluids meeting manufacturer specifications (we do, but also shop around for the repair and maintenance shop with the best combination of price and service).

- Check the car yourself from time to time, looking for fraying or cracks in belts and cracks or bulges in hoses.

- Wash the car regularly, not just for looks but also to help preserve the paint and keep the sheet metal below it from rusting.

Humberto Cruz of Boston.com writes:

Our mantra: Buy only cars we can comfortably pay for with cash, keep up with the maintenance, and follow common-sense steps to make them last. The Volkswagen Beetle, alas, was going strong after more than 130,000 miles before copious rains that flooded our street to knee-deep ruined it beyond repair. Our cars routinely better 100,000 miles, except a Toyota Corolla we donated to charity in 2003 when we realized that, working part-time from home, we did not need two cars.

Along with home ownership costs, buying or leasing more car than you can afford or need can derail your finances. Nancy Howard of Dodgeville, Wis. writes:

Our family has withstood some potentially damaging events because we had lower expenses and higher savings than we would have had if we had bought the bigger house and the new cars throughout the years.

After paying off a car loan, the Howards kept their car a few years while regularly saving an amount equal to the car payments. They were able to make a bigger down payment on the next car and eventually buy one for cash, the report said. True, keeping cars in good shape is financially rewarding.

Range Rover Sport Wins Residual Award!

2007-11-04T18:20:00.000-08:00

It wasn’t long before another Ford subsidiary came out victorious with this month’s various awarding events. Just recently, the Ford Mondeo was crowned as the 2007 Scottish Car of the Year! And this time, the Land Rover took center stage to take a crown as well! For the past few days, things are turning sizzling hot like the Isuzu radiator! Whew…

Land Rover North America, a division of Ford Motor Company, recently announced that the 2008 Range Rover Sport earned the Automotive Lease Guide (ALG) Residual Value Award for the Luxury CUV segment. The ALG Residual Value Award evaluates the best models that retained the highest percentage of their purchasing price after three years of leasing. The 2008 Range Rover Sport dominated other competitors in the segment and bagged the trophy.

Acccording to Chris Marchand, the executive vice president of Marketing and Sales, Land Rover North America:

“We understand the importance of residual values in our highly competitive business and are delighted by this recognition.”

Here is the complete list of the winners of the Automotive Lease Guide Residual Value Award along with their respective segments.

Compact Car: Mini Cooper
Midsize Car: Honda Accord
Fullsize Car: Toyota Avalon
Sporty Car Volkswagen Eos
Near Luxury Car: Infiniti G35/37
Luxury Car: BMW 5 Series
Luxury Sports Car: BMW 6 Series
Minivan: Honda Odyssey
CUV Subaru: Tribeca
Luxury CUV: Range Rover Range Rover Sport
Compact SUV: Jeep Wrangler
SUV Toyota: 4Runner
Luxury SUV: Lexus GX470
Compact Truck: Toyota Tacoma Pickup
Fullsize Truck: GMC/Chevy Sierra/Silverado

“The 2008 awards prove once again that compelling design, high quality manufacturing and disciplined pricing and volume programs are essential to achieve the highest residual value,” concluded John Blair, Chief Executive Officer of Automotive Lease Guide.

Mazda Supports Sustainable Future

2007-10-25T18:43:00.000-07:00

The Japanese automaker known for its use of Wankel engines, Mazda is making a name for itself when it comes to the development of vehicles geared towards a sustainable future. At the ongoing Tokyo Motor Show, the automaker once again affirmed its commitment to a greener future in the auto industry.

Hisakazu Imaki, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mazda recognize the change that is going on in the demand for clean vehicles. "As people grow increasingly concerned about protecting our environment, consumers look to car makers to take firmer measures to reduce the consumption of natural resources and prevent global warming, while respect for human life demands greater levels of safety," said Imaki during teh Tokyo Motor Show opening.

"This marks a transition in demand away from cars as a simple mode of transport in favor of cars that pay greater deference to traffic conditions and the environment. In other words, we have entered an era in which the very existence of car makers will be more closely scrutinized than in the past," Imaki added.

This move towards the development of vehicles aimed at protecting the environment is not only for Mazda as other automakers also strive to manufacture cleaner vehicles such as diesel Audi vehicles equipped with genuine Audi parts.

Imaki also pointed out that the company has launched its "Sustainable Zoom-Zoom" plan. "In conjunction, we also drafted our 'Sustainable Zoom-Zoom' plan, which outlines our long-term technology development vision," said Imaki. "The plan aims to promote development geared toward a sustainable future that benefits drivers, the roads and our environment. In advancing the "Sustainable Zoom-Zoom" plan, Mazda aims to further evolve its Zoom-Zoom world by delivering true driving pleasure harmoniously balanced with high levels of environmental and safety performance. Mazda is committed to building a sustainable future society that brings continued happiness and excitement to people, society and the driving experience as we continue to offer exciting cars that look inviting to drive, are fun to drive, and make you want to drive them," he explained.

At the Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda unveiled the new Mazda6. According to Imaki, the redesigned vehicle has the attributes that motorists are known to be looking for like performance and fuel economy. "As the second model to join this next generation, the all-new Atenza embodies Mazda’s renewed committed to building fine cars as it aims to achieve a new harmony between driving pleasure and environmental and safety performance," said Imaki. He added further: "With class leading driving performance at highway speeds, fully supportive safety features, and superb driving quality that makes long rides comfortable, the all-new Atenza (Mazda6) ably represents the evolution of the Zoom-Zoom driving experience."

Hydrogen Hybrid Vehicles for U.S. Army Will Be Delivered By Quantum!

2007-10-23T09:52:00.000-07:00

If your merchandise are great and has excellent quality, consumers will be delighted to purchase your goods. It’s like a hot and yummy pizza with the best toppings on top - all set for delivery! In the world of hydrogen vehicles, Quantum, a fully integrated alternative energy company that tops in the development and production of advanced propulsion systems energy storage technologies and alternative fuel vehicles, is the most trusted group to carry out the best hydrogen-powered vehicles. Speaking of pizza delivery, the U.S. Army has ordered hydrogen hybrid vehicles from Quantum!

The U.S. Army is now promoting hybrid vehicles as their primary vehicles on duty. They sure don’t want CO2-breathing cars like Saturn with the best Saturn wheel hub or any vehicle that damages the environment.

According to TheAutoChannel.com, Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. has announced that it has took in an order of six hydrogen hybrid vehicles for the U.S. Army's Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC). The agreement will be administered by Aerospace Engineering Spectrum (AES), located in Ogden, Utah.

Including Quantum's super-lightweight hydrogen storage system and the superior hydrogen fuel injection system, this setup is a chase on to Quantum's flourishing achievement of the improvement of a Ford Escape Hydrogen Hybrid for TARDEC. The six Ford Escape Hydrogen Hybrids will be prepared for service as governmental fleet vehicles at two military facilities in North America. This operation will carry the U.S. Army and its 21st Century Base program.

"We are pleased to be able to support TARDEC in expanding its hydrogen vehicle program. This contract exemplifies the U.S. Army's leadership as an early adopter of advanced technologies that will reduce petroleum dependence and fuel consumption while supporting the efforts of our troops. With oil prices as high as $80 a barrel, interest continues to grow worldwide in Quantum's hydrogen hybrid vehicles as near-term alternatives to reduce emissions and petroleum usage through the implementation of hydrogen technologies," says Alan P. Niedzwiecki, the President and CEO of Quantum.

Chevrolet Volt Concept Car Comes Back In Florida

2007-10-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

I was extremely excited to see the Chevy Car Concept last January. I can’t even imagine how perfect the car was and General Motor Corporation promised to bring it back to the scene again. Well, the Chevy Volt Car Concept is finally going to town again revealing it’s self on the 18th to the 23rd day of October this year. But where? Where else but in South Florida.

We all had seen the first Chevy Volt Concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last January. The concept car held 16 kWh lithium-ion batteries empowering 40 miles of all-electric range. Not only that, GM made it more interesting by adding few more features like an on-board “range-extender” engine as well as the generator set with is given power by gasoline or E85 which gives the car a huge range of more than 640 miles.

And to give the vehicle more interesting car parts, GM also added greener specifications like batteries and a greener engine to reduce the emission rates during the drive. Almost five percent of US car drivers are looking for quality batteries on cars because they want to save on fuel rather than spending much on it. Now, the car is handling a 110-volt/15-amp outlet when plugged.

GM needed to have 200 engineers and 25 interior and exterior designers to be able to design a great car concept like the Chevy Volt. Final production timing for the Volt is dependent on the development of lithium-ion batteries suitable for hybrid and electric vehicle applications.

The Auto Channel gave a detailed review of the said vehicle. The Chevrolet Volt Concept will be revealed at the Raleigh Hotel in Miami Beach during what is considered as the Volt’s South Florida tour.

WHEN: Thursday, October 18, 2007 7:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

One-on-one and live morning show interviews available

10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Official press briefing 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Post-briefing interviews available

WHERE: The Raleigh Hotel, poolside 1775 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139

WHO: Bob Boniface, GM Director of E-Flex Systems Design

25 Most Beautiful Cars: The Wonders Of The Auto World

2007-10-11T18:44:00.000-07:00

If there’s a list of the eight wonders of the world, AutoMobileMag.com has their own record of the most beautiful cars in the planet as well! The BMW 3 Series car with a brilliant BMW 3 Series radiator is one of the most beautiful cars in the world. But there can only be 25 top picks - the finest of them all... the extremely magnificent! Let’s check out the crowned vehicles for the top 25 most beautiful cars in the planet provided by www.automobilemag.com:

1935-1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 – The outstanding inspiration for Enzo Ferrari.
1952-1955 Bentley R-type Continental- This car was designed and built by Brits, but wasn’t sold to Brits.
1971-1975 BMW 3.0CS/CSi/CSL- The coupe as art. The enchanting masterpiece from the german car manufacturer.
1937-1938 Bugatti Type 57S Atlantic - A seemingly sensational design with an awesome attitude.
1963-1965 Buick Riviera - Out of the fog came a Buick for the ages.
1938-1941 Cadillac 60 Special - An attraction sedan that earned a special push from Harley Earl.
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray - Bill Mitchell sticks it to Zora Arkus-Duntov.
1947-1952 Cisitalia 202 coupe – This car was guided in the modern postwar era.
1936-1937 Cord 810 /812 - Harley Earl doesn’t know anything about this so he better shut up.
1964-1968 Ferrari 275GTB, GTB/4 - The Sophia Loren of supercars.
1968-1974 Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona – The all-around masterpiece. The universal appeal never fails!
1968-1979 Jaguar XJ6 - It defines the Jaguar look to this day.
1949-1954 Jaguar XK120 - You won’t be needing a pen and a paper to write about this car’s beauty.
1961-1966 Jaguar XK-E- Phalliform perfection.
1966-1972 Lamborghini Miura - A beauty under the skin, as well.
1940-1941 Lincoln Continental - The boss's tradition.
1961 Lincoln Continental - The car that defied the supremacy of Cadillac.
1957-1963 Lotus Elite - Designed by an accountant.
1967-1973 Maserati Ghibli - A high-water mark from an acknowledged master.
1954-1957 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing - Shaped by the wind, undaunted by the rules.
1936-1938 Mercedes-Benz 500K/540K Special Roadster - Teutonic opulence.
1990-1996 Nissan 300ZX - Basking crocodile.
1966-1967 Oldsmobile Toronado - The Homage that was as flourishing as the original.
1953-1954 Studebaker Starliner - It couldn't save Studebaker, but it still shines on the salt.
1937-1939 Talbot-Lago Figoni-Falaschi coupe - Teardrop or not, it's a sensual sensation.

Impreza: Ready For iPod

2007-10-08T21:59:00.000-07:00

Think of the Impreza. What comes to your mind? You might think of the uber fast blue rally cars. Or perhaps - a sober version. A what?

Oh yeah, Subaru will be rolling out a sober version of the Impreza. Calm and confident - the pleasant ride quality makes the new version feel like a pricier car. Under the helm of a new chief exec, a range of a range of promising new cars and features are about to march into the UK auto industry.

As the Subaru brush guard continues to support the façade of the Impreza, the company is also looking forward to wrap its lineup with fabulous features.

One of the much-awaited features is the iPod. The automaker said it will introduce a technology that allows easy control of iPod through vehicle's audio system. While many new vehicles offer only an auxiliary input jack as part of their factory audio system, the 2008 Subaru Impreza takes portable music to the next level with the debut of the company’s integrated interface of the popular Apple iPod through the vehicle’s audio system, the company added.

On select 2008 Impreza models, owners can enjoy iPod functions through the dashboard. Functions include text display of playlist, artist, album and song information, fast forward and rewind, and browsing by playlist, artist, album, Podcast, and Audiobook - and even charges the music player’s battery.

The new Impreza iPod interface also manages the digital music player’s power by turning the unit off when the vehicle’s ignition is turned off, and resuming playback when the vehicle’s ignition is turned back on – an added benefit, since control via an auxiliary input jack requires manually switching the unit on and off.

Now you can take your music while driving the Impreza. The iPod will be turned off when the car’s ignition is turned off, and will resume playback when the ignition is turned back on. If the head unit is switched to AM/FM/CD or Aux modes, the iPod will pause and resume playback once the “SAT” button is pressed, the company’s release stated. Also, the dock connector is located in the center console, freeing the interior of unsightly cables and keeping the iPod hidden from view.

The company claims they offer a "sports casual" driving experience. In short, the new Imprezas are much more fun to drive than they look.

Tech Spec:

Price/availability: from £12,495, 2.0R from £14,995. Automatic £1,000 extra. On sale now.

Engine/transmission: 1.5R, 1,498cc horizontally opposed four-cylinder petrol engine with DOHC and four valves per cylinder; 106bhp at 6,000rpm, 104.7lb ft of torque at 3,200rpm. 2.0R/RX, 1,994cc, 147.5bhp at 6,400rpm, 144.6lb ft of torque at 3,200rpm. Five-speed manual gearbox with dual range. Permanent four-wheel drive with centre differential/viscous coupling.

Performance: 1.5R, top speed 109mph (auto 104mph), 0-60mph in 13.7sec (14.8sec), EU Urban fuel consumption 29.4mpg (28.8mpg), CO2 emissions 176g/km (177g/km). 2.0R/RX, TBA/9.2sec (auto11.3sec)/25.4mpg (25.4sec)/199g/km (194g/km).

Alternatives: Honda Civic five-door hatchback, from £13,207. Mazda3 five-door hatchback, from £11,430; VW Golf five-door hatchback, from £12,627.

63rd Annual Columbus Day Parade Happens In New York

2007-10-04T16:51:00.000-07:00

Excited about the upcoming event? Well, just like anybody else, we have all anticipated the event to happen. Once again, a wide array of classic sports cars as well as some luxury cars aged to perfection are now again going to display themselves and show off the most outstanding designs and engineering. As elegant as you can imagine, these cars are all Maserati models and the Powerful 2008 Maserati GranTurismo is going to be part of a charity work.

All the Maserati sports and luxury cars will be seen lining up for the 63rd Annual Columbus Day Parade which is happening on the 8th day of October 2007. We should not expect anything like the Mazda speed parts maker Mazda on the show as the event is sponsored by Maserati itself. And take in the Italian style and elegance, the event will surely be the most sophisticated event this month. We are all aware that the Italian styles and designs are incomparable so expect engineering and design so different from all other cars you usually see.

The Maserati line up usually wears the famous luxurious exterior design of the Italian brand. At the event you will see the 1929/1931 Maserati Spyder which is so powerful to have the V16 for its engine with it becoming famous because of its 1829 record to a 2007 Quattroporte Automatic four-door sedan that can go from 0 to 60 in 5.5 seconds.

All these cars will be lining up to entertain the motor enthusiasts following a parade of the 2008 Maserati GranTurismo. There will also be an exclusive raffle which will benefit the scholarship programs of the Columbus Citizens Foundation who are also the organizers of the Columbus Day Parade. The first 10 of Maserati's latest models will be raffled during GranTurismo.

I found this list on The Auto Channel early this morning.

Among the Maseratis to be featured in the Columbus Day Parade are the following:

1929 / 1931 Maserati Spyder - V16
1953 Maserati A6GCS MM Spyder
1955 Maserati A6G54 GT Frua Berlinetta
1958 Maserati 3500 Vignale Spyder
1960 Maserati 5000 GT
1970 Maserati Ghibli Spyder SS
1971 Maserati Ghibli SS
2004 Maserati MC 12
2007 Maserati Quattroporte Automatic

Placido Domingo To Drive A BMW Hydrogen 7

2007-10-03T21:19:00.000-07:00

Let’s put our Geo brake pads aside for a while and set the pace to the hydrogen mood! Ok… Last month, Jay Leno, the comedic host of the Tonight Show, was given the keys to a brand new BMW Hydrogen 7 model thus adding his name to the list of celebrities with a hydrogen-propelled vehicle made by BMW. The list of celebrities owning hybrid cars such as the Hydrogen 7 is growing. Today, another big-time persona has obliged to take in the Hydrogen 7! The ever famous opera singer and conductor Placido Domingo will be given the keys to a BMW Hydrogen 7 - the industry’s pioneering hydrogen-powered luxury sedan!

BMW announced the high-noted news yesterday which was published on TheAutoChannel.com. Placido Domingo is an extensively considered as the world’s supreme operatic artist of modern times. Domingo joined a group of other finest personas in government, entertainment, and the environment among many others as the most recent individual to drive the BMW Hydrogen 7 on U.S. roads as a part of the BMW Hydrogen 7 Pioneer Program. The plan is intended to help BMW in its task to establish extensive support for hydrogen as a practical substitute to fossil fuels. "It is an honor to be taking part in this initiative by BMW to educate, inform and, ultimately, to impact how we as a society think about alternative energy and the health of our planet. Having worked on numerous natural disaster relief efforts, I've witnessed first-hand the profound impact that environmental and climate changes can have on humanity. I feel it is the duty of everyone on this planet to learn, become involved in the fight, accept change and be part of the solution," says Domingo. Through the binding of power and influence of personalities like Placido Domingo, they are at the front position of their respective authorities to lead other people in promoting the use of alternative fuels. BMW is expected to maintain the generation of support of hydrogen-drive vehicles in the short term and encourage demand for viable hydrogen transportation in the long-term. Several entertainers, business leaders, politicians and other well known figures picked the BMW Hydrogen 7 as their energy-efficient ride of choice. The list includes:

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at the "Ocean's 13" premiere in Hollywood
Fox Entertainment Chairman Peter Liguori at the FOX All-Star Party in Santa Monica
Richard Gere and Sharon Stone at the Cinema for Peace Gala in Berlin;
"An Inconvenient Truth" producer Davis Guggenheim (Oscar(R) for the best Documentary Feature) and Best Foreign Language Film Oscar(R) winner
Director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck at the 2007 Academy Awards
Michael Glos, German Federal Minister for Economy and Technology, Günter Verheugen, Vice President of the European Commission, World renowned soprano Anna Netrebko

The New Pricing Program from the Total Parts Plus

2007-09-28T19:24:00.000-07:00

I visited the official website of Total Parts Plus hoping to find the best deal on Dodge shocks but I was surprised when I found something even better. Total Parts Plus Incorporated has developed a new Value Pricing Program that will sure favor the practical needs of their clients. Under the new program, the customers can avail of the newest offers of Total Parts Plus in terms of budget-friendly services which does not have extra fees for those who avail of the program. This will definitely attract more clients to avail the new program.

I was able to find about this content on the New Pricing Program of Total Parts Plus on theautochannel.com. Here, take a few minutes learning the new program. The Parts Plus Content Tracker provides:

Complete BOM/AVL management for obsolete components
Identification of No-Lead components
Daily PCN/PDN Alert Service for obsolescence and material changes
Lifecycle forecasting and alternate component sourcing - Manufacturing Process Information (MSL and Reflow Temperature)
Lead finish analysis and reporting for entire BOM/AVL
RoHS compliance data and reporting in IPC-1752-2 format
Full material disclosure per JIG-101 A and B
Reliability information JESD 201 (Tin Whisker Management)
Manufacturer Datasheets and suggested replacement parts
100% coverage of your BOM/AVL

These are the content of the new pricing program on the Total Parts Plus. This seeks to provide the customers with more services based on the customer’s budget. So, they don’t have to spend much on services without paying too much. The program also allows complete access to the online site Parts Plus Content Tracker which manages 100% of the customer’s electronic components.

The Total Parts Plus is an engineering services company which provides management as well as environmental compliance solutions in the web-based products forms as well as custom engineering services. This is also according to theautochannel.com.

The Chief Executive Officer of Total Parts Plus Keith Biggs was also quoted saying, "We are very excited to offer this cost saving solution to our customers. Companies, whether large or small, require a solution for RoHS compliance and obsolete components which is both affordable and inclusive.”

The 2008 Jaguar XJ8: Feel The Roaring Power!

2007-09-26T03:17:00.000-07:00

All Jaguars are accounted as fast and splendid cars. This is the reputation that Jaguar holds on to over the years. Beautiful… it’s the constant character of all Jaguars… Unrivaled? Definitely! One of the Jaguars that claims these qualities plus an exceptional aluminum body shell, and reduced weight… almost as strong as the man of steel in fact. So step aside Subaru tune up parts and to all those who dare… Ladies and gents, hear the mighty roar of the 2008 Jaguar XJ8!

All the amenities and comfort you can possibly experience in a luxury car is in the 2008 Jaguar XJ8! A spacious legroom both in the front and back allows you to experience the most convenient ride inside a mean and powerful vehicle. Speed? As quick as a cunning jaguar ready to take on its prey and go for the kill… definitely fierce!

I did find some pretty interesting quotes about this vehicle too. Read on, you know.

"The American Automobile Association (AAA) announced its top cars for 2006 in 13 distinct categories and selected the Jaguar XJ8L as its top pick in the $50,000+ category." - American Automobile Association

"The Jaguar XJ has already collected its first award of 2006, topping the Luxury Car category at the Fleet Excellence Awards, voted for by readers of Fleet Week and Fleet Management magazines." - Carpages.co.uk

Check out some of the standard features of the 2008 Jaguar XJ8 courtesy of http://www.jaguarusa.com/:

300-horsepower V8 engine
6-speed ZF automatic transmission •18-in. Tucana wheels
Optional 19-in. Polaris wheels (no cost option)
Adaptive Restraint Technology System (A.R.T.S.) - provides unique protection through the use of ultrasonic sensors to continually calculate the front passenger position along with the position of the driver in relation to the steering wheel, and seat belt use to determine which safety systems to activate and, when applicable, the airbag energy levels most appropriate
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Dynamic Stability Control
Self-leveling and adaptive air suspension
Body-colored exterior mirror caps and grille surround
Electrochromic self-dimming power-adjustable heated door mirrors
Automatic Xenon headlamps with adjustable shut-off delay and power wash
Rain-sensing windshield wipers - Discreetly built into the rearview mirror mount, sensors sense rain and appoint the windshield wipers. The speed and frequency perfectly match the amount of precipitation, so you never have to lift a finger.
Reverse Park Control
Acoustic Laminated Glass - The addition of an acoustic laminate to the windshield and side glass helps to reduce interior noise and block ultraviolet (UV) radiation, while simultaneously increasing occupant safety and security by making "smash and grab" theft particularly difficult.
One-touch power moonroof
Premium softgrain leather front and rear seats with piping
16-way adjustable front seats with 3-stage heating
Power adjustable pedals and steering column with memory settings •Burl Walnut interior trim
Elm interior trim option
140-watt AM/FM sound system with single in-dash CD player
Bluetooth® wireless technology
New accessory Audio Connectivity Module for iPod® or mp3 player2

The Dodge Dendro

2007-09-23T22:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a new concept car called a Dodge but not actually made by the engineers from Dodge. This new concept vehicle is made by a pair of students. Designed by Nicolas Ren Stone of the College for Creative Studies and engineered by Alok Pradhan of the University of Michigan, this new concept cart is named after a snake. And not just an ordinary snake but the fastest and the most venomous of them all. This would surely put to shame the iconic Dodge Viper which has been the favorite of performance enthusiast for years.

According to Mr. Stone, the cars we see today are "built much like humans, with a structure under a layer of cosmetically pleasing skin". He added that: "All of the strength of the vehicle is hidden. While the structure may be strong, the external parts outside the structure are easily susceptible to damage." Thus he set out to "take the automobile and apply evolutionary design principles and the new technologies in steel to explore (and push) the possibilities for the next generation of cars."

He looked for inspiration and found it with Mother Nature. He said that the frame of the concept car is based on snakes. "For the frame design, I combined the strength of exoskeletons with the flexibility of a creature that appears to have no skeleton, the snake. Able to flex its body into almost any position was a perfect compliment to steel technology currently being developed for airplane wings," said Mr. Stone.

He explained his work of art saying: "I designed an exoskeleton frame to enclose the occupants in a triangle shape. This unique shape allowed for the absence of a typical B-pillar, allowing the front grill to serve as an intrinsic part of the structure, rather than as decoration. The bumpers are connected through a long vertical structure that travels the length of the car through the interior. This anchors the structure, while providing stiffness to the rear “tail bone,” which also serves as the trunk."

And as for the choice of giving the car a Dodge name, Stone said: "With this much innovation, strength and character, the car was unmistakably Dodge from the start. Dodge creates the impression of strength on the road, with a style and attitude that is unmistakable. And with their history of venomous serpentine sports cars and concepts, I wanted to offer the next step in the blood line." Surely, some Dodge brake pads will not look out of place in this concept car. And the name of the car? The Dodge Dendro, from "Dendroaspis polylepis".

How Sweet Is That Chocolate-Coated Jeep?

2007-09-20T01:09:00.000-07:00

Finger-lickin’ goodness - that’s a Jeep. Sweet and luscious Jeep! Huh? Yes, Jeep is offering a chocolate-coated treat…with a driver’s seat!

But why? The company has this to say:

Are you a chocolate lover? Do you believe anything is better when it's covered in chocolate? What about a Jeep?

With Sweetest Day right around the corner, the Jeep brand is inviting consumers to prove just how "sweet" their "sweet tooth" is in the Sweetest Day the Jeep Way challenge.

On Thursday, Oct. 18 in Cleveland, Ohio, where the Sweetest Day tradition began, 7 randomly selected participants will lick their way through 1 of 7 chocolate-covered Jeep vehicles, representing each of the models in the brand's lineup. The first two participants to lick their way through the layers of chocolate will make their way to the Jeep Liberty, filled with wrapped chocolate and candies, in search for the keys to an all-new Jeep Liberty 4x4 with a Sky Slider roof.

And because Sweetest Day revolves around the giving of sweets, the Chrysler Foundation, on behalf of Jeep, will make a "sweet" donation of $7,000 - $1,000 for each of Jeep vehicle - to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland.

How sweet are those vehicles? There’s only one way to find out. Lick it!

For complete registration details, official contest rules, or more information about the full line of Jeep vehicles click here http://www.jeep.com/en/pr/sweetestday/. Consumers with a “sweet tooth” for a Jeep can register online at http://www.sweetestdaythejeepway.com/.

The sugary stunt, called "Sweetest Day the Jeep Way," is in conjunction with Sweetest Day, a holiday invented 85 years ago by Cleveland candy makers.

If you think you have what it would take to lick six other chocolate-chomping contestants, go to Chrysler's Sweetest Day Web site, fill out the form and write a 250-word essay on why you should be picked to lick. Hopefuls also must be residents Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Kentucky, Pennsylvania or West Virginia and at least 18 years old.

“With the growing popularity of Sweetest Day, the Jeep brand wants to give consumers the opportunity to celebrate ‘Sweetest Day the Jeep Way.’ Jeep vehicles love to get dirty, but instead of covering the vehicles in mud, we’re going to cover them in chocolate and let participants have fun getting the chocolate off. The prize - an all-new 2008 Jeep Liberty,” said John Plecha, the Director of Jeep Brand Marketing and Global Communications.

According to a national survey conducted by the Jeep brand, 67 percent of Americans do not know the history behind Sweetest Day. In fact, the survey results revealed:

The Sweet Spot: Only one in three adults are aware that Sweetest Day was founded by candy makers in Cleveland as an act of goodwill.
Chocolate Covered Confusion: Nearly one in five adults (20 percent) mistakenly believe that Sweetest Day was founded by greeting card manufacturers, while 13 percent believe it was founded by a floral company.
Nuts About Chocolate: Forty-six percent of Americans agree that nuts are their favorite chocolate-covered food.

Jay Leno With The BMW Hydrogen 7!

2007-09-18T18:35:00.000-07:00

Jay Leno, not only the lively and comic host of the most watched program, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno - he is one hell of a car collector! Several of the rarest vehicles lie in Jay Leno’s garage! And oh, if you want to get familiar with these cars, just visit his site on http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/! Anyway, talking about Jay Leno’s collection with his unlimited supplies of wholesale auto parts, the Emmy-winning comedian and host will add another great vehicle to his line-up of vehicles! He will soon hit the road with the BMW Hydrogen 7 - the first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan!

The news was published on TheAutoChannel.com yesterday. According to this featured story, BMW has handed down the keys to a brand new BMW Hydrogen 7 to Jay Leno, the newest owner of this one of a kind hybrid car next to actor Will Ferrell and other known personalities as announced by BMW Company. The host is very much excited to shelter his brand new car under his infamous garage in Burbank, California!

"As an avid car enthusiast I'm always interested in the future of automotive technology. With the BMW Hydrogen 7 I can experience all the fun and great features of a performance car, yet know that I'm being environmentally friendly at the same time! I look forward to driving the Hydrogen 7 and learning more about hydrogen as a fuel for our future," says Jay Leno with immense energy and excitement.

Jay utilizes a massive steam and natural gas engines from the 19th century to efficiently decrease his energy needs in his "green garage”. Leno changed his garage into a self-reliant power station. There is no reason why a garage full of old cars can't be environmentally responsible according to Jay - even if it means having to go back more than a century for the technology. Jay is dedicated to the improvement of his almost 20,000-sq.-ft. garage with the hottest environmentally friendly shop equipment and products. He is also working with professionals in an array of fields to study his garage's energy use and planned alternative energy systems. Now, he is setting an example by driving the BMW Hydrogen 7!

The BMW Hydrogen 7 basically discharges nothing but water vapor when running in hydrogen mode, on behalf of a significant step in decreasing destructive CO2 emissions. The Hydrogen 7 is not a concept car but it is a production model vehicle that has effectively completed the entire Product Development Process. It is believed to be a major milestone in bringing up hydrogen as the sustainable fuel for individual transportation despite the fact that the BMW Hydrogen 7 is not for sale yet.

It is expected that hydrogen will replace petroleum as the long-term alternative to fossil fuel according to BMW. They also hope that Hydrogen 7 will play a ground-breaking part in driving forward the hydrogen technologies that will guarantee our mobility in the next years to come.

Top Ten Cars We Can’t Get in the US Car Market

2007-09-17T18:45:00.000-07:00

This is in connection with the recently opened Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany where most of the cars will only be available in the European car market. The car show displays lots of new gorgeous cars. But sadly, we Americans can only see whatever's happening at the auto show through pictures because only those who are in European countries would be very much accessible to the show.

As we all know, Europe is the home for small cars... say the SmartForTwo. They are also into diesel propelled cars like Acura which is a little greener now because of its Acura 2.2 cl radiator. European car owners are also looking for small cars, oil-burners, touring vehicles, wagon type cars and hybrid cars as well. Of course, the US car market also need more car buyers who are looking for these types of vehicles.

Motortrend released the '2007 Frankfurt Motor Show: Top 10 Cars We Can't Get in the U.S.' on their official website. Here are the top ten cars on the list.

Audi RS 6 Avant
Artega GT
BMW M5 Wagon
Ford Kuga
Honda Civic Type R
Peugeot 207 RC and Clio Renaultsport 197
Mercedes-Benz GL420 CDI
Fiat 500
Mazda2
Suzuki Swift

Among all the cars, American would look at the Audi RS 6 Avant as one among the most interesting car models at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. But sadly, just like Artega GT and the BMW M5 Wagon which took the second and third spots, the Audi RS 6 Avant will only be available in the European car market. The ever famous Ford Kuga comes at the fourth notch followed by the Honda Civic Type R - a Japanese car brand that hits the fifth spot on the list. The Peugeot 207 RC and the Clio Renaultsport 197 both take the sixth spot. The Mercedes-Benz GL420 CDI landed on seventh place. The Fiat 500, also a European car, made it to the top eight. The Mazda2, another Japanese car brand, took the ninth spot leaving another Japanese car model, the Suzuki Swift, at the last rank.

BMW, DCX: Chinese Are Copying Cars

2007-09-13T02:31:00.000-07:00

True. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery. But too much of it is quite repulsive. In the auto industry, the latest victims of the alleged copying of cars are Germany’s BMW and DCX.

BMW AG claims that a Chinese automaker’s sport utility is very much similar to one of its own. This week, the German automaker filed suit in Frankfurt against Shuanghuan Automobile. The suit intends to preclude the Chinese automaker from selling its car model called the CEO. The Munich-based automaker said that the SUV was a copy of the BMW X5. ‘‘China is here and we are here at the fair,’’ said Karl Schloessl, the CEO of China Automobile, which plans to import and sell the car in Europe. He said that the car was designed independently.

‘‘We do not deny. We do not admit,’’ Schloessl told AP Television News. ‘‘One gets inspiration from every SUV, no matter whether it is Japanese, Chinese, German or French. When you look at a car today, no matter from which perspective, you will always discover similarities, even at the wheels.’’

The spat reflects wider concern among Western companies, many of whom want to do business in China's vast markets but also protect their own copyrights. Shuanghuan maintains that the CEO bears no resemblance to the X5, either in style or price, reported the Associated Press.

The X5's base price in Europe is 59,000 euros equivalent to $85,207, while the CEO's base model will sell for 25,900 euros or $37,396. At a glance, similarities cannot be denied. Additionally, the difference in price could lure shoppers into purchasing.

"The issue directly concerning BMW is that there is a Chinese carmaker trying to copy the side and rear view of the previous generation of our X5 model," said Wieland Bruch, a BMW spokesman. He added that a close inspection would reveal any differences, but a first impression would not.

Fearless, Shuanghuan's European importer, brought the sport utility to the Frankfurt auto show.

"China is BMW is not alone in its concern. Last week, DaimlerChrysler AG said it might take legal action against Shuanghuan Auto because its Noble resembled its Smart fortwo, a tiny two-seater aimed at buyers in big cities. Offering a vehicle so obviously similar to the Smart fortwo would be a violation of intellectual property," DCX said in a statement.

DCX Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche told reporters at the show that having cars that look too similar could be confusing "to our customers.''

Shuanghuan, on the other hand, has said that it does not think its Noble is similar to the fortwo, telling Dow Jones Newswires late last month that it was "only the media stirring things up.'' The Noble will not be displayed in Frankfurt Auto show which is scheduled on Sept. 13-23.

Similarities to Audi brake dust shields and other auto accessories could be tenable but imitation of the entire styling of a car is another story. Fair competition should prevail. It isn’t a simple issue to be ignored.

The Volt's European Counterpart

2007-09-10T19:00:00.000-07:00

We already know what the Chevy Volt is all about. It is just a matter of waiting until the fuel miser that is the Volt reaches the production stage. But the Volt is not the only General Motors car which boasts of superb fuel economy and limited greenhouse gas emission. That's because the Chevy Volt has a European counterpart in the Opel Flextreme.

The Flextreme is a concept car just like the Chevy Volt. It is also a vehicle that will get you to your office and back without ever burning a single drop of fuel if your daily mileage amounts to about 34 miles. And I think, just as the Volt will use components as sturdy as Chevrolet Tahoe step plates, the Flextreme will also be using reliable and safe parts.

While American automakers are more focused on the development of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles, European automakers are focusing on the use of clean diesel engine. And since Opel is a German brand, the automaker will equip the Flextreme with a fuel efficient, clean as gasoline 1.3-liter diesel powerplant. This engine will act as a 'range extender' as General Motors call it. When the juice of the car's battery runs out, the diesel engine will start charging it.

According to the automaker, this is not a technology they will display just to keep environmentalists out of their back. The technology used by the Volt and the Flextreme are already in the developmental stages and may soon be practical enough to be mass produced. Thus, for those looking to own a vehicle as green as the Volt, the wait may reach four or five years but the wait will be worthwhile once General Motors makes these cars available to the general car buying public.

The Flextreme may have a lot in common with the Volt, after all, it is the Volt's European counterpart, but there is one thing that the Flextreme has which I think the Volt does not have. And that is a Segway. This technologically-advanced two-wheeled personal mobility device gives you an added 23 miles of clean transportation although the use of the Segway on public roads is prohibited in some countries. I think that the Segway will not make it into production since it would cost too much. But for those willing to do more for the environment for additional cost, I think a Segway can be stowed in the Flextreme when it comes to production.

Toyota Motor Corporation Reveals Another Plug-in for France

2007-09-10T17:16:00.000-07:00

The leader in making quality hybrid cars is now making a new wave in another car market. The Toyota Motor Corporation, the maker of the famous Prius, is now making another breakthrough. This time the new product is not going to be sent to the US car market, nor to Japanese car market. Now, the Asian famous fast growing car maker is venturing to France and it is building a new plug-in hybrid for the French car market.

The news was from theautochannel.com. According to the one among the most reputable sources of car information, Jiji Press reported that Toyota is cooperating with France's state-owned power supplier EDF in the test of the plug-in vehicles for the French car market. After two years of perfecting these four new plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles, the collaboration between the two famous companies will bring the test on the road of the French capital. This is to identify the effectively of the plug-in in terms of recharging as well as the billing systems of hybrid cars.

After the tests done in the European car market, the Japanese car maker is planning to launch the particular plug-in car, according to the car maker’s officials.

The wide-area billing system of the EDF made the Toyota Motor Corporation decide to go in partner with the company in France.

Toyota has always been successful in every plan they made. In terms of quality, their car parts may not be as expensive as the Mercedes Benz vent visor but the Japanese car maker always make it a point that every car they make is of great excellence and quality. Hybrid cars may have been started by the Honda Motor Corporation but Toyota has perfected hybrid technology with the existence of its Toyota Prius. This was proven because of the numerous amounts of award that the vehicle has received because of it real time fuel efficiency.

Special Edition Mercedes C350 To Raise $1M For ‘Key To The Cure’

2007-09-06T23:42:00.000-07:00

Mercedes for a cause. The German automaker reaches out to lend a helping hand and touch other people’s lives. It intends to put a stress on benevolence and not just profit-making ventures.

The German automaker’s American division has engineered a special edition version of its sleek 2008 C350 sport sedan to raise $1 million for Saks Fifth Avenue's “Key To The Cure” - a women's cancer initiative developed in partnership with the Entertainment Industry Foundation's (EIF) Women's Cancer Research Fund.

To raise awareness of the cause, actress Renee Zellweger has been named the Entertainment Industry Foundation ambassador for Saks Fifth Avenue's 2007 Key To The Cure and will show her support by wearing this year's Key To The Cure t-shirt designed by Juicy Couture. The actress will appear in promotional materials and in a national public service announcement (PSA) to bring attention to this critical issue.

As a national sponsor of “Key To The Cure,” MBUSA expects to contribute $1 million through the sale of 1,000 exclusive C-Class vehicles scheduled to arrive at Mercedes-Benz dealerships this month, The Auto Channel reported. Sales of this well-equipped, powerful and fun-to-drive sedan will benefit charitable programs dedicated to finding new detection methods, treatments and a cure for women's cancers nationwide. Over the past five consecutive years, MBUSA has supported Key To The Cure and has raised over $5 million for women's cancer research.

The agile new 2008 C350 Sport Sedan combines the power of a 268- horsepower, 3.5 liter V-6 engine with the most desirable new options and technology available from Mercedes-Benz and the exclusive Sahara Beige and Black leather interior to create the Special Edition C350 for “Key To The Cure.” This sophisticated sedan offers auto enthusiasts not only cutting-edge style, superior technical innovations and performance but the chance to help make a difference in the fight against cancer, the report continued.

"The new C-Class is one of our most eagerly awaited new models," said Steve Cannon, the vice president of marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA. "We're pleased to be able to take advantage of that enthusiasm in support of a cause that touches so many lives."

The Special Edition Mercedes-Benz C350 is equipped with:

Obsidian Black Metallic Paint
Exclusive Sahara Beige / Black Leather Interior
18 inch AMG twin-spoke aluminum alloy wheels
Multimedia Package (HDD Navigation, Harman Kardon sound system, DVD changer, Voice Control)
iPod Integration Kit

Each of the 1,000 special-edition sport sedan features the athletic new profile of the AMG lower bodywork and rear spoiler, sport sedan interior elements including gauges, sport steering wheel and pedals, and a Black Birdseye Maple trim. The winning style of this new model combined with the exclusivity of the Special Edition for Key To The Cure leather interior creates a striking addition to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class line. The car also features a power sunroof, eight-way power front seats with lumbar support, two-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, a central controller, and an LCD display screen.

Funds raised will benefit over 50 charitable programs nationwide.

Chinese Women Prefer...

2007-09-03T18:50:00.000-07:00

We cannot deny the fact that more and more vehicles are being sold in the Chinese auto market. And in that said market, women buyers are increasing. By last count, of the total car buyers in the Asian country, 32 percent are women. That means that automakers, in order to have a strong foothold on the Chinese auto market should design cars which can attract Chinese women. According to this article from the autochannel.com, Chinese women auto buyers prefer small cars. Although ordinary folks like us will not be involved in the designing of a new car for the Chinese, I would still share to you what these cars are.

The Chery QQ with the round headlights is a bit on the bad side of things for me but Chinese women dig it, or so the article said. The Honda Fit or the Jazz as it is called in other markets is also a favorite of Chinese women. I kinda like this car because even if it's small, it has that aggressive look to it thanks to that headlight. In the United States, the Fit is the eighth most favorite car by American ladies.

The third car on the list is the Nissan Tiida or the Versa. I believe that this car was just recently launched and the fact that it has become the third most favorite cars by Chinese women shows that Nissan is doing well in its expansion of operation outside of Japan and the United States. The Chevrolet Spark which is the mold of the Chery QQ is number four on the list. Maybe its the price which makes the Chery more attractive than this Chevy.

Next on the list is from a European automaker. It's not an Audi with reliable and sport-tuned shocks but a Volkswagen. The VW Polo which I also like is the fifth most favorite car by Chinese women. The hatchback version of this car is very popular among women in the said country. Last year, 90 percent of the total number of Polo units sold were bought by Chinese women.

Sixth on the list is the Suzuki Swift. Sales of this car was given a boost by a commercial featuring Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo. Number seven on the list is the Chevrolet Sail - a global car from General Motors. Number eight is the Peugeot 206 with the Audi A4 on number nine and the redesigned Toyota Yaris which is marketed as the FAW Vizi in China.

Featured Features of 2009 Dodge Journey: Technologies for Flexibility

2007-09-03T17:21:00.000-07:00

Just recently, I have learned about an upcoming Dodge model for 2009 that has been engineered to provide everyone’s preference for a car. It is the 2009 Dodge Journey with SUV capabilities. From jalopnik.com, several features amazed me. These are the following I found:

Innovative and Clever Technologies for Flexibility
MyGIG™ cutting-edge multimedia audio and entertainment system
Available ParkView™ Rear Backup Camera displays the view behind the vehicle in the navigation display when backing up or parking
Available Full-color, GPS Map Navigation System with 7-inch (17.8 cm) display provides convenient directions and traffic alerts
Chill Zone™ cooled beverage storage bin located in the glove box helps keep two cooled 12-oz. (330 ml) cans cool through the air conditioning system or fresh air inlet
YES Essentials Premium Cloth Seats are stain resistant, odor resistant and anti static for easy cleaning and a long-lasting appearance
Available Aimable LED Map/Reading Lamps provide focused light without distracting the driver
Available Removable, Rechargeable LED Flashlight is stored in the rear cargo area for convenient light when needed
Illuminated Cup Holders glow blue green for easy nighttime access
Available Rear-seat Entertainment System includes an 8-inch (20.3 cm) color monitor that works with the radio DVD player. The display conveniently folds down from the headliner to entertain rear seat passengers
Available 115-volt, 150-watt Power Inverter on the rear of the console powers small household appliances (available in North America)
Available SIRIUS™ Digital Satellite Radio offers a variety of subscription-based radio programs and music for enhanced listening enjoyment (available in North America)
Available UConnect™ provides convenient, hands-free communication with BlueTooth™ cellular phones
Four 12-volt Power Points for powering small electronics. Two are in the front, one is in the second row and one is in the cargo area
Available Remote Start starts a secured vehicle with the key fob for added convenience (available in North America)

Those are just not all. More have been discussed in the site. You could simply check it out for a more elaborated version. And, expect it to be shown on display at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

Long-Running Jetta

2007-08-23T17:39:00.000-07:00

We know that Toyota and Honda cars are reliable. They have proven that to us in the past and they are continuing that tradition although I've been hearing about recalls after recalls from Toyota. Anyway, when it comes to reliability, Volkswagen is not far behind these Asian automakers. Want proof? Well, Volkswagen has one for you, a Jetta that has been running since 1986 and has 562,000 miles on it.

This car was discovered by Volkswagen of America after it announced that as part of its Diesel Heritage Search, they will locate the Volkswagen diesel vehicle in the United States with the highest mileage. And they have found it in the 1986 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Diesel which I think still has its parts in good condition just like Oil Filter Canada. The vehicle is owned by Syl Schmid of Blue Rock, Ohio. The mileage on Mr. Schmid's car was recently verified by the American arm of the largest European automaker and Byers Imports, a Volkswagen dealership in Columbus, Ohio.

Steve Keyes, Volkswagen Public Relations Director said: "Mr. Schmid has a story that is like so many of our diesel owners; he loves the longevity of the engine and fuel economy that his diesel Volkswagen has delivered these last twenty years. Throughout all of entries that we received for our Diesel Heritage Search, we found many VW owners who were passionate about their cars and the economic benefits of the diesel engine."

Fuel economy is indeed one of the strong selling points of diesel engines. The way that the fuel is burned and the amount of power it produces means that you would need to burn less fuel to get the amount of power that you would get by burning more gasoline fuel. But the emission of diesel engines has been in question in the past. But today, Volkswagen is leading the charge in the development of clean diesel engines which was exhibited by its subsidiary Audi in the two latest staging of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Winning the endurance race with a diesel race car has elevated the reputation of diesel engines not only among racing enthusiasts but among consumers too.

The Jetta owned by Mr. Schmid was originally leased by him for three years. But I think that the reliability and the good performance of the Jetta made Mr. Schmid decide to keep it so he bought the car after the lease period. More than half a million miles have been traveled by the Jetta but its powertrain and its muffler is still the same that came with it when Mr. Schmid leased the car.

2008 BMW 5Series: Worst In New Side Impact Crash Tests!

2007-08-22T00:19:00.000-07:00

How on earth did this luxury ride have a failing grade in side impact crash tests?! I can’t believe it! And I think everyone can’t believe it either. The 2008 BMW 5 Series is one of the most admired vehicles in the planet and we are very shocked to know that it is the worst performer inthe new side-impact crash tests of luxury sedans by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

I read this shocking news on motortrend.com yesterday when I was searching for some information about the Saturn engine online. According to the news, the Volvo S80, Kia Amanti and the Acura RL got the highest safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. On the other hand, the Cadillac STS and the Mercedes E-Class grabbed the second-highest rating. IIHS side-impact crash tests were intended to reveal what would happen if a sport utility vehicle or a truck hit the side of the sedan at a speed of 31 miles per hour. According to the Isurance Institute for Highway Safety, around 9,000 people on U.S. roadways were killed due to common side-impact crashes after a frontal crash.

“Growing sales of SUVs and pickups have exacerbated height mismatches among passenger vehicles, thereby increasing the risks to occupants of many vehicles struck in the side,” Insurance Institute President Adrian Lund said in a news release.

“All six sedans were equipped with standard side air bags. The air bags in the BMW 5 Series protected the head, but separate air bags designed to protect the chest and abdomen performed poorly,” the institute said.

“The institute’s test indicated the 5 Series has a strong body structure but the dummy was injured when it was hit by the arm rest. BMW does up to 12 crash tests on all its cars as well as computer simulations of crashes,” said BMW spokesman Thomas Plucinsky on the results.

“The issue is that depending on the location of seat, the location of dummy, the location of the sled, the results could change. This was one test on one day on one car,” added Plucinsky.

One of the lowest priced sedans in the group was the Kia Amanti with a starting price of around $25,500. But with fair price for a luxury sedan, the Amanti offered a far better protection than more expensive sedans. According to automotive research site Edmunds.com, the BMW 5 Series price starts at $43,500, while the Mercedes E-Class starts at $50,550.

“The Amanti shows that you don’t have to buy an expensive car to get good protection in crashes with SUVs and pickups,” Lund said.

Since the Volvo S80 earned the highest ratings in front, side and rear crash tests with electronic stability control as standard equipment, it went home with the IIHS top safety award! The S40 also won the institute’s top safety award for overall crash protection as well. The 2007 Volvo S80 starts at $47,350, according to Edmunds.com.

Subaru Has Green Cars

2007-08-16T17:51:00.000-07:00

I’ve always associated Subaru with hood scoops and turbocharged boxers. After all, the Subaru Impreza WRX with its hood scoop and turbocharged engine is the most popular model from the Japanese firm. But Subaru is not all about powerful engines and cool-looking exteriors. The automaker is also on the forefront of developing clean cars.

Recently, the automaker received EPA’s SmartWay certification for some of its nameplates. The naturally-aspirated variants of the Subaru Legacy, Outback and the Forester 2.5 were given a Partial Zero Emission Vehicle classification. The SmartWay certification given to the variants of these nameplates means that they are now listed in the agency’s Green Vehicle Guide. The three Subaru nameplates equipped with catalytic converters joins other cars in the list such as the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid and the Ford Escape Hybrid among others.

Tim Mahoney, the senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Subaru of America , Inc., has this to say: “Customers are increasingly concerned with the environmental performance of their vehicles. The EPA's website is a great source of information for car shoppers as it shows them the best vehicle to meet their needs. Subaru is pleased to be among the EPA's SmartWay choices and we continue to look for ways to reduce our impact on the earth while providing the fun, freedom, adventure, confidence and control that only a Subaru all-wheel drive vehicle can deliver.”

The EPA used a formula to determine which cars should be included in the list. This formula takes into account the amount of emission produced by a particular auto. Another data that they look into is the fuel efficiency of a vehicle. If a vehicle has small amount of greenhouse gas emissions but at the same time consumes a huge amount of petroleum fuel, there is still the tendency that it will not be given the SmartWay certification. In the case of the Forester 2.5, Outback, and the Legacy, they have satisfied both requirements.

This surely gives Subaru a boost in terms of popularity with auto buyers. The increasing awareness of global warming means that more consumers will be looking for eco-friendly vehicles. And the Subaru vehicles given the certification will be in place to provide consumers with clean vehicles without sacrificing performance and good looks. According to the automaker, they have already sold more than 100,000 units of PZEV vehicles. That number would surely surge upward in the near future, thanks to the SmartWay certification.

The Buick LaCrosse

2007-08-14T22:38:00.000-07:00

At first glance, you can easily say that the LaCrosse sedan is an over-achiever! Recipient of the J.D Power and Associate’s 2007 Gold Plant Quality Award in North and South America and one of the top vehicles chosen for dependability, the LaCrosse is one classy ride you can’t deny!

Powered by a 3.8L 3800 Series III V6 engine with ABS Traction Control, this 5 passenger sedan assures new car buyers a different driving experience that is way beyond the given performance of other cars.

Styling… Aside from the absolute power performance of the LaCrosse, it boasts off a gorgeous body that defines the true meaning of class! With headlights as vibrant as Mazda headlights and body parts that are way too cool, you couldn't ask for more from this extraordinary ride!

Sophistication is the perfect term for the 2007 LaCrosse. The spacious interior allows you to feel like you are just lying or sitting on your lovely couch or bedroom! Absolutely feels like heaven! Interior features include glovebox, trunk, delayed entry/exit with theater dimming, rear courtesy, front footwell and front map lights, AM/FM stereo with CD/MP3 player, seek-and-scan, digital clock, speed-compensated volume and TheftLock. It also includes Concert Sound III 9-speaker system rear subwoofers as well as coaxial mid-range speakers and XM Satellite Radio. These are just a few of the numerous interior features of the 2007 LaCrosse. What more if I gave out all the wonders of this car?! Imagine that!

From Edmunds.com's review of the 2007 Buick LaCrosse, new car buyers shared their joy and delight upon purchasing this ride. Check out some of their remarks:

Best Car We Have Had by Mrs Brown: “Bought an '07 with little over 4,000 miles. We were impressed with the extras, remote start, dual climate control among many others. We get tons of compliments on this car. Only suggestion would be to add air vents in back for back seat riders. Overall, the best car we have owned by far. The ride is very smooth, the power is awesome."

LaCrosse, Best in Class by Florida Amy: "We are absolutely thrilled with our LaCrosse. It is luxurious and exhilarating. I look for reasons to leave the house just so I can drive the LaCrosse. The 3.8l V-6 needs no urging and jumps at the chance to run like the wind! It dives into corners with an unquenchable hunger and the traction control adds a new level of control. The car is almost alive in it's ability to know how to get through the corners. You don't drive LaCrosse, you command the LaCrosse! We've never been so thrilled by a "luxury" sedan."

Buick LaCrosse CXS by J HARLOW: "I have the performance engine and it is great! I also like the chrome accents that are optional and the chrome wheels. We get outstanding comments on this car. The light leather interior is perfect!"

The Return Of The Pentastar

2007-08-09T19:34:00.000-07:00

If you would ask your grandfather what was the emblem of Chrysler during their days, I’m sure he would say that it is just the same as of today. That is if he knows that the Pentastar is now being used again by the automaker as their corporate logo. The Chrysler logo that you may be familiar with is that winged logo with the medallion in the center. That was actually used on Chrysler vehicles starting in 1994. But before the use of that logo, there was the Pentastar.

As the name suggest, it has five sides. I’m sure you have seen this logo already. The logo was first used by the company in 1962 but was shelved in favor of the winged emblem. The history of the Pentastar started when then Chrysler President Lynn Townsend was looking for a corporate logo that can be sued on packaging, stationery, signage and others. The Pentastar was chosen because it can be easily recognized even without the word Chrysler beneath it.

During the initial use of the Pentastar, it was widely believed that it represents the five divisions of the company during those days. The five divisions are Plymouth, Dodge, Chrysler, Imperial, and Airtemp. But this is not the reason for the design of the Pentastar. In fact, only a year later since the adoption of the emblem, the company was left with three divisions which were Chrysler-Plymouth, Imperial, and Dodge.

The Pentastar became an icon since it was used on all the vehicles made by all the company’s divisions. Dodge back then uses the Fratzog logo. The use of this was phased out in favor of the Pentastar. The first batch of vehicles to sport the Pentastar includes those made under the brands Valiant, Plymouth, Dodge, Chrysler, Imperial, Hillman, Humber, Sunbeam, Singer, and Simca. Even trucks made by Fargo, DeSoto, Dodge, Commer, and Karrier use the Pentastar.

After the ‘failed marriage’ between Chrysler and German automaker Daimler-Benz, the American auto group was acquired by Cerberus. After the acquisition of the carmaker, Cerberus announced that Chrysler will have a new CEO in Robert Nardelli. This means that Tom LaSorda, the former CEO will now be the number two man in the company.

Just like General Motors and Ford, Chrysler is also facing a tough time. Whether the logo change will help them or not remains to be seen. The arrival of the new CEO is also something that the auto industry is observing. Will Nardelli be what Carlos Ghosn was to Nissan? Can he save the company that he now heads? We will know the answer soon I’m sure.

Purchasing A Car Is Still A Major Hassle For Women

2007-08-07T18:18:00.000-07:00

Women… why do they find it so hard to purchase a car? Why do our lovely ladies feel much hassle when they try to buy their own vehicle? Whew… women! What more if they are obliged to read an entire VW repair manual?!

Anyway, the response for these hassling questions will be answered by CarMax Inc, the largest retailer of vehicles in the country! They have come up with a poll and conducted it on their web site to know the major concerns and complaints of women regarding the buying a car. The poll revealed a little improvement in women’s complaints compared to last year.

"We continue to see the same trends as women search for satisfaction in shopping for a vehicle. It is essential for women to find a car retailer, such as CarMax, that focuses on excellent customer service and a hassle free car-buying experience," says Donna Wassel, the regional vice president of CarMax.

"Being prepared to walk away can be tough to do, especially if you have spent a lot of time on one car lot. But if you are not pleased with the car buying process, it's worth it - remember, you are the one who has to drive the car and make the payments, not the salesperson," added Wassel.

More than 12,000 women were asked on carmax.com to open up their concerns and share things they are unfamiliar with in the car-buying experience. Here are the results of the survey this year and the results for the year 2006 survey. These were published in TheAutoChannel.com:

What was most lacking when you bought your last car? Criteria: This Year's Response / Response in 2006

A quick, effortless transaction: 21% / 21%
A salesperson I liked and trusted: 16% / 15%
Lowest, fair pricing: 14% / 14%
A fair trade-in value: 13% / 14%
Respect for/attention to my wants and needs: 13% / 13%
A fair, reasonable finance rate: 7% / 6%
Understandable paperwork: 4% / 4%
Other factors: 12 % / 12%

Hey! Calling out the lovely ladies out there! You better listen up! Here are some tips for you courtesy of www.carmax.com and www.autochannel.com! Take these down and it might help you get rid of the hassles you experience when you want to purchase a car:

1. Use the Internet to research vehicle types, makes, models, options, features, and prices. Visit websites such as carmax.com to see actual prices and photos of nearly every vehicle make and model, review vehicle history reports, and read actual customer reviews.

2. Print out fact sheets or information about the vehicles you are interested in, so you can remind yourself about what you want when you step onto the lot.

3. Bring key paperwork items with you, including title and registration for your current vehicle, your driver's license, and insurance card.

4. If you have been pre-approved for a car loan, bring in the approval letter with you.

5. Find a car retailer and salesperson you like and trust by asking friends and family for referrals.

Cars.com’s Top 10 Wallet-Friendly Wheels

2007-08-06T19:22:00.000-07:00

With so many things to buy these days, and you’re a great spender, sure you’ll be running out of money! And if it’s necessary to buy a new car, what would you do?

If that problem has been troubling you for quite a long time, don’t fret. Cars.com has a timely solution… Consumers searching for wallet-friendly wheels don't need to sacrifice safety, reliability and cabin comfort, according to Cars.com. You can have the best late-model used for as low as $10,000!

2005 Ford Focus - Expect to pay around $10,500 for an entry-level ZX4 sedan with ABS, side airbags, a stick shift and 40,000 miles. Automatic transmissions add around $650. The ST can cost upward of $13,000.

2003 Ford Taurus - With ABS and side airbags, a Taurus sedan with 60,000 miles should cost between $8,000 and $12,000. Similarly equipped wagons range from $10,500 to $12,000. Pay additional $400 for the Duratec V-6.

2003 Mazda Protege - With antilock brakes, side airbags and 60,000 miles, the no-frills DX trim should cost around $8,500 with a stick shift. The LX and ES models have more features and run between $9,500 and $10,500. Add around $600 if you want an automatic. The turbocharged Mazdaspeed Protege commands close to $15,000.

2003 Mercury Sable - With antilock brakes, side airbags and 60,000 miles, prices range from $9,000 to $11,500 for the Sable sedan; wagons should sell for $10,000 to $13,000. The uplevel Sable LS includes the Duratec V-6, which is unavailable in the base GS. An LS sedan light on luxury options can be had for around $10,000.

2002 Buick LeSabre - With 70,000 miles, a LeSabre Custom runs around $9,000. A well-appointed LeSabre Limited should cost about $12,000.

2002 Chevrolet Impala - Expect to pay around $9,000 for a base Impala with 70,000 miles, antilock brakes and the driver's side airbag. A fully loaded LS is about $11,500.

2002 Ford Windstar - A base Windstar LX with 70,000 miles and side airbags should cost around $7,500. That's a steal, considering the standard ABS, air conditioning and power accessories. Better-equipped SE and SEL models run past $10,000, and a loaded Limited can cost upward of $15,000.

2002 Honda Accord - A base DX sedan with 70,000 miles, a manual transmission, ABS and side airbags should run just under $10,000; better-equipped LX and EX models will cost between $11,500 and $13,000. Cars with an automatic go for an extra $700 or so, and the V-6 can add $850 to $1,500. Pay at least $12,000 for an Accord coupe.

2002 Honda Civic - With 70,000 miles, a basic DX sedan or coupe with side airbags, ABS and a stick shift should cost around $10,000. Better-equipped LX and EX models range from $11,000 to $12,000. Add about $550 for an automatic.

2002 Oldsmobile Aurora - With 70,000 miles, well-equipped V-6 models can be had for under $11,000. If you want the V-8 and a full host of luxury features, expect to pay $13,000 or more.

Foreign Carmakers Outsell Detroit’s Big 3

2007-08-02T18:34:00.000-07:00

Auto industry’s bad fate comes like buses. You wait ages for one to come along and then two or more come along at the same time.

It seems like I’m getting used to receiving bad news from the industry. Come rising gasoline prices, slashing of jobs, closure of facilities, diminution of labor wages and benefits, declining sales – whew! – the list seems to be endless. The latest negative issue, so far, is the dropping of monthly market share under 50%. It is alarming! But could you think of non-alarming news involving the auto industry in the past few months? You might find it difficult to recollect.

Earlier, the Detroit News reported that foreign rivals outsold domestic automakers for the first time in history in July - a grim milestone that came as the entire U.S. auto industry was battered by its worst sales month in nearly two years.

In July, domestic automakers had a record low 48.1 percent of the market. The figure represents domestic automakers' shrinking presence in a market they once dominated. Across the country, rising gas prices, declining housing markets and other economic concerns pulled the sales and further hampered turnaround plans of Detroit automakers.

"This is certainly not the way we wanted to start the summer selling season," GM sales analyst Paul Ballew said last Wednesday in a DetNews interview. "We have been running below where we discussed we need to be in terms of the North American restructuring plan."

GM reported a 22.3 percent drop in sales. Ford dived by 19.1 percent and Chrysler fell 8.4 percent. Even Japanese automakers weren't impervious. Sales were down 7.3 percent at Toyota and 7.1 percent at Honda. Only Nissan managed to eke out a 1.7 percent raise.

Even so, Toyota outsold both Ford and Chrysler. Demand nationwide is at its weakest in more than a year and is falling short of the already underwhelming 16 million unit sales analysts predicted earlier this year, said DetNews. "It was a tough industry last month, no doubt about it," said Bob Carter, the group vice president and general manager of the Toyota division in North America.

"This is more than 30 years in the making," Ford sales analyst George Pipas said. He noted the company isn't worried about its ranking - instead, its focus is on returning Ford to profitability as a smaller automaker. Ford will not "get off on some sales race baloney," Pipas said.

According to experts the industry tends to suffer in a wobbly economy because consumers often can delay the purchase of a new vehicle. "All that home equity that people were building up as their homes appreciated has dried up because home prices have started to pull back," said Alex Rosten, the manager, pricing and market analysis at automotive research site Edmunds.com.

He added California, where sales have been especially slow, accounts for about 10 percent of U.S. vehicle sales. The domestics' slide wasn't expected until after this summer, he said, because big summer promotions typically bolster sales.

Top 2007 Motorist Choice Awards Grabbed By Toyota And GM

2007-08-01T01:03:00.001-07:00

Another astonishing result has been released by IntelliChoice.com, the leading online source for automotive ownership cost and value analysis and the AutoPacific, the industry source for owner satisfaction ratings!

Yesterday, the winners of the second annual 2007 Motorist Choice Awards was declared! And guess who topped the honor list? Oh yeah, Toyota and GM emerged as the greatest winners of this year! Toyota vehicles won eight awards in their respective segments including the over-all winner Lexus LS. On the other hand, GM trailed Toyota with 5 segment winners.

"This year's roster of winners earned their place by challenging vehicles often recognized for their quality and value. While Japanese manufacturers garnered a majority of the 25 vehicle segments, the 2007 Cadillac DTS checked in as the top overall large luxury car. GM also showed well by scoring top honors in both the large light-duty and heavy-duty truck segments with the Chevrolet Silverado," said James Bell, the publisher of IntelliChoice.com.

"Those who monitor the industry closely are probably not surprised by the performance of the Cadillac DTS. Across all segments, the DTS came in a close second to the overall winner Lexus LS, and it was the top ranked vehicle overall in AutoPacific's recently announced Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. It's a car that can definitely challenge the other elite brands," announced George Peterson who is the president of AutoPacific.

AutoPacific and IntelliChoice.com designed the Motorist Choice Awards for consumers to be familiar with cars and other vehicles that provide both maximum customer satisfaction and the lowest cost of ownership. Results from AutoPacific and Intellichoice.com data were combined to provide a new kind of recognition that could bring a smile to both wallets and hearts of car buyers.

Any vehicle that can collect 700 points or more in the Motorists Choice Awards can be considered as a top tier in the most desired vehicles list.

List Of Winners:

Aspirational Luxury Car Lexus IS
Compact Car -- Mazda Mazda3 Sedan
Compact Crossover SUV -- Chevrolet HHR
Compact Pickup -- Toyota Tacoma
Compact Sport Utility/ORV -- Toyota FJ Cruiser
Economy Car -- Honda Fit
Image Compact Car -- Volkswagen GTI
Large Car -- Toyota Avalon
Large HD Pickup -- Chevrolet Silverado HD
Large LD Pickup -- Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Large Luxury Car -- Cadillac DTS
Large Sport Utility -- GMC Yukon XL
Luxury Crossover SUV -- Acura MDX
Luxury Mid-Size Car -- Nissan Maxima
Luxury Sport Utility -- Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Mid-Size Car -- Volkswagen Jetta
Mid-Size Crossover SUV -- Honda CR-V
Mid-Size Sport Utility -- Toyota 4Runner
Minivan -- Honda Odyssey
Premium Luxury Car -- Lexus LS
Premium Mid-Size Car -- Nissan Altima
Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV -- Nissan Murano
Premium Sports Car -- Lexus SC
Sports Car -- Porsche Boxster
Sporty Car -- Scion tC

SIRIUS Satellite Radios In Chrysler Cars!

2007-07-27T00:59:00.000-07:00

The “Best Radio on Radio” will be available in seventy percent of Chrysler’s vehicles! This was the good news that I came across yesterday at Autochannel.com while I was purchasing a Honda Del Sol radiator and Subaru CV joint. The “Best Radio on Radio” that I’m talking about is the SIRIUS Satellite radio!

SIRIUS provides more than 130 channels of the finest programming in all of the radios around the planet. The SIRIUS satellite radio is the innovative and the only home of 100 percent commercial free music channels in satellite radio which provides 69 music channels. SIRIUS also offers 65 channels of sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic, weather and data. And for everybody’s information, SIRIUS is the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, NASCAR and NBA, and televises live play-by-play games of the NFL and NBA and NASCAR races. Whew! So much for an excellent introduction. Let’s get down to the real good news!

"We are excited about the growth of SIRIUS with Chrysler Group and its customers," said Mel Karmazin, the CEO of SIRIUS. "We are very proud that SIRIUS is featured in high volume in Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles, and we look forward to continued mutual success with our partners at Chrysler Group."

From the news that I’ve read yesterday, SIRIUS Satellite Radio has announced that the Chrysler Group will be expecting the SIRIUS Satellite Radio to be installed in more than 70% of Chrysler’s range of 2008 models. From the previous year, only around 40 percent of Chrysler’s vehicles have been installed with the satellite radio. SIRIUS will be integrated as one of the standard features mainly on Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep models’ mid-level price and premium classes! I guess everyone’s excited about this!

For new car buyers, they can automatically enjoy and start listening to SIRIUS music upon getting the freshly delivered vehicle. It will be a pure standard feature on the Chrysler Sebring and Aspen, the all-new Dodge Challenger and Nitro, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Commander. So what are you waiting for? I think it’s about time to get a great vehicle with the best radio in the planet!

"SIRIUS Satellite Radio is an entertainment feature our customers clearly enjoy and are demanding more and more. We are pleased to enhance our customers' driving and ownership experience by offering SIRIUS entertainment and technology throughout the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicle portfolio," said Christine MacKenzie, the Executive Director for Multi-brand Marketing and Agency Relations of the Chrysler Group.

Over The Limits With The 2007 Mazda CX-7!

2007-07-25T01:15:00.001-07:00

Forget everything, leave your worries behind and let the CX-7 take you beyond the limits of the experience of driving! Yes, my friends, this humble ride was designed with a sleek, muscular and curved figure that relinquishes the boxy and traditional type from the period of the old age! This is a brand new ride dedicated to people who finds life to be quite sluggish and has this need to soar above the limits of life! Count me in!

"Combined with car-like handling and striking looks, the CX-7 offers not only adequate ‘Zoom’ worthy of the company motto, but room to boot. The CX-7 also features sportier styling than most SUVs. The windshield carries a 66- degree angle, more akin to coupes than trucks. Interesting touches include a reversible floor in the cargo area to place soiled items on plastic flooring, as well as a two-level dashboard...," describes AutoWeek.

"If Mazda keeps this up, it may just become my favorite car company. The Mazda 5 nano-van was already proof of intelligent life on the planet. The CX-7 now threatens every other pseudo-ute wagon. It has arrestingly original lines with Lambo-like windshield rake and tapered roofline. It turns rings around a Toyota Highlander with slop-free steering and stout body control. It cruises freeways without choppy ride of a Nissan Murano. The inside is spacious in the two-row class, and the turbo four makes speed smoothly and with surprisingly low-end wallop," expresses Car and Driver.

"Given Mazda's recent history of fun-to-drive vehicles, we're eager to get behind the wheel of a CX-7, because if anyone can pull off a truly sporty crossover, it's Mazda," affirms Automobile Magazine.

"A Sports car or A sport-Ute? Spend a few hours behind the wheel of Mazda's new CX-7 and you might start to wonder. And with good reason, for while the Japanese maker's Miata and RX-8 are the classic examples of "zoom-zoom" engineering, the CX-7 is likely to make you forget you're driving a crossover," is another description of the vehicle as posted at thecarconnection.com.

Here are some of the CX-7’s standard features:

5-passenger seating capacity
Cloth-trimmed seats
Leather-trimmed seats
Grand Touring leather-trimmed seats with sport stripes
6-way manual adjustable driver's seat
8-way power adjustable driver's seat with adjustable lumbar support
Heated front seats
60/40 split one-touch fold-down rear seatback with adjustable headrests on outboard seating positions
4-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with Automatic Level Control
9-speaker, Bose® Centerpoint® surround system with AudioPilot®
DVD navigation system with voice command & touch screen and rear view camera
Electroluminescent gauges and blue indirect lighting
Power windows with driver and passenger one touch open/close feature
Cruise control
CFC-free air conditioning with cabin filter
Automatic climate control
Dual front air bags (SRS) and front side impact air bags
Front / rear side-impact air curtains with rollover protection
Front safety-belt pretensioners with force limiters
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Engine immobilizer anti-theft system
Illuminated keyless entry w/ panic button

Find Yourself a Good Mechanic

2007-07-24T22:43:00.001-07:00

As a car owner, you always have to anticipate that your car parts would also wear out in a long time. Even the most reputable car brands also malfunction in time especially when you are not aware of the different navigations on your car. This is when you need to know how you fix your own car.

However, your car has thousands of different car parts which are not that easy to fix. You still need to hire a professional mechanic to fix your car when these complicated parts act up. If your friends and relative are knowledgeable about such car problems, they can also be a great help but I recommend hiring a reputable mechanic to find your car problems in real time.

There are piles and piles of auto mechanics both online and in your area. However, there are also who are not professionals in terms of experience so you always have to choose the right mechanic to solve your car problems.

Ask your friends about their recommended mechanics. If you have relative who also know someone, you can ask for their help. Or if not, talk to the people in your area with the same car as yours.

If you decide on whom to get, make sure that he can fix all types of car problems. For you to know whether the mechanic is capable of doing the job, visit his place.

Check the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and know whether the shop received lots of complains. You can also check whether the mechanic is accredited by the American Automobile Association (AAA). You can also ask the mechanic if he is accredited by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

Check whether the mechanic is giving a warranty of his service. Make sure that his is about 6 months or more. It’s better if you pay some dollars more to a real time mechanic over paying cheap to a fake one.

While he is doing your car, you can ask questions. This is so you can know whether he is doing it right. Let him explain every procedure done on your car.

These are the things you need to do in order to secure that your car is fixed properly at the right time. To get more tips on car maintenance and repair, log on to ehow.com to find out more.

Nissan Cabstar In Mexico And Taiwan

2007-07-20T19:59:00.000-07:00

The light duty workhorse who is adored by many will bound in the soil of Mexico and Taiwan! The Nissan Cabstar global light duty truck also known as the Atlas in Japan will soon be introduced to these two countries. “Soon” is next month actually because the arrival of the Cabstar is scheduled in August. Mexicans and Vietnamese barely have a few days left to hang around before this awesome ride with the coolest Nissan parts arrives in their territories.

The Nissan Cabstar is the first ever light duty truck from Nissan to be launched in Mexico and the next breed of Cabstars will be formally launched in Taiwan by November 2007 in which Yulon-Nissan’s proposal will be organized to have a stronger in the Taiwanese marketable light duty truck segment.

“The all-new Nissan Cabstar embodies all the core elements of our Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) strategy. In developing the Cabstar, we begun with the needs of the customers and created a reliable and efficient truck with smart solutions that support their busy work-day. The all-new Cabstar offers class leading functionality and maneuverability, with low cost of ownership,” said Andy Palmer, the Corporate Vice President of Nissan’s LCV business unit.

The all-new Nissan Cabstar in Mexico and Taiwan’s launching supports the approach to increase the Nissan LCV production into new markets with the enduring goal to attain a top position in the global LCV market.

AC Schnitzer makes the MINI car Blue

2007-07-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

AC Schnitzer has been a BMW performance specialist for a long period of time and now he is giving more attention on the new R56 MINI Cooper S. Now, the new bomber car is wearing a blue exterior paint job. Not only that, the new car also received more upgrades which was made possible and available by hitching a Nordschelife-developed racing suspension which was also combined with a spring kit - the latter is made available separately. This time, the MINI is more athletic and is presenting itself with a new dynamic level.

AC Schnitzer can also give more power to the breathing exhalation side over adding up a new sports muffler face with a chromed double-tip. As you can see, the new small car receives more upgrades like new spoilers, new skirting as well as a decal/stripe package which will be available as an owner choice. These car upgrades are added to its new hatchback look far different from its predecessor.

Drivers and car owners are can also cap things off by selecting alloy wheels as well as interior trim enhancements which can add up to its personal tastes. All these upgrades are coming from AC Schnitzer.

The Impressive Subaru Impreza WRX

2007-07-16T20:02:00.000-07:00

Calling all car geeks, please listen up for a while! I know you’re too busy studying VW wheels or the Subaru clutch, but I guess this hot stuff that I’m going to share with you will absolutely steal your busy mind’s attention! I present to you one of the greatest rides today, no other than… the Subaru Impreza WRX!

At first glance, the WRX can be deceiving! With a simple and humble look, this ride can be described as regular car for city-driving. But looks can be very deceiving! Deep inside the WRX lays the heart of a cold-blooded racing machine! Ooh yeah! The WRX promises an extraordinary driving experience to new car buyers. Even on a normal city street, the Impreza will take you to new heights as if you’re ripping the racetrack in two! Impressive! The Impreza WRX is boosted by 293 horses and packed with a 2.5-liter DOHC intercooled turbocharged Subaru Boxer engine plus a torque of 290 lb-ft at 4,400 rpm. Now cool, is it? You can’t go wrong with all the Subaru WRX parts such as the reliable Subaru brake caliper etc. because all of these meet the expected performance you want from an everyday race car!

Talk about standard features, this ride offers the top quality convenience, safety and styling there is in a premium car! Let’s all unveil and witness the best of the Subaru Impreza WRX as we check out its cool features:

• 4-wheel independent suspension

• Daytime Running Lights (DRL)

• Dual driver and front-passenger front air bags (SRS)

• Subaru advanced frontal air bag system with driver's seat position sensor and front-passenger seat occupant detection sensor (SRS)

• Front-seat-mounted head/chest side-impact air bags (SRS)

• Three individual rear head restraints

• Height-adjustable 3-point front seatbelts with pretensioners and force limiters ; 3-point seatbelts at all rear seating positions.

• Rear child-safety door locks

• LATCH system: Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren

• Safety brake pedal system

• Energy-absorbing collapsible steering column

• Ring-Shaped Reinforcement Frame body structure with hydroformed front subframe structure

• Center console with armrest and enclosed storage compartment. Lockable and illuminated glove box.

• Analog speedometer, tachometer, coolant temperature and fuel gauges with illuminated red needles on black faces and white indicators

• STI-design instrumentation with aluminum gauge trim rings, center-mounted tachometer, gauge needles full-sweep on start-up and adjustable tachometer red-line warning with audible indicator

• Digital clock and odometer including dual-mode trip odometer

• Digital ambient temperature gauge • 120-watt 6-speaker premium audio system with 6-disc in-dash CD changer and MP3/WMA capability

• Auxiliary audio jack

• SIRIUS™ satellite radio capability

• Automatic climate control system with CFC-free air conditioning, air filtration system, rotary controls for temperature, 7-speed fan and airflow direction

• Keyless entry system with answer-back electronic chirp

• Antitheft security system with answer-back electronic chirp

• Engine immobilizer

The Latest Pricing of the 2008 Chrysler Minivans

2007-07-12T22:13:00.000-07:00

Chrysler released the price list of their new 2008 minivans. The car maker promised that these minivans will have a total new look to fit in to the growing demands of the minivan drivers these days. The new designs of their vans seem to be taken from the Chevy Venture book of design, but the brand was having second thoughts to keep it already is.

It seems to me that Chrysler’s new minivans will do a big splash on the US car market. Why? Because of the total new designs, new features installed and the gorgeous line up of trimmings that you can expect for the new vans. They also announced the latest pricing of their Chrysler Town & Country as well as the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan which is tagged with incredible value.

I found this list of the prices for the Chrysler minivans on autoblog.com. A special thanks to the site for lending us the information. Here guys, jump in.

2008 Dodge Grand Caravan Pricing: Following is U.S. MSRP for the new 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan models. (All prices include $730 destination.)

2008 MSRP Outgoing MSRP Grand Caravan SE: $22,470 $24,420 Grand Caravan SXT: $27,535 $28,505

Chrysler Town & Country Pricing: Following is U.S. MSRP for the new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country models. (All prices include $730 destination.)

2008 MSRP Outgoing MSRP Town & Country LX: $23,190 $26,775 Town &amp; Country Touring: $28,430 $29,265 Town & Country Limited: $36,400 $37,335

The Dodge brand is one among the famous car brands in the US. They are offering a different kind of cars, trucks and minivans that displays their signature bold and powerful features. They also have offered nine new cars on the line up for the past two years and it is just incredible that it submitted its new car model to rock the road.

As of the Chrysler brand, they are known to be the producers of award winning cars. Although they may have a hard time to hitch an increase on sales these past months, Chrysler was noted to be one among the best selling car makers in the Domestic market. It started in 1990 and it jumped into 250% sales for the past decades and no other domestic car maker had been so famous the Chrysler way.

All the new models will be available on the showrooms of the US this coming fall of 2007.

UQM Technologies To Power Hybrid Electric Bus

2007-07-11T17:04:00.000-07:00

Can you believe this? A hybrid bus… that would be totally awesome! But this project is yet to be finalized. The question is: where will the bus get its power source knowing it’s a hybrid vehicle? But personally, I’m wondering if it has the best parts like Subaru engine parts or if it cools down perfectly with possibly the help from a Ford radiator.

Maybe UQM Technologies has the answer for that and we better listen... UQM Technologies Inc. is the world’s known developer of alternative energy technologies. And guess what? Yesterday, they have announced that they have the power source to run the hybrid bus. The recently introduced 150 kW permanent magnet propulsion motor will provide the power and boost a fuel cell hybrid electric bus. This vehicle is presently being developed by Mobile Energy Solutions, LLC, Golden, Colorado which is under the financing body called the Federal Transit Administration’s National Fuel Cell Bus Program. Sounds cool!

The fuel cell hybrid bus measures 35 feet in length that displays a proprietary with all combined body parts and features which was assembled by Marietta Composites and two 16 kW automotive fuel cells from Hydrogenics, Inc. A low floor design is enabled with the help of the six-inch tall battery which is integrated on the floor. This was a combination without the presence of an engine compartment. The bus has a seating capacity of thirty-seven people which is relatively similar to a 40 foot regular bus. The hybrid bus integrates a battery in a foremost plug-in hybrid power system, which supplies a major part of the vehicle's power from batteries. It can be recharged by plugging it into the electric power grid every night.

"Unlike other fuel cell bus programs that are placing large fuel cells in conventional transit buses, we are developing a composite body bus that has been specifically designed for these advanced technologies. By doing so, we have been able to reduce the weight of the vehicle, dramatically improving passenger carrying capability and roughly tripling the fuel mileage compared to conventional buses of similar size," said Dale Hill, the Chief Executive Officer of Mobile Energy Solutions, and LLC. "UQM's 150kW propulsion system, with its exceptional torque and light weight, will allow our bus to have superb acceleration while maximizing the range between recharges, due to the propulsion system's highly energy efficient operation. We are looking forward to using UQM(R) propulsion systems on other vehicle development opportunities we are pursuing."

"We are pleased that Mobile Energy Solutions has selected our newly introduced 150 kW system for their fuel cell hybrid electric bus program. This system was specifically designed to meet the higher power requirements of larger vehicles, such as this exciting bus. We are confident that the performance and high energy efficiency of our system, together with the unique design features of the bus, will allow this purpose built vehicle to exceed its original performance expectations," said William G. Rankin, the President and Chief Executive Officer of UQM Technologies, Inc. "We are excited about working on this project and look forward to additional orders for this bus and additional vehicles as Mobile Energy Solutions continues to grow their business."

What Completes the New Refreshed Look of the Retuned 2008 Ford Taurus X?

2007-07-06T23:36:00.000-07:00

If you can recall, the new 2008 Ford Taurus X was the Freestyle earlier in its life. And the auto maker decided to tag the vehicle with a new name which came from a previous model because the latter was no longer profitable and was experiencing a failure to sell. Accompanied by the Ford Five Hundred, the precious Freestyle is now renowned as the new 2008 Taurus X.

The debut of the 2008 Ford Taurus X happened earlier at the Chicago Auto Show where it was revealed coming with new features to compliment its new name. But as it goes on with its production, more retunes, more car parts are being installed and a more powerful drive train, the vehicle experienced all these mounted to it. Now, the Taurus X is available in showrooms and you will be amazed by how Ford rebuilt and reconstructed the previous Freestyle making it dashing with new and fresher looks by being the 2008 Taurus X.

Now, going back to the question, “What Completes the New Refreshed Look of the Retuned 2008 Ford Taurus X?”

Ford decided to add a few “Edgy” looks in the new car by changing the front face that looks like the Ford Edge itself. Now, the car is looking more masculine trying to defeat the under accomplishments of its previous name. But what makes it more exciting? Imagine mounting a new powerful V6 3.5L engine part under its hood. Now tell me its not new. Usually, a V6 engine delivers 203 horsepower running on a 207 pound feet of torque but this time, Ford added a few more horses on the V6 installed on the X. The car is running on 263 horsepower delivering 249 pound-feet of torque. Since its looks are some what closer to the Ford Edge, the same six-speed automatic transmission is given to the previous Freestyle.

Acceleration? Mind you, aside from all that tune ups, Ford promises 44% more quicker acceleration this time.

It was rated with a “Five Star” award by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The car, of course, is filled with safety car parts namely traction control, electronic stability as well as the side curtain airbags which makes the car more stable during the drive. The base front-wheel-drive Taurus X SEL wears a tag price of $27,365 while $32,500 price tag is attached on its top-of-the-line Taurus X Limited AWD.

Autoblog.com Released a Comprehensive List of Latest June 2007 Car Sales

2007-07-05T00:41:00.001-07:00

Which do you think topped the list? It’s not the Toyota Motor Corporation guys. Guess which one made it to the top? Got any clue? Take a look at the list below. Yes, you’ve seen a fact guys - Saab was the biggest winner last month as they were able to sell a huge 4,361 units of vehicles under their brand name and that is a 27.5% increase as compared to its June 2006’s 3,295 units’ sales.

Sadly, Jaguar was the biggest loser. They failed to sell more than 1,410 units which is a 37% decrease from their last year’s June sales of 2,160 cars. Only Land Rover with an increase of 4.1% and the Lincoln brand with 25.2% increase are the two brands to rise among the Ford Motor Company’s Premiere Automotive Group. Volvo and Jaguar failed this month. Mercury declined 9.5% compared to its last year’s 16,670 units sold. Another Ford subsidiary Mazda increased from 23,727 units to 25,761 cars sold this June. That is all in all a 4.6% increase. Although they are not selling much these days, they still make car parts like the Ford catalytic converter, Ford door handle and Ford exhaust which can all be found online.

Meanwhile, Autoblog.com released this comprehensive list of the car brands that received increases and decreases on their sales this June 2007. Enjoy reading guys.

Biggest Winner

Saab 27.5% at 4,361 (6/06: 3,295)

Biggest Loser

Jaguar –37% at 1,410 (6/06: 2,160)

BRANDS

Acura 6.9% at 16,766 (6/06: 15,107)
Audi –6.7% at 7,789 (6/06: 8,039)
BMW .5% at 25,220 (6/06: 24,179)
Buick –33% at 16,519 (6/06: 23,738)
Cadillac –31.1% at 16,647 (6/06: 23,265)
Chevrolet –26.2% at 186,474 (6/06: 243,353)
Chrysler –12% at 47,658 (6/06: 51,986)
Dodge –9% at 91,089 (6/06: 96,485)
Ford –13% at 204,303 (6/06: 226,250)
GMC –18.2% at 40,457 (6/06: 47,604)
Honda 7.4% at 124,169 (6/06: 111,342)
HUMMER –13.4% at 5,093 (6/06: 5,661)
Hyundai 6.8% at 49,368 (6/06: 44,508)
Infiniti 9.3% at 10,558 (6/06: 9,300)
Isuzu –19.6% at 1,380 (6/06: 1,652)
Jaguar –37% at 1,410 (6/06: 2,160)
Jeep 15% at 44,600 (6/06: 37,475)
Land Rover 4.1% at 4,160 (6/06: 3,847)
Lexus 0.4% at 28,869 (6/06: 27,686)
Lincoln 25.2% at 12,494 (6/06: 9,610)
Mazda 4.6% at 25,761 (6/06: 23,727)
Mercedes –9.3% at 19,589 (6/06: 20,802)
Mercury –9.5% at 15,660 (6/06: 16,670)
MINI 13% at 4,174 (6/06: 3,556)
Mitsubishi 25.3% at 13,014 (6/06: 10,004)
Nissan 19.4% at 81,655 (6/06: 65,854)
Pontiac –21.1% at 33,683 (6/06: 41,115)
Porsche 9.6% at 3,267 (6/06: 2,871)
Saab 27.5% at 4,361 (6/06: 3,295)
Saturn –12.2% at 21,686 (6/06: 23,790)s
Subaru –10.8% at 17,108 (6/06: 18,476)
Suzuki 4.5% at 10,325 (6/06: 9,516)
Toyota 6.9% at 216,870 (6/06: 195,332)
Volkswagen 10.7% at 23,137 (6/06: 20,121)
Volvo –15.2% at 9,572 (6/06: 10,867)

COMPANIES

BMW Group 2.0% at 29,394 (6/06: 27,735)
Chrysler Group –5% at 183,347 (6/06: 185,946)
Ford Motor Co. –11.5% at 247,599 (6/06: 269,404)
General Motors –24% at 326,300 (6/06: 413,473)
Honda America 7.3% at 140,935 (6/06: 126,449)
Nissan North America 18.2% at 92,213 (6/06: 75,154)
Toyota Motor Co. 6.1% at 245,739 (6/06: 223,018)

Kia did not report their sales yet.

Toyota was again noted with a high increase this June. The Japanese company was able to gain a huge 6.1% on its 245,739 sales this month compared to the 223,018 units sold last year. Lexus only got a 0.4% increase.

Among all the car brands, Nissan Motors America was the highest pointer gaining a huge 18.2% increased on sales. They were able to sell 92,213 units of cars this year compared to June 2006’s 223,018. Impressive, huh?

Chrysler and Ford Joined Forces?

2007-07-03T01:02:00.001-07:00

Let’s not talk about Volvo 940 parts or about the Saab clutch in this new post. It’s because I have something even fascinating stuff than these awesome parts that we usually talk about.

I’m talking about Chrysler and Ford teaming up for something. So what about it? The two popular companies joined forces and they signed up as the newest member of the United States Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) on its second expansion. On the span of only six months, the organization has enlisted 23 of the world’s biggest groups and six of the world’s most influential non-government organization. The wide cross-section division personified by USCAP is being honored by the most recent members and it is a strengthened call for the federal government to promptly act out legislation that comprises of the mandatory decrease of greenhouse gas emissions.

"Now is the time for advancing a national approach to climate change where all of us - individuals, industry and government - take action toward reducing emissions of greenhouse gases," declared Tom LaSorda, the President and CEO for the Chrysler Group. "We are proud to be an active member with USCAP in the development of climate policy that addresses energy use and emissions from all sectors of the U.S. economy, and ultimately drives increased energy efficiency. And we look forward to working with the USCAP members in formulating a system to control greenhouse gas emissions in a way that not just addresses the supply of energy-efficient products and commodities, but also spurs demand for them."

"We are pleased to join USCAP at a critical stage in the conversation on climate change, energy consumption and environmental protection. We all recognize it is time for action. Ford has long supported the six major principles of USCAP, including recognizing the importance of technology and the need to be environmentally effective. We have been actively developing a range of advanced technology vehicles to address the climate change issue," said Alan Mulally, the President and CEO of the Ford Motor Company.

USCAP issued its solutions-based report last January 2007. A proposal layout for an economy-wide project is entitled “A Call for Action” and it is a market driven cap-and-trade program. The commendation stood for in the report is based on the following six key principles:

Account for the global dimensions of climate change;
Recognize the importance of technology;
Be environmentally effective;
Create economic opportunity and advantage;
Be fair to sectors disproportionately impacted; and,
Recognize and encourage early action.

Who Topped The J.D Power & Associates 2007 APEAL Awards?

2007-06-30T01:03:00.001-07:00

The results were released yesterday for the 2007 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudyTM. According to J.D Powers and Associates, Honda earned most of the awards more than any other vehicle brands with four model category honors this year. The study is being applied for 12 years now which evaluates the owner’s pleasure with the design, content, layout and performance of their new cars.

J.D. Powers and Associates’ Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) is being harmonized with the APEAL study which concentrates more on the problems encountered by car owners during the first three months of ownership. The study assesses the satisfaction of car owners with their brand new vehicle and how rewarding it is to own and drive these vehicles.

The four top cars from Honda are the Honda Fit, CR-V, Ridgeline Truck and the Odyssey. Mercedes-Bens and BMW got three segment awards apiece. Ford earned two awards together with Nissan and Volkswagen. The Series, 6 Series and the X5 models for BMW; the Mustang and Edge for Ford; the E-Class, S-Class and the GL-Class for Mercedes Benz; the Jetta and the GTI for VW; and the Altima Sedan and the Armada for Nissan Motors.

“Vehicle models with strong customer appeal tend to be in higher demand, which diminishes the need for dealers to incentivize to boost sales,” said Neal Oddes, the director of product research and analysis at J.D. Power and Associates. “Offering larger incentives decreases the profitability of vehicles, so it’s important for manufacturers to incorporate those ‘must-have’ features and design elements that will entice buyers, which also reduces the need for large customer cash rebates.”

The Nissan Armada tops in its segment for four years in a row. A number of models, including the Ford Mustang, Honda Ridgeline and the Honda Odyssey, ranked highest in their particular division for their third consecutive year. On the other hand, the Hyundai Azera and the Porsche Cayman earned awards for the second straight year. The Mustang and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class topped in their category in both the APEAL study and the IQS.

“Whether due to fresh designs or innovative features, APEAL scores tend to be highest for models when they are first introduced,” said Oddes. “It’s essential for manufacturers to get new-vehicle launches right, since vehicles with high appeal scores generally command a higher gross profit and sell more quickly. Two of the redesigned models - the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (in a tie) and Honda CR-V - also earned awards in the 2007 Initial Quality Study, and are examples of how manufacturers can learn from preceding models to improve in both initial quality and appeal.”

2007 Concept Vehicle of the Year Award Goes To…

2007-06-26T23:09:00.001-07:00

The 2007 North American Specialty Concept Vehicle of the Year was given to the Chevrolet Volt concept car. It also won the Most Significant Concept Vehicle of the Year while the Holden EFIJY was awarded the 2007 North American Concept Car of the Year. The celebrated event took place at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn.

The South East Automotive Media Organization or SEAMO have organized the sixth annual North American Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards. The committee recognizes the vehicles that virtually demonstrate the face of the future and the future of the auto industry. In behalf of GM, Bob Boniface, the director for the GM Advanced design, received the award for the Chevrolet Volt Concept.

"We appreciate this recognition from such a prestigious group of automotive journalists," said Boniface. "The Volt is an important vehicle for GM and for the world. Whether your concern is energy security, CO2 emissions or reducing our dependence on oil, it all leads to energy diversity. GM wants to be a part of the solution, that's why we designed the Chevrolet Volt concept."

There were 33 concept vehicles and 11 production preview vehicles that had their North American debut, and from these cars, the winners were selected by a jury consisting of professional automotive journalists. We were all familiar with the Chevrolet Volt when it was unveiled at the Shanghai auto show as an electric battery-powered vehicle.

Meanwhile, the EFIJY is the wild hot rod concept of Holden that first appeared in North America in January. EFIJY is a sweeping conventional coupe that comes with a shape showing off the traits of a V8 Supercar. Cue Design displays the iconic 1953 FJ Holden. History was once again repeated! Other nominees from GM included the Chevrolet Beat, Chevrolet Groove, Chevrolet T2X, Chevrolet Trax, Chevrolet WTCC, Saturn Vue Plug-In Hybrid, and the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible.

"It is particularly gratifying for the car to be recognised in this way in the US which is historically the home of flamboyant automotive design," Ferlazzo said. "It's nice to know that there is still a place in the concept car arena for a purely expressive design."

Real-Life Pirate Adventure Setback Volvo Treasure Retrieval

2007-06-26T01:09:00.000-07:00

The world’s most popular treasure hunt was done earlier this year with $50,000 and a brand new Volvo that comes with enormous parts like the Volvo power steering pump and Volvo heater core as the first prize. They had a successful year last 2006 together with Disney, so they are strong-willed to do it again.

The hunt was a collaboration of Volvo and Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean. They placed 50,000 dollars worth of gold and a key to a Volvo car into a casket waiting for someone out there in the world to win the prize.

For this edition, there were 22 countries that battled up for the said event as compared to last year with only 5 countries competing for the prize. It was a four week online escapade on the “high seas” where the contenders answered a series of puzzles online.

One of the requirements for them was to go over a global retailer for the special decoder. That special decoder assisted the consumers to go online and solve the puzzles. And Alena Zvereva from Russia won the treasure.

It has been said that the treasure hunt, aside from it was their way of helping out for the promotion of the recent movie of Johnny Depp and Disney (The Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End), was also for the protection of life and conservation of life. It is also one way for the company to let people be attached with the vehicle. It’s about marketing but more of letting customers relate with the vehicle and understand the brand better.

For this year, the hunt became bigger, more fun, more global, and more adventurous and exciting. And what a total spice for it really turned out to be a real-life adventure!

Eureka! Odyssey Marine Exploration, Volvo's Hunt partner found real-life wealth under the waves that led to the delay of the retrieval of the Zvereva treasure. Odyssey was in charge of submerging the treasure and make it a genuine and thrilling hunt. They planned to take Zvereva to the location when they met this exceptional hitch - FORTUNE! But it all turned to be a misfortune when the media followed it up.

The real treasure was discovered somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean with a code name 'Black Swan’. The treasure has an estimated amount of $500 million worth of coins. But Odyssey doesn’t want to make public the exact site of the Black Swan for security purposes and, at the same time, due to the agreement they have with Volvo as per not revealing any piece of information.

There are reports that a Spanish court ordered the Spanish Guardia Civil to arrest every Odyssey ship setting Volvo's recovery plans. But then The Hunt winner will be given the same price as promised but then Volvo is determined to retrieve the treasure that truly belongs to the company.

Review: 2007 Suzuki XL7

2007-06-24T23:34:00.001-07:00

You’re not mistaken, Suzuki is not fooling around here, we’re just going to have a simple review over this vehicle. If you’re looking for best and unique appearance that somewhat can compete against one coming with the Saturn body kit, shorter than SUV but a bit taller than a wagon, the 2007 Suzuki XL7 will fit into you.

Some said that the 2007 XL7 is better in every aspect compared from the previous vehicle of the same brand. To those fanatics of mid-sized cars, no need to worry because the 2007 Suzuki XL7 remains to be of the same kind. It can handle almost seven passengers and at first glance you will be captivated by its contemporary and fashionable appeal.

If the previous XL7 has a body-on-frame truck that is based on the Grand Vitara and comes with a rear- or dual-range four-wheel drive and a solid rear axle powered by 2.7-liter, 185-horsepower V6; the new model XL7 is a unibody crossover vehicle with a fully-independent suspension, an in front- or part-time all-wheel drive form and is powered by V6 engine with 252 horsepower. Of course, it is important to note that this vehicle also comes with such features without compromising fuel economy.

Aside from that, when we say comfort and alteration levels, no one can question that the vehicle has been modified far greater than before. No wonder why some consider this as one of the most fashionable four-wheeled Suzuki units ever offered that is intended to meet the taste of American buyers.

Other features that are absolutely appealing are its four doors and a tailgate for easy access, and the lift over height is not much greater than into a sedan's trunk. It has bright diamond-shaped unique headlights, silvery "skid plates" front and rear, fender flares, and standard roof rack with crossbars.

When it comes to comfort and entertainment, you’ll never get bored since there is no shortage of space, well-equipped with leather seating, heated front seats, a power driver's seat and power windows, mirrors with close resemblance to Saturn mirrors, and locks, and a leather-rimmed tilt steering wheel with cruise and auxiliary audio controls, with an easy-to-read instrumentation, climate control system, standard audio system, with AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3CD and auxiliary jack modes.

Safety also has been prioritized by this model - it has safety cage that surrounds occupants, four-wheel antilock disc brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and traction, along with the ESP electronic stability control system, front and side airbags and a rollover protection system.

Other specifications are as follows:

Engine Type: twin overhead cam, 24-valve, aluminum alloy V6
Engine Size: 3.6 liters / 217 cu. in.
Transmission: 5-speed automatic with manual-shift mode
Wheelbase / Length: 112.4 in. / 197.2 in
Curb Weigh: 3886 lbs
Fuel Capacity: 18.6 gal
Fuel Requirement: 87 octane unleaded regular gasoline
Tires: P235/60 SR17 Bridgestone Dueler H/T
Brakes, front/rear: vented disc / solid disc, ABS, traction control and ESP stability control standard
Suspension, front/rear: independent MacPherson strut / independent multilink
Drive train: transverse front engine, front-wheel drive
EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon city / highway / observed: 18 / 24 / 17
0 to 60 mph: 7.7 sec
Towing capability: 3500 lbs

June Best Car Deals

2007-06-22T00:32:00.001-07:00

Actually I was looking for the latest options and discounts for a Volvo distributor cap and a Volvo distributor rotor online when I landed on this site featuring the best car deals for the month of June. Uhmmm… seems interesting!

Since it really caught my attention, I want to share what I’ve found to all car enthusiasts out there. IntelliChoice.com is the chief leader when it comes as to the primary source for automotive ownership cost and value analysis and they have just announced their “Best Car Deals of the Month”.

They usually do this to help out and empower consumers to make good decisions. So every now and then, they provide information to automotive issues and the most up-to-date analysis. Through their website, consumers are aided when they are doing their research on some vehicles. You see, the website offers important information on these automotive products.

The list below identifies new cars, trucks and SUVs with the best ownership cost values in 33 respective classes. These cars were selected based on current car pricing, market conditions and the lowest national manufacturer consumer new car rebates. So dig in!

Subcompact Car
MINI Cooper

Compact Car over $16000
Honda Civic Hybrids

Compact Car under $16000
Honda Civic Sedan

Midsize Car over $21000
Toyota Prius

Midsize Car under $21000
Toyota Prius

Convertible
MINI Cooper

Luxury Convertible
Audi A4 Convertible

Near Luxury Car
Lexus IS

Luxury Car
Lexus ES

Large Car
Toyota Avalon

Base Sport Car
Honda Civic Si Coupe

Sport Car
Chevrolet Corvette

Sport Sedan/Wagon over $38000
Lexus GS

Sport Sedan/Wagon under $38000
Infiniti G35 Sport Sedan

Compact Utility/Crossover
Ford Escape Hybrid

Midsize Crossover
Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Luxury Crossover
Lexus RX 400h

Small Wagon
Toyota Matrix

Midsize/Large Wagon
Subaru Outback Wagon

Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)
GMC Yukon

Intermediate Utility
Hummer H3

Luxury SUV
Lexus GX

Compact Pickup Truck 2WD
Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab 2WD

Compact Pickup Truck 4WD
Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab 4WD

Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD 1/2 Ton
GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab 2WD

Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD 3/4 Ton
Ford F250 Super Duty Super Cab 2WD

Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD One Ton
Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab 2WD

Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD 1/2 Ton
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab 4WD

Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD 3/4 Ton
GMC Sierra 2500 HD Crew Cab 4WD

Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD One Ton
Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab 4WD

Minivan
Honda Odyssey Passenger Van

Full-Size Van
Chevrolet Express 1500 Passenger Van

Cargo Van
Dodge Grand Caravan Cargo Van

If you want to know more of the most up-to-date issues on the automotive world just log in to www.intellichoice.com.

The All-New Opel Corsa GSi

2007-06-14T23:30:00.001-07:00

“More substance than show”. This is what the new Opel Corsa GSi is all about! This new ride exhibits the character of refined sportiness rather than the unbending high-performance character that was featured in the Opel Corsa OPC which was launched earlier this year. The new Corsa was introduced at the Barcelona Motor Show which started last June 7, 2007 and will end on the seventeenth day of June. If we were to compare the Corsa GSi from the OPC and the Corsa Sport, the latest model is packed with a powerful 1.6 ECOTEC turbo engine that boosts 110 kW/150 horsepower at 5000 rpm. It situates the latest sporty model between the 1.7 CDTI of Corsa Sport with 125 horsepower and the Corsa OPC with a high-performance of 192 horsepower.

“We’re pleased to launch another model, with the legendary GSi heritage. Opel fans know just what the three letters GSi stand for: plenty of fun, good value for money and no compromises in everyday use or driving conditions,” explains Alain Visser, the Executive Director of European Marketing for Opel. “The Corsa GSi combines the virtues of its compact dimensions with impressive performance over the entire rpm range, which actually positions the model in the next higher car class.” The addition of the GSi to the Corsa model line expands the range to five gasoline and three diesel variants with a performance spectrum of 60 to 192 hp. Over 320,000 new Corsas have been sold across Europe since the fourth-generation’s launch in October 2006.

The Corsa GSi is available in a five-door or a three-door variant of your choice. It is boosted by a 1.6-liter turbo gasoline engine with a top speed of 210 kph and zooms from zero to 100 kph in 8.1 seconds.

Highlights of the life of the Opel Corsa

First production car with integrated rear carrier system Flex-Fix
First vehicle in its class with optional halogen curve and cornering light
First vehicle in its class with active head restraints
First vehicle in its class with heated steering wheel
Sport variant is first vehicle in its segment with variable progressive power steering
October 2006: Automotive journalists voted Corsa “Car of the Year” in Denmark
October 2006: Comparison test victories in “Auto Zeitung” and “auto motor und sport” magazines
November 2006: Automotive journalists elect Corsa “Topauto 2007”
December 2006: Journalists from Eastern and Central Europe voted Corsa “Autobest 2007”
December 2006/January 2007: Corsa voted “Car of the year” in Belgium, United Kingdom, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia
Most popular equipment variant in Germany in 2006: Edition
Most popular engine in Germany in 2006: 1.2 TWINPORT

The Saturn’s Aura

2007-06-12T23:09:00.000-07:00

All you need to know about Saturn cars can be seen on the Aura. The North American Car of the Year has proven the quality that everyone needs for a premium car, and the Saturn Aura delivered the goodies to us especially to North America. The jury, composed of 49 prominent automotive journalists from different groups, was totally impressed by the Aura and that’s why they never thought twice on giving the North American Car of the Year award to this premium vehicle. New customers and buyers will probably go for this car without much hesitation.

Body parts - from the Saturn wheels to the Saturn taillights - are definitely the coolest stuff ever. The Saturn Aura styling includes a set of 16-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, 17-inch painted fascia-spoke steel wheels with wheel trim and P225/50R17 all-season steel-belted radial tires, chrome exterior door handles, sunroof, chrome body side moldings, halogen headlamps and LED tail lamps.

A promising interior convenience is packed as well in the Saturn Aura - with CD/MP3 player with AM/FM stereo and six speakers, XM Satellite radio, console, cruise control, defoggers, power door locks, premium floor mats, auto-dimming mirror with compass, power-adjustable pedals and the awesome Morocco brown leather-appointed front bucket and rear seats. When it comes to performance, you have three different engine types to choose from; a 164-horsepower, 2.4-liter, 4 cylinder engine with Variable Valve Timing, a 224-horsepower 3.5-liter, 12-valve V6 engine with Variable Valve Timing and a 252-horsepower 3.6-liter, DOHC 24 valve V6 engine with Variable Valve timing. It goes with a Driver information center, Oil-life monitor, engine block heater, independent McPherson-strut front suspension with hallow stabilizer bar, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and dynamic rear proportioning, electronic throttle control, laminated steer dash, warning chimes, power rack-and-pinion steering and the StabilitiTrak Stability Control.

For everyone’s security, the Aura is equipped with the advanced safety system that includes automatic halogen headlamps, child security locks, daytime running lamps, dual-stage driver and passenger airbags with the Passenger Sensing System, head curtain side airbags, emergency trunk release handle, energy-absorbing instrumental panel, energy-absorbing steering column, front and rear crumple zones, Front safety belts with pretensioners and energy absorbing retractors, maintenance-free battery, OnStar® System with one year Sound and Safe Service Plan, Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH) in second row seating position, the Traction Control System and side impact door beams.

Now how about that for a premium quality car? The Saturn Aura is now available in different showrooms in the US and Canada. What are you waiting for? Go and grab an Aura for a new phase in your driving experience!

New Website Aims Safe and Secured Driving for Riders

2007-06-08T22:44:00.000-07:00

Of course, we all need to drive safely and securely, right? And a new website is aiming to make Britain’s road the safest track for car drivers. The website is targeting riders’ and drivers’ behavior to improve and this site was launched by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

Roadar.org, the website for the RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders, will not only provide different comprehensive information about driving safety but will also give pieces of advice to motorists about secured driving and advance driving techniques.

"Whatever the weather, whatever the conditions, know you are in control."

This is the tagline of the new website. It aims to increase all the road users’ awareness and to also educate them on how to be a member of the local RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders group in their area. The group will be performing advanced tests that will be held for all the road drivers. Participants would be given knowledge on how to stay safe and secure on the road while driving.

According to the latest study, 66% of the on-road accidents on Britain’s roads are coming from errors and reactions of both drivers and riders as well as the inability to swing over and to look over properly. Over speeding and going too fast on hazardous conditions also causes 28% of the accidents. While 25% of the whole lot come from inexperienced driving malpractices.

RoSPA’s Head of Road Safety, Kevin Clinton, said, "In 2005, 3,201 lives were lost on Britain's roads. RoSPA believes a greater focus on safer driving is key to reducing this toll.”

He added, "Most motorists think they are both safer and more skilful than the average road user, yet the statistics show that human error is a major cause of accidents."

RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders’s Development Officer, Emma Middleton, said, "It is all too easy to develop poor driving or riding habits without realising. For this reason, RoSPA encourages all road users to consider some kind of refresher training. RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders groups, which exist across the country, provide a valuable opportunity for motorists to develop their skills. They help people prepare for an advanced driving test, whether it has been many years since they passed their original test or just a matter of months. We hope the new website will inspire and assist existing group members as well as others who are looking to increase their safety and enjoyment on Britain's roads."

And just to find good parts like the GMC pickup alignment kit and the Mercedes fuel pump online, members of the group also will have special discounts and offers to fully satisfy their driving needs. Visit roadar.com now and find out what you can get.

The 2007 Pontiac Vibe: Feel the Energy

2007-06-05T00:36:00.001-07:00

Can you feel it? I’m talking about the 2007 Pontiac Vibe! This awesome SUV has it all - especially good vibes! From the interior, exterior and down to the safety features, the Vibe has nothing more to offer but the best performance and quality that a premium vehicle should have. You can find it all here!

When I discovered the Vibe last week when I was looking for GMC pickup alignment kit and GMC pickup bed cap, I was astonished on what it truly provides for new car buyers. You know what it is? Quality, class and fun-driving! What more to ask, right? So I hurriedly gathered some of the 2007 Vibe’s cool features from Pontiac’s website particularly here for you to discover the greatness of this vehicle as well.

Features:

Air bags - frontal, driver and right-front passenger and also includes the Passenger Sensing System
Air bags - dual-stage frontal and side-impact, driver and right-front passenger includes head curtain side-impact airbags with the Passenger Sensing System
Air conditioning - front manual with an air filtration system
Audio system - AM/FM stereo with CD player, includes Radio Data System, digital clock, TheftLock, programmable equalizer, and a 4 speaker system
Audio system - AM/FM stereo with CD player and MP3 playback, includes digital clock, Radio Data System, TheftLock, and programmable equalizer. Also includes a 286-watt Monsoon 7-speaker premium sound system with integrated subwoofer.
Audio system - AM/FM stereo with 6-disc in-dash CD changer, includes seek-and-scan, digital clock, Radio Data System, TheftLock, programmable equalizer. Includes 286-watt Monsoon 7-speaker premium sound system with integrated subwoofer.
Audio system feature - a 4-speaker system
Audio system feature - 286-watt Monsoon 7-speaker premium sound system, with integrated subwoofer
Audio system feature - XM Radio AN AM/FM stereo with CD player (shown above) comes standard, and available XM Radio. Whether you want to be entertained or informed, to laugh, think or sing, XM has the perfect channel for you-coast-to-coast, and in digital-quality sound. An available in-dash 6-disc CD player is also available (not available with XM Radio). Service fees apply. XM Radio is available in the 48 contiguous states only.
Assist handles - front passenger and rear outboard with coat hooks
Keyless entry - remote
OnStar Fuel Station Location - if you are running low on gas, OnStar can provide you with directions to the nearest fueling station
OnStar Hands-Free Calling - allows you to make and receive voice-activated phone calls in your vehicle
OnStar Information/Convenience Services - get service recommendations and directory information from an Advisor
OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation - simple, audio-based directions to safely get you to your destination
Power outlet - 2-prong, household-style on instrument panel, 115 volt, 100 watt, 1-amp
Safety belts - 3-point, driver and front passenger, height-adjustable with pretensioners and load limiters on front seats
Storage - includes 3 rear cargo bins, driver side pull down (left of instrument panel and below shifter), interior rear-track accessory system with 8 tie-downs and 8 chrome tie-down hooks in rear cargo area to secure loose gear

Get to Know the New VW 122 PS TSI Engine

2007-06-01T00:54:00.001-07:00

Last night was quite a busy evening for me. Imagine, I’ve been doing a lot of write-ups about the Volkswagen cold air intake and those VW PIAA bulbs the whole night long. But the good thing is I have something to share with you - something that will make car enthusiasts especially Volkswagen fanatics be definitely interested. Volkswagen has unveiled their new VW 122 PS TSI engine!

This is the latest addition to the existing 170hp and 140hp TSI engine lineup with the turbo plus turbocharger. It maintains the similar 1.4 liter iron crankcase as the bigger TSI engines. It keeps the turbo but it’s not twincharged anymore. The engine is prepared to replace the present 1.6 FSI engine. This new breed has 200Nm of torque, with an increase of 30 percent as compared to the 1.6 FSI with a reduced fuel consumption of 6 percent. It achieves an excellent 80 percent maximum of torque at 1250 rpm - and from 1500 to 3500, it reaches a 100 percent increase in raging torque!

Key facts about the new VW 122 PS TSI engine:

Utilized in models up to the Passat.
90 kW / 122 PS power between 5,000 and 6,400 rpm.
200 Nm maximum torque from 1,500 to 3,500 rpm.
80 percent of maximum torque starting at 1,250 rpm
Maximum torque 30 percent greater than in the 1.6 FSI.
66 percent more torque at 1,500 rpm.
Fuel consumption is about six percent lower.
Specific torque of 144 Nm per liter.
16V in-line four cylinder of the EA111 engine series.
1,390 cm3 displacement.
Cylinder spacing: 82 millimeters.
Bore and stroke: 76.5 and 75.6 millimeters.
Compression 10:1.
Electronic gasoline direct injection.
Electronic-map ignition with cylinder-selective anti-knock control.
Advanced combustion process.
New intake port without charge movement flaps.
Turbocharger (max. 1.8 bar)
220,000 rpm as maximum rpm of the turbocharger.
Electrically-controlled divert-air valve for turbocharger.
Water-cooled charge air in intake port.
Fuel: Super unleaded (95 ROZ).
Reduced friction losses.
Total engine weight per DIN: 131 kilograms.

Kia Surprise: The Picanto Style

2007-05-29T00:13:00.001-07:00

“Life is colorful with Picanto”. This was the statement asserted by Kia Motors Corporation as they launched the all-new 2007 Kia Picanto. What colors would it bring to new car buyers? The Picanto, one of the promising quality cars of Kia, has brought the cutest surprise in the auto industry today. Yes, we were amused and surprised by this mini car from Kia which opened our eyes and realized that this company really has the power to surprise! With the Picanto, driving Kia vehicles will never be the same again.

I’m quite familiar with this car because I’ve seen it around the city. With the new selection of Kia cars including the Picanto, I think we are looking closely at the future right now and this is the biggest bomb dropped by Kia so far. Boom! Surprise! It is obvious on Picanto’s styling that Kia has evolved into something we can call “premium”. When I checked the Picanto’s specifications and features yesterday right after I finished working on my Volvo struts and Volvo spoiler, I realized that the Picanto has a lot to offer to new car buyers but it still has the same quality everyone is looking for in a vehicle.

You better check some of the Picanto’s features and specification, and I’ll never doubt if you’ll be surprised too!

Engine type: 1.1 Gasoline/incline 4 cylinders
Maximum engine speed (rpm): 6000
Fuel Injection system: Multi-point
Camshaft and Valve System: SOHC (12 valves)
Cooling system: water liquid

Features:

Clear lens-type headlamps incorporated with large turn signals
AM/FM radio
MP3 player/CD player
Keyless entry with burglar alarm
Rear seat tilting and vertically adjustable headrests
Power and stilt steering
Seat warmer
Luggage net

The All-New 2007 Hyundai Elantra

2007-05-23T23:46:00.001-07:00

Drive your way! That’s what Hyundai is all about. From the freshest selection of Hyundai cars this year, the new face of the 2007 Elantra has defined the real essence of quality Hyundai cars. The latest Elantra is the seventh model in its range which was produced and built in not more than 24 months. You have to check the features of this car so that you’ll know what Hyundai cars are really made of. While you are learning the features of 2007 Elantra, let me first check my stuff I got from EBC Active Brakes Direct and my Volvo thermostat.

Here are the specifications and functional features of the GLS SE Limited:

Body Construction

Steel unibody

Engine

2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve inline 4-cylinder w/ CVVT
Engine cover
Multi-port fuel injection
SULEV emissions (green states only) - Partial Zero Emission Vehicle certification
ULEV emissions

Steering

Rack-and-pinion, motor driven

Suspension

Front: Independent, MacPherson struts w/coil springs,
gas shocks and stabilizer bar
Rear: Independent, multi-link suspension gas shocks
stabilizer bar

Transmission/drive system

4-speed automatic w/ overdrive lock-up torque converter, gated
5-speed manual (optional)
Front wheel drive

Exterior features

Antenna, rod-fixed
Bumpers, bodycolor
Center High Mount Stop Lamp (CHMSL)
Chrome accented grille
Door handles, bodycolor
Fog lights
Heated side mirrors, bodycolor
Projector style headlamps
Rear garnish, bodycolor
Rear garnish, chrome
Tinted glass
Windshield shade band

Tires and wheels

15-in. steel wheels and P195/65R15 tires
16-in. alloy Euroflange wheels and P205/55R16 tires
Compact spare tire

Safety and security features

4-channel/4-sensor ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Adjustable headrests for all passengers
Bodyside reinforcements
Childproof rear door locks
driver and front passenger advanced airbags
EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution)
Energy-absorbing steering column
Front 3-point seat belts w/adjustable shoulder belt height
Front crumple zones
Front dual active head restraints
Front passenger seat-mounted side-impact airbags
Front seat belt pretensioners
Hood buckling creases and safety stops
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
Occupant Classification System (OCS)
Power window lockout button
Power-assisted front-ventilated disc/rear solid disc brakes
Rear 3-point seat belts (3)
Rear crumple zones
Remote keyless entry system w/alarm, panic, and trunk open
Roof-mounted side curtain airbags (for outboard passengers)
Shift interlock system
Side-impact door beams

Interior features

12-volt outlets (2)
Air conditioning
Assist grips (3)
Cabin air filter
Carpeted floor mats
Clock, digital
Console, dual-level storage and center armrest
Cupholders, front (2)
Cupholders, rear (2)
Driver and front passenger-side vanity mirrors
Front passenger bag hook
Front seatback pockets
Glove box, illuminated
Heater
Leather-wrapped shift knob
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Metallic accents (steering wheel and AC surround)
Rear coat hangers (2)
Rear window defroster
Two-tone interior (gray and beige interiors)

Audio system

172-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with 6 speakers and auxiliary input jack o
220-watt premium audio system with AM/FM/6-disc CD changer/MP3 and external amp and auxiliary input jack
Steering wheel-mounted audio controls
XM Satellite Radio (late availability)

Power and remote control features

Cruise control, steering wheel mounted
Dual power heated outside mirrors, bodycolor, manual folding
Manual telescoping steering wheel
Power door locks
Power windows w/driver's auto-down and lockout
Remote fuel door, hood and trunk release
Tilt steering wheel

The 2007 Hyundai Accent GLS

2007-05-22T00:54:00.000-07:00

Hyundai has started establishing their reputation as a quality car maker in the auto industry. Well, they have been improving lately and their cars are proof of it. I was never interested in their models before because, honestly, I thought their products are not so attractive and have poor quality. But now, they proved me wrong!

Anyway, what do have here? Oh, it’s Hyundai’s 2007 Accent GLS.

To give you an idea what Hyundai cars are made of, here’s the complete specifications of the 2007 Hyundai Accent GLS. Now you can tell if Hyundai has what it takes to be a quality auto maker! Fill yourself with this info which I got from hyundainews.com. I better run now and finish my studies about Nissan steering racks and Nissan strut bellows. And while you read on, I hope you can feel the Hyundai fever!

Body Construction

Steel unibody

Engine

1.6-liter DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder w/CVVT
Multi-port fuel injection

Rack-&-pinion, power-assisted

Front: MacPherson struts w/coil springs, and front anti-roll bar
Rear: Coupled torsion beam axle w/coil springs

Five-speed manual
Four-speed automatic w/overdrive
Front wheel drive

Antenna, roof mounted micro radio antenna
Bodycolor side mirrors, manual adjustment
Bodycolor side mirrors, power remote heated
Bumpers, 5-mph body color
Center high mount stop light
Door handles, body colored
Glass, tinted w/ windshield sunshade band
Headlamps, halogen w/clear lens
Side marker indicator lights

14 x 5.5 in. steel wheels w/full wheel covers
15 x 5.5 in. aluminum alloy wheels
Compact spare
P185/65HR14 Kumho tires
P195/55VR15 Kumho tires

4-channel / 4-sensor ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) w/EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution)
Bodyside reinforcements
Child-proof rear door locks
Driver and front passenger airbags
Driver and front-passenger side-impact airbags
Energy-absorbing steering column
Front 3-point seat belts w/ adjustable shoulder belt height
Front crumple zones
Front seat belt pretensioners and load limiters
Hood buckling creases and safety stops
Occupant Classification System (OCS)
Outboard rear LATCH (lower anchors and upper tether anchors)
Power assisted front vented disc/rear solid disc brakes
Rear 3-point seat belts (3)
Rear crumple zones
Roof-mounted side curtain airbags (front and outboard rear passengers)
Shift interlock system

Air conditioning
Assist handle grips (3)
Cabin air filter
Carpeting, needle punch
Clock, digital
Cupholders, front & rear
Defoggers, electric rear window defroster w/timer
Door trim, integrated armrest and map pockets and bottle holders
Lighter
Portable ash tray
Rear center armrest w/cupholders
Rear seat heater ducts

172-watt AM/FM/CD Audio System w/equalizer and 6 speakers (4 speakers and 2 tweeters)

Driver-side illuminated vanity mirror
Overhead dome light
Passenger-side illuminated vanity mirror
Power window switches Optional
Side marker indicator lights

Fuel door and hood release
Power door locks
Remote Keyless Entry w/panic
Remote operation: Rear trunk release
Steering column, adjustable tilt

Deluxe cloth seat trim
Driver's 8-way adjustable w/dual height adjustment
Folding driver's seat armrest
Front reclining bucket seats w/adjustable head restraints
Front seatback pockets
Rear 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback
Three adjustable shingle-style rear head restraints

Speedometer, odometer, trip odometer, tachometer, coolant temperature, fuel level & digital clock
Warning lights: oil pressure, battery charge, low fuel, door ajar, airbag, seatbelt, brake, trunk lid open, ABS & check engine

Key in ignition with door ajar

Front 2-speed variable intermittent w/washer
Rear window defroster w/electronic timer

Bumper-to-bumper, 5 years/60,000 miles
Corrosion, 7 years/unlimited miles
Powertrain, 10 years/100,000 miles
Roadside assistance, 5 years/unlimited miles

What!? An Amored Mercedes-Benz S-Class!?

2007-05-17T19:15:00.000-07:00

Right. If you belong to the most important persons in the world that include political leaders, billionaires, and diplomats and you want to have the highest level of security in your ride, well, the armored Mercedes-Benz S 600 got you covered.

RENNtech, the Florida-based high performance tuning company for Mercedes-Benz and AMG models has recently teamed up with INKAS, a company that specializes in building armored vehicles and other security services. The two companies worked together to create the high performance and armored Mercedes-Benz S 600. This Mercedes-Benz model can withstand the highest level of ammunition and ballistics.

"We're in the business of protecting our clients and that means we have to be ready for anything. You can not tell if you are looking at the vehicle from the outside, its when you open the doors you see the professionally finished INKAS Overlap System, but you'd have to really be looking. "From ten feet, five feet and two feet away, it's just another Benz - if you could ever really say that about a Mercedes." said Chris Pecalevsk, Director of Business Development at INKAS Armored.

INKAS gave the Mercedes-Benz S 600 Level IV armoring that can resist close-range Armor Piercing bullets. The vehicle also comes with run-flat performance tires, armored panels and ballistic glass for enhanced protection.

Now for the vehicle's performance, leave that to RENNtech. The company revamped the engine to produce a maximum 640 hp and 775 lb-ft amount of peak torque. RENNtech also gave the armored Mercedes-Benz S 600 with exclusive Mercedes performance parts including the stainless steel-braided brake lines for the 15.2-inch two-piece front and 14-inch rear brake, upgraded intercooler pump, and carbon fiber air box.

"No matter how much armor you have, armor just buys you time to escape. You can't just sit there waiting for the bad guys to run out of bullets - and a thousand pounds of armor doesn't make it any easier to outrun the bad guys, either." said Hartmut Feyhl, head of RENNtech.

Feyhl added: "We looked at the situation together, with the idea that, if you or your family are in danger, you really have only a few seconds to escape. Any car could benefit from tuning in that situation, of course - but an armored car especially. It needs more power and better cooling to accelerate away from danger, and better brakes and suspension to handle that extra weight during cornering and defensive driving maneuvers."

Unfortunately, for some security reasons, the two companies did not release other details about the armored Mercedes-Benz S 600.

Chrysler’s Brand Heritage & Highlights from 1875-1945

2007-05-16T01:17:00.001-07:00

Before Chrysler has given their significant mark in the automobile history, there are things we should need to know about this company - things that Chrysler have gone through from the past twelve decades if I’m not mistaken. I never knew Chrysler had a very colorful and interesting history, not right after I read the article. I had enough knowledge about Chrysler aside from studying about the Chrysler strut or Cadillac Escalade cold air induction.

Now, from my tireless researches, the late-night studies had paid-off. Here it is! Have a peek on Chrysler’s heritage as this information take you to the past and relive the rise of Chrysler to the automotive world! This information was taken from this site. For a complete view of Chrysler’s history, just visit this site and have a wonderful time reading!

1875-1912

Walter Chrysler from Kansas was the son of a locomotive engineer. He was associated to the transportation industries all through his life.
The love for machinery encouraged him to give up a college education for a machinist’s apprenticeship, and his early career comprised numerous mechanical jobs in the railroad industry.

1912-1920

In 1912, Chrysler was employed by General Motors as manager of the Buick manufacturing plant. He became president of the Buick division after four years.
After parting ways with GM in 1919, Chrysler’s second career was as a “doctor of ailing automakers.” He started with giving health to Willys-Overland which was then known as the Maxwell Motor Corporation.

1920-1924

Chrysler joined forces with three ex-Studebaker engineers - Fred Zeder, Owen Skelton and Carl Breer. They planned to design a new revolutionary car. They made distinctions on what the Chrysler brand merchandise would be and it came to be affordable “luxury” vehicles - renowned for modern and premium engineering. The first model was the 1924 Chrysler Six - this was a brand new car priced at $1,565 which featured two major innovations - a light high compression and powerful six-cylinder engine. It was the first one to use four-wheel hydraulic brakes in a fairly priced car. The well-resourced Chrysler Six is also featured
aluminum pistons
replaceable oil and air filters
full-pressure lubrication
tubular front axles
shock absorbers
indirect interior lighting

1925-1930

Some of Chrysler’s early high performance, stylish cars startled industry observers and customers alike, but mid-range pricing added value and assured the success of the brand. Model numbers told customers how fast each Chrysler would go. The Chrysler 72, for example, featured an optional "Red-Head" engine for better pickup and hill climbing. Chryslers would also perform commendably in other period racing venues like winning the 1925 1,000-mile Stock Car Speed Trial at Los Angeles and placing second, third and sixth at the Belgian 24-Hour Grand Prix of 1928. They also performed well in endurance competition, completing a 1926 Kansas City-Denver test at an average speed of 51.8 mph and a 1927 New York-Los Angeles round-trip speed run at an average speed of 40.2 mph.
The 1928 acquisition of Dodge Brothers made Chrysler the third of Detroit’s Big Three automakers - and Walter Chrysler one of the most successful industrialists of their generation.

1930-1935

Within a decade of its founding, Chrysler Corporation’s leadership in innovation had earned for it the label of Detroit’s “engineering company.” Chrysler’s list of early automotive “firsts” included Floating Power (a new method of mounting engines to isolate vibration), replaceable oil filters, downdraft carburetors and one-piece curved windshields.
Chrysler entered a higher level of competition with its opulently appointed Imperial series. With a custom-built body from LeBaron or Briggs, a 145-inch wheelbase chassis, a 125-horsepower engine and a price tag of $3,145, a typical Imperial of the early 1930s rivaled a Duesenberg in style, but cost only about a third as much!
In 1934, Chrysler, with advice from Orville Wright, built a wind tunnel to test body shapes that led to the first unit-body, aerodynamic car - the Airflow. The idea came from Carl Breer after he tested conventional car shapes in a wind tunnel and found they registered much less drag “tail first.”
Chrysler’s Airflow "streamliner" was dramatic and ahead of its time - the fluid design and pioneering unit-body construction offered improved handing and passenger comfort in a vehicle unlike any seen before. The Chrysler Airflow also featured recessed headlights, a low step-up height, a standard in-line 8-cylinder engine, automatic overdrive and good gas mileage (posting 21.4 miles per gallon on a coast-to-coast test trip). Unfortunately for Chrysler, the Airflow was a bit too different for most. Even though its design was soon widely imitated, this first truly streamlined car was not a sales success.

1936-1937

Less-than-spectacular sales led to stronger promotion of cars like the $925 DeLuxe Eight over the slow-selling, $1,400 Airflow - and to more conservative Chrysler styling.

1938-1941

A brand-new model emerged as the New York Special, and is soon recast as the luxuriously chosen Chrysler New Yorker. Its venerable fame would ultimately make it America’s longest-running car nameplate from 1938 to 1996.
The "Fluid Drive" became recognized as one of Chrysler’s major engineering innovation. It turned out to be an “almost automatic” transmission that nearly gets rid of shifting. Other modernization includes Superfinish that helped lessen wear on contacting metal surfaces and Oilite self-lubricating bearings was used.
Widespread notice in 1940 was ahead, the Chrysler Thunderbolt show car was a massive two-seater with a retractable steel roof and streamlined cladding front to rear. Chrysler turned even more heads on Memorial Day that year when its exotic Newport Phaeton, only one of the five built by LeBaron, served as pace car at the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.
The most striking production-model Chrysler of the prewar years was the 1941-42 Town & Country, a “barrelback” sedan expanded into an aerodynamic station wagon and trimmed with ash and mahogany side panels - the company’s elegant entry into autobuilding’s “woody” era.

1942-1945

All civilian car production stopped for the duration of World War II. Chrysler was the eighth, among all manufacturers, who produced materials for the war effort.

Mazda Sporting Greener Vehicles

2007-05-10T23:40:00.000-07:00

Ford is not focusing much on making green cars so Mazda decided to stand up straight being the leader in terms of making small eco-friendly cars. Mazda will pursue its plans to be greener in the next years to come. The Japanese car maker will do efforts like doing research and improving their knowledge about perfecting the construction of greener cars.

Of course, to continue the efforts, Mazda needs a bulk of budget to pursue the greener plan. Nikkei announced on a release that Mazda allotted $4.2 billion in making their greener plans come to life. However, according to its President Hisakazu Imaki, they could not identify which technology is going to be prioritized. Instead, they will focus on making small cars with environment friendly features as the first segment of Ford to do it. The Mazda cold air intake should be available on the car to improve its performance.

Mazda also have several options on their plans to make green cars. First on the line is the pipeline that includes the hybrid-electric vehicle that also uses hydrogen using systems. The car maker said it will be available next year. Of course, they would still do the diesel-propelled vehicles as an option in the decades to com.

I just found out that Mazda is not using Taylor cable on their car. What’s the Taylor cable anyway?

Watch out for the Dodge Fantasticar!

2007-05-10T19:11:00.000-07:00

One fantastic automotive piece of engineering from Chrysler Group's Dodge brand!

We all know that Dodge manufactures commercial and high-performance vehicles with quality auto parts. But recently, Dodge announced their newest creation exclusively for the Fantastic Four members. Well, not for the actors who portrayed their super hero role in the film but for the real film characters, namely Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards), The Thing (Benjamin "Ben" Jacob Grimm), Invisible Girl (Susan "Sue" Storm), and The Human Torch (Johnathan "Johnny" Storm).

Are you starting to figure out what I am talking about? Well, maybe you are right. The Fantasticar, the latest vehicle from Dodge will be featured in the upcoming 20th Century Fox film entitled Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, which will be released on theaters all over the world starting in June 15. If you cant wait to see the vehicle, go to your nearest cinemas beginning in May 12 to see the premiere of Dodge ads featuring the Fantasticar.

According to Michael Curmi, Senior Manager – Entertainment Marketing, Chrysler Group: "Opportunities to be involved with the cultural icon like the Fantasticar don’t come around very often, so we jumped at the chance to work with Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox. Dodge is a great American car brand teaming up with a great American superhero team. We both have great heritage that appeal to people around the world, so it was only natural for us to partner on this new Fantastic Four movie with the debut of the ultimate superheroes vehicle."

To give you a brief description about the Dodge Fantasticar, the vehicle can reach a stunning top speed of 550 mph with an altitude of 30,000 feet (yes! it can fly!). The Fantasticar also features some of the signature Dodge design cues like the crosshair grille, the ram logo on the front fascia and seat headrests, and Dodge name on the vehicle's front fascia. The Fantasticar also features deployable wings and unique headlights, which you can't just replace with conventional apc lights.

Mark Spencer, Senior Manager – Dodge Brand Communications, Chrysler Group also commented: "The Dodge brand is always looking forward to new bold design directions, so it is inspiring to see the Fantasticar with the Dodge brand’s signature crosshair grille and Ram’s head logo in a completely futuristic vehicle. We hope people around the world have as much fun watching the Fantasticar as Dodge Marketing is having promoting the out-of-this-world vehicle."

In relation with the upcoming film, a Dodge Fantasticar version will be head on to the Lowe's Motor Speedway later this May for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series' Coca-Cola 600. NASCAR driver Elliott Sadler will pilot his new No. 19 Fantasticar Dodge Charger featuring design cues similar to the Fantasticar on the film. This will draw the attention of the numerous NASCAR fans in the event, so better watch out for it.

Check out Mike Accavitti, Director – Dodge Brand and SRT Marketing and Communications ha to say: "The No. 19 Fantasticar Dodge Charger is a great new look for Elliott’s car, and we expect his race car’s performance will rival that of the Fantasticar in the movie Our motorsports program is an integral part of Dodge’s overall marketing strategy, and with the Fantasticar Dodge Charger, we’re able to generate further awareness and interest with both general consumers and NASCAR fans."

BMW: Most Wanted

2007-05-07T22:06:00.001-07:00

I think most of us would agree that the most wanted car today is from BMW. Edmunds.com had surely agreed to that statement because they bestowed the award for the “Most Wanted” car of 2007 to BMW Company. BMW owners should be very proud of this spectacular recognition knowing that the award was given by the most trusted and the top internet source of information about consumer automotives.

The company must be feeling very lucky today because they know their car is a “must have”! The “Editor’s Most Wanted” award was given to the 2007 BMW 3 series sedan which cam be bought under the price of $35,000, while under the $60,000 mark, the “Editors’ Most Wanted” award was given to the 2007 5 Series.

All the results for this special set of awards was announced last April 24, 2007 at Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. It is proven that BMW doesn’t only excel in making splendid auto body parts, but in all the aspects in creating a car with the most wanted auto performance!

The Edmunds editors’ words when they declared the 9th annual “Editors’ Most Wanted”: “We eat, breathe and dream automobiles, and in many instances, this love for the car overruled common sense during our selection process. But that's the great thing about the Edmunds.com Editors' Most Wanted list: it's guided by passion, not science (much like the majority of car purchases). The result of our voting is a list of cars and trucks we’d want in our own garages”.

In distinguishing the 3 Series award, Edmunds.com said: “…endowed with world-class suspension, steering and brake components, these cars have an ability to communicate with their drivers that is unmatched in the entry-level luxury class and, indeed, unmatched by most cars at any price.”

For the 5 Series award, the Edmunds.com editors had something to share. Tom Purves, the Chairman and CEO of the BMW (US) Holding Corp., had something to express as well: “The BMW 5 Series has always impressed us with its luxury trappings in a true driver's car. No matter which engine you choose, you'll get a sedan that feels rock solid on the highway and nimble through tight turns. The 5 Series may not have every luxury feature imaginable, but it has all the features that count to us. We at BMW are committed to creating products that arouse passion and these outstanding accolades from the editors of Edmunds.com are evidence of our success.”

Audi Q7 4.2 TDI: Price and Features

2007-05-03T17:31:00.000-07:00

Watch out! The new Audi Q7 4.2 TDI is coming!

The German automaker Audi AG has just released the details and the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of the new Audi Q7 full size luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV) equipped with a powerful 4.2-liter V8 engine under its hood. The new Audi Q7 4.2 TDI will roll out in Audi dealer showrooms starting early this summer carrying a base MSRP of 70,500 Euros or about $96,162 USD.

Check out some of the highlights of the Audi Q7 4.2 TDI

BODY

* Dynamic design, body 5.09 metres in length

* Spacious, versatile interior with five to seven seats

* Luxurious roominess for all passengers; five, six or seven seats available

* Luggage compartment capacity up to 2,035 litres

SUSPENSION

* Audi dynamic suspension for use on- and off-road

* Adaptive air suspension as standard with dynamic roll stabilisation

* Large brakes with 6-piston callipers at front

* All four wheels are independently mounted on double wishbones

ENGINE/TRANSMISISON

* Powerful V8 TDI delivering 240 kW (326 bhp) and 760 Nm of torque between 1,800 rpm and 2,500 rpm

* Low consumption of 11.1 litres per 100 km (overall)

* Common rail injection system with state-of-the-art piezo injectors

* Two turbochargers with variable turbine geometry

* Electronically actuated flaps in the air intake tract

* Six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission

* Quattro permanent four-wheel drive with asymmetric/dynamic torque distribution for sporty handling

EQUIPMENT

* Innovative Audi lane assist alerts driver before lane is left

* Leather design package with a choice of inlays in aluminium or three types of wood and seat upholstery in Cricket leather

*Electrically heated front seats

* Radar-based cruise control system with active distance control operates under the name adaptive cruise control

* Four-spoke multifunction steering wheel

* Electrically operated tailgate

* Audi parking system advanced employs a camera to monitor the rear.

* 1,000 watts Bang & Olufsen premium audio system with 14 active speakers

* 18-inch forged aluminium wheels of seven-arm design come with sporty 255/55 tires

* Optional 21-inch wheels

* Optional open sky system glass roof

* Optional rail system for the luggage compartment with 2,035 litres capacity

* Optional deluxe automatic air conditioning system

Ford’s New Mustang

2007-05-02T23:28:00.001-07:00

Ford maybe closing its doors when it comes to producing one of its luxury car subsidiaries - the Jaguar. It was announced just recently by Ford’s Chief Executive Officer Alan Mullaly about his plan that would not pursue the production of the Jag. This may be the end for Jaguar but it does look like there are some new surprises coming up from Ford.

Ford is ready to reveal another powerful car model under the Mustang trimmings. I am talking about the Shelby Super Snake - the next generation Mustang that propels with an amazing set of powertrain parts capable of producing 600 horsepower.

Under the Caroll Shelby guidance, the new model is called the Shelby Super Snake. The new car model is set with a huge horsepower that can be made and given options like additional 725 horsepower. Imagine how powerful it is. The new 600 horsepower vehicle will be powered by 590 lbs-ft of torque as a whole package, which is also an option from the GT500. This one will also be covered by a warranty.

But what about the 725 horsepower version? Well, it’s too powerful to be produced just that easily. The new car model will be out early in 2008 or maybe late 2007.

These are the current line up of the new Mustang super models you will see on the car market.

Shelby GT with 319 hp
Shelby Cobra GT500 with 500 hp
Shelby GT500KR with 540 hp
Shelby GT500 Super Snake with 600 to 725 hp

The prices and specifications for these will be announced soon. So let’s keep guard.