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SOME TIPS FOR TOWING (Part 2)

2008-06-13T17:11:00.000-07:00

In my previous blog, I have discussed some beneficial tips that you can do for towing. But if you find them insufficient, here are other tips that can help you and your vehicle for such undertaking.

Oh say, can you see? Make sure you have adequate mirrors to give you the visibility you need for safe RV driving and towing. If your mirrors aren’t adequate, change them. If you are towing a trailer, you should have extended side-view mirrors to see rear and side-approaching traffic.
Rear-vision cameras may be included in your motorhome, with a monitor in the driver’s cockpit. These provide a view of the dinghy and immediate roadway in back, and help when passing or changing lanes. They are available as an after market add-on, and there are rear-vision cameras that work with towable RV applications.
Ready, Set, Go?: Well, maybe not yet. Another good towing tip - practice first. Before you head out on your first trip, practice driving, turning, stopping (and backing up for towable trailers) in an area away from heavy traffic. Make sure you know your roof clearance. Try out your mirrors.

Driving: When starting out, accelerate slowly and steadily. The addition of a trailer or dinghy adds weight and length. More weight means more time. Determine how long it takes you to accelerate and come to a stop. Allow extra time for changing lanes, stopping and passing other vehicles.

Pass on level ground with plenty of clearance. Avoid sudden moves. When turning, allow room for the towed vehicle to clear.

Get in the habit of looking ahead – a good rule of thumb is to look as far ahead as you will travel in 12 – 15 seconds. Obviously, this distance will vary depending on how fast you are going. Give adequate notice of your intentions with turn signals. If you are going to come to a stop, a few taps on the brakes might give a clue to the driver behind you. Watch traffic signals and anticipate light changes so you can stop in time.

Backing: For motorhomes, don’t try to back up with a dinghy attached. The key towing tip here is to avoid getting into a spot where you have to back up in the first place. Or disconnect the dinghy before backing.
For towable trailers, back up slowly, with someone spotting near the rear of trailer to guide you. It’s a good idea to agree on a set of hand signals beforehand, so you can communicate clearly with the spotter. Move the steering wheel in the direction you want the trailer to go. Make small steering movements so you can get the hang of it. Slight steering movements result in much greater movement in the rear of the trailer.

3. Swaying in the Breeze: Hopefully not. Appropriate attention to weight limits and distribution in setting up your tow configuration will help avoid problems with sway. Sway control options are available to help with trailer sway, and a weight distributing hitch system is recommended for large towable trailers.
If you do experience trailer sway from a gust of wind, downgrade or draft from a passing truck: remember to gradually reduce speed, steady the steering wheel and only apply the trailer brakes. Do not slam on the brakes since jackknifing could occur. Do not try to steer out of a sway, increase speed or make sudden moves – it will only make things worse. Do not tow a trailer that continues to sway – determine what is wrong and correct the problem

No passengers: You should never have passengers traveling in a towed trailer or dinghy.
An Ounce of Prevention: Avoid serious problems by adopting a “checking it twice” mindset. Use towing tip checklists as handy reminders. Before long trips, make sure your maintenance is current on both the towing and towed vehicle. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for maintenance on your towing apparatus. The first time you tow, a general towing tip is to stop after 50 miles to check towing connections, tires, etc. Make regular stops to stay fresh at the wheel and during these breaks, check around the RV and tow to make sure all is well. General advice is a stop every two hours.

SAFETY TIPS FOR PARKING YOUR VEHICLE

2008-06-13T17:09:00.000-07:00

As we drive our vehicle, the different muscles in our bodies also work. This is true as we have to turn the steering wheel, maneuver the steering rod and other actions that are necessary to safely maneuver our vehicles. For this, we find it amusing if we encounter traffic jams on the road as we can somehow rest our bodies from the movements brought by driving. To this, it is even more relaxing on our part to park our vehicle. But do you know that parking our vehicle can also bring some danger to the latter?

The danger that may inflict our vehicles especially the moment we park our vehicles is evidenced by the statistics that shows a lot of fender benders happen in the parking lot. Also, you should know any danger that will happen to your vehicle is because of your own misjudgment and sad to say; loss of common sense in trying to find a proper place for parking. Also needless to say, Stop and Yield should be common things in your vehicle when you are in a parking area as it is a private place. It is often a misconception that drivers the moment they are on a parking lot, they normally feel free and thinks about anything but driving. For instance, you are approaching a parking lot and spotting a very suitable space to park your car. However at the same time you see another driver who is obviously going to occupy your sighted spot. Of course, your first reaction is to dart forward to be the first to get the spot. You understand to what this can lead, don’t you?

However, you’ll find it very easy to be safe at the parking area. This is because the only thing that you should be aware of is everything that moves around your vehicle. It is also important for you to drive slowly at such area and watch the cars the move diagonally across the lot. Furthermore, it is important for you to note that places normally situated away from the building where there are fewer cars will give you the following advantages:

* Your car’s doors will be more protected from dins;

* Your car will not be hidden between other cars and less likely to be robbed or vandalized;

* You will be able to find a spot faster which will save your time;

Also it is important for to be aware of some negative points:

* Do not park your cars at secluded areas especially at night;

* The area where you park your car must be well lit;

* Always make sure that your car is safely locked;

* Do not leave you valuable things visible in the car;

* Before getting into your car you should always check your back seat;

* Before getting into your car, look around to be aware of suspicious people walking by;

* If something seems wrong inside your car sound the horn to draw attention;

* Keep in mind the pillar number where you’ve parked you vehicle. This will help you to find your car at the parking lot easily;

* If it is dark at the parking lot or something seems wrong ask a security guard to go with you to your car.

So, following these tips and information will allow you to leave your car in a parking lot without hesitations. You can even have your peace of mind thinking that your car will be safe. But as additional recommendation, it is also advantageous to equip your car with some safety components such as reliable locks, alarm and others that can assure your vehicle’s security when parked.

WHAT IS A SELF-LEVELLING SUSPENSION?

2008-06-13T17:04:00.000-07:00

Of course you know what a suspension system does in your vehicle. It is the most important automotive system in your vehicle especially if thee latter travels on an off road condition. But do you know that such system has great role to perform when your vehicle tows another vehicle. This is because such automotive system keeps your unit on level when it tows a heavy load. Self-leveling is another beneficial technology for your vehicle’s suspension as it adjusts the height of your vehicle’s rear axle for better driving dynamics and safety.

When towing another vehicle or even a heavy luggage, your vehicle’s tail tends to sink downward. The self-leveling suspension counters such problem as it inflates pneumatic cylinders that are integrated in the rear axle assembly of your vehicle. This will result for the chassis to be lifted higher. On the other hand, pneumatic pressure is maintained by auxiliary compressors which are electrically operated. These compressors are run independently of the engine and can be individually adjusted if needed such as when carrying an uneven load.

For this kind of suspension, a steady chassis is in your vehicle which is essential to your vehicle’s dynamic handling. Also, uneven tire wear is reduced in your vehicle when towing. Furthermore, oncoming drivers cannot be blinded by the upwardly-tilted headlight beam with this suspension technology in your vehicle.

YOUR VEHICLE’S WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION

2008-06-13T16:58:00.000-07:00

Your vehicle weighs more or less a hundred kilos. That’s big enough for you to push your vehicle especially in times of engine aberration. Such weight is realized through the combined weight of different components that are in its specification. For this, your vehicle has equal distribution of components for it to be balance and for it not to tilt on one side especially when it runs. Such proportionate distribution of weight is particularly beneficial when your vehicle runs along sharp curves on the road.

Your vehicle’s weight is not only made real by those components that are in your vehicle as one of the major contributors to such aspect of your vehicle is its axle. For this, there should be an ideal weight distribution between its front and rear axles for your vehicle’s superbly agile.

The ideal weight of your vehicle is made possible through the intelligent use of light weight components as well as innovative production processes. Through such things, your vehicle’s minimum weight can be kept at its minimum level while maintaining an ideal weight distribution. To this, it means a lot if your vehicle has its front and rear axles that are made of aluminum or its front portion made of light but strong metal. Also, it would be much better if your vehicle’s engine components are also made of aluminum or alloy that contains magnesium and other carbon fibre composites to further enhance its power to weight ratio.

Having such attributes in your vehicle will surely decrease the latter’s weight. This would mean increase in your vehicle’s agility and safety. With this weight reduction scheme, your vehicle’s structure can be adapted to optimize its axle load with little overhang at its front, engine and transmission that can be positioned as far back as possible. This will follow the ideal weight distribution for all vehicles stating that weight must be concentrated at its centre of gravity.

There are many benefits why your vehicle should have balance weight distribution such as greater agility, neutral self steering behavior and outstanding traction. But having the ideal weight distribution in your vehicle also requires you to have first the Dynamic Stability Control for your vehicle to remain stable and controllable even under extreme situations.

With this automotive weight technology, driving your vehicle can be more pleasurable and safe.

EXPERIENCE WHAT A CHINESE ENGINE IS MADE OF

2008-06-13T16:51:00.000-07:00

Perhaps you have your Chevrolet Equinox which you have for the past years. And it indeed performs well on the road. Well, you may have the original Equinox but its time for you to experience how it is to be installed with a Chinese new V6 engine. As reported in the New York Times, these units made from China will be marked by General Motors in the North American auto market.

The Chinese Equinox has an engine capable of producing 185 horsepower. According to the GM, such engine will not be only powerful but it is also quiet and makes the vehicle run on the road smoothly. The General Motor also claims that the new 2008 Chevy Equinox would be far more than its competitors with the said engine.

You can say that General Motors only experiments with this vehicle but it also worth giving a try. Who knows you can be satisfied with its performance.

YOUR VEHICLE’S CLIMATE COMFORT SYSTEM

2008-06-13T16:39:00.000-07:00

Admit it or not, your riding comfort does not only depend on one thing as it is realized by the concerted effort of different attributes that your vehicle has. Among the things that gives you much pleasure when riding your vehicle is the smooth ride which you can experience even when your vehicle travels on an off road condition. Another is your feeling of being safe as it provides you much peace of mind. But of all these, the situation in your vehicle’s passenger cabin counts a lot to satisfy your craving for a comfortable ride. To this end, you can see no vehicles nowadays running on the road without their air conditioning system.

It is a reality that your vehicle’s air conditioning system does a lot for you to be satisfied with your stay inside your vehicle during your trip. But let us also admit that the effects off Global Warming continuously to worsen. And for this, we may find our vehicle’s air conditioning system to be insufficient to carry out our needs for a cool stay in our car. That is why it is really a great advantage for your vehicle to have the Climate Comfort System.

Perhaps, you may think that the Climate Control System is an additional automotive system that you can have in your vehicle but it is best to refer it as a new technology that can be employed into your vehicle’s air conditioning system. It assures your riding comfort through better air quality, a steady temperature regardless of the weather condition and of course clear and condensation-free windows and windscreen in your vehicle.

The Climate Control System in your vehicle operates with the Automatic Air Recirculation that noticeably delivers better air quality your vehicle’s cabin. This is done as this system recognizes pollutants and contaminants contained in the air from the outside of your vehicle. Upon recognition of such pollutants and contaminants, the said system also removes such things from the air through a micro filter. And if the concentration level of pollutants and contaminants exceed the maximum level, the Climate Control System also automatically closes off the air intake and temporarily recirculates the air inside the cabin.

Another important component of the Climate Control System is the condensation sensor which ensures that the windows of your vehicle will not become misted even if the humidity level increases. In addition to such sensor, a solar sensor also measures the intensity and the angle of sun rays thus allowing the system to automatically adjust the performance of your vehicle’s air conditioning system to ensure that a steady temperature is maintained.

With the Climate Control System in your vehicle, riding the latter will not be the same again. This is because you and your passengers can now enjoy a steady cabin temperature, a clear view on the windows and excellent air quality at all times.

So its time for you not to worry about your riding comfort as it is guaranteed and further enhance by the Climate Control System in your vehicle.

THE DIGITAL MOTOR ELECTRONICS

2008-06-09T16:36:00.000-07:00

The engine is perhaps the most complicated part of your vehicle to understand. Well, this should not surprise you as such automotive component controls almost the all the operations of your vehicle. But as you are the owner and perhaps the driver of your vehicle, you ought not to know all the operations of your vehicle as they are made digital with the Digital Motor Electronics.

The Digital Motor Electronics offers a comprehensive management system of your vehicle’s engine. It controls all the aspects or the engine’s operation to ensure optimum reliability, maximum performance and the lowest possible fuel consumption and emission. This is done through evaluation of key data by a microprocessor and is eventually translated into commands intended for the fuel injection and ignition systems.

The DME operates in your vehicle as it receives a thousand separate items of data input per second that includes engine speed, air intake volume, air temperature and density, coolant temperature, throttle position, accelerator position and vehicle speed.

DME looks after the electrical power system too, with sensors measuring the charge and condition of the battery as well as current electrical power consumption. By maintaining optimum battery charge levels and thus avoiding flat batteries, it prevents damage to the battery and guarantees maximum battery life, thereby helping to ensure the engine always starts readily.

With the Digital Motor Electronics, you don’t have to worry about the processes that are taking place in your vehicle’s engine as they are perfected by your vehicle itself. You do not have to think about the things that the DME encompasses.

So for your vehicle’s optimum performance, have the Digital Management Electronics in your vehicle. This will certainly lessen the things you have to think for your vehicle. Plus, with this technology in your vehicle you are assured of great performance from your vehicle.

WHAT IS PARK DISTANCE CONTROL

2008-06-09T16:34:00.000-07:00

Yes, you may have your money for a good performing vehicle. You can drive it. You know what are its limitations, its pros and cons. You have registered it with the authorities. You know how to maintain it properly. Its appearance is well taken cared of. And literally, you have no problems in owning it. But are you sure you have the skills to drive it in hard terrain. Or even in concrete pavement, problems may also arise in your vehicle and it is evidenced by the experience of lots of drivers that one of their major problems is how to park their vehicles. Well, that will not be your problem if your vehicle has the Park Distance Control.

Entering or leaving the tightest parking area will not so much be a problem nowadays as with the Park Distance Control, it is made easy and more convenient. This automotive control system uses an acoustic warning signal that lets you know how close you are to a car or object behind you.

The Park Distance Control operates with the help of different ultrasound sensors integrated to the bumper at the front and rear portion of your vehicle. These sensors measure the distance of the nearest large objects at the front and rear of your vehicle. As your vehicle reverses closer to the object, the frequency of warning tone increases. And when you are just 30 cm from the other car or obstacle, an unbroken warning tone can be heard, giving you a signal to brake.

It is dependent on your vehicle’s makes and models, but the acoustic signal of the Parking Distance Control can be accompanied by a virtual representation on the Control Display of your vehicle. This allows you to both see and hear wherever there is an obstacle every time you enter or leave a parking space.

YOUR VEHICLE’S PASSIVE SAFETY

2008-06-06T16:33:00.000-07:00

Of course every one of us is afraid to lose our lives just in a car accident. It is indeed a horrible death for anyone who loves his life. But as we choose to have our own vehicle, part of such choice is for us to meet some uncertainties on the road. But in terms of meeting such things on the road, we are not left without choice. This only means that we can do something to prevent accident to affect us or we can even avoid accidents through our own decision. But what are these things?

First and foremost, our safety on the road depends on our driving skills. To this, our safety depends largely on how we drive our vehicle. This also entails our attitude in driving whether we drive our vehicles when we are drank or even when we are topsy-turvy. Another determinants of our road safety that should be in our vehicles are the different automotive safety components that we can count in times of danger. To this, different automotive safety technologies are also introduced to the industry. Now, one of these technologies is the Passive Safety.

The Passive Safety is a set of intelligent safety features that can be integrated into your vehicle to ensure that you and your passengers are protected from possible impact situation. This automotive technology is best to be in your vehicle as the latter’s occupant cell is extremely rigid with its body shell components made of multi phase steel and special reinforcements particularly in its floor panel and doors. Such construction attribute maintains a protective frame around the cabin that is beneficial in event of accident. At the same time, other elements of the vehicle are designed to absorb the force of the impact: the reversible deformation elements in the front and rear of the vehicle, for example, are able to absorb the force of an impact at speeds up to 15 km/h, leaving the body shell completely undamaged.

The Passive Safety feature of your vehicle works the moment an accident situation is detected. This is done by activating the entire network of additional safety elements that function in precise coordination that will ensure maximum possible protection for you and your passengers. This automotive safety feature allows the immediate deployment of airbags at the right time and at the right degree in relation to the nature of accident. Such capability of the Passive Safety is realized through the help of the different sensors within your vehicle. Also, the seatbelt pretensioner is activated pyrotechnically that holds the occupants firmly in their seats. On the other hand, the seatbelt force limiter and integrated seatbelt buckles assure that the belts themselves will not cause injuries.

Also, the automotive Passive Safety minimizes the risk of injury in an accident by getting speedy help. It is done by this automotive safety technology as it automatically activates the hazard lights, decouples the battery, turn on the cabin lights and unlocks the doors. Together with your vehicle’s assist feature which I have discussed in my previous blogs, this automotive safety system also makes an emergency call and transmits data of your vehicle’s location to obtain favorable help from authorities.

Having this automotive safety system in your vehicle should not be the reason for to be negligent in your driving skill. Moreover, it should be the cause for your being a meticulous driver on the road.

So have this automotive safety technology in your vehicle and for sure, you’ll have your much coveted peace of mind.

PROTECTION AGAINST CAR THEFT

2008-06-06T16:30:00.000-07:00

Have you experienced a time that after you parked your car someone gets to it? For sure you heart jumps out of fear of loosing your vehicle. How about your vehicle really gets lost? Maybe you were screaming a lot; don’t know what to do and perhaps you are pointing to yourself why you are so negligent about your car. Well, these are just few things you can experience in loosing your vehicle. But for these things to happen in your nowadays is such a heck. This is because there are many different automotive gadgets that you can have to protect your car from theft. One of them is the Car Tracking Device.

The Car Tracking Device is part of the ConnectedDrive Technology which you should have in your vehicle. Truly, with this automotive technology in your vehicle, you will have much peace of mind plus the assurance that your vehicle will experience less or even no damage just because of car theft. The protection that the Car Tracking Device gives you is realized through a hidden transmitter that automatically activates in the event of forceful entry in your vehicle. Furthermore, such device regularly transmits the current location of your car to its manufacturer’s tracking call center. With this, your connection with your vehicle’s manufacturer will never be broken even by thieves.

To operate this automotive safety system can be done through the following procedures; in time when your vehicle has been already stolen, you can simply call the manufacturer’s specially authorized Tracking Call Center number. Doing it, the module automatically activates itself the moment your car’s anti-theft system has been triggered. Also, you can be sure that no false calls can be done as the Tracking Call Center will make a call with you to confirm the theft. Once the theft is confirmed, the Call Center will alert the police and will provide precise GPS location data so that your vehicle can be easily recovered.

YOUR VEHICLE’S TELEMATICS

2008-06-06T16:27:00.000-07:00

Driving your vehicle nowadays is relatively easier nowadays than in the past. This is because of the different automotive technologies that are made available for us. You have known in this blog about them but to complete your knowledge about such technologies, here is another one – the Telematics.

One reason why driving your vehicle is easier nowadays is that all the information that you need about your vehicle’s engine, its other components, the street and others are all provided to you in just a click of the finger. This is what the telematics is made for.

Your vehicle’s telematics is the combination of information and communications technology designed to send and receive data through telecommunication devices. This automotive technology is done through the use of internet, telephone and mobile communication services. It assists you in a wide array of situations as it delivers useful information directly to your vehicle.

Together with your vehicle’s assist program, online system and other teleservices, the Telematics intelligently combine your vehicle’s navigation system with your in-car telephone system. They are designed primarily to improve your safety and your vehicle’s mobility. For instance, your vehicle’s assist not only delivers a wide array of information straight ahead to your vehicle but it also provides you an up to date, location based traffic information. This is done through the help of roadside sensors with the use of your vehicle’s GPS technology that allows your vehicle’s navigation system to calculate and determine a route that will free you from traffic jams.

Meanwhile, your vehicle’s TeleServices monitors the condition of different components in your vehicle that are subject to the wearing off process. More importantly, it can contact your vehicle’s service center to automatically arrange a service for your vehicle.

SOME TIPS FOR TOWING (Part 1)

2008-06-04T18:43:00.000-07:00

Every time I saw a vehicle being used for towing, I see a lot of mistakes in such automotive undertaking. Well, I pity both the car owner and the vehicle itself as I know both of them are affected by such automotive undertaking. To help you every time your vehicle will be used for towing, here are some tips that can help you to make such process safer and easier:

Understand the basics: Start at the beginning. Read our tips on managing RV weight. Understand the weight definitions and the importance of weight distribution in towing. Does this before you buy?
Do the math: Get the specific numbers for your prospective combination of RV and tow vehicle.

Obtain and carefully read manufacturer’s manuals and product-specific towing tips. Make sure you understand their definitions of weight-related terminology. If you are planning to tow a trailer or fifth wheel, the major truck makers have Towing Guides that include model-specific details.
Develop a realistic estimate of fully loaded weight, and do the calculations to make sure you end up with an RV and tow vehicle combination that will meet your needs. Don’t forget any options or accessories you had added (or plan to add). Remember to consider passengers, belongings, full water and fuel tanks. This is time well spent to avoid poor purchase decisions, costly repairs and unsafe travel.

Distribute the Load: Weight Distribution is critical.

Know your Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR), obtain measurements of specific wheel position loads and set tire pressure appropriately.
Keep the center of gravity low.
Keep cargo secured to prevent shifting that could cause a loss of control.
Distribute weight between right and left and front to back per the specifications for your particular RV and tow vehicle. Trailer towing requires the right amount of tongue weight. Tap into the expertise of hitch and trailer specialists for towing tips on your particular configuration.
Determine if you need a weight distribution system (generally recommended for trailers over 5,000 lbs. fully loaded.)

Hitching Your Wagon: Select hitches/tow bars that are rated to handle the load, in

Conjunction with the actual towing capacity of the towing vehicle. The maximum towing capacity is determined by the lowest-rated element in the chain of hitch components.
For trailer towing, this chain consists of the trailer rating, the ball hitch rating, the hitch rating, and the towing capacity of the vehicle. The weakest, or lowest-rated, element in this chain always determines the maximum safe towing capability of the entire chain.
For a motor home towing a dinghy, the same principle applies. You must consider the towing capacity of the motor home itself, as well as the ratings for a tow bar, cables, and connectors.

A towing tip checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything.
Hook up and un-hook on smooth level surface.
When towing a dinghy, manufacturer towing tips often state that the receiver hitch of the motor home should never be more than 4 inches higher than the base plate attachment points -- use an appropriately sized and rated drop receiver. Most trailers and tow vehicles should be level (parallel to the ground) during travel. Check for manufacturer towing tips and instructions to correctly set up your combination of vehicles.

Built for Two: When you connect a towing and towed vehicle, you need to make sure that the two can operate together effectively, safely (and legally in some cases).

Brakes - Many states require a separate braking system on towed vehicles with a loaded weight of more than 1,000 - 1,500 pounds. Legal reasons aside, a separate functional brake system for towed vehicles is recommended for increased safety. Include a breakaway option, in the event the trailer or toad is separated from the towing vehicle.
Lights - The law also requires that the towed vehicle have operable lights. The brake lights, tail lights and turn signals of the towed vehicle must operate in sync with the towing vehicle.

TIPS FOR PROPER HANDLING OF YOUR VEHICLE

2008-06-03T16:40:00.000-07:00

For sure in your entire driving career, you have already known what a good handling process entails. Just to reiterate, this process means the way by which your car can go on the road smoothly. But this process involves lots of things on your vehicle like the tires, your vehicles’ suspension, the wheel alignment and others.

The handling process of your vehicle is further abated by some conditions such as during rainy seasons or when snow blocks the road. This is true as such conditions make the road surface slippery. Well, that is not a problem nowadays as here are some tips on how you can make the different automotive components involved in the handling process work efficiently even if the road surface gets slippery. The following tips are recommended by AAA Colorado

Check the tires- Tires should always be inflated to the factory specified air pressure and have enough tread to handle all road conditions. To check the tire tread, look for "wear bars" that periodically run across the hollow of each tread. If the tread has been worn down to the same height as the wear bar, it's time for new tires. Driving in snow calls for all-season or snow tires. Tires should also be balanced on a regular basis.
Suspension- The suspension system is a series of levers, pivots, and cushions that connect the vehicle's wheels to the car's frame. The suspension, in conjunction with the steering system enables a driver to steer. Any unusual wear in shocks, struts, bushes, wheel bearings, ball-joints or steering components can contribute to unsafe handling especially on snow or ice.
Check the alignment- An alignment means aligning the rear wheels with the centerline of the car, then aligning the front wheels to the rear wheels. Last year's unprecedented snow falls, and subsequent perma-frosted roads and potholes have thrown many vehicles out of alignment. If, when on a straight and level road, your car "pulls" to one side or the other, there may have alignment problems. A car that's out of alignment handles poorly on ice and snow. In dry conditions, bad alignment contributes to accelerated tire wear. If the car's alignment hasn't been checked since last winter, you may want to do so now.

MAINTENANCE FOR YOUR VEHICLE’S HEADLIGHT

2008-06-03T16:32:00.000-07:00

It is always a perennial problem on the part of the drivers that whenever it gets dark they cannot anymore drive their vehicles due to poor visibility condition. The same happens whenever the road is blocked by heavy rains or heavy snow fall. To this, it really pays a lot to have efficient and high end lighting components in your vehicle.

You are surely blessed to have such quality of lighting components on your vehicle. This is particularly true with regards to the lighting components that deal much with your safety on the road. But it is also a common problem on how to maintain such lighting condition in their operational condition all the time. Well, here are some tips on how to do such maintenance particularly on your vehicle’s headlight.

* Give your headlights a quick scrub to get rid of debris when you wash your windows at the gas station. Clean headlights help you see better at night and in poor weather conditions. This small task can also help prevent glare, which can be intensified by dust and dirt on the glass.

* Don't wait for your headlights to dim and burn out before you replace them. Most headlights will dim over time. Replacing them regularly will ensure the best lighting performance.

* Replace your headlights in pairs to avoid uneven illumination, which can diminish driving visibility.

* Consider replacing standard halogen headlights with high performance headlights that produce a light closer in color to natural daylight. These whiter, brighter bulbs help improve your visibility at night.

* Ask your auto service person to check that your headlights are properly adjusted. Headlights can be knocked out of alignment by rough driving and, if not properly aimed, can be distracting to other drivers.

* Take a moment to periodically check that all your car lights are in good working order. Ask a friend to turn on the headlights, brake lights and turn signals as you walk around your vehicle.

It is also important to note that as there are different kinds of headlight available in the market, its maintenance should be in accordance with its specification. This will entail you the use of proper cleansing solution, the proper linen to be used and the like.

WHAT IS STEPTRONIC?

2008-05-30T16:46:00.000-07:00

To make your driving as well as riding pleasure more active. This is what steptronic assures you. This is done by the said automotive technology through shifting gears in your vehicle with an automatic transmission as dynamic and sporting as a manual transmission.

The steptronic makes your vehicle’s transmission more flexible by quickly transforming the six-speed automatic transmission into a six-speed manual. This is activated by moving the gear selector lever by which you can shift gears up and down with a manual transmission. In BMW 7 Series Sedan in particular, gear can be shifted without the need to use the gear selector lever. This is because it can be done by just pressing the keys integrated in the steering wheel. These allow you to simply switch to manual mode in Steptronic when desired - your hands stay on the wheel at all times. Two keys at the front serve to downshift, while two at the rear of the steering wheel are used to upshift. It also contributes to your driving safety: you don't need to take your eyes off the road for a moment.

So if you are tired of the usual transmission in your vehicle, maybe its time for you to have the Steptronic in your vehicle. It can surely make a difference in your vehicle’s performance.

TIPS ON HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR VEHICLE’S APPEARANCE PROPERLY

2008-05-30T16:44:00.000-07:00

It is a reality that we drivers should accept that our vehicles’ performance can be nothing if its appearance is busted. This is because both things must go hand in hand to contribute to the totality of your vehicle. this is also the reason why maintaining your vehicle is said to be expensive which is partially true as the fact that as you have to spend dollars to assure the performance of your unit you have also to spend additional pennies in restyling the appearance of your vehicle. But there are ways on how you can preserve such things in your vehicle.

In terms of preserving the appearance of your vehicle, the following tips are suggested by Turtle Wax:

* Wash your car every other week. No matter the season, regular washing helps prevent bugs, tar, road grime and other damaging elements from eroding the finish and becoming a long-term fixture on the vehicle's exterior. Do not use dish soap to wash the vehicle -- dish soap dulls the finish and strips the car of shine. Instead, choose a car wash product with a clean rinsing formula that is safe for all finishes.

* Apply car wax as needed. Not only does waxing help restore color and shine, it leaves behind a protective barrier to help prevent scratches, swirl marks and other imperfections that can permanently damage the vehicle's paint and finish. Water will bead on a properly waxed surface. When beads do not form, it is time to apply another coat of wax. For best results, select a wax or polish that offers long lasting protection and durability.

* Pay attention to other exterior surfaces. In addition to the vehicle's finish, protecting and cleaning wheels, exterior plastics and molding will help keep your car looking like new. Use a wheel product to remove and help prevent buildup of break dust and road grime, which can permanently adhere to wheels and rims. For plastic and rubber surfaces, use a product that will restore and protect the materials' finish.

* Don't forget the inside counts, too. It's just as easy to notice areas of neglect on the interior of a vehicle. To prevent stains and permanent discoloration, clean interior surfaces, including carpeting, upholstery and inside door panels on a regular basis.

So for the full realization of your dreams for your vehicle especially in terms of its appearance, just follow the above tips.

YOUR VEHICLE’S SPORT MODE

2008-05-30T16:41:00.000-07:00

I am not recommending any brands of vehicles, but we should admit the reality that high end cars really make a difference especially in terms of their performance. This is true as high end cars are installed with the best kind of automotive components as well as accessories. For this, you can cherish these vehicles both for their performance and stylish appearance. And to add more glamour to such vehicles, a high end car can perform under a sport mode. When this mode is activated, your vehicle’s engine output and driving dynamics take on sportier qualities. With this, riding your car is more enjoyable with its dynamic character at its peak.

Depending on what high end car do you drive, the sport mode can be activated by a touch of “Sport” button positioned on the central console. A touch of this button will make your car even more dynamic; turns its electronic control units to sportier settings thus making its engine more responsive and its suspension stiffer. This increases the sports-style characteristics of your vehicle that is accompanied by a reduction in powered assistance when steering at low and medium RPMs needed for more direct and immediate steering. This will give you an even closer sense of the character of the road.

If your vehicle has automatic transmission or the Sequential Manual Gearbox, activating its sport mode or the Driving Dynamic Control will shorten its gearshift times and will make the latter’s characteristics even more dynamic. So have this mode in your vehicle and you’ll surely cherish every time you ride your vehicle.

YOUR VEHICLE’S VALVETRONIC

2008-05-30T16:38:00.000-07:00

Of course, it is our objective as owner and perhaps drivers of our vehicles to see our units performing at their best on the road. With this, we are force to do some thing or even the impossible for such performance. Now, to assure that our vehicles will perform at their best we often resort to high end automotive components that are largely available in the market. But nowadays, you maybe confused on how you can achieve such performance for your vehicle especially with the continuous increase on oil price as well as for the cost of some automotive components. Well, here is the best thing for you – the valvetronic.

The valvetronic is an automotive technology intended for your vehicle’s engine. With this technology, you’ll enjoy better performance from your vehicle at the same time it consumes less fuel. The valvetronic replaces the conventional throttle butterfly which I have discussed in my previous blogs. It comes with an electric mechanism that controls the amount of lift for the individual intake valves per cylinder. With valvetronic, your vehicle’s engine can breathe freely thus delivering improved performance while consuming less fuel. This attribute of valvetronic is realize through the elimination of pumping loses and air flow disturbance caused by the conventional throttle butterfly. Instead, air flows through the intake manifold freely. Another attribute of valvetronic is that it precisely regulates the quantity of air that enters the cylinders.

For the valvetronic to be efficient in a vehicle, it utilizes a stepper motor that controls a secondary eccentric shaft with a series of intermediate rocker arms. These arms further control the degree of valve lift. With valvetronic, the throttle butterfly is not anymore needed as the means to control air supply to the engine - though for safety reasons it is still fitted as an emergency back-up.

With valvetronic in your vehicle, fuel air mixture is optimized causing fuel consumption to decrease by 10 percent (based on the ECE driving cycle). In addition, Valvetronic improves cold start behavior, lowers exhaust emissions and provides smoother, more immediate power.

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE’S FUEL INJECTION

2008-05-28T17:28:00.000-07:00

Your vehicle runs on the road basically because of the combustion process. This process is carried out by burning out a mixture of fuel and air in the combustion area. For this, it is a must for your vehicle’s engine to have sufficient supply of air and fuel. But even if you have lots of money, such thing cannot be assured as it depends largely on the components in your vehicle that deal with the supply of air and fuel. Among these components are the cold air intake devices and fuel injection devices that should be in your vehicle at their best quality. In this blog, I will discuss some realities and helpful tips on how to maintain your vehicle’s fuel injection properly.

Fuel is delivered in your vehicle’s engine through varied ways depending on what’s in your vehicle whether a fuel injection or a carburetor. If your car has a fuel injector, fuel is delivered in the form of liquid. On the other hand, if a carburetor is in your vehicle fuel is emulsified meaning that it is pre-mixed with air before it will be introduced to the engine. And with an electronic fuel injection system in your vehicle thus making sure that the gas flow is not blocked thereby resulting to better fuel mileage. To assure such mileage, it is recommended that the fuel injector must be free of any deposits that may get into the fuel system. But such infirmity in the fuel injection system is common nowadays resulting for less mileage that can average to 1500 miles. But it is suggested also for you to know the different components in your vehicle’s fuel injection system and how do they function.

First and foremost is the fuel injector which is a fuel dispensing nozzle. Such component is designed to accurately meter fuel into the engine in a fine spray. Together with the pump, an electronically controlled injector injects liquid fuel directly into the engine’s air stream. When the injector is fully energized, an electromagnet moves a plunger that will open the valve to allow the pressurized fuel to squirt out through a tiny nozzle. The nozzle is designed to make the finest mist possible so that the fuel can burn easily. The amount of fuel supplied to the engine is determined by the amount of time the fuel injector stays open.

For the function that the fuel injector does in your vehicle, it is a must that such component should be free from any deposits that can reduce fuel flow and alter the spray pattern of the fuel to the engine. This will result to loss of power, less fuel economy and increased exhaust emissions. Therefore, it is really a must for the fuel injector in your vehicle to be properly maintained. But such maintenance should not be done by you as some gasoline products have additives that can help clean the fuel injection system. There are also some fuel injector cleaners that are available in the market that can assure efficient performance of the fuel injector.

Also, part of your vehicle’s fuel injection is the fuel filter that removes contaminants such as rust and other corrosive elements that are carried by the fuel. Therefore, keeping the fuel filter in operating condition would also help the fuel injector to perform efficiently. For this, in making sure that such filter can be of help to the fuel injector it is recommended to replace it at once in every two years or every 30,000 miles of travel whichever comes first.

So, for the realities mentioned above it really pays a lot to have a highly functional fuel injection system in your vehicle.

THE NEEDED TOOLS FOR YOUR VEHICLE

2008-05-27T16:42:00.000-07:00

Nowadays, being prepared is the key for us to survive in whatever challenges that may confront us. But the more we should be ready if it endangers our lives. For this and perhaps, you are greatly comforted inside you house as you have everything that you need there. But what about when you ride your vehicle? Are you ready in case something happens in it? Well, you have nothing to worry as in this blog of mine, I will tell you what to bring in your travel.

Perhaps, you are afraid that your vehicle might hang its performance in the middle of nowhere. This can be worsened if there is no available mechanics around such place. For this, you have to bring some tools and kits that can help you overcome such situation. According to Car Care Council, the following tools and kits might be of help:

Jumper cables
Cellular phone, charger power cord, along with a list of emergency numbers
Ice scraper and snow brush (winter months)
Flashlight or spotlight with extra set of batteries
Rain suit or poncho (brightly-colored)
Safety goggles or glasses
Pair of disposable work “coveralls”
Emergency flares, warning triangle or cones
Fire extinguisher
First-aid kit
Hose-patch kit for emergency mending of coolant hoses. These kits are usually available at auto parts and discount stores.
Pressurized can of tire inflator and sealer for emergency filling of a flat tire.
Battery-powered air compressor
Bottled water and snacks, such as crackers or energy bars (in sub-freezing temperatures, remember that bottles may burst if they freeze).
Blankets
Roll of duct tape
Wheel chocks (placed under the wheels to prevent the car from rolling)
Basic tool set including an adjustable wrench, pliers, screwdrivers, and wrenches. Many auto parts and retail establishments sell compact “tool kits”, perfect for storage in the trunk of your car.
Mini shovel (winter months)
Bag or container of sand for traction (winter months)
An extra pair of gloves, a scarf and hat
Extra windshield washer fluid that can be used in cold weather driving.
Funnel for pouring liquids
Extra fuses (refer to your owner’s manual to determine amperage sizes needed)
Mechanical or elastic tie-down straps
Roll of heavy-duty paper towels or rags
Pair of work gloves

Before you go on a trip, there is always such need for you to properly maintain your vehicle. This will indeed assure you of great performance on the road and it will lessen the propensity of your car being damaged. Of course , you need ample knowledge on how to maintain your vehicle properly. But along with this knowledge, there are some tools that you need to have in your vehicle. Car Care Council suggests that the following tool[s should be in your vehicle:

Oil filter wrench (there are different types, including cap wrenches and strap wrenches). You will have to decide which provides best grip of the filter, based on accessibility.
Catch pan (for capturing used oil and coolant)
3/8” basic socket wrench set, including sockets (SAE and metric sizes) ratchets, extensions, adapters, and 5/8” and 13/16” spark-plug sockets
Torx® sockets or bits
Combination wrench set (SAE and metric sizes)
Hex-key wrench set (commonly referred to as Allen® wrenches)
Flare-nut fitting wrenches (most commonly used to help prevent the rounding-off of brake line fittings and bleeder fittings)
Fender cover (to protect the finish of your car while working under the hood)
Basic screwdriver set
Test light (for checking the availability of voltage and ground in circuits)
Multimeter (a more advanced electrical checking tool that provides readings of voltage, ohms, amps and sometimes more)
Slip-joint, groove-joint, needle-nose, and locking pliers
Torque wrench (a wrench that indicates the “tightness” of nuts and bolts)
Air pressure gauge
Radiator hydrometer
Penetrating oil (used to help free and lubricate seized or frozen fasteners)
Soldering gun & solder
Electrical pliers
Jack stands
Ramps
Hydraulic Jack
Battery charger

So have these tools in your vehicle and for sure you’ll enjoy your trip.

THE WEISMANN GT MF5

2008-05-26T17:17:00.000-07:00

Well, what more I can say than the reality that this year will be flooding of different high end cars as well as sports car. It is evidenced through my blogs as I have already discussed a handful of concept cars to be released this year. But to complete the array of high performance cars, here is the Weismann GT MF 5 a race car completed just in time when the IAA starts.

The name of this new sports car signifies its specification as it comes with a 10-cylinder motor. This is truly a car racers are waiting for and luckily Weismann has it for the public.

The Weismann GT MF 5 is a perfect blend of corporate philosophy which deals with the combination of stylish body and state of the art automotive technology. Looking at this race car alone would signal the arrival of something extraordinary; a very low and cowered down body in combination with wide base tyres stand for abounding power and a highly racy vehicle to expect.

The company fulfills the dream of every GT enthusiasts who have welcomed the expansion of this company’s model portfolio and who have wanted for its vehicle’s engine to become even racer.
Here is what Friedhelm Weismann has to say – “our intention is to meet these demands with the GT MF. This new sports car tops off our portfolio of models, setting the new benchmark when it comes to the Weismann sports cars’ driving performance – which is rather impressive anyhow”

This sports car comes in a coupe body style with its engine positioned at its front. It comes as a rear wheel drive vehicle complimented with aluminum chassis. This car weighs 3035 lbs or 1376.7 kg. It was officially introduced to the public at the 2007 Frankfurt Motorshow.

Other specifications of this race car include rack and pinion with power assist for its steering. On the other hand, its suspension features double wishbones, anti roll bars and coil springs. Transmission of this car comes standard with 7 gears and sequential mode. For its physical dimension, its length measures 4.301 meters. It has a seating capacity for two persons and has 2 entry points.

So if you are a race enthusiast, better wait for this Weismann sports car at the auto showroom nearest to you.

ADDITIONAL FUEL SAVING TIPS

2008-05-26T17:11:00.000-07:00

Just recently, fuel has again increased to $139.00 per barrel. Well, maybe you can’t imagine what to do with your vehicle and perhaps you are thinking to sell it at a low price. If you are in such situation, here are some tips coming from Car Care Council that can perhaps change your decision:

Vehicle gas caps -- About 17 percent 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.
Under inflated tires -- When tires aren't inflated properly it's like driving with the parking brake on and can cost a mile or two per gallon.
Worn spark plugs -- A vehicle can have either four, six or eight spark plugs, which fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles, resulting in a lot of heat and electrical and chemical erosion. A dirty spark plus causes misfiring, which wastes fuel. Spark plugs need to be replaced as recommended by the manufacturer.
Dirty air filters -- An air filter that is clogged with dirt, dust and bugs chokes off the air and creates a "rich" mixture -- too much gas being burned for the amount of air, which wastes gas and causes the engine to lose power. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent, saving about 20 cents a gallon.

Other Fuel-saving driving tips include:

Don't be an aggressive driver -- Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by as much as 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent on city streets, which results in 10 to 66 cents per gallon.
Avoid excessive idling -- Sitting idle gets zero miles per gallon. Letting the vehicle warm up for one to two minutes is sufficient.
Observe the speed limit -- Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each mpg driven over 60 will result in an additional 10 cents per gallon. To maintain a constant speed on the highway, cruise control is recommended.

So have a wonderful driving experience even if fuel cost is rocket high.

THE 2008 WEBER SPORTSCAR

2008-05-23T16:39:00.000-07:00

Maybe you are tired of good looking cars as you want something more especially in terms of its performance. well, its time for you to have a Swiss made car like the Weber Sportscar. It is indeed a fast car whose capability is made possible through the combination of high tech engineering and uncompromising innovative design geared for maximum aerodynamic efficiency.

This two seater sports car weighs about 1100 kg whose power comes from its V8 engine with double superchargers capable of producing 900 horsepower or 662.4 kW. This is because of this car’s exceptional power to weight ratio of 1.22 kg per horsepower, intelligent all wheel drive and one of a kind aerodynamic properties. This Weber masterpiece can accelerate to reach the speed of 300 km/hrs in just 16.2 seconds to perform at its top speed of 420 km/hr.

To achieve favorable aerodynamics, the Weber Sportscar has a width of 204 centimeters and a height of 115 centimeters. For the materials used to build this sports car, it is mainly of carbon fiber materials that contributes a lot to its lightweightedness. In making this one of a kind road machine, Weber makes use of state of the art aerodynamic computer software and wind tunnel testing for the right trim of carbon fiber shell that results to maximum directional stability even at highest speeds.

Weber Sportscar is not only indispensable in terms of its performance but also with its appearance. This is because of the many components and accessories that make it an instant head turner on the road. One of the said automotive accessories is the vertical griller that makes this Weber different from the other sports car. such front accessory is designed as such not only for aesthetic reason but also for improved aerodynamics. One more striking feature of this sports car is its upward sloped hood that extends all the way up to the flush-mounted windshield that produces downforce aerodynamics on the front axle intended for improved directional stability. For better illumination, this car comes with integrated LED turn signals and LED tail lights.

Perhaps having this sports car would bring you some mysteries such as the absence of external door handles. Well that is for improved aerodynamics. But you0 can open this car easily through the used of push buttons. This car’s two streamlined side view mirrors provide you an excellent rearward views. Its roof also carries an airbox that contributes a lot in the engine cooling process.

Comfort is assured in this car through its intercoolers that get their air through the streamlined air intakes positioned at the rear of this sports car. on the other hand, oil is cooled in this vehicle through the oil cooler positioned at its engine bay. Also, to maximize its aerodynamics, this Weber car has an electronically controlled deployable rear wing. This wing does not only create reasonable downforce but also serves as an air brake that creates up to 4000 newtons of additional braking force.

For its engine, this part is upgraded with lightweight aluminum block complimented with high performance engine parts such as a precision balanced crankshaft, piston rods and forged pistons, a camshaft that boasts of sharper timing, and two cylinder heads with larger valves.

Aside from the mentioned engine parts, the engine peripherals of the Weber Sportscar were extensively modified. This includes the presence of high performance fuel injection system and a custom-developed supercharging system. The exhaust system of this sports car features stainless steel components with metal catalysts that boast of low back pressure. For great sound experience, it has a muffler bypass valve.

All these attributes are just the tip of the totality of this Weber masterpiece so it is for you to experience the many improved features of this car. You can do it by having this car.

TAKE THE PLANE OR RIDE YOUR VEHICLE?

2008-05-22T01:10:00.000-07:00

Spring is once more here again. So what is the best way to spend it than to have your vacation? Of course there is the question where you want to spend you vacation. If it is in distant land, the next thing that would probably come to your mind is whether to take the air or travel with your car. But according to the Car Care Council, taking the road with your vehicle is still cheaper. Here are some advantages why taking a road trip is still good:

Leave when you want from where you want
No airport parking
No waiting in long ticket counter and security lines
No weather delays
Pack whatever and as much as you want
Stop and stretch any time
More and better meal options
No rental car expenses
More legroom and overall comfort
No strangers sitting next to you
Enjoy the ride

THE 2008 SPADA CODATRONCA TS CONCEPT

2008-05-22T01:05:00.000-07:00

Maybe you are tired of the new automotive technologies that I have been discussing in this blog for the past weeks. And perhaps you want something new in terms of the new cars that will be released this year or in succeeding years. Well, here is what you want a concept car that will surely suit your taste especially in terms of its performance as well as its looks – the 2008 Spada Codatronca TS Concept.

The Spada Codatronca is another Italian made race car the same as the Ferrari. Its design is conceptualized by Paolo Spada, a founder of an Italian automotive design studio as well as the former designer of Smart and Honda. The Spadaconcept was made in collaboration with his father, Ercole who is also the chief auto designer at Zagato and BMW. The design of the Spada is centered to its functionality which is realized through its shape and physical attributes but maximizing its performance through aerodynamic lines. This results to an extremely manageable car able to achieve good racing performance by exploiting its engine. But you don’t have to be worried about its interior as it is also given much emphasis.

Its predecessor, the TS (Turismo Sportivo) is a car that comes with an aspired engine of more than 600 hp has also satisfied race enthusiast. But with the Spada concept car and for the focus on its designs particularly aerodynamics, it is also capable to reach 340 km/h complying with the FIA GT1 regulations. Also, with the international effort to save the Mother Earth the Spada concept Car also comes with highly efficient catalytic converter kit that allows this car to use E85 green fuel with slight increase in torque and power.

Consistent with Ercole’s aims in reviving its philosophy of combining aesthetics with functionality and racing performance, this concept car comes with an evolutionary truncated tail – that is why it is called Codatronca. This physical attribute can be seen on previous cars designed by Ercole such as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ, TZ1 and TZ2.

This concept car will be produced and marketed by SpadVettureSport in collaboration with a team of selected technical, industrial and commercial partners. It has aggregated the highest profile resources for this project through building an alliance with small firms in the district of Turin

The Codatronca TS version will make its debut nest spring in MonteCarlo. But this car will not be the last in fact it is the first in a series of sport cars that will be produced by the same car manufacturers. Following the Codatronca TS is the more powerful TSS version Turismo Super Sportivo which is already under test at SpadaVettureSport and will be launched by the end of 2008. In order to produce this one of a kind sports car, its manufacturers have put in place a manufacturing system to meet its quality standards.

THE 2008 INFINITI EX

2008-05-22T00:59:00.000-07:00

For you guys who have the 2008 Infiniti EX, it is time for you to rejoice. Well, it is really a thing for you to be proud of as your vehicle makes its way to the Top 10 Best Road Trip Vehicles created by Kelley Blue Book’s editors. According to these people, in making their list of the best vehicles they have considered all the tangible and intangible attributes that can enhance anyone’s driving experience such as the enjoyment one would feel in riding a vehicle. Also, one’s comfort in taken into consideration together with the cargo space and of course the fuel efficiency.According to Jack R. Nerad, Kelly Blue Book executive editorial director, “We love the Infiniti EX’s handy size, sporty handling and high-luxe interior. The 360-degree parking aid is nearly otherworldly in its ability to help you see where others can’t - especially important when parking in unfamiliar territory.” Well, if he says that there is no doubt that the 2008 Infiniti EX is the best.For the recent recognition that this vehicle has just received, owning it is really a great pride for anyone.

I just hope that its price will not go high.

YOUR VEHICLE’S ON BOARD COMPUTER

2008-05-22T00:55:00.001-07:00

Doing things in your vehicle the manual way is certainly outmoded nowadays. You can’t just imagine having your vehicle’s movements or other attributes done by hand. And you will be ashamed to turn your radio by turning its control. It may be a great joke or perhaps an embarrassment on your part to carry a transistor inside your vehicle. That is why vehicles nowadays have in their specifications high end technologies as seen through the gadgets that are in their specifications. But to complete the technologies that are in your vehicle and you ought to know this technology is your vehicle’s on board computer.

You may think of the central processing unit, the keyboard, the monitor or the CD Rom, but forget them first. What we are talking about is your vehicle’s computer that offers you a fast and easy to understand overview of key trip information. Not only that, this computer also provides you key information about hazardous driving conditions which is very beneficial in case you don’t know anything about a particular place.

The on board computer in your vehicle works with the digital motor control system, the navigation system and the different sensors in your vehicle. Such components provide the on board computer with up to date data which you need in driving your vehicle. It is capable to provide you information about the proper time when you will need to re fuel your vehicle that is computed base on the current rate of fuel consumption. This computer can also identify the exact time by which you will arrive to your destination which is identified using the data about the average speed and the navigation system’s planned route.

In addition to such things, the on board computer also displays the current time, date and the external temperature outside your vehicle. And when the external temperature drops below 3 degrees Celsius, it will produce acoustic warning signal to alert you of the danger that may be brought by ice on the road surface.

This information provided by your vehicle’s on board computer greatly help you to facilitate your vehicle safely on the road thus making your trip more relaxing and a much enjoyable one. Moreover, these functions are controlled using the keys on the lever positioned on the steering column or you can also opt to use the Controller. You’ll know about the information as they will be presented on the instrument panel or the display monitor.

ADAM GARCIA ‘S '01 CHEVROLET 2500HD CREW CAB

2008-05-20T16:32:00.000-07:00

Ever since I was new in the automotive, I find great fascination to high level vehicle. Not in terms of their monetary values but in their physical aspects. So, the moment I come to know this work of Adam Garcia, I taught of writing a post about it. So here it is.

Garcia’s vehicle was a 2001 Chevrolet 2500HD Crew Cab. Having it modified, it becomes more of a statement rather than a cab and it becomes an instant hit to automotive freaks. This car comes with a 6.0L V8 engine complete with its front and rear suspension accompanied by 2.5 inch coil over shocks and dip brackets with lift spindles to ensure performance suspension. For its tires, it comes with 39.50 x 13.50 R20LT Interco Super Swamper tires dressed with KMC 20 x 10 inch wheels.

Not only that, having this vehicle really gives me excitement as it comes with Alpine JVA900 in-dash AM/FM/DVD/monitors – SAUU and six others separate monitors capable to give you high end entertainment. And with its seats that are costumed with factory-heated leather, staying in this vehicle really gives you much pleasure. If you are a game fanatic, the more you should have this vehicle as it come with the PlayStation system. To complete its amenities, it also comes with a monster audio system with Kicker 10-inch subwoofers capable of bringing you to a whole different world of entertainment.

If you are craving for more, you can have in it Cadillac Escalade door handles and tail lights to be an instant head turner on the road. So have this car on your life and have the joy that you dream of from your vehicle.

YOUR CAR’S VOICE COMMAND

2008-05-20T16:29:00.000-07:00

Of course every one of us would want comfort while we travel with our own vehicles. But how can you be comforted if you keep on moving while you are in your vehicle which is needed for you to maneuver your vehicle. The solution to this problem is the vehicle’s voice command. Well, it is indeed a new technology for automotives but having it in your vehicle is indeed a great relief.

With just a word, the Vehicle’s voice control system allows you to control some of the features that are in your vehicle like the telephone, climate control, navigation and sound systems you can do all these with spoken commands. With this command, your hands can stay on the steering wheel and your focus on the road.

The voice control system in your vehicle can be activated by pressing a key positioned on the multifunction steering wheel thus it provides a safer and more convenient way to control some of your vehicle’s cabin features. To function well in your vehicle, the voice control system recognizes up to 500 preset terms depending upon your vehicle’s features. These simple verbal commands are picked up by a special hands-free microphone that is also capable to filter out background noise. Also, depending on your vehicle’s model this system can also recognize alternate wordings and connected sequences of commands.

The voice dialogue system functions independent of a particular speaker and always follows a predefined dialogue structure. Every time you give a command, the system will emit a tone to indicate that the command has been understood. What’s more amazing with this system is that in terms of telephone book, it can save up to forty telephone numbers. The text-to-speech function can read aloud e-mails, SMS messages and the names of radio stations. This is not only more comfortable, but also safe: your hands remain on steering wheel at all time, and you are not distracted from the surrounding traffic.

INTEGRATED SEATBELT SYSTEM

2008-05-19T16:34:00.001-07:00

Maybe you seldom pay attention to some of the components that are in your vehicle but you should not. This is because even a simple rubber strap that is in your vehicle can play a lot for your safety. What I was talking about is your car’s seatbelt. But if you doubt that such belt can assure your safety, here is another technology for such belt – the Integrated Seatbelt System.

The Integrates Seatbelt System restrains you safely during a collision as it dramatically reduces your proximity to danger. As a system, it makes your car’s three-point seatbelt works with other things in your vehicle such as the pyrotechnic pre-tensioner, belt force limiter and anti submarining protection that are present on your vehicle’s seat. This seatbelt technology assures you of great protection in times of collision. Regardless of your vehicle’s makes and models, this technology offers you excellent comfort and optimum restraint geometry. Compared with conventional protection system, the Integrated Seatbelt System can reduce the force of an impact on you and your passengers by up to 50 percent.

Being contributory to your safety, the pyrotechnic belt pretensioner incorporates a pyrotechnical actuator that reacts to an impact with accurate speed. It retracts the belt latch within tractions of a second at the same time it tightens the shoulder and the lap belts.

On the other hand, the anti submarining protection is a wedge shaped component at the front end of the seat. It helps you and your passengers not to slide toward the lap belt.

THE IMPACT DEPENDING AIRBAGS

2008-05-19T16:30:00.000-07:00

Last time on my previous blogs I have discussed about the different kinds of airbags, how important they are for your safety and the different benefits that they bring you. To this, you have known about the side airbags and the ITS airbags. Now, in this blog I’ll discuss another technology employed in automotive airbags – the Impact Depending airbag.

An Impact Depending airbag is crafted because ordinary airbags cannot different a severe impacts as compared to a lighter one. For this, you’ll know that with this kind of airbag you and your passengers are given protection proportionate to the severity of the impact. This is because when ordinary types of airbags are deployed during collision, they are inflated to the fullest level making them as hard as possible. This situation may even cause you and your passengers some danger. Furthermore, in a low speed collision where impacts is also tolerable such attributes of the airbag is not necessary.

The Impact Depending airbags operates with the use of two stage generator. During collision with severe impact, they inflate the airbags to the fullest with minimum delay thus airbags provide maximum protection for you and your passengers. On the other hand, if the accident causes less impacts airbags are deployed with much longer delay thus protecting the vehicle’s occupants with a more gentle inflation. To this, whatever the severity of the impact airbags can assure you and your passengers that you will not hit the steering wheel or the instrument panel.

Another attribute of this airbag is that it operates with the help of a special weight sensor that registers whether the seat is occupied or not. This can differentiate whether an automotive seat is occupied by a person or some other objects of lighter weight such as the briefcase. For this, if the seat has is occupied with a weight of less than 12 kg, the airbag will not be deployed which would minimize you some bucks in replacing such thing in your vehicle after a crash thereby leading you to lower insurance charges. Furthermore, the front passenger airbag can be deactivated using a key switch for example if a child occupies the seat.

So have this airbag in your vehicle and your safety will be guaranteed to the nest level.

HORIZONTALLY POSITIONED AIRBAGS

2008-05-15T16:42:00.000-07:00

It is admitted that whenever you bump your vehicle, airbags play a major role for your safety. This is also the reason why vehicles nowadays have in their specifications different kinds of airbags such as of course the front air bag and the side air bag. But for complete safety in your vehicle here is another kind of air bag – the horizontally positioned air bags or the ITS head airbags.

ITS stands for Inflatable Tubular Structure. This cylindrical airbag is integrated in the frame above the door which is made possible through the honeycomb structures on such part of the vehicle and it inflates quickly. The deployment of this airbag is done intelligently through measuring a wide range of value and is deployed within milliseconds across the windows and over the seatbelt height adjuster. This ensures the best protection for the vehicle’s occupants regardless of their size and seating position.

So have these types of air bags in your vehicle and your optimum safety against impacts will be assured.

THE GREEN STRIPE WINDSHIELD

2008-05-15T16:39:00.000-07:00

There are many things which are sure to affect your riding comfort. One of them is the harsh ultra violet from the sun. This is indeed true as parking your vehicle on an open space and driving your vehicle under the sun are certainly inevitable. Well, you cannot avoid these things but if your vehicle has the proper components or even accessories its effects can be reduced if not avoided. For this, another automotive technology which you can have on your vehicle is the Green Stripe Windshield.

If you have a windshield that is with colored green stripes, then you can be sure of a much comfortable riding condition even under the sun. This kind of windshield uses a layer of special reflective material that can reflect certain wavelength of sunlight infrared radiation. Such radiation is responsible for increasing the temperature inside your vehicle. With this colored windshield, sunlight infrared radiation is not allowed to enter your vehicle’s cabin but allowing high level of natural light to pass.

This windshield technology delivers a heat saving ambiance inside your vehicle up to 10 degrees Celsius even in direct sunlight. This allows your vehicle’s air conditioning system to work properly with ample lighting condition inside your vehicle.

The green stripe situated at the upper edge of the windscreen prevents the sun from shining directly onto the driver's face, but as it does not impair your field of vision, you still have a perfect view of the traffic ahead.

THE SINGLE THROTTLE VALVES TECHNOLOGY

2008-05-15T16:36:00.000-07:00

Of all the things in your vehicle, which one would you like to upgrade? Yes all components in your vehicle can be upgraded. This is what professional drivers and racers do in their vehicles for them to experience the best on the road especially in terms of their vehicles’ speed. But that is on the part of your vehicle’s performance. It is even easier to modify the appearance of your vehicle as all you need are high end automotive accessories.

Now, one of the technologies you can have in your vehicle to maximize its performance is the Single Throttle Valves Technology. You can find it confusing but let me tell you what is it all about.

This particular automotive technology is already applied to race cars particularly on their engines. It is ideal if you want for your vehicle’s engine to have great responsiveness. This is done by having in each powerplant of your vehicle’s engine one throttle valve instead of the conventional central throttle valve in the air intake. The single throttle valve is positioned inside the induction pipe which is responsible in channeling air into the cylinder. Having this engine technology in your vehicle will enable a more precise timing and meter of a precisely measured volume of air needed in the combustion process in each cylinder.

THE 2008 FORD SHELBY GT500 KR HOOD

2008-05-13T23:44:00.000-07:00

Maybe seldom do we pay attention to the hood of our vehicles but in making the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500 KR, it is given much importance. For this, you’ll find such vehicle’s hood made of carbon fiber that a lot more than it looks. This vehicle also comes with the first for Ford and Shelby with its carbon fiber hood. The hood of this vehicle is literally a sculpted work accompanied by the right application of science. Such attribute allows this particular hood to contribute to the performance of the GT500.

“This is our first-ever production application of carbon fiber, and it is fitting that we developed it with Shelby Automobiles,” said Ford SVT chief program engineer Jamal Hameedi. “It’s there purely for performance. It brings important aerodynamic and weight-reduction benefits that translate into enhanced performance for our new King of the Road.”

The hood of the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR is a combination of both science and performance. This is to assure that the aerodynamics under this vehicle is managed to the fullest extent especially at high speeds. To do this, the hood incorporates aggressive vents particularly in its leading edges and large surface ducts on each side making the performance of this car an assured one. But you’ll even be amazed on this hood’s undersection.

This is assured as the carbon fiber used in this hood is cured at high temperature that allows engineers to create a complex aerodynamic pressure management system.

The design of this hood allows the creation of two pressure zones under it – a high pressure zone for fresh air intake and a low pressure zone that expels hot air from the engine compartment.

Intake air for the engine is fed under the hood through the leading edge intake vents. Then the underhood ducting routes it directly into a high-pressure sub compartment at the left-front corner of the engine compartment. Inside the sub compartment, separated from the rest of the underhood area by a robust rubber sealing system, is a large, conical, performance intake filter for the cool, fresh intake air.

The aerodynamic properties in this hood is protected and perfected in the wind tunnel after an extensive computer remodeling with the use of computational fluid dynamics.

This hood is lack in its place together with its complex aero performance is ensured by stylish stainless hood pins that lock its front corners in their place. And even seeing the hood pins, you’ll that their shapes are honed to reduce drag.

The rest of the underhood is entirely a low pressure zone due to the large anterior duct that sucks hot air out of the engine compartment. This harnesses the performance of the engine by assuring that it is cool no matter how this vehicle performs well on the road.

With louvered ducts on the top of this hood, it needs careful engineering for better protection of the engine components under it especially the electronic one from water. This is done as water is directly routed downward through underhood ducting. Air coming from the engine which is normally hot is pushed up through 10 smaller underhood vents and goes out through the larger exterior vents.

With this unique water management system plus the carbon fiber materials used for the hood of the new GT500KR, one can be sure that such automotive part is free from corrosion which automotive collectors will cherish.

THE SHELBY 85TH COMMEMORATIVE GT40

2008-05-12T01:23:00.000-07:00

Carroll Shelby will be celebrating his 85^th birthday and in connection with this Shelby Distribution in partnership with Shelby Automobiles Inc. will make three of the Shelby American GT40 race cars alive again through commemorative cars. For sure, this will be a hit for auto collectors and enthusiasts. What’s more amazing is these cars will be street legal. And in this blog, the specs as well as the other attributes of such race cars will be discussed.

The chassis of these race cars will be the near exact replication of the original car’s moncoque unibody structure from top to bottom. The only difference will be the use of electro-galvanized sheet steel in its construction. Its chassis, at over 12000 pounds will be stiffer than any vehicle’s chassis in the market which is made of over 244 laser cut and bent or pressed parts.

This commemorative race car is built to accommodate only a Shelby branded engine which includes the Shelby 427FE V8.

Another feature of this commemorative car is its original style of suspension that is fully independent. Its suspension utilizes an unequal length A-arm design. The coil over system makes use of H&R springs and Bilstein shocks that can be fully adjusted as well as the front and rear anti-roll bars. For this, its ride height can be changed from 4.125 to 4.75 inches.

You don’t have to worry about its brakes as the Shelby GT40 commemorative race car comes with the Wilwood super light brakes responsible for its incredible braking performance. This part of the GT40 features 12.75 inches brakes both for its front and rear brakes accompanied by 4-piston calipers. You can be sure that its wheels are of original styles as it comes with 15-inch Halibrand wheels that are wrapped with high performance BFGoodrich g-force Drag Radial tire with traction specs of 225/50/15 for its front tires and 275/60/15 for its rear tires.

Riding this race car is guaranteed to be a memorable experience for you as it features seats with original styles. It also comes with a racing style dash board with Smith gauges. For the steering wheel, it is installed with quick release 14-inch steering wheel. All these features are accurate replication of the original GT40.

WHAT IS BRAKE ENERGY REGENERATION ?

2008-05-12T01:16:00.000-07:00

Talking about the brakes of your vehicle, we can find ourselves in the realms of automotive safety. This is true as the braking capabilities of our vehicles dictate much to our own safety. Just imagine if your vehicle loses such capabilities, what will happen to you? Are you going to be safe? Of course not as your can bump and collide with anything. But here’s another thing which you can cherish having in your vehicle – the Brake Energy Regeneration.

This kind of automotive brake feature points to a more energy efficient attribute that must be in your vehicle. This is done as the moment you apply brakes or takes off your foot on the accelerator, its kinetic energy is captured and eventually fed to the battery. This will certainly reduce the amount of electric power your car’s battery has to take from the engine thus resulting to less fuel consumption. On the other hand, the moment you press the accelerator the accelerator is decoupled from the drive train. With fewer components that depend on the powertrain, you can expect more engine output that you can use in accelerating your vehicle.

Who says that the electrical system in your vehicle is the only source of its electricity? With this braking technology, your vehicle becomes less dependent on such system resulting to greater benefits such as fuel efficiency and others

So have the Brake Energy Regeneration technology in your vehicle and you’ll see the difference especially with the rising cost of fuel.

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE’S FUEL

2008-05-09T17:12:00.000-07:00

As a car owner, I maybe right when I tell that every one of us aches especially on the part of our pockets when it comes to fuel cost. But let us not consume our brain cell just to think that such commodity’s price will go down in the near future as it is impossible to happen.

Well, to help you with such burden, here are some tips recommended by Shell, a leading gasoline station in our country:

Drive smoothly: Avoid heavy acceleration or braking. Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking can lower your gasoline mileage by 5 percent at lower speeds around town and by 33 percent at highway speeds.
Replace dirty or clogged air filters: Replacing a dirty or clogged air filter with a clean one can improve gasoline mileage by as much as 10 percent. A car’s air filter can protect the engine from impurities.
Keep your engine well-tuned and repair any problems immediately: If your car has failed an emissions test or is noticeably out of tune, repairing the problem could improve your gasoline mileage by 4 percent on average.
Make sure tires are not over or under-inflated: Proper air pressure cuts down on fuel used while driving. Keeping tires at the correct pressure can improve your gasoline mileage by more than 3 percent.
Minimize vehicle drag: Keep your trunk and back seat clear of unnecessary items that only add weight. Removing excess weight can improve your gasoline mileage.
Use the recommended grade of oil in your engine: Following your manufacturer’s motor oil recommendation can improve gasoline mileage by up to 2 percent. Look for motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol to ensure it contains friction-reducing additives.
Choose a high-quality gasoline: Top automakers say that carbon deposits can build up on critical engine parts, which can decrease the power, performance and fuel efficiency of your vehicle. Audi, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen recommend using TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline to help keep engines clean. All Shell gasoline meets TOP TIER standards and stop gunky build-up on critical engine parts to help cars perform at their best.
Use cruise control on major roads and in free-flowing traffic: Maintaining a constant speed can improve gasoline mileage.
Avoid idling: When you idle, you get zero miles per gallon.
Avoid higher speeds: Gasoline mileage usually decreases when driving at speeds over 60 miles per hour.
Plan your outings to avoid separate trips: Combine your errands into one outing to avoid short separate trips. This helps avoid unnecessary cold starts and keeps your car’s engine running warm and more efficiently.
Pay with a rebate credit card: Credit cards offer a simple way to pay for things quickly, but using a rebate credit card means earning rewards with every purchase. For example, with a 5 percent rebate on Shell gasoline purchases and a 1 percent rebate on all other purchases, the Shell Platinum MasterCard(R) is one of the best rebate cards of its kind, helping consumers lower the cost of driving without sacrificing the quality of their gasoline.

Aside from the above tips, it is also important that before you go on the road you should properly check all the components in your vehicle. If the weather condition is favorable to you, minimize the use of your vehicle’s air conditioning system. And if it is not an emergency, just travel at a minimal speed.

So just follow the tips mentioned above and you’ll save lots of bucks.

THE BOOKMARKS IN YOUR VEHICLE

2008-05-08T01:34:00.000-07:00

Driving your vehicle does not only need your skills to do it but it requires some things such as your attention, the right gadgets and of course the situation where your vehicle is. To this some vehicles have made sure that driving them could be more relaxed on anyone’s part. For this, there are lots of technologies made available to vehicles nowadays that can ease up our driving. Among them are the iDrive system, the X Drive and now the Bookmark system.

Automotive technologies nowadays offer everything from the control of your vehicle to the right maneuvering, all at your fingertips. One of them is the Bookmark that allows you to save all the commonly used functions in your vehicle such as the navigation addresses including their telephone numbers and others. They can be activated also with the use of eight direct selection keys that are positioned beneath the CD drive.

With this technology, you don’t have to remove your focus on the road as you can grasp what you need easily. But you should know that the buttons used in this automotive technology are sensitive enough that even just a light touch can cause a particular program to be presented on the Info Display. To program a button is just simple as you only have to press it for a longer time.

So to evade yourself from accident caused by unfocused driving, it is good for your vehicle to have the Bookmark system. Surely, with this automotive system you can experience much comfort and convenience in driving your vehicle. so what are you waiting for, have the Bookmark system in your vehicle.

WHAT IS SUN REFLECTIVE TECHNOLOGY?

2008-05-08T01:27:00.000-07:00

Parking your vehicle amidst the sunlight is always a doubtful thing on your part. This is because of the things that enter your mind such as what if your vehicle is accidentally hit by the ball, what if another vehicle collides with your unit, and so many other things that can bother your. But of course this will not affect you if your vehicle is parked in a secured area. But before we talk about those things, let us first focus on a much simpler thing – the sunrays that can heat up your vehicle’s passenger cabin.

Yes, it is really annoying for to ride your vehicle after it is exposed under the sun. Just think of the heat that you can experience particularly when you rest yourself on your vehicle’s seat. The more it is annoying to travel in your vehicle if it is a convertible as you will be sure to accumulate not only the dust on the road but also the heat coming from the sun. But this is not a problem nowadays as you can have in your vehicle the sun reflective technology.

For sure you find it inconvenient every time you ride it after a long exposure to sunlight. For this, the sun reflective technology is the right technology to be in your vehicle. Having this comfort technology in your vehicle is just right for your vehicle that has its seats made of leather. With this technology, comfort is always assured.

The sun reflective technology is applied on your vehicle’s leather seats with the use of special pigment during the treatment of the leather. It is done through reflecting direct sunlight that is invisible to the waveband. This will result for the seat surface not to be hot as with the automotive seats made out of conventional leather. This technology can be applied also to your vehicle’s steering wheel. The sun reflective technology can maintain these components’ surface up to 25 degrees Celsius cooler. But with dark-colored upholstery, the difference is larger.

So, there is no need for you to worry about the excessive temperature on your vehicle’s leather upholstery because with the sun reflective technology, your riding comfort is always assured.

YOUR VEHICLE WITH CRASH SENSORS

2008-05-07T01:49:00.000-07:00

With the high price of your vehicle, you have no recourse but to consider it as a good investment. And if you treat your vehicle that way, you should protect it at any cost and whatever it may cause even to the point for you to spend a considerable amount of money.

There are many things which may frighten you to bring your vehicle on the road. There are the dust and mud which can affect the appearance of your vehicle. There are also the road bumps and humps that may damage some of the components in your vehicle. But worst if your beloved car encounters collision. But you don’t have to be worried about this especially if you are willing to spend additional penny. Here is what’s new in protecting your vehicle from collision – the CRASH SENSOR.

Your vehicle normally carries with it different sensors. But you’ll be thankful if your vehicle has in its specification a crash sensor. This sensor is beneficial to be in your vehicle as it recognizes an accident that has occurred and helps the occupants or the passenger to get out of the cabin as swiftly as possible by unlocking all the doors.

Even when your vehicle is just about to encounter collision, the crash sensor would be a great help. This is so because the said sensor has such ability to override your vehicle’s central locking system thus it unlocks all the doors in your vehicle. Another reason why you should have this sensor in your vehicle is such sensor activates the switches of the cabin lights in your vehicle and of the hazard warning lights thereby alerting other drivers about your situation.

THE COMMON RAIL INJECTION SYSTEM

2008-05-07T01:43:00.000-07:00

Owning a car is never a joke instead it is an expensive experience that you should treasure in the literal sense of word. This is especially true if you are an ambitious car owner who wants your unit to be at the top of all the vehicles in your community in terms of performance, looks and other attributes. Expensive, yes it is expensive for your vehicle to have such attributes as you’ll always spend many bucks to upgrade the different components in your vehicle. But if you have lots of money and there is the willingness on your part to upgrade your vehicle, here is another thing for you – the Common Rail Injection System.

Having the Common Rail Injection System in your vehicle is really a thing if you dream of a ravaging performance of your vehicle on the road. Aside from your vehicle’s optimum performance, this system also guarantees other things that are for you and your vehicle’s benefits such as improved fuel efficiency, lower emissions, better acoustics and smoother performance. If your vehicle runs because of its diesel engine, then this new automotive technology is perfect to be in your vehicle. This automotive engine technology guarantees quieter and more efficient performance from your vehicle’s diesel engine. It applies the principle that an increased fuel-injection pressure produces finer fuel droplets during the combustion process in the chamber. Instead of using individual injection pumps, the Common Rail Injection System makes use of one central high pressure pump known as the rail. This will result to extremely fast, precise and electronically controlled injector valves.

With this new automotive technology, the diesel fuel can be injected directly into the chamber in a number of phases in each combustion process; during the pre injection process, a small amount of fuel is introduced followed by the main injection and subsequent follow up injections if needed. The pre injection process ensures that the pressure in the combustion chamber is increase evenly thus reducing the engine noise. On the other hand, the follow up injections burn any remaining particulates and treat the exhaust gases.

With the high performance digital engine management and precisely designed injection valves, the Common Rail Injection System delivers significant improvements in your vehicle as mentioned above.

WHAT IS ISOFIX?

2008-05-06T01:48:00.000-07:00

Of course each one of us thinks of how we can do things right. And if your problem arises every time you ride your car with your children, here’s a good deal for you – the ISOFIX.

The ISOFIX is a new technology for your child’s seat in your vehicle. Actually it is a new way of connecting the child-seat in your vehicle. With this automotive seat technology, you can install the child seat securely. This seat technology makes use of connecting points that are firmly anchored in your vehicle’s body shell thus making the seat extremely stable and practically eliminating the chance for it to slip out of its place.

When not in use, the ISOFIX connectors automatically disappear between the seat base and back for adult passengers not to be disturbed. Furthermore, this automotive seat technology can be applied both on your vehicle’s front seat and rear seat.

So another milestone for your vehicle’s seat is the ISOFIX. And having this automotive seat technology is sure to contribute to your riding safety.

YOUR VEHICLE’S MEMORY

2008-05-06T01:43:00.000-07:00

Manual cars, I have nothing against them but as we are living in a world of rush and of time constraints, it would be better if all the things that we used in our everyday routine would cooperate to our schedule. Sometimes if not most of the time, we even find it hard to drive our vehicles because of their manual features. Such features are sure to consume our time as well as our efforts. For me it is a great waste not only of the above mentioned things but most importantly of ourselves. But we should not allow such thing to happen in us because with the key memory technology for our vehicles, such things can be done easily and conveniently. But how do this automotive feature works?

It is time for you to find joy in using the different things inside your car such as the seat, the mirrors and other things in your vehicle. And with the key memory technology, the more you have nothing to worry in lending your vehicle to others. Furthermore, with its size and features this technology is guaranteed to be use-friendly.

The Key Memory allows you to program a wide range of settings in your vehicle which includes activating the different driving lights when your vehicle starts. Also, it activates the headlight the moment you park your vehicle which is beneficial for you to walk from your car especially in a dark parking area.

Another feature of the Key Memory is to remotely unlock your vehicle every time you use it. What’s more amazing is with this key, it automatically returns vehicle settings to your preference. Among these settings are the right mirror angle and your electrically adjustable seats provided that your vehicle has the Seat Memory. Furthermore, if you dream of a cool climate setting in your vehicle, you can set it to the right cabin temperature and air flow distribution.

With this Key Memory technology, you can be sure that your vehicle’s safety is always at hand plus your riding comfort is always assured

INNOVATIVE TIRES

2008-05-03T00:33:00.000-07:00

Of course, as a driver you are familiar with traction. What it can do for your vehicle? How it can contribute to your safety? But you should also know that these things have gone far in terms of the technologies used. This is evidenced by the innovative tires which you can have in your vehicle.

You’re your vehicle uses this kind of tires, resistance becomes useless as it is manufactured to roll on the road with less resistance from your vehicle and much improved fuel consumption. This is because every time your vehicle with ordinary tires drives on the road surface, the former would become distorted. This will result for your vehicle to cost significant amount of energy.

Your vehicle can overcome such problems with tires that are of innovative designs. This is done if your vehicle uses tires with anti-distortion materials in its side wall and its tread that help to maintain the shape of such automotive component.

So, for your vehicle to be efficient, the use of this kind of tire is highly recommended.

THE TRAILER STABILITY CONTROL

2008-05-03T00:30:00.000-07:00

Of course, it is innate in us as humans to help others when we see that they need such thing. The more you can do such charitable act if you are ready for it. As a general rule, having the capacity to help others would entail you to be sufficient on yourself be it in material possession, morally upright and other things. The same also applies when you have your vehicle.

Your vehicle should not only for your own enjoyment or for your benefits. It should be also used for others concern. Meaning that aside from the reality that your vehicle should not affect anyone’s existence, it should also benefit others. This is the reason why the towing process is made available for any vehicle.

It is normal for a vehicle that will be used for towing to possess some qualities for such undertaking to be done successfully. Among such qualities is high performance which means that a vehicle should have a powerful engine. The rest of the things that a vehicle needs are all intended for their safety – both the towing vehicle and the one being towed. But nowadays, your vehicle can also have additional features for its towing to be done safely and one of such features should be the Trailer Stability Control.

The Trailer Stability Control system is an automotive system that ensures safety and stability when the towing process is in progress. This can be used not only when towing another vehicle but it can be also applied when you pull a trailer. Now, the moment you increase the speed of your vehicle the one being towed tends to swing from side to side and you can even lose control of it. This is especially true in heavier things particularly trailers loads. Even at lower speed, this thing can be also evident. For sure, it can cause destabilization both on the trailer and to your vehicle unless the speed is swiftly lowered.

This system, the Trailer Stability Control recognizes any signs of dangerous swinging on the both on the trailer and the towing vehicle. And in minimizing such risk, it immediately activates the brakes and the engine control system to lower the speed of your vehicle particularly lowering it to 65 km/h to allow the trailer to have its stability.

The Trailer Stability Control acknowledges this danger as it constantly monitors the rotational movement of the vehicle and its yaw speed signal. And if the values pertaining to such things exceed the normal, the TSC activates the brakes on all the wheels in your vehicle. Simultaneously, the engine output is also reduced. Furthermore, if the Dynamic Stability Control system is deactivated, the Trailer Stability Control system is also deactivated.

WHAT IS DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL

2008-05-02T01:07:00.000-07:00

Perhaps you find it hard to control your vehicle especially during adverse driving conditions or when you travel on tough surfaces. Dynamic Stability Control is what you need.

The said control system is a new technology common to all BMW vehicles. It serves as the center of the chassis control system as it assures the highest possible level of stability when you drive your vehicle. This is done as this control maximizes the traction of all the wheels in your vehicle especially when the latter accelerates. In doing so, the DSC is also capable to detect any signs of oversteering or understeering thus helping the vehicle to be safe on its course even its tires are of varied grip levels.

This new automotive technology functions with the help of sophisticated sensors that permanently check how you drive your vehicle. These sensors are responsible in monitoring your vehicle’s wheel rotation, steering angle, lateral forces, pressure and yaw. This is done by the DSC as a simulation model is stored in this control unit to ensure stability. Information coming from your vehicle’s steering wheel and accelerator can be compared as to that of the simulation model. If there is great difference between the two, the DSC acts to increase stability or traction. But for this system to work properly in your vehicle, your vehicle will also need some additional features such as the xDrive especially if your unit is an all-wheel drive vehicle.

For this, having the DSC in your vehicle is for sure a great addition to your riding safety.

YOUR VEHICLE’S ALUMINUM FRONT AXLE

2008-05-02T01:00:00.000-07:00

Do you believe in the saying that anything goes on in this modern time? If no, just take a look on the things around you and you’ll see high rise buildings that can even touch the skies, different gadgets that can bring anyone as far as the farthest country in our planet and ultimately different vehicles that are new to us.

In terms of vehicles, you cannot be amazed by just how they look on the road but of course on the way they perform on the streets. Well peeps, these attributes on vehicles nowadays are made possible because of the different automotive technologies that are present on such things. And if you find it hard to handle your vehicle, that should not cause you much problem because with the aluminum axle, the handling of your vehicle can be perfected.

You know what an axle assembly in your vehicle is. You also ought to know what its functions are in relation to your vehicle’s performance. Its limitation is also for you to know and maybe you are annoyed by this thing in your vehicle particularly if it is damaged. If it frequent suffers from damages, then you are obliged to replace it with something that can boost your vehicle’s performance. And having an axle assembly that is made from aluminum may be all that you need.

An axle assembly made of aluminum is really an intelligent application for your vehicle. This is because it makes your vehicle weight lighter especially its double joint cross struts that weight 30% lesser than the conventional axle assembly. The axle assembly made from aluminum delivers immediate response to the suspension and steering actions in your vehicle. It is also ideal for a vehicle to be of less weight as the latter can be controlled easily. Not only that, with an aluminum front axle in your vehicle the entire structure becomes so stable causing the wheels to have optimum traction with the road surface.

So have this axle assembly in your vehicle and see the difference.

THE BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS

2008-04-29T01:37:00.000-07:00

Headlights. We usually refer such lighting component as the one that is positioned at the front of our vehicles. It is true. The headlight functions to illuminate the front of your vehicle at the same time it makes the road on which your vehicle is to run visible. But come to think of it, because you have different needs for the proper illumination of your vehicle the headlight also comes in different types. And maybe you have heard about the Xenon headlight. To add to your amazement, here is a new technology for your Xenon headlights – the Bi-Xenon headlight system.

Your vehicle’s headlight is capable of doing two mechanisms – the full beam and the dipped beam. Each of these beams is intended for a particular situation depending upon where you want your sight to reach. And with the Bi-Xenon headlight, these mechanisms are enhanced properly especially in terms of its illumination process.

The Bi-Xenon headlights use Xenon technology for both the dipped and the full-beam settings of the headlight. This is made as both the high and the dipped beams come from one and the same source of light thus the light arc produced by the ionized xenon lamp helps to improve the illumination process provided by the headlight. So having this feature, the headlight with the Xenon technology is far better than the conventional headlights in terms of visibility, clarity and brightness.

When you have this headlight technology in your vehicle, the full beam activates whenever a light tap is done on the control stalk positioned on the steering column. This would cause the bi-xenon system to fold away a screen positioned in the path of the beam of the ellipsoid technology xenon headlight.

Overall, the result of having this headlight technology in your vehicle is beneficial especially if you are fond of traveling at night or in poor visibility condition. With this headlight technology, your propensity to accident just because of a poor headlight is lessen.

WHAT IS VANOS OR DOUBLE VANOS?

2008-04-29T01:32:00.000-07:00

Want smoother idling, greater torque and elastic power in your vehicle? Well, Double Vanos can do it all for you. It is a modern automotive technology directed to your vehicle’s camshaft particularly on its timing for the purpose of optimizing such component’s power output throughout its rev range. It can benefit your vehicle in different things such as better performance, improved fuel efficiency and lower emission.

If you wonder what the term Vanos means, it is a German term that means variable which has relation to the variable camshaft control. The double Vanos system in particular continuously adjusts the camshaft positions for the advantage of both the intake and the exhaust valves. Having the right adjustment of these two valves will result to higher torque at low engine speeds and more power at higher engine speeds at the same time it reduces fuel consumption and emission.

At lower engine speeds, the camshaft position is moved allowing the valves to be opened later. This will improve the idling quality and allowing the development of smooth power. But in case the engine speed is increased, the valves are opened earlier that allows enhanced production of torque, reduced fuel consumption and decreased emission. At high engine speeds, the valves are opened again and this allows for full power delivery.

Aside from the mentioned feature of the Double Vanos technology, it also controls the amount of exhaust gas being re-circulated back to the exhaust manifold that will result to enhanced fuel economy. This technology uses a special set of parameters during the early warning-up phase for the catalytic converter to reach its ideal operating temperature more quickly thus results to lowered emission. The process being handled by the Double Vanos system is controlled by your vehicle’s Digital Motor Electronics (DME).

So for better performance of your vehicle as well as for a vehicle-free exhaust, the Double Vanos is really a good technology to be in your unit.

THE CITROEN C-METISSE

2008-04-26T01:17:00.000-07:00

Having a good glimpse of the Citroen C-Metisse is a good shock in itself. It projects itself with a length of 4.74 m and a width of 2 m and stands at a height of 1.24 m. With its design and contours, this concept car from Citroen is a sculpture by its own right. Its overall appearance poses for much sensuality as reflected through its curves and linings. And being of such attributes, you won’t help but to have this car as your own.

This car is truly seductive as expressed through a sense of latent power. And even if it is just parked, its overall stance suggests body movements. Made with very long bonnet and virtually astonishing rear overhang, this concept car brings the memoir of the design balance common to vehicle during the golden age of Grand Touring.

In the quest for superior aerodynamics, the C-Metisse is made of design lines that also enables this vehicle to have improved fuel economy and lower pollutant emissions meanwhile it integrates the latest in automotive technologies. And if you go crazy with your vehicle’s headlight, this concept car is really perfect for you.

So till your next visit to the showroom.

THE ANTI SUBMARINING PROTECTIVE TECHNOLGY

2008-04-26T01:14:00.000-07:00

Owning a vehicle is really a thing especially if you live in a highly urbanized society. Maybe you would be dismayed of the price a vehicle cost but it does a lot of things that are for your own benefits. With these realities, it is but important to drive safely your vehicle. But there are also things which you cannot avoid while in your vehicle and the most common of them is collision.

If your vehicle collides with another vehicle, there are many things that can happen to you and most of them are not in your favor. I remember this case of a lady who was traveling at nigh with her driver. She was asleep during the travel. But because of sleepiness, her driver missed the road that results an accident and had a collision. Unfortunately, the lady died even though she was at the back seat and such area of the car suffered less damage. The question was how is happened? Well, as safety would dictate your automotive seats also play an indispensable role to assure your safety.

In the situation above, the position of the lady who was reclining at the time of the accident has contributed a lot to her fate. This is because the time the car bumped another vehicle, the body of the lady moved forward leaving her head at the back. This resulted to neck breakage.

From the situation above, you will know how important is it to have an ergonomically design seats in your vehicle. This is also the reason why most cars nowadays have seats that are equipped with headrests. But here is the new trend for your automotive seats – THE ANTI SUBMARINING PROTECTION TECHNOLOGY.

Automotive seats with anti submarining protection addresses the harmful effects brought by frontal collision or even in emergency brakes. With this technology in your vehicle’s seats, it eliminates the danger when sudden stoppage is applied on your vehicle as it holds you firmly in your seats. But what is submarining?

Submarining is the name given to a scenario wherein there is the tendency for you to slide out of the seatbelt during an accident. The forces brought by collision or breaking action tend your body to dive under the lap section directly towards the dashboard and footwell. This would cause some injuries in your abdomen, pelvic and to your spinal column.

An automotive seat with anti submarining technology comes with a special wedge-shaped form on its front with the safety belt, pre-tensioners and the force limiters, anti submarining seats reduce the injury you may suffer during collision or even in sudden braking.

So to ensure safety in your vehicle, modify its seats with the anti submarining technology.

THE AUTOBEAM

2008-04-25T00:28:00.001-07:00

There are different automotive technologies introduce nowadays on how to make night travel or even in poor visibility condition more fun and much comfortable of course with assured safety. One of them is the used of night vision camera which I have discussed in my previous blogs. But in the pursuit of safety during night travel, probably to perfect it, here is another technology that can be of help to assure your safety – the AUTOBEAM.

With AUTOBEAM Technology in your vehicle, traveling at night or in poor visibility condition will be more fun and convenient. This technology assists you at night as it automatically switches the headlights into low beam when necessary and returning it to high beam when the road clears.

But how is it done? A camera positioned at the back of the rear view mirror is tasked to monitor ambient brightness as well as the traffic conditions on the road. Such camera can even detect the headlights of approaching vehicles up to a distance of a thousand meters as well as the headlights of preceding vehicle at a distance of 500 meters away.

This technology also functions to switch the headlights from full beam to dipped beam automatically. If the driver is no longer in danger of being dazzled, the system automatically switches to high beam again.

With the Autobeam system, you do not have to adjust the headlight beam every time the situation changes. You are always assured with your safety during night travel.

YOUR VEHICLE’S SEAT VENTILATION

2008-04-25T00:20:00.000-07:00

Of course we are all in search of comfort the time when we ride our vehicles. But such thing can be drawn in varied ways. This is also because each of us has our own individual terms of what a comfortable ride is. And it is also a reality that a comfortable ride varies from time to time as it depends on the automotive technologies that are available in the market.

Now, if you are fully satisfied with the things that are in your vehicle, here is the new deal – a ventilated seat for your vehicle. Of course it is a seat but it can surely add to your riding comfort. With this kind of seat in your vehicle, you are assured of your feeling of freshness even during extended travel. This is done through the air circulated throughout the seat in a constant manner thus removing the moisture and helps prevent discomfort and ultimately from driving fatigue.

An automotive seat that is of this kind has nine axial fans which are integrated into high quality foam padding within the seat; four in the backrest and five in the seat. These fans draw fresh air from the cabin air into the seats. Such air is then channeled into the permeable middle layer and is distributed evenly throughout the seat. The air inside the seat is allowed to move through the leather by special perforations thus keeping your perspiration into minimum level. The three-speed fans can be controlled by a switch positioned on the central console or a control on the seat itself depending on your vehicle’s model. The iDrive Controller which I discussed in my previous blog will allow you to change the distribution of air between the seat and the backrest. If the fans are in their highest speed, they can cool the seat instantly particularly if the latter is exposed to direct sunlight thus assuring a comfortable welcome even in hot weather condition.

With these features, you have nothing to worry about over-cooling as automotive seats with this technology also feature seat heating that allows the seat to be heated perfectly to a comfortable temperature. And with these seats in your vehicle, long journeys will never be uncomfortable as you remain fresh, alert and comforted.

DRIVING DOWN THE HILL

2008-04-24T01:08:00.000-07:00

Is it hard for you to go down the hill? It is just normal as it affects the maneuvering of your vehicle. But it is rare nowadays as vehicles have in their specification the Hill Descent Control or the HDC. This innovative technology holds your vehicle steadily at a pre-determined speed thus helps in the brake control so that you can concentrate more on the steering in your vehicle. This will make the potentially hard task of traversing down a hill relatively easy.

Hill Descent Control is a driver assistant control system common and can be utilized on all four wheel drive vehicles. What’s more amazing with this control system is that it can be activated with just a touch of button. With this technology, driving at a speed of 35 km/hr going down a hill is reduced at approximately 7 km/hr or even 6.5 km/hr when reversing.

In terms of your safety, you don’t have to worry anything as the brake lights automatically turns on to warn other drivers behind you. On the other hand, the accelerator and the tempo mat can be used to vary speed between 6.5 and 25 km/hr but of course you can move faster or slower if you want. When this happens, the HDC will be at its standby mode. For this system to be deactivated, you must run your vehicle at a speed of more than 60 km/hr.

Having the HDC in your vehicle draws lot of benefits. This is particularly beneficial when your vehicle is going on slippery, changeable and loose downhill surfaces. Accompanied with the ABS, this technology assures stability while it prevents the wheels from locking the moment you apply the brakes on a slope thus prevents your vehicle from skidding and allows you to control the steering process in your vehicle.

Furthermore, if the HDC is deactivated it goes into fade-out mode thus reducing the braking force gradually thus giving you enough time to control your vehicle’s speed.

INTELLIGENT HEAD UP DISPLAY

2008-04-24T01:05:00.000-07:00

Ergonomics, the first time I heard such word was during a conference about our shops. I come to learn that such word deals with the working environment that we mechanics are into. But do you know that ergonomics can be applied also inside your vehicle. Yes it is and an evidence of such thing in your vehicle is the presence of different compartments particularly on the instrument panel.

If your have a modern vehicle such as BMW, ergonomics is also shown through its Head-Up Display. This Display projects important information about your vehicle directly on your line of sight. This is done through beaming easy to read images directly to the windshield. Using this automotive technology, key driving information such as speed and navigation instructions can be easily seen without the need for you to take your eyes off the road.

The Head-Up Display can be easily recognized through a small depression on the dashboard. It contains a projector and a system of mirrors that reflect easy to read and high contrast images through a translucent film on the windscreen. The image which measures around 10 x 18 cm is projected in a way that it will appear to be two meters away, above the tip of the bonnet that makes it comfortable to read.

The sophisticated projector utilized in this technology has individually managed transistor for its pixel that enables you to see the vehicle’s speed, navigation directions and other values from Check Control and the Active Cruise Control without the need for you to remove your eyes off the road.

With this Display, it is easier for you to maintain your vehicle’s speed as you know exactly how your vehicle travels. The use of navigation instructions also becomes easier because of the arrow that recommends the proper direction is immediately visible in your line of sight.

The Head-Up Display halves the time it takes for your eyes to shift focus from the road to the instrument and back thereby reducing the risk of not seeing the sudden illumination of the brake lights of the car ahead or an unexpected obstacle.

YOUR VEHICLE’S ACTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

2008-04-22T23:32:00.000-07:00

Driving your vehicle on busy highways and freeways is really hard especially if you do not know how to control your vehicle. But with the active cruise control employed in almost all modern vehicles, such undertaking can be more fun and more relaxing. This new technology maintains the desired speed as much as possible at the same time it maintains a considerable distance to any vehicles on the same lane.

This new automotive technology makes use of radar sensors that are permanently installed on the front of a vehicle to scan the road ahead. As a vehicle with this technology approaches a slower vehicle, the Active Cruise Control automatically reduces the power output of the engine and gently applying the brakes, holding your vehicle at a pre-defined distance in relation to the vehicle ahead. The distance is set as a number of seconds and not of meters so that there will be the availability of safe reaction time in relation to the current speed. And at the moment the lane becomes clear, the Active Cruise Control automatically increases your vehicle’s speed usually at your preferred speed. To deactivate this control system, a simple touch on the accelerator or on the brake pedal is required.

When traversing on curves, the Active Cruise Control makes use of the data from the DSC and navigation systems to determine whether the cruise speed needs to be adjusted or not. This would also determine whether the other vehicles in the radar’s field are in the same or neighboring lane.

What’s amazing with the radar sensor that is employed in this cruise technology is that it is heated in cold weather to ensure year round operation. Furthermore, this technology is operational at a speed above 30 km/h and below 180 km/h. The system is not intended to serve as an autopilot: outside these speeds, and if sudden deceleration is required, the driver is alerted by a warning sound and visual message.

THE FIAT PSA/UTILITY MPV

2008-04-22T23:25:00.000-07:00

Partnership. It’s really good to have one as it eases up any undertaking that you want to do. And even in our lives partnership is also a thing to cherish. Come to think of it, making a vehicle can be done also in partnership. And if you are asking for a proof, just take a look on the 2008 Geneva Auto Show.

If you are longing for a vehicle that can satisfy all you want from it, then a multi purpose vehicle is perfect for you. What’s amazing in the Geneva Auto Show is that it features such kind of vehicle and even to the greatest extent of combining the technologies of two vehicle manufacturers. What I am trying to say is that within the next days we will be seeing the Citroen Berlingo MPV and Nemo van, Peugeot Partner MPV and Bipper van, and Fiat Fiorino - with the Fiat Doblo and all these cars are made through the cooperation of two auto makers namely the Fiat and the PSA.

Most of the designs employed in the aforementioned vehicles were carried out in the FIAT Professional design studio which their main focus is purely on commercial automotive design while the engines of these vehicles are made by the FIAT counterparts such as Peugeot and Citroen. This is evidenced by the front fascias of these vehicles as they come with different front end treatments.

The design of these vehicles is obvious not withstanding their brands and to whether they are commercial vans or private passenger vehicles. Common to them is their nose treatments which feature a prominent proboscis similar to that of the larger PSA FIAT vans. Moreover, these vans also have in their interiors a very conventional instrument panel (IP) made from plastic materials. Furthermore, these multi purpose vans have one thing in common which are their car-like noses and more sophisticated instrument panels in terms of their designs. With these cars on the show, great choices have added to our choices.

THE GEELY GT “TIGER” CONCEPT

2008-04-22T01:47:00.000-07:00

I have watched this television program from the Philippines. Actually it is a game show that features a Geely Sedan as its jackpot price. When I first heard this car, I was confused as I have never heard of such auto brand. And when I receive my brochure on the upcoming 2008 Beijing Auto Show, I noticed that there are concept cars coming from Geely so I know that Geely is a car marque. One of its concept cars that interest me is the Geely GT “Tiger”.

According to the brochure that I have read, the GT Tiger is actually the star of the upcoming auto show. It represents another type of dream car which is a low slung, front-luxury GT featuring its mold that resembles that of a Maserati or an Aston Martin. Truly the entry of this concept car in the market represents the China’s ambition to be a part of the world wide automotive industry.

The side view of this concept car is characterized by a falling shoulder line crossing over the mid door to a raised haunch over its rear wheels. Its front portion features a sagging fender with its highest portion directly forward the wheels in the headlamp area. Its front face appears to be aquatic or somewhat vulgar depending on a person’s viewpoint. Its side edges curl up to meet the fender peak at the vertical headlamps while the center of the hood appears to be overblown. Its grille adds to its unique identification as it features stylish design that is different from other concept cars to be released over the next years.

More than its appearance, one can be sure of the performance that will be evidenced by the engine of the Geely GT “Tiger”. So what are you waiting for, prepare your bucks and have it on your garage.

THE PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO S

2008-04-22T01:42:00.000-07:00

Precursor to the 2008 Beijing Olympics in August is a motor show that is to be held sometime in May. And with all the promises in the upcoming Olympic Games, the 2008 Beijing auto show has also lots of promises in terms of automobiles that are new to us. And to my amazement, one of the new models in that auto show is also my favorite which is the Porsche Cayenne. And coming with lots of perks, the new Cayenne will really add savour to the automotive industry.

Once I had a friend from Turkey and I was amazed to know that in his country the ordinary mode of transportation is the Porsche Cayenne. I don’t know if my friend is just joking or was he is just fortunate enough to have such vehicle as his ordinary or daily-used car. But having an SUV like the Porsche Cayenne is really a thing. This is because aside from the marque that it bears which is a luxury one it also bears optimum performance and other things that are for the benefits of its riders. And with the up coming introduction of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, the more vehicle enthusiasts will love owning this Sports Utility Vehicle.

The 2009 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S will be available in the market with a superb power of 550 hp from its 4.8 liters, twin turbocharged V8 engine. Despite this engine, the new Cayenne still features low fuel consumption. This will make the acceleration of this vehicle of 100 km/hr in 4.8 seconds possible. Its performance is evidenced by its maximum speed of 280 km/hr.

For its outside appearance, this new Sports Utility Vehicle from Porsche features special 21 inch alloy wheels that compliment its lava grey metal paint finish. Safety wise, this new model of Cayenne comes with ceramic composite brakes and other features that are complimentary to modern road driving.

THE PININFARINA SINTESI

2008-04-19T00:54:00.000-07:00

You are sure that your place is not floody and you love long cars. So what’s next for you? Maybe to own a car of such attributes then the Pininfarina Sintesi is waiting for you. This concept car is an entry to the 2008 Geneva Motor Show and posses such qualities you want in a vehicle.

To discuss the specs of Sintesi, Design Director Lowie Vermeersch says in an interview: "We like cars that are long and low". This concept car measures at 4,800 mm long that is slightly shorter than a Mercedes Benz E-class. It is designed based on liquid packaging which means that the core technical elements can be separated and positioned all over the car.

This concept car comes with a central fuel cell spine whose shape creates a long diffuser. Each wheel of the Sintesi is powered by an electric motor. This configuration allows the passengers to enjoy its long cabin that is accented with modern luxuries.

Modern luxuries inside this concept car include black leather covers to the top of the seat squabs that are particularly made from Veltec. Such materials allow firm attachment for security. The back of the seats are made in white leather and sweeps forward to connect to the center spine. For its Instrument Panel, it serves as the center piece of this vehicle’s interior. This panel can be pushed through the bulkhead. With the internal illumination in its interior, it creates an ethereal feel when riding this vehicle.

Its exterior is mainly curvaceous and has a hint of past Pininfarina especially in the air outlet vent atop of the front fender. Such feature can obtain similarity to that of some Ferraris side air intake vents. And the side glazing that curves up into the roof and inset small window apertures also hint at classic Italian concept cars. But most of its details at the front and rear offer innovative designs which are not present in other vehicles. Truly the Pininfarina is the star of the 2008 Geneva Auto Show.

Truly Motor Shows help us in owning our dream vehicle. And if you love a vehicle with features same as Pininfarina, then this concept car is what you are waiting for. so, another car to wait for in different show rooms is the PININFARINA SINTESI

THE BLUETOOTH ON YOUR VEHICLE

2008-04-19T00:47:00.000-07:00

Some would say that the use of your mobile phone while traveling or driving your vehicle is very dangerous. This may be true as your concentration is diverted. Well, what other drivers do is to have a headset connected to their mobile phones. That’s good enough for your safety. But what about having a Bluetooth on your vehicle?

Infiniti vehicles have included in their specifications the newest Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System that allows anyone an enjoyable and more advanced communication and what’s more amazing is that it is made easy.

For its accessibility, one has not to fumble just to answer the call in time. This is because the Bluetooth new phone system links with your compatible cell phone right after you turn on your vehicle. It is done even if your vehicle is in your gym bag.

With this new phone system, you can make or answer calls with the touch of a steering wheel button. Furthermore, this automobile phone system can even mute your vehicle’s audio system when you are on the phone and returns the audio system after you finish your call.

Truly having this Bluetooth system in your vehicle makes a difference over the conventional types of communication devices you have. It assures your safety as it keeps your hands on the wheels and your eyes on the road.

MORE FUEL EFFICIENT CARS TO PLUNGE THE MARKET

2008-04-18T16:35:00.000-07:00

AIDA reported that the automotive industry would soon be welcoming more and more fuel efficient cars. This is because of the new trends initiated by automakers in creating vehicles that are powerful but use no fuel. Experts say that this trend is brought by the need of the market for such type of vehicles.

This summer, we will be witnessing early batches of hybrid cars that employ hybrid technology, hydrogen cells as their energy source or even vehicles that have cleaner engines this would include the Volkswagen Jetta that has 30% better fuel economy due to its clean diesel engine. Joining the Jetta are the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring and the 2009 Mercedes Benz R320.

THE NEW CATERHAM R500

2008-04-18T16:31:00.000-07:00

Driving your vehicle is really an experience to treasure. And whatever vehicle you are driving, you should have fun with it. For this, if you are really serious about your driving then the come back of the R500 with the all new Caterham Seven Superlight R500 is what you’ll be amazed.

This vehicle boasts of its minimalist features but with great power, sharper handling and for you who is venturing on track, its launch control and the manufacturer’s own engineered sequential gearbox.

The new Caterham R500 weighs just about 506 kg lesser than any ordinary vehicle but is capable of producing 263 bhp-per tonne. With these attributes, this Caterham is but the best option for any race track enthusiast.

This race car comes equipped with a Series 3 chassis that blasts off 520bhp-per-tonne with accelerating power of 0-60 mph in 2.88 seconds that releases your adrenalin upon strapping yourself to its Kevlar seats.

Tracing the history of this race car, the original R500 was legendary with its Rover K-series powered machine that has set records of 0-60mph and 0-100-0mph times. The new R500 was made to supersede its predecessor which is possible with the employment of the latest in lightweight engineering techniques and technology.

Within its lightened bonnet is the all alloy 2.0 Ford Duratec engine and with its roller throttle bodies, its four cylinder mill tuned by Caterham Powertrain is capable of unleashing a monster. Accelerating this vehicle is transmitted through each ratio by either the standard 6 speed gearbox or the optional Caterham Motorsport engineered sequential transmission.

In lieu of the performance the new Caterham is capable of doing on the race track, this vehicle comes with Avon CR500 tyres with a suspension setting that includes weight saving zero wishbones and fully adjustable dampers. Bringing this supercar to a halt are four-piston calipers that clamp on vented discs at its front and lightweight twin piston rear calipers.

The new Caterham is not all about performance statistics but it also distinguishes itself among its stable mates. Foremost, engineers of this vehicle add lightness to its chassis for the sake of improving its over all performance. To lessen 9kg employed in the R400, Caterham left no bolt unscrewed by employing more carbon and Kevlar, thinner body panels have been utilize right through the aluminum rear light housings.

For its appearance, this sport car features a discreet styling tweaks that employ improvement from the other CSR models. This car features carbon winglets that increase its down force and the cat’s tongue grill that aids in its engine cooling process as well as to its aerodynamics. It also comes with new leather boot cover and clear rear lights

The performance of the new R500 is housed within a revised chassis with a keyless ignition system. For its control, it is made possible with a Momo steering wheel accompanied by indicator switches and an innovative dashboard that features flush fitted switchgear, ACES sequential gear change lights and a new Stack display with scrolling text.

TIPS ON HOW TO ENJOY YOUR RIDE DURING WINTER

2008-04-16T01:16:00.001-07:00

If you are worried about how could you ride your vehicle during winter season, you don’t have to as here are some tips you can use during such season. Maybe this blog is at its improper timing but never mind, it can help you anyway in the coming days.

Here are some tips for an enjoyable ride during winter season:

Ø To protect your vehicle’s engine, always check the antifreeze level, the radiator and the different hoses in your vehicle. it is for you to protect them from freezing.

Ø To avoid less traction on the road, you may carry sandbags on your vehicle’s trunk as they weigh much.

Ø It is also important to check on your battery as winter weather can abate the electric power in your vehicle.

Ø Finding that windshield wipers are cracked in your vehicle entails you to replace them. You can use specialized winter wipers in severe conditions.

Ø It is also important for you to check on your vehicle’s tire pressure and in extreme condition, you may use specialized tires.

Ø Maintain the gas tank half full to prevent gas lines from freezing.

For a safe and worry free ride during winter, just follow these tips.

TIPS ON HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR VEHICLE’S FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

2008-04-16T01:13:00.000-07:00

Being a mechanic, I usually encounter vehicle problems about their fuel injection system. And it is indeed a headache to encounter such problem. This is because such system can be considered as the life support of your vehicle since without it, your vehicle’s engine may become thirsty of fuel. The fuel injection system functions as its supplies the engine with the right quality and quantity of fuel. Now as a system, the fuel injection in your vehicle is handled by different components. Today’s blog of mine will give you certain tips on how to properly maintain the fuel injection system in your vehicle especially if it is an electronic one.

First of all, it is important for you to know the different components that comprised your vehicle’s fuel injection system. The fuel injector can be considered as the heart of this automotive system since it is the one that supplies fuel directly to the engine. But as the fuel needs to be at its best quality before it can be utilized by the engine, there are also other components that make such fuel attribute possible. One is the fuel filter that serves as the one that cleans the fuel of any debris and contaminants. There are also other fuel injection components that make fuel more susceptible for your vehicle’s engine such as the fuel tank that stores the fuel at the best condition possible, the fuel pump that pumps the fuel out of the tank. These components are sure to make your vehicle’s performance to its limit. But with the employment of electronic fuel injection system, the more you can expect that your vehicle will perform at its limit on the road.

One way for your vehicle to perform at its best with the fuel that it uses is to make sure that each of the components in the fuel injection system clean and efficient. This is particularly true with the fuel filter because it can be clogged by the debris and contaminants that are carried by the fuel. This certainly will affect your vehicle’s performance especially in terms of its fuel mileage. But you don’t have to replace the fuel filter at once as it can be cleaned or recharged by the fuel filter kits that are available in the market. And if you are sure that the fuel filter functions at its best, then you have no hesitation for your vehicle’s fuel injection system to perform at its best.

Fuel serves as the blood of your vehicle for without it your vehicle can never perform well on the road. But the task of having fuel in your vehicle does not end the moment a gasoline boy puts it into your vehicle. You have to make sure that the components responsible for proper utilization of fuel inside your vehicle are also in good condition.

YOU CAR’S A/C SYSTEM

2008-04-15T00:28:00.000-07:00

Each one of us has our individual cravings while riding our vehicles. This is also the reason why we have chosen our beloved cars. And for sure that car that we have this very moment satisfies our needs perhaps to a comfortable ride or to a ravaging performance on the road. But there are things that all of us drivers as well as passengers must experience and that would be a comfortable ride.

What constitutes a comfortable ride? A travel that is free from bumps and unnecessary movements, a ride that is full of good music or television shows, and an experience worth cherishing when in your vehicle. And to top it all, everybody would agree that during summer ride a highly functioning air conditioning system is all we need to have a comfortable ride. And everybody would agree that we should have in our vehicles a highly efficient air conditioning system. But because the air conditioning system is working overtime during a summer ride, it is also important for you to know how you can maintain the proper performance of the air conditioning system in your vehicle? What are the things that may cause its intermittency? And if you are indeed asking such questions, then this blog is what you should read.

The most common thing that you might think of when you start to feel the heat inside your vehicle is the malfunctioning of your vehicle’s air conditioning system. Well, that is only one sign of an intermittent air conditioner and here are some more:

The air conditioning system does not have the capability to cool your vehicle’s passenger cabin at your desired temperature and instead of producing cool air it produces warm air.
Water and condensation are evident in your vehicle’s floor.
You can also smell musty odor particularly at the A/C vents while the system is in operation.
Loud noise is also evident coming from the engine or the A/C system when in use.
Your vehicle’s engine also suffers from overheating when the A/C is in use.

If you notice any of these signs, then it is time for you to bring your vehicle to a mechanic for inspection. Proper maintenance and early detection of any defects in your vehicle’s A/C system can save you lots of money. And it is just normal for your mechanic or A/C technician to check on the coolant level, look for any leaks and tears in the hoses.

You can have all the things done by the technician but it is also recommended for you to know some things that concern your vehicle’s A/C system as they will surely save time and money.

It doesn’t mean that even though you have an air conditioning system, you should use it a lot. When driving on city streets, it is recommended to open your vehicle’s windows. It can even save fuel costs.
The moment you came at higher speeds or at freeways, it is time for you to use your vehicle’s air conditioning system. This will cause your vehicle to consume less fuel.
It is also important to clean the air filters every 15,000 miles of travel to prevent the build up of dirt and debris which can lead to A/C malfunction.
Proper and regular replacement of the A/C condenser can do a lot in assuring that your vehicle’s A/C system will perform well. This is because the condenser can be clogged with debris overtime.

So, for a fun travel this summer just follow the tips mentioned above. But most importantly drive your car safely and a comfortable ride will just follow.

THE RAPTOR

2008-04-12T01:37:00.000-07:00

Forget first the basketball team in the NBA or the animal in the river. The Raptor that I mean will sure interest all car owners and enthusiasts as it is the name of Saleen’s all new concept vehicle. this car has made its grand entrance in the automotive today at the New York auto show in Jacob K. Javitz Convention Center. Bur don’t worry as this vehicle is the first of the many incoming news from the said automaker. And as all concept vehicles have their own specification that’s more or less new to us so as the Raptor.

The Raptor comes as a two seat, mid-engine super car that can compete in terms of styles and size with other Italian-made exotic vehicles. Coming with the S5S designation, this car comes with 650hp and 630 lb-ft producing Saleen 5.0L Supercharged Engine. It is different with other vehicles offering other type of alternative fuels as it is designed to digest cellulosic ethanol, a fuel technology the same with the ethanol formula. And with its higher octane level, this concept car is designed for more power. It is indeed a combination that will send the Raptor screaming to 60 mph in a g-force generating 3.2 seconds. This engine of the Raptor gives it 650 hp at 6300 rpm with a maximum torque of 4400 rpm. Its power sits on call beneath the knob with 6-speed manual or optional paddle shifting sequential gearbox. With ethanol power, the Raptor is meant to be both mean and clean.

The power of this vehicle can be controlled with the double wishbone suspension together with rack and pinion steering that are augmented by ABS traction control and stability control systems. For its brake system, this car features front rotors on its front with a diameter of 15 inch with 5 piston calipers. For the rear rotors, it has this brake component with 13 inch as its diameter including dual piston calipers. Road traction won’t be a problem for this concept car as it comes with 275/35 ZR20 and 315/35 ZR20Pirelli Rosso tires that wrap the 20 inch forged aluminum front and rear wheels respectively. And with the wheels that come with black-diamond and carbon fiber finish, this makes the wheels of the Raptor stunning as they are strong.

Another car to look at the showroom near your place is the Raptor and with its features, it is sure investment for anyone.

AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO COUNTER FRONT COLLISION

2008-04-12T01:33:00.000-07:00

Owning a vehicle doesn’t mean you’ll experience all the good things that it promises. But even with the danger that it can give, driving your own vehicle is still an experience to treasure. But if your question is how you can survive a front collision that is to happen in your vehicle, here’s a good deal – The BlockerBeam.

The Blockerbeam is a technology developed by Ford that has the purpose of enhancing your vehicle’s undercarriage – in simple words improving your underride carriage protection system. It is designed to make contact with the frame rails in the event of front collision thus preventing your vehicle to slide under the higher-riding front bumper of a vehicle. during impact, the L-shaped bracket bends to disperse the impacts of the crash thus reduces further intrusion into the passenger compartment of your vehicle contributing much to the safe ride in your vehicle.

Sedans, coupes and convertibles as well as other vehicles with low undercarriage should have in their specifications the BlockerBeam to give them enough protection during collision with much higher vehicles. This life saving component is effective when attached to the frame 2.5 inches underneath the bumpers and 6.5 inches behind the conventional front bumper. This would allow your low ride vehicle to share the energy during collision with the much higher vehicle.

The BlockerBeam is another component to ponder with if you want optimum safety for your vehicle.

THE WOMEN FRIENDLY SEATBELTS

2008-04-12T01:32:00.000-07:00

Different motor shows that are happening in different parts of our planet offer the latest in automotive technology. They even introduce a wide array of vehicles that can ease our lives and contribute to some aspects if not all of our daily living. And adding to the many innovations that the automotive industry has stored for us is a kind of seatbelt that is women friendly.

The kind of seatbelt that I am talking about is a 5-clip seat harness and routes down the middle of the chest, between the cleavage. This is different with the usual seat harness that you have in your vehicle as it does not cut across the breast portion of the lady passengers thus minimizing the discomfort one has to carry while seating on a vehicle.

So if you are riding with girls, then having this kind of seatbelt is really a great addition in your vehicle.

YOUR VEHICLE’S WINDOW REGULATOR

2008-04-12T01:30:00.000-07:00

Talking about our vehicles would always mean discussing about the engine components of our vehicles but it should not always be the cays. This is because you have to pay attention to the seemingly not important components in your vehicle. And talking about such components, let us talk about the window regulator of your vehicle.

Admit or not, the windows of your vehicle make the most of your traveling experience in your vehicle. Considering the sceneries and beautiful spots that you have the chance to see while traveling with your vehicle, windows should be considered with utmost importance in your vehicle. In doing so, you should know what comprised such part of your vehicle and basically how to properly maintain the said part. For this, one of the components of your vehicle’s window that’s worth knowing is the window regulator.

What is a window regulator? Maybe you don’t see this regulator often but this window component is of the control components that you should properly maintain always. The window regulator takes charge of the window glasses in your vehicle. Without this regulator, raising or lowering your vehicle’s window glasses can be hard that will contribute to your discomfort. Now, to do its function the window regulator is accessible to the nearest person closest to a particular window. What’s amazing is that modern vehicles feature a winding mechanism for their windows that allow their drivers full control over all the windows in their vehicles.

There are two basic types of window regulator common to all vehicles nowadays and these are the manual and the automatic window regulator. The manual window regulator operates by raising and lowering the window glasses with the use of a hand crank. The rotation of the different gears activates the mechanical plate thus raising or lowering the window glasses. The window bar and the linkage arm serve as the support of the window glass. On the other hand, an electric window regulator also known as power or automatic window regulator also does the same thing except that you do not have to rotate a hand crank as all the processes to raise or lower the window glass are done with a touch of touch of the button. This is made possible with a small electric motor added to the switching components and consequently activates the gears to operate the window of your vehicle.

Even the window regulator is not directly involved with your vehicle’s performance, proper maintenance should be also given to it. This is because a bad or an intermittent window regulator takes the fun away when riding your vehicle. This is particularly important if as a rider, you are giving much emphasis to your comfort and convenience.

FORD SHELBY GT

2008-04-10T01:21:00.000-07:00

Ford has a wide array of Mustang and adding to this array id the Ford Shelby GT which is inspired by the Ford GT-H concept unveiled at the 2006 New York International Auto Show. It is indeed a great addition to the Ford’s stable of performance cars. The Shelby GT is set to take its place between the Mustang GT and the powerful Ford Shelby GT500.

To discuss what the Ford Shelby GT is capable of doing on the road, this vehicle will be powered by a 4.6 liter, 325 horsepower engine capable for both street and track use. This car will be the third generation of Mustang produced by Ford in partnership with racing legend Carroll Shelby. “It’s got the heart and soul of the Mustang GT pumped up with a great noise, strong motor, and nimble chassis,” Shelby proudly said in a statement. “It’s one of those rare cars that’s really easy to drive really fast.” And with this engine, the Ford Shelby GT will definitely be another monster on the road.

So, Mustang and Shelby enthusiasts, watch out in the nearest showroom for this car. it will definitely make your ride a roaring experience on the road.

TIPS ON HOW TO ENJOY SUMMER RIDES

2008-04-10T01:18:00.000-07:00

Summer days are coming to our lives and for most of us what a better way to live with them than to spent summer days on travel. Well we could enjoy riding our vehicle if we are sure of our safety and this means that we have to pay much attention to our vehicles’ brake system. It is best if we could check each and every component in this system before going on in a trip. You should not take this for granted because according to the reports of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 2,600 deaths and 10,000 disabling injuries happen every year just because of neglected vehicle maintenance. Thus it pays to have the advice of a professional mechanic for each part of your vehicle particularly its brake system. For this, here are some tips you can grasp in making sure that the brake system in your vehicle will not fail you:

Have your vehicle’s brake system checked and analyzed annually - this should be done preferably by a technician who must be certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. Among the braking components which your technician should check is the brake lining, rotor, hoses, brake lines, the brake fluid level, brake lights and other components that are important for your vehicle’s braking capability.
Regular changing of brake fluid - for the best result of brake fluid in the success of the braking process of your vehicle, it is recommend that such fluid be changed every 24,000 miles of travel or every two years. This is because brake fluid can be contaminated over time of the moisture that it absorbs from the vehicle’s hydraulic system. Such moisture can cause brake malfunctions evidenced by rust, corrosion and other problems.
Look out for any symptoms of brake malfunction - we as drivers should know the different signs of brake malfunctions. These symptoms include excessive squealing noise accompanied by rotten egg smell when braking.

Also there are other signs tantamount to brake failure such as when your vehicle pulls to left or right when braking, brake lights and warning lights come on when driving; brake pedal goes down too far or feels to hard, vibration in the brake pedal, steering wheel, or the entire vehicle when braking.

Checking these things in your vehicle is sure to bring you great summer experience with your vehicle.

THE 2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE COUPE

2008-04-09T00:18:00.000-07:00

The 2008 New York Motor Show has enough good things to reveal to the automotive industry. It covers not only vehicles that are to be released this year but even beyond. One of the vehicles in this motor shoe that really get my attention is the 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe. This car really satisfies what I want for a coupe. And let me tell you what this vehicle can bring you.

The 2009 Pontiac Solstice is a vehicle for drivers and enthusiasts who want dramatic styling and balanced performance for their vehicles. This Pontiac model builds its success on the convertible model at the same time offering a greater range of all-season driving opportunities.

The 2009 Solstice offers a great option for those who want an open air experience for their vehicles. This is because of the removable roof panel that this vehicle has. It also features a full opening of the cockpit to all of the sensations of the roads. But what make this coupe so spectacular from the other vehicle in the New York Motor Show.

The Solstice Coupe to be released by Pontiac in 2009 got its inspiration from the Solstice Coupe concept which was shown in North American International Auto Show in 2002. And base to its concept, this vehicle features a modern sports car with classic lines. Its roofline features a ‘fastback shape’ with stylish ‘rails’ from the front of the roof to the rear that culminates in a stylish and functional ducktail-style rear spoiler.

The roof of the Solstice Coupe is fixed aft of the B-pillars accompanied with side windows and a rear liftglass that provides access to the cargo area. The roof panel of this coupe can be easily removed from the passengers’ compartment and an optional soft roof cover stored in the cargo area.

Other improvements for the Solstice Coupe include new tail light assemblies. It features the same rear fender and rear fascia the same as the other convertibles have. This Coupe also features lightweight structure as its roof is strengthened with additional support elements that include an aluminum roof bow attached with aluminum brackets. The bow and brackets are stiff yet have lightweight. Furthermore, the roof of this coupe includes a lightweight sheet molding compound cover that is affixed to a rigid aluminum frame for added lightweight support. Its lightweight magnesium roof panel that weighs just 31 pounds can be removed by just one person.

For the interior of the 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe, it features the same as that of the other convertibles. Only that some modifications were made in the area behind the seats to provide easy access on the cargo area.

For its attributes and features, the 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe is another vehicle to wait for its release in the market.

THE REMOTE CONTROLLED H3

2008-04-09T00:14:00.000-07:00

Perhaps no one can question me that part of being boys, we have a delightful inclination on toy cars particularly remote controlled toy cars. But as the saying goes that all men remain boys for the rest of their lives, we boys have only change our toys in the course of our lives. This is evidenced when Dr. James Brighton has transformed a Hummer H3 into a remote controlled vehicle. It took Dr. Brighton to transform this right hand vehicle into an ultimate boy’s toy. What’s more amazing with this full scale toy car is when transformed, it also gain some features which are not common to other ordinary vehicles and among them is to climb a 407mm vertical wall, to traverse a 40% side slope and to operate in up to 610 mm of water. Well, one can’t really imagine having fun with this innovative automotive technology.

THE GM’S E-FLEX SYSTEM

2008-04-08T00:46:00.000-07:00

I have discussed several automotive technologies which I find to be perfect in our present condition right now. What I mean with this condition is the deteriorating condition of our environment. To this, I have several discussion of automotive hybrid technology which is more or less efficient in saving our environment. But let me add another green technology in the automotive industry and this is about the E-flex electric vehicle system.

What is the E-flex system? This system was first introduced by General Motors and is applied to its Chevrolet Volt, a 40-mile, all electric range plug-in hybrids. This system initially uses a plug-in capable, battery dominant series hybrid architecture. All vehicles employing the E-flex system are all electrically driven and feature common drive train components. A vehicle with this system can create electricity on board. Regenerative braking also contributes to the on-board electricity production. To this, E-flex literally means different sources that can produce electricity to run a vehicle.

The concept of employing E-flex system on all GM vehicles is in consonance to these manufacturer efforts to mechanical hybrids including the development of Saturn VUE Green Line two-mode plug-in hybrid.

So guys, owning a vehicle nowadays is not anymore a reason for us not to contribute in the effort of saving our environment. This is because you can choose from a wide array of “green vehicles” that are available in the market.

THE CHEVROLET VOLT

2008-04-08T00:27:00.000-07:00

For the General Motors to manifest its E-flex system, it chose its Global Compact vehicle architecture (Cobalt-size) as seen in the Chevrolet Volt. This vehicle makes use of an electric motor the same as the one used in the Equinox fuel cell vehicle in its electric power train; a machine that can produce 120 kw electric power that develops 320 Nm of torque.

The Volt concept car will use a 16 kwh lithium ion battery pack that can deliver 136 kW power at its peak. With its plug in technology, the Volt can be recharged at home between 6 to 6.5 hours. This car can support all-electric mode from 0 to its top speed of 100 mph with bursts of up to 120 mph. This hybrid car can also accelerate from 0 to 60 mph that can take from 8 to 8.5 seconds. To do this, it is suggested for this vehicle to be run in an all-electric mode until the state-of-change of the battery reaches 30% - this strategy delivers approximately a 40-mile range.

The Volt has in its specification a 53 kW generator set that allows on-the-fly recharging of the battery. This generator set uses a 1-liter, 3-cylinder turbocharged engine. The configuration of this concept car features a 12-gallon fuel capacity giving this vehicle a total driving range of around 640 miles which works out to a nominal fuel efficiency of about 50 miles per gallon.

There are also some hints for effectively driving the Chevrolet Volt such as the less you drive this vehicle before recharging the higher fuel efficiency you can expect. According to GM people, the Chevrolet Volt also features a number of advanced materials from GE Automotive Plastics such as:

· Roof, rear deck lid and fixed side glazing made with Lexan GLX resins and Exatec coating technology;

· Doors and hood made with Xenoy iQ high performance thermoplastic composites (HPPC). Xenoy iQ resins are created with polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)-based polymers derived from 85% post-consumer plastic waste, consuming less energy and yielding less carbon dioxide (CO2) in their manufacturing than traditional resins.

· Global energy absorber and hybrid rear energy absorbers with Xenoy iQ resins;

· Steering wheel and instrument panel with integrated airbag chute made with Lexan EXL resins;

· Front fenders made with Noryl GTX resins; and

· Wire coating made with Flexible Noryl resins

MERCEDES’ THREE SUVs

2008-04-05T01:38:00.000-07:00

There are many things that the 2008 New York motor show has opened to us. And one of them is the introduction of different vehicle models that are probably new to us. And to my great amazement, this year will definitely a great year for Mercedes Benz as it introduces 3 SUVs at the same time.

Well, peeps it is for us to check these cars:

REPLACING YOUR VEHICLE’S BATTERY

2008-04-05T01:34:00.000-07:00

Your vehicle’s battery is indeed one of the powerful components that make the former roar on the road. Its main function is to store electrical power produced by the alternator. Also, you should know that your vehicle’s battery should be considered with much sensitivity.

In the fight against global warming, this automotive component is also one of the things that draw many controversies. Well, that’s normal as it contains lead that is detrimental to our environment. Your next question perhaps is how to replace the battery of your vehicle as well as how to properly dispose it.

Here are some tips that can help you a lot as suggested by CarMax, Inc.

Wear proper eye, hand and clothing protection when around batteries.
Check the terminals where cables connect to be sure they are tight and corrosion free. If corrosion is present, have terminals cleaned by professionals.
Lubricate terminals with a dab of petroleum jelly to keep cables clean and free from corrosion longer.
Make sure the battery is firmly secured to its mounting bracket. An unsecured battery can become damaged and cause short circuits.
Check the fluid level unless it’a maintenance-free battery. If the fluid is low, add distilled water. If there is no fluid visible, then replace the battery.
Keep your battery case clean. Dirt conducts electricity which can discharge the battery. Use a solution of baking soda dissolved in warm water to clean. Wet the case and agitate with a nylon bristle brush to scrub surface. Rinse well with plain water.
Batteries come in many different sizes. When replacing a car battery, make sure you choose the right size for your vehicle. When it comes to car batteries, bigger is not always better.
Always disconnect the negative cable first and reconnect it last. Charge battery in a well-ventilated area.

TIPS ON HOW TO CONQUER ROAD POTHOLES

2008-04-05T01:31:00.000-07:00

Its an annoying thing that after you have traveled, you’ll find some of your vehicle’s engine components damaged. That indeed is a waste of money. But it is true when you travel along off road conditions or even on concrete roads but with potholes. Not only that, potholes also affects your riding comfort. Here are some tips suggested by State Farm:

Try to limit your travel to roads you know very well. That knowledge could keep you from hitting a chuckhole and seriously damaging your car.
When driving at night, try to drive on well-lit roads so you can see the road surface. Once again, it’s probably a good idea to limit your travel to roads you know very well.
Slow down. Give yourself a chance to see the pothole and avoid it.
If you hit a pothole, carefully inspect your tires and wheels for possible damage. Note how your car handles in the aftermath. If it “pulls” or you feel a wobble in the steering, you may need to have your car checked out by a mechanic.
If you must hit a pothole, do your braking before impact. There’s less damage when a tire is rolling than when it is skidding over a hole during braking.

THE 2010 PONTIAC SPORT TRUCK

2008-04-05T01:26:00.000-07:00

Maybe you find it nonsense to talk about the things that will happen in one or two year ahead. That’s true on other things but in terms of vehicle, that is the very first thing that you should know. Well, you should be grateful to the different auto shows that are happening all over the planet. And if you are scouting for a good vehicle to own, such shows would be a great help.

Everyone of us wants a luxurious ride from our vehicle. and if such vehicle can haul things at a great performance, the more it should be revered. To this, the 2010 Pontiac G8 sports truck can make a difference being your vehicle. truly, it will revolutionize the automotive market particularly in North America. Its uniqueness comes from the combination of sporty handling in a performance coupe and the cargo capabilities of a light truck.

This 2010 pick up is based on the all-new Pontiac G8 performance sedan which is the newest member of the G8 family. It comes with a longer wheelbase and a cargo bed that fits either work or recreational activities. This trucks embodies Pontiac’s commitment to style and performance. it is expected to be available in the market by the late 2009.

So have the best pick up now through the Pontiac G8 sports truck.

CHECKING THE OIL IN YOUR VEHICLE’S ENGINE

2008-04-05T01:24:00.001-07:00

Its amazing to know one who has his vehicle but doesn’t know even a little of the basics in maintaining his vehicle. Changing or checking the oil in your engine is just one of the basics that you should be acquainted in your vehicle. But let this blog offer you some tips in how you can do best with regards to your vehicle’s engine oil.

Checking the oil in your vehicle’s engine could be done with lots of fun by following these tips. First and foremost, when checking this element you must be sure that your vehicle is on a level plane at the same time it is in relatively cold temperature. Second, the practice of keeping the crankcase topped off completely to check the dipstick would give just gives you an erroneous reading. This is because the quantity of oil consists only of half a litre but there is still oil in the oilways and passages of the engine as it takes time to drain oil back into the crankcase. Then seeing the oil in low level, you would think of filling more oil to the engine. This practice will cause the engine to be overflowed with oil.

YOUR VEHICLE’S MOTOR OIL

2008-04-05T01:20:00.000-07:00

As the owner of our vehicle, we ought to maintain everything in it. And as one of the most sensitive component in your vehicle, we should give much consideration in such part of our vehicle. Since time immemorial, the use of oil is proven to be an effective maintenance tip for our vehicle’s engine. For this, some consider the use of oil as a means by which we value our vehicle. But how does oil really works in our engine?

As a general concept, oil serves as lubricant for the different components in your vehicle’s engine. Its primary job is to prevent all metal surfaces in such part of your vehicle from grinding together and tearing themselves apart cause by friction causing improper transfer of heat from the combustion cycle. Beside this, oil should also hold all the nasty by-products of the combustion process such as silica or silicon oxide and other acids particularly in suspension. Oil also maintains the cleanliness of the engine in terms of unwanted chemicals and other build ups. And last but definitely not the least, oil minimizes the exposure of engine to oxygen thus preventing oxidation at higher temperature, these things are done under tremendous heat and pressure.

But there are also some problems that maybe caused by oil and the so-called Black Death in automobiles during the early 80’s is caused by it. There are also some things that contribute to the existence of Black Death such as faster roads, higher under-hood temperatures, tighter engineering tolerances and overworked engine oils. When these things happen, oil couldn’t handle it and change its chemical makeup under pressure. This would cause the oil to change into tar-like glue causing all oil channels in the engine to be blocked resulting to starved lubrication .

YOUR VEHICLE’S DASHBOARD

2008-04-03T00:39:00.000-07:00

Driving your vehicle on the road should be done in an excellent condition all the time not only on the vehicle’s side but also on your part. To this, vehicle manufacturers have made sure that as you drive you drive your vehicle all the things you need are within your reach. That is to allow you to stick your focus on the steering wheel and your eyes on the road. For this, every vehicle is equipped with highly configured dashboard. Modern vehicles have it with OBD II or the On Board Diagnostics 2.

What is the OBD II? The OBD II is a fault registering system connected to all the sensors all over your vehicle. These sensors are constantly monitoring all the things in your vehicle such as the engine, the fuel and the emission system. The OBD consists of a display composed of different light signals. And as there are approximately 4000 unique OBD2 codes, you should know what each of these codes mean. But you don’t have to be worried about these codes as there are handheld OBD2 diagnostic tools that can be plugged in to the OBD port usually positioned under the dashboard particularly on the driver’s side. Such tools can read the codes signifying faults in a particular part of your vehicle. Another use of these tools is to reset your vehicle’s system to contain no codes.

OBD 2 codes can be classified into two categories – historical/inactive and active. To differentiate the two, historical codes represent the things that have been detected in the past but no longer an issue. On the other hand, active codes are those representing current problems on your vehicle that should be addressed immediately. Codes are further subdivided into B-codes for the vehicle’s code, the C-codes for the chassis and the P-codes for your vehicle’s power train.

THE P0440 OBD-II CODE

2008-04-03T00:37:00.000-07:00

The most common code you’ll find in your vehicle’s OBD-II is the P0440 OBD-II code and it is the first thing that you should check. This particular code is for Evaporative Emission Control System Malfunction that represents multiple malfunctions. The one thing that this code covers is your vehicle’s gas cap or the petrol cap. This is evidenced as your vehicle has its pressurized fuel system and vapor recovery loop. And if you have filled the fuel system with petrol without twisting the gas cap until it locks, then you’ve not sealed the fuel system. Then it will result for the fuel system not having its pressure resulting for the OBD-II system to log on a P0440 code. Different cars have different way of conveying the P0440 code. Just like in the Honda Element, the code is displayed as “CHECK GAS CAP” across the odometer display. So if the engine light, like the one shown above, check the gas cap and see if the display goes off. But it is also for you to know that even the display is off, the code will be stores and will be shown the next time you checked it.

COOLANT WARNING LIGHT

2008-04-03T00:34:00.000-07:00

Coolant plays a major role in your vehicle’s overall performance. For this, vehicle manufacturers give much emphasis to it by including OBD codes representing the coolant on your vehicle’s dashboard. To this, if the above code lights up in your vehicle’s dashboard it means that the coolant is low and needs topping up. To top your vehicle’s coolant, it could be done when the engine is cold and you can have whether pre-mixed coolant that is available in automotive shops or even distilled water can do. But it is recommended not to use tap water as it contains some mineral deposits. Having this light on the dashboard allows you to be prepared against overheating.

THE DOUBLE WISHBONE SUSPENSION

2008-04-02T00:21:00.000-07:00

There are different types of automotive suspension which could be in your vehicle and one of them is the double wishbone type. But what is it? In terms of its structure, you can be sure that it will be efficient when installed in your vehicle. But let me explain how it works.

In this type of suspension, the wheel spindles are supported by an upper and a lower “A” shaped arm. But the lower arm carries most of the load. Focusing on this type of suspension, you’ll find its very parallelogram system that allows the spindles to travel vertically in an upward and down motion. Doing this, spindles are also doing slight side-to-side motion brought by the arc. This side-to-side motion is known as scrub. Unless the links are infinitely long, the scrub motion is always present. There are also other types of motion that the wheels are doing relative to the vehicle’s body when the suspension articulates. First is the toe angle or the steer angle and the second is the camber angles. These angles are what make your vehicle’s tires worn out easily.

THE MCPHERSON STRUT

2008-04-02T00:10:00.000-07:00

Undoubtedly, all vehicles have in their suspension systems a McPherson strut particularly European cars. But what makes this kind of strut so especial? The answer would be its simplicity and efficiency. As a complex component, this kind of strut is composed of a strut-type spring and shock absorber combination that pivots on a ball joint on the lower arm. On its top end lies a needle roller bearing. The strut itself is the load-bearing component in this assembly with the spring and shock absorber merely performing their duties as oppose to actually holding the car up.

For the physical structure of the McPherson strut in your vehicle, the steering gear is either connected to the lower shock absorber housing or to an arm that is positioned either from the back or front of the spindle. The moment you steer, it physically twists the strut and the shock absorber housing together with the spring to turn the wheels. The spring is seated in a special plate at the top of this assembly that physically allows twisting to take place. And if this plate or the spring is worn out, you may experience a loud ‘clonk’ on full lock as the spring frees and jumps into place. This is sometime confused with CV joint knock.

FERROFLUID OR MAGNETO-RHEOLOGICAL FLUID DAMPERS

2008-04-02T00:07:00.000-07:00

Every one of us is dreaming of a comfortable ride. Well, this is not hard to achieve as you only have to focus on certain components in your vehicle. and if you are annoyed of the bumps and unnecessary movements every time your vehicle goes off road, then its time to pay attention to your vehicle’s suspension system. But if the conventional suspension system does not anymore satisfies your suspension needs, then its time to try the Ferro fluid.

What is Ferro fluid? It is a new suspension system that is introduced in Audi vehicles but just the same, it is also designed to bring much comfort to the passengers’ cabin. This suspension technology is characterized by the dampers that are not filled with regular shock absorber oil. What fills the dampers is the magneto-rheological fluid. Such fluid is synthetic hydrocarbon oil that contains subminiature magnetic particles. It creates a magnetic field when voltage is applied to a coil inside the damper piston. Within the magnetic field all the magnetic particles contained in the oil change alignment within microseconds. And because the damper is trying to squeeze oil up and down, the presence of the particles transverse this motion making the oil much stiffer. This results for the oil to flow less leading to a much stiffer suspension system in your vehicle.

Perhaps the use of Ferro fluid in your vehicle’s suspension system is new to you. But from its attributes, you’ll know that it is good and who knows it may even improve your vehicle’s suspension capability. And if we are courageous enough to try new things on our vehicles, then we should be also knowledgeable enough to explore this suspension technology.

YOUR VEHICLE'S LOGO

2008-04-01T00:34:00.000-07:00

Everybody is thinking how they can make their vehicles roar on the road. But forget it first. What am I trying to say is that pay attention first to the most complicated part of your vehicle – its logo. Complicated? Yes, it is the most cost complicated thing in your vehicle because it can bring you to jail. This is what I have learned when I come to know Mr. Dan Cawley with his legal battle against Ferrari Motors.

Mr. Dan Crawler is famous in the automotive world for his job of stretching different car models. One time he is able to modify a 360 Modena and turns it into a stretched vehicle. He was able to do it by cutting the vehicle into two and inserting a 3 meter carbon fiber body. But its logo is retained. This thing makes Ferrari Motors ambiguous since they do not have a vehicle with extended body bearing the front of the 360 Modena. For Mr. Crawley to avoid legal consequences, he has to remove all Ferrari badges from his creation.

Automotive logo which is usually positioned at the front of a vehicle may be simple and do not function to contribute to the overall performance of your vehicle. But it is to be considered of much importance. This is because the logo carries with it the totality of your vehicle. This is to say that the reputation that your vehicle has depends on such minute thing. The case of Mr. Crawler ought to be the best example for us on how we should use our vehicle’s logo. We should not have any logo for our vehicle other than the one put to it by its manufacturer.

THE ECOBOOST

2008-04-01T00:30:00.000-07:00

What’s amazing in having the different auto shows all over the planet is different models of vehicle are introduced. In doing so, people would have their best choice of vehicle. And because we fear particularly to the condition of our planet, different automotive technologies are also introduced. Of all the new automotive technologies that came to the picture of the automotive industry, I find it worth discussing the technology that will be introduced by Ford which is the Ecoboost.

What is an Ecoboost? The Ecoboost is a new automotive technology dealing with the vehicle’s engine. It consists of smaller displacement engine with direct fuel injection and turbo charging. It is capable to provide your vehicle with better fuel economy without compromising vehicle’s performance. This kind of technology was first initiated in Ford’s Lincoln MKR when it is termed as Twin-Force.

This fuel technology was first used in 340hp, 3.5 L V-6 engine. This engine is being considered as an option to the 2009 Lincoln MKS as a replacement to its current V-8 engine. Aside from having higher specific efficiency compared to the conventional engine, the Ecoboost also saves weight and size. This is because the Ecoboost can save up to 150 lbs as compared to the 4.6 V-8 engines that will result to 20% fuel efficiency. Other models bearing the Ecoboost engine will be the Ford Flex and the new Explorer. The new SUV will also bear this engine technology with a 275 hp 2.0L for its base. There is no doubt that Ford will be the first one to use this technology.

The Ecoboost can be use in either 4 or 6 cylinder engine that will feature efficient turbo charging and direct ignition technology. This technology is founded upon today’s affordable gasoline engine thus improving the latter’s capacity.

With the Ecoboost in your vehicle, problems arising from fuel consumption can be solved tremendously. And because it is with all Ford vehicles, owning any of such vehicles is really a great investment.

SAFETY WITH YOUR VEHICLE

2008-03-28T23:31:00.000-07:00

Maybe you have the feeling of no matter how you exert your effort in driving your vehicle safe, you still experience a bad day on the road. And if you are looking for more safety tips on the road, here are some additional tips for you to ponder before riding and traveling with your vehicle.

If you are taking medicines, make sure that they have no drowsy effects. But if your medicine has such effect, then it is for you to let others drive your vehicle.
Make sure that when you have children, secure them first. This can be done easily as available in the market are different restraints for different ages . Also, make sure that children are seated at the back..
The same with children, if you have pets traveling with you make sure that they are properly secures. There are also restraints available for them.
Have an interference-free driving meaning that you should focus on driving alone.
Always lock your door.
In backing up, check your surroundings. And make sure that there are no children around your vehicle.
Children as well as pets should not stay in the cargo area for it is dangerous for them.
Don’t leave children and pets alone in your vehicle.
Have in your vehicle some essentials such as flashlight, food, water, blankets, a cellular phone, first aid kit and car tool kit.
Always bring your identification card and of your family members bearing name, date of birth, and other information vital to their identifications.

THE MORGAN'S LIFECAR

2008-03-28T22:42:00.000-07:00

In my last posts, I have been talking about alternative fuels. One of them is hydrogen fuel which will be a better replacement for petrol fuel. And if you are looking for a vehicle using hydrogen as its fuel, Morgan has a better offer for you. This is through its LifeCar – a concept car to be released this year. And if you have inclination on vintage cars, the more you’ll love this concept car.

Making this vehicle is made through the concerted effort of Morgan Motor Company, QinetiQ, Cranford and Oxford Universities, BOC and OSCar. This is perhaps the world’s first environment friendly car that will be released in consonance with our struggle in protecting our environment.

The Morgan LifeCar will complete the array of green cars that will be introduced this year. It is powered by converting hydrogen into electricity. Its performance is one that you’ll appreciate much as this vehicle can perform quietly on the road. Being run by hydrogen, its exhaust is sure not to contribute to the deteriorating condition of our environment as it is purely water vapor.

Conceptualizing this vehicle takes two and a half years marking a great leap to revolutionize automotive power technology. Having the LifeCar combines performance, range and fuel economy that are important to the automotive world in the near future.

The LifeCar will be produced in accord with the Morgan Aero Eight and will be powered by the QinetiQ-made fuel cell. For its power, fuel cells will be converting hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy that will result in cleaner, more quiet and economic performance. For its waste materials, it will be only water. This power system of the LifeCar will be more efficient, producing significant improvements over other types of fuel cells prototype. It is because the fuel cell in this vehicle can power four separate electric motors which give the LifeCar its power. This power attribute of the LifeCar lies in a combination of factors including weight reduction and different design approaches.

This concept car also features regenerative braking and surplus energy that will be used to charge its ultra-capacitors that will release their energy when LifeCar is accelerating. The design of this vehicle allows it to have a much smaller fuel cell than what is conventionally regarded as necessary.

For the features that the LifeCar has, owning this vehicle is with great pleasure and will be a good investment for anyone.

YOUR VEHICLE’S BODY SHELL

2008-03-28T00:21:00.000-07:00

Common to vehicles nowadays is the safety body shell as it gives anyone all-around protection, numerous reinforcements in the front, sides, the B column and the rear. In addition to these, the car shell is also made from highly robust materials that ensure effective occupant protection especially in the event of a collision. For this, the vehicle’s body shell should be considered as important element of your vehicle as it serves as the skeleton of the latter.

The efficiency of the body shell in your vehicle is evidenced by its stiffness. It starts with the specially reinforced body floor which should be constructed with high-strength steel. This serves as the foundation for the occupant cell. Strong A, B and C columns and integrated side impact protection, highly stable crossmembers along the sills and under the seats all create a very rigid safety cage that preserves the occupants' survival space in the event of an accident.

Part of your vehicle’s body shell is the bumper that is positioned on both ends of your vehicle. The bumper alone can absorb impacts up to 6km/hr causing no damage to your vehicle. More serious collision usually up to 15 km/hr can cause impacts that can be absorbed by easy-replaceable elements positioned behind the bumpers to protect the body shell.

During higher speed collision, the engine mount acts as a crumple zone causing less injury to the vehicle’s occupants. Also, with the use of aluminum as material for the body shell improves the crash behavior of your vehicle thereby reducing unnecessary expenses in replacing individual components.

AUTOMOTIVE CLEAN ENERGY

2008-03-27T23:11:00.000-07:00

The introduction of vehicles to the world also marks the introduction of how environment can be destroyed in an easy and rapid way. This is true because vehicle use fuel for their engine and consequently to realize their performance. But as everybody is alarmed by the degrading situation of our environment, we are also forced to resort to alternative fuels. There are many kinds of alternative fuels and one of them is hydrogen.

There are many innovations that are introduces in the automotive industry nowadays and BMW can be considered as one of its forerunners. Another innovation by which BMW is proud to introduce is the use of hydrogen as a good replacement for petroleum. It is indeed a way to reduce harmful emission to our environment. This is the core of BMW’s Clean Energy program being employed to their vehicles. Also comes with this program is the introduction of hydrogen engines in their vehicles.

Hydrogen can be drawn from water using regenerative energy sources like solar and wind energies. Using this kind of alternative fuel reduces our dependency to fossil fuels. This would also lessen combustion just to produce energy and water leading to the production of CO2 – the main cause of greenhouse effects. With hydrogen as fuel, it creates the hydrogen loop which is done by converting water to hydrogen and back to water producing no harmful emission and of course the promise of unlimited supplies.

As a fuel to your vehicle, hydrogen can be utilized in two different ways. One is through the use of fuel cells to power up the electrical engine or to use the BMW-produced hydrogen combustion engine.

The second method of using hydrogen has a key advantage known as the bivalence. It means the both petrol and hydrogen fuel can be used in such kind of engine enabling you to utilize the existing infrastructure. This would also allow the smooth transition from fossil fuel to regenerative energy. This means that the use of petrol fuel is also available whenever hydrogen fueling station is not available in the vicinity.

TRAVELING WITH NIGHT VISION CAMERA

2008-03-26T23:55:00.000-07:00

Tired of traveling in your vehicle with much consumption of electricity because of the different lighting components? Here is the good news – the night vision camera. Maybe night vision is not new to you as such technology is used in the military but here it is now a great innovation in the automotive technology.

Night vision is used in BMW vehicles using 36” wide-angle lens. It functions to create images based on heat emitted by objects such as animals and pedestrians appearing as bright shapes on the monitor. Such monitor has black and white displays and works with the camera that can detect objects up to 300 meters away that gives enough warning for the driver to avoid forthcoming obstacles. Also, this monitor can be easily accessed as it is located directly on vehicle’s dashboard. The display monitor can also zoom in objects far away which are helpful if the vehicle is traveling at higher speeds.

Panning your vehicle gives you no worries about this new technology as the camera automatically moves when cornering enabling the driver to detect obstacle in and beyond the approaching bend. Entering courtyards or garage is also made easier and safer with this technology.

With this innovative technology, Infrared Technology is of beneficial use in the automotive industry. Also, collision during night travel can be lessened drastically.

HIGH PRECISION FUEL INJECTION

2008-03-26T23:53:00.000-07:00

What’s new in the automotive industry? Well, aside from the different models of concept vehicles introduced in different auto shows all over the planet, modern automotive technologies are also flooding the said industry. This is evidenced by the new forms of automotive lights, new car technologies, powerful engines and others. Indeed, such technologies revolutionize the automotive industry. And to complete them, high precision fuel injection is also introduced.

Fuel injection is a process common to all vehicles with internal combustion engines. It is the means by which fuel is delivered to the engine. Fuel injection should be done properly to avoid any mishap in your vehicle’s performance. But this process also comes with a great leap with the introduction of high precision injection.

What is high precision injection? If you want the combustion process to be undertaken more efficiently in your vehicle, then you should resort to high precision injection. This kind of fuel injection enables the engine to deliver greater performance and a significant reduction in fuel consumption.

This kind of fuel injection operates with the piezo injector as its core element. Such injector is positioned between the valves and the spark plug. Within this injector are multiple layers of crystals that expand instantly when electricity passes through them. This allows a dose of fuel/air mixture out of the injector needle and through the outlet which is no wider than a human hair. Fuel is then directed to the combustion chamber under a pressure of 200 bar. The cone shaped cloud with a size of a thumbnail is precisely injected onto the spark and combusts with an excess of oxygen. The difference between this type of fuel injection and the conventional one is that the former requires very little fuel and lessens the waste caused by unburned fuel being sprayed to the walls of the combustion chamber.

With this fuel injection technology, fuel can be injected in just 0.14 milliseconds that make it possible to introduce multiple injections of fuel within a single combustion process. The high-performance, flexible electronic control system adjusts the timing and dose of the injected fuel according to the engine power demand, operating temperature and cylinder pressure. Thus, with this fuel injection technology combustion is precisely controlled which results to great advantages for your vehicle.

WHAT ARE ENGINE SENSORS?

2008-03-25T23:28:00.000-07:00

Any vehicle runs because of their engine. And because the engine is considered as the most important part of a vehicle all efforts in upgrading the performance of the latter are directed to it an in this context, engine sensors should be given of much importance. But what are engine sensors?

Engine sensors like any sensor in your vehicle are part of the engine management computer. They are in your vehicle’s engine to measure different operating parameters particularly those that are helping to reduce emission. Sensors are also important for the other processes in your vehicle to succeed. Among the sensors that are in your vehicle’s engine is the temperature sensor, the manifold absolute pressure sensor, air flow sensor, throttle position sensor, the speed sensor and the oxygen sensor.

Just like other components in your vehicle, engine sensors are also doing important functions in your vehicle particularly contributing to the latter’s overall performance. This is done by the engine sensors by providing vital information to the vehicle’s powertrain control module or the engine management computer. And based on this information, the computer then issues various commands to different output devices thus enhancing the performance of the engine in your vehicle. What’s more amazing in vehicles nowadays is that they are equipped with second generation onboard diagnostics that provides much emphasis to the sensor values.

So as a good vehicle owner, importance should be given not only to the visible parts of your vehicle or to those that are contributory to your vehicle’s importance but also to the less known components in your vehicle such as the engine sensor.

THE DENKI CUBE BY NISSAN

2008-03-25T23:20:00.000-07:00

If you think that vehicles with sharp edges are gone nowadays, think again. This is because included in the New York auto show is this vehicle from Nissan who has sharp edges as in literally 45 degree angle. It indeed resembles a cube. And from its features, it is named as the Denki Cube. Aside from its physical attributes, what’s amazing with this vehicle is that it emits zero emission as it is run with no fuel in use. This is because the Nissan Denki Cube is purely powered by lithium-ion battery.

This concept car from Nissan is featured in the New York auto show at the Jacob Javits convention center. Actually, this vehicle is not only the first of its kind but it also introduces a new wave in the automotive industry. The Denki Cube serves as a preview of Nissan future small car strategy for its North American market.

As a concept car, the Nissan Denki Cube presents itself as an antithesis of the traditional automotive style – square, minimalist, asymmetrical and humble yet warming, relaxing and most importantly charming. For this solid foundation, the Denki Cube adds a new EV powertrain, unique exterior as well as interior treatments.

The Nissan Denki Cube is really new to the automotive industry as it has fresh front and rear styling treatment which includes a new “electric themed” front grille design with an air conditioning power charging port. Its headlights also come with radical design, new bumpers and turn signal lamps. To its rear is a cube asymmetrical quarter area featuring a wraparound glass on one side. The rear of this vehicle is also enhanced by a new bumper featuring hidden taillights. For its roof, the sheet metal has been replaced with a full fixed glass panel that enhances its interiors with a sense of wide-open space. The exterior of this Nissan concept car also features new concepts such as door mirrors and for its wheels a unique 16-inch wheel cover. Its finishing touch is provided by a special white pearl paint and graphics.

One amazing thing on this vehicle is its interior as it is made with the designer’s intention of creating a relaxing, moving social hub just like your favorite room in your house. It features two rows of seating and its wheel base is stretched to 9.4 inches for better accommodation of lithium ion batteries.

So, the Nissan Denki Cube adds another leap for the automotive world. Having it in the market truly provides a good option for the vehicle enthusiasts and owners.

HOPPING CARS

2008-03-24T19:58:00.000-07:00

Maybe you see that vehicles with adjustable suspension in movies. Well, that is the hopping cars which are common in Southern California. It is also called lowrider. But what is really a lowrider? A lowrider or hopping car can be any vehicle that employs modifications allowing it to have a very low ride. This kind of cars is really good to look at.

You may think that a hopping car is all that you want but there are also problems that may rise with it like speed bumps and rough roads. But it is not a thing to worry much as it can be solved by having hydraulic lift kits allowing this vehicle to have an adjustable height. To do this, the hydraulic lift kits use electric hydraulic pumps and normal hydraulic cylinders that raise and lower the vehicle. You can picture this out by imagining that the shock absorber and the cylinder are connected with each other. Having this thing in your vehicle really cost much as it involves thousand of dollars. Having this technology in your vehicle really solve your problems about your vehicle’s height.

With hydraulic lift kits in your vehicle, hopping can be more exciting. You’ll experience this if your unit can hop up to 6 feet off the ground. Originally, hopping is made possible with a 12-volt or 24-volt pump driving all the four wheels in unison. But now, you can have in your vehicle 4 pumps that can be powered up by 10 or even 12 batteries. This only means that each wheel in your vehicle has their corresponding pump. An eight-battery setup typically contains two banks of four batteries, for two 48-volt systems. Twelve batteries create two 72-volt systems. These powerful systems are what you see in those movies.