tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-379074242024-03-21T06:47:58.405-07:00Auto Ravlik BlogEvery thing about cars, automobiles and other vehicles.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-91023215222884983052007-07-27T03:31:00.000-07:002007-07-27T03:36:12.038-07:00How to Building Moonbeam, A 100 Mpg MicrocarYou want such small funny microcar?<br />Build it by yourself.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyg_fDwnEL57GZHhFtE5flVY-_BkWlcpmGB8rWU8lr8fd3y0qhrXt5cM09DudxzMDbCtltPO03mP8dv1PkEr1-BQUrlI-ClBpoulGeW4dkxyCQfpDNsWxxS97gok0gR3EJq2hrg/s1600-h/moonbean.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyg_fDwnEL57GZHhFtE5flVY-_BkWlcpmGB8rWU8lr8fd3y0qhrXt5cM09DudxzMDbCtltPO03mP8dv1PkEr1-BQUrlI-ClBpoulGeW4dkxyCQfpDNsWxxS97gok0gR3EJq2hrg/s400/moonbean.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091822566268939234" /></a><br /><br /><blockquote> It’s good to think well before you choose which motorcycles or scooters to chop up for your microcar. I decided that I wanted the following characteristics: 100 miles per gallon, a four-stroke engine with water cooling; an occasional small second-passenger capacity, but usually one passenger and 6 grocery bags; no gear shifting with hand controls only; an enclosed vehicle with a heater for all-weather operation; easy interior access with lots of light; and finally, a nice looking machine, that you looked back on admiringly as you walk away. All in a budget of $2000, including the donor vehicles and 400 hours of labor. A half-time, half-year project. Ha! What an underestimation!</blockquote><br /><br />Complite instruction How to Building Moonbeam, A 100 Mpg Microcar you can find <a href="http://mysite.verizon.net/vze6omtd/jorysquibb/id1.html">here</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-4899791081430663772007-06-26T04:51:00.000-07:002007-06-26T04:53:40.168-07:00Toyota Land Cruiser vs VAZ-2106<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QAwPrL1vwDYlQ6sSoXchkGNMJaaEnu5CCW_TXuHWHHoRAFeXqqmEFAPk92jr7WGmgYjVGQ73GxtXHr4fOZOS0ga9tKflsGUeIBtzjXVqTymNRIfveaDLkIHLwyujTDDEmIQNKg/s1600-h/toyota-vaz_04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QAwPrL1vwDYlQ6sSoXchkGNMJaaEnu5CCW_TXuHWHHoRAFeXqqmEFAPk92jr7WGmgYjVGQ73GxtXHr4fOZOS0ga9tKflsGUeIBtzjXVqTymNRIfveaDLkIHLwyujTDDEmIQNKg/s400/toyota-vaz_04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080339550549346866" border="0" /></a><br />from <a href="http://dodge-vs-toyota.blogspot.com/2007/06/russian-car-crash-toyota-land-cruiser.html">here</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-90128532464875931502007-05-11T08:17:00.000-07:002007-05-11T08:21:41.278-07:00How to pick the best Hybrid CarDid you know that there are already a dozen different models of Hybrid Electric Cars in production in the U.S.?<br /><br />Most people find the added information about technology and fuel economy overwhelming when they first decide to shop for a hybrid vehicle. This article will help you sort through all the techno-babble and empower you to feel confident while choosing the right hybrid car for your particular needs.<br /><br />The allure of a hybrid vehicle is compelling, to say the least. While some see them as simply the latest tech gadget to brag to their friends about, more and more people are starting to come around to the fact that hybrid electric-gas cars are the future of all automobiles.<br /><br />The first thing to keep in mind when starting your research is to not allow yourself to feel bogged down by all the information. There are really only a few hybrid cars out there that are right for you, and we'll easily cut through the majority of them in no time.<br /><br />Do you prefer Compacts? Mid-sized coupes? SUV's? Trucks? Luxury sedans? The initial offering of hybrid vehicles for 2007 includes at least one car line in each of those categories, so surely you shouldn't have to compromise your preference.<br />The current category breakdown of hybrid electric-gas production models in the United States are as follows:(in no particular order)<br /><br />SUVs: (27-36 MPG)<br /><ul><li> Lexus RX 400h</li><li> Toyota Highlander</li><li> Ford Escape</li><li> Mercury Mariner</li><li> Saturn VUE Green line<br /></li></ul>Luxury Sedan: (28 MPG)<br /><ul><li> Lexus GS 450h<br /></li></ul>Mid-size (family) Coupes: (25-60 MPG)<br /><ul><li> Toyota Camry</li><li> Honda Accord</li><li> Toyota Prius (Pronounced Pree-yus)<br /></li></ul>Pickup Truck: (21 MPG)<br /><ul><li> Chevy Silverado<br /></li></ul>Compacts & Minis: (51-60 MPG)<br /><ul><li> Honda Civic</li><li> Honda Insight<br /></li></ul>Also, let's add one non-hybrid honorable mention to this list, the ZAP Smartcar, which is not really a hybrid, but we should included it here because of its' unmatched fuel-sipping EPA rating of 69 miles per gallon on the highway. We'll delve into the smartcar more later, but rest assured that these are some exceptional little cars that you'll be seeing more of on the road in 2007.<br /><br /><em>by Rick Tamlin</em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-92121521894024678032007-05-11T08:06:00.000-07:002007-05-11T08:11:14.979-07:0010 Tips To Save Money On Your Car Insurance<p>Trying to get the cheapest car insurance can be a headache, but on the other hand it is usually worthwhile doing as you can save yourself quite a bit of money, especially when you take it account that this is something you have to pay for every year, the savings can add up.</p><p>Here are some things you can look at to get your car insurance costs down:</p><br /><strong>1.</strong> Keep your car in a garage or on a drive way and tell your insurance company this.<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>2.</strong> Fit an immobiliser or car alarm, preferably both.<br /><br /><strong></strong><strong>3.</strong> If you have an older car, consider changing your insurance from comprehensive cover to third party, fire and theft cover.<br /><br /><strong></strong><strong>4.</strong> Be as accurate as possible when giving your annual mileage to the insurance company.<br /><br /><strong></strong><strong>5.</strong> If you do low mileage in your car, then consider agreeing to limited mileage insurance so you are covered for a certain number of miles.<br /><br /><strong></strong><strong>6.</strong> Choose as high an excess as you can afford to pay in the event of a claim.<br /><br /><strong></strong><strong>7.</strong> Get a cheaper quote from another car insurance company and tell your existing insurance company and see if they will give you an even better deal.<br /><br /><strong></strong><strong>8.</strong> Pay your premium as an upfront lump sum so that you avoid paying interest on top of your premiums. Car insurance companies usually charge a lot of interest so even if you do not have the cash up front, you may still be better off borrowing the money more cheaply elsewhere. You could for example pay for your insurance with your credit card and then do a balance transfer to another one of your credit cards charging lower interest than your car insurance company.<br /><br /><strong>9.</strong> Add a second person who has a good record to the insurance cover as sometimes this can lower your premium.<br /><br /><strong>10.</strong> Buy your car insurance online as you may find you can get a discount for buying online.<br /><br /><em></em><em>By: Miguel Poza -</em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-74361543711872276102007-04-16T07:32:00.000-07:002007-04-16T07:34:33.419-07:00Top 10 Buying Tips For Buying A Car<p>1. Money: Make sure you know what is your budget. Never exceed the amount you can afford. For instance if your income is 50,000$ USD, you shouldn’t spend more than 25,000$ on the car because the car will may become a finical problem to you.</p><p>2. Personal need: Ask yourself what is the purpose of the car. Decide whether you want a 4 door sedan or a 6 people van. Look into what class and what kind car you want. If the purpose of the car is just purposely transportation, then don’t look into luxurious cars such as Benz or BMW. Or whether the car is for family purpose or personal love of car then you can decide whether you want a SUV or Sports Car.</p><p>3. Difference Brand: Once you decide what type of car you want. Look at different brands that has similar cars. For instance, if you are looking into the Lexus IS, also look into the Nissan G35, BMW 3 series, Acura TL, Cadillac CTS. You get the point. The reason why is because the price range from the same class can range from 30,000 to 45,000 which is a lot of money. Therefore, you should go test drive and find out exactly which car you want.</p><p>4. Buying it New or Used. After you decide what car you want. Start researching online on how much does the new car and the used car cost. Make you sure researching on many dealerships as well. You can save up to 1,000$ USD. Personally, I would like to buy a new car over a used car, but if there’s a good deal on used car, then you should reconsider and decide yourself.</p><p>5. Finance. Try to reduce the finance rate as low as possible to benefit you more. Try to look for the best plan for you and communicate with the dealer.</p><p>6. Communication with the Seller. Now this is the tricky part. Dealers usually jacked up the price of the individual car because they can make more money if they make sales. Therefore, to prevent spending extra money, you should do your homework by reaching how much your car is really worth and make offers to the dealers instead of them making offer to you.</p><p>7. Mileage. There no doubt that the price of gas will continue to go up. Therefore, it might be a good idea to consider how much you are willing to spend on gas. You want to find a good car with good mileage.</p><p>8. Insurance Cost. Different car also have different insurance rate even when they are in the same class. The insurance cost should definitely be a factor to consider when you are comparing with other cars.</p><p>9. Maintenance Cost. Maintenance Cost for cars also varies for different car. For instance Benz will charge over 100$ just for an oil change while Toyota may charge 25$.</p><p>10. Warranty. This should be the last thing you look at when you buy a car. Look at what the warranty covers and compare with it other car companies<br /></p><p><em>By: Danny Huang </em></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-27481982104316151592007-03-29T07:11:00.001-07:002007-03-29T07:11:37.735-07:00Ethanol As An AlternativeEthanol fuel is changing our lives and changing the economy in ways no one anticipated before, with energy costs rising every day, there has been an increased interest in ethanol fuel. Ethanol is a variety of alcohol that can be produced in a natural fashion, similar to the way in which alcoholic beverages are produced. Ethanol can be used by itself in some specially designed vehicles, but it can also be used as a fuel additive, stretching traditional fuels in times of economic or environmental hardship. Ethanol is used today by more people ever before, simply because of the cheap alternative to the soaring gas prices.<br /><br />Using ethanol fuel as an alternative to gas does require motorists to get a special ethanol kit and install it in their cars, but since gas prices have been unstable in the last years many people feel that making that kind of investment will prove financially profitable in the future.<br /><br />Ethanol fuel that is derived from crops has advantages over traditional fossil fuels. The ethanol fuel is obtained from the sugars and starches in crops like corn and grains. It also burns cleaner than petroleum based fuels due to its chemical composition, alleviating some of the strain placed on the environment by exhaust emissions. The increased consumption of corn for ethanol use has already started to affect the corn farms projections of yearly crops.<br /><br />Blended ethanol fuel has proven to be an effective source of energy for several parts of the country, as well as other parts of the globe. E10 is a typical mixture. It is common in the Midwestern United States. Many other countries around the world start to consider using ethanol instead of regular fuel, Denmark for example, has also begun using this type of ethanol fuel. It appears to be doing well, though its use is not as extensive as many of its proponents had hoped it would be. There is still a long way for ethanol to become a natural option for fuel, the United States had used ethanol fuel for less than one percent of its gasoline needs in the year 2002.<br /><br />The other big issue surrounding ethanol is the environmental issue, it is still not absolutely clear that ethanol is in fact environment friendly, and whether the environmental aspects of ethanol fuel are as good as they have been previously described by the supporters of ethanol fuel use. The growing concern is that while the use of ethanol by itself may be good for the environment, the resources and work done to provide the production of the ethanol could be potentially dangerous for the forests, rainforests and areas where the corn and other ethanol producing resources are being grown. While it is true that the fuel can be made from renewable resources there is evidence that some rainforests are actually being cleared to make space for crops that are used in the production of ethanol. As the controversy regarding the production of ethanol and its dangers, it is very clear that this alternative source of energy is becoming more and more popular.<br /><br />By: Simon Oldmann -<br /><br />Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com<br /><br />Simon Oldmann is an avid writer and a green activist, he has been writing about Ethanol use since the growing popularity of ethanol.zupatips.com/">Ethanol these last years, Simon writes for ZupaTips.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-11846631035200340992007-03-29T03:37:00.000-07:002007-03-29T03:39:48.711-07:00Mike Cook - The Saucy Car<blockquote><br />I’m in the market for a new car. It doesn’t have to be fancy or have all the latest frills and gizmos; it doesn’t even have to be brand new. I’m a man of plain tastes…mainly because I can’t afford otherwise. The most important requirement in my next car is that it not be saucy like my last one. What’s that? You’ve never heard of a saucy car? Well let me tell you about one.<br /><br />The first time I noticed my car was saucy I was driving to town when a loud, rapid clicking noise started coming from the engine. When I got to town I took it to a garage and asked them to have a look at the car. When the mechanic started the car, not only was there no noise, the engine never sounded better.<br /><br />The mechanic poked and prodded the engine for a few minutes and said the car appeared fine. I insisted as there had been a noise something must have caused it. He then gave me a long list of things that might have caused the noise. While he did this I nodded my head, smiled or grunted in what I thought were the appropriate places and scratched my head thoughtfully. The truth was, for all I understood he might as well have been speaking Greek or Chinese.<br /><br />This happened several more times with the same result. After one of these frustrating times I drove home, parked the car in the driveway, got out of it and walked around to the front of the car and stared thoughtfully into its headlights for some time. It winked at me! The saucy thing actually winked at me! I ran into the house, got my digital camera, came back out, and dared it to wink at me again. It did. Bold as brass it winked at me. I snapped the picture and raced back to the garage to show them.<br /><br />“Cars don’t wink,” said the mechanics at the garage when I told them what had happened and tried to show them the picture.<br /><br />“This one bloody well does!” I all but screamed while clutching the overalls of the nearest mechanic. We argued back and forth like this for several minutes, while I became increasingly agitated because they wouldn’t believe me and kept telling me there was nothing wrong with the car. I was invited to leave the premises. I reluctantly accepted their invitation because it was my understanding that if I didn’t some kind of authoritative persons would take me in hand.<br /><br />When I got home and was standing in front of the car glaring at it, not only did it wink again but a sly grin appeared on its bug-specked face. Of all the gall!<br /><br />As you may imagine this state of affairs bothered me to the point where I couldn’t sleep at night. I would hide behind the curtains staring out at the car wondering what it would do next. If it caught sight of me it would give me a saucy wink and a sly grin. This went on for a week. Then one night I heard it chuckle. The impudent devil was laughing at me! This was too much! I had endured enough.<br /><br />I snatched a heavy splitting maul from the basement, sharp on one end and blunt on the other. Then I went out to the car and went up one side of it and down the other pounding away with the maul with first the blunt end and then with the sharp end. When I finished with it in the morning I had it towed to the garage where I said, “Now there’s something wrong with it. Fix it!” I turned around and pointed to the car and I’ll be damned if it didn’t give me a sly grin. I turned back to the mechanics and said, “Don’t tell me you guys didn’t see that!” That is exactly what they did tell me.<br /><br />As I was led away to the hospital for observation I looked over my shoulder to see the saucy beggar give me a goodbye wink.<br /><br />© Mike Cook 2007</blockquote><br /><br /><br />from <a href="http://www.atwistofhumor.com/?p=52">here</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-1170850038148888552007-02-07T04:07:00.000-08:002007-02-07T04:07:50.933-08:00Robot car completed a 200-mile test run<p>The Carnegie Mellon Red Team's Sandstorm robotic HMMWV ("HUMMVEE") completed a 200-mile test run last week, a small step on the way to claiming the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge. The Grand Challenge is a 175-mile race in the Mojave Desert that tests robotic vehicles' ability to endure the harsh conditions while navigating a course littered with natural and man-made obstacles. Sandstorm completed 7.3 miles of last year's 142-mile course, but that was still more than any other vehicle.</p> <p>The recent endurance test was performed on a racetrack in Pennsylvania. Sandstorm completed the 200-mile trek in 7 hours and 12 minutes, averaging 28 miles per hour, faster than the vehicle will run during the DARPA event. The test did show that Sandstorm's hardware and software can withstand the long-term use. </p> <p>The Red Team's other race vehicle, a newer HUMMER with more recent technology called "H1ghlander," did not fare so well; but with multiple pieces of hardware not functioning at the beginning, H1ghlander's chances started out low. The vehicle slowed down to a crawl, and the test had to be stopped due to time constraints. </p> <div>The 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge will occur on October 8. 20 semifinalists (from a September 26 competition) will compete for the grand prize of US$2 million.</div> <div> </div> <div>from <a href="http://news.com.com/Robot+Hummer+hits+milepost+in+driverless+challenge/2100-7337_3-5787038.html">here</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-1170779855923003342007-02-06T08:36:00.000-08:002007-02-06T08:37:36.073-08:00U.S. Automakers Try to Maximize Vehicle RecyclingFor four years through the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) Vehicle Recycling Partnership (VRP) what happens to end-of-life vehicles in the United States is at the top of the agenda every day. <br /> <br /><br /><br />USCAR’s VRP, which includes DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation, is now in its fourth year of its third Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Argonne National Laboratory and the American Plastics Council. Since their first CRADA in 1991, the group has been working to maximize vehicle recycling in the United States.<br /><br />Today, more than 95 percent of all vehicles in the United States go through a market-driven recycling infrastructure, with no added cost or tax to consumers. More than 75 percent, by weight, of each end-of-life vehicle (ELV) is recycled. The CRADA team is working to raise that percentage to as close to 100 percent as conceivably possible.<br /><br />“The U.S. automakers have long taken a proactive stance in vehicle recycling. They continue to work side-by-side with government and private industry to optimally recycle all vehicles, regardless of age, content or origin,” said Bill Gouse, executive director of USCAR. “If it’s driven and disposed of here, the vehicle becomes part of the mix – along with a lot of other big disposables, like appliances and building demolition or commercial and industrial waste materials.<br /><br /><br /><br />“The USCAR Vehicle Recycling Partnership, Argonne and the American Plastics Council really are taking a national leadership role, addressing the entire lot of shredder residue, regardless of its source,” Gouse added. “They are working to implement sustainable recycling solutions that keep waste out of landfills, save energy and put materials into reuse.”<br /><br />Thus far, the CRADA team impact has been broad and diverse and includes: <br />Establishing and publishing preferred practices for recycling. <br />Establishing efficient fluid removal processes. <br />Running a licensed Vehicle Recycling Development Center to establish procedures that optimize materials recovery in vehicle dismantling. <br />Researching separation technologies for commingled material streams. <br />Initiating efforts targeted at removing substances of concern from shredder residue, regardless of its source.<br />A plastics sorting Pilot Plant in operation at Argonne is one of the more visible demonstrations of the CRADA team’s research in action. “While the CRADA team is benchmarking and evaluating a range of technology options for sustainable recycling of ELV, the facility at Argonne serves as a focal point for the team’s work,” said Ed Daniels, director, Energy Systems Division at Argonne and head of the vehicle recycling research effort at the Lab.<br /><br />The team also is working to anticipate and meet the recycling needs for components and parts in future and emerging vehicles such as hybrids and fuel cell vehicles.<br /><br />“With energy issues at the forefront, lightweighting and the use of composite materials are becoming more commonplace in vehicle content,” said Jim Kolb, head of the Automotive Learning Center, American Plastics Council. “As a result, solving the issues surrounding end-of-life for present and future materials becomes all that more important.”<br /><br />The research is funded by the VRP, the American Plastics Council and U.S. DOE Office of FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies.<br /><br />The VRP is part of the United States Council for Automotive Research, under which DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation cooperatively address shared technological and environmental concerns.<br /><br />Argonne National Laboratory, operated by The University of Chicago, is one of U.S. Department of Energy’s largest research centers; it boasts 1,400 scientists and engineers, over 200 areas of research and an operating budget of more than $475 million.<br /><br />The American Plastics Council, a leading trade association of resin producers, advocates unlimited opportunities for plastics and promotes their economic, environmental and societal benefits.<br /><br />from <a href="http://www.lifelineearth.com/MovitechandMototechnics/22.htm">here</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-1170411364908140002007-02-02T02:13:00.000-08:002007-02-02T02:17:53.910-08:00Ecology friendly cars<span style="font-weight:bold;">Hybrid cars</span><br /><br />What: Toyota scored big with the Prius, which runs on an electric motor and a gas motor: in the city, it mostly runs on electric, but switches to gas on the freeway. General Motors wants to cut the use of gas further with its Volt. In the Volt, which could be ready in two or three years, the gas motor doesn't run the car. Instead, it exists to recharge the battery. In the end that leads to less fuel consumption. Ford, meanwhile, is touting the Edge, an SUV in which a hydrogen fuel cell recharges the battery. The battery in the Edge also gets charged by plugging into a wall. <br /><br />Similarly, several small companies have touted plug-in hybrids. These are similar to the Prius, but the battery for running the electric motor can be recharged through a plug. <br /><br />Pros: The less the gas motor gets used, the greater the gas mileage and the lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Ford has also minimized the tasks for the hydrogen fuel cell so you won't have to worry about refilling it too much, especially if you charge the battery. <br /><br />Cons: None that are too big. The public clearly likes hybrids. Still, Toyota has been the big success story here. It is unclear how well GM and Ford will do. Also, questions remain on whether the public really will buy hybrid SUVs and sedans. SUV customers tend to look at features beyond fuel efficiency, but the data isn't conclusive yet. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Electric cars</span><br /><br />What: Better batteries are allowing car manufacturers to run cars wholly on electricity. Tesla Motors, Think Global and Wrightspeed are marketing all-electric sports cars and economy cars. Zap says it will do a mid-size sedan. Some companies are selling electric scooters and rickshaws into India. <br /><br />Pros: The more a vehicle runs on electricity, generally the less pollution it creates. An all-electric car produces no tailpipe emissions. Emissions are created indirectly because the power plants that charge the batteries in these cars often run on coal. But in most cases, you see a big reduction in greenhouse emissions. Battery makers like Altair Nanotechnologies and Valence Technology hope to score big. <br /><br />The mileage is fairly astounding; it only costs a few cents per mile to run an electric car. Tesla and Wrightspeed have also shown that electrics can hang with Ferraris and Porsches. <br /><br />Cons: The range. Most of these cars can only go 100 to 200 miles before they need a recharge, although Zap says its car will go 350 miles. Forget conspiracy theories: earlier electric cars died out because they didn't get very far and had ornate charging procedures, say execs at Toyota, and even electric car advocates. Batteries also cost a lot of money. Building an all-electric car like a Honda Accord today would probably cost you $20,000 or more in batteries, says Ian Wright, founder of Wrightspeed. Progress is occurring and sales are growing, but it will take time to improve the battery technology.<br /><br />from <a href="http://news.com.com/FAQ+Guide+to+alternative+fuels+-+page+2/2100-11395_3-6155212-2.html?tag=st.next">here</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-1170411117108497782007-02-02T02:09:00.000-08:002007-02-02T02:17:09.023-08:00Top 7 alternative fuels<span style="font-style:italic;">By Michael Kanellos</span><br /><br />What will you fill up your car with in five to ten years? It's hard to say. Several different alternatives to petroleum and diesel, or ways to economize on them, have come forward in the past few years, and each has its own pluses and minuses. <br /><br />Experts warn that it won't be easy to get off of petroleum or reduce how much the world uses. The amount of energy per liter derived from petroleum is far better than most of the alternatives, a worldwide infrastructure based on it already exists, and people tend to be lazy--seeking out alternative fuels takes some effort. <br /><br />If oil drops below $55 a barrel, most of these alternatives stop becoming attractive, says Dan Arvizu, director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. And the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is watching what is going on in alternative fuels and can gauge oil prices accordingly. <br /><br />"We do have a problem with how serious we are about our energy challenges," he said. <br /><br />Global warming and improving technology, however, are making the alternatives more realistic all the time. Here's a guide to the main alternatives.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1. Ethanol</span><br /><br />What: Ethanol is an alcohol produced out of corn, sugar cane or other food crops. During the production process, the plant material goes through several stages of heating and reduction. Ethanol is typically mixed with gasoline. Some cars can run on a mix of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gas, but ethanol is most commonly used as an additive in smaller percentages. Forty-seven percent of U.S. drivers today use some form of ethanol, but they usually only put small amounts in their cars: many states now use it for a substitute for MTBE, a common fuel additive with potential health risks to humans and other animals. <br /><br />Pros: Ethanol pollutes less than regular gas. And we already know how to make it in large volumes. Brazil uses ethanol made from sugar cane extensively. Investors are pouring billions of dollars into ethanol refineries in the U.S. There are 109 ethanol plants in the U.S. and 40 new projects coming on line, according to Michael Eckhart, president of American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE). <br /><br />Cons: Where to begin? First, food crops aren't an ideal fuel source. An acre of corn produces 480 gallons of ethanol, according to Paul McCroskey, chief financial officer at Ceres, which makes enzymes for the fuel industry. That's a lot of land.<br /><br />Ethanol only puts out two-thirds the energy of gas, so car mileage is lower on ethanol. Ethanol production also generates tons of carbon dioxide, which, if it's not captured turns into greenhouse gases. Producing ethanol also requires lots of energy. It's popular, say some, because farmers love it, and they tend to show up on Election Day. <br /><br />To top it off, the price of corn is climbing, while gas prices are declining. In January 2006, ethanol sold for $3 a barrel, while a bushel of corn cost $2. Now, ethanol sells for $2 per barrel and corn goes for $4.20 a bushel, according to ACORE. "We have seen the most profitable space in the fuel business disappear in a year," said Eckhart. OPEC, he added, will lower oil prices to put pressure on the ethanol industry.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">2. Cellulosic ethanol</span><br /><br />What: Cellulosic ethanol is also an alcohol, but it's made out of wood chips, corn stalks and agricultural waste products. Some scientists also believe cellulosic ethanol can be produced out of plants like switchgrass that require little fertilizer and water and could grow in the windswept plains of South Dakota.<br /><br />Pros: The feedstock dilemma essentially disappears. The vegetable matter used in cellulosic ethanol has almost no value, which will mean margins won't get compressed by commodity price shifts, and critics can't argue that food crops in a hungry world are going to cars. Mascoma, Dyadic International and other companies are also devising ways to convert the high-cellulose waste matter into alcohol with microbes and enzymes, thereby cutting production costs and total greenhouse gas emissions. <br /><br />The goal is to get cellulosic ethanol to the point where the "real" cost per gallon will run you $1.62, according to Arvizu. (The real cost is how much ethanol it will take to go as far as a gallon of gas will take you. Typically, 1.67 gallons of ethanol equal 1 gallon of gas.) By contrast, the "real" cost of standard ethanol is close to $3.50 or more now, he added. <br /><br />Cons: It pretty much only exists in labs right now, but larger-scale production is coming. Mascoma plans to open a trial plant that can produce 500,000 gallons a year by the end of this year. <br /><br />"It (commercial cellulosic ethanol production) used to be five or six years out, but we could get it done in three years. The key is being able to build a plant that can do one to two million gallons," said William Baum, executive vice president of Diversa, which finds microbes in exotic locales and puts them to work. <br /><br />Like regular ethanol too, cellulosic faces a retail problem: the stations emblazoned with Shell or ChevronTexaco signs won't be clamoring to carry it. That's partly why only 1 percent of U.S. stations--mostly independents or pumps at grocery stores--serve ethanol. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">3. Poo-troleum and fish-tank fill-up</span><br /><br />What: It turns out you don't have to compress dinosaurs and plants for millions of years in the earth's crust to get petroleum. You can make it. BioPetrol in Israel says it has adapted the Fischer-Tropsch process for turning coal into petroleum to turn human sewage into petroleum. <br /><br />Meanwhile, in the States, LiveFuels is working with Sandia National Labs to refine a technique for converting algae into petroleum. The dinosaurs actually had little to do with our modern-day tar pits, said CEO Lissa Morgenthaler-Jones. The big oil fields, such as the ones in the North Sea, were actually created by algae, she claimed. <br /><br />Pros: No one really wants the feedstock. LiveFuels says it can potentially get 10,000 gallons of useable hydrocarbons for an acre-size pond a year. The hydrocarbons would be boiled down into useable diesel or petroleum. The ponds would be fed by farm waste water. <br /><br />"This stuff loves agricultural run-off," Morgenthaler-Jones said. <br /><br />Cons: It's experimental with a capital E, so no one knows what the costs will be or whether it can work on a broad scale yet. Plus, there is the greenhouse gas question. These fuels are carbon neutral in the sense that no carbon will be dug up from beneath the earth and ejected into the atmosphere. These fuels rely on carbon that's already on the surface in the form of waste or algae and it will decompose. Still, it's petroleum, so CO2 still comes out of the tailpipe. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4. Biodiesel</span><br /><br />What: It's diesel fuel made out of soy, palm or other vegetable oils. The drippings from a deep fat fryer can run a diesel car, as long as you filter it and heat up the oil to make the oil more viscous. Biodiesel refiners essentially do the filtering for consumers. There are 85 biodiesel plants in the U.S. and 65 in construction, according to ACORE. <br /><br />Pros: It's got far fewer economic and environmental hurdles than ethanol, says Martin Tobias, a former Microsoft exec who now runs Imperium Renewables, a biodiesel maker. Diesel cars are very popular in Europe, and several manufacturers make high-mileage diesel cars. Some truck and bus makers already produce diesel hybrid trucks. Biodiesel could be sold to those people right now. And since industrial diesel users buy their fuel directly, they don't have to worry about corporate service stations snubbing biodiesel altogether. <br /><br />Finally, biodiesel puts out far less carbon gases. Sulfur can be a problem with soy-based biodiesel, but Tobias says it can be contained. <br /><br />Cons: Farming sometimes isn't the most eco-friendly activity, and some worry that a surge in demand for palm oil will lead to slash-and-burn agriculture and pollution in the tropics. Advocates, though, say that farmers are tackling this problem. One group in Colombia is growing biodiesel feedstock on old coca plantations. The rising popularity of biodiesel is expected to impact the cost of food oil. <br /><br />Even after the new facilities get built, biodiesel is a drop in the bucket of the world's fuel needs. There are only 150 million gallons of the stuff produced a year in the U.S. and, although that number will climb to 250 gallons this year, the U.S. consumes about 62 billion gallons of diesel a year.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">5. Gas to Fuel</span><br /><br />What: Shell and ExxonMobil are ramping up production of a fuel in Qatar called Gas-to-Liquids that's derived from natural gas. It significantly reduces the sulfur, carbon monoxide and other pollutants that belch from car tailpipes. And although more costly than regular gas, it should help crimp the air pollution in places like Los Angeles, or in New Delhi, where diesel buses are banned. GTL is made through a variation of the Fischer-Tropsch process invented nearly a century ago for turning coal into gas. (Irwin Rommel, the German field marshal in World War II, drove across North Africa on coal turned to liquid). <br /><br />Pros: Instead of starting with coal, the GTL process begins with synthetic gas created in an industrial plant. The synthetic gas derives from natural gas--which is far cleaner than coal--and other materials. You can actually drink it. Food producers use a kosher-approved GTL derivative used to line juice boxes. It goes straight into diesel buses and cars. It's on sale in select stations in Europe and Asia. <br /><br />Cons: It's expensive. A gallon of GTL takes an inordinate amount of natural gas. The oil companies are mostly only making GTL out of oil fields that are too expensive or difficult to connect to pipelines. While GTL is already being sold in select stations in Europe, it will mostly pop up in polluted megacities. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">6. Compressed Natural Gas</span><br /><br />What: A barbeque on wheels. CNG cars and buses run on methane, which pollutes less than regular gas. They've been around for years and can be seen at the airport all the time. Researchers at the University of Bath, however, are working on sportier models. <br /><br />Pros: They've been around for years. Hence, there aren't technological problems to work out. The world's supply of natural gas is also fairly good. CNG taxis and buses are popular in places like Dubai because the oil fields are close by, according to Richard Steele, CEO of AFV Solutions, which makes CNG and hybrid-diesel buses. <br /><br />China is eyeing more CNG cars, according to Barbara Finamore, director of the National Resources Defense Council's China Clean Energy Program. They want to clean up for the Beijing Olympics and "biofuels are not a good bet here" because crops can compete with food, she said. <br /><br />Cons: Natural gas isn't renewable and, even though it's cleaner than regular gas, it's still a fossil fuel.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">7. Hydrogen</span><br /><br />What: For years, hydrogen was widely considered to be the fuel of the future. In hydrogen fuel cell cars, hydrogen and oxygen are mixed in a fuel cell. The resulting chemical reaction produces electrons, which power a battery in the car, and water vapor. There is no pollution created in the reaction. Toyota and Ford have talked about bringing out hydrogen cars in 2015 or 2020. <br /><br />Pros: It will be nearly impossible to run out of hydrogen in the universe. The prototype cars have also continued to improve. Some hydrogen prototypes can run at over 100 miles per gallon. Engineers are also figuring out ways to store the compressed gas so hydrogen cars can still have a trunk. <br /><br />Cons: Although the car doesn't belch pollution, making hydrogen typically produces large amounts of carbon dioxide at the factory. To make hydrogen, most producers combine methane with water and heat up the mix to 815 degrees Celsius, which produces 9.3 kilograms of carbon dioxide for every kilogram of hydrogen. Hydrogen is also expensive to make, store and transport. You can't send it down regular pipelines. Then there is that problem of building hydrogen filling stations. <br /><br />Competitors aren't scared. <br /><br />"Hydrogen is hopeless," said Martin Eberhard, CEO of Tesla.<br /><br />from <a href="http://news.com.com/FAQ%20Guide%20to%20alternative%20fuels/2100-11395_3-6155212.html">here</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-1169821739420393792007-01-26T06:17:00.000-08:002007-01-26T06:28:59.646-08:00Sports car underwearI never thought that exist special underwear for sport cars.<br />But it exists.<br /><br />Here some examples:<br /><br />Chest protector<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2022/3547/1600/300862/chalk4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2022/3547/320/115152/chalk4.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Man and Woman Underwear<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2022/3547/1600/529649/COOLMAXB.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2022/3547/320/345090/COOLMAXB.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Balaclava <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2022/3547/1600/122606/mask.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2022/3547/320/931399/mask.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Neck protector<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2022/3547/1600/787930/00164RB.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2022/3547/320/825349/00164RB.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />found <a href="www.armanguesports.com/ novkartUNDERWEAR.htm">here</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-1169737559618045822007-01-25T07:02:00.000-08:002007-01-25T07:05:59.740-08:00Top 10 most expensive cars in the world<span style="font-weight:bold;">Bugatti Veyron $1,700,000</span><br /><br />The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is the most powerful, most expensive, and fastest street-legal production car in the world, with a proven top speed of over 400 km/h (407 km/h or 253 mph). It reached full production in September 2005. The car is built by Volkswagen AG subsidiary Bugatti Automobiles SAS and is sold under the legendary Bugatti marque. It is named after racing driver Pierre Veyron, who won the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1939 while racing for the original Bugatti firm. The Veyron features a W16 engine—16 cylinders in 4 banks of 4 cylinders. <br /><br /><br /><br />According to Volkswagen, the final production Veyron engine produces between 1020 and 1040 metric hp (1006 to 1026 SAE net hp), so the car will be advertised as producing "1001 horsepower" in both the US and European markets. This easily makes it the most powerful production road-car engine in history.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ferrari Enzo $1,000,000</span><br /><br /><br /><br />The Enzo Ferrari, sometimes referred to as the the Ferrari Enzo and also F60 is a 12-cylinder Ferrari supercar named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It was built in 2003 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fiber body, F1-style sequential shift transmission, and carbon-ceramic brake discs. Also used are technologies not allowed in F1 such as active aerodynamics. After a maximum downforce of 1709 pounds (775 kg) is reached at 186 mph (301 km/h) the rear spoiler is actuated by computer to maintain that downforce.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Pagani Zonda C12 F $741,000<br /></span><br /><br /><br />The Zonda C12 F debuted at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. It is the most extensive reengineering of the Pagani car yet, though it shares much with its predecessors including the 7.3 L V12. Power is increased to 602 PS (443 kW/594 hp) with a special clubsport model producing 650 PS (478 kW/641 hp). The company promises a 3.2 second sprint to 60 mph (97 km/h, a top speed over 374 km/h (225 mph) and it will be the queen in braking from 300 km/h to 0 (186 mph to 0). The Zonda F clubsport has a power to weight ratio of 521 bhp/ton (384 W/kg) . Compare, for example, the Enzo Ferrari which has a power to weight ratio of 483 bhp/ton (356 W/kg).<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Koenigsegg CCX $600,910</span><br /><br /><br /><br />The Koenigsegg CCX is the latest supercar from Koenigsegg. CCX is an abbreviation for Competition Coupe X. The X commemorates the 10th anniversary of the completion and test drive of the first CC vehicle in 1996. The CCX is intended to be more suitable for the U.S. market and thus engineered to comply with US regulations. The CCX is powered by a Koenigsegg designed and assembled, all aluminium, 4700 cm³ DOHC 32-valve V8 based on the Ford Modular engine architecture enhanced with twin Rotrex centrifugal superchargers with response system, 1.2 bar boost pressure and an 8.2:1 compression ratio. The engine produces 806 hp (601 kW) and 678 lbf.ft (920 Nm) on 91 octane (U.S. rating) gasoline, 850 hp (634 kW) on 96 octane (Euro rating) gasoline and 900 hp (671 kW) on biofuel.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Porsche Carrera GT $484,000</span><br /><br /><br /><br />The Porsche Carrera GT is a supercar, manufactured by Porsche of Germany. The Carrera GT is powered by an all-new 5.7 litre V10 engine producing 612 SAE horsepower (450 kW). Porsche claims it will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62.5 mph) in 3.9 seconds and has a maximum speed of 330 km/h (206 mph), although road tests indicated that in actuality the car could accelerate from 0-60 in under 3.5 seconds and to 0-100 in 6.8 seconds and has a top speed of 335-340km/h (209-212.5mph). <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Mercedes SLR McLaren $455,500</span><br /><br /><br /><br />The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is a sports car and supercar automobile co-developed by DaimlerChrysler and McLaren Cars. It is assembled at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England. Most people presume "SLR" to stand for "Sportlich, Leicht, Rennsport" (German for "Sport; Light; Racing"). The car's base price is £300,000 or $455,500. The SLR has a supercharged 5.5 (5439cc) litre dry sumped 90 degree V8. It produces 466.8 kW at 6500rpm (626 hp) and 780 N·m (575 ft·lbf) torque at 3250 - 5000 rpm.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Maybach 62 $385,250</span><br /><br /><br /><br />The Maybach 57 and 62 were the first automobile models of the Maybach brand since the brand's revival by DaimlerChrysler. They are derived from the Mercedes-Benz Maybach concept car presented at the 1997 Tokyo Motorshow (which was based on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan). DaimlerChrysler attempted to buy the Rolls-Royce/Bentley marque when Vickers offered the company up for sale. When this attempt failed (they were outbid by BMW and Volkswagen respectively) they introduced the Maybach as a direct challenger in 2002. Both models are variants of the same ultra-luxurious automobile. The model numbers reflect the respective lengths of the automobiles in decimetres; the 57 is more likely to be owner-driven while the longer 62 is designed with a chauffeur in mind. The engine is a Mercedes-sourced 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12, generating 550 hp.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Rolls-Royce Phantom $320,000</span><br /><br /><br /><br />The Rolls-Royce Phantom is a luxury saloon automobile made by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, a BMW subsidiary. It was launched in 2003 and is the first Rolls-Royce model made under the ownership of BMW. It has a 6.8 L, 48-valve, V12 engine that produces 453 hp (338 kW) and 531 ft·lbf (720 N·m) of torque. The engine is derived from BMW's existing V12 powerplant. It is 1.63 m (63 in) tall, 1.99 m (74.8 in) wide, 5.83 m (228 in) long, and weighs 2485 kg (5478 lb). The body of the car is built on an aluminium spaceframe and the Phantom can accelerate to 60 mph (100 km/h) in 5.7 s.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Lamborghini Murcielago $279,900</span><br /><br /><br /><br />The Lamborghini Murciélago is a GT and supercar automobile made by Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. and designed by Luc Donckerwolke. It was introduced in 2002 as the successor to the Diablo. The body style is a two door, two seat coupé. The LP640 version was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March of 2006. It features a 6.5 L engine, now producing 640 bhp, improving performance substantially. There were also a few minor external changes, primarily to the low air intakes.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Aston Martin Vanquish $255,000</span><br /><br /><br /><br />The Aston Martin V12 Vanquish is a supercar manufactured by Aston Martin since 2001. It rose to fame after being featured as the official James Bond car in Die Another Day, the twentieth James Bond film. In the film, the Vanquish has the usual Bond film embellishments, including active camouflage which rendered the vehicle virtually invisible. The Vanquish is powered by a 5.9 L (5935 cc) 48-valve 60° V12 engine, which produces 343 kW (460 hp) and 542 N·m (400 ft·lbf) of torque. It is controlled by a fly-by-wire throttle and a 6 speed 'paddle shift' or semi-automatic transmission. A special V12 Vanquish S debuted at the 2004 Paris Auto Show with the power upped to 388 kW (520 hp) and 577 N·m (426 ft·lbf).<br /><br />Source: <a href="http://www.automotoportal.com/article/Top_10_most_expensive_cars_in_the_world">AutoMotoPortal.com/Wikipedia</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-1169737234652740182007-01-25T06:56:00.000-08:002007-01-25T07:00:34.916-08:00The top 10 environment friendly carsYou don't want a CO2-spewing monster, but you do want to drive in style and comfort. It can be done: here are 10 cars, from city runarounds to sports cars, that won't destroy the world. Selected by the Environmental Transport Association, which raises awareness about the impact of excessive car use<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1 Honda Civic 1.3 IMA Executive</span><br /><br />There's no doubt which vehicle tops the Environmental Transport Association's green rankings. Honda should be congratulated for engineering a top-class environmentally superior hybrid car, the IMA, which combines a petrol engine with an electric motor for greater fuel efficiency. Honda's first leap into the environmental world came with the Insight, the first hybrid on the market. This latest offering is much better. Honda has also guaranteed the life of unusual parts, which is a bonus for owners - hybrids have tended to lose their value very quickly after three years, but the IMA is set to retain its value in line with other Civics. This, in short, is a saloon that offers everything the concerned consumer could want: it has low greenhouse gas emissions; it is relatively quiet; it scores well in the NCAP ratings. All this, however, does come with a price tag of £15,100, but you can apply for a Powershift grant from the Energy Savings Trust of up to £700 to offset some of the cost. How, though, does the petrol hybrid system work? The car runs on petrol but it has an electric motor that engages as you accelerate or go uphill. That boosts engine performance without the need to pump the accelerator. The battery then recharges from the energy generated when you brake. This system is called "Integrated Motor Assist" - hence the IMA of the name. <br /><br /> <br />List price £15,100 <br />Top speed 110mph <br />MPG (overall) 57.7 <br />Length 4440mm <br />Width 1715mm <br />Height 1430mm <br />CO2 emissions 116g/km <br />Tax liability percentage (company cars only) 15% <br />Boot space 341 litres <br />NCAP crash test rating **** <br />No of doors 4 <br />No of seats 5 <br />Engine size 1.3 litres <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">2 Toyota Prius 1.5 T3 </span><br /><br />The Toyota Prius is just about the most economical car you can buy. It can do an impressive 66 miles per gallon and it has the lowest CO2 emissions on the market - only 104g/km. The battery pack is hidden under the floor behind the rear seats and, like the Civic IMA's, kicks into action when additional power is required and recharges when the brakes are applied. Where it does differ however, is that you can switch to running the car solely on electric power, but because you can travel little more than a mile on electricity it's not as useful a feature as one might hope. The Prius may depreciate faster than the Civic, but its ability to hold value is improving with its new design, and its parts are guaranteed for eight years. The Prius is a large family car and its unusual and distinctive design makes it stand out from the crowd. It is not, however, cheap, especially when compared with similar vehicles in its class, and its boot space isn't great. But the Prius does qualify for the the £700 Powershift grant, and low running costs do help to offset the high purchase price. It has also just been voted European car of the year by a panel of motoring journalists from 22 countries. Most important of all, though, driving a Prius means your contribution to global warming is kept to a minimum and your conscience can be eased just a little. <br /><br />List price £17,545 <br />Top speed 106mph <br />MPG (overall figure) 65.7 <br />Length 4450mm <br />Width 1725mm <br />Height 1490mm <br />CO2 emissions 104g/km <br />Tax liability percentage (company cars only) 15% <br />Boot space 408 litres <br />NCAP crash test rating ***** <br />No of doors 5 <br />No of seats 5 <br />Engine size 1.5 litres<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">3 Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTI 16V Life</span><br /><br />Vauxhall's Corsa is a real green winner. This model has a new generation diesel engine which is powerful yet gives huge fuel consumption savings - it manages an incredible 63mpg, beaten only by the Toyota Prius hybrid. A powerful engine often means higher CO2 emissions but not this time - the Corsa comes in at 122g/km. The main downside to this vehicle is its lack of protection for pedestrians - NCAP gives it a one-star pedestrian rating - but the four-star crash rating at least means the driver and passengers will be safe. This model is not the cheapest car in its class and the basic model lacks many of the features you get as standard in other similar cars, but you will make savings on the running costs. <br /><br />List price £9,910 <br />Top speed 102mph <br />MPG (overall figure) 62.8 <br />Length 3817mm <br />Width 1955mm <br />Height 1440mm <br />CO2 emissions 122g/km <br />Tax liability percentage (company cars only) 15% <br />Boot space 260/1060 litres <br />NCAP crash test rating **** <br />No of doors 3 <br />No of seats 5 <br />Engine size 1.3 litres <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4 Daihatsu YRV Premium</span><br /><br />The Daihatsu YRV is about the size of a Ford Fiesta but with a Vauxhall Astra-sized interior - perfect for those looking for a compact, economical car that is not so small you feel boxed in. "YRV" stands for "young recreation vehicle" - signifying that it is a fun but practical car (if a little quirky), which is all yours for £9,495. Daihatsu has looked after the YRV's passengers - the rear seats are slightly higher than the front, and the versatile split-folding, sliding seat means there is no risk of cramped legs. And because the fold-down seats lie entirely flat, there is ample storage. Daihatsu has led the way in making small, environmentally friendly cars with good fuel economy and low greenhouse gas emissions, so expectations were high for this vehicle. However, CO2 emissions are not the lowest at 145mg/km, compared to the Corsa's 122g/km, and its fuel economy of 47.1mpg compares unfavourably to Corsa's 62.8mpg. Of course, these results are still good but it's a shame they aren't better. Daihatsu needs to keep up with its rivals if it wants to retain its position in the green car sector. <br /><br />List price £9,495 <br />Top speed 105mph <br />MPG (overall figure) 47.1 <br />Length 3765mm <br />Width 1620mm <br />Height 1550mm <br />CO2 emissions 145g/km <br />Tax liability percentage (company cars only) 15% <br />Boot space 238/1026 litres <br />NCAP crash test rating n/a <br />No of doors 5 <br />No of seats 5 <br />Engine size 1.3 litres<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">5 Ford Focus C-Max 1.6 TDCI LX</span><br /><br />This is a delightful compact MPV - stylish, comfortable and a good drive, with all the flexibility and space one expects from an MPV. The C-Max is aimed at families who prefer to have roomy luggage and storage space to having seven seats (and the vehicle can be made into an even roomier four-seater). It is well equipped with an impressive array of 11 different storage compartments, and you'll be hard-pressed to fill them all. What's more, the British Allergy Foundation has given the C-Max its seal of approval. The interior is fitted with low allergy risk materials and the car has a pollen filter, which is great news for hayfever sufferers. The C-Max is larger and taller than similar MPVs but its aerodynamic shape contributes to low fuel consumption (58mpg) and relatively low emissions (129mg/km). This is a strong option for families seeking a spacious but environmentally friendly vehicle. <br /><br />List price £15,490 <br />Top speed 115mph <br />MPG (overall figure) 57.6 <br />Length 4333mm <br />Width 2022mm <br />Height 1595mm <br />CO2 emissions 129g/km <br />Tax liability percentage (company cars only) 18% <br />Boot space 550/1620 litres <br />NCAP crash test rating **** <br />No of doors 5 <br />No of seats 5 <br />Engine size 1.6 litres <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">6 Daihatsu Charade 1.0 EL</span><br /><br />This super city car is hard to rival. It has low greenhouse gas emissions (114g/km of CO2) and very good fuel economy (59mpg). It also has the quietest engine of the cars featured here and, at £6,495 on the road, it is also the cheapest. That means minimum impact on the environment and your wallet. If you're not already feeling warm and fuzzy at the thought of owning one of these green gems, every Charade has an instrument display that reads "Hello, happy" when you turn on the ignition and "See you - goodbye" when the engine is turned off - a cute touch. This model has not been NCAP crash-tested yet but it is expected to do well. Its car-to-car collision performance is based on much larger cars and the engine compartment has been designed to absorb more crash energy for better pedestrian safety. What the Charade lacks in boot space, it makes up for by having wide opening easy-access doors and rear seats that split and fold for longer loads. <br /><br />List price £6,495 <br />Top speed 99mph <br />MPG (overall figure) 58.9 <br />Length 3410mm <br />Width 1475mm <br />Height 1500mm <br />CO2 emissions 114g/km <br />Tax liability percentage (company cars only) 15% <br />Boot space 157/421 litres <br />NCAP crash test rating n/a <br />No of doors 5 <br />No of seats 4 <br />Engine size 1 litre <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">7 Smart Pure Fortwo Coupe</span><br /><br />The Smart car was made for city driving, so of course it is great for zipping about town and easy to park. Its modern, trendy and innovative design also makes it charming and hard to dislike. If you don't have a family then this car is ideal, but the boot is so tiny you'll have to keep your shopping to a minimum. However, the Smart is weak on both driver and pedestrian safety achieving just two stars on the NCAP crash test. It is also the noisiest of these 10 cars - a surprise given the smallness of its engine. On the plus side, it is extremely economical at 60mpg, and good on CO2 emissions. The Smart is a funky, practical, environmentally friendly car for urban living - but remember, this is not a car for long journeys. <br /><br />List price £7,013 <br />Top speed 84mph <br />MPG (overall figure) 60.1 <br />Length 2500mm <br />Width 1515mm <br />Height 1549mm <br />CO2 emissions 113g/km <br />Tax liability percentage (company cars only) 15% <br />Boot space 150/550 litres <br />NCAP crash test rating *** <br />No of doors 3 <br />No of seats 2 <br />Engine size 0.7 litres <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">8 Volkswagen Touran 1.9 TDI S </span><br /><br />The Touran is not the cheapest MPV on the market (it starts at £15,920), but you get what you pay for - Volkswagen's high quality badge, reliability and superior drive handling. And, since it comes in a five or seven seater model with no extra cost for the seven seater, you can also get what you don't pay for. No corners have been cut in the interior, which combines luxury and practicality, although the design is a little bland. The Touran is one of the greenest seven-seater MPVs on the market, and while it has the highest CO2 emissions of the ten cars on this list, it fares much better in the green stakes than other MPVs. Crucially, it has received the top score five-star crash rating from NCAP and even more importantly, a three-star pedestrian rating, making this the safest vehicle inside and out of all the cars featured. <br /><br />List price £15,920 <br />Top speed 112mph <br />MPG (overall figure) 47.1 <br />Length 4391mm <br />Width 2042mm<br />Height 1635mm <br />CO2 emissions 162g/km <br />Tax liability percentage (company cars only) 18% <br />Boot space 695/1989litres <br />NCAP crash test rating ***** <br />No of doors 5 <br />No of seats 5/7 <br />Engine size 1.9 litres <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">9 Peugeot 407 1.6 HDI S 110</span><br /><br />Most higher specced cars tend not to have green credentials to boast about, but this car is the exception. It breaks 50mpg and its CO2 emissions are a respectable 145g/km. If you are looking for fine performance and a roomy car to go with your commitment to the environment, then Peugeot has fine-tuned this model just for you. If you are also bothered about storage space, then steer clear. However, you should feel very safe in the 407. It has a five-star crash rating and a sturdy cabin that oozes reassurance. The two-star rating for pedestrian safety is disappointing, though. But it is good to knowyou can get the degree of luxury you would want without compromising the environment. <br /><br />List price £15,550 <br />Top speed 119mph <br />MPG (overall figure) 51.3 <br />Length 4676mm <br />Width 2090mm <br />Height 1455mm <br />CO2 emissions 145g/km <br />Tax liability percentage (company cars only) 15% <br />Boot space 407 litres <br />NCAP crash test rating ***** <br />No of doors 4 <br />No of seats 5 <br />Engine size 1.6 litres<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">10 Honda Accord 2.2 I-CTDI Sport</span><br /><br />This Honda Accord has a newly developed engine that doesn't disappoint: it combines performance and efficiency as only Honda can. This car provides a stress-free environment for high-mileage drivers, which is why it is aimed at the executive market. That is what accounts for the £18,900 price tag. For that money you would expect a special interior and more, but this Accord doesn't quite have the executive extras of other cars in its class. Having said that, there is plenty to praise about it, and the quiet engine and smooth driving experience certainly make up for whatever it lacks in appearance.<br /><br />List price £18,900 <br />Top speed 129mph <br />MPG (overall figure) 52.3 <br />Length 4665mm <br />Width 2025mm <br />Height 1450mm <br />CO2 emissions 143g/km <br />Tax liability percentage (company cars only) 15% <br />Boot space 459 litres <br />NCAP crash test rating **** <br />No of doors 5 <br />No of seats 5 <br />Engine size 2.2 litres<br /><br />from <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/cars/story/0,15383,1357788,00.html">here</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-1166185723805819882006-12-15T04:26:00.000-08:002006-12-15T04:28:45.700-08:00BMW’s Sauber F1 Team has a new supercomputer called ‘Albert2’.<em>By Alex Zaharov-Reutt </em><br /><br />BMW’s Sauber F1 Team has a new ally in the battle to win F1 races – a supercomputer called ‘Albert2’. <br /><br />So, what can Albert2 do? Is he alive like Number 5? Well… a supercomputer he may be, but there’s no sign of sentient thought just yet. <br /><br />Albert2 is designed to do ‘computational fluid dynamics’ or CFD, and he does it three times faster than his predecessor Albert. Of course we’re assuming that Albert2 is a fellow, because there aren’t many female computers around, and none of them are called Albert, although we are sure there must be an Alberta or two around somewhere. <br /><br />Launched on Thursday to the world press, it’s the fastest supercomputer in the industry, it has been designed to help with the car’s aerodynamics, and is BMW Sauber’s attempt at focusing on computing power, rather than building a second physical wind tunnel as other teams are doing. <br /><br />According to BMW Motorsport Director Mario Thissen: "Aerodynamics has a crucial influence on the performance of modern Formula 1 cars, with experimental work in the wind tunnel and computational fluid dynamics complementing each other. The launch of Albert2 means a decisive reinforcement of our CFD capacity”. <br /><br />"Unlike other teams, we are not planning to build a second wind tunnel but will continue to bank on the consistently expanding potential in this area. For the new season, we have set the goal of further reducing the gap to the top. Our new supercomputer based on Intel technology is an important tool supporting us in this effort." <br /><br />Albert2 is using the latest dual core Intel Xeon processors in a cluster, with the move to multi-core credited with being able to meet BMW Sauber’s computing power needs now and into the future. <br /><br />There are 256 nodes with two Intel Xeon 5160 processors each, for a total of 1024 cores. Over 2000 gigabytes of memory (2048 to be exact) is installed, giving a maximum computing power of 12.288 teraflops. <br /><br />While Albert2 is on average 3 times faster than the predecessor Albert using a program known as ‘Fluent’, a ‘Linpack’ Benchmark clocks the system at 5.5 faster. <br /><br />Source <a href="http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/8105/53/">here</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-1165746995836875842006-12-10T02:35:00.000-08:002006-12-10T02:36:35.946-08:00Top 10 Features Every Minivan Should Have<em>By editors at Edmunds.com</em><br /><br />When you've got a family and an active lifestyle, nothing's more practical than a minivan. But some vans are more practical than others. To help out with your decision-making process, we've put together a list of the 10 features we consider the most important to have in these family-centered vehicles, plus some bonus goodies. We've eliminated basics like rear air-conditioning controls and dual sliding doors that are standard fare on most, if not all, modern-day minivans, and concentrated on more recent innovations that you won't find in every van on the market. The features are arranged in no particular order. We've listed the minivans that are available with each feature — either as standard equipment or as a factory option.<br /><br /><br />Adjustable pedals or telescoping steering wheel: People come in all sizes, and in order to be a sane parent, you've got to be able to find a safe, comfortable position behind the wheel. Adjustable pedals are a big help for those of shorter stature, as they allow you to bring the pedals closer without having to move the entire seat forward. A telescoping steering wheel performs much the same function (you're moving the wheel closer or farther from your body), but even taller adults will find that it allows them to tailor a driving position to their liking. In an ideal world, minivans would include both features, but for now, several models offer one or the other.<br /><br />Minivans with adjustable pedals: <br />Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, Dodge Grand Caravan, Ford Freestar, Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, Mercury Monterey, Nissan Quest<br /><br />Minivans with a telescoping steering wheel: <br />Mazda 5, Toyota Sienna<br /><br /><br />In-floor storage: When you need a place to store groceries to keep them from baking in the sun or rolling around the rear cargo area, or extra storage space for children's toys, you can simply lift the cover on an in-floor storage cubby and place the items inside. This keeps items from being strewn around or lost, frees up precious floor space, and makes for a safer riding environment. If you need a large flat space for carrying cargo, simply open the storage cubbies and fold the second- and third-row seats into them. Simple, easy and effective!<br /><br />Minivans that have it: <br />Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey<br /><br /><br />Conversation mirror: This politely named overhead convex mirror is actually a parental spyglass that allows the driver to see what's going on in every seating position in the van. Without turning around and looking away from the road, a flustered parent can discover exactly who is instigating border warfare in the third row, or can accurately aim a swat into the second row without swiveling her head.<br /><br />Minivans that have it: <br />Ford Freestar, Kia Sedona, Hyundai Entourage, Mercury Monterey, Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey<br /><br /><br />Fold-flat third-row seat: Do you like the idea of having to remove heavy third-row seats and cart them into your garage every time you need some extra cargo space? Neither do we. Fortunately, most, if not all, manufacturers offer a third-row seat that folds neatly into the floor, providing a flat load surface. Many offer a 60/40-split design for their seat, which provides additional flexibility for larger families: Someone can sit on one section of the seat, while the other has been dropped into the floor to accommodate cargo.<br /><br />Minivans with a single-piece fold-flat third-row seat:<br />Buick Terraza, Chevrolet Uplander, Ford Freestar, Mazda 5, Mazda MPV, Mercury Monterey, Nissan Quest, Pontiac Montana SV6, Saturn Relay<br /><br />Minivans with a 60/40-split fold-flat third-row seat: <br />Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, Toyota Sienna<br /><br /><br />Tire-pressure warning system: Your tires provide the only connection between your minivan and the road. If they're not properly inflated, your minivan won't handle as well and your ability to steer around potential accident situations will be reduced. Additionally, underinflated tires are more susceptible to blowouts should they pick up a nail. When you're taking care of small children, checking the tire pressure may not be the first thing on your mind. However, if your van has a tire-pressure warning system, you'll be alerted if the tire pressure falls too far below the factory specification.<br /><br />Additionally, some minivans are fitted with run-flat tires, whose stiffer sidewalls allow them to support the vehicle's weight, even after a tire has lost most or all of its pressure. This comes in handy in remote areas, as a minivan can be driven up to 50 miles (at up to 55 mph) in the event of a blowout. Of note is the Michelin PAX run-flat tire system used on Honda's Odyssey and Nissan's Quest. This system requires specially sized wheels and a rubber donut inside the tire, and is often far more hassle if a tire needs replacing, due to added cost and complexity. The Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey offer a lower-cost alternative to run-flats — self-sealing tires. Self-sealing tires have an extra lining coated with a puncture sealant that can permanently seal small punctures from nails and bolts without any human intervention.<br /><br />Minivans with tire-pressure warning systems: <br />Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Ford Freestar, Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, Mercury Monterey, Nissan Quest, Toyota Sienna<br /><br />Minivans with self-sealing tires: <br />Ford Freestar, Mercury Monterey<br /><br />Minivans with run-flat tires: <br />Honda Odyssey, Nissan Quest, Toyota Sienna<br /><br /><br />Reconfigurable second-row seats: Even if you've got a van with a fold-flat third-row seat, there are times when you may want to reposition the second-row captain's chairs to form a bench seat or make way for bulky cargo. Reconfigurable second-row seats are fore/aft-adjustable, so you can decide how to divide up the legroom between the second and third rows. Honda's Odyssey offers a pop-up center seat for the second row as well as full adjustability, making the second row capable of seating three instead of only two. Toyota's Sienna also offers fully adjustable second-row seats, but in practice, its seats aren't as easy to reconfigure into a bench (fortunately, Toyota offers an eight-passenger model for those who truly need a bench in the second row). An interesting system of note is the Stow 'n Go system for the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country. This offers covered spaces in the floor to fold the second- and third-row seats into. When not in use, these cubbies can be used for storage. <br /><br />Minivans with seats that adjust side to side and fore/aft: <br />Honda Odyssey, Mazda MPV, Toyota Sienna<br /><br />Minivans with seats that adjust fore/aft only: <br />Ford Freestar, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, Mercury Monterey, Nissan Quest, Chrysler Town and Country <br /><br /><br />Reverse-sensing system or rearview camera: Backing out of the driveway or a parking space is no easy feat in a large vehicle, particularly when rear passengers' heads are obstructing your rearward view. Reverse-sensing systems, also called Park Assist, employ bumper-mounted sensors that use sonar to locate objects, pets and people from three up to six feet from the vehicle. Audible beeps of varying intensity let the driver know how close he/she is to an object before it's too late. These sensors also prove their worth when you're attempting to parallel park in a tight space. Radar-based back-up systems have a significantly longer range, sensing up to 16 feet behind the vehicle, and are currently found on the aftermarket. <br /><br />Although reverse-sensing systems are quite effective, they're still no substitute for actually being able to see what's behind you. Some manufacturers have a solution to this problem: Equip a minivan with a navigation system, and a tiny bumper-mounted camera will project an image of what's behind you onto the nav screen when the van is in reverse. Though costly, this is a neat feature that quickly becomes hard to live without. You can also find parking sensors (for both the front and rear) and rearview cameras on the aftermarket.<br /><br />Minivans with a reverse-sensing system: <br />Buick Terraza, Chevrolet Uplander, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Ford Freestar, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, Nissan Quest, Pontiac Montana SV6, Saturn Relay <br /><br />Minivans with a rearview camera:<br />Honda Odyssey, Nissan Quest, Toyota Sienna<br /><br /><br />Side curtain airbags for all three rows: Side curtain airbags protect occupants' heads in the event of a side-impact collision or rollover. Although they're fairly common among today's new passenger cars, full-length coverage (for all three rows of seating) is a recent development among minivans and large-capacity SUVs. If you're the type of parent who requires maximum peace of mind, you'll want to make sure you get a minivan with this feature.<br /><br />Minivans that have it: <br />Chrysler Town & Country, Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, Mazda 5, Mercury Monterey, Nissan Quest, Toyota Sienna<br /><br /><br />Traction and stability control: Traction control is a simple feature that allows for more confident low-speed maneuvers on slippery roads or in muddy parking lots at the soccer field. When one of the tires begins to spin and lose traction, the system intervenes by applying the brakes and/or reducing engine power to that wheel and smoothly redirecting it to the wheel(s) that have grip. Stability control goes beyond traction control and helps in higher-speed situations by employing sensors to monitor how closely your vehicle's path matches your intended path based on steering, throttle and brake inputs. When appropriate, such a system can apply braking forces to individual wheels and/or reduce engine power to prevent dangerous skids. It's especially useful on slippery roads.<br /><br />Minivans that have traction control: <br />Buick Terraza, Chevrolet Uplander, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Ford Freestar, Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, Mazda MPV, Mercury Monterey, Nissan Quest, Pontiac Montana SV6, Saturn Relay, Toyota Sienna<br /><br />Minivans that have stability control: <br />Buick Terraza, Chevrolet Uplander, Ford Freestar, Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, Mercury Monterey, Nissan Quest, Pontiac Montana SV6, Saturn Relay, Toyota Sienna<br /><br /><br />Side window sunshades: This feature is just starting to creep into minivans after being offered for years in many luxury sedans. These power sunshades open and close at the touch of a button, offering occupants protection from the sun, especially useful for infants and younger children. Without this option, most parents resort to suction cup devices that don't work as well and look cheap. If your child rides in a car seat in the second row, this is an especially handy feature to have.<br /><br />Minivans that have it: <br />Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna<br /><br /><br />Bonus features<br />So we've told you the features we think are essential for every minivan, but what if you have a flexible budget that enables you to create the ultimate minivan? Well, here are some features that we don't consider necessities but are nonetheless enjoyable additions to a family vehicle.<br /><br />115-volt power outlet: Don't let the voltage rating throw you off — we're talking about a standard two-prong household outlet. That means you can plug in the PlayStation 3 or the portable camp stove without using an adapter (the kind you'd need for the usual 12-volt power points). It doesn't get any more convenient than this.<br /><br />Minivans that have it: <br />Buick Terraza, Saturn Relay<br /><br />Power-down rear side windows:<br />Even with all the room to spread out, life in the back of a minivan can become uncomfortably warm at times. In the past, sliding side doors mandated fixed glass in the second row, leaving the "ventable" third-row windows as the only source of fresh air. Some manufacturers, however, have broken free of this limitation. They offer power-down side windows in the second row of their minivans, allowing passengers to enjoy a fresh breeze.<br /><br />Minivans that have it: <br />Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, Mazda MPV, Toyota Sienna<br /><br />Power rear liftgate:<br />What at first sounds like an extravagance turns out to be very convenient, especially when you approach the van with groceries in one arm and a child in the other. Simply press a button on the remote or yank on the exterior handle, and a power-operated liftgate will open under its own strength. Stow the groceries in the cargo bay, hit the button again, and go about your business. Like we said, very convenient.<br /><br />Minivans that have it: <br />Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Ford Freestar, Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, Mercury Monterey, Nissan Quest, Toyota Sienna <br /><br />Rear DVD entertainment system: Although there's plenty to be said for spending quality time together during a road trip, those hours can get mighty long, even for the closest of families. Having the option to pop in a cartoon for the kids or a movie for everyone to enjoy (except the driver, of course) can make long-distance adventures much more relaxing. And since these systems come with wireless headphones, the kids can watch the movie while the adults listen to the radio.<br /><br />Minivans that have it:<br />Buick Terraza, Chevrolet Uplander, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, Dodge Grand Caravan, Ford Freestar, Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, Mazda 5, Mazda MPV, Mercury Monterey, Nissan Quest, Pontiac Montana SV6, Saturn Relay, Toyota Sienna<br /><br />Center folding storage tray: This simple feature is nothing more than a tray with cupholders that fits between the front captain's chairs, but the parents on the Edmunds.com staff love it. Why? Simply put, it can easily accommodate the spoils of a trip through the drive-thru, or provide the perfect resting place for a bag or a purse. In the event that you need to get to the rear seats to comfort a baby or break up a territorial dispute, simply fold down the tray and walk through to the back. Some manufacturers try to increase storage capacity by offering a larger, removable center console unit in this space, but these typically require two hands and some elbow grease to remove, so you'll find yourself having to climb over them when you're in a hurry — and that isn't very convenient.<br /><br />Minivans that have it:<br />Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, Toyota Sienna<br /><br />Navigation system: Writing down directions or printing them off the Internet seems simple enough, but when you have a lot to carry or are in a rush, those directions can easily become misplaced. Also, written or printed directions can distract you from your driving by forcing you to check the paper and then look for the corresponding street signs. A navigation system helps avoid undue stress caused by complicated or misplaced directions. It also keeps you focused on your driving by telling you where and when to turn.<br /><br />Minivans that have it:<br />Buick Terraza, Chevrolet Uplander, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey, Mazda 5, Nissan Quest, Saturn Relay, Toyota Sienna<br /><br />DVD changer: Most vehicles today offer the option of an in-dash, six-CD changer to cut down on the frequency with which the driver has to change a CD. Now, the option of a dual six-CD/DVD changer is being offered in some minivans. This allows parents to load DVDs into the changer and not worry about switching discs while driving, and risk hearing, "Are we there yet?" from the children in the backseat.<br /><br />Minivans that have it:<br />Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, Dodge Grand Caravan, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona<br /><br />Onboard hard drive: Like cassettes and CDs when they first appeared, MP3s are emerging as the favored music format of today. GM was thinking of this when it introduced the option of a 40-gigabyte removable hard drive for its line of minivans, called the PhatNoise system. With this feature, you can store thousands of music MP3 files and several dozen movie files to the hard drive, and have them all accessible and searchable from inside your minivan. This feature eliminates the need to constantly switch CDs or DVDs, allowing you to concentrate on driving and keeping things hassle-free for the entire family at the same time. Worth noting is the addition of auxiliary inputs to the stereo in many new minivans. This feature allows an external hard drive, such as an MP3 player, to be connected to the stereo, allowing for much the same hassle-free use as an onboard hard drive.<br /><br />Minivans with onboard hard drives:<br />Buick Terraza, Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac Montana SV6, Saturn Relay<br /><br />Minivans with auxiliary inputs:<br />Buick Terraza, Chevrolet Uplander, Nissan Quest, Saturn Relay, Toyota SiennaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-1165746915850779672006-12-10T02:34:00.000-08:002006-12-10T02:35:17.590-08:00Top 10 2006 4WD Vehicles for Off-Highway Use<em>By Brent Romans</em><br /><br />To access some of the most enjoyable outdoor activities America has to offer, one sometimes has to travel into remote areas of state or national parks. Frequently, these areas can be reached only by traveling on rock-strewn trails that wind steeply up hills or mountains. In cases like this, it's important to have a vehicle that doesn't get jittery at the first sight of dirt. To help consumers choose, we selected a diverse group of 2006 model-year pickups and SUVs that we feel are the most capable over rough terrain and made recommendations as to how to equip them for maximum performance. Please note that the order of this list is alphabetical and does not represent an editorial preference of any one vehicle over another.<br /><br /><strong>1. Dodge Ram 2500:</strong><br />On its own, the Dodge Ram doesn't possess many inherent qualities that make it more capable than its competitors like the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, Nissan Titan or Toyota Tundra. However, there is a version of the Ram, the Power Wagon, that allows the Ram to make our list. The Power Wagon is a Ram 2500 with plenty of special off-roading hardware, including front and rear differential locks, an electronically disconnecting front stabilizer bar, 33-inch off-road tires, Bilstein shocks and a 12,000-pound winch.<br /><br /><strong>2. Hummer H1 Alpha:</strong><br />The Hummer H1 Alpha is a pretty lousy vehicle by most measures. It's heavy, unwieldy and slow. Want to carry stuff? More cargo volume can be found in a Chevrolet Equinox. Price? If you have to ask, you can't afford it. Where the H1 is unmatched, however, is in its ability to neutralize obstacles in wide-open terrain. Featuring massive ground clearance, big tires and a stout drivetrain, the H1 Alpha can crawl over or ford its way through just about anything. Order the Off-Road Adventure and Tire packages for top performance.<br /><br /><strong>3. Hummer H2:</strong><br />Welcome to Hummer Lite. The Hummer H2 isn't as big or as heavy as the Hummer H1, nor does it have as much off-road capability. But the H2's smaller size makes it much more realistic to use in urban environments, and it still has more than enough tough-truck attitude to take on the majority of off-road trails. Either the regular H2 or the H2 SUT (which features an open cargo bed) will do. Order the optional rear air-suspension feature to slightly improve the H2's capabilities.<br /><br /><strong>4. Jeep Grand Cherokee:</strong><br />For overall versatility, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is an outstanding choice. This midsize SUV deftly offers plenty of off-road capability without sacrificing too much on-road comfort. In terms of size, the Grand Cherokee is just about right: It's big enough to provide adequate cargo room but still compact enough to make off-road navigation easy. The best performing Grand Cherokee of the range is one with the 5.7-liter V8 engine and the Quadra-Drive four-wheel-drive system.<br /><br /><strong>5. Jeep Wrangler:</strong><br />This classic American SUV has earned a loyal following because of its rugged capabilities, compact size and iconic styling. Of course, it's not very civilized and is a poor choice for an urban commuter car. But for the ultimate in rock crawling and trail maneuverability, the Jeep Wrangler can't be beat. Our choice for 2006 is the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, which has, among other items, stronger axles, front and rear differential locks, a 4:1 low-range transfer case and off-road tires. <br /><br /><strong>6. Kia Sorento:</strong><br />Compared to the Hummer H1 Alpha, which is just as likely to squash an obstacle rather than go over it, the Kia Sorento might seem a bit outclassed for this list. But for the money, this midsize SUV is an attractive package. It has enough truck DNA in it, including a body-on-frame design, a standard V6 engine, a solid rear axle and sufficiently meaty tires, to make it decently capable when the pavement ends. Best of all, a four-wheel-drive Sorento can be had for a tad over $20,000.<br /><br /><strong>7. Land Rover Range Rover:</strong><br />Like the Toyota Land Cruiser, the Land Rover Range Rover has a rich heritage relating to off-road adventure. One could argue that the Range Rover has become overly posh in recent years. Indeed, it's unlikely that many owners will be thrashing their new 2006 Range Rovers over boulder-strewn trails. But there's no denying that the Range Rover, given its long list of off-road-oriented technology features, is still one of the most capable SUVs available for taking on nature's muck and grime.<br /><br /><strong>8. Nissan Xterra:</strong><br />In the six years since its introduction, the Nissan Xterra has lived up to its marketing tagline of "Everything you need, nothing you don't." Rugged construction, a powerful V6 and plenty of versatility are in the Xterra's repertoire. Common automotive frills, like leather seating or GPS navigation, are not. For maximum off-road capability, go with the Off-Road trim level, which equips the Xterra with a rear differential lock, specialized tires, Bilstein performance shocks and hill descent control.<br /><br /><strong>9. Toyota Land Cruiser:</strong><br />The Toyota Land Cruiser has rightfully earned its place as one of the world's premier go-anywhere vehicles. Used in just about every rugged environment on Earth, the Land Cruiser has a strong reputation for durability, versatility and comfort. It's a do-all SUV that's equally at home on city streets or unimproved mountain roads. Most of the Land Cruiser's off-road-oriented equipment comes standard, though there is an optional four-wheel height control system that can improve off-road performance.<br /><br /><strong>10. Toyota Tacoma:</strong><br />Though old, beat-up American full-size pickups are still the weapon of choice for most hard-core off-roading enthusiasts, Toyota pickups have earned a measure of respect because of their capability and durability. The midsize Toyota Tacoma, now in its second generation, continues the trend. For off-road use, the Tacoma can be equipped with a package that includes a tuned off-road suspension, Bilstein shocks, special tires, a rear differential lock and an underbody skid plate.<strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-1165489780673123632006-12-07T03:08:00.000-08:002006-12-07T03:09:40.950-08:00Top 10 Cheap Cool Cars for Teens for 2006<em>By Warren Clarke</em><br /><br />You're ready to transition from teen to teen with wheels, but you're finding the journey from bus rider to car driver bumpier than you'd thought. <br /><br />Why? Well, you want a new, not a used car. You've made up your mind; it's not open for debate. But you're discovering that the coolest new cars are priced way beyond your budget. The ones that you are able to afford are, well, a lot less cool than you'd hoped. <br /><br />Or are they? "Affordable" doesn't have to be just another word for "lame." These days, automakers are targeting the youth market (that means you) with accessibly priced vehicles that offer most or all of the things smart young buyers crave: stylish looks, sporty handling, great fuel economy, abundant safety features and a first-rate sound system. <br /><br />Each of our 10 recommendations may be purchased for under $20,000. And most importantly, you won't be embarrassed to be seen pulling up in any of these rides at school. <br /><br /><br /><strong>2006 Honda Civic</strong>— MSRP: $14,360-$21,940. <br />Best All-Rounder: Available as a sedan or coupe, the Civic is an all-rounder like no other; it's good-looking, fun to drive and reliable, with a lengthy list of standard safety features, including antilock brakes and full-length side curtain airbags. The Civic also offers a range of four-cylinder engines designed to satisfy everyone from the enthusiast (bake some donuts with the 197-horsepower Si) to the tree-hugger (save the planet with the Civic Hybrid). <br /><br /><br /><strong>2006 Mazda 3</strong> — MSRP: $13,710-$19,165. <br />Best Handling for the Buck: Mazda's 3 looks sporty and it's got the goods to back it up, thanks to nimble handling and two peppy, refined engines — a 150-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a 160-hp, 2.3-liter four (bear in mind that fuel economy suffers with the 2.3). You'll also dig its upscale interior, which offers stellar materials quality and outstanding design. Side-impact and full-length side curtain airbags are available. The 3 may be purchased either as a sedan or as a four-door hatchback offering up to 17.1 cubic feet of storage behind its rear seat. <br /><br /><br /><strong>2006 Scion tC</strong> — MSRP: $16,300-$17,100. <br />Roomiest (Pseudo) Coupe: Scions offer no-haggle pricing and all the reliability you'd expect from a company that's a Toyota spin-off. The tC boasts a roomy cabin, brisk handling, ample power from an eager 160-hp inline four, a standard sunroof and 17-inch alloy wheels and a host of standard safety features. You also get a sweet Pioneer sound system with available iPod connectivity. Side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags are optional. This Scion looks like a coupe, but it's actually a cargo-friendly three-door hatchback; fold down its rear seats and cargo capacity swells to 60 cubic feet. <br /><br /><br /><strong>2006 Scion xB</strong> — MSRP: $14,030-$14,830. <br />Best Ride for You and Four Friends: Want to make a statement? Get yourself an xB; its distinctive styling (it looks sort of like a mini-ambulance — we mean that in a good way) is a real head-turner. Its boxy looks are functional, too; the xB boasts abundant head- and legroom (enough to seat five in total comfort) while offering up to 43 cubic feet of cargo space. Motivated by a 103-hp, 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine, the xB is light on horsepower, but the upside to that is fuel economy in the 30-mpg range. One negative: Side airbags are not available. <br /><br /><br /><strong>2007 Honda Fit</strong> — MSRP: $13,850-$15,970. <br />Best Value: A five-door hatchback, the Fit offers a long list of standard equipment; included are side curtain airbags, antilock brakes and an audio system that works with iPod players. Its interior allows for an incredible amount of utility, with ample storage nooks and over 21 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the second-row seats. Fuel economy is over 30 mpg; the trade-off is a somewhat slight 109-hp engine. <br /><br /><br /><strong>2006 Ford Mustang</strong> — MSRP: $19,115-$26,320. <br />Best High-Performance Thrill Ride: You want cool? It doesn't get much cooler than the Ford Mustang coupe, a car whose retro styling invites you to slide on in and pretend you're on That '70s Show. In true muscle-car fashion, this rear-wheel-drive coupe is a scream on the road, whether powered by the 210-hp V6 or the 300-hp V8. Oh, and the Mustang earned great scores in both front- and side-impact crash testing, so it'll get you there quickly as well as safely. Side-impact airbags for front occupants are optional, but full-length head curtain airbags are not available. <br /><br /><br /><strong>2006 Volkswagen Jetta</strong> — MSRP: $17,900-$24,865. <br />Most Upscale: The Jetta sedan offers polished lines and premium cabin materials. You also get tons of standard safety features (like full-length head curtain airbags) and the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the Jetta earned top marks in frontal- and side-impact crash testing. Available with a host of engines (including a diesel that gets up to 42 mpg), the Jetta is fun to drive, with crisp handling and brisk acceleration. <br /><br /><br /><strong>2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse</strong> — MSRP: $19,399-$24,599. <br />Sexiest Sport Coupe: Sexy little sport coupes don't get much sexier than the Eclipse — not in this price bracket, anyway. Blessed with supple lines and a handsome cabin, it's a blast on twisty roads. Buyers have the choice of two engines: a 162-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a 263-hp V6. Side-impact and head curtain airbags are standard. Audiophiles will love this Mitsubishi's available 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate audio system, which offers class-leading sound. <br /><br /><br /><strong>2007 Nissan Versa</strong> — MSRP: Approximately $12,000-$16,000. <br />Best Value, Part Two: The Versa five-door hatchback goes on sale in June 2006; look for a sedan version to hit dealerships six months later. The car boasts a spiffy interior with lots of passenger room, and the hatchback offers 16.9 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seats. Sound junkies will crave the crisp sonics of the car's available Rockford-Fosgate stereo system. Motivated by a potent-for-its-class 120-hp engine, the Versa is available with a six-speed manual, a four-speed automatic or a continuously variable transmission (CVT); when equipped with a CVT, mileage is in the high 30s. Front-seat side airbags are standard and full-length side curtain airbags are optional.<br /><br /><br /><strong>2006 Pontiac Vibe</strong> — MSRP: $15,260-$19,250. <br />Most Versatile: Handling is modest on the Vibe, but Pontiac's compact wagon offers a smooth, comfy ride. Side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags are optional, and the Vibe earned solid scores in government crash tests. This Pontiac is available in front-wheel and all-wheel-drive models; front-wheel-drive models may be had with either a 130- or 170-hp engine, while all-wheel-drive versions offer 118 hp. The car's versatile interior offers fold-flat rear seating, which boosts cargo capacity to just over 54 cubic feet. Better yet, the cargo area offers a wipe-clean plastic surface (for muddy stuff) and adjustable cargo tracks (so you can tie down bulky stuff).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-1165489665978744262006-12-07T03:07:00.000-08:002006-12-07T03:07:46.053-08:00Top 10 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars for 2006<em>By Warren Clarke</em><br /><br />With gas prices steep as a Himalayan slope, fuel-efficiency is a prime consideration for an ever increasing number of car buyers. For all you smart souls with an eye on the pump, we've compiled a list of the 10 most fuel-efficient cars currently sold in the U.S. <br /><br />Rankings are based on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) miles-per-gallon ratings for city and highway travel. More specifically, we used the EPA's combined fuel economy formula: 55 percent of city mpg rating plus 45 percent of highway mpg rating. The rating for each vehicle below is expressed in mpg as a city/highway ratio. All ratings apply to base models equipped with a manual transmission, except where indicated otherwise with an asterisk. <br /><br />Each model was allowed only one appearance on the list. The sole exception is the Honda Civic, which appears twice as a result of being available in both gas-electric hybrid and regular gasoline versions. <br /><br /><br />Honda Insight — 60/66<br />Toyota Prius — 60/51*<br />Honda Civic Hybrid — 49/51*<br />Volkswagen Golf TDI — 37/44<br />Volkswagen New Beetle TDI — 37/44<br />Volkswagen Jetta TDI — 36/41<br />Toyota Corolla — 32/41<br />Scion xA — 32/37<br />Hyundai Accent — 32/35<br />Kia Rio — 32/35<br />Honda Civic — 30/40*<br />Pontiac Vibe — 30/36<br />Toyota Matrix — 30/36Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-1165489540570737942006-12-07T03:04:00.000-08:002006-12-07T03:05:41.613-08:00Top 10 Luxury Cars Under $35,000<em>By Steve Siler</em><br /><br />What's the most luxury you can buy for less than $35,000? Below are the 10 luxury-brand cars that give you the best bang for the buck in this price bracket. They also communicate prestige to colleagues and friends. Sure, non-premium nameplates like the Nissan Maxima and Volkswagen Passat provide much the same amenities, but neither says "I've arrived" with the same authority as an Audi or BMW.<br /><br />1. <strong>Acura TL</strong>: Sharp handling, a sweet V6, top-grade materials and a 5.1 surround system all in one midsize sedan? The midsize TL is a compelling answer to anyone who's ever questioned the pricey options on the A4 and 3 Series.<br /><br />2. <strong>Acura TSX</strong>: The compact TSX offers most of the TL's virtues in a smaller, less expensive package. The fact that it costs less than similarly equipped European sedans and has a larger backseat makes this Acura one of the best value stories on this list.<br /><br />3. <strong>Audi A4</strong>: Available as a sedan, wagon or convertible, with either a turbo four or V6 engine and front- or all-wheel drive, the A4 is Audi's jack-of-all-trades. Driving dynamics strike a superb balance between comfort and handling, while the interior continues to set the bar for style and opulence at this price point.<br /><br />4. <strong>BMW 3 Series</strong>: Although an all-new model is in the works, the 3 Series is still attractive, and feels as sprightly today as it ever has. With just a few options, its price jumps way ahead of the pack, but all is justified by a scintillating driving experience that has yet to be matched by its competitors.<br /><br />5. <strong>BMW Z4</strong>: The charismatic Z4 roadster blends luxury and fun like no other in this group. With just two seats and a small trunk, the Z4 offers no shred of practicality, but it more than makes up for that in sheer thrills and style, style, style.<br /><br />6. <strong>Chrysler 300C</strong>: Hemi V8 power, luxurious accommodations and son-of-Bentley looks catapulted this car into stardom in 2005, earning it award after award from the automotive press. But don't let the throwback styling fool you: modern Mercedes-Benz mechanicals ensure the big sedan has the moves to match its mug.<br /><br />7. <strong>Infiniti G35</strong>: Whether you choose the intimate coupe or the spacious sedan, the Infiniti G35 is a real blast to drive — not surprising, considering how much it shares under the skin with the Nissan 350Z sports car. Furthermore, the G35 heaps on the luxury without breaking the bank the way its German competitors can.<br /><br />8. <strong>Lexus ES 330</strong>: While not the sportiest car in this bunch, the ES 330 is, perhaps, the easiest to drive. Indeed, if your definition of luxury includes a pillowlike ride and complete isolation from the elements, the ES 330 is your car.<br /><br />9. <strong>Volvo S40 and V50</strong>: With a base price that is comparatively low for this group, the super-safe and suddenly sexy S40 sedan and its wagon counterpart, the V50, can be loaded with options like a Dolby ProLogic surround sound stereo, slick wheels and even all-wheel drive while keeping the bottom line within reach.<br /><br />10. <strong>Volvo S60 and V70</strong>: If you find the sassy new Volvo S40/V50 models a touch too tight, perhaps you'll find the one-size-larger S60 and V70 just right. New head- and taillights and minor interior updates keep them looking sharp for '05, while Volvo's emphasis on providing class-leading safety hasn't changed a bit.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-1165489194922823512006-12-07T02:59:00.000-08:002006-12-07T02:59:55.003-08:00Top 10 Car Rental Tips<em>By Warren Clarke</em><br /><br />Remember when people rented cars mainly for the purpose of vacation transportation? These days, things have changed. The car rental industry has grown by leaps and bounds; the most current estimates available (for 2004) put annual car rental revenue at a whopping $17.6 billion. Airport rentals have historically been the main revenue driver, but that segment has remained virtually flat over the past decade and a half; the industry's growth is due almost entirely to the explosion of the "home-city" rental market — renting from a neighborhood location — which has snowballed from $2.5 billion in 1991 to today's $9.5 billion. Auto Rental News, the industry's leading trade publication, estimates that for the first time in the history of the industry, home-city rental captured the lion's share of the market in 2004, with 54 percent of total revenue. <br /><br />Those renting from neighborhood locations do so for a host of reasons. Some need an extra-large truck for that move across town. Some need a comfy hauler for a cross-country family road trip or a weekend of furniture shopping. And others crave a glamorous high-end cruiser for a fun-filled night out.<br /><br />Whether you're an airport renter or a home-city renter, we've got a list of tips designed to help make your car-rental experience as pain-free as possible for your bank account.<br /><br /><br />Surf the Net. As is the case with many purchases, you'll usually find the best rates on the Internet. Shop around. Buying online will afford you the luxury of seeing what rates look like on any vehicle your heart desires, without the inconvenience of having a salesperson breathing down your neck. Also, many companies offer special discounts to people who rent online. Rates will obviously vary from company to company, depending on vehicle availability, location and other factors. But rates aren't the only variable to consider. Consider hours of operation, for example; some companies may close earlier on weekends. Depending on your schedule, this might be a crucial issue for you.<br /><br /><br />Go weekend. Rates are typically cheaper on weekends. At one company we surveyed, you could rent a subcompact on a weekday for $64.99. When we opted for a weekend rental, the figure plummeted to a far more reasonable $22.99. If you've got some flexibility with your rental arrangements, opt for weekend rental. Your pocketbook will be eternally grateful. <br /><br /><br />Weekly does it. Weekend rates are great, but weekly rates are usually the best of all. At one company we surveyed, a subcompact went for a weekday rate of $56.99. That same car could be rented on a weekly basis for just $252.99, a savings of more than 30 percent if you used the vehicle for all seven days, and more than 10 percent if you returned it after five days. If you plan on using the vehicle for five days or more, choose the weekly rate. <br /><br /><br />Think twice about insurance. When renting a car, you'll be offered a collision damage waiver (CDW) and a loss damage waiver (LDW). The first covers you in the event of a collision, while the second covers any loss to the rental company. Both kinds of coverage are a good idea, but not if they duplicate coverage already included in your own insurance policy. Most insurance policies offer liability coverage to protect you if you injure someone in an accident; some also cover rental-car damage via comprehensive and collision coverage. Check your policy or call your insurance agent to verify coverage before signing up for a vehicle. If you're renting the car with a credit card, your card provider may pay for vehicle damages associated with an accident. Check with your card company ahead of time to make sure.<br /><br />There's one caveat. The collision damage waiver covers "loss of use," the charge levied by the rental car company to cover its lost income when the vehicle is out of service. In most states, auto insurance policies don't cover this loss, so if you have an accident, you may wind up having to pay this charge out of your own pocket. The states in which loss of use is covered in car insurance policies are: Alaska, Connecticut, Louisiana, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island and Texas. Unless you live in one of these states, the waiver may be a good idea. <br /><br /><br />Book early. It's not just a cliché; the early bird really does get the worm, and he usually gets it much cheaper than everyone else. Rates depend on how many vehicles the company has on the lot at the time the rental is made, so sooner is better. Reserve your car at least a week in advance. <br /><br /><br />Think twice about prepaid gas. Typically, renters have two choices when it comes to fuel: You can pay for a full tank of gas in advance and bring the vehicle back empty (or less than full), or you can opt to refuel it yourself just before returning it. Rental car companies suggest that paying in advance will add convenience and that the low rates offered will save you money. Well, they're right on the first part but wrong on the second. Paying in advance is an added convenience; if you want to save yourself the hassle of a trip to the gas station or avoid a last-minute rush when you're trying to make a plane, pay away. But unless you plan on using the entire tank of gas, prepaying will cause you to pay for more fuel than you've actually consumed. From a financial standpoint, prepaying is a bad idea unless you're absolutely certain that you'll use the full tank. <br /><br /><br />Be careful of upgrades to larger vehicles. Sometimes, rental car companies will offer free upgrades to larger vehicles. They do this mainly because compacts tend to be in high demand. This sort of upgrade may seem like a great deal for you, the renter. If having a larger vehicle will genuinely enhance your rental experience, then take the upgrade. But if you have no real need for the extra space, it's cheaper to decline. Larger vehicles burn more gas, so that "free" upgrade isn't really free — you'll wind up paying for it at the pump. <br /><br /><br />Steer clear of airport pickups. Picking up a rental car at the airport can be more expensive due to taxes and fees. Try looking at nearby neighborhood locations to save money. A recent Travelocity study showed that renting at an airport costs more than 11.5 percent more on average than renting at a neighborhood location. Texas airports were the chief offenders, but airports in states like Arizona, Ohio, Maryland, Missouri and New Mexico also cost renters more in taxes and fees. <br /><br /><br />Got kids? Seat 'em yourself. If you're traveling with a little one, you can save yourself some coin by bringing your own child safety seat. One rental company we surveyed charged almost $10 per day for child safety seat rental. Obviously, this can tack a significant amount onto your car rental expenses, so if you're able to, bring your own child safety seat. If you're renting a minivan, though, know that some rental minivans include integrated child safety seats at no extra cost. <br /><br /><br />Join the club. Many of the larger companies offer club membership in which members pay a yearly fee in exchange for certain perks and privileges. These clubs can save you money with benefits like free rental days and airline miles, but you'll likely only see savings if you're a frequent renter. If you fall into this category and use rental vehicles more than occasionally, go clubbing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-1165489140814821702006-12-07T02:57:00.001-08:002006-12-07T02:59:00.950-08:00Top 10 Best Car Movies<em>By Drew Hardin and Tori Tellem</em><br /><br />From American Graffiti to The Fast and the Furious, why we think these are must-see car movies<br /><br /><br />"How could you leave off Bullitt?!" "Where is Duel?" "Do Elvis and Viva Las Vegas mean nothing?"<br /><br />We must have started with at least 30 solid candidates and whittled it down via heated exchanges and fisticuffs. That meant horror films such as Christine and The Car ended up losing the fight, as did favorites, including Two-Lane Blacktop and Smokey and the Bandit.<br /><br />But where's the iconic '68 Ford Mustang Fastback? Bullitt's simply not that great of a movie. And to see the famous car-chase action, you need to weed through about two-thirds of inaction. Which brings us to another controversy: Where's Ronin? The Bourne Identity? The Italian Job? Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry? If this was Top 10 Best Car Chases, they'd be here. <br /><br />Duel and The California Kid were made for TV but we opted to focus on theatrical releases. And sorry — Viva Las Vegas and Spinout seemed more like Elvis musicals that happened to have cars than car movies that happened to have Elvis. <br /><br />Here are our picks for all-around good car flicks, listed in no particular order. Plus, we've included our favorite catchphrases. These DVDs are available for purchase on Amazon.com (with the exception of Cars, which has not yet been released on DVD). <br /><br /><br /><strong>American Graffiti (1973)</strong><br />Stars: Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Harrison Ford<br />Star cars: 1932 Ford coupe, 1955 Chevy, 1958 Chevy Impala, 1951 Mercury coupe, 1956 Ford Thunderbird<br />The story: A memorable last night of cruising for a group of high school friends. <br />Why it works: Milner's coupe. Falfa's '55. The Pharaoh's '51 Merc. A cop car leaving its rear end on the street. That ghostly white T-Bird with Suzanne Somers. Plus we like the lesson: When faced with life's big questions, hit the road. <br />Quote: "I'll love and protect this car until death do us part." <br /><br /><br /><strong>The Blues Brothers (1980)</strong><br />Stars: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd<br />Star car: The Bluesmobile — 1974 Dodge Monaco<br />The story: The Brothers raise money to save their childhood orphanage and put their old rhythm-and-blues band back together. Why? They're on a mission from God.<br />Why it works: Is there any other movie with as much vehicular carnage? Maybe over-the-top stunts go on too long, but you've been talking about them driving through that mall for years, haven't you? And the music isn't bad either.<br />Quote: "It's got a cop motor, a 440-cubic-inch plant; it's got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas. What do you say — is it the new Bluesmobile or what?" <br /><br /><br /><strong>Cars (2006)</strong><br />Stars: Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Richard Petty<br />Star car: Porsche Carrera, Hudson Hornet, Willys MB, Ford Model T, Volkswagen microbus<br />The story: Racecar hotshot finds himself off the beaten track and learning life lessons from a bunch of small-towners. Did we mention they're all cars?<br />Why it works: Tire crumbs flying and roof flaps opening prove this was animated by gearheads. Sharp-eared viewers will dig the insider cameos.<br />Quote: "Turn right to go left! Guess what? I tried it, and you know what, this crazy thing happened. I went right!" <br /><br /><br /><strong>The Fast and the Furious (2001)</strong><br />Stars: Paul Walker, Vin Diesel<br />Star cars: Mitsubishi Eclipse, Toyota Supra, Honda Civic, Mazda RX-7, Dodge Charger R/T, Volkswagen Jetta<br />The story: Cop goes undercover in L.A.'s import street-race scene to bust a ring of electronics thieves. <br />Why it works: It pushed the burgeoning import car culture into the mainstream. The cars were a little cartoonish but earned street cred for having been built by actual import tuners. It's best during bumpin' nighttime street races, even though we've never seen as much neon at a real import show. As unbelievable as the race and chase sequences are, they're still pretty cool. <br />Quote: "I live my life a quarter-mile at a time." <br /><br /><br /><strong>Gone in 60 Seconds (1974)</strong><br />Stars: H.B. (Toby) Halicki<br />Star cars: Many, including a certain Ford Mustang Fastback named Eleanor.<br />The story: Car thief has to boost 48 cars in a week. Mayhem ensues.<br />Why it works: The first half is probably studied in film school as how not to write, cast and act in a movie. But the cars on the thieves' hit list are super-fine, and the final 40 minutes have to be seen to be believed. Yes, Halicki hurt himself hitting that light pole. How could he not?<br />Quote: "I bet five more cars have been stolen in just the time I've been here." <br /><br /><br /><strong>Grand Prix (1966)</strong><br />Stars: James Garner, Eva Marie Saint<br />Star cars: 1960s Formula 1 racecars<br />The story: The Euro-cool world of open-wheel racing.<br />Why it works: A throwback to when men actually drove Formula 1 cars (without computer controls) and stunts were with actual vehicles (without computer controls). The race footage, especially the in-car stuff, is still awesome. Racing purists may think Steve McQueen's Le Mans is more deserving, but this film's storyline is more engaging, soap opera or not.<br />Quote: "There is no terrible way to win. There is only winning." <br /><br /><br /><strong>The Gumball Rally (1976)</strong><br />Stars: Michael Sarrazin, Gary Busey, Raul Julia<br />Star cars: Shelby 427 Cobra, Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona, Porsche 911 Targa, Camaro Z/28, Dodge Polara<br />The story: Fictionalized account of Brock Yates' highly illegal cross-country Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash. <br />Why it works: For starters, it features two of the flat-out sexiest cars ever built — the 427 Cobra and Ferrari Daytona — duking it out at high speeds in Manhattan, the L.A. River, and everywhere in between. It's far more car-centered than the ridiculous Cannonball Run. <br />Quote: "And now my friend, the first rule of Italian driving: What's behind me is not important." <br /><br /><br /><strong>Mad Max (1979)</strong><br />Star: Mel Gibson<br />Star car: Australian Ford Falcon <br />The story: Super Cop Max takes on a motorcycle gang in the near future — a tale of revenge driven by post-apocalyptic cars and crotch rockets. <br />Why it works: Drama, suspense, violence, dark humor, and that wicked, supercharged Falcon screaming across Australia's empty vastness. It's simple, low budget and gritty. <br />Quote: "Look, any longer out on that road and I'm one of them, a terminal psychotic — except that I've got this bronze badge that says that I'm one of the good guys." <br /><br /><br /><strong>Thunder Road (1958)</strong><br />Stars: Robert Mitchum, Gene Barry<br />Star cars: 1950 Ford coupe, 1957 Ford Fairlane<br />The story: Noir-ish cops versus moonshiners melodrama.<br />Why it works: Cheesy dialogue, karate chops, wooden acting make it good-bad, but there's some jaw-dropping stunt driving. And lots of cars blowing up. One of the best speed traps ever: gasoline on spike strips so the car will careen out of control, flip over and crash — into a nearby power station. And blow up.<br />Quote: "That hard-headed hillbilly has caused us enough trouble already. Now tonight we're going to take him out. And I mean really out."<br /><br /><br /><strong>Vanishing Point (1971)</strong><br />Stars: Barry Newman, Cleavon Little<br />Star car: 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T<br />The story: Antihero, with help from a blind DJ, tries to deliver a car in record time. <br />Why it works: It's an antiestablishment fable dripping with the Vietnam era's distrust of authority. A man versus The Man battle waged over a tasty big-block-powered car. Government distrust is still a pretty hot topic. So is the Challenger. <br />Quote: "And there goes the Challenger, being chased by the blue, blue meanies on wheels."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-1165489071653960092006-12-07T02:57:00.000-08:002006-12-07T02:57:51.773-08:00Top 10 Best-Selling Hybrids of 2006Hybrid cars are like the little engine that could. When the technology was first introduced to the U.S. market (fittingly, mass-produced hybrids made their debut on American shores at the dawn of the new millennium), buyers had the choice of, well, one vehicle: the cramped, eccentric Honda Insight. Sales figures reflected this narrow range, as well as the public's initial cautiousness regarding this new technology. In 2000, only 9,350 hybrid cars were sold.<br /><br />Six years later, the picture has changed dramatically. Automakers have gotten on board. The selection of hybrids on the market currently numbers in the double digits, with manufacturers like Ford, Honda, Lexus and Toyota each offering a take on the increasingly popular green machines. There are hybrid coupes and sedans, and even hybrid SUVs.<br /><br />Consumers have gotten on board as well. Hybrid sales have increased steadily since 2000, and by 2005, the segment had grown a whopping 2,200 percent since the technology's debut; 205,749 of the eco-friendly fuel-sippers made it off the lot last year. This trend doesn't seem likely to lose steam anytime soon. Hybrid vehicle sales figures for the first six months of 2006 have been robust, and stand at just over 116,000 units. Currently, hybrids constitute just over 1 percent of total vehicle sales, but some predict a much stronger market presence in the years ahead.<br /><br />So which vehicles are at the forefront of this hybrid revolution? Here are the 10 that topped the sales chart for the first six months of 2006. <br />Toyota Prius — 48,156 units<br />The second oldest hybrid on the market, the Prius is also the most widely known, and it shows. The sedan is far and away the market leader, with sales that account for nearly 50 percent of the hybrid segment.<br /><br /><br />Toyota Highlander Hybrid — 18,127 units <br />Introduced in June 2005 for the 2006 model year, the Highlander Hybrid is new, but that hasn't stopped it from shoring up an impressive fan base. Toyota's second hybrid outsold older hybrid SUVs like the Ford Escape to cruise into the No. 2 spot.<br /><br /><br />Honda Civic Hybrid — 15,755 units <br />The prudent Civic has an even more prudent sibling: the Civic Hybrid. It was the second best-selling hybrid in the nation last year, but thus far, 2006 finds it taking the bronze. <br /><br /><br />Lexus RX 400h — 11,193 units <br />Based on the popular RX 330, the RX 400h was the first luxury hybrid SUV. Luxury clearly has its supporters. The ute was the third best-selling hybrid last year, and this year it maintains its foothold in the upper reaches of the sales chart.<br /><br /><br />Ford Escape Hybrid — 10,190 units <br />Ford proved that SUVs can be green, too, when it introduced the Escape Hybrid, the nation's first hybrid SUV, back in 2001. Five years later, the compact ute continues to rack up impressive sales.<br /><br /><br />Toyota Camry Hybrid — 7,386 units <br />Toyota continues its domination of the hybrid segment with the Camry Hybrid. The sedan has only been on the market since May, but it's off to an exceptional start. Sales figures for May and June are second only to those of the Prius.<br /><br /><br />Honda Accord Hybrid — 3,245 units <br />Equipped with a V6, the Accord Hybrid was the first hybrid built with driving enthusiasts in mind. Fuel economy suffers, though; the car gets about the same mileage as a four-cylinder Accord. Perhaps that's why sales have been somewhat disappointing.<br /><br /><br />Mercury Mariner Hybrid — 1,461 units <br />Introduced for model-year 2006, the Mariner Hybrid shares the Escape Hybrid's basic structure, platform and powertrain, but seeks to offer a more upscale driving experience via a more stylish exterior and a luxurious cabin. Thus far, it hasn't been nearly as successful as its twin. <br /><br /><br />Lexus GS 450h — 525 units<br />Introduced just a couple of months ago, the GS 450h is the nation's first luxury/sport sedan hybrid. Its powertrain offers V8 power paired with the fuel economy of a small V6. <br /><br /><br />Honda Insight — 489 units <br />The Insight is the hybrid that launched the segment; it's also the one that gets the best mileage. Sadly, its tight quarters and less-than-brisk horsepower prevented it from finding mainstream success. The Insight was discontinued in September 2006; Honda plans to introduce a new hybrid-specific model in 2009. <br /><br /><br /><strong>Sources: Electric Drive Transportation Association, Hybridcars.com and Ford Motor Company</strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-1165489005118365172006-12-07T02:56:00.000-08:002006-12-07T02:56:46.803-08:00Top 10 Car Gadgets You Won't Want To Live Without<em>By Warren Clarke and Brian Moody</em><br /><br />That juggernaut called technology ensures that we always have a lot to choose from when it comes to gadgets and gizmos for our new vehicles. The choices can be overwhelming. Which features are worth checking off on your potential new ride's options list? We've weighed the alternatives, separated the wheat from the chaff, and come up with our picks for the 10 car gadgets you won't want to live without.<br /><br /><br />Bluetooth<br />Bluetooth is simply a wireless signal that allows phones to connect to Bluetooth-enabled cars without the need for a hard connection. An excellent example is Chrysler's UConnect system, which allows users to make and receive calls without ever physically holding a phone. A phone book feature that allows names and numbers to be added verbally also makes it possible to make multiple calls without the driver ever taking his or her eyes off the road. Other brands that have this technology include BMW, Nissan and Toyota.<br /><br /><br />In-Car Media Storage Device<br />The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and Mercedes-Benz S-Class have the option of an in-car hard drive that can be used to store music and pictures. Connecting to these devices via USB is also an emerging car technology trend that will make transferring music and other files to your car much easier. <br /><br /><br />Real-Time Traffic Information<br />Acura cars equipped with AcuraLink have the ability to display real-time traffic information directly on the nav screen (in select cities), thereby allowing the driver to pick a different route or at least know what to expect on the ride home. Many BMWs for the 2007 model year will have a similar feature thanks to Clear Channel Communications' "Total Traffic Network"; Europeans have had this feature for a few years. The next step? A nav system that calculates alternative routes and picks the best way home, taking into account accidents, road/lane closures and traffic volume. <br /><br /><br />Lane Departure Warning System<br />This device uses a small camera and speed sensors to determine when the car deviates from its lane and alerts the driver using a buzzer, seat vibrator or a visual cue. Using the turn signals prevents the system from kicking in. French automaker Citroën has had it for a few years and the technology is also available in some Infiniti cars and trucks. <br /><br /><br />Premium-Branded Stereo<br />When you can get an Infinity sound system in a Kia minivan, you know it's a widespread trend. Brands such as Bang & Olufsen, Bose, Harman Kardon, JBL, Mark Levinson and Panasonic all have reputations for producing great-sounding home stereo components — now they make in-car systems as well, and some of them sound stunning. And they're not just for luxury brands either. Toyota and Mazda are just two affordable makes that have the option of high-end, name-brand audio systems. <br /><br /><br />iPod Connection<br />A generic mini-jack for connecting all kinds of handheld MP3 players is becoming a given in many sedans and SUVs, but the added control of an iPod-specific connection is a huge leap forward for the technology. With an iPod-specific connection you can navigate through tracks using the car's audio system controls. In many cases this means using steering-wheel-mounted buttons and never having to take your eyes off the road. Ford, GM and Mazda have recently announced that they will have iPod connectors in their upcoming cars, joining the ranks of BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Scion. <br /><br /><br />Rear Parking Camera<br />Rear parking sensors that simply beep when you approach an object have already become fairly common; the next evolution of this safety technology is a rear-mounted parking camera. The Chevrolet Tahoe, Honda Odyssey, Lexus ES 350, Toyota Sienna and others have an optional rear-mounted camera that displays a live video picture on the dash-mounted navigation screen. When the vehicle is shifted into Reverse, the driver can see exactly what's behind him, significantly lessening the chance of running over something or someone. <br /><br /><br />Self-Parking Capability<br />The Lexus LS 460 and European versions of the Toyota Prius have a self-parking feature that essentially allows the car to park itself. The driver simply enters a few parameters through a touchscreen and the car maneuvers itself into a parallel spot or back into a traditional parking space. <br /><br /><br />Heated and/or Cooled Cupholders<br />The Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum edition offers heated and cooled cupholders so your morning latte remains nice and toasty during the winter and your iced mocha can stay chilly. Similar technology can be found in the much less expensive Dodge Caliber. The Caliber's "Chill Zone" keeps drinks stored in the glovebox cool when the air-conditioner is running. Other vehicles like the Range Rover Sport offer a small cooler that keeps drinks or food cold independent of the A/C system. <br /><br /><br />Remote Start <br />This is probably one of the most overlooked technologies in new cars today, and it can be had even on budget-priced cars like the Chevy Malibu. Simply press a button on the key fob and the car starts itself, allowing you to warm up or cool down the interior from outside the car as it idles. The system automatically locks the doors, steering wheel and transmission so theft isn't likely.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37907424.post-1165488538832680982006-12-07T02:47:00.000-08:002006-12-07T02:48:58.840-08:00Top 10 High-Tech Car Safety Technologies<em>By Tori Tellem</em><br /><br />It's just a fact of life — we are living longer. And it's not just because of tofu, sunscreen and medical breakthroughs. Automakers are to thank (or curse) for this as much as doctors, since they are competitively blending performance and creature comforts with cutting-edge safety technology that tries to stay one step ahead of you — and everyone else on the road.<br /><br />While pedestrian-friendly bumpers and cars that can drive themselves may seem like the faraway future of automotive safety, so did many of the features that are now industry standards for 2006-'07 models. It makes us wonder if the Jeep Grand Cherokee Concierge concept from 2002 — with an integrated heart defibrillator — might catch on as part of the next wave of safety.<br /><br />Below are our top 10 choices for safety technologies, complete with a list of the automakers that offer them and their estimated costs.<br /><br /><br />Tire-pressure monitoring <br />The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has required that all U.S. passenger vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less be equipped with a tire-pressure monitoring system by the 2008 model year. But it's already a safety feature in most new autos. (For example, BMW will have it as standard equipment on all of its models by the end of 2006.) Sensors at the wheels are able to alert you if the air pressure is too low by an audible warning, a light on the instrument panel, or both. You may also see more cars with run-flat tires (the Corvette, among the current offerings), which allow a vehicle to continue to run at a relatively high rate of speed for 50-plus miles.<br /><br /><br />Available from: Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, Infiniti, Isuzu, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, Mini, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Pontiac, Porsche, Range Rover, Rolls-Royce, Scion, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.<br /><br /><br />As an option, it typically costs less than $100.<br />Adaptive cruise control/collision mitigation <br />Modern cruise control goes beyond just maintaining a constant speed. Thanks to sensors and the use of radar, cruise control can now adjust the throttle and brakes to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you if there are changes in traffic speed or if a slowpoke cuts in. If the system senses a potential collision, it typically will brake hard and tighten the seatbelts. Once it knows the lane is clear or traffic has sped up, it will return your car to its original cruising speed, all without your input. Of course, you may override the system by touching the brakes. The Mercedes-Benz and Maybach systems go by a less obvious name: Distronic.<br /><br /><br />Available from: Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Jaguar, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Range Rover, Toyota and Volvo.<br /><br /><br />As an option, it should cost $600-$3,100, but could be more if it's part of a package. (The Lexus LS 430 Ultra Luxury Selection package includes Dynamic Radar Cruise Control for $13,570, for example.)<br />Blind-spot detection/side assist/collision warning <br />This technology is designed to alert you to cars or objects in your blind spot during driving or parking, or both. Usually it will respond when you put on your turn signal; if it detects something in the way, it may flash a light in your mirror, cause the seat or steering wheel to vibrate, or sound an alarm. This is more of a short-range detection system.<br /><br /><br />Available from: Audi and Volvo.<br /><br /><br />As a stand-alone option on the Audi, it's $500; Volvo is TBA.<br />Lane-departure warning/wake-you-up safety <br />This is similar to blind-spot/side-assist technology but with more range. It judges an approaching vehicle's speed and distance to warn you of potential danger if you change lanes. However, because it doesn't necessarily require the turn signal, it can also warn if it determines your car is wandering out of the lane, such as if you are distracted. This could come in the form of a vibration through the seat or steering wheel, or an alarm. Down the road expect lane-departure warning to even be able to monitor body posture, head position and eye activity to decide if the driver is falling asleep and the vehicle is behaving erratically. At that point, the system may even be capable of slowing the car down and engaging stability control. Just in case.<br /><br /><br />Available from: Infiniti.<br /><br /><br />As an option, packages run $3,600-$10,500.<br />Rollover prevention/mitigation <br />Most automakers offer an electronic stability control system, and some offer a preparation system (seatbelts tighten, rollbars extend). However, what we're talking about is more intelligent than that. If the system senses a potential rollover (such as if you whip around a corner too fast or swerve sharply), it will apply the brakes and modulate throttle as needed to help you maintain control. DaimlerChrysler calls it Electronic Roll Mitigation, Ford named it Roll Stability Control, and GM's is Proactive Roll Avoidance. Range Rover's is Active Roll Mitigation, while Volvo's is called Roll-Over Protection System. But they all have the same goal.<br /><br /><br />Available with stability control systems from: Acura, Audi, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Jeep, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Range Rover and Volvo.<br />Occupant-sensitive/dual-stage airbags <br />All humans are not created equal, and airbags are evolving to compensate in the form of low-risk, multistage and occupant-sensitive deployment. Technology can now sense the different sizes and weights of occupants as well as seatbelt usage, abnormal seating position (such as reaching for the radio or bending to pick something off the floor), rear-facing child seats and even vehicle speed. While driver, passenger and side curtain airbags are nothing new, sensing airbags are popping up (so to speak) everywhere.<br /><br /><br />Available from: Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Buick, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jeep, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, Nissan, Pontiac, Rolls-Royce, Saab, Saturn, Scion, Volkswagen and Volvo.<br />Emergency brake assist/collision mitigation <br />This brake technology is different from an antilock braking system or electronic brakeforce distribution, in that it recognizes when the driver makes a panic stop (a quick shift from gas to brake pedal) and will apply additional brake pressure to help shorten the stopping distance. It may also work in conjunction with the smart cruise control or stability control system in some vehicles if it senses a potential collision. It is often called brake assist, although BMW, for example, refers to it as Dynamic Brake Control.<br /><br /><br />Available from: Acura, Audi, Aston Martin, BMW, Honda, Infiniti, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Saab, Scion, Subaru, Toyota, Volvo and Volkswagen.<br />Adaptive headlights and/or night-vision assist <br />Night vision can be executed in different forms, such as infrared headlamps or thermal-imaging cameras. But no matter the science, the goal is the same: to help you see farther down the road and to spot animals, people or trees in the path — even at nearly 1,000 feet away. An image is generated through a cockpit display, brightening the objects that are hard to see with the naked eye. Adaptive headlights follow the direction of the vehicle (bending the light as you go around corners). They may also be speed-sensitive (changing beam length or height), or compensate for ambient light.<br /><br /><br />Available from: Acura, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Cadillac, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Volkswagen and Volvo.<br />As an option: Prices vary; it's $700 as a stand-alone option on the Mercedes-Benz S550 but $6,550 for part of the car's Premium III package. The cost for most night-vision systems falls between those figures.<br /><br /><br />Rearview camera <br />Rearview cameras not only protect your car, but also protect children and animals from accidental back-overs. Backing up your car has graduated from side mirrors tilting down or causing chirps and beeps to real-time viewing. New-school tech involves a camera that works with the navigation system to provide a wide-open shot of what's happening behind you to help with parking or hooking up a trailer.<br /><br />Available from: Acura, Audi, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen.<br /><br />As an option: Expect to pay anywhere from $750 to $1,000 — or more, if part of a package.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Emergency response</strong> <br />There are a variety of ways vehicles now and in the future will handle an emergency situation. For example, DaimlerChrysler's Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS) turns on interior lighting, unlocks doors and shuts off fuel when airbags deploy, while Volkswagen's also switches on the hazards and disconnects the battery terminal from the alternator. In addition, GM's OnStar and BMW Assist both alert their respective response centers of the accident and make crash details available to emergency personnel.<br /><br />Available from: Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, GMC, Hummer, Jeep, Land Rover, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Volvo.<br /><br />Optional: Some services may require a monthly fee, but provide additional capabilities beyond emergencies.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0