Archive for the 'News' Category
How much do you value the engine in your car? Think about it, because the life of your engine depends in no small part on the quality of the oil you put in it – oil is the lifeblood of your car’s engine. From the mid 80’s for 8 or 9 years there was a veritable revolution in car engine oil. All oils were no longer the same thanks to the popularity of hot hatches, 16-valve engines and turbos as the tuner scene started to rise. Combined with the devastating problems of black death, the days of one oil catering for everyone were over.
Take Castrol for example. They led the field for years with GTX. This was surpassed a few years back by semi-synthetic and fully synthetic oils, including GTX2 and GTX3 Lightec. Now, that’s been surpassed by Formula SLX which can cost upwards of $75 for 5 litres. And most recently, Castrol GTX Magnatec which is muscling in on the hitherto separate world of friction reducers.
Since late 2008, Chrysler and General Motors have received over $85 billion in loans from the federal government. These funds were designed to revamp their current manufacturing and assembling processes. Additionally, these funds were appropriated for research and development for the production of advanced vehicles with fuel economies of at least 35 mpg by 2020. However, recent reports suggest about $30 billion will never be recovered. Consequently, both companies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2009. Since this filing, General Motors has unloaded four brands from their lineup: Saturn, Pontiac, Saab, and Hummer. Moreover, Chrysler has merged with Fiat, with plans to create smaller, more profitable vehicles. The 2009 car and light truck sales totals are at their lowest in 28 years, leaving plenty of room for speculation of these companies potential sustainability.
The beginning of 2010 continues to be a good time for car buyers. Creative buying incentives from the “Big Three” U.S. automotive companies have enticing offers to any customer walking through their dealership doors. General Motors just ended their campaign to unload all of their Pontiac and Saturn inventories with savings of up to over $7,000 per vehicle. Currently, GM is offering 0% APR financing or up to $4,500 cash back on new vehicles. Chrysler is offering incentives similar to that of GM. However, their cash back options are about $2,000 less than that of GM. Toyota, seeing a significant decrease in profits last year, are also promising low APR financing options. Expect to continue to see these specials for at least the next two quarters.
At last, starting next week, General Motors and Ford Motor will receive normal supplies of auto components from an Indian producer, after a 45-day strike ended.
Rico Auto Industries Ltd. will resume full supplies to General Motors and Ford Motor after workers agreed to end their strike last night, Surendra Singh Chaudhary, senior vice president in charge of human resources, said by phone today. About 2,200 workers struck at the company’s factory (at Gurgaon near New Delhi), demanding that 16 of their colleagues who were suspended be reinstated.
General Motors and Ford temporarily shut factories because of the shortage of components, even as they strive to boost sales amid the worst global recession since the 1930s. Automakers sourced $3.6 billion worth of parts from India in the year ended March 2008, compared with $330 million a decade ago, according to the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India.
After a recent trip to two major auto parts dealers for oil, I realized synthetic oil is slowly replacing nonsynthetic on the display shelves. The problem is, I’m getting conflicting information about synthetic oil. One store attendant told me I shouldn’t go back to regular oil after changing to synthetic. Then he said it would be okay to add a quart of regular oil to synthetic, if I needed to top up. Another clerk said I should never mix the two. At a different store, the employee said it didn’t matter if I used synthetic and then later replaced it with regular oil.
Early synthetics got a bad reputation for leaking. This was because, despite the claims of the oil manufacturers, the seal-swell characteristics of the new synthetics were different from those of the mineral oils they replaced. If the seal-swell rate was lower, the seals shrank and oil leaked from crankshaft seals and rocker cover seals. If the rate was higher, the seals swelled a little extra and the engine was tight. Then if the owner changed back to mineral oil, or added a quart when no synthetic was to be had, things got really bad.
Fortunately, the situation has improved; you should have no problem switching back and forth. Adding a quart of mineral oil to a crankcase full of synthetic will be fine. Read the fine print — a lot of the “synthetics” on the market are blends containing a substantial proportion of mineral oil.Most automobile manufacturers recommend oil drain intervals of 3,000 to 6,000 miles for petroleum motor oils. Amsoil recommends up to 35,000 mile oil change which is 5 to 11 times fewer oil changes.Just think about the savings on the environment.
Oil is the lifeblood of your engine. The purpose of motor oil is to lubricate and protect your engine from heat and friction; the two major enemies of your engine. Without oil, your engine would overheat and cease working. Your engine might even crack. Motor oil may be the single most important fluid you will put in your engine.
It is now confirmed that the much-anticipated Toyota small car for India would make an appearance – at least as a concept – at the upcoming 2010 Auto Expo in New Delhi in January 2010.
The company said that hatchback and sedan versions of the small car would be showcased at the Auto Expo. It is interesting that the company is working on both together – although it is no guarantee that by the time the small car is ready for production, the sedan would still remain. Much will depend on the reaction of car buyers when it is displayed.
At this point, the small car is variously referred to as the “Entry Family Car“, “Emerging Family Car” or EFC. We do not know if its a real code name, or an invention by the automobile trade press. Update: The EFC is now called the Toyota Etios.
Honda has unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week a three seat concept car Honda P-NUT (Personal-Neo Urban Transport) Concept.
Honda P-NUT, according to representatives of the Japanese company, demonstrates the vision of designers that might look like ultra-compact city vehicle in 10-15 years.
Honda says the P-NUT is ready for one of three possible powertrains: an efficient gas engine, a gas-electric hybrid, or a pure electric set up.
The central driving position will be flanked by two rear seats and has been built to provide ample legroom. All of 11.2 x 5.7 x 4.6 feet size, it has its rear seats with a foldable option in case you need more storage space. Honda says legroom for all occupants is the equivalent of a mid-sized sedan.
Global Competition “World Car of the Year” (WCOTY) is remarkable in that predict the results quite difficult. But the jury of professional automotive journalists are so diverse and represents so many different regions, that some national and regional peculiarities and predilections don’t play a significant role in the final selection. The winner will have to please everyone.
The jury assessed each model in terms of technical innovation, cost, safety, environmental friendliness, as well as the emotional component. From this list, the world’s best recognized Honored model VW Golf next generation, the representatives of the jury also impressed with layout of a compact Toyota iQ and a fresh perspective on the world car of the new Ford Fiesta. The final choice of a “World Car of the Year” is made of the trio. Throughout the short history of the competition WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR even one brand could not win it twice. The tradition is continued in 2009.
WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR is so good because it is not tied to a specific region. The jury of the competition includes 59 automotive journalists from different countries up to Mexico to South Africa. Have the greatest representation of the country with a developed automobile industry and automobile market: ten Americans, six Japanese, five Germans, five Chinese.
The new Jaguar XJ is a beautiful car with an exterior made entirely of aluminum, giving it slightly better gas mileage and aerodynamics, according to Jaguar. The XJ8 features an luxurious interior, but trails the leaders in the luxury class.
The vehicle itself is a massive departure from previous generations, which in essence changed little in style terms over 30 years. But it gained more modern lines conceived under the supervision of Jaguar design chief Ian Callum.
The Jaguar XJ is built on a light and strong all-aluminum structure. Two engine options are available: a 300-hp 4.2-liter V8, or a 400-hp 4.2-liter supercharged V8. Both engines send power through a six-speed automatic transmission. An adjustable air suspension is responsible for the XJ’s impressive road handling abilities and luxurious ride. Safety features part include advance dual front airbags, side curtain airbags, and front side-impact airbags. Anti-lock brakes, traction control, and auto electronic stability control are standard.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced at the Shanghai auto show its new car called the Ghost (once known as the 200EX/RR4 concept).
It is absolutely new car model because it evokes a sense of “adventure and technical innovation,” as well as “flair and style.”
“Simplicity is the hardest part in design principle to follow. It’s at the heart of our approach to Ghost. Seductively simple, it offers the presence you’d expect from a Rolls-Royce underpinned by the latest technology and ideas in luxury car design. Ghost is the essence of Rolls-Royce in its simplest, purest form. Every inch delivers on the power of simplicity.” – Rolls-Royce says.
Rolls-Royce also announced final specifications for the advance new car. The 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 will pump out 563 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque and will mate to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Rolls-Royce says the engine has also been retuned for more low-end torque, to provide a quieter and more relaxing driving experience in the tradition of the company’s cars.
Nineteen cars and eight SUV’s won this year’s award, and for the first time, a good performance in a roof strength test that measures protection in a rollover is needed to win.
The test also measured protection for front, side and rear crashes.
Ford, Subaru and Volkswagen sit atop the insurance industry’s annual list of the safest new vehicles, according to a closely watched assessment used by car companies to lure safety-conscious consumers to showrooms.
The Virginia-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded its “top safety pick” on Wednesday to 19 passenger cars and eight sport utility vehicles for the 2010 model year. The institute substantially reduced the number of awards compared with 2009, because of tougher requirements for roof strength.
The Toyota Camry would have made the list, the Institute said, if it had received the highest rating in rear crash protection. The Institute said the Camry’s seats and head restraints were rated marginal for protection against whiplash injuries. Toyota Motor, BMW, Mazda and Mitsubishi were shut out in the annual IIHS review.