Archive for the 'News' Category
Ford is developing technology that eliminates the gasoline engine completely. The all-electric vehicle runs on a powerful, rechargeable, high-voltage lithium-ion battery targeted to go up to 100 miles on a single charge. The new Ford Focus Electric is one of the five electrified vehicles that Ford wil release over the next three years.
Ford Focus Electric Hatchback runs exclusively on electricity stored in powerful, advanced high-voltage lithium-ion battery system, which means it never needs a drop of gas. Its electric motor is designed to help reduce energy loss and heat generation, while reducing your carbon footprint.
The Focus Electric Hatchback is powered by a 23 kwh high-voltage, lightweight lithium-ion battery system. It uses an advanced active liquid cooling and heating process to regulate battery temperature and help maximize battery life, so you can get the most miles out of each charge.
The German sports car manufacturer Wiesmann builds puristic sports cars in a classic design along with the most modern technology.
The first Wiesmann Roadster was created in 1993 and since then has become a symbol for timeless elegance. The Wiesmann Roadster has evolved continuously since then. To-date, over 680 Roadsters have been produced. There has been a wide range of detailed visual and technical modifications undertaken in recent years. However, the classic design has not been changed in the process.
The body of the Wiesmann Roadster MF3 has captivatingly distinct, curved lines and an unmistakeable face. The roadster MF3 has a body made of glass-fibre reinforced composite material and the power-to-weight ratio of 3.44 kg/hp.
Under the body, the hot-dip galvanised space frame chassis with tremendous torsional rigidity also contributes to the vehicle’s safety. It is aluminium-panelled and equipped with sturdy side-impact protection, a unique detail in the automotive landscape.
The Wiesmann Roadster’s engine technology comes from the BMW stable. The 6 Cylinder 3.2 Litre 343 HP BMW engine powers the Wiesmann Roadster MF3. The powerful BMW engines are well known for their agility and sporty pretensions, and provide impressive performance in the Wiesmann Roadster. The roadster sprints from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.9 Seconds and has a top speed of only 255 km/h.
The German automaker BMW announced voluntary recalls of 350,000 BMW vehicles globally, including 5800 Rolls – Royce, because of problem with brakes.
BMW AG is issuing the recall of nearly 200,000 luxury vehicles in the U.S. in order to fix leaks that could develop in the power braking system of the cars. This problem can result in a loss of vacuum pressure and a reduction in the amount of braking assistance the system gives the driver. When this occurs, the mechanical brakes still function and can slow and stop the car, but requires more driver effort to press the pedal.
It might also affect another 150,000 cars of the same series around the globe.
The BMW Recall 2010 covers various models of BMW vehicles, including BMW 5 Series, 6 Series, and 7 Series that are powered by V8 and V12 engines. Vehicles included in the BMW Recall 2010:
- 2002-2008 BMW 745i/Li, 750i/Li and 760i/Li;
- 2007-2008 BMW Alpina B7;
- 2004-2010 BMW 645i and 650i;
- 2004-2010 BMW 545i and 550i,
- 2003-2010 Rolls Royce Phantom models.
Glenn Beck kicked off Monday’s radio show by thanking the many attendees at Saturday’s “Restoring Honor” rally in front of the Lincoln Memorial — at least 500,000 by his count. Glenn Beck said he’s “still waiting on the real number” and plans to look closely during his 5 p.m. Fox News show at photos of the large crowd assembled on the National Mall. Glenn Beck Rally Attendance.
The Glenn Beck rally — which took place on the 47th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech at the memorial — drew a good deal of controversy, with civil rights leaders holding a countermarch. But the event largely kept free of overt political references, as Glenn Beck (a longtime scourge of the Obama White House) had pledged it would. It stressed religious themes, together with celebrations of noncontroversial virtues such as charity and national service.
Even though Glenn Beck is still tabulating a crowd estimate, it can be expected to be significantly higher than the number CBS News reported over the weekend: 87,000.
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.