• Home
• About

Subscribe

Today’s Automotive Engineer: A Technology Guru With Connectivity Solutions

Technology gurus are hiding in a variety of places these days. Say, for instance, the automotive industry.

The automotive industry has produced some of the most advanced and user-friendly technologies publicly marketed in recent years. We can now not only operate our cars without keys, but we can also map our next trip, download information from our desktops onto a “carputer,” assess the state of the vehicle, watch movies, arm a security system inside and out and be alerted when others are in our blind spots.

Take, for instance, an entry-level map-based integrated navigation radio, which uses a flash-based secure digital card color map database to provide high-performance navigation. A single, state-of-the-art navigation kernel and map data compiler used in the European market help shorten Original Equipment (OE) innovation cycles, and a range of options allows for entertainment and ease-of-use features. Integrated into a single unit, a map navigation system can be used in parallel to the audio system.

Such a system can include AM/FM radio, navigation tools, playback mechanisms like compact discs and MP3s, and connectivity options for portable electronic devices. Of course, customers can add nearly anything a techy heart could desire, like a digital tuner, USB, touch-screen interface, voice recognition, steering wheel control and audio codec options.

And that’s just the basic model. Touch-screen navigation radios are full-featured audio and navigation systems in one unit, using onboard computers that interact with the Global Positioning System (GPS), vehicle sensors and a DVD-map database. Such personal travel assistants minimize travel time, make travel more convenient and increase peace of mind. Benefits include multiple functions in one compact unit, the ease of a touch screen, voice prompts, entertainment options, state-of-the-art navigation, the ability to remap locations if the driver misses a turn and intersection views for detailed maneuvering guidance.

Active safety systems, like active night vision, lane departure warning systems and infrared side (blind spot) alerts, are other excellent examples of automotive engineers’ ability to connect advanced technologies in a manner that makes the driving experience both safer and more enjoyable.

Active night vision uses near-infrared headlamps to illuminate the road scene ahead and displays an enhanced image in the vehicle. This system provides high-beam visibility without blinding oncoming traffic. Components of the active night vision system can be shared with other safety features, such as a lane departure warning system.

When lane departure warning systems utilize a camera, the camera can also be used for multiple features, such as active night vision, pedestrian recognition, rain sensing and intelligent headlight control. The lane departure warning system uses a monocular camera mounted behind the windshield to track lanes in front of the vehicle. Accompanying software estimates lane width and road curvature, and determines the vehicle’s heading and lateral position within the lane. When the driver strays from his or her own “dotted lines,” an audible, tactile or visual alert is issued. According to an automotive magazine, ninety-five percent of all vehicular accidents involve some degree of driver behavior — such as swerving. Systems like lane departure warning provide hope of reducing the approximately one hundred deaths that occur every day on American roadways, as reported by the Public Broadcasting Service in 1995.

Side (blind spot) alerts provide the same hope. These systems help drivers be aware of vehicles in side blind spots when changing lanes and making turns. Sensors integrated into mirrors, taillights and side fascia measure the adjacent lane temperature over time to detect if vehicles are entering the side blind spot. If detected, the system provides visual indications within the mirrors. If this proves ineffective and a turn signal is activated anyway, an audible alert follows. These warnings give drivers more time to react and, hopefully, help avoid the more than 200,000 lane change accidents that occur every year according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

It’s amazing how easily they hide those geniuses of technology. We never hear their names, see their faces, or even, in most cases, acknowledge they exist. Yet it is the knowledge, safety and connectivity solutions of automotive engineers that are helping save lives and helping make sure the rest of us don’t get hopelessly lost on the way to that next great adventure — at least not too often.

Mike Trudel, Freelance Writer.

Delphi Corp. is poised to apply its expertise and know-how to provide vehicle manufacturers and consumers with in-vehicle connectivity. To learn more about Delphi Corp., please visit www.Delphi.com/4Connected.

Active Safety – A Little Help From Your Electronic Friends

It started out simple enough. Historians may argue the chronology, but “Active Safety” likely began with the “horn,” an effective way to alert the guy ahead of you that you might run into him if he doesn’t move. Then someone came up with the idea of something called a “turn signal” to let other drivers know which way you were thinking of going. That led to another great idea, “brake lights” that let the guy behind you know you were slowing down.

Active safety has mushroomed ever since. Much of the safety technology developed over the past 50 years has focused on protecting people in a crash — reacting to an impact with passive safety technology like seat belts and airbags. The future of active safety seeks to help prevent accidents in ways the inventor of the horn never imagined.

One of the most common active safety systems widely used today is anti-lock braking. Anti-lock braking senses impending wheel lock-up and pulses the brakes many times a second — faster than most humans could — allowing drivers to maintain steering control under severe braking conditions. The brake controllers for ABS also enable traction control and dynamic stability systems; the three lie at the heart of most near-term active safety systems. Among these systems are sensors that monitor the angle of the steering wheel, the front wheels and the vehicle itself; the speed at which each wheel is turning; the engine speed; and, in some cases, how hard the driver is hitting the brakes. The electronic components process this information in milliseconds and take corrective action to assist the driver.

This is where we are today, but the technology that will soon be available to consumers will take active safety to another level. The elements of adaptive cruise control and steer-by-wire will be added, and radar might sense impending collisions and either warn the driver or enable the vehicle to take evasive action itself.

With steer-by-wire and active suspension, the vehicle can correct oversteer or understeer with brakes, the engine, steering and perhaps shocks. This is also referred to as integrated chassis control, which uses not just the brakes but also the steering, engine and other systems within the chassis. In essence, the active suspension system analyzes what the driver is asking the vehicle to do and decides how best to achieve that result. In other words, it would be much harder for a driver to lose control of a vehicle if an active safety system could steer to counteract unwanted turning in a braking maneuver. While the system would take input from the driver’s controls — the steering wheel, brake pedal and accelerator pedal — it could just as easily take commands from outside the vehicle, perhaps from an intelligent highway system.

Suppliers and engineers believe that integrated chassis control could become commonplace in 10 years. The leading edge of this technology is an enhanced handling system called active roll control. The system uses hydraulic input from the steering system to actuate hydraulic cylinders in the front and rear sway bars so they resist leaning when the vehicle turns or follows a curve. Currently, rollover sensors are available to help indicate if a rollover is imminent. The sensor assesses the vehicle’s inclination and in conjunction with other inputs, such as vehicle speed and lateral acceleration, warns of extreme inclination or the potential for vehicle rollover.

Also well along the development cycle is adaptive cruise control, also known as intelligent cruise control or smart cruise control, a system that is already in production. One such system features a single radar unit both mid- and long-range capability. The system’s processor is contained in the same box as the radar, and the entire unit is hidden behind the front grill. The radar looks forward, while the processor interprets the distance to the vehicle ahead. If the car ahead gets too close (a pre-determined limit entered by the driver), the processor sends a command to the engine controller to slow the engine; and if that’s not enough, it sends a command to apply the brakes.

Collision avoidance systems may evolve from adaptive cruise control by adding short-range radar to the front and side. This would work in tandem with a panic brake-assist system currently available. This system measures master-cylinder pressure; if it detects a very rapid application of the brake pedal, it uses the motor pumps from the traction control or dynamic stability control system to build brake pressure at the wheels faster than the driver could manage alone.

Automotive suppliers are looking not only at radar, laser and infrared for collision warning and collision avoidance systems, but also at optical systems - cameras which collect data that is interpreted by a computer rather than driver-displayed. Both optical sensors and angular-rate sensors determine whether there’s an obstacle in a vehicle’s path. That’s the easy part. The challenge becomes understanding the vehicle’s intended path, particularly when that path involves a curve in the road. Once the system recognizes that the vehicle is going around a curve, it would be able to determine whether an object is actually in the vehicle’s path. An intelligent system that can tell the road is curving will know that a car that looks like it’s directly in front is really in another lane.

Increasingly sophisticated advances in active safety will continue to blossom over the next decade, including stop-and-go cruise control, pre-crash sensing, forward collision warning, side and rear blind spot detection and lane change warnings. The more pieces of active safety that are fitted together, the closer the industry comes to being able to turn over control of a car to an on-board or off-board computer in emergency situations, on “smart” high-speed lanes of crowded highways or perhaps even full time during regular driving conditions. Of course, that much automated control could eventually become a “hot potato.” The concern is likely to be whether drivers and buyers are ready for it. The fact is, automakers aren’t going to spring entire active safety systems on the public all at once. As is already the case, the ingredients will be added gradually, piece by piece.

Mike Trudel, Freelance Writer. Delphi Corp. is a leading innovator of automobile safety equipment and technology. To learn about Delphi’s safety advancements, visit www.Delphi.com/4safe.

Moving Made Easy With Van Services

A van service is one of the most popular moving and hauling service nowadays. It will take care of your moving and other transportation needs, making your life less stressful in the event that you are relocating. Even if you have your own vehicle, it may still be better to use this service to make things more convenient for you.

Time is valuable and you really have to make the most out of it. If you have a lot of things to transport, you really don’t have to do it all by yourself. You can always call for a van service to get the job done. This way, you can spend your time on things that needs your utmost attention.

Services Offered

One of the most common services offered by a van service is a house or apartment move. It will be best if you leave this task to professional movers to make your transfer more convenient and hassle-free. Think of it, there is no need to carry all those furniture from your old home to the new one all by yourself. Also, you don’t have to worry about scratches, both on your car or to your own furniture. Van service people know how to deal with this issue by using padding and secure tie ups during the actual transport.

It is best to hire professionals to move your stuff especially for expensive electronics like TVs and stereos. With a move service, you can just sit back and think more about how you will decorate your new abode.

An airport trip is also offered by van services. If you and your family will leave for another country for a vacation and you need to bring a lot of baggage, you can seek the help of a van service to take you to the airport. The same thing happens when you arrive at the airport from a vacation. You can have a van pick you up with all your bags to take you home.

If you have relatives from another city and they pay you a visit, and you want them to have a tour of the city, you can call in a van service to take you all where you want to go. There are also some van services that actually offer city tours. They know and will take you to beautiful and significant sites around the city.

A van service is also good for internet businesses. For example, you have an account on e-bay and sold an item, you can enlist a van service to deliver the item to the buyer. Big time eBay sellers have a van service that they regularly use. That way, they are confident that the items are going to be delivered safely.

Where Can You Find a Van Service?

The Internet is always a good place to find any type of information, including van services. You can use any search engine and you’ll come across many web sites that offer this service. Most van service websites provide phone numbers for you to call and schedule a service, while others have toll free numbers for any inquiry.

If you don’t have access to the Internet at home, you can check some advertisements on newspapers. You can also ask a friend or a relative if they know of a good van service. It is important to be careful in choosing a van service to make sure you and your things will be well taken care of.

Never hesitate to ask for a free quote and always determine if the service covers some damage insurance. You have to be very specific as to the place you are moving into and the items that you are transporting, to put it simply, moving a couch will not cost you much compared to an artwork that needs specialized protection.

Tammy Fordhan has worked as transportation professional for over five years. To schedule a Miami van service, or a Miami airport shuttle, you may want to consider checking http://miamivanservice.com.

How to Find a Lemon Law Lawyer When Threatened With Car Repossession

This can happen to you! Lately, your new car has been having the same problems caused by manufacturing defects. You have brought it to the mechanic for repair about four times but the same problem pops up after a while. You’ve spent quite a lot on this and still there’s no solution in sight. You refuse to pay car installments because you feel that the dealers passed you a lemon. Now the dealers are threatening you with repossession of your car or truck.

Don’t be threatened by car repossession. Find a Lemon Law specialist. You may want to consider a lemon law attorney who is able to help you win a substantial settlement for your lemon. A lemon law lawyer will always be ready and willing to help you out.

Lemon Laws are basically laws that provide protection to car owners. They are legislations passed by the 50 states to provide consumer protection against auto and other vehicle manufacturers for breach of contracts or warranties. These laws differ from one state to another.

If the vehicle you have bought failed to meet the manufacturer’s quality standards and specifications, the said manufacturer is bound by law to repair the defects within a specified time period as stated in the warranty.

If the same problem persists after the repair, it will be construed as a breach of contract and the manufacturer is obliged to give you a refund, either partially or in full, or replace your car with one of the same value, depending on what state you live in.

The California Lemon Law generally provides a reasonable (usually four) number of repair attempts on a vehicle or usually about 30 days that the vehicle remains unusable because of serious defects before its owner is eligible for a refund or replacement. First consult a lemon law lawyer to see if your vehicle qualifies as a lemon.

It should not be too hard to find an excellent lemon law firm, known for their excellent customer care and service. Some have a success rate of nearly 100% of Lemon Laws cases they handle. There are lemon layers in every state and a simple search or inquiry with your state bar assosciation should put you in contact with some of the best.

Depending on your area, you can still avail of Lemon Laws protection even if you bought a used vehicle provided it is covered by its original warranty. This also applies for leased vehicles. Other types of vehicles like trucks, vans, sports utility vehicles (SUV’s), recreational vehicles (RV’s), motorcycles and even boats are usually under Lemon Laws protection, too, provided they are covered by original company warranty. Protection is restricted only to vehicles used for personal or household purposes. In many states, a Lemon Law also protects consumers against illegal odometer tampering, agent or company misrepresentation and breach of warranty.

If you think that you have been handed a lemon, here are some things to keep in mind before approaching a manufacturer for settlement:

Take your car (or other vehicles covered by Lemon Laws) to the dealer each time it needs repair! This is a necessary inconvenience and a lemon law lawyer uses this information to create a record of the minimum amount of repair or days out of service needed under law.

Ask for a repair receipt for each repair trip to a dealer. Keep your receipts and other information on file to provide lawyers with usable information. If your dealer refuses to issues receipts, your lawyer can send them a subpoena.

For your best interest and protection, your lawyer may advise you against discussing your case with anybody outside the law office.

It is wise to consult with an experienced lemon law lawyer before trading in a vehicle or speaking with a manufacturer to settle a claim.

Thom Kretig has worked as a paralegal for six years. You are entitled to your money back so you have nothing to lose except your lemon. If you think you own a defective lemon contact the Law Offices of Delsack & Associates, a California Lemon Law attorney firm - today! You are also encouraged to check out our Lemon Law FAQ for answers to common questions.

Make a DIY Hydrogen Generator For Your Cars and Get More MPG

Hydrogen power has had a lot of attention recently and you may be surprised to learn that a lot of people are turning to this new technology to make huge savings on their driving costs. With one of the largest costs of motoring being the cost of gasoline many people who are looking for ways to get more MPG for their vehicles have realised that it is very easy to make a DIY hydrogen generator for their cars and improve their fuel economy by up to 50%.

There are many advantages of using a hydrogen generator for your cars, the first one being that they are cheap and easy to construct and install into your existing vehicle with little or no modifications needed. The parts needed to make a DIY hydrogen generator can be easily obtained from local auto stores or even hardware stores and are just ordinary inexpensive items. You will not need to spend a lot of time searching for specialist parts that have to be ordered or custom made.

Some of these items are things like electrical wiring which is used to connect the DIY hydrogen generator to your vehicles battery which in turn provides the power to run it. Other items include a quart sized water container, some small vacuum hoses, and even baking soda, the latter being used as a catalyst for the system. If you do not have the time to assembly this simple shopping list you can even buy a hydrogen generator kit which includes all the parts needed.

If you opt for the hydrogen generator kit you will also receive full instructions for putting together your DIY hydrogen generator. These kits obviously tend to be a bit more expensive than if you where building a homemade hydrogen generator from scratch, but they do have the advantage of having everything you will need at your fingertips, and you will not have to search for instruction guides to assemble it.

On the other hand there are many good step by step instruction guides available on the internet that can be instantly downloaded to your computer and then printed out into a handy manual. These guides will tell you exactly what parts you will need and then show you how to put it all together to make your very own DIY hydrogen generator. If you have the time to search the internet for these guides it can work out quite a bit cheaper than if you purchase a hydrogen generator kit.

So it’s really up to you which way you go about building your own DIY hydrogen generator. You can either go for the hydrogen generator kit with everything that you need included, or if you prefer to be more hands on you can construct it yourself from inexpensive parts that are easily obtained and the aid of an easy to follow instruction guide. And don’t worry if you have no mechanical skills as long as you can use a screwdriver and wrench just about anyone can do it. Whatever you decide once you have your own hydrogen generator you can start reaping the rewards and get more MPG for your car.

Discover the top 3 guides to show you How To Make A DIY Hydrogen Generator for your cars and get more MPG http://www.MoreGasMPG.com/saveongas.html

Tips to Save on Gas Bill Payments

If you have are someone who uses a car, you must have realized that the rising fuel prices are affecting your pocket. You have, then, obviously wondered about whether there is any way to save gas bill. Since the days of cheap fuel are gone for good, you have to find out new ways to save your gas bill.

One of the best ways to save fuel is to drive carefully. Although most individuals do not follow this, it is a very important part of fuel conservation. You have to become a patient driver, avoid unnecessary braking and revving up of your engine. Also, maintaining a constant speed helps a lot in conserving fuel.

1. Try to keep your car free from unnecessary weights. Excess weight in the car results in excess burden on the engine, which ultimately results in more gas consumption. Keeping your car light is a great way of ensuring that you save up a lot of fuel.

2. Avoid waiting for something with your engine turned on. In case you need to stop over somewhere for more than two minutes, try switching off the engine in order to save fuel.

3. The best way to contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment is to go for alternative fuels. In case you can convert your engine to one that runs on water, it will the best way to save your gas bill.

A great way to save gas bill is to get your tires properly inflated and to ensure that the tire pressure is perfect in your car. These are often neglected details but when it comes to saving fuel, these little things can ultimately matter a lot.

A great way to save fuel is to go for nitrogen inflation. This particular kind of inflation increases your mileage by 5% to 15%. This does not even cost that much, as you can get your nitrogen inflation done for a sum of $3 to $5.

The problems with air inflation are many and thus, there is a bid to switch to nitrogen inflation which is much better. Air can result in leaks through valves, corrode the aluminum or steel wheels and also migrate through rubber. These problems can all be solved simply by using nitrogen. Nitrogen inflation means that you can maintain better air pressure in the tires and save more fuel. Ultimately, it also means that you will be able to save your gas bill by quite an amount.

Nitrogen also ensures that the tires remain cooler, which is necessary for keeping constant tire pressure. Maintaining constant tire pressure is a great way of conserving fuel.

These might seem to be really small things but when it comes to saving fuel, they contribute a lot to the big picture. There are little adjustments that you need to make in order to ensure that you can save a substantial amount from your gas bills in these days when the fuel prices are rocketing. Apply these little tips to your own driving and car maintenance and see the difference for yourself.

For more details on which products can save gas bills view the reviews at http://www.gasmileagesavefuel.com

Tire Pressure and Fuel Economy

With the rising gas prices and the anxiety about rapidly diminishing fuel reserves, it is a good idea to go ahead and do something about your car. The best thing to do is to get hold of some mileage saving means which will enable you to save some money. Saving gas has become a great challenge nowadays and you have to work out a way to ensure that you do your bit by using an environment friendly way to run your car.

One of the easiest ways to save fuel is to have tires with correct tire pressures. Although most of us are under the impression that our tires have the correct amount of pressure, the truth is quite the contrary. There are factors like wear and tear; seasonal temperature changes and weather which make the car lose about one to two pounds per square inch each month. Although this seems to be quite an insignificant number, you will be alarmed to know that 1 psi loss in four tires means that your miles per gallon will decrease by almost 0.04%.

This means that you need to be very careful about your tire pressure in order to ensure that you get a great mileage out of your car. Tire pressure variations can affect your mileage and the sooner you understand it the better for you.

Given below are some tips which you can look at in order to see if your tires have the right amount of pressure:

1. There should be a sign on the inside of the driver’s door of your car or in the glove box indicating the correct tire pressure for your car. In case you cannot find it, call your car company and get the accurate number from them immediately.

2. Though some stickers will not specify ‘cold tire pressure’, you need to ensure that the tires are cold, which means that they haven’t been used for the past few hours.

3. The psi number marked on the tires stand for the maximum pressure that the tires can undertake. You need not consider it to be the ideal pressure for your car tires.

4. In order to know the tire pressure, always use a digital gauge. It is the best way in which you can get the exact pressure and settle the pressure of the tires accordingly.

Always keep checking the inflation of your tires as well. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that as many as 30% of cars and trucks do not have the correct amount of inflation. Do not ever judge the inflation and tire pressure of your cars on the basis of their visual appearance because it can be extremely deceptive, to say the least. Go for regular checks which will enable you to understand the correct amount of pressure and air required for your car. In this manner, you will be able to save quite a substantial amount of fuel by getting better mileage out of your car.

These days the market is buzzing wirh several products that claims to save gas and improve fuel economy. To get a first hand review of few selected gas saving products visit http://www.gasmileagesavefuel.com

Frequently Asked Questions About Driving a Minibus

Minibuses are large, passenger carrying vehicles. Because of this extra responsibility the driving regulations regarding licensing, servicing and minibus insurance are a lot stricter than a normal car.

This article is a guide to the frequently asked questions about driving a minibus.

What is a minibus?

The classification for a minibus is a vehicle that has between 9 to 16 passenger seats. With more than16 passenger seats the vehicle is classed as a coach.

What is a Section 19 Minibus Permit?

If a minibus is being driven for hire or reward then a Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) licence is required. Certain organisations such as volunteer groups, whose activities are beneficial to a community, can apply for a Section 19 Permit. This allows a small charge to be made to cover the vehicles operating costs without the need of a PCV licence.

A driver of a Section 19 permit minibus can either be a volunteer or be paid. If the minibus is being used as a non-profit bus service a Section 22 permit can be applied for. However with this permit the driver must be a unpaid volunteer.

Minibuses used by schools and educational establishment that do not charge their pupils do not normally require a Section 19 permit.

Section 19 permits are only valid within the UK.

Do minibus passengers have to wear seatbelts?

Seatbelts requirements for minibuses vary according to the age of the vehicle, passenger carrying capacity, type of passengers (i.e children or wheelchair users) and type of seat fitted. A general rule is that if a minibus is fitted with seatbelts then they must be worn.

It is compulsory for a minibus driver to wear a seatbelt.

What are the Driving Licence requirements for a minibus?

Driving licences issued after the 1st January 1997 require a category D1 classification, which can be obtained by applying to the DVLA and passing a Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) test.

There are exemptions to this regulation that will allow a minibus to be driven with a full category B (car) licence, but the following conditions need to be met:

1. The minibus is used for a social purpose but not for hire and reward.

2. You must be over 21 and have held your Category B license for more than 2 years. If you are over 70 then you are required to meet the health standards for driving a D1 vehicle.

3. No payment can be accepted for driving the minibus.

4. The minibus cannot weigh more than 3.5 tonnes or 4.25 tonnes with special equipment for carrying disabled passengers.

5. Towing a trailer of any size is prohibited.

6. The minibus can only be driven in the UK. Driving in Europe will require a D1 licence.

What are the speed limits for driving a minibus?

Speed limits for a minibus on UK roads are:

30 mph in urban and residential areas

50 mph on A class (single-carriageway) roads

60 mph on dual-carriageway roads

70 mph on motorways

If the minibus is towing a trailer the speed limit on motorways is reduced to 60 mph and the fast lane cannot be used for overtaking.

Minibuses registered after 1st January 2005 must now be fitted for with a speed limiter, restricting their maximum speed to 62 mph.

What are the regulations for driving a minibus in Europe?

A ‘waybill’ or an ‘own account certificate’ must be carried regardless of whether the minibus is being used for hire or reward. The MinibusClub.co.uk has more information about these documents.

Other documents that need to accompany the vehicle include a minibus insurance certificate, European accident form and Vehicle Registration document. A specialist minibus insurance provider will be able to advise whether a Green Card is also needed.

When driving in Europe a GB sticker or EU style GB sticker must be prominently displayed on the minibus at all times.

More information about minibus driving regulations can be obtained from the Directgov website or the Minibus Club.

The Minibus Club is a specialist minibus insurance provider and has offered UK minibus insurance quotes since 1997. Visit their website to get a free quote or call their hotline on 0845 609 0323. See how much you could save on your minibus insurance!

More Lorry Driver Urban Legends

I’ve written about lorry driver urban legends before, but they just keep cropping up all over the internet. I’m not sure quite why lorry drivers and their vehicles often seem to be at the centre of these kinds of stories – my theory is that it’s the lorry drivers themselves who spread them while running haulage jobs and return loads all over the world! Perhaps it is just that many urban legends take place on the road, and lorry drivers make for convenient and plausible participants. However they spread, these stories are here to stay, and they get wilder and more outlandish with every retelling. Here are five of the best (and one of them is even true!)

Don’t Mess With The Lorry Driver

According to this legend, three bikers arrive in a caf

Want the Best Ride? Drive a Honda

Few weeks back I had a very fantastic experience with Honda, I hope it will be in USA with in next year. I am not sure which vehicle will successful in USA but those which are highly recommended are:

- Acura RDX

- Acura TSX

Honda started with diesel in Europe in 2004, it was called Accord but it was sold as TSX in European countries. My favorite car of choice is the European Civic five-door. Some features of this car are:

- On wheels, it looks like a space age suppository.

- It has an engine of 2.2L DOHC having 16 aluminum valves.

- The running compression of the engine is 16.7:1

- A turbocharger with variable nozzle.

- Its wheels are easily moved by the help of a balance shaft.

The output of the Civic is at 138 hp with 4000 rpm, 250 lb-ft of torque at 2000 rpm. The only best thing I found in Honda accord is the high torque of its diesel engines.

The car which soothed my eyes is Civic.

- It has a powerful engine with i-CTDi

- Its electric motors at very low revs produce huge thrust.

In Honda, when you reach 2000 rpm, at that time you will find a modest acceleration.

- You will be pressed in to seat when the tidal wave of torque boots you with pressure.

- After that I drove that car to 12 miles by resetting its fuel meter. I ran that car in streets with hyper miler mode, skipping gears and shifting below 2000 rpm with a speed of 45 mph. you can drive this car into highest gears.

- It has the facility of series of LEDs which helps you to see the Speedo meter and judge yourself economically. When I personally tested the drive it was 3.9L/100 km, then after taking my lunch I drove that car for 43 miles.

- When I checked the reading it was dropped down to 4.7L/100 km. next day I again drove that car in type R and also noted down the readings, I found the reading dropped to 5.0L/100 km. I highly recommend this kind of car for personal and professional use.

Some other features of this model are:

- It has a build in civic like built in.

- It is seven seats and most likely to hit the market of USA in near future.

- Having protocol of cylindrical deactivation, it has added to the 3 cylinder option with 4 cylinder mode.

- Its weight is unchanged virtually as it has an effective ACE body structure.

- It is formed of aluminum with high steel to make it powerful.

- It is suited for the hard slogs in streets.

- When you sit in and driving with an ideal speed, if you try to stop at once then you don’t have to feel any stress as it has an ideal cushions to give floaty feeling.

Enjoying the wide variety that Honda and Acura offer through many different set ups and modes. It will soon hit the US market in 2009 for American drivers to enjoy.

Many car enthusiasts like to modify their cars. If you are one of them, consider ASA JH8, ASA JH9, OZ Ultraleggera, and ASA ZR2 wheels.

Next Page »