Monthly Archives: March 2010

Author : Dominic Donaldson

Every man at some point in his life has aspired to drive a flash car, Bond in his Aston Martin, Michael Knight in his Pontiac Trans-am But for many males the reality of actually owning a sports car is not too realistic This does not mean that you have to give up the idea completely though, no fear Big expensive car companies have noticed that a range of accessories from Jaguar accessories through to Porsche accessories do have a huge demand and the accessories market alone is being taken very seriously

The car accessory has changed quite a lot over the years, it’s no longer just the Jaguar accessories key ring or the Porsche driving gloves, there are now so many products available covering anything you could possibly desire without purchasing the actual car itself Buying these is a good way of keeping the dream alive without breaking the bank entirely It’s certainly a lot cheaper and gives you inspiration to the actual day you will be driving behind the wheel of your favourite sports car why not dream

The popularity of expensive and high performance cars has never been so large, programmes on the television, magazines and other media are always doing reviews on the latest car You only have to watch an episode of BBC’s Top Gear to see how important cars are to our culture and every generation has a car driving hero Whether its modern car pin ups such as Vin Diesel or later actors such as James Dean stood pouting next to a Porsche a cigerette in his mouth Every strong lead male character has to have car to back up his ego

The range of Volvo, Porsche and Jaguar accessories are most typical as to what you can purchase off manufacturers these days The big named companies have discovered what a successful market this really is and how to make the most of it Not only do the products provide financial gain but allow the car make to be advertised at the same time and creates huge brand awareness, two strong points

Of course all the Porsche and Jaguar accessories are just a small part of everyone’s dream until the bank shows a little mercy They represent a stop gap to many until they are able to treat themselves with the real thing So until you can afford your Jaguar or Aston Martin, take comfort in the cast die models available directly from most manufacturers and try to be contented until then!

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the motor industry.
Find out more about Jaguar Accessories and the motor industry.

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Author : Andrew Stratton

From the exterior, the Dodge Sprinter may appear as another handyman or florist truck, but it has the potential to be much more The Sprinter is truly a blank slate for families, businesses, and the creative auto owner It boasts one of the most spacious interiors (a 6′ tall person can comfortably stand without bending his head) of any currently available autos and is easily customizable to suit a variety of needs

Before you step off the lot, you’ll be offered a variety of options to help you start building your dream vehicle There are standard and high roof heights, wheelbases of either 144 or 170 inches, and vehicle lengths of either 233 or 273 inches You will also be able to choose between the twelve seat diesel engine model and the gasoline powered engine with a choice of ten, nine, or six seats

If it’s a family van you’re after, the Sprinter can’t be beat The multiple seating options and the quick-latch release seating to allow a variety of configurations makes this van an ideal choice for the busy family Plenty of cargo space and a large rear door make loading and unloading a breeze

And even though it looks imposing, the Sprinter is a smooth drive, handling more like a small auto than a van The tilt and telescoping steering wheel allows for maximum driver comfort and there’s plenty of legroom for all

While the Dodge Sprinter is something of an anomaly in the United States, Europe has been celebrating this multi-purpose vehicle for years After all, it was created for the narrow, winding roads in European cities and takes tight turns easily

The Dodge Sprinter is also one of the most economically friendly vehicles of its size The five cylinder diesel engine model has 156 horsepower, direct fuel injection, and gets 28mpg at 55mph It’s made to be fuel efficient even when hauling heavy loads and travelling long distances

For businessmen, the Sprinter can be tailored to fit your company’s and employee’s needs They not only haul goods and passengers, but many Sprinters have been successfully transformed into alternative, but luxurious limos, party buses, tour buses, and traveling mini hotel rooms

The interior can easily be gutted and re-outfitted with plasma screen televisions, bathrooms, kitchens, disco balls- just about anything that you can imagine Impress clients with a roomy ride from the airport or set up a unique shuttle service that outshines the competition

Adventurous spirits will find that the Sprinter is the perfect alternative to an outdated, gas-unfriendly RV The passenger van can easily be converted into a comfortable home on wheels, or the chassis model can be outfitted with a camper With the passenger van, you’ll find parking overnight much less of a hassle as it isn’t oversized like many RVs

The Dodge Sprinter is for people who don’t like to compromise style and flexibility It’s a great vehicle as it is, or it can morph into your own individual creation, whether it is a brilliant new business model or getting the family together for a road trip

If you’re in the market for a multipurpose vehicle that can double up as a family van or be used to haul cargo, the Dodge Sprinter is a great buy. Take a look at the models available and contact a dealer at the site here www.louisianasprinter.com

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Author : Andy West

If you have ever driven trucks without bed liners then you have probably experienced skid row Skid row is in the bed of the truck and is the place where everything moves forward to the tailgate and then returns to the head of the truck bed every time you use the brakes Heaven forbid you should have to stop quickly, because the sound of cargo hitting the metal sides of the truck bed is excruciating You can count the dings and dents in your truck without even looking at the situation

Installing truck bed liners is a simple solution to the problem at hand The cost of pickup trucks dictates taking good care of your vehicle in order to keep it as nice as possible for as long as possible Skidding cargo is something you want to prevent, but tying every thing down each time you drive the truck can be time consuming and annoying This is especially true if you often carry hand tools or garden tools used on jobs

Trucks are designed today to look nice as nice as an auto They are made with sleek styling and comfortable interiors Letting the truck bed get scratched and dented by shifting loads can ruin the overall appearance of the truck When you have invested a lot of money in your truck, it only makes sense to keep the bed as nice as the rest of the truck You can polish and wax the exterior of the truck for a solid week, but if you let the truck bed get beat up the rest of the truck appearance suffers too

Truck bed liners made with heavy duty polyethylene can protect the truck bed from damage due to shifting loads The truck bed liners are designed with ridges that keep anything in the truck bed slightly raised so there is never a problem with standing water The ridges are reinforced so they can handle heavy loads like equipment or construction tools The surface of the liner is skid resistant to provide additional stability to truck bed loads

One common problem that trucks experience is rust due to standing water in the truck bed and poor drainage which leads to pockets of standing water It doesn’t take long for standing water to become dirty and foul which only makes it more difficult to keep a truck nice Truck bed liners are installed so they promote drainage out of the truck bed and not into the body of the truck or the tailgate

Truck bed liners can turn skid row into luxury accommodations! The liners are easily installed They are made to fit either under truck rails or to rest on the rails The truck bed liners installed under the rails do not require any clips or screws The liners installed over the rails need simple clips that fit over the rails and do no require any drilling It doesn’t matter whether you snap in or clip on the liner Either way you get the same protection for your truck bed and the identical cargo support The truck bed liners are installed in the bed and on the tailgate so you can load your cargo without worry

Truck bed liners are made for most domestic or import models The liners offer bed protection that makes it easier to transport cargo The liners prevent loads from shifting, protect the bed from scratches and keep your truck looking nice The liners are designed to prevent water from standing in the bed of the truck which also protects anything you are hauling Standing water can get into the crevices of the truck and cause rusting

If you want to keep your truck looking nice, prevent the chance of rust developing and improve your ability to carry cargo then sturdy truck bed liners are the answer

Andy West is a writer for Buy Auto Truck Accessories which offers many auto accessories including truck bed liners.

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Author : Tom Sample

No matter who you are, at some point you’re going to need a truck Whether it’s for moving an entire home or a washer and dryer set, or to start your own hauling business, trucks are how big jobs get done For many, even though a truck is needed for one-time or continuous use, buying a hauler, pickup or especially a big rig is out of the question This is where a good rental can come into play

People who need trucks for personal use need them for a number of reasons Oftentimes a temporary need doesn’t justify an outright purchase This is when a rental can really help out There are companies that specialize in nothing but truck rentals to private, non-commercial drivers These trucks are not big rigs by any means They are smaller, lighter trucks such as pick-ups, small moving vans and so on They are great for moving the contents of a house, or doing a one-time pick up of something too big for your regular car

When leasing a truck for short-term, personal use, here are some things to consider:

* Shop around for prices and rental terms There is generally more than one company in an area that rents moving trucks or even pickups

* Ask about the little things Don’t sign the contract for a rental until you are very clear about hidden costs, rental requirements and so on Make sure you understand any extra per mile costs and fuel charges

* Check into rental insurance This is almost always a good idea Anything can happen and it’s not your truck you’re driving You don’t want to pay the bottom line if someone damages the rental

* Find out where and when the truck needs to be returned This is especially important for out-of-town deliveries or one-way trips Make sure you have good directions to a return location where you’ll be going If it’s an in-town move, you should be able return the truck to the location you rented it at

People with proper certification can even rent big rigs for one-time trips or to help establish their own businesses The investment in a rig can be too much for a single driver starting out, so rentals are often the way drivers go

Most of the rules for the private rental driver apply here, but in double the importance Since a commercial driver will be working to start his or her own business, making sure the truck is reliable and the lease understandable and affordable is vital

Those who need to hire on a rig can also do so There are plenty of trucking companies that offer not only big rigs, but also drivers for lease This is great for small companies that need to ship a lot of product, but don’t have their own trucking division

No matter who you are or what you do, a truck will someday be important They are one of the best and most efficient means for transporting goods from one point to another Whether it’s an appliance pick up or a move of an entire house, a homeowner or private resident will almost certainly need a truck at some point Drivers just starting out need trucks because without them, they have no business And, businesses must get their products from the production point to the sales point

More Resources

Truck rental.

http://www.truckrentalinc.com

Utility trailers.

http://www.utilitytrailersite.com

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Author : Katie Kelley

In 1998 it was estimated that the total cost of bus accidents nationwide reached nearly $870 million annually, according to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), which also reported that while the number of incidents had declined over a ten-year period into 2001 the number of injuries remained the same if not having increased since 2001

Each year millions of individuals board buses or other forms of transit either to save money on gasoline, help the environment or simply to get from one destination to another However, as public transportation becomes a more popular mode of travel, more individuals become at risk for being involved in a bus accident and developing bus or transit accident-induced injuries

Additionally, the 2004 SSO Annual Report from the FTA also found that while ridership had increased significantly in a five-year period, fatalities were the highest they had been in a six-year period and were reaching 57 percent in 2004 alone

Bus Accidents

There are a number of reasons and factors that can contribute to a bus or transit accident The National Center for Transit Research (NCTR) and the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida recently conducted a study on how to improve and analyze bus safety The researchers found that the following are several reasons for bus crashes:

* location of stop

* roadway surface type

* weather conditions

* traffic conditions

* operator status (as in a regular operator, mini-run, extra board, supervisor, etc )

* transit vehicle movement prior to and during the time of accident

* vehicle defects at time of accident as well as last preventive maintenance

* movements of other vehicles during or prior to collision

* evasive action taken by driver

* passenger movement during or prior to accident

* pedestrian or cyclist movement prior to and during accident

* observed conditions of other driver/pedestrian/cyclist/passengers at time of accident

* additional contributory factors

Because of the extensive list of potential contributory factors that can be involved in a bus collision, it is important that steps are taken to decrease any incident that may occur Sometimes, however, a bus accident can occur because of lack of adequate highway or roadway signage as well as other additional highway issues

For example, a bus accident that killed five student athletes in March 2007 occurred because of poor roadway signage The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has since recommended that highway signage be improved by becoming clearer and more consistent But this is just one step that has been taken and often has other drivers and passengers begging to know how to reduce the risk of a bus collision

Improving Bus Safety

Currently, not all states require their transit systems to report and produce any type of system safety program plans While the NCTR is working with several states to develop more significant bus accident data and tracking research, not much is being done to implement more significant safety measures that affect current passengers and vehicular drivers

However the FTA along with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the U S Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are working on a plan to reduce the number of bus accidents while improving transit safety The plan is known as the National Intelligent Vehicle Initiative (IVI) In Pittsburgh, their work has contributed to an 80 percent reduction of claims after the bus authority implemented new safety equipment, including IVI, and procedures in buses

Since the development of the IVI transportation plan, researchers from the group have reported that:

*42 state and local transit initiatives were on the ballots in November 2002

* More than 120 transportation corridors are seeking funding for the IVI plan

* Lane assistance technology (part of the IVI

transportation plan) may reduce the cost of an automated guideway transit (AGT) – a grade separated transit system running on wheels being guided (similar to a lightrail system) by up to 20 percent An AGT commonly costs approximately $100 million

Although the nationwide IVI plan is becoming more commonplace, there are an array of bus transit technologies being researched to decrease accidents, fatalities and injuries for bus accident victims

For now, individuals can use the following steps and procedures to decrease a passengers risk for becoming injured because of a bus accident or bus collision:

* do not stand on a moving bus without holding on to proper safety bars or straps

* sit up straight on the bus

* do not engage in any activities that might distract

a bus driver

* avoid hanging items or limbs out of windows

* keep voices low and avoid loud, distracting conversations

* teach children to behave properly while on the bus and do not let them throw, run or partake in any horseplay

Additionally, individuals should avoid driving in bus lanes or designated bus stops as well as driving courteously but defensively on the road If an individual is standing or walking near a bus stop or bus lane, remaining as far away from the designated bus area is advised

Seeking Help When Involved in Bus Accident

Individuals who have been involved with a bus collision, may feel lost and alone However, seeking medical attention and legal consultation can offer assistance in returning to normalcy in one’s life Specifically, an experienced bus safety and vehicular accident attorney will be able to offer insight into developing litigation to retrieve monetary compensation for damages caused during an accident Most legal consultations are often provided free of payment to better assist a victim after their ordeal

Learn more about contact an auto accident attorney at http://crash.legalview.com/. LegalView (http://www.LegalView.com) also offers several other legal information portals on issues such as the Ketek risks or the Cipro dangers.

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Author : Dave Gosine

Tokyo, Japan, — Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that an industry-government-academia joint research project in Hiroshima Prefecture, in which it is participating, has achieved an improved exterior surface quality, high-strength, heat-resistant plastic (bioplastic) made of natural materials It can also be used for vehicle interior parts An automotive sector first, this new bioplastic is made from natural materials and is carbon neutral because of the reduced amounts of fossil fuels used to make it and the consequent lowered amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions

This newly-developed bioplastic features is stronger – it has three times the shock impact resistance along with 25 percent higher heat resistance when compared to contemporary bioplastics used for items such as electrical appliances In addition, it is made with a fermentation process that includes natural materials such as fermented starches and sugars which, compared with the process to make polypropylene, reduces energy use by 30 percent In contrast to current petroleum-based polypropylene plastics, the new bioplastic also has comparatively higher rigidity, resulting in thinner molds and fewer materials used These attributes hold great promise for better productivity in the mass production of vehicle parts, since parts manufacture frequently involves injection-molding equipment Mazda will continue its research and development in this area for the next several years, with any new advances being employed in Mazda products

Bioplastic

This newly-developed bioplastic is made of 88 percent corn and 12 percent petroleum Mainly using corn-based polylactic acids, Nishikawa Rubber Co Ltd, Hiroshima and Kinki Universities focused their efforts on developing a new nucleating agent for crystallization and a compatibilizer compound to raise the strength and heat resistance of the new plastic, dramatically increasing the amount of applications for automobile manufacturing

This research was the result of joint industry-academia-government collaboration, promoted under the auspices of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s (METI) “Consortium R&D Projects for Regional Revitalization” program, which began in 2004 The joint research conducted under this rubric has the goals of fostering new industry, creating new business and revitalizing regional economies in Japan

The new bioplastic consortium project partners are Hiroshima University, Nishikawa Rubber Co Ltd , Western Hiroshima Prefecture Industrial Research Institute, G P Daikyo Corporation, Japan Steel Works Ltd , Kinki University School of Engineering, Nishikawa Kasei Co Ltd , National Research Institute of Brewing, Yasuhara Chemical Co Ltd , MANAC Incorporated and Mazda Motor Corporation This is a consortium consisting of two universities, seven companies and two research institutes

Seita Kanai, senior managing executive officer in charge of Mazda’s R&D, said, “Mazda and G P Daikyo Corporation are at the center of a world-class accumulation of automotive plastic module parts makers here in the Hiroshima area Based on our rich tradition of sake brewing in this region, we’ve been accumulating fermentation biotechnology for a long time and Hiroshima University, Nishikawa Rubber Company and the Western Hiroshima Prefecture Industrial Research Institute – among other organizations – have an extensive history of research into the practical uses of biodegradable plastics than can be broken down by microorganisms In particular, great results have been achieved through joint international research into lactic acid copolymers So it’s safe to say the Hiroshima area is fertile ground in terms of research achievements Together with our regional partners over the next few years, Mazda intends to continue its bioplastics research for the purpose of utilizing any advances we achieve to make better products for our customers ”

2006 marks the final year of the Mazda Momentum mid-term management plan Two of the plan’s goals were to achieve 100 billion yen in operating profit and a net-debt-to-equity ratio of less than one hundred percent by the end of fiscal year 2006; these were achieved one year earlier than projected Another key measure of the plan is to strengthen research and development efforts As a company that values its social contributions now and into the future, Mazda will keep up its proactive technical research on eco-friendly and safe products for its customers

Mazda will exhibit vehicle interior parts made with the newly-developed bioplastic in its booth at the Automotive Engineering Exposition at the Japan Society of Automotive Engineering (JASE) Annual Congress, to be held at the Pacifico Yokohama complex from May 24-26, 2006

Notes:

1) Carbon neutral

As an example, carbon neutral can be characterized as CO2 gases released during plant decomposition or combustion being absorbed during the growth phase of photosynthesis, so any emitted CO2 gases are offset and end up producing a negligible impact on CO2 levels in the atmosphere

2) Nucleating agents for crystallization

An additive to stimulate crystallization

A “stimulus” nucleating agent added to crystal acts as a catalyst and makes it easier to form the crystals Polylactic acid has properties which make for comparatively slower crystallization when compared to other plastics and this negatively impacts on production efficiency when molding bioplastics for car parts Given this factor, it is necessary to carry out the crystallization earlier by means of a nucleating agent When the molecular chain is arranged in a systematic way, the plastic’s strength is increased and its heat-resistant properties are improved

3) Compatibilizer

An additive is needed for a material that has two or more different types of properties, and when distributed uniformly, it improves the physical properties of the material It is necessary to mix the polylactic acids with a combination of polylactic acid and an added element that is not chemically compatible

4) Lactic acid copolymers

This is a plastic material derived by partly replacing some of the elements of polylactic acids with other ingredients

5) International collaboration

-Participating organizations: Hiroshima University (the representative research institute); University of Massachusetts and Tufts University (US); University of Liege (Belgium), Zhejiang University (China)

-Research content: The aforementioned research institutions worked together to conduct research and development into lactic acid copolymers for general use as well as use in medical treatments

Webbolt (http://webbolt.ecnext.com/coms2/description_60902_Mazda020606_SUS) provides an on-demand, dynamically presented, tailored, total information solution with increasingly complex and global content. Webbolt continually updates and expands its free news in 22 key topic areas.

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Author : Alexander West

The Porsche 911 Turbo comes with a 3 6 litre engine that produces 480 bhp at 6,000 rpm As a result, the Porsche 911 Turbo can go from 0 to 100 km per hour in a very quick 3 9 seconds due to its 6-speed manual transmission Note that this is a manual transmission; you get to keep the thrill of driving a fast car and changing through the gears yourself

The engineers who worked on the Porsche 911 Turbo managed to achieve this while still making the car quite economical, requiring just about 12 8 litres for every 100 km With the optional Triptronic S automatic transmission, it is possible to achieve even higher speeds, whereby the Porsche 911 Turbo can go to 200 km per hour from standing start within 12 2 seconds Whether it uses automatic or manual transmission, the Porsche 911 Turbo can attain a maximum of 310 km per hour

This car used the first ever ‘Sport Chrono Package Turbo’, which is optional extra This automatically determines the best distribution of torque in order to get the most appropriate drive given the road conditions With the Porsche Traction Management, it is possible to give a variable distribution of power to the drive axles The Porsche 911 Turbo can therefore exhibit good traction in different road and weather conditions This combination makes the car very safe even at high speeds whether the road is wide or narrow

You can only be safe at such speeds if the braking system is very effective and matches the performance of the car The engineers at Porsche designed a system that makes use of monobloc fixed-calliper disc brakes, where there are six pistons at work on the front discs while the rear discs uses four pistons The internally perforated and ventilated brake discs at both rear and front wheels have diameters of 350 mm The brakes are quick to apply and release, while the pedal travel is short, precise and consistent Air channels deliver cooling air to keep the system fade-free

Porsche has always considered lightweight design essential in the development of high-performance sports cars Through the use of aluminium alloys and high-tensile metals, the cars are lighter and stronger than if they were made of conventional steel – so they require less material to manufacture and burn less fuel every mile they’re on the road

All told, about 85% of the cars components can be recycled using todays technology All synthetics are clearly labelled to simplify the recycling process In addition, the 911 Turbo is entirely free of asbestos [as is the law in many countries], CFCs, or components manufactured using CFCs Waterbased paints are used throughout the car

Alex West is a luxury car enthusiast. You can find out more about Porsche motor cars at Click Here

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Author : Gary Witzenburg

Some might wonder why Cadillac would bring the 2010 CTS Sport Wagon to market with little expectation of more than a few thousand annual U S sales? One reason: It expects to export a fair number to Europe, where the Cadillac brand still carries considerable clout, as well as elsewhere around the world

The base engine, as in the CTS sedan, is a new 3 0-liter 24-valve DOHC direct-injected, variable-valve-timing V-6 good for a fairly strong 270 hp, while the available 3 6-liter version of the same high-tech V-6 offers 304 eager horses Both are happily married to an electronically controlled six-speed automatic gearbox powering the rear wheels, or all four with available all-wheel drive

Standard on that base model are 17-inch alloy wheels, Stabilitrak electronic stability control, four-wheel power disc brakes with ABS and traction control, AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 8-speaker audio, dual-stage front and both front and rear side curtain airbags and GM’s OnStar convenience and security system with a one-year Directions and Connections subscription

Among the major options are adaptive headlamps (that follow the steering), keyless access with remote start, a rear-view camera, LED ambient interior lighting, 18-inch polished aluminum wheels, a summer-tire performance package, heated and ventilated seats, premium wood interior trim, an “Ultra-View” sunroof, advanced navigation with real-time traffic and weather, 10-speaker Bose audio, a 40-gig hard drive and Bluetooth hands-free connectivity

The Cadillac has the most front legroom of the above five competitors, nearly the same rear legroom as the BMW and more than the Audi or either Volvo On the other hand, its relatively low roof gives it a bit less front headroom and one to two inches less in back vs its taller rivals Its 58 inches of cargo room (rear seats folded flat) is competitive, and its 18 EPA mpg city/27 highway fuel efficiency with its standard 3 0-liter V-6 is much better than the BMW’s and Volvo V70′s, but not as good as the four-cylinder Audi’s and the five-cylinder V50′s

Around town, on a 500-mile road trip, and on a tight, twisty racecourse, the CTS wagon proved as capable and satisfying as its well-received sedan counterpart Its performance is good, its handling athletic, its steering crisp, its braking strong and stable, and its ride smile-inducing comfortable all day If you like the CTS sedan, you’ll likely love this handsome, highly capable wagon Shop them all, but give this beauty a good, long look

autoMedia.com providing quality automotive information designed to enlighten and entertain the most discriminating car enthusiast, is a team of accomplished automotive journalists serving consumers automotive advice they can trust. Read more of their popular car reviews and road tests like this 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, as well as reviews on all Cadillac Models.

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