I've been following closely the trend in the United States auto market. I've always been fascinated in predicting how an automaker would fare for a particular month in terms of sale. Would Ford be tough in the market? Would General Motors finally take back some of its shares in the market it has previously held? Would Toyota continue its rampage to the top of the mountain? Would a certain automaker be noticeable like a Suzuki chrome wheel or would it be flying under the radar like a Mazda floor mat? These are just some of the questions I ask myself during the final days of the month.
But even before automakers report their sales for a certain month, Edmunds will also be publishing its predictions. With more resources than me, I am sure that Edmunds' prediction will be much much more accurate than mine. And for this month, the 'leading online source for auto information' revealed that it expects sales to go down compared to August of last year but is better than the sales figure for July this year.
The prediction place new cars and light trucks sales for the month of August at 1.42 million units. That figure is 4.5 percent lower than new car sales for the same month last year. And when compared to July auto sales, the figure shows an increase of 8.7 percent. This means that sales is still dropping from last year, but during this year, sales is picking up although I am not gonna predict that this trend in this year's monthly sales will increase until December. Maybe Edmunds will though.
Jesse Toprak (if you have read anything about Edmunds lately, then you would be familiar already with this guy), the Executive Director for Industry Analysis at Edmunds said: "Early in August, sales were dismal. To generate showroom traffic, most automakers introduced incentives programs midway through the month. That effort was relatively successful, but the uncertainty in the housing market is likely to continue suppressing consumer demand for new vehicles for some time." Looks like its the same reason again, the housing market.
As for predictions concerning the Big Three of Chrysler, Ford and General Motors, Edmunds says that it expects the combined shares of these three automakers would amount to 49.6 percent, lower than their share last year but better than last month. Michelle Krebs, Senior Editor of Edmunds' AutoObserver.com has this horoscope-like statement: "Automakers here in Detroit are quietly wondering how bad it is going to get -- and whether the picture will improve in 2008. Executives will be facing some tough decisions, given the economic trends and the impending union contract negotiations."
Hybrid cars are certainly surprising! Every other week, these hybrid cars and their creators never fail to come up with another big bang in the industry - probably a piece of great news or another milestone. No wonder hybrids are getting more and more popular these days because of the impact that they carry out to our community. I’ve been hearing good news lately and I guess everyone is impressed by these eco-friendly cars. Just yesterday, I visited my favorite automotive source,
TheAutoChannel.com, to browse for some daily updates and guess what?! I got another ground-breaking hybrid news - and I say it is as great as my Audi CV joint! Check this piece of news and dig in!
A local resident of Indiana who personally owns a stock XEBRA electric car from ZAP has accounted that he went over 50 miles on just a single charge along with a standard lead-acid batteries! Isn’t that great? This is more than the expected power an electric car can provide. According to ZAP, this was the most range of all reports given by their customers.
"I went to the home of my uncle in a neighboring town that is 26.1 miles from home. After arriving and seeing he was not home, I decided to attempt the impossible and return home without any additional charging. While I didn't make it, I did make it to the home of a friend after 50.2 miles per charge. The first thing I did was call my dealer and tell him the good news!" says XEBRA owner Jon Faux of Elkhart, Indiana.
A number of ZAP customers have testified ranges of more than 40 miles per charge and officers say they are delighted with the response that the XEBRA has pulled off. The XEBRA also exceeded its expected performance and ZAP says that it has sold more than 500 XEBRA electric sedans and trucks from the time when it was launched in June last year. The XEBRA has seen an enhancement in sales as more vehicles were verified in the market as well.
"Now that we have over 500 XEBRAs out in the field, it's nice to hear more positive feedback," says ZAP CEO Steve Schneider. Steve Schneider also noted that the batteries applied in the XEBRA have a break-in stage of six months up to one year before they arrive at their most favorable performance.
"I actually did put gas in my XEBRA the other day when my son ran out of gas in a borrowed car," said Faux. “Some who have made fun of me and my XEBRA don’t seem quite as cheerful at the gas pump. The research I’ve conducted on my electric rates reveals that I'm getting the cost equivalent of about 600 miles to the gallon. We have to do something to kick our addiction to oil and this seemed like a good way to do it. Gas in Indiana is about $2.89 as we approach Labor Day."
"I have conquered 50 miles and 60 miles is next!"
There are so many accidents of different causes prevailing these days. Some are due to defected auto parts for people are not cautious in selecting premium parts such as the Volkswagen gear shift repair kit. In accordance with the National Institute for Traffic and Highway Safety, there are a large number of accidents that is rooted from aggressive driving. Some of the few examples of these (stated in mdwholesale.com) are:
Being impatient and runs a red light
Weaving in and out of traffic on an interstate going 20 mph over the speed limit
Not being courteous and letting a car merge into traffic by not yielding to merging traffic
Becoming impatient in waiting the traffic to stop and decides to pass everyone on the median or shoulder and then pushes they way back into traffic farther up similar to budging or skipping in line in a grocery store
These things can be prevented through defensive or reactionary driving. And, they are not difficult to do. You just have to goal on having enough time and distance between your car and others. They say that it is basically essential at high speed. That is because it takes a little more time to slow your car for a stop. For normal situations, an allowance of 1 to 2 car lengths as distance between your car and the next nearest vehicle is recommended for every 10 mph speed. Additional distance is needed in crucial weather, like raining, snowing or even at night driving. Such conditions also need lower speeds.
On car shows, we usually see hot rodding, speeding, racing, sliding, spinning tires and a lot more exhibitions. However, these kinds of stunts are not advisable in the open road. You can be ticketed and charged by attempting those such activities. Instead of such, better engage yourself and learn all about defensive driving. That is through being distance cautious, just like I have mentioned earlier. Make sure you leave earlier to have enough time to safely reach your destination. Rushing to catch up with the time triggers you to be engaged in aggressive driving. An easy way to do it is to have a sufficient and proper sleep prior to doing the driving task.
To sum up everything, defensive driving is made through simple ways. You should go without reaching over the speed limit. You should allow a proper distance. It is important to be alert and aware through being constantly watchful of the road.
Just remember: aggressive driving kills. On the other hand: defensive driving saves lives.
General Motors’ Saturn brand intends to do an awesome somersault and land on its feet back to earth…
The struggling brand from the automaker needs fresh and lineup to put a halt to the declining sales. Enhancement of auto parts like the Saturn exhaust hanger, radiator, engine, and filter is not enough. There has to be something new to lead the quest for profitability.
Last October, as GM prepared to launch its Aura sedan and the Outlook SUV -both critically acclaimed in the automotive press - the company rolled out ads showing how well the sedan drove, reported BusinessWeek. One television spot featured the Saturn Aura gliding through hairpin turns.
"The emotional connection with Saturn is security and trust," said Daniel Gorrell, the president of AutoStrategem, a marketing consultancy in Tustin, Calif. "You can't suddenly say it's about excitement."
Then, two weeks into the campaign, Saturn yanked the ads. Internal surveys had shown that the BMW-like imagery wasn't resonating with auto shoppers. Finally, Saturn fans have long cared less about horsepower and handling than about the haggle-free selling and friendly service that the brand always stood for, the report added.
Two of the greatest challenges the automaker has to face are to overcome reputation for offering only affordable compact cars and to convince shoppers that it sticks to its original "different kind of company" philosophy.
Same with other automakers, Saturn lost touch with its original visualization. "We needed to go back to the original philosophy, just with a different tone," said Eric Hirshberg, the chief creative officer of the automaker's new ad agency, Deutsche/LA.
Then Saturn's new "Rethink" campaign was born. One TV ad shows a bodybuilder, then flashes to the wiry cycling champion Lance Armstrong. "Rethink strength" is the message. The spot ends with shots of the new models and exhorts consumers to "Rethink American." Back in the day, Saturn managed to get consumers to take a second look at GM compacts amid a sea of pint-size Japanese imports. Now it's trying to get drivers to think about American cars, period.
"We're peeling back the onion to see what's core to our brand," said Saturn general manager Jill A. Lajdziak. Since Saturn launched "Rethink" and the test drives, Web traffic is up 50%, to 1.5 million visitors a month, Lajdziak divulged.
Lajdziak acknowledges the challenge, but notes that "it's a credit to our [customer service] that our brand has been left standing."
Edmunds.com, auto shoppers Web site, said that import buyers are at least considering a Saturn. Still, Saturn will probably sell about 260,000 cars this year, up from last year but 26,000 fewer than its peak in 1994, when it had just one model.
Just recently, I have learnt from ameinfo.com that Towell Auto Centre is up for introducing the all-new Mazda CX-9 in Oman. Although it doesn’t have a hunk feature of a usual SUV, this vehicle is found to be more muscular and has an angular nose. The Mazda CX-9 turns out to be eye-catching because of its sedan-like honeycomb grille. Prestige comes from 20-inch alloy wheels, high intensity discharge (HID) headlights and good-looking Mazda tail lights.
The best thing about this is that it provides comfort and adequate space inside. It has three rows and is a seven-seater roomy vehicle. It also has 60/40 split second row, which has a reclining backrest. While, the third row has 50/50 splits, which is adjustable for provide sufficient space for leg and cargo. The elegance is brought about by refined chrome accents and dimmed windows. Among the standard features are:
- Bose stereo with surround sound
- Keyless entry
- Power windows
- Cruise control
The new Mazda CX-9 is powered with new 275 bhp 3.7 L V6 engine, which drives a six-speed Activematic transmission.
Of all features, the most important are those that provide safety. In accordance to that, the vehicle has been equipped with fabulous safety features:
- All disc antilock brakes
- Side impact air bags
- Three-row side air curtains
- Electronic Stability System (ESS) with rollover mitigation technology
- Traction control system
According to the article in the site, S Kasthurirengan (General Manager of Towell Auto Centre) said, “This is the first time the Mazda family is bringing an SUV to Oman, so there is much excitement among the fans of Mazda. We can assure our customers that the eager wait for the outstanding vehicle will be well worth it and we are sure to give the sultanate's SUV market a new definition.”
Stuffed with such marvelous features, they opt to bring this vehicle to Oman, to spread out its class. I’m sure they would love it a lot.
After surprising the world with a diesel racecar, it seems that German automaker Audi still has some few tricks up its sleeve. Although diesel engines are now considered by many as a better alternative choice than a hybrid, Audi is looking to unveil a hybrid car at the Tokyo Motor Show later this year. This piece of news that the makers of reliable Audi 900 parts are looking to enter the hybrid foray came from earthtimes.org.
According to the report, Audi is going to unveil the Audi A1 with a hybrid powertrain. The A1 may be what Audi has come up with to battle the BMW MINI. Although it is only being scheduled to be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show, there is already a sales target for the A1. Audi is looking to sell 80,000 to 100,000 units of this hybrid car annually.
What it means is that not only automakers such as Toyota, Ford, Honda, Nissan and General Motors are taking steps to meet the demand for cleaner and more fuel efficient vehicles. Audi is not the only prestige brand to have a hybrid in its lineup. Porsche already showed to the media their new Porsche Cayenne Hybrid. Cadillac is expected to have an all-hybrid lineup. This shows that hybrids, contrary to what others may believe, are still a growing segment in the auto market. In the United States alone, hybrid sales are continually rising.
Would there be a Ferrari or a Maserati hybrid? It seems far off because those guys are in a level higher than Audi or BMW or even Mercedes-Benz. They produce cars for the excessively rich. So, the reasoning is if you can afford a Ferrari, then you can surely afford its fuel consumption. But who knows? Maybe a Ferrari can benefit from a hybrid powertrain. After all, with a hybrid powertrain, Honda succeeded in giving the Accord a faster acceleration although not enough to attract buyers which resulted to the manufacturer discontinuing the production of said hybrid.
Would the Audi A1 though make environmentalists less hostile to Audi? I really don’t know since the Porsche Cayenne Hybrid was unveiled while Greenpeace picketed outside Porsche’s headquarters in Germany. But with Audi’s reputation as maker of clean diesel cars, I think that reception of the A1 will be much better.
According to reports, the Audi A1 may have a price tag of 20,000 euros or approximately $27,100.
Relatively new types of cars have been developed… the hybrid car. Basically, it is a combination of an electric vehicle with the traditional internal combustion engine. This internal combustion engine is certainly quite efficient under unavoidable circumstances while the electric motor used in cars are still immature.
Supposedly, hybrid cars offer the best of both worlds. It also offers a chance to spare the environment. The Toyota Prius, one of these modern hybrid cars, also recaptures some of the lost energy while breaking and the vehicle uses this to charge the internal batteries.
There are two main reasons why people are concerned with fuel efficiency nowadays. The main reason being the ability to save the environment. However, the most interesting and most important reason in fuel efficiency is to be able to save your pocket more than the environment! They are a lot cheaper to run due to its ability to use both forms of propulsion.
Furthermore, regenerative breaking is a fresh and interesting technology. This has been part of hybrid vehicles. It enables the engine to put its energy back into the batteries when we brake. It reduces the need for us to plug the car into the wall.
Hybrid cars are more expensive to purchase. Sometimes, the efficiency varies from person to person. That is because some are not actually taking deep monitoring if it really provides us the opportunity to save. But for those who are conscious, it really gives the owner the economy of fuel and of their budgets. What is so sure is that they are definitely environmentally friendly.
Safe cars means that they have an almost endless list of safety features designed to protect the occupants of vehicles in the unfortunate event of a crash. These features are advanced so it can be expected that a safe car will cost a lot more than unsafe cars. CARandDriver.com though recently announced as list of safe vehicles which costs less than $25,000. This list made it just in time to catch the final weeks of the summer season which is normally when a lot of consumers shop around for new cars.
The list shows ten vehicles that are not only modestly priced but also safe at the same time. Car and Driver has standards to determine which vehicles are safe enough to be included on their list. Safe cars according to the automotive enthusiasts’ publication should have stability control features and a minimum of six airbags. Some of the automobiles on the list do not offer these requirements as standard features but if one would add it to their purchase, the total would still be below $25,000.
The list includes the 2008 Saturn Astra which will be coming this fall to Saturn showrooms near you. The new and boxier Scion xB is also part of the list. The 2008 Hyundai Sonata breaks the myth that Korean cars are unsafe after it was chosen by Car and Driver to be part of the list. The 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit is also included in the list and so is the 2007 MINI Cooper. The Toyota Camry 2007 year model is also priced below $25,000 and it is also deemed as a safe car by Car and Driver. Not surprisingly, the Volvo C30 is included in the list. The Dodge Charger is also among the not so pricey but oh so safe cars and so is the 2008 Honda Accord. Last but not least is the 2008 Mazda CX-7.
Mike Dushane, the executive director of the publication, has this to say how this list can help car buyers on their next purchase. “Car buyers and enthusiasts know they can count on CARandDRIVER.com for expert research and analysis when considering a new car purchase, and both safety and overall value are paramount factors to most of those in the market to purchase. This list will help guide car buyers to safe vehicles at a very reasonable price, and it clearly shows how safety technology has moved to the mainstream. It's not just for the luxury car buyer anymore,” he shared.
Ford has been very active recently more than the previous weeks. They are really working on their plans and goals, most of which are focusing on providing their customers with the best of what they could give. They have done fascinating innovations on most of the auto parts that are used in each of their models. To assure efficient safety, they have chosen premium quality parts and all of which are better than the Saturn clutch kit or any other. It is to boost the vehicles' performance in the most efficient and safest way.
As based from kansascity.com, I have learned that the Ford Motor Co. has been planning to deliver a demonstration of 20 E85 Escape Hybrids to selected customers in six states. As part of this plan, they have presented one ethanol powered Ford Escape Hybrid to Missouri during a ceremony at the Claycomo plant. Aside from that, they have also presented three units to the Kansas City Power and Light.
The difference of this E85 Escape Hybrid from the standard model is that it can use gasoline and it can also use E85 which is 85% ethanol and the rest conventional fuel. Though the vehicle has less gas mileage than regular gasoline powered vehicles, it produces approximately 25% less greenhouse gas emissions.
For now, Ford is not aiming to distribute the type of vehicle globally or even to a large number of people in U.S. They will just be allowing few customers to make use of it and provide feedback of its performance. This is because there are still some technological and structural issues involved. As I could predict, if this technology received good results from the feedbacks, it would pave its way to its wide distribution to the public.
Have you heard of the ultra-modern 1.4 L engine for Audi?
To give you a brief idea… Let’s start off with the usual Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI). It is the technology used by Audi for performance enhancement and supreme engine efficiency. It works through allowing the system to extract the highest possible combustion from every intake shot. With the kind of process, it promotes optimum fuel consumption with every single molecule used.
When Turbocharging and FSI are combined, they create much more efficient power. That’s why the Turbo FSI engines are widely used in racing, but not exclusively.
Now, here comes the new 1.4 L TFSI engine. They say it’s “clean and mean”. It has six holes in its injectors to maximize fuel mix in the combustion chamber. Then, it produces 125 hp and 200 Newton-meters of torque (or in German, 148 lb-ft). It is expected to be available in the Audi A3 and Audi A3 Sportback which actually has a six-speed gearbox.
The sad thing is that this powerful new 1.4 L TFSI engine shall not be available in Canada. So, we will just be keeping ourselves with the 2.0 L turbocharged four-cylinder engine with fuel injectors Canada. Though it has been titled as “Engine of the Year” for three consecutive years, I still want to have the 1.4 L TFSI. I think some of you do too.
Anyways, I have no complaints about the 2.0 L turbocharged engine’s performance. So, I guess it shall be fine. I’ll just make myself wonder how it feels to drive an Audi with the new ultra-modern engine.
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