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Posts Tagged ‘Top Models’

Automotive Industry News – Grasp All Automotive

February 5th, 2010

Despite the current decline in the global economy, there is a buzz in News On Automotive Industry. The slowing economic environment often pulls all the public’s attention away from many exciting new developments and prospects. One growing sector to keep an eye on is the development of greener transport.

Owing to consistent and constant media attention, the role we play in causing or preventing global warming effects is finally sinking into the public. People are more interested than ever in doing their part to help lessen greenhouse gas emissions. One way in which they feel they can do this is by changing the way they get about.

The electric vehicle (EV) has been a particularly talked about design. By being completely free of fossil fuel dependencies and having comparatively low emissions, it is a good solution to the ever greener public’s problem. A few hiccups hinder progress. The price of the lithium battery, which is usually higher than most gas or diesel engines, and the massive work on infrastructure required, are a few examples. You need to keep up with the News On The Automotive Industry.

But electric cars should not get shut out of the picture. There must simply be a shallower gradient of integration. The hybrid is the logical choice. It is greener than vehicles using internal combustion engines and less pricey than pure electrics. It is the missing link between the two and it is clearly favored by the public, judging by the ever swelling number of hybrid sales.

Besides fuel efficiency, new ground is being made every day on issues such as safety. New designs of certain models are now equipped with the latest in radar cruise control and collision detection monitors. However, since these appear on top models, it is only fair to ask what improvements are being made to existing technology found in the average vehicle?

Airbags, formerly unaccommodating and potentially harmful, now determine exactly how they should inflate in the event of a crash. This is done by weighing and sizing you up. Anti-lock braking has been upgraded too, providing more sudden and powerful braking. Even the smallest additions help: tire monitors, soon to be a standard in every modern car, will keep you up-to-date with the pressure, ensuring you know when things need to be checked.

Don’t forget all those little extras that make an automobile that much more desirable. The latest gadgets are pushing the driving experience into the future. One clever little key design allows you to limit the top speed of the car, ensuring speed-hungry teens don’t crash the family vehicle.  Another high tech addition is night vision, allowing a clear view of the road when headlights can’t help. Perfecting existing designs, new GPS systems provide constant instructions, as well as updated traffic reports.

New designs, technology and improvements appear in Automotive Repair Industry News daily, and it is definitely worth keeping up to date.

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Honda’s New Hybrid

December 23rd, 2009

All 2009 Civics present a new look to the world, trying to please buyers from everywhere. Top models come with new alloy wheel designs as well. Unlike a older Used Honda Civic the Hybrid was not offered. Honda buyers who get behind the steering wheel of a Used Honda Civic will not feel instantly at home, like the new 2010 Honda hybrid, which offers a few cool features, including the glowing background of the digital speedometer, which goes through a range of colors to your liking from florescent green to the unbelievable luster of indigo blue. The Honda Insight’s beautiful gauge layout and excellent seating location, and controls inside the vehicle make driving a blast.

The Honda Insight breaks from other hybrid options in several different ways, however, unlike some hybrids, the Insight’s GPS doesn’t have additional hybrid graphics, nor does it have a backup system. For a hybrid car, the 2010 Honda Insight doesn’t offer outstanding gas mileage, for 2010 Honda decides to focus on the fun-to-drive factor and better pricing. The new Honda Insight LX and EX  both a 4 door, rear hatch with 5 seats inside a very inexpensive compact hybrid. The now familiar name of the Insight was worn in the late nineties when Honda put out an unfamiliar two door  hybrid car that was not very pleasing to the eye. This present 2010 Honda is a new and improved version. Comparisons to the Toyota Prius are almost inevitable, the 2010 Honda Insight almost fits into the Prius cast, being that the body has the same unmistakable fastback silhouette, surely devoted to being streamlined. Streamline thoughts definitely play a big part in making the 2010 Insight; is close to being the most efficient shapes.The new herd of Honda cars and SUVs offer the same promises that have made Honda famous today. Honda’s great array of cars, trucks, and minivans appeal to any new car buyer working with a budget in mind.

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Just keeping up with the competition. Lexus IS 250

January 9th, 2009

Lexus is a name that is very easy on the tongue and seems that it took some long and hard effort to coin it. It sounds perfect and perhaps too perfect to the point of being unable to evoke real driver emotion.

The IS 250 range is the entry level model which hopes to compete directly against the German offerings BWM 3 series, Mercedes C class and Audi A4. Although the IS has been around since 1998 and is only in its second generation, it has done a steady job technically and does not lag behind the big three.

All in all there are three main choices for the IS range namely IS250 (153 KW) , IS 220d (130 KW) and the IS350(228 kW). Sports version IS-F which is a 311 KW V8 as well as a drop-top models IS250/350C complete the line up.

South Africa has at present only the IS range with pricing starting at R328 900.00 (manual) with the  most expensive model being R410 700.00 (SE auto). In general the IS250 is a good car and technically perfect as it was indented but for some reason the human elements seem to have been left behind.

Lets begin with the engine sizes for the car. The entry R328 900.00 price is arguably okay for a 153kw engine but how would Lexus justify paying R420 000 for exactly the same engine?

Furthermore the difference to put it in very simple terms between the models costing R330 000.00 and R420 000.00 is really just extras for comfort and convenience. These are better headlamps, Electronic Multi Vision display with dvd navigation, seat heating, park distance control, Mark Levinson digital surround audio system, memory for seats and steering configuration. Consumers should be give a wider choice of engines besides just the extras?

Besides the odd(in my opinion) pricing arrangement, the rear seats are also a little too cramped. In fact some owners of the car feel the IS range is overall noticeably smaller than its German competitors.

And how about the design. IS 250 very much bears similar looks to the Mazda 6 , infact one can say the Mazda was insipired by Lexus. That is where the IS’s appeal wears off a little bit. If the car was launched without the L badge it would be a little difficult to identify it as a competitor to the 3 series or C-class never mind as a Lexus. The car looks too sporty and with very little hints towards elegance and seriousness.

No one disputes that the car is of great build quality and realibility and looks sportish enough. Normally people would expect at least a power increase if paying close R100 000 more on the base model. It is taken for granted that a mid-sedan priced at R430 000 should have huge interior space. And finally people expect a car at this price range to look the part without needing its badge.

There is not that much wrong with the IS range from an engineering perspective. The car just fails a bit to connect with buyers.

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