Protecting Your Ride

Ecotec engines have four-cylinders and the technology used is extremely revolutionary. Fuel efficiency is all the rage with the scarcity of our fossil fuels and this product will meet the mark. This new technology is going to reduce the amount of fuel utilized and emissions. In addition, these engines will be designed to last longer without as much regular maintenance required.

GM is investing almost $500 million towards production. New technology yields new jobs and this particular project will require 550 new positions to be filled. They are going to be expanding in three different US plants; upgrading the general warehouse, new machinery, and tools. With this kind of expansion the economy will definitely feel from relief with this new engine and all it entails.

Plug-In hybrid vehicles are eco-friendly and practical, with this new technology car drivers will also be considered environmentally friendly. Normally, these new model cars can get around 50 miles on just one battery charge. The good thing is that if you are traveling a long distance and do not have time to stop and charge up, it also runs on gasoline. Specifically the Kia Ray, a new hybrid not yet on the market, has incorporated a material designed to reflect heat and sun to limit use of air conditioning which will decrease emissions and battery/gasoline use. With these revolutionary designs hybrid cars will take over the auto industry.

With the 2010 North American Auto Show touring around now I feel like it’s appropriate for me to discuss my favorite concept car ever—the Jeep Hurricane. The Hurricane was unveiled in 2005 at the Detroit Auto Show.

As you can see from the images of the Hurricane, it has a very unique four-wheel steering system. This steering system allows the vehicle to move sideways, or even in circles. As badly as you may want to own one of these—they’re unfortunately not expected to be put into production. The concept car was not a complete waste for Daimler-Chrysler though, many patents were secured during the development of the Jeep Hurricane.

RECALL: Toyota announced they will be recalling a number of vehicles due to a ‘sticky’ accelerator pedal. There are several consumers who have already experienced the effects of this dangerous flaw. These runaway cars are causing quite a stir and Toyota has scrambled for a solution. All affected vehicle owners were notified via mail notification concerning the faulty car part and they are encouraged to get it repaired as soon as possible. These consumers can not afford to wait to address this life threatening problem. Toyota dealership’s service hours extended to expedite the repairs for every customer.

If you are a victim to a sticky accelerator pedal you are instructed to push on the brake pedal hard (do NOT pump the brake) and put your car into neutral, when you follow these instructions your vehicle will come to a stop. If you are not already aware of the vehicles affected, here is a list:

• Certain 2009-2010 RAV4
• Certain 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2009-2010 Avalon
• Certain 2007-2010 Camry
• Certain 2010 Highlander
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2008-2010 Sequoia
• There is a talk about recalling 279,000 Prius Hybrids as of 2/5/2010.

Be on the safe side and bring your Toyota into a dealership near you to be sure you are not going to be affected by this design error.

If this were your Ford Mustang, I am sure you would want to keep this custom paint job protected with a car cover. Even if your ride is not as fresh and new as this one, it is still a good idea to protect the investment you made in your vehicle. Ford Mustangs have a great resell value – best way to maximize your asset’s worth is to protect it with a cover, even if it is stored in a garage.

Ford, as a brand, has been extremely successful in manufacturing vehicles that last and maintain value. Whether you are contemplating getting a Fusion, Taurus, F-150, or Mustang, you can rest assured that your money will be well spent. In all types of vehicles, Ford is a leader in resell value to its direct competitor. Ford has gone out of their way to produce vehicles that last from the inside out. It is your job, as the owner, to protect its aesthetics of the paint and get a car cover.

This ‘transparent truck system’ has the potential to help safe driving on winding roads. The way this system works is by projecting a video from the front view of the truck to the back panels – giving the illusion that the truck is transparent. With this apparatus cars that are driving behind a tractor trailer will not have blind spots in the event that they need to pass a slow moving truck. Drivers can be sure that there is not going to be a vehicle traveling in the other lane.

The down side to this invention would be that, if it is utilized at night, it would impede your night vision because you would not have the ability to see anything but the image depicted on the screen. This idea is revolutionary, however, maybe not ready for implementation.

According to Forbes, this BMW X6 is one of the most popular crossover vehicles for 2010. This vehicle has been given great performance reviews and has a sleek coupe look. With a V6 engine and 350 horsepower it proves to drive similar to a sports car. Reviews call this an activity vehicle – it is practical for everyday driving but does not skip out on performance. If you are lucky enough to own one of these crossovers make sure you protect it with an SUV cover to preserve its brilliance.