Know your own Car

Most of the people in today’s world owe himself or herself a four wheeler. They enjoy driving in these cars. But most of them do not know about the basic parts of the particular car they are using. Some basic stuff like how to change the tire of a car with the help of the extra tire known as stephny must be known to the individual. While on long drive, if your car tyre gets punctured then, in most of the cases nearby car workshops are not found. You have to tow the vehicle with the help of a break down van. To avoid situations like this little car repairing works must be known to the user of the particular vehicle.

The Sale of Luxury Cars goes down

The sale of luxury cars took a hit in the last financial season all over the world, it has been revealed at the Annual General Meetings of most firms and the reports of the automobile industry also seem to suggest so. It is being said that more and more people are turning their attention to smaller, highly fuel efficient cars than the luxury ones and one of the main reasons attributed for this is the cash crunch. Apart from that, the unreliability of these sedans has also been a major issue with many cars being called back over the years for faults by the manufacturers. As a result, people are turning away from these cars and this caused some of the luxury car makers’ losses of nearly 18% on the previous year.

Drive Smart

The fuel economy or mileage of your car can actually depend on your style of driving. There are driving tricks which can increase your overall mileage considerably. For example in city traffic too much gear shifting can cause more fuel loss. It is sensible to kill the engine if the halt is for ore than three minutes. If the stoppage time will be less that 3 minutes than killing the engine and a sudden start up consumes more fuel. It is advisable to drive at a continuous speed on a high gear to increase mileage. The mileage also increases with sound gear shifting at low rpm rather than shifting at high rpm.

Technology, Cars and Accidents

Over the years, a lot many surveys have been conducted over the loss of focus while driving a car and some relative issues like that and in most of these surveys; it has been found that most of the cases of accident involve kids that are in their teens or early twenties. Moreover, the surveys also show that this lack of focus or sudden loss of it can be attributed more to the use of technology such as mobile phones while driving as well as listening to music on the iPods have all been held as responsible for the rise in the number of accidents and one should always avoid its use while driving a car for their own safety as well as the general public.

The Revai

The Revai is India’s first electric car that was developed by Bangalore based Reva Electric Car Company. It was launched in 2001, in the country’s capital, New Delhi after extensive research conducted for 13 years. The Chief Minister of Delhi, Ms Sheila Dixit described it as a ‘cute car’, stating that she herself used one for traveling short distances and was extremely satisfied with the results. Keeping in mind its energy efficiency and environment friendly nature, the government of Delhi has decided to provide a 15% subsidy on the price of a car that costs nearly 3 lakh rupees and runs a kilometer for just 40 paisa.

Drawbacks to Your Cutbacks

Trying to save on gas and money by building your own electric vehicle? Consider the drawbacks first. First and foremost a converted car means that it will not be available in any dealership, meaning you have to get it built or build it yourself. No bank provides loans for converting a car, which means that the expenditure is on you. Your car will only be as good as the parts you use. There is also the question of absence of workshops due to the scarcity of converted cars. Finally not all cars are ideal for conversion therefore only small cars may be converted.

Maker of a million smiles

Maruti Suzuki is considered the old horse among car manufactures in India. It is India’s and Nepal’s leading automobile manufacturer, in terms of volume produced and amount of revenue earned. It was the first company in India to cross the one-million mark in terms of units produced and enjoys a great deal of reputation and goodwill in Indian markets. When it came out with the Maruti 800 back in 1983, it took the market by storm. It remained the company’s and India’s largest selling car till 2004, when it was replaced by the Maruti Alto. The company is indeed underrated in International markets, but it still is considered the maker of a million homes and smiles.

Test drives

Test drives are basically meant to assess the drive ability and compatibility of the car on the road. Test drives are an essential factor these days as most customers prefer getting a feel of the car before purchasing it. Seeing the car from outside and knowing its technicality is one thing, but the true essence of the beauty of the car is its test drive. Customers at times fall in love with the car on the test drive. The smooth operation, pick up, gear changes are some of the prime factors that influence the quality of a test drive.

Automatic Transmission

Cars with automatic transmissions are ideal for city rides in heavily congested roads. There is no clutch and hence driving requires less effort. Cars with automatic transmission change gears on its own and if the car has to be brought to neutral, the gear lever on the gear does the trick. Though it is very comfortable to drive automatic cars but they are high on fuel consumption. Also the automatic variants of normal cars are quite expensive. But after driving an automatic vehicle, the normal clutch brake system seems very difficult and cumbrous. Initially it takes getting used to the system, it’s like driving a toy car, but there is no compromise with power and performance.

Driving roads

Cars are nothing without roads. Roads that are a dream to drive on. They need to challenging, exhilarating, and above everything else, nicely set.
A road that is brilliantly made but runs through a congested city is far from ideal. Instead, a road that isn’t quite as well built and engineered but runs through a picturesque mountainside village is far more vividly etched in one’s memory. Some of the best driving roads in the world are to be found in the most unlikely of places. In Romania, for example, there is a road called the Transfiguration highway, which is considered by many to be the best driving road in the world.

Behind the Wheel

Car driving could be a serious hobby to many people who simply love to get behind their wheels for a drive. It is very common for friends to go out on random road trips every now and then. If the driver is choosy about his vehicle, he could go for extensive and classy cars like an Audi, a German car of great quality. People who want to hit the track must manage a Ferrari if he has a need for speed. For students who like to travel together a fuel efficient SUV would be very comfortable. The speeding wing against your face, the occasional raindrops on your windscreen are all part of car driving if the right car is chosen.

Driving Cars without Insurance Is Not Worth the Risk

These days life has become way more unpredictable than before, hence driving a car without its driving insurance done is not worth taking the risk. Insurance might sound strenuous to many as there are a lot of formalities that need to be filled in and also include huge monetary value. But the brand new car owners can breathe out a sigh of relief as now there are cheap car insurance is also available in the market. Many of the dealerships have contacts with these insurance companies and on special requests made, they assist one in attaining the cheap insurance policies that drive away one’s future tension.

The race for the best electric car

With Ford’s latest launch- the Focus Electric, the other electric car manufacturers are sure to have tough competition coming their way. Nissan’s Leaf and Chevrolet’s Volt are the two other electric cars that have been recently launched in the markets. The silent ride, incredible efficiency and amazing internet connectivity is sure to make this the new trend setter among electric cars. The presence of an active cooling and heating liquid within the battery pack makes the battery stable over a wide range of temperatures. It isn’t right to compare within the 3 cars in discussion as each of them have their own advantages and benefits.

Cruise Control

Driving your own vehicle gives one a sense of independence and mobility. Driving is not merely a daily activity but a passion to many. We all have our dream machines which we dream of owning someday. Some prefer SUVs some prefer sleek sportscars or some prefer powerful classics. But owning these powerful machines also come with its share of responsibilities. There is no credit in driving fast, but the real credit lies in driving responsibly and avoiding accidents. Accidents not only jeopardize the drivers’ life but others’ lives also. Cars should be maintained well to ensure trouble free service for a long time.

Ferrari 458 Italia

One of the most iconic names in the automobile world; it evokes a sense of pantomime and passion every time you hear it. Designed with the verve and flair that can only come from Italy; this company has lent its name to the best performance vehicles of all time. Yes, it’s Ferrari.
And now they have managed to outdo themselves with their latest vehicle. It’s called the 458 Italia, and the first thing you will notice about it is that it’s an absolutely stunning bit of design. The vehicle is powered by a 4.5 liter, transversely mounted V8 engine which produces a stratospheric 552 bhp of raw power.

Cutting down on Driving

Researches and studies show that the increase in driving population will soon lead to never ending traffic jams all across the world. China has already faced such a problem last year where a 60 mile traffic jam lasted for days. Cars should only be used for really long drives so that the amount of traffic on the road reduces. However, with the number of cars increasing in the market and most of them being brought out at really low prices, people are keen on buying a car for their daily transportation. These include even nearby travels which in turn would eventually lead to a gridlock.

Electric Cars

Electric cars are quite popular in the news and various articles. There are many who have an added interest to these vehicles as they create less pollution than the standard gasoline cars. Most of the hybrid cars these days talk about electric cars. It is very difficult to differentiate between an electric and a gasoline car as most of them are modified versions of the gasoline car models. The electric car is powered by electric motors making them less polluting and environmental friendly. The electric motor gets its power supply from a controller which in turn is charger from an array of rechargeable batteries.

Car driving focus.. Extremely important

Driving a car is not a very easy deal and it needs years of experience. Car driving focus is very necessary while someone is on wheels or else there can be accidents on the road. While driving focus must be fully on the steering and on the road or else it can cause fatal accidents. There are so many cases of accidents that take place everyday just because of reckless driving and carelessness. Car driving focus is very important for someone especially for those who is driving the car. Accidents generally take place when someone talks over the phone and as a result attention is diverted from the road.

Ka(r)boom!

With the advent of its business operations in India in March 2007, Audi has grown to become the third largest luxury car producer in the market, and has registered a humungous 75.11% growth in sales in June 2011. Audi India officially has stated that the growing millionaires of the country prefer cars by their company over other luxury cars. They have also stated that with the current performance, they expect to surpass their annual sales of 2010, which are approximately 3000 cars. Audi India offers a wide range of sedans such as A6 and A8, and sports utility vehicles such as the Q 5 and Q7. At this rate, it would be hard NOT to spot an Audi in the street of India’s metropolitans!

Drunk Driving

In recent times the number of drunk driving accidents is increasing rapidly. Most of the culprits are young party going teenagers. Teenagers leaving parties heavily intoxicated take their car out for ‘spins’ or to most of us ‘a drive.’ Most of them are so heavily intoxicated that they can’t even walk properly have the audacity to do a complicated thing like driving. More than putting themselves at risk they put innocent people on the road at risk. Almost daily we read about some death in the newspapers due to rash driving.
Celebrities like Chad Kroeger, Lindsay Lohan, Mathew Broderick, Ne-Yo, Britney Spears have been arrested for drunk driving.
Just shows peoples inconsideration for lives.

Car driving focus..Focus must not shift

When a person is on the wheels it is important to have some car driving focus. Without car driving focus many hazardous accidents can take place and life can be at risk anytime. Car driving focus is inevitable while driving a car. There are many way by which the car driving focus can be easily shifted. This includes talking over the phone and not paying attention on the road, listening to very loud music all the time while driving, talking to someone next to the driver’s seat which distracts attentions, looking someone where else and driving. These are certain factors because oh which the car driving focus can easily shift away.

Efficient driving: saving the fuel and the money

Car expenses are very common these days and many face the problem of the constantly rising operational expenses. Rapid acceleration is something which should be avoided in most cases as it causes a lot of stress to the mechanical parts resulting in an increase in consumption of energy and fuel. Constant replacement of the clutches in the car is an effective approach to allow smooth driving and changing of gears. Brakes are another aspect as deceleration causes a lot of wear and tear to the machine parts. Worn out brakes are also bad as they use up more energy converting them to work and heat.

Toyota Etios

Recently, Toyota launched its new car, Toyota Etios. With its large dimension, both length wise and width wise, Toyota Etios is a statement of style and comfort combined. With a 1496 cc, DOHC gasoline engine, and 90 PS (66kW) @ 5600 rpm power, its powerful engine as well as smooth riding ensures an experience way above other cars. Its automatic steering, newly designed air conditioner vents along with its 2-DVD changer stereo system completes the car's experience. Toyota Etios is a car which offers supreme leg and boot space. Meant for driving in the city as well outside it, Toyota Etios is a definite choice when you consider buying your new car.

Drive Safe

A key to a car is also a key to a responsible and self reliant future. To drive fast is no credit, to drive safely is. Always wear the seat belts and never let little children sit in the front row beside the driver. Traffic rules have to be followed religiously and first time drivers need to be extra careful with their driving. One should always be sober while driving and road rage must be avoided at all costs. Parking and reverse are important aspects of driving and must be practiced meticulously. Driving is not very difficult you just need to keep your eyes and ears open! So grab your dream wheels and hit the road, and keep all your racing skills limited to the video games!

Cars on Celluloid

It is man’s fascination to travel from one place to another in lesser time and more comfort which led to the invention of the car in the early 18th and 19th centuries. It is also man’s fascination which has made him feature cars in movies and sometimes base the whole movie on his great invention. Through the years, hundreds of movies have been made on cars. Cars have not only been the main focus, but have also been used as style statements and side-kicks to film characters. Movies such as ‘Gone in 60 seconds’, ‘Fast and the Furious’ series and others have not only done great business at the box office, but have set fashion trends over the years. With another century of fancy cars coming up, we can expect to see more such movies.

Latest Car News

GM motors recently claimed that they had tried to come up with a small car which would act as a competition to Tata Motor’s Nano but said they failed to come up with something which would manage.

They claimed they put in efforts to come up with a cost savings car but they tried in vain and the maximum they can accomplish at the moment is to release diesel versions of the Chevrolet Beat. With this news coming in, Tata Motors will enjoy the advantage of selling India’s cheapest and smallest car till some stiff competition may arise.

Efficient Cars for a better environment

At present, there probably are around 1 million cars in the whole world. Given the next 10 years this number is sure to double itself. What really is the question of importance is that given the present scenario of greenhouse gases creating havoc on our climate, will matters just get worse?
Car enthusiasts have revealed that many countries are taking the effort to develop an effective strategy that will help get rid of the conventional petroleum fueled cars. There have been developments with gas run vehicles made available in the market, but how long till it comes over as a major revolution? Will we be able to get things back to normal and hope for a greener cleaner environment that is safe for us to live in?

Tata Nano: Really worth it?

With Tata & Sons Co. Ltd. becoming a global brand with the acquisition of ‘Jaguar’, the expectations of the company to perform has increased tremendously. Ratan Tata had promised the Indian masses of a one lakh which would perform just like any other car a few years back. But after the release of the ‘Tata Nano’, Ratan Tata did perform his promise but the quality of the car is under question. There have been reports of the care catching fire in public as well as its quality being below-standard. This forces us to ask the question: “Is the concept of alow budget really that applicable?” The production of the Nano has certainly shot down any such dream. Low-budget cars of the future are expected to fulfill such expectations, no matter what.

SOME CAR DRIVING TIPS FOR EXTRA SAFETY

Almost everyone today drive a car. Car driving is fun when you know all the all the rules and safety measures. You must follow certain safety tips to ensure a safe drive for you and the people sitting in the vehicle.
• Never drive the car when you are drunk or on drugs. The two things namely drugs and alcohol makes your mind and reflexes dull. Hence you will not know the right thing to do at the right moment.
• Stay focused on only driving. Whenever you are driving a car it is essential that you keep your eyes and mind at one place. Any lack of concentration might be a reason for disaster.
• Follow the road rules obediently. The road rules are formed for the safety of the drivers and so there is no good reason for not following them.

A great way to travel

The newest car on the block is the Chevrolet Aveo U-VA. It is perfect for a nuclear family. It has spacious interiors and offers rough gear shifting. On the downside it has average fuel efficiency. It’s a different looking hatchback car with comfy interiors. It has a very good AC. The best feature in the car is its ground clearance.
The Overall Experience while driving the Chevrolet Aveo U-VA is satisfactory. It does not have any problems while on a long drive. It is an ideal car for small families who are looking for style and comfort. The leg space in the car is desirable.

Slug Fest

The automotive world has suddenly decided to get into a slug fest when it comes to power outputs from their cars. If one manufacturer brings out a car with 500 b hp, the next one comes along with 550, followed by an example from another company producing 650.
This is all very good on paper, but in the real world where more than 95% of the drivers are just about average, packing more and more power into a car starts to sound a bit scary. There are some people out there with more money than sense, and they not only put themselves at risk, but also other road users. Find something else to fight over, car companies, okay?

Technology Assists driving

A new wave a technology has emerged assisting drivers in maintaining road safety and driving safely yet more efficiently. Some of the function that this system performs is Adaptive High beam Assist where the system adjusts the level and intensity of light according to availability of oncoming car light. Active lane assistance to help drivers in informing when it is safe to switch lanes. Speed limit assistance to inform the drivers to stay within the limit of the road. Parking assistance to empower 80% parking ability to the car. The most commercial car to have most of the new technology is in the new Passat 2011 edition.

Things to keep in mind for new drivers

 Carry the insurance papers and other legal documents for proofs.
 The safest thing to do is to follow all the rules and sign boards.
 Whenever you get out of your car, make sure you do not forget the keys inside and turn off the lights of your vehicle during night time.
 Carry change i.e. coins for payment of parking fees and toll booths.
 Always remember to carry your license with you.
 Do not break red lights.
 While parking make sure it is not a ‘No Parking Zone’, since your car might get towed for illegal parking.
 Be polite to the other people on the road, whether it is other car drivers, cyclers or pedestrians.

Cruise Control

In this modern era cars have come a long way from being just transportation on wheels. The modern cars are loaded with features from GPS to parking assist, etc. There is one such feature which has even been ported from aircrafts, something that the pilots extensively use. In aircrafts its called the autopilot. In cars it's called the cruise control. Cruise control can automatically adjust your cars speed with the touch of a button. Adaptive Cruise control takes technology even higher. It can automatically measure the distance and speed of a moving vehicle in front the car and adjust the current driving speed to allow for a safe distance.

Small technicalities

Cars are easy to drive, once you have your mind wrapped around the little technicalities associated with cars. Every car has its acceleration limit, implying each car can accelerate only up till a certain extent in a few seconds. Engine power and potency must be paid attention to when you're purchasing a car, and the purpose that the car has to serve must be kept in mind. While actually driving a car, alertness is the first attribute of a driver. Otherwise, changing gears is the biggest problem most people face. Changing gears must be done by releasing the accelerator pedal and stepping on the clutch, to avoid making the car shudder.

If these small details are paid attention to, it will not be too difficult to drive easily.

Car driving- is it really just a sport??

Car driving is a passion to many. Private cars to trained groove on the racing cars… every bit adds to the thrill and ecstasy. Series of racing competitions at the state, national and international levels are being held world over. Rally games challenges one to emerge victorious battling all odds ranging from scorching heat, heavy downpours, mountainous terrain, rocky passages and the rest. It is a carefully thought out business capitalizing immense opportunities for a bright future. The highly popularized and sought after F1 racing is an example of such a venture.

Safety devices in cars

Technology in cars has advanced to a point where people no longer have to be holding on to the steering wheel while parking between two cars. ''Park Assist'' is now being introduced in all modern cars where the car driver itself into tiny spaces. Small cameras in the front and back help keep your cars as well as the parked ones scratch free. Safety has become a priority in automobile industries, with multiple air bags for the driver and the front passenger as well as for those in the back. '' Hands free'' is one of the most effective safety devices installed in cars. Majority of the accidents that are caused are because the drivers are either texting or are on calls while driving. The hands free system allows the driver to take a call while both hands stay on the wheel.

Ways to improve your car's mileage

There are many ways in which you can improve your car's mileage. Some of them are :-

• Drive at a speed of 55-65 km/hr.
• Have a lighter load in the car.
• Use fuel injection to improve the car's performance.
• Do not use under-inflated or tubeless tires.
• Do not use the brake extensively. It lower's the mileage of the car by about 5%.
• Try to keep a steady speed and do not press the accelerator too hard as it increases the fuel consumption.
• Do get your car serviced at regular intervals.
• Do get the car engine tuned or else it may consume more gas.

Technology advancement in vehicles

In car technology has increased by leaps and bounds in the past decade or so. Now cars have systems which monitor the driver to see if he's becoming drowsy, lasers and sensors to check if the driver is maintaining lane discipline, cruise control, voice activated telephones, and a horde of other features.
Such technology was in the reach of cars only in a very high price range, but is nowadays available in regular cars. Such technology has made road travel safer, not only for the people in the cars but also for people on the roads. Organizations such as Euro-NCAP allot safety ratings to vehicles based on a plethora of criteria and manufacturers strive to achieve the highest rating possible. Road travel is now safer, and more relaxing, thanks to technology.

Are Hybrid and electric cars really the way forward?

There is a sudden rise in the automobile industry with respect to Eco-friendly cars such as hybrids and electric vehicles (EV). But is that really a step forward? With continuously depleting fuel resources, it is indeed of prime importance that we find an alternative to fossil fuels, but I don't think EVs or hybrids are the answer. Hybrids make use of nickel batteries, to enhance the engine, while EVs use electric motors to move the wheels. However, these aren't quite as Eco-friendly as their manufacturers would like us to believe. Nickel mining causes acid rain, whereas EVs run on electricity, which we all know is produces lot of harmful products. The way forward is to go backward, and look at the Model T, which could run on water, or even alcohol.

Cars driving focus

Cars driving focus: This has been used as technique of promoting sales for various cars assembling industries. The ready made products are released to the specified personnel for testing and advertising them in the worldwide market. This is targeted at creating awareness of the existence of such products. Through this the intended customers are reached are introduced to the new products ready in the market.

Some are even taken sponsored safari rally competitions to show off the products to the world at large with aim of advertisement. As driving own car becomes the wish of everyone in the world, the companies are targeting in production of lees fueling, quality, sustainable and high performance cars to present to their growing markets.

What Car Gift Ideas Could Your Car Nut Appreciate?

You could spit into a crowd of a hundred thousand people and hit someone who would like something for their car. Everyone is always looking to jazz up their ride.

But when it comes to people classified as "car enthusiasts", things get a little bit harder. Their preening with their cars takes on a whole new level, but the everyday person can still be difficult to buy car gifts for. Think of the mom with kids and her needs, as well as on the other end of the spectrum college kids who have a long drive to get to and from home and school, for instance.

Here are some car gift ideas for those folks who don't spend half their life focused on their car, but who could still use and appreciate a cool gift from you:

First, think of safety. Things like emergency roadside kits and how everyone could use one of these in their cars. These consist of things like a first aid kit, a flashlight, flares and jumper cables. You might even get them enrolled in an AAA membership, something you can get for them online.

Next, if your budget allows, you can consider a GPS unit. These can go over well, no matter if the receiver is a college student, someone new to driving, and anyone who is taking it to the road for a long trip. You'll want to shop around for a deal, and you might even talk friends or family to in on this gift to help alleviate some of the cost for this one.

Then there are "soccer moms" or any mom whose duty it is to tote around the kiddies to various activities. Again, this would include long trips, but it could be everyday activities related to school or sports. For these dutiful people, a DVD player set up in their cars is ideal. You want one that will be back-of-seat mountable to the headrest of the driver and passenger seats. A plus would be a unit that hooks up through the cigarette lighter so you can give it power whenever.

Another gift idea that is easy to set up is a gift subscription to Car & Driver, Road & Track and Motor Trend, among other magazines.

How about collectible car owners? If you know any of those, take a picture of their beloved vehicle and put it on a gift item, like a mug, calendar, puzzle or T-shirt. They would appreciate this sentiment a great deal.

If these gift ideas do not give you enough to go on, then a simple gift card or certificate from a local car supply store can do wonders. Think of the oil changes and safety inspections your car nut are gonna need throughout the year. Take care of it for them this way.