Cars & Bikes – 3 |

An increasing awareness of the impact that fossil fuels are having on the environment has forced manufacturers to seek alternative methods of powering all kinds of vehicles, including vans. Whilst the technology to create commercial vans that are entirely powered by ‘green’ fuels is still in its infancy, the hybrid vehicle is currently the market leader in environmentally friendly vehicle design.

Hybrid vans run on a combination of fuel and electricity technology, although with the advent of better battery design some manufacturers are now looking at producing commercially viable vans that run purely on battery power. Recent research into the charging time of standard batteries is producing some interesting developments in ‘rapid charge’ cells, but these are still a couple of years away from being an effective commercial option. So most manufacturers opt for the combination choice or even incorporate other fuels such as LPG (liquid petroleum gas) or natural gas into their hybrids. Those vans that incorporate fuel/electricity technology have the edge, though, as battery power does not directly emit carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gasses.

Seat-Belt Safety Tips

• Always wear your seatbelt, no matter what the conditions are outside. (Accidents can happen in mid-day with good weather as well as at night or during inclement weather).
• Seatbelts are only effective if worn in the proper manner. Shoulder-belts and lap belts should always be worn in the intended fashion.
• Be sure to inspect your seatbelts regularly for wear, tear, and mechanical malfunction.
• Seatbelts are made to restrain ONLY one person. Do not “double up” or share seatbelts.
• Airbags are significantly more effective in collisions if all occupants are wearing seat-belts. Seatbelts help ensure proper riding position in the event of a collision
• Despite urban myths regarding seatbelt use and pregnancy, pregnant women are encouraged to wear a seat belt every time they are in an automobile.
• Babies should be placed in a rear-facing child seat.
• Small children should be placed in a forward-facing child seat.
• Children aged 4-8 should use seat-belts and other child-restraint systems.
• It is wise to help elderly passengers to make sure their seatbelts are properly engaged.

The 6.8 litre V8 powered Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit superseded the Silver Shadow, although maintaining much of the same layout and the same V8 engine, and was introduced in 1980 to much applauds. Although the Silver Shadow was tremendous in terms of production numbers, the car was becoming dated and Rolls-Royce craved a renewal of its image in 1980, such as the Silver Shadow had done 15 years earlier. The Silver Spirit did not displease, with the French press instantly showing much positive praise to the car when it was first launched at the Paris Salon.

The eighties proved a positive phrase for RR with sales of the Silver Spirit ever increasing, with this latest luxury Rolls being said to have had the best road handling for a RR to date, mainly due to the sophisticated self levelling hydraulic suspension. The unmatched luxury leather interior remained standard, whilst the anti locking brakes, air-con and fuel injection became standard features 6 years after the release of the Silver Spirit.

The GMC Acadia has become a staple for crossover SUV buyers. General Motors crossed manufacturing lines and are producing similar crossovers under Chevrolet Traverse, Saturn Outlook, and Buick Enclave. The GMC Acadia gives you the room of a full size SUV and the fuel mileage of a smaller SUV. It has a standard 3.6L V6 that offers 288 Horse Power and 270 lb/ft torque. It has specs. of: Wheelbase 118.9 in., overall length 201.1 in., overall width 78.9 in., overall height 72.8 in., cargo volume 117 cu. ft., fuel capacity of 22 gallons, seating capacity up to 8, front head room 40.4 in., front leg room 41.3 in., rear head room 39.3 in., and rear leg room 36.9 in.

The GMC Acadia comes in SLE and SLT models with the main difference being leather in the SLT along with upgraded features. It has an available DVD, Navigation, rear back up camera, heated and cooled seats, sunroof, 20 inch wheels, head restraint dvd, upgraded keyless entry, and other upgrades. The Acadia is also available in
2wd and AWD models.

The Toyota Camry Solara is one of the best cars to own in regards to maintenance costs. Edmunds rated it as top in its class of mid coupe vehicles. It is expected that someone will only pay $701 over five years in repair costs. This vehicle is not expected to have any major problems with it, which means you can buy it with confidence.

The Hyundai XG350 also did well in the Edmunds report. At a mere $632 for five years of repair costs, this car is a good buy for people. It is very affordable, and Hyundai’s are quickly on the rise. Hyundai is quickly emerging as a quality manufacturer.While these statistics are very impressive, they only tell half of the story. These statistics are better analyzed when compared to the highest repair costs. Repair costs for several vehicles are anticipated at over $2000 for a five year period. That is a huge difference. If you got one of those vehicles, you could end up in debt just because of the high repair costs. You do not want that with a vehicle.

The new Dodge Sprinter is the modern replacement for the once popular, yet outdated Dodge Ram van. This remarkable van is an extremely versatile vehicle, which can be purchased as a passenger van or a cargo van. And while it’s not the most aesthetically appealing van ever made, its makers had people and cargo in mind during the design process.

The passenger version can hold 12 people comfortably and almost resembles a small bus rather than a traditional van. Similarly, the cargo version is great for commercial purposes, as the Sprinter can be transformed into a large and spacious box truck to hold extra goods or tools for service industries. Such features include a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, automatic climate control, rear parking assist, choices among drivers seats, heated front seats, a sunroof and a driver-side sliding door.These customized options, in addition to the sheer space provided by the van, make this the perfect vehicle for a naturally large family or a family that often takes road trips in their car. The van can fit 12 people comfortably in addition to luggage, pets, etc.

This are the top 5 Coupes Cars this 2009. This includes BMW Series 1, Saturn Astra, Ford Fucos, Ferrari 430 and Toyota Yaris.

1. BMW Series 1 – 2-4 passenger luxury sports or luxury convertible and equipped with standrd 3.0 liter, 230 horsepower engine. The Convertible is standard 3.0 liter 300 horsepower turbo engine.

2. Saturn Astra – 2-4 door 5 passenger family coupe or family sedan. Both trims are equipped with 1.8 liter, 138 horsepower engine.

3. Ford Fucos – 2-4 door 5 passenger family coupe or family sedan. 140 horsepower engine with 5 speed manual transmission w overdrive and 4 speed automatic is optional.

4. Ferrari 430 – 2 door 2 passenger luxury sports car with 503 horsepower engine, 6 speed manual transmission with overdrive is atandard.

5. Toyota Yaris – 2-4 door 5 passenger family coupe or sedan with 106 horsepower engine, 5 speed manual transmission with overdrive standard.

The 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560 Spyder is a hyper speeds, 10 cylinders for 4 driven wheels, 552 horsepower, V-10 engine for 3.7 seconds on its way to a stratospheric top speed for 200 mph.

2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560 Spyder has a high quality cabin and makes all the right noises. Interior’s are so good specially under the flat bottomed steering wheel. The 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560 Spyder is so called “The 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 is an edgy supercar with a better grip on the world.The standard speed-demon features on Lambo’s such as carbon fiber ceramic brakes are available on the ragtop version, but speed thirsty motorists should be comfortable by the fact that the Spyder has two spring-loaded rollover bars in the rear of the seats.The process of putting the top-down means the necessary rear windscreen will open. As you are motoring in the wind, the rear windscreen can be lowered or raised to be used as a wind deflector.

Small but perfectly formed – this supermini has a big personality.Perky little cars know no age barriers – they have massive appeal to everyone. Younger drivers enjoy the combination of under-bonnet zest and ultra-low car insurance, with the older end going for the long-life, economical engines, which also promise reliability. The design is something everyone can admire. It’s curvy and distinctive with a friendly face, and as well as helping it to stand out from the crowd, the long curving roof helps maximise interior space, which is good news for passengers front and rear.The diesel version is even more appealing. With a gutsy 1.5-litre unit under the curvy bonnet, it has a useful turn of speed, yet can clock up remarkable economy – over 60mpg is possible. What’s more, this sprightly model’s still only in car insurance group three, which means low premiums. The Micra offers excellent value for money, whether new or used. New models start at £7,535 although many dealers have special offers, which will cut that price even further.

The Hyundai Sonata’s biggest advantage has always been its value, as with many of Hyundai’s models according to a Cheyenne Hyundai dealer. The Sonata in particular features air conditioning, cruise control, power windows and door locks, CD stereo, and much more as standard on the GLS. The Sporty SE model adds larger wheels and a sport suspension. The Limited is the top of the line model, and has heated leather seats, sunroof, universal garage door opener, and Bluetooth connectivity.

The base engine that powers the Hyundai Sonata is a 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine with continuously variable valve timing. The engine now produces 175 horsepower and 168 lb ft of torque for 2009. Mated to either a five speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting capabilities, the 2009 Sonata is capable of achieving strong fuel economy as well. Expect 22/32 mpg with the automatic transmission.

Last 2008 at the Chicago Auto Show the New Mitsubishi Eclipse 2009 showed fromthe public. The biggest news is the new exterioir. The New Mitsubishi Eclipse 2009 is the redesigned for the 2006 Eclipse model.Its 3.8 liter V6 instead turbocharged 4 cylinder.The New Mitsubishi Eclipse is very styling. very fresh looking, more powerful and has many additional features. Available in 3 new colors Maizen Blue Pearl, Quick Silver Metallic and Yellow Color.

The Eclipse is built at Mitsubishi’s plant in Normal, Illinois. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but it should be little changed from the current model, which starts at $20,000 and tops out at $30,000 for a GT Spyder. Look for the 2009 model in late spring.

In 1939, Maserati was the winner of the Indianapolis five hundred in successive years. Then the war came and Maserati stopped making cars and instead concentrated on the war effort. It was a time of trials and tribulations that pitted Maserati against Volkswagen. Maserati attempted to create a car for Mussolini, hoping to do so before Ferry Porsche did for Adolph Hitler. Of course, they failed in that V-sixteen towncar concept. But, the technology was useful in designing the A6 series which became popular after the war.

After the war, Maserati went back to creating race cars. In 1950, Maserati won the World Championship. In 1993, Fiat became the owner of the Maserati name and in 1999, Ferrari, which was also owned by Fiat, lent a V8 engine, as well as an automated manual transmission to the 2002 models known as the Spyder and Coupe with some success. It should come as no surprise that Maserati was created in Italy, the home of Ferrari and Lamborghini.