Ferdinand Porsche played an important role in the development of airplanes and racing cars, and the construction of tanks for the Wehrmacht. He is an automobile engineer with more than a thousand patents to his name. He was appointed chief engineer at Mercedes-Benz in Stuttgart in the 1920s. Later on, he set up his own engineering workshop and designed among others the Volkswagen. At the plant where Volkswagen was made, Wolfsburg, he was chief of operations and at the end of the war he was interned by the Allies.
He was released a few years later and started building his first car with his son, Ferry Porsche. The car was named the Porsche 356 and it was a sports car and a reminiscent of the Volkswagen. It had the same four-cylinder boxer engine that was rear-mounted, just like the VW. It was far from being a powerful sports car, developing only 40 bhp and a maximum speed of 87 mph (140 km/h). First produced as a convertible and later as a hard top it distinguished by the very elegant and innovative body. It was developed in the workshop of Erwin Komenda, a master of restrained streamlining who had been in charge of sheet metal and design techniques at Porsche since the VW Beetle. The new style of closed coupe was designed by Komenda and it soon became the embodiment of the sports car, thanks to its fastback.
This tradition was continued by Komenda and Ferdinand "Butzi" Porsche, the founder's grandson, with the 911.
The 911 became easily recognizable: it had attractive sloping bonnet and what later became characteristic "frog eye" headlights, curves running from the top edge of the windscreen to the rear bumper and a straight waistline. From a functional and technical point of view it was more like BMW 1500, although it retained the stylistic features of the original Porsche. The new 911 will become the foundation stone of Porsche's identity, even though the design was not always appreciated. During the 1970`s and 1980`s, the designers attempts to distance Porsche from its legendary design brought the company to the edge of disaster. The more modern 924 model, "a people's Porsche", developed with Volkswagen, as well as the 928 were far from fulfilling the expectations.
In the 1990`s, the company realized that what for over twenty years was perceived as a straitjacket, it was in fact a market advantage. During the 1990`s, Porsche became highly profitable since they now knew that the typical Porsche features were timeless. Nearly forty people now worked in the design department on further developments of the long-running 911. These developments included the 911 GTI, a powerful combination of sports and racing car, put forward by the in-house designer Anthony R. Hatter. In 1999, chief designer proudly presented the new Boxster which enabled Porshe to establish a second independent range of models.
Showing posts with label Featured Articles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Featured Articles. Show all posts
Monday, 30 May 2011
Why The Cadillac Escalade Has Such A Huge Following
With the birth of the first Escalade in 1999, General Motors provided a luxury Sport Utility Vehicle through their popular Cadillac model. The interest in SUVs has increased since the late 90s with consumers searching for intriguing full size, higher end selections. The 2003 Cadillac Escalade came a long way from the basic model, successfully competing against rivals in the German and Japanese SUV market.
The growing concerns of an effected environment, as well as the gas guzzling nature of a sport utility vehicle makes some shy away from the thought of purchasing an Escalade. This has not stopped well known personalities from jumping on the band wagon. Not only can they afford the expensive cost to maintain and fix these SUVs, but use these vehicles to make a trendy fashion statement.
A Definite Status Symbol
The ownership of a Cadillac Escalade has become something of a status symbol throughout the years. They are showcased within music videos to denote wealth and flashiness. Movie stars and other celebrities, such as Paris Hilton own one in their personal collection of cars. The Escalade model is also quite popular among athletes. Former Golden State Warrior player, Chris Mills prefers the design of this particular SUV, which was also purchased by more than five of his fellow teammates. Top draft picks from an array of NFL teams have acquired a Cadillac Escalade with their newfound wealth. Besides on the road, this popular model also appears in various movies, commercials and music videos.
Customizing Your Vehicle
A popular trend in today's society (in regards to cars) is personal customization. Car owners have shaped and transformed their factory models to suit their own tastes and style. A common upgrade on SUVs is to add larger wheels or chrome rims. Some exchange their factory engine for one that is equipped for racing. One of the more popular customizations is to choose a custom paint color or add visual detail to the body. This allows car owners to fully express themselves through their vehicle.
When considering the purchase of an SUV, you will find three different choices that were introduced in the 2003 Cadillac Escalade. Each model possesses an appeal that usually attracts a certain type of customer. There is the standard Escalade Wagon option, as well as the Escalade EXT Pick Up Truck. One of the more expensive choices is the Escalade ESV, which features a lengthy base.
2003 Cadillac Escalade Upgrades
Like all car models, General Motors is constantly tweaking their line of vehicles to push the envelope within the car industry. This was seen in some of the improvements made within the 2003 Escalade product line. Some of the features attached to this vehicle include Rear Wheel Drive; power assisted pedals; an improved 4 Wheel system; as well as 5.3L V8 or High Output Vortec 6000 V8 engines. In 2003, the EXT Pick Up Truck was introduced to the public. It gave consumers the ability to accommodate a total of five people and featured the convenience of four doors. This model also provided a High Output 6.0L engine as a standard. It will be interesting to see some of the other improvements that come out in future models.
The growing concerns of an effected environment, as well as the gas guzzling nature of a sport utility vehicle makes some shy away from the thought of purchasing an Escalade. This has not stopped well known personalities from jumping on the band wagon. Not only can they afford the expensive cost to maintain and fix these SUVs, but use these vehicles to make a trendy fashion statement.
A Definite Status Symbol
The ownership of a Cadillac Escalade has become something of a status symbol throughout the years. They are showcased within music videos to denote wealth and flashiness. Movie stars and other celebrities, such as Paris Hilton own one in their personal collection of cars. The Escalade model is also quite popular among athletes. Former Golden State Warrior player, Chris Mills prefers the design of this particular SUV, which was also purchased by more than five of his fellow teammates. Top draft picks from an array of NFL teams have acquired a Cadillac Escalade with their newfound wealth. Besides on the road, this popular model also appears in various movies, commercials and music videos.
Customizing Your Vehicle
A popular trend in today's society (in regards to cars) is personal customization. Car owners have shaped and transformed their factory models to suit their own tastes and style. A common upgrade on SUVs is to add larger wheels or chrome rims. Some exchange their factory engine for one that is equipped for racing. One of the more popular customizations is to choose a custom paint color or add visual detail to the body. This allows car owners to fully express themselves through their vehicle.
When considering the purchase of an SUV, you will find three different choices that were introduced in the 2003 Cadillac Escalade. Each model possesses an appeal that usually attracts a certain type of customer. There is the standard Escalade Wagon option, as well as the Escalade EXT Pick Up Truck. One of the more expensive choices is the Escalade ESV, which features a lengthy base.
2003 Cadillac Escalade Upgrades
Like all car models, General Motors is constantly tweaking their line of vehicles to push the envelope within the car industry. This was seen in some of the improvements made within the 2003 Escalade product line. Some of the features attached to this vehicle include Rear Wheel Drive; power assisted pedals; an improved 4 Wheel system; as well as 5.3L V8 or High Output Vortec 6000 V8 engines. In 2003, the EXT Pick Up Truck was introduced to the public. It gave consumers the ability to accommodate a total of five people and featured the convenience of four doors. This model also provided a High Output 6.0L engine as a standard. It will be interesting to see some of the other improvements that come out in future models.
Saturday, 14 May 2011
Fuel Economy Car Becomes a Important Role
World's Cheapest Car is Unveiled
After months of rumors and tantalizing leaks, Indian automaker Tata Motors has finally unveiled the Tata Nano -- its already legendary ,500 (1-lakh) car.
The words "Tata Nano" have nothing to do with tiny music players, but the car going by that name's price and size are still nearly small enough to dance on the head of a pin.
As expected, the car that Tata claims will change the face of not only the Indian car market, but the global auto industry will be a four door, five seat hatch, powered by a 30 HP Bosch 624 cc four stroke engine mounted out back and mated to a CVT. That makes the Nano the first time a 2-cylinder gasoline engine will be used in a car with a single balancer shaft. The Nano's also expected to get 54 US miles per gallon.
Background
Petrol price have successfully hit record levels after oil reached the 0 a barrel mark, sending financial shockwaves through world markets. Fuel economy is at the top of the list of factors shoppers consider when looking at a new vehicle. In face of this situation, more and more manufacturers began to focus on the fuel economy vehicle.
China's Car Manufacturers
Actually, China's car manufacturers are paying gigantic effort on the fuel economy vehicle and have got very big accomplishment.
China's auto giant FAW has become involved in economy car production once it has controlling shares in Tianjin Automotive Xiali Co. (TAIC), the country's major economy car producer. TAIC, which is based in the port city of Tianjin, north China, is capable of producing 230,000 cars, 270,000 engines and 10,000 large tractors annually, while FAW manufactured and sold about 1430,000 cars last year.
In 2007, China FAW Group Corp became the country's first automaker to operate a plant in Mexico, as increasing domestic competition causes Chinese carmakers to seek sales in Latin America, Eastern Europe and Asia. FAW's Mexican plant is set to open in 2010 with a capacity of 100,000 fuel economy cars a year, according to the statement. Sales of imported cars had begun last year.
Chery, China's largest independent carmaker and is specialized in fuel economy vehicle, expects to export 110,000 vehicles this year, predominately to the Middle East and Russia, Zhang Lin, general manager of Chery International, a division of the Wuhu-based automaker, said on November 15. The company will also build cars for Chrysler LLC.
Geely, the largest private car manufacturer in China, enter into South Africa is another milestone in her history. As the first overseas joint venture South Africa of Geely International, Geely SA will import and distribute Geely cars in South Africa. The first model will be introduced into SA is Geely CK, a kind of fuel economy cars.
Auto Car Trade Shows
Here are several famous Chinese auto car trade shows as follows:
China International Automobile Manufacturing Exposition
36,000 sqm of exhibition area will be available, and you will be exposed to:
- Over 800 exhibitors;
- Businesses from over 30 countries and regions;
- Over 8,000 business decision makers from 20 countries including the US, Asia and European participants;
- More than 20 high-level summits and procurement information release conferences will be held.
Auto Guangzhou, China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition
China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition started in 2003, which was positioned at "High Quality, Internationalization and Comprehensiveness". On the basis of major support from Guangzhou Municipal Government, China's 1/3 car consumer market, powerful car developing industry and the one of the best exhibition hall in Asia, it has become one of China's famous automobile exhibitions after four years' operation.
The 8th Dalian International Auto & Parts Exhibition
Dalian International Automotive Industry Exhibition is one of the exhibitions planned, initiated and fostered by Dalian People's Government. Through this exhibition, Dalian People's Government intends to build a free-trade, logistics and sales center of automobiles and to attract more auto projects and to provide an extensive market for the automotive and auto parts merchants from home and abroad.
China Leading B2B Marketplace
www.Made-in-China.com is a leading internet-based directory of China products & China Suppliers. Its rich resources have made it the best online platform for international trade between global buyers & China Suppliers.
Every day, Millions of global buyers find the most complete, high-quality, reliable and updated resources of China products and their suppliers through Made-in-China.com.
Fuel Economy Vehicle -Double-Edged Sword？
One aspect, the fuel economy car can cut down the fuel gas contamination and restrain oil price from going up. Besides, appearance of the fuel economy car makes the possession of a car become a reality for many families.
Another aspect, the trend would aggravate the urban traffic.
After months of rumors and tantalizing leaks, Indian automaker Tata Motors has finally unveiled the Tata Nano -- its already legendary ,500 (1-lakh) car.
The words "Tata Nano" have nothing to do with tiny music players, but the car going by that name's price and size are still nearly small enough to dance on the head of a pin.
As expected, the car that Tata claims will change the face of not only the Indian car market, but the global auto industry will be a four door, five seat hatch, powered by a 30 HP Bosch 624 cc four stroke engine mounted out back and mated to a CVT. That makes the Nano the first time a 2-cylinder gasoline engine will be used in a car with a single balancer shaft. The Nano's also expected to get 54 US miles per gallon.
Background
Petrol price have successfully hit record levels after oil reached the 0 a barrel mark, sending financial shockwaves through world markets. Fuel economy is at the top of the list of factors shoppers consider when looking at a new vehicle. In face of this situation, more and more manufacturers began to focus on the fuel economy vehicle.
China's Car Manufacturers
Actually, China's car manufacturers are paying gigantic effort on the fuel economy vehicle and have got very big accomplishment.
China's auto giant FAW has become involved in economy car production once it has controlling shares in Tianjin Automotive Xiali Co. (TAIC), the country's major economy car producer. TAIC, which is based in the port city of Tianjin, north China, is capable of producing 230,000 cars, 270,000 engines and 10,000 large tractors annually, while FAW manufactured and sold about 1430,000 cars last year.
In 2007, China FAW Group Corp became the country's first automaker to operate a plant in Mexico, as increasing domestic competition causes Chinese carmakers to seek sales in Latin America, Eastern Europe and Asia. FAW's Mexican plant is set to open in 2010 with a capacity of 100,000 fuel economy cars a year, according to the statement. Sales of imported cars had begun last year.
Chery, China's largest independent carmaker and is specialized in fuel economy vehicle, expects to export 110,000 vehicles this year, predominately to the Middle East and Russia, Zhang Lin, general manager of Chery International, a division of the Wuhu-based automaker, said on November 15. The company will also build cars for Chrysler LLC.
Geely, the largest private car manufacturer in China, enter into South Africa is another milestone in her history. As the first overseas joint venture South Africa of Geely International, Geely SA will import and distribute Geely cars in South Africa. The first model will be introduced into SA is Geely CK, a kind of fuel economy cars.
Auto Car Trade Shows
Here are several famous Chinese auto car trade shows as follows:
China International Automobile Manufacturing Exposition
36,000 sqm of exhibition area will be available, and you will be exposed to:
- Over 800 exhibitors;
- Businesses from over 30 countries and regions;
- Over 8,000 business decision makers from 20 countries including the US, Asia and European participants;
- More than 20 high-level summits and procurement information release conferences will be held.
Auto Guangzhou, China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition
China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition started in 2003, which was positioned at "High Quality, Internationalization and Comprehensiveness". On the basis of major support from Guangzhou Municipal Government, China's 1/3 car consumer market, powerful car developing industry and the one of the best exhibition hall in Asia, it has become one of China's famous automobile exhibitions after four years' operation.
The 8th Dalian International Auto & Parts Exhibition
Dalian International Automotive Industry Exhibition is one of the exhibitions planned, initiated and fostered by Dalian People's Government. Through this exhibition, Dalian People's Government intends to build a free-trade, logistics and sales center of automobiles and to attract more auto projects and to provide an extensive market for the automotive and auto parts merchants from home and abroad.
China Leading B2B Marketplace
www.Made-in-China.com is a leading internet-based directory of China products & China Suppliers. Its rich resources have made it the best online platform for international trade between global buyers & China Suppliers.
Every day, Millions of global buyers find the most complete, high-quality, reliable and updated resources of China products and their suppliers through Made-in-China.com.
Fuel Economy Vehicle -Double-Edged Sword？
One aspect, the fuel economy car can cut down the fuel gas contamination and restrain oil price from going up. Besides, appearance of the fuel economy car makes the possession of a car become a reality for many families.
Another aspect, the trend would aggravate the urban traffic.
Car Industry in India for Next Generation
Not very long ago, the only cars that were available in India were the Ambassador and the Premier Padmini. The Ambassador is a replica of the Morris Oxford – an old British car, while the Premier Padmini was a Fiat 1100 assembled in India.
All that was in pre-liberalisation India, which existed before 1991, when the first liberalization measures were announced. Earlier, the production of the Maruti Suzuki 800 hatchback car in 1983 – a joint venture between Government of India and Suzuki Motors of Japan, paved the way for a renaissance in the Indian automobile sector.
Post liberalization, India is on every car manufacturer’s map. The reasons are not hard to notice. Currently, India is the second largest two-wheeler market and the fourth largest commercial vehicle market in the world. Not only it is the eleventh largest passenger car market globally, but it is also expected to be the seventh largest by 2016.
Post liberalization, many foreign manufacturers have lined up and have setup base in India. Other domestic manufacturers have also improved production levels and are in the race for producing better models as well.
Some of the car manufacturers who have set up base in India are Audi, BMW, Chevrolet Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Mahindra, Maruti, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Skoda, Suzuki, Tata, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo. India’s economic growth is booming currently. These manufacturers have set up manufacturing facilities in India, or are importing cars and spares to meet the demands of this growing market.
For example, companies like Ford are planning to make India a regional hub for exports of both small cars as well as engines. According to Mr. Michael Boneham, President Designate for Ford India, the company plans to export the small car and the engine for markets abroad. He indicated that one of the markets would be chiefly Ford Asia Pacific Region while other markets are under consideration presently.
There are many reasons for the impressive growth of the Indian car industry. Some of these are comparatively easy availability of vehicle finance, attractive rates of interest, and convenient instalments.
Competition has forced manufacturers to be innovative and responsive to customer demands and needs. Now that India is not alien to quality and perfection, customer expectations have soared to higher levels. Depending upon customers needs, four segments - small, midsize, premium and sports utility vehicles currently represent the car market in the country.
A niche concept cars segment is also emerging wherein reputed re-modellers like DC Chhabria cater to individuals who wish to remodel their vehicles to create concept cars for their use. Contrarily, a segment is also emerging comprising of people who wish to upgrade to cars from two wheelers. Tata already is in the process of launching the small car Nano to suit this segment’s needs. Many other car manufacturers such as Bajaj Auto are also following suit and are in the process of coming up with their specific versions to cater to this segment.
Currently, there is high demand for cars across all these segments. With the growing economy, people left with a lot of disposable income spend it towards meeting their mobility needs such as cars. Banks and other financial institutions have an assortment of vehicle loan schemes with attractive rates of interest and convenient instalments.
These schemes encourage people to go in for loans to purchase cars of their choice. Additionally, a convenient union budget in the current financial year (2008-09) has worked in favour of the automobile sector, which has seen an uptrend in sales across various segments.
The latest trend of new cars on Indian road has led to the emergence of an entirely new market in second hand cars too. Many entrepreneurial and professional dealerships have sprung up in many cities in India dealing in second hand cars.
The growth of the second hand market is not surprising. The new car market has grown at an incredible pace in India. As mentioned, loans are easily available in the country for purchase of new cars. Moreover, many people are now upwardly mobile. Therefore, people who were earlier part of the small car segment now have moved over to the premium car segment, and those in this segment have moved over to the luxury car segment.
Therefore, the trend is to get rid of the cars that defined them as part of the earlier segments and buy cars that identify them with the newer segments. Apparently, the desire for newer cars and models is yet another reason. People get attracted by newer models, which prompt them to acquire them. This makes them sell their current cars for reasonable resale values.
This phenomenon benefits those who want to buy cars, but are not able to afford new ones. Many companies like Maruti Suzuki (Maruti True Value) have also established resale showrooms where people can purchase genuine, good condition, second hand cars at reasonable prices.
With the emergence of favourable trends in the automobile sector in India, what remains to be seen is how these developments will go a long way to transform the mobility needs of the ordinary Indian.
All that was in pre-liberalisation India, which existed before 1991, when the first liberalization measures were announced. Earlier, the production of the Maruti Suzuki 800 hatchback car in 1983 – a joint venture between Government of India and Suzuki Motors of Japan, paved the way for a renaissance in the Indian automobile sector.
Post liberalization, India is on every car manufacturer’s map. The reasons are not hard to notice. Currently, India is the second largest two-wheeler market and the fourth largest commercial vehicle market in the world. Not only it is the eleventh largest passenger car market globally, but it is also expected to be the seventh largest by 2016.
Post liberalization, many foreign manufacturers have lined up and have setup base in India. Other domestic manufacturers have also improved production levels and are in the race for producing better models as well.
Some of the car manufacturers who have set up base in India are Audi, BMW, Chevrolet Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Mahindra, Maruti, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Skoda, Suzuki, Tata, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo. India’s economic growth is booming currently. These manufacturers have set up manufacturing facilities in India, or are importing cars and spares to meet the demands of this growing market.
For example, companies like Ford are planning to make India a regional hub for exports of both small cars as well as engines. According to Mr. Michael Boneham, President Designate for Ford India, the company plans to export the small car and the engine for markets abroad. He indicated that one of the markets would be chiefly Ford Asia Pacific Region while other markets are under consideration presently.
There are many reasons for the impressive growth of the Indian car industry. Some of these are comparatively easy availability of vehicle finance, attractive rates of interest, and convenient instalments.
Competition has forced manufacturers to be innovative and responsive to customer demands and needs. Now that India is not alien to quality and perfection, customer expectations have soared to higher levels. Depending upon customers needs, four segments - small, midsize, premium and sports utility vehicles currently represent the car market in the country.
A niche concept cars segment is also emerging wherein reputed re-modellers like DC Chhabria cater to individuals who wish to remodel their vehicles to create concept cars for their use. Contrarily, a segment is also emerging comprising of people who wish to upgrade to cars from two wheelers. Tata already is in the process of launching the small car Nano to suit this segment’s needs. Many other car manufacturers such as Bajaj Auto are also following suit and are in the process of coming up with their specific versions to cater to this segment.
Currently, there is high demand for cars across all these segments. With the growing economy, people left with a lot of disposable income spend it towards meeting their mobility needs such as cars. Banks and other financial institutions have an assortment of vehicle loan schemes with attractive rates of interest and convenient instalments.
These schemes encourage people to go in for loans to purchase cars of their choice. Additionally, a convenient union budget in the current financial year (2008-09) has worked in favour of the automobile sector, which has seen an uptrend in sales across various segments.
The latest trend of new cars on Indian road has led to the emergence of an entirely new market in second hand cars too. Many entrepreneurial and professional dealerships have sprung up in many cities in India dealing in second hand cars.
The growth of the second hand market is not surprising. The new car market has grown at an incredible pace in India. As mentioned, loans are easily available in the country for purchase of new cars. Moreover, many people are now upwardly mobile. Therefore, people who were earlier part of the small car segment now have moved over to the premium car segment, and those in this segment have moved over to the luxury car segment.
Therefore, the trend is to get rid of the cars that defined them as part of the earlier segments and buy cars that identify them with the newer segments. Apparently, the desire for newer cars and models is yet another reason. People get attracted by newer models, which prompt them to acquire them. This makes them sell their current cars for reasonable resale values.
This phenomenon benefits those who want to buy cars, but are not able to afford new ones. Many companies like Maruti Suzuki (Maruti True Value) have also established resale showrooms where people can purchase genuine, good condition, second hand cars at reasonable prices.
With the emergence of favourable trends in the automobile sector in India, what remains to be seen is how these developments will go a long way to transform the mobility needs of the ordinary Indian.
Sunday, 1 May 2011
Now is the Time to Stake a Claim on the Used Saab SUV
Saab was a latecomer to the SUV game with its first ever SUV, the 9-7X in 2005. If you're a Saab lover and prefer to buy pre-owned cars for the sake of better value, now is the time when you'll finally begin to see the used Saab SUV on the used car lots. Aside from price, one of the major benefits of buying a used vehicle, especially one in its first year of introduction, is that enough time has passed to accrue real-world road test data, consumer opinions have been cast, and recalls have been issued to alert any big potential problems.
Recalls for the 2005:
So far it seems that instead of rushing into the SUV space, Designers spent the past several years perfecting the first ever Saab SUV. Now midway through 2006, there are no recalls for the 2005 Saab SUV. The fact that the first SUV from Saab is recall-free isn't merely a stroke of luck. As auto trivia buffs may know, the platform of the 2005 Saab SUV is actually the same as the tried and true Chevy Trailblazer.
Future year changes:
Another way to identify any possible imperfections in a year's design or performance is to scrutinize the changes made to the following year model. Many times the changes are simply enhancements, but other times they represent fixes to previous problems.
Surprisingly for a newly released model, there weren't too many changes to the 2006 model; another mark in favor of the 2005 used Saab SUV. Among the changes were a 15 horsepower increase to the 6 cylinder engine and a new fuel saving technology for the 8 cylinder, yielding a more favorable gas mileage than the 2005 used Saab SUV.
Professional Reviews:
The most noted point of caution among professional auto reviewers was the assumption that loyal Saab drivers wouldn't be able to accept the fact that the SUV was manufactured by GM in the United States. Saab realized that when it was time for their almost fanatically loyal car ownership base to trade-up, around 30% of them bought an SUV. Wanting to get into the space quickly, Saab contracted the manufacturing and some of the design of the Saab SUV to GM.
GM has had a long time to perfect the SUV, starting with the Suburban back in the 1930s. No doubt this is one of the reasons for the model's performance success. Though the majority commented on the SUV's classic Sweedish stylistic elements, many professional auto reviewers wondered if that fact that it was assembled in the US using the platform of a GM would be a turn-off for die hard Saab fans.
Customers Reviewers:
As wound up as the reviewers might be over the connection between this Saab SUV and GM, Saab owners don't seem to mind a bit. While professionals gave this used Saab SUV a rating of 8.0 for overall reliability, drivers of this used Saab SUV rated it an exceptional 9.4 out of 10. When it comes to Saab, it seems the mainstream has never understood what makes the tight-knit Saab community tick.
Reliable, confident, and luxurious, the 2005 Saab SUV has the qualities of an ideal used vehicle purchase. Having been on the market for just over a year, this used Saab SUV might be difficult to track down, though not impossible. Choosing a dealership with a vehicle locator service will help to increase your odds of finding a 2005 used Saab SUV just off of lease contract. With a little determination and ingenuity - inherent qualities of Saab owners - you can easily be one of the first to own the 2005 used Saab SUV.
Recalls for the 2005:
So far it seems that instead of rushing into the SUV space, Designers spent the past several years perfecting the first ever Saab SUV. Now midway through 2006, there are no recalls for the 2005 Saab SUV. The fact that the first SUV from Saab is recall-free isn't merely a stroke of luck. As auto trivia buffs may know, the platform of the 2005 Saab SUV is actually the same as the tried and true Chevy Trailblazer.
Future year changes:
Another way to identify any possible imperfections in a year's design or performance is to scrutinize the changes made to the following year model. Many times the changes are simply enhancements, but other times they represent fixes to previous problems.
Surprisingly for a newly released model, there weren't too many changes to the 2006 model; another mark in favor of the 2005 used Saab SUV. Among the changes were a 15 horsepower increase to the 6 cylinder engine and a new fuel saving technology for the 8 cylinder, yielding a more favorable gas mileage than the 2005 used Saab SUV.
Professional Reviews:
The most noted point of caution among professional auto reviewers was the assumption that loyal Saab drivers wouldn't be able to accept the fact that the SUV was manufactured by GM in the United States. Saab realized that when it was time for their almost fanatically loyal car ownership base to trade-up, around 30% of them bought an SUV. Wanting to get into the space quickly, Saab contracted the manufacturing and some of the design of the Saab SUV to GM.
GM has had a long time to perfect the SUV, starting with the Suburban back in the 1930s. No doubt this is one of the reasons for the model's performance success. Though the majority commented on the SUV's classic Sweedish stylistic elements, many professional auto reviewers wondered if that fact that it was assembled in the US using the platform of a GM would be a turn-off for die hard Saab fans.
Customers Reviewers:
As wound up as the reviewers might be over the connection between this Saab SUV and GM, Saab owners don't seem to mind a bit. While professionals gave this used Saab SUV a rating of 8.0 for overall reliability, drivers of this used Saab SUV rated it an exceptional 9.4 out of 10. When it comes to Saab, it seems the mainstream has never understood what makes the tight-knit Saab community tick.
Reliable, confident, and luxurious, the 2005 Saab SUV has the qualities of an ideal used vehicle purchase. Having been on the market for just over a year, this used Saab SUV might be difficult to track down, though not impossible. Choosing a dealership with a vehicle locator service will help to increase your odds of finding a 2005 used Saab SUV just off of lease contract. With a little determination and ingenuity - inherent qualities of Saab owners - you can easily be one of the first to own the 2005 used Saab SUV.
Dodge Challenger Makes a Comeback
The Dodge Challenger was a car that was first released in the 1970s and at that time every teenage boy in the United States wanted one. Now however they are coming back and it seems that the love for the Dodge Challenger will start all over again. Due to be released in 2008 you can be sure that there will be a lot of people that will lose a few nights sleep as they start to get excited about the release of this legendary car.
The Dodge Challenger secured a place in Americana car culture forever as the classic 1970s muscle car that every teenage boy wanted. There was always that one really cool guy in school that had rich parents and they bought him a Dodge Challenger, usually bright orange to draw even more attention to this fast car. Ladies flocked to the guy with the cool car and the guys wanted to be his friend, riding in the Dodge Challenger was a privilege and honor to most high school kids. Then there were always those guys that somehow got their hands on an older model Dodge Challenger or one that had been in an accident that they worked on in a garage for weeks on end to fix it up and hot rod it around campus.
A concept of the 2007 Dodge Challenger was revealed at the North American International Auto Show recently and people went wild for it. Although it does not appear as though a Dodge Challenger will actually be available to the public in 2008, the 2007 Dodge concept was a spectacular sight. They even made it bright orange to remind the crowd of just what the Dodge Challenger had been nearly thirty years ago. The exterior may be the same as the 1970s version of the Dodge Challenger, but the 2007 Dodge concept Challenger had many differences under the hood and body. The new Dodge Challenger has a brand new platform that is also found in the Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum and Dodge Charger. This LX platform is impressive from start to finish, as it is one of the most highly refined and responsive chassis available in any American manufactured automobiles. The importance of a solid underpinning, like the LX provides, is essential when handling the amount of horsepower generated by the famous Hemi performance engine. The 6.1-liter SRT8 models generate 425 horses and 420 pounds per foot of torque, which can be a lot for a driver to handle without a well-built chassis to support the power.
The similarities in appearance between the old Dodge Challenger of the seventies and the new 2007 Dodge concept car are evident to event he amateur eye. However, the new version is slightly longer than the original, by nearly half of a foot and it is two inches wider. This does not seem to impact the stunning presentation of the nostalgic vehicle to most people because the overall look is still so cool. The updated mechanical features and power of the classic Dodge Challenger will only help to increase the likelihood of the cars success in the market in 2008 or whenever Chrysler decides to release it. The way things have been going in the automotive industry; Detroit could sure use the boost from a popular new car coming out of the once dominating car capital of the world. We will just have to wait and see how well the Dodge Challenger can comeback after three decades of hibernation, the challenge it on!
Not everyone will remember these cars but we can all agree on one thing and that is that they were defiantly in need of a facelift. When they were first released they were new and looked perfect for that market. But now Dodge need to make sure that you do not look like you are driving a dust cart.
The Dodge Challenger secured a place in Americana car culture forever as the classic 1970s muscle car that every teenage boy wanted. There was always that one really cool guy in school that had rich parents and they bought him a Dodge Challenger, usually bright orange to draw even more attention to this fast car. Ladies flocked to the guy with the cool car and the guys wanted to be his friend, riding in the Dodge Challenger was a privilege and honor to most high school kids. Then there were always those guys that somehow got their hands on an older model Dodge Challenger or one that had been in an accident that they worked on in a garage for weeks on end to fix it up and hot rod it around campus.
A concept of the 2007 Dodge Challenger was revealed at the North American International Auto Show recently and people went wild for it. Although it does not appear as though a Dodge Challenger will actually be available to the public in 2008, the 2007 Dodge concept was a spectacular sight. They even made it bright orange to remind the crowd of just what the Dodge Challenger had been nearly thirty years ago. The exterior may be the same as the 1970s version of the Dodge Challenger, but the 2007 Dodge concept Challenger had many differences under the hood and body. The new Dodge Challenger has a brand new platform that is also found in the Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum and Dodge Charger. This LX platform is impressive from start to finish, as it is one of the most highly refined and responsive chassis available in any American manufactured automobiles. The importance of a solid underpinning, like the LX provides, is essential when handling the amount of horsepower generated by the famous Hemi performance engine. The 6.1-liter SRT8 models generate 425 horses and 420 pounds per foot of torque, which can be a lot for a driver to handle without a well-built chassis to support the power.
The similarities in appearance between the old Dodge Challenger of the seventies and the new 2007 Dodge concept car are evident to event he amateur eye. However, the new version is slightly longer than the original, by nearly half of a foot and it is two inches wider. This does not seem to impact the stunning presentation of the nostalgic vehicle to most people because the overall look is still so cool. The updated mechanical features and power of the classic Dodge Challenger will only help to increase the likelihood of the cars success in the market in 2008 or whenever Chrysler decides to release it. The way things have been going in the automotive industry; Detroit could sure use the boost from a popular new car coming out of the once dominating car capital of the world. We will just have to wait and see how well the Dodge Challenger can comeback after three decades of hibernation, the challenge it on!
Not everyone will remember these cars but we can all agree on one thing and that is that they were defiantly in need of a facelift. When they were first released they were new and looked perfect for that market. But now Dodge need to make sure that you do not look like you are driving a dust cart.
Why The Cadillac Escalade Has Such A Huge Following
With the birth of the first Escalade in 1999, General Motors provided a luxury Sport Utility Vehicle through their popular Cadillac model. The interest in SUVs has increased since the late 90s with consumers searching for intriguing full size, higher end selections. The 2003 Cadillac Escalade came a long way from the basic model, successfully competing against rivals in the German and Japanese SUV market.
The growing concerns of an effected environment, as well as the gas guzzling nature of a sport utility vehicle makes some shy away from the thought of purchasing an Escalade. This has not stopped well known personalities from jumping on the band wagon. Not only can they afford the expensive cost to maintain and fix these SUVs, but use these vehicles to make a trendy fashion statement.
A Definite Status Symbol
The ownership of a Cadillac Escalade has become something of a status symbol throughout the years. They are showcased within music videos to denote wealth and flashiness. Movie stars and other celebrities, such as Paris Hilton own one in their personal collection of cars. The Escalade model is also quite popular among athletes. Former Golden State Warrior player, Chris Mills prefers the design of this particular SUV, which was also purchased by more than five of his fellow teammates. Top draft picks from an array of NFL teams have acquired a Cadillac Escalade with their newfound wealth. Besides on the road, this popular model also appears in various movies, commercials and music videos.
Customizing Your Vehicle
A popular trend in today's society (in regards to cars) is personal customization. Car owners have shaped and transformed their factory models to suit their own tastes and style. A common upgrade on SUVs is to add larger wheels or chrome rims. Some exchange their factory engine for one that is equipped for racing. One of the more popular customizations is to choose a custom paint color or add visual detail to the body. This allows car owners to fully express themselves through their vehicle.
When considering the purchase of an SUV, you will find three different choices that were introduced in the 2003 Cadillac Escalade. Each model possesses an appeal that usually attracts a certain type of customer. There is the standard Escalade Wagon option, as well as the Escalade EXT Pick Up Truck. One of the more expensive choices is the Escalade ESV, which features a lengthy base.
2003 Cadillac Escalade Upgrades
Like all car models, General Motors is constantly tweaking their line of vehicles to push the envelope within the car industry. This was seen in some of the improvements made within the 2003 Escalade product line. Some of the features attached to this vehicle include Rear Wheel Drive; power assisted pedals; an improved 4 Wheel system; as well as 5.3L V8 or High Output Vortec 6000 V8 engines. In 2003, the EXT Pick Up Truck was introduced to the public. It gave consumers the ability to accommodate a total of five people and featured the convenience of four doors. This model also provided a High Output 6.0L engine as a standard. It will be interesting to see some of the other improvements that come out in future models.
The growing concerns of an effected environment, as well as the gas guzzling nature of a sport utility vehicle makes some shy away from the thought of purchasing an Escalade. This has not stopped well known personalities from jumping on the band wagon. Not only can they afford the expensive cost to maintain and fix these SUVs, but use these vehicles to make a trendy fashion statement.
A Definite Status Symbol
The ownership of a Cadillac Escalade has become something of a status symbol throughout the years. They are showcased within music videos to denote wealth and flashiness. Movie stars and other celebrities, such as Paris Hilton own one in their personal collection of cars. The Escalade model is also quite popular among athletes. Former Golden State Warrior player, Chris Mills prefers the design of this particular SUV, which was also purchased by more than five of his fellow teammates. Top draft picks from an array of NFL teams have acquired a Cadillac Escalade with their newfound wealth. Besides on the road, this popular model also appears in various movies, commercials and music videos.
Customizing Your Vehicle
A popular trend in today's society (in regards to cars) is personal customization. Car owners have shaped and transformed their factory models to suit their own tastes and style. A common upgrade on SUVs is to add larger wheels or chrome rims. Some exchange their factory engine for one that is equipped for racing. One of the more popular customizations is to choose a custom paint color or add visual detail to the body. This allows car owners to fully express themselves through their vehicle.
When considering the purchase of an SUV, you will find three different choices that were introduced in the 2003 Cadillac Escalade. Each model possesses an appeal that usually attracts a certain type of customer. There is the standard Escalade Wagon option, as well as the Escalade EXT Pick Up Truck. One of the more expensive choices is the Escalade ESV, which features a lengthy base.
2003 Cadillac Escalade Upgrades
Like all car models, General Motors is constantly tweaking their line of vehicles to push the envelope within the car industry. This was seen in some of the improvements made within the 2003 Escalade product line. Some of the features attached to this vehicle include Rear Wheel Drive; power assisted pedals; an improved 4 Wheel system; as well as 5.3L V8 or High Output Vortec 6000 V8 engines. In 2003, the EXT Pick Up Truck was introduced to the public. It gave consumers the ability to accommodate a total of five people and featured the convenience of four doors. This model also provided a High Output 6.0L engine as a standard. It will be interesting to see some of the other improvements that come out in future models.
Friday, 29 April 2011
The Modern Approach To Buying Used Luxury Vehicles
For a long time, the idea of purchasing used was an unattractive option for luxury car buyers. After all, the person who wants a luxury experience doesn't necessarily enjoy the idea of traipsing around town searching for the exact BMW they had in mind. Though used luxury cars cost much less than new luxury vehicles, the time required to do the legwork and the uncertainty of the quality just wasn't worth the savings for many luxury-minded people.
However, times have changed and so has the process of buying used luxury cars. The first wave of change brought about by the internet in the form of online classifieds only skimmed the surface of the possibility. While online classified gave buyers the ability to search faster and within a larger area, the method still didn't solve the underlying problem of used car buying.
Once a shopper found a car they liked in an online classified, who knew if the vendor was just some fly by night internet company or if the car was flawed? The first stages of car buying online made for a better process, but one far from a luxury experience.
Now that we as consumers have had our fair share of experience with the internet, we've learned that what we want is exactly what most e-companies hoped would be eliminated from the buying and selling process-a real business with real people behind the website. In the case of buying used luxury cars, this is especially true.
Today, it's the established brick and mortar used luxury car dealers-not the dot-coms, that have discovered the smart approach to buying used luxury cars. Some of today's forward thinking used luxury auto dealerships have become all inclusive, luxury auto consultants rather than a local-only resource.
Full service luxury dealerships today offer vehicle location services that track down a particular vehicle within your specifications and deliver the vehicle to your front door anywhere in the country. The main difference between this process and the online classified, is that a personal relationship is first formed with the established dealership, not with a picture of a vehicle on a website.
The trained pros at the auto dealership do the legwork when it comes to locating the vehicle, which is a serious benefit to buyers of used luxury cars who prefer to spend their time in ways other than comparing the specs of dozens of cars on dozens of websites.
Now that the average price of a used luxury vehicle today is 50% less than the new sticker price, smart shoppers have more incentive than ever to buy used. Aside from price, luxury autos today are being manufactured to perform better and last longer than ever before. A two or three year old Lexus is in the prime of its life, compared with some other types of vehicles that may have reached middle age after just a few years. If you've shrugged off the idea of buying used in the past because of the hassle, now may time start saving while also enjoying a true luxury shopping experience.
However, times have changed and so has the process of buying used luxury cars. The first wave of change brought about by the internet in the form of online classifieds only skimmed the surface of the possibility. While online classified gave buyers the ability to search faster and within a larger area, the method still didn't solve the underlying problem of used car buying.
Once a shopper found a car they liked in an online classified, who knew if the vendor was just some fly by night internet company or if the car was flawed? The first stages of car buying online made for a better process, but one far from a luxury experience.
Now that we as consumers have had our fair share of experience with the internet, we've learned that what we want is exactly what most e-companies hoped would be eliminated from the buying and selling process-a real business with real people behind the website. In the case of buying used luxury cars, this is especially true.
Today, it's the established brick and mortar used luxury car dealers-not the dot-coms, that have discovered the smart approach to buying used luxury cars. Some of today's forward thinking used luxury auto dealerships have become all inclusive, luxury auto consultants rather than a local-only resource.
Full service luxury dealerships today offer vehicle location services that track down a particular vehicle within your specifications and deliver the vehicle to your front door anywhere in the country. The main difference between this process and the online classified, is that a personal relationship is first formed with the established dealership, not with a picture of a vehicle on a website.
The trained pros at the auto dealership do the legwork when it comes to locating the vehicle, which is a serious benefit to buyers of used luxury cars who prefer to spend their time in ways other than comparing the specs of dozens of cars on dozens of websites.
Now that the average price of a used luxury vehicle today is 50% less than the new sticker price, smart shoppers have more incentive than ever to buy used. Aside from price, luxury autos today are being manufactured to perform better and last longer than ever before. A two or three year old Lexus is in the prime of its life, compared with some other types of vehicles that may have reached middle age after just a few years. If you've shrugged off the idea of buying used in the past because of the hassle, now may time start saving while also enjoying a true luxury shopping experience.
Is A Hybrid Car For You
You may have seen one zipping past you in the high occupancy lane, a lone driver at the wheel. It's a gasoline-electric hybrid car and driving in the HOV lane is just one of the benefits of ownership in many states. But what is a hybrid? How does it work? Is it the right car for you and your family?
A hybrid car has a both a gasoline engine and a battery. The battery is recharged by energy from the gasoline engine that would normally be lost during braking or decelerating. The car uses either the battery or the gasoline engine depending on several factors including how fast the car is traveling. Sometimes, both will work together to provide an extra boost of power without using too much extra fuel.
The result of this technology is cars that get significantly better gas mileage and produce less carbon dioxide emissions that traditional gasoline powered cars. For example, according to Honda, the 2006 Civic Hybrid gets 50 miles to the gallon on the highway, 14 miles to the gallon better than the 2003 regular Civic. When driven the national average of 12,000 miles, that represents a savings of 69 gallons of gas and 258 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.
In the early days of hybrid cars, there were few models to choose from. People desiring to purchase a hybrid car were stuck in tiny cars with little cargo space. Today, however, manufacturers produce hybrid cars and light trucks in nearly every category including family-sized sedans, sport utility vehicles and minivans. The smallest cars still get the best gas mileage, but larger hybrids consistently outperform their regular siblings in gas mileage and carbon dioxide emissions.
Unfortunately, hybrid cars cost more than regular models. In the case of the 2006 Honda Civic, the hybrid model costs almost $7,000 more than the regular model. Congress passed a law providing tax credits for hybrid car owners that took effect on January 1, 2006 that would save the buyer of a 2006 Civic Hybrid $2,100. It would take several years to break even on the purchase of a hybrid counting gasoline savings alone. However, many hybrid owners are as dedicated to the environmental benefits of driving a hybrid as they are to the money they save.
One of the fears when hybrid cars first became available was that maintenance and insurance costs would be prohibitive. Research has shown that regular maintenance costs for hybrid vehicles are no higher than for regular vehicles. Additionally, hybrid car owners are less likely to be involved in accidents and some insurance companies have begun offering discounts to hybrid car owners.
A hybrid car has a both a gasoline engine and a battery. The battery is recharged by energy from the gasoline engine that would normally be lost during braking or decelerating. The car uses either the battery or the gasoline engine depending on several factors including how fast the car is traveling. Sometimes, both will work together to provide an extra boost of power without using too much extra fuel.
The result of this technology is cars that get significantly better gas mileage and produce less carbon dioxide emissions that traditional gasoline powered cars. For example, according to Honda, the 2006 Civic Hybrid gets 50 miles to the gallon on the highway, 14 miles to the gallon better than the 2003 regular Civic. When driven the national average of 12,000 miles, that represents a savings of 69 gallons of gas and 258 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.
In the early days of hybrid cars, there were few models to choose from. People desiring to purchase a hybrid car were stuck in tiny cars with little cargo space. Today, however, manufacturers produce hybrid cars and light trucks in nearly every category including family-sized sedans, sport utility vehicles and minivans. The smallest cars still get the best gas mileage, but larger hybrids consistently outperform their regular siblings in gas mileage and carbon dioxide emissions.
Unfortunately, hybrid cars cost more than regular models. In the case of the 2006 Honda Civic, the hybrid model costs almost $7,000 more than the regular model. Congress passed a law providing tax credits for hybrid car owners that took effect on January 1, 2006 that would save the buyer of a 2006 Civic Hybrid $2,100. It would take several years to break even on the purchase of a hybrid counting gasoline savings alone. However, many hybrid owners are as dedicated to the environmental benefits of driving a hybrid as they are to the money they save.
One of the fears when hybrid cars first became available was that maintenance and insurance costs would be prohibitive. Research has shown that regular maintenance costs for hybrid vehicles are no higher than for regular vehicles. Additionally, hybrid car owners are less likely to be involved in accidents and some insurance companies have begun offering discounts to hybrid car owners.
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