Showing posts with label cars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cars. Show all posts

Quick Tip: Summer Car Rental Tips



You should also try to rent from off-airport locations, which tend to be cheaper, especially on the weekends, and pre-pay when you book the rental to get a discount.

What about insurance coverage for your rental? Will the credit card you have give you the coverage you need?

Credit Cards and Car Rental Insurance

All the major cards offer you some form of secondary coverage. If you get in an accident, you file a claim with your auto insurance company and the credit card will cover most extra charges, including deductibles that you need to pay. However, there are many exclusions.

2010 LUXGEN Cars New Luxgen7 SUV 2.2-litre Turbocharged

2010 Luxgen7 SUV is model that’s on sale in its home market and if it proves successful, could eventually make its way to the UK and other European countries. It is Taiwan’s first passenger automobile brand Luxgen. The Taiwanese auto brand, Luxgen, has lifted off the covers from its second model, the very new Luxgen7 SUV that according to the maker, “represents a milestone in vehicle design.” The company’s first model was called the LUXGEN7 MPV and received tremendous response in sales and became the first automobile ever to win the prestigious Taiwan Excellence Award. Now with Luxgen7 SUV, the company seems to be scripting another success story.
2010 LUXGEN Cars New Luxgen7 SUV
The 2010 Luxgen7 SUV represents a milestone in vehicle design. The distinctive wing shaped chrome nose trim and cascading grille express both power and confidence and upward sweeping beltlines convey a sense of dynamics motion as well. Measuring at 4.8 meters long, 1.93 meters wide and 1.76 meters in height, the LUXGEN7 SUV is also among the largest in its segment while maintaining elegant and svelte proportions.
LUXGEN7 SUV is also the only one in its segment to feature the intelligent power actuated tailgate as standard equipment. Another exclusive feature in the car is the anti-theft sport seat. The company explains the working in the following statement: “When drivers press the button on the anti-theft seat for three seconds before locking the doors with the remote control, the anti-theft system will activate by sliding itself forward and leaning against the steering wheel to deny unauthorized access of the vehicle.”
The Luxgen7 SUV powered by a newly developed 2.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 175HP at 6,000rpm and 28kgm of torque spanning from 2,500 to 4,000rpm. The petrol unit is coupled to an also new 5-speed automatic transmission equipped with manual shifting function and what Luxgen describes as “intelligent Transmission Control Module with 10 built-in operation modes.” The automatic transmission was developed by Japan’s Aisin.
The Luxgen7 SUV interior design uses the premium leather seat with airline first class style surrounding head restraints together with the available heating, ventilation, electronic and lumbar support adjustment functions to ensure utmost comfort anytime. In addition, the Hi-end Clarion audio system and JBL speakers provide premium sound quality and surreal vocal reproduction to music lovers.
In the interior, the luxury Luxgen7 SUV features Hi-end Clarion audio system with JBL speakers, GPS navigation, four advanced visual assistance systems including Eagle View and many more. In the security system, however, there is SRS airbags, ABS Antilock Braking System, BAS Braking assistance System and EBD Electronic Brake Distribution. The potential buyers have to shell out somewhere between US$25,831 to 35,386 to own a Luxgen7 SUV.
Inside the Luxgen7 SUV you will find premium leather seat available with heating, ventilation, electronic massage and lumbar support adjustment, as well as Hi-end Clarion audio system and JBL speakers. The safety features dual front SRS airbags, Antilock Braking System, Braking Assistance System, and Electronic Brake Distribution system. Furthermore, dual side protection airbags, dual side curtain airbags, Electronic Stability Control, and Traction Control System are also available options.
In addition, the SUV also gets an intelligent 3-mode 4WD system that can actively split engine torque between the front and rear axles based on the road condition and driver input. In Taiwan market, the Luxgen7 SUV is available in five trim levels at prices ranging from NTD 838,000 ($25,831 U.S.) to NTD 1,148,000 ($35,386 U.S.).

Tom Brady Car Crash Matrix

Tom Brady’s car crash was “like a scene from ‘The Matrix’ ”.

The 33-year-old NFL player, who has nine-month-old son Benjamin with wife Gisele Bundchen, as well as three-year-old John from a previous relationship – was “scared out of his mind” after initially thinking he had hit a woman who was walking her dog when he collided with a minivan last Thursday morning, September 9.

He explained, “I was scared out of my mind. I swear to God. It was like ‘The Matrix’. When the cars hit, I saw all the glass kind of explode. Then I saw her go flying. I thought, ‘Oh, my God’ as we’re kind of skidding to a stop. I saw her go flying back.

“I’m telling you, when it happened, I didn’t even know what to do, because you’re just in shock. I was kind of sitting there in the car, looking around, trying to get my bearings. And then once I got home, then it really hits you.”

Luckily, the pedestrian was uninjured, but the star has praised the medics and fire crews who attended the scene of the crash

2009 Mazda2 Averages 70-hp and 60mpg, Still Has Performance Anxiety

Based on the compact underpinings of the Ford Fiesta, the 2009 Mazda2 micro wagon is currently under heavy evaluation to determine its potential for the U.S. market. Available in Europe with three engine options, a 74-hp or 85-hp 1.3L I4, 67-hp 1.4L turbo diesel, or a 102-hp 1.5L I4, it’s likely only the standard gasoline engines will be introduced to the U.S. Unfortunately, that means that we here stateside will miss out on the Mazda2’s most fuel-efficient offering, since the turbo diesel averages a staggering 65.7 mpg combined. The Mazda2’s 1.3L and 1.5L engines are nothing to be scoffed at though as they both boast impressive fuel consumption rates, averaging 52.3 mpg and 47.9 mpg respectively.

With impressive fuel efficiency and prices beginning at £8,599 [approximately $15,700], the 2009 Mazda2 has been doing wonders for Mazda’s sales as more and more drivers clamor for fuel sipping compact cars. Despite initial plans to release the Mazda2 in the U.S., Auto News reported that Mazda is now dragging their feet. Unafraid of stiff competition from similar models like the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit, Mazda is more concerned with how the Mazda2 will impact sales of their most popular vehicle, the Mazda3. Already precariously perched as a solid contender in the U.S. market, Mazda is concerned that the introducing the Mazda2 would hurt sales of the Mazda3, which is currently the company’s top seller.



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Full Scale Cars Built Entirely Out Of LEGOs, With Photo Gallery Goodness

In addition to filling RideLust’s daily “cool stuff” requirement, the pair of 2004 Volvo XC90’s built by LEGOLAND® California also take care of our obligatory Volvo-love too.

Full gallery after the jump

Press Release [via SeriousWheels.com]: Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (VCNA) and LEGOLAND® California are joining forces to promote driving safety and family values. As part of the recently announced partnership agreement between the subsidiaries of the two Scandinavian icons, a replica of Volvo’s award-winning SUV, the Volvo XC90, was constructed of LEGO’s famous modeling bricks.

The Volvo XC90 made of LEGO bricks was built by LEGO Master Model Builders, members of an elite team of talented artists who design, create and maintain the thousands of LEGO brick models at LEGOLAND® California. Constructed at the U.S. headquarters for LEGO Systems, Inc. in Enfield, Conn., the Master Builders began production of the Volvo XC90 in January 2004. Noted as one of the top-three most gratifying projects of its kind for the Master Builders, the intricate stages of assembly were captured with time-lapse photography.

As the recognized leader of safety in the automotive industry, Volvo is the “Official Car” of LEGOLAND® California and will work with the theme park to bring messages of driving safety to the park’s 1.3 million annual visitors. The Volvo XC90 made of LEGO bricks, although not drivable, will stand at the park entrance as a symbol of the two companies’ commitment to safety and family.

“The partnership is a perfect fit with our ‘Drive - for Life’ initiative that focuses on affecting driver behavior and safety,” said Vic Doolan, president and CEO of VCNA. “We will be working with LEGOLAND to develop innovative safety awareness activities.”

Recently, LEGOLAND®’s popular Driving School (ages 6 to 13) and its Jr. Driving School (ages 3 to 5) were reintroduced to carry Volvo’s name and reputation for safety. These popular park attractions offer children the opportunity to drive electric-powered vehicles made to look like LEGO bricks within the controlled environment of the drive course. The rules of the road are emphasized, as well as good safety habits such as buckling up seatbelts.

“By encouraging safety as a learned behavior at an early age, we all benefit - it’s never too early to learn about the rules of the road,” said Doolan.

“We specialize in family education and entertainment,” said John Jakobsen, president and GM of LEGOLAND® California. “Our partnership with Volvo brings the type of quality and reputation that our visitors expect from their experience in the park. We could almost consider our driving programs a public service, in addition to fun and adventure,” he said.

VCNA, part of the Volvo Car Corporation of Gothenburg, Sweden, provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to Volvo automobile retailers in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

In addition to the award-winning XC90, the Volvo automobile line is comprised of: the 2004.5 all-new S40 sedan; the sporty S60 sedan – including the award-winning performance sedan – S60 R, and its performance wagon counterpart – the V70 R; the flagship S80 luxury sedan; versatile V70 wagon and rugged XC70 (Cross Country); the C70 convertible; and, the compact S40 and V40 models.

LEGOLAND California is a 128-acre theme park geared specifically towards youngsters ages two through 12. With more than 50 family rides, “hands-on” attractions and shows, LEGOLAND California provides education, adventure and fun in this first park of its kind in the United States.

In addition to LEGOLAND California, there are three other LEGOLAND parks in the world - LEGOLAND Billund in Denmark; LEGOLAND Windsor, outside of London; and LEGOLAND Deutschland in Germany.



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A Bug Up Their Ass About Safety, Volvo Will Have An Injury Proof Car By 2020

From Autopia: the Swedish safety moguls at Volvo are bound and determined to put an injury-proof car on the road by the year 2020. To do this, researchers are currently studying the African locusts in an attempt to integrate the little bugger’s “sensory-input routing methodologies” with Volvo’s computerized safety features. If thousands of the locusts are able to travel in swarms without constantly hitting each other, shouldn’t people during their morning commute be able to do the same thing? Volvo thinks so, and that’s why they’ve partnered with Dr. Claire Rind and the Insect Vision Laboratory at the University of Newcastle in London. Although studies have revealed that the locusts’ inherent algorithms are far more advanced then the current technology, Volvo has been steadily working since 2002 to adapt the Locust Principle for their cars. “We still have many years of research ahead to bring that small locust brain into our cars,” said Jonas Ekmark, director of preventive safety at Volvo, but it’s not an impossible task and by 2020, Volvo hopes to match the African locust’s internal processing system beat for beat.



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GM, Ford Fight To Keep Government Bailouts, Say Detroit Is Not Wall Street


Earlier this month, mortgage lending giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which collectively own or guarantee roughly $5 trillion in mortgages, were seized by the U.S. government to prevent an even more catastrophic housing industry collapse. Last week, when global investment firm Lehman Brothers began to go belly up, the federal government wasn’t nearly as charitable and on Monday, Lehman Brothers headed into bankruptcy. Watching the events unfold from Detroit, GM, Ford, and Chrysler have begun to get nervous.

With the failure of Lehman Brothers, some auto industry analysts fear the government has drawn a line on federal intervention, just when the Detroit 3 need it most. Getting proactive, teams of lobbyists and executives representing the biggest auto manufacturers have begun to flood Washington, hoping to remind them that Detroit is not Wall Street. “[It's] a very separable issue,” said Ford. Still, lawmakers are approaching the loan requests with caution, and the foot dragging is yielding to frustration. According to Auto News, GM CEO Rick Wagoner was quoted explaining to the press, “The financial markets have worsened so much since the energy security act was passed last year, that providing the loans would seem to be the appropriate and fair thing to do right now.”

Other accounts report that auto makers are cautiously optimistic that they’ll receive the bailouts they need, and as of right now, no one is planning on shutting their doors. Said Wagoner, “I can’t really say at this point that I’ve seen specific ramifications from yesterday’s actions [referring to the Lehman Brothers failure], but we have to watch that closely.”



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