CAR

BMW Car | BMW Car Grills

2008-09-11T15:38:00.003+07:00

BMW CUSTOM CAR GRILLS BMW 3 Series - BMW 5 Series - BMW 6 Series - BMW 7 Series - BMW X5

BMW Car | BMW a live legend!

2008-09-11T15:19:00.002+07:00

The beginning of BMW was the beautiful morning of July 9th, 1929 when BMW announced on an entire newspaper page that is going to be a car producer. They presented a small car, named 3/15 PS in the centre of Berlin. People called the car Dixi and so the first BMW car became history!

Dixi: bigger inside than outside

What was a premiere for this segment were the 2 doors body that was made from steel. Dixi was having an air-cooling propeller in 4 cylinders, capacity- 750 cm3 that was developing a power of 15 hp. The structure was from riveted iron plate pieces. The both decks were rigid. “Bigger inside than outside” was the first advertising campaign for BMW.

Dixi, or better said 3/15 PS wasn’t made totally by BMW. In the beginning, BMW’s constructors wanted to design something else. From 1918 till 1928 were taking in considerations many models and BMW was developing many small, medium and large cars, many of them using front traction. In 1928, the board of directors was decided to produce under license a model already finished and very promising. Finally, 3/15 PS Dixi was chose and it was produced under Eisenach license, a carbon copy for Austin Seven, a small 4 cylinders car.

Austin Seven, 1922

This car development (Austin) was made in England, starting in 1922 and was inspired by the famous model Fort T.

Fort T, 1922

Before BMW replaced Austin with BMW they did something else- brought the car technology at the best performances. As we all know, the time is very precious, and other producers had on the market small models, the constructor limited to create a new body. At that time, the first steel car bodies were built by Ambi-Budd for few companies in a big factory, in Berlin. That was the first Dixi body for BMW to use.

BMW Car | BMW car tuning

2008-09-11T14:29:00.003+07:00

car tuning in Canada

Source: www.bmwquebec.com

BMW Car | Like Car Ads? You’ll Be Getting More Online.

2008-09-11T14:07:00.003+07:00

by Kristen Nicole

Perhaps you’ve noticed that we’ve been keeping an eye on advertising trends and how they relate to online and social networking potential. It’s clear that advertising is expected to generally increase in the online sector, even at a slower pace in some areas, and the trend is the same specifically for the automobile industry.

While ad spending in the auto industry is expected to slow down or plateau in the next year, the dollars spent are actually expected to shift from television and print ads to online and out-of-home marketing. This makes sense, as more consumers are shopping online for cars, and spend a good amount of time online researching cars.

[via Advertising Age]

So what does this mean for the actual implementation of advertising online?

We’ll see more rich media ads online, in increasingly targeted ways. With online advertising taking taking a particularly social turn this year, there are a good amount of options to take advantage of on this front. But we’ll also see better use of existing online tools, especially those that closely mimic traditional media platforms. That mans a rise in online classifieds that are separate from newspaper portals, and likely more spending in other commerce portals like eBay.

This is prime time for such websites to begin catering more towards the individual consumer, as Oodle has done with a few releases in the past few month: stats and history offer additional information that consumers can take advantage of, and that easily translates into some semblance of market research for the auto industry. Advertisers can always make good use of that. While I don’t think that virtual world marketing worked out exactly according to plan, especially for the auto industry, I do imagine that advertising on this level will continue in the coming year as well.

[image via ixpats]

VW Car | 2nd Annual All VW Show March 2007

2008-09-11T12:12:00.002+07:00

Come join us for the 2nd annual Niello All VW Car Show and Swap Meet. This year's event will be held on March 25th at the Niello VW dealership located at 2701 Arden Way in Sacramento California. This show is open to all air and water cooled Volkswagens.

This year we are doing things a little different. All proceeds raised at this event will be donated to the "Ride to Walk" foundation. Ride to Walk is a therapeutic horseback riding program located in Lincoln California that enables children and adults with neurological disabilities to ride horses while benefiting from the therapeutic aspects of horseback riding. Please visit their website at www.ridetowalk.org for more details.

This year we are having a total of 14 judged classes as well as an award for Best Club Representation. See the listing at the bottom of this posting for more details.

Once again there is no cost to enter your car or to use a swap space, but we encourage you to make a donation to the Ride to Walk Foundation. Registration will be the morning of the event, and will be limited to the first 100 cars - please show up early, we expect all 100 spots to fill up. All entries into the car show will receive an event t-shirt, dash plaque and a goody bag.

We will be playing music through Sirius radio, along with raffle prizes throughout the day and a 50/50 raffle. In the morning hours and throughout the day we will be having the Red Rooster Waffle truck here (visit the website at www.redroosterwaffles.com), and we will have BBQ hamburgers and hot dogs with all the fixings for the afternoon. Please browse at the itinerary below for the schedule of all our events. Hope to see you all there!!

Itinerary:

6:30 am	Swap meet and set-up
7:00 am - 10:30 am	Registration
11:00 am - 2:00 pm	Judging of show cars
1:00 pm	Presentation of special awards
2:00 pm	Show car awards
2:30 pm	Official end of the 2nd annual Niello car show

Judging Classes (1st Place & Runner-Up):

Air Cooled:
- Ghia
- Type I (-67)
- Type I (68-)
- Type II (-67)
- Type II (68-)
- Type III / IV (all)
- Baja / Buggy / Thing
Water Cooled:
- MK1
- MK2
- MK3
- MK4
- MK5
- Passat
- Corrado / Scirocco
Overall:
- Best Beater
- Best Club Representation (1st place only)
- People's Choice (1st place only)

VW Car | VW Transaxles

2008-09-11T12:01:00.002+07:00

Many applications in off-road and sand don't need the strength and cost of a racing transaxle. VW transaxles usually handle up to 300HP in some cases and cost less money. 091 Bus transaxles have been in sandrails and off-road cars for years running reliably and successful.

If you're considering using a VW Transaxle, call us. A lot of things need to be considered when choosing a transaxle, such as car weight, tire size, engine type, horsepower, and your driving style.

Besides the most popular 091 transaxle, we also specialize in 002, and Type 1 transaxles for those of you that have smaller cars. We have all the parts to put together a custom setup to be stronger than stock VW transaxle. All rebuilds have critical parts magniflux inspected to insure the integrity is solid. Satisfaction is our primary goal, we must build our transaxles to last so you'll come back the next time you need help.

VW Car | Volkswagen shares tumble after warning

2008-09-11T11:53:00.003+07:00

Shares in Volkswagen, Europe's biggest car maker, have fallen sharply after it warned of lower profits this year.

The German car giant blamed weak consumer demand and the strength of the euro for the warning that 2003 operating profits would fall short of last year's 4.76bn euros ($5.24bn; £3.3bn)

"Given present exchange rates ... and in the event that the market situation in Western Europe and the US does not improve, we will not be able to match the 2002 operating profit," chief executive Bernd Pischetsrieder said.

The warning initially sent VW shares down 10% to their lowest level since December 1996, and wiped almost 1bn euros off the firm's stock market value.

The stock had recovered by 1705 GMT to stand down 7.95% at 30.14 euros.

Shares in other European automakers were also lower, with Peugeot stock down 1% at 34.86 euros, and Renault shares 4% lower at 30.05 euros.

Brighter future

But Mr Pischetsrieder foresaw rosier trading in 2004, when cost cuts and new models would "reverse the picture".

"It is clear that 2004 will be a year that will benefit from new products without the substantial ramp-up costs we have had this year," he said.

And some investors expressed surprise at the stock market reaction to Tuesday's statement.

"There has been a lot of talk that VW will disappoint on the operating earnings side this year due to the big model cycle switch," said Trudbert Merkel, fund manager at Deka Group in Frankfurt.

"This is [a] long-awaited warning."

VW Car | VW Eos: Goodyear Tire Equipped

2008-09-11T11:44:00.002+07:00

What’s new with the latest VW Eos?

One very prominent thing: Goodyear Eagle LS-2 tires.

But there’s more that the VW Eos has got to offer. There’s the distinctive metal roof that could fold neatly into the trunk. No mess! And really does offer great performance and driving experience.

The VW Eos is also known and called as a CSC. No it does not stand for something quite breathtaking or completely foreign. It simply stands for coupe, sunroof, convertible. Nice, huh?

Here are other stuff that you could find with the Eos:
* 2.0-liter turbo engine
* 3.2 liter V6 engine
* stability control
* sports seats
* 17-inch alloy wheels

VW Car | Tiguan, The New VW Car

2008-09-11T11:32:00.002+07:00

Meet the Volkswagen Tiguan. It is the Volkswagen Touareg’s little bro and this new car would be launched in a couple of years. Remember how there was a contest on what to name the new car? Well, the contest is over and the Tiguan name won over all other entries. There were more than 350,000 votes during the whole duration of the voting.

The name Tiguan won over other names which are Nanuk, Namib, Rockton, and Samun. And this name actually represents something exotic, adventurous, exciting, and up for long journeys. That’s the VW Tiguan for you.

VW Car | VW Cozy

2008-09-11T11:31:00.003+07:00

Handmade Volkswagen Bug Cozy, one of a kind.This was the most-est fun project I have been connected to in a long time..a hand knit “VW car cozy”….we all need one you know!

Each peice was knit and then sewn together and stablized on netting. A number of other people also made the adornments to go on the car cozy. It was bedecked and bejeweled for dispay at Winter Fair Art show and sale.

Mercedes Benz | A Mercedes K 30 Three Seater

2008-09-11T11:21:00.001+07:00

A friend sent me 3 Mercedes Benz K30 pictures. A doubt that I can find this kind of car (or motorcycle or even pedicab?) in other places but Bangkok (as stated on its register). I bet even you drive this very expensive car you'll get yourself wet when caught by rain. Also, I'm not sure you'll be very comfortable inside the Mercedes Benz K 30.

VW Car | Tiguan a Touareg brother

2008-09-11T11:17:00.001+07:00

Tiguan was formerly known as A concept, and the "Tiguan" name was chosen amongst other alternative name such as Nanuk, Namib, Rockton and Samun, that AutoBild Group reader's had to vote.

Tiguan will be launched in 5 variants, 3 gasoline with 148 pk, 168 pk and 197 pk, and 2 diesel engine with 138pk and 168 pk respectively. From the power output, presumably Tiguan will feature 2.0 Lt - 2.5 Lt engine (let compare it with Nissan X-Trail 2.5 Lt that produce output 178 pk).

iguan will enter the suv compact marketplace alongside with BMW X3, Ford Escape, Suzuki Escudo, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, KIA Sportage II, Mazda Tribute, Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4 that has been successfully entering the market.

From its dimension, Tiguan may be called as Touareg brother, the latter was showed publicity in Paris Motor Show 2002 along with Porsche Cheyenne.

4Motion is enganging Tiguan, as well as Touareg as a new motion drive made by Volkswagen. Also suspensions will be more comfort, so it still comfortable whether onroad or offroad.

picture: via

Suzuki Car | Suzuki SX-4 to WRC

2008-09-11T11:12:00.000+07:00

After successfully sell over 25.000 units in European market, Suzuki SX-4 Crossover .. the first ever Suzuki's crossover is trying to make an entry to the most challenging rally championship, World Rally Championship.
This big leap, seems has been awaited by Suzuki after Suzuki Swift with 1600cc engine in Junior Class proven their existence with Per Gunner Andersson, Urmo Aava, Aigar Pars & Michal Kosciszko.

To enter the WRC 2008 season, Susuki has prepared the SX-4 WRC featuring 2000cc engine, 4 cylinders. Based on the ordinary SX-4 2000cc, Suzuki Motorsport only need to add turbocharger as per regulation plus adding more piston diameter and stroke. Also the engine is retuning to add more torsion in low rpm.

The WRC car also can be changed to be a 4x4 car, because special regulation allows Suzuki's technicians to cut the floor off to add a 4x4 system.

SX-4 WRC is a Suzuki Motorsport special project involving professional engineers inside its, specially Michael Nadan, a Technical Manager, an European Engineer that was born in Monte Carlo and has many experience in big WRC teams such as Toyota and Peugeot.

picture: via

Mitsubishi Car | Mitsubishi Colt R Version

2008-09-11T11:10:00.000+07:00

Mitsubishi Colt R Version is a crossover of a hatcback sport and small multipurpose vehicle, the forehead almost look like a Mercedes Benz A Class, but it more sporty in the lines and shapes.

Mitsubishi Colt R Version has a length dimension 3.925 m, width 1.695 m and wheelbase 2.500 m. With engine capacity: 1468 cc, 4 inline cylinders, 16 valves, DOHC, MIVEC and turbocharged!

With 5 speed transmission, the maximum power is 152 pk and maximum torque is 210 Nm at 3,500 rpm.

Mitsubishi Colt R Version

Mercedes Benz A Class

Mitsubishi Colt Version-R in Video

Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart Version-R

picture: via & via

Ford Car | Ford Mustang GT 500 1968 'Eleanor' - Wanna Drive it?

2008-09-11T11:04:00.001+07:00

Remember a 1967 Ford Mustang GT500 named 'Eleanor' in "Gone in Sixty Seconds" starred by Nicolas Cage? Now you can own another 'Eleanor' with US $115,900.00.

Unlike Eleanor in Gone in Sixty Second, this car is a Mustang GT 500 1968, was built a year later after Gone in Sixty Second Eleanor's. It is painted black-on-orange, overall impression of this car are stunning. Fully restored exterior, interior and engine.

Below are pictures of Ford Mustang GT 500 1968 Eleanor, and Ford Mustang 1967 GT 500 Eleanor 'Gone in Sixty Seconds'

Ford Mustang GT 500 1968 Eleanor

Ford Mustang GT 500 1968 Eleanor's Engine

Ford Mustang 1967 GT 500 Eleanor 'Gone in Sixty Seconds'

Interested to bid Eleanor? Then please bid!

VW Car | New DSG from Volkswagen

2008-09-11T10:39:00.001+07:00

Volkswagen has just released a new transmission system called DSG (direct select gearbox) with 7 speed, the latest generation of DSG clutch that is lighter, smaller, and more efficient compared the former DSG gearbox

The automatic gearbox that also can be shifted up or shifted down manually is called DQ200, using a dry double clutch that require less cooling system or even none. It's totally different from the predecessor (DSG 6 speed) that uses a wet double clutch that definitely need a cooling system and has more weight than the newly DSG 7 speed.

The newly DSG system also requires less power on shifting process, and servo clutch, hence will raise the fuel efficiency and engine performance. The double clutch also prevent engine rpm dropped on shifting process, so it will accelerate faster compared with a manual transmission car.

The first VW car to use DQ200 is Golf GT 1.4 TSI twincharger and Golf GT 1.9 TDI Diesel

his transmission system is cross attached inside the car compactly, with 7 kgs lighter than a conventional 6 speed transmission.

VW Car | See through VW car

2008-09-11T10:33:00.002+07:00

Check out this mystery mesh VW [via] - Link.

Related:

Make made transportation - Link.
Mod Your Rod: A collection of car hacks and mods - Link

VW Car | Car as a risk assessor

2008-09-11T10:22:00.002+07:00

Technology becomes more and more an improvement for car safety. Hopefully this works because the VW electronics in the Phaeton are not too reliable.

Cars may soon be smart enough to eliminate accidents at road junctions, thanks to top researchers.

A specially equipped VW Phaeton has proved technology can automatically spot potential hazards lurking at a busy crossroads and help the driver avoid collisions there. The electronics could be available as soon as 2009.

Laser radars in the front light clusters and a windscreen video camera capture masses of detail about the road up to 80 metres ahead. Computers in the boot then analyse the data, identifying lane markings, traffic lights, road signs, vehicles and pedestrians.

"On test, the system spotted all the dangers," said a spokesman. Dash lights and audible alerts warn of any risk, and the computer also works out the rights of way so it can tell if the driver is about to make a hazardous manoeuvre.

It will soon predict approaching traffic lights so the driver arrives on a green signal. BMW and Peugeot are also involved in the EU-backed project, with prototypes due next year.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, VW

Source: Auto Express

Hyundai Car | Cars For Retirees

2008-09-10T15:10:00.001+07:00

Cars are no longer just marketed to the hip segment of the market, to the fashionable, to the young, to the moneyed, the sports minded and to the sports-driven; car manufacturers take the needs of our retirees at the forefront as well. That’s right new cars that are designed right now are not just geared for the young; but these cars are geared for the ‘more mature’ segment of our society. The rationale is simple; to make driving easier and simpler for our retirees.

Right now, both Kia and Hyundai offer vehicles that can guide drivers with less-than-perfect eyesight. Perfect examples are the Hyundai Santa FE SUV and the Kia Sedona mini-van. Both models offer large climate and audio controls with stand-out text. The Acura brand also makes its one model retiree-friendly. The Acura RDX SUV features a driver seat that effectively adjusts to eight different settings. The pre-selected settings will effectively help drivers with limited range of motion in the upper body. These kind of amenities and features should come as a standards to up and coming vehicles since there is a growing market as well for our ‘retiree’ or the consumers that are aged 65 and older. In fact, according to the US Census Bureau statistics, more than 30 million licensed drivers are over 65 years old.

Forbes.com made a listing of what cars are best for retirees. They used a number of factors and these factors include crash-test safety ratings, safety measures such as the air bags, the driver’s seat position in proportion to the vehicle’s controls, the ease of egress and entrance and cargo space as well. So what cars made Forbes short list? At the top of the list is the Honda Odyssey. This vehicle scored high on safety ratings, an eight way power adjustable seats and there’s a sliding door for easy opening. Trailing the Odyssey are the Kia Sedona and the Hyundai Santa Fe. The Hyundai Entourage and the Honda CRV also made the cut.

The Honda Odyssey is a mini van that is produced by Honda and was first released in 1995. This van was available in three generations. There were two related but distinct Odysseys that were produced since 1999. The much larger Odyssey were sold in the North American market and the smaller ones that are sold in Japan and other markets. The Kia Sedona is yet another mini van from the Kia brand. The Honda CRV is a compact crossover SUV that is available in the market since 1996. The design of the CRV is loosely based from the Honda Civic so as to satisfy the need or the public demand for a sport utility vehicle coming from Honda.

Ford Car | 2008 Ford Expedition

2008-09-10T15:07:00.001+07:00

It’s presence cannot be brushed aside on the road. In fact its hefty size and its simple yet luxurious design is sure to get second glances on the road. I am talking about one of my fave SUV out there, the Ford Expedition. In fact this isn’t really an ordinary SUV that you see on the road, this is Ford’s flagship SUV. This is an SUV that features both power and comfort and put safety atop of its list. But then there’s a little drawback. Just like other SUVs out there, the Ford Expedition consumes a great amount of fuel. In fact the vehicle registers 12 mpg for the base model of the Expedition. Not a great vehicle to use if you would want a long distance drive the whole day. But taking this aside, the Expedition is one brawny and safe vehicle on and off the road.

Safety is one attribute that this SUV is proud of. The Safety Canopy System with rollover sensor is a standard and so does the AdvanceTrac and the 4-Wheel ABS. The standard AdvanceTrac with the RSC or the Roll Stability Control is actually a class exclusive and is included on the SUV as a standard. What the AdvanceTrac does on the vehicle is to effectively monitors the driver input, the road conditions and the slippage as well so as to deliver the right torque at the opportune time. The RSC system on the other hand is the one that measures the roll motion, applies the individual ABS brakes and in the process reduce the torque as well. The Safety Canopy is another great safety standard on the SUV. This system features 2nd generation side curtain airbags that can enhance interior protection in all three rows. What this means to you is that whenever an impact or an accident to occur, the vehicle has got you covered thru the Canopy system. This SUV is powered by the 5.4L Triton V8 engine. This engine can deliver 300 horsepower and 365 lb.-ft of torque. With this great power comes great towing capabilities as well. The power that is carried by the SUV actually gives the car a maximum 9,200-lb towing capacity when the vehicle is equipped with the available Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package.

The claim of the manufacturer that the Ford Expedition is a safe SUV is actually validated by the NHTSA rating. This SUV netted the highest 5-star rating for the past eight years. This is the highest frontal test rating for the drive and the right front passenger that was given by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the NHTSA. The extended-length version of the Expedition that was introduced in 2007 also earned the same ratings.

Lexus Car | Lexus LF-A to Compete with Ferraris/Porsches

2008-09-10T15:05:00.001+07:00

The Lexus LF-A is a concept vehicle of Lexus that integrates the simple elegance of the new Lexus design initiative with the racing-inspired racing. The concept also features sculpted curves and the fluid lines as well. The concept was re-launched in 2007 at the North American International Show in Detroit. When it was unveiled in early 2007, it was announced that the concept car will feature a V10 engine that can deliver more than 500 horsepower. This supercar was unveiled together with the other concept car, the IS-F. Though these two are different concepts, there is actually a similarity that runs in between them. Both used the designation ‘F’ and this label was initially conceived with the project Circle-F where F stands for flagship. The code was initially the name for the Lexus brand. This supercar was initially seen at the 2005 NAIAS; with an intention to be Lexus’ vehicle to traverse new grounds. All along, the Lexus is known for luxury cars but with the development and the introduction of these two cars, it is expected that Lexus is set to take a new direction. The design intention of the LF-A will run thru the lines of L-finesse. The car features a mid-engine and a rear-mounted transaxle and rear-mounted radiators that can allow for an excellent weight distribution. The F logo will be located on each front fender.

A Lexus LF-A prototype is now being tested, and as mentioned one of its intensive development is by way of the Nurburgring track. The prototype is a regular custmoer of the 22km track since the car has been seen in the area in recent months.

Nissan Car | The ‘Ring’

2008-09-10T15:03:00.001+07:00

No, this isn’t the movie. Though I really love that movie, the original version that is. I am talking about the strip that is so popular among tuners and car manufacturers. It’s name is oft-repeated when talks shift to car testing and development. I am talking about Nurburgring. I just did a little research on this strip since this name once again popped out when I did a small research on the Lexus LF-A. I also remembered this strip since I read that the Nissan Skyline GT-R was also tested here.

The Nurburgring is also named as the The Ring by the enthusiasts; and this race track is located in Nurburg, Germany. In its original form, the race track originally featured four track configurations. This race track as mentioned played host to a number of cars in production and most importantly played host to prototypes in development. The demanding layout of the tracks help car manufacturers probe their cars and prototypes. Some of the big names that used this site includes Nissan for their GT-R, Toyota for the Lexus supercar, BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Saleen and also General Motors. General Motors is new to the track and one of the very first models that was tested at the track is the Cadillac CTS-V and the fifth generation Chevrolet Corvette.

Murcielago Car : The Gas-guzzler?

2008-09-10T14:58:00.002+07:00

With rising petrol prices, some consumers are taking a step back and taking a good look at their situations at the outside. Who wouldn’t? Rising prices of oil means spending more for gas, while reducing the budget for other expenses. Owners of fuel efficient cars need not worry but for the owners of the so-called gas-guzzlers on the road this issue is sure to worry them a bit. One such car that is often labeled as a gas-guzzler is the Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640 roadster. A gallon of gas on this roadster can get you to only 8 miles in the city! The Murcielago post 13 miles per gallon on highways. Based on estimates, a driver of the Murcielago is expected to pay $5,025 a year in fuel costs.

The roadster version of the Murcielago. If enthusiasts can shell out more than $300,000 for this roadster, then perhaps the cost of fuel for a year that can help sustain the Murcielago won’t worry the enthusiasts too much?

The LP640 of Lamborghini was initially introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2006, and this model is modified for the coupe version. Performance and power is centered on the 6.5 Liter engine that can produce 472 kW. As with the base Murcielago, engine is mounted backwards. The body of the car is crafted from steel and carbon fiber. The vehicle also features a new 18 inch Herrera alloy wheels and the vehicle also retains the original car’s scissor-opening doors. When it was initially offered in the market, the LP640 coupe has a sticker price of $318,800. The term ‘LP’ actually stands for Longitudinale Posteriore that actually refers to the longitudinally-mounted engine.

The car above is the roadster. The new Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster was unveiled at the 2006 Los Angeles Autoshow. The car retains the same engine and the only design modification were the oil cooling vents behind the air intakes, interior changes and a reinforced body.

Chevy Volt |Tax-break for Chevy Volt?

2008-09-10T14:56:00.000+07:00

It seems that General Motors is laying the right ground work for expected arrival of the Chevy’s Volt. One news report suggest that General Motors is seeking a tax break for the Chevrolet Volt. The company is lobbying Congress to set up tax credits for the extended range electric vehicles, such as the plug-in hybrid. If some of the speculations are to be believed, the tax break on the Volt can take away anywhere from $3,000.00 to $7,000.00 off the vehicle’s sticker price. Though General Motors have not announced a fix pricing for the Volt, some reports suggest that the price could be pegged at $40,000.00. A spokesman for GM, Greg Martin said that when that tax break do happen in the future, it won’t solely be available and exclusive for the Volt. Any tax break that will benefit the Volt will surely benefit other similar vehicles that uses the same technology. Nissan, Toyota and Ford have been working with policy makers right now to ensure that a legislative language includes extended-range electric vehicles and other future green-tech vehicles. Toyota Prius enjoyed tax breaks as well and this were part of the company’s initial push for the product in the market. This is a step to help spur consumer acceptance of the hybrid. But not all hybrid may be covered by tax breaks, if indeed it will happen. One such vehicle that isn’t expected to be included is the Tesla Roadster. This $100,000.00 plus ride is a high-end niche vehicle.

The spokesman for GM added that no action on the petition is expected until after the presidential election in November. The vehicle is still on target for the expected 2010 production.

Ford Car | Quality Leaders: Ford and Toyota

2008-09-10T14:54:00.001+07:00

Based on the surveys and research conducted by Strategic Vision, Toyota and Ford tied for leading in the most segments on the Strategic Vision’s Total Quality Index. Both companies saw their models top three segments each. Toyota Motors lead with their Yaris for the small car segment, the 4Runner for the medium SUV and the Toyota Sequioa for the large SUV segment. Ford on the other hand sends Edge to top the medium crossover segment, the Mustang Convertible for convertibles under $30,000.00 and the Ford F-250/350 for the heavy-duty pickup segment. The survey done by Strategic Vision featured 19 different segments. Aside from the six already mentioned, the other segments include the small multi-function, medium car, the large car, the small specialty under $25,000.00, the near luxury car, the luxury car, convertibles over $30,000.00, minivan, small SUV, the near luxury SUV, the luxury SUV, the standard pickup and the large pickup. Aside from the noted winners from both Ford and Toyota, the results also net added leaders for the two companies. For Toyota Motor Sales, added leaders are the Scion xB and the Lexus RX 350 and for Ford on the other hand, its for the Mercury Sable and the VOlvo C30.

The Total Quality Index of Strategic Vision is considered as the premier measure of the new vehicle owner satisfaction. Buyers of these vehicles are asked to rate all aspects of their ownership experience that starts from buying and owning to performance and driving.

If the results provided for by Strategic Vision will be by brand, then BMW leads all brands, followed closely by Hummer, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Infiniti, Lexus, Land Rover, Cadillac, Lincoln and Volkswagen. By corporation count, Volkswagen AG leads all corporation with a total quality index score of 892 out of the possible 1,000 points. General Motors finished second as a corporation at 867 and GM is followed by Ford Motor and Honda that tied at 862. Toyota Motors gets the fifth slot with a score of 860, the industry average. The industry average actualy dropped. The figure was pegged at 864 in 2007. The decline, it was explained was because some vehicles fell short of the customer’s technology expectations.

The Total Quality Index score that is presented on the report was calculated from the responses of 20,655 buyers who bought 2008 models in September, October and November of 2007. Strategic Vision has been presenting the survey results annually since 1995.