Friday, July 27, 2007
2007 Honda CR-V: Something To Crave About!

Just this morning when I woke up, I suddenly felt the cravings for pancakes, hot chocolate and sausages! Good thing is, I have my mom to cook it for me! I had the breakfast ever! It’s like fulfilling something after you’ve worked for it for a very long time. It’s like pouring down coolants and fluids in to your Isuzu Amigo radiator!

So, aside for my cravings for sausages, pancakes and hot chocolate, there still this one thing that I crave about… do you want to know what that is? But I guess I’m not the only one who craves for this hot stuff. Everybody’s craving for it! It’s the 2007 Honda CR-V! The popular SUV returns with a total transformation on the outside and, of course, more added standard interior features. The 2007 Honda CR-V resurfaced with a lot of surprises to new car buyers.

The new CR-V goes along with the best convenient feature so far in an SUV. Starting off with the entertainment system, the 2007 CR-V is equipped with a 270 AM/FM/6-Disc Center-Console-CD Changer Audio System with 7 Speakers including Subwoofer, MP3/Windows Media®, Audio (WMA) Playback Capability, MP3/Auxiliary Input Jack, XM® Satellite Radio, digital Audio-Card reader, CD Text Display Capability and a Speed-Sensitive Volume Control (SVC)! Wow! Talk about class and convenience, the 2007 CR-V is bountiful of the coolest features there is!

Interior features also include Air Conditioning with Air-Filtration System, Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with Voice Recognition and rearview camera, power windows with auto-up/down driver's window, Power Door and Tailgate Locks, cruise control, tilt and telescopic steering column, leather-wrapped steering wheel, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, retractable center tray table, center console, driver's and front passenger's vanity mirrors, conversation mirror with sunglasses holder, instrument panel-mounted shifter, beverage holders, front and rear (8 total), 12-volt power outlets front / rear front / center tray / rear front / center console / rear upper and lower glove compartments under seat storage bin standard without navigation, door-pocket storage bins and a lot more! Whew!

Believe me when I say there’s more because standard features are pouring down into this awesome SUV, which I haven’t mentioned yet! Just wait ‘til you see one of these rides in the flesh!

Here are the safety features available in the 2007 Honda CR-V, courtesy of honda.com:

  • 3-Point Seat Belts at all Seating Positions
  • Front 3-Point Seat Belts with Automatic Tensioning System
  • Adjustable Front Seat Belt Anchors
  • Dual-Stage, Dual-Threshold Front Airbags (SRS)
  • Front Side Airbags with Passenger-Side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS)
  • Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor
  • Driver's and Front Passenger's Active Head Restraints
  • Advanced Compatibility Engineering™(ACE™) Body Structure
  • Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
  • Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
  • Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control
  • Brake Assist
  • Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
  • Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
  • Side-Impact Door Beams
  • Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
  • Child-Proof Rear Door Locks
  • Immobilizer Theft-Deterrent System
posted by Car Addict @ 1:02 AM  
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Toyota Hybrid Car Certified in Japan

The Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) revealed two new hybrid cars in Japan on a road test. The Japanese car maker said that this will be the first ever hybrid car developed by TMC for public roads in Japan.

The new car is named the TOYOTA Plug-in HV. This new car is citified by Japan for public road use. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport approved the new car. The Plug-in HV is also powered by a gasoline engine and electric motor. The new batteries installed on the new car can be charged using home electricity. The battery is also used only for short distance travels even if it is fully charged.

The new car will more likely run on electricity rather than gasoline because of its capacity to travel only short distances. This will result to a real time fuel efficiency with reduced Co2 emissions. This does not only save you from spending much on gasoline but it will also produce gases which are harmless to our environment. The battery charging only lasts for 1 hour. This is less time consuming - plus, it also helps you save your buck which you might have spent on gasoline.

The Japanese auto maker is also planning to bring the new hybrid car for a road test in both US and Europe. Meanwhile, check the specifications of the new hybrid car from Toyota.

Main Specifications of Toyota Plug-in HV

  • Vehicle Name: TOYOTA Plug-in HV
  • Length: 4,445mm
  • Width: 1,725mm
  • Height: 1,490mm
  • Weight 1,360kg
  • Seating capacity: 5 persons
  • Performance in electric vehicle mode Cruising range: 13km in the 10-15 Japanese test cycle
  • Maximum vehicle speed: 100km/h
  • Engine Displacement: 1,496cc
  • Maximum output: 56kW (76PS) / 5,000rpm
  • Maximum torque: 110N-m (11.2kg-m) / 4,000rpm
  • Motor Type: AC synchronous motor
  • Maximum output: 50kW (68PS) / 1,200 - 1,540rpm
  • Maximum torque: 400N-m(40.8kg-m) / 0 - 1,200rpm
  • Secondary battery Type: Nickel-metal hydride
  • Capacity: 13Ah (6.5Ah x 2)
  • Rated voltage: 202V
  • Overall system Maximum output: 100kW (136PS)
  • Voltage: 202 - 500V
  • Battery charging Power source: Household electrical power
  • Charging time: 1 - 1.5hrs (200V), 3 - 4hrs (100V)


*Based on TMC calculations; output that the system can achieve using engine power and electric motor power (electric motor power is dependent on battery power)

I found this news on theautochannel.com, the daily car online news that supplies the net with comprehensive daily data on the US car market. Check their site if you wish to read more news about this new hybrid.
posted by Car Addict @ 1:13 AM  
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Transformers Number One!

On its fourth week of screening, the Transformers movie still reigns at the Hollywood box office! Oh yeah! Sam, the Autobots and Decepticons have placed themselves in to the number one spot in behalf of DreamWorks Production, Paramount Pictures and Hasbro and they have been outperforming other blockbuster hits during this season! So why am I talking about this awesome movie instead of our usual engine parts and auto update conversations? Let me tell you this: cars and other cool vehicles have something to do with the Transformers’ success since it was first shown on cinemas last July 4, 2007.

Aside from the radical effects, great story and cool characters, the featured vehicles on the big hit film stood up and emerged as the major factors of that made people go crazy about the Transformers. To those who haven’t seen this movie or to those people who are not quite familiar with the vehicle alternates of the robots, let me give you refreshing bits about these characters.

Autobots

  • Optimus Prime (Peterbilt 379 truck): The intelligent and powerful Autobot leader who comes to protect humanity from the evil Decepticons.
  • Bumblebee (1969/2009 Chevrolet Camaro): A friendly explorer who develops a friendship with Sam and Mikaela during his efforts to find the Allspark.
  • Jazz (Modified Pontiac Solstice): Optimus' second-in-command, he is a small but acrobatic fighter. He is geared with magnetic hands.
  • Ironhide (Custom GMC Topkick C4500 pick-up truck): The hard-hitting weapons specialist of the group.
  • Ratchet (Search & Rescue Hummer H2): The team's medic and scientist. He has enhanced senses, distinguished from Sam's pheromones that he has the hots for Mikaela, He uses a gun and a saw.


Decepticons
  • Megatron (Cybertronian "jet"): The brutal Decepticon leader who desires power over the Allspark.
  • Starscream (F-22 Raptor): Megatron's second-in-command who leads the Decepticons in his absence. He was criticized for failing him repeatedly once Megatron returned that led to an uneasy relationship between the two.
  • Barricade (Saleen S281 Mustang police car): A Decepticon in cover of a police car that attacked Sam. On the back quarter pane of his vehicle form is written to “punish and enslave”, instead of “to protect and serve”.
  • Frenzy (GPX 2-speaker CD player, mobile phone): The smallest Decepticon who worked as a spy and a computer hacker who tracked Sam down. He is an agile fighter. Frenzy is armed with blades hidden as CDs from his chest.
  • Bonecrusher (Buffalo H Mine-Protected vehicle): He attacked Optimus Prime on the highway to Mission City to interrupt Optimus' arrival.
  • Blackout (MH-53 Pave Low helicopter).
posted by Car Addict @ 10:46 PM  
Friday, July 20, 2007
Ford’s Quality Keeps Getting Better And Better…

When I came across Ford’s web site to check on some latest news and updates, I was so happy to read an article about Ford earning another achievement! For the third straight year, Ford has improved its quality which outpaced the 2007 U.S. Global Quality Research System (GQRS) survey for the second quarter. 19 Ford Motor Company vehicles ranked as the top three for both customer satisfaction and the “Things Gone Wrong” (TGW) performance category. The Ford Edge, Mustang Shelby GT500, Explorer, E-Series vans, Lincoln Mark LT pickup and the Mazda MX-5 Miata ranked number one in their segments in the industry study while high-quality opened and landed the Ford Edge and the Lincoln MKX crossovers - once again number one!

Second-place winners for TGW performance and customer satisfaction include:
*Ford Freestyle: TGW performance, Crossover utility.
*Ford Expedition: TGW performance, Large traditional utility.
*Ford Expedition EL: Customer satisfaction performance, Large traditional utility.
*Ford E-Series: TGW performance, Full-size van passenger/cargo.
*Mercury Milan: TGW performance, CD car segment.
*Mercury Mountaineer: TGW performance, Medium traditional utility.
*Lincoln Navigator L: TGW performance and customer satisfaction performance, Large premium utility.
*Mazda MX-5 Miata: customer satisfaction, Sports car segment.
*Volvo S60: TGW performance, CD Premium car segment.
*Volvo S80: TGW performance, D Premium car segment.

Third-place winners include:
*Ford Fusion: TGW performance, CD car segment.
*Ford F-150: TGW performance, Full-size light truck segment.
*Lincoln MKZ: TGW performance, CD Premium car segment.
*Lincoln Navigator: TGW performance and customer satisfaction performance, large premium utility segment.
*Mazda MX-5 Miata: TGW performance, Sports car segment.

“We’re launching new products with quality, and our team is working hard to consistently build quality into the vehicles we’re delivering for customers. We’ve redoubled our commitment to deliver more products customers really want – with quality that rivals the best in the industry,” said Mark Fields, the president of The Americas, Ford Motor Company.

posted by Car Addict @ 8:17 PM  
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
2008 Mercury Mariner Hits A Homerun Online!

Guess what hot stuff amazes online shoppers right now aside from the awesome rims and other auto parts and accessories?

Online shoppers, consumers and new-vehicle buyers love the 2008 Mercury Mariner! The 2008 Mariner is creating enthusiastic reviews among consumers as it pleasures itself with a invigorating sales rate. The sales rate for the 2008 Mariner went up to an enormous 97 percent last month! That’s not all - the 2008 Mariner also helped Ford, Lincoln and Mercury crossovers to reach 83 percent which marks the biggest sales garnered in the industry’s best ever rising segment!

The 2008 Mariner is absolutely a big hit! As a percentage of trade-ins coming from other contenders' range of models, the 2008 Mariner magnetizes more new clients to Ford and Lincoln Mercury (except for the Ford Mustang) more than any brand.

The 2008 Mariner impressed customers with its totally redesigned interior and exterior. This ride showcased an updated safety package with a quieter ride and more sophisticated driving dynamics!

Let’s check out some of the consumer reviews of the 2008 Mercury Mariner as posted in three of the greatest automotive research sites - autos.yahoo.com, edmunds.com and autos.msn.com:

I Made the Right Decision - “Best car/SUV I purchased in the last 20 years. Great gas mileage, more than enough room in the back seat and cargo space is good. A lot of head room, so if you are tall, no problem. I switched from a Jeep Grand Cherokee and I like the Mariner much better. Smoother ride, less road noise, and better handling! Just a great SUV and you don’t have to worry about gas. It’s listed at 20-26; however, I am averaging 27.5 miles per gallon.” [posted by Midas on autos.msn.com]

Traded Up to an American SUV! - “I love the luxurious ride in my 2008 Mariner. The ride is smooth! Lots of nice features for the price, leather seats, dual temperature controls. I am enjoying the navigation system, Sirius radio, dual temperature controls. I can set the internal temperature. Many extras.” [posted by Maureen on edmunds.com]

Best Little SUV on the Market!!!!!! - “Recently I purchased a 2008 Mercury Mariner and I have to say I could not be happier with it. This is my second Mariner. The first one was a 2005 and I loved it so much, I just had to have the redesigned model. First of all, the ride is 100 percent improved over the old model. It is quiet and smooth and it handles much better. The navigation system is very easy to use and gives precise directions and the Sirius radio is great. You can put just about anything in that DEEP center console. I am 6’3” and I have plenty of head and legroom but the rear legroom can be tight and the quality of the interior is improved over the old model as well. I really recommend the Mercury Mariner to all.” [posted by Nick on edmunds.com]
posted by Car Addict @ 7:42 PM  
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Ford Denies Volvo Cars Potential Sale
If you are reading auto headlines these past few weeks, you might have been confused by now. Why? Because different companies are reporting different versions of the news. So is Ford really planning to sell all of its European brands including Volvo Cars? Let the Ford mirror enlighten us…

Reuters reported Sunday that Ford is considering selling its Volvo Cars business as it assesses the future of its European operations, a source familiar with the matter said on Sunday. The review of Volvo was still at a very early stage and may not result in a sale, the source told Reuters, adding that Ford had so far not hired financial advisers for the operation.

"Ford is not in discussions with any company to sell Volvo, however we are continuing to assess options for all our operations," a London-based spokesman for Ford said, while declining to comment further.

Last week, speculation about a Volvo takeover was fuelled by an interview with BMW Chief Financial Officer Stefan Krause in a German newspaper, who had not ruled out takeovers of other carmakers or brands, although he was also quoted as saying any talk of a bid for Volvo Cars was "pure speculation."

The speculation, however, lifted shares in Swedish truck maker Volvo around 5 percent on Thursday and analysts said that there was market confusion for a period as investors mixed up the Swedish truck maker with the Ford-owned auto maker.

Ford, the second-biggest US automaker, said it isn't in talks to sell its profitable Volvo Car Corp business, after reports in the UK and the US said the company may dispose of the Swedish unit.

Ford is not in "any discussions with anyone in relation to selling Volvo," Ford spokesman John Gardiner said in a telephone interview from London yesterday.

The London-based Sunday Times reported yesterday that Ford had decided two weeks ago to sell Volvo for as much as US$8 billion. The Sunday Telegraph, for its part, said that Ford was willing to listen to offers from potential buyers of the automaker and would make a final decision on whether to proceed after completing the sale of its Land Rover and Jaguar businesses.

Ford said last month that it was conferring with investment bankers about options for Jaguar and Land Rover. The Dearborn automaker is trying to restore profit after a record US$12.6 billion loss last year. The Sunday Times reported on July 8 that Ford set a deadline for Thursday for bids to buy Jaguar and Land Rover.

"We've had contact from third parties" about Jaguar and Land Rover, Gardiner said yesterday. "We continue to aggressively evaluate that level of interest." He declined to comment further on yesterday's reports in UK newspapers or to say whether there was a deadline for expressions of interest in Jaguar and Land Rover.
posted by Car Addict @ 1:25 AM  
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
2007 Mazda CX-7: Make Yourself A King Behind The Wheel

My car, my rules! You’re the captain behind the wheel or perhaps the king of your own vehicle! Isn’t it nice to feel this way while cruising down the city streets? Especially when you get to drive one of the industry’s premium vehicles like the Mazda CX-7!

It is very hard for us to find a car that offers the best features and quality that would make us feel like a royalty. I know everybody wants to be the king of their beloved vehicle, that’s why the CX-7 is built for people who dreams to experience the life of a royalty right at the very driver’s seat of this magnificent ride!

Talk about luxury, the CX-7 provides the best amenities and the convenience of a high-quality car without sacrificing all your fortune. The CX-7 is best suited for the average family and no other car has ever offered this kind of package to any car buyer except for the splendid CX-7. With all the perfect auto parts such as the Mazda cold air intake, the CX-7 promises a luxury ride and a fun-driving experience for you and for the whole family! Here. Experience what other auto experts have to say about the vehicle:

"Sports car or sport-ute? Spend a few hours behind the wheel of Mazda's new CX-7 and you might start to wonder. And with good reason, for while the Japanese maker's Miata and RX-8 are the classic examples of "zoom-zoom" engineering, the CX-7 is likely to make you forget you're driving a crossover." - www.carconnection.com.

"If Mazda keeps this up, it may just become my favorite car company. The Mazda 5 nano-van was already proof of intelligent life on the planet. The CX-7 now threatens every other pseudo-ute wagon. It has arrestingly original lines with Lambo-like windshield rake and tapered roofline. It turns rings around a Toyota Highlander with slop-free steering and stout body control. It cruises freeways without choppy ride of a Nissan Murano. The inside is spacious in the two-row class and the turbo four makes speed smoothly and with surprisingly low-end wallop." - Car and Driver

Here are some of the interior features that would surely make you feel like a royalty!
• 5-passenger seating capacity
• Cloth-trimmed seats
• Grand Touring leather-trimmed seats with sport stripes
• 6-way manual adjustable driver's seat
• 8-way power adjustable driver's seat
• Adjustable driver's seat lumbar support
• Heated front seats
• Reclining front bucket seats with adjustable headrests
• 60/40 split fold-down rear seatbacks with one touch remote operation
• Adjustable rear headrests for outboard seating positions
• 3-spoke steering wheel with cruise and audio controls
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Steering wheel with piano black spokes
• Bright finish interior trim
• Carpeted front & rear floor mats
• 4-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with Automatic Level Control
• 6-disc CD changer
• SIRIUS Satellite radio-ready audio head-unit
• 9-speaker, Bose® Centerpoint® surround system 240 watt with AudioPilot®
• DVD navigation system with voice command & touch screen
• Roof-mounted antenna
• Gauges: tachometer, speedometer, fuel level, and coolent temp.
posted by Car Addict @ 5:58 PM  
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Future Cars: What’s Next?

We always look forward to some things we are much interested in and when we do, we do it with great anticipation as well! Like when we talk about future cars, everybody’s paying attention!

Can someone tell me he or she doesn’t love cars? I guess everybody’s interested. Anyway, we can’t stop the world from bringing the best and the coolest cars in the industry today. We always think of what will soon pop out of the market. Our favorite models undergo changes, some of them emerge with a total make over and some has been though only a few. But the most important question is, what will be the face of the car of future? And that’s the thing we want to know. What should we expect from these cars? Will they rise as a totally changed vehicle or what? So many questions, and the answers will depend on the future.

Fortunately, we are allowed to have a sneak peek at the future vehicles. Thanks to motortrend.com because we are provided with the unofficial forecast of future vehicles. With this info, we will be all aware of what to expect from our favorite models.

Check out some of your favorite vehicles from the list and see if there’s a surprise that we should all look forward to:

2008 Models

  • BMW 1 Series - Debut
  • BMW M3 - Return
  • Buick Terraza - Discontinued
  • Chevrolet Malibu - Redesign
  • Chrysler T&C - Redesign
  • Dodge Caravan - Redesign
  • Ford Focus - Redesign
  • Ford Ranger - Redesigned or Discontinued
  • Honda Accord - Redesign
  • Hyundai rear-drive sedan - Debut
  • Jaguar S-Type - Discontinued
  • Jaguar XF Debut - Replaces S-Type
  • Kia rear-drive sedan - Possible Debut
  • Lexus IS-F - Debut
  • Lexus LF-A - Debut
  • Mazda B-Series - Discontinued
  • Mercedes-Benz SL-Class - Possible Redesign
  • Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution - Redesign
  • Nissan Frontier - Freshening
  • Nissan GT-R - Debut
  • Nissan Murano - Redesign
  • Nissan Rogue - Debut
  • Nissan Xterra - Freshening
  • Pontiac G8 Debut - Replaces Grand Prix
  • Saab 9-3 - Freshening
  • Saturn Astra - Debut
  • Suzuki Forenza - Freshening
  • Toyota Sequoia - Redesign
  • Volkswagen Tiguan - Debut
  • Volvo C30 - Debut
  • Volvo V70 - Redesign
  • Volvo XC70 - Redesign


2009 Models:
  • Alfa Romeo Brera - Freshening, US debut
  • Alfa Romeo Spider - Freshening, US debut
  • Aston Martin Rapide - Debut
  • Audi A4 - Redesign
  • Audi A7 - Possible Debut
  • Audi Q5 - Debut
  • BMW 7 Series - Redesign
  • BMW X6 - Debut
  • Cadillac BRX - Debut
  • Chevrolet Camaro - Debut
  • Chevrolet Impala - Redesign
  • Chevrolet TrailBlazer - Redesigned or Discontinued
  • Chevrolet Uplander - Discontinued
  • Chrysler 300 - Redesign
  • Chrysler Pacifica - Discontinued
  • Dodge Challenger - Debut
  • Dodge Charger - Redesign
  • Dodge Hornet - Possible Debut
  • Dodge Magnum - Redesign
  • Dodge Ram - Redesign
  • Ford Explorer - Freshening
  • Ford Fiesta - Debut
  • Ford Flex - Debut
  • Ford F-Series - Redesign
  • Ford Fusion - Freshening
  • Kia Sorento - Redesign
  • Lincoln Mark LT - Redesign
  • Lincoln MKS - Debut
  • Lincoln MKZ - Freshening
  • Mazda CX-5 - Debut
  • Mazda Kabura - Possible Debut
  • Mazda3 - Redesign
  • Mercedes-Benz GLK - Debut
posted by Car Addict @ 1:07 AM  
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