Auto manufacturers today pay much attention to the safety of passengers and their comfort. Such brands of worldwide reputation as Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW create their cars for a wide range of buyers: in these cars can drive both an adult and a child. For the latter the manufacturers equip the cars with special foldable seats and longer airbag curtains etc. By the way, children have been paid special attention to recently.

If you have a family it doesn’t mean that you have to run right now for a utility minivan. Nowadays there are much more stylish cars which are ready to supply its owner and his family with a spacious interior with a great number of boxes and door pockets for small articles and foldable tables in front seats, huge boot and a high comfort level.

At the same time the interior will boast good expensive leather and decor insertions from wood; your children will be able to entertain themselves watching cartoons on LED-screens, and the level of safety will be much higher than that of . A dream? No it isn’t!

The Americans from Forbes decided to conduct a research and make up a “hot” top 10 luxury-class automobiles which can be described as “safest and children-friendly.” I’m giving you the shorter version of that list excluding “pureblooded” American cars which are easily found only here (and are rarely accessible in other countries of the world).

The best “4-wheel friend of all the children” is by all rights 4WD “Scandinavian” – Volvo XC90. I think that it is simply useless to tell you something about safety standards of the Swedish company – I suppose any one knows that Volvo is ahead of the Planet in this very respect. I can only add that the SUV XC90 alongside the new business-class sedan S80 have been recognized as the safest models of the company from Goteborg. The car is equipped with special foldable pillows for children from 3 to 12 which enable them to sit higher.

All these devices have been installed in the car to make the stationary belts fit children. The Swedes treat the safety of their clients so scrupulously that they equipped the car with an electronic indicator that will alert the driver and passengers in case the air supplied by the climate-control of the car contains toxic elements.

 Answers to All Riddles: Top 5 Automotive FAQ

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The other day I was wandering what people want to know about the cars. I was really puzzled by the question, so I decided to find it out. To do it I visited Yahoo! Answers. There I found an incredible number of questions (and at the same time answers) which set me to laugh. The procedure of choosing the best answers to the given question is voting. If you are a member of the service you can vote as well. After the answers are given, the audience chooses the best of them and this answer is shown as “Best Answer.”

I have chosen the most peculiar (again to my own mind) of them and now I’m intending to show them to you.

So, top 5 most peculiar car Question-Answers on Yahoo! Answers:

1. Q. What is that thing inside of the car called? It has R D and N on it. What is that stick called again?

A. Shift lever

2. Q. aight im 17 i know how to drive but cant drive yet because i failed my test is it a turn off when a guy my age dosent drive??? i have a car and everything i just cant drive!!!!! Haha

A. just drive without license. women like guys who break the rules all the time.

3. Q. Can you teal me wat is the fastes car in the world

A. Probably one that can get to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds.

4. Q. Big HUGE Problem! Help Me Please!

i own an automatic 1992 325i i imported from japan. guys, i spent $3000 since last summer chasing this huge problem. i cant go anywhere with my car if i dont plan on staying 3-4 hours at that location. why? because when the engine warms up and i turn it off…i can immediately restart it. if i let the car sit for like 30 mins to an hour or so (enough that the engine cool down some)…i cant start my car for the life of me until 3-4 hours later. whats going on? this is a problem no mechanic has been able to fix even those who work and own a shop working on bmws . to make matters worse…no check engine lights or codes. i think after months of guessing that this might have to do with the transmission, i noticed while driving on step, i dont seem to have 4th gear. this is one of my many problems but this is the first problem i want to fix…i’d like to be able to start my car when ever i please damnit lol. besides its very embarrassing when a girl asks you for a ride and you have to tell her to wait 3-4 hours for the engine to finish cooling down
heres some symptoms….hope this helps:

1. used to be able to burn out while the engine was warm… now can only burn out when the engine is cold or just finish warming up.
2. noticed that i loose a handsome amount of power when the car is warmed up. after the car have been driven for a while pulling out on 1st gear seems like i left on 3rd (flooring the pedal after a red light
3. when driving on automatic, when i press the gas and let go then floor the pedal….it continues from where it left off. before when i do this, the car would go into beast mode for lack of a better word
4. um…o, when i start the car when the engine is cold, on park position and neutral position, the cars revs up and down up and down up and down for like 30 good seconds before it idle normally. when i start the car when the car is cold and throw the car into position one or drive, the idle dont go up and down and up and down like when on park and neutral
5. smell of gas when i start the car. and when i start the car after about 3 hours after it had been driven, it acts like it didnt want to start. i get bubbling noises and wierd idle and bad gas smell
6. o after driving for a while and park and throw my car into P i hear like a air or pressure lost noise.
7. change fuel pump, o2 sensor among other sensors including MAF, changed fuel filter. cant remember other things i changed right now

please speak english, i cant really talk car lol. first car owner. helppppppppppp!!!!

A. Sounds like a sensor or two is bad. IF the BMW dealership can’t fix this, then find another BMW dealership. I have seen computers go bad with no codes to go off of. Hmmmm.

5. Q. Can you list these cars in order by which one would get to a 100mph first? Car enthusiast opinion only?

I have 7 friends and everytime were are suppose to race somebody always backs out, yet they constantly talk trash. I guess some of them are afraid to lose, anyway we where going to race to 100mph and whomever got to 100 first would be the winner. I’m going to list all 7 cars and you tell me which one would win. Keep in my i’m the poor one out the bunch and i’m the only one that brought my car used. Car#1 2007 ACURA TL TYPE S- CAR#2 2007 CADILLAC STS 4.6 V8- CAR#3 2006 DODGE CHARGER RT DAYTONA(my car aka poor one out the bunch) CAR#4 2007 G35 SEDAN, CAR#5 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 V6, CAR#6 2007 PONITAC GRAND PRIX GXP, CAR#7 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER SS, CAR#8 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY SE V6, CAR#9 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 3.6 4MOTION SEDAN, CAR#10 2007 AUDI S4 4.2 V8 QUATTRO. None of these cars have any aftermarket parts except mines(cai, magnaflow exhaust) the other guy feel they their cars don’t need any aftermarket parts. I guess i would feel like that if my parents brought me a car lol.

A. What you need to do is research. Bring up the Car and Driver website, http://www.caranddriver.com and then look up each car. You’ll find the articles and performance numbers For example, The Acura you describe, goes 0 to 100 in 15.7 seconds (assuming the configuration in the Test Car they had).

A real drag to 100 mph depends upon more than just the car. If a manual transmission, the drivers skill has a lot to do with it.

Jeep Wrangler: The History. Part 2

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The basic version of Jeep Wrangler features a 6-cylinder petrol engine with V-shape cylinder layout (V6) with the displacement volume of 3.8 liters and overhead location of camshafts. The engine develops 146 kW and the torque of 315 Nm. Alongside the engine the power unit of the car features a 6-grade mechanic transmission or (comes as an option) automatic transmission.

In comparison to a 4-cylinder in-line engine (L6) which was installed on the predecessor of the current generation, the power for the 3.8-liter engine V6 increased and the fuel consumption decreased.

The new Wrangler can boast an ergonomic and comfortable interior. In the previous generation of the car it was torturous to seat on the rear seat for either one or two passengers, now the situation has been changed completely. The width of the interior has been increased by 9.9 cm (in the zone of passengers’ shoulders), and b 4 cm (in thigh zone) and the gap before the passengers’ knees has been increased by 3 cm. The driver and the front passenger won’t feel uncomfortable either because the car is equipped with cozy tight-fitting seats with high backs.

Jeep Wrangler is equipped with a new stiff top “Jeep”s Freedom Top” consisting of 3 parts: left and right front panels and the rear section. The sections themselves are made of light material so that a driver could make a convertible from Jeep in a few seconds alone.
Traditionally one can order a car with a soft top of the new construction “Sunrider”. The top can be folded completely or partially leaving a small hatch above the driver’s and front passenger’s heads (the size of the hatch is 132 by 76 mm).

New Jeep Wrangler is available in 2- and 4-door variants. The most affordable 2-door version with 3.8-liter engine and “Sport” variant of filling costs 31 200 euro. The version with the same engine but with 4 doors in the filling “Sahara” will cost 6 900 euro more.

The turbo diesel Wrangler in a 4-door body costs from 33 700 euro.

All Wranglers are produced at the Chrysler factory “Toledo South” in Ohio, US.

Jeep Wrangler: The History. Part 1

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The Successor

The brand Jeep has always been closely related to the history of WWII. Small open cars Willys which the USSR was supplied with by lend-lease have become legendary. Over 60 years have passed by , but even today one can talk about the great car with admiration. The car the pass ability of which a lot of modern SUVs can envy.

Last year Jeep announced the third generation of the legendary model Wrangler (type JK).

The new SUV Wrangler is a collaboration of experience and technology that have been accumulated by the company during long years of production. Despite the similarity with the previous generation in the respect of the body design, the current Wrangler has got a brand-new frame, more powerful engines and a spacious interior.

The frame that had been developed specially for the new car differs from the previous one by the figures of rigidity (flexural rigidity by 100% and torsional stiffness – 50%). The car’s suspension has been developed as well. For instance, the engineers optimized the ratio of absorbers’ characteristics during rebound stroke and pressure stroke; the sensitivity of absorbers has been increased. Moreover, the steering wheel geometric figures have been changed

Owing to these innovations the suspension “learned” to smooth body oscillations better and the the maneuverability and the precision of driving has increased many times. The driver will be assisted by ESP and a few other stabilization systems.

A number of owners of the cars of the previous generation often complained of the high noise level inside the car, which was frustrating and interfering during driving.

The new Wrangler is much quieter – the noise and vibration level inside the car has been decreased by approximately 20%.

For the first time in its history Jeep Wrangler has been given a diesel. It had been created by the company VM Motori which is partly a property of DaimlerChrysler. The engine is a 2.8-liter with 130 ponies and 400 Nm at 2000 to 2600 rpm.

The new engine works with a 6-grade mechanic or a 5-grade automatic transmission.

Priceless Humor: Auto Humor

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Don’t you think that automobiles can be humorous? I think they can! Moreover, it is not only driving scenes that can be funny but also the engineering or unusual car bodies. There is even such a genre “auto humor.” So take a look at this selection of funny auto pictures and laugh a hearty laugh.

New Double-Clutch Transmission for BMW M3

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BMW is releasing a new transmission

The created transmission with double clutch has been developed for a powerful engine and a high-speed car. The transmission makes its debut on BMW M3 coupe and BMW M3 cabrio. The gears are shifted without breaks in the power flow and torque. The driver can choose one of shifting modes himself (which is typical of BMW M-series). 7 gears insure the optimal gear row and guarantees incredibly fast acceleration.

The function Drivelogic gives an opportunity to use 11 typical (for M-series) shifting programs with electronic control. 5 of these programs – for automatic shifting mode, 6- for manual, including the program Launch Control necessary for maximal acceleration while unseating. The engineers have increased the effectiveness of the transmission control in the automatic mode. If you want you can choose sequential (cascade) gear shifting in the manual mode.

The 4th generation of constantly upgraded robotic transmissions for M-series provides the possibility of manual shifting. A considerable enhancement of dynamic features enables driving in a sport mode. The manual shifting is carried out with the help of a level-selector or under-wheel leafed switches. The system of control and setting of the transmission conforms to the requirements of M3-series. The moment of optimal shifting is shown by special light indicators.

The balanced mixture of the robotic transmission DCT М Drivelogic and a V8 engine stipulates a considerable improvement in the dynamics of BMW M3 acceleration figures. The car is equipped with an optional function “oversteering” at shifting to a lower gear.

A thoroughly thought over cooling system of the power fluid is a major factor of the absolute reliability and durability of the transmission DCT М Drivelogic even in racing conditions when it is exposed to extreme temperatures and loads.

The low-speed assisting system guarantees optimal comfort in maneuvers. The transmission hand brake is automatically switched on after the ignition is off.

In the substance of the new gear-box lies a task of further decrease of fuel consumption and the capacity of harmful emissions in comparison to mechanic and hydro-mechanic automatic transmissions of traditional construction.

Hybrid Drive or Four Wheel Drive in a New Fashion

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Farewell, petrol!

Each rise in petrol prices and toughening of the cleanness exhaust gases requirements pursue car manufacturers to develop economical and environmentally friendly vehicles. Thus is the 90s of the previous century, the company GM created a small batch of electro mobiles EV1, which were to become a pole in the history of car making. However, due to the high cost of cars, very modest power reserve (about 160 km) and the main thing was the absence of a generator which enabled the driver to move on dead batteries, the cars were unpopular. Ultima analysi the production was swerved and the exploited models were recalled and deconstructed.

Nevertheless, research and works on concepts on electric draft didn’t stop, and the potential was realized in the new concept-car - Chevrolet Volt. This 4-seat limousine of “muscular” build was the first car to be equipped with a new generation of electric transmission by GM. As the accumulator of electric energy the constructors used the modern Li-ion batteries which can be recharged with the help of a generator inbuilt into the petrol engine. The hybrid scheme of the power unit created be the engineers significantly increases a car’s run on a single recharge.

Thus, with completely charged batteries a car can cover up to 60 km. As soon as the hand of the ammeter reaches the red zone, the automatics starts the 3-clinder turbo engine with the displacement of 1 liter which in its turn start the generator. It should be mentioned that the automatics chooses the mode which makes the harmful emissions and fuel consumption as little as possible and the figures of power and torque are vice versa maximal. Owing to the refined work of the transmission the car shows miracles of economy.

Let me give you an example. Let’s assume that you live 50 km from your work – thus the average daily run of your car will be around 100 km. Taking into consideration that you have to start the engine (and the generator) to recharge batteries you will consume 1.6 liters to run these 100 km. Those lucky men who live closer than 30 km to their work can avoid using petrol at all. The major thing is to recharge the car when you come to work. The thing you’ll need to this is an outlet with 110 V. And what happens if the driver forgot or cannot recharge the batteries? Nothing awful. The hybrid drive enables driving the car for 100 km consuming 4.7 liters of petrol. And the trip on one filling will make around 1030 km (which is twice the trip of the traditional cars of the same class).

Still, hybrid drive is not the only means of economy. You can economize on fuel itself. Thus you can use mixture of 15% petrol and 85% ethanol as fuel for Chevrolet Volt. In perspective there is a possibility of creating hydrogen power units, bio-fuel diesels or petrol engines that work on ethanol.

Car Color Paint Samples: Which Colors are Popular Today. Part 2

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Returning to the automobile topic I would like the draw your attention to the fact that white has turned out to be the most popular color with Ford and Chevrolet buyers in the US. These brands can be considered the leading ones as the buyers of, for instance, Dodge choose red that is not as popular as white, and Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus and Cadillac clients prefer the traditional for prestigious cars black color.

White is also popular with commercial autos like, for example, rent cars, pizza delivery and other courier service cars. Still, in spite of all this silver color dominates the roads at the moment.

According to the research by the US transportation department, the average service life of a car in the US lasts for approximately 13 years. If you take into consideration this figure you’ll understand why silver color still dominates the market despite the unconditional winning of white in all the “battlefronts.” If an average car really has such a service life it will take at least 10 more years for white to dominate the car color market.

There one important detail: a number of opinion polls and scientific research prove that silver color is the safest color – the number of crashes featuring silver cars is considerably lower that with, for instance, red or yellow ones. Moreover, owners have less problems with silver cars when they want to sell them. It is obvious that the win of white is not a guarantor of “whitening” if the world’s auto transport.

Leatrice Eiseman, an award-winning color expert, said:

“The mind thinks of silver as a precious metal, like gold, but more attainable. For example, Swarovski crystals are very hot right now and their influence is everywhere. Silver glistens, glimmers and sparkles. There’s just something about the appeal of opulence.”

Surcina added:

“Gray is branching out of silver. Silver is brighter; it’s a technology-driven color. Gray is a fresh version of silver, and we’re seeing it infused with green, blue or even purple.”

Car Color Paint Samples: Which Colors are Popular Today. Part 1

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Just look at what cars we drive. No, do not look at what where the cars were made, but pay attention to the color. Continuous silver and black color. Total homonymy. But it seems that situation is about to change. After 7 years of silver being the “king” of colors, we have a new leader – white. It was white color that was able to overthrow silver from Olympus. The morning sun never lasts a day…

According to the research by the company DuPont, in 2007 for the first time during this century there were produces more white cars than silver ones. For instance, in the US 19% of all cars produced last year where either white (stock color without gloss) or pearl-white (metallic or other variations). At the same time 18% of cars produced during the same period were silver and 16% - black or black metallic.

White color achieved a convincing win in other countries like Japan and Mexico. However, in Europe black color won with a huge gap. Of course, it couldn’t have been the other way as a huge part of Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7-series fall on Russia where black has been the most popular color for dozens of years.

If you look at how the things are in other regions you can come to a peculiar fact: white cars dominate roads in Muslim countries (like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Iran etc.). First of all, white and green are the colors of Islam. The Muslims have special devotion to these colors. Secondly, almost all of these countries have a hot climate where the sun is active throughout the year – in such conditions the owner of a black or dark-blue automobile is doomed to exhausting torments and no climate-control will help.

White color has find its niche in the segment of luxury cars: in 2007 22% of all luxury-class automobiles were painted white. To tell you the truth, it still wasn’t able to come first here: here it had to share the pedestal with black. But the fact that black is now not the only leader speaks better than words. May be in the near future all the officials will drive white cars?

Now the previous leader in the segment of “people’s” cars silver has 22% from all the luxury cars produced on 2007. But times change and new ideals rise, as well as new colors become popular.

Karen Surcina, color marketing and technology manager for DuPont Automotive Systems, said:

“The auto market is further pushing the envelope in color, recognizing that as many as 40 percent of consumers are likely to switch brands if they can’t get the color they want. Advances in technology have allowed us to offer a much wider variety of colors and finishes than ever before. And, in a reverse from the past, the automotive market is inspiring other markets’ color choices, especially with its metallic and special effect finishes.”

Thus white gains more and more fans all over the world. It is typical not only for the automotive industry. Furniture, fashion, goods, industry – these are just a few branches where white has already become the leader.

Harmless Diesel Cars: BlueTec by Mercedes. Part 3

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Extra-clean diesels that work with AdBlue are relevant in the areas where the temperature never falls lover – 5-8C. It is comparatively warm European countries and the southern states of the US. For instance, in California which is ecologically anxious.

The Germans showed Mercedes-Benz Vision C 220 Bluetec in spring 2007 just a few weeks before the motor show in Geneva. The engine of the car matches Euro-6 requirements (which will come into use only in 2015).

Being aware of the disadvantages of the system, Mercedes had been preoccupied by the development of a system without urine. This is the way another variant of the system appeared. It was installed on Mercedes E 320 CDI Bluetec sedans and saloons. The developers went the other way – with the help of electronics they changed the character of admission in all the modes. And decided to subject exhaust gases to 4-stage filtration without using fluid reagent.

The new system consisted of a platinum oxidative catalytic neutralizer, anti black smoke filter and 2 SCR-catalysts which “fight” solely with nitrogen oxides. Car with this system are sold in the US only. By the way, Schwarzenegger’s state’s requirements are almost equal to the level Euro-5.

This is Mercedes E 320 CDI Bluetec with the sequential 4-stage exhaust cleaning system without urine. The fate of the car is quite peculiar because initially the car had been banned in California (due to the mismatching to eco requirements). However, having worked on their mistakes, the Germans broke through to the southern state’s market.

There is no doubt in the future of Bluetec. At the moment the world leader in producing such cars is Mercedes. By the way, Bluetec consortium once included VW, but the company decided to reject the usage of the technology. Nevertheless, the sales of the cars with Bluetec only start and it is very doubtful the Mercedes will be the only company to use the technology in production.

This year in Frankfurt Mercedes showed S-400 Bluetec Hybrid. The car is peculiar for its collaboration of 2 eco-technologies: hybrid drive and multi-stage exhaust cleaning system with AdBlue. Engineers’ struggles lead to the car’s matching Euro-6 requirements. And it is now not a secret that the experts from Stuttgart are getting ready to release ML 450 Hybrid and E300 Bluetec Hybrid.

By the way, Scania and MAN are working on the alternative solution to the problem. They promised to show V-shape diesel with the technology EGR which will meet Euro-5 requirements in 2008. However, it should be mentioned that Scania and MAN stress not the SCR-technology (like in Bluetec), but a more precise control of admission and catalytic system with recirculation (returning to combustion chamber) of exhaust gases.

Harmless Diesel Cars: BlueTec by Mercedes. Part 2

Harmless Diesel Cars: BlueTec by Mercedes. Part 1

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