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Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
اسعار سيارات بى ام دبليو فى مصر و السعوديه
اولا اسعار بى ام دبليو فى مصر
الفئه الاولى
تبدأ من 225 الاف جنيه
الى من 253 الف جنيه
الفئه الثالثه
تبدأ من 270 الف
الى 425 الف جنيه
الفئه الخامسه
تبدء من 485 الف
الى 685 الف جنيه
الفئه السابعه يوجد طرازين
سعر الاول يجاوز المليون جنيه
الطراز الثانى سعره مليون و 350 الف
ثانيا اسعار بى ام دبليو فى السعوديه
الفئة الاولى تتراوح ما بين 84000 - 119000 ريال
الفئة الثالثة تتراوح ما بين 118000 - 181300 ريال
الفئة الخامسة تتراوح ما بين 162800 - 216000 ريال
الفئة السابعة تتراوح ما بين 280600 - 453000 ريال
الفئه الاولى
تبدأ من 225 الاف جنيه
الى من 253 الف جنيه
الفئه الثالثه
تبدأ من 270 الف
الى 425 الف جنيه
الفئه الخامسه
تبدء من 485 الف
الى 685 الف جنيه
الفئه السابعه يوجد طرازين
سعر الاول يجاوز المليون جنيه
الطراز الثانى سعره مليون و 350 الف
ثانيا اسعار بى ام دبليو فى السعوديه
الفئة الاولى تتراوح ما بين 84000 - 119000 ريال
الفئة الثالثة تتراوح ما بين 118000 - 181300 ريال
الفئة الخامسة تتراوح ما بين 162800 - 216000 ريال
الفئة السابعة تتراوح ما بين 280600 - 453000 ريال
Friday, August 7, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
حمل الان احدث افلام عالم السيارات 4
حمل الان احدث افلام
عالم السيارات 4
Cars
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
تورنت
اضغط هنا
رابيد شير
الجزء الأول
الجزء الثانى
الجزء الثالث
الجزء الرابع
الجزء الخامس
الجزء السادس
الجزء السابع
الجزء الثامن
عالم السيارات 4
Cars
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
تورنت
اضغط هنا
رابيد شير
الجزء الأول
الجزء الثانى
الجزء الثالث
الجزء الرابع
الجزء الخامس
الجزء السادس
الجزء السابع
الجزء الثامن
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Nissan Unveils New Electric Car
Nissan Motor Co. Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn said Sunday he is not worried that the company's new electric vehicle will face stiff competition from hybrid cars offered by rival companies.
Japan's third-biggest car maker by sales volume will roll out the zero-emission car when its rivals are also increasing efforts to offer environmentally friendly cars, as emission regulations are becoming stricter and oil prices are also rallying back.
Nissan's domestic competitors, Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., earlier this year released their latest hybrid cars: Toyota's remodeled Prius and Honda's redesigned Insight. Nissan plans to offer Nissan Leaf at an affordable price, which it has yet to disclose. Its low-price electric car could compete with the Prius, the Insight or other hybrid cars. But Mr. Ghosn said that is unlikely to happen, maintaining that because electric cars emit no carbon dioxide, they are separate and distinct from hybrid cars and conventional vehicles, which both produce emissions.
"EV is nonsmoking," he said at a meeting with the media after the opening ceremony, calling conventional engines and hybrid cars "smokers" and "low-smokers." He added that hybrid vehicles are competitors to automobiles with conventional engines.
Even as Nissan focuses on electric cars, it also continues to develop and improve internal-combustion-engine technologies to use in hybrid cars and diesel-engine vehicles, Mr. Ghosn said.
Japan's third-biggest car maker by sales volume will roll out the zero-emission car when its rivals are also increasing efforts to offer environmentally friendly cars, as emission regulations are becoming stricter and oil prices are also rallying back.
Nissan's domestic competitors, Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., earlier this year released their latest hybrid cars: Toyota's remodeled Prius and Honda's redesigned Insight. Nissan plans to offer Nissan Leaf at an affordable price, which it has yet to disclose. Its low-price electric car could compete with the Prius, the Insight or other hybrid cars. But Mr. Ghosn said that is unlikely to happen, maintaining that because electric cars emit no carbon dioxide, they are separate and distinct from hybrid cars and conventional vehicles, which both produce emissions.
"EV is nonsmoking," he said at a meeting with the media after the opening ceremony, calling conventional engines and hybrid cars "smokers" and "low-smokers." He added that hybrid vehicles are competitors to automobiles with conventional engines.
Even as Nissan focuses on electric cars, it also continues to develop and improve internal-combustion-engine technologies to use in hybrid cars and diesel-engine vehicles, Mr. Ghosn said.
GM Said to Back RHJ Offer or Bankruptcy for Opel Over Magna Bid
General Motors Co.’S Opel unit may be forced into bankruptcy should the U.S. automaker and the German government fails to agree on a buyer, according to three people close to the trust that controls the division.
The trust’s five-member board doesn’t back an offer by Magna International Inc.; the Canadian parts maker preferred by Germany, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. They said the officials favor a bid from investor RHJ International SA or pushing Opel into insolvency.
“I’m surprised at that,” said David Cole, chairperson for the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan. GM is concerned that a Magna deal mights imperil control of some patents, one people said. Germany, which agreed with back Opel’s sale with 1.5 billion Euros ($2.1 billion) in short- term loans, picked Magna as its preferred bidder in May to protect jobs amid the worst recession since World War II.
The Opel trust was set up as an interim owner of the Russelsheim, Germany-based unit, and oversees talks with the suitors. It also has to approve any business decisions by Opel, including which bidder will win.
‘Soap Opera’
Opel’s fate “has been an interesting soap opera,” said Joseph Phillippi, an analyst at Auto Trends Consulting in Short Hills, New Jersey. Nicole Mommsen, a spokeswoman for the Opel trust, declined to comment and referred to a July 25 statement by the trust that it has not yet made a preliminary decision on the bids.
GM signed a non-exclusive memoranda of understanding with Magna in May. It has continued to hold talks with Brussels-based RHJ, whose automotive assets include some former holdings of Ripple wood Holdings LLC. With the Magna deal at risk, bankruptcy becomes the options while Detroit-based GM still prefers a sale.
“We simply cannot move foreword on the bid presented by Magna, a bid that is substantially out of line with the memorandum of understanding the government endorsed, and we are working with Magna to get the bid to a level that can be executed.”
GM’s board will review bids for Opel during a meeting starting Aug. 3, people familiar with the planning have said. The trust will gather to discuss the bids the following week, said two of the people. The directors of the trust, chaired by Fred Irwin, are Dirk Pfeil, a former state lawmaker who now represents Germany’s four states with Opel plants; Manfred Wennemer, a former Continental AG chief executive officer, who represents the German federal government; Enrico Digirolamo, chief financial officer of GM Europe; and GM’s negotiator, John Smith.
The trust owns 65 percent of Opel, with GM holding the remaining 35 percent.
Meg Reilly, a Treasury spokeswoman in Washington, declined to comment on Opel. Arnaud Denis, a spokesman for RHJ; Daniel Witzani, a spokesman for Aurora, Ontario-based Magna; and Ulrich Wilhelm, a spokesman for the German government, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
A government-sponsored study by Lazard Ltd., the U.S. investment bank advising Germany on the Opel sale, showed that RHJ’s offer is superior, said one of the people. Lazard spokeswoman Judi Mackey declined to comment.
Magna’s bid is preferred by labor unions, German state governments and the Social Democratic rivals of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who faces Sept. 27 elections.
The trust’s five-member board doesn’t back an offer by Magna International Inc.; the Canadian parts maker preferred by Germany, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. They said the officials favor a bid from investor RHJ International SA or pushing Opel into insolvency.
“I’m surprised at that,” said David Cole, chairperson for the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan. GM is concerned that a Magna deal mights imperil control of some patents, one people said. Germany, which agreed with back Opel’s sale with 1.5 billion Euros ($2.1 billion) in short- term loans, picked Magna as its preferred bidder in May to protect jobs amid the worst recession since World War II.
The Opel trust was set up as an interim owner of the Russelsheim, Germany-based unit, and oversees talks with the suitors. It also has to approve any business decisions by Opel, including which bidder will win.
‘Soap Opera’
Opel’s fate “has been an interesting soap opera,” said Joseph Phillippi, an analyst at Auto Trends Consulting in Short Hills, New Jersey. Nicole Mommsen, a spokeswoman for the Opel trust, declined to comment and referred to a July 25 statement by the trust that it has not yet made a preliminary decision on the bids.
GM signed a non-exclusive memoranda of understanding with Magna in May. It has continued to hold talks with Brussels-based RHJ, whose automotive assets include some former holdings of Ripple wood Holdings LLC. With the Magna deal at risk, bankruptcy becomes the options while Detroit-based GM still prefers a sale.
“We simply cannot move foreword on the bid presented by Magna, a bid that is substantially out of line with the memorandum of understanding the government endorsed, and we are working with Magna to get the bid to a level that can be executed.”
GM’s board will review bids for Opel during a meeting starting Aug. 3, people familiar with the planning have said. The trust will gather to discuss the bids the following week, said two of the people. The directors of the trust, chaired by Fred Irwin, are Dirk Pfeil, a former state lawmaker who now represents Germany’s four states with Opel plants; Manfred Wennemer, a former Continental AG chief executive officer, who represents the German federal government; Enrico Digirolamo, chief financial officer of GM Europe; and GM’s negotiator, John Smith.
The trust owns 65 percent of Opel, with GM holding the remaining 35 percent.
Meg Reilly, a Treasury spokeswoman in Washington, declined to comment on Opel. Arnaud Denis, a spokesman for RHJ; Daniel Witzani, a spokesman for Aurora, Ontario-based Magna; and Ulrich Wilhelm, a spokesman for the German government, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
A government-sponsored study by Lazard Ltd., the U.S. investment bank advising Germany on the Opel sale, showed that RHJ’s offer is superior, said one of the people. Lazard spokeswoman Judi Mackey declined to comment.
Magna’s bid is preferred by labor unions, German state governments and the Social Democratic rivals of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who faces Sept. 27 elections.
Honda expands recall of driver's air bag
A safety recall of the driver's air bag in certain Honda vehicles is being expanded to include more vehicles.
The recall now involves certain 2001-2002 Honda Accords, 2001 Civics and 2002-2003 Acura TL's. The recall is due to a potential defect in the airbag's inflation system.
Acura is Honda's luxury brand.
American Honda Motor Co. said Friday that 440,000 additional vehicles are included in the expanded recall, which will requires the replacement of the driver's steering-wheel-mounted air bag inflator. The recall initially began in November 2008.
In some vehicles, air bag inflators can produce over-pressurization of the driver's front air bag inflator mechanism during air bag deployment. If an effected inflator deploys, the increased internal pressure may cause the inflator casing to rupture.
According to a statement from Honda, metal fragments could pass through the cloth air bag cushion material, possibly causing an injury or fatality to vehicle occupants.
The recall now involves certain 2001-2002 Honda Accords, 2001 Civics and 2002-2003 Acura TL's. The recall is due to a potential defect in the airbag's inflation system.
Acura is Honda's luxury brand.
American Honda Motor Co. said Friday that 440,000 additional vehicles are included in the expanded recall, which will requires the replacement of the driver's steering-wheel-mounted air bag inflator. The recall initially began in November 2008.
In some vehicles, air bag inflators can produce over-pressurization of the driver's front air bag inflator mechanism during air bag deployment. If an effected inflator deploys, the increased internal pressure may cause the inflator casing to rupture.
According to a statement from Honda, metal fragments could pass through the cloth air bag cushion material, possibly causing an injury or fatality to vehicle occupants.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
Honda recalls another 440,000 vehicles
Honda Motor Co. said Friday it widened a previously announced recall to add 440,000 cars that could have a lethal airbag defect.
Affected models include the 2001-2002 Honda Accord, 2001 Civic and 2002-2003 Acura TL.
The potential defect has caused 6 known injuries and one known death, according to Honda spokesman Chris Naughton.
The recall will require the driver's side steering-wheel-mounted airbag inflator to be replaced.
In some cars, the airbag inflators may over-pressurize the inflator mechanism as the airbag is deploying, which could cause the inflator casing to rupture, according to Honda. As a result the carmaker said, "Metal fragments could pass through the cloth airbag cushion material, possibly causing an injury or fatality to vehicle occupants."
In the meantime, Honda owners can log onto the Web site www.owners.honda.com/recalls and click on the "Owner Link" to get a status of their recall. Acura owners should go to www.owners.acura.com/recalls and click on the "My Acura" link. Honda recalls another 440,000 vehicles
Affected models include the 2001-2002 Honda Accord, 2001 Civic and 2002-2003 Acura TL.
The potential defect has caused 6 known injuries and one known death, according to Honda spokesman Chris Naughton.
The recall will require the driver's side steering-wheel-mounted airbag inflator to be replaced.
In some cars, the airbag inflators may over-pressurize the inflator mechanism as the airbag is deploying, which could cause the inflator casing to rupture, according to Honda. As a result the carmaker said, "Metal fragments could pass through the cloth airbag cushion material, possibly causing an injury or fatality to vehicle occupants."
In the meantime, Honda owners can log onto the Web site www.owners.honda.com/recalls and click on the "Owner Link" to get a status of their recall. Acura owners should go to www.owners.acura.com/recalls and click on the "My Acura" link. Honda recalls another 440,000 vehicles
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Mercedes-Benz claim S-Class best car in the USA
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is, according to Mercedes, regarded by consumers as the best car available in the US market.
In an exhaustive customer survey the Mercedes-Benz S-Class was awarded the highest number of overall points for the third time running, and takes not only the best car in its’ segment, but also, Mercedes argue, for the entire US market.
The 2009 APEAL study, which stands for "Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study" by the market research institute J. D. Power, examined how satisfied car buyers were with their new cars after driving them for three months between December 2008 and February 2009.
Roughly 81,000 new car buyers then delivered verdicts on a variety of aspects in a detailed questionnaire. These aspects included: driving characteristics, exterior and interior design, operating functionality, stowage space, but also such issues as the noise made when closing the doors.
Where 1000 points was the maximum achievable, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class scored 887 points – the highest number in any of the categories. Mercedes claim that “this makes the luxury saloon the best car in the US market, as well as the measure of all things in the large premium car segment.”
According to the J.D Power website, “The average APEAL score for all models in 2009 has improved considerably to 779 from 770 in 2008, driven primarily by increased owner satisfaction with fuel economy. First, fuel prices have decreased significantly during the past year, which has reduced owner concerns about gas mileage. Third, automakers are designing models to be more fuel efficient than their predecessors.
The company state that some of the big improvements in vehicle satisfaction reports come from domestic products, particularly from Dodge, Pontiac, Buick and Cadillac. For American consumers wanting to stay with American products, the company reports the following good news:
“The overall gap in APEAL scores between domestic and import models has narrowed considerably during the past several years and is just five index points in 2009, compared with 15 points in 2008 and 27 points in 2007. Among premium models, import nameplates retain a slight edge, while among non-premium models; domestic brands have a similar edge.”
It means domestic manufacturers are heeding the demands of American consumers and are catching up to their international cousins in terms of general build quality and performance. The S-Class’s impressive overall score can't be ignored and Mercedes' claim for best car in the luxury segment is definitely well deserved.
In an exhaustive customer survey the Mercedes-Benz S-Class was awarded the highest number of overall points for the third time running, and takes not only the best car in its’ segment, but also, Mercedes argue, for the entire US market.
The 2009 APEAL study, which stands for "Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study" by the market research institute J. D. Power, examined how satisfied car buyers were with their new cars after driving them for three months between December 2008 and February 2009.
Roughly 81,000 new car buyers then delivered verdicts on a variety of aspects in a detailed questionnaire. These aspects included: driving characteristics, exterior and interior design, operating functionality, stowage space, but also such issues as the noise made when closing the doors.
Where 1000 points was the maximum achievable, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class scored 887 points – the highest number in any of the categories. Mercedes claim that “this makes the luxury saloon the best car in the US market, as well as the measure of all things in the large premium car segment.”
According to the J.D Power website, “The average APEAL score for all models in 2009 has improved considerably to 779 from 770 in 2008, driven primarily by increased owner satisfaction with fuel economy. First, fuel prices have decreased significantly during the past year, which has reduced owner concerns about gas mileage. Third, automakers are designing models to be more fuel efficient than their predecessors.
The company state that some of the big improvements in vehicle satisfaction reports come from domestic products, particularly from Dodge, Pontiac, Buick and Cadillac. For American consumers wanting to stay with American products, the company reports the following good news:
“The overall gap in APEAL scores between domestic and import models has narrowed considerably during the past several years and is just five index points in 2009, compared with 15 points in 2008 and 27 points in 2007. Among premium models, import nameplates retain a slight edge, while among non-premium models; domestic brands have a similar edge.”
It means domestic manufacturers are heeding the demands of American consumers and are catching up to their international cousins in terms of general build quality and performance. The S-Class’s impressive overall score can't be ignored and Mercedes' claim for best car in the luxury segment is definitely well deserved.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Magna Changes Final Offer For Opel
Magna has changed its final offer for General Motors Co.'s German unit Adam Opel GmbH and is now willing to provide more capital initially than previously planned, a government official who declined to be named told Dow Jones Newswires Tuesday.
Magna and its Russian partners still intend to invest a total of EUR500 million of their own money in Opel, but are now willing to provide EUR350 million when signing the deal and then EUR150 million in convertible bonds.
Magna was not immediately available for comment. A spokesman for GM Europe declined to comment.
Previously, Magna and its partners had offered EUR100 million to be paid on signing the deal and EUR400 million in loans, which would gradually be transformed into equity capital.
"Magna is now willing to enter risks earlier than previously planned," said the official.
U.S. automaker GM is still in talks with Magna and Belgian investment group RHJ International SA (RHJI.BT) over a takeover of Opel/Vauxhall. Final bids were submitted to the carmaker July 20. Magna and RHJ remain in the bidding races while Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. Ltd. recently dropped out.
The German federal and state governments have a say in Opel because all bidders have requested state aid for the carmaker. The federal government has repeatedly called on the bidders to provide more of their own capital.
The German federal government, as well as those German states with Opel production sites, wants Magna to win the bid because they expect the car supplier to have a long-term interest in Opel while GM seems to favor RHJ.
Magna and its Russian partners still intend to invest a total of EUR500 million of their own money in Opel, but are now willing to provide EUR350 million when signing the deal and then EUR150 million in convertible bonds.
Magna was not immediately available for comment. A spokesman for GM Europe declined to comment.
Previously, Magna and its partners had offered EUR100 million to be paid on signing the deal and EUR400 million in loans, which would gradually be transformed into equity capital.
"Magna is now willing to enter risks earlier than previously planned," said the official.
U.S. automaker GM is still in talks with Magna and Belgian investment group RHJ International SA (RHJI.BT) over a takeover of Opel/Vauxhall. Final bids were submitted to the carmaker July 20. Magna and RHJ remain in the bidding races while Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. Ltd. recently dropped out.
The German federal and state governments have a say in Opel because all bidders have requested state aid for the carmaker. The federal government has repeatedly called on the bidders to provide more of their own capital.
The German federal government, as well as those German states with Opel production sites, wants Magna to win the bid because they expect the car supplier to have a long-term interest in Opel while GM seems to favor RHJ.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Summer Driving Tips
* Tires -- To help prevent dangerous and inconvenient tire failure, examine tires for uneven or excessive tread wear. * Belt, Hoses and Fluids -- With the engine off, look for worn or cracked belts and damaged, blistered or soft hoses. Inspect the antifreeze/coolant level and condition, making certain the proper 50/50 mixture of water, and coolant is present.
* Motor Oil -- Check motor oil level and condition. If driving under extreme conditions, such as very hot temperatures or towing a heavy trailer, switch to motor oil with higher viscosity. Check the owner's manual for specific oil recommendations.
* Air Conditioning -- A properly working air conditioning system also will help motorists keep their cool in summer heat. * Emergency Kit -- Because even properly maintained vehicles can break down, AAA Minneapolis advises motorists to equip their vehicle with an emergency kit containing at least the following items: A flashlight with extra batteries, warning devices such as flares or reflective triangles, jumper cables, a first-aid kit, and a cellular phone to summon emergency assistance.
* Motor Oil -- Check motor oil level and condition. If driving under extreme conditions, such as very hot temperatures or towing a heavy trailer, switch to motor oil with higher viscosity. Check the owner's manual for specific oil recommendations.
* Air Conditioning -- A properly working air conditioning system also will help motorists keep their cool in summer heat. * Emergency Kit -- Because even properly maintained vehicles can break down, AAA Minneapolis advises motorists to equip their vehicle with an emergency kit containing at least the following items: A flashlight with extra batteries, warning devices such as flares or reflective triangles, jumper cables, a first-aid kit, and a cellular phone to summon emergency assistance.
Sports Car Rental
Sports car rental options allow you to drive the car of your dreams without actually having to own one. Why rent a sports car, you ask? There are as many reasons as there are sports cars to rent.
Renting a sports car can be a great way to add spice to your next date night. What sports cars can you rent? Here is a sample of some of the most popular sport rentals.
Ferrari 360 Spider
The Ferrari name evokes images of pure power, aggressive lines and the smell of burning rubber. The Ferrari 360 Spider features a mid-mounted, 400-horsepower 3.6-liter V8, as well as convertible style and flare. Lamborghini Gallardo
Like Ferrari, the Lamborghini name evokes images of powerful performance and head-turning good looks. The Gallardo offers a 5-liter V10 capable of producing 520 horsepower (in the SE version). This exotic sports car will turn heads no matter where you go to give you the fix of power and performance that you demand. The six-speed transmission and "thrust" gear offers increased performance, while the unmistakable body lines provide you with the racecar feel you crave.
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 has long been a mainstay of the sports car world. Debuting in 1963, the 911 has undergone numerous transformations. The current incarnation offers 355 horsepower from a Flat six engine mounted in the rear. Turbo versions of the 911 are available for those with an insatiable need for speed.
Ford GT
The current GT produces 550 horsepower from a 5.4-liter V8 and features the highly recognizable body style, combined with racing stripes down the center of the vehicle.
Renting a sports car can be a great way to add spice to your next date night. What sports cars can you rent? Here is a sample of some of the most popular sport rentals.
Ferrari 360 Spider
The Ferrari name evokes images of pure power, aggressive lines and the smell of burning rubber. The Ferrari 360 Spider features a mid-mounted, 400-horsepower 3.6-liter V8, as well as convertible style and flare. Lamborghini Gallardo
Like Ferrari, the Lamborghini name evokes images of powerful performance and head-turning good looks. The Gallardo offers a 5-liter V10 capable of producing 520 horsepower (in the SE version). This exotic sports car will turn heads no matter where you go to give you the fix of power and performance that you demand. The six-speed transmission and "thrust" gear offers increased performance, while the unmistakable body lines provide you with the racecar feel you crave.
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 has long been a mainstay of the sports car world. Debuting in 1963, the 911 has undergone numerous transformations. The current incarnation offers 355 horsepower from a Flat six engine mounted in the rear. Turbo versions of the 911 are available for those with an insatiable need for speed.
Ford GT
The current GT produces 550 horsepower from a 5.4-liter V8 and features the highly recognizable body style, combined with racing stripes down the center of the vehicle.
How to Properly Repair Paint Chips
The repair of a scratch and a chip is the same. A scratch is merely a chip on uni-directional steroids. Touchup or color matched paint
Compatible primer - I like Worth Ruston primer
Organic cleaner - P21S Total Auto Wash or Worth Citrus Degreaser
Solvent - Rubbing Alcohol or Prep sol or Enamel Reducer
3M Imperial Hand Glaze
Sanding Block 2000 grit
Car wash
600 grit wet/dry sandpaper
Round undid wooden toothpicks
Large lightweight cardboard boxes (large shoe box or bigger)
Several 100% cotton towels
New Pencils with unused erasers
Rubber glue
Several heavy clean plastic cups
Roll of quality paint masking tape
Paint chip repair is a learned skill and should be practiced on an area of the car that is not that visible. Test all cleaners or solvents on the paint before usage. Apply a little cleaner or solvent to a clothe and rub the seam. If you do not get any color on the rag, then the cleaner/solvent should be safe for the paint. CHIP REPAIR STEPS:
2. Step #1: Wash the car with a high quality car wash and dry thoroughly.
3. Paint chips come in two flavors. If there is rust on the exposed metal, clean off with the pencil eraser. If you do not feel comfortable with sanding or your paint is one of the new clear-coated finishes, you should jump to step number 5. Take a new pencil/sandpaper tool, dip into clean water and put the few drops of water on the chip area. *SLIGHTLY* rough up the chip and a small portion of the surrounding paint. Keep the roughed up area as small as possible, the object is to give the new paint about one mm of old paint to "grab" around the perimeter of the chip and not dig scratches.
Depending on the amount of time available, you may wish to tackle 10-20 chips at one time. Use additional solvent and new area of the rag for each chip. 6. If the original primer is intact, and "pencil sanding" does not disturb the primer, then skip the next step and go directly to painting (# 9)
7. Make sure that the chip and surrounding area is clean. If not, recline with the Prepsol, Alcohol or Enamel Reducer. Pour or spray a small amount of primer into a clean plastic cup. Dip the point of a wooden toothpick into the primer to get a thin coating on the first 1-2 mm of the toothpick. If there is a blob on the end, gently scrape it back into the cup. Place the tip of the toothpick against the center of the chip and allow capillary action to literally flow a *THIN* coat of the primer into the depression of the chip. Move onto the next prepared chip. Apply another thin coat of primer to each repair that needs primer. Priming is completed when no metal is visible and the level of the primer is *BELOW* the level of the surrounding paint. Cover and allow drying for two hours or until dry.
8. Apply a small amount of Alcohol or Prepsol or Enamel Reducer to a rag and wipe the chip and surrounding area to remove any sanding dust and grease/oils. Allow to dry. Repeat for all the chips that are on today's list of victims.
9. If you are using a touchup, shake the bottle thoroughly. If you are using color-matched paint, mix thoroughly and pour a small amount into a clean plastic cup.
10. Dip the point of a new toothpick into the paint to get a thin coating on the first 1-2 mm of the toothpick. Place the tip of the toothpick against the center of the chip and allow capillary action to literally flow the paint into the depression of the chip. Repeat for each chip. Do not redo the toothpick. Fight it!
11. Cover with your paint box and allow to dry two hours and repeat 8-12 times till the depression is filled with paint and bulges slightly upward and covers the roughed up area with a thin coating of paint. 12. The paint application is completed when the new paint bulges slightly upward (a fraction of a millimeter) and had covered the roughed up area with a thin coat of new paint. Allow the paint to dry for at least a week.
13. The touchup paint has been applied to the surface and allowed to dry for at least one week, and resembles a minute mound on the flat plane of the existing paint. The object is to remove the mound and make the surface of the paint one continual flat plane. The Finesse Block offers the ability gently to remove only the high spot of the repair. 14. Soak the Finesse Block in clean water for 24 hours before use. Put a small drop of car wash on the chip repair. Then gently "plane" the high spot on the paint. If the block dries out, re-wet and continue use. I prefer 3M Imperial Hand Glaze. Circles are many times the cause of "swirl marks." Buff out with a soft cotton clothe. If it looks good, wax with a quality hard wax and you are done.
16. Tip for applying wax. If you are using a quality Carnauba based wax, try applying it with your fingers instead of a pad or clothe. If grit should lodge under your fingers, you will know immediately and not grind it into the paint. A pad will not allow this tactile feedback and these devil grits become sandpaper. A circular motion of these pad wills make a 360-degree swirl mark. All marks those paints are most visible at a 90 degree viewing angle.
Compatible primer - I like Worth Ruston primer
Organic cleaner - P21S Total Auto Wash or Worth Citrus Degreaser
Solvent - Rubbing Alcohol or Prep sol or Enamel Reducer
3M Imperial Hand Glaze
Sanding Block 2000 grit
Car wash
600 grit wet/dry sandpaper
Round undid wooden toothpicks
Large lightweight cardboard boxes (large shoe box or bigger)
Several 100% cotton towels
New Pencils with unused erasers
Rubber glue
Several heavy clean plastic cups
Roll of quality paint masking tape
Paint chip repair is a learned skill and should be practiced on an area of the car that is not that visible. Test all cleaners or solvents on the paint before usage. Apply a little cleaner or solvent to a clothe and rub the seam. If you do not get any color on the rag, then the cleaner/solvent should be safe for the paint. CHIP REPAIR STEPS:
2. Step #1: Wash the car with a high quality car wash and dry thoroughly.
3. Paint chips come in two flavors. If there is rust on the exposed metal, clean off with the pencil eraser. If you do not feel comfortable with sanding or your paint is one of the new clear-coated finishes, you should jump to step number 5. Take a new pencil/sandpaper tool, dip into clean water and put the few drops of water on the chip area. *SLIGHTLY* rough up the chip and a small portion of the surrounding paint. Keep the roughed up area as small as possible, the object is to give the new paint about one mm of old paint to "grab" around the perimeter of the chip and not dig scratches.
Depending on the amount of time available, you may wish to tackle 10-20 chips at one time. Use additional solvent and new area of the rag for each chip. 6. If the original primer is intact, and "pencil sanding" does not disturb the primer, then skip the next step and go directly to painting (# 9)
7. Make sure that the chip and surrounding area is clean. If not, recline with the Prepsol, Alcohol or Enamel Reducer. Pour or spray a small amount of primer into a clean plastic cup. Dip the point of a wooden toothpick into the primer to get a thin coating on the first 1-2 mm of the toothpick. If there is a blob on the end, gently scrape it back into the cup. Place the tip of the toothpick against the center of the chip and allow capillary action to literally flow a *THIN* coat of the primer into the depression of the chip. Move onto the next prepared chip. Apply another thin coat of primer to each repair that needs primer. Priming is completed when no metal is visible and the level of the primer is *BELOW* the level of the surrounding paint. Cover and allow drying for two hours or until dry.
8. Apply a small amount of Alcohol or Prepsol or Enamel Reducer to a rag and wipe the chip and surrounding area to remove any sanding dust and grease/oils. Allow to dry. Repeat for all the chips that are on today's list of victims.
9. If you are using a touchup, shake the bottle thoroughly. If you are using color-matched paint, mix thoroughly and pour a small amount into a clean plastic cup.
10. Dip the point of a new toothpick into the paint to get a thin coating on the first 1-2 mm of the toothpick. Place the tip of the toothpick against the center of the chip and allow capillary action to literally flow the paint into the depression of the chip. Repeat for each chip. Do not redo the toothpick. Fight it!
11. Cover with your paint box and allow to dry two hours and repeat 8-12 times till the depression is filled with paint and bulges slightly upward and covers the roughed up area with a thin coating of paint. 12. The paint application is completed when the new paint bulges slightly upward (a fraction of a millimeter) and had covered the roughed up area with a thin coat of new paint. Allow the paint to dry for at least a week.
13. The touchup paint has been applied to the surface and allowed to dry for at least one week, and resembles a minute mound on the flat plane of the existing paint. The object is to remove the mound and make the surface of the paint one continual flat plane. The Finesse Block offers the ability gently to remove only the high spot of the repair. 14. Soak the Finesse Block in clean water for 24 hours before use. Put a small drop of car wash on the chip repair. Then gently "plane" the high spot on the paint. If the block dries out, re-wet and continue use. I prefer 3M Imperial Hand Glaze. Circles are many times the cause of "swirl marks." Buff out with a soft cotton clothe. If it looks good, wax with a quality hard wax and you are done.
16. Tip for applying wax. If you are using a quality Carnauba based wax, try applying it with your fingers instead of a pad or clothe. If grit should lodge under your fingers, you will know immediately and not grind it into the paint. A pad will not allow this tactile feedback and these devil grits become sandpaper. A circular motion of these pad wills make a 360-degree swirl mark. All marks those paints are most visible at a 90 degree viewing angle.
Keep Your Old Car Running Like New
Brenda Rivera, 30, of Tulsa, Okla. does a lot of driving. She already has 80,000 miles on her seven year old Ford Taurus.
A significant number of drivers are keeping their vehicles longer. According to national surveys, the average age of passenger cars and light trucks nationally is now among 8.8 and 9.2 years.
“Thanks to better built engines and vehicles overall, improved technology in rust inhibitors and other anti-corrosives for automobile undercarriages and bodies and the general sticker shock relating to the average price of a new car, people are keeping their older cars longer and taking better care of them than ever before,” says Dave Kunkel, retail sales and marketing manager for CITGO's Automotive Lubricants Division. “With proper maintenance, it’s not unusual to see vehicles accumulate 200,000 miles or more without needing expensive overhauls or repairs.”
Kunkel says it’s important to realize, however, that higher mileage vehicles have different needs when compared to newer vehicles. Over time, engine parts experience wear, deposits form on metal surfaces, and seals can dry out. CITGO's Supercar Ultra life Motor Oil, introduced in October 2002, is specifically formulated to meet the needs of this growing population of older, higher mileage vehicles.
“The oil gives engines an extra layer of protection by providing additional cleaning agents for critical engine parts and conditioning seals, which, thereby, helps reduce oil leakage and prevent valve deposits,” says Kunkel.
Rivera says keeping her car running in tip top shape is very important. “It’s our family vehicle. Look for Supercar Ultra life Motor Oil at CITGO branded fast lubes and leading retail stores in your area.
A significant number of drivers are keeping their vehicles longer. According to national surveys, the average age of passenger cars and light trucks nationally is now among 8.8 and 9.2 years.
“Thanks to better built engines and vehicles overall, improved technology in rust inhibitors and other anti-corrosives for automobile undercarriages and bodies and the general sticker shock relating to the average price of a new car, people are keeping their older cars longer and taking better care of them than ever before,” says Dave Kunkel, retail sales and marketing manager for CITGO's Automotive Lubricants Division. “With proper maintenance, it’s not unusual to see vehicles accumulate 200,000 miles or more without needing expensive overhauls or repairs.”
Kunkel says it’s important to realize, however, that higher mileage vehicles have different needs when compared to newer vehicles. Over time, engine parts experience wear, deposits form on metal surfaces, and seals can dry out. CITGO's Supercar Ultra life Motor Oil, introduced in October 2002, is specifically formulated to meet the needs of this growing population of older, higher mileage vehicles.
“The oil gives engines an extra layer of protection by providing additional cleaning agents for critical engine parts and conditioning seals, which, thereby, helps reduce oil leakage and prevent valve deposits,” says Kunkel.
Rivera says keeping her car running in tip top shape is very important. “It’s our family vehicle. Look for Supercar Ultra life Motor Oil at CITGO branded fast lubes and leading retail stores in your area.
How To Choose The Right Car?
Driving, across the country or merely a state line or two, is the quintessential sport. Our cars transport us to destinations like family reunions, vacations and honeymoons. Like lemonade stands and drive-in movies replaced by today’s mega-theatres and air-conditioned malls, cruising has evolved to include not only today’s safer convertibles, but other vehicles that lend themselves to the particular tastes of the driver.
“They say getting there is half the fun, and if you are driving one of this year’s newer vehicles to your vacation destination that really will be the case,” says John Davis, host and executive producer of Motor Week, a weekly automotive magazine show produced by Maryland Public Television.
Davis says you will be seeing a lot of pickups, SUVs and convertibles out there; and unlike in passed years when people might rent “fun” cars specifically to drive on vacation, “the latest trend is for people to travel in their own vehicles. It’s a comfort thing as well as being more economical,” says Davis.
So-called cross over vehicles, which combine the features of a car with those of a sedan, minivan or sport utility vehicle, are really gaining in popularity. “They are the widest, most imaginative group of vehicles to enjoy in the history of the industry,” says Davis. Vehicles that fall into this categories include the Pontiac Vibe, Subaru Baja, Honda Element, Scion xB, Chrysler Pacifica, Toyota Matrix, and Chevrolet Avalanche. Safety Issues
Rollovers can also be a worry for another popular summertime car: convertibles. They tend to be slower to respond to driver inputs because they are heavier than your average sedan, but Davis points out, they have come a long way. “Convertibles used to be flimsily made and clumsy to drive, and really rattled over rough roads. Along with front airbags, many convertibles can be ordered with side impact airbags, while a few have pop-up roll-over bars that automatically provide extra protection for occupants. Most also offer electronic driving aids like anti-lock brakes and electronic stability systems.
Not just about safety, but other drivers, and local laws as they relate to aggressive driving and cell phone use. So, toss the cell phone in the glove compartment, strap on your seat belt and enjoy your next road trip.
“They say getting there is half the fun, and if you are driving one of this year’s newer vehicles to your vacation destination that really will be the case,” says John Davis, host and executive producer of Motor Week, a weekly automotive magazine show produced by Maryland Public Television.
Davis says you will be seeing a lot of pickups, SUVs and convertibles out there; and unlike in passed years when people might rent “fun” cars specifically to drive on vacation, “the latest trend is for people to travel in their own vehicles. It’s a comfort thing as well as being more economical,” says Davis.
So-called cross over vehicles, which combine the features of a car with those of a sedan, minivan or sport utility vehicle, are really gaining in popularity. “They are the widest, most imaginative group of vehicles to enjoy in the history of the industry,” says Davis. Vehicles that fall into this categories include the Pontiac Vibe, Subaru Baja, Honda Element, Scion xB, Chrysler Pacifica, Toyota Matrix, and Chevrolet Avalanche. Safety Issues
Rollovers can also be a worry for another popular summertime car: convertibles. They tend to be slower to respond to driver inputs because they are heavier than your average sedan, but Davis points out, they have come a long way. “Convertibles used to be flimsily made and clumsy to drive, and really rattled over rough roads. Along with front airbags, many convertibles can be ordered with side impact airbags, while a few have pop-up roll-over bars that automatically provide extra protection for occupants. Most also offer electronic driving aids like anti-lock brakes and electronic stability systems.
Not just about safety, but other drivers, and local laws as they relate to aggressive driving and cell phone use. So, toss the cell phone in the glove compartment, strap on your seat belt and enjoy your next road trip.
18 Tips for Saving Money on Gasoline
Gas prices are on the rise. Here are some tips to help you conserve gas and save money as we approach summer gas prices.
1. Keep your car tuned up. Cars in poor running condition use more gasoline.
2. Plan trips well to avoid unnecessary driving.
3. When you run your air conditioner you get much worse gas mileage. Use your air conditioner sparingly. If you have a lower setting, use it. Turn it on until the car gets cool, then turn it off and let those fans circulate the cool air. Never run your air conditioner with your windows open!
4. Keep your windows closed when traveling at high speeds. Open windows cause additional drag and lower your gas mileage. At high speeds, an open window can use more gas than many air conditioners (especially if they are on a low setting).
5. Check your tire pressure. Over-inflated tires can actually reduce your fuel efficiency, so do not overfill.
6. If possible, change your work start time to avoid gridlock. Stop and go traffic hurts your gas mileage.
7. Take unneeded items out of the car. You do not need to carry snow chains around with you in the summertime. 8. Try not to idle your engine for long periods of time. 9. You no longer need to warm your car up for long periods of time, especially new cars. New cars are made to run when cold.
10. Do not travel at fast speeds in low gears unless you need the compression to slow down.
11. Try to drive the speed limit.
12. Try to accelerate slowly when leaving the stop light. The fastest person through the intersection just gets to spend more on gas.
13. No need to buy the highest priced gasoline. Most cars are built to run on regular unleaded. Check you owners manual or consult a mechanic. 14. Revving the engine needlessly wastes gas. 15. If possible, try to arrange car pools with co-workers to share the cost of commuting to work.
16. Walk, bike or run to your intended location whenever possible.
17. When the price is sky high, do not fill up. Filling up your tank when the price is peeking lets gas companies know that you are willing to pay ridiculous prices for gasoline.
18. And last, the biggest and most important step towards saving money on gas is always try to purchase vehicles that get good gas mileage. The difference among 20 miles-per-gallon and 40 miles-per-gallon is huge.
1. Keep your car tuned up. Cars in poor running condition use more gasoline.
2. Plan trips well to avoid unnecessary driving.
3. When you run your air conditioner you get much worse gas mileage. Use your air conditioner sparingly. If you have a lower setting, use it. Turn it on until the car gets cool, then turn it off and let those fans circulate the cool air. Never run your air conditioner with your windows open!
4. Keep your windows closed when traveling at high speeds. Open windows cause additional drag and lower your gas mileage. At high speeds, an open window can use more gas than many air conditioners (especially if they are on a low setting).
5. Check your tire pressure. Over-inflated tires can actually reduce your fuel efficiency, so do not overfill.
6. If possible, change your work start time to avoid gridlock. Stop and go traffic hurts your gas mileage.
7. Take unneeded items out of the car. You do not need to carry snow chains around with you in the summertime. 8. Try not to idle your engine for long periods of time. 9. You no longer need to warm your car up for long periods of time, especially new cars. New cars are made to run when cold.
10. Do not travel at fast speeds in low gears unless you need the compression to slow down.
11. Try to drive the speed limit.
12. Try to accelerate slowly when leaving the stop light. The fastest person through the intersection just gets to spend more on gas.
13. No need to buy the highest priced gasoline. Most cars are built to run on regular unleaded. Check you owners manual or consult a mechanic. 14. Revving the engine needlessly wastes gas. 15. If possible, try to arrange car pools with co-workers to share the cost of commuting to work.
16. Walk, bike or run to your intended location whenever possible.
17. When the price is sky high, do not fill up. Filling up your tank when the price is peeking lets gas companies know that you are willing to pay ridiculous prices for gasoline.
18. And last, the biggest and most important step towards saving money on gas is always try to purchase vehicles that get good gas mileage. The difference among 20 miles-per-gallon and 40 miles-per-gallon is huge.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
تويوتا تخطط لغزو أمريكا بسيارتها المعجزة بريوس
يسعى مصممو "تويوتا بريوس" ، السيارة الهجين ذات الشكل المميز ، إلى إنتاج جيل جديد من سياراتها الهجين، يعتبر ـ عمليا ـ الجيل الثالث منها.
ويحرص مسئولو التصميم في "تويوتا" أكبر شركة سيارات في العالم على التأكيد على أن الجيل الثالث من "بريوس" لن يكون لـ"بعض الأشخاص المميزين" فقط ، بل "للعامة".
وكانت شركة السيارات الأولى في العالم قد احتاجت إلى أربعة أعوام ونصف العام لإنجاز عمليات تعديل "بريوس"، بحيث تصبح أكبر من مجرد "رمز بيئي".
وكانت "تويوتا" قد بدأت في تحفيز بقية الشركات العالمية منذ عام عام 1997 على الالتزام أكثر فأكثر بمتطلبات الحفاظ على البيئة بفضل "بريوس".
يتميز الطراز الجديد بأنه أقوى من سابقيه، فهو أعلى ارتفاعا منهما، ومزود بصندوق أكبر، وبقدرة أفضل على توفير استهلاك الوقود (البنزين) في كل ميل يقطعه. وبالإضافة إلى كل ذلك، يباع بسعر أقل.
طرح هذا الطراز مؤخرا في الولايات المتحدة، وبدا أنه يحقق نجاحا كبيرا، رغم الأوضاع الاقتصادية الصعبة التي أثرت بشكل واضح على مبيعات السيارات.
الجدير بالذكر أن "بريوس" كانت أفضل السيارات مبيعا في اليابان خلال فترة الانتعاش الاستثنائي لمبيعات السيارات اليابانية، الأمر الذي حمل الشركة على العودة إلى نظام العمل لساعات إضافية في مصنعي تجميع هذه السيارة؛ من أجل تلبية الطلب المحلي المتزايد عليها.
وقد تم استقدام العمال من مصانع عدة من جميع أنحاء البلاد، وارتفع الإنتاج إلى 50.000 سيارة في الشهر. ومع ذلك، يتوجب على الراغبين في شراء "بريوس" الجديدة في اليابان الانتظار لمدة ثلاثة أو أربعة أشهر، لكي يحصلوا على نسخة منها.
الإقبال الواسع على "بريوس" في سوق لا تزال تعاني من حالة ركود اقتصادي كان مفاجئا للشركة، علما بأن حوافز ضريبية جديدة ساعدت على زيادة المبيعات.
مميزات "بريوس" لا ترشحها فقط لأن تكون السيارة الهجين الأكثر مبيعا، بل أيضا السيارة القدوة لديترويت عاصمة صناعة السيارات الأمريكية، ، في حال خططت للعودة إلى سابق عهدها، بدليل أن أفضل سيارتي سيدان مبيعا في الولايات المتحدة في العام الماضي كانتا "تويوتا كامري"، و"هوندا أكورد".
ويحرص مسئولو التصميم في "تويوتا" أكبر شركة سيارات في العالم على التأكيد على أن الجيل الثالث من "بريوس" لن يكون لـ"بعض الأشخاص المميزين" فقط ، بل "للعامة".
وكانت شركة السيارات الأولى في العالم قد احتاجت إلى أربعة أعوام ونصف العام لإنجاز عمليات تعديل "بريوس"، بحيث تصبح أكبر من مجرد "رمز بيئي".
وكانت "تويوتا" قد بدأت في تحفيز بقية الشركات العالمية منذ عام عام 1997 على الالتزام أكثر فأكثر بمتطلبات الحفاظ على البيئة بفضل "بريوس".
يتميز الطراز الجديد بأنه أقوى من سابقيه، فهو أعلى ارتفاعا منهما، ومزود بصندوق أكبر، وبقدرة أفضل على توفير استهلاك الوقود (البنزين) في كل ميل يقطعه. وبالإضافة إلى كل ذلك، يباع بسعر أقل.
طرح هذا الطراز مؤخرا في الولايات المتحدة، وبدا أنه يحقق نجاحا كبيرا، رغم الأوضاع الاقتصادية الصعبة التي أثرت بشكل واضح على مبيعات السيارات.
الجدير بالذكر أن "بريوس" كانت أفضل السيارات مبيعا في اليابان خلال فترة الانتعاش الاستثنائي لمبيعات السيارات اليابانية، الأمر الذي حمل الشركة على العودة إلى نظام العمل لساعات إضافية في مصنعي تجميع هذه السيارة؛ من أجل تلبية الطلب المحلي المتزايد عليها.
وقد تم استقدام العمال من مصانع عدة من جميع أنحاء البلاد، وارتفع الإنتاج إلى 50.000 سيارة في الشهر. ومع ذلك، يتوجب على الراغبين في شراء "بريوس" الجديدة في اليابان الانتظار لمدة ثلاثة أو أربعة أشهر، لكي يحصلوا على نسخة منها.
الإقبال الواسع على "بريوس" في سوق لا تزال تعاني من حالة ركود اقتصادي كان مفاجئا للشركة، علما بأن حوافز ضريبية جديدة ساعدت على زيادة المبيعات.
مميزات "بريوس" لا ترشحها فقط لأن تكون السيارة الهجين الأكثر مبيعا، بل أيضا السيارة القدوة لديترويت عاصمة صناعة السيارات الأمريكية، ، في حال خططت للعودة إلى سابق عهدها، بدليل أن أفضل سيارتي سيدان مبيعا في الولايات المتحدة في العام الماضي كانتا "تويوتا كامري"، و"هوندا أكورد".
أودي تطرح ايه فايف سبورت باك المزيج من الكوبيه والسيدان
بحث
أودي تطرح "A5 سبورت باك" المزيج من الكوبيه والسيدان
2 يوليو 2009 - 16:48
أودي A4 أحد طرازات أودي الألمانية
أعلنت شركة "أودي" الألمانية لصناعة السيارات أن سيارتها الجديدة "A5 سبورت باك" التي ستعرض في معارض السيارات الألمانية اعتبارا من سبتمبر المقبل، تنضم إلى عائلة "A5" كعضو ثالث بعد الطرازين الكوبيه والمكشوف.
وتجمع السيارة ، التي يبدأ سعرها من 36050 يورو ، وهي ذات خمسة أبواب ، بين أناقة السيارة الكوبيه والطبيعة العملية للسيارة السيدان.
وتظهر سمات السيارة الكوبيه في تصميم السيارة الجديدة من خلال خط السقف الطويل والذي ينخفض بقليل عنه في السيارة السيدان "A4" ، ويظهر به بروز قصير في الأمام والخلف وأبواب دون إطار فضلا عن نوافذ صغيرة.
وتم تزويد كل محركات السيارة بنظام الحقن المباشر ، أما محركات الديزل فتستخدم وحدات "TDI" ذات القضبان المشتركة المتطورة. وتعتمد وحدات البنزين على مفهوم "إف إس أي".
وتلتزم جميع المحركات بمستويات انبعاث العوادم المسموح بها ، كما أنه تم تزويد محركات الديزل بمرشحات للشوائب.
وذكرت "أودي" أن مشتري سيارتها "A5 سبورت باك" سيكون بإمكانه الاختيار بين محركين بنزين وثلاثة محركات ديزل ، وأوضحت أن أحد محركي البنزين ، "تي إف اس أي كواترو" ذي الدفع الرباعي تبلغ سعته 2.0 لتر وقوته 155 كيلووات/211 حصان ، ومحرك 3.2 لتر به ست إسطوانات كواترو للدفع الرباعي أيضا وقوته 195 كيلووات/265 حصان/.
وتم تزويد المحركين بنظام "أودي" لرفع الصمامات الذي يساعد على إنتاج مزيد من الطاقة مع خفض استهلاك الوقود.
أودي تطرح "A5 سبورت باك" المزيج من الكوبيه والسيدان
2 يوليو 2009 - 16:48
أودي A4 أحد طرازات أودي الألمانية
أعلنت شركة "أودي" الألمانية لصناعة السيارات أن سيارتها الجديدة "A5 سبورت باك" التي ستعرض في معارض السيارات الألمانية اعتبارا من سبتمبر المقبل، تنضم إلى عائلة "A5" كعضو ثالث بعد الطرازين الكوبيه والمكشوف.
وتجمع السيارة ، التي يبدأ سعرها من 36050 يورو ، وهي ذات خمسة أبواب ، بين أناقة السيارة الكوبيه والطبيعة العملية للسيارة السيدان.
وتظهر سمات السيارة الكوبيه في تصميم السيارة الجديدة من خلال خط السقف الطويل والذي ينخفض بقليل عنه في السيارة السيدان "A4" ، ويظهر به بروز قصير في الأمام والخلف وأبواب دون إطار فضلا عن نوافذ صغيرة.
وتم تزويد كل محركات السيارة بنظام الحقن المباشر ، أما محركات الديزل فتستخدم وحدات "TDI" ذات القضبان المشتركة المتطورة. وتعتمد وحدات البنزين على مفهوم "إف إس أي".
وتلتزم جميع المحركات بمستويات انبعاث العوادم المسموح بها ، كما أنه تم تزويد محركات الديزل بمرشحات للشوائب.
وذكرت "أودي" أن مشتري سيارتها "A5 سبورت باك" سيكون بإمكانه الاختيار بين محركين بنزين وثلاثة محركات ديزل ، وأوضحت أن أحد محركي البنزين ، "تي إف اس أي كواترو" ذي الدفع الرباعي تبلغ سعته 2.0 لتر وقوته 155 كيلووات/211 حصان ، ومحرك 3.2 لتر به ست إسطوانات كواترو للدفع الرباعي أيضا وقوته 195 كيلووات/265 حصان/.
وتم تزويد المحركين بنظام "أودي" لرفع الصمامات الذي يساعد على إنتاج مزيد من الطاقة مع خفض استهلاك الوقود.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
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Our site is easy to use and our goal is to show you how much you can save on your car insurance. Not only will you save your money, but you will save your time too. Our online car insurance quote takes a few minutes and then we provide rates from multiple insurance companies.You can finish online through CarInsurance.com or licensed agents in our professional sales center are available to help you purchase your car insurance policy. In some states, you are directed to one of our trusted partners for a rate in your area.
Because we offer multiple company rates and the ability to purchase their auto insurance quote from one place, we are ahead of other online insurance companies. Start your quote to see how companies compete for your business. You could save over 25% on your auto insurance. We are becoming the Internet's most popular comparison insurance website with the most car insurance resources available!
Our goal is to give consumers all the information and resources they need to make informed auto insurance decisions. We are your Online Car Insurance Marketplace
Our site is easy to use and our goal is to show you how much you can save on your car insurance. Not only will you save your money, but you will save your time too. Our online car insurance quote takes a few minutes and then we provide rates from multiple insurance companies.You can finish online through CarInsurance.com or licensed agents in our professional sales center are available to help you purchase your car insurance policy. In some states, you are directed to one of our trusted partners for a rate in your area.
Because we offer multiple company rates and the ability to purchase their auto insurance quote from one place, we are ahead of other online insurance companies. Start your quote to see how companies compete for your business. You could save over 25% on your auto insurance. We are becoming the Internet's most popular comparison insurance website with the most car insurance resources available!
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Thursday, June 25, 2009
GM Wins Final Approval of $33 Billion Government Loan
General Motors Corp. won approval to borrow the full $33.3 billion available under a bankruptcy loan from the U.S. and Canada.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Gerber in Manhattan gave the Detroit-based automaker approval today after all the objections to the loan and its terms were resolved. Gerber previously gave GM the right to borrow $15 billion on an interim basis June 1.
GM filed for U.S. bankruptcy protection that day with a plan to create a viable business that can compete in world markets. The company reported $82.3 billion in assets and $172.8 billion in debt in its bankruptcy petition.
The ruling included a provision, requested by the U.S. government, that states the Treasury is authorized to spend money from the Troubled Asset Relief Program to make the loan.
Amy Caton, a lawyer representing the unsecured creditors committee, said the group will likely seek changes to the loan after a hearing June 30 on the sale of GM’s most profitable businesses to the Treasury. The committee wants to ensure there is enough money left to wind down the GM operations that aren’t being bought.
Adviser Fees
Gerber also approved GM’s retention of AlixPartners LLP after GM resolved an objection from the U.S. Trustee’s Office that said the advisory firm’s fees were too high. GM lawyer Stephen Karotkin said under the agreement with the U.S. Trustee, an arm of the Justice Department, AlixPartners will receive half of a proposed “success fee” related to a sale of the company’s assets on the closing date if its employees file a detailed affidavit of their services.
The remainder of the $13 million fee would be paid in a year, subject to review by Gerber and filing of time records for all the AlixPartners employees. No AlixPartners employee can bill at a higher rate than GM’s restructuring chief Al Koch, Karotkin said. Koch bills at $835 an hour, according to court papers.
The U.S. Trustee had objected to fees for both AlixPartners and another GM adviser, Evercore Group LLC, saying they were “unreasonably rich.” The Evercore retention request was adjourned to next month.
Gerber rejected a request from GM’s salaried retirees to have their own official committee in case. The group, which represents about 122,000 salaried GM retirees and their dependents, said there needed to be an official committee to negotiate with GM over pension and health-care benefits.
Pension Plan
Gerber disagreed, ruling today that GM had the right to alter the plans at any time and that prior court decisions required him to reject their request. Official committee status would have resulted in the group getting their legal and professional fees paid from GM’s bankrupt estate.
New GM intends to assume the pension plan for salaried retirees, GM lawyer Harvey Miller said. Health-care and insurance benefits will be assumed “as modified,” Miller said, and cuts are being made to those benefits.
On June 23, Gerber rejected a request by individual GM bondholders who also sought an official committee in the case.
Separately, groups with product liability and asbestos claims against GM withdrew their requests for official committees in the case. Gerber refused to appoint a “tort czar” sought by lawyers for the asbestos claimants.
The case is In re General Motors Corp., 09-50026, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District, New York (Manhattan).
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Gerber in Manhattan gave the Detroit-based automaker approval today after all the objections to the loan and its terms were resolved. Gerber previously gave GM the right to borrow $15 billion on an interim basis June 1.
GM filed for U.S. bankruptcy protection that day with a plan to create a viable business that can compete in world markets. The company reported $82.3 billion in assets and $172.8 billion in debt in its bankruptcy petition.
The ruling included a provision, requested by the U.S. government, that states the Treasury is authorized to spend money from the Troubled Asset Relief Program to make the loan.
Amy Caton, a lawyer representing the unsecured creditors committee, said the group will likely seek changes to the loan after a hearing June 30 on the sale of GM’s most profitable businesses to the Treasury. The committee wants to ensure there is enough money left to wind down the GM operations that aren’t being bought.
Adviser Fees
Gerber also approved GM’s retention of AlixPartners LLP after GM resolved an objection from the U.S. Trustee’s Office that said the advisory firm’s fees were too high. GM lawyer Stephen Karotkin said under the agreement with the U.S. Trustee, an arm of the Justice Department, AlixPartners will receive half of a proposed “success fee” related to a sale of the company’s assets on the closing date if its employees file a detailed affidavit of their services.
The remainder of the $13 million fee would be paid in a year, subject to review by Gerber and filing of time records for all the AlixPartners employees. No AlixPartners employee can bill at a higher rate than GM’s restructuring chief Al Koch, Karotkin said. Koch bills at $835 an hour, according to court papers.
The U.S. Trustee had objected to fees for both AlixPartners and another GM adviser, Evercore Group LLC, saying they were “unreasonably rich.” The Evercore retention request was adjourned to next month.
Gerber rejected a request from GM’s salaried retirees to have their own official committee in case. The group, which represents about 122,000 salaried GM retirees and their dependents, said there needed to be an official committee to negotiate with GM over pension and health-care benefits.
Pension Plan
Gerber disagreed, ruling today that GM had the right to alter the plans at any time and that prior court decisions required him to reject their request. Official committee status would have resulted in the group getting their legal and professional fees paid from GM’s bankrupt estate.
New GM intends to assume the pension plan for salaried retirees, GM lawyer Harvey Miller said. Health-care and insurance benefits will be assumed “as modified,” Miller said, and cuts are being made to those benefits.
On June 23, Gerber rejected a request by individual GM bondholders who also sought an official committee in the case.
Separately, groups with product liability and asbestos claims against GM withdrew their requests for official committees in the case. Gerber refused to appoint a “tort czar” sought by lawyers for the asbestos claimants.
The case is In re General Motors Corp., 09-50026, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District, New York (Manhattan).
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Ford To Get $5.9B In US Loans For Retooling
Ford Motor Co. will receive $5.9 billion in low-cost loans from a program created by Congress to help auto makers retool their factories to produce advanced-technology vehicles, the Obama administration said Tuesday.
The loans will help Ford "transform factories across Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio to produce 13 more fuel efficient models," the U.S. Energy Department said in a statement.
Nissan Motor Co. (NSANY) will receive $1.6 billion from the program to retool their Smyrna, Tenn., factory, the department said, and Tesla Motors will receive $645 million to manufacture electric vehicles in California.
The loans will help Ford "transform factories across Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio to produce 13 more fuel efficient models," the U.S. Energy Department said in a statement.
Nissan Motor Co. (NSANY) will receive $1.6 billion from the program to retool their Smyrna, Tenn., factory, the department said, and Tesla Motors will receive $645 million to manufacture electric vehicles in California.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
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Our site is easy to use and our goal is to show you how much you can save on your car insurance. Not only will you save your money, but you will save your time too. Our online car insurance quote takes a few minutes and then we provide rates from multiple insurance companies.You can finish online through CarInsurance.com or licensed agents in our professional sales center are available to help you purchase your car insurance policy. In some states, you are directed to one of our trusted partners for a rate in your area.
Because we offer multiple company rates and the ability to purchase their auto insurance quote from one place, we are ahead of other online insurance companies. Start your quote to see how companies compete for your business. You could save over 25% on your auto insurance. We are becoming the Internet's most popular comparison insurance website with the most car insurance resources available!
Our goal is to give consumers all the information and resources they need to make informed auto insurance decisions. We are your Online Car Insurance Marketplace
Our site is easy to use and our goal is to show you how much you can save on your car insurance. Not only will you save your money, but you will save your time too. Our online car insurance quote takes a few minutes and then we provide rates from multiple insurance companies.You can finish online through CarInsurance.com or licensed agents in our professional sales center are available to help you purchase your car insurance policy. In some states, you are directed to one of our trusted partners for a rate in your area.
Because we offer multiple company rates and the ability to purchase their auto insurance quote from one place, we are ahead of other online insurance companies. Start your quote to see how companies compete for your business. You could save over 25% on your auto insurance. We are becoming the Internet's most popular comparison insurance website with the most car insurance resources available!
Our goal is to give consumers all the information and resources they need to make informed auto insurance decisions. We are your Online Car Insurance Marketplace
GM, Chrysler retirees rush eye examined, teeth cleaned
General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Group retirees are flocking to Detroit optometrists and dental offices for eye exams and teeth cleanings before those longtime benefits vanish July 1.
The benefit cuts are among broader changes approved by the United Auto Workers in May as GM and Chrysler sought to restructure before filing for bankruptcy protection.
The concessions were part of an amendment to the UAW’s 2007 agreement with the automakers establishing a union-run health trust fund for retirees, also known as the Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association or VEBA.
The cuts affect nearly 350,000 unionized GM and Chrysler retirees and will mean painful changes for those used to rich benefits and fewer out-of-pocket medical costs.
Along with losing dental and vision benefits, retirees will shoulder higher copayments for emergency room visits and prescription drugs. Catastrophic plans will no longer be offered to retirees or their surviving spouses. And retirees will lose some drug coverage, including benefits for erectile dysfunction medication.
Retirees are scrambling to get costly dentures and new pairs of glasses, providing a windfall for dental and vision offices.
The benefit cuts are among broader changes approved by the United Auto Workers in May as GM and Chrysler sought to restructure before filing for bankruptcy protection.
The concessions were part of an amendment to the UAW’s 2007 agreement with the automakers establishing a union-run health trust fund for retirees, also known as the Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association or VEBA.
The cuts affect nearly 350,000 unionized GM and Chrysler retirees and will mean painful changes for those used to rich benefits and fewer out-of-pocket medical costs.
Along with losing dental and vision benefits, retirees will shoulder higher copayments for emergency room visits and prescription drugs. Catastrophic plans will no longer be offered to retirees or their surviving spouses. And retirees will lose some drug coverage, including benefits for erectile dysfunction medication.
Retirees are scrambling to get costly dentures and new pairs of glasses, providing a windfall for dental and vision offices.
Chrysler Names Manufacturing, Engineering, Design Leaders
Chrysler Group LLC named new leaders for its manufacturing, engineering and product design segments as it restarts operations after leaving bankruptcy protection earlier this month.
Byron Green, former vice president of truck and activity-vehicle assembly under DaimlerChrysler, was appointed head of manufacturing engineering.
Daniel C. Knott will be head of vehicle engineering, responsible for all vehicle-line platform programs and vehicle development analysis and validation.
As part of an effort to improve each of its brands, Joseph Dehner, Brandon Faurote and Mark Allen were chosen head of design for Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep, respectively. Dehner has held posts as vice president for small, premium and family vehicle design and director of truck exterior and interior design. Faurote had been vice president of advance exterior and interior design and director of one of the company's exterior and interior design studios.
Chrysler earlier named new heads for its Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep manufacturing and sales operations, as well as for its Mopar parts-and-services business.
On June 10, Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy protection and joined Italian auto maker Fiat SpA (FIATY) in a government-brokered alliance. Fiat Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne oversees day-to-day operations.
Chrysler enters this new chapter at a time when continued economic weakness and tight credit conditions make for a bleak industry outlook. The company also faces the challenge of restoring faith among consumers in the quality of its vehicles.
Byron Green, former vice president of truck and activity-vehicle assembly under DaimlerChrysler, was appointed head of manufacturing engineering.
Daniel C. Knott will be head of vehicle engineering, responsible for all vehicle-line platform programs and vehicle development analysis and validation.
As part of an effort to improve each of its brands, Joseph Dehner, Brandon Faurote and Mark Allen were chosen head of design for Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep, respectively. Dehner has held posts as vice president for small, premium and family vehicle design and director of truck exterior and interior design. Faurote had been vice president of advance exterior and interior design and director of one of the company's exterior and interior design studios.
Chrysler earlier named new heads for its Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep manufacturing and sales operations, as well as for its Mopar parts-and-services business.
On June 10, Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy protection and joined Italian auto maker Fiat SpA (FIATY) in a government-brokered alliance. Fiat Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne oversees day-to-day operations.
Chrysler enters this new chapter at a time when continued economic weakness and tight credit conditions make for a bleak industry outlook. The company also faces the challenge of restoring faith among consumers in the quality of its vehicles.
Friday, June 19, 2009
حمل الان احدث افلام عالم السيارات 3
حمل الان احدث افلام
عالم السيارات 3
Fast and Furious 4
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تورنت
اضغط هنا
رابيد شير
الجزء الاول
الجزء الثانى
الجزء الثالث
الجزء الرابع
الجزء الخامس
الجزء السادس
الجزء السابع
الجزء الثامن
عالم السيارات 3
Fast and Furious 4
^
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^
^
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تورنت
اضغط هنا
رابيد شير
الجزء الاول
الجزء الثانى
الجزء الثالث
الجزء الرابع
الجزء الخامس
الجزء السادس
الجزء السابع
الجزء الثامن
حمل الان احدث افلام عالم السيارات 2
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حمل الان احدث افلام عالم السيارات 2
Tokyo Drift
تورنت
اضغط هنا
رابيد شير
الجزء الاول
الجزء الثانى
الجزء الثالث
الجزء الرابع
^
^
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حمل الان احدث افلام عالم السيارات 2
Tokyo Drift
تورنت
اضغط هنا
رابيد شير
الجزء الاول
الجزء الثانى
الجزء الثالث
الجزء الرابع
حمل الان احدث افلام عالم السيارات 1
حمل الان احدث افلام
عالم السيارات 1
Fast and Furious 2001
^
^
^
^
^
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تورنت
اضغط هنا
رابيد شير
الجزء الاول
الجزء الثانى
الجزء الثالث
الجزء الرابع
الجزء الخامس
الجزء السادس
الجزس السابع
الجزء الثامن
عالم السيارات 1
Fast and Furious 2001
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
تورنت
اضغط هنا
رابيد شير
الجزء الاول
الجزء الثانى
الجزء الثالث
الجزء الرابع
الجزء الخامس
الجزء السادس
الجزس السابع
الجزء الثامن
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Fiat Outlines Strategy To Cut Costs Amid Recession
Thursday outlined plans to retool its Italian plants as the car maker seeks to cut costs and expand abroad to better cope with the economic crisis.
The Turin-based company, which last week took control of U.S. car maker Chrysler LLC, said it plans to keep the production of cars at its Termini Imerese plant in Sicily only until 2011.
Fiat Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne told a meeting with the government and the company's labor unions that the Termini Imerese plant, which employs about 1,700 people, would be retooled from 2012. He didn't elaborate.
Fiat also said it would define a redundancy plan at its agricultural and construction equipment unit CNH. Marchionne told a meeting attended by Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi and union officials that it was hard to maintain employment levels due to the recession.
"The global crisis has further aggravated the problem of production overcapacity that has been plaguing the automotive industry for years. A serious restructuring of the automotive industry is now absolutely necessary if it is to be economically viable," Fiat said in a statement.
Hit by the global economic downturn, the Italian economy is expected to contract by more than 5% this year, after shrinking by 1% in 2008, marking the worst recession since World War II.
Workers at the Termini Imerese facility went on strike last month, fearing the closure of their plant. Further protests are likely, according to analysts.
At its Pomigliano plant near Naples, Fiat said it would continue to make its Alfa Romeo cars until at least 2010, with a new car production platform planned afterwards.
The Italian government and Fiat could agree to a EUR900 million financing plan to help keep its plants running near full capacity, daily la Repubblica said Thursday.
Marchionne urged the government to give Fiat continued access to a temporary lay-off plan, allowing it to use funds set aside to pay workers a reduced salary for working fewer hours.
"Fiat confirmed its pledge to maintain the plants in Italy without firing anyone" and by using state-sponsored layoff schemes, Italian Industry Claudio Scajola told a reporters.
The government last month said it would continue to help Fiat only if it kept open its five Italian plants as it seeks to expand to create one of the world's largest automakers.
Fiat last week took a stake and management control of Chrysler after the U.S. car maker emerged from bankruptcy protection.
The alliance with Chrysler, which has created the world's sixth-largest car maker, is a step in the process to increase volumes produced on each platform and expand internationally, Fiat said Thursday.
After a failed bid for General Motors Corp.'s (GMGMQ) Opel unit, Marchionne plans to focus his attention on restructuring Chrysler. Behind the scenes, however, Fiat is expected to keep hunting for another partner that can give it scale in an industry dominated by bigger rivals.
Six months ago, Marchionne set out to double Fiat's production to around 5.5 million cars, compared with the two million it made last year.
"Maintaining equilibrium in employment levels in the face of these extremely difficult market conditions is no easy task," Marchionne said.
The Turin-based company, which last week took control of U.S. car maker Chrysler LLC, said it plans to keep the production of cars at its Termini Imerese plant in Sicily only until 2011.
Fiat Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne told a meeting with the government and the company's labor unions that the Termini Imerese plant, which employs about 1,700 people, would be retooled from 2012. He didn't elaborate.
Fiat also said it would define a redundancy plan at its agricultural and construction equipment unit CNH. Marchionne told a meeting attended by Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi and union officials that it was hard to maintain employment levels due to the recession.
"The global crisis has further aggravated the problem of production overcapacity that has been plaguing the automotive industry for years. A serious restructuring of the automotive industry is now absolutely necessary if it is to be economically viable," Fiat said in a statement.
Hit by the global economic downturn, the Italian economy is expected to contract by more than 5% this year, after shrinking by 1% in 2008, marking the worst recession since World War II.
Workers at the Termini Imerese facility went on strike last month, fearing the closure of their plant. Further protests are likely, according to analysts.
At its Pomigliano plant near Naples, Fiat said it would continue to make its Alfa Romeo cars until at least 2010, with a new car production platform planned afterwards.
The Italian government and Fiat could agree to a EUR900 million financing plan to help keep its plants running near full capacity, daily la Repubblica said Thursday.
Marchionne urged the government to give Fiat continued access to a temporary lay-off plan, allowing it to use funds set aside to pay workers a reduced salary for working fewer hours.
"Fiat confirmed its pledge to maintain the plants in Italy without firing anyone" and by using state-sponsored layoff schemes, Italian Industry Claudio Scajola told a reporters.
The government last month said it would continue to help Fiat only if it kept open its five Italian plants as it seeks to expand to create one of the world's largest automakers.
Fiat last week took a stake and management control of Chrysler after the U.S. car maker emerged from bankruptcy protection.
The alliance with Chrysler, which has created the world's sixth-largest car maker, is a step in the process to increase volumes produced on each platform and expand internationally, Fiat said Thursday.
After a failed bid for General Motors Corp.'s (GMGMQ) Opel unit, Marchionne plans to focus his attention on restructuring Chrysler. Behind the scenes, however, Fiat is expected to keep hunting for another partner that can give it scale in an industry dominated by bigger rivals.
Six months ago, Marchionne set out to double Fiat's production to around 5.5 million cars, compared with the two million it made last year.
"Maintaining equilibrium in employment levels in the face of these extremely difficult market conditions is no easy task," Marchionne said.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Small Cars Have a Big Bumper Problem
All the talk of small, fuel-efficient cars these days has raised concerns from many of our readers of passenger safety. And while small cars may be easier to park, their bumpers are awfully vulnerable to a tap from the front or rear, according to a test of seven cars conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Although the organization is known for its safety crash tests, its bumper tests examine the damage to an owner’s bank account.
None of the bumpers on the tested cars earned a top rating of Good, and just one, the Smart Fortwo, got an Acceptable rating. The Chevrolet Aveo earned a Marginal rating, and the five remaining small cars (Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Mini Cooper and Toyota Yaris) got the lowest rating of Poor.
The tests replicate a full-width hit, front and back, at six miles an hour, and a front and rear corner hit at three miles an hour.
The Rio had the most expensive single repair as well as the highest total damage ($9,380) for all four repairs. It sustained $3,701 in damage in the front full bumper test alone, which the institute pointed out was 30 percent of the car’s purchase price.
The Smart Fortwo, with $3,281 in total damage in the four tests, did the best over all. The institute said the Smart’s costs were relatively low because its prepainted plastic body panels are dent-resistant, inexpensive and easy to replace.
Things become really expensive if a bumper is not high enough to match and engage the bumper on the vehicle that is hitting it. Then, the bumpers slide over or under one another, resulting in damage to the car’s body rather than the bumper.
In the case of the Rio, the bumper slid under the striking barrier — designed to represent a car bumper — resulting in a kind of grand slam with damage to the Rio’s grille, hood, headlights, radiator, fender and air-conditioning condenser, as well as the bumper reinforcement bar.
The Honda Fit had damage to just about every panel and part on the rear because its bumper is not mounted high enough to protect the tailgate, rear panel and taillights, the institute said.
The institute is using a new ratings protocol in which repair costs are averaged and weighted to reflect real-world damage patterns. Because more insurance claims are filed for full frontal and full rear impacts than for corner impacts, those have more weight. The weighted average must be less than $500 for a vehicle to get a Good rating, less than $1,000 for Acceptable, and less than $1,500 for Marginal. If a repair is more than $1,500, the car gets a Poor.
Bumpers can be designed so there is no damage in low-speed impacts, and at a minimum they should not cost more to repair than the typical insurance deductible, which is why the institute set the limit for a Good rating at $500, said Joe Nolan, a senior vice president at the institute. A new bumper cover, reinforcement bar and paint generally cost $1,000, while replacing vehicle parts like grilles and headlights can cost $1,500.
In the past, the institute published only the amount of damage to vehicles and did not provide ratings. The new ratings protocol is being applied to 54 other vehicles that have been tested since 2007, and those ratings will soon be on the Web site.
Updated: June 11, 2009, 3:17 p.m. As the reader Robert pointed out, none of the 49 vehicles that the institute ran through bumper tests this year have received a Good rating, and only three received an Acceptable. A call to the institute confirmed those numbers.
Although the organization is known for its safety crash tests, its bumper tests examine the damage to an owner’s bank account.
None of the bumpers on the tested cars earned a top rating of Good, and just one, the Smart Fortwo, got an Acceptable rating. The Chevrolet Aveo earned a Marginal rating, and the five remaining small cars (Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Mini Cooper and Toyota Yaris) got the lowest rating of Poor.
The tests replicate a full-width hit, front and back, at six miles an hour, and a front and rear corner hit at three miles an hour.
The Rio had the most expensive single repair as well as the highest total damage ($9,380) for all four repairs. It sustained $3,701 in damage in the front full bumper test alone, which the institute pointed out was 30 percent of the car’s purchase price.
The Smart Fortwo, with $3,281 in total damage in the four tests, did the best over all. The institute said the Smart’s costs were relatively low because its prepainted plastic body panels are dent-resistant, inexpensive and easy to replace.
Things become really expensive if a bumper is not high enough to match and engage the bumper on the vehicle that is hitting it. Then, the bumpers slide over or under one another, resulting in damage to the car’s body rather than the bumper.
In the case of the Rio, the bumper slid under the striking barrier — designed to represent a car bumper — resulting in a kind of grand slam with damage to the Rio’s grille, hood, headlights, radiator, fender and air-conditioning condenser, as well as the bumper reinforcement bar.
The Honda Fit had damage to just about every panel and part on the rear because its bumper is not mounted high enough to protect the tailgate, rear panel and taillights, the institute said.
The institute is using a new ratings protocol in which repair costs are averaged and weighted to reflect real-world damage patterns. Because more insurance claims are filed for full frontal and full rear impacts than for corner impacts, those have more weight. The weighted average must be less than $500 for a vehicle to get a Good rating, less than $1,000 for Acceptable, and less than $1,500 for Marginal. If a repair is more than $1,500, the car gets a Poor.
Bumpers can be designed so there is no damage in low-speed impacts, and at a minimum they should not cost more to repair than the typical insurance deductible, which is why the institute set the limit for a Good rating at $500, said Joe Nolan, a senior vice president at the institute. A new bumper cover, reinforcement bar and paint generally cost $1,000, while replacing vehicle parts like grilles and headlights can cost $1,500.
In the past, the institute published only the amount of damage to vehicles and did not provide ratings. The new ratings protocol is being applied to 54 other vehicles that have been tested since 2007, and those ratings will soon be on the Web site.
Updated: June 11, 2009, 3:17 p.m. As the reader Robert pointed out, none of the 49 vehicles that the institute ran through bumper tests this year have received a Good rating, and only three received an Acceptable. A call to the institute confirmed those numbers.
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