Automotive Info

Archive for November, 2011

Vintage Cars

Vintage cars are usually cars that were manufactured for use between 1919 and 1930. The features and qualities of the vintage cars can be explained using the history and development of the vintage cars .The horseless carriage was the earliest type of the vintage cars ever made .It had parts that were commonly hand crafted and its mobility was made possible by a steam powered engine. They had low horse power poor mechanicals and were considered to be inefficient later on. Advancements in automobiles saw a major transformation of the horseless carriage to make it better in its mechanical and horse power together with a better and efficient performance. In addition the technology allowed for comfort for the passengers and their driver and also boosted safety measures.

During the vintage period electric self starters were introduced on automobiles to do away with the hand cranks that were very dangerous. From the use of kerosene lanterns that were used to light when one was driving in the night or whenever there was an unclear vision of the road electric lighting was incorporated on the automobiles to provide better and clear illumination during night driving situations. The vintage cars became more stylish with their enclosed bodies which add adjustable windows that could be lowered or raised if one wanted to. The enclosed bodies also came in handy when there rose a need block off elements from the people within the car.

The vintage automobiles were at this time becoming cheaper and many people could afford them. Moreover its new features made it become more durable. Automobile manufacturers like Chrysler Chevrolet Oldsmobile Dodge Plymouth Ford Studebaker and Buick were now able to produce vintage cars in mass assemble lines making it easier for people to travel easily and cheaply. The building of car components also began at this time bringing a rise in sustainability and growth in the automotive industry. The engines of the vintage cars were characterized either by steam or electrical powering to facilitate its mobility. However this situation was gradually overtaken by the combustion engines which were internally placed on the cars. These configurations of engines made the cars faster than the steam or electrical powered vintage cars and they included v8s v12 v8s and v16s.

The latest versions of the vintage cars became more comfortable practical and comfortable. It included more luxurious features such as the car radio and an inbuilt car heating system. In addition the antifreeze feature was introduced in the vintage cars to give room to the cars that were water cooled to be used throughout the year. Another characteristic of the vintage cars then was the four wheel braking and brakes that were actuated to replace the foot pedal feature . This made driving become easier. The cars also had a power steered system and later on there was the introduction of fuel octane rating which not only made it possible for the cars to use fuel but also allowed for the distinguishing of the fuels.

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Bmw M Sport Badge Now Available For X5

The BMW M Sport trim level is known for its sportoriented features which make it a favorite among performance enthusiasts. Recently the said derivative was introduced to BMWs flagship the X5. The introduction of the said badging to the luxury SUV is expected to further increase the popularity of the vehicle among SUV faithful followers.

The said trim level gives the SUV more sportsoriented features than the top of the line SE trim level. In fact the introduction of the BMW M Sport to the X5 also introduced the newest top of the line X5.

The BMW X5 4.8i M Sport as the top of the line X5 is called comes equipped with a set of i9inch Vspoke M light alloy wheels which makes the SUV more appealing. The sports suspension is also a standard feature for the M Sport badge. The presence of this suspension setting means that the vehicle became nimbler than its predecessors. The M aerodynamic styling is also part of the M Sport package. The X5 is designed to reduce drag therefore reducing the load on the engine. Exterior design cues such as the BMW grille side and quarter panels are enhanced by the aerodynamic M styling.

Inside the luxury SUV BMW introduced the Sports seat which resembles those used by race cars. Additional styling comes with the matte aluminum surround which accented the side window frames. Even the roof rails are improved with the M Sport package in the form of highgloss Shadowline roof rails. Anthracite headliners also come with the M Sport package as well as the M leather steering wheel for the comfort of the driver. An optional set of 20inch M Vspoke light alloy wheels is available for those who want bigger and flashier wheels.

The introduction of the M Sport package to the X5s lineup comes at an appropriate time since BMW consumers are looking for sportsoriented packages. It is reported that 90 percent of X5 models sold were badged as the Sport.

The color choice for the BMW X5 M Sport is wide with six colors available. These are Alpine White Black Sapphire Carbon Black Monaco Blue Space Grey and Titanium Silver. For the cabin of the SUV Nevada leather upholsteries are available in different colors. Consumers can choose between Black Grey Beige and Saddle Brown hues to complement their exterior color choice. The interior trim color can also be changed by consumers from the standard Dark Walnut to Brushed Aluminum Dark Bamboo or Light Poplar.

Powering the X5 M Sport is a 4.8liter V8 engine. The powerplant is complemented by BMWs engine technologies which are the BiVANOS and VALVETRONIC variable valve timing. The combination of these gives the V8 engine a power output of 355 hp. That power is enough to propel the SUV to 60 miles per hour from a standstill in just 6.5 seconds. Its top speed is rated at 150 miles per hour.

While the SUV sports a big engine its engine technologies enable the X5 to become more fuel efficient than Porsche and Audi luxury SUVs. BMW claims that the X5 can run for 22.6 miles on a gallon of fuel in combined city and highway driving. Greenhouse gas emission is also lower than Porsche and Audi SUVs at 299 grams per kilometers traveled.

About the writer:  Anthony Fontanelle is a 35yearold automotive.buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.

Volvo S80 Comes Loaded With Safety Features

The Swedish carmaking firm Volvo has been known for two things the first one is the boxy design of their cars and the second one is the safety that their products offer. During the past decades though Volvo made their cars look less boxy while at the same time providing the same safety.

For the 2008 model year Volvos flagship is the midsize luxury car S80. It characterizes the new Volvo no more boxy frames but still with the same safety considerations.

For the 2008 model year the Ford Motor Company owned car manufacturer decided to give a V8 engine to a second vehicle in their lineup. The first Volvo to be equipped with a V8 engine is the XC90. The S80 will become the second Volvo to sport a V8 powerplant. The said engine is rated to have an output of 311 horsepower. The engine is mated to a platform with an allwheel drive configuration.

While Volvo focused on giving their flagship more power the company also maintained their dedication to providing safe cars to their consumers. The S80 has a list of safety features longer than the list of standard features that other companies offer.

In the construction of the car safety was already considered as the S80 was designed using Volvos car design architecture which uses different materials for different parts of the automobile. According to the manufacturer four types of materials are used in the construction of the S80. This is done to makes sure that the vehicle can absorb energy in an unfortunate event of a crash or a collision. The outsidemost material used in the Volvo S80 is designed to crumple to absorb energy while those materials used near the cockpit are of great strength to protect the occupant of the car.

While the handling of the S80 is great thanks to precision engineered steering system components such as Volvo steering rack it is of no use when a car suddenly brakes in front of the S80. Volvo though has solved this problem with the Adaptive Cruise Control ACC system. This feature uses a sensor to judge the distance between the car and the vehicle in front of it. When the distance between the two vehicles reaches a preset critical level the system will prime the brakes and move the brake pads near the disc brakes for faster stopping power. If the distance between the two vehicles reaches a certain preset distance which means that the car will hit the vehicle in front the system applies the brakes even without driver input.

The S80 also comes equipped with the BLIS or Blind Spot Information System. This uses cameras to detect the presence of a vehicle on the blind spot of the driver. The system warns the driver if a vehicle entered his or her blind spot. This reduces the risk of traffic accidents especially those involving motorcycles. Since motorcycles are smaller than cars they are harder to spot on the side mirrors. But with the cameras covering the blind spot of the driver the risk is greatly reduced.

These safety features complements the S80s comfort and convenience and its overall performance. With this car Volvo is going to set another mark for its competition.

About the writer:  Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit Mi. she is a native of the motor city and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field.