AutoTribute » Features

American Automakers Have Higher Average Transaction Prices than Asia

Tim Howard — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:00:08 +0000

Although Hyundai has had the largest jump in transaction prices so far this year, U.S. automakers have also made gains they haven’t seen in years. According to Edmunds.com data, car-buyers spent an average of $29,217 on their purchases through the first five months of this year. GM and Ford both exceeded that number, and Chrysler fell a hair short, with an average transaction price just seven dollars below this average. Nevertheless, all three Detroit companies posted percentage increases that beat the industry — 5.5% for Chrysler, 4.3% for Ford and 3.8% for General Motors.

The recent financial collapse, which helped the automakers restructure and close extra plants, helped automakers reduce production and cut incentives. More importantly, it brought a more disciplined approach in running these American icons.

The popularity of full-sized pickups, crossovers and SUVs — the usual suspect — has also made a difference for Ford, General Motors and Chrysler, given that these vehicles command higher prices than the compact cars sold by foreign rivals. Finally, buyers with good credit make up more of the consumer pool now, and they’re choosing more technology and options for their cars. These results are only few signs that the Detroit 3 are getting their act together.

Source: Detroit Free Press

AIR – POWERED CARS

contributor — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 15:00:27 +0000

Buying cars may even become easier for the ordinary man once the air-powered car arrives in the market. “Air-powered car” may sound strange and at the same time interesting and yes, it has been developed by ex-formula one engineer Guy Negre for a Luxembourg based Motor Development International. This newly developed technology uses nothing but just compressed air to push its engine piston. The best part of this car is that there is zero emission at the exhaust.

These cars can be powered by using compressed air alone or can even be combined with other fuels like diesel, gasoline or ethanol.

Technology:

The motors are fuelled in by the compressed air from the storage tank which has a pressure of 30MPa. The expansion of compressed air takes place in the same way as that of steam in a steam engine. It uses a most advanced type of engine, body structure, chassis and other accessories.

The MDI has two types of engines designed for these air powered cars, mano-energy engines and dual-energy engines. The mano-energy engines are the ones which are completely eco-friendly and can fill only compressed air in the tank which passes the network of system to power the engine. In the dual-energy engine, on the other hand uses the compressed air in addition to an energetic auxiliary. There is an extra combustion chamber where the auxiliary heats the compressed air before introducing it to the expansion system.

The advantages are:

The refueling can be done at home using air compressors.
Zero-emission
Low usage of hazardous chemicals
Rate of self-discharge is low when compared to other electric cars.
Reduction in cost of production.

Some of the disadvantages are:

There is a loss of energy when it is converted from one form to the other.
The efficiency of the vehicle is generally low.
Limited storage capacity.

May 2010 Auto Sales

Kwame Owusu — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:00:02 +0000

The sales number for May 2010 are in and it seems that the American automakers are getting a footing. Dodge saw the biggest increase from the same period last year. But given the the brand’s dismal performance last year, it’s not surprising. Check the graphs below for the comprehensive ranking of all brands and aggregate companies.

Source: Autoblog

BMW Logo History

Kwame Owusu — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:00:42 +0000

The true meaning of the ‘’sky blue and white quartered’ BMW logo is the most controversial issue of the German automaker. Many, including BMW itself, have long come to accept that the ogo originated from the movement of an aircraft propeller that signified white blades cutting through the blue sky. BMW adopted this interpretation in 1929, twelve years after the logo was created.

The above theory must go up against another theory that claims that the BMW logo symbolized the Bavarian (a region in Germany) flag colors and represented the company’s origin. That is, when the BMW logo was first created, it was prohibited by the Trademark Act to feature ‘national coats of arms or other symbols of national sovereignty’ in a trademark, leading BMW’s marketers to come up with a solution of ‘incorrectly configuring the color elements in the BMW logo from a heraldic perspective’, while keeping its relationship with Bavaria evident.

It is true that the round logo actually evolved from the similar circular Rapp Motorenwerke company logo, a company from which BMW grew, but which theory is most correct? Watch the video below to see BWM’s take on its logo’s origins.

Tribute: BMW 3 Series (5th Generation)

Kwame Owusu — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 16:00:51 +0000

Utter the words “compact premium luxury car” and first thing that props to mind is the BMW 3 Series. Indeed, the 3 Series has for decades been the hallmark of this class of cars. The 5th generation (2006-present) of the car, codenamed the E90, in particular, helped spearhead the car into the cerebral cortex of most of enthusiasts. Now this generation of the 3 Series is about to end, but before it does, we would like to pay tribute to it.

As with all was its predecessors, buyers paid a hefty (relative to its competitors) premium for this Bimmer. Sure it’s expensive, but you get what you pay for. And just what did you pay for? Some, who reminiscent about the bold and angular styling of the last generation 3 Series (the E46), would say a bland exterior. However, with the classic 3-series proportions having been preserved, this Bimmer remained dignified. It looks unmistakably new but it’s distinctly familiar.

But the E90 is more than just its austere looks. Underlining its bland sheet-metal is a soul-sterling, heart-pounding sports machine. Like the E46, this car has been designed for the sole purpose of oozing along the tightest turns. In this natural realm, it has a cohesive fluidity that’s unmatched by any of its competitors. But that’s not to say it’s not an everyday driver. It’s comfortable and capable on any other stretch of road. This is thanks to the finely engineered engine options, ranging from the relatively fuel-efficient 230-hp in the 328i to the more menacing 414 hp V8 in the mighty M3.

The E90 range is extremely broad. Those that find the sedan plain-looking would likely appreciate the sleek, more streamlined styling of the coupe or the boldness of the M3. Those who want a bit more sunlight over their head would appreciate the 3 Series convertible. Those that want both practicality and sportiness settle for the E90 wagon.

2007 BMW 335i vs. 2008 Mercedes-Benz C350

2007 BMW 335i vs. 2008 Infiniti G37 Sport

Sure there are faster cars, but none provide the same combination of exhilaration, precision and practicality. This has won the E90 a long list of accolades and comparison-test victories. At CarandDriver.com, it has been made it on its list of 10Best cars for 19th-consecutive years, the longest run of any model. All cars can be improved one way or another, but the E90 lineup has consistently demonstrated to enthusiasts that it is the closest to perfection. We can’t wait to see what BMW has planned for the next-gen 3 Series because the E90 has proven to be a true ultimate driving machine.

Fun Facts about Horsepower

Tim Howard — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:00:33 +0000

There is generally (not always, nowadays) a trade-off between fuel-consumption and horsepower. That is, the bigger your engine, the more gas it uses. To go along with our early article on “fuel-cost of driving” facts, we have decided to post a similar one on horsepower. Did you know that engine power has increased 112% since 1980? Well, there are more interesting facts below.

Source: Auto Insurance via Autoblog

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Rants: Ferrari CEO Should Stop Whining

Kwame Owusu — Mon, 17 May 2010 16:04:34 +0000

By now, you have probably read a bit about the antics of Ferrari’s current CEO Amedeo Felisa. First he said the company will never produce a four-door sports car, in light for it’s main rivals — Porsche and Aston Martin — releasing their own four-door sports cars. Next, Felisa claimed that the reason Ferrari is developing more fuel-efficient models is because the company was forced to do so by government regulations.

Ferrari is clearly very proud of its two-door, fuel-burning heritage, but in this day-and-age when large sales volumes are needed to make any automotive manufacturer viable, the company can’t afford to be too picky. Let the market dictate what the company should build.

There is always going to be demand for premium two-door supercars, and Ferrari is clearly a master at producing such cars. But as the recent success of the Porsche Panemara has shown, there are buyers who want more practicality in their supercars. Will Ferrari just sit there while Porsche and Aston Martin, with its four-door Rapide, gobble up this exclusive sub-segment? It shouldn’t. A four-door supercar that is sold in the right volumes would rake in a lot of money while not diminishing Ferrari’s exclusivity and brand image.

As for more fuel-efficient Ferrari models, does the company really need to be “forced by government regulation” to head into that direction? Sure it would cost a lot of money, but the company should have the motivation do so with its own initiative. Consumers want greener vehicles — period! — regardless of their make or class. Like a child taking his first flue shot, it’s going to hurt in short-run, but in the long-run, he’ll be happy he took the initiative early. So for the sake of Ferrari’s future success, Felisa needs to get with the times and stop whining like a little baby.

Fuel Costs of Driving a Car

Kwame Owusu — Thu, 13 May 2010 15:00:27 +0000

Ever wonder how much of an impact rising fuel prices have on your wallet? As you can imagine, the degree of such an impact depends on the type of car you drive or plan to buy. The following chart contains some interesting facts about the cost of driving a car.

Source: Auto Insurance for Autoblog.com

Video: How to Use Less Gas

Kwame Owusu — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:30:49 +0000

Want some real-world advice on using less gas while driving and, thus, being more green? And, no, you don’t necessarily have to buy a miniscule car with 20 horsepower. Check out the following video.

The New Kia Optima is a Poser

Tim Howard — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:02:11 +0000

So if you have not seen or heard of the all-new, 2011 Kia Optima, read all about it here. It’s a looker, isn’t it? It looks upscale for any sort of car, let alone a Kia. In terms of styling, it puts almost every single car in its class — Toyota Camrys, Honda Accords, Ford Fusions — to shame. I think it also looks much better than the all-new Hyundai Sonata, which its shares platforms with. In fact, I’ll go as far as to say it looks better than many of the premium sports sedans on the road.

It looks like the sort of car you would see the hero in an action movie driving. It looks like it’s armed with some cool high-tech technologies and weapons. Put plainly, it looks cool. I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on one for my every-day vehicle. I don’t care if it’s a “lowly” Kia — it just looks good. And that’s something I can’t say about its main rivals.

How can Kia possibly top this design when the next-gen Optima comes around? What do you guys think about the 2011 Kia Optima? Let us know in the comments section.