Latest Articles by tombailey

Brace Yourself For A Bluetooth Road Invasion

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Consumers are getting more and more technologically advanced each day. Today, there is an estimated 1,000 Bluetooth enabled products being sold at a rate of 1 million per week. These products are not only limited to phones and computers but also include cars. Acura, Audi, BMW, Chrysler, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Nissan, Renault, and Toyota are providing auto customers the option of Bluetooth enabled vehicles in selected vehicle models.

Bluetooth wireless technology is made compatible with parts BMW auto and other car brands in order to offer hands-free calling in motion. With Bluetooth technology around, answering calls, browsing phonebook contacts can be done using the steering wheel, radio and controls. Audio is transferred from the phone to the speaker of the car. Moreover, the driver can focus on the road and stay connected.

Bluetooth is the latest wireless technology that enables connectivity between devices. This is done by using 2.4-GHz radio spectrum with a range of 10 meters. Toyota auto body parts are also tested for Bluetooth compatibility. This is to ensure the efficiency of connectivity.

The key features of Bluetooth wireless technology include strength and affordability. The technology is aimed at replacing cables connecting portable or stationary devices without compromising security. However, the most outstanding feature of Bluetooth is to handle both voice and data transmissions for drivers to enjoy a wide variety of solutions like printing and fax capabilities, hands-free headset for voice calls, synchronizing PDA, laptop and mobile phone applications, and other remarkable innovations. The latest Bluetooth system can pick up the signal from the handset up to 30 feet from the vehicle. The distance tolerance is dependent on the phone and its battery level.

Bluetooth got its name from Harald Bluetooth, a Viking and former King of Denmark. He is famed for his ability to help people be in touch. Another notable contribution is his effort to unite Denmark and Norway.

Bluetooth has achieved high level of specification for a wide range of devices in proximity. In fact, it has achieved global acceptance in a short span of time. From its inception, the wireless technology has already gone a long way and will continue connecting people despite remoteness. With Bluetooth around, drivers can enjoy a greater sense of freedom.

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Tom Bailey is a consultant for one of the country’s leading auto parts stores. He is also an editor of a reputable publishing company in his area. He is currently based in Atlantic City, New Jersey with his wife and 3 children. Check out Toyota auto body parts and parts BMW auto for more information about Tom.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

KickingTires Reveals Family Cars of the Year

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Family cars face painstaking demands. These days, they are used not just for family driving adventures but for business purpose as well. With the versatility expected of them, automakers find it hard to emerge as the best in the family car segment - but this is not the case with Honda. Earlier, 3 of Honda's vehicles were awarded the "Best Car for Small Families," "Best Car for Big Families," and the "Best New Car for First-Time Drivers" by KickingTires.

The 2007 Honda Accord emerged as the "Best New Car for Small Family. Honda Accord parts are especially designed to face rigorous family car's demands. For the 2007 model year, Accord was given new trim called SE-V6. Also, for the sedan version, cool blue metallic color was made available. The runners-up for the Best New Car for Small Families were BMW 328, Ford Five Hundred, Honda Civic, Hyundai Sonata, Infiniti G35, Mazda5, Mazda6, Subaru Legacy, and Toyota Camry.

On the one hand, 2007 Honda Odyssey was given the "Best Car for Big Families" commendation. Honda Odyssey is a minivan introduced by the automaker in 1995. The runners up for said title were Acura MDX, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, Mercedes-Benz R-Class, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Sienna, and Volvo XC90.

For the "Best New Car for First-Time Drivers" category, 2007 Honda Civic emerged as the winner. Honda Civic parts are especially engineered to be accommodating to first-time drivers. The car's auto parts can be easily operated so it fits . The runners up for the category were Honda Fit, Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda3, Pontiac Vibe, Scion tC, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Camry and Toyota Matrix.

Finally, for the "Best New Car for Empty Nesters" category, 2007 Jaguar XK emerged as the winner. The runners up were BMW 650, Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang, Infiniti G35, Infiniti M45, Lexus LS 460, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and Volvo C70.

“Before we named the four finalists for Family Car of the Year in our first annual Lifestyle Awards, we considered all the 2006- and 2007-model-year vehicles we’ve tested and narrowed them down to a select group. We’ll tackle the other Lifestyle categories as we get closer to the final awards Jan. 3, but for now see what other cars we recommend for families and how staffers Mike Hanley, Kelsey Mays, Patrick Olsen, David Thomas and Joe Wiesenfelder debated the winners" KickingTires revealed.

In most categories, analysts say that Honda and Toyota car parts are showcasing excellence. As observed by analysts, prices for highly equipped models have greatly increased with time and innovations.

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Tom Bailey is a consultant for one of the country’s leading auto parts stores. He is also an editor of a reputable publishing company in his area. He is currently based in Atlantic City, New Jersey with his wife and 3 children. Visit Toyota car parts for more information.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

The Right Gifts For Your Car Loving Friend

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

You have gone over your list of friends and family. You have already double checked what you are going to give them this Christmas season. But as careful as you may have been, you had this mental block and forgot this one friend of yours – your friend who certainly digs automobiles.

It may already be too late but it is the thought that counts so you decide to go ahead and find a gift for your automobile loving friend. You think about purchasing perhaps the newest BMW auto parts or accessories but you think that he may already have that kind of thing in his possession.

So what do you give your friend? Well, there are a lot of choices in the market for automobile aficionados. In fact, the list is quite so long you may have a hard time choosing.

One product you can give your friend is the Belkin Charger made for automobiles which are not yet quite geared up to allow drivers and owners to use their iPods. The Belkin Charger would be the answer. All you need to do is power the device through the vehicle’s in-dash stereo system. You can also charge up your iPod through this one.

You can also opt to have the iGo Everywhere. As its name implies, this gadget can be used to charge various devices. It could be your mobile phone, your PDA, your Bluetooth gadget, or your iPod. This one would be a great companion for travelers. It can charge various gadgets and can be used not only in your car but also in your home.

For those people who simply adore Rolls Royce and lists down Rolls Royce as their kind of brand, then you can purchase the Rolls Royce umbrella for him. So even if it is raining or drizzling, the Rolls Royce umbrella would be the perfect companion.

Or you can choose to purchase the book The Alphabet And the Automobile: From Alfa to Z28. This book is very educational and would serve to be the perfect guide for those car fans out there. Your friend may already have tons of car books in his study but he may just have missed this one.

Tire Inflation Goes Down This Winter Season

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0600

Some people love the hot and humid weather of summer. Others long for the freshness of spring. Some are autumn people. Another portion may be winter and cold weather lovers.

And with winter slamming itself up so greatly this time, it is very much important to note that our vehicles also do need a little caring for this winter season. You may have noticed the little sprinkle of snowflakes on your car’s Honda parts but there is more to that that winter may be doing on your vehicle.

According to Goodyear, one of the world’s best known and trusted tire manufacturers, winter is the time when the inflation of your car’s tires drops. This is because the air inside the tire goes down as the temperature around also drops. The company also does say that if the temperature drops to around ten degrees, the tire pressure also goes down by about one to two pounds. If you are not quite so observant about this on your tires, you may be experiencing some tire trouble later on as you do your winter driving.

Bob Toth is the marketing manager of Goodyear for its auto tires and he points out, “Odds are that many motorists haven’t checked their tire pressure since the weather began turning colder. If the last time the tire pressure was checked was during the heat of summer, with temperatures around 80 degrees, many people could be riding on severely underinflated tires without realizing it.” He also does continue, “Even though consumers can simply and quickly check the air pressure of their tires, it becomes a neglected practice by many. That’s too bad, because the four patches of rubber that come in contact with the road surface are vitally important to the performance of the vehicle. They are key for acceleration, lateral traction and braking grip.”

To be sure, check your car’s tires and make sure that you maintain the required air pressure as specified in your car owner’s manual. After all, if you have underinflated tires and you continue on using your vehicle, you would be surprised to find severe tread wear on the outside edges of your tires.

Sway Control Hitches Go Towards New Trend

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0600

In the world of recreational vehicles (or also very popular known and called as RVs), a new kind of trend is spurting out. And according to some news, the RV industry is advancing and using a new chain style kind of weight distribution. This is also actually integrated sway control hitch systems which would surely be helping out owners and drivers of recreational vehicles. Who knows? Learning more about this new kind of sway control hitch could certainly be a big help in keeping your recreational vehicle's Mazda auto parts looking new and performing up to their maximum capacities.

They call the new kind of RV technology the E2 and it is a creation of Progress Manufacturing Inc. This one is quite unique for it has the capacity to actually combine the rigid trail brackets, which are already proven to work well, with the hitch that has a trunnion type of style. Together, they work as the E2, and this now provides a new kind of alternative for hitches with chain styles that is free from hassle and easy to use. The E2 also has got a weight distribution feature and also boasts of an integrated two-point Sway Control feature. Progress does say that E2 is the very type of hitch that those owners of RVs would be liking. After all, the E2 could be used so as to be quite effective and very economical as a sway control option.

Jed Anderson is the chief head honcho of Progress and on the E2, he describes this one by saying, “It is important for dealers and RVers to be familiar with integrated sway control systems because RVers are starting to ask for sway control. People are realizing that integrated sway control gives you more value for your money.” He also does add, “The hitch was really well received at the show; we are able to explain the benefits of the E2 to a lot of people. Most people were excited about the easy installation, hook up, and built-in sway control.”

This new E2 would be available in the market come the summer of next year.

Volvo Buses Go New Zealand

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0600

Looks like a good source of more finances and funding. And it really does look much like good money. Nothing bad there.

What am I talking about? Well, news have it that Volvo Buses has just received an order for some twenty new Volvo V7RLE city buses. Volvo Buses is the sister of Volvo Cars, a company that manufactures cars and other auto products like Volvo car parts and the whole lot.

Anyhow, the order for these twenty buses was actually straight from Auckland, New Zealand. Their customer is the Infratil Public Transport which makes use of city buses that make use of the Volvo engine technology which has been made just right so much so that it has met the emission standards in New Zealand. You see, the great deal here is that Volvo’s engine technology can be said to be advanced for the emission standards would yet have to be effective in the year 2012. It may be some years away already but Volvo’s client has made sure that as early as now, they would be coming in ready for the new emission standards.

Rune Lundberg is the head of Volvo Buses’ Region International and on this new update they received, he says, “With this order, we have achieved a breakthrough in the country also with regard to city buses. I foresee favorable prospects for more orders.” Sure enough, if such would be the new emission standards and Volvo has the right kind of city buses for it, then more and more orders may come pouring in for the manufacturer.

So what has these Volvo buses got? According to the company, they have used SRC technology and this is what is responsible for the sharp reduction of emission levels on their buses. This technology can be also considered as the technology that would bring in more sales for the company. You see, with SCR technology, Volvo can create buses that would be able to meet the Euro 5 standard on emissions regulations. “The new Volvo buses have emissions levels that are 70-90% lower than today’s city bus fleet in Auckland,” explains Warren Cavel, the general manager of Volvo Buses.

Camry: Motor Trend Car of Year

Thu, 23 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0600

The 2007 Car of the Year award is given by Motor Trend Magazine to Toyota Camry. This is the first year the Camry has won the award. The award went to all Camry variations including the hybrid. Said car is the hottest-selling car in the United States.

Angus MacKenzie, editor-in-chief of the auto magazine, "The car is innovative yet has a broad appeal. The Camry is the one car rival automakers all wish they could build. It offers something for nearly everyone - performance, efficiency and roominess - at a price point most Americans can afford."

According to Motor Trend magazine, "The Camry beat 26 other models that were totally new or redesigned in the year prior to Jan. 1, 2007." Entries include 10 cars from Japanese automakers, 6 American models, 5 from Korea, 4 from Germany, and 1 each from United Kingdom and Sweden.

MacKenzie noted that Camry won in a very strong field. He added, "There have never been more choices available to American car buyers. That is a fact of life in the 21st century." Toyota Camry is a midsize car manufactured in Georgetown, Kentucky. 2007 Toyota Camry parts underwent significant upgrades and redesigns to boost appeal, comfort and performance. Camry is consistently ranked as on of the most popular cars especially in North America.

Through October this year, the automaker reported 350,481 sales of Camry. So far, it leads all cars in the United States. Next to Camry is Corolla, which has recorded sales of 330,995. This information was divulged by Autodata Corp.

Motor Trend staffers evaluated the entries according to their innovation in engineering, design, safety and technology; their performance and quality; and whether the vehicle delivers value to the consumer. Last year's winner was Civic, which boasts its sophisticated Honda Civic parts. In the previous month, Mercedes-Benz performance parts in the GL450 were commended since the model was awarded the sport utility vehicle of the year.

For this year's competition, Camry's competitors for the Car of the Year title were Chrysler Sebring, Honda Fit, Kia Rondo, Volvo C70 T5, Saturn Aura, Volkswagen Rabbit, Nissan Altima, and the Mercedes-Benz S Class.

For Sale: CNN Hummer

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0600

Are you looking for that kind of vehicle which you might just be very proud of? Are you looking for that kind of vehicle which people could really recognize with just a simple look at it?

Sure, you may not be able to use your favorite Volkswagen auto parts for this one. After all, it is the Hummer that CNN has been working for its various duties.

CNN would be selling its Hummer for charity’s sake. This would be done at the No Reserve as part of the 36th Annual Barrett Jackson Collector Car Event. If you are interested, this event would be happening on the 13th of January up until the 21st of the same month.

The CNN Hummer has gone through various reports and through different areas. It has gone through the war in Iraq and has gone through the “Overhaulin’ ” stuff with Chip Foose and the rest of his crew as part of the Learning Channel. And did you know that this Hummer from CNN has got a name of its own? Yes, it has been lovingly dubbed as the Warrior One and it is a custom sport utility vehicle.

As the president of the Barrett Jackson Auction Company, Craig Jackson reflects, “The CNN Hummer will be one of the most history, inspiring vehicles to ever cross the block at a Barrett Jackson auction. This machine served with America’s brave soldiers in Iraq, and now it will help fund an amazing organization that supports the families of wounded soldiers. The future owner of this Hummer will capture a commemorative gem to add to their automotive collection.”

Before the war in Iraq, officials from CNN bought this Hummer in Kuwait. Then, the Hummer was later on used in various scoops and reports in different parts of the world. Correspondents, photojournalists, and producers from the station used Warrior One to do their reports and go from one place to another while being part of American soldiers’ vehicles. However, it was not only used as a means of transportation. The Hummer also served as living quarters and even as a storage for the crew of CNN.

Dynamic Simplicity Imbibed in New Altima

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0600

Nissan has finally set forth a striking Altima with a revolutionary platform and evolutionary design that spell dynamic simplicity.

"Altima is 100% original and 100% Nissan, rather than a copy of existing mid-size sedan offerings," said Brad Bradshaw, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division. "In creating this next generation Altima, we didn’t take for granted the things it already did well. We refined or enhanced all areas – exterior, interior and under the skin."

The upcoming Altima will be equipped with improved parts Nissan including revised engine versions. This car model, which belongs to the fourth generation, will incorporate the VQ35DE 3.5 L V6 engine that produces 270 horsepower, and the QR25DE 2.5 L I4 that generates 175 horsepower.

Altima will also sport groundbreaking innovations like Push-button start, advanced navigation system, advanced Xtronic CVT, parking camera and Bluetooth capability for cell phones. The redesigned version of the car appears to have several Toyota Camry parts. As a fact, Altima's wheelbase has close resemblance to that of Camry's.

"We understand that mid-size sedan buyers are looking for more from their vehicles than transportation – they seek a higher sense of self reward, along with a quality feel, enhanced comfort and a wide range of convenience features," added Bradshaw. "The new 2007 Altima builds on these strengths, protecting Altima’s hard-fought standing as the sedan of choice for discerning, enthusiast buyers. And now, as a true competitor rather than just an alternative, we predict Altima will find an even wider audience."

Bradshaw concluded, "The new 2007 Altima is one of the first vehicles in class to offer such a high level of features, such as the available Intelligent Key and RearView Monitor, touch-screen navigation with voice recognition and dual-zone automatic temperature control. With distinctive styling, dynamic performance, high quality roomy interior and great features, the new Altima raises the standard in the segment once again. In a sea of sameness, Altima engages the senses and stirs the soul."

The new Altima exudes an entirely unique, distinctive and exotic car appeal design and quality-wise. As Bradshaw put it, "It’s quiet, comfortable and rewarding."

VW And Peugeot Name New Chiefs

Fri, 10 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0600

Volkswagen AG and PSA Peugeot Citroen, two of the largest automakers in Europe, named new chief executives to lead them fight the automakers combat. Critics in the industry are saying that an ideal leader can help the automakers find ways to patch things up and eventually take over the scene.

Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Corp. are considered threats in the industry. They surge and conquer a healthy slice of automotive market. The share gets bigger and better moreover; it is high time for other automakers to aim high and make their plan a reality.

Volkswagen named Martin Winterkorn, formerly the head of the Audi luxury car unit, as the new head of VW's most profitable division. Winterkorn is set to replace Bernd Pischetsrieder, who will be stepping down on Dec. 31.

"When Pischetsrieder's contract came up for renewal in May, there was a feeling that there were a lot of camps, including the works council backed by Piech, that were trying to undermine him," said Mark Fulthorpe, an analyst at CSM Worldwide in Byfleet, England.

Consequently, Peugeot named Christian Streiff, previously the head of Airbus SAS, to succeed the about to retire head, Jean-Martin Folz.

The selection and succession of the new chiefs is anchored on the auto industry's tight competition. The Big 3 automakers of Japan namely Toyota, Honda and Nissan, are launching new diesel vehicles to amass a bigger slice of the automotive market. As a fact, diesel models account for 50 percent of the car sales in Europe.

Toyota, as what the auto reports are saying, is enjoying a prominent standing in the industry. On the other hand, auto parts Honda as well as parts for Nissan need considerable modifications to achieve what Toyota is enjoying these days.

VW and Peugeot are cutting a total of 30,000 jobs to limit production expenses and drop excess capacity. Critics added that this crucial phase in the life of the mentioned automakers must not compromise the quality of their products. Car parts for Volkswagen and Peugeot are undergoing rigorous test and enhancements to bring about state-of-the-art vehicles.

"The auto world is highly unstable right now,'' said David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan. "It's changing its basic business model, so naturally you would expect to see changes in the head offices as well."