Cars — The Perspective

Spend Less Time & Get Better Results

February 24, 2010 By adminclyd

With the advent of today’s technology, information gathering has become a relatively easy task for anybody. You can get on the net and get multiple quotes from different insurance companies. You must be thinking, why you should get multiple quotes for a cheap auto insurance, when you can do it with lesser work. Some people feel that comparing a number of options and selecting one from them would be good enough.

Well, it’s really advantageous because when you contact one insurance provider you’ll just get one rate and you need to repeat this process number of times to make a fruitful comparison. But doing it online is quite easy while you only spend less time and get better results, which in turn helps you locate a provider who will assists and give you better quotes.

Filed Under: Business & Economy Tagged With: Cars, Insurance

Research & Discover

February 18, 2010 By adminclyd

You might be thinking that having your home and auto insurance with the same company would certainly save you money, but it might actually be costing you more. Do your research and discover that having separate policies will be cheaper, as competition in the car insurance business is getting intense these days. Blame it on the prevalence of many insurance companies offering all types of low cost car insurance bargains available in the market today. And when you’re buying a new car, don’t just look at the type of sound system or probably the color of the paint it has. Instead, compare all the features and specifications, ultimately having the choice you most need. After all, you are your own best advocate and you need to be sure you know exactly what you are getting yourself into.

Filed Under: Business & Economy Tagged With: Cars, Insurance

Toyota Says It Will Act Soon On Priuses

February 8, 2010 By adminclyd

Toyota said yesterday that it will soon announce plans to deal with braking problems in its prized Prius hybrid amid reports it has decided to issue a recall for the vehicle in Japan, a possible new embarrassment for the world’s biggest automaker.

Toyota Motor Corp. has had to recall more than 7 million other cars in the United States, Europe, and China over a sticky accelerator and floor mats that can get caught in the gas pedal. Those problems and criticism of Toyota’s response to them have sullied the stellar reputation for quality long held by one of Japan’s corporate icons.

Separately, the company has told dealers in the United States it is preparing to repair the brakes on thousands of Prius vehicles there, according to an e-mail sent by a company executive. It was unclear whether Toyota planned a formal US recall.

“We will make an announcement soon on the action we plan to take,’’ spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi said, commenting on media reports yesterday that the company had decided to issue a Japan recall. Takeuchi did not confirm those reports.

The Prius is the world’s top-selling gas-electric hybrid, and its fuel efficiency has drawn intense interest amid concerns about global warming and dependence on fossil fuels.

Toyota decided Saturday on a recall in Japan covering its latest Prius model and has notified domestic dealers, according to Japan’s largest newspaper, the Yomiuri, which did not name sources. It said Toyota would announce the move early in the coming week after consulting with the Japanese government. Japan’s Kyodo News agency and TV Asahi carried similar reports. Kyodo said Toyota has started notifying dealers, and that at least 170,000 vehicles in Japan would be subject to recall.

Phone calls to the section at Japan’s transport ministry dealing with recalls went unanswered yesterday. None of about 10 Toyota dealers in Tokyo and the western Japanese city of Osaka had received any notification. Three dealers in the United States said the same thing on yesterday.

Prius drivers in Japan and the United States have complained of a short delay before the antilock brakes kick in – a flaw Toyota says can be fixed with a software programming change. The brakes will work if the driver keeps pushing the pedal.

The brake problem affects about 270,000 Priuses that were sold in the United States and Japan starting in May. The company says it has fixed vehicles that went on sale since last month.

Bob Carter, a Toyota group vice president, sent an e-mail message Friday night to US dealers, saying the automaker is working on a Prius repair plan and will disclose details early this week. At least 100 US drivers of Prius cars have complained to the government that their brakes seemed to fail momentarily when they were driving on bumpy roads. The government says the problem is suspected in four crashes and two minor injuries.

Public awareness of the problem “has prompted considerable customer concern, speculation, and media attention due to the significance of the Prius image,’’ Carter said in the e-mail. “We want to assure our dealers that we are moving rapidly to provide a solution for your existing customers.’’

Toyota yesterday began airing spots on US television that say the company is “working around the clock’’ to build the highest-quality vehicles and to restore faith in its vehicles.

“In recent days, our company hasn’t been living up to the standards that you’ve come to expect from us,’’ an unidentified announcer said in a voiceover.

Carter wrote that the ads tell viewers about Toyota’s 50-plus years of building safe, reliable vehicles in the United States.

Toyota’s response to the safety issues has drawn the attention of US politicians.

Toyota Motor North America’s chairman, Yoshi Inaba, will appear before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Wednesday.

A key committee member has asked that transportation officials who served under President George W. Bush also appear. By Kelly Olsen, The Boston Globe

Filed Under: Business & Economy Tagged With: Cars, Industry

Compelling Family Vehicle

January 19, 2010 By adminclyd

In recent years, different car customers were always on the go for bmw which has really eliminated unnecessary character lines and add-ons for a more classic look and the x3 is classy. The greenhouse is very generous affording excellent road visibility in all directions. It doesn’t just look good on the outside; it feels good on the inside as well. That has always been the creed at bmw, the “ultimate driving experience” and the x3 does an admirable job at living up to that philosophy. The gauges are simple and clear, the steering wheel satisfyingly plump, everything in its natural place.

As a matter of fact, bmw x3 provides more space and utility for users to aid in their day-to-day adventures. It comes standard with a 3.0 liter in-line six cylinder engine rated at 215hp and 185 lb-ft of torque. Although you won’t probably notice the lower horsepower during the winter months, but you will in the warm half of the year on dry roads. Another thing is the enlarge backseat makes it a more compelling family vehicle, with plenty of legroom and a reclining seatback that make road trips friendlier for those riding in the back. And so this summer, let the drive itself be great family fun for everyone.

Filed Under: Business & Economy Tagged With: Cars, Technology

Toyota Plans To Start Selling Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles To Consumers In 2011 At Affordable Price

December 22, 2009 By adminclyd

Toyota showed its new plug-in hybrid Monday, available for leasing this month in Japan, the U.S. and Europe, and promised the green vehicle for sale to regular consumers by 2011 at an “affordable” price.

The plug-in Prius is the first from Toyota Motor Corp. packed with a more powerful battery called lithium-ion that’s different from the batteries used in Prius hybrids on roads today. A plug-in is even friendlier to the environment than the regular Prius because it travels longer as an electric vehicle.

Toyota leads rivals in hybrids, especially in Japan, where government incentives have made the Prius a top-seller for months.

About 600 of the vehicles will be introduced in Japan, the U.S. and Europe – 230 in Japan, 150 in the U.S. and 200 in Europe – over the first half of 2010 starting this month, the company said. The customers are businesses and governments. One hundred are going to the city of Strasbourg, France.

Toyota’s plug-in travels 23.4 kilometres (14.5 miles) as an electric vehicle on a single charge, and gets 57 kilometres (35.42 miles) a litre in mileage, the equivalent of about 135 miles a gallon. Toyota did not provide a miles-per-gallon figure for U.S. road-test conditions.

When the charge runs out, a plug-in starts running like a regular hybrid, ensuring drivers won’t run out of power on the road.

In a demonstration for reporters at a Toyota showroom, the Prius plug-in quietly glided through a small, winding course even when the driver pushed moderately on the gas pedal to reach close to 60 kilometres (37 miles) an hour. The car can reach up to 100 kilometres (62 miles) an hour.

The gasoline engine part of the hybrid kicks in only when the battery runs out, or if the driver pushes too hard on the gas pedal for acceleration, according to Toyota. The plug-in recharges from a regular household socket in two hours.

Toyota tests for a plug-in prototype found half the people travelled less than 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) a day.

Toyota declined to give a leasing price, saying that it was being set with customers but acknowledged it was not going to make any money from the leasing.

Executive Vice-President Takeshi Uchiyamada said he could not give an estimate for the vehicle’s price when it goes on sale in 2011, because details were still undecided and consumer demand was hard to predict.

“I can only say it will be a price that will have potential buyers seeing a plug-in as a viable option,” he said.

Uchiyamada said many hurdles remain for electric vehicles to become widespread, including limited cruising range and cost for the battery, making a plug-in still the best practical option.

He said Toyota was waiting until 2011 before commercial sales to gain feedback from users during the leasing period.

“We have been working on developing efficient powertrains to be able to use oil as efficiently as possible,” he said. “But many hurdles remain for alternative fuels.” Stockhouse

Filed Under: Business & Economy Tagged With: Cars

Honda Ranked Most Gas Friendly Automaker In U.S.

November 28, 2009 By adminclyd

The Environmental Protection Agency has ranked the nine automakers that sell full lineups in the U.S. according to fuel-efficiency.

Honda averaging 23.6 miles per gallon across its 2009 vehicles, closely trailed by Hyundai (23.4 mpg) and Toyota (23.2 mpg). The 2009 average across all vehicles sold is 21.1 mpg.

For the model year that’s just started, Honda launched the 2010 Honda Insight dedicated hybrid in February, which will be followed by the 2011 Honda CR-Z hybrid two-seat sports coupe and then by a future Honda Fit Hybrid as well.

Honda had a fleetwide 23.6 mpg fuel economy average in the 2009 model year. Hyundai had 23.4 mpg. Toyota Motor Corp., which was tied for first in 2007, slipped to third with 23.2 mpg.

Volkswagen AG was fourth at 22.3 mpg; while Nissan Motor Co. and BMW AG were tied for fifth at 21.6 mpg.

Detroit’s Big Three finished in the last three spots. Ford Motor Co. was in seventh with a 20.5 mpg; General Motors Co. was in eighth at 19.9 mpg; and Chrysler was last at 18.7 mpg. By José Moreno, Newsday