I’m sure you’ve heard the old story comes along about someone who invented a special carburetor. The story goes; the carburetor would allow any vehicle to get a hundred miles to the gallon.

As nice as thoughts of such a device might be, it is a myth. The reason why is that you have to have a certain amount of energy [fuel,] to move a given weight, at given speed, with based upon the engine that is in the vehicle. This is basic stuff, and you have to think both inside and outside the box to change your fuel economy.

In reality better fuel economy is a factor of many things. Cars are engineered with better and lighter engines, the vehicles are made with lighter materials, and cars are made “slippier” when they have less wind resistance.

When you’re considering the different things you can do to make your car more efficient, there are a few things that come to mind. When desired fuel mileage is not being obtained with a present vehicle, many times a new vehicle is considered as the only remedy. There are no changes that can be made to a vehicle to increase the mileage over that it was designed to deliver. The present vehicle can often deliver considerably better mileage than it currently does, however.

Other tips like keeping tires inflated, switching to an energy conserving engine oil and reducing unnecessary weight also help, but to a much smaller degree. Replacing a dirty air filter is always a good idea, but will not help mileage, just the longevity of a fuel injected vehicle.

Another factor would be to change your driving style, don’t race, and don’t rest your foot on the brake. I hear a lot of people say that they’ll trade their vehicle in, thereby moving from a vehicle that gets 20 MPG to one that gets 30 MPG. Driving 12,000 miles per year and with fuel cost of $4.00 per gallon, the savings is $800.00 per year. Paying $25,000 plus for a new vehicle will require over 31 years to break even, so this factor should not come into play for buying another vehicle.

So if we’re agreed that if you’re driving a non-efficient vehicle, but buying a more fuel efficient vehicle is not the answer, what can you do?

This is where you think outside the box. What are the Japanese working on now? Hybrids. Some of the Hybrids are gas/electric, and one of the prototypes is a pure hydrogen vehicle. Either way you go, buying one of these vehicles would be TENS of thousands of dollar more than a conventional vehicle.

What if you convert YOUR vehicle, yes, that gas guzzler, into a hybrid? That would do three things.

One, maximize the fuel efficiency by using the tips I mentioned.

Two, the satisfaction of beating those guys that are holding the high cost of gas over our heads.

Three, the feeling of controlling Your car, Your expenses, because converting your car doesn’t have to cost you a ton of money.

I have a couple of links for you to check out, but please do what you can to reduce the cost of operating your vehicle. Taxes are going to be high over the next few years; I expect inflation to climb, so we have to do something to control our costs. I do have ideas that are guaranteed to reduce people’s outlay, and I will be posting them as time goes on, but a lot of them won’t be fun. I know for me, I like this kind of car stuff. I hope you do too.

If you have any questions, please email me at cajuncooker69@gmail.com, and check out my website http://www.changing-water-2-gas.info

Have a great weekend.

Mitch Champagne
Author of “The great Expulsion”, a story of the Acadians and their journey to Louisiana

Find out more about ways to save money on your gas costs.
http://www.changing-water-2-gas.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mitchel_Champagne

High Schools

Some high schools offer a robust variety of courses that encompass a range of knowledge relating to auto repair. For example, a high school might offer classes in brakes, electrical electronic systems, engine performance, and suspension and steering. A high school can receive program certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) or the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF). This indicates that the curriculum meets the national standards set forth by these nonprofit organizations.

Career, Technical, and Vocational Centers

Many career, technical, and vocational centers are secondary schools offering automotive training programs that are certified by ASE or NATEF. They may include brakes, electrical electronic systems, engine performance, engine repair, heating and air conditioning, and suspension and steering.

Community Colleges

Community colleges offer a broader range of certified programs, and often partner with vehicle manufacturers and local dealerships to include both classroom and on-the-job training. Their areas of certification may include those offered at secondary schools, plus such areas as automatic transmission and transaxle, manual drive trains and axles. Some post-secondary schools also offer certified courses in alternative fuels, such as CNG conversation and installation, CNG diagnosis and repair, CNG maintenance, LPG conversion and installation, LPG diagnosis and repair, and LPG maintenance, suspension and steering.

Specialty Schools

There are a number of specialty post-secondary schools around the country that provide intensive automotive training and that produce graduates who are fully educated and ready to enter the world of auto repair.

On the Job Training

Although auto repair today requires a tremendous amount of specialized knowledge, there are still scattered opportunities to receive on the job training. This is particularly true for those who decide to specialize and who do not need comprehensive automotive training. For example, someone who specializes in brake repair does not need to know how to rebuild an engine.

Continuing Education

Just as in many fields, the range of knowledge required to keep pace with the changes in automotive technology means that it’s important for automotive service technicians to continue their education over time. There are a few ways to keep up with automotive training, some formal and others informal.

Among the formal continuing education choices is the Continuing Automotive Service Education, or CASE, which is sponsored by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, or ASE. Many technical schools and other training facilities offer a CASE program, which is auto training specifically designed for those who work in the field.

But keeping abreast of the developments in auto repair doesn’t always mean going to class. There are a number of online communities made up of service technicians and those in automotive management jobs. These communities can provide everything from articles and downloads from professionals working in the automotive repair industry, to forums for assistance from other technicians, to classified ads for used engines and used automotive equipment, to job listings and the ability to post resumes.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Majon’s Automotive directory

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson

Auto training can run the gamut, from high school courses where students work on used engines and used automotive equipment to intensive technical school certification programs with a duration of six months to a year. Some community colleges offer an associate’s degree related to auto repair and technology; these programs are often sponsored by vehicle manufacturers and dealerships, and involve alternating classroom training with hands-on work at a dealership.

ASE Certification

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, known as ASE, is a nonprofit organization that offers testing and certification to automotive technicians. ASE’s voluntary certification program provides a benchmark for automotive training programs and technicians in that it is a national standard for excellence. According to the ASE, theirs is the “largest occupational testing and certification program in the world.” Many automotive training programs at high schools, technical schools, and colleges are ASE-certified, and automotive technicians sit for ASE exams in order to become certified.

Career Paths

Automotive training typically leads to entry-level positions in the automotive repair industry. Those who have gone through training may begin their careers as trainee technicians or assistants, but can quickly advance as they gain experience. Those who have a complex specialty may have a longer road to travel in order to reach mastery, but their specialized knowledge will translate into better pay. On the other hand, those who do not need comprehensive knowledge of auto repair – such as brake technicians – may advance more quickly but may also more quickly reach the ceiling of earning potential. Those with the deepest knowledge and broadest range of experience have the potential to move into automotive management jobs, which involve the supervision of automotive technicians and specialists.

Demand for Automotive Technicians

Regardless of the state of the economy, the demand for auto repair and thus for automotive technicians remains steady or continues to grow. With the increasing complexity of today’s vehicles, automotive training is continually evolving and becoming more refined. Thus, a career in auto repair will continue to bring financial rewards for years to come.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Majon’s Automotive directory

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson

The BMW 1 Series is by far the smallest car with big ambitions. And with its caricature-type styling, I was initially wondering why in the world BMW would swing for the fences with this miniature dose of Bavarian Motor… But the truth of the matter is, this dose may look miniature but it is anything but.

Let us look at it from the exterior. At first glance, it is a shortened 3 Series with odd proportions. The lights seem large.  The wheels seem large, the windows too. But I soon realized these observations were in comparison with the existing 3 Series. Maybe it is simply because we’ve grown accustomed to the 3 Series that the 1 Series seems odd. I begin to think; would I perceive the 3 Series as odd if the 1 Series had been in award-winning production for 30 years and it was the 3 Series that had been newly introduced? Would I then think that the 3 Series as an elongated, thinned-out mutilation of the 1?  This was my exercise to adjust my objectivity lens. Clarity then hit me. By all means, this car is pretty. In its best attire, the 135i wears large shoes and sports an aggressive front spoiler which truly spikes its demeanour with a sort of steroid-filled short temper. This car really looks like it is on the edge of striking, ready for takeoff like a pissed-off pit-bull on a leash.

Do not mistake the 1 Series for a revived attempt of the 318 under a new badge. This is nothing of the like. And to make a bold and self-explaining statement; the 1 Series base engine (In North America) is the 328’s famed 6 cylinder which now houses 230 hp. And this little brute packs a 0-60 mph sprint of about 6.5 seconds.  I know what you’re thinking at this point, how does the 135i perform? Well, the 135i is the top range (for now) of the 1 Series and employs the 6 Cylinder twin-turbo from the 335 model. Yes, you read that correctly and that translates to 300 ponies to the rear axle on 245/35/18’s. 0-60 mph in about 5.5 seconds, not bad for a tiny car yeah? True to form, the 1 Series is very BMW in the way it drives, handles and performs. With a stiff chassis, sport-tuned suspension and large diameter wheels, the task is achieved with the usual Bavarian refinement and pride. Some may argue that the ride is a tad rough, but the driving characteristics delivered by the 1 are a big reward to small price of comfort. With that said, the BMW 1 Series is very comfortable and its sports seats are well accommodating for driver and passenger.

The cockpit is unmistakably BMW with its usual German simplicity and quality finishing. No rattles, no loose parts and plenty of leather. Although I would have opted for more luxury on the inside considering the price of the 1 Series is not far off that of the 3 Series, but overall this is a great car and provides endless hours of fun.

If you’re looking for a car that takes corners like a go-kart and has endless oomph of torque, this is it. It’s small, practical for city driving and really exciting. On the negative: it’s rather expensive considering a few more quids could get you the 3 Series and its winter capabilities are questionable. You can also opt for the soft-top convertible and soon to come, a diesel model.

If you visit Indonesia I bet you will meet Toyota Kijang anywhere on the main roads of major cities like Jakarta. For most Indonesians, Toyota Kijang is considered as a legend of multipurpose van . The reason for being a legend is that this car is so popular across the country. It seems everyone loves this car.

Basically Toyota Kijang is a 7 passenger vehicle. Today, the latest edition of Toyota Kijang, Kijang Innova V2.7, is available in the market. In terms of passenger capacity, this latest version is same as previous ones. However, it is completely different in terms of engine type, interior and exterior design, and dimension.

PT Toyota-Astra Motor (TAM) introduced this latest edition a few years ago in order to broaden the market share of the passenger car segment.

This edition is equipped by an inline, four-cylinder, 2,700 cc engine with variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) technology. This new engine is able to produce 160 horsepower (hp) at 5,200 rpm of top power and 339 Newton meter (Nm) at 3,800 rpm of maximum torque. This is the most powerful engine ever made for Kijang Innova.

It also applies catalytic converter for better emission. PT Toyota-Astra Motor (TAM) recommends unleaded fuel for best engine performance and better fuel consumption.

So far the Kijang Innova (previous version) has come with two engine types: 2,000 cc gasoline engine with VVT-i technology and the 2,500 cc diesel engine with direct 4-stroke diesel turbo common-rail (D-4D) technology. Transmission is also available in automatic or manual option.

What makes Innova 2.7V different is the transmission technology. Unlike previous Kijang Innova which use conventional automatic transmission, the latest version of Innova applies electronic control transmission (ECT) technology.

Leather seats and an audio system with a six CD changer and MP3 player are standard features for the Innova 2.7V.

PT Toyota-Astra Motor (TAM) also cares about safety. The Innova 2.7V comes with dual supplemental restraining system (SRS) air bags and additional seat belts in the third-row seat.

PT Toyota-Astra Motor (TAM) provides a guarantee of three years or 100,000 kilometers, whichever comes first.

The Kijang Innova 2.7V is the most luxurious MPV ever made among all other Toyota Kijang.

Carroll Shelby built some of America’s great muscle cars but he was also a legend in American high performance car racing. His racing career started in 1952. He started off drag racing but quickly moved to road racing. He won his very first race, driving an MG. He beat not only other MG’s in the race but also the more powerful Jaguars. By 1954 Shelby was racing in Europe driving Aston Martins for John Wyers team. In November of 1954 Shelby rolled his racecar 4 times in a Pan American Mexico race and suffered cuts, breaks and a shattered elbow. He continued to race in 1955 using a special fiberglass cast and taping his hands to the steering wheel, despite these hardships Shelby continued to win. In 1957 Carroll Shelby was named racecar driver of the year by Sports Illustrated magazine. In 1960 Shelby moved to California and opened a Goodyear Tire Dealership and later that year he competed in his last race.

Carroll Shelby was retired from racing but he would now begin a chapter in his life that would have a profound impact on American sports cars. He opened a high performance driving school in 1961 and in March of 1962 he opened Shelby America in Venice California. His first car the Shelby Cobra was a combination of a frame being built by AC in England and a small block V-8 being built by Ford Motor Company. The Shelby Cobra was the fastest production car being built at the time. Shelby America went through some start up challenges but eventually starts selling quite a few Cobras. The car is a proven winner in the racing world and in 1965 Ford asks Shelby to develop a high performance Mustang for the street and racing. Ford was eager to compete with the Chevrolet Corvette on both the street and the track and they felt that Carroll Shelby could give them the edge that they needed.

1964-1965

In September 1964 Ford Motor Company and Shelby America form a partnership to build high performance Mustangs. Ford starts shipping stripped down Mustangs to Shelby and lets him do whatever he wants to them. The first 1965 Shelby GT 350 race and production cars are built in late 1964. They are only offered in white and Shelby added a blue stripe down the side with the words GT 350. Under the hood Shelby put in an aluminum intake, which pushed the horsepower from 271 to 306; they also added a Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed transmission. The suspension received a larger front stabilizer bar, Koni shocks and traction bars as well as a 1″ sway bar. On the more cosmetic side the mustangs were fitted with fiberglass hoods with functional scoops. The rear seat was removed to make way for the spare tire and competition seat belts were put in. These models were put on the market in January of 1965. They did not sell fast but car enthusiasts were buying them, which was the target market.

In March of 1965 Shelby America moved production of the Mustangs to the Los Angeles International Airport. They started work on what would be the 1966 model. The 1966 GT350 would be offered in more then one color. It was available in black, red, green, and blue. Shelby America also offered a supercharged version of the GT350 as well as a convertible model. In November of 1965 Shelby works out a deal with Hertz to build Shelby GT 350H. He was originally given an order for 200, which is later upped to 1000.

1966-1967

The 1967 model year of the Shelby Mustangs offered a new style. Ford was building a tougher looking car and Shelby made it even more muscular by adding two scoops to the side and a spoiler. Many of the body components on the GT 350 were made of fiberglass. The biggest addition to the Shelby lineup was the GT 500. The Shelby 500 was the big-block version of the Shelby Mustang. It had a huge 428cu in. police interceptor motor, which produced 355 horsepower. You could buy the car with either a C-6 Automatic Transmission or a Ford Toploader 4-Speed manual. It came with power steering and brakes. The Hertz model was not produced this year nor was the supercharged version.

1968-1970

There were not a lot of changes made for the 1968 model year, except for some pretty extensive name changes. The Shelby Mustangs for this year were called the Shelby Cobra and the GT500 was released as the GT500KR for King of the Road. Most of the changes were cosmetic and Shelby produced a large number of convertibles for this model year.

In 1969 Ford completely redesigned the Mustang line. Shelby made some dramatic cosmetic changes to the car, he extended the entire nose of the car using fiberglass and put 5 scoops on the hood alone. The engine was basically the same but was also offered as a 351. 1969 would be the last year of the Shelby Mustangs. As sales slowed dramatically the partnership between Ford and Shelby America ended. The remaining 1969 models would be updated to 1970 specifications and sold. In December of 1969 Shelby America closed its doors. It would be the end of an era for American muscle cars. Carroll Shelby would go on to work for Dodge/Chrysler and would be instrumental in the Dodge Viper project.

In 2003 Ford Motor Company and Shelby Automotive announced they would begin building cars together again. The Shelby Cobra was introduced in 2004 and the Shelby Mustang GT 500 was introduced a year later in 2005. In 2006 Motor Trend magazine named Carroll Shelby one of the 50 most important people in the automotive industry and later that year Hertz and Ford agree to resurrect the Hertz Mustang for the car rental company. The convertible Shelby Mustang was brought out in 2007. The Shelby Mustangs are still being produced today.

About the Author

Yes, Lexus and supercar can now be used in the same sentence, thanks to some bravado in the upper ranks, and the impeccable engineering skills to not only pull it off, but to excel with their very first attempt.

In the past, Lexus has always developed and delivered luxury-there were never any doubts there. Yet there is a phenomenal gap between a luxury car and a luxury supercar, and this becomes clear the instant the Lexus LFA’s unique V10 engine begins to sing.

The carbon fiber body was specifically engineered not for the sole purpose of aesthetics, but to manipulate superior acoustics from the 4.8-liter V10 engine. According to Lexus, it is challenging to engineer a V10 to sound as pleasing as a V8 or V12, and for that reason the body of the supercar includes special air intake sections to balance the acoustics.

The official launch of this first ever Lexus supercar took place at the Tokyo Motor Show, with the North American Introduction occurring the same day in Miami, Florida.

The press members at the North American Introduction for the LFA were fortunate enough to obtain not only the opportunity to stay at South Beach’s luxurious Mondrian Hotel, but to actually drive this phenomenal supercar on the Homestead Race Track. This is where the distinction became apparent between a luxury sedan and a supercar-with 552 horsepower hitting the 0-60 mark in 3.6 seconds. The Lexus LFA tops out at approximately 202 miles per hour, with $10,000 brakes that are up for the challenge.

For a first attempt, Lexus certainly seems comfortable and confident in their new endeavors, and a welcomed addition to the realm of the supercar. The LFA is expected to come with a price tag of approximately $375,000. Lexus will only make 500 of the LFA supercars, and first deliveries are scheduled for 2011.

About the Author

Lexus By Ryan Safady Platinum Quality Author

When it comes to buying your first car there are really only a few types of car that you can consider. First of all you will be looking for a hatchback car as these are the much more manageable for the relatively inexperienced driver. Although you will undoubtedly feel like the best driver in the world when you first pass your test, you must bear in mind that experience counts for a lot when it comes to everyday driving. Until you get your confidence, all I can do is offer you advice on what car is probably the most suitable.

Although you may want a car with a huge engine that can get from 0-60 in the blink of an eye, a car of this calibre is probably too powerful for someone with relatively few driving miles under their belt. The sensible driver will pick a car with a 1.0 to 1.4 litre engine in their first car. Any more than this and you may find that you don’t feel as ‘in control’ of your car as you would like to.

Another consideration is cost effectiveness. If you buy a small 3 door hatchback with a 1.2 litre engine, you are going to pay one of the lower costs in terms of insurance and road tax. This is probably a huge consideration for the younger drivers amongst us.

All things considered, a good choice for your first car would be a Used Volkswagen Polo, as these particular cars manage to mix affordability with style and class. My recommendation comes from experience; my first car was a Used VW Polo too!

About the Author

The Toyota Land Cruiser is called the ‘King of SUVs.’ If that’s true, then Hummer is the emperor of SUVs. If that is the case, where should we place the latest SUV, the Knight XV? Well, then we have to term the Knight XV as the God of SUVs!

I can read your mind, dude. You must be thinking that I am joking, but I am very serious. Let me make things simpler and clearer for you to understand. Imagine a lightweight boxer standing beside a heavyweight boxer and a WWE wrestler. Now let us name them. The lightweight boxer is the Land Cruiser, the heavyweight boxer is the Hummer and then this new Knight XV is the WWE wrestler. Are you getting it, now? This Knight XV is huge!

Believe me, this SUV from Conquest Vehicles Inc., a Toronto-based company, is colossal; it is gigantic in size. It is the largest Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) on earth weighting 10,000 pounds. This is also the world’s most luxurious SUV. Most importantly and interestingly, the Knight XV is very eco-friendly and runs on bio-fuel.

Conquest Vehicles Inc. is a Toronto based Canadian automobile manufacturer. The company exclusively practice designing and manufacturing of extra-luxurious, fully armored, handcrafted sport utility vehicles. The company employs award-winning experts in the field of engineering, fabrication, design, armouring and customization to create one-of-a-kind SUVs unrivaled and unmatched in present day’s automotive marketplace. Besides, Conquest Vehicles Inc. provides its clients with auto customization and after-market design for their exotic luxury vehicles.

The hulky Knight XV is powered by a 6.8 liter V10 engine. The engine can deliver a robust power of 400 bhp. The Knight XV is congregated on a super duty Ford modified platform chassis. The Herculean SUV is inspired by the Gurkha military vehicle built by Armet Armored Vehicles. The Gurkha military vehicle is an armored military vehicle employed by the United States Army, Russian Foreign Ministry, various American police SWAT teams and Canadian Forces.

The Knight XV comes fully armored with Wilton Wool carpeting, Andrew Muirhead leather, 6-way electric leather boardroom-style seating, tandem sunroof glass with privacy shades, personal side-mounted laptop stations, LED cabin lighting, an Alpine AM, FM, CD, DVD navigation and Bluetooth connectivity, TV monitors, night vision and rear operation camera system, and a PlayStation 3. The interior of the cabin is humongous with ultra spacious 283-cubic-foot, which obviously is larger than the interior of most SUVs on the road today and can comfortably accommodate six professional basketball players.

One peculiar thing about this Herculean Knight XV is that it is handcrafted. Each car took 1,500 man hours to be built. This SUV is meticulously built completely by human hands.

The Knight XV is built using ballistic hardened steel making it fully armored. The SUV comes with ballistic fiberglass fenders and bumpers as well as 64 mm transparent armor glass. The monumental SUV measures 240 inches in length and 98 inches wide with a ground clearance of 14 inches and stands 100 inches tall. Its wheelbase is 141 and the SUV can hold 40 gallons of fuel and sits on four, LT40X13.50R20 Mickey Thompson Baja Radial ATZ tires with ballistic run flat tyre system. These 40 inches tires are wrapped around 20 inches aircraft-grade wheels. In addition, the Knight XV contains an E-85 Ethanol conversion system (Flex Fuel) with California emission certification.

As we have seen, everything about this SUV is superlative… the size, performance, built, fuel efficiency, gadgets, luxury, security and the price as well. The SUV is attached to a heavy price tag of $310,000. (The price goes well with its stance!) There is only a handful of overly super rich people who can afford to vroom this leviathan SUV. So, the Canadian car company is reckoning to roll out only 100 of this SUV initially.

About the Author

V Divya

The new generation Acura Advanced Sportscar seems to be the replacement for the Acura NSX. The hood of the car is filled with sculpted and deep lines and it is marked with air vents. The curves and the lines run to the side of the vehicle’s body, and the arches to the rear wheels suggest aggressiveness and fluidity. Most of the features provided in the model appear similar to the first generation Acura NSX version.

As far as the specifications of the new Acura Advanced Sports Car are concerned, it has the wheel-base of 2763 mm. The concept car will be featured with 20 inch tires at the rear and 19 inch tires at the front side of the car. The most powerful tires in the sports car will be mounted on polished aluminum wheels that hide all the power. The carbon ceramic ventilated disc brakes and 8-piston calipers are an added advantage to the car.

Apart from the full threaded tires at the rear side and the front, the powerful V8 engine also distributes enough power to all the four wheels when needed. The independent suspension system helps in perfect utilization of power generated by the engine.

The safety features that are expected to be provided in the new version include four wheel disc brakes, antilock braking system, electronic stability control, traction control, curtain side air bags, front side air bags and rear view mirror. Not only the safety features to protect the passengers in the car, it will also be equipped with all the luxury and entertainment features needed for a sports car.

About the Author

Geof Ryan Platinum Quality AuthorCheck out the latest Advanced-Sportscar Wallpapers