Dodge Caliber test results and other Euro NCAP news

According to a press release issued by Euro NCAP on wednesday, 27th June, the Dodge Caliber was awarded four stars for adult occupant protection, four stars for child occupant protection and one star for pedestrian protection in the small family car category.

The complete test results for this five-door hatchback will be available from 27th June 2007.

FYI, the front impact test is conducted at 64km/h (40mph) into an offset deformable barrier, the side impact test 50km/h (30mph), the pole test at 29km/h (18mph) and the pedestrian tests at 40km/h (25mph).

The Dodge Caliber replaces the Neon. It was first introduced at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show, and went on sale in the spring of 2006. Prices in the UK starts from £11,695 OTR for the 1.8 S (MAN). Source: Dodge UK

In another unrelated news, Euro NCAP announced that their next Secretary General will be Michiel van Ratingen. He will take up his post when the current Secretary General Adrian Hobbs retires later this year.

Michiel van Ratingen is a Mechanical Engineer with extensive experience in the field of vehicle safety. Michiel worked at TNO, as head of Automotive Safety, and later at First Technology Safety Systems.

Adrian Hobbs retires after over 35 years working in accident research, vehicle safety and Euro NCAP. He initiated the Euro NCAP programme and has taken a leading role in its development. He joined the Euro NCAP Secretariat in 2003.

Adrian Hobbs has helped Euro NCAP elevate car safety to a level no one could have anticipated
ten years ago. Adrian has been one of the world leaders in vehicle safety

- Claes Tingvall.

Evolution of the Silverado

See how the Chevy Silverado has evolved (they call it transformed for obvious reasons) in 89 years.



Nice video.

Review of the RHD Japan site

Presently there's a lot of interest in Japanese imported cars all around the World, thanks to movies like The Fast and the Furious (2001), Initial D (2005) and the like. So if you into fast Japanese cars, you might find this review interesting.

Recently, I got to know about RHD Japan, an international supplier of quality Japanese performance car parts. The Japanese company was founded in 1999 by Patrick Antell and Russell Hobbs. Since then they have been supplying quality JDM or Japanese domestic market parts to customers in over 80 countries around the Globe. I later learned that their business is recognised by the Japanese Legal Affairs Bureau as a Limited Liability Corporation (YK). They guarantee the absolute best quality service and supply of Japanese racing parts from Japan.

Going to their website, I quite liked the fact that they had taken the bandwidth of their customers into consideration. So you have the choice of entering either a high bandwidth or a low bandwidth version of their site. The only difference is that the latter has less graphics and it does definitely load much faster.

I liked the layout and look of the site. Almost everything that I usually look for in a e-commerce site are all there - including an "about us" page, FAQ, payment methods and ability to search products. The site is also secure and verified by Verisign.

One important piece of new information that I learnt from their site was that JDM parts suppliers now require legal documentation called the “Kobutsusho”. Not having the mentioned documentations can result in serious problems with the authorities. I have never come across any site of other JDM parts suppliers that mentioned this document. Thanks for the info guys.

Prices of the products are based on the location of the customer and you would need to register in order to find out the correct shipped price for each product.

Signing in does give you some extra features. For example, you will get detailed descriptions of each product plus the shipped price. Clicking on the "give me a deal" button on the top will entitles you to a discount on 3 products picked at random, for the car you choose when you signed up. You are entitled to this discount for different products once every month.


Some improvements I would like on the site:

Design:
In the low bandwidth site, the side bar is quite long and it's quite odd to see a lot of white empty space below the new products listed. A drop-down script should solve that. The higher bandwidth site doesn't have this problem.

Extra information:
Instead of putting the shipping info inside the terms and conditions page, probably they could have a separate shipping page and clearly spell out all the details necessary for overseas shipping. I would also recommend that they put up a Privacy & Security page. Even though they have a Verisign button up on the home page, it wouldn't do any harm to reassure the customers even more.

Search:
I found the search engine to be quite simple. Customers would definitely welcome one with more options such as product type, brand, etc.

Other, than that, there's nothing much I would change about the site. Even if you are not planning to buy anything, check out their Gallery. They have loads of original pictures of automobile parts, along with descriptions of the products. Don't blame me if you find yourself drooling on your keyboard.

Garage floor coatings

Most people don't consider the garage to be part of their house. It is just a place to park your car for the night or to store old junk. However, to some people it is more than that. To them the garage is an important part of the house.

Anyway, I was going through Carguygarage.com, a site that carries over 1,000 different products for garages. One of the categories on the site is Garage Floor Coating. To tell the truth , I never thought about a floor coating. However, after seeing the pictures, I realize that they would make it easier to clean the garage floor besides making it attractive.

They carry a wide range of epoxy paint chips, which are 1/4" in size and come in 1 pound bags and in three types, namely Light Sprinkle, medium Sprinkle and Heavy Sprinkle. There are so many colours and a number of combinations are possible. I personally like the light earth tone.

Which colour would you like you like your garage floor to be?

New Honda Accord versions coming soon

Two new versions of the Honda Accord will be launched on the 1st of September here in the UK.

First is the new Sport GT 2.2 i-CTDi and the other is the diesel-engined Accord SE 2.2-litre i-CTDi.




The Sport GT as an accord with a sports suspension and comes in Saloon and Tourer models. Not really sure how different they are apart from the fact that the Saloon has 17 inch alloy wheels whereas the later has 16 inch wheels.

One new colour option will be exclusive to this version - Premium White Pearl (shown here).

I don't have much information other than

The Sport GT is on sale from 1 September, expected to be priced from £20,767 (OTR).

On the other hand the Accord SE is a entry-level diesel engine car. It has a 6 speed gear box with stability assist. It is expected to be priced around £18,600 (OTR).

UK personalised number site

One day I suddenly realised that my friend's car number actually spells out his name. Well not exactly but almost. He told me that he had to pay quite a bit for that but I was really impressed.

If you want one too, check out the Northumbria Numbers site. Search for your own personalised car number on their site. The possibilities are endless - you can have ageless car registrations, prefix type registration numbers and current style number plates.

Best of all, they will do the transfer paperwork for you. There are loads of reductions on their bargain page. Their site will try to find a personalised car registration to suited to your needs on their database. Customers can search by name, letters, numbers, car make etc.

Check out the site for general information on personalised number plates. This includes history of UK number registration systems and laws governing number plates and more.You can even sell you car number by filling up a form on the site.

Mitsubishi flex-fuel vehicle

According to a press release issued today, Mitsubishi Motors has launched a flex-fuel vehicle (FFV) - the Pajero TR4 Flex in Brazil

It will be launched in July of this year in the Brazilian market by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and local production and sales company MMC Automotores do Brasil Ltda (MMCB).

Derived from the Pajero TR4, this is the first full-feature four-wheel drive flex-fuel vehicle (FFV). The use of different materials, modifications to the engine, and changes to the fuel system allow the vehicle to run on any combination of gasoline and ethanol. Modifications to the engine control unit allow for optimum combustion with any fuel mixture, and the redesigned parts of the fuel delivery system add toughness and dependability.

It was reported that the 2.0-liter 16-valve engine that powers the Pajero TR4 Flex delivers similar levels of performance on ethanol-heavy or gasoline-heavy fuel mixes.

The development of FFV is part of Mitsubishi's response to the global trend towards alternative fuel sources.

The company is also currently working on a flex-fuel model it plans to bring into commercial production for the U.S. market in fiscal 2009.

Easier refinancing

If you are in the US and looking to refinance your car, you might want to take a look at RateGenius. With it's headquarters in Austin, Texas,the company makes it easier for you to find the best possible interest rate for your current auto loan.

RateGenius has really made it easier to refinance your car, truck, or SUV by searching with over 40 different banks and credit unions from throughout the country.
Your car refinance process starts by submiting an application by phone toll-free at 1-866-728-3436 or online by filling up the details on their proprietary electronic document process.

Right now customers can wait up to 60 days before making their first payment. The best part is that they do not charge their customers for their refinancing service.

Ford selling off Jaguar and Land Rover

According to news reports, Ford has decided to get rid of it's two UK luxury brands -Jaguar and Land Rover. This is probably part of it's restructuring programme. This news comes as a surprise because Ford had invested heavily on these two marques and they are doing OK. Jaguar was bought in 1980 for £1.6 billion.

Read the CNN report here.

According to the Economist, this is the latest sign that

the turnaround at the world's third-biggest carmaker is not going well.

Workers at the Jaguar's Whitley plant (their HQ) here in Coventry are quite worried about their job security. As much as I hate to say it, the fact is that making cars here in the UK is no longer cost effective. This news follows Peugeot's decision to close their Ryton plant.

Latest news indicates that Cerberus, the private equity group that just bought Chrysler, has indicated interest in the companies. However, Cerberus has declined to comment. Read the report here.

Tags: binley car industry coventry ford jaguar land rover

Buying cars online in the UK

Buying a used car is often a gamble - you never know what's wrong with the car until you have used it for a while. Even if there is still several months before the next MOT, you might find have your car breaking down on the middle of the motorway in the middle of the night. However, if you take the necessary precautions and do the required checks, you should be OK.

We really had a tough time searching for a used car when we first moved to Coventry, as we had a tight budget- what with the rental for a new house and all that. Anyway, I checked with the newspapers and a few online used car dealers, but it took me some time before could find one that I liked and suited my budget as well. The used car sites didn't impress me at all. Some of the people I called up had already sold their cars but their listings were still up even after a few weeks.

I wish I had known about BuyYourCar.co.uk as it would have made my life a lot more easier. Though relatively new (it only went live in August last year), this Used Cars site has become quite popular. When I last checked, it had a Google PR of 5 and Alexa ranking of 32,989. It is also #1 on Google search for "Used Cars UK". There is a reason for that. The site is packed with a number of impressive and innovative features that makes it easier for customers and sellers alike.

I totally agree with their philosophy that "...advertising online is more than just a simple listing and picture."

You can search the listings on the site by Car Make, Model, Details (for example, 1.8 red), Price range, Distance from Postcode and Seller Type (private, dealer or both), with the results sorted by Latest Offers, Lowest Price, Highest Price and Distance search.

The distance search feature is a welcome feature. I wouldn't want to go all the way to London to buy a car listed by an owner there (unless of course there was something very special about the car).

One of the pages I really found interesting on the site was the "Car review" page. The have listed different car brands and given a brief history of each. They plan to have customer reviews in the future.

Dealers advertising with BuyYourCar will get:
- Standard listings,
- Individual Listings,
- Dedicated pages in the site,
- Dedicated pages that list stock by Make,
– Dedicated pages that list stock by Price, as well as
- Online enquiry forms, Google location maps with interactive directions.
Go to the site for more information.

If you are looking for a used car in the UK, I definitely recommend this site.

Enhanced Jaguar XKs revealed

Jaguar revealed enhanced XK and the X-TYPE ranges, which will be released in 2008, at the Canary Wharf Motorexpo.

For your information, Jaguar's XK is available in 3 versions - Coupé, Convertible or the Supercharged R version. All of the cars were made from constructed from aluminium for lightness, strength and rigidity, feature a new Sequential Shift 6-speed automatic transmission and offer 2+2 seating.

Check out the pics and you will agree with me when I say that they are look STUNNING.

The XK coupé in Liquid Silver.

The XK coupé comes with Jaguar Sequential Shift 6-speed automatic transmission, steering wheel-mounted paddles. Advanced features include Computer Active Technology Suspension, Dynamic Stability Control, an intelligent lighting system, Adaptive Cruise Control and the Jaguar Smart Key System.

According to Jaguar, the coupe accelerates from 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) in 5.9 [6.2] seconds and has a maximum speed of 155 miles/hr (250 km/hr). It is priced at £60,097 (OTR).

The enhancements on the XK were mostly cosmetic. They now have 20-inch double five-spoke Senta alloy wheels, Jaguar Premium Surround Sound, heated front windscreen and bright finish alloy pedals as standard.

The XK convertible in Frost Blue.

The XK Convertible has a folding roof that can be lowered or raised automatically in less than 18 seconds.

Prices start from £66,097 (OTR)

According to Jaguar, the convertible goes from 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) in 6 [6.2] seconds and has the same maximum speed as the coupe', i.e., 155 miles/hr (250 km/hr).

Both cars come with the option of a normally aspirated 4.2 litre V8 engine which delivers 300bhp.

On the other hand, you can have the award winning XKR sports car powered by Jaguar´s latest generation, supercharged 4.2 litre V8 420bhp engine.

Launched in 2006, the low frills car has a stunning top speed of 185mph with a 0-60 acceleration time of just 4.5 seconds.

The price for the Supercharged coupé was £67,585 (OTR) and £73,585 (OTR) for the XKR convertible.

Besides the above mentioned enhancements, the new XKRs now features a new high-performance braking system with 400mm front discs and 350mm rear discs.

With the new enhancements, the revised price of the XKR Coupé is now £70,097 while the convertible is now £76,097.

As for the interior, which one do you prefer:

1. Caramel with Burr Walnut Fascia


2. Ivory with Poplar Fascia
or

3. Warm Charcoal with Aluminum


As for the X-Type, the only "enhancement" is a new mesh grille and two new colors: Blue Prism and White Onyx.

Tags: jaguar xk xkr

More powerful Brabus

BRABUS pumps out more power from the Mercedes 63 AMG models with its new tuned B63 S engine. This boosts power output of the high-revving 6.2-liter V8 to 550 hp / 404 kW and peak torque to 650 Nm.

A Mercedes CLS 63 AMG with B63 S tuning goes from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.3 seconds and attains a stunning top speed of 330 km/hr. On the other hand, the ML 63 accelerates from 0 -100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 275 km/h in combination with the BRABUS V/max unit.

The power kit comprises newly programmed engine electronics with special mapping for injection and ignition. The intake side features a sport air filter for improved supply of combustion air.

Of course, along with the powerful engine, they have made the necessary modifications to tires, suspension and brakes to ensure maximum control.

The car comes with a control module for the ABC suspensions that lowers the ride height by some 20 millimeters. Sport stabilizers reduce body roll and optimize turn-in.

Their high-performance brake system includes 380 x 36 millimeter discs and 12-piston aluminum fixed calipers for the front axle while the rear is fitted with six-piston fixed calipers and 355 x 28 mm brake discs. A special version with ceramic discs is also available on customer request.

There is a long list of exclusive interior accessories and that's not all. Exclusive custom made interiors (made from soft yet durable Mastik leather and Alcantar) are available on customer request from the company's own upholstery shop.

The Brabus people have also made sure that the tuned V8 engine meets stringent EURO IV emission limits using high-performance metal catalysts with low back pressure.

Land Rover wallpapers and screensaver

Land Rover has come a long way since the the launch of the first ever 4x4 in 1948. The company is based in Solihull, England near Birmingham, and is a subsidiary of the Premier Automotive Group, a division of the Ford Motor Company.

Land Rover now produces a number of four-wheel drive vehicles, including the Range Rover range. This vehicle range is Land Rover's flagship vehicle. It was first introduced in 1970 and is claimed to be the first first luxury SUV. the Range Rover is still among the most expensive vehicles in it's type. A new Rage Rover now starts from around £55,100 (on the road price). and is the Queen's favourite ride of choice.

If you love Land Rover vehicles, you should have one as your desktop. Check out the Land Rover Range Rover wallpaper below.

You can download other Land Rover wallpapers and screensavers. You have the choice of downloading them in 3 different resolutions, namely, 1280x1024, 1024x768 and the lowest, 800x600 (the one I am using here). The quality of the pictures are OK for use as a wallpaper. I wish there were other colours though. The ones on the site are all in Amalfi Blue (Metallic) only.

I love their dynamic Land Rover screensaver which comes with a calendar and clock as well. The screensaver features different Land Rover vehicles as a slideshow. It is available for download on computers running Windows, OS X as well as Linux operating systems.

There are loads of other wallpapers as well as screensavers of vehicles of different brands on the VCARS site. VCARS is a network of 50 manufacturer specific websites helping you find used cars in the UK. When I last checked, they has over 100,000 used car offers of all makes. You can compare prices nationwide by make and model as well as year on the site.

The site has an interactive 3D street location map of dealers throughout the UK. After you find the nearest approved car dealer in your area, you can print out full details of your chosen vehicle (along with any special offers) and a location map of the dealership.

Ford overtakes Toyota in quality rankings

Ford Motor Co. has overtaken Toyota in J.D. Power and Associates' annual quality rankings which was released yesterday. Ford won model segment awards for the Ford Mustang, Lincoln Mark LT, Lincoln MKZ, Mazda MX-5 Miata and Mercury Milan. This is the first time since 1998, it has won more individual awards than any other automaker. Read the full report here.

Mercedes-Benz and Toyota models won top spots for three segment each. Toyota received awards for the 4Runner, Sequoia and Tacoma. It had grabbed awards in 11 segments last year. Mercedes-Benz won for the E-Class, SL-Class, and the S-Class.

Toyota Prius is top selling hybrid

The popularity of hybrid cars continue to grow through out the world. It's been nearly a decade since the first Toyota Prius went on sale. According to this report, cumulative sales of this car totaled 1.047 million as of the end of May.

Toyota is still working on what is expected as the next innovation of hybrids, the switchto lithium-ion batteries.

Toyota now account for 80% of car sales in the US. Read the report below:

To carry the news on your blog, just hit the "mash" button and follow the steps.

Think your tuned imported ride is amazing

Join the Import Tuner Ride of the Month contest and you stand a chance of winning a great t-shirt and getting your car featured in Importtuner.com.

The contest starts on 6th of June (next month) this year. Last date of entry is the 22 of June, 2007. Online voting will start immediately after that from 17:30 p.m. PST onwards and ends on the 30th of the same month (till 17:00 p.m. PST).

All you have to do is submit your contest entry and photos of your ride. Images of your car will automatically be resized and/or cropped to a 112x80 Thumbnail and a 400x300 Full Size. Only one entry is limited per person. I guess that's fair. So if you have a few modified cars, choose the one that you think is the most outstanding. Another rule is that you be 18 or older as of 1st of June 2007 with a valid driver's
license to enter or win. Oh! I nearly forgot. This is open to US residents only.

Three top entries will ultimately be selected as the winners of the contest and will have the honour of being featured on the site. Getting featured is a big deal as this site has a 6 Google page rank. Was going through some of the feature articles and I especially liked one on Honda tuning. A guy called Chang was already on the 3rd version of his 2000 Honda S2000 with more modifications expected in the future. I guess it's a hobby, an addiction and a passion for some guys.

In case you didn't know, Import Tuner Cars is a PRIMEDIA publication that focuses on modified / modifying cars imported to the States.

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