Modified Mini at Antartica

Came across this interesting article in the Mini blog about a modified Mini - the Mini Trac at Wilkes Antarctic Base in 1965 .

Appearance Improvements for Your Vehicle

Every driver has a vested interest in keeping his or her vehicle in the best-looking shape possible. Whether it’s for keeping up appearances or prepping the vehicle for resale to a potential buyer or a used car dealer, the way a car looks matters. If you are unsatisfied with the current condition of your car’s exterior, consider pursuing several of the following upgrade ideas, many of which may help enhance the aesthetics of your vehicle. After all, if you’re going to be caught driving something on the road, you want it to be something that makes a positive impression at first glance.

Lighting
Poor lighting may be dangerous when driving, but it can also be disastrous to a car’s appearance. Cars with dim headlights and broken tail lights don’t inspire much confidence for potential buyers, and they can make a car appear prematurely older than it actually is. From yellowing headlight casings to malfunctioning tail light bulbs, you’ll want to replace any car lighting components that can cause a dent to your vehicle’s reputation. For easy headlight upgrades, try HID headlights, which can be customized by color and which also shine much brighter than a typical halogen headlight array. For tail light modifications, go with bold and modern LEDs.

Grille
The front grille on a car may be a rather small component in comparison to much larger pieces on the car’s exterior, but the grille is the focus of many people’s attention as they pass by your car. That’s because the grille sits front and center on your car, making it a pristine visual centerpiece when properly cared for. If your car’s front grille has been damaged in an accident, or simply just hasn’t aged well, you can replace it with plastic, billet or stainless steel grilles.

Windows
Windows that are scratched up, cracked, or just really dirty (dirty to the point where taking the car through a car wash isn’t enough to clean them) aren’t going to help you sell your car, and certainly won’t make a positive impression as you continue to drive it. For easily impressive windows, try using a window tint kit. Dark windows increase the privacy of your car’s inside space while also making your car look more upscale on the outside, so there are benefits abound from this single upgrade. Just don’t forget to apply each tint evenly before going forward. Also do not forget to check the legal requirements in your area.

Where are the French?

...they must have all the love they need at home...

Mike Smitka

First it was the Japanese. Then a couple Germans and the Koreans. Now the rest of the Germans. The Italians have one foot in the water. But except for a fleeting presence through American Motors, both with Simca as a subsidiary and later with Renault as an owner, the French -- who dominated the global industry in its formative years in the 19th century -- are nowhere to be found. Why?

Now it may be that Renault's control of Nissan represents de facto entry. Certainly purchasing is handled on a global basis, and there's cooperation in engineering. It may be that some Nissan products currently on sale in fact use a Renault platform (Perhaps one of my readers can fill in the gap.) But the absence is puzzling.

That's even more true of PSA (Peugeot-Citroen). The last time I looked (I'm probably showing my years!) they were doing well in Europe and solidly profitable. They keep up with technology, as seen in the customer base of the winners of the PACE Supplier of the Year innovation award for which I'm a judge. They're simply not here.

So what is their strategy? Do they believe that sufficient technology resides in the supplier base that they do not need sheer size to fund the R&D for tomorrow's products? Are they making enough money in small cars that they've chosen to "stick to their knitting" -- not venture into segments with which they have no experience -- and are therefore passing up the US market with its cheap gas and penchange for fuel guzzlers?

I don't know, but I've started to think about the variance in such "macro" strategy across the top vehicle assemblers. Suzuki strikes me as the closest analog, but they have a strong base in India, though it's probably no longer accurate to say that they dominate the market through their joint venture Maruti. Then there's Daihatsu, but they were gobbled up by Toyota and so, for better or for worse, are shackled to the small vehicle niche. Daihatsu long ago exited the US market; Suzuki seems likely to. So maybe PSA made a sensible strategic decision, and refused to join the herd in entering (and now exiting) the US.

My curiosity is piqued, but I have no answers.

The VW up! family

The up! is the new city car from Volkswagen and had it's World premiere at the 64th International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. VW also showed off 6 concept cars in the up! family of cars. This includes the buggy up! and up! azzurra: specially designed for the world’s beaches as well as the cross up!, GT up!, eco up! and e-up!

The up! will be launched in the UK in Spring next year 2012. However, they are opening up for orders from October 2011.

For more information about the up! concept cars, click here.

Fisker unveils the Surf

Fisker Automotive recently unveiled the "Surf" at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The car is styled by former Aston Martin and BMW chief designer Henrik Fisker.

The car is a finished production model rather than a concept car and it's also Fisker's second model to go on sale. The company's first car, the Karma, which was launched earlier this year has generated more than 4,000 orders.

Fisker Automotive has been producing electric vehicles with extended range since 2007. BMW has signed an agreement with the company whereby the German car company will supply Fisker with engines and other components for future Fisker models.

Fisker was formed in 2007 and has raised 1.5 billion dollars worth of investment, with 1500 people employed worldwide.

Finding dependable car shippers in the US

Choosing a reputable and reliable company the United States can be a formidable task as there are literally thousands of companies out there, each claiming to deliver the best service at an affordable price.

You do not have to worry. Just check out Cartransportquotes.com which links you to the most trusted and Dependable Car Movers in .

Qualified professionals who are licensed and properly insured will give you fast and reliable quotes/ rates with reported savings exceeding 20%.

The site offers the best Car Shipping and auto transport quotes for free. All you have to do is fill up their quick form and generate up to eight car shipping estimates. You can then use this information to compare national car shipping rates from automotive shipping carriers at one time. This way, you can select the best quote.

I would suggest anyone who has never shipped a car to first check out the Car Shipping Glossary so that you are familiar with the industry jargon and go through the Frequently Asked Questions as well. Teh site also has a Auto Mover Blog with loads of interesting information.

Video of the new Jaguar Land Rover Defenders concepts

Here is a video of the new Jaguar Land Rover DC100 and DC100 Sport concepts. Also inculdes interviews with the designers of the Defender and Jaguar C-X16 concept cars.

Bad behaviour while driving is learnt from parents

According to a research by AXA car insurance, it was found that found that many young drivers will emulate the way their parents drive.

The study has found that young drivers who demonstrate bad behaviour while driving, such as hand gestures and swearing, and more dangerous cases including speeding and drink driving, have may actually have learnt these from their parents.

• 28% of those with parents who drink drive do so themselves.
• Young drivers with parents who drive aggressively are 50% more likely to swear, flash or beep aggressively at other drivers.
• Drivers whose parents have points on their licence or a ban are three times as likely to face the same penalties themselves.

Can an Automaker Incentive Battle Goose the Economy?

David Ruggles

As the economy wallows in the doldrums, is there any cause for optimism? The outcome of the European debt crisis is still unknown, and we know how markets despise uncertainty. There are still plenty of uncertainties associated with the so called “Arab Spring” uprisings in the Middle East, and those could be with us for a while. While fuel prices have somewhat moderated, they remain high. The country’s credit rating took an unnecessary hit, although plenty of money seems to still be seeking to buy our debt. When the Dow fell dramatically after the downgrade of our credit rating, much of the money that left equities found its way into our “downgraded” Treasury bonds. Either the European debt crisis or our government being hamstrung by ideologues has sent the Dow on a downer after the debt ceiling crisis “semi resolution.” The 12-member “Super Congress” still has an important job to do, and there is additional uncertainty attached to that, that will take weeks to resolve.

The economic recovery that seemed so promising 10 months ago has stalled. Real estate prices continue to drop in many markets with many foreclosed properties not even listed to lessen the perception of burgeoning inventories of distressed merchandise. In Las Vegas a realtor friend mentioned that 50% of her deals these days are cash, as many properties don’t qualify for a certificate of occupancy and can’t meet standards for a mortgage. Only 20% of real estate market sales are “conventional sales,” she says. To put this in perspective, previous Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan says we shouldn’t expect any kind of robust recovery until home values rise at least 10%. His comment was made in an interview before values retreated another 5%.

Unemployment has plateaued at about 9%, with under-employment and fear of unemployment stifling consumers’ will and ability to buy. The President’s new jobs plan has been met with a collective yawn by Congressional Republicans. It is yet to be determined if can even pass, let alone actually make an impact if passed. The first stimulus package of the Administration managed to stem job loss of 780,000 per month, but did not achieve its stated goal of keeping unemployment below 8%. Despite stemming the job loss, the word “failure” is bandied about in political circles. As it turns out, the initial calculations of how much stimulus might be needed were based on preliminary numbers, which showed the economy contracted 3.8% in the last quarter of 2008. Once all the numbers were in, the real numbers showed a 6.2% retraction in that quarter. It turns out that to do the job promised, Paul Krugman, Nobel Prize-winning economist and New York Times columnist was correct, the stimulus needed to have been twice as large. Regardless, we are where we are, the original stimulus has exhausted its funds, the economy is stagnant, domestic auto stocks have tanked, and recovery has been stopped in its tracks.

This economic downturn isn’t like our previous ones. This one was caused by a financial crisis, with a near-collapse of the financial system averted at the last minute by government intervention. In my own business career, I recall the auto business being a major player in dragging the country out of economic stagnation. In late 1971, Pres. Richard Nixon repealed the excise tax on automobiles, touching off a spurt of business that pulled the economy out of stagnation and carried us forward to the first 10 million unit sales year in 1973. That momentum was halted in late 1973 by the OPEC oil embargo, fuel price spikes, and the associated economic downturn. Chrysler and Joe Garagiola helped pull us out of that one in 1975 with the “Buy a Car, Get a Check” promo. We then went through the Iranian hostage crisis in 1979, another spike in fuel prices, inflation, and the recession associated with the Carter/Reagan era and the first Chrysler bailout. Chrysler’s resurgence helped lead the economy out of the depths. In the past 10 years, GM led the industry and the economy out of the doldrums caused by the Sept. 11 attack with “Keep America Rolling” and 0% interest. That was followed by the “Employee Purchase Plan.”

This time around, we experienced the recession, the near insolvency of the banking system, a real estate crisis of epic proportions, and one that stubbornly hangs on, the temporary disappearance of financing of all kinds, bankruptcies of two of the three domestic automakers, and unthinkable job loss. After the restructuring of the auto industry, and a less than perfect “Cash for Clunkers” program, and a brief period of revival, any forward momentum has stalled.

Currently, new vehicle inventories are low. This isn’t a particularly abnormal situation for this time of year, as it is typical for dealers to clear out previous year’s stock to make room for the new model year’s models. But Japanese manufacturers, in particular, have lost ground against their competition because of the supply interruption caused by the tragic Japanese earthquake and tsunami. And they want their marketshare back. According to Kelly Blue Book, Japanese brands were approaching 40% of the U.S. market. Bus since April, that share has fallen to about 30%. Most SAAR projections are running behind pace, including my own. People are talking about an incentive battle from now through the end of the year. As Japanese brands gear up, domestics are expected to respond. And the domestics now have a much lower breakeven point than before their restructuring.

Incentive wars usually drive down used-vehicle values. But we have been experiencing an acute pre-owned inventory shortage. Dealers would welcome some relief.

Rental fleet replenishment is still in long-cycle mode. Wouldn’t it be nice to rent a vehicle again with less than 25,000 miles on it, riding on smooth tires? Can a case be made for a production orgy and short cycling of rental vehicles for a period of time as we had in the 1990s? For all the negativity attached to “push-marketing,” could this be an ideal time for it? The idea of manufacturing plants running at full capacity, paying overtime and adding shifts, and the trickle down through the supplier base and the financing community sounds pretty good right now. And the market could use a supply of low mile pre-owned units. Customers of Hertz, Avis, Dollar/Thrifty, etc., would be happy. And perhaps the auto industry could help touch off recovery like it has in the past.

David Ruggles has spent his career in every phase of the retail side of the auto business, new and used, sales and management, including consulting and training in both the U.S. & Japan. Ruggles has been a dealer for Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Dodge, GMC, Ford, Mazda, and Subaru, and has consulted for one of the world’s largest privately owned Toyota dealer groups located in Japan. He blogs at autosandeconomics.blogspot.com and writes regular columns for several publications.

Jaguar Reveals the C-X16

Today Jaguar revealed the production concept of their new sports car - the new C-X16 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The car's unveiling also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the iconic E-Type.

The C-X16 concept aims to set benchmarks in design, vehicle dynamics and technology for future Jaguar sports cars. The car represents a step forward from the 2010 Jaguar C-X75 supercar concept and works towards enhancing the driving experience as well as the car’s environmental credentials. It is also built and designed to a beautifully high spec, with the cabin trimmed in dramatic red leather.

The car is powered by an innovative supercharged 3.0-litre V6 producing 380PS (280kW) and 332lb ft (450Nm) of torque with an impressive 126PS specific power per litre. Mated to the engine is a eight-speed ZF gearbox with Quickshift changes. The high-performance hybrid system boosts output by 70kW and 235Nm with a top speed of 186mph, 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds and 50-75mph acceleration in 2.1 seconds. The electric-only top speed of 50mph.

The two-seater model is environmentally conscious with CO2 emissions of 165g/km. It also features a steering wheel-mounted ‘Push to Pass’ button controls the hybrid boost function. Intelligent Start/Stop for improved fuel economy.

New Land Rover Defender Concept

After more than 60 years of production, theLand Rover Defender is finally getting a makeover. Land Rover today unveiled the new Land Rover DC100 and DC100 Sport concept cars at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This indicates a new future direction for the Land Rover Defender which is one of Land Rover’s oldest and most iconic models and has been used by UN aid workers, Red Cross medic’s, police and military forces worldwide.

The new concepts have been designed by the Land Rover Advanced Design team whose remit was to create a vehicle that would resonate with the commercial customer as well as the retail customer. Their aim was to create a model that is relevant to the 21st century.

Both the Land Rover DC100 and DC100 Sport concepts are buit on a Lightweight, mixed-alloy platform using sutting-edge, sustainable, hi-tech materials taken from aerospace industries.

They are loaded with high tech features including

• The Terrain-i scanning device which warns the driver of obstacles when off-roading and can suggest alternative routes.
• Wade Aid which uses sonar technology to assess water depth and advise the driver of optimum speed
• Intelligent, next-generation, Land Rover Terrain Response system automatically optimises the car for any environment.
• Driver-activated spiked tyre system can be deployed at the touch of a button.

Both cars are permanent four-wheel drive with an eight-speed transmission, Intelligent Stop/Start and a transfer case. They are powered by 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with hybrid and plug-in capabilities.

The new Defender models are planned for production in 2015.

Zara Phillips is the first owner of the Range Rover Evoque

Land Rover ambassador Zara Phillips recently became the first owner of a 5-door Orkney Grey Evoque. The car has a 2.2 litre Diesel engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, panoramic sunroof and features including park assist, blind spot monitoring and a surround camera system.

Zara said: "I've grown up around Land Rovers and have been an ambassador for the brand for several years – I am really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of my new Evoque. It looks absolutely fantastic and I am delighted to be the first person in the UK to take delivery of one."

Land Rover has received over 20,000 pre-orders for the Range Rover Evoque worldwide with 6,000 of these in the UK.

Zara is one of the UK's leading equestrian figures and has been a Land Rover brand ambassador since 2006.

The new BMW 1 Series Sports Hatch

The new BMW 1 Series Sports Hatch will be launched on 17 September. The car is the only rear-wheeldrive car in its class. Available in a variety of different trim levels with different specifications, namely, ES, SE, Sport and Urban models.

Prices will range from £19,375 OTR for the ES model to £24,720 OTR for the diesel engine Sport and Urban models.

The BMW i3 and BMW i8 Concepts.

BMW just unveiled two concepts - the fully electric BMW i3 was formerly known as the MegaCity Vehicle, and the BMW i8, a plug-in hybrid vehicle. One of the major problems with electric vehicles are the huge and heavy batteries. Well both cars use the innovative architecture and CFRP (Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic) to cancel out all of the extra weight added by the batteries.

Both cars will be manufactured at the BMW plant in Leipzig.