Living in a cramped up urban area can sometimes get in the nerves of car drivers. Overpopulated city equals fewer parking spaces, that’s it for them. Sometimes you find yourself swearing since the only available empty parking space is so small, that you couldn’t open your car doors if ever you take that spot. Thanks to the car beside the empty space. He probably needs more parking 101.
But of course, innovation and creativity has an answer. Joalto Design Inc. managed to conceptualize a design that made parking in cramped spaces less of a hassle. They tested their design with the 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII, but sadly, when they sent the car back to Ford, Ford rejected the idea of having “roll down†doors.
Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qwj7XxdsFY
General Motors didn’t have a very good run in the last few years. The popular US auto maker was so dangerously in the ropes that was even on the brink of bankruptcy. But GM is nothing but resilient and now after their troubles, it is showing signs that it’s raring to fight once again. Just recently, GM’s Chevrolet Volt was voted 2011 North American Car of the Year, the latest award the car has received after getting Motor Trend Magazine’s Car of The Year and Green Car of The Year nods.
The noteworthy thing about this is that the Volt beat tough competition from Nissan and Hyundai. We just may see more good things coming out of the GM plant in the future.
Do you ever wish that you could bring your home television into your car? Well, Chrysler is already finding out a solution for the couch potatoes. They’re planning to make a minivan with a television inside.
No, it’s not just the ordinary television you’re thinking, wherein you could plug in your favorite DVDs and the like. This one’s satellite television. Yes, the kids’ favorite Disney Channel can be viewed inside the car. So, if you’re getting tired of calling your kids 5 to 6 times for them to get inside the car (going to Grandma’s place!), then the Chrysler minivan is the solution for you.
On the sales of hybrid cars, that is. Ever since the start of the “environmental craze†amongst the different car makers, different hybrid cars have been produced by car giants to keep up with their sales. But for General Motors, probably hybrid cars are not their cup of tea as GM is losing with their hybrid car sales. Toyota was able to sell close to half a million of hybrid cars. Ford sold about 5,000. And for GM? Not even a thousand—843 cars to be exact.
But GM has a definite answer to that. Hybrids are marketed as the cost efficient and environmental friendly cars but GM said otherwise. In the long run, people would have to spend more on their cars for maintenance and the like.
Photo taken from http://http://www.saltlakespeaks.com
It is on a happy note that I would like to share with you this news. CNNMoney.com reports that General Motors (GM) got two of three nominations each for the Car and Truck of the Year awards at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit slated next month.
The nominees for Car of the Year are the Cadillac CTS, Chevrolet Malibu and Honda Accord while the nominees for the Truck of the Year are the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and Mazda CX-9.
47 auto journalists from the United States and Canada serve as the jury to select the winners. Announcement will be next month at the Detroit Auto Show.
By dominating the car awards nominee list, GM has proven once again that they are still on top of their game. If luck comes their way, it will be their second time after winning in the 2007 Auto Show in the same categories with the Saturn Aura and Chevrolet Silverado.
The Pontiac G8 has yet to be sold in the US but it is already receiving positive response from American car lovers. Not only that, it was reported that �insider contacts� slipped information that GM has plans to expand its G8 line-up with a wagon and sport ute.
This family expansion plan is good, only if the US dollar gets back immediately to its high standing. But if it continues to lose ground with the other currencies, problems with exporting will rise. And worse, further expansion might be delayed or forever be just a plan.
Let�s just hope this supposed project of GM pushes through. After all, it�s us, American car fans, who would benefit the most.
Did you know that the New Cadillac CTS by General Motors (GM) was named car of the year by the Motor Trend Magazine? Yes, that�s true and this goes to show that GM is now back in producing cars after investing largely on sports utility vehicles and trucks.
For car buff like me, this is quite interesting. Now that GM�s back in the car business, expect to see more stylish, high-powered and innovative cars soon.
CNN reports that the CTS won from a field of 18 significant vehicles, beating German and Japanese competitors in �performance, fit and finish, quality of materials and performance.�
To know more about this new GM baby, visit the GM website
Corvette Z06 has actually been a closet fuel miser, but few people have known the reality. The Z06 is the current king of the hill ‘Vette, with a tire-shredding 500 horsepower on tap, and managed an impressive trip average of 23.4 mpg…a fast car is not automatically a gas hog.
Why is a Z06 a good buy when it comes to gas?
It’s science at work here. Weight and aerodynamic drag are two primary enemies of fuel efficiency, which explains why heavy, blunt-faced, traditional sport utility vehicles and minivans generally suck down fuel and the sleek, relatively light-weight Z06 burns conservatively.
So if you are the 40 something or 50 something baby boomer accused of buying a Corvette because of a mid-life crisis, you can retort by pointing out your Corvette gets more miles-to-the-gallon than your buddy’s Land Rover or minivan.
The 2009 Cadillac CTS-V is a certainly a delight in its own right. First seen in the North American International Auto Show last March, critics say it has the “soul of the beast†given its powerful engine: a 550-horsepower supercharged 6.2 liter V8 with a choice of six-speed manual or paddle-shifted six-speed automatic transmission.
GM has recently announced that the world’s first Cadillac CTS-V has been sold in auction. The lucky guy was Cano Ozgener, founder of cigar company CAO International. Ozgener bought the famous sedan for $75,000, a generous bid if you would ask me. The money will go to charity (read: Prostate Cancer Foundation) and not in the hands of GM. A laudable project, indeed.
