Ford ECO Boost Engine

Ford has designed a new engine which is able to reduce CO2 emissions by 20%, help the environment and use less fuel - which also helps to save money on fuel too! The new engine is called the ECO Boost engine, for more information about this engine visit the Official Ford website for all of the specification details.

Taxi's in NYC compete for "New Look"

Ford, Nissan and Karsan (A Turkish car manufacturer) were three of the lucky companies to have the opportunity to design a 'new taxi' for New York citizens this month. All three vehicles remind us of small transit vans with unique features within each vehicle.

Karsan's approach to the design is to have a ramp which will allow wheelchair access as well as a rear-seat pull down seat in order to make taxi trips more social. Ford & Nissan have approached the project with comfort and space at the forefront of their design, demonstrating how their vehicles will supply the general public with comfort and stability whilst riding as a passenger. You can see from the images below how much more room passengers will have riding in one of the vehicles.

The lucky winner will be announced in early 2011 with a contract worth $1 billion.

Which do you prefer?

Ford's Entry:

NIssan's Entry:

Karsan's Entry:

 

Winter Special: Driving tips in winter

First and foremost, if the weather is treacherous outside then do not drive. If you really need to drive in harsh winter conditions then we have a few tips and advice for you:

·         Drive slowly; if your car skids, you have a higher chance of being able to regain control should your car skid on ice.

·         Keep a good distance from other vehicles; at least three cars apart.

·         Brake gently to avoid skidding.

·         Turn on your headlights to enhance not only your vision, but other drivers will be able to see you        better too.

·         Use lower gears to keep traction on the roads, especially when going up hills.

·         Don’t use cruise control, you want to have as much control as possible over your vehicle when driving in harsh winter conditions.

Used truck dealership in America offers strange promotion in the form of AK-47's?

We were quite shocked (but not really suprised) when we discovered that a truck dealership in Florida, US, have taken drastic measures to promote their business. Nations Trucks located in Sanford, Florida, are currently running a promotion due to close at the end of November whereby truck buyers will receive a voucher for $400 (£250) which can be redeemed for an AK-47 at a local firearms shop when they purchase a truck. According to Nick Genetta, General Sales Manager at Nations Trucks, business has been booming since the promotion of the deadly weapons, stating that "My buyer [of trucks] is absolutely a gun owner, no question".

 In regard to sending out the wrong message, Genetta said "I don't think that it sends the wrong message" and explained that the company are merely allowing customers to assert their rights under the Second Ammendment of Constitution. All customers are subject to backgrounds checks before being able to purchase a firearm - We'd certainly hope so!!!

Read the full article here.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ (World News, North America, USA)

Stolen cars - be warned

Cars get stolen every day, whether they are new, used, old, fast, slow, modern etc. Do not presume that just because you own an older car that this does not mean your car will not become a target. In fact, if anything, thieves may see your car as a potential gold mine. It may not be worth anything at face value, but breaking the vehicle to retrieve the parts and sell them on is a common way for thieves to make quick money. This is especially the case if your car is an older model, because spare parts are harder to come by for older models, so are much more valuable and expensive.

We were shocked to discover how many drivers tend to leave windows open a little on warm days, how they leave valuable possessions in clear view on dashboards and seats and how blase they are about thieves targeting their own vehicle. It is easy for a criminal to realise what possessions are in a car for them to make a quick sale - anything from; - ipods, cd's, cd case holders (full of cd's), hands-free sets, mobile phones, wallets/purses, satellite navigation, cd players etc. We were also shocked to discover that some people leave their mail - including bank statements - in their cars. Not only would the thief/thieves be able to steal your car and possessions, but they could also steal your whole identity!

Please don't presume this will not happen to you, take precautions and you could avoid the thieves stealing from you:

• Don't leave possessions in clear view inside the car - always place valuable items in the glove box, under your car seats or in the car boot.
• Make sure all windows and doors are locked before leaving the vehicle unattended.
• If you do not have one already, get a car alarm installed.
• Try not to leave your car over night in a secluded, dark area where not many people would be able to see anyone stealing your car.
• Remove CD/DVD players from your car.
• For around £50 you can buy a steering wheel lock. For another £80 you can buy a 'tyre claw' lock that will keep one wheel from moving.
• You can get an alarm fitted to your vehicle from between £150-£300 at any car shop. The alarm will go off when the door is opened without a key.
• You can get a 'kill switch' installed which will not allow engines to start unless there is a precise-matching key.

The best way to deter thieves, is to not give them a reason to want to access your vehicle in the first place. They know exactly what they are looking for, exactly how much they can get for the possessions in your car and exactly where to sell your car for scrap. You are basically inviting thieves to steal your car by leaving possessions in plain view.

Did you know that most thieves target cars that are in small and quiet residential areas? including residential and apartment complexes? their other favourite places are gym, restaurant and shopping car parks, some have even said that their car has been stolen in the church car park on a Sunday!

Please take care!