top 5 Best selling Cars of all time

Success in car industry is measured only through results of sale,

although in the last decade this criterion started to lose value as

well. Increased competition and lowered profitability resulted in

continuous losses per sold car recorded by the leading car makers.

It was caused by multiple reasons – from expensive labor and costs

of restructuring to manufacturing deficiencies caused by trying to

present the whole range of new cars as soon as possible, which

inevitably led to many withdrawals and expensive corrections of the

cars. Still, some cars gained the buyers’ trust all around the

world. Different generations of cars such as Toyota Corolla,

Volkswagen Golf or Honda Civic became more and more popular and

sold in higher quantities.

1. Toyota Corolla




The making of Corolla started in 1966 when Japanese manufacturer

decided to present a small compact car which integrates quality,

style and cost-effectiveness of more prestigious models. During 40

years Corolla had as many as nine generations, and in 1997 it was

the best selling car of all time. To the present day more than 35

million vehicles were sold and we can expect it to stay on the top

in the future.

2. Ford - F series



It is almost unbelievable that the second ranked in total sale is a

pick-up vehicle. Even more impressive information is that this

vehicle reached such a score only on North American territory.

However, the most surprising is the fact that Ford’s F series is at

present the best selling car in the world. Every year Ford sells

almost a million cars, that is almost one vehicle every 30 seconds.

So far, 25 million vehicles of the F series were sold.



3. Volkswagen Golf




hird ranked is second of two Volkswagens - Golf, which gained in

popularity on a global scale through five generations, and to the

present more than 24 million cars have been sold. The latest

Volkswagen generation will once more try to win the American

market, and its advantage is the fact that the American buyers are

more and more oriented towards buying more cost-effective cars.

Golf has been produced since 1974, and its sports GTI version

recently celebrated its 30th birthday.



4. Volkswagen Beetle



Volkswagen’s Beetle is the best selling car in history. Legend has

it that Adolf Hitler himself drew its legendary shape on a paper

towel. During almost 60 years, the incredible 21,529,464 Beetles

were produced, which is particularly significant when taking into

account the fact that during 60 years the Beetle had the same car

body, with some mechanical changes. The original form of the Beetle

was produced until 2003, when the last car left the Volkswagen

factory in Mexico.



Source :http://www.familycarguide.com

inflatable belts by Ford Motor Company

http://www.crunchgear.com


The inflatable belts are designed to provide support and and additional protection for rear-seat occupants, and is a major leap forward in the ever advancing world of safety innovation.


The belts work in much the same way as an ordinary airbag - when the sensors detect an accident the gas filled cannistors quickly rleases cold gas into the belts, which then instantly transforms into something that readily resembles an airbag. The belt has been created to alleviate head, chest and neck injuries.

So, when can we expect to see this next generation safety feature, you ask? Well, very soon actually. The inflatable rear seat belts will feature part of the Ford's next generation Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle (or SUV), which goes into mass production next year. The company plans to eventually incorporate this new safety feature in all their vehicles globally.

When inflated, the seat belts cover five times more area on the human body during a crash, which spreads and reduces the impact forces a passenger would normally experience. This of course reduces the pressure on a passenger's chest, and also aids in controlling head and neck motion. What's more, of all the research participants used, over 90 percent were of the opinion that the belts were actually more comfortable than traditional safety belts.

In a crash situation, the belts wil inflate in 40 milliseconds.

“Ford’s rear inflatable seat belt technology will enhance safety for rear-seat passengers of all ages, especially for young children who are more vulnerable in crashes,” said Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president of Sustainability, Environmental and Safety Engineering. “This is another unique family technology that builds on our safety leadership, including the most top safety ratings of any automaker.”

It seems Ford has made a conscious and clear decision to continue growing passenger safety and comfort, which is apparent in the rlease of safety systems this year alone, comprising the new radar-enabled Adaptive Cruise Control with Collision Warning with Brake Support, and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with Cross Traffic Alert (CTA) in the new 2010 Ford Taurus and Fusion.

Source :http://www.new-technology-world.com

Top 5 Green Cars

GREEN CAR'S TOP 5 FOR 2009

(Alphabetical Order)

2009 BMW 335d



BMW'S 335d showcases how well advanced, efficient, and clean diesel power can be incorporated into a performance-based sport sedan. With 23 mpg city/33 mpg highway fuel economy and gobs of torque, there's no sacrifice for performance fans here.
2009bmw325d
Engine: 3.0-liter inline-six diesel
Emissions, EPA: Tier 2, Bin 5
Horsepower: 265
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 23/33 (EPA)
Base MSRP: Under $43,000

FORD FUSION HYBRID



Ford's first hybrid sedan uses a more advanced adaptation of the automaker's full hybrid system to allow electric driving up to 47 mph, bringing the roomy five-passenger Fusion best-in-class fuel economy. An innovative SmartGauge with EcoGuide helps drivers achieve maximum mpg.
2010FordFusion
Engine: 2.5-liter inline-four, gasoline-electric hybrid
Emissions, EPA: Tier 2, Bin 5
Horsepower: 155
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 38/35 (est.)
Base MSRP: $27,000-$30,000 (est.)

SATURN VUE 2 MODE HYBRID



The Vue 2 Mode breaks new ground as the first application of GM's two mode hybrid technology in a V-6 front-wheel-drive vehicle. The compact SUV combines welcome functionality and fuel economy with sprightly performance and a very smooth hybrid powertrain.
2009SaturnVue2Mode
Engine: 3.6-liter V-6, gasoline-electric hybrid
Emissions, EPA: Tier 2, Bin 5
Horsepower: 255
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 28/31 (est.)
Base MSRP: Under $33,000

SMART FORTWO



The smart fortwo represents an all new type of vehicle for American drivers. Now, the tiny two-seater that's been a popular choice in Europe for years has come here, bringing with it a small eco footprint, higher fuel efficiency, and a trendy 'green' ride for new car buyers.
2009smartfortwo
Engine: 1.0-liter inline three
Emissions, EPA: Tier 2 Bin 5
Horsepower: 70
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 33/41 (EPA)
Base MSRP: $13,990

VW JETTA TDI



The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI builds on VW's 30-plus years of diesel experience in the U.S. The latest diesel technology is used to enable this fuel efficient, affordable - and dare we say 'fun' - clean diesel sedan to meet tight emissions certification in all 50 states.
2009VWJettaTDI
Engine: 2.0-liter inline-four, diesel
Emissions, EPA: Tier 2, Bin 5
Horsepower: 140
Fuel Economy, city/hwy mpg: 30/41 (EPA)
Base MSRP: $21,990

Source :http://www.greencar.com

Hybrid-electric vehicles Work

OVERVIEW

Hybrid-electric vehicles combine the benefits of gasoline engines and electric motors to provide improved fuel economy.

The engine provides most of the vehicle's power, and the electric motor provides additional power when needed, such as for accelerating and passing. This allows a smaller, more-efficient engine to be used.

The electric power for the motor is generated from regenerative braking and from the gasoline engine, so hybrids don't have to be "plugged in" to an electrical outlet to recharge.

Some of the advanced technologies typically used by hybrids include

Regenerative Braking. The electric motor applies resistance to the drivetrain causing the wheels to slow down. In return, the energy from the wheels turns the motor, which functions as a generator, converting energy normally wasted during coasting and braking into electricity, which is stored in a battery until needed by the electric motor.

Electric Motor Drive/Assist. The electric motor provides additional power to assist the engine in accelerating, passing, or hill climbing. This allows a smaller, more efficient engine to be used. In some vehicles, the motor alone provides power for low-speed driving conditions where internal combustion engines are least efficient.

Automatic Start/Shutoff. Automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and restarts it when the accelerator is pressed. This prevents wasted energy from idling.

Source : http://www.fueleconomy.net

The Top 10 Green Cars Coming in 2009

The Top 10 Green Cars in 2009


Thinking of buying a new green car? Before you place that order, take a look at this. These are the top ten green cars in 2009 that you need to know about.



Honda Insight hybrid

Price from £15,490 for SE
On sale April 2009
The Insight is an ‘affordable’ hybrid family saloon with five doors and five seats and an evolved version of the current ‘IMA’ hybrid system current in the 1.4 litre petrol Civic, with nickel metal hydride batteries. The aim is to be significantly cheaper than the Prius in order to get more people into low CO2 cars, although the CO2 levels won’t be as low as the next Prius – expect around 100g/km CO2 and 65mpg. Honda has focused on making the hybrid system cheaper to manufacture, in order to pass the cost saving on to the customer. The image is of a US spec car, however the UK version will be very similar. It’s a shame that the production car isn’t as bold as the original concept.



Toyota Prius

Price £18-£20,000 (estimated)
On sale June 2009
Toyota is developing its hybrid system to the new level, with CO2 emissions expected to be around the 90g/km mark – if so, this almost matches the CO2 of the Smart diesel, so this is very impressive for a family saloon. Both Toyota and Honda have decided to stick with nickel-metal hydride batteries rather than the mobile phone style lithium-ion batteries as they don’t have sufficient faith in them. Other body versions based on the hybrid powerplant such as people carriers are to follow this time round, along with a plug-in Prius in due course, which will dramatically improve its green credentials. Note from this official, but leaked, photograph that the Honda Insight and the new Prius have ended up with very similar aerodynamically-driven shapes.



Toyota iQ

Price from £9,495
On sale January 2009
Innovative interior packaging design means that you can fit three adults and one child (a ‘3 plus 1’ seating layout) into a car that is less than 3 metres long. This makes the iQ the world’s smallest four seater. The main engine on offer will be the 998cc 3 cylinder unit from the Aygo, with resulting emissions of 99g/km CO2, and 65.7mpg. The iQ comes with a manual or a CVT transmission, the manual being recommended, and the more economical choice. The iQ is relatively expensive for a car of this size, and although described by Toyota as a premium car, the interior is hardly the lap of luxury.




Ford Ka ECOnetic

Price £8500 (estimated)
On sale January
Eco version of Ford’s already economical Fiat 500-based city car. We’re still waiting for details of emissions and economy for the ECOnetic version, but if the Fiesta ECOnetic with a 1.6 litre engine is emitting just 98g/km CO2, we’re hoping that the smaller Ka with its 1.3 diesel as used in the Fiat 500 will surprise us with even more impressive figures.



VW Golf BlueMotion

Price £16,000
On sale September 2009
The new Mk6 Golf BlueMotion is promising CO2 emissions that match the current Polo, at 99g/km CO2, with 74mpg. It has a smaller engine, at 1.6 litres rather than the current 1.9 unit. The current Golf BlueMotion emits 119g/km, so a drop of 20g/km CO2 is huge news. Expect the solidity of the current Golf.



Honda CR-Z

Price £16,000 (estimated)
On sale December 2009
The great looking CR-Z concept is now being built, with a hybrid version definitely on the cards. A sexy hybrid sports coupe will create a great image for Honda. Even a non-hybrid version of this front-wheel drive, 2 plus 2 sports coupe should still be efficient due to its small size and light weight.



Lexus RX450h

94% of Lexus RX models that are sold in the UK are hybrids, so it’s perhaps no surprise that the petrol-only version is disappearing and the new model is being sold as a hybrid only in the UK. The new model should improve on the current 35mpg, which is currently beaten by many diesel 4x4s. The exterior doesn’t look much different, although it has gained a slightly American bloated look, but the interior is much improved.



Mitsubishi iMIEV

Price £20,000+ (estimated)
Out of all the electric cars we’ve driven, the iMIEV, with its lithium-ion batteries, is the best to drive by a huge margin. It feels a like a real car, it’s very well put together, extremely smooth, with well weighted steering and good handling. However this pioneering car may come with a price that reflects this previously unseen quality in this segment.



Tesla Roadster

Price £92,000
On sale May 2009
The car that made electric cars sexy. Available in the US already, and in Europe in 2009. Based on a Lotus Elise, but full of mobile phone batteries instead of a petrol engine, giving the Tesla excellent acceleration of 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds, a top speed of 125 mph, and a potential range of 225 miles. Recharging time is around 8 hours. Best of all it can claim tailpipe emissions of just 0g/km CO2.



MINI E

It’s a MINI, but an electric one. The vital statistics of the MINI E include an electronically-limited top speed of 95 mph, 62 mph in 8.5 seconds, a 150 mile range and, crucially, a full recharge time of just two and a half hours. Based on the current MINI Hatch, the car will initially be available as a two-seater; a lithium-ion battery will go where the rear seats are on a standard MINI. Before you get too excited, the electric MINI will only be available in America in 2009, where 500 of them will be leased, and there’s no word on cost at the moment.

Source :http://www.green-car-guide.com

5 Ways to Maintain Your Vehicle

By using the easy tips in 5 ways to maintain your vehicle you can prolong the life of your vehicle. Car maintenance a priority.

Whether having your vehicle serviced regularly or attempting to tackle the job on your own, keeping your vehicle in good working condition will maximize its performance and help you to save on costly repairs down the road.



Check your brakes

The brake system in your vehicle is imperative for keeping you and your loved ones safe. Common signs of brake problems include a high-pitched screeching sound when applying the brakes, brakes that are not as responsive as they should be, a pedal that 'sinks' towards the floor, vibration on the brake pedal or a grinding metallicsound. If you experience any of these signs, drop by your local Canadian Tire so an experienced mechanic can take a look.

Top up 'vital fluids'

Keeping your vehicle running well requires constant monitoring of vital fluids. Fluids that should be monitored and topped up on a regular basis include:

• Engine oil

• Transmission fluid

• Engine coolant

• Power steering fluid

• Brake fluid

• Windshield washer fluid

Replace shocks and struts

Ensuring your vehicle has adequate shocks and struts will increase your vehicle's safety and performance. Worn shocks and struts can cause uneven tire wear, damage suspension components, and cause unusual drift and sway to your vehicle.

Change your tires

With the harsh winters we've been experiencing, more Canadians have been relying on winter tires for increased safety in cold, wet weather. It is important that winter tires be replaced with all-season tires in the spring, as the rubber compound is different and performs differently in warmer temperatures. Driving on winter tires throughout the summer is hard on them and will decrease their lifespan.

Oil/ Air Filter Change

Your car's filters have a significant impact on engine life and performance – they also have an effect on fuel consumption and emissions.

While the oil filter's job is to remove oil contaminants, the air filter captures airborne contaminants, like bugs and dirt, preventing them from entering your engine. Left unchanged, dirty air and oil filters can lead to poor acceleration, lower gas mileage, poor engine performance and serious repairs.

Ensure your vehicle runs well this year and for years to come by visiting you local Canadian Tire auto service department for more tips and maintenance products.

Source :http://news.carjunky.com

How Electric Vehicles Work

Graphical Source: http://www.electricvehicletrader.co.ukThe Power of the Gas Pump, By the Numbers

It doesn't take much to spark a conversation with an electric car advocate. A casual comment about the drawbacks of an EV - doesn't it take a long time to recharge? - will quickly spin into passionate arguments about efficiency, kilowatt-hours and states of charge. Electric car detractors are no less vociferous about the superiority of petro-power.

Power to the People
The first important issue to address is the fundamental difference between energy and power. There's a difference? There is - and if you can't readily tell the difference between the two, don't feel bad. Experts, officials and the media frequently confuse these terms. The difference between energy and power is quite simple:

*****Energy is the ability to do work

*****Power is the rate at which work is done

Understanding the difference is very important to the overall understanding of electricity and electrical systems, including electric cars and hybrid vehicles. The amount of energy in your batteries (or in your gas tank, for that matter) indicates the distance you can travel before refueling. That's known as range, and it's perhaps the most important issue involved in getting more electric cars on the road. The power rating of your electric motor (or gas engine) tells you how quickly you can turn that energy into useful work, such as vehicle acceleration.

To make this more useful in comparing gas-engine cars and electric vehicles, we need to introduce two more terms:
Kilowatt (a measure of power, abbreviated kW)
kilowatt-hour (a measure of energy, abbreviated kW-hr or kWh)
Let's begin by flipping on a 100-watt light bulb - better yet, make that 10 of those 100-watt light bulbs. With all 10 bulbs illuminated, you are burning 1 kilowatt of power. Leave those light on for an hour, and you will have used 1 kilowatt-hour of energy.

In general terms, that same amount of energy - 1 kilowatt-hour - will move an electric car about four miles down the road. The amount of electric fuel that an EV driver can store in batteries depends on a lot of factors: the number and size/shape of batteries, and how willing you are to fully charge and discharge those batteries (thus affecting how long the batteries last). Those are all energy issues. The power issues, on the other hand, are more circumscribed: recharging your batteries from a common household outlet occurs at 1.5 kilowatts. Without getting into complicated math, just know that 1.5 kilowatts is a relatively small power spigot and it's going to take the driver of an EV a good few of hours, if not seven or eight, to recharge batteries capable of a couple hundred miles of driving. (To be more specific: At 4 miles range per kWh, one can charge from an ordinary wall outlet at a rate of, at most, 6 miles of added range per hour of charging, or "6 mph." Then there is the taper-off toward the end of charge, making the last 10-20% of charge even longer.)

On the other hand, an internal combustion engine stores its energy in the form of gasoline - and gas packs a 33 kilowatt-hour punch in every gallon. There's a lot of juice in that juice. Unfortunately, the tank-to-wheels efficiency of the gas engine is five or six times less than that of an electric motor's battery-to-wheels efficiency. If you consider what it took to extract the petroleum from the well, transport it to a refinery in supertankers and big rigs (both of which are also burning fossil fuels), and then inefficiently burn it in internal combustion engines, then the wastefulness looks even more extreme. (And that's without calculating the geopolitical and environmental effects of that oil supply chain.)

If u need to get to work, the car is running nearly empty, and You need to quickly fill up on those "33 kilowatt-hour" gallons -. Let's assume that the car's gasoline tank is 10 gallons. In the five minutes it took to fill up, It would have placed 330 kilowatt-hours of energy in the tank.

If you tried to get the same amount of energy from a household outlet, it would take you about nine days. Of course, it doesn't take nine days to recharge an EV, because the efficiency of an EV allows the driver to put less energy in the "tank" and still receive an adequate charge. But the comparison shows how gasoline became such a popular fuel over the past century: it allows us to put a lot of energy in our cars very quickly.

Source :http://autos.yahoo.com

10 Fastest Cars in the world 2008-2009

Here are 10 of the worlds fastest cars of 2008-2009 available on the market and measured by their top speeds.

1. SSC Ultimate Aero
257 mph+, 0-60 in 2.7 secs. Twin-Turbo V8 Engine with 1183 hp, base price is $654,400. Tested in March 2007 by Guinness world records, the SSC Ultimate Aero takes the lead as the fastest car in the world beating Bugatti Veyron.

2. Bugatti Veyron
253 mph+, 0-60 in 2.5 secs. Aluminum, Narrow Angle W16 Engine with 1001 hp, base price is $1,444,000. With the highest price tag, no wonder this is rank #2.

Bugatti Veyron most expensive car in the world

3. Koenigsegg CCX
250 mph+, 0-60 in 3.2 secs. 90 Degree V8 Engine 806 hp, base price is $695,000. Made in Sweden, it is expected to take #1 spot in the future.

Koenigsegg CCX

4. Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo
248 mph+, 0-60 in 3.2 secs. Twin Turbo All Aluminum V8 Engine with 750 hp, base price is $555,000. Smooth and bad-ášš, will make you want to show it off non-stop.

Saleen S7 Twin Turbo

5. McLaren F1
240 mph+, 0-60 in 3.2 secs. BMW S70/2 60 Degree V12 Engine with 627 hp, base price is $970,000.

Mclaren F1

6. Ferrari Enzo
217 mph+, 0-60 in 3.4 secs. F140 Aluminum V12 Engine with 660 hp, base price is $670,000. Only 399 ever produced, the price goes up every time someone crashes.

Ferrari Enzo

7. Jaguar XJ220
217 mph+, 0-60 in 4.0 secs. Twin Turbo V6 Engine with 542 hp, base price is $345,000. Made in 1992, this car still got what it takes to make the list.

Jaguar XJ 220

8. Pagani Zonda F
215 mph+, 0-60 in 3.5 secs. Mercedes Benz M180 V12 Engine with 650 hp, base price is $741,000. With a V12 motor, this baby can do much better.

Pagani Zonda F

9. Lamborghini Murcielago LP640
213 mph+, 0-60 in 3.3 secs. V12 Engine with 640 hp, base price is $430,000. Nice piece of art, the design is very round and smooth.

Lamborghini Murcielago

10. Porsche Carrera GT
209 mph+, 0-60 in 3.9 secs. Aluminum, 68 Degree, Water Cooled V10 Engine with 612 hp, base price is $440,000. The Porsche most expensive car made the list as #10.

Porsche Carrera GT

Source : http://www.coolcarsandgirls.com