Know more about SUVs!
© General Wesc
SUVs are also known as sport utility vehicle built on a light-truck framework. They are prepared with four-wheel drive for on- or off-road ability. It isn't necessary that all four wheel drive vehicles are SUVs. As SUVs are considered light trucks and usually share the same platform with pick-up trucks, they are regulated less sternly than passenger cars.
It isn't necessary for all SUVs to have four-wheel drive capabilities. Even though some SUVs have off-road capabilities, they often play a minor role, and do not have the capability to shift among two-wheel and four-wheel-drive. Automobile makers make a sale of SUVs and their off-road proficiency with advertising but the daily use of SUVs is mostly on concrete roads and in urban zones.
Europeans Look at U.S. market for Small Luxury Cars
In the late 1990's, Mike Jackson, head of Mercedes Benz, USA was determined to keep away small luxury cars like A-class out of USA. The American customers were not willing to pay more for small luxury cars even if the name plates were luxury. The sale of such small luxury cars will be in demand as there are strict rules of government and to save fuel economy in U.S. Europeans are leading a charge on small luxury cars even though Lexus and Cadillac are also planning the same moves. The A-class luxury car, a small car is expected to launch in 2013 in the United States with a price of $30000 and the Europeans are convinced that the sale will be good in United States. There are three European small luxury cars on the market right now: the Audi A3 hatchback, the BMW 1-series coupe/convertible, the Volvo C30 three door hatchback.
The U.S. sales report of these luxury cars are 23596 units in the last year and they are low volume vehicles. As per a conservative tally of carmaker the sale of European luxury cars will be doubling in the coming years. The recession and hike in fuel prices may change the customer thoughts of buying small luxury cars, as per Jeff Schuster, executive director of global forecasting at J.D.Power and Associates. Ernst Lieb, the CEO of Mercedes Benz claimed that there will not be any problem in terms of product quality, styling, features and technology with the four new small luxury cars being launched by the company in the next three to four years.
© The Checkered Flag Blog
Best Hybrid Sedan
© Jeff Glucker
The best hybrid sedan in terms of fuel efficiency is the new Hyundai 2011 Sonata midsize. With EPA ratings of 35 mpg city/ 40 highway, it offers the best highway fuel economy of any midsize sedan on the market. The Toyota Prius has a higher rating, but it is technically a hatchback, not a sedan. The Hyundai Sonata is outfitted with a lot of premium tech features for a reasonable price of just over $30,000.
Unlike the Prius, which as its own chassis, the Hyundai hybrid uses the same body and chassis as the newest generation of the Sonata. Featuring Hyundai's own Direct Hybrid Blue Drive system, the Sonata uses a four-cylinder gas engine combined with an electric motor, and comfortably seats five people. The Sonata's drive system was developed in-house and features several technical first, including the ability to go up to 62 mph on electric power alone, producing zero emissions.