For Your Green: The SEXY FIsker Karma Hybrid Sedan

This by far is the sexiest green machine out there. The company Fisker is not known by the general public because it started as a company who just redesigned BMW's and Mercedes-Benz's. 

The company had created a concept car several years ago showing a very sexy and futuristic hybrid electric plug-in sedan for larger production numbers. The production model of the car looks very much like the concept, and its cheap for its portfolio ($87,000.)

The company ,a few weeks back, had released the production photos and it looks spectacular. Some of the Specs are a 22.6 kilowatt electric motor next to a 2.0 liter turbo 4-cylinder engine combined to make about 400 Horsepower! It should go 0-60 mph in about 5.8 seconds and top out at 125 mph. Thats one fast hybrid. It comes out late 2010.

2 Sexy, 2 Expensive: Audi R8 V10

Im betting some of you have seen this car before (look up.) This is the Audi R8 V10. The original car has already come out so the style is nothing new. Its what would be behind you that different. This mid engined super car now truly can be what it looks like. The original R8 comes with a V8 producing 420 Hp, and costs about $115,000. Top speed: 187mph

The R8 with the V10 produces 525 HP and will cost about $180,000. Top Speed: 196mph

Big 3 NOT TO Get Government Loans of $14 Billion

After being denied the 25 billion dollars that they requested from the 700 billion dollar bailout plan, the senate proposed 14 billion dollars in government loans. 

A massive amount of opinions came in once the public had learned that they were denied the money and believed that we shouldn't allow the biggest industry to fail. So congress is letting them slip by with the cash as long as they totally reinvent themselves in a couple years. This means they will be under strict review from the government in how they are to spend the funds they are getting.

The auto industry for America is now in serious jeopardy....

ALL HAIL The Panamera Gran Turismo, Porsches First Ever Sedan.

In the 77 years that Porsche has been around they have NEVER made a sedan before. Before this it was strictly coupes/convertibles with a rear mounted engine and amazing performance. The development of the car was known for a while but has finally been released a head of time (I'm pretty sure porsche is pretty mad about their big debut being spoiled.)

This isn't a first for porsche. Back in 2002 Porsche released a SUV called the Cayenne which has sold phenomenally.

The Porsche Panamera will have the front mounted options of either a V6(300hp), or V8(400hp, 500hp turbo). It will come in a hybrid version later with the V6 platform.

If you like the style of the Panamera I highly suggest you Google these other cars: Mercedes-Benz CLS, Aston Martin Rapide, Volkswagen CC, Lamborghini Estoque, and Jaguar XF.

2 Sexy, 2 Expensive: Lamborghini Reventon

Recently the last Lamborghini Reventon was sold. This car is only in production of 20 units. The car costs a tiny payment of only $1,600,000 before taxes.
The Reventon was modeled after the F-22 fighter jet and comes with a skin peeling 650 Horsepower and has a top speed of 211 MPH.
The car is based on the Lamborghini Lp-640 platform, its just that they made it look like its ready to join the army.

For Your Green: Volkswagen Jetta TDI named green car of the year

This turbo-diesel powered German sedan won the title of the green car of the year by Green Car Journal at the current Los Angeles Auto Show. The Jetta won for its affordable price ($21,990 base price), the fact it seats 5 comfortably, miles per gallon , and the power it puts out for its small engine. The reason it beat out the hybrids is that its nearly as clean emission wise and its doesn't need the costly repairs of a hybrid electric car.

General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler All plea for $25 billion of the $700 billion bailout plan, and lose

The "Big 3" headquarters in Detroit, Michigan

Known also as the "Big 3," the carmakers of Detroit will soon file for bankruptcy due to horrible car sales last financial quarter. The automakers poor performance in the automotive market has left them at a state of worry. The big 3 feel like they are an essential piece of our nations economy thus the demand of a piece of that $700 billion dollar cake.

The only problem is their performance. The automakers best selling car is 6th in the top sellers of all the major automakers in the world, most being from over seas.

Analysts feel like that reviving the companies would just pit itself with out any progress for themselves or our economy, but you have to look at it, they were the first main companies to exist when Henry Ford first started his mass production line pumping out Model T's in 1908 which then lead to the big 3 today.

In latest news the Big 3's request for the $25 billion was denied, so the companies must find another way to survive.

Losing the big 3 is like losing the penny. Your taking away not much worth, but your taking away so much worth.

The New 2009 Nissan 370Z

Earlier this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show the new 2009 Nissan 370z was unveiled. The 370z is a replacement for the current and very popular 350z. The car will star at a MSRP of $29,900 and comes with a 3.7 Liter V6 producing 332 horsepower. The car only weighs 3,232 pounds compared to the 2008 350z weighing 3,575 pounds.

The car now has a shorter wheelbase and is hoping beat the Porsche Boxster and the BMW Z4.

For Your Green: Electric Mini Cooper Released Today

The era of gasoline is dying and many automakers are reducing engine sizes from V8's to V6's, economy car to hybrid car, and now alternative and electric.
These innovations by such large companies is a huge step. You must have already asked yourself, why just start now and why not a long time ago? Well car makers now accept that we are in a gas crisis and they need to time perfect their vehicle's reliability and safety for the common market of us, the consumer, to drive their vehicles under their name out in the real world. It's alot on their shoulders when they sell to the world.


So Mini came out with the Cooper E. It has battery packs that will carry the car 125-150 miles on a single charge and has a performance result of a 0-60 MPH in 8.5 seconds. That's as fast as half the gasoline cars sold today. BMW (the owner of MINI) is showcasing this vehicle as their launch into alternative transportaion.

The MINI E isn't cheap. You can only lease it for a heavy $850 per month for 12 months. Then you gotta hand it over.

So I did the math and if you use 1 tank of gas in a normal Mini (about 270 miles) every 2 weeks at $2.40 a gallon for a year you would have spent about $2,862 + The cost of the whole car($20,000-$30,000) then re-selling the car after 12 months you will end up real deep in money spend on gas alone.

Renting the Mini E costs about $10,200 over that 12 month program.

Through and through you could go either way, it just depends on how you want to leave your carbon footprint.

TIp: Help your car significantly

So in this day and age with the economy being as bad as it is we would like to have to deal with are best source of transportation the least because we are somewhat dependent on it to get us where we need to be especially if its your paying job.
So how to keep your motor running well is this sort of underground automotive engine formula us car guys have been using to keep are cars running strong and boost our gas millage and performance noticeably. I have done this on every car I have owned and as well as my families and friends cars. I have noticed the throttle response is very crisp and power comes strong, as well as the mileage on my odometer increase on average of about 20 miles per tank.

Its called Seafoam. Seafoam has been around for over 50 years now and has been used millions of times by thousands of automotive enthusiasts. They also make solutions for your motorcycle, lawnmower, boat, or truck. It can be used in any engine application, even diesel and hybrid car. It cleans the gunk out of your engine and spits it out you tailpipe so your engine can feel fresh.


What you do is you go to Schucks, or Autozone and its around $6.50 for a bottle of it, and you need a cup and a funnel to do this.
Simply put 1/3 of the bottle in your gas tank, 1/3 of the bottle in your oil, and 1/3 of it through your vaccum hose* off your brake booster*.
YOU MUST REMEMBER TO CHANGE YOUR OIL 500 MILES AFTER YOU PUT IT IN YOUR ENGINE OIL SO GUNK DOESN'T CIRCULATE WITH YOUR ENGINE PARTS. so do it when you know your gonna get an oil change. This doesn't include if you jut put it in your gas tank or vaccum line.

*To put it in your vaccum hose on your brake booster locate these objects inside your engine bay.


Note: your engine will shut off if you do not place your finger over the hose once you disconnect it to suck the Seafoam out of your up.

Warm up the car and have someone rev. you throttle while the engine will suck the Seafoam from the cup. Once done shut off the car and let it sit for 5-10 mintues then start it up and it should SMOKE HEAVELY. This is all your engine sludge. The more the better. Drive around at high RPMS (dont speed) so your engine will clean itself well.

if you have any question, feel free to ask. Thank you

The New 2010 Ford Mustang

The await of the next generation Mustang has been anticipated by people like me for quite sometime now. ford released a whole bunch of teaser photos of the car, like just the taillight and just the seats, for the last several months. Well released a little bit early here it is...

Tip: How to get more gas out of a gas pump

I've done this a couple times and when I do it I seem to last longer after I fill up, compared to when I just fill up straight up.

The tip is to when you fill up, hold the lever at the lowest point so gas will slowly go into your tank. This lets the vapors in the tank and the gas pump out so more gas can go through the tube to your tank.
The meter most likely won't show the increase but try it yourself!

Things you need to keep track of on your car, or you'll pay

1. ENGINE COOLANT AND ANTIFREEZE
How Often: Check twice yearly, once before summer and again before winter; change if coolant has brown tint or rust bits.
Pay Now: Free to check; up to $5 to top off with correct mix of water and coolant or antifreeze. If you don't use the right coolant for your car, you could damage your engine.
Or Pay Later: Without coolant, you can damage the water pump ($50 to $100) and possibly your engine.

2. OIL
How Often: Check monthly; change every 3,000 to 6,000 miles
Pay Now: Free to check; $20 to change yourself (oil, disposal fees); $20 to $40 at a shop.
Or Pay Later: Not changing the oil can void your warranty. Increased wear will shorten the engine's life span. Rebuilt engines cost $1,000 to $3,000, plus labor, depending on the car.

3. AIR FILTER
How Often: Check monthly; change when less than 50 percent of the filter lets light through when held up to a 100-watt bulb.
Pay Now: Free to check; $15 to $50 to change yourself; add another $20 or so for someone else to change it for you.
Or Pay Later: 10% increase in fuel consumption; if gas costs $3 per gallon and your car holds 20 gallons, you're wasting $6 with each fill-up—$156 a year, if you fill up every two weeks.

4. TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER
How Often: Check monthly; change every three years or 36,000 miles.
Pay Now: Free to check; a few dollars to top it off; $30 to change it yourself; $40 to $80 to for someone else to do it.
Or Pay Later: Dirty or low fluid can cause problems with shifting and transmission failure. Transmissions cost $1,000 to $2,000, plus labor, to repair or rebuild.

5. BRAKE FLUID
How Often: Check each oil change; change every two years or as needed if your brakes feel soft.
Pay Now: Free to check; $3 to $20 a quart, depending on the fluid; $65 to $165 for a mechanic to change the brake fluid.
Or Pay Later: $60 or more to replace pads; $2,5000 or more, depending on your car's year, make, and model, for a complete brake job. Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, reducing the brakes' effectiveness, which can lead to accidents.

6. TIRE TREAD
How Often: Check monthly; buy new tires when you see all of Lincoln's head on a penny stuck headfirst in a tread.
Pay Now: One penny to check; $40 to $200 per tire to replace, plus labor.
Or Pay Later: As much as $25,000 or more for a new car if you wreck due to a tire blowing.

7. TIRES FOR PROPER INFLATION
How Often: Ideally once a week, but at least monthly; inflate as needed.
Pay Now: Free to check; 25 to 50 cents to inflate.
Or Pay Later: $40 to $200 per tire, plus labor, to replace improperly worn tires.

Source:the consumerist

How to prepare your car for Winter

Now that temperature has dropped, its soon that whatever falls from the sky if it may be rain, snow, or hail you got to be ready do drive in it and to bare it if you get stuck out there.

 

What to have inside your car:

-        Ice scraper/ squigee

-        A Properly inflated spare tire with tools

-        Flare or bright markers

-        Blanket

-        Chains

 

What to check/prepare:

-        Tire pressure/ tread condition

-        Any fluid leaks

-        All lights work

-    Fluid levels

Taco Scion xb

Check out this wacky custom that came from the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association). Its a scion xb taco truck. the only thing that looks original on the car is the front bumper and hood. Everything else is taco truckin' custom.

Original: 

Taco xB: 

This is one of the wackiest conversion's I have seen. SEMA show is an annual event in Las Vegas that showcases thousands of custom/aftermarket car products for the present and coming year in the automotive industry.

The "universal" how-to change your oil

Changing your oil is a crucial part of maintaining your automobile. The oil inside your engine is constantly circulated around and around while its on lubricating every moving part keeping everything slick and moving as freely as possible. Keeping your engine oil fresh and clean every recommended 3 month or 3,000 miles (which ever comes first) is very important because your motor will run poorly and start to dwindle in reliability due to old oil particles that clump and any old engine gunk that breaks loose and moves around with your engine parts.

Changing your own oil is like changing a tire, learn it. Doing it your self can save you anywhere from $10-30 depending. Its also the most common maintenance to be performed on any automobile.

Tools you will need:

-Ratchet

-Oil filter wrench, or a strong set of hands

Step 1: Buy the recommended quarts of oil ($1.50-4.50 per quart) for your car,(1)right size oil filter ($2-6 per 1 filter), and a correct size washer for the oil drain plug($.75)

Step 2: Prepare a suitable car jack/lift, a container (like a low height bucket) safe for the old oil, your freshly bought supplies, and car jacks or bricks for safety when you lift the car.

Step 3: After jacking your car up from the manufacturer suggested points underneath the automobile(usually 6 spots. 2 on each side, and 1 in front and back) and securing the car so it can't fall on top of you look for a bolt and your oil filter on your oil pan that looks similar to this:

Step 4: After locating your oil filter and drain plug prepare your old oil container under the bolt and take the correct size ratchet to the plug and let the oil drain itself for about 5-10 minutes. **careful, do not drain oil if engine is still hot**

Step 5: During or after the old oil is draining you have to remove your old oil filter because it is filled with all the oil impurities and must be changed every oil change. So take the oil filter wrench(or your hands) to the filter and turn left. **careful oil will spill out if turned downwards. treat it like a full cup of water**

Step 6: Lubricate the opening of your new oil filter with your new or old oil so the black ring on the top will seal correctly. After hand screw on the oil filter nice and snug.

Step 7: Replace the drain plugs washer.

Step 8: Lower the car and slowly poor in the recommended amount of oil.

Step 9: Your done! now just dispose of the old oil at your local auto parts store. They will be more then happy to for free.

Any questions or comments feel free to add them below this entry. thank you.

Welcome to Autoblivious!