Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Volvo Truck

Volvo Trucks - The History of Volvo Trucks


Volvo Trucks has its headquarters in Sweden and is considered to be the second biggest brand of heavy truck manufacturer. It is owned by Volvo Group-AB Volvo. As of 2011, Volvo was making their trucks in 15 different countries and has been selling more than 100,000 trucks a year all over the world. The Volvo Group also consists of trucking companies Renault, Mack, and UD trucks.

Early History of Volvo Trucks

Volvo produced its first truck in 1928, but had also been making cars the year before. The first truck was the LV series 1. It came with a 2.0 L four-cylinder engine that had 29 horsepower and that first year they sold 500 of this model. While most trucks of this era had chain-drive systems and solid rubber tires, Volvo was being innovative and the LV truck was shaft-driven and had pneumatic tires.

This model was much more of a success than Volvo expected and unlike other trucks made in the 20s, Volvo had designed the entire vehicle. After the first 500 sold out quickly, they had to hurry to do a second series of 500 more trucks, which were considered Series 2 and had a few modifications, such as widening its track to 1,460 mm, and reducing the previous double rear axle to only one, which made it safer, though it drove slower.

Volvo Produces First Six Cylinder Trucks

In 1929, Volvo Trucks came out with the very first six cylinder truck, dubbing it the Series 3 truck. It was fairly close to the Series 2 trucks in design however, so only the motor was different. It had wooden wheels, which were not that practical for heavy work and its two wheeled brakes were not considered as safe as brakes nowadays for the weight of these medium duty vehicles. The company manufactured and sold about 3,000 of these trucks.

Volvo Makes First Three Axle Trucks

In the 1930s, Volvo came out with their first truck with three axles, which was called the LV64 LF. It was made to comply with the rules then that only allowed smaller loads on each axle due to the fact the roads in the 30s were pretty terrible.

Volvo Trucks in the 1930s

The 1930s was when Volvo began to be a lot better at making more modern style trucks and their trucks were using diesel fuel and changed from wooden to steel wheels and to hydraulic style safer brakes.

With this move to be more innovative, Volvo became a more dominant force in the Nordic countries for selling and making trucks, and by the end of the 30s they were more recognized in the world of heavy and medium weight trucks.

The LV series of trucks were considered more modern and helped to get Volvo established as a big exporter of trucks to countries all over the world. During this time frame Volvo continued to make improvements in their trucks, making chassis changes, longer wheelbases in some models, and larger margins for overload in off road style trucks.

Especially the LV 8 and 9 were considered to be models that helped Volvo have a stronger position as a major player in producing trucks. In these models, the truck engine was moved from the usual spot behind a front axle to sit on the top of the front axle, which helped make for better distribution of axle load. Since there were road restrictions concerning axle weight, this made these two trucks very popular.

Plus, these trucks had a more aerodynamic design and were rounded instead of having the usual more vertical or horizontal shapes. Plus, drivers were happy that these trucks had a standard heater, which many at that time didn't have. The LV 8 and 9 were also more able to be modified and adapted to do a variety of jobs.

Volvo in the 1940s

World War II in the 1940s caused Volvo to go into producing trucks for the Swedish army more so than for anyone else. This relationship with the military helped Volvo long term because it gave them a chance to develop rough terrain trucks that later could be produced for the construction field.

By the mid 1940s Volvo was getting more experienced in the heavy duty type trucks, something they hadn't done much of prior to the war. The L29 trucks that came out were a more powerful style with a diesel engine and were introduced in 1946. The Swedish road commission was pleased with them because these trucks were good at handling the harsh weather and in helping with road construction in Sweden.

Volvo's First Diesel Engine

Volvo also made their first diesel engine in the 40s called the VDA, or Volvo Diesel Type A, which was a pre-combustion style of motor. However, it proved to be hard to get going in cold weather, so a newer version was brought out in 1946 and became very popular in Volvo's trucks. The later LV series of Volvo trucks had this new diesel engine in some of them.

Volvo Trucks in the 1950s

Volvo's next vital change in their motors came in the 50s, when they change to a direct ignition VDC engine, which was better in fuel consumption levels. It is considered the ancestor to today's Volvo truck engine. Volvo was considered a pioneer in using a turbo charged engine that was stronger and more efficient. Plus, Volvo was then able to make heavier weight and longer style of trucks.

Volvo in the 1960s through the 1990s

Trucks were very popular for transportation by the 60s and were becoming a more flexible tool. By then, the truck cabs had rubber suspension systems, more visibility due to higher up cabs, and more comfort for drivers in the seats as well.

The 1970s brought more refinements for trucks in general and they had tilt cabs, turbocharged engines, better horsepower, and could go faster. Two very dramatic entries into the world of Volvo trucks were the F10 and 12 trucks that were made in 1977. They had better ergonomics and were safer and set the stage for trucks of the next few decades.

In the 1980s, trucks were getting more sophisticated with stronger and better motors, air suspension systems, and more earth friendly features, plus more ways to make the truck drivers more comfortable on those long hauls across the country.

Plus, trucks were getting even more valuable as a means of transporting goods and services across the U.S. and elsewhere and were considered very efficient, especially when they could combine them with sending products from the manufacturer to the rails, sea or air by bringing them from their originating places by truck.

Trucks were getting safer, had cleaner emissions, were less noisy, had better engines and were getting more refined in several ways.

Volvo Today

Today, Volvo is going strong and has manufacturing in Sweden, Belgium, South Africa, the US, Brazil, Australia, India, China, and Russia and several other places. They are famous for being a global presence in truck manufacturing.

The 21st Century Volvo truck is even stronger, as well as being safer and more earth friendly that it has ever been. They make several models of trucks all over the globe and by 2011 Volvo had made more than half a million trucks in the U.S. alone. The Volvo Group is a leader in the manufacturing of trucks, buses and construction gear and is a lead producer of heavy duty diesel engines worldwide.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Scania Truck

Why Scania Trucks Are the Best Trucks Around?

Trucks are important in transporting goods and resources from one area to the other. In the world that we live in, there is a constant change. There is a continuous growth in our surroundings. We need trucks in order to continue the worldwide enterprise. Our economy can help move forward with the help of the trucks. In all types of businesses or operations, trucks play an important role and their role is endless.

The demand for commercial trucks has been increasing. In fact, the need for trucks will never die. The demand for trucks has been accelerating since the last decade. There are different varieties of trucks. They are categorized by the weight that a truck can carry.

There are brand new trucks and the used trucks available in the market. The advantages of buying a used truck, is that you can finish the job at a lower cost. There will be less expense for the company. You can surf the web or go to the nearest used truck dealers when buying used trucks.

When buying used trucks, you always need to check how the truck was used and what was the truck used for by the previous owner. Check the history of the truck for repairs and damages incurred. The mileage of the truck is also important.

There are a lot of truck manufacturers. But, why is the Scania trucks the best trucks around?

The Swedish company Scania Group has been operating since 1891. They have constructed and delivered more than 1,400,000 trucks and buses used for heavy transport. Presently, Scania is now the world's leading manufacturer for trucks and buses. They also operate in 100 countries. Their factories are found in Sweden, France, Netherlands, Poland, Argentina and Brazil. They have 1,500 service centres that offer help to customers in their needs.

Scania offers different kinds of trucks. The P-series trucks are smaller and shorter. It can be used for locally based transportation and services, for construction use with a local and regional distribution. They are made in order to pass in small congested areas and some construction sites. It easily accelerates to cut the travel time. The P cabs have three variations, single-berth sleeper, a spacious day cab and a short cab.

The G-series trucks are designed for long-haulage, distribution and for all types of construction purposes. All G- series trucks has a spacious G cab and each is available as a tractor or rigid. They also have five cab variants: three sleepers, a day cab and a short cab. These trucks have more space and more comfortable accommodation.

They also have the new R-series trucks. It debuted last 2004 and got the prestigious International Truck of the Year award last 2005. They are designed to be more fuel efficient, has a driver appeal and reliability. It has the fully automated Scania Opticruise. It is the automated gearchanging system. It is also equipped with the Scania Driver Support System, which analyzes the data from the sensors in the vehicle. It gives the driver advices and assessment on the driving style. The Scania Driver Support System measures the hill-driving as to what gears will be used, anticipation on situations, brake use and the choice of gears.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Renault Truck

The Renault Company

The company, officially known as Société Renault Frères or simply Renault S.A is a French vehicle manufacturer. The company was established in the year eighteen hundred and ninety nine and began its production line toward the end of the same year. Among its huge line of fleet production, Renault churns out various automobile options that include cars, buses, trucks, vans and tractors. Owing to its association with another auto manufacturer Nissan, Renault is today the fourth largest vehicle manufacturer.

The company headquarters are located in Boulogne-Billancourt, France and it is a privately owned company. It operates in a hundred and eighteen companies all over the globe. Moreover it owns a number of subsidiaries in various parts of the world including the Romanian car manufacturer Automobile Dacia and the South Korean automobile maker Renault Samsung Motors. Renault owns up to ninety nine percent and eighty percent stake in both companies respectively.

The company is world famous for its innumerable ground-breaking blueprints, safety expertise and speed racing. Renault's most unbeaten car model is the Renault Clio which is a supermini, that is, a classification bigger than a city car yet smaller than a small family car. The Renault Clio first rolled into production in nineteen ninety and is at the moment in its third production model. The basis of the Renault market is in France itself.

Société Renault Frères was started by a man named Louis Renault, together with two of his brothers Marcel and Fernand and another two of his comrades Thomas Evert and Julian Wyer. Louis Renault was born in the year eighteen seventy seven at the very core of Parisian bourgeoisie - which is a term used to define the upper or mercantile class in French society, whose rank emanates from either employment, schooling and prosperity as opposed to the aristocracy whose illustrious social status is hereditary. His father was a prosperous trader in textiles and button, while his mother was the offspring of well-heeled merchants.

It was the publicity that their vehicles generated from motor racing that the brothers realized and exploited into the backbone of what is Renault today. In fact there first sale was after a test drive conducted by a friend of Louis' father who was so awed by the ease with which the car dashed and ascended the streets that he immediately purchased it. This was on Christmas Eve of the year eighteen ninety eight. The make of the vehicle was the Renault Voiturette 1CV.

Renault established their stance for novelty right from the beginning. In eighteen ninety nine, the company commenced fabrication of the first sedan vehicle, retailing at an average of three thousand francs which would have required the normal worker at the time a period of ten years worth of salaries and wages to accumulate. The new Renault company insignia was launched in nineteen seventy two. It was part and parcel of the of the huge trademark overhaul put into place to concur with the unveiling of the Renault 5 hatchback.

The History of Renault

Renault is an auto making company that makes trucks, tractors, vans, buses and personal cars and it is based in France. The company has an association with Nissan and this makes it the fourth largest car maker in the world. The company also owns Renault Samsung Motors, which is Korean, and Automobile Dacia, which is Romanian. The company's headquarter is in Boulogne-Billancourt. Renault Clio is the company's most successful model and the company's biggest market is in France.

The first Renault car was produced in 1897, but the company was established in 1899. Three brothers, Louis, Marcel and Fernand Renault together with Louis's friends Julian Wyer and Thomas Evert, established Renault. Before the establishment of Societe Renault Freres, Louis had been an aspiring engineer and he had built some cars before the corporation came into being. He incorporated his brothers because they had business skills that they had gotten from working in a textiles firm owned by their father. Louis Renault was the designer and he handled manufacturing and the brothers handled management. As a corporation, the first car that the company made was Renault Voiturette 1CV. The brothers popularized their cars by racing and the company got instant success. The racers were Marcel and Louis Renault, but sadly, Marcel died in a race in 1903. The Renault AK 90CV was the first vehicle to win a Grand Prix race - this was in 1906.

Renault made its first sedan in 1899 when cars were seen as expensive toys. In the pre-First World War years, Renault also ventured into taxis, cargo vehicles, and buses. The company contributed to the Allies' efforts during the First World War by venturing into tanks, military planes, and ammunition. The Allies honored Louis Renault for his contribution. After the World War I, Renault established itself as France's biggest private manufacturer and it started exporting four-cylinder engines overseas for vehicles such as GJG. From 1918, Renault started producing industrial and agricultural machinery. However, the company's cars struggled due to 'people's cars' that ware more affordable.

Following France surrendered to the Germans in 1940, Louis Renault was asked to manufacture tanks for Nazi Germany which had taken control of his factories. He refused to do this and he ended up producing trucks for them. After the war, he was accused by the government of being a collaborator and arrested. He died in jail in 1944 and the government seized the factories and his assets. Following the nationalization of Renault, the company experienced unprecedented growth and the rear engine 4CV model was able to rival the popular Volkswagen Beetle and Morris Minor. Renault Fregate, produced from 1951 to 1960, was also successful. However, the company did not perform optimally because of constant labor unrest.

The current logo was designed in 1972 as part of a brand revamp and the Renault 5 hatchback was launched. The company experienced some economic hardships, with a deficit of twelve and a half billion francs in 1984, but by 1987, the company was stable. Renault was revitalized in the 90s and this was aided greatly by the success of Renault Megane and Megane Scenic. Today, the company is financially stable.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Mitsubishi Truck

Mitsubishi Fuso Trucks

Although a Mitsubishi Fuso may not be a name that you see or hear very often, these medium to light duty trucks have been around since the 1960s. Mitsubishi is a very well known name and their Fuso line of commercial haulers has made itself quite a reputation among truck drivers. From dump trucks to sweepers these trucks are dependable and efficient, according to those who drive them.

The first Mitsubishi Fuso trucks were first seen on a global scale in the 1980s. They began their ascent to popularity in the Asia-Pacific market in the 1970s and soon found themselves being accepted worldwide. Australia has given much rise to the Fuso's popularity over the past few years. Today you can normally recognize a Fuso by the Canter badge on the front or by the Mitsubishi badge which is typically found on the back of the truck. The Mitsubishi Fuso is comparable to United States models such as the Toyota Dyna, Hino Dutro, and the Chevrolet W Series of commercial vehicles.

The Mitsubishi Fuso Canter is a lighter duty commercial vehicle that is primarily manufactured in Japan and a few other Asian countries, but is also sold in the United States. Europe, the Mid-East and a several other countries have also seen the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter come to life. The Fuso is manufactured by the Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation in Japan with facilities also operating in Portugal since the 1980s.

From reefers to construction models, the line of Mitsubishi Fuso trucks offers the perfect choices for those looking for a medium to light duty professional vehicle. The manufacturers turn out approximately 15,000 new units each year and to date there have been more than 100,000 vehicles produced by this company. These trucks typically boast high production quality standards which are certified by ISO standards and when combined with a test track and a very extensive final inspection for quality it really is no surprised that these are one of the most popularly sought after trucks for light duty work. You can simply type in Mitsubishi Fuso on your browser's search engine to see the listings for sellers of these trucks. Finding used Mitsubishi Fuso trucks is also possible, and at very reasonable prices. And of course, you would expect a Mitsubishi to be very fuel economical as well. If you are vying for a truck that provides quality craftsmanship and massive fuel savings you really can not go wrong with this one.

The New Mitsubishi L200 Model

The New Mitsubishi L200 is one in a million when it comes to a pick up. This car is made like a pick up, but it can be transformed into a car. On the road, no one could tell the difference between a regular car and this pickup truck. The only difference was the style of it. It looks like a "raging" bull. It has the appearance of being a very strong and durable pick up, which in turn can be turned into a family car in no time. It also has a lot of space in the backseat for passengers.

New Mitsubishi L200 was built for the family. When it was built, family was on the makers mind. They wanted something that the whole family could use without having to buy two cars, such as one car to haul the family in and then have a pick up for them when they needed to move things around. The idea is to have the family save money, while getting a good pick up that can transformed into a car at anytime. For instance, the whole family can now go shopping in one car and if they buy something big, they can still put the item in the back without bothering anyone that is sitting in the backseat.

The New Mitsubishi L200 has a number of features that a lot of other cars, vans, and pick ups don't have. The L200 has front and passenger airbags, but they can be deactivated, if needed. Most cars that are built now don't have this option to deactivate the airbags. The style of the seats are very stylish, such as leather. It is easy to clean as well. As with other vehicles, it still has cruise control, power steering, air-conditioning and heating. It will also have a new state of the art engine like no other pick up truck has.

New Mitsubishi L200 has also been tested for accidents. This means that the pick up won't tip over. The wheels were made to keep the truck from tipping over in an accident. When in an accident, the windows won't shatter on you because the airbags will come up before any of the the glass gets on any part of the driver or passenger. The pick up truck is also fuel-efficient. The driver can drive on a long trip without stopping more than once for gas. Once you fill up once, the pickup should take you to where you need to go without stopping for gas.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Nissan Truck

Used Nissan Trucks - The Nissan Frontier

There are several factors to think about when looking in to a used Nissan truck. One must consider what they are looking for in size, power, features and space. You'll find two main types of Nissan trucks, the Frontier and the Titan.

While there are other types of Nissan trucks, they are less popular because they tend to be much older. For example, the Nissan 4X4 is a truck from the 1980s. We'll stay focused on the more abundant and popular Nissan trucks, the Frontier.

Versions of the Nissan Frontier

The Nissan Frontier was first introduced in 1998. The Frontier is a mid-sized pickup that can seat up to four passengers in its King Cab version and five in the Crew Cab version. The cab of the truck is obviously where passengers are seated. A King Cab is an extended version of the Single Cab or two seater (bench seater) version of earlier trucks.

With the King Cab, there is a back seat area where seats tend to pull out of a side panel in the back of the truck. The Crew Cab is bigger than the King Cab and offers four doors opposed to two. The back seats are more traditional with passengers having more space.

The Frontier also comes in several different editions. There is the SE, LE, and Pro-4X. The SE is the Standard Edition and comes with all basic amenities, such as power steering, power windows, power brakes and so forth.

The Luxury Frontier

The LE is the Luxury Edition. This edition is pricier than the SE because it comes with more features. Depending on the year of Nissan you buy the features the LE will include over the SE will vary.

The Pro-4X is a little harder to gauge. The price of this edition can be more or less than the LE depending on year, whether it's 2 wheel drive or 4 wheel drive.

Differences From the Titan

The Frontier has a standard V6 engine where the Nissan Titan carries a V8 engine and will get you a lot more horsepower. The Titan is a full-size pickup that, like the Frontier, comes in several different editions with a choice of cab-style and rear wheel or four wheel drive. The price of each model of Nissan truck will depend on the year, mileage, edition, and features affiliated with the vehicle.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Mercedes Benz SLR Mclaren

World's Leading Sports Cars - Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

Video game lovers got their first taste of Mercedes' sporty venture in the late 1990s with the then mere concept McLaren in the game Need for Speed. It wasn't long until McLaren Automotive, working with Mercedes, released the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren in 2003.

From the start, this supercar turned heads with its impressive outer design and inner powerhouse components. The SLR (Sport, Light, Racing) was built at a rate of 500 per year for the 6 years it was in production. No matter if it's the newest model off the lines or one of the oldest, this supercar can fly past the competition with ease.

The outside of the McLaren is incredibly futuristic, to say the least. On the inside, with the help of an onboard computer, the car is basically alive - with the ability to adjust its own spoiler height and angle of elevation.

The SLR is surprisingly fuel efficient for a supercar, though it weighs more than others in the class like the Lamborghini. The McLaren receives 16 miles per gallon, which might not seem like a lot but still, it's good compared to the competition.

The car's performance is helped along with a lightweight carbon-fiber body and a classic, aerodynamic racing design. The exterior of the car is beautiful, featuring a fully retractable soft top, gull-wing doors, and large chrome exhaust side-pipes. Critics consistently rank the SLR high because of the power it's able to put out for a car that could sell on looks alone.

Under the hood, the SLR boasts a hand-built 5.4 liter supercharged, SOHC V8. The engine is unchanged over the years, and consistently puts out the impressive 617 horsepower. The McLaren can go from 0 to 60 in 3.8 seconds and has a max top speed of 208mph.

It's so easy to forget that this supercar is still also a Mercedes-Benz; and that would explain the astonishingly high luxury rating for a car which, for all intents and purposes, is built for pure muscle and speed. The SLR comes with every bit of luxury you'd expect to find in any Benz.

Anyone lucky enough to ride in this car will enjoy plush seats completely covered in suede, a state-of-the-art Bose surround sound stereo system, updated navigation systems, adaptive cruise control features, and the dual-zone climate control features. Mercedes proves that even muscle cars can benefit from a soft side.

The 2009 edition of the McLaren has yet to be crash tested, but the line generally is that it is one of the safest supercars available. The carbon-fiber body is extremely light and strong, and the steel-reinforced A-pillars and fixed rollover bars protect the occupants of the car in case of a crash.

More modern technology is used as well, including knee-protecting airbags, automated stability control, and the braking system which is composed of carbon ceramic to improve stopping power and decrease heat and wear.

Like many other supercars out there, this one isn't an everyday purchase. It won't cost you in the millions to get your hands on a Mercedes McLaren, but at $495k to start, it still isn't something most of us can expect for an anniversary gift.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Mercedes Benz SLK

Mercedes-Benz SLK

There are few of things which can equal the great feeling which comes when we drive along slick drop top with roof down on a typical summer day. R170 platform of SLK compressor first came in 1997 for the model year 1998 and competed with BMW Z3. It was a class apart with its folding hardtop. It's added weight though marred its performance of 193 hp 2.3 L charged I4 engine and automatic transmission. The SLK featured in Car and Drivers Ten best list for a long time in 1997. All of the SLK's were not build in Bremen, Germany, the SLK 320 were build in South Africa and Mexico.Mercedes Benz SLK 230 came in 1998 with a convertible hardtop. It was the first modern car which combined the structural changes to encompass the weather resistance benefits which comes with a hardtop and a wow factor of good looking two seats convertible.

Initially these SLK230s were powered with the supercharged 2.3 liter, four cylinder engine which gave 185 horsepower output. It was capable of good performance, the engine sounded harsh and rough, if we compared it with the engines available in the SLKs key competitors like Porsche Boxster. Though the German name would make a rough engine like Kompressor worth it even with the looks which are really cool. Mercedes expanded the SLK line up to add the SLK320 which was driven by 3.2 liter V6 engine which had been taken straight from the C class. This six cylinder engine was much more refined for a car which had the three pointer start. The sports character was fully justified in 2002, when the SLK32 AMG joined the fray, with its V6 engine and output of 349 horsepower. The six cylinder engine was more smooth and powerful and it was also not too harsh on fuel economy. Depending upon the model, fuel consumption for SLK320 is rated at between 12.0 nod 13.0 L/100 Kms in the city and between 8 L/100 kms on highway.

This four cylinder SLK230 has good advantage only in city driving where it gives 11l/100 kames. Highway data is at 8L/100 kms. If you are really a fan of AMG tuned cars, you should not keep fuel economy factor in mind. SLK32 AMG is rated at 12.5L/100 kms in the city and 9.5L/100 kms on the highway. SLK's basic mechanical parts, engines and transmissions work well according to Consumer Reports, but the magazine also informs us of few of troubles relating to electric part for some earlier models. 1999 model gets the CR's recommended points, for other models of 1997, 2000 or 2003 there were not an conclusive reports we there as there was no enough data there. SLK was again revised to a greater extend in 2004 with enhanced performance in mind. The new Platform R171 was one of the best cars of the year. The SLK's are currently being built in Bremen, Germany and Mexico city. Normal repairs and parts could cost high for such cars which can be a pricey affair so you should thoroughly research on this factor while comparing the data with what other competitors have to offer before you decide on buying. SLK was subject of recall for some headlamp aiming procedure issue. The luxury value of SLK's trick roof have kept the resale value considerably higher. A 1998 SLK230 is still worth $20,000 more than third of its real price. In comparison E320 sedan is just worth $16000 despite its original price being $10000 more than the SLK.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Lincoln Car

The cars were named as an ode to Abraham Lincoln, which was acquired by the Ford evolve as a luxury car for the company. There are many attributes associated with the Lincoln cars and their models. Despite a gap of considerable years among the Lincoln autos and the contemporary cars, there are people who would not replace their Lincoln cars for any other brand.

The Lincoln cars feature a clean design, durability and smart functionality and this is the reason they were considered and revered as the best luxury cars of their times. It is not only that its appeals had anything to do with their sales, rather, the powerful engineering features it had due to the improvement of Ford, helped the Lincoln cars in breaking through the clutter of the other models to shine as the supreme one.

However, with the passage of the time these cars too need replacement of the accessories and their parts. For all those who are looking for the options to buy the parts or the accessories of their Lincoln autos can make use of the various channels of procurement to get what they are looking for. However, it is suggested that the people who have the Lincoln cars buy only from the authentic dealers who have the accessories and the car parts developed according to the original equipment regulations.

However, those who might be interested in the cost effective deals of the car parts and the accessories for the Lincoln autos can also find the perfectly working car parts and their accessories in the local salvage yards and the automobile junkyards. However, one will have to take their tool box along with them in their search for the car accessories and the parts as they will have to pull out these themselves. Sifting through the automobile junkyards one will be able to find what they are looking for in the rates which will allow them to save up to eighty percent of the market rates.

Others can also benefit by checking out the trader publications and the ads in the local newspaper. Many private sellers may be selling their car accessories and the parts of the Lincoln autos as well, offering win-win deals for the buyers. One can also make use of the World Wide Web, to search for the Lincoln auto parts and the required accessories to find the best bargains and the deals for themselves. Last but not the least; people can also sift through the collection of the car dismantlers who offer cost effective deals for the Lincoln cars parts and the accessories they have.

Lincoln Cars - An Interesting History

Most do not realize that Lincoln actually had its beginnings as a company separate from Ford Motor Company. The company was started by Henry Leland in 1917 and named for one of Leland's heroes, President Abraham Lincoln. Henry Leland had actually been one of the founders of the Cadillac Car Company, which had been the Henry Ford Company. The Lincoln Motor Company was created to build Liberty aircraft engines for the United Stated during World War One. With the end of the war, Leland had the factories retooled to produce automobiles. Ford Motor Company was able to acquire Lincoln in 1922 when the luxury automobile manufacturer encountered severe financial difficulties. Henry Ford was quite pleased to be able to acquire the company from Leland. He viewed it as retribution as Leland had led investors to force Ford out of the Detroit Automobile Company, a company that Ford had founded.

Once Ford acquired the company, body style changes were introduced and the price was lowered. These changes resulted in increased sales to 5,512 vehicles sold in 1922. Up from the previous 150 models sold the previous year, which had led to the hardship that had forced the company into bankruptcy.

In 1923, several different body styles were introduced including a two-passenger roadster and a seven-passenger limousine.

A specially designed police model, known as the Police Flyer was marketed to law enforcement divisions around the country. A special draw was Ford's willingness to modify the vehicles to suit the needs of police officers in the field. Bulletproof windows were added, spotlights were placed on the sides of the vehicle and gun racks were mounted to the interior section of cars. The cars were also fitted with four-wheel brakes a full two years before they were offered on vehicles meant for private sale. These police cruisers coupled with the success of the four door private sedans allowed the Lincoln division to show a profit margin by the end of 1924 just two years after the company had been pulled from the jaws of bankruptcy.

The bestselling car in Lincoln's history was developed by a designer named Eugene T. "Bob" Gregorie. Gregorie was designing a car for Edsel Ford who wanted a sleeker vehicle more in line with European style cars. The Lincoln Zephyr was the result and was offered for the 1936 model year. Sales skyrocketed its first year on market and sales for Ford increased by 9 times what it had done the previous year. This was the car that would eventually become the Lincoln Continental, one of the most important cars in the history of Lincoln. The car was so successful that it was nearly used as a brand name by itself. The advent of World War Two ended production of the popular Zephyr when Ford converted many of its factories to war work. The Continental which would go on to become so famous was based on mostly completely of the Zephyr.

Lincoln has also occupied a prominent place in history by providing many of the vehicles that would be used as official state vehicles for presidents of the United States. The first Lincoln vehicle to be used in this capacity was a 1939 Lincoln V12 used by Franklin D. Roosevelt. The limousine in use on that fateful day in Dallas in November 1963 was also a Lincoln. It is currently on display at the Henry Ford Museum. Lincoln vehicles have also been used by Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Bugatti Engine

The Veyron from the house of Bugatti is expected to come in the 16 cylinder W16 engine mounted in separate two banks of eight cylinders. The engine features with the 4 turbochargers and displaces 8.0 liter with the stroke and the bore of 86 mm and the 86 mm respectively. The vehicle is designed by Ricardo.

The transmission in the vehicle consists of Direct Shift gearbox with dual clutches, manual gearbox controlled by the computer with the 7 gear ratios, magnesium paddles next to the steering wheel and has the shift time of 150 Ms. The vehicle uses the Haldex traction system and provides the 4-wheel drive. The new Veyron uses the flat tires from the Michelin, which are specially designed for the Veyron to provide the maximum speed. The curb weight of the vehicle will be 2034 kilo grams.

The wheel base of the Veyron is about 2710 mm, while the length, width and the height of the model are 4462 mm, 1998 mm and 1204 mm respectively. The Bugatti Veyron has 10 radiators in total - 1 hydraulic oil radiator for the spoiler, 3 radiators for the engine cooling system, 1 engine oil radiator, 1 heat exchanger for the air-to-liquid intercoolers, 1 differential oil radiator, 2 for the air conditioning system and 1 transmission oil radiator.

The engine in the vehicle produces 746 kilo watts of power and a massive 920 lb ft of torque. The maximum speed of the vehicle is about 400 kilo meters per hour, and the most fascinating part of the story is that the Bugatti Veyron is capable of reaching the speed of 200 kilo meters per hour in just 7.3 seconds.

Mid-engined

Lotus EliseWhile the majority of cars have their engine over the front wheels, which allows better carrying capacity, mid-engine cars offer a more favourable weight distribution. The engine usually sits just in front of the rear axle, behind the passenger compartment. This usually means that mid-engine cars are two-seaters as the engine intrudes into what would be used for the rear passenger space. The advantages include better handling, better braking (because the rear wheels have more weight over them), improved acceleration (where they're rear-wheel drive as well), and a smoother ride. Because the engine is not directly facing into the wind, vents, air scoops, and additional radiators may have to be used to keep the engine cool. Common mid-engined cars are Ford GT, Lotus Elise, Porsche Boxster and Ferrari 355.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Bugatti Concept

In the elite luxury car world, Bugatti has been in the lime-light over the last decade because of the company's race car pedigree and the more recent world record breaking production supercar the Bugatti Veyron. Now the company is beginning a whole new chapter and starting to get the motoring world full of interest once again with an all new 1,000 horsepower four door saloon car. This time it will be a production car version which is based on the "Bugatti Galibier 16C" concept car (first seen in 2009), it is now planned to be called the "Bugatti Royale".

Bugatti was founded by Italian-born Ettore Bugatti as a manufacturer of high-performance automobiles in 1909 in Molsheim, Alsace. The company known for its racing pedigree enjoyed many great racing successes, especially in early Grand Prix motor racing, after winning the first ever Monaco Grand Prix. Bugatti's pinnacle of success was with the driver Jean-Pierre Wimille who won the "Le Mans 24 hours" twice (once in 1937 with Robert Benoist, and then again in 1939 with Pierre Veyron).

The company went into a slow decline after the death of "Ettore Bugatti" who died in 1947 and was eventually sold to the company Hispano-Suiza in 1963, since then the company has had various owners and little success as a brand. That was until in 1998 when the German car manufacturer "Volkswagen AG" purchased the rights to produce cars under the Bugatti marque, the famous historical car brand was again back in business and thanks the design and development of the "Veyron" elite sports car, Bugatti once again was back on the most wanted list and in the Veyron's case in the record books.

The Bugatti Veyron "Super Sport" version is still the fastest road-legal production car in the world, with a top speed of 431.07 km/h (267.85 mph), with ultra high standard of finish and detail, some think of it as a pure automotive work of art.

With all this in mind Bugatti wanted to go a step further and produce the four-door saloon car version called the "Royale", it will still be powered with the same unique "W16 engine" found in the Veyron. It is rumoured that it might only come with 2 turbo's (instead of the Veyron's usual four), but also features a linked electric motor, as in someway being a step towards being more environmentally ethical. The engine will run on Bio-ethanol so again this tick's an environmental box, even if it's a small one.

For anyone who is interested in the Bugatti Royale production which is due to start around the end of 2012 / beginning of 2013 won't have long to wait now (although the waiting list will have already started), as you can imagine this car won't come cheap; at around £850,000 or 1.4 million US dollars in today's currency exchange.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Bugatti Veyron

One quickly runs out of superlatives when trying to describe the Bugatti Veyron. I'm not even sure if one should use the word "car" to refer to such a monster. Endowed with absolute power and a daunting maximum speed, the Veyron looks and sounds like it just came out of some impossible future inhabited by gigantic gas pumps.

50 years after Ettore Bugatti's death, Volkswagen used its magic wand to resurrect the legendary firm, and to say the least, the German carmaker did a mindblowing job.

Motorsports enthusiasts will instantly refer you to the mythical Bugatti Royale from the 1930s, a colossal and majestic masterpiece, sold at such a prohibitive price that only three people were able to afford to buy it at the time. The Royale turned out to be one of the most rare and prestigious automobiles of all times, but despite record-breaking performances, its endless and fairytale-like silhouette became above all a symbol of unequivocable luxury able to make any Rolls Royce look like your everyday sedan. Instead of trying to match the Royale's incredible legacy, re-Volkswagen decided to look for inspiration in Bugatti's racing history to design the Veyron, rightfully using the name of the famous driver who won at Le Mans in 1939 behind the wheel of a Bugatti Type 57.

We got to drive this exceptional vehicle for a few miles in the parking lot of a San Diego country club. It's easy to feel intimidated by this incredible machine, so we carefully and promptly handed it back to its official tutor, French race car driver PierHenri Raphanel.

The Veyron is unbeatable. Its wide and massive shape sets it aside from other supercars such as the sleek Mercedes McLaren SLR or the angular Ferrari Enzo. But the real thrill comes from the Veyron's unrivaled performances: with an engine delivering 1001 hp and a top speed neighboring 250 mph, the new Bugatti flies over the road like a rocket in the morning sky. The Veyron goes from 0 to 62 mph in 2.5 seconds, which is no less than a second faster than a Ferrari Enzo. Pedal to the metal, you can reach 200 mph in little more than 15 seconds. This is a first in the field of street-legal vehicles, and you would have to steal a Champ Car to have a chance to catch up with the Veyron. To be frank, at the end of the day, I still wouldn't put a dollar on you.

Revolutionary techniques were involved in the making of this 21st Bugatti. In order to gather the 1001 horsepower needed to establish a new automotive legend, Volkswagen has designed an 8 liter W16 engine by mating two narrow-angle V8s. Peak torque is 922 lb/ft at 2200 rpm No less than four turbochargers garnish this frenzied powerhouse and engineers had to come up with a special seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to allow for all this wild energy to be transferred to the road. Needless to say, fuel efficiency was never an issue in the process, and you'll be delighted to learn that the Bugatti Veyron has given a new meaning to the term gas-guzzler by settling for a little more than 2 miles per gallon at top speed. In this configuration, the tank would go from full to empty in less than 12 minutes. All kinds of rumors are surrounding this unbelievable ride: pushing hard on this monster will make a set of tires last about 125 miles.

It took several years of trial and error to achieve the Bugatti Veyron's final version. Launched by flamboyant CEO Ferdinand Piëch in 1999, the project started with a prototype equipped with a W18 engine (three flatV6's side by side).

Soon, engineers realized they needed a more compact structure, and the W16 was adopted and installed in a mid-rear position. Fine tuning the beast was a long and difficult task, and many incidents occurred during the testing. A lack of stability at high speed even provoked an accident and the destruction of a prototype. In 2003, Piëch was replaced by Bernd Pischetsrieder at the helm of Volkswagen, and the new leadership took the project back to the drawing board. Under the supervision of engineer Wolfgang Shreiber, the Veyron became more stable and drivable. Gordon Murray, the famous and brilliant father of the astounding McLaren F1 of the early 90s who had in the past harshly criticized the Veyron initial concept and prototypes, was recently revealing his thoughts on the Bugatti's final version: "One really good thing, and I simply never expected this, is that it does change direction. It hardly feels its weight. Driving it on a circuit I expected a sack of cement, but you can really throw it at tight chicanes."

Only 300 Bugatti Veyrons will be made over the next five years. It will cost you no less than $1.5 million to get your hands on one of them, but apparently, Bugatti has already received 70 firm orders. In a classy move, Volkswagen moved Bugatti back to Ettore's original headquarters at Saint Jean Castle in Molsheim, Alsace, and the resurrected firm should even increase its production in 2006 to meet the demand. Believe it or not, all in all, the Veyron is a good bargain: its manufacturing costs far exceed its selling price. Following the steps of its respectable ancestors, this unique automobile is first and foremost a magnificent and decadent study announcing the end of an era. Stepping away from the cockpit of this unforgettable machine, lost in a state of denial, it was almost hard to keep in mind that the days of gasoline engines are numbered.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Bugatti Galibier

So let's say that you make the fastest production car in the world, it costs more than Tom Cruise's face, and it defies decades of automotive engineering. Now what would you do? Probably, cash out your stock, pack your bags and head to your vacation home at the beach to relax. Right? No way! That's not what Bugatti's CEO Wolfgang Durheimer did after creating one of the most coveted and respected cars in the world. Instead, Durheimer has been pushing Bugatti to create the world's fastest and luxurious sedan. Sounds easy, right?

Well, with a $2 million dollar price tag, what do you put into a sedan to make it the most luxurious in the world? No one really knows yet, aside from a few key details such as the engine, or a few shots of the interior. But there aren't many details available yet considering that the Bugatti Galibier hasn't been officially released into production but one thing is certain, that Wolfgang Durheimer is not going to launch the car without making sure that it is the outright, most outrageously, overdone luxury car in the world. Durheimer is quoted for saying that for the Galibier, "in his opinion, there should not even be a question about the best car in the world when you sit down to discuss it with your billionaire buddies. He doesn't want to build it until it's the car that finishes the argument, not the car that starts it."

That bold statement sets the bar extremely high for Bugatti, but for a company that has historically set it's own bars and surpassed them, I'm sure it's nothing more than business as usual at Bugatti. Creating a car that billionaires get instead of private flights to the moon seems to be something that Bugatti is good at. Especially considering that the Galibier might share the Veyron's 8.0-liter W16 Quad-Turbocharged system that could push out 1,001 horsepower with ease. The real challenge comes down to whether or not the Galibier will truly be perceived as an ultra luxury sedan. Despite exquisite styling details, an engineering marvel of an engine, and a brand that makes the earth tremble, will the Galibier really blow billionaires away or will we see just another Maybach with wine coolers or a Rolls Royce Phantom with gold plated tray tables? Bugatti has their work cut out for them and with a $2 million dollar price tag, I sure hope that Bugatti does not disappoint.