How the Batmobile Works

Whether you have seen the movie "Batman Begins" or not, you have probably seen the Batmobile. It is shaped like a spaceship -- a spaceship that has had tires grafted onto it to make it street legal. The Batmobile used in "Batman Begins" is an icon for the movie and acts like a giant rolling advertisement for the film.

The Batmobile is real. Every single time you see the Batmobile in the movie, you are seeing a real, physical object, not a computer-generated graphic. Whether it is driving on city streets at 100 mph, landing in the Batcave or pulling up to the scene of a crime, what you're looking at is a real car. When the Batmobile flies 30 feet through the waterfall to land in the Batcave, what's landing is a real, 5,000-pound vehicle. The Batmobile is so real that it actually served as the pace car for a major NASCAR race held in June 2005.

And yet, the Batmobile is an illusion. Like so many other Hollywood props, the Batmobile that you see in the movie does not exist at all.

How can that be? How can something be so real that it can serve as a pace car but also be so illusory that it doesn't actually exist? In this article, we will talk with Nathan Crowley -- the man who designed the Batmobile and brought it to life in "Batman Begins" -- to find out what's going on.

In the Beginning

Let's start at the beginning and understand the "cinematic origins" of the Batmobile. In other words, let's understand how the car works in the movie.

The first thing you have to understand about Batman is that he must have a car. Unlike Superman, who has superhuman powers, Batman is a normal human being who gains all of his advanced capabilities through ingenuity and technology and usually a combination of the two. He can't shout "Up, up and away!" and fly through the air. Batman needs wheels to get around.

The second thing to understand is that, in this movie, Gotham City is portrayed as a highly dysfunctional version of New York City on steroids -- there are surprises and obstacles at every turn. So Batman needs a rugged car.

The third thing to understand is that Batman cannot, realistically, construct the car himself. Ordering all the machine tools and parts and assembling them in the basement would give away his secret identity.

So in the script, they create a mothballed military vehicle built by Wayne Enterprises. Batman requisitions this vehicle for his own purposes and paints it black to match his color scheme. The Batmobile also gains some rather remarkable abilities. For example:
It can go very, very fast.

It has a jet engine that allows it to jump/fly through the air much farther than any normal car could.

It has two driving positions -- one for driving and one for jumping/flying. It has stealth capabilities, and part of the stealth mode is a silent, electric-motor drive. Getting into and out of the car is "unusual" to say the least. There are no doors -- instead, the car "opens" somewhat like a flower. Nathan Crowley is the man who had to take that cinematic vision of the car and bring it to life on film. Now, the thing that you have to understand about Nathan is that he is a very physical guy... .

Inside the Batmobile

One of the most interesting parts of the Batmobile when you watch the movie is the way that Batman gets in and out. It is almost like a flower opening -- the roof unhinges, the windshield slides back and the seats in the car actually rise up. To make all of that origami fold and unfold, a separate team built yet another Batmobile.

This car is the one that Batman "pulls up in." It has several unique features:
It is loaded with hydraulics to make the opening and closing of the cockpit happen in a realistic way.

It has a small electric motor that lets the car drive forward, but there is no massive V-8 engine and no need for the car to drive at a high speed.

The car actually has another driver hidden inside the vehicle -- he makes the car stop and start as needed for each shot. When you see Batman inside the car, that is yet another piece of the puzzle. The interior of the car is actually a studio set that can't move at all. It is oversized so that cameras can fit inside, and it has all of the features needed to shoot the "interior shots" -- things like the seat that can move forward, the cockpit controls and so on.

And finally, there is one other version of the Batmobile -- the miniature version. It is a 6-foot-long (2-meter), 1:5 scale model of the Batmobile, complete with an electric motor drive. When you see the Batmobile flying through the air across ravines or between buildings, it is this scale model that does the flying. (But it's the 5,000-pound, race-car version that flies through the waterfall to land in the Batcave.)

So now you can start to see the complete illusion that makes the amazing car known as "the Batmobile" possible in the film.

Source: HowStuffWorks

Should I convert my car to LPG? How? Why?

As we all know, prices of petroleum is going far beyond our expectations. And it is still going up! Some of us just ignore it saying "we have no choice but to accept it, we have no control." But, how about our cars? Others may have just bought they car maybe last year or before this fast moving price hike. What can we do about that?

Hybrid cars that run using electricity may be a great resolution. However, these are quite expensive. So, not that great resolution at all.

So, what should I do?

Convert your car from petroleum to LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas). LPG price is lot cheaper unlike petroleum. There are lots of installers now in the market that can convert your car to LPG. Conversion price is cheaper given that you will save in gas costs.

The Best Car Commercial

This is the best car commercial I've seen. This commercial features 1980 Isuzu Gemini so there is no computer graphic used to develop this commercial. The cars are really flying.

The Longest Limo In The World

The longest limo in the world is a 100-ft long vehicle created by Jay Ohrberg of Burbank, California.

Built mainly as an exhibition piece, the owner is now allowing the rental of the vehicle for various functions and events. Although the vehicle is not technically street legal due to the vehicle’s enormous size, it can be driven from place to place with ease by a specially trained chauffer.

The longest limo in the world rides on 26 tires spaced along the length of the limo’s body. There are dual driver’s cabins on the vehicle, one at the front and one at the back, to help with driving the vehicle in reverse. The middle of the longest limo in the world is hinged to fold to help the vehicle make turns around corners.

Where the longest limo in the world really shines is in the passenger cabin of the limo, where state of the art luxuries abound. A heated Jacuzzi tub is nestled in the interior, along with a sun deck, a swimming pool, and a king sized bed. A helipad is located on the limo as well and the televisions inside are connected to the limo’s own satellite dish.

Source: Limoquoter

The one horse power car!

At first sight, this car look like all its power comes from one horse, but, this is a vehicle used at horses monitorization and it is powered by Volvo engine.

It weights about 4 tons and it was built on the Ford F150 technical platform. It has one supercharged 2,4 Volvo engine of 5 cylinders and it comes with an automatic gearbox. The guys from Roush Technologies are the ones who realized this project, which was ordered by Kurt System, a company specialized in race horses training.

Because this is what the weird creation does: it can monitorize horses up to a speed of 60 km/h. In the interior we have different computers and equipments that record all the necessary data like number of heartbeats in a minute.

Source: Next Concept Cars

Water Powered Car Demonstrated?

Denny Klein, an inventor from Florida, has introduced the world’s first water powered car. His own 1994 Ford Escort, labeled “Hydrogen Technology”, can run on a combination of water and gasoline, and Klein says it is possible to develop a system powered purely by water. The prototype is a hybrid car, shown to drive 100 miles using 4 ounces of water, without losing power. "You just drive it like a regular car. The infrastructure is already in place to get it serviced so we don't have to reinvent the wheel," Klein said.

Klein’s “Aquygen” is water or H2O broken down and turned into HHO gas – a process that scientists previously considered impossible to implement. A small device was demonstrated to emit a flame hotter than the surface of the Sun; A flame so intense it can burn a hole through charcoal and turn a brass ball to glowing liquid metal within seconds. While steel, lead, and other metals slice on contact, the tip of the welder remains only slightly warm to touch. Klein says that people don’t believe him, even though it’s a natural electrolysis process. It requires a greater amount of water than the amount of HHO gas produced, but the resulting gas combines the atomic power of hydrogen and the chemical stability of water. “No other gas will do this” –he says.
Klein and his colleagues are planning to provide a cheap, eco-friendly and practical alternative fuel, which will end the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. An engine that runs on a gasoline-water mix burns 50-percent less gasoline. "The way the water molecule is restructured, it releases a tremendous amount of energy when mixed with a catalyst. The Aquygen can easily be turned back into H2O” - said Klein as he pointed at drops of water running off a sheet of metal. A representative from Klein’s company said that the fuel production cost is estimated at around 70 cents per hour, with 1,500 liters of Aquygen produced in an hour.

Denny Klein and his water powered car - is it for real?

Denny Klein has patented the Aquygen generation process, and his invention is drawing attention worldwide – “Microsoft started from a small garage, why not Hydrogen technology?” - he laughs. Klein was recently invited by members of Congress to demonstrate his invention in Washington. It has been reported that his company is currently developing a gasoline-water hybrid Hummer for the US military.
The technology is still undergoing various government and independent tests, and company managers say it will be ready to hit the market in about 2 years. In response to the reports, many critics argued that the story is a complete hoax, saying that the energy required to convert H2O to HHO is greater than that provided by burning Aquygen. Others have raised concerns about the long term impact of such an energy source on the car engine.
In 1995, several shows aired a report about Stanley Meyer – an inventor from Ohio, who also claimed to invent a water fuel cell, which was demonstrated on his dune buggy, powered by water alone. Meyer passed away in 1998, and many say he received threats from oil companies and was poisoned after refusing to abandon his technology.

Source: The future of things

Thirty Gas Saving Tips

The surest way you can improve your fuel cost problem is to change your motoring habits. Listed below under four categories are 30 effective methods of doing so... no need to buy expensive add-on equipment.

ENGINE WARM-UP
1. Avoid prolonged warming up of engine, even on cold mornings - 30 to 45 seconds is plenty of time.
2. Be sure the automatic choke is disengaged after engine warm up... chokes often get stuck, resulting in bad gas/air mixture.
3. Don't start and stop engine needlessly. Idling your engine for one minute consumes the gas amount equivalent to when you start the engine.
4. Avoid "reving" the engine, especially just before you switch the engine off; this wastes fuel needlessly and washes oil down from the inside cylinder walls, owing to loss of oil pressure.
5. Eliminate jack-rabbit starts. Accelerate slowly when starting from dead stop. Don't push pedal down more than 1/4 of the total foot travel. This allows carburetor to function at peak efficiency.

HOW TO BUY GASOLINE
6. Buy gasoline during coolest time of day - early morning or late evening is best. During these times gasoline is densest. Keep in mind - gas pumps measure volumes of gasoline, not densities of fuel concentration. You are charged according to "volume of measurement".
7. Choose type and brand of gasoline carefully. Certain brands provide you with greater economy because of better quality. Use the brands which "seem" most beneficial.
8. Avoid filling gas tank to top. Overfilling results in sloshing over and out of tank. Never fill gas tank past the first "click" of fuel nozzle, if nozzle is automatic.

HOW TO DRIVE ECONOMICALLY
9. Exceeding 40 mph forces your auto to overcome tremendous wind resistance.
10. Never exceed legal speed limit. Primarily they are set for your traveling safety, however better gas efficiency also occurs. Traveling at 55 mph give you up to 21% better mileage when compared to former legal speed limits of 65 mph and 70 mph.
11. Traveling at fast rates in low gears can consume up to 45% more fuel than is needed.
12. Manual shift driven cars allow you to change to highest gear as soon as possible, thereby letting you save gas if you "nurse it along". However, if you cause the engine to "bog down", premature wearing of engine parts occurs.
13. Keep windows closed when traveling at highway speeds. Open windows cause air drag, reducing your mileage by 10%.
14. Drive steadily. Slowing down or speeding up wastes fuel. Also avoid tailgating - the driver in front of you is unpredictable. Not only is it unsafe, but if affects your economy, if he slows down unexpectedly.
15.Think ahead when approaching hills. If you accelerate, do it before you reach the hill, not while you're on it.

GENERAL ADVICE
16. Do not rest left foot on floor board pedals while driving. The slightest pressure puts "mechanical drag" on components, wearing them down prematurely. This "dragging" also demands additional fuel usage.
17. Avoid rough roads whenever possible, because dirt or gravel rob you of up to 30% of your gas mileage.
18. Use alternate roads when safer, shorter, straighter. Compare traveling distance differences - remember that corners, curves and lane jumping requires extra gas. The shortest distance between two points is always straight.
19. Stoplights are usually timed for your motoring advantage. By traveling steadily at the legal speed limit you boost your chances of having the "green light" all the way.
20. Automatic transmissions should be allowed to cool down when your car is idling at a standstill, e.g. railroad crossings, long traffic lights, etc. Place gear into neutral position. This reduces transmission strain and allows transmission to cool.
21. Park car so that you can later begin to travel in forward gear; avoid reverse gear maneuvers to save gas.
22. Regular tune-ups ensure best economy; check owner's manual for recommended maintenance intervals. Special attention should be given to maintaining clean air filters... diminished air flow increases gas waste.
23. Inspect suspension and chassis parts for occasional misalignment. Bent wheels, axles, bad shocks, broken springs, etc. create engine drag and are unsafe at high traveling speeds.
24. Remove snow tires during good weather seasons; traveling on deep tire tread really robs fuel!
25. Inflate all tires to maximum limit. Each tire should be periodically spun, balanced and checked for out-of-round. When shopping for new tires, get large diameter tires for rear wheels. Radial designs are the recognized fuel-savers; check manufacturer's specifications for maximum tire pressures.
26. Remove vinyl tops - they cause air drag. Rough surfaces disturb otherwise smooth air flow around a car's body. Bear in mind when buying new cars that a fancy sun roof helps disturb smooth air flow (and mileage).
27. Auto air conditioners can reduce fuel economy by 10% to 20%. Heater fan, power windows and seats increase engine load; the more load on your engine, the less miles per gallon.
28. Remove excess weight from trunk or inside of car - extra tires, back seats, unnecessary heavy parts. Extra weight reduces mileage, especially when driving up inclines.
29. Car pools reduce travel monotony and gas expense - all riders chip in to help you buy. Conversation helps to keep the driver alert. Pooling also reduces traffic congestion, gives the driver easier maneuverability and greater "steady speed" economy. For best results, distribute passenger weight evenly throughout car.
30. During cold weather watch for icicles frozen to car frame. Up to 100 lbs. can be quickly accumulated! Unremoved snow and ice cause tremendous wind resistance. Warm water thrown on (or hosed on) will eliminate it fast.

EXTRA TIPS
Install pressure regulator valve (sold in auto parts stores)... Use graphite motor oil... Beware of oil additives, regardless of advertising claims... Add Marvel Mystery Oil into gas fill-ups... Investigate fuel/water injection methods and products... combine short errands into one trip... Use special gas additives to prevent winter freezing of gas lines... convert your V8 engine over to a V4 - no special kits needed!!!

Source: How to advice

World's Sexiest Car

Fiat 500 named as World's Sexiest Car

You would expect that the title of the World's Sexiest Car would go to a Ferrari, or maybe an Aston Martin, but not a Fiat, surely?

Well according to Top Gear Magazine who asked its readers to vote for the world's sexiest car the Fiat 500 came out top.The Fiat 500 (the "cinquecento" from the Italian word for "500") is a car produced by the Fiat company of Italy between 1957 and 1975.The car was marketed as a cheap and practical town car to combat high levels of congestion in Italian cities and measures less than 3.00 m (10 ft) long. It is powered by a tiny 479 cc two-cylinder and has an aircooled engine. "Even a nun in a 500 seems to telegraph a faint tingle of the procreative urge", said James May, Top Gear contributing editor. "Our number-one sexiest car, the Fiat 500, advertises nothing about its owner, except that it's someone who doesn't need to try."Coming in second was the Aston Martin DBS, followed by the Maserati Quattroporte, the Chevrolet Camaro and the Citroën C6.Rounding out the field of top 10 cars were the Lincoln Continental, Bentley Continental S1 Fastback, BMW M1, Rolls-Royce Phantom — and Sally, the Porsche 911 Carrera from the Disney movie Cars

Source: Pocket-lint

World's oldest car for sale

Steam-powered 1884 car will be auctioned at Pebble Beach in August.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A steam-powered car, billed as the oldest car in the world that still runs, will be sold in a Pebble Beach, Calif., auction in August.
The car was built in France in 1884, about a year before Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz of Germany built their first experimental gasoline-powered cars. (The two were working independently of one another.) Henry Ford, the man many Americans mistakenly believe invented the automobile, built his first car 12 years after this one.

4 Record-breaking car sales
The four-wheeled De Dion-Bouton et Trepardoux, nicknamed "La Marquise," was originally built for the French Count De Dion, one of the founders of the company. The car has had only two other owners since, according to auction house Gooding & Company, which is handling the sale.
In an 1887 demonstration drive, the car covered a 19 mile course at an average speed of 26 miles per hour. The following year, it won the world's first car race, according to Gooding, beating a three-wheeled steam-powered De Dion-Bouton.
Fueled by coal, wood and bits of paper, the car takes about a half-hour to work up enough steam to drive. Top speed is 38 miles per hour.
"That's as fast as you want to go," said David Gooding, founder of the auction company. "It feels like going 80 or 90 miles per hour in a newer automobile. And, by newer, I mean 1910."
The car runs on thin tires of solid rubber wrapped around metal wheels.
Bob Casey, curator of transportation for the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan, agreed that the De Dion-Bouton is, quite possibly, the oldest running automobile. (The definition of "automobile," in this case, excludes large steam-powered carriages that were, essentially, rail cars without rails.) Casey's museum has an American-made steamer dating from the 1860s but it's no longer safe to drive and probably wasn't even when Henry Ford bought it in 1930.
Gooding estimates the car's value at between $1. 5 million and $2 million. It will be auctioned on August 19 in Pebble Beach, Calif.

Source: CNN

The World's Cheapest Car

The Tata Nano car is introduced at the 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi, India

A lot is riding on the the world's cheapest car. In the words of Ratan Tata, chairman of the company behind the upstart econobox, India's "People's Car" will be a "safe, affordable, all weather vehicle for a family which is today traveling on a two wheeler." The entry level model is ticketed at just over $2,500 — or the equivalent of 100,000 rupees or one Lakh — a revolutionary price where the average lower middle class income is $200 a month. (For comparison's sake, in the early 1970s, Honda introduced affordable, good quality Civics at about $2,200, which adjusted for inflation would now be nearly $10,500.) It could well be one of the most important cars ever designed.


Source: Time

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X

All-new 2008 Lancer Evolution: Super-All Wheel Control, 6-Speed Automated Manual Transmission

Mitsubishi Motors is introducing the 2008 Lancer Evolution, the newest and most sophisticated version of the legendary high-performance model series that began 16 years ago. While remaining true to the core values that have made the Lancer Evolution synonymous with thrilling performance, the next-generation model offers all-around capability and user technology that distinguish the world's best performance models.

The strikingly styled 2008 Lancer Evolution showcases new performance and handling technology, including an all-new 291-bhp 2.0-liter turbocharged/intercooled engine and the Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) dynamic handling system. S-AWC offers an extraordinary level of control at each wheel, going well beyond the capabilities of other all-wheel drive systems.Two Lancer Evolution models will be offered in the U.S. market for 2008: the GSR with a new 5-speed manual transmission and the Lancer Evolution MR with a new 6-speed Twin-Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission (TC-SST), a new-generation automated manual transmission.

The MR model is also equipped exclusively with Bilstein shock absorbers and Eibach springs, two-piece brake rotors for better heat dissipation, BBS forged-alloy wheels, HID headlamps and additional interior features. Significantly, the newest Lancer Evolution will have less differentiation from market to market than the previous generations.Design EvolutionThe 2008 Lancer Evolution design makes a maximum performance statement, blending concept car themes and sound aerodynamic principles while conveying the brand's rally heritage. A shark-nosed front end inspired by jet fighter air intakes, a distinct wedge-like profile and crisp, taut lines highlight the basic new-generation Lancer design. Building on those themes, the 2008 Lancer Evolution looks the part of the street-wise sports machine with its a unique front end, aggressively sloping hood with integral air scoop and engine heat outlets, boxed fenders, and 18-inch alloy wheels with Brembo brakes.Inside, the Lancer Evolution presents a "class up" approach and shows a new international flair.

Available user technology, including high-end Rockford Fosgate® audio and navigation systems, reflects the tastes of a broadening customer base.All-new 2.0-liter Turbo EngineThe 2008 Lancer Evolution's 4B11 engine is an intercooled-turbocharged 2.0-liter DOHC inline 4-cylinder. Beyond that description, it differs greatly from the legendary 4G63 it replaces. The 4B11 is built with a reinforced cast-aluminum cylinder block versus the cast-iron block used in the 4G63, and aluminum is also used for the cylinder head and cover and the timing chain case.The new 4B11 T/C produces more power than its predecessor: 291 bhp at 6,500 rpm (vs. 286 bhp at 6,500 rpm) and 300 lb-ft of peak torque at 4,400 rpm (vs. 289 lb-ft at 3,500 rpm). The 4B11 T/C provides a broader torque curve, as well. A revised turbocharger yields up to 20-percent quicker response at lower engine speeds versus the 2006 engine's turbocharger.New TC-SST Automated Manual TransmissionExclusive to the Evolution MR model for 2008, the 6-speed Twin-Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission (TC-SST) is an automated manual transmission capable of executing lightning-quick upshifts with no drop-off in engine power. The TC-SST features both a console-mounted shifter and magnesium steering wheel paddle shifters and offers manual and fully automatic modes.

Essentially, the TC-SST is a manual transmission that can select two gears at a time: one gear is engaged by one of the two wet multi-plate clutches, and the other is pre-selected, awaiting to be engaged by the second clutch. The gear change is made - either manually or automatically depending on mode selected - when the electro-hydraulically operated clutches are "swapped," which occurs simultaneously, with no perceptible lag time.Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC)In the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) is not simply the name of a new all-wheel drive system. Rather, S-AWC regulates drive torque at each wheel by controlling a network of dynamic handling technologies, including: Active Center Differential (ACD) 4-wheel drive, Active Yaw Control (AYC) rear differential, Active Stability Control (ASC), and Sports ABS brakes. Integration of ASC is new for all markets and also provides a significant advance in both dynamic capability and safety.

Base Price: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X - $32,990 (last update: 1/14/2008)

Source: RSports Car

How To Get the Best Car & Fuel Economy

Studies show that high gas prices are prompting buyers to give fuel economy increasingly greater weight in the car-buying equation, and it’s about time. To help the process along, we present the following guide to eking the most miles-per-gallon out of your next automobile purchase.

While some of the advice may yield what appears to be nominal increases in fuel economy, keep in mind that an improvement of only a few miles-per-gallon can add up to major savings over time. We refrain from outlining specific monetary savings here given the continued oscillation of gas prices, but we do recommend referencing your vehicle alternatives on www.fueleconomy.gov, where more exacting fuel prices and annual mileage can be factored to provide personalized results. Also, note that mileage figures in this article refer to model year 2004 specifications.

#1 CONSIDER A HYBRID

For car buyers who place the highest priority on fuel economy, hybrid electric vehicles offer the most obvious choice. Discussed extensively in previous issues of this magazine, the Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, and Honda Civic Hybrid all combine small, clean-burning gasoline engines with electric motors that boost acceleration and capture energy during braking and coasting.
Toyota Prius

Their innovative powerplants give these vehicles the efficiency to currently top the vehicle rankings in the EPA’s fuel economy hierarchy.

The hybrid’s success bodes well for the future of this technology. The recently released Ford Escape Hybrid, as well as the upcoming Lexus RX 400h, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, and Honda Accord Hybrid, clearly show that the hybrid option will not be limited to smaller vehicles. Whether offered as a premium upgrade, as is the case with Lexus, or as an option on mainstream family sedans like the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima, hybrids will be adding fuel economy improvements across the automotive spectrum for some time.

#2 DON’T BE SWAYED BY TRENDS
What if you’re not a hard-core fuel economy buff, but rather one who simply wants to make a better choice within an array of more conventional vehicles? To these buyers, we offer this advice: go with what meets your needs and ignore popular trends. The sport utility vehicle boom of the past decade has seen significant growth in the popularity of heavier, less aerodynamic vehicles that require larger engines to move them about town, handling tasks that could in most cases be met by a more fuel efficient class of vehicle like a wagon.

BMW 325xi

BMW offers a perfect case in point. The EPA rates the BMW X3 2.5i SUV at 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway, while the 325xi Sport Wagon is rated at 19/26 mpg. Both vehicles offer all-wheel drive traction in poor weather, while minimal differences in terms of cargo capacity make the 325xi clearly the more efficient choice. Discerning shoppers will find this to be a common dynamic across the automotive market. It may pay to take a good look at station wagon alternatives before plunging into the SUV fray.

Nissan Murano

#3 GO WITH CAR-BASED SUVs
If an SUV lays steadfast in your automotive sights, consider strongly car-based variants over those that are truck-based. Alternately known as crossover vehicles, these SUVs are composed of light and stiff unit-body construction rather than the traditional body-on-frame construction of truck-based SUVs, which are typically hardier but also much heavier. Crossovers also tend to forgo the low-range transfer cases and off-road hardware of more traditional SUVs, appropriate given their intended uses and the fact that very few SUV owners actually go off-road.

One example is the Nissan Murano, which sources its structure from the Nissan Altima sedan and is rated at 20 mpg city, 24 mpg highway. The Nissan Pathfinder uses the Murano’s same 3.5-liter V-6 but achieves a 15/19 mpg rating, largely due to the Pathfinder’s pickup truck origins. Car-based SUVs have taken an increasingly larger portion of the SUV market share of late, offering users improved efficiency over their truck brethren and most of the capability. Makes sense to us.

Acura RSX

#4 LOOK BENEATH THE SKIN
If you’re set on a certain vehicle genre but flexible on a specific choice within available models, consider those with humbler origins. For example, the entry-level Acura TSX luxury car is actually the Honda Accord that’s sold in every auto market except ours. The Lexus ES 330 is essentially a restyled and lavishly appointed Toyota Camry. Both cars, derived from family sedans built with efficiency in mind, may offer better fuel economy than full-blown luxury sedans meant to coddle from the get-go. Beauty in these cases may be only skin deep, but efficiency lies much deeper. Looking for a sporty car? The Toyota Celica and Acura RSX both mate small 4-cylinder engines with lightweight chassis, providing driving thrills while returning near economy-car fuel mileage figures.

Okay, we need to account for those buyers who have made up their minds on a specific model within a vehicle class, leaving only the options sheet open for discussion. Allow us to exercise some influence here, as follows.

#5 FOREGO THE ENGINE UPGRADES
Before checking that engine upgrade box, consider the fuel economy ramifications. Generally, the smaller base engine is also the more efficient one. While the big V-8 or turbocharged model may get all the glory in the ads in those other car magazines, the reality is that saying “pass” to a larger and more powerful engine just makes sense unless the base engine just doesn’t provide the kind of performance you need. Shaving a half-second off a car’s 0-60 mph time may be tempting, but it becomes less so when weighed against the extra fuel costs down the road, not to mention the extra cash required up front to pay for that larger engine.

Avoid added aerodynamic drag

Other performance enhancing options can add to the appeal of a car, but may actually detract from its efficiency. Add-ons like trunk-mounted spoilers, roof racks, and sideboards often create added aerodynamic drag, requiring the engine to work harder to punch a hole through the air. Performance tires are geared toward increasing traction, not minimizing rolling resistance. Now, we’re not trying to talk you out of personalizing your new vehicle because, after all, that’s part of the excitement in picking out a new ride. What we’re doing is just making you aware that there are costs beyond the purchase price of some accessories and we want you to think about them before checking ‘em off. It may seem a bit nit-picky, but streamlining accessory choices can ultimately result in small but noticeable fuel savings.

Consider a manual transmission

#6 WEIGH TRANSMISSION CHOICES
One option that faces many a car buyer, though to a lesser degree than automotive enthusiasts may like, is the prospect of a manual transmission. In many cases, manual transmissions offer improved fuel economy compared to their automatic transmission counterparts, eliminating the need for a power-sapping torque converter. Take the Dodge Stratus, with its 2.4-liter 4-cylinder that offers 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway fuel economy when equipped with a manual, but 21/28 mpg when equipped with an automatic.

Continuously variable transmissions (CVT) and manual transmissions with electrically-controlled clutches complicate this pattern, and in some cases, a level of efficiency with automatics has been achieved where a specific transmission-engine pairing may improve fuel economy over a manual transmission. Whatever the case, we recommend checking out all transmission options for a vehicle you’re considering before making a purchase since, chances are, it will make a difference.

#7 TECHNOLOGY TO THE RESCUE
Look for fuel-saving technology within a model line as well. Honda’s VTEC-E system, available on its Civic, is one such example. A version of Honda’s Variable valve Timing and Electronic lift Control, VTEC-E creates a swirling effect in the combustion chamber that allows for an extremely lean air-fuel mixture at low revs to increase fuel economy.
Honda VTEC engine


And it succeeds: the Civic HX with a VTEC-E equipped 4-cylinder engine achieves 36 mpg city and 44 mpg highway, a respective four mpg city and six mpg highway improvement over a different iteration of Honda’s 1.7-liter engine in the same model.

Be on the lookout for up-and coming technologies that improve efficiency. General Motors and Ford are jointly developing a new 6-speed automatic trans that will begin appearing in front- and all-wheel drive models in 2006, bringing with it fuel economy improvements of up to four percent. Automakers such as Honda, General Motors, and DaimlerChrysler are also beginning to employ cylinder deactivation technology in their models, which reduces fuel consumption by shutting off a number of cylinders under certain driving conditions. The system effectively turns a V-8, for example, into an inline four when power demands are low, thus burning less fuel.

#8 IN A WORD: DIESELS
Another alternative available in only a select few cars is the diesel engine. In the U.S., diesel engines are offered in the Volkswagen Jetta, Golf, New Beetle, Passat, and Touareg. DaimlerChrysler offers a diesel in the Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI and Jeep Liberty CRD. Diesels are also offered as an option in a bevy of heavy-duty full-size pickup trucks. If one of these vehicles fits your needs, then the diesel option is an attractive alternative.

Volkswagen Passat TDI

An illustration: The manual transmission VW Golf TDI delivers 38 mpg city and 46 mpg highway with its 1.9-liter diesel engine, numbers that rival hybrids for fuel mileage supremacy. A comparable VW Golf with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine gets 24/31 mpg, still respectable but nowhere near that offered by the diesel. In Europe, where gas prices commonly approach an equivalent of $5.00 per gallon, diesels account for nearly 40 percent of the automotive population. With such a financial need for efficiency, they might be on to something.

Another word about diesels. While diesel engines do not emit as much carbon dioxide – the gas chiefly blamed for causing the greenhouse effect – as gasoline engines, diesels can be faulted for having higher oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter emissions. Therefore, states with especially stringent air quality standards such as California and New York have banned new light-duty diesel vehicles from certification, even with their outstanding efficiency. However, as mandated ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel is introduced here in 2006, more sensitive emissions control devices can be employed that cannot be used today due to high sulfur levels, which hopefully will lead to even cleaner diesel engines used in a wider array of vehicle models.

#9 AFTER THE PURCHASE
Gasoline and diesel engines alike require a precisely controlled set of combustion properties to run at top efficiency. An engine’s state-of-tune deteriorates over time, so regular maintenance and engine tune-ups are crucial to sustaining your vehicle’s fuel mileage integrity. According to the EPA, repairing a vehicle that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test yields an average four percent improvement in gas mileage. Small fixes that are often caught by routine maintenance, such as a clogged air filter, can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.

Using a manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil can also unlock potential fuel savings. For example, a more viscous oil such as 10W-30 in an engine designed to take 5W-30 can hurt fuel mileage by one to two percent. Motor oil that carries an “Energy Conserving” label on the API logo contains friction-reducing additives that may help increase fuel economy as well.

Perhaps the easiest fuel-saving procedure is checking tire pressure at least once a month. Fuel mileage is reduced nearly one percent for every two psi drop in pressure below the factory-recommended rating. Under-inflated tires not only reduce rolling resistance and hurt fuel economy, but also wear faster. Proper wheel alignment also ensures your wheels are pulling in the same direction to achieve optimum fuel economy.

#10 YOUR DAILY DRIVE
The same willpower that helped you resist those engine upgrades might need to be summoned for keeping driving habits in line as well. High-performance driving characterized by quick acceleration, braking, and cornering – always a fun thing but rarely a contributor to top fuel economy – may need to be kept in reserve for occasional weekend jaunts. The EPA estimates that aggressive driving can reduce fuel economy from five percent around town to 33 percent at highway speeds.

Highway driving at near-constant speed allows vehicles to operate at their most efficient levels. To lower engine rpm as much as possible at highway speeds, be sure to engage overdrive if your vehicle is so equipped. Maintaining a constant speed, with or without the aid of cruise control, is much more efficient than varying speeds that require continuous and fuel-sapping acceleration. Keep in mind that higher speeds do not translate into higher efficiency. Fuel mileage drops off significantly at higher speeds and, according to the EPA, every 5 mph increment over 60 mph equates to paying 10 cents more per gallon for gas.

So there you have it – eight tips to help you choose a more efficient vehicle and another two to ensure you continue reaping long-term rewards. Now, if only we could figure out how to keep those pump prices from spiking every week or so… .

Source: Green Car

Spada Codatronca TS (1) - The Batmobile

Lets face it; Ferraris just don't cut it around the streets of Monaco and neither do Lamborghinis. You might be noticed by a few people in a Pagani, but for real head-turning appeal nothing touches the Spada Codatronca TS revealed at the show. We're sure the name sounds far better when said with an Italian accent, but for looks we've never seen anything quite so beautifully ridiculous. It has got pedigree too, the design attributed to a team that includes father and son team Ercole and Paolo Spada - Ercole formerly a chief designer at Zagato and BMW, Paolo a former designer for Smart and Honda.
Along with two other stylists, they've created the TS (Turismo Sportivo), a car that's modernised the idea of Kamm-tailed racers of the '50s and '60s. Power for the TS comes courtesy of a Corvette unit, delivering 621bhp. But forget about talk of power, the TS is all about looks, and you should get plenty if you're driving it.

Source: Yahoo