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Archive for February, 2010

UK German Consumers Covet Hybrids!

Consumers in Germany and the United Kingdom have expressed strong interest in alternative powertrain options such as hybridelectric and clean diesel automobile engine technologies according to recent study conducted by JD Power.

The study was meant to measure consumer familiarity interest and purchase intent for 13 emerging automotive technologies in Germany and the United Kingdom before as well as after an estimated market value was revealed.

The study found that before the average market price was revealed interest in hybridelectric technology ranked sixth and clean diesel ranked 12th among consumers in Germany. Additionally prior to price introduction interest in hybridelectric technology ranked fifth and clean diesel technology ranked sixth among consumers in the United Kingdom.

However once the average price was revealed interest in alternativepowertrain technologies increased among consumers in both markets. In Germany hybridelectric technology ranked second and clean diesel ranked fifth among consumers. In the UK clean diesel technology received the highest interest among consumers after the market price is revealed while hybridelectric technology ranks third.

Apparently of the 13 features examined in the study alternative powertrain technologies and especially the clean diesel technology turned out to be the favorite among consumers in Germany and the UK in comparison to the US.

The differences in preference are attributed to tendency of consumers in European markets to purchase smaller vehicles which are also better suited to hybridelectric technology. Furthermore Diesel automobile engines too have a stronger appeal and presence in Europe than in the United States.

During the study when the respondents were quizzed before the average market price was revealed three features namely portable navigation devices builtin navigations systems and active cornering headlight systems a vehiclesensing feature used to enhance night driving invited the highest interest among consumers in both Germany and the UK. At the same time UK’s favorite were portable navigation devices while the German folks were attracted more towards cornering headlight systems.

Another interesting find came after the market price was revealed to consumers. After which consumers in both Germany and the United Kingdom seemed to be much less interested in satellite radio compared with consumers in the US.

Age Wise Preferences

In Germany consumers ages 38 years or older were more willing to pay the market prices for HD radio navigation systems collision mitigation systems clean diesel technology and active cornering headlight systems compared with consumers ages 16 to 37. Conversely consumers ages 38 years or older in the United Kingdom were typically less willing to pay market prices for emerging technologies in general compared with younger consumers.

Gender Wise Preferences

Among consumers in both Germany and the United Kingdom males expressed higher levels of awareness for the 13 emerging technologies included in the study compared with females. In both markets one of the largest gaps in awareness between males and females seemed to exist when considering awareness of premium surround sound.

Hybrids of late have garnered a lot of interest and the real or perceived disadvantages of hybrids seem to be waning away at a much faster rate. Perhaps skyrocketing gas prices have had a big contribution to the fast changing perceptions. Nevertheless the auto part manufactures and automakers now know for sure what consumers want?

About the writer:  Fred is a journalist with 7 years of experience. Though as a professional he’s reported on myriad topics his favorites are the auto and the healthcare industry. Two platforms he’s previously worked on are Themedica and AutomotiveOnline. He now blogs at: Automobile Hotspot.

Top Seven Tips For Getting More Mileage Out Of Your Gas Tank

With the price of gas continually on the rise many people are looking for ways to help improve the miles per gallon that they are able to get out of a tank of gas. Here are seven of the top tips that you can practice that will help you get more bang out of your buck.

Pay attention to the speed limit Not only is driving at the speed limit the responsible thing to do but it will also help you to save money on gas as well. The miles per gallon you are able to get from a tank of gas drastically decreases at speeds over 60 mph. Slow down and do the speed limit and you’ll be able to go further off of a tank of fuel.

Drive less aggressivelyAggressive driving lower the gas mileage your car gets by 33. Rapid acceleration speeding and constant braking all contribute to aggressive driving. There is no reason to stomp on the gas pedal when the light turns green nor is there any point to racing to a red light and stomping on the brake to stop. Drive sensibly and less aggressively and you will help increase your fuel mileage.

Proper good vehicle maintenanceKeeping your vehicle running at it’s best will greatly help to increase the mileage you get from a tank of fuel. Make routine visits to a certified mechanic to have your car tuned up and checked over to ensure that it stays running at it’s best and you’ll have to top off the tank a lot less often.

Stop idling away fuelContrary to popular belief your car burns a significant amount of fuel when idling. And as we all know when our vehicle is sitting it’s not getting any miles per gallon. Leaving your car idling results in nothing but wasted fuel. If you are going to be sitting for more than a minute or two turn the car off and save your gas.

Monitor your tiresIt has been proven that tires that are not properly maintained will reduce the fuel efficiency of your vehicle. Routinely monitor your tires to ensure that they are inflated properly and correctly aligned. This will greatly help to increase the amount of fuel efficiency that your vehicle has.

Loose weightYour belly isn’t the only thing that needs to beat the battle of the bulge. Excessive weight in your car can decrease the amount of miles per gallon you are able to get. Did you know that 100 extra pounds of weight in your vehicle can cause a 2 decrease in your miles per gallon? Keep your vehicle clear of all unnecessary items and you will increase how far you can go on a tank of gas.

Reduce air dragIf you’re not going on vacation there is no reason to cart around that bulky cargo carrier on top of your vehicle. Nor is there any reason to have fancy flags or other items hanging from window or antennas. These items cause air drag which decreases fuel efficiency.

About the writer:  We have been in business 20 years 12 years at this facility. We are honest and recommend only the work that needs to be done. We have an outstanding reputation for helping customers prioritize repair needs. A stable staff you will recognize the faces here year after year. Convenient location that is AAA approved. For more information go to automotiveconnectionct.com

Tips That Will Separate Your Car From The Pack At The Car Show

If you are going to be in a car show then you are going to need to make your car look nice and stand out to try and win some awards and prizes. If you cannot afford the stuff to clean your car before a car show then you shouldn’t be entering the car show in the first place. What you are going to want to do is clean the car inside and out then wash the car inside and out. Then you are going to want to detail the car before you wax it and finish it up before you leave to go to the car show.

Your first step should always be cleaning the inside of the car. Getting everywhere in between the seats behind the seats everywhere that you can. If I was you and haven’t cleaned the car in a while I would just take the seats out of the car and just get her clean really good then after that just make sure the whole entire inside of the car is spotless then you will move on to the exterior of the car.

When you are cleaning the outside of the car you want to be careful to not scratch the paint and the finish on your clear coat. That will ruin any chances that you had at winning the car show so be careful when washing and cleaning the outside. You are going to want to wash every piece of body on the car. Then you will want to wash and polish the rims then you should be looking pretty clean after all that. If you still are cleaning and polishing the morning of the show then you waited too long. You are still going to need to wax it before you go and make her look shiny. After you wash and wax you are going to want to do a check and make sure everything is clean and I mean every little detail.

You are going to want to wash the windows really good I mean thoroughly and make sure there isn’t a hair on the whole car much less the windows. So after you have washed the car you are just going to want to do a good check up on the car and make sure that you don’t need to do some more washing before you leave for the show.

Your tires and rims need to be looking their best when it comes to this time and you getting ready for the show. When you arrive at the car show you should wash the tires and rims again because you most likely drove on them to get where you are now at the car show most likely unless you had an accident on the way to the car and then your car is really going to need to be cleaned. You just need to make your car look clean and fresh when you show up to a car show that you expect to be in.

About the writer:  Gregg Hall is an author living with his 18 year old son in Jensen Beach Florida. Find more about cars as well as a car care products at http://www.nsearch.com