The Best Luxury Cars Money Can Buy by Phoenix Delray

There are many luxury car manufacturers and makes that come to almost everyones mind first, such as BMW, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Lamborghini, and a dozen others, but there are also many that are more exotic, rare and unique. Did you know that there are some very elite manufacturers that only build their cars according to customer orders and specifications? You can bet that the price tags of these beauties are not cheap, but think about the status you would have if you owned a truly one of a kind car that was unique from every other car on the planet! f you are thinking about buying the best luxury car your money can buy, the first question is how much money you are going to spend. When we talk about luxury cars, prices can range from the mid 30 thousands and up. Luxury cars can be classed into different levels: entry, mid, high, and ultra level luxury cars. Each level is designed for a specific type of consumer.
Once you have made up your mind about purchasing a luxury car, you need to look for dealers that are in your area. If you live in or near a big city, you will find that you have plenty of options as far as dealerships are concerned. If you live in a rural area, you need to plan on driving a little further to find one. Either way, keep in mind that you will have to return to any dealership you choose intermittently for scheduled maintenance, upkeep and of course if anything unexpected should occur.
After checking your local area, go ahead and get online to do some research on the Internet, both about the luxury cars available to you in your price range, any special deals either by dealerships or through the manufacturers that are being offered, and whatever other information you need to help in your decision. Look at models that are available at those dealerships that are near you. Consider what statement you want to make with your luxury car, whether it be powerful engines under the hood or an aura of quiet class and financial success.
Narrow down your choices and take a look in a consumer reports magazine too to get a feel for what current and past owners think about their purchases. Many companies do a very thorough job researching all there is to know about all kinds of luxury vehicles, and this is true whether you are looking for a Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Aston Martin, BMW, Lamborghini or any other high end vehicle you are considering.

mercedes benz

Seven Things You Should Know About Hybrid Cars.

If you are thinking about a hybrid vehicle, you may be hearing quite a bit of talk. A number of people think the hybrid car is the best thing on the market. Some say it is just a passing thing. Other people say they think they can save a lot of cash, but you are maybe not sure it is actually worth it. What is the truth, and how do you separate myth from fact with all of the stuff that is being thrown at you? Here are 7 of those common hybrid car myths, you may or may not have heard about.
1. Hybrid cars are the same as electric cars
This is not true because hybrid vehicles are fuel-powered for the most part. They have what are called battery assists. The assist is powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery pack that is rechargeable.
2. You are guaranteed to save money with a hybrid.
For anyone who is doing city driving, you might save gas and you may not. The same goes for highway driving. There are just too many variables. It has been said that if everybody bought hybrid vehicle's, the gas usage would decrease by only 10%, that is not a very big difference.
3. A hybrid battery can run out A hybrid car's battery ought not run out while you are driving it. The engine in a hybrid does not idle when stopped such as when you are stopped at a red light in a normal vehicle. What does it do alternatively? It recharges its battery. So there is no need to worry about a hybrid vehicle stopping you.
4. The hybrid rechargeable battery only lasts for 2 years
A hybrid vehicle certainly would not be worth buying if this was the case. A hybrid's rechargeable batteries generally come with an eight-year warranty.
5. If I run out of gas, I can keep driving on the hybrid car battery
Keep in mind, a hybrid car's battery is an assist only. That means that hybrid car's still run on fuel. After you run out of gas, the battery may keep the car running for just a little while. Even so, the car will stop very soon.
6. Hybrid vehicles will soon put conventional car sellers out of business
This will most likely not take place anytime soon. The purpose for the delay has to do with the hefty price tag on a hybrid cars. A lot of people merely cannot afford one. Furthermore, people just are not too sure whether or not they will actually save money on hybrid cars. Consequently, they are slow to join the rush of people who want a hybrid car.
7. Hybrid vehicle's will only save you approximately 88 dollars a year
I did hear something on the news about this once, but it may not be true. It went something like this, If there is something you really want and there is a lot of smoke surrounding it, you just have to start digging and do some of your own research. There are a variety of models of hybrid vehicle's, and several different manufacturers make them. This means that there might be many more variables involved than the ones outlined here. A hybrid might help you, and it might not, but the final decision is up to you.

Check out more great things you should know about hybrid cars at Best Hybrid Cars

Electric Taxis with Switchable Batteries Tested in Japan

Three electric taxis with replaceable batteries began service recently in Tokyo. They are participating in a 90 day trial to test the practical issues arising from real world service in a huge city. The taxis are available on the first floor of the Roppongi Hills center.
Three vehicles is certainly not a large number in a city with 60,000 taxis and 13 million people. However, the rollout is being tested and managed very carefully due to the newness of the technology. Battery swapping for electric vehicles is actually quite different from conventional fuel options. For one thing, the batteries reportedly can be changed in 60 seconds.  To see a battery change and battery storage facility watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSUSFMGvuJ0&feature=player_embedded

The Tokyo test is meant to demonstrate that taxis in cities all over the world could use this technology to reduce local air pollution. New York City has over 50,000 for-hire vehicles. Hong Kong has over 18,000 taxis. Even if half of these vehicles in the future are replaced with, or converted to electric, air pollution could be reduced significantly.
Better Place is the company responsible for the battery-switching technology and taxi conversion from gasoline to electricity. They plan to launch electric vehicle battery switching and charging networks in Israel, Denmark and Hawaii in the near future.-by  jake Richardson

What Makes a Car Vintage?

Several people may assume that just because their cars are old, they automatically qualify to be characterized as vintage. While old age is indeed a significant characteristic, it is important to note that this is not the only determinant since old cars can also fall under the category of classic or antique. It is for this reason that most people may wonder how they can determine whether their cars can be termed as vintage or not?
One can confidently consider his/her car vintage if it was built between the start of 1919 and the end of 1930, commonly referred to as the vintage period by most specialists in the automotive world. Most vintage cars are said to have been manufactured after World War 1 since most automakers had gained knowledge from the war which motivated them to make improvements on cars. As a result, automakers designed advanced cars with more features and manufacturers experimented with internal combustion engines.
Most vintage cars are more comfortable than cars that were manufactured before this period. They are specially characterized by such features as in-car heating as well as in-car radio system. These are features that were unheard of in cars manufactured before the vintage period. What is more, as compared to older cars, vintage cars have the passenger side as well as a foot brake. Additionally, vintage cars surpass older cars with the presence of an anti-freeze for cars that use a radiator for cooling.
Vintage cars can also be easily spotted with their outstanding outlook. Most of these cars have big font-mounted headlamps whereas they are also popularly known for their spooked wheels. Besides, one can easily spot a vintage by looking at how the car's roof has been built. Most vintage cars have roofs that are popularly designed with a canopy style. It is also common to notice some extent of gentility in a vintage car just like it is normally portrayed in quite a number of movies with a post war era setting.
Quite a number of automotive advancements were realized in the vintage period and most cars were manufactured with better features than the ones that had been manufactured before. Some of the features that are characteristic of these vintage cars include vacuum tank fuel systems as well as oil and air filters. It is also common to find both vacuum and electric windshield wipers together with higher compression engines in these cars. Vintage cars are also popularly known for headlights that have high and low beam as well as stop lights.
A car is not a vintage if it does not have radios and heaters coupled with synchromesh transmissions. It is also common to find balloon tires as well as chrome plating on vintage cars. Still, these cars have headlights that normally turn with the movement of the steering while the electric system is 12 volt. What is more, these cars can not miss boat tail speedsters, vent windows, rumble seats as well as front wheel drive. Therefore before gauging if your car is a vintage confirm that it has various if not all of the aforementioned features.

Find the best deal on the auto insurance coverage you need. Visit us today for money-saving tips and receive free quotes from respected insurance companies for the coverage you need. by= Levi Quinn

Car Leasing is Better Than Purchasing

In this fast paced life commutation has become such an important part of our lives that it is extremely difficult to do without it. Most of the people sit for months and years to sit and save up on buying a brand new car or a used car. Owning a car could be a big headache these days with the rising costs of maintenance and also the spare parts are very expensive. The best way is to lease a car for brief periods of time and pay for the maintenance at the end of the contract. Also, leasing a brand new car would always reduce the chances of wear and tear.
Car leasing is much more advantageous compared with purchasing a new one or even a used one because the customer will be paying the depreciation value of the car and not the actual price. Above all, when one purchases a brand new car, he/she has to take care of all the maintenance costs, changing tires, repairing torn seats etc which all take a toll on the monthly expenses. But car leasing relieves the person from this burden as usually the contract is only for a couple of years and the car leasing company takes care of all the maintenance except for any damages incurred during the leasing tenure, the customer would be held responsible.
Also if you are running a business, you can use car leasing option to reduce tax deductions. At the same time, if a company takes a car on lease, it is used only part-time which reduces the wear and tear and chances of spending on maintenance is less all the more.
By Kelly M Jones

TATA NANO - World's cheapest Car's specs

Here are some of the specs that have been revealed so far (all relative to the smallest car as of today, Maruti 800)
25% more room space than Maruti 800.
7% lesser by length than Maruti 800.
20 KMPL mileage (this should send folks running to TATA showrooms)
Has passed the front and rear crash tests.
confirms to all international emission standards (EURO II/III etc).

2011 BMW 7 Series

Since its introduction for the 1978 model year, the BMW 7 Series luxury sedan has remained true to its original character. It's the BMW flagship, and this full-size, rear-wheel-drive sedan has always represented the pinnacle of technology and luxury accoutrements in the German automaker's lineup. As such, it's an obvious choice for wealthy car buyers seeking a spacious and elegant sedan with a high level of curbside prestige.

There's a fair amount of competition even in this elite vehicle class, but the 7 Series sedan's athletic handling dynamics have long set it apart, starting with the early 733s and carrying through to the present-day BMW 750i and 750Li. While other manufacturers have been content to build high-end sedans with soft, serene rides, BMW engineers its 7s to engage their drivers on an emotional level. There are a few recent contenders that have gone after this emotional engagement, but the BMW 7 Series remains the definitive super luxury sedan for people who like to drive.

Current BMW 7 Series

There are three models available. The 750i and the long-wheelbase 750Li share the same 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 that produces 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive are standard, while all-wheel drive is optional and denoted with the moniker xDrive. The third model, the 760Li, features a 6.0-liter V12 that produces 535 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque. It is rear-drive only, and an eight-speed automatic is standard.

As BMW's flagship, the 7 Series represents the pinnacle of the company's automotive know-how. It boasts a handsome, spacious interior and superior comfort, with supple leather and rich wood accents adorning almost every surface. Highly adjustable front seats ensure comfort for virtually every body type. The 7 also showcases a wealth of high-tech luxury features such as a night-vision camera and sideview cameras. Some may still find the iDrive electronics interface system a bit complicated, but with use over time, we think the improved layout is an elegant solution to a button-heavy dashboard.

The 7 Series provides limolike interior room -- especially in Li form -- yet still remains a class benchmark for its handling prowess. The "Dynamic Driving Control" system contributes to this status, featuring four different settings that alter the driving characteristics of the car. It's complicated and we'd bet good money most folks will leave it on "Normal," but it should reward an owner who likes to customize their car to their own driving tastes.

There are many worthy choices in this illustrious car segment, but the BMW 7 Series is one of the most appealing.

Used BMW 7 Series Models
There have been five generations of the BMW 7 Series. The current 7 Series was completely redesigned for 2009. In that first year, it could only be had as the 750i and 750Li models with rear-wheel drive. Compared to the previous model, it is considered significantly more visually pleasing. The bodywork is tauter and the trunk lid has a slimmer look. The interior is also more traditional in design (the gear selector is now on the center console rather than the steering column) and the iDrive electronics interface is vastly improved versus past editions.

The previous-generation BMW 7 Series was produced from 2002-'08 and was by far the most radical version of the nameplate. Traditional exterior styling cues from the previous 25 years were largely abandoned in favor of a more aggressive, avant-garde design. The car was still recognizable as a BMW 7 Series, but many purists found the look abrasive. A refresh for 2006 smoothed out some of the harsher elements, but it's still a stretch to call this car beautiful, whether in standard-wheelbase 750i form or long-wheelbase 750Li and 760Li form (it was previously known as iL).

With the exception of 2002 when only a V8 was offered, the fourth-generation 7 Series lineup always included sophisticated eight- and 12-cylinder engines paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The 745i and 745Li sold from 2002-'05 were equipped with a 325-hp 4.4-liter V8, while the 750i and 750Li that succeeded them had a 360-hp 4.8-liter V8. The 750s were slightly heavier, so performance was about the same as for the 745s.

Offered continuously from 2003, the 760Li had a 6.0-liter V12 capable of 438 hp. Unlike the V8s, which are eager to rev, the V12 delivers a massive wave of thrust as soon as you nudge the accelerator pedal. BMW offered a short-wheelbase 760i from 2004-'06.

The modernist exterior styling of this generation carried on in the cabin, where BMW's typically button-heavy control layout gave way to an all-in-one system called iDrive that governed climate, audio and navigation functions via a single console-mounted dial and a central display. Although iDrive assured the 7's place in the information age, its steep learning curve proved bewildering for many a 7 Series driver. During this 7's lifespan, iDrive was consistently upgraded, so newer 7 Series will come with the later (and less maddening) versions of this control device. Make sure to thoroughly examine iDrive before purchasing a 7 Series, or at the very least, driving it off the lot.

Even though it tended toward the esoteric, the 2002-'08 BMW 7 Series proved quite popular, largely because of its superb driving experience. Here BMW applied its arsenal of technology to great advantage, as features like self-stiffening antiroll bars, self-leveling air springs and adaptive shock absorbers worked together to keep the big sedan stable when driven hard.

The third generation, sold from 1995-2001, is generally regarded as the finest era for the 7 Series. It was a true driver's car just like today's 7, but there was less in-car technology to distract from the task at hand. And most people agree that its sleek, classically styled body was easier on the eyes.

Provided the car is in good condition, any 7 Series from this generation would make a fine purchase. Quality was generally excellent on these cars, but like most high-end German products, repair costs can be hefty as they age. The main advantage to choosing a car from later in the model cycle is added standard feature content. BMW's Dynamic Stability Control system, for example, debuted across the line for 1998.

The model lineup included the regular-wheelbase 740i sedan, which was offered every year except 1996, and the long-wheelbase 740iL and 750iL, which had an uninterrupted run. The BMW 740s were powered by a 282-hp 4.4-liter (4.0-liter in 1995) V8, while the 750iL had a 5.4-liter V12 good for 326 hp. All 7s came with a five-speed automatic transmission. Either setup provided strong acceleration, but fuel economy was poor by today's standards.

Similar in style and focus to its successor, the second-generation BMW 7 Series was on sale from 1988-'94. This was the first 7 Series to include both regular- and long-wheelbase models, the advantage to the latter being increased rear legroom. For most of the cycle, the base engine was a 208-hp 3.4-liter inline six-cylinder offered in 735i and 735iL models. A four-speed automatic transmission was standard, but a five-speed manual was offered as well. The 282-hp 4.0-liter V8 replaced the inline-6 in 1993, yielding the 740i and 740iL, both of which took a five-speed automatic only. The BMW 750iL was offered throughout the run. The first V12-equipped BMW, it had a 296-hp 5.0-liter engine and a four-speed automatic.

The first-generation BMW 7 Series enjoyed a long run from 1978-'87. It was the largest sedan the company had ever built and directly targeted the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. All 7s of this era were powered by an inline six-cylinder engine.

SAVE GAS ! Use Water ....

http://rmash.hybridman1.hop.clickbank.net "If You Would Like To DOUBLE Your Mileage And Discover How People Are Saving Thousands Of Dollars, Then This Could Be The Most Important Thing You Have Ever Read..."

WATER + GAS? It's no longer science fiction...

How Does This Thing Work? 

It operates on a 100 year old proven technology called electrolysis.

Whenever you place two pieces of metal in water, and apply electricity, the water separates into it's basic molecules, Hydrogen and Oxygen (H2O).

If you look at the picture on the left, you will see H2O molecules connected together in their liquid form which is WATER

But when you apply electricity (from your car battery), the molecules separate and form a GAS (called HHO) which is a mixture of Hydrogen and Oxygen.

This HHO GAS is then sucked into your engine and mixed along with the air from the air filter. As the gasoline is ignited in your engine, the HHO GAS is too, making it MORE powerful than gasoline alone.

This is MUCH BETTER than Just Plain Hydrogen because you are also making extra Oxygen which causes the gasoline to burn FASTER and CLEANER resulting in BETTER mileage and a much CLEANER EXHAUST!

SAVE GAS, SAVE The ENVIRONMENT,
and SAVE MONEY!

Automobile

In 1879, Benz was granted a patent for his first engine, which had been designed in 1878. Many of his other inventions made the use of the internal combustion engine feasible for powering a vehicle.

His first Motorwagen was built in 1885, and he was awarded the patent for its invention as of his application on January 29, 1886. Benz began promotion of the vehicle on July 3, 1886, and about 25 Benz vehicles were sold between 1888 and 1893, when his first four-wheeler was introduced along with a model intended for affordability. They also were powered with four-stroke engines of his own design. Emile Roger of France, already producing Benz engines under license, now added the Benz automobile to his line of products. Because France was more open to the early automobiles, initially more were built and sold in France through Roger than Benz sold in Germany.

In 1896, Benz designed and patented the first internal-combustion flat engine, called a boxermotor in German. During the last years of the nineteenth century, Benz was the largest automobile company in the world with 572 units produced in 1899 and, because of its size, Benz & Cie., became a joint-stock company.

Daimler and Maybach founded Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft (Daimler Motor Company, DMG) in Cannstatt in 1890, and under the brand name, Daimler, sold their first automobile in 1892, which was a horse-drawn stagecoach built by another manufacturer, that they retrofitted with an engine of their design. By 1895 about 30 vehicles had been built by Daimler and Maybach, either at the Daimler works or in the Hotel Hermann, where they set up shop after disputes with their backers. Benz and the Maybach and the Daimler team seem to have been unaware of each other's early work. They never worked together because, by the time of the merger of the two companies, Daimler and Maybach were no longer part of DMG.

Daimler died in 1900 and later that year, Maybach designed an engine named Daimler-Mercedes, that was placed in a specially-ordered model built to specifications set by Emil Jellinek. This was a production of a small number of vehicles for Jellinek to race and market in his country. Two years later, in 1902, a new model DMG automobile was produced and the model was named Mercedes after the Maybach engine which generated 35 hp. Maybach quit DMG shortly thereafter and opened a business of his own. Rights to the Daimler brand name were sold to other manufacturers.

Karl Benz proposed co-operation between DMG and Benz & Cie. when economic conditions began to deteriorate in Germany following the First World War, but the directors of DMG refused to consider it initially. Negotiations between the two companies resumed several years later when these conditions worsened and, in 1924 they signed an Agreement of Mutual Interest, valid until the year 2000. Both enterprises standardized design, production, purchasing, and sales and they advertised or marketed their automobile models jointly, although keeping their respective brands.

On June 28, 1926, Benz & Cie. and DMG finally merged as the Daimler-Benz company, baptizing all of its automobiles Mercedes Benz, as a brand honoring the most important model of the DMG automobiles, the Maybach design later referred to as the 1902 Mercedes-35 hp, along with the Benz name. Karl Benz remained a member of the board of directors of Daimler-Benz until his death in 1929, and at times, his two sons participated in the management of the company as well.

In 1890, Émile Levassor and Armand Peugeot of France began producing vehicles with Daimler engines, and so laid the foundation of the automobile industry in France.

The first design for an American automobile with a gasoline internal combustion engine was drawn in 1877 by George Selden of Rochester, New York, who applied for a patent for an automobile in 1879, but the patent application expired because the vehicle was never built. After a delay of sixteen years and a series of attachments to his application, on November 5, 1895, Selden was granted a United States patent (U.S. Patent 549,160) for a two-stroke automobile engine, which hindered, more than encouraged, development of automobiles in the United States. His patent was challenged by Henry Ford and others, and overturned in 1911.

In Britain, there had been several attempts to build steam cars with varying degrees of success, with Thomas Rickett even attempting a production run in 1860.[14] Santler from Malvern is recognized by the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain as having made the first petrol-powered car in the country in 1894[15] followed by Frederick William Lanchester in 1895, but these were both one-offs.[15] The first production vehicles in Great Britain came from the Daimler Motor Company, a company founded by Harry J. Lawson in 1896, after purchasing the right to use the name of the engines. Lawson's company made its first automobiles in 1897, and they bore the name Daimler.[15]

In 1892, German engineer Rudolf Diesel was granted a patent for a "New Rational Combustion Engine". In 1897, he built the first Diesel Engine.[12] Steam-, electric-, and gasoline-powered vehicles competed for decades, with gasoline internal combustion engines achieving dominance in the 1910s.

Although various pistonless rotary engine designs have attempted to compete with the conventional piston and crankshaft design, only Mazda's version of the Wankel engine has had more than very limited success.