Automotive Blog

Cadillac releases the 2009 Escalade Hybrid offering drivers both luxury and performance, without the sacrifice of fuel efficiency. Many hybrid SUVs are built with a slightly smaller body than the regular models, but the Escalade Hybrid maintains its full size without compromising its performance. The new Cadillac Escalade Hybrid will keep all the power of the regular Escalade, built with a 332 hp V8 engine, which has enough power to tow 5800 pounds in rear wheel drive; or 5600 pounds in four wheel drive.

This powerful beast has the estimated city driver getting around 20 miles per gallon, in which Cadillac boasts is more than comparable with the mileage on other smaller model vehicles, such as the 2008 BMW X3 or the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The hybrid features will include auto stop, electric power, and regenerative braking. Auto stop shuts off engine power while stopped, or when in traffic, in which helps reduce fuel emissions. Electric power kicks in during lower speeds, and it powers the vehicle through the combination of a 300v battery pack that is built in electric motors. Finally, with the new regenerative braking, it will restore some of the energy that is normally lost through braking in traffic, and it will be redirected to charge the electric battery. Continue reading ‘Cadillac Revamps The Concept Of Hybrids’ »

Diesel engine principles are pretty straight forward for the experienced mechanic but what about regular everyday people who have never taken the time to find out more about a diesel engine and how it works?
I am going to explain in layman’s terms the basic principles of a diesel engine.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GASOLINE ENGINE AND A DIESEL ENGINE?…a quick overview.

The first thing you should know is a gasoline engine and a diesel engine are totally different. A gasoline engine is constructed much lighter than the heavier built diesel engine and runs on an air/fuel mixture combined with a high energy spark that is timed to ignite the air/fuel mixture inside each engine cylinder at the precise time creating power and torque [turning force] which drives your vehicle.
A diesel engine uses high compression [intake air that is compressed / squished] into a very small space inside each cylinder causing extreme heat! This is called ‘Heat Of Compression’ which ignites a very fine high pressure mist of diesel fuel that is injected into the cylinder at the exact time.
So you now know that a gasoline engine needs a high energy spark to run while a diesel uses ‘Heat Of Compression’

Continue reading ‘Diesel Engine Principles For Beginners’ »

With all the ways you can use a suv, no wonder it is the most popular body type of choice to use. Just about every auto maker has a Suv or maybe several models. Ford has 5 suv’s now, but three are very popular.When gas prices went above $4.00 a gallon it made the smaller suv’s more sought after, like the ford escape. The escape is a small but roomy vehicle that gets good gas mileage. Another very popular vehicle ford has is the ford explorer. This vehicle is a very stylish suv with a 3rd row seating available. For people not worried about gas mileage they have the expedition, which is a large suv, but not their largest.

Chevrolet’s and GMC have some popular suv’s like the Chevy Blazer and the GMC Envoy to name a few. Both of these vehicles are just alike all but the name. These vehicles can be very nice finished, and are pretty roomy. They both come with 3rd row seating available now. Chevrolet also has several new cross over vehicles to choose from one popular one is the Chevy Equinox. The Equinox is a small suv kind of cross over vehicle with good room and good gas mileage. The Chevy Equinox can come with a LT package which comes with leather seats and wood grain dash. Stereo system for front and rear of vehicle with dvd players in back of seats.

Continue reading ‘The best used Suv's’ »

Are you looking for a car cover that is effective, durable and reasonably priced? Well, getting the car cover that is made of tested materials and is custom tailored for your vehicle is crucial for optimum protection and hassle-free maintenance.

Every car make and model comes with different size and shape. When it comes to get desired protection for your hot machine, it’s necessary that you get car cover that is precisely prepared for your vehicle make and model. Custom-fit car covers are designed keeping the size, shape and other specifications of your car make and model.

There are certain factors that the car cover you get must display. When it comes to get desired protection against varieties of paint destroying elements, your car cover must be snug-fit. It must embrace all the contours of your car body. Only the car covers that are especially tailored for your vehicle can provide such a nice fitting.

Custom tailored car covers are especially prepared auto accessories and fit right covering every part of your car exteriors. Complete covering is essential to get optimum protection against paint destroying elements. There are varieties of factors that damage your car paint. UV rays are one of the biggest factors that cause maximum color fading to your car exteriors. Moisture, dust, water, chemicals etc also make your car exteriors ugly.

Continue reading ‘Custom-made Car Cover for Your Hot Machine’ »

A suspension lift can be distinguished according to its size and the purpose for its use. There are also two ways to install a suspension lift kit to your vehicle.

In terms of sizes, as with almost everything in this world, there are three varieties of suspension lift size: small, medium and large. Small suspension lift kits usually comprises of 1.5 inches or fewer. It will grant some clearance and room for vehicles with somewhat larger tires.

Commonly, the proper way in gaining a small suspension lift can be done by means of coil spacers in front and long shackles on the rear. They are relatively inexpensive as well as very easy to install because less complications is involve in attaching them to the car.

Small lifts are great for those who need to watch their budget and it is also the easiest to install. Users of this size also have little to complain regarding complications.

As for the medium suspension lifts, it is capable of almost 2 inches of lift. This size is the best choice for vehicle owners who are looking to gain tire clearance but are not exactly planning to do any off-road riding. Spacer and add-a-leaf lifts is commonly used for this size. Sometimes, their package may also come with the latest shocks.

Continue reading ‘Various Types of Suspension Lift Kits’ »

It is that dark time of year again, and night time visibility is low. This is when we start to make decisions

on what type of plow light we put on our vehicles. But before we do that we need to know a little bit about lights.

Snowplow lights come in regular sealed beam and halogen high intensity lighting, xenon. Head lights are measured in the amount of candlepower which is a way of measuring how much light is produced by a light bulb and a lumen is a way of measuring how much light gets to what you want to light! At least this gives you a small basis on what you are looking for. So when you are buying snowplow light s keep this information in mind.

The snowplow light manufacturers now make this systems with different ratings on their lights.

The systems mostly used now are halogens, with separate bulbs for high beams low beams.

Continue reading ‘SNOWPLOW LIGHTS- What do you need to know?’ »

Jeeps are among the most capable and modifiable vehicles on the planet and they have quite the extensive history to back them up. Jeeps can be beach, town or off-road cruising vehicles. When it comes to Jeep accessories, there are many to choose from. If you are a new Jeep owner or an old-school Jeep owning enthusiast, you can appreciate all of the Jeep accessory options that you have to choose from. In the following article, we will review some must have Jeep accessories that you may want to look into buying in the future.

Since a lot of Jeeps come off of the dealer’s lot without a roof, the first accessories we will talk about are tops. More than likely, you will need to invest in a top for your Jeep unless you live in some climate that sees very little rain and bad weather. There are a couple of different top options for your Jeep and which one you choose should be based on the climate in which you live. Hard tops are a good option for those who live in a climate that experiences all four seasons. Hard Jeep tops have much better insulation than the soft tops. Hard tops also offer better security for your Jeep, but they are a pain to take off and put back on. However, if you are experiencing all of the seasons, you will be glad to have your hard top in the winter. On the other hand, if your winters are not too harsh, a soft top is a great choice. Soft tops are a good choice for those who have to remove their Jeep top by themselves. If you are not really worried about the rain or anyone stealing anything out of your Jeep or the Jeep itself, you may want to choose a bikini top. Jeep bikini tops are known for providing maximum exposure and little protection. The bikini tops are also easy to store and handle.

Continue reading ‘Jeep Accessories – Top Options’ »

A lot of people do not have an avid knowledge about the Mazda Tribute. This compact SUV is great! It handles well on the road, and the overall performance of the vehicle is outstanding. If you have not gotten the opportunity to test drive on of these vehicles for yourself, you have no idea what your missing out on.

The Tribute is being compared to cars all the time. Many people think that this is a car that just looks like a truck in appearance. This vehicle comes with a powerful V6 engine that will suit your needs nicely.

The Tribute first debuted in 2001. Upon making its debut Mazda automatically began referring to this clever SUV as the Miata version to all other SUV’s.

You can carry up to five passengers in the vehicle at one consecutive time. The cabin has everything that you would ever look for in a vehicle and the SUV always delivers.

ere are three different body styles that you will be given the option to choose from. You can select the Sporty style, the Touring style, or the Grand Touring Style.

If you feel that a V6 engine may pack a little bit more power then you are used to. The Tribute also comes with a four cylinder engine that is exceptionally great on fuel economy.

You simply cannot beat the ride quality of this vehicle. You are given the option to do as you wish with the vehicle. If you want to haul large loads or simply drive your family around this SUV does it all.

If you want a vehicle that handles itself on the road and consists of everything that you have ever dreamed about in a vehicle, then the Mazda Tribute is definitely for you. The external and internal appearance of the vehicle is a sight for sore eyes to say the least.

The Mazda Tribute has not been getting the amount of attention that it rightfully deserves. There are a plethora of people that are opting to shy away from this luxurious vehicle that encompasses power along with style.

If your a smart driver, and you know what to look for in a vehicle, the Mazda Tribute will suit your needs nicely.

Andy Zain is the admin of Mazda Tribute Forums , a place where fans and owners can get the right information for tuning, customization and general discussions on anything about Mazda RX-7. Get the information you need when you visit Mazda Forums

Hybrid SUVs are becoming very fast one of the most popular vehicles on the road today. In fact, online searches for a SUV hybrid in 2008 and 2009 are among the highest for all hybrid cars. Hybrid SUVs are in high demand as consumers seek new fuel-efficiency options. The 2010 Hybrid SUVs are getting more powerful and better mileage than their conventional counterparts.
There are over 15 models available now and several new ones scheduled to reach auto dealers at the end of this year and in early 2010.

Hybrid Vehicle Gas Mileage Estimates (city/hwy)
(2008 & 2009 Hybrid SUV models)

34/30 mpg: 2008 Mazda Tribute (AWD)
34/30 mpg: 2009 Ford Escape (AWD)
34/30 mpg: 2009 Mercury Mariner (4WD)
27/32 mpg: 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line (2WD)
27/25 mpg: 2008 Toyota Highlander (AWD)
26/24 mpg: 2008 Lexus 400h (AWD)
21/22 mpg: 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe (2WD)
20/20 mpg: 2009 GMC Yukon (4WD)
20/21 mpg: 2009 Cadillac Escalade

Continue reading ‘Why People Love Hybrid SUVs’ »

Cars have become a status symbol for a lot of us, these days. All of us want our car to look at its stunning best with various accessories. Tail lights are also one of the parts that are important for any vehicle that add on to the efficacy as well. It helps the drivers to see properly in the worst of weathers and at night. These tail lights play an important role in avoiding accidents to much an extent. Tail lights helps the drivers to drive safely. If you want to make any style inculcations in the tail lights, you can go for the custom tail lights. The custom tail lights are not only high in utility but also in style. You can get these lights made according to your choice and taste.

There is no dearth of the tail lights that can be made available to make your car looking at its best. You can choose from a range of such lights that include euro tail light that come in carbon, black smoker and a lot more. You can order the tail lights that you think fits in your needs and budget in the best possible way. You can give your car the look you want with the custom tail lights. All you need to think is the look and you can get it made for your car. LED tail lights can also be used for enhancing the look of the vehicle. You can find a wide assortment of such tail lights that include the black chrome, euro LED and smoked LED and other types to adorn your car. LED tail lights are very useful for the car. They are very trendy and also illuminates in an instant without using much power. These are the latest types of tail lights are becoming popular amongst the drivers.

Continue reading ‘Get a groovy look for your car with stylish accessories’ »