The Accord of the Future

The new generation of Honda Accord is coming! Give way to the Accord Tourer Concept… the new Accord with sharper and sleeker proportions than its predecessors.

The Tourer concept won’t belong to the small car trend, of which is prevalent these days. Honda won’t make it smaller like other automakers have been doing to their model cars. This Honda model is wider and spacious. It has also been touched with sporty styling approach as it was briefly considered for the New Zealand market, according to an article from stuff.co.

Actually, it is still not known whether the new Tourer will or will not be able to gain access to the New Zealand market. Regardless, it would still offer a taste of the sedan version. Such concept will be of use as the new Tourer will be on display at the Tokyo Motor Show next month. And, on the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, the new Accord’s production versions will debut in both Saloon and Tourer forms.

Though the current Accord already has distinct quality and design, which made it to be the New Zealand Car of the Year in 2003, Honda still considers upgrading it with innovative chasses technology. Such technology will provide excellent driving experience without sacrificing or even just affecting the ride comfort; instead, better handling will be much more to be provided.

The new Accord will be equipped with a range of advanced, low emissions engines. Such will be provided in the markets that provide the right fuels for it, of which New Zealand is not included. If it would really be equipped with such powerful engine, it would be one of the first cars offering an entirely Euro 5-compliant lineup of engines. Powered with 2.0 L and 2.4 L petrol engines, and 2.2 L diesel, the new Accord will gain the improvement on emissions and fuel economy.

In addition, the new Accord engine will make use of the combination of the latest injection technology, more efficient exhaust gas recirculation and a diesel particulate filter, as it exceeds the Euro 5 legislation requirements. Honda said both the power and torque levels have been increased and fuel economy has been improved greater than of the current diesel engine.

Well, it sounds great. We will just have to wait for the Tokyo Motor Show to get a closer look. And, if it would turn out something to be of kept, we need to wait until the middle of next year as not until then that Honda will have it on sale.

Nissan’s New Paint that Automatically Repairs Scratches

Do you remember how you felt when you first saw the first scratch in your first car? Not exactly something you'd like to feel again, isn’t it? It would even make some initially feel that they want to sue the person who caused the scratch.

A car's outer appearance is always important. The first thing that will be noticed is a car's paint. If there's a scratch on the surface, you would have to spend time to look for quality paint and materials, and spend time to do the entire job. And, the worse part is that the process would be repeated again, if you manage to get your car scratched over and over.

Well looks like a solution to your woes has just been invented…

Nissan Motor Co. is proud to introduce their latest development, the “fluid finish” technology, a new exterior paint that will automatically repair itself if it gets scratched. (Cool!) But, take note; we aren’t talking about major scratches here, only the light ones.

Maybe most of you are curious of how it works. The technology sounds simple, but then, it is a little more complicated than what you expect it. The paint has a unique clearcoat layer containing an elastic resin. And, the resin makes the most significance, since it retains fluidity for about three years into your car’s life, which eventually allow the coating to flow back into shape erasing minor scratches. And, it’s not instant. It takes about few hours to few days to fully remove a scratch, depending upon air temperature levels and the severity of damage done to the affected area.

Nissan’s first North American application will be on the new 2008 Infiniti EX35 set to be launched late December this year. Originally however, the technology has already been introduced in 2005. That time, it was under the name “scratch guard”, which is currently used on Japanese –market X-Trail.

The upcoming EX35 will be competing in the rapid growing compact luxury segment with Acura’s RDX, BMW’X3 and Land Rover’s LR2 as its rivals. And, many other companies are looking forward to join, too. However, none other offers self-repairing paint. But, such technology doesn’t put the Nissan EX35 on top, since the other models would be equipped with high-technology features that are much pleasing to the customers. Nissan just have to put some more for the model to fully flourish.

Automakers new battle: Scent Wars?

Have you ever wondered how car makers manage to survive in the dog eat dog world of the automotive industry? Some strategies are time-tested: new products, features and designs which would be appealing to their target market. This applies to almost all business companies in different industries. Let’s say on ice cream: at first, a plain flavored ice cream placed in a cone… then, other product makers added sprinkles or mallows… then, another provided a wide variety of flavor combinations… all bringing something different to attract customers.

Car makers are no different. They woo customers by appealing to their interest, their needs and desires, tickling their senses with the way new cars feel, sound and even smell.

By fact, car buyers coming into car showrooms are now looking for comfort-enhancing features such as fragrance diffusers, color adjustable interior lighting and air-conditioned seats. Highly observant with such kind of customer interest, car designers and product managers tend to use sensorial techniques to make their products distinct from the others in the crowd.

Neal Oddes, director of product research and analysis at J.D. Power, a major automotive consulting company, said, “Quality is still the main factor in customer-satisfaction surveys.”

“But a car’s appeal is becoming increasingly important. Auto manufacturers are trying to find ways to make their products stand out from the competition, for example by making it smell better,” he added.

According to an article in marketwatch.com, “The use of the senses as a development and marketing tool has long been a hallmark of the food and cosmetics industries. The French – who for centuries have been standard-settlers in gastronomy, high fashion, perfumery and other luxury goods that appeal to the senses – appear to be leading the new trend in the auto industry.”

“The idea is to introduce human factors as upstream as possible in the conception process, both as regards sensorial impressions and ergonomics, team leader Patricia Jonville, designers, developers and marketing, PSA Peugeot-Citroen design, research and development center in Velizy, near Paris, the Perception and Human Factors section.

Laurent Kirsche, one of the team’s “noses”, an expert on smells, said, “What’s important is their ability to describe what they experience.”

Moreover, Renault Technocenter, Sebastien Crochemore, has developed a “field of odors”, “a battery of 45 chemicals that give off odors grouped into six groups: fishy, fatty, burnt, sulfur, woody and sweet”. They have used it to evaluate a sample of air from a car interior, or the smell of a piece of plastic trim, which are just few of probable examples. They have patented this odor and tactile reference frames and sold them to other car makers, to create a system that both the developer and the other car makers can use when dealing with suppliers.

Crochemore said, “It’s a bit like a grammar book for a sensory language.” “That way each material is given its own sensory profile – with measurements for roughness, softness, shininess, slipperiness and hot or cool it feels to the touch – and odors are labeled precisely,” was implied.

However, some experts were doubtful of its necessity. Prof. Garel Rhys, head of the Center for Automotive Industry Research at Cardiff Business School in Wales, said, “They have to be careful about trying too hard, and entering a world of absurdity where gadgets are given more importance than the vehicle they’re on.” “There comes a point where you’ve got to decide what’s useful and what’s simply irrelevant,” he continued.

Rhys believes that car makers tend to make their customers overlook the real value of the car because of the excessive features, mostly unnecessary, provided in the cars. He said, “At the same time, consumers have a perception of great value for the components they’re prepared to buy.” But, this doesn’t apply to all auto makers. There are also several who make it a point to provide what is actually necessary to their customers and to the environment as well.

Bond’s Favorite Car famed Top on the UK’s List of Coolest Brands

Aston Martin, James Bond’s favorite car, has the top spot in UK’s set of coolest brands.

Last year, Aston Martin was featured in the film “Casino Royale” which starred actor Daniel Craig. It was then presumed a return to form for the long-running franchise. And, early this year, the legendary super-spy’s car was bought by a British-based consortium from U.S. auto giant Ford.

According to an article in cnn.com, the Superbrands organization said that the film’s success had rekindled Britons’ love affair with Bond and showed “a deeply ingrained association with the man and the car.”

Well, let us just check on the complete lineup of top 20 Cool Brands:

1. Aston Martin
2. iPod
3. YouTube
4. Bang and Olufsen
5. Google
6. Playstation
7. Apple
8. Agent Provocateur
9. Nintendo
10. Virgin Atlantic
11. Ferrari
12. Ducati
13. eBay
14. Rolex
15. Tate Modern
16. Prada
17. Lamborghini
18. Green & Black's
19. iTunes
20. Amazon

Apple’s iPod music player grabbed the second spot, ahead of video Web site YouTube, hi-fi manufacturer Bang & Olufsen and search engine Google. Most of this years coolest are from the technology arena, including Playstation, Apple, Nintendo, iTunes and Amazon.

Also in the list are Italian motoring trio Ferrari, motorcycle maker Ducati and Lamborghini. Agent Provocateur, watchmaker Rolex, Fashion label Prada, and Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic airline also lined up.

The list has been a mirror of changing needs, wants and interests of people, CoolBrands Council chairman Stephen Cheliotis acclaimed. He said, “You could argue that it's split into two pretty clearly defined categories – on the one hand, things can become cool by virtue of their necessity or prevalence in your life, like Google, or Amazon… On the other, the things you really want, but may know you'll never get – like a Rolex; or a Ferrari – are considered just as cool…. There seems to be a real divergence between aspiration and practicality but both are deemed cool – which goes to show how the needs and desires of consumers are developing.”

Formula BMW Asia

The young Malaysian, Jazeman Jaafar, despite dire weather conditions has managed to successfully obtain his seventh win of the season in the fourth leg of the Formula BMW Asia Series at the Chengdu Goldenport Racing Circuit in China.

In the third race of the round, he only placed second behind his teammate Jack Lemvard of Thailand. Jazeman said, “It was a really great race, I started in second and Jack was fourth. We were dicing with each other throughout and he went on to win.”

“I could have battled with Jack but I knew he had nothing to lose in the championships since this was his debut weekend whereas I had everything at stake,” he added.

Then, he grabbed his second win for CIMB Team Qi-Meritus in the Race 4. He said, “Race 4 was really hectic. Jack started from pole and I had some problems with the gear selector and couldn’t shift down. There was a crash involving three cars and that brought the safety car out. But I managed to overtake Jack for the lead and held on until the end.”

He placed second in Race 1 and topped the Race 2.

Manager Firhat Mokhzani was overwhelmed with their winning five of six races in Chengdu. It has been recorded as one of their best performances. He said, “It was fantastic result for the team after all the hard work they have put in. The drivers were even more determined than usual to produce the results. It was a near-perfect weekend for us.”

On October 6 and 7, Shanghai will be hosting two races, in support for Formula 1 Grand Prix. And on November 3 and 4, four more races will be held in Zhuhai. Jazeman is focused on his goal to be the first Malaysian winner of the Series and expects that he’ll achieve good results in the six more races to go.

Here are the race's results thanks to thestar.com:

Race 15 (18 laps):
1. Jack Lemvard (Tha) CIMB Team Qi-Meritus 30:54.089
2. Jazeman Jaafar (Mas) CIMB Team Qi-Meritus 30:55.239
3. Ross Jameson (Hkg) CIMB Team Qi-Meritus 30:57.171
4. Akhil Khuslani (Ind) Eurasia Motorsport 31:04.776

Race 16:
1. Jazeman 30:25.108
2. Lemvard 30:25.891
3. Zahir Ali (Ina) Team TaraDTM 30:26.932
4. James Grunwell (Tha) CIMB Team Qi-Meritus 30:31.769.

Individual standings:
1. Jazeman 569 pts
2. Grunwell 501
3. Zahir 494
4. Jameson 486

Team standings:
1. CIMB Team Qi-Meritus 1,293
2. Eurasia Motorsport 798
3. Team Holzer PFX 693

Toyota Commemorates Fifty Years in Motorsport

Toyota has made it to its 50th year in motorsport. Heroes and drivers all surpassed half a century of challenges that made them strong and admired. Last Saturday, they all celebrated the great achievement, “as Spa’s Paddock Club turned back time with a fantastic party, graced by Toyota heroes of the past and drivers of the present,” proclaimed in formula1.com.

Among the prominent participants were Ove Andersson, Bjorn Waldegaard, Bernie Ecclestone, Renault team boss Flavio Briatore, Toyota’s own John Howett, Red Bull’s Christian Horner and Spyker’s Colin Kolles.

Toyota Europe President Tadashi Arashima, said, “Cars are objects of passion – and racing is the catalyst of that passion. That is why we’ve been committed for 50 years, and we are here to stay. Formula One is the pinnacle of that sport with its trendsetting technology and drive for precision. I will not promise another 50 years, but I can promise that we will stay until we have reached our goal.”

Overwhelmed with the event, Bernie Ecclestone said, “I am delighted that Toyota is part of the Formula One family – and that they are committed to staying with us. And these 50 years that we celebrate tonight are significant proof of that commitment.”

Congratulations to Toyota and more power!!!

Emergency Tips for a Smooth Trip

It is fun to travel. However, before you hit the road, you should make sure that everything is in great shape, especially our car.

According to Ed Kriston, approved automotive repair specialist at the Towson office of AAA Mid-Atlantic in Wilmington, Del., we should not entrust car inspection to a hobbyist. “One thing that is very, very important is for the [person] to know how to change a tire… Even how to use a jack is important. If you try to use a jack incorrectly, you could damage the car,” he explained in examiner.com.

Good point, right? Owning a car entails more than just driving it well and keeping it maintained. You also have to keep it safe and secure. Here are Ed Kriston's (and his AAA colleague Jeffrey Boone’s) safety tips:

• Provide your car a fire extinguisher. It is most ideal that you have one under the front seat.
• Inspect the spare tire prior traveling. Make sure it is properly inflated and is in good shape.
• One important thing to remember is not to overload the car. Overpacking usually results to vehicle damage, and hindered steering, brakes and other crucial systems. You probably don’t want to be engaged in driving hazards do you? So, to add more prevention, check your owner’s manual or tag on the driver’s side door for the car’s weight limits.
• Bring in an emergency kit with a flashlight, extra batteries and warning devices like flares and reflective triangles. As much as possible, make sure you keep a charged cell phone in the car to facilitate easy accessibility to emergency assistance.
• Invest for a roadside assistance plan. Some automakers readily provide it as part of their services.

Enjoy and have a safe trip!

Mercedes-Benz F700 Research Car

Each auto maker releases a concept or research car to give their customers the picture of what they can look forward to in the future. Usually, these concept cars are featured with the latest technology in the present time or even the technologies that are in development, as well as unique styling. And then these concept cars are brought to auto shows so that the automaker will be able to gauge the reaction of the people towards their probable upcoming car models.

Mercedes Benz presents the new F700 with the following features:

• LED lighting front and rear
• Active PRE-SCAN suspension for better handling and ride comfort
• Active Body Control
• Display screen mounted in the front seat headrests
• 20” 3D LCD monitor for the rear passengers

This new Mercedes concept vehicle is equipped with the automaker's new SERVO-HMI (Human-Machine Interface) system which displays vehicle information at the base of the windshield. It is a replacement to their old Command system, including the traditional HVAC and multimedia controls.

Critical vehicle controls are also provided, including the DISTRONIC PLUS active cruise control system which can be accessed through a scroll wheel mounted on the steering wheel.

As with the drivetrain, the new Mercedes Benz F700 Research Car is equipped with a tiny 1.8 L direct-injection “DIESOTTO” four-cylinder gasoline engine. It’s quite astonishing that this large luxury car is run by a small motor. But, we should be reminded of the use of sequential turbocharging along with a dual-mode hybrid system. This has been prevalent in some of the current cars around, like Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and BMW X6 ActiveHybrid.

Also impressive is the 238 HP produced by the tiny gasoline engine. It could even be added with 20 HP with the use of electric motor. Of course these numbers won't be as impressive when it will be compared with other powerful Mercedes Benz models. However, it is by fact enough to propel the F700 to 60 MPH in just 7.5 seconds.

The F700 Research Car also complies with what is in demand these days. It offers efficient fuel economy in consuming only 5.3 L of gasoline per 100 Km (equivalent to 44.3 MPG). And, the emission is only 127 grams of C02 in each kilometer.

According to dailytech.com, Daimler Chrysler board member Dr. Thomas Weber said, “Out goal is to make the gasoline-powered car just as economical in consumption as the diesel. The new DIESOTTO concept is a major step in that direction, combining the best properties of the spark-ignition engine and diesel engine.”

“Researchers and developers need challenges and great goals… For this reason we think much farther ahead at Mercedes-Benz: we are going to combine the strengths and advantages of both combustion principles in one innovative engine concept. The DIESOTTO drive is major step forward,” he added.

Luxury is ever present in the new F700, as it is what Mercedes Benz has been known. Though there are flaws seen, like the shape of the steering wheel and other interior designs, for sure there shall be innovations based from the viewers’ feedbacks. And we can be sure that Mercedes will produce a much better production version.

AutoPacific’s Ideal Vehicle Awards of 2007

I was actually looking for a new car before the summer ends but it seems like I am having a difficult time choosing between a small car and a large vehicle. I always wanted to have a small SUV I can drive everyday, driving my kids to their school or traveling daily to the office. I visited Autopacific.com to know what car brand has it all for me. I was surprised to see this list on their website.

AutoPacific recently released the Ideal Vehicle Awards this year. Thank you so much for lending us this comprehensive list of the Ideal Vehicle Awards of 2007. Here take a closer look as per which cars won the different categories:

2007 Ideal Premium Brand : Lincoln
2007 Ideal Mainstream Brand : Mercury
2007 Ideal Product Segment : Large Car

Top rated 2007 Ideal Vehicles:

Passenger Cars:
Premium Luxury Car: Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Aspirational Luxury Car: Infiniti G35
Large Luxury Car: Mercury Grand Marquis
Large Car: Mercury Montego
Luxury Mid-Size Car: Lincoln MKZ
Premium Mid-Size Car: Hyundai Sonata
Mid-Size Car: Saturn Aura
Image Compact Car: Audi A3
Compact Car: Hyundai Elantra
Economy Car: Toyota Yaris
Premium Sports Car: Porsche Cayman
Sports Car: Porsche Boxster
Sporty Car: Ford Mustang/Volkswagen Eos (tie)

The Ford Mustang and the Volkswagen Eos shared on the Sporty Car category while the Porsche Boxster alone made it to being the best sports car among the line up. The Toyota Yaris was able to get the Economy Car spot with the Hyundai Elantra being the hailed as the Best Compact Car of all. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class won the Premium Luxury Car segment making more ways for the Lincoln MKZ to win the Luxury Mid-Size Car category. Meanwhile, AutoPacific also prepared a list of the Pickups, SUVs, and Minivans. Here are the vehicles involved in the list:

Pickups, SUVs, and Minivans:
Large Light-Duty Pickup: Nissan Titan
Large Heavy-Duty Pickup: GMC Sierra 2500
Compact Pickup: GMC Canyon
Minivan: Hyundai Entourage
Luxury Sport Utility: Land Rover Range Rover
Large Sport Utility: Ford Expedition/Chevrolet Suburban (tie)
Mid-Size Sport Utility: Ford Explorer
Compact SUV/Off-Road Vehicle: Suzuki Grand Vitara
Luxury Crossover SUV: Lincoln MKX
Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV: Ford Edge
Mid-Size Crossover SUV: Honda CR-V
Compact Crossover SUV: Hyundai Tucson

The 2008 Corvette First Drive

Of course, everybody seems to want the latest version of GM’s Corvette. Some lucky folks have been given the chance to "first drive" the new car and of course, they all had something to say about the experience.

Ask.cars.com’s Joe Bruzek was quoted as saying, “More than anything else on the 2008 Corvette, I enjoyed the new two-mode exhaust that opens up during heavy throttle to let the 430-hp V-8 exhale with a gnarly, loud, addictive sound. The 'Vette is easy to drive fast on the track, but still has a few interior quirks that put me off — like those goofy buttons that release the doors instead of actual door handles.”

Meanwhile David Thomas, Kicking Tires editor said, “I took this out onto the track and could certainly feel the added power and exhaust upgrade over the 2007. At least I think I could. As always, the Corvette is a joy on the track and still livable as an everyday car. The convertible even has room for a real set of golf clubs in the trunk with the top down. However, as everyone will most likely mention, the interior is a bit of a dog. I cannot wait until the next generation comes along. If they kept everything else identical to this car but threw in an interior like the one in the new CTS, I’d be very, very happy. Oh, and I like the push-button door handles.”

And here's what Ian Merritt, the staff photographer, said, “To an untrained car reviewer like myself, the 2008 Chevy Corvette sounds a lot like I would expect it to sound: a freight train mashed up with a 747 jet engine. It drives even better. Joyriding in such a powerful vehicle on a closed track is like winning a cake-eating contest or parasailing: it only lasted about 90 seconds, I almost threw up and it made me want to buy one (although I guess you can’t purchase a cake-eating contest). And I never even got it out of third gear.”

Hyundai August Success

Just like most Asian car makers, Hyundai Motor Corporation was one among those which had a bountiful August this year. From last year’s August, the South Korean car maker noted a 1% increase on its car sales this year. The car maker was able to sell 45,087 vehicles last month. The huge sale was led by its all-new Santa Fe with noted August 2007 sales record of 10,570 units which is a huge 55% increase compared to last year’s August. Sonata also followed Santa Fe as the best selling Hyundai car by selling 10,348 units of car. The next spot goes to Tucson 13% increase on sales with Entourage with 6% increase as well. The all-new Vera Cruz also had strong sales of 1,739 units of vehicle last month.

This has been the most fruitful August for Hyundai so far. Hyundai Motor America's vice president on National Sales Dave Zuchowski was noted saying. "Considering the gloomy economic indicators for August, we are elated that Hyundai was able to record a best August ever.”

The Hyundai Advantage, America's Best Warranty covers all the Hyundai cars sold in the US car market. All the Hyundai buyers are also protected by by a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty as well as the 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 7-year/unlimited-mile anti-perforation warranty and lastly 5-year/unlimited-mile roadside assistance protection.

Following is the sales breakdown for August 2007. I found this list on The Auto Channel:

ACCENT: 3,731(4,705:2006)
SONATA: 10,348(13,184:2006)
ELANTRA: 8,812(10,371:2006)
TIBURON: 1,646(1,861:2006)
SANTA FE: 10,570(6,838:2006)
AZERA: 1,992(2,090:2006)
TUCSON: 4,954(4,368:2006)
ENTOURAGE: 1,295(1,218:2006)
VERACRUZ: 1,739(n/a:2006)

Cars for Women from About.com

Like men, some women are also into cars. However, there are some women who get confused because of the availability of too many cars in the market.

So how does a woman really know which car is best for her?

Here are the top ten list of cars for women as released by about.com:

1. Ford Focus
2. Honda Civic
3. Honda Fit
4. Mazda 3
5. Mazda MX-5 Miata
6. Mercedes-Benz E-Class
7. Nissan Sentra
8. Subaru Forester
9. Toyota Camry
10. Volkswagen Jetta.

Among the top ten list, Ford Focus garnered the number one spot. According to About.com, “tall cabin, upright driving position, roomy interior and trunk and smile-generating driving experience all come courtesy of the Focus' old-world roots, but with the humble Ford badge on the boot -- er, trunk -- you aren't paying for a fancy European name.”

Following its rank are both Honda Cars such as Civic and Fit. These small cars are great for women because it’s economical and it’s easy to drive. According to the release of About.com, “The Fit is especially handy in urban areas, where its small size allows it to nip through traffic and squeeze into tiny parking spots. Its fuel-efficient 1.5 liter engine has plenty of get-up-and-go, even with an automatic transmission, and Honda quality means it'll last an eon.”

Following the fourth spot is Mazda 3 and on the fifth another Mazda, the MX-5 Miata. Mercedes-Benz E-Class landed on number six while Nissan Sentra, Subaru Forester and Toyota Camry gained seventh, eighth and ninth spot respectively. The German Volkswagen Jetta lands on the last rank.