Not long ago the coolest automobiles were built in America and a good example was the Chrysler turbine. It is probably not entirely coincidental that Hanna-Barbera’s seminal animated TV show, the Jetsons, aired from 1962 to 1963 and the Chrysler Turbine premiered in 1963. True, the Jetson’s animated car flew but having a jet-like turbine in a ground based car seemed like a step in that direction.
From the viewpoint of engineers, the turbine engine’s smoothness and durability seemed to be a better alternative to the standard piston engine. It had few moving parts compared to piston engines, just a bunch of fan blades on a spinning shaft with one spark plug and no cooling system. It was a car manufacturers dream.
Chrysler built a few ordinary-looking prototype turbine cars in the ’50s, but for the pilot-program cars (1960s) an all-new, futuristic body was developed. The bodies were hand-built by the Italian company Carrozzeria Ghia and were shipped to Detroit for installation of the Chrysler-built turbine engine.
Chrysler built a total of 55 turbine cars between and 50 of these were made available for testing by 203 American families. Each family kept the car for three months and, as part of the deal, they recorded impressions and details in logbooks. The service guys at Earnhardt Dodge, told us that Chrysler actually had a elite team of mechanics on call who would fly out and fix the cars right away if anything went wrong.
Unfortunately, Chrysler’s Jetson-like turbine car never went into production. The high cost was one reason. Back in the early 60s you could buy a perfectly fine, reliable V8-powered car for some $5000 or this “jet-engine” car that would have cost around $16,000. Big difference in price! They also had about the same performance; the turbine car was rated at 130 hp about the same as a Chrysler’s 318-cubic-inch V8. Gas mileage was the same on the highway, both would get some 19mpg. The major difference seemed to be mainlyprice.
Chevrolet Beat of General Motors is well acclaimed as one of the best and well known cars on the road. All the variants of Chevrolet Beat are flourishing very much in the market. Of late, the General Motors has, in addition to petrol and diesel versions, has launched one more variant, and that is the LPG version. Amazingly, the Chevrolet Beat LPG version is offered to clients with innovative smart tech engine.
Car window signs are designed to be installed on both the inside and outside of the window. It is a surprise to most drivers that signs which are seen on the outside of the car are designed to be installed on the inside of the car. The term “inside glass” is attached to these signs. Both outside and inside car window products can do the same things but the differences are discussed further below:
One factor to consider is the make and model of tow bar. Not all bars will fit your make and model of car so be certain that you are buying one appropriate to the car you drive. You may also find different types of fitting that are best suited to towing particular types of item. If you are looking to tow a large caravan, for example, then you may require different fitting than if you were towing a small utility trailer.
As the unpredictable and often dangerous weather of the Dakar Rally once again reared its ugly head, it didn’t halt the fantastic progress of Team KTM’s bikes.
Adverse weather conditions can make driving in winter a risky business.
With less than a month remaining of 2012, the motoring industry is starting to reflect on what cars have proved to be the most popular with consumers looking for something new or used. Whether customers want something new or a used Audi from VCARS.co.uk, in these austere times, they want value for money, and the fact that many new cars that have sold well are smaller, more efficient models shows how much people want to drive on the cheap.
As the curtain drops on another year, the motoring industry will conclude the last 12 months with the final major motor show of the year which is being showcased in Los Angeles from November 30. Over 40 new cars will make their debuts from a whole range of manufacturers over the course of the 10 days the exhibition is open.
It won’t be long before the seventh model in the Mini range goes on sale in the UK, though it’s difficult to know what the British market will make of it. Essentially the new car, called the “Paceman”, is a Mini Countryman with three doors which Mini hopes to market as a “Sports Activity Vehicle”.
The 2013 Hyundai Elantra boasts an engine that weighs much less than its predecessor’s and an automatic transmission that makes the car feel light as a feather. The new and improved transmission in the Hyundai Elantra gives the driver a smoother ride and more efficient use of gas. This model also boasts a D-CVVT that lessens the car’s emissions.