The 2010 Kia Soul continues to reap the rewards for being one of the versatile vehicles in the market as it continues to rack in one award after another. The latest award given to this urban passenger vehicle is the 2010 Active Lifestyle Vehicle Award (ALV) from the Active Network Inc., designed for the young and the young at heart. The 2010 Kia Soul offers an array of safety features to compliment the active lifestyle of motorists and comes in different models at competitive prices.

With roomy cabins, able storage compartments and the expected media and navigational perks, the 2010 Kia Soul packs quite a bit of vehicular goodies which should attest why it has been getting one award after another.

Image Credits

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

For the people who have done their shopping list, make sure you save one for your car. And just in case you are thinking of the ideal gift for your car, a car DVD player would be neat. Not all motorists have the luxury of having one due to budget issues but apparently LightInTheBox.com is offering a special holiday deal for car DVD players which may reach up to 30% of savings or some other car goodies.

For people who would buy a car DVD player today, they will either get a rear view camera worth $30 or a 30% discount on multiple DVD players. LightInTheBox.com offers a range of about 250 types of Car DVD player catering to different demands and budgets. With that deal, maybe it is about time to improve that in-car entertainment. Check them out here!

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

There are a lot of things you can do with your car. All you need are the following resources. And for the Subaru, a couple of concept vehicles will be showcased at the 2009 SEMA Show from November 3 to 6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center which are sure to surprise and make motorists drool in envy. The concept cars up for showing are a custom-built Subaru Imprezza WRX STI and Legacy VIP.

The Subaru Imprezza WRX STI should be a great trip to see how some add-ons can totally change the design features of this vehicle, with some help of course from the SPT catalog. For the Legacy VIP, combines the SPT with some of the VIP rants that deliver luxury enjoyment in a vehicle with class. Topping all of this is the Subaru Micro Van, a special SPT delivery van that promises to deliver go-fast parts very slowly via a 25 horsepower complement.

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

Kia Motors America unveils its latest vehicle to roll out at the West Point, Georgia facility with the 2011 Kia Sorrento CUV. The new 2011 Kia Sorrento CUV carries a modern CUV design fit for the common motorists of today. The vehicle can accommodate up to 7 passengers and is longer than previous Kia Sorrento models. It is available in 2 engine options, a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder and a 3.5 liter V6 engines, both complimented by a six-speed automatic transmission. Other features include AM/FM/CD/MP3/Sat audio system with SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities with three months complimentary service.

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

Motor Trends has named the Subaru Outback as its choice for 2010 Sports Utility Vehicle of the year, making it two in a row for Subaru of America. The Subaru offers a unique mixture of comfort, efficiency, versatility and value which gained the now of Motor Trend, not to mention its competitive pricing structure which should likewise gain the nod of the avid motorists. The Subaru Outback comes with a choice of 170hp 2.5 liter four cylinder boxer engine or 256-hp 3.6-liter six-cylinder boxer engine as well as increased hip and shoulder room. These highlights go along with an array of safety features make the Subaru Outback stand above the rest of SUVs in the market today. The Subaru Outback retails for $22,995.

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

BMW formally unveiled its BMW Z4 Roadster in India today, possibly on the way towards increasing the number of BMW cars in the region. The BMW Z4 Roadster officially came out at an event in Mumbai, offering a new classy and luxury sports coupe that should be a wise choice for the classy motorists over there.

The BMW Z4 will come in a 3 liter six-cylinder in-line petrol engine with Twin Turbo technology, High Precision injection and an all-aluminum crank case. The Z4 will also come in 6 paint finishes Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Deep Sea Blue, Orion Silver, Space Grey, and Titanium Silver. For upholstery, customers can have choose from Leather Kansas Black, Leather Kansas Canberra Beige, and Leather Kansas Coral Red. The BMW Z4 Roadster will retail for about 59 lakh rupees.

(Source) Auto Tantra

Continue reading...

Toyota has unveiled a mean and green new sporty concept car with the Toyota FT-86. The car boasts of a 2 liter boxed engine courtesy of Subaru and is a rear-¬wheel drive that may yet rekindle the old AE86. This lightweight concept car aims to be a greener option for motorists who prefer a vehicle that is eco-friendly and stylish at that. The Toyota FT-86 concept car will be put on display at the Tokyo Motor Show from October 24 to November 4.

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

They call it “Acts of God” but if you look at it as a whole, it is a glitch that most car insurance companies have dug up to avoid covering the thousands of cars that have been damaged in the Philippines the past week. Thousands of cars were damaged and left useless as a result of the storms and car insurance companies certainly went to work finding an “Escape Clause” to save them money.

Apparently this is one claim that many Filipino motorists chose to forego since based on experience, hurricanes or outrageous life-threatening events barely touched Philippine soil. That was until Typhoon Ondoy came in. So now, turning to car insurance for aid was a big letdown, especially for the ones who have new vehicles and paid their car insurance premiums religiously.

You have to hate car insurance companies for this. Saving on cost is one thing but including a low blow just to avoid paying for the damages on their clients (damages that they totally could not avoid) was certainly something motorists could do without during this state of calamity in the Philippines. Business is business but if only to help get the country back to its feet, the best they could do is forego this for now or perhaps shoulder at least a portion of the car repairs that thousands are busy with at the moment. This is one reason why you will really hate car insurance, especially in the Philippines!

Continue reading...

By now you may have heard of probably the worst storm ever to hit the Philippines in years. Tropical storm Ketsana (Ondoy) hit the country hard, leaving a lot of people homeless and cars floating like rafts. Motorists practically had no choice as the flash floods easily brought up their cars and carried the vehicles away just like feathers.

The storm has passed but the damage has been dead. Thousands of cars were either filled with mud or being towed by mechanics to their shops, opting not to start them up for fear of further damaging their computer boxes which were certain to be damaged during the flood.

This is the first time that such a fortuitous event hit the country. A lot of the cars were practically brand new, ranging from luxury cars to 4×4s. To give you an idea of the degree of damage, here are some images and a sample video of the unfortunate mishap.

Image Courtesy: Grace Olfindo and Levi Sevilla

Continue reading...

One thing about electric cars, their silence is golden. Motorists often clamored for old gas-powered vehicles to be silenced but it didn’t seem to work. With their engines, it may be hard back then. But with electric vehicles all that may change now.

Now while that issue may have been resolved. Do remember that not all people may necessarily be giving a thumbs up to this. As far as commuters are concerned, the blind rely on their hearing to cross the street. And with a quiet vehicle, mishaps may happen so what could be a resolution?

It seems that Nissan and Toyota has come up with a solution and it is not irritating to the ear. Rather, it is an artificial sound that blind people can hear whenever an electric vehicle is approaching. To some motorists it may be silly but I guess it won’t be if you talk about safety. No one in his right mind would want to be accountable for accidents, especially if blind people are concerned.

(Source) The Korea Herald

Continue reading...

As new electric cars continue to flourish and come out one by one, how much they would cost is the prime concern for most motorists. Basing it from the initial prices set out in the market, they are not that cheap. And now, the next best thing to do right now is to compare and see which electric car can fit into their budget and deliver their transport needs.

REVA initially made the headlines when it unveiled its electric car in India last February. And now, that same company reveals the price for its REVA NXG which is scheduled to go into full production by 2010. Average prices in Europe, will be around 14,995 EUROS for the lithium-ion NXR Intercity version, plus a monthly mobility fee for the batteries and other services.The REVA NXG pricing in Europe, excluding batteries is from 23,000 euros plus a monthly mobility fee.

The REVA falls under the M1 category three door, four seater hatchback family and can reach a top speed of 104 KPH and a range of 160 KMS. They boast of a keyless entry and operation and will include REVA’s exclusive REVive remote emergency charge.

Check out the gallery below:

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

A few days ago, Petron Corp. Philippines revealed that the alternative fuel, E10, had harmful effects on vehicles. Corrosion, which was pointed out as the main culprit that could pose severe threats to a car’s fuel and gas intake parts, were attributed to other factors such as the use of previous types of fuel and inferior replacement parts. This was what Department of Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes revealed in the light of the fear that the celebrated E10 fuel may be doing more harm than good for vehicles.

According to the DOE secretary as well, the purity of local ethanol was 99.8 percent, just above the 99.3-percent standard. This may seem like an answer but the number of car owners complaining about the E10 ethanol fuel may be something to consider as well. If the case were for just a couple of motorists, then this excuse could be accepted. However, that is just the thing; there are no definitive numbers to actually pinpoint if majority of car owners using the E10 fuel have indeed had problems with it.

Finally, the E10 ethanol fuel was claimed to likewise help clean fuel tanks. Now this seems contradicting if you tie it up with the motorist claims. If actual numbers of complainants can be shown, the actual judgment on whether the E10 is good or bad for cars can be adjudged. But for now, it has been a battle of opinion which is not resolving anything as far as this issue is concerned.

Image Courtesy: Petron Fuel Success

(Source) Philippine Daily Inquirer

Continue reading...

Honda has been known to innovate and come up with catchy car designs that captivate their customers and it looks like that same tradition will be carried on with the new 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV). The all-new 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour features a new and aerodynamic shape that provides a sporty looking vehicle with versatile functionality motorists are going to love.

The new vehicle concept originated from the Accord sedan. By increasing the height and perking up the styling such as a new front grille to go along with a durable lower-body appearance, wedge-shaped C-pillars and an aggressive rear stance, the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour certainly deserves to be positioned among the top tier vehicles that Honda has to offer. The 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour will be start selling this Fall. No word on pricing yet.

(Source) Press

Continue reading...

For motorists and practical consumers, the turn towards efficient vehicles does not only cover the fuel consumption that is being discussed widely by car enthusiasts today. As we know, a lot of talk has been targeted towards the compact space that most cars (especially the electric vehicles) provide today. But don’t tell that to Toyota as they have their own share of ideal solutions such as this 2010 Toyota Sienna XLE AWD. It exemplifies the traditional vehicles for accommodating families in their transport needs.

The Toyota Sienna comes packed with the traditional Toyota concept along with great features as well. For room, there is no question that space has been thoroughly considered. This includes luggage compartment space along with foldable seats and adjustable center consoles for more passenger room. It is powered by a 3.5 liter V6 engine with a 5 speed automatic transmission. The 2010 Toyota Sienna is definitely a car worth considering, particularly for families who want a sensible vehicle to use.

(Source) The Auto Channel

Continue reading...

With the shift towards electric cars still apparent, the buck doesn’t stop there. Apparently the need to properly monitor that charging of vehicles will somehow become a need in the near future and Ford is getting its act ready for such a scenario. And to spearhead their efforts, Ford launches the Intelligent Charging System for hybrid cars which will allow cars to communicate with the electrical grids.

Under this scenario, the driver or the car owner can easily control the charging station and choose when the car charges, how long it takes and at the rate it charges. Similar to how most motorists are trying to control their fuel consumption, this device aims to control the electric consumption of cars for a longer and smoother ride.

This Ford Intelligent Charging System will first show up in the all-electric Transit Connect commercial van and then the Focus Hybrid in 2011.

(Source) Slashgear

Continue reading...