H.E.A.T.: Prevent Auto Theft

This coming holiday season, people are not only flocking malls to pick gifts and Christmas decors but some are also going there to shop for cars. And by that I mean, shopping for cars without paying for them. Yes, car thieves will no doubt lurk around looking for an easy car to steal. That's why H.E.A.T. or Help Eliminate Auto Thefts has these tips to car owners according to The Auto Channel.

• Park in well-lit areas, near sidewalks or walkways. Avoid parking near dumpsters or large vans or trucks. These obstacles decrease your ability to see the space surrounding your vehicle clearly, where thieves or carjackers could be hiding.
• Consider using the valet service if you are out at a shopping center alone at night. The small fee is worth your safety. Remember to leave the valet only the ignition key with no I.D. Always keep your registration and proof of insurance in your wallet.
• Place gifts in the trunk and out of view. If need be, use a trash bag, blanket or cardboard box to camouflage packages in the back of a car, van or SUV.
• Try to keep one hand free with the other hand holding your car keys as you approach or leave your vehicle so you can maneuver if you encounter a thief or carjacker.
• If threatened by a carjacker with a gun or other weapon, GIVE UP THE CAR. DON'T ARGUE. A life is more important than any vehicle.
• If you witness an auto theft or carjacking, call the police immediately. If you have any information regarding auto theft, insurance fraud or carjacking, call the 24/7 H.E.A.T. tip reward line at 1-800-242-H.E.A.T.

Remember that your Acura CL car cover will not be enough to deter car thieves so even in your own home, make sure that you protect your investment properly.

FCX Clarity: Honda’s Zero-Emission Sedan

Honda is moving towards one direction. And that is to produce environmentally friendly focus product lines. And the latest aftermath of such goal is the zero-emission sedan dubbed FCX Clarity, shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

As the auto show kicked off this week, the Japanese automaker launched its new FCX Clarity, powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The head turner, sleek sedan, which the automaker intends to begin leasing to a limited number of Southern California drivers next summer, is inspired by another Honda concept vehicle introduced in 2005. According to reports, the sedan will be available on a 3-year lease for $600 a month, making it the first fuel-cell car to be offered to the general public.

According to Dan Bonawitz, head of logistics at American Honda, the Clarity will get an equivalent combined city and highway fuel economy of 68 miles per gallon, which doubles that of the Accord. Bonawitz added the fuel-cell car is for drivers “who want to be on the absolute cutting edge of gasoline-free technology.”

John Voelcker, automotive editor of IEEE Spectrum, the magazine for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, said the introduction of the Clarity represents more than just a cool new alternative-fuel car.

“We’ve got Honda and Chevy starting to put out these advanced-technology vehicles in noticeable numbers now — that’s a big difference from just a few years ago,” Voelcker said. “[Fuel-cell technology] is expensive, and it takes a long time in terms of research and development, but it’s getting real.”

GM said Wednesday it will put 100 hydrogen fuel cell-powered Chevy Equinox compact SUVs on the road in California, New York and Washington, D.C., next year, giving them to hand-picked users. The largest American automaker said it aims to have vehicles running on hydrogen in showrooms by 2011 or 2012, and expects to ramp up production to about 1 million vehicles a year worldwide after 2012.

“Consider that just a few years ago every fuel-cell vehicle was a multimillion-dollar prospect and each one was hand-built,” said Voelcker. “Now, all of a sudden you’re seeing automakers talk about higher numbers. In its last round, GM had a dozen or so; now they’re putting out about 100. Honda will probably put out that number too, and within a few years you could see thousands, and then tens of thousands, and one day up to a million on the road.”

Ford, meanwhile, is still some way behind when it comes to fuel-cell vehicles. President and CEO Alan Mulally said the automaker is at least 10 years from offering a fuel-cell car, in part because Ford is concerned about the safety of the highly flammable lithium-ion batteries used in the vehicles.

“We’re not there yet,” Mulally said Wednesday at the Los Angeles show, adding that the prospect of a vehicle that emits nothing but water is “one compelling vision.” Mulally’s comments came as he unveiled the automaker’s “Blueprint for Sustainability,” a plan to boost the fuel-efficiency of its gas-powered vehicles and aggressively develop a range of alternative-fuel technologies like plug-in hybrids, which can be recharged from the power grid, and hydrogen fuel cells.

Honda said it is working to develop a “Home Energy Station” — a device that converts natural gas into hydrogen. As the hydrogen supply infrastructure expands, Honda plans to make a greater number of FCX Clarity vehicles available to the public. We can hope similar technology to be applied by the maker of Acura axle assembly, Honda’s luxury division.

Despite the obvious obstacles, Honda is committed to taking fuel-cell vehicles mainstream said Tetsuo Iwamura, president and CEO of American Honda. “The challenges are real, but we are determined to overcome them,” he said.

via: MSNBC

Racecar Driving: A Unique Holiday Gift To Your Loved One

There are thirty plus days to go before Christmas arrives. But as early as now, people are preparing for the holidays - shopping for Christmas decors and gifts. Oh yeah, the holiday season is in the air, actually the cold breeze and snow flakes are apparently saying that it’s joy to the world once again!

Have you already come up with an idea as to what unique gift do you think you can give to your loved ones... A brand new Dodge muffler? An iPod? I’m sure these are great stuff, but do you want something very extraordinary? Something that your loved one will never ever forget? How about letting him drive a real race car and blast at over 100 miles per hour? Sounds cool right? This thing is possible… check this out!

According to the news I read from my source, TheAutoChannel.com, BIR Performance Driving School offers safe instructions and track time to rookie drivers and veteran drivers as well. There’s more! Anybody who purchases a holiday gift card by December 20 will receive a 10 percent "racing savings". Now you can drive your way around the world-renowned Brainerd International Raceway of Brainerd, Minn. Isn’t that exciting or what?

"This holiday season, I'm selling a pure adrenaline rush - and that's in a racecar at speed. We've been in business for 16 years, and every year, we've seen giving the gift of racecar driving becomes an exponentially bigger hit. The person who gives it is excited, and the person receiving it is extremely excited - there's just a ton of excitement on both sides. There's no other experience like it. It's the ultimate thrill," says Gary Curtis, the director of BIR Performance Driving School.

"In lieu of golfing, many people and companies are looking for an alternative activity, so they opt for a day on the track instead. Driving racecars fosters team-building, confidence and loyalty, in addition to improved regular-driving skills. Our program is very safe, considering that we've taught thousands of people and have never had an injury. That's pretty amazing, given that our students can drive over 100 miles per hour with up to nine other racecars on the track,” Curtis added.

Six Best Automobiles for 2008 Recognized By WealthTV

WealthTV, the high definition premier luxury lifestyle and entertainment network, gave credits to six outstanding vehicles for 2008. Now, early Christmas shoppers need not to worry about what car they should get for their loved ones because WealthTV’s six recognized automobiles for 2008 are definitely the hottest packages with a ribbon on top! Better leave those truck decals behind and let’s get to know these cars, shall we?

WealthTV named the winners of its prominent crystal Viewer's Choice Award in six classes at the Los Angeles Auto Show recently. You can get five of these unbelievable cars for your special loved one for a sheer $860,000 plus $600 dollars a month. However, the last model will require a lease of $600 per month.

Viewers were requested to respond to WealthTV’s online polling to verify the supreme automobiles for 2008. Only six automobiles made it to the top list in the hearts and minds of WealthTV's viewers. Winners received the crystal WealthTV Viewer's Choice Award. This top honor award, which more accurately reflex's the passions of loyal automotive enthusiasts, is deemed the top honors in the luxury car market. The six recognized categories and the winners of WealthTV Viewer's Choice Award are:

• Most Exciting New Release of 2008 - Audi R8
• Most Luxurious SUV of 2008 - Lexus LX 570
• Most Luxurious Sedan of 2008 - Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG
• Hottest Sports Car under $50k of 2008 - Chevrolet Corvette
• Hottest Sports Car no Price Limit of 2008 - Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
• Most Advanced use of Hybrid Technology of 2008 - Honda FCX

"These six amazing cars represent the best for 2008. At under $900,000 for five of these cars, the value is tremendous. Recognition by the hearts and minds of true luxury car enthusiasts is the best distinction a fine automobile can receive. The Honda FCX Clarity, unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show, is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and only available on a three-year lease for $600.00," stated Charles Herring, the president of WealthTV.

What David Thomas and Patrick Olsen Say About The New Clubman

Kicking Tires has always been a reliable source for me in terms of car information, news and updates. I even depend on the particular site every time I look for car parts. And just this morning, I was about to look for the best site where I can get the most durable Acura repair manuals and so I visited the site. But what I found out is that BMW will soon release the 2008 Mini Clubman.

Patrick Olsen from Cars.com describes the new car. He said, “The Clubman's extra space eases getting in and out of this little charmer. Access on the passenger side, with the suicide-door opening, was really easy, even for me (6-foot-1). The backseat in the model I was in were a very comfortable leather, and even with an adult in front of me my knees weren’t crunched. It wasn't like sitting in first class, of course, but it would be passable for short trips. My kids would definitely be more comfortable in this car than they were in the original Mini, where they found themselves cramped at the end of a two-hour trip.”

“The speedometer on the model I sat in was different from previous Minis I've driven; instead of a large dial, there's a red plastic piece that runs along the outside of the speedometer. In the center was a navigation screen with a joystick controller on the center console,” Olsen continues.

David Thomas, also from Kicking Tires, said, “I’m not the biggest Mini fan on staff, but I liked the Clubman. What I didn’t like were the rear doors, which are on extremely strong shocks. That means closing the rear hatch will take some effort. I’m hoping it was just a fault of the show floor models and not all Clubmans. The rear seats fold down easily from the back. The interior was better quality than the base Cooper, and an all-brown color scheme on one Clubman was especially snazzy. End result: Mini fans will rejoice. Me, I’d just take a regular hatchback.”

Mitsubishi Loses TV Ad Pull

Ads can make or unmake a company. This is why every company should be careful in what they say or showcase in their ads. Do you wanna hail street racing? Think again. You might suffer Mitsubishi’s plight…

According to The Star release, Mitsubishi Motors Canada has lost an appeal of an advertising regulator's finding that one of the automaker's ads showed a disregard for safety. Consumers and safety advocates criticized the ad saying it promotes street racing.

Advertising Standards Canada, a self-regulating industry body, said in its third-quarter report that an appeal panel confirmed an original decision that sharply criticized the company's flashy spring television ad of a Lancer sports sedan roaring down streets and complained that it glorified street racing.

The advertising council originally called on Mitsubishi to cancel the commercial permanently during the summer. The automaker had already stopped running the ad, pending "a normal review." But the company justified the content saying that it did not promote street racing.

The regulator said the company’s ad did not look like a professional race, which Mitsubishi claimed, because it showed a woman dropping her hands to open an event and a driver wearing high-top sneakers. What’s more, the ad ended with the statement "Street Legal. We think." That point, plus readily identifiable music aimed at young people, contributed to the idea of street racing, the council added.

Mitsubishi’s ad appeared at a time when local attention was concentrated on the perils of street racing after a significant number of fatal accidents involving reckless driving and speeding cars.

The maker of Mitsubishi arrow radiator told the regulator it has no plans to run the ad again. That’s pleasant to the ears!

Mazda Supports HyNor

Japan meets Norway! Mazda reaches out all the way to Norway to support the Hydrogen Road of Norway (HyNor). The Mazda Motor Corporation’s involvement with the project intends to help in the enhancement of hydrogen vehicles and hydrogen fuel. According to TheAutoChannel.com, the partnership was officially settled during the signing ceremony that took place at the Norwegian Embassy in Tokyo a few days ago. I bet you don’t have any idea about this, so just dig in and filter this update with your Volkswagen air filter!

The event was attended by known personalities such as Mr. Åge B. Grutle, Norwegian ambassador to Japan and Mr. Hisakazu Imaki, Mazda’s president and CEO. During the signing ceremonies, Mr. Seita Kanai, Mazda’s director and senior managing executive officer in charge of Research and Development and Mr. Ulf Hafseld, chairman of HyNor, signed a memo of agreement for partnership and support in the growth of a hydrogen economy. The memorandum includes the agreement that HyNor is set to to get 30 Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE vehicles beginning on summer of 2008. These will be the first hydrogen vehicles sold outside of Japan for the Mazda Motor Corporation.

“I very much welcome the agreement between Mazda Motor Corporation and HyNor. The agreement illustrates that HyNor’s efforts to contribute to the development of hydrogen-based technologies are recognized by Mazda as a major global actor in this field. The partnership between HyNor and Mazda is also very encouraging for Norway’s broader efforts to strengthen its cooperation with Japan in promoting research and technologies within the context of climate change mitigation, including a hydrogen society. For the Norwegian Embassy it is a top priority to support these efforts, working in close collaboration with Innovation Norway and the Research Council of Norway” says H.E. Mr. Åge Grutle, Norwegian ambassador to Japan.

“HyNor is very pleased to sign this agreement with Mazda and we think this cooperation will speed up the process of introducing hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel” said Ulf Hafseld, the chairman of HyNor. “By using the Internal Combustion Engine as a feasible technology to accelerate realization of the real hydrogen world, we can develop a hydrogen infrastructure much faster. HyNor is focusing on a carbon neutral infrastructure, and using hydrogen in the Mazda cars will ensure a complete carbon free line of fuel.”

“This will be the first time a Hydrogen RE vehicle will be sold outside Japan and this is a big step in Mazda’s hydrogen vehicle development history. Perhaps Norway is one of the countries closest to the realization of a hydrogen energy society. By cooperating with HyNor and jointly supporting the development of a hydrogen economy, we hope that Mazda will be able to contribute to the establishment of a hydrogen society”, says Mr. Seita Kanai, Mazda’s director and senior managing executive officer.

G-OIL Motor Oil Gets Editor's Choice Award

Among all the oil brands available in the US car market, Green Earth Technologies’ G-OIL motor oil gets the Popular Mechanics Editor’s Choice Award at the ninth annual Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) held in Las Vegas.

G-OIL topped Popular Mechanics’ editors’ best new products of 2007. G-Oil, a motor oil made with American-grown base oils, was recognized as the most outstanding achiever in the product design and innovation. Moreover, G-OIL is being tagged as the “carbon-neutral, and derived from a domestically-produced renewable resource” by the magazine.

G-OIL was the very first bio fuel on the US car market. It is a high endurance oil that provides superior performance during maximum oil change interval recommended by vehicle manufacturers. It is made up of tallow materials supplied by American farmers. Tallow is known to be culled from beef which is used to feed animals and it can also be found in soap.

“We’re thrilled Popular Mechanics recognized G-OIL as a breakthrough product. Today, automotive retailers can give consumers green motor oil that doesn’t sacrifice performance, for which they don’t have to pay a premium,” says Mathew Zuckerman, Ph.D., the Chief Executive Officer and President of Green Earth Technologies.

Green Earth Technologies (GET) is the known producers of “G” branded, products known because of its superior performing - totally green products made entirely from America-grown base oils, and utilizes the power of nanotechnology to deliver environmentally friendly products with no compromise as released by theautochannel.com. “GET’s families of products are offered in a range of categories, including automotive performance and appearance chemicals, marine performance and appearance chemicals, household cleaning solutions, and lawn & garden chemicals. Please visit www.getg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about GET and its brands,” theautochannel informs.

Limited Edition Chrysler

If you want a unique car, you can spend on a custom paintjob or buy a limited edition car. And if you are looking for a limited edition car, look no further than your local Chrysler dealership. The automaker announced recently that they will make available the fifth and final installment of the Signature Series vehicles. Said vehicles will be available for the 2008 model year. The Chrysler Aspen Signature Series will be the newest and hottest addition to Chrysler's lineup.

The Auto Channel reported David Rooney, Director of Chrysler marketing and Global Communications saying: "The Chrysler Aspen Signature Series builds on the extensive list of premium features already found on the 2008 Chrysler Aspen, and reflects the original vision of Chrysler founder Walter P. Chrysler: engineering at exceptional value."

Said limited edition will come with auto parts as reliable as Volkswagen performance parts. Apart from those durable parts, the limited edition Aspen will come with these features according to The Auto Channel: "fog lamps, power mirrors, chrome molding, roof- mounted side rails, reclining second-row seats, third-row three-passenger seating, overhead console and premium audio system". And that is only for the E model.

Aside from the E Series, the Aspen can also come with a Signature Series Package which will include: "no-charge power sunroof and MyGIG Entertainment System with Parkview Rear Back-Up Camera (a $1,500 value), 18-inch chrome-clad wheels, two-tone leather seating (first row heated) with embossed Signature Series logo, two-tone leather-wrapped steering wheel, and SIRIUS Satellite Radio and Signature Series badges". Wow huh?

Although the Limited Edition Aspen may cost more than the average Aspen, it will have better amenities. Plus, it will very cool with those special badges. Truly, the Aspen Signature Series is one vehicle which I would not think twice to park in my garage.