Archive for August, 2009
American Brands That May Fade Into Oblivion
General Motors reigned as king for 35 years in the motors Industry. It was a symbol of American pride. The company had multiple brands under it umbrella raging from the Swedish Saab to the military style Hummer. But GM was hit but excessive debts and the recession. The same story goes for Chrysler another of the three big in U.S. automotive industry.
GM may have to close down production of some of its brands for United States. It has already put the Hummer up for sale. On April 28 it announced the end Pontiac and Saab is definitely on its way out. Many other brands like the GMC the American Buick and Japan based Mitsubishi may soon face death in North America.
For Chrylser some of its models may be discontinued like the retrostyled PT Cruiser Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango in 2009. This was expected after it cut down four other models from is portfolio in 2008.
Both the car manufacturers have announced their intentions to end production of nonperformers. All the above mentioned have had slow sales and the figures from the last five years have not been good. This was the condition even before the recession hit and is clearly visible that the brands have been overlooked by the consumers.
The total sales fell by 18.3 percent which is a record in U.S. history. Only 13.2 million units were sold in 2008 which was a major set back to automobile manufacturers. The most visible decline was seen in Buick brand as sales declined by 81 percent compared to 2003. This is after GM has introduced new models. The sales of Lacrosse and Lucerne sedans were down by 66 percent and 43 percent respectively in January 2009.
But the auto makers are reluctant to let go off the brands as some of them have been best sellers at some time I the past. The retrostyle PT Cruiser was a top seller for Chrysler. The Saturn brand of cars were grossing huge revenues for GM. It is now set to end production by 2012. Pontiac will meet its demise by end of 2010.
The decision on Saab will take a longer time. GM vice chairman and CFO has said that the decision on Saab will taken considering the global strategic view of the brand Right now our focus is on U.S. market and our four key brands Chevrolet Cadillac Buick and GMC.
According to some analysts the problem with the brands leading to their demise started 1980. That was when the Oldsmobile Buick Cadillac and even Chevrolet all looked alike. This was when GM allowed multibranding of the same vehicles. There were some minor exterior changes but the cars were alike in all ways.
They said that the idea that a different label could be applied on a car with another brand displays a lack of understanding of the car business. This is sector the car itself becomes the promoter of the brand and not the other way around. Hence people buying any of the brands could not differentiate from other GM brands. Hence the company ended up loosing a lot of brand value and customer goodwill.
However the sad part of the story is that it is not the inanimate cars that are going out but also loss of jobs and revenues to the government. More than a lakh jobs will be lost and Detroit the home of car manufacturing could loose its edge.
Indian car market is now growing up to a bigger platform as more car manufacturers find markets here. The Indian car industry have a lot of lessons to learn from the U.S. The country will soon have an equally big passenger car market as the United States. This should not force the existing car manufacturers to resort to similar tactics. Indian car market has a bright future and every step should be carefully tread in order to minimize risk and enhance profits.
The leading light comes from Tata Motors which took over the ailing Jaguar and Land Rover and is rightly turning it around to a more stable economic condition.
About the writer: Carazoo.com
A Greener Motoring Future
A Greener Future Means YOU Need a Greener Car!
Whats the issue?
A greener car is a vehicle that produces less harmful emissions to the environment than regular vehicles. Its a common misconception that it will cost the consumer more to have a greener car. Smaller regular cars are greener to an extent because they use less fuel and therefore burn off less emissions. As well as saving money onroad tax and petrol.
CO2 emissions contribute towards the greenhouse effect which causes climate change. This in turn effects the worlds weather conditions and causes extreme weather conditions to happen more frequently with more severity.
In order to prevent this a concerted effort towards reducing ones carbon footprint must be taken. A big step towards this would be the changing the transport used in favour of a more ecofriendly transport or invest in a greener car.
Alternative forms of fuel
There have been different fuels provided for use in cars and other vehicles that significiantly lower CO2 emissions.
Diesel; Diesel reduces CO and HC emissions but does however emit greater levels of Nox. This can reduce air quality in urban areas.
LPG amp; CNG; These are generally converted from pertol fuelled cars either by the orginal manufacturer or an aftermarket converter. LPG and CNG vehicles tend to be bifuel meaining they can run on petrol or gaseous fuel. LPG vehicles tend to fall between petrol and diesel in CO2 performance. LPG tend to fall between petrol and diesel in terms of CO2 emissions. This is due to the lower carbon and higher energy content by mass of the fuel. CNG offers even lower CO2 emissions than LPG. LPG could be seen very similar to diesel. CNG also emits CO HC Nox and particles. In terms of performance CNG and LPG are as good as petrol.
Hybrids; Hybrids combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor and a battery. The Hybrids 3 energy sources can work with each other in various ways in order to perform. Hybrids offer reduced fuel consumption and reduced CO2 as well as possible reduction in some pollutants. This is an excellent example of a greener car.
Bio fuels; Bio fuels reduce CO2 emissions drastically when compared with petrol and diesel. Most bio fuels are sold in a blend of petrol/diesel counting for 5 of fuel used by the greener vehicle.
FlexiFuel; Flexifuel is a blend that runs on 85 bio ethanol and 15 Petrol. However there are currently limited retailing sites that offer this fuel. Flexifuel is compatible with existing vehicles. Some manufacturers offer ‘flexifuel’ vehicles that can run on bio ethanol blends up to E85 a blend of 85 bio ethanol and 15 petrol as well as fossil petrol. There are currently limited retailers that will sell this biofuel but this number is set to grow.
Steps already taken in the UK to reduce emissions with a Greener Car
In the March 2001 Budget the Chancellor announced the extension of the lower rate of Vehicle Excise Duty VED to cover cars in the Private and Light Goods PLG taxation class with an engine size of 1549cc or less.
Since March 2001 a system of Graduated VED has been in operation for new cars based primarily on their level of CO2 emissions.
Since April 2002 Company Car Tax has been based on the CO2 emissions of the vehicle provided to an employee for their private use.
In the March 2006 Budget the Chancellor introduced a zero rate for cars with the lowest carbon emissions and a new top band for the most polluting cars.
Steps you could take to help
Pump up to cut down
Underinflated tyres create more resistance when your car is moving which means your engine has to work harder so more fuel is used and more CO2 emissions are produced.
Less clutter in your car means less CO2
Clutter in your boot is extra weight your engine has to lug around. By removing it you could reduce your engine’s workload.
Less stopping and starting means less CO2
Every time you stop then start again in a traffic queue the engine uses more fuel and therefore produces more CO2. Keep an eye on the traffic ahead and slow down early by gently lifting your foot off the accelerator while keeping the car in gear.
Over revving accelerates emissions
Modern car engines are designed to be efficient from the moment they are switched on so revving up like a Formula 1 car in pole position only wastes fuel and increases engine wear. Using your gears wisely by changing up a gear a little earlier can also reduce revs.
Idling is wasting fuel
When the engine is idling you’re wasting fuel and adding to CO2 emissions. If you’re likely to be at a standstill for more than 3 minutes simply switch off the engine.
Current Issues
- The European Commission and the European Automobile Manufacturers Association ACEA came to an agreement in July 1998 that committed ACEA to reduce the CO2 emissions from new passenger cars by over 25 to an average CO2 emission figure of 140 g/km by 2008.
- The government admitted in July 2008 what experts have been saying for some time that it will miss by a large margin its own target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent from 1990 levels by 2010.
- However In September 2008 Gordon Brown stated he wants the current target of a 60 per cent cut in CO2 by 2050 raised to 80 per cent.
- Although advancements in optimising the use of fuel to reduce emissions technolgocial advances have led to heavier and larger vehicles being produced so whilst emissions reduce the world load on the fuel has increased causing no real change in emissions when cars are compared with those of the 1980s.
About the writer: Visitcars
2005 Kia Amanti
When it introduced its upscale Amanti four years ago Kia broke new ground. Never before had a Korean carmaker put forward a 35000plus luxury sedan. Conceived and developed over a twoyear period at a cost of some 166 million Cdn the Amanti debuted partway through 2004 as a 2005 model and was brandnew from stem to stern. It was also a key component in Kias quest to be a “Top Five” worldwide manufacturer by 2010.
Built on the companys Equis platform which was sold only in Korea the Amanti had exterior sheet metal described by Kia stylists as “strong and dignified”. Influences from Lincoln Jaguar and Mercedes were definitely present in the overall design. Although it wasnt the most adventurouslystyled luxury sedan on the market the new Amanti did have a kind of diplomatcar presence about it and if nothing else was certainly out of the ordinary. And anyway Kia reasoned buyers in this market werent seeking an outrageouslystyled set of wheels; typically they were looking at other conservatively visual models like oh the Toyota Avalon and Buick Allure..not exactly cutting edge examples of the stylists art. Kia could probably have trimmed a few inches off the top of the front grille to good effect and if the cars waistline was lowered a little it wouldnt have hurt either but taste is a personal thing after all.
Power for the Amanti was smoothly delivered by a 3.5 litre V6 with dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder that delivered 200 horsepower at 5500 rpm. This engine was taken from the companys Sedona minivan and was also found in parent company Hyundais XG350 luxury sedan. In this configuration it had different camshaft profiles and a recalibrated manifold that adapted the length of the intake according to engine rpms and load.briefly put it flowed more air when you put the pedal down. Interestingly most of the Amantis competitors had conventional variable valve timing systems of some sort. Transmission was a fivespeed automatic with a Steptronic manual shift option.
The Amantis performance was adequate but it wasnt designed to set any quartermile ET records or break lap times at the local track. Fuel economy was pegged at 14.3 L/100 km in the city and 8.7 L/100 km on the highway and the Amanti was content with regular grade fuel. Good thing too as these numbers are a titch on the high side.
Where the Amanti came into its own was during highway cruising. At 100 km/h in fifth gear the engine ticked over at a leisurely 2100 rpm. Road noise and drivetrain chatter was minimal comfort level was above average and most importantly you felt like you were behind the wheel of an upscale automobile when you drove the Amanti. Not to be sneezed at in this hardtoplease market.
In terms of suspension it featured double wishbones and coil springs up front and multilink/coil springs in the back with stabilizer bars on both ends..pretty standard fare and wellsuited to this 1855kilogram luxury fourdoor. Definitely not aimed at cornercarvers or speed merchants the Amanti didnt respond well to spirited highspeed cornering and the suspension was definitely on the spongy side. This was and still is a Granny and Grampa sedan meant to soothe and relax its occupants.
Base price in 2005 was 35795 and the standard features list seemed to go on ad infinitum. You got dual zone climate control leather interior heated front seats power heated mirrors fourwheel disc brakes with ABS rear heater control power windows with express down feature power sunroof and all of the modcons youd expect to find on a luxury car plus vehicle stability control and traction control systems as well as a brake proportioning assist program. No navigation system or information display screen however and in fact in its first year the Amanti had no options.
Nor has it fared too well in terms of depreciation. According to the Canadian Black Book the 05 Amanti is worth just under 19000 these days and the Red Book has it about 3000 lower than that.
Transport Canada has no recall notices on file nor does the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA. However NHTSA has nine technical service bulletins for the 05 Amanti for issues like an inaccurate reading from fuel warning light to empty front suspension strut irregularities and fuel system evaporative control contretemps. Consumer Reports gives it above average marks for things like quietness ergonomics and control placement ride comfort and interior elbow room. However it also gives the Amanti failing marks in handling braking fuel economy and curiously overall value.
But no earthshattering flaws or glitches to report and considering its price drop and what you get for the money the 05 Amanti has to be considered as a bit of a used car bargain.
About the writer: Ted is a famous writer who writes on the topics related to automotive web sites test drives new car prices canada for Driverseat.