Sunday

Review Tesla S - The Electronic Sedan Is Strong

Tesla Motors unveiled a prototype of its second vehicle, dubbed the Tesla S. Following on the heels of the recently released Tesla Roadster, the Tesla S takes the automaker in a slightly different direction - seeking to appeal to mainstream buyers, particularly those of less costly sedans with long term higher ownership costs.
Initial Appeal For The Sedan Is Strong
A seven passenger model, the Tesla S will not be going into production until late 2011, which means that when the sedan hits the market it will be cast as a 2012 model. That is still a long way off, but interest in the car is rising steadily. The automaker made a recent announcement that more than one thousand people have plunked down a $5000 refundable deposit on the sedan, signaling that the appeal for this car will eventually prove to be strong.

The Tesla Roadster made its debut in 2008 and is the first pure electric car of its kind. Powered by lithium-ion batteries, the Roadster is famous for going from zero to sixty in just 3.9 seconds while emitting zero emissions. Priced at around $108,000 before a $7500 federal tax credit kicks in, the Tesla Roadster is for the hard core sports car enthusiast, thus it is a low volume vehicle. To date, Tesla has produced just 400 copies of the Roadster although many times that number of people are on the their waiting list.
Going For A Broader Audience
With the Tesla S, Tesla Motors decided to go with a wider audience in a bid to attract customers. Priced at about $57,000, the Tesla S will get the same $7500 federal tax credit Roadster buyers receive, pushing the car’s price just below $50,000. Styled like a European luxury sedan, the S will seat five adults and two children, an unusual configuration for a car in this class.
Like the Roadster, the zero emissions S will appeal to environmentally concerned drivers. Powered by a lithium ion battery pack the sedan should have a driving range of about 300 miles. At this time, the automaker says that they are working on a QuickCharge onboard recharging unit, a device that could recharge the sedan’s depleted batteries in as little as 45 minutes. This means that for the person taking a long trip, they could stop long enough to enjoy dinner before heading out in their freshly recharged sedan without having to lose out on travel time.
All The Amenities Luxury Drivers Demand
Inside, the design of the Tesla S will astound buyers especially as they take note of a whopping seventeen inch display panel for navigation and offer all of the technological feedback and enhancements that today’s luxury car buyers demand. Premium car buyers who are attracted to a BMW or a Mercedes will feel at home in the Tesla S, perhaps finding that the car’s power and low ownership costs beyond the base price make it an attractive vehicle for them.

Free Tips on Car Exhaust

Deciding what type of exhaust you would like to purchase for your vehicle can take some time. It does help to know you have plenty of options though. Think about why you want to buy an exhaust. First, you may need to replace it because yours has a whole in it or it is rusted and falling apart.
Others change their exhaust system though because they want to upgrade it to something else. When you have a better exhaust system your vehicle may operate better for you. The performance you can get out of it is going to amaze you. If you wish your vehicle had more power and a better sound, this is the way to get it.

The third reason why people often buy an exhaust has to do with the physical appearance of it. They may find that a new exhaust system is going to offer them the finished look that they have been dying to own. You can buy single pieces for an exhaust or you can but an entire kit.
It is vital that you understand the role of the exhaust for your vehicle though. It is in place to keep harmful fumes and toxins from the inside of your vehicle. It is extremely unhealthy for them to reach you. This is why you need to do extensive research when you shop for an exhaust system. You want to be 100% confident it will work properly for your vehicle.
You can also turn to specialists that can help you get the specific information for your vehicle. They will take your own exhaust needs into consideration and then give you’re the options. They can also help you to find what fits into the price range you have for your new exhaust.
Of course if you are going to spend the money to get something like this set up, it needs to offer you the benefits you want. It also needs to be extremely safe. If you have any questions about how your exhaust has to be set up, then you will find plenty of experts out there to assist you.
All of the time you invest in getting the right exhaust though will be well worth it. You will love the benefits that it offers to your vehicle. You will also feel good about the investment that you put in it. Your exhaust is a very important part of your overall vehicle.

Free Checking the Windshield Wiper Fluid Guides

The windshield wiper should be kept in good condition since it plays a major role in ensuring that the windshield stays clean and clear. This particular part of the car should be given adequate care and this is generally attributed to a number of reasons. When the weather conditions are harsh, this particular part of the car is extremely important. Windshield wipers ensure that the weather, the snow and the sleet is kept away for clear vision hence the need to keep them in good condition and maintain them always.

When residual rain or acid creates stains on the windshield, they should be washed off or wiped clean using the handy wipers of the vehicle. Sometimes it is a bit hard to remove these stains and one may be required to give the vehicle thorough cleaning. In a case where a dove or some other animal relieves itself on the vehicle’s windshield, this calls for wiping down the obstructive material and letting the windshield wiper as well as its fluid complete the clean-up. Once an individual realizes the importance of the windshield wiper, this will definitely influence the frequency at which the fluid level of the windshield wiper is checked.
Checking and changing the fluid of a windshield wiper is one of the easiest fluid checks and changes that car owners can make. The fluid of the windshield wiper is generally a mixture of a particular solvent and an addition of water pumped on the windshield by the car to aid in cleaning or at least clearing the glass. This reservoir should always be added water, but if it happens that this is the first time an individual is checking and changing the fluid of the windshield wiper, this is no reason to worry. A few steps are quite easy to follow regarding how one can accomplish this incredibly easy and highly important trick for car maintenance.
The first step on checking the fluid of the windshield wiper and choosing the correct type involves consulting the car’s manual and finding the exact location of the fluid reservoir for the windshield wiper. Unless one is sure about the location, the fluid should never be added. The car engine should be turned off and the hood propped up to check the fluid reservoir. There are markings on the outer side of the tank for indicating the fluid amount left inside the reservoir. At this point, one should only proceed if the tank is less than half-full. The cap should then be removed and the correct fluid mixture added according to the indicated markings on the owner’s manual. The cap can henceforth be popped back on and the vehicle’s hood closed.
The right mixture of the fluid should be used, but plain water should never be added. The fluid mixture consists of a detergent for cleaning the windshield as well as antifreeze for preventing it from freezing on the car’s windshield or in the reservoir. The fluid mixture can be bought in a concentrated or premixed form. The windshield wiper fluid should be checked and changed regularly to ensure the glass is clear for excellent vision.

Free Suspension Tuning Tips

The basic job of the suspension spring is to support the car and any associated loads. They also prevent brake dive, body roll, rear end squat on acceleration and generally provide an even ride. When it comes to tuning your suspension the choice is basically between lowering springs that reduce the ride height of your vehicle and performance springs that will optimise the handling of your vehicle. The suspension tuning option is down to you and your needs. Do you want your car to achieve admiring glances from onlookers when out on a cruise, if so then lowering suspension springs maybe just right for you. Alternatively if the odd weekend track event is your thing then mild performance springs will be better suited to the job.
There are three general spring designs available - Normal, Step Linear and Progressive Springs. The Normal Spring has equal spacing between each coil and the response rate is a specific designation when compressed. For example a coil spring with 200mm spacing between each coil in normal state with extra weight applied to the load will compress evenly at say 170mm apart. A further increase in the load would result in increased compression to say 150mm but again this would be even between each coil.
Step Linear Springs have one half of the coils at one spacing and the other half at a smaller spacing. As the springs compress the coils with a smaller spacing close up and become ineffective leaving the coils with the larger spacing to do the work. This set up provides different levels of response and performance. Linear springs are more often used in drag racing, road racing, track and races that require a high spring rate, in which a constant spring rate is more important than a smooth ride.
Finally progressive springs have different spacing between coils. When the spring is being compressed the top 25% of the coils touch and become ineffective, the more compression applied and more coils touch again becoming ineffective and the spring stiffens. Progressive springs are very sensitive to road defects but provide the stiffness required under braking and steering. Progressive springs are most likely to be found in aftermarket performance kits giving a blend of performance for street and strip.