The rumor that the President of Aeromotive Inc., Steve Matusek, was in the process of building a car which is modular-powered with Pro 5.0-style tube-chassis is no longer fiction. There was already a press release and rendition already issued.

The concept of the new Aeromotive car:
By using an advanced technology, a high-profile and high-tech Mustang is going to be created. The engine of said Mustang is based on the platform of the 2007 Shelby GT500 DOTC 5.4 powerplant. Matusek claims that this kind of engine seems to have a lot of potential. He said, “It seemed that if we could get behind it and garner help from our peers in the industry, it would be possible to take this package far beyond where it had gone before. We felt this car was a testament not only of Aeromotive’s resident knowledge and experience with fuel systems, but also with racing and performance.”

What is this Aeromotive car for?
The new Aeromotive Mustang would function as a multi-purpose machine. It is going to be legal for various sanctions which include the Fun Ford, NMCA, NMRA, and the NHRA’s Competition Eliminator class. And what has Matusek have to say about it? “When I decided to build the car, I wanted to go with someone who could not just design and build the chassis, but also someone who could help us with managing the car down the track.” And so he worked with Larry Larson in creating and crafting this car. “I’ve known Larry Larson for years, and every time I went to a racetrack, he was there. Larson Race Cars (Oak Grove, Missouri) is responsible for building some of the fastest cars in the country for drivers such as David Schorr, Mike Moran, Tony Nesbitt-the list goes on and on, so we went with him… It has been an awesome experience working with Larry, from the thought put into not just building the car, but also to weight distribution, maintenance, and setup. He has been there for every race and was responsible for teaching a rookie driver, setting up the car, and managing our mistakes without missing a beat.”

What is the Aeromotive car made of?
The Mustang created by Matusek is taken from the customary tube-chassis of Pro Stocker design which include a single framerail. The vehicle is made using 4130 chromoly. Its front suspension comprises of tubular A-arms with shocks and springs from Strange Engineering. For the full-floater rear suspension, Koni shocks with Strange Engineering springs were used. Larson Race Cars was responsible for its axle assembly. Its housing is made of sheetmetal with axle shafts made by Strange Engineering. Other details are 4.11:1 ring-and-pinion gears and a spool. The time it took them to build the car was roughly around five months. The turbos of the Mustang were placed on the sides of the engine, improving the “balance of ballast in the car overall.” The placement of the turbos has made its access and maintenance easier. Larson had said, “I’ve seen too many guys trying to work on the clutch with the intercooler in the way, so I wanted to mount it up front to allow more room inside the car.”

There were other people who helped make the Aeromotive Mustang. For further details on its creation and what materials were used, the source is mentioned below.

source: musclemustangfastfords.com

According to the engineers at Monroe, North America’s leading brand of shocks and struts, as well as other technologies related to automotive, you need to replace your vehicle’s shocks and struts at 50,000 miles. This is deeply recommended, as they have even started an education which urged the public to follow the advice of the 50,000-mile shock/strut replacement.

Following this would help improve the vehicle’s handling characteristic. Not just that but it ensures a more comfortable. Think of all the bumps and shakes one can avoid when the advice is followed. After all, shocks and struts do have an important function when it comes to the steering, stopping and stability of a vehicle. This was noted by Richard Alameddine, the Vice President of Marketing for Tenneco Automotive. He also said, “Replacement at 50,000 miles is a sensible maintenance cycle that helps owners improve ride and handling performance and ensure adequate steering, handling and braking response in emergency situations.”

In order to achieve a reliable and secure tire-to-road contact, one needs to properly maintain shocks and struts. They aid in absorbing the impact of a vehicle, cutting down the pitch and roll. It is wise to check and see if it is time to replace already worn shocks. They can harm your safety and can give the most uncomfortable ride.

To further talk about the importance of the right time to replace shocks and struts, Richard Alameddine stated, “Shocks and struts wear out gradually, so a driver might not notice significantly degraded ride and handling performance… The key is to replace these worn parts so your vehicle rides more like it did when it was new.”

source: Car Junky

Shocks are also called “dampers” and are one of the components which make up the suspension. What they do is that they reduce the vertical motion of a car, most especially while the car is traveling down a bumpy or rocky road. In other words, shocks absorb and then eventually lessen the shaking and bumping of a vehicle. This happens by converting the kinetic energy found in suspension movement into heat energy. This can be dispersed by the use of the hydraulic fluid.

The modern shocks are velocity-sensitive. This simply means that the faster the motion of the suspension is, then the more resistance is provided by the shocks. This makes it possible for convenient adjusting of the shocks under different road conditions. The bouncing, swaying, shaking, and bumping will be handled better. There are things shocks can do, apparently. It will be able to manage the movement of the chassis and the suspension.

However, there are limits to what shocks can do. For one thing, shocks do not support the car. It also does not have power over the total of the load transfer. Shocks are not the remedy when there are problems found regarding the handling. It is always best to keep your car under regular maintenance. This will ensure that your car is under good condition. It will be kept in good running condition and will aid in the betterment of the performance of your car.

It is good to keep in mind what shocks can do and can’t do. This will be able to help you understand better how shocks work. In the long run, you’ll benefit from this knowledge.

source: circletrack.com

Cadillac has found a way to merge the aspects of an elite sports car and a luxury sedan when they unveiled the 2009 CTS-V. Its engine is all about power, with 550 horsepower (410 kW) and 550 lb.-ft. torque. Jim Taylor, the Cadillac general manager, said, “The CTS-V represents the full extension of our design, technology and performance capabilities… The V-Series takes the award-winning CTS sport sedan and elevates it to a position within the club of the world’s most exclusive and capable cars.”

One of the notable features of the 2009 CTS-V is it Magnetic Ride Control (MRC). It is one of the Cadillac’s sophisticated technical enhancements. The Magnetic Ride Control is the world’s fastest-reacting suspension technology. Instead of mechanical valves, its shocks make use of electro-magnets. By using electro-magnets, the response time is greatly increased. All four wheels of the car are equipped with electronic sensors, which “reads the road” every millisecond. It does its job by making steady continuous adjustments to damping. This makes it possible to achieve an instant and yet accurate control of the body movement.

The Magnetic Ride Control technology made its initial appearance on the Cadillac STS performance sedan. This impressive technology has already been used on some of the world’s most illustrious cars. An example of a car which uses the said technology is the Chevrolet Corvette.

To complement the impressive CTS-V, Brembo and Michelin has teamed up with them for sophisticated braking and tire systems. Brembo and Michelin are well-known for their exceptional technology. The Bembo brakes are located at all four corners. There are six-piston calipers in from and four-piston calipers at the rear. As for Michelin, they worked with the engineers of Cadillac to create the summer tire for the CTS-V called “Pilot Sport 2″ (PS2). They also worked hand in hand on the 19-inch wheels found in the CTS-V.

source: duemotori.com

Car shocks are not given as much attention as it should have. After all, it plays a crucial role in the performance of any vehicle. Shocks are placed to ensure that the vehicle has enough amount of resistance when the tires travel through any road or when the chassis of the vehicle helps to turn it. Shocks oversee the suspension’s movement, particularly the springs’ actions. This is to keep the chassis’ and body’s steadiness even when the vehicle is going through a rough or uneven ground. It is advisable that the shocks in a car are checked at least once every year. This is for the purpose of safety and comfort when riding the car. Proper maintenance is needed, as shocks are shown to get worn out after just 25,000 to 30,000 miles. This is due to the incessant shifting and movement of the vehicle, which in turn affect the shocks.

There are a couple of signs that warn the driver of worn out shocks. An uncomfortable ride is one thing. The driver would feel the vehicle continuing to bounce even after it has already finished hitting a road bump. In relation to this, another sign is the nose-diving of the vehicle when the driver steps on the brakes. Other warning signs of bad shocks are shaky or bumpy rides and the swaying of the vehicle as it leans to make a turn. When these warnings are already present, then it is time for a good replacement. Otherwise, the other auto parts in the suspension section such as the ball joints, springs and tires could also become affected. A few examples of shocks are Bilstein shocks and Koni shocks.

sources: Motor Trend and 4×4 Review

Apart from the latest technology and amazing features boasted by many of large carmakers in their automobiles, Tata Motors will make an exceptional record in the auto industry. The leading automaker in India is ready to reveal its $2,500 or 100,000 rupees worth car – the world’s cheapest motor car. That tag price is really far from other luxury sedans available nowadays.

The creation of Tata’s most affordable motor car will be a good deal particularly for the new potential car owners in India since only seven out of 1,000 people have their own vehicle in the area. That’s one reason why Tata’s newest offer is called the “People’s Car”. Though features and other components normally equipped on high-end models of other manufacturers are not present in the affordable car like power steering, engaging radio, support beams, air bags and anti-lock brakes, the “People’s Car” is still appealing and safer. The president of Troy consulting group Munro & Associates, Sandy Munro stated, “It’s safer than putting four people on a scooter, but that’s it.”

However, the occupants of the four seater car powered by 650cc engine will have an easy riding experience because of the shock absorbers installed. Although the parts are just the regular ones, the use of shocks is essential in making a comfortable and easy handling possible. These components help in keeping the tires while driving on the road. The shocks likewise lessen the rebounding sensation when engaged on bumpy or irregular road surfaces.

Every new car buyer and even car enthusiast find a vehicle likable if the passenger’s comfort is given much attention. A lot of reliable shocks are out nowadays like Bilstein shocks, Nissan shocks, and Hyundai shocks among others. Including these suspension system parts to every vehicle is directly related to better handling and driving comfort.

The awaited car of Tata draws the interest of people all over the world. While the potential Jaguar and Land Rover buyer concentrates first on the Indian market, the company may possibly manufacture a vehicle that is lined up with higher car specifications of other international luxury carmakers.

The new spirit of SUV is highlighted when Mercedes Benz introduced its crossover concept vehicle. The latest model, which is the Vision GLK FREESIDE, is a blend of the company’s exceptional qualities. In fact, GLK stands for Mercedes’ legendary cross-country vehicle (G), luxury (L) and compactness (K, since the German version for compactness is kompaktheit).

After the unveiling of the concept vehicle, the GLK is now nearly into production. This will definitely be a new trend for a compact sedan in which the SUV characters and innovative designs are combined together. As a result, the Vision GLK FREESIDE shows striking capabilities whether in off-road and on-road drive while bearing the Mercedes mark.

Since the GLK is designed to generate a dynamic performance especially when engaged in off-road terrain, the model is equipped with the finest shock absorbers. The Mercedes shocks are of the best parts that provide the comfort to the vehicle’s suspension. These are aided by the ideal damping forces to produce a flexible reaction, thus ensuring better suspension and handling.

During a normal drive with low speed especially in even road surfaces, the passengers may not sense the trivial bumps encountered by the vehicle. This creates a comfortable stay inside. However, better terrain is not always the case. To ensure that the comfort is maintained, the springs, shocks as well as the dampers must operate excellently. This is one of the improved features of the GLK. Whether in off-road and hard driving, it offers smooth handling while bearing the sporty action.

Aside from Mercedes shocks, some of the finest shocks that provide matching performance can be seen at Bilstein shocks website.

According to Scott Burgess, auto critic of The Detroit News, General Motors Corporation has been successful in bringing their award-winning Astra over from their European brand Opel to their American brand Saturn.

Besides some minor tweaking for compliance with U.S. regulations, the Astra only had its labels changed, as it is already such a fine ride. “It just goes to show you,” stated Burgess, “an Astra by any other name is still an Astra.”

Looking like a low-lying puma just before that fatal pounce, the Saturn Astra has its wedge shape silhouetted by clean and crisp lines for that distinctive athletic appearance. More aggressive than most of the other compact cars around in the market, it really looks as fast as it is.

For a 2,900-pound compact, the 2008 Saturn Astra packs a lot of punch by sporting a 1.8-liter dual overhead cam four-cylinder engine with 138 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque. This power is matched by the stability brought about by the combination of the MacPherson front struts and torsion-beam rear together with the vehicle’s rigid frame. The auto critic “gleefully whipped the Astra through corners and tight turns” and let the shocks and gas-charged struts absorb the bumps without having to sacrifice a tight line. Moreover, the Astra’s electro-hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering allows the driver to feel the road and thereby maneuver the car with precision.

Burgess describes his enjoyment as “kick-in-the-Astra fun;” and claims that, with a price tag starting just under $16,000, the 2008 Saturn Astra is “more than a deal, it’s a steal.”

Source: The Detroit News: Autos – reviews (detnews.com)

Primarily due to our busy schedule, my friend and I were unable to come up with comic strips for the past weeks. This, however, is one of the two strips we were able to think of while we were busy with other things. In this one, we tried to look at other effects of having bad shocks, which includes a person enduring a bumpy ride and having a nice hairdo after absorbing all the shocks. To prevent this from happening, visit the Bilstein shocks website. Have fun reading!

Time surely pass quickly. Twelve years has already gone by since Toyota released its RAV4. After those twelve years, Volkswagen is proud to introduce its small and yes, a ca-based SUV. This latest innovation from VW is tagged as the Tiguan. With the introduction of Tiguan, VW is sure to compete as well as take consumers from its rivals Honda and Toyota.

The VW Tiguan is expected to hit the American market next spring. It is powered by 200 hp, 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Those who will avail of it have an option of either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox. One of the features of the VW Tiguan that makes it a must have for most people is that it makes use of diesel and as a diesel-powered vehicle, it has vigor that no other gasoline-powered vehicle can measure up to. According to the drive test done by the people in Volkswagen, the diesel Tiguan has the capacity to go beyond the 30 mpg mark. They even believe that the vehicle could reach up to 40 mpg when on the highway.

As is expected from a Volkswagen vehicle, the Tiguan is stylish and is quite good-looking. In other words, it appeals to the eyes. It has a well-executed cabin that features a navigation screen cluster. Aside from this, it has comfortable front and rear seats. Those who will avail of the Tiguan can even opt to have a full-length sunroof. When it comes to the suspension system, it boasts of Vw shocks that ensures one of a comfortable and smooth ride. For more information on shocks and how it is able to function, visit the Bilstein shocks website.

Some say that the Tiguan is the mean between the BMW X3 and the Honda CR-V. It has class and style but looks casual enough for an everyday ride. The best part is that as a sport utility vehicle, one can drive this vehicle to snaky forestry roads with no apparent difficulty. Now that’s what we call style that is deeply synched with functionality.