Honda Environmental Technology Advances with Honda Accord Hybrid

Employing Variable Cylinder Management technology (VCM), Honda Accord Hybrid is the first hybrid vehicle to deactivate three of its engine's six cylinders in certain conditions like highway cruising for greater fuel efficiency without affecting its performance.

The new 2005 V6 Accord Hybrid integrates the fuel economy of a four cylinder compact Civic and high-level performance.

Combining VCM with Honda's Integrated Motor Assist hybrid technology, Honda Insight and Civic Hybrid captured four of the top five slots in the EPA 2004 fuel economy ratings. In 2005, Honda-developed fuel cell stack featuring increased performance and fuel efficiency, reduced cost and the capability to start in below freezing temperatures.

Leading the pioneering efforts for the development and application of leading edge environmental technologies including the first Low Emissions (LEV) and Ultra-Low Emissions (ULEV) vehicles and the first commercially certified fuel cell vehicle, Honda now again has proven its innovative ideas.

FCX fuel vehicle powered by the Honda FC stack is the realization of Honda's long held effort of hydrogen-powered vehicles. The Honda FCX then on its launching will be the first and only fuel cell vehicle certified by the EPA and California Air Resources Board for regular commercial use.

Starting and operating a vehicle in cold weather and freezing temperatures is a daunting technical barrier to the mass-market application of fuel cell technology. Honda's answer to this problem is the Fuel Cell stack with its newly developed electrolyte membranes and stamped metal separator structure for improved efficiency, recycle ability, and operation over a greater range of temperatures.

Prior to the FC stack's introduction in the Honda FCX, public road evaluations in the U.S and Japan is on going.

Make Honda parts shopping hassle-free and satisfying for you. Partstrain offers the best prices to save you on your next Honda parts purchase. We give you the best value and superior quality Honda parts. Buy from http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByVehicle/HONDA and expect fast & reliable shipping of your Honda parts orders.

5 Tips to Buying the Perfect Seat Cover

For a lot of people, buying a car is a large investment, one to be well cared for. Perhaps, the easiest, most reliable way to protect the value of your vehicle is to fit it with seat covers. This can be a minimal investment; however, price should not be the only consideration while shopping for covers. Before you pick out your new seat covers, consider these tips.

1- The most important thing to remember when shopping for seat covers is to know the exact make and model of your car. I know this sounds obvious, but without the exact specifications, you could end up with the perfect seat covers that are completely wrong for your car. You will need to know what type of seats you have, if it is a bench seat, is there a split? Pay attention to what type of headrest your seats are made with; are they bucket seats or captains' chairs? All of these differences will have an impact on what seat cover is the right one for your vehicle.

2- Now that you know the type of cover you are looking for, its time to think about price. Seat covers for your car are just like most other things in life quality will cost more. A high quality seat cover will be more expensive, but it will not shift around on the seat or wear out quickly. However, there is something to be said for buying a less expensive seat cover. If you are the type of person who likes to change their environment, then purchasing a cheaper cover that will be replaced rather quickly is probably a good idea for you.

3- Pay close attention to the type of material that the covers are made of. Ideally, you are looking for something that is machine washable, stain and water repellent, something that is tough and durable, these will be used everyday. There is a large variety of materials that are used for seat covers and they all have their own advantages. For example, sheepskin keeps a steady temperature in the cold and heat alike, making it ideal for most climates. While canvas, Cordoba and tweed are known for quality and durability.

4- It's best to look for and purchase seat covers from manufacturers that offer a lifetime warranty. Keeping the receipt is a vital part of being able to use the warranty if it is needed, keep it in the glove box with other important papers.

5- If, after shopping around, you still are unable to find just the right cover in just the right material and pattern, consider getting it custom made. Custom-made seat covers are available from many upholstery shops as well as from many online stores. Buying custom-made seat covers allows you to get a seat cover that not only fits your seat, but also your personality.

The Guide To Better Car Buying Deals

Buying a car is like making a journey into the unknown especially if you do not know the meaning of mileage and the only seats you have sat on inside a car are the ones for the passengers. Without a map, one can get lost, confused by several choices and generally duped into accepting a less than great a deal.

Still like any journey, with the right guide to buying a car, one can breeze through the experience with flying colors. Below is a guide to getting better car buying deals not only in terms of getting high quality cars but also in being aware of rebates and discounts. Both online and offline transactions were mentioned and discussed as some people are already doing their shopping online.

Read on and see for yourself which car buying guide you already know and which one you just heard for the very first time.

Car buying guide #1: List your requirements and stick to it.

Knowing what you need and what you want already takes you halfway the decision-making process. List your requirements and search for a perfect match out of the hundreds of car models available. You can do this in the old fashion way by visiting the car dealers near your area or the new age way through the wonders of the World Wide Web. One car buying guide which you should remember is to never go to dealers without having a car in mind. Websites like CarDirect.com has a handy research tool that can help you refine your search

Car buying guide #2: Have a budget and stick to it.

When you have already decided on your car model, you can now look into the prices being offered by various car dealers. One car buying guide that is really important is to do price comparisons, which are available online at InvoiceDealers.com or CarsDirect. You can also ask advice from people who have bought cars in the last five years. Chances are, car dealers still have the same practices.

Car buying guide #3: Be on the look out for special sales and promos

Most car dealers and even websites will always come up with a promo or a special deal guaranteed to outsell the competition. You can also leave your contact details and ask the car dealers that you have visited to inform you of upcoming promos. That way, you will stay up to date and would be able to compare different deals offered by different companies. One can also try looking for great deals over the Internet.

Car buying guide #4: Buy at the right season

One car buying guide that is a sure hit is perfecting the timing of buying a car. Usually, car dealers go on sale by the end of December as there is low demand for expensive gadgets. Because of the Christmas shopping rush, few actually buy a car at this period of time. Another great time is on July to October where new models have to replace the new. Sometimes, car manufacturers even offer big discounts just to be rid of the stock.

Car buying guide #5: Beware of Add-ons

Some dealers would put add-on services that you do not really need until the price skyrockets. Beware of these add-ons and really determine if that is something that you would like for your car.

Hybrid Vehicles Makes a Turn for the More Powerful Vehicles in

It is common knowledge among car enthusiasts and car owners that the bigger the vehicle, the bigger the amount of fuel it consumes. With this in mind, several automobile producers have begun diverting a big chunk of their efforts to producing more hybrid 4x4s in the year 2005.

Taking on the Fleet First. The big three - Ford, Dodge and General Motors have seemed to agree that 2005 is the perfect opportunity to introduce the hybrid versions of some very popular vehicles.

Ford Introduces the Ford Escape Hybrid, the first vehicle to combine SUV capability with the outstanding fuel economy and low environmental impact of a full hybrid. "Full" hybrid means it automatically switches between pure electric power, pure gasoline or diesel engine power or a combined operation to optimize efficiency and performance. The no frills Escape Hybrid drives normally, performs superbly and offers all the features you'd expect from the SUV leader. The Hybrid Ford Escape features lots of room, comfortable seating for five, an adaptable cargo area, 1000-pound towing capacity, and an optional Intelligent 4WD System which produces the same all-weather grip and off-road competence available in conventional Escape models. Full hybrids can achieve 50% or more improvement in fuel economy during traffic induced stop-and-go type of driving, wherein the electric motor is most efficient. The Escape Hybrid delivers more than 75% fuel economy improvement in city driving when weighed against a conventional V-6 powered Escape XLT. The Escape Hybrid can travel more than 400 miles in city driving on a single tank of gasoline. Ford has already manufactured and sold the 4,000 units Ford Escape Hybrid in 2004 and its resounding success has prompted it to build a �modest� 20,000 more for 2005. Ford wants to make sure it is not just a fad and people would see the practical, economical and environmental impact a Hybrid vehicle can induce. The Escape Hybrid costs $3,300 more than the V-6 powered Escape.

Dodge and General Motors follow suit. Ford has been the first to produce and set the bar in the large vehicle Hybrid market segment and Dodge and GM cannot afford to lag behind. General Motors and Dodge are not that far behind though. In the last quarter of 2004, General Motors introduced electric hybrid versions of its 2005 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. The trucks were only available to those who are in Florida, California, Nevada, Alaska, Oregon, and Washington. GM expects to produce about 2,500 units in 2005 - 1,875 Silverados and 625 Sierras - with the hopes of launching the vehicles on a national scale by 2006. Dodge manufactured only 100 diesel-electric 2005 RAM pickups, targeted for utility company fleets. The diesel will produce better fuel economy, with an additional 15% mpg boost over the conventional diesel Ram coming from the electric side. Diesels are generally considered more �environmentally disastrous� on the ecological front. The Dodge Ram Diesel Hybrid is expected to sell for around $40,000 a somewhat larger cost than the non-hybrid models.

Heftier Price Tags. Although the price tags may vary from state to state, the average increase for the cost for a Hybrid option may run well up to $3,000. The GM versions of the Hybrid engine are soft-hybrids, which mean that an electric motor provides a boost up on accelerations. The GM version of a hybrid large vehicle has a stop-start system that turns off the gasoline engine at traffic lights. It possesses a 120-volt, 2,400-watt generator system that can provide power for electrical equipments. The Silverado and Sierra hybrids also serves as power generators, with two conventional, three-prong plug-ins that can be found under the rear seat, two extra plug-ins can also be found in the rear bed of the trucks. The four 120-volt, 20 amp electrical supplementary power outlets can supply power for electric coolers, electric ranges, sound systems video consoles and other electrical equipments that can be lugged around. The power supply can be utilized while the engine is running or even after the engine is cut and the keys are taken out of the ignition. Ground fault detection systems are installed in the power supply circuits so that overloads and short circuits can be prevented. According to General Motors, the new hybrid pickups could sustain enough power to last for up to 32 hours non-stop before needing to fill the tank again. This function new feature proved to be very useful when GM loaned some of their new Hybrids� to hurricane stricken Florida when they were used for some relief operations, they were vital in some areas were electricity was incapacitated. The hybrid models of the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks are foreseen to develop fuel savings of up to 10% over analogous trucks without the hybrid benefit. How exactly do Hybrids get such Fantastic Mileage? HV�s (Hybrid Vehicles) are principally powered by an internal combustion engine, much like any ordinary vehicles. However, they also transform the energy that is normally wasted during stop and go operations into electricity, which is stored in a battery until the moment it is needed by the electric motor. The electric motor is utilized to support the engine when accelerating or doing some uphill driving and in low-speed driving operations where internal combustion engines are least efficient. Some Hybrid Vehicles also automatically shut off the engine when the vehicle is idling and restarts the internal combustion engine when the accelerator is depressed. This avoids exhausted fuel when the vehicle is not in motion. Unlike all-electric vehicles, HV�s that are being produced today do not need to be plugged into an external source of electricity to be recharged, the energy provided by the engine and the braking force charges the batteries.

Is it worth the fuss and the costs? It all boils down to one thing, Large Hybrid Vehicles cost more than their non-hybrid counterparts. Deciding on the advantages though is not that hard. You get better mileage, companies save on fuel consumption, electric motors are all the rage plus you get to help the environment. Also, the hybrid SUV�s pay for themselves in the long run, costs may be cut through tax incentives and decreased fuel consumption help to offset the price difference. Determining the cost-savings ratio would be one factor many car manufacturers will keep in mind while keeping close scrutiny in their products. Nevertheless a large hybrid vehicle may just be the thing the future needs.

Parts Train has been a leader in the online parts supplying industry for many years now. They have over 25 years of experience in dealing with cars and have been regarded as experts in their field. Available in their wide array of stocks are a variety of products that can help maintain, enhance, replace and repair any make and model of vehicle available in the market today.

Choosing the Right Car

For most people in the United States, the car is one of their most expensive purchases. So make sure you ponder this issue properly before pulling out your credit card.

The first thing you might want to look at is whether to buy a new car or a used car. Some people just refuse to buy a used car, while others simply refuse to purchase a new one. There are of course both advantages and disadvantages of both.

So, what's so great about a new car? Well, a new car comes with all the perks: the latest devices, the color, the interior design. And you don't have to worry about any problems with the new car, you are fully covered by the car warranty. And of course, if you keep your car in good shape, you can probably extend the life of your car with minimal maintenance. But a new car comes with the drawbacks as well. The price, for one, is a major turn-off factor. And once you start driving the car, the resale value can decrease quite dramatically within the first two years. Insurance would probably cost much more as compared to a used car.

How about a used car? It�s definitely much cheaper than getting a new car, and your insurance wouldn't cost you a bomb. A popular used-car option is a off-lease used car. These cars are usually no more than 4 years old and are almost new, mainly because of the required maintenance and mileage limits. The warranty is often found intact as well. However, getting a used car means you may experience more problems with the car, and of course you have less choice over the exterior and interior of the car. You should always only purchase a used car from a car dealer you are familiar with, so when things go wrong it's easier for you to seek help.

After you have decided on a new or used car, you should look at how you will use the car. Will the car be a family vehicle? You don�t want to get a sedan for a huge family, but neither do you want to get a mini-van for just yourself. Do you need the state-of-the-art sound system? If you�re an audiophile with quite some cash you�ll probably want to invest in one, but if you listen only occasional than it will be nothing more than a while elephant. What other features do you need or not need? You�ll definitely want to get things that you won�t regret getting.

Next, you should probably be looking at financing. If you�re rolling in cash, you can pay for the car immediately, but most people pay in installments. You can choose to purchase the car, lease the car, or rent a car. The difference between leasing and renting is that leasing is more long term: you pay monthly for 12, 24, 36, etc, months, than return the car at the end of the lease period, unlike renting a car where you pay by the day or the week.

Finally, you should look at insurance. Insurance is always higher for high-risk cars like sports cars. Not only are the drivers often more reckless, they are also a more common target for theft and vandalism. Do you really need that cool flashy car that �everybody has�? Save money on buying that car, and save money on the insurance too!

Remember, purchasing a car is probably your second largest expenditure, besides your house. Make sure you evaluate all the options and think through it properly before buying. On a final note, always shop around, and NEVER buy on impulse.

Ginn merges with DEI to stay competitive

Bobby Ginn had grand plans to build a contender when he bought a NASCAR team last summer. But he learned rather quickly that winning takes a lot of money, and without solid sponsorships, it's almost impossible to do. Faced with scaling back his program to a noncompetitive level, Ginn instead merged his organization with Dale Earnhardt Inc. on Wednesday to form a four-car team that will debut this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"We absolutely would have survived without merging, but what we would have wound up doing is taken on lesser sponsors," Ginn told The Associated Press in a Wednesday telephone interview.

"We would have had to continue to cut costs, and that is disgraceful to me. I am proud of the merger. I would not have been proud of putting a car out there that couldn't compete."
The new deal makes Ginn a partner at DEI, which had been owned outright by the late Dale Earnhardt's widow, Teresa. She remains the majority owner under the merger.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will continue to drive the No. 8 Chevrolet for DEI for the remainder of the season, and Martin Truex Jr. remains in the No. 1 Chevy.

Paul Menard, who has struggled to make races this season in the No. 15 for DEI, will get the owner points from Ginn's No. 14 entry. That car had been driven by Sterling Marlin, who had locked it into the field each week based on owner points. Now Menard is assured a spot in the field.

Ginn driver Mark Martin will now pilot the No. 01 Chevrolet for DEI and split seat time with Aric Almirola. Ginn's third car, the No. 13 that had been driven by Joe Nemechek, has been parked and won't compete under the merger as NASCAR rules limit a single organization to just four entries.

"Teresa is very excited about this merger," said Max Siegel, president of global operations at DEI. "She wakes up every day making sure 400 people have a job doing what they love, and today she has done something that has strengthened her company and positioned it for another 25 years."

Ginn, who will be listed as the car owner for Martin and Menard at least this weekend, thinks he's done the same. A Florida-based land developer, he made a splash last summer when he bought controlling interest in MB2 Motorsports.

He quickly pumped money into the cash-strapped team and was determined to pull it above its midlevel status and turn it into a contender. Ginn built a new 200,000-sq. foot race shop, bought expensive equipment that only the elite teams have, assembled a deep driver development program and lured Martin away from Roush Racing in a deal that expanded the organization to three Cup teams.

Then the team shocked NASCAR by nearly winning the Daytona 500 — Martin was nipped at the finish by Kevin Harvick, but his strong start to the season made him the points leader through the first four races of the season.

Even though he was on top, Ginn stuck to his word and allowed Martin to keep his plan of running a partial schedule this season. So Martin climbed out of the car at Bristol in March and forfeited the points lead as he turned the wheel over to Regan Smith.

That strong start should have lured big-money sponsors to the organization, but they never materialized and Ginn was forced sponsor Marlin and Nemechek himself with his Ginn Resorts brand.

He stopped doing that in early June, allowing the two cars to run with plain black paint schemes — Martin's car is sponsored by the U.S. Army — and he was forced to let employees go as they scaled back operations.

"We were forced with either having to cut expenses or keep running the cars," he said. "And when I cut expenses, I noticed our performance level was going down. That really weighed on my mind."

Convinced that merging teams is the way of the future in NASCAR, Ginn set out to find a partner that would help create one fully funded super team.

Ginn found it in DEI, which has been trying to move back into elite status after several lean years following Earnhardt's 2001 death. The team took another hit in May when Earnhardt Jr. said he would leave at the end of the season — he's going to Hendrick Motorsports, based partly on a poor relationship with Teresa Earnhardt and partly on his belief that DEI isn't in position to win championships.

DEI has made strides since that May 10 announcement, focusing on building the team and preparing for a future without Earnhardt Jr. Siegel said Ginn was the perfect opportunity.
Ginn's shop is just four miles away from DEI, and will immediately house Martin and Menard's teams. Earnhardt and Truex will move into the building if they are eliminated from Chase contention, or when the season ends. DEI's existing facility will be used for the Busch and driver development programs.

DEI officials and Ginn will spend the next several weeks merging the personnel from both companies, and it's not clear who will make the cut. Smith, who has shared seat time with Martin this season but was expected to get a Cup ride of his own with Ginn, is now in limbo. He's entered in Friday night's Truck race in Indianapolis for Ginn, with nothing else immediately announced on his schedule.

Ginn said letting employees go — particularly Marlin and Nemechek — is the hardest part of the merger. But he's convinced it's for the best for both companies.

"I look at this like I may have sacrificed some ownership, and it doesn't have my name on it, but at the end of the day I have bettered everybody for doing this," Ginn said. "Even if the sponsors had come in, we probably would be talking about something like this anyway. This is just going to be the way teams operate going forward, and we needed to be invited to the party before it was too late."

By Yahoo

FIA summons McLaren over Ferrari secrets

The McLaren Formula One team was summoned Thursday to appear before the sport's governing body to explain how it came into possession of rival Ferrari's secret design documents.

McLaren is scheduled to appear before FIA's world motor sport council in Paris on July 26. The documents included information on how to design, engineer, build, check, test, develop and run a 2007 Ferrari F1 car.

The case reached the High Court in London on Wednesday when McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan, who was suspended by his team last week when documents were found in his house, agreed to tell Ferrari how he got hold of its design secrets.

Coughlan has been linked to Ferrari's head of performance Nigel Stepney, who was fired by the team for allegedly sending the 780-page technical document to Coughlan.

Stepney has denied it, although Ferrari won a court order to search the Coughlans' home and the documents were found, along with computers that will be examined by experts.
Ferrari also has taken legal action in Italy against Stepney.

McLaren team chief Ron Dennis has maintained his team did not break any rules, and the team issued a statement Thursday saying it was "extremely disappointed" by FIA's decision.
"While McLaren wishes to continue its full co-operation with any investigation into this matter, it does wish to make it very clear that the documents and confidential information were only in the possession of one currently suspended employee on an unauthorized basis and no element of it has been used in relation to McLaren's Formula 1 cars," it said.

The FIA did not say what sanctions could be taken against McLaren if found guilty of breaking rules. It's possible the team could face a points deduction or expulsion from the championship.
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton leads the drivers' standings with 70 points, ahead of teammate Fernando Alonso (58) and followed by Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen (52) and Felipe Massa (51). In the constructors' championship, McLaren has 128 points and Ferrari is second with 103.

The next race is July 22 at the Nuerburgring in Germany.

By Yahoo