Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Hybrid Autos Becoming More Popular

Hybrid Autos Video

Hybrid autos are vehicles that uses two or even more distinct sources of power in order to get propelled. Among the power sources for a hybrid car there are gasoline or diesel fuel, on-board or out-board rechargeable energy storage systems (RESS), hydrogen, wind, compressed or liquid natural gas, solar, coal, wood or other solid combustibles, etc. The very concept of hybrid car designates electric vehicles that adapt the usage of an internal combustion engine to that of the electrical batteries.

As pointed out in the lines above, the range of hybrid vehicles is more extended than the category of simple cars. Mopeds and electric bicycles make the most relevant of examples here. These are the rather basic forms of hybrid vehicles. The combination between a gas engine or a battery and the physical power of the muscles is definitely superior. Then there are hybrid heavy vehicles like railway locomotives, buses, heavy goods vehicles, ships or mobile hydraulic machinery. Usually, the term hybrid car-vehicle is used to refer to hybrid electric vehicles. This range includes the next types of automotives: AHS2 (Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Silverado, Cadillac Escalade, Saturn Vue), Toyota Prius, Ford Escape Hybrid, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight and many others. A gas-electric hybrid car usually takes its power from an internal combustion engine (gasoline or diesel engine) and an electric battery.

The origins of the hybrid car are to be found in the early 1900s when David Arthurs created the first hybrid ever. Other than the combination of gas engine and electric motor, there are other propulsion sources used, but for a single engine only. Though there is a certain similarity to a hybrid car, distinctions do exist. Actually the latter should be more appropriately called dual mode vehicles (electric trolleybuses, dual mode buses, flexible-fuel vehicles, etc).

A hybrid car presents a number of advantages from the environmental perspective and there are two sides to consider here. First of all, you get to do something for the environment and humankind, but you also save money on fuel. There is a triple combination of factors that make the design of a hybrid car so appropriate for our times: first there is the combination gas-electricity, secondly, the battery comes with a high storage capacity, and thirdly, the kinetic energy wasted by braking is recuperated and reused.

Get more info on hybrid cars visit Hybrid Car Comparison.

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Saturn Car

Affordability is the main feature of the vehicles in the Saturn car family produced by General Motors; the Saturn collection includes family cars, SUVs, regular vehicles and minivans. The reduction in fuel consume combined with the good price represent essential elements that count on the Saturn car market. This production tendency was adopted by General Motors as a strategic move to gain market preminence over the toughest competitors: Japanese automotive manufacturers. Thus, General Motors came to sell low-priced Saturn car models in the early 1990s; then, this new division got the public attention by the very customer friendly services.

Saturn Car

The S Series are the Saturn car models to first impose themselves on the market in their complete array of coupes, sedans and wagons. They distinguished themselves even within the wide General Motors range of products by the use of new special platforms and a design meant to resist to denting through improved durability systems. One single plant in Tennessee is in charge of the whole Saturn car production. Back in the 90s these cars made the best fuel savings of the moment with a forty miles per gallon consume in the case of manual transmissions. Then, depending on the model, a Saturn car brought somewhere between 85 and 124 horsepower.

Saturn Car

The beginning of the century didn't bring much novelty in the Saturn car design; the interior was given more attention in terms of good looks, but the Saturn brand seems a bit neglected by the mother company. With lower sales attracting the leaders' attention, General Motors eventually decided to move in the direction of launching a new Saturn car division: the L Series. The concept relied on the use of the sedan to revive interest in the brand: thus the Vue and the Ion followed together with a green line application in the form of a hybrid car this time.

Saturn Car

If compared to the first Saturn car models, present-day Saturn vehicles have changed and improved a lot. Instead of the plastic panels used for the first models, steel is now used for safety purposes, not to mention that it is more convenient. Moreover, any modern Saturn car is likely to bear the the similarity with the European GM models like the Opel. Some car owners have complained about the loss of the identity and the stylish polishing of European cars, but generally speaking, one cannot forget or neglect the serious standard level increase made not only in design but in quality and refinement too.

Monday, January 05, 2009

Saturn Auto

Experts talk about a variety of car markets, and for an auto producer, international success is closely connected to the ability to cater to different market sectors. General Motors, for instance, aimed at reducing the number of Japanese car imports on the American market by producing a parallel line: Saturn auto collection. The aesthetic concept and the practical features of the very popular Japanese cars set the Saturn auto production process in motion, in the attempt to win over the public just as much as the imports had done. Success did result from the Saturn auto lines, and for a period of time Saturn vehicles came on the first place in the sales top of the American market.

Saturn Auto

However, the market trends were too quick to allow for a long-enduring success of Saturn auto models. From complex to more complex, this is the tendency and the fashion trend that rules the car market. In other words car concepts changed, integrating the transition to more daring designs, with avant-garde features. Thus, what was optional at first became standard in more recent models both for the safety and the comfort requirements. In a nutshell, Saturn auto manufacturers had to find a way to recuperate their dominance in the business in order to go from one success to another.

Saturn Auto

Since 2004, Saturn auto offers grew in variety with the launching of new series by General Motors. Plus, the interest in hybrid car models also got higher, given the increased awareness of the environmental decay closely related to car pollution. Toxic emissions are definitely lower even with the Saturn auto vehicles powered by gas, even if oil remains the primary energy source. Plug in car options are in the design phase at the moment, but in the not so distant future they could allow for vehicle autonomy and the unique use of electrical engines or batteries as propelling devices.

Saturn Auto

Saturn auto options provide all the necessary comfort, and the level between convetional and luxurious is well balanced so as to provide a very satisfactory ride. This is the explanation for the market success and car respect of the very first Saturn auto models, since they put people first. Impeccable customer service was the ace in the sleeve that General Motors had over the other car manufacturers. Maybe they don't rally to the latest trends in car fashion, but at least they remain focused on the necessities of the average driver. Saturn auto choices are therefore still valid nowadays with options for all pockets providing average to luxurious products.