I’ve been looking over some of the safety features offered on some of the newest lines of cars. One car that seems to stand out with an innovative list of features is the 2010 Lincoln MKZ. While it may be a little early to start looking for one in the NorCalCars showroom, today’s new cars will soon be tomorrows used cars!

Expect to get a little more kick out of this model than the previous years. A few of the performance features include sport tuned suspension and optional all wheel drive. The improvement in powertrain performance shaves the Lincolns 0-60 mph time down by .6 seconds from 7.7 to 7.1. This boost helped by the Six-Speed “SelectShift” automatic transmission that comes standard.

The new safety features are what have really caught our eye though. Starting with the “BLIS” or Blind Spot Information System. The BLIS uses two multiple beam radar modules behind the rear fender and indicator lights in the outside rear-view mirrors to warn the driver when someone enters into the defined blind spot.

Another feature called the CTA uses the same radar system from the BLIS to (more…)

As we get into the winter months with the possibility of wet, icy, or even heavy snow conditions in the Northern California area, it’s good to take a look at the condition of your tires. For drivers that must drive even in adverse conditions it’s also good to consider the type of tires you have on your vehicle. Here are a few tips for choosing tires in the Northern California area.

Mud and Snow Tires
Tires marked “M + S” (”mud and snow” tires) “MS” or “M/S”, also known as “all-season” tires, provide safe all-weather performance, but may not be suitable in heavy snow. One reason is that these tires tend to stiffen and loose gripping power around 0 Celsius. California vehicle code defines a mud and snow tire as “Snow-tread tire is a tire which has a relatively deep and aggressive tread pattern compared with conventional passenger tread pattern” (section 558). Often tires of this type are sufficient for the lower altitude towns like Redding, unless you plan on heading into the mountains during the storms.

Snow Tires
Tires rated as Snow tires are made of a different formulation of rubber. These are meant to remain softer and will retain traction even in the lower temperatures. The tradeoff is –>

NorCalCars is starting up a new feature. You will now be able to shop for discount auto parts.
We’ve teamed up with Auto Anything to give you a huge selection of car and truck parts to choose from. Included in our parts store will be performance parts from top manufacturers like Eldenbrock, Volant, Injen and K&N.

We also offer accessories like seat covers, car covers, ski and snowboard racks, and even truck tents.

Stop by and check out our selection! Over the next couple weeks we will continue to add to our selection, so if you can’t find what you’re looking for now, try again in a few days.

image source: zeropollutionmotors.us

In a previous post I talked about the air car from Tata Motors. Since then other manufacturers are entering into the race to take the lead in this environmentally friendly from of transportation.

Zero Pollution Motors in cooperation with MDI group unveiled their new air car at the 2008 New York Auto show on March 20. They also entered a team to compete for the Automotive X Prize.

Zero Pollution Motors has plans of introducing a compressed air vehicle to the US market in the year 2010. This family sized vehicle will seat 6, have 4 doors, and will achieve over 100 MPGe (mpg equivalent) with the ability to go over 90 mph. One interesting point is the affordability of this vehicle, it is expected that it will cost around $18,000. An economy/utility model will be produced by MDI for sale in France and elsewhere 2009 at a price of beginning at around $5,000-$6,000 for the basic model.

History of the air car
(more…)

Your kid is out of the car seat, so that means it is time to go to a full on seatbelt, right? Well, not really. Regular seat belts are meant for adults and only work properly if the person using it is 4’9” or taller.

You already know your child is too big for the car seat, but he is not big enough for an adult safety belt yet. What’s the solution?

A booster seat.

Okay, you’re all ready to buy a booster seat for your kid. Now all you have to do choose which one to get. You know they can’t all be good, so which one do you choose?

Choosing a Booster Seat 

Fortunately the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has made an in depth study of booster seats. They have determined which booster seats are safe and which booster seats are not so safe.

They have based their study on two very important factors, where the lap belt falls and where the shoulder belt lays. Accurate placement of these two belts is really the booster seat’s whole purpose in life. Where a booster seat places these belts determines whether or not it is a safe booster seat.

(more…)

Ford finally comes out with a car that can truly compete with high gas mileage Toyota and Honda, a sporty compact car that seats five, is up to date with modern technology and best of all gets 65 miles to the gallon. Only one problem, Ford is not selling it in the US!

Despite its incredible potential, Ford’s 2009 Fiesta ECOnetic will only be sold in Europe. Ford’s President, Mark Fields, has stated that there are number of undeniable business reasons that prevent Ford from selling in the US.

Ford’s Reasoning

The main reason for not selling in the US is this, the Fiesta ECOnetic runs on diesel. Ford believes that America’s prejudice to diesel and rising diesel prices will keep Americans from buying this 65 MPG vehicle.

Is Diesel All That Bad?

Europeans view diesel in a different light, (more…)

The Aston Martin is luxury vehicle today that most can only dream of owning. This near century old manufacturer has certainly had its share in the spotlight, breaking numerous racing records and setting the standard for style and luxury in our day.

Aston Martin has also seen a century’s worth of near fatal financial situations, being sold more times than most companies would care to tell you, but somehow Aston Martin has still made it out on top as first rate performance sports car.

Aston Martin - The Beginning

Aston Martin’s humble beginning all started in 1913 when Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford joined forces as Bamford & Martin to sell Singer cars, but soon they found themselves modifying and building cars meant for hill climbing and racing.

Martin soon became a success at Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, racing cars built by Bamford & Martin. Martin’s success in these races inspired the modern day name of Aston Martin and in 1914 Aston Martin was born.

In 1922 Aston Martin made its first overseas race at the French Grand Prix and on May 24, Aston Martin broke 10 records in Brooklands. (more…)

Since its introduction to the market in 1995, the Toyota Tacoma has remained a pillar of the compact pickup truck market. The Tacoma brand was first introduced in 1995, arising from the world wide Hilux. The Hilux was sold in America up until 1995 as the original name of the Toyota Truck. Distinctive rewards of owning a new or used Tacoma include an assortment of body styles to choose from, useful off-road abilities, solid build quality and an above average reputation for dependability, constancy, and strength.

In its initial few years of production, the Tacoma sold very well, attracting numerous young buyers. The first generation Tacoma underwent a total of two changes: a first in 1998, and a second in 2001. The alterations mainly entailed new headlights and grilles. Mechanical changes included a switch to distributorless ignitions (coil-on-plug) in 1997 and in 1998 longer rear leaf springs. Although Toyota refused to call it a recall, in All 4×4 models came with Toyota’s Automatic Differential Disconnect (ADD) system after the 2000 model year.

2cd Generation Toyota Tacoma
In 2004 a second generation of Toyota Tacoma was made and shown off in a Chicago Auto Show. (more…)

The Honda Civic, one of the most used cars in the United States, has been in production since 1972 – second oldest only to the Toyota Corolla. In Canada, the Civic has been the top selling car for 10 years in a row! Few complaints have been made about the Civic, most regarding transmission problems. Victims warn about the Civic’s transmission spontaneously dying without any prior warning. Honda has not acknowledged any flaw in the design so it is assumed by most of the community that these transmission problems are the fault of the driver and not the company.

Economy to Luxury
Officially the Honda Civic has gone through eight generations; early models of the Civic were classically equipped with a simple AM radio, an elementary heater, foam-cushioned plastic trim, two-speed wind-shield wipers and painted steel rims with a chromed wheel nut cap. The most contemporary generation of Civics have become considerably more luxurious (more…)

Buying a used car instead of buying a brand new car can save a great deal of money, but the condition the vehicle appears to be in is not always the condition it is in. If you buy a car that was abused by a previous owner the amount of money saved from buying a used car can dwindle very quickly.

That is why a careful inspection of the vehicle is so important. Much can be learned about a car’s past by what you see, hear and smell. (more…)