Tips to Improve Car’s Fuel Efficiency

It’s really exasperating to see fuel prices skyrocketing, right? We can only feel helpless in the face of recurring and economy-driven price fluctuations. Seeking measures to improve fuel economy is the only way to combat rising fuel prices. Do not disregard these simple guidelines; each little step can really start adding up to significant savings to your budget.

Check Tyre Pressure

Keeping the tyres well inflated is one of the simplest things you can do to help improve your car’s fuel efficiency. You can improve the mileage by about 3.3 percent if you keep your tyres inflated properly, according to the DOE.

Lighten Your Load

Empty out your boot of unnecessary items. For every extra 45 kg you carry, your fuel efficiency can drop by 1-2% in a typical vehicle.

S-L-O-W D-O-W-N

The faster you drive, the more fuel you use. Driving within the speed limit recommended by the manufacturer helps save fuel. Driving just 5mph over the speed limit can affect fuel economy by up to 23%. Likewise, quick acceleration consumes too much fuel; accelerate slowly and gradually.

Do Fuel Quality/Types/Additives Help Mileage?

Petrol pump attendants often try to convince you to go for ‘Speed petrol’ or ‘X-tra Mile diesel’. But this need not necessarily help improve your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Always use the grade recommended for the vehicle by the manufacturer. Higher octane fuel may not only be a waste of money but may harm the vehicle, as well. However sticking to one brand of fuel is always good for the engine. Know more about Octane Ratings

Tune Your Engine

A well-tuned engine can improve fuel economy by up to 4%. So change your oil and follow your car manufacturer’s recommendation on servicing.

Clean the Air Filters Regularly

Air filters keep impurities from damaging your engine. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve fuel economy by as much as 10%.

Keep the Windows Closed

Driving with your windows open considerably reduces mileage, far more than keeping the AC on while driving along highways. So preferably keep the windows closed and the AC on if you want to keep cool. Of course the air-conditioning decreases fuel efficiency considerably, so use it judiciously. Windows down or A/C on — which is more fuel-efficient?

Clean Spark Plugs

Ensure your spark plugs are in good condition. Renew the plugs and wires at intervals specified by the manufacturer. This will keep all cylinders firing properly resulting in higher efficiency.

Don’t Be a Clutch-Driver

Never keep your foot on the clutch while driving. When you do this, pressure is being placed on your clutch, and it not only reduces mileage, but also wears out the clutch plate, replacing which is not cheap.

Keep the Car in Showroom Condition

It’s always prudent to keep the car in the showroom condition. Remember that any modification to the car, such as broad tyres, diffusers etc., will adversely affect the mileage.

Sources: yfittopostblog.com                   Also know about Electric Car

Maruti Suzuki launches 5 CNG Models

Maruti Suzuki on Friday unveiled its flagship CNG engine technology — ‘intelligent-Gas Port Injection' or i-GPI — on five popular models. The models include SX4, Eeco, WagonR, Estilo and Alto and will be available in the entire National Capital Region, including Delhi, Mumbai and Gujarat.

While sedan SX4 Vxi is priced at Rs. 7.47 lakh, WagonR Lxi comes with a price tag of Rs. 4.11 lakh. Prices of other models are: Estilo Lxi Rs. 4.05 lakh, Eeco 5-seater AC Rs. 3.64 lakh and Alto Lxi Rs. 3.23 lakh.

“With this initiative, the CNG footprint of the company spreads across entry-level cars, compact cars, sedans and MPV segments. We are confident that customers would value our i-GPI technology that is safe, reliable, clean and environment-friendly. Adapting the CNG technology in our vehicles is another step to keep low cost of ownership for our customers,” said Maruti Suzuki India Chairman R. C. Bhargava.

According to Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, “This is the first instance when a car manufacturer has developed and launched factory-fitted technologically superior CNG engines in India. CNG is environment-friendly and also reduce country's dependence on imported fuels. The company's big ticket entry into the CNG fuel segment augurs well for the environment.” The i-GPI bi-fuel technology engine offers an intelligent ride as it ensures more power vis-à-vis retro-fitted CNG vehicles and offers a peppier ride experience on a par with that of a petrol-fuelled engine, while achieving high fuel efficiency at the same time. The factory fitted CNG vehicles score high on safety and reliability vis-à-vis the aftermarket retro-fitted options, he said.

Mr. Nakanishi further said that as the CNG technology was factory-fitted, customers would enjoy the full warranty benefits, including extended warranty. To top it all, the CNG vehicles from Maruti Suzuki would enjoy the nationwide back up of over 2,700 Maruti service stations, he added.

Source: Thehindu.com

BMW 5 Series Trying To Top The Indian Luxury Car

Beemer is back with a bang with the new, smartened up BMW 5 series sedan. Now, BMW has more strength to beat its arch rival Mercedes Benz in the sales chart. BMW has already pushed Benz aside and became the No.1 luxury car brand upto March 2010. But during the last quarter, due to the stoppage in production of BMW 5 series, Benz was selling more cars. But now, BMW hopes that it will regain the top spot with the 5 series.

According to Juergen Eder, MD of Prodcutions, BMW, informed that the company is confident that the new BMW 5 series produced in Chennai will increase our momentum in the Indian luxury car segment. BMW 5 series is priced in the range of Rs 38.9 lakh and Rs 58 lakh (ex-showroom).It is the most sought out luxury sedan, accounting for more than 50% of the total BMW sales and the German car maker has sold 3,700 units of this particular model since 2007.

The battle between the trio, Benz-BMW-Audi is heating up as all the three car makers are having loads of surprises with new car launches as well as strengthening their distribution through new showrooms. For instance, Benz launched 15 products in just 6 months of 2010 in India. The latest surprise is SLS AMG, which will cost Rs. 2 crore!

Audi, on the other hand, is ready to launch its new products, so as to widen its portfolio. It is already assembling its few car models in India and is further finding possibilities to assemble A8, Q3 and Q7 at its Aurangabad plant. Audi is also targeting to sell 6000 cars by 2015 and is eager to grab the "No.1 luxury car maker" in India.

Source: living.oneindia.in

Electric Car Fever is Rising Again

Nissan's electric-powered Leaf, scheduled to be in showrooms in December, has attracted 16,000 advance orders.

Battery-powered-sports-car maker Tesla Motors Inc. just launched one of the hottest initial public offerings in years. Nissan Motor Co.'s electric Leaf is generating buzz ahead of its scheduled December debut and has 16,000 advance orders. President Barack Obama plans to visit an electric car battery factory in Michigan Thursday to promote the government's $2.4 billion program of grants to subsidize development of electric-vehicle technology.

And of course, the catastrophic Gulf oil spill is reviving anxiety over the national addiction to oil.

So, it's all systems go for a future in which most of our driving doesn't depend on fossil fuels, right?

To appreciate the obstacles standing in the way of the electric-car dream, you don't need to talk to electric-vehicle skeptics or hybrid haters. Instead, you can listen to the people who believe in electric vehicles, and are investing in those beliefs.

Proponents of the technology will tell you that anyone buying an electric vehicle will want to know at least two things: How far can I drive before I have to recharge? And, where can I go to recharge when I am on the road, far from home? Companies acknowledge that clear answers to those questions aren't yet available—and may not be until a good while after the coming flock of electric cars has hit showrooms.

Tesla Motors outlines as part of its public-offering documents a lengthy recitation of risks to its business. It's sobering reading for electric-vehicle enthusiasts. One of the concerns Tesla raises is that the Environmental Protection Agency is looking at new ways to measure how far electric cars can go before they need to be recharged. The aim is to make the advertised range figures better reflect how people drive their cars in the real world. Some of the new test methods the EPA is considering could require electric-vehicle companies to reduce the advertised range of their vehicles by as much as 30%.

The EPA won't comment on its rule-making. Tesla currently tells people who buy its $101,500 Roadsters that they can expect to drive as many as 245 miles between charges, a figure company officials say is based on existing EPA tests. Tesla has sold about 1,000 Roadsters since 2008.

Nissan has told prospective buyers of the Leaf that they can expect to drive up to 100 miles on a charge. "Up to" is a critical qualifier in the electric-vehicle business, given how cold temperatures, speed, the power drain from air conditioners and other factors can cut into battery life.

More at: online.wsj.com