Roadside Assistance Program

The new Mazda Kazamai is highly impressive with its wildly futuristic style. A turbocharged four-cylinder engine that Mazda will also use in production models as soon as 2011, powers the car.

The engine is based on the one in the CX-7 crossover; however, Mazda claims this one will improve mileage up to 30%. A four-wheel drive CX-7 currently gets 17/23 mpg, which means a 30% increase would bring those figures to 22/30 mpg. This is better, in terms of highway mileage, than any other SUV that is a non-hybrid on the market. Also, the CX-7’s current engine is a ton of fun to drive. It is expected that this new turbo engine, and a next generation six-speed transmission will make it to other models, such as the new Mazda 6 and maybe a future edition of the Mazdaspeed3 performance hatchback.

This move is following a trend that has been seen before, where it is possible to add existing technology, such as turbocharging, to gas engines in order to greatly increase mileage. Increasing mileage by 30% in three years is very impressive. Mazda is listening to consumer demands for more fuel-efficient vehicles with new car warranties and roadside assistance. Their turbocharged four-cylinder engine will be utilized in many vehicles.

Raymond W. Kelly, the New York City Police Commissioner, along with Mayor Michael Bloomberg, just announced that the NYC police department is going to add 40 new Nissan Altima Hybrids to its current fleet. This will be the first time NYC will use hybrids in their patrol fleet.

Twenty of these cars won’t be marked, while two are going to look like taxis for the anticrime fleet, and the others will have the typical blue and white paint that most patrol cars sport. It may not seem like a lot of hybrids considering the fleet of patrol cars equals 3,000, however the 40 hybrids are going to be a pilot program. In one year, the performance of the hybrids will be evaluated to determine if NYC should get more.

The Nissan Altima hybrids that are only for sale in seven states, will cost the department $25,391, which is $1,500 more than the Chevrolet Impala or Ford Crown Victoria that are currently being used. However, the department predicts that a large fuel savings will make up the difference. The hybrids only reach a top speed of 113mph, however, the patrol cars need to be able to undergo stop and go traffic, not chases that are high-speed. After all, high-speed chases in NYC would likely end in lots of roadside assistance calls.

People often try to choose a repair shop that is close to their homes and that they believe to be trustworthy. However, the time may be coming when motorists aren’t going to have the freedom to pick whichever repair shop they want.

Cars today are operated through computers, therefore to determine what repairs need to be done the computer codes are needed. Carmakers don’t like to release these codes, which means that independent service shops may not be able to repair cars properly. This means that motorists are being forced to take their vehicles into dealerships for repairs. This makes having an auto warranty even more essential because dealerships usually charge more for repairs.

Congress has realized that this is a problem because independent repair shops may be put out of business. In response to this they are trying to get the Motor Vehicle Owners Right To Repair Act passed. This bill would make it mandatory for automakers to disclose information with independent repair shops.

Motorists need to be able to have the option of where to get their cars repaired, otherwise people may avoid having repairs done and end up calling for roadside assistance.

Honda is now going to team up with C3, which is better known as the promoter of the Austin City Limits Music Festival and Lollapalooza. Those two festivals bring in thousands of fans every year to Austin, Texas and Chicago. Honda is hoping to reach out to those fans through an “eco-partnership.”

Honda is going to utilize these events in order to promote its new Insight, which it claims is the hybrid that is the most affordable on the market. The sponsorship is going to include “integrated green activities,” displays of hybrid vehicles and the most tempting part is a 2010 Honda Insight giveaway at each event.

If you would like a chance of getting the free Honda Insight, you can go to Austin from October 2-4 or Lollapalooza in Chicago from August 7-9. Just remember, if you decide to make it a road trip, make sure you have roadside assistance so you don’t miss your chance at winning the Insight.

Smart cars are becoming more and more popular because of the downsizing trend. But many consumers have reservations about the safety of this car because of its 8 feet long, 5 feet tall dimensions. So how does the Smart car measure up in safety?

According to crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Smart car received the highest rating possible in side and front crashes and the second highest in rear crashes. The Smart car comes standard with front-end airbags on the passenger and driver side.

Also, motorists can feel good knowing that the Smart Car is made by Mercedes. The Mercedes name has earned consumers trust, and they have always had excellent safety.

In the Smart Car the passengers are essentially sitting on top of a roll cage. This is an iron frame that surrounds the car and provides a buffer zone in crashes.

Although the Smart Car has excellent safety features, the IIHS reminds consumers that cars are ranked in their class, determined by the size and weight of the vehicle. This means that the Smart Car is in the top of its class, but this doesn’t mean that the car is as safe as vehicles in other classes.

Consumers are taking safety into their own hands by purchasing safe cars and signing up for roadside assistance programs. The Smart Car is a great choice for its class based on its safety features.

Many people wonder why carmakers sell different models overseas than in the U.S. And, why is it so hard to bring a popular vehicle in Europe to the U.S. For example, if Ford has success selling the Fiesta in Europe, which would fit the needs of Americans who are more gas conscious than ever, why not just begin shipping them to dealers in America?

The main reason is differing standards in safety. What is acceptable in Europe doesn’t always pass the test with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. U.S. law has a requirement for crash protection for car passengers that don’t wear seat belts, however, this isn’t a priority in Europe. Even small details, such as the color of the turn signals in the rear are a major obstacle when trying to take a car from one market to another.

A study was conducted by Ford of 43 regulations in Europe and the U.S. and discovered that there were only 11 that matched. So, it gets to be very expensive to make an all-new version of a vehicle in order to meet different safety standards.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and American consumers have strict safety standards. Motorists put safety at the top of their list, which is why they are buying safer cars and signing up for roadside assistance programs. For this reason, cars in Europe aren’t always introduced to the U.S.

Modern vehicles are designed safer to survive accidents and keep passengers safe. Virtually all automakers include emergency kits installed by the factory. This is either due to competitive pressure or government regulations. Most of the roadside kits include reflective markers, jumper cables, and flashlights. These kits typically deal with mechanical and accident breakdowns.

Today’s automobiles endure unique conditions. There is an increase in natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, etc. Other emergencies include major accidents, snowstorms, and mechanical breakdowns, which all leave motorists stranded.

This is why it is necessary to be prepared in an emergency situation. Motorists need to have emergency kits, first aid kits, and most importantly, a roadside assistance program. In any emergency, drivers are left vulnerable, and knowing that help is only a phone call away leaves drivers with peace of mind. It is simple to take these precautions, and they can literally save your life.

Many commuters end up experiencing a break down at one point or another. These are breakdowns that happen between 7-9 am and leave people stranded on the side of the road. A roadside assistance program is the best way for commuters to protect themselves in this event.

Breakdowns are scary because they leave drivers feeling vulnerable and expose them to road dangers. For instance, a recent survey showed that out of drivers who had experienced a breakdown in the past two years, 15% were with their children in the vehicle, 20% felt they were in a situation in which they shouldn’t leave their car, and 5% had an elderly person in the car. In addition, 30% of women drivers were stressed about how to get out of the situation.

Also revealed in the survey was that there are five places people typically breakdown. First of all, people breakdown at their homes before ever getting out of the driveway. Next, people have vehicle problems going to work, and on their way to visit friends and family. Fourth, people breakdown while shopping, and lastly, people get stuck at work.

An auto road service program will help you feel more at ease in the event of a breakdown. You can rest assured that road service is on the way, and that you will be back on the road in no time.

Colorado has a new system that will help prevent road kill along one of the busiest highways in the state. The system works by using an underground cable running parallel to the highway that is able to sense if an animal is around through an electromagnetic field. If an animal trips the system, drivers are alerted through electronic road signs.

The system is going to be tested in Colorado on US-160, and radar detectors will be deployed to observe if motorists slow down after receiving the warning. If it is obvious that the system is working it will most likely proliferate on roadways that have seen a large amount of collisions between cars and animals.

You may think this is a strange idea, or that it’s a waste of money. And, people have even asked, “Why not just put up a fence?” Well, if you’ve ever seen a deer jump a fence you would understand why that wouldn’t help the problem.

About seventy percent of collisions on Colorado’s highways involve animals. With those high numbers something needs to be done about the problem. The underground cable is a good start, but drivers need to drive more defensively. In addition, all motorists should have a roadside assistance program in case of an emergency so they don’t end up stranded.

Well, the auto show season is coming to an end and the all-new car models have been unveiled, however auto companies have to still update the existing nameplates.  According to Audi, there will be minor adjustments to the Q7 SUV, which include a front and rear end that is slightly revised.  However, the change that is the most noticeable on this vehicle is the LED running lights that encircle the entire design of the headlight.  In addition, the rear also gets LED brake lights.

The interior of the car pretty much stays the same, except for front seats with new leather and the third-generation of the infotainment system that sports a multi-media interface.  And this car has an intriguing navigation system operated by voice-activation.  Motorists can just say a command, such as “I’m hungry” or “I need gas”, and the computer will locate the appropriate points of interest in the local vicinity.  This will eliminate car accidents and roadside assistance calls that were caused by distractions having to do with the navigation system.

Choices for the engine include the current 3.6-liter V-6 and 4.2-liter V-8, as well as a new option of TDI for those people who want a diesel alternative.  Audi claims that the 2010 Q7 TDI is going to get approximately 25 mpg with a range of 600 miles.  This car will go on sale in the fall.