Top Market Cars

Archive for September, 2011

Cadillac Cts Body Kits

The overrated definition of body kits is that it is exterior modifications for your vehicle to make it look cooler. But aside from making it look cooler and sleeker it also boosts the speed and performance of your car through aerodynamics.

When you go out and shop for a body kit take for instance a Cadillac CTS body kits you will be presented with three types of kit: lip bumper replacement and a wide body. All these three types can definitely liven up your vehicle but it is up to you to choose which among the three is best for you. Another thing you have to consider when buying for a CTS body kit is the type of material the kit is made of.

Usually body kits are either made of a urethane or a fiberglass. Depending on your needs you will need to choose the material that is appropriate for you. Urethane is known for its flexibility and durability. In addition to installing it easily it is also highly resistant to damage. The only downside of urethane though is that once it get damaged there is no way for you to repair it. Fiberglass on the other hand can be repaired but can easily be damaged. The key to a long lasting kit is choosing the material that perfectly suits you. Note that urethane is for those people living in cold places while fiberglass is for those with fine weathers.

There are several shops selling CTS body kits. Aside from neighborhood shops it is also being offered online. If you want to save time and effort as well some money on gas then I suggest that you purchase online. However purchasing online like purchasing some place else is not always safe. You have to be on guard of possible swindlers and scammers waiting to get a hold of your money. What you can to avoid these scam artists is to conduct an investigation about the company you are looking forward to deal with. Check with Better Business Bureau if they are registered with them. Though having a BBB seal is a guarantee that they can be trusted some sites tend to copy or clone the seal to make it seem that they are doing a legitimate business when they are not. Ask the BBB how their authentic BBB seal looks like so as not to be tricked by sites posing to be legitimate. Aside from that you can also go to consumer advocates and see if the company has any reported misconduct or violation. Knowing the past dealings and transactions of a company is very important in avoiding fraudulent transactions. You may also want to verify their feedbacks and testimonials and see they are all true and not made up.

About the writer:  Andrew Barker is a writer and a car enthusiast who values creativity and imagination over the standardized.Andrew Barker is also the well known owner of i love body kits. You can find the latest in Cadillac CTS body kits at I love body kits.

Ford Taps Fiat For Second Generation Ka Development

On the surface it is a Ford and it will be built at a Ford factory in Poland but underneath the second generation subcompact Ford Ka will share its platform and some of its mechanicals with the Fiat 500. Rolled out in 1996 the first generation Ka is finally being replaced by an allnew model a car that will be made available in select European markets beginning in early 2009.

Powered by a 1.2L I4 engine the Ka is a threedoor hatchback weighing about one ton. Holding four passengers the car’s main appeals are its price about 14000 for a base model and high gas mileage about 50 mpg. Optionally buyers can choose a 1.3L diesel engine for optimum fuel economy reportedly in the neighborhood of 60 mpg.

Both the Ka and its Fiat sibling are being built at the automaker’s Tychy Poland facility where the automaker expects to produce as many as 120000 units annually. This is the first time the Ka is being built at Tychy a move that has helped to create more than one thousand new jobs for area residents.

It was three years ago that we reached agreement with Fiat to produce the new Ka here in Tychy explained Ian Slater vicepresident communications and public affairs Ford of Europe. One of the strengths of this cooperation has been that both parties wanted to produce vehicles which would be very different in looks and character. I’m satisfied that in doing so we’ve set up a ‘winwin’ opportunity for both companies.

To date more than 1.4 million Ka models have been sold a vehicle that has an almost cultlike following. Indeed Ford offers what they call kaligraphy; which are customized paint schemes slapped on select models in the vicinity of the vehicle’s Cpillar and on the hatchback liftgate. Buyers enjoy selecting pictures of birds flowers and other colorful objects to personalize their Ka experience.

With the introduction of the next generation Ka Ford has finished overhauling its European product line a move that brought twenty new or improved vehicles to the market in 2008 alone.

Although Ford has promised to build as many as six European models in North America the company hasn’t indicated whether the Ka will be included in that set.

Source: Ford Motor Company

About the writer:  Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer who resides in Cary North Carolina. Matt provides magazine web content and article writing services to clients all over the world serving the automotive human interest and business communities. Matthew Keegan Musings is his personal weblog.

Volvo Cars And Safety

Volvos are known for being extremely safe cars. They are so safe in fact that Volvo has started a “Volvo Saved My Life” Club. This club recounts the many moments in which Volvo drivers have been saved by the safety features of these amazing vehicles.

The Volvo v70 and Volvo s70 comes with standard with numerous safety features that you don’t want to miss out on. These safety features may be what put you in Volvo’s special club.

The Volvo line of cars begins with the SafetyCage Passenger Compartment. This feature is complete with front and rear crumple zones that are able to dissipate and distribute the collision force. This reduces the physical strain on the car’s passengers. There are also roof pillars and transverse roof profiles that would prevent the car caving in should it roll. The side collision impact system also distributes the force of a collision to the side of a car.

The second feature is the SideImpact Protection System. This reduces injuries in the event of a side impact. The car’s body is designed to reduce the deformation that occurs to a car when hit form the side.

In many frontend collisions individuals are often harmed by the steering shaft. In a Volvo s70 you will find a collapsible steering column that is designed to prevent the penetration of the steering column into the vehicle’s cabin.

In rear end collisions whiplash is a common injury. These injuries are created by the catapult effect that occurs when a vehicle is rearended. In the event of an accident to the rear of the vehicle the Whiplash Protection Seating System is activated. There are two phases involved with this feature. The first is a wire frame and the limitedtravel spring system. These features prevent your body from being pressed deeply into the seat. The second is a system that allows the seat to actually move backwards and prevent the person from being thrown forwards. This system is designed to work at speeds of up to 20 mph as this is when whiplash injuries occur the most.

The airbag system on a Volvo is like not other car. There are threestep airbags with a driver’s and passenger side kneepads. A driver and a passenger will often need protection for their knees. Many knee injuries occur in accidents that are frontend collisions. The driver and the front passenger are often thrown forwards in these types of accidents and the knees may be jammed into the lower console.

These are just a few safety features that are found in the Volvo s70 and Volvo v70 but there are many more additional features that may be found in each car as well.

About the writer:  Rain Stockton is an engineer by profession. He is a motorsports fanatic especially F1 and NASCAR. He seldom fails to attend major car racing events. A frustrated race car driver he spends some of his free time working in one of the largest automotive shops in Indianapolis.