Archive for the ‘vehicle’ Category
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008 |
Many motorcycles have been around for many years. The Eliminator 125 Kawasaki motorcycle is one of these motorcycles. Many things can happen in the world of motorcycles. Many things did happen and happened to improve the Kawasaki motorcycle. Let’s look at how the consumer image of the Kawasaki motorcycle of 2008 has changed since the Kawasaki motorcycle of 1998.
Overall rating of the Kawasaki motorcycle
Taken as a whole, both the 1998 and the 2008 the Eliminator 125 Kawasaki motorcycle scored similarly. The top score is 100 and the Eliminator 125 Kawasaki motorcycle scored 65.1 and 64.1 respectively. As you can see, it is better then average, which would have been 50, but still on the lower end of better.
Engine performance of the Kawasaki motorcycle
Engine performance in a Kawasaki motorcycle is very important. Engine performance is important in any motorcycle, not just a Kawasaki motorcycle, but it appears that the Kawasaki motorcycle has definitely improved with time. The 1998 Eliminator 125 Kawasaki motorcycle performed almost 10 points lower, at a 58.7, compared to the 68.2 engine of the 2008 Eliminator 125 Kawasaki motorcycle.
Reliability and Problem Free Driving of the Kawasaki motorcycle
Unfortunately, the 1998 Eliminator 125 Kawasaki motorcycle did better in this area. It scored a 68.8, a full four points higher then the 2008 model. It appears then that the 2008 Eliminator 125 Kawasaki motorcycle is falling in this area.
Fun Factor of the Kawasaki Motorcycle
Fun, fun, fun. Motorcycles are all about fun. So what did consumers think of the Eliminator 125 Kawasaki motorcycle? In 1998, it was scored at 70.5, and it improved in 2008 with a score of 71.7. The Kawasaki motorcycle of 2008 is more fun then the 1998 model.
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Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 |
This is the first of the new breed of fuel-efficient hybrid SUVs to appear in the US. What is significant is Ford chose its popular Escape as the vehicle. The “full” hybrid drive system used in the Escape is based on the technology developed for the Toyota Prius, which means it is essentially an electric car with gasoline engine back up. In low load situations such as stop and go, city-type driving, the vehicle runs exclusively on electric power. The battery pack is re-charged or re-generated both when the vehicle is decelerating and when it is braking. It is also recharged when the gasoline engine is operating. The battery pack is located under the rear storage area and doesn’t occupy any of the available storage space. Apart from the very unconventional hybrid drive, the rest of the car is a conventional Ford Escape XLT with either FWD or 4WD. The Escape Hybrid will be assembled in Kansas City (Mo) on the same line as the regular Escape (and the Mazda Tribute). Ford maintains it has “no idea” what the demand will be but according to the affable Saud Abbasi, SUV Brand Manager for Ford of Canada, they are prepared to produce however many or however few are needed to meet it.
The Escape Hybrid is basically an electric car with a gasoline engine back up. The main components of the system are a conventional Ford Duratec 2.3L 4-cylinder gasoline engine matched up with a 70KW (equivalent to 94hp) permanent magnet traction motor. The electric motor can propel the car on its own or in concert with gasoline engine to provide performance equivalent to a conventional V-6. The gasoline engine fires up seamlessly (within 400 milliseconds) when additional power is needed such as under hard acceleration or during high speed highway driving. It will also start when the battery charge falls below optimal levels. A planetary gear set connects the drive wheels to the gasoline engine and the electric traction motor so that the vehicle can move on any combination of electric and gasoline power depending on which is more efficient at that instant. The electric motor is most efficient at low vehicle speeds where the gasoline engine is least efficient and vice versa. The Escape Hybrid can be driven up to 25 miles on electric power alone, thus using no gasoline and causing no emissions. Electric assist steering ensures power steering even when the gasoline engine is off.
While the basic system used in the Escape Hybrid is licensed from Toyota, Ford’s engineers claim they have considerably modified the Toyota system and, in many instances, improved on it. I don’t know about that but I can say the Escape driving experience is quite different from the Prius. In fact, if you did not know the Escape was a hybrid, you’d be hard pressed to realize you weren’t driving a conventional 200 hp V-6. It is smooth, quiet and amazingly quick. The 0 – 60mph time has to be below 9 seconds, which again puts it well into V-6 territory. In order to optimize the efficiency of the mostly conventional 2.3L Duratec 4-cylinder engine under the hood, some interesting modifications have been made to it. One of the most interesting is the Atkinson-Cycle variant of the conventional 4-stroke cycle. It is tailored to the hybrid’s specific driving characteristics and reduces fuel consumption by an additional 4%. The Atkinson-Cycle variant reduces low-end torque, which is not needed on a Hybrid drive since the electric motors provide instant maximum torque. Power gets to the wheels via a fuel efficient, electronically controlled continuous variable transmission (eCVT). Towing capacity is 1000 lbs.
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Thursday, February 14th, 2008 |
To bolster its versatile and dynamic product line, enhance the company’s bold and adventurous brand identity and further expand the growing line of products marketed by approximately 500 Suzuki dealers nationwide, American Suzuki Motor Corp. debuts its all-new 2009 Equator midsize pickup truck at this year’s Chicago Auto Show. The introduction of the Equator marks Suzuki’s first entry into the midsize pickup truck market and expands the company’s offering of activity-oriented cars and trucks.
Leveraging Suzuki’s credibility as a maker of lifestyle-oriented, fun-to-use products, the Equator offers the perfect blend of style, utility and off-road capability that truck buyers - many of whom are current Suzuki motorcycle, ATV and marine product owners, loyalists and ambassadors - demand and enjoy. Developed as a joint effort with Nissan North America, Inc., and based on the Nissan Frontier, the 2009 Equator will be available in both Extended Cab and Crew Cab body styles and rear-wheel and four-wheel-drive configurations. The all-new 2009 Suzuki Equator pickup truck is scheduled to go on sale in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2008. Pricing has not yet been announced.
“Since Suzuki has continued to strengthen its brand equity among outdoor enthusiasts, we thought now was the right time to produce a vehicle that meets the additional needs many of these people have,” said Mark Harano, president American Suzuki Automotive Operations. “Truck buyers are a particularly good fit for Suzuki since they’re likely to participate in motorcycle riding, power boating and other lifestyle-oriented activities that fit with our brand identity and our product portfolio. The Equator provides Suzuki with an opportunity to build an authentic connection with a group of consumers who are familiar with our brand and, in many circumstances, own other Suzuki products.”
To introduce the Equator, Suzuki is unveiling three separate representations of the truck during its Chicago Auto Show press conference. The three concepts, coined the RMZ-4 for off-road enthusiasts, Quad for outdoor adventurers and Quay for boating and watersports aficionados, showcase Suzuki’s diverse brand spirit, while illustrating the capability and flexibility of the all-new Suzuki Equator.
In addition to Chicago’s global reveal of the all-new Equator, Suzuki will showcase the SXForce, a sportbike-inspired concept reinforcing the link between the company’s rich motorcycle heritage and versatile line of fun-to-drive automobiles, as well as a range of outdoor and performance-oriented motorcycles and ATVs, including the KingQuad 450, LT-R450 QuadRacer and all-new Hayabusa sportbike, to name a few.
2009 Suzuki Equator
Performance and Functionality
Built at Nissan’s manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tenn., the 2009 Equator features a fuel efficient 2.5-liter DOHC inline four with 152 horsepower and 171 lb.-ft. of torque or an optional 4.0-liter, V6 DOHC engine producing a class-leading 261 hp with 281 lb.-ft. of torque. Designed for outstanding performance and durability, the Equator’s V6 engine incorporates an aluminum block with cast iron cylinder liners, forged steel crankshaft, microfinished crankshaft and camshafts, Teflonr-coated pistons, variable valve timing and a silent two-stage timing chain.
The Equator is matched to either a five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission (I4 and V6) or five-speed manual transmission (I4), and offers an available shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive system with an electronically controlled part-time two-speed transfer case. For enhanced off-road capability, the rugged Equator offers a comprehensive off-road traction system, including four-wheel limited slip, electronic locking rear differential, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), hill descent control and hill start assist.
The Equator’s strong, fully boxed frame anchors a long 125.9-inch wheelbase (Extended Cab or Crew Cab/regular bed), enhancing driver and passenger comfort and stability, while its overall length of 205.5 inches (Extended Cab or Crew Cab/regular bed) provides the perfect balance of utility, maneuverability and composure for a midsize pickup truck. The 2009 Equator features an all-steel double-wishbone front suspension and solid axle rear suspension with overslung leaf springs and a long suspension stroke for optimized off-road dynamics. Maximum towing capacity is rated at 6,500 pounds. EPA fuel economy estimates are still preliminary.
Other Equator powertrain components include engine-speed-sensitive power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering for responsiveness and good on-center feel and standard four-wheel disc brakes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD). Equator also features a variety of available wheel and tire packages, including 16-inch off-road style wheels with rugged 265/75R16 tires and 17-inch wheels with 265/65R17 tires.
Styling and Utility
The all-new Equator features a contemporary exterior design with a number of unique Suzuki elements, including hood, front fenders, grille, bumpers, front fascia and tailgate. Both Equator Extended Cab and Crew Cab models offer an available high-utility bed that includes a factory-applied spray-on bedliner and an extensive tie-down system with adjustable tracks, providing ultimate cargo hauling flexibility through the use of five special “C” cross-section rails mounted in the bed (two channels in the bed floor and one each on the bed side rails and the bed header panel). Removable utility cleats slide into the channels, providing a wide range of attachment points for securing cargo - including Suzuki motorcycles or ATVs. Suzuki also will offer specialized bed accessories that make loading, securing and transporting a motorcycle or ATV easier than in many competitive trucks. To further satisfy the needs of active lifestyles, Suzuki will offer its customers a full range of more traditional accessories for use with the channel system, including bed dividers, sliding cargo trays and modular storage units. Crew Cab models will offer an available roof rack.
Interior
The Suzuki Equator offers the driver and up to four passengers a functional interior that combines versatility, cargo utility, comfort and convenience. Both Extended Cab and Crew Cab body styles feature flip-up rear seats, a fold-flat front passenger seat and removable storage boxes tucked beneath the rear seats to provide additional cargo capacity. The Equator offers additional convenience features such as a dual glove box with lock, damper and lamp, center console storage and one-liter bottle storage integrated into the front doors. A host of cupholders and power points are standard throughout the truck. Equator Crew Cab also will offer available leather-appointed seats, including a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated seats, heated mirrors and a factory-installed moonroof. Additional available interior amenities include a Bluetoothr hands-free phone system, Rockford Fosgate-powered audio system with six-disc in-dash CD audio system, optional satellite radio and MP3 capability and MP3 player aux-in jack.
Safety and Packages
The all-new Equator includes a comprehensive list of standard safety equipment, including zone body construction with front and rear crumple zones, dual-stage front supplemental air bags with seat belt sensors and a front occupant classification sensor, three-point front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters and Tire Pressure Monitoring System. To make the safety story even stronger, the Equator comes equipped with supplemental front seat side-impact air bags and supplemental curtain air bags for side impact and rollover protection for front and rear outboard passengers. Additionally, Extended Cab and Crew Cab models provide three-point seat belts for all rear seat occupants, including the center position for the Crew Cab. The LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) child seat anchor system is provided in the rear seat of the Crew Cab model.
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Saturday, December 8th, 2007 |
Ashok Leyland Ltd, India’s No. 2 bus and truck maker, said its sales figures were affected by logistical difficulties, a top company official said.
“November numbers could be a bit disappointing,” Managing Director R. Seshasayee told reporters at the World Economic Forum India Summit. The company is scheduled to report its November sales later this week.
Leyland, which has about 30 per cent of a market that Tata Motors Ltd dominates, has seen sales slip in the last three months on the back of higher interest rates.
Seshasayee had told Reuters recently he expected to see truck sales revive from January.
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Saturday, December 8th, 2007 |
Greensboro-Chapel Hill Road in southern Alamance County was closed for about five hours Thursday after a truck overturned and scattered logs all over the road.
A log truck and a van were involved in a wreck on Bethel-South Fork Road and Greensboro-Chapel Hill Road The log truck overturned and went down an embankment, said Allen Crawford, deputy chief of Snow Camp Volunteer Fire Department.
Information about the drivers of both vehicles wasn’t immediately available. Crawford said the driver of the log truck was taken to the hospital and the driver of the van refused transportation to the hospital.
Traffic was diverted from Greensboro-Chapel Hill Road until Firefighters assisted with directing traffic, clean-up and first aid, Crawford said.
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Tuesday, December 4th, 2007 |
A UPS truck stolen at gunpoint Tuesday morning in Cleveland has been recovered and police say four suspects have been taken into custody.
Police say the driver of the UPS truck was making a delivery at an apartment complex on East 101st Street shortly when he was held up at gunpoint.
The truck was recovered around 1 p.m. behind an abandoned apartment complex at 10104 Folk Avenue. An estimated 75 to 100 packages had been ripped open and their contents strewn across the area. The four suspects including two juveniles and two adults were arrested near-by. Police say two of the suspects lived in the area. Charges are pending.
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Tuesday, December 4th, 2007 |
It was only a few miles from Pete’s 881 Club in San Rafael to the gates of San Quentin, but a world away for a motorcade of sorts that rumbled its way from a convivial watering hole to a drab visitors center on a Sunday mission to give holiday toys to inmates’ children.
In the seventh annual Bike Sleigh Across the Bay, some 350 motorcyclists clad in black leather, helmets and a few Santa hats wound their way through Kentfield and Ross, causing a few jaws to drop along the way as the grizzled-looking bikers waved teddy bears at onlookers and at cars that stopped at intersections to let the motorcade pass.
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Tuesday, December 4th, 2007 |
A Chicago trucker who crashed his semi into a tour bus has been convicted of reckless homicide charges in a tollway crash that killed eight women.
McHenry Circuit Judge Sharon Prather also found Vincente Zepeda guilty of failing to inspect and maintain his vehicle. Zepeda was the only defense witness, and the judge called his testimony “evasive and at times inconsistent.”
Prosecutors say Zepeda was driving too fast and wasn’t paying attention to the road when he slammed into the bus near an Interstate 90 toll plaza.
The crash killed eight members of a Chicago-based cultural group called the International Women Associates.
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Tuesday, December 4th, 2007 |
A serious late afternoon crash Monday landed the driver of a truck in the hospital after it slammed into two utility poles and ejected him from the vehicle.
Vittie Thomas, reportedly in his 70s, was behind the wheel of his maroon Chevy F-10 truck yesterday and travelling east on East Sunrise Highway in the area of Chesapeake when the accident occurred.
Reports say Thomas was first spotted by a motorist pulling up on the scene who telephone for help.
The truck was badly damaged on the left front side, one of the street poles was snapped close to the base and the cab of the truck was upside down on the side of the road.
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Tuesday, December 4th, 2007 |
A collision between a UPS delivery truck and a Volkswagen caused the closure of Banfield Road Tuesday afternoon.
police were called to the area about a mile off Peverly HIll Road, where the Volkswagen left the road and came to a stop nose-down in a ditch. The car’s air bags deployed and extensive front-end damage was visible as it was towed from the scene.
Spider web cracks in the UPS truck windshield indicated the driver may have impacted the window, while the truck also showed signs of front-end and axle damage. An 18-wheeler tow truck was needed to haul it from the scene.
Officer Scott Pearl, who assisted at the crash site, said no one was injured.
Inbound traffic from Peverly Hill Road was diverted for almost an hour.
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