A pickup truck is a vehicle that is commonly used for off-road adventures and usually once destination is reached the rest of the outdoor fun is continued by means of biking. Pickup trucks have a lot of space at the back that can accommodate lots of cargoes including a bike.

Maintaining order in the cargoes at the back of the pickup is very important especially when you have a bike that often when not tied down securely can damaged the other cargoes plus may smashed into the back window of your pickup. And of course too much tossing and smashing and banging will damaged your bike. One bike is bad enough just think if you have a couple of unsecured bikes at the back of your pickup. The mess and damaged will be multiplied.

Then there is the noise caused by the bike rattling around in the back of the truck which can be quite disturbing while you’re driving. And that’s not all grease and dirt can transfer easily from your bike to your other cargoes and just imagine the mess that you will have to clean up afterwards.

What can you do about it?
To prevent such unsightly incident from happening as a pickup truck owner you would have to invest on a bike rack to keep your bike on hold. Bike racks or bicycle racks are devices in which bicycles may be securely attached to an automobile such pickups or bus for transporting bicycles. A truck bed bike rack is a bicycle rack that is especially designed for pickup trucks.

In case you have a trailer hitch at the back of your truck or SUV then all you would need is to get a receiver bike rack also known as a hitch bike rack. And by the way the receiver is the term for the ball on which a trailer hitch is placed.

Things to consider when buying a bike rack?
There are so many models and styles of bike racks to choose from however you simply can’t buy any of them unless you fully take some important things into consideration.

Your first consideration when purchasing a bike rack should be the number of bikes you will be carrying. Bike racks comes in different sizes and shapes. The most common sizes are designed to carry as few as one bike and as many as four bikes. Try to consider the number of bikes you will need your bike rack to hold and also keep in mind the possibility of adding more bikes in the future. Likewise keep in mind that if one bike rack is not enough to hold all of your bikes, you may be able to equip your vehicle with two.

Your next consideration should be is where you want to attached your bike rack to your vehicle. As much as there are many ways of killing a cat so are there ways of attaching bike racks on your vehicle. Bikes racks may be mounted on the roof, mounted on a trailer hitch, or attached to the trunk or read door. Remember that where you decide to put your bike rack is very important to the result that you want to achieve.

Bike racks placed on the roof is great since it’s out of the way. You won’t have to worry with your bikes getting in line with your driving view or blocking the access to the trunk. The downside of a roof rack, however is that it makes retrieving and stowing a little harder.

Trunk or rear mounted bike racks are much easier to use, and are not very costly. They are easy to attach with straps and hooks to your car and can be easily removed when not in use. And of course it’s not without flaws also; the disadvantages of using a trunk mounted bike rack are as follows: makes retrieving to the trunk difficult as well as accessing the rear of the vehicle. Trunk or rear mounted bike racks have less durable construction since they rely on fabric straps and less sturdy metal and plastic pieces and therefore more probe to damage and theft.

The bike rack that is attached to the trailer hitch is made of sturdy metal construction and can hold up to four bicycles. Obviously your vehicle needs to have a trailer hitch in order to use this type of back rack.

For some more details with your truck bed rails needs check your resources.

Gertrude Sayzer finished her degree in Marketing at Western New England College. She is passionate about writing and loves to travel as well. At present, this 32 year-old mother of three works full-time at an Ad agency in Boston.

Dressing up your truck with accessories that doesn’t only look good but are also functional is the way to do it. Top your truck bed and tailgate too with some sturdy but reliable set of bed caps, bed rails or both and discover what these things can do for your truck. However before you get all excited and began bombarding your truck with truck bed rails here are some tips that may help you on how to properly go about your project:

1. Try to improve your standard bed rail looks. Let’s face it stock truck beds are pretty boring, add to it some dinged, scratched or dents then it turns into ugly. One of the most common solutions that most truck owners may employ is covering it up with some paint but does it work? For quick cover-up solution a paint job may do the work at first but is not advisable as a long term solution.

Bed rail and bed caps on the other hand are quite excellent in remodeling jobs especially those that can just cannot be covered by stretches of paint. Bed rails top your truck bed provides a wicked appearance of smooth black or mirror-polished steel. Similarly, a matte finish may also lend a tough edge to your vehicle or you may also give your truck some extra shine if you want to turn heads. Bed caps on the other hand can provide your truck with smooth and rugged looks that can cover up old marks.

2. Premium protection for the paint on your bed rails. One important function of bed caps and bed rails is to prevent damage before it ever reaches the paint of your truck. Loading boxes, tools, bikes, etc, becomes less of a problem with you truck’s bed top protected by a set of bed caps. And since they’re custom-molded to the exact shape and size of your truck there would be no space uncovered. Bed rails are also effective guardians, rejecting items that would otherwise dent your truck bed. in short they keep your large cargoes from smashing either at the cab or at the gate or bashing into some of your safe containment of stacked loads.

3. Quick and easy mounting. Bed caps are among the easiest accessories to install in your truck. Plus it doesn’t require for any drilling which makes it even more perfect for mounting. It has double heavy-duty adhesive foam tape which enables it to be securely attached to the truck. Bed caps can also go from in-the box to mounted in-place in a couple of minutes, at most. On the other hand, bed rails also mount as fast to the stake pockets of your truck by fitting directly in the pocket, the bed rails make use of a bolt and a backing plate for securing to the top of the bed. Trucks that don’t have stake pockets will need to be drilled.

4. Strong tie-down strength in securing truck’s heavy load. Securing large cargoes or items in the truck bed can prove to be quite tricky at times. However, such task can be made easy by means of lashing them down with a set of bed rails to ensure large cargoes remain stable all throughout the drive. Some of the bed rails are equipped to better handle an incredible 500lbs or more weigh capacity such as furniture, boxes, and many more. Bed rails are also stronger and more convenient to use compared to in-bed cleats and hooks.

5. Durability due to strong materials. Bed rails and bed caps are designed to last. The bed caps which are designed to protect the top of the truck from harsh conditions and are made from either a plastic composite material or sheet metal such as stainless steel or aluminum. They are also especially crafted to last without denting, fading; in short they are designed never to lose their looks.

The perfect material for bed rails are those made from pure steel tubing since its sturdy center supports the anchor point of heavy loads or cargoes. And thanks to their all-steel construction, bed rails have the capacity for holding any load in place. Thick-wall tubing is also used for the center bar while cast steel was employed for the ends.

To achieve the ultimate in protection and looks, the combination of both bed caps and bed rails is the best way to go.

For some more details with your truck bed rails needs check your resources.

Gertrude Sayzer finished her degree in Marketing at Western New England College. She is passionate about writing and loves to travel as well. At present, this 32 year-old mother of three works full-time at an Ad agency in Boston.

It is not enough that you clean your truck everyday for you to assume that it is protected. You have to purchase accessories that will help you keep the cleanliness of your truck as well as protects it from any form of damages and from theft.

If there is a truck part that needs protection the most it’s the truck bed. Basically because it’s the most exposed part of the truck and therefore calls for a great amount of truck bed protection. There are different types of bed protection that may be employed for your trucks such as the placement of truck tops which are often referred to as camper shells, caps, cab extenders, cabs, lids, toppers, half cabs, or boots.

The truck tops are simply attached to a truck’s bed to produce a cargo space that is protected from the weather and from theft. Aside from protection, truck tops also help in improving fuel efficiency by enhancing the aerodynamics of the truck.

Truck tops are made from two types of materials—fiberglass or aluminum. These truck tops are made from custom molds that are designed specifically to suit a particular truck make, model, and year. The contour around the cab is also being taken into consideration when fitting truck tops to obtain a nice custom fit and a sleek look. The price of the truck tops would again depend on the particular truck make, model, and year. You may also match the truck top’s color with the paint job of your truck by simply telling the truck top manufacturer of the color that you want.

Things to consider before purchasing a truck top

• Truck tops are considerably heavy and often prove somewhat difficult to remove and replace on a frequent basis. It usually requires for at least 2 people to remove them however there are some truck tops that come with a lift system making it easier to maneuver the truck tops.

• Before you purchase a truck top be sure that you determine the features that you would like to add as an option to the standard truck top. You may choose from the following options: third brake lights, gas-assisted shocks, interior dome lights, tempered safety glass, paint finish, side and/or rear window packages, clothes rod, carpeted interior, style of trim, power locks, windshield wiper & washer, defrost system, spoilers, air deflectors, side access doors, utility racks, and roof mounted racks. Note: in some models these features are standard while in others they’re offered as an option.

• Always purchase from manufacturers that makes a custom fit for your particular vehicle make and model although majority of the truck tops manufactured today will fit most of the model but still there are some that do not.

Truck Bed Covers and Lids
Aside from truck tops there are also other bed protections that are available for truck owners such as truck bed covers which include tonneaus, tonnos, and lids. These are placed as attachments to the pickup truck’s bed to provide protection from weather as well as security from theft enabling truck owners to store items in the bed.

Truck bed covers and lids are different from truck tops since they do not create additional vertical cargo space. Aside from that, bed covers are best for those who want the benefits of the truck top but do not want the complexity that comes with it. Truck bed covers also provide additional benefit such as reduce wind drag at the tailgate resulting to an overall fuel economy. They also provide a strong, rigid canopy cover over the pickup bed.

Most of truck covers worked with under the rail and over the rail bed liners. Plus there is no restriction on the tailgate in any way since it allows truck owners to simply open the tailgate without having to take off the entire cover. Another advantage of using truck bed covers is the fact that there is no drilling required into the truck bed.

In terms of colors, black is the standard color offered by most manufacturers since it suits every truck paint job however there are also truck bed cover manufacturers that offer a variety of other colors.

Hard or Soft?
Another thing to take into consideration when purchasing a truck bed cover is the material whether you want hard or soft covers.

Hard and soft truck bed covers have their respective advantages. The hard covers since they are hard and more compact can’t simply be blown away even at highway speeds. They are available with hinge systems which make it easy to lift the cover to add/remove cargo. They are also lockable and therefore give security from theft. They are waterproof and may be painted to match the vehicle. However since they weigh more they can prove to be tricky to remove and reinstall on a frequent basis. Hard covers are also more costly than vinyl.

Soft covers on the other hand are very easy to remove and can be reinstalled as often as you want. They also provide a less rigid top than hard covers and are easily removed for hauling tall cargo. There are also some soft covers that come with adjusters, allowing you to select the tension you desire.

For some more details with your truck bed protection needs check your resources.

Gertrude Sayzer finished her degree in Marketing at Western New England College. She is passionate about writing and loves to travel as well. At present, this 32 year-old mother of three works full-time at an Ad agency in Boston.

No doubt about it, ATV’s, or quads as they’re also known, can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. When shopping for cheap ATVs make sure that you’re not sacrificing quality and safety for the sake of a few bucks.

Some people pay more than twenty thousand dollars for their ATVs, equipment, and accessories and add-ons. That doesn’t mean you have to, and as a matter of fact, ATVing doesn’t have to be expensive. Comparative shopping, know what you want, and then going on an ATVS for cheap hunt is the best way to get started.

Keep in mind that in addition to the ATV or quad you choose, you’ll also need something to haul it in if you don’t own a truck. You’ll also most likely need, or want, accessories and tools and supplies for the upkeep and maintenance of your ATV. Riding gear can also be an extra and necessary expense, so by the time most people start shopping for a particular type of ATVs for cheap, they want just that: cheap.

What you spend on your ATV will depend on what you’re riding for. Are you intending your ATV to be used primarily for pleasure, seasonal hunting expeditions, or are you thinking of entering races and cross-country competitions? If you’re wanting to ATV for pleasure, then a model without a bunch of extra bells and whistles will suit your needs. Otherwise, hold onto your hat and be prepared to take a hit in your wallet.

The cost of your ATV will depend on the size of the machine you’re looking for, in addition to tire size. Many cheap ATVs can be had for less than $1500, though many will be in the $2,000 to $3,000 dollar range. Watch your newspaper and the Internet for sales and clearance blowouts to help keep expenditures in check. If you’re shopping for more than one ATV, you might find a deal and score cheaper ATVs when buying two to four models at a time.

Hydraulic shocks, brand and size of tires, automatic starts, manual or automatic transmissions and automatic engine shut-offs all cost money, but don’t sacrifice safety and convenience for the sake of a hundred dollars. To get the most out of your ATV, it pays to think ahead.

Carrying capacity, in addition to bumper guards, grills and other options will affect your price range as well. Frame size, width and materials will also determine the cost of your machine, and knowing what type of machine is good for each particular ATV is important so that you obtain the quad that will suit your skills and needs.

Shop for comfort as well as price, as it won’t matter a bit if you save thousands of dollars when no one wants to ride your ATV because they’re so uncomfortable. Buying ATVs for cheap is possible when you do your homework ahead of time and know roughly what you’re looking for before you hit the first showroom. Remember to think safety first, buy smart and then go out and have yourselves some fun!

For more ATV uses please visit http://www.atvexcitement.com a popular ATV website that provides tips, advice and ATV resources. Try visiting our latest information page on cheap ATVs.

Buying an infiniti used car is one decision which you have to make after careful considerations. Buying a car whether it is an Infiniti used or any other car is a big decision as this involves a lot of money. Money is not all that matters, but what is also important is to find out a good car dealer in your city that specializes in selling used cars to customers. Finding out and getting hold of a good dealer in your city is half the job done and the other half will be once you find out the Infiniti used car that you wish to buy from the dealer. You can check out the inventory of the dealer and find out the different cars that they have for selling and you can choose from there the one car which suits your budget and choice perfectly.

Following certain tips for buying an Infiniti used car will help you out in the long run. Some of the tips are mentioned below:

• Take a good look at the car which you are buying. You are entitled to find out if all the things in the car are proper or not.

• Open and close the hood and doors of the car. See if this opens smoothly or not and if there is anything wrong with the doors and hood of the car.

• Make sure that you check the color of the radiator fuel. If the color of the radiator fuel is green then it means it is perfect, however if the color is a bit brownish and cloudy then this is not good

• Check to see the fluid levels of the Infiniti used car. Chances are that you may not know how to do this. Relax there is an easy way out of this. Just ask the salesperson and he will assist you in this.

• Verify all the connections that are there in the car. Tough you may not be an expert in this; still you can easily find out if there is corrosion of any kind, if there is any loose connection or if there is any hole in the car.

• See the quality of the air filter of the Infiniti used car. It will be best if you replace the old air filter with a new one. The filter is not very expensive and you can easily replace the old one to ensure that the Infiniti used car runs well for a long time.

• Find out the mileage and pick up ability of the car. The best way to find this out is by taking the car out for a test drive. You must make sure that you take the car out for a test drive before purchasing it.

If you follow all the tips mentioned above before buying an infiniti used car, be assured that you will make a good purchase. Lack of adequate finance is one of the reasons why many people opt to buy an infiniti used car or used car of any other brand. Buying an Infiniti used car can be a very good option for you.

Tim Johrer has a special interest towards luxury cars and knows that the level of class defines luxury cars.He provides information to customers about different range of Infiniti cars.For more information related to Millennium Infiniti, Long island Infiniti and Infiniti used visit http://www.millenniuminfiniti.com

The United States auto market is known for the demand for larger vehicles like sport utility vehicles and even full-size sedans. In fact, American motorists are still looking for larger cars to drive even with the increasing price of gasoline. This makes the auto market even more competitive. Since consumers are also looking for fuel efficient cars, they still want bigger sized cars and vehicles.

Car manufacturers need to focus their attention to developing and producing large vehicles with good fuel efficiency. This is already addressed by different car manufacturers. In fact, a top official for the surging Toyota Motor Corporation said that the pressure will be on automotive engineers to come up with a vehicle that will both address the size of the vehicle and the fuel economy issue.

David Baxter, a Senior Executive Administrator of the Toyota Technical Center located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, said and emphasized on the demand of the auto market particularly in the North America. He said that consumers are looking for bigger sized vehicles and it would be the job of automotive engineers to come up with a vehicle that will satisfy their needs while meeting stricter emission regulations and support the United State’s energy independence goal.

During the Society of Automotive Engineers annual convention, Baxter said: “Especially in North America, people like the size of their vehicles, and there’s going to be a lot of pressure to maintain the size for safety and improve fuel economy.”

Aside from the size, Baxter also pointed out that consumers will also be looking for vehicles loaded with safety features to go along with size and fuel economy. But he stressed that that does not mean that the vehicles of the near future will not be all hybrids or small cars.

Baxter is of course part of Toyota which is known for their vehicles’ fuel efficiency. The company is currently enjoying much success in the U.S. auto market. The Japanese company’s success is mainly due to strong sales of their efficient cars like the Toyota Corolla and the Toyota Camry. Add to that the fast selling fuel miser that is the Prius. These vehicles are seen as more fuel efficient that the sedans manufactured by General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, the U.S.’ Big Three.

The current challenge for them is to develop a large vehicle with an incredibly high gas mileage rating for its class. The Toyota Avalon, Toyota’s entry to the full-size sedan market, is also considered as one of the most fuel efficient vehicles in its class. The Toyota Avalon was designed at Toyota’s technical center where Baxter is currently the administrator.

While Toyota recently release a hybrid version of the mid-size Camry sedan, Baxter did not divulge at the convention whether Toyota will be offering a hybrid version of the Avalon. Instead, Baxter has this to say about the issue: “It’s likely there will be more hybrid vehicles or more hybrid powertrains available in our models in the future.”

In connection with the challenge posed on automotive engineers, Toyota will be expanding their technical center at Ann Arbor. This is to help the company design more fuel efficient and bigger sized cars, which according to Baxter, are what the public is looking for. Baxter also furthermore reported that the technical center has already hired 780 persons and Toyota is planning to add 500 more engineers to assist in the whole development process.

The planned new technical center will be tasked to design vehicles that will meet the demand of North American consumers meaning larger cars with good fuel economy and a Toyota logo just above the Toyota bumper. He said that the new plant is expected to help the company as their U.S. business expands more in the next several years.

Although Baxter maintained that Toyota will be putting in effort on the development of larger and fuel efficient vehicles, he also pointed out that in the near future, even a company as large as theirs or maybe even General Motors will be joining forces with other car manufacturers. He said that the development of safety features, fuel efficient technologies, and other issues will be more cost efficient if a partnership with other automakers is made.

Katie Jones writes for a local newspaper and her beat involves the latest updates in the automotive industry. She is also working on her book on cars during her spare time.

The 15th of April is the day that the 2007 Bahrain Grand Prix was held at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain. The race is the third round of the 2007 Formula One season and it is also where team Honda suffered a frustrating race with only one driver making it to the checkered flag.

This year’s Bahrain Grand Prix was won by the Brazilian Felipe Massa who was driving for the Scuderia Ferrari. Podium finishers include the rookie Lewis Hamilton driving for McLaren Mercedes at second, and Finn Kimi Raikkonen driving for Ferrari in third place. After the race in Bahrain, Hamilton set a record by becoming the first Formula One driver to ever have achieved podium finishes on his first three races as a Formula One driver.

While Ferrari and McLaren Mercedes are enjoying success at the 2007 Formula One season, team Honda is currently suffering a frustrating start to the 2007 season.

During the 2007 Bahrain Grand Prix, a four-vehicle accident eliminated Honda’s Jenson Button from the contention. After the said accident which involved David Coulthard, Adrian Sutil, Scott Speed and Button, Honda faced the fact that they have only a car remaining in the race. At the opening lap of the race, Jenson Button accidentally hit the back of David Coulthard’s car. After that, his car’s anti-stall mechanism failed stopping the engine which forces Button to retire during the early stage of the race. Honda’s other driver is former Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello.

After the Honda bumper or the nose of the Barrichello’s F1 car crossed the finish line, the team only managed to grab a 13th place finish at the race. The savvy veteran used a two-stop strategy during the race which saw him battling it out in the tracks with Ralf Schumacher. His subsequent finish allowed Honda technicians to gather date concerning his and Button’s cars. The data gathered will be used by the team’s engineers to improve their performance on the next race of the season.

After the race, Rubens Barrichello has this to say about his performance and what he thinks the future holds for the team: “Well I finished the race at least but that s very little consolation. The track conditions were so blustery and the car driveability was terrible, so it was a really tough race, especially knowing that we couldn’t be competitive. Now we have to put a disappointing few races behind us and look to what we can do to improve the car. There is a great deal of hard work ahead of us but we will get there, I m sure.”

As far as his performance and early exit, Jenson Button has this to say: “Got a good start and made up at least three places then at turn 2 Taku (Sato) ran wide, tried to squeeze me and I had nowhere to go so I had to go on the dirt on the inside. Then in turn 3 I had Coulthard and someone else fighting around me. DC went wide then cut back sharp and again I had nowhere to go. We touched and that spun me round then the anti-stall didn’t cut in, I stalled and that was the end of my race after just three corners.”

“The track conditions out there were very slippery and windy so it will have been a tough race for everyone,” Button says of the track. “Sadly, I wasn’t part of it,” lamented Button.

After the 2007 Bahrain Grand Prix, the teams will have a four-week break before the next race, the 2007 Spanish Grand Prix. Honda will be using that time improves their car’s performance which they hope will earn them a podium finish at the next race.

On the 13th of May, the team’s engineer’s efforts to improve Button’s and Barrichello’s cars will be put to the ultimate test as they battle with Spanish Fernando Alonso of McLaren and the rest of the Formula One roster.

Katie Jones writes for a local newspaper and her beat involves the latest updates in the automotive industry. She is also working on her book on cars during her spare time.

It can be a horrible task negotiating to buy a new car, nobody likes doing it because it’s so time consuming, stressful and frustrating! Very few people actually like sales people, but it’s pretty easy to work out exactly what you should do. You need to research the background information so that you can get a fair price when buying your new car.

Research what the price of the car originally was when it first came out. You should use this to work out the dealer cost, which is the cost of the car when the dealer brought it from the manufacturer. This cost is made up of the dealer invoice, and the holdback.

The dealer invoice is the actual cost that the dealer pays for the car. There are many different online resources like the Kelly Blue Book, and Edmunds all of which can provide very useful information on the dealer invoices.

The holdback is the rebate that the manufacturer pays the dealer when the car is sold. The rebates will depend on the make and model of the car; it’s normally around 2-3% of the total value of the car. You should subtract this holdback from the costs to work out the actual cost of the car to the dealer.

Now you should calculate any hidden incentives that the dealer has. It can be difficult to know about the dealer incentives. If you are aware of any of the hidden incentives then you can talk about them during the negotiation.

Dealers seem to ask about $5000 more than they originally paid for the car, they do have to take their cut out of this, but even so $5000 is a little steep! Use the popular automotive websites and research exactly how much it costs, this figure will be very useful when negotiating.

Now you’re ready to propose your offer to the dealer, this is always a difficult situation and it can be made worse by your financial position. You should try to start at about $4000 less than the price advertised. Few dealers will listen to this, but let them raise your price a little, but it they still don’t want to sell it at that price then move on.

Some sales people have to go to their managers to ask permission about a certain price. This is just a sales tactic. Make them aware that you only want to talk to one person about your offer.

Many garages also make you wait for a very long time before they will actually tell you their final decision. If you’re not aware of this then it can catch you out. Make sure you’re prepared for a long wait; in fact try taking some reading material!

Sometimes dealers have a sneaky habit of advertising a very low price, and when you actually get there they raise the price. They can do this by adding on lots of extras, or just being unreasonable. Never accept this, no matter how small the price rise is.

It is not possible to negotiate on all cars; if they are more popular then it is much more difficult to get a discount. If you have tried a number of different dealers, but still get the same price, then you might as well go for it.

Dennis runs Car Dealer Check which has independent Car Dealer Reviews written by the car dealerships customers and information on Car Dealer Scams.

Ford’s effort to protect the environment is clearly manifested in their production of environment friendly vehicles. This concern for the environment has led the company to produce hybrid cars and vehicles which run on alternative fuel as well as clean diesel engines for their larger vehicles.

Ford’s Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally recently made the company’s dedication towards protecting the environment his topic while talking at the Lied Center in Kansas City. He talked about the power of working together and the need for it. During the course of his speech, he also shared his experiences in life to those present during his speech.

The Chief Executive Officer of the United States’ second largest car manufacturer claimed that he loves the idea of working together. In fact, working together is the main topic of his talk. He talked about his tenure as the President and the Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Commercial Planes. Mulally said that it is of utmost importance that a leader should put people first and include everyone on the project as well. And to make it possible, Mulally said that communication is needed and is entirely very important for the whole process. “The biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it occurs,” says Mulally. “The fact that you say something and expect them to know what it means; that’s arrogant,” says the Kansas University alumnus.

Mulally stressed out that there is a need for coworkers to be on the same page. They should be able to work on a single plan with everyone pitching in on the job at hand. Mulally said that when a problem surfaced in the workplace, he wants to be working with people who can find a way to address the situation and solve the problem. He also said that he saw that kind of people at the institution. “There is not an institution in the world that has more motivated, more skilled and neater students than the University of Kansas,” says Mulally.

During his speech, he recounted his experiences in life as a young man working odd jobs in Lawrence. He said that his career started delivering newspapers. After that, he became a bag boy for Dillon’s grocery store in the area. He left the job after he was inspired by then President John F. Kennedy to become an astronaut. He was at that time taking up liberal arts but then he switched to aeronautical and astronautical engineering at the University of Kansas. After he switched courses though, he was told that he is not fit to be an astronaut because he is slightly color blind.

After he graduated from the University of Kansas, he was told by a professor at the university to try to get a work at Boeing. The said professor has then recently left Boeing. After that, he was hired at Boeing and after some years joined Ford Motor Company as the new CEO. In connection with him being the current CEO of Ford, he also talked about their company’s effort to protect the environment. He talked about several alternative fuels which are aimed to reduce the amount of damage that vehicle emissions are doing to the environment. He also tackled and dissected his thoughts on the problems that are being faced by the auto industry pertaining to the use of alternative fuels.

For example, he cited the use of bio-ethanol, while using ethanol as substitute for gasoline; it will need a lot of raw materials to supply the country with its needed fuel.

That is why Ford, with Mulally at the helm, is developing technologies that will reduce the dependency of the auto industry on petroleum products. Several Ford models with Ford fenders and other Ford auto parts are already offered with a hybrid version to reduce the amount of gasoline that they have to consume.

While there are already environment friendly vehicles out in the market, Mulally thinks that it is not enough. “The auto industry only accounts for 15 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, so the whole country needs to work together,” says Ford’s CEO.

Katie Jones writes for a local newspaper and her beat involves the latest updates in the automotive industry. She is also working on her book on cars during her spare time. Please visit Ford fenders for more information.

The 2007 Dodge Magnum SRT8 is one sinister looking wagon and it’s not just about the color. Wagons may not be the first choice by most when it comes to a cool conveyance but if utility is high on the priority list then there are always SUVs, vans and wagons.

Wagons provide as much cargo room without sacrificing a car’s typically better ride, handling, braking, and acceleration. The Dodge Magnum SRT8 is like a Charger with a really big trunk which makes this wagon a match to SUVs and vans when it comes to loading cargoes.

These LX cars have proven quite a success for Chrysler and it’s because of some very good reasons. It’s based on the E-Class Mercedes platform, offer rear-drive, full-size comfort in a more refined package than what most American car buyers are used to. The price is also remarkable since it’s very affordable.

The Hemi versions in particular offer a lot of features plus extras for the buck. But with the additional of the SRT badge, expect to get things a little more devilish.

The Drivetrain
When it comes to vehicles it’s always about the engine. Instead of the 5.7 liter Hemi, the SRT will have a smokin’ 6.1 liter version with an additional 80 hp. The Street and Racing technology engineers worked with their black magic and created the classic Hemi orange block and black valve cover paint to remind customers of the powerful heritage of the SRT.

The hemispherical combustion chambers were viewed as the source of dominant power in the past. And that is also one of the reasons why the Hemi ‘Cuda convertibles can cost over $2 million at auction today. The “Street hemi” of the 60s and 70s produced 425 horsepower from its 426 cubic inches of displacement. The present Hemi gets a similar output from less than 90 percent of that displacement.

The SRT team begins with a run-of-the-mill 5.7 then bores the cylinders by 3.5 mm, increases the compression ratio from 9.6:1 to 10.3:1, redesigns the cylinder heads, exhaust and intake systems for increased flow and hit the redline from 5,000 to 6,000 rpm. There was nothing more left with the standard 5.7 once the SRT team gets through with it—valves, cams, rods, manifolds, rods, crank, oil pan, pistons…you name it they’ve changed it all….Every single part. The block is also given more reinforcement and the result is a seemingly endless grunt whenever you have a need for it.

The output is also rated at 425 bhp @ 6000 rpm and 420 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm. This power is routed through the A580 five-speed AutoStick that may prove to be a little reluctant to downshift on its own. Upshifts are smooth and may prove to be unremarkable but once under full throttle they seem a bit abrupt. The transmission may not be the smoothest in the world but it enough for most accomplished drivers.

A tap to the right or left once in drive mode will enable drivers to hold a gear which will be displayed on the dash. And the best thing about automatic is that it makes burnouts as simple as pressing both pedals for a second or two before letting the brakes out. Never forget to disengage the ESP traction control unless you want to change tires already.

The Suspension
Since the Dodge Magnum SRT8 is a large vehicle weighing 4,260 lbs it is best to start with the brakes. The SRT despite its size is capable of decelerating from 70 to 0 mph in approximately 170 feet. It can also do the quarter-mile in the mid 13s and can also do 0 to 100 to 0 mph in the mid 16-second range. That’s one serious stopping power courtesy of the 14.2 inch front and 13.8 inch rear vented Brembos.

These Brembos are strong and easily modulated even when it means reducing a triple-digit velocity by half in one emergency maneuver. It just did what it is asked to do without any problem. The brakes that reside within the large, 20-inch polished 5 spokes, wrapped in 245/45 Goodyear F1 summer tires provide excellent gripping performance.

The SRT’s special shocks, modified spring rates, different bushings, plus the big anti-sway bars create a huge change to the handling. The vehicles height is also lowered by just one-half inch but it feels like it’s lowered by a lot more. The Electronic Stability Program (ESP) has also been reprogrammed to provide a slightly more antisocial behavior before cutting in. The riding comfort that one gets from the SRT8 will make you wonder why all suspensions are not tuned in a similar manner.

The Exterior
The exterior appeal of the Magnum SRT8 is charming and compelling. No other wagon has been as successful as the Magnum SRT8 has been able to stir the soul so thoroughly. The Dodge Ram crosshair grille, tapering roofline, and raised beltline exudes power and muscle. The Dodge Magnum SRT8 is available in Brilliant Black, Bright Silver or Inferno Red Crystal Pearlcoat.

Chrysler’s Eagle
The Dodge Magnum SRT8 is not the first powerful vehicle that Chrysler has developed. The Eagle Talon which was one of the three model names given to a passenger car manufactured and sold by the then Chrysler Corporation and Mitsubishi Motors of Japan in a joint venture known as the Diamond Star Motor, between 1990 and 1998.

The Talon was then sold under the Eagle brand developed by Chrysler to compete with Japanese imports in the late 1980s. The other siblings of the Talon were the Eclipse which was sold by Mitsubishi and the Laser which was sold by Plymouth another Chrysler brand. Both Plymouth and Eagle has been discontinued but despite this fact the production of Eagle parts like the Eagle exhaust continues. The Eagle exhaust is renowned for performance and power.

The Eagle Talon together with the Eclipse and the Laser were built on the same platform at the DSM manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois. The three vehicles were mechanically identical including engine, transmission, and drivetrain. In terms of exterior features the three cars only differ in wheels, tail lights, availability of colors, front and rear bumpers, and spoilers.

And speaking of colors the Eagle Talon has a two-tone body color, which is called the ‘greenhouse’. Starting from its roof, pillars, door-mounted mirrors the color was always black regardless of the body color.

The other basic characteristics of the Eagle Talon include:

• Two doors

• Hatchback
• 2+2 seating (2 front seats and 2 marginal, fold down rear seats)
• 4 option levels (starting from lowest to highest): DL, ES, TSI, and TSi AWD
• Front-wheel drive (FWD) for all option levels except for the top option level which had all-wheel drive (AWD)

• 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmissions
• Two-tone color combination
• Hood bulge on the left-hand side of the car that provides it with adequate clearance for the camshaft sprockets/timing belt cover on the 4G63engine

One outstanding thing about the Talon is its success compared to the Eagle nameplate which was a huge flop for Chrysler. While the Eagle failed to gain any market share from Pontiac which was its main rival, the Talon on the other hand was a stellar success and the only Eagle model that was profitable. The Talon has received lots of awards and sold over 100,000 units in its lifetime and created a cult of followers.

For more about your Eagle exhaust, visit your trusted online source.

Jerick Brooks is a BS Computer Science graduate at Columbus State University. He has passion for anything car-related especially car racing. He loves writing and currently works as an IT consultant in a company based in Atlanta.