BMW M1 Series: The Blot on History

By Edgar Ferrymile

BMW, in the 1970's wanted to create a super car that would be on a parallel with Ferrari and Porsche. To do this they needed to design and construct a vehicle which would fit in the Group 5 race series.

The regulatory standards told BMW that they would have to make 400 of their BMW supercar to be road worthy. This supercar was named the BMW M1. Unfortunately, the M1 turned into a historical story of how not to build a supercar due to the trouble the company had in trying to make it road worthy.

BMW approached Lamborghini to help in the design of the M1. They asked the company to help build the racer. The product of this union was a lustrous, low riding, mid engine vehicle. The bodywork was done by Ital Design. The engine was a 3.5 litre creation with turbocharger allowing for 850 horse power. The engine fit the Group 5 racing specifications.

Unfortunately Lamborghini was in dire financial circumstances at the time, which meant that the project suffered frequent delays and in the end the whole project had to be moved to the BMW motorsport department in Baur, Germany. However, by the time the M1 was ready to be launched in 1978, two years after its initial conception, Group 5 racing rules had changed meaning that the M1 was no longer practical.

All of the work that was required for the M1 was not wasted because BMW decided to form a race series in which the M1 super car could race. They called it the Procar BMW M1 Championship. It was a great idea since it was a support race for the Formula 1 Championships of the World race. The F1 stars like Ayrton Senna, Nikki Lauda, and Nelson Piquet were pitted against each other in the same vehicle.

Whilst the race series was a success the road car BMW M1 never really took off, even though in standard trim it produced 277 bhp, could reach sixty in 5.6 seconds and top out at 162 mph. Eventually just 456 models were built making it one of BMW's rarest models and one that is highly sought after by enthusiastic collectors.

As a road car the BMW M1 was superb, featuring genuine supercar performance wrapped up with BMW's legendary build quality, and considerably lower running costs than other supercars of the era. Externally the M1 was striking with its twin kidney shaped front grill, pop up BMW headlight bulbs and the heavy black slats over the rear windscreen.

Whilst commercially the BMW M1 was never really a success its engine was subsequently used in the first BMW M5, and its design inspired BMW's recent M1 Homage concept car. - 21396

About the Author:

BMW has is renowned for the handling and performance of its road cars and the latest BMW M3 can trace its heritage back to the BMW M1. For drivers looking for a more hard core driving experience there is always the Caterham 7, which costs a fraction of the M3 but is still a real drivers car.

Tips For Keeping Your Driving Record Clean

By Amy Nutt

Keeping your driving record clean is essential to keeping your insurance premiums low and preventing a drivers license suspension. Drivers earn demerit points on their drivers license for such vehicle violations as speeding tickets, DUI, accidents when they are at-fault, moving violations, parking fines, etc. These violations can seriously damage one's driving record. Too many accumulated demerit points can result in high fines, a drivers license suspension, and an increase in insurance premiums.

According to Adam Haber, CEO of InsuranceQuotes.com, "Driving infractions are the main reasons why auto insurance rates go higher." Insurance companies have the ability to check your driving record, so it is essential to keep your driving record clean.

Traffic tickets such as speeding tickets can significantly raise your insurance premiums. It is important to drive the speed limit to avoid these tickets. If you receive a traffic ticket, there is a way a driver can keep it off their driving record. For instance, attending a traffic school can have a number of benefits such as canceling the traffic ticket. As well, if you attend a defensive driving school, your insurance company will give you a discount on your insurance premiums. It will also improve your driving skills, thereby decreasing the chances of having an at-fault accident. All states offer driver education programs, defensive driver programs, or traffic schools that every driver can attend. They can do this in person or on the Internet. When a driver completes the program and passes the tests, the demerit points will be removed from the driving record.

Taking an online driver safety program is a convenient way to keep your driving record clean. Classes are given using a virtual web-based program. Students are able to work at their own rate. Ask your insurance provider to recommend an online driver safety program that they will give a discount on your insurance premium once you complete the program. When you have approval to take your driver training program online, you just have to go to the site and register by submitting your information details to the driver training company. You can pay electronically using a secure web page. Once you complete payment, you will be directed to a web page where you will be provided with the program material. The course can either be taken online or as a downloaded software program.

Another way of keeping your driving record clean is to always pay your tickets on time. It could cause a lot more problems if there is an open driving infraction on your driving record. If you have an open driving violation, you may not even be able to leave the country.

The most important point to remember about keeping your driving record clean is to drive safely, don't speed, and obey all traffic laws. A bad driving record can affect your ability to get a certain job, raise your insurance policies significantly, and even cost your ability to drive. As well, with current economic conditions being so unstable, a fine can really hurt the wallet. If you have a realistic argument to fight a ticket, it may be advantageous to take your case to traffic court. The numerous benefits of maintaining a clean drive record makes it as important as having a drivers license. - 21396

About the Author:

CAA insurance has got you covered for your insurance needs. Travel with a CAA membership so you can thoroughly enjoy your travels.

Save Money With A Refinance Car Loan

By Frank Jenkins

We all know that a lot of people are struggling right now with the economy being as rough as it is. But a lot of people don't know that one easy way to save some money each month is to get a refinance car loan. And if they do know about, maybe they're wondering if they can qualify or if they will save enough to make it worth it.

Anyone who feels as though they have a car loan that is costing too much should look into the idea. The sooner that you refinance your car loan, the more money you can save.

Most people finance their cars at the dealership they purchased the car from, resulting in an interest surcharge known as rate participation. Most people usually already qualify for a lower rate due to the fact that the rate of interest can be up to three percent higher.

You expect to save anywhere from twenty to fifty dollars a month. For example, a person could have a car loan at 12.5% APR for $404.96. With a car refinance loan at a lower rate of 9.5% APR, the payment could be lowered to $378.03. Obviously, over a month, one can save $26.93. Better yet, in a year, one can save $323.16.

Refinance car loans are not hard to get. You just have to fill out an application, and then once your application is approved your old loan will be paid off and you'll have a new loan with a lower interest rate, and lower payments.

One should remember that the less that is owed on the car loan, the lesser the chances of a successful refinance. One should also remember that whole purpose is to low the rate of the monthly payment, so there is a possibility that it will not be worth it. - 21396

About the Author:

Qualifying for a refinance car loan doesn't have to be a long and drawn out process. Make sure to do your homework first, and then shop around to find the best rates. If you do this, refinancing a car loan can be a very pleasant and financially rewarding experiencee.

Where Did The Honda Engine Originate?

By Amy Nutt

The Honda Company has a history of producing quality cars, motorcycles, scooters, trucks, robots, jets and jet engines, ATVs, water craft, and many other important technologies. One interesting historical feature of the Honda Company is the origination of the Honda engine. Honda is the largest engine manufacturer in the world, with more than 14 million internal combustion engines built each year.

After World War II, Soichiro Honda formed the Honda Research Institute Company Ltd in Japan. In 1947, Honda built the A-type engine, a 1-horsepower 50cc two-stroke that fastened to bicycles. Honda staff called it the chimney because of its tall cylinder. In September 1948, the Honda Motor Co. was formally established.

The first production automobile from Honda was the T360 mini pick-up truck which was powered by a small 356 cc straight-4 gasoline engine. The first production car from Honda was the S500 sports car. In 1961, the bigger Volvo model engines called the 122-S series B-18 engine were built. In 1965 Honda built a race car equipped with a 12-cylinder engine.

In 1973, The Ford Motor Company formed an agreement with The Honda Motor Company to obtain technical data on a new engine that would decrease air pollution. They created the first engine to meet the guidelines of the 1970 US Clean Air Act.

In 1991, Honda reported selling 7000 CRX-HF cars where the Honda engine used computers and sensors to control valve action and the air-fuel. The purpose was to increase the amount of air in the mixture to 20 parts per 1 part gasoline.

In May 1999, Honda announced that it would supply its new Formula 1 engines to British American Racing. The most important highlight of the announcement was that Hondas engine engineers had developed an oil trap that fitted into the engine. Also in 1999, Hybrid Electric Honda launched the first commercial hybrid electric car that was sold in the US as the Honda Insight. The first-generation Insight was produced from 2000 to 2006. This was the most fuel-efficient mass-produced car at the time. In 2000, Honda began mass producing clean high-performance engines.

The Honda Civic GX is the only natural gas vehicle (NGV) available in certain US locations. In 2001, the Civic GX was rated the cleanest-burning internal combustion engine in the world by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency?.

In 2006, Honda announced it would build a $154-million engine plant near Alliston, Ontario, Canada. It would be the first engine plant in Canada. In late 2006, Honda's Brazilian subsidiary launched flexible-fuel versions for the Honda Civic and Honda Fit. These models run on a mixture of hydrous ethanol (E100) and E20-E25 gasoline. Honda introduced the second-generation Insight in Japan in February 2009. It will be the cheapest hybrid available in the US.

Since 2002, Honda has been selling the Honda Civic Hybrid (2003 model) in the US. It was followed by the Honda Accord Hybrid, which was offered in 2005 to 2007 models. Honda is also planning to introduce a hybrid version of its Honda Fit, as well as another unique small hybrid vehicle based on the CR-Z sports car that was introduced at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show.

Honda has a remarkable history of building solid engines. It will be interesting to see what the future of the Honda engine will bring. - 21396

About the Author:

When looking for used cars in Toronto be sure to check out the massive selection of used cars, trucks and SUV's at Formula Honda - your Toronto Honda dealership.

A Closer Look at the Toyota Hybrid Sports Car

By Anton Rowd

Every loyal customer to Toyota and the people behind the company itself are looking forward to 2008. Why? Because that is the slated release for the much-awaited Toyota hybrid sports car dubbed the Volta. Toyota has always been known to set itself apart from all other car manufacturers, releasing some of the most outrageous designs that seem to grow onto society once the cars establish themselves as bestsellers.

Japan Goes Italian

The new concept hybrid sports car from Toyota will definitely be a head turner. It seems an elite group of designers chosen by Toyota within their ranks have chosen to give the first hybrid sports car a little Italian flair. Pictures of the concept car have emerged from the company itself and the first thing that may come to mind is the Lamborghini Diablo; only the Volta is eco-friendly.

Toyota is out to show everyone that the hybrid technology can also be applied on high-performance auto like the Toyota Volta. After all, it is rumored to go from 0-60 in 4 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph; not as fast as the Diablo or any Ferrari but the important thing is how much gas this vehicle doesn't use.

The Name Game

Toyota Volta will also be paying homage to Alessandro Volta, the man responsible for inventing the electric battery in 1800. This is only very apt since this vehicle does run on a type of battery. The Volta runs a V6 engine and there's an electric motor on each axle.

The electric motor runs a lot of things, including a computer that operates the movement of the wheels, activation of brakes, etc.; basically something known as drive by wire, a technology that is fitted into modern fighter jets, so you can imagine how much time in design was spent on this near-future release. This technology also allows for an awkward feature that can have the passengers reposition the steering wheel and pedals in front of them.

Economy

Now more than two centuries after the invention of the electric battery, Toyota aims to have the Volta out and running by 2008. It is expected to have a tank that holds only 13.7 gallons that will allow it to go 435 miles when filled up. Plus, if 408 horsepower isn't enough, you will just have to weight for later versions of the Volta because this is the top speed estimated for the initial release.

Toyota France expects to release this to the European market in 2008. However, Germany might be happy to know that the car will be for sale there by December of 2007. Experts are speculating that prices for the Toyota hybrid sports car will range from $72,000 to $165,000 in the US market once it hits North American shores.

Regardless of whether the market is ready for it or not, Toyota itself is ready to prove that hybrid technology does belong in the automobile industry and will suit any purpose and application. - 21396

About the Author:

Are you excited to drive your own Toyota Hybrid sports car? Then find your best links to hybrid car deals now!