Covoiturage and Autocar Information

Archive for the ‘Automobiles news’ Category

Chosen to be one of the main sponsors of Olympic and Paralympics Games, BMW uses the opportunity to demonstrate its dedication to sustainable and efficient performance.

Helping the athletes reach maximum performance

As the Olympics are rapidly approaching, many athletes around the world are working hard in order to earn the right to compete at the greatest stage in sports, knowing full well that another chance might be hard to come by. On their journey to athletic excellence, they enjoy the support of the proud sponsors of the London 2012 Games including the automotive market leader BMW. Through the BMW Performance Programme, the company is offering its experience related to mechanical performance, energy efficiency and aerodynamics to aid athletes to improve their training regimens and conserve a maximum amount of energy for times when it can really make a difference.

Providing safety and protecting the environment

During the upcoming Olympics, participating athletes and officials from around the world will enjoy the comfort and safety of more than 4000 BMW cars. BMW was selected to be the Automotive Partner for London 2012 games in recognition for lowered levels of CO2 emitted by its latest models from the 1 Series. These BMW cars were manufactured with built-in improvements developed by the Efficient/Dynamics programme which was initiated with the goal to stimulate efficient energy consumption in the automotive industry. With intelligent technology now a part of all BMW designs, the company retains its leadership role and readily faces the challenges of the information age.

Watch BMW ad for London 2012 on YouTube

To send an additional message of support to athletes of all races and nationalities, BMW released a video dedicated to the Olympics. Besides its stunning photography that features excellent shots of the BMW car in motion, the video also communicates with the audience on a deeper level and goes hand in hand with the spirit of the Olympic Games and values embedded in sport.

If you have a tough commute every day, you may feel defeated even before navigating the maze of office cubicles at work. Some people find that using public transport and letting someone else do the driving is less stressful. Others commute by bike to get in exercise and eliminate the need for a gym membership. But if you’re stuck commuting by car, here are three ways to make it a little more pleasant.

1. Use the time to feed your brain. That half-hour or 45 minutes spent in transit every day is perfect for learning a new language or taking an audio course on a subject that interests you. Audio books are terrific for making commutes less tiring. Most libraries have a decent selection, and you can also download audio books from numerous places on the web.

2. Enjoy the quiet – or the noise. Some people find commuting more bearable if they turn off the radio, plug in a car aromatherapy diffuser and chill. Others find the commute the perfect time to crank up the tunes that their spouse or partner can’t stand and sing to their heart’s content.

3. Forget rush hour altogether. Go in early enough to avoid traffic, and you’ll not only score some points with your supervisor, you can use the time before your shift begins to sketch in your sketch book, read a great book, or write that novel you’ve been meaning to. And there’s nothing wrong with sitting at your desk and meditating until it’s time to start work. For decades now, companies have used cubicles as a way to offer employees a certain degree of privacy while allowing easy access to colleagues. Often, a period of meditation can set you up for a productive day’s work.

The human race’s love affair with cars started shortly after the first models rolled off the assembly lines. And even today, when they’re practically a necessity for daily life, cars have a place in the fantasy lives of millions. No doubt you’ve dutifully inspected your gutter guards or raked the yard while day-dreaming of hurtling along a winding seaside highway in a hot convertible. Car makers exploit the fantasy element in many of their advertisements, sometimes with hilarious results. Here are three of the funniest car commercials ever.

1. Mercedes E Class. This car is hot, it’s sexy, and in this commercial, it takes a supporting role in the cheesy one-minute soap opera playing out on the screen. But in the end, you can’t help but take the side of the handsome Mercedes driver who knows more than he lets on.

2. Kia Soul. A posse of gangsta rapping hamsters. Common household appliances on wheels. Street scenes. What does this have to do with the cute Kia Soul? Who cares? This is one of the cutest and funniest car commercials ever produced. Dare you not to tap your feet.

3. Toyota Vios. Not only is Toyota the car company of tech savvy drivers who love quality engineering. Apparently it’s also the choice of mythical water monsters, as one hapless jogger finds out when he checks out a Vios up close.

People think of their cars as much more than just a device to get them from Point A to Point B. Cars have played a role in daydreams since the middle of the 20th century, when car commercials started airing regularly. Advertisers take advantage of the daydream potential of car shopping, and occasionally give us hilarious commercials that do exactly what they’re supposed to: keep us thinking about a particular make and model.

If you have ever driven or ridden cross-country in a car with poor ergonomics, you know just how important seat design and shock absorption are to your comfort. Fortunately, many of today’s cars have seats that can be adjusted in multiple ways to fit occupants as comfortably as possible. Like the ergonomic chair in your office, your car seat should adjust for height, and should have proper back support. While comfort is a very subjective feature, the following three automobiles generally get very high marks for ergonomics.

1. Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Not everyone can afford a luxury car, but if you can, you’ll find these models to be exceptionally comfortable, whether you’re the driver or a passenger. The handling and suspension make for comfortable riding, whether you’re going across town or from coast to coast.

2. Toyota Avalon. If your budget doesn’t quite run to the level required to buy a Mercedes, you might consider the Toyota Avalon. Toyota’s biggest sedan has all the quality workmanship you’d expect from a Toyota, along with superior comfort. The Avalon is a far cry from the used Corolla you drove back in college!

3. Buick LaCrosse. Maybe we can’t go back to the days when the typical American sedan consisted of tons and tons of steel, but the Buick LaCrosse is a modern American car that doesn’t forget the importance of room and comfort.  With power lumbar support in the driver’s seat, you won’t be fazed by signs telling you your destination is 200 miles away.

Keep in mind that what’s ergonomically desirable for one person may be bone-crushingly uncomfortable for another. Many people with flexibility issues find that SUV-type vehicles accommodate their needs better than sedans. The only way you’ll find out for sure is to go on several test drives and compare.