Automotive Tips and News

For the second consecutive year, HUMMER supports Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR), with a $5,000 donation to provide materials, food and tools for the hundreds of volunteers who work with the organization to maintain the Rubicon. Friends of the Rubicon is an informal coalition of groups and individuals dedicated to keeping the one of the world's most famous off road destinations, the Rubicon Trail open and available to off roaders.

"HUMMER has proven itself to be a significant partner in keeping the Rubicon Trail alive and well, says Del Albright, Friends of the Rubicon founder and trail boss." Albright, who has led FOTR for seven years through his affiliation with the BlueRibbon Coalition (www.sharetrails.org) said that HUMMER has supported the organization like no other manufacturer.

In 2006, HUMMER became the first and only automotive manufacturer to support Friends of the Rubicon. "The Rubicon Trail is extremely important to HUMMER. Our owners use it for recreation, while HUMMER engineers use the trail to test the capabilities of our products," says Martin Walsh, HUMMER General Manager. "It is our responsibility to ensure the future of off roading remains a viable hobby for off road enthusiasts around the globe."

In addition to supporting FOTR, HUMMER actively promotes organizations that promote environmental education and trail restoration. HUMMER provides each new owner with a one year membership to Tread Lightly!, a national nonprofit educational organization whose mission is to empower generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly.

Every owner who attends the HUMMER Driving Academy receives membership to the BlueRibbon Coalition, a national coalition of organizations, businesses and individuals committed to promoting responsible public land use. In October 2003, HUMMER provided a $100,000 endowment to Tread Lightly! to launch the HUMMER Helps program.

The endowment is administered as a grant giving initiative to select outdoor enthusiast clubs who are Tread Lightly! members and have pinpointed recreational areas in need. The HUMMER Helps program was created to sustain the lands where outdoor enthusiasts enjoy off highway activities. In August 2005, HUMMER donated nearly $13,000 to a Tread Lightly! rehabilitation project at the Bald Mountain off highway vehicle (OHV) trail in the Sierra National Forest, Fresno, CA.

Tinting you car window can be a gift and a curse, On one hand you want your ride to look the best, but on the other hand there are state laws that prohibit certain shades of tint. Car window tints are very common especially to those of us who customize many different parts of a car. Window tinting is fairly simple and one of the cheapest customization options out there so you get the biggest bang for you buck.

Customizing Your Ride with Window Tints Tinting you car window can be a gift and a curse, On one hand you want your ride to look the best, but on the other hand there are state laws that prohibit certain shades of tint. Car window tints are very common especially to those of us who customize many different parts of a car. Window tinting is fairly simple and one of the cheapest customization options out there so you get the biggest bang for you buck.

Reason to install window tints There are many reasons why people install car window tints; the main three are. Car window tinting decreases up to 79% heat Car window tinting blocks 99% of harmful UV rays Car window tinting keep your valuables hidden from potential thieves (especially in Brooklyn) Be Careful!!!: Some states have laws against window tinting Car window tints are actually one of the cheapest and effective ways of customizing a vehicle.

99.9% of the time if some one has tints they are planning to or will customize another part of their vehicle. For most young drivers window tinting is just another way to fit in; but please be careful. This small check list will ensure that you are making thThe biggest mistakes you can make are the following. You must be aware of you state tint laws Do not under any conditions turn your windows down while the film is still wet. Make sure your tints match on all windows before you complete the job.

Tinting your vehicle give its personality. Tinting your windows can make a big difference on the way your vehicle looks; it brings out a unique look to your vehicle. If you have a 64 Chevy Impala on 20 inch rims you’re flossing. But without tints you loose that extra look to your vehicle; it just looks too plain. Adjusting your window tint is also something that is widely used from the presidential limo to the 1993 Cressida. Window tinting has become so common it has become a customization that is almost like having air fresheners in your car.

The BMW 750Li comes with stock 19 inch rims and stock tires. From your tint to your tires; you must not take away from its beautiful design. When purchasing rims and tires you must find the best fitting tires due to its weight and wheelbase. BF Goodrich is one of the most popular tires for rims; these rims come in various styles and types including run flats. Goodyear and Michelin are good as well if you just want to save a few bucks.

But on the other hand if its quality you are looking for then the choice is clearly Falcon. Some of the best rims and tires for those that are speed demons then Pirelli would be the best choice in terms of drive ability and control. You also have to take into consideration city versus highway driving and how it may affect your rims.

The worst thing on the planet for a car lover to see is a cracked or bent rim. Driving around on rough rugged pavement can easily bend or crack your rims on our vast selection of pot holes. You may even need an alignment after speeding down Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn; trust us we know from experience.

Get the Rims and Tires That FIT
Finding the best fitting tires is a choice that’s a bit difficult if you are not well informed. Your must always take into consideration the following when shopping for rims and tires for the BMW 750Li. Will the rims fit my vehicle? Will the tires fit the rims? What are the tires specially designed for?

Do you live in the city or suburban area? Do you do a lot of highway driving? When was your last wheel alignment? (if used vehicle) Does the vehicle require any additional custom work to accommodate the rims and tire combination? How much will the installation cost and does it include tires as well? How much will the labor cost? Now that you are armed with these questions feel free to contact any of our listed rim and tire shops for any information. Head over to our customization page and see which rims fit that beautiful 750Li.

The concept car is based on the Kia Rondo unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November last year. The new concept vehicle is the realization of Kia of their “Exciting and Enabling” brand direction. “We have positioned the all new 2007 Rondo as a vehicle of function and versatility,” Len Hunt said.

Hunt is the executive vice president and COO of Kia Motors America. “The Rondo SX Concept is proof that smart, spacious vehicles don’t need to be boring, and that consumers can still be passionate about a daily driver,” Hunt added further. The concept car uses design elements that are employed by the current Kia SX models.

The aggressive looking front and rear fascias are just some of the design characteristics that are being used by Kia models like the Rio and the Spectra. Aside from that, the concept crossover vehicle also employs sportier grill inserts. The addition of such design increases the aesthetic value of the vehicle. To make the SX concept of the Rondo more aerodynamic, the roof rails present on other trim package of the Rondo were nowhere to be seen on the concept vehicle.

The absence of the roof rails decreased dramatically the coefficient of drag of the vehicle. The door handles and side moldings are finished in contrasting colors which gives the car a soft and fashionable overall finish. The Kia Rondo SX Concept also comes with an accessory body kit which is also available on the other trim packages of the Rondo. The interior of the concept vehicle exudes a sports car luxurious feel, thanks to the materials used and the finishes utilized.

The black leather that wraps the steering wheel which is common on SX trim packages of other Kia models is also present in the Kia Rondo SX Concept. The seats, meanwhile, are upholstered in grey leather with red leather trimmings around the grey Alcantara inserts. Stainless steel sports pedals are employed by the SX concept and this departs from the black theme that the current Rondo models use on their brake pedals. The center stack, shifter surround, and the door switch trims are characterized by an accented platinum look.

However in terms of showroom success, the Commander is unlikely to cause much concern to its arch nemesis the Land Rover Discovery. Land Rover expects to sell around 12,000 Discos a year, while Jeep's modest plans involve shifting only 600 examples of its seven seat Colossus. Put another way, Jeep's annual target is less than Land Rover expects to sell in around three weeks.

Oh well, never mind that because the Commander can play its trump card of wait for it, a 330bhp, 5.7 liter V8 engine which gives a 0-60mph sprint time of 7.5 seconds and maximum speed of 127mph which is highly respectable for a vehicle that weighs in at around 2,400kg. Environmental concerns may deter a lot of buyers these days not to mention average fuel returns of 16mpg from Chrysler's renowned HEMI V8 power plant.

This can also be found in the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT and the awesome Chrysler 300C.

The big Jeep's cunning solution is to use a Multi Displacement System (MDS), which cuts off four of the eight cylinders at cruising speed, but in all honesty this does little to quench the Commander's insatiable thirst.

Because of this, Jeep estimates that the alternative 215bhp 3.0 liter turbo diesel engine will account for around 85 per cent of new sales.

Owners of this model are likely to see their fuel consumption creep to as high as 25 mpg on a motorway run. This may offer some comfort as diesel fuel prices seem to be heading down again. Ride quality at any speed is excellent yet as a 4x4, the Commander feels neither quick nor comfortable being thrown around country lanes.

Jeep says it will adjust the set up for European roads, but the Commander has some way to go before matching the all round ability of the all conquering Land Rover Disco. Its squared off, no nonsense styling may not be to everyone's liking, either. Inside, exposed metal Allen bolts will be too macho for some as will the visible bolts around the lights and wheel arches.

I must confess I am rather curious as to why some manufacturers started this trend, I understand it is primarily to convey ruggedness but to me it just looks like some bloke has stuck them on in his garage. Also the interior plastics aren't what I would expect from a car in this price range. There are some neat touches, though, such as the roof mounted drop down DVD player, easy to use folding seats, twin sunroofs and carry hooks.

But some other practical features let the Commander down a little. The middle row of seats is surprisingly tight on legroom and the third row is strictly for children or very short people only. The individual ventilation and temperature controls are a nice feature though and will stop the usual arguments between middle and back seat passengers about being too hot or too cold especially amongst kids.