What are latest hi-tech car features?

The booming car engineering industry has come up with some truly magnificent car features recently with great emphasis on enhanced usability. This increases car ratings, popularity and sales to a great extent. Have a look at some of the smart car features developed by premium automobile companies in recent times.

Easy communication

A new user friendly benefit for car users is the addition of a convenient communication channel between driver or front seat passengers with those in the back.

Large touch screen displays

There are hi-tech features like high definition touch screens and even those operating through simple gestures installed into cars for the convenience of consumers.

Built in vacuum cleaner

For doing a quick vacuum cleaning job for the rear area of the vehicle, a small but powerful vacuum unit has been installed. It is great for cleaning up an accidental mess and for time when you do cannot fit in professional interior cleaning within your schedule.

Laser lights

A great feature that helps you drive safely and smartly is laser lighting. It is high beam or low beam depending on the function and can cut through fog or smog across a mile. It can help determine how wide an oncoming car is on the road in front of you.

Carbon dioxide sensors

Ventilation is very important in a car especially during long journeys. The smart carbon dioxide sensor determines when the carbon dioxide levels become hazardous to the passengers’ health, activating vents to let in more oxygen from the air outside.

Sharp LCD meter displays

The car interior design has always been a major attraction for car enthusiasts when purchasing a new vehicle so modern technology has found a way to make it more appealing with sharp LCD instrument panels.

Lane changing assist

The lane changing assist helps monitor the flow of traffic in the lanes around you so that you have a better idea of switching lanes. This helps get you to your destination in the least amount of time possible and prevents accidental collisions.

Which are the best selling cars of 2014?

The hottest new car features of 2014 spurred interest in the most popular cars of the year! Each had some advantages over the other and some annoying points as well, which cost them popularity points among car enthusiasts. Thinking of buying a new car? Look at some of the best loved cars of 2014 for inspiration and ideas!

Ford Fiesta

This small car is a favorite among those car lovers who do not require much space and wish to have a car with a highly practical approach. It is very economical and therefore its sales soared in 2014. 

Nissan Qashqai

It is a crossover SUV with all the most desirable features combined in one awesome package! It is spacious yet compact, practical with an improved driving experience.

Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer is no doubt the most popular family car due to its user friendly essential features and high comfort level to please the whole family.

Ford Focus 

This car is a wonderful option for ca lovers seeking a high quality family car with an affordable price tag. It is large with lots of space inside but it doesn't let that make maintenance expensive.

Vauxhall Corsa

It is a great compact car with tons of practicality and superior function meshed together. Its top quality features and affordability make it an excellent choice!

Volkswagen Golf 

Volkswagen is a highly praised brand among car enthusiasts and this particular model gets full marks due to the wonderful driving experience it offers along with high powered engine and plenty of space.

Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius remained a favorite among hybrid car lovers, who enjoy the superior fuel economy it comes with, providing low running costs and superb quality.

Toyota RAV4

Another popular car from the Toyota car company is the Toyota RAV4, which is commonly spotted a lot due to its great sales in 2014. The design is elegant and sleek while it possesses practicality and has plenty of room for family travel.

Honda Civic

For those who prefer smaller cars, the Honda Civic has been the go to model in 2014. The company has revamped the design with multiple options like four cylinder gasoline engine, CNG or a hybrid engine for both choices together. The modern practical features have made it more attractive to consumers.

Nissan Altima

The Nissan Altima has seen excellent sales in 2014, being a favorite car for smaller families. Among sedans, it is a good option mid family size car with an elegant design and  attractive practical features.The Nissan Altima has seen excellent sales in 2014, being a favorite car for smaller families. Among sedans, it is a good option mid family size car with an elegant design and  attractive practical features.

How to select your car's interior design?

Buying a car is a grueling process with so many things to take into consideration. One of these is selecting a car with a good interior that will work for you. here are some things to keep in mind while choosing a car interior.

Comfort

Your car interior must have an acceptable comfort level acceptable for your entire family or whoever the passengers are likely to be. Important aspects include the style and shape of the seats and the type of seat covers suitable. Seat covers are generally either made of leather or cloth. The durability and ease of cleaning are key points to analyze. Also, the weather conditions of your area or the areas you frequently travel to must be kept in mind. Leather maybe uncomfortable in extreme climate but cloth covers pose no such problem. In addition, cloth is quite difficult in terms of stain and dust removal.

Beauty and personality

To give your car interior a unique look, go with your own personality and style it keeping up with the latest trends and picking those that attract you. Colors go in and out of fashion as do textures and designs of car seats and mats. Have fun adding extra elements to enhance your car interior’s appearance can wow your friends and family.

Entertainment

The entertainment equipment such as screens and speakers also help determine your car interior. They must be selected carefully with emphasis on finding suitable size, type and how appropriate they are for the number of people in the expected audience. They have to be installed in the correct positions so as not to distract the driver or cause interference in his/ her vision.

Safety

No matter how beautiful your car interior looks, you should never compromise on safety. Use high quality reliable material only and add special safety features for parking, reversing and those installed in case of an accident.

It is again the time of the year when fog is suspended over major routes obscuring the way making journeys perilous for travelers especially over long distances and less frequented paths. To make your journey less daunting, fog lights are an excellent addition to your vehicle. Not only will they help you see better, they will save you previous time as well.  

Fog lights vs. headlights

Headlights are meant to be used when it becomes difficult to see traffic and possible obstructions in the dark. They are placed pretty high off the ground and light the way directly in front of the vehicle. Fog lights are placed low and more to the sides so they do not result in an undesirable glare unlike headlights.

Improved visibility

The fog light’s rays cut through dense fog and help you see where you are going on days when it becomes impossible to see even a foot in front of your bonnet. It is excruciating to drive at the speed of a snail and still be apprehensive about oncoming traffic and wildlife unexpectedly crossing your path. 

Collision prevention

It is the natural extinct of every driver to swerve to avoid an obstruction even at high speeds but what happens when you cannot even see what was blocking your path due to dense fog? Serious accidents can easily be avoided by installing fog lights which will give you enough time to decide what course of action you wish to take when you spy something directly in your way.

Path illumination

Fog lights are specifically installed in a position that lights up the road you are travelling. Often you may miss a small animal crossing the road at the exact same time and be too late to slow down because you cannot see the road properly. There might be ditches in your path or large rocks, tree limbs, etc which could damage your tires and send you skidding at a dangerous trajectory.

Side view visibility

Fog lights afford excellent visibility on both sides of the vehicle so that you can easily spot another vehicle coming from the right or left and change your course or speed accordingly when you sense a wild creatures aims to cross the road.

Stylish design

Fog lights are not purely practical but also give a little something extra to enhance the look of your vehicle. It is a very useful and trendy addition to your vehicle so you will not have to fret over how fog lights ruined the beauty of your expensive model.

How Often Is Oil Change Necessary?

Oil change is a huge issue for a lot of people. Some of the people don’t even know when to change your oil. While some do not remember to change the oil in their car, they either have a windshield reminder sticker that helps them to remember to get an oil change, or they change the oil when their car starts to give them trouble. To all those out there, stop following these stickers, instead follow the automaker’s advised service intervals. Thanks to the modern technology oil change has become very easy. These days most cars have built-in oil monitoring systems, which let you know when to go for an oil change.

Let the Manual Guide You

Bless the good old manuals. You can get all the information you need regarding oil change in the maintenance section of the owner’s manual. You can even get a softcopy of our manual in case you have misplaced or lost your hardcopy, all you have to do is go online and search for the right manual.

You will find that the owner’s manual has two lists of service schedules, in most of the cases. These are based on type of driving conditions; they can be normal and severe or special. Carefully read the manual to find out more about the driving conditions or how you drive. In most cases, the vast majority of people fall into the normal schedule.

Trust Your Oil Life Monitor

With the constant innovation and technological advancements, life is becoming easier. One of the many innovations that have helped people is the oil life monitors systems. An increasing number of automakers are moving towards installing oil life monitors of varying complexity in their vehicles. The basic versions tend to be more like maintenance protectors rather than actual systems. They are determined by mileage, and maintenance light starts blinking when the vehicle reaches a certain range of mileage.

The advanced oil life monitors rely on constantly taking information from numerous sensors throughout the vehicle and then use a complex algorithm to predict the life of your oil. The frequency of oil change depends on the driving conditions and habits. The knowledge about when your next oil change is due is al; based on guesswork. There is no specific time after which you should change your oil. You just have to drive and wait till the maintenance light comes on. The frequency of oil changes vary from car to car. You will be surprised at the difference of oil change between cars.

It's also essential to note that these systems are attuned to work with the factory-recommended oil. They aren't sophisticated enough to recognize that you've upgraded to another blend, so save your money and stick to the factory fill.

Use the Time Estimate

However if you have a weekend car or use your vehicle seldom, you'll have to change your maintenance strategy a bit. Many specialists believe that over time, oil becomes contaminated by gases that blow by the pistons, and the longer the oil sits with that contamination, the more it degrades.

Whichever method you follow, whether its the oil life monitor system set by the automaker or set mileage intervals, all of them have prescribe a maximum time frame for an oil change. For example, the 2010 Toyota Prius has a recommended oil interval of one year or 10,000 miles — whichever comes first. Most of the oil life monitors are more sophisticated than others; vehicles that employ them will have different time recommendations. This information can be found in the owner's manual.

Get an Oil Analysis

The two type of driving conditions have been of a point of conflict between vehicle owners, mechanics and dealership service departments for very long. Each one has his/her own beliefs, and based on these beliefs they have their own recommendations. However the best way to understand your driving style is to get your analyzed.

The advantage of this oil analysis is that it will tell you the condition of the oil in your car; it can also uncover any issues that your engine might be experiencing. Sometimes your you might find out that the sample tests show traces of fuel and coolant in the engine oil, which are initial signs of engine complications. These tests also let you know how far you can travel in between oil change.

Extended-Life Oils: It's Safe to Switch

Numerous oil companies are releasing the extended-life oils, which are guaranteed for precise mileage listed on the bottle. For example, Mobil's most advanced fully synthetic product, Mobil 1 Extended Performance, for instance, is guaranteed for 15,000 miles. The company advises it for vehicles that have crossed their warranty period. This is an important point because many automakers will void your warranty if you do not follow their recommended service intervals.

By following the above listed points not only will you know when to change your oil, but it will also help in protecting your engine from having any serious issues that might harm your car.

At Auto House Calgaryhttp://www.kijiji.ca/b-cars-vehicles/calgary/c27l1700199 we understand your need better and therefore aim at providing you with the best quality services that are reliable and have reasonable prices.

What is Fuel Economy?

Transport has always been an important part of human life. Traditionally, humans used animals and carts to transport themselves from one place to another. It used to take a considerable amount of time. Horseback riding, camel riding and other animal riding used to be regarded as modes of speedy transportation. As the human race has advanced, so has the means of transportation that they use. Now we have cars, which travel faster than any horse or camel could ever travel.

Cars run by fuel. This fuel is in the form of natural gas, kerosene, petrol and diesel. Since this fuel comes from natural oil and gas, it is a given that fuel is not unlimited. Rather, the fuel for cars today is becoming depleted very quickly, and the prices of fuel have risen to astronomical values as compared to even fifty years ago. Therefore car companies have made advances in car design and engines which allows the car to require lesser fuel to operate. The concept of fuel economy has therefore arisen in the world of automobiles and vehicles.

Fuel economy refers to the relationship between the distance a car travels and the amount of fuel it consumes. It is usually measured as the kilometers a car travels per liter of fuel. Generally, cars that run on petrol have better fuel economy than those that run on diesel. With the advancement in information technology, car manufacturers have achieved significant breakthroughs, which have greatly improved fuel economy of cars. Not only petrol cars, but diesel cars also have a better fuel economy now. This has become possible due to the introduction of such technology as Electronic computer module, ECU, and Eco. The computer system is installed in the engine of the car which gives instructions to the car about how much fuel to inject, and how fast to go etc. And this system incorporates advanced fuel systems for cars, such as VVTI for Toyota or IVTI for Honda cars etc. Apart from this, companies have even introduced hybrids, which greatly reduce the need for fuel. Hybrids run either on petrol or on a battery. The battery recharges itself as the car runs. Toyota Prius is an example of a hybrid.

With the increase in knowledge of aerodynamics and propulsion, as well as vehicle mechanism, we now know that steady speed driving greatly helps reduce the amount of fuel consumed by the car. An improvement in route selection, such as building tunnels, to reduce distance has also resulted in better fuel economy. Apart from this, improvements in road surfaces have also had a positive impact on fuel economy of cars. Moreover, driving habits of people greatly influence fuel economy. Fast, reckless driving usually leads to more fuel being consumed whereas slow driving or driving in a flow reduced the amount of fuel required. Moreover, on time servicing and maintenance of your car would ensure a better fuel economy.

The benefits of better fuel economy

Having a better fuel economy in your car has a number of benefits for you. The key benefits are:

• Cost saving. Since your cars now require lesser fuel for travel, this would greatly reduce your spending on petrol

• Greener environment. Some trains used to and still run on burned wood and coal. This greatly damages the environment quite a bit. Even cars have certain emissions that are harmful both to humans and other animals, as well as the environment as a whole. The new technology adopted by car manufacturers to reduce fuel consumption, also results in lower emissions from the engines of the car. This will greatly enhance environmental conservation.

• If you are a car manufacturer, producing cars with better fuel economy will greatly increase your sales. This is because more and more people are becoming aware of the importance of fuel economy and prefer cars that offer them the best in fuel consumption.

At AutoHouse only the best and most fuel economical vehicles in excellent condition are sold to gratified and appreciative customers with auxiliary consultation services and assistance.

5 Reasons to Buy a Preowned Vehicle Instead of a New One

The automobile market is thriving these days with modern engineering technology developing new and improved models with amazing hi-tech features. However, the market prices of these vehicles keep fluctuating with the different trends in the market so it is important to be aware of them before you decide to purchase a car. There has always been a debate about the advantages of preowned cars over brand new cars. Here are some factors listed to help you weigh the pros and cons when approaching a car dealer.

Cost

The most obvious benefit of getting a preowned car is the negotiable price depending on its condition and time of release. You can easily afford a really good preowned car within a reasonable budget. The trouble usually accompanying the payment of a brand new car is that the lack of good credit results in difficulties when applying for a loan.

Insurance

The insurance costs for a brand new car are much higher than those for a preowned car. Also the owner does not have to be on their toes all the time afraid to scratch or dent their new car accidentally. Overall, a new car is a much larger investment that not everyone at afford in difficult financial times.

Depreciation

Most car prices drop up to 40 % within the first year! This means that instead of walking into a showroom to select a new model, you can just purchase the same model from a quality car dealership company after a couple of months.

Improved Reliability

The business of preowned car dealerships has developed greatly in recent decades leading to a more flexible and reliable system of certified dealers. A new car comes with a definite full warranty that extends for a reasonable period of time. The original factory warranty on a new car can actually be transferred when it gains new ownership if the time falls within the preordained warranty of the car company. So a portion of the leftover warranty can belong to the new owner of this preowned car.

Choice of a Higher Model or Discontinued Features

Recently launched cars obviously come with attractive new features but they are not within everyone’s budget. One can easily buy a relatively new classy model with almost the same design and innovative features for a fraction of the original price. So a buyer can conveniently upgrade to a higher model well within budget. Sometimes a car enthusiast finds some older features more suitable for themselves that are absent in the latest models. Preowned cars are a great option for such individuals.

Although the purchase of preowned vehicles may be tricky, most problems can easily be eliminated by the choice of a reliable well established car dealership. At AutoHouse only the best preowned vehicles in prime condition are sold to satisfied customers with additional consultation services and benefits.