New battery-electric vehicles that will released for the model years of 2018 and 2019 could possibly shift the attention of consumers away from Tesla. Audi, Hyundai and at least a couple new manufacturers finally matured enough to make their own all-electric cars in the crossover SUV bodies. This video can serve as a quick overview of current market situation. Some cars are already on sale in the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia and China, so we were able to add prices and final technical information about them, while some are waiting for their first public debuts (companies already confirmed their production, though). Short list of things this video presentation will teach you (information about the sourced used in making this video are in the end of the presentation; image by autoblog.com/2018/02/27/hyundai-kona-electric-suv-revealed): – Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo can finally set the company to the path of electrifying their whole lineup. The 600hp E Cross Turismo SUV will be good for urban and offroad driving thanks to rugged tires and 310 miles of range; – Jaguar I-Pace is slightly bigger than most of cars on the list. Despite this, it will still show great range and be slightly cheaper than Tesla’s SUV. – Hyundai Kona is the competitor for the domination among more affordable EV options. Hyundai are known for making cars with competitive pricing and good specifications, so Kona Electric is the first long-range option to Bolt EV. – Chevrolet Bolt EV is usually described as the uncool all-electric car. Customers, who are not chasing the hype could have the time of their lives driving this car: it has the range of over 200 miles and low price compared to most of the competition. – Nio ES8 is the cheaper alternative to Model X that was created for the Chinese market. The main selling point of this big SUV is its pricing. For the smaller amount of money, you get cars that are not less advanced than ones created by Elon Musk’s company. – Audi Etron is scheduled to start rolling out of the production lines in the second half of 2018. Consumers in Europe can already place their reservations for Audi’s first long-range SUV. – Tesla Model X: no list is complete without this product. Although everyone is chasing Elon Musk, in 99% of cases Tesla remains on top. Let’s see if anything changes for them this year.
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3 Reasons You Should Lease Your Next Car
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As the technology that goes into cars gets better and better, they are also gradually increasing in price. While this is part and parcel of creating some incredible new vehicles and pushing the boundaries, it is problematic for people who are passionate about cars and love driving but simply can’t afford those prices. This means that if you are looking for a new car – hybrid, electric or otherwise – you should start considering other methods for funding your transportation.
In the future, it seems very likely that we won’t have our own cars at all. Self driving vehicles are looking increasingly viable as a wide-scale option, opening up the opportunity for people to effectively hire the nearest car rather than owning their own. This lifestyle makes a lot of sense on both an economical level and an environmental level.
But this future doesn’t have to be that far away. In recent years, car leasing has become more and more popular. You get to lease the perfect car for you and in a few years time you can switch it up for a better model, incorporating new technologies and more green credentials. While we don’t have self-driving cars just yet, we can certainly start to learn how to share assets much better and begin to let go of the notion of ownership.
So, what is so good about leasing?
Fit in With Your Monthly Expenses
Leasing is one of the best ways to get a car when you don’t quite have the money to buy one. Cars are expensive and getting more and more expensive as time goes on. This can make it quite tricky for people who require a car but aren’t earning enough just yet to acquire the savings in time, like first time car buyers.
As a good compromise, leasing allows you to figure out how much you can afford to spend out of your monthly budget on your car. With this money, you can then lease a car without having to put down a deposit to begin with. In other words you get the car you want, right now, without having to save up for one first.
Fitting any large expense into your monthly budget can be quite difficult but luckily there are a wide range of cars available to lease. At the end of your lease, you can choose to either swap your car for a new model that will suit your new needs, or you can lease your same car again. This is slightly different to paying for a car on finance as you won’t own your leased car at the end of your contract. However, the monthly payments are quite a lot cheaper so this could be a better option if you are shorter on cash. You can read a little more about the differences between leasing and financing online at www.wcvolvocars.com.
Upgrade to Enjoy a New Car at the End of Your Lease
One of the most exciting things about your lease is that once it ends you can upgrade to get a better car that will suit your needs. As technology and cars are moving along at a rapid pace, this is a really good advantage to have as in a few years time, you can’t even imagine what kinds of changes will have been made. Having the ability to join in straight away will be really very exciting!
This might sound a bit weird if you haven’t thought of leasing a car before, but think of it like a cell phone. We all know how quickly cell phones have suddenly taken off with brand new technologies seeming to appear almost every month. The car industry may be a slightly slower industry given that a car is a much larger investment for anyone to make, but it is rapidly catching up and now this attitude to leasing rather than owning is taking off. And, when you think about it that way, it makes a lot more sense.
Your Car is Protected Under Warranty
One of the biggest worries that drivers have is that should anything go wrong with their car, they will have to pay to get it fixed again. This is particularly worrying when you have already spent pretty much all you have on buying the car in the first place!
With a lease, the car you are driving will be protected and covered so that if there are any problems, this won’t be coming out of your pocket, but will be paid for by the warranty. This means that while you should certainly continue to take excellent care of your car and drive sensibly and safely at all times, if there are any problems, you won’t need to worry about covering the cost.
This is a huge bonus if you are looking for an electric car or a hybrid as these cars are generally much more expensive to fix when they go wrong as they contain specially made parts that can often only be fitted by a particular garage or technician. Knowing this will also help to bring your insurance cover down as your insurer will not be shouldering the cost of these repairs either.
Leasing a car might not sound like it’s for you, but even if you only look at these three reasons to lease your next car, it is clear that there are a few significant advantages at play as the technology in cars improves at a rapidly increasing rate, you don’t want to get left behind the times when you know that the next awesome breakthrough in efficiency is coming. Being able to change your car regularly will allow you to stay on top of the trends without breaking the bank or having to save up a ridiculous amount for a deposit.
Take control of your car and take control of the future. Leasing is a trend that will soon be working for everyone and the sooner you climb on board, the more likely it is that industries will work to develop a future where everyone has a way of travelling around easily and efficiently – where you don’t need to be wealthy to have a stake in the best of the city.
Making Your Car Safer For The Road With Technology
Driving can be a dangerous game. There are so many thousands of drivers on the roads just in your area every day, and each of them will have their own view on what safe driving is.
To ensure that you are always safe on the road, companies like American Traffic Solutions will install cameras, traffic lights, warning signs and diversions to ensure we stay safe. However, the safety of ourselves and the people around us is not only down to the authorities. We have a responsibility to make sure that we drive safely and that our car is safe to drive.
There are some great pieces of tech we can install into our cars which make driving much safer, and therefore being on the roads a less hazardous affair.
Rear-view camera
One of the things which can make a massive difference to the way we drive our vehicles is the ability to see where we are reversing. Rather than you having to guess where the cars are in each side of when reversing into a bay, the camera will show you and make it easier for you to drive. It also means that if anything appears at the back of the car such as a cat, you can avoid hitting it.
Phone technology
One of the most common causes of road accidents is texting or talking on the phone while driving. Having your phone either lifted up to your ear or under your steering wheel is a huge danger to you and everyone around you. The great thing is that you can get a car which has the ability to stop you from using your phone on the road. Most newer models will now have Bluetooth in the onboard system which will allow you to connect your phone and talk hands free. Another great feature which Ford has introduced is the ability for your car to read message out to you. This saves you being tempted to take your eyes off the road when you receive a message. You are then able to auto reply with ‘Call me back later’ and carry on your drive.
Lane Keeping
Don’t you just hate it when people swerve in and out of lanes for no reason? This can happen especially when a driver isn’t paying attention to the road. Luckily, many cars can now detect a subtle change in lane positioning and will correct this automatically. It means that if a driver is too busy texting to pay attention to the road. The car will move itself back into the lane and stay there.
Collision Prevention
You may remember your driving lessons when one day your instructor told you to break in the middle of the road. Learning how to emergency stop is a skill you are taught in case of an accident, however sometimes you simply cannot predict what will happen. The great thing is, some cars will do it for you. The Honda Accord for example will sense an accident happening and slam the brakes on before you even notice what it happening, it can save your life, and it will certainly make your car much safer on the road.
Electric Dreams: How To Buy A Used Electric Car
The revolution of the electric car is well and truly upon us, so much so that the electric vehicle isn’t exclusive to those who have infinite amounts of money or are only looking for a minuscule size car. Now, there are bigger cars, and different sizes to suit all people. From the small, through to the family vehicles, and beyond. But for those who are on the lookout to buy their first electric car, while it is a major investment, it can be a bit expensive up front. So, for those who are looking for a way to benefit the environment but not spend so much money is to invest in a used electric car. This is becoming more popular as time goes on, not just because of the cost, but as those first generation electric vehicle drivers are hoping to upgrade to the most modern of EV technology, it means there’s a whole collection of cars desperate for a new home. So, where do you begin, and does it actually matter if you buy used in comparison to new?
The Facts
When you are buying any sort of used car, there’s a lot of things to bear in mind. Of course, we all have our own ideas with regards to the look, the performance of the vehicle, as well as the brand itself. Practical issues are the main thing with electric vehicles. But for those who are buying the first electric car, there is a sense of trepidation because of the unknown. The first wave of electric vehicles arrived in the UK during 2011, and these cars such as the Citroen c-Zero, and, of course, the Nissan Leaf, are mainstays of the British roads now. The one thing that you can take comfort in buying these cars is that they still run as good as they did on the first day they were used, especially if you compare these two cars with internal combustion engines (ICEs). And, if you need any more convincing, electric vehicles are now being used as the standard car for various cab firms. People are doing this now because they are much more reliable than ICE vehicles. So, if you are venturing into the unknown, and know nothing about electric vehicles, the pros far outweigh the cons.
What To Look Out For
The main concerns with electric vehicles are the two main components, the battery pack and the motor. The one thing that you need to bear in mind with this is the battery, as long as it is recharged and discharged on a regular basis, it can be incredibly economical, and could last you at least 10 years. The problem with buying a used electric car is that you need to find out if the batteries have been charged. The irony is with electric vehicles is that the lack of use is a culprit in killing and electric vehicles battery more than anything else. There were issues in 2012 with the Tesla Roadster, and owners stating that the batteries were dying due to the lack of use. The problem with these batteries is that when they don’t get used for so long, they will refuse to charge. This is known as bricking. So, by investing in a car, especially a Roadster that is an earlier model than 2012, you may have this issue. However, in 2013, Tesla stated the 8-year battery warranty would be honored, regardless of the situation. Although, if you do need to replace the battery, there are ways around this so that it doesn’t cost the earth. So, for example, the battery pack of a Nissan Leaf consists of 192 cells. Instead of replacing the entire battery pack, you could replace each cell. Therefore it costs a very minimal amount in comparison to the battery pack as a whole. Although, sometimes the battery is leased, instead of it being purchased. So this reduces concerns about replacing the battery. There are models, such as the Renault Twizy, and if the battery drops below its 75% performance capacity, it will be replaced; this is as long as it’s under warranty.
How They Drive
For any new car comments always best to take a proper test drive. And what you need to remember when getting used to the contours of an electric vehicle, is that you need to monitor the dashboard to see how quickly the battery wears out, but also look at what you can get out of the car. The big thing to remember is that various issues can drain the battery, from driving fast, navigating hills, or even using the in-car features, such as air conditioning! So it’s important to remember that the car needs to suit your lifestyle, much like a small speedster, if you are using it for stop-start traffic rather than off road, you should think about exactly what you plan on using this car for. So, if you are considering an electric vehicle for lengthy journeys, it’s important to make sure that the car is in prime condition in the first place, and, of course, this means looking after things like the tires. It’s always important to remember that with every electric vehicle that you take it to a mechanic that is able to deal with the unique problems. And while a place like Telle Tire & Auto Center does the various aspects of a vehicle, it’s important to remember that some mechanics don’t. Looking after your car can be a bit more difficult when it’s an electric vehicle.
Owning An Electric Vehicle
Luckily, most electric vehicles are easier to drive than ones with an internal combustion engine. That’s, making the change means that there are some sticking points that might be difficult for you to get over. The one main thing to bear in mind is if there are enough electric charges where you live. It’s recommended that you get a charging point at home because it can take a few hours to charge up your vehicle properly, rather than the few minutes when filling up a typical gas tank. So, you need to get online and look at a few forums, such as Electric Forum, which means you can get opinions from other electric vehicle drivers so you can get an informed opinion.
For lots of people, the electric vehicle is the way forward, and for some, it can be quite a transition. So, while there are some fantastic models out there right now, from the Renault Fluence to the Nissan Leaf, as well as the Tesla Model S, remember, is your lifestyle able to keep up with it?
The Nissan e-NV200 Combi: Big Car, Small Emissions
Most of the hybrids and electric cars you see today or either the small models that hardly contain three people or they are massive, like the ones that Elon Musk is pedalling at the moment. But the Nissan e-NV200 Combi is one of those cars that is bridging the gap between small and large. It is the world’s first 7 seat MPV that is all electric. The idea for this model is to cater for shuttle services as well as appeal to large families. In this respect, the NV200 is catering for quite a niche market, so let’s put it to the test.
Nissan was one of the first firms with a mainstream EV, and this model, based on the NV200 van, is pretty much cut from the same cloth as the Nissan Leaf. As far as its power is concerned, the electric motor has a decent 107 bhp, as well as 187lb ft of torque, meaning that its modest power lends itself well to the family contingent. And while the NV200 model is considerably bigger than the Nissan Leaf, it has the same 24wHk battery that the leaf has. So if you’ve got a small family but opted for this car, you may find yourself heading to a used auto service to trade it in. And as the somewhat a limited battery power is felt at higher speeds, despite the larger front than the Leaf, the official range for the vehicle is only 106 miles.
Despite its somewhat limited range, it comes with two different charging options in both versions of the car, the Combi and the Tekna. The two charging options, the Rapid, and Rapid Plus, and while the Rapid version can take 4 hours to charge, the Rapid Plus version has a high speed 6.6Kw AC option for charging onboard. There isn’t much difference between the Combi and the Tekna, save for the 15-inch alloy wheels, as well as climate control, and the usual features like Bluetooth and so forth. The benefits of both models are that it has the Nissan Carwings Infotainment System, which includes satellite navigation, as well as a DAB radio.
The one thing you notice when taking it out for a spin is that it’s so quiet, as well as it being without a diesel engine, and no manual gearbox. This means that negotiating heavy traffic is easy work. And while the van is able to keep up with other high-speed traffic, the top speed of 76 miles per hour can be a bit of a problem. It’s also important to remember that other factors will drain the battery. The one major issue is that if you are driving in hot weather, the climate control will put a lot of pressure on the battery.
But, as far as a family car is concerned, this is certainly one of the front-runners in the category of “driving five or more kids to the game”, but with its limited capabilities, it appears more useful in shuttling people back and forth, rather than long, strenuous journeys.
Why A Prius Is The Perfect Car For Your Kid
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When it comes to picking out the perfect car for your teenager, you probably have no idea where to start. You want to make sure that you pick out something that’s going to be easy for them to drive and look after, but also that will be safe for them. Assuming that you’re looking for a mid-priced car, and a new one at that, we’re going to put forward that a Toyota Prius is a great choice for you. This hybrid car is a popular choice in the market among a range of different consumers, but it’s also been dubbed one of the best new cars for teens. So let’s take a look why it could be perfect for your teenager too.
Reliability
Investing in a car for your kid is a big deal. In general, you’re going to want to make sure that the investment you make is not only worth it, but pays off too. In general, you don’t want to buy something that’s going to break down on you, or cost a lot in maintenance right away. The good news is, the Prius is a good little car. As a hybrid, it’s relatively quite efficient, but it’s reliable runner too. What Car suggest that it’s better than average in five out of their six checks, which include bulbs, brake fluid, air conditioning, filters, and brake discs.
Safety
But that’s not all you’re going to want to be concerned with. Because it’s essential for you to ensure that your kid is going to be safe when they’re driving. As much as you hope they’re not going to be driving reckless, although click here if that doesn’t happen, you want the car to be safe is they do get into an accident. With a Prius, there’s collision warning tech along with brake assist to keep them covered.
Price
Of course, this is a car for your child, so you’re not going to want to be spending the earth on them. But at the same time, you know you need to invest if you’re going to get them a good, reliable car. With a Toyota Prius, you’re good. You’ll be looking at around $23,475 – $30,015 for the Prius itself, and then around $26,675 – $30,935 for the Prius V.
Running Costs
Maybe the upfront costs aren’t too much of a concern for you? When that’s the case, you’re definitely going to want to make sure that the running costs are much more affordable, especially if your teen will be paying for this part! In general, the service costs are low, and the Prius has great fuel economy to with a good 50MPG.
Style
While you’re trying to make sure that the model you pick out for your kid is suitable for them to drive, you know that they’re only going to care about the look. And with a Toyota Prius, you’re both going to be happy. Because it really is as cute as it is impressive!