Thursday, March 10, 2011

Tips for Your Car's Bodywork and Paint Job

Tips for Your Car's Bodywork and Paint Job




Many people say that you can tell much about a person judging by the kind of car he or she drives. This belief reinforces the importance of appearances. Just as one is judged by the clothes they wear or the haircut they have, car owners can also be critized by the look of their vehicles. This means that having a clean and well-maintained car at all times is not an issue of vanity. The quality of the paint job and the bodywork is crucial because of the message to conveys to the public.
So how does one care for a car’s paint job? It all begins with basic cleaning. A thorough cleaning job goes a long way for every vehicle. Make sure to choose a dish soap that is capable of removing dirt, pollen and other things from the surface of the car. Remember to wash the car regularly; bird droppings and other debris may result in permanent stains.
The next step would be to remove the top layer of oxidized paint from the car. Gently shed the car with the use of a foam compounding pad. This procedure may leave a hazy surface but that’s alright.
Third, one should polish the car. Doing so would eliminate that haze and make the surface glossy. Opt for a mild polish and use it preferably with a circular polished.
After the polishing is done, waxing should be the next process. Waxing the car causes it to look shiny; it also protects the paint job from rough climates, which causes it to fade. Bird droppings are problematic because they have compounds which result in the deterioration of the paint job. When the car is waxed, it is easier to remove.
With the right maintenance regimen, a car’s paint job or bodywork will be in fine condition for a long time.

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics, burning hybrid suitable for driving

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Slated to be showcased at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show next month, the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is a 2+2 sports concept car with plug-in full-hybrid technology that not only ensures high performance but also low fuel consumption and thus low carbon emissions, maintaining BMW’s latest design philosophy. Touting attributes like BMW ActiveHybrid, economical combustion engine and aerodynamics, the futuristic vehicle integrates a hybrid drivetrain with a 1.5 liter, three-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, located in front of the rear axle, is capable of reaching 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 4.8 seconds with the top speed of 155 mph.

The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics introducing the design details of the Motorsports makes use of lightweight materials, like aluminum in the chassis and carbon-fiber in the bodywork, to ensure minimal drag as well as fuel consumption through a perfect power-to-weight ratio. Running on 21″ wheels enclosed inside the extra-large wheel covers, the concept car looks exceptional from the side and offers minimal drag and air resistance. While on the other hand, the interior of the vehicle is characterize by the lightweight and comfortable body-contoured seats, with front seats attached to the center console, forming a joint interior landscape, and the back seats fixed on the floor, allowing a floating experience for the passengers. Soft colors combining with sustainable material offers a classy but at the same time trendy ambiance for the passengers.
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Ten worth concept cars


As much as we all appreciate new designs and the efforts of the people behind them, let’s be honest: Not all concept cars are showstoppers — and not in the good way. Some get attention for all the wrong reasons; they make no sense, there’s no market for them or they’re just plain ugly. Just as every kid in a competition shouldn’t get a prize, not every concept car can roll away a winner either. Here are some of the latest double-bagger concepts that made it onto our top 10 worst concept cars list

10- Saab 9-4X BioPower

It’s not that Saab did a bad thing by presenting a concept with all-wheel drive and efficient E85 bioethanol capability — that’s great. What stings is that the troubled automaker devalued their efforts by putting that powertrain in a vanilla crossover that reeks of GM. Not that their car models have a wholly Swedish flavor anymore, but dropping this configuration in the freshened 9-3 or a badly needed 9-5 update would have meant a major step forward instead of a shuffle of indifference sideways

9- Kia KND-4

Maybe the KND-4 will turn out as the next-gen Sportage, maybe it was just a cruel experiment. We’re trying to be generous here since this appearance at the Los Angeles Auto Show was allegedly an understudy performance for the Kee concept coupe that was damaged after the Frankfurt show. In fact, the lines aren’t all that bad, but the paint; seriously? Fluorescent, neon green paint was the winning color choice? We hate to think of what might have come in second.

Capstone Microturbine Helps Power Plug-In Supercar


Electric vehicles with range extender systems – really series hybrid electric vehicles – can make electric cars practical for much more than just city driving. In most cases, extended range is achieved with the use of a small internal combustion engine that drives a generator, which in turn supplies electricity to the electric motor and battery. Thus, extended driving is available even after batteries are depleted. The Chevrolet Volt uses a small four-cylinder gasoline engine for this purpose.