The Toyota Corona: A True Classic

The Toyota Corona must certainly be regarded as one of the best looking and longest lasting makes of car in the history of road use. The vehicle started manufacture during the years spanning 1957 and lasted up until 2002, passing through a number of different models along the way as it valiantly tried to adapt to the changing of the times.

  

Aside from the Toyota Corona's striking good looks, the Corona's various models were also considered to be much more fuel efficient as opposed to their American and European counterparts and enticed prospective car owners with the enviable choice of owning a much larger car (the Corona) but at the same cost and expenses of its smaller sibling the Toyota Corolla, which came soon after it.

Perhaps the single most elegant model in the line is the Toyota Corona Mark II, which was produced by the company from 1972 to 1976. There is something quintessentially seventies about this car, with its combination of effortless cool with an endearingly chunky shape that gives this car model a genuine period charm. If it is not already recognised as an iconic car of the decade, then it most certainly deserves to be considered as such.



The original model of the Corona is also a classic, of course, with its sweet buggy-like shape, but one which seems generally more dated and of-its-time. In the late seventies the car became rather more square and hard-looking, a bit boxy and hard-edged and having a lot of planes and edges with the car taking on something of a tough guy image which perhaps doesn't fit as well with the general style of the line.

The eighties brought with them a subtle modification of this design which kept the basic feel but made it far more sleek, taking the Corona back to the elegance of the early-to-mod seventies. As the car continued to be redesigned into the twenty-first century its hard edges and boxy design elements were increasingly smoothed down, resulting in the kind of rounded car that is still dominant to this very day.



The Toyota Corona still has its admirers today. A number of people do their best to keep vintage cars fit for the road, and while it may be easier to search for a Toyota Rav4 online than to find a good quality Toyota Corona from the earlier days of the car's life, it should not come as a great surprise if you still see one of them cruising the highways and byways now and again.

Features of Saloon Cars That Could Make the Difference

There are many things that you should check in a car, but here are some of the most important aspects that must not be overlooked. It is a list of the most common questions you should ask yourself before actually making a purchasing decision related to a car.

A car is not a short term investment. It is something that immediately loses its original value. You must carefully weigh every characteristic since you can’t give it back the next day, and this remains the case for Saloons like the Honda insight.

Type of Transmission
Mainly, the decision is between manual and automatic transmission. Manual gears are recommended more to those who love powerful motors and exciting drives. No automatic transmission can ever provide the thrills of a manual transmission.

Engine Size
It does not refer to engine capacity, but to the number of cylinders. Most engines have 4 cylinders and that is the common choice of motors. But there are also those who prefer 6, 8, or more cylinders.

Drive Type
Drive type refers to front-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, or rear-wheel drive. Rear-wheel drive is more difficult to handle, but it provides incredible traction and enticing driving. There are also cars that come with all-wheel drive lock that can be deactivated and activated when needed.

Engine Type
Engine type refers to the fuel that the engine uses to propel the car. Motors can work on gasoline or diesel in most cases, but there are also flexible fuel vehicles and hybrids. The difference between a diesel and gasoline is a matter of fuel cost, but also a matter of driving style. As for the hybrid motors the decision is strictly depending on the environmental concerns of the driver, as well as on the benefit of long term cost savings.

Bugatti Veyron - Cool Car Desktop Pictures

A collection of cool Bugatti Veyron car desktop wallpaper pictures for those of us who can't afford one...we can dream!

New Mileage Standards Fuel Changing Technology

With newly-announced fuel standards of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 in the U.S. for autos and light-duty trucks, automakers are devoting more energy to improving their products’ efficiency. Consumers, too, are becoming more interested in the environmental impact of their vehicles. The increased interest in the environmental effects of driving is motivating manufacturers to increase their green credentials.

Start-Stop Technology
Start-stop technology automatically shuts off a vehicle’s engine when it stops. The technology is already in limited use in the U.S., mainly in hybrids. However, an estimated eight million North American autos will be equipped with start-stop capability by 2017, according to Lux Research. In Europe and Japan 40 percent of new cars are already sold with start-stop technology.

The technology can increase fuel efficiency by 12 percent. Beginning with the 2013 model year, consumers can expect to see more makes and models equipped with the technology. Ford will offer it on the Focus for an additional fee while Lamborghini Aventador will also feature start-stop. Numerous other manufacturers, including Kia, Hyundai and Honda, already offer versions.


Carbon Fiber Bodies
Because steel is heavy, automakers are investing heavily in developing lightweight counterparts. One substance that shows great promise for lightening car weights and increasing mileage is carbon fiber. Along with being much lighter than steel, carbon fiber is stronger. Carbon fiber has been in limited use for years in some special-edition sports and race cars.

Improvements in carbon fiber production techniques have decreased its cost. As a result, carbon fiber is being increasingly used in auto bodies and parts. Lamborghini, BMW and GM are among the manufacturers that are adapting the material to some models.

Hybrids and Gasoline Alternatives
National standards for fuel efficiency apply to all the covered vehicles that are created by a manufacturer, with mileage averaged over all units. Since hybrids usually have significantly better fuel economy than the standards require, they can compensate for standard models that don’t quite make the grade.

As customers demand more choices of fuel-efficient and hybrid vehicles, manufacturers have an additional incentive to increase their offerings. The combination of these two factors has led to improved technology and a variety of hybrid and alternate fuel options.

Electric and electric-gas hybrids are the best known. The Toyota Prius was an early leader in hybrid technology, but it is being challenged by the Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf, Ford Fusion and other models.
Diesel engines are more efficient than gasoline engines. Volkswagen’s Passat, Golf and Jetta all have mileage ratings in the mid-30s. Improved diesel formulas and exhaust scrub technologies make diesel engines comparable to gas engines in producing harmful emissions.

Natural gas vehicles are another option that is being developed. Honda’s Civic is already available.
Stringent global mileage standards are forcing manufacturers to adapt their product lines. Environmentally-aware consumers in the market for a new or used vehicle can do a car price comparison with TrueCar to find the fuel-efficient, hybrid or electric model that best suits their needs.

Cool School Buses

To cool for school! A collection of cool school buses from around the world. The journey to school was never supposed to be this much fun!

Cool Car Cutaways

One of the things we love about car shows is the car cutaways they showcase revealing the cool details and mechanics of these awesome machines. By stripping away parts of the exterior and coverings, viewers can get up close to appreciate the sophistication and engineering of today’s car.