Cars with the front wheel drive are called so because they transmit engine torque to the front wheels directly. The front wheel drive mainly is mainly characterized by simplicity of construction and drivability (Especially in the wet). In addition, the use of front wheel drive translates less weight on the vehicle, as it does not requires unreasonable shafts to transmit motion to the wheels.

The main disadvantage of front wheel drive occurs with engine performance and power. This causes the so-called “loss of traction” due to the fact that during acceleration there is a transfer of load on ‘rear axle, decreasing the adherence of front axle. This problem has been solved by electronics, because now we find in almost all cars a traction control system. This electronic system in case of loss of traction, will remove power of the wheels to eliminate slipping in excess.

On the safety front, in case of emergency, the front wheel drive allows easy control of vehicle even by the less experienced driver.

Also, remember that the first car manufacturer to experience a front wheel drive was the Citroen, with version Avant Tracion in thirties, which is now being adopted in most of the models.

The RWD (Rear Wheel Drive) cars transmit the motion of engine through rear axle. This solution is used on cars with sports features and with very powerful engines. It has the advantage of not losing traction acceleration, because the transfer of load to the rear axle increases maintenance of tires. However, the production costs of a RWD vehicle increase and there is increase also in total weight of the car. This is due to the fact that the motion is transferred from engine on the front of the machine to the wheels located at the back using a long and heavy shaft. In addition, there are no major problems from the standpoint of maintenance. The main disadvantage of front wheel drive is the difficulty in gripping the vehicle on roads of poor adhesion.  If you accelerate too curve, the vehicle tends to skid in back, forcing the over steer to recover the control of the car. Until the eighties the RWD was greater in the automotive field, and then slowly grew as front and now we have equal share of the both in the market.

The SUVs are identified as sport utility vehicles with the four-wheel drive. In English the term SUVs is associated with real off-road. The SUVs have very specific characteristics such as high comfort, Roomy interior spaces, luxury, great powers, four-wheel drive and the body is extended that makes a fascinating sports car. The large size of these cars makes them safer in the event of an accident. Typically, in case of crash, occupants of SUVs are less subject to risks of those traveling in a utilitarian car. However, at the same time the very features of the size makes the SUVs subject to risks of overturning as the CG is located very high up. The SUVs have very large tires to increase road holding, driving comfort and the speed. Despite numerous qualities, these vehicles are subject to critically not suitable for the city, as they consume more fuel and exhaust elevated CO2 into the air from their powerful and Performance engines.

The Crossover is also called CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle). These are the vehicles with appearance similar to SUVs, but with different characteristics. The Crossover does not belong to a well-defined category and can be put near the category of Wagons.  Currently many compact SUVs belong to the category of Crossover.

 The Crossover has some deficiencies at the level of optional, finishes, and large displacements of powers engine. Mini SUVs do not have the four wheel drive, and are often 2WD. Above all, they have front concentrations. In Crossover we find a frame bearing monocoque which brings it even closer to compact cars. The first example of Crossover dates back to the eighties. The AMC Eagle made a fusion of the functionality of an SUV as the Jeep 4 × 4 with the floor and the body of the AMC Concord, a Traditional car 3-volume sedan. Recently, Crossover is having a great success around the world and every major car manufacturer has its Crossover peak.

The Moto GP prototypes are built specifically for competitions. It is developed without goals marketing for the public. The displacement of Moto GP is 800cc and can reach up to 6 cylinders. The bikes will be back in 2012 with 1000cc. The Moto GP is a unique category recognized worldwide with three distinct classes: 125cc for young riders with bikes 2T very high performance, Moto2 called in the past 250cc, 600cc 4T very similar to Moto GP built only for racing and same engine leveling performance. Finally, we find the Moto GP (Previously 500cc).

The Superbike belongs to a series of bikes. They are in competition with modification in exhaust, cycling magazine with forks and rear shock absorber changed in internal calibration, so as to make them more accessible to the races. In Superbike the displacement can be 1000cc to four-cylinder or 1200cc to two cylinders. The category of racing Superbike is divided into several levels. The most important of which is the World Superbike Championship (WSBK or simply SBK). There are also national championships among which the most important are the English and the American.  But worthy of note is the Italian league (Italian Championship – CIV).

Several countries have developed high-speed intercity passenger trains. The newest systems are able to reach speeds in excess of 200 miles (322 kilometers) per hour.

In Japan, the Shinkansen Bullet Train, in operation since the 1960s, attains speeds of more than 185 miles (300 kilometers) per hour. The electric, self-propelled, multiple-unit car system will be upgraded with trains capable of reaching 224 miles (360 kilometers) per hour over the next several years. Japan’s network of high-speed rail lines also continues to expand.

The TGV, for Train à Grande Vitesse, is France’s high-speed passenger train, operating at speeds in excess of 185 miles per hour. Locomotives at each end pull the train in either direction. The TGV connects more than 150 communities, linking Paris to such cities as London, Brussels, Zurich, and Milan. In April 2007, the newly modified TGV set a world speed record of more than 357 miles (575 kilometers) per hour.

Both the TGV and Shinkansen trains use a hanging-wire system to supply electricity. While the TGV travels on dedicated specially built tracks, its trains do mix with other trains on conventional tracks for the last few miles near cities.

Another European high-speed train, the Eurostar, takes passengers from London (beneath the English Channel, via the Chunnel) to Paris and Brussels. The trip to Paris takes 3 hours, and riders can go from London to Brussels in 2 hours and 40 minutes. Each train has 18 cars, which can seat as many passengers as two jumbo jets.

In the United States, Amtrak runs a high-speed train on its routes between Washington, D.C., and Boston. The sleekly designed Acela Express uses giant alternating-current (AC) wheel motors, which provide smoother, more powerful acceleration than the direct-current (DC) models that have been used on U.S. trains for decades. AC motors also involve simpler machinery and require far less maintenance. The Acela, whose top speed is 150 miles (240 kilometers) per hour, travels from New York to Boston in 3 hours and 20 minutes—taking about 35 percent less time than is typical for standard train service.

Acela has had its share of mechanical problems, perhaps related to the structural strain of high-speed rail travel. In 2002, the trains were sidelined because of cracks in some of their shock-absorber assemblies. In April 2005, more cracks were detected, this time in several disc brake rotors, and Amtrak temporarily suspended Acela service. Slower passenger trains took over the Northeast route until the 20-train Acela fleet was again fully operational.

Magnetically Suspended Trains

The wheel-to-track interface is the major obstacle to the further development of trains that travel at high speeds. This interface provides traction, braking, and guidance capabilities, but imperfections in track and wheels lower the performance level. Magnetic systems allow trains to travel above the track without touching it, thus eliminating the problem.

Magnetic systems, often referred to as maglev systems, were proposed by researchers in the 1930s. Experimental versions have been developed through efforts by Japan, Germany, Britain, and the United States since the 1960s. Japan and Germany have invested the most on research and the development of prototypes, and have designed hardware that uses magnetism to levitate, guide, and propel ground vehicles.

The maglev system both levitates and guides the vehicle. Magnets also propel the train through the use of electric motors. At present, there are two different systems being developed: electromagnetic suspension (EMS), investigated by researchers in Germany, and electrodynamic suspension (EDS), used in Japan.

Germany has developed Transrapid—an “attractive” electromagnetic system, comprised of an electromagnet attracted to a nonenergized magnetic surface. In 1974, a 20-ton vehicle was built and tested at speeds up to 150 miles (240 kilometers) per hour. In 1979, a maglev system was exhibited at the Hamburg Trade Fair; it featured a two-section vehicle 85 feet (26 meters) long, weighing 80,000 pounds (36,000 kilograms), and able to transport 75 passengers at 50 miles (80 kilometers) per hour over a short elevated guideway. In China, Transrapid trains, traveling more than 250 miles (400 kilometers) per hour, shuttle passengers to and from the airport outside of Shanghai, a distance of about 19 miles (30 kilometers). In 2007, Chinese officials announced plans to expand the high-speed maglev line to the site of the 2010 World Expo along the banks of the Huangpu River, which runs through the heart of Shanghai. Another joint Sino-German project is the planned extension of Shanghai’s maglev line by some 112 miles (180 kilometers) to the city of Guangzhou.

During the 1970s, the U.S. company Boeing Aerospace developed a 90-foot (27-meter) test track with a 12,000-pound (5,400-kilogram) simulated car using the attractive electromagnetic system. Without strong government support, however, industry interest in maglevs ebbed and research remained at a standstill for many years in the United States. Because of high initial costs and lack of public enthusiasm, U.S. maglev projects have been slow to develop. Even so, in 2007, California officials were evaluating a proposed maglev line that would connect Sacramento to San Diego, passing through the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles. Other possible U.S. maglev sites include Chicago and a corridor between Anaheim, California, and Las Vegas.

In Japan, researchers and engineers have taken a unique approach to maglev design, focusing on the development of an electrodynamic or repulsive system, which uses two electromagnets to repulse each other. Onboard, cryogenically cooled (that is, cooled to near absolute zero, which is −460° F or −273° C), superconducting magnets induce eddy currents in the ground coils as the vehicle moves. The magnets, made of superconducting materials, lose all electrical resistance at temperatures near absolute zero. These materials are called superconductors. Another property of superconductors is that they exclude magnetic fields.

The eddy currents in the ground coils produce a repulsive force that levitates the car. The vehicle must be traveling at a high rate of speed for this to happen. At lower speeds, a set of ground wheels is required. Japan has tested this principle using a number of unmanned maglev trains—several of which have reached velocities in excess of 300 miles (480 kilometers) per hour. The development of this transportation system is ongoing, as is advanced testing of the trains’ safety and durability at high speeds.

One of the main problems with the Japanese design is that it requires an expensive cooling system. The development of new superconducting elements that work at much higher temperatures than other substances will revolutionize the development of electrodynamic maglev systems. These materials have the potential to make the use of superconducting magnets much cheaper, since they will not require costly coolants.

Both the electromagnetic and electrodynamic systems have strengths and weaknesses. The electromagnetic system requires a small gap between the magnets. In addition, the surface has to be about 3/8-inch (10 millimeters) thick; this requires a closer guideway tolerance. Development of a gap sensor to handle this problem has been a major undertaking. The small gap needs less power for levitation and there is less magnetic drag, further reducing power requirements. The electromagnetic system also uses a simpler guideway (track), and a simpler system on board since it has no supercooled magnets or low-speed running gear.

The electrodynamic system can have an air gap up to 6 inches (15 centimeters), requiring less tolerance in the guideway. The main problem is the need for cryogenically cooled superconducting magnets. If the development of the new warm-temperature superconducting materials yields a product that reduces the cooling costs for the magnets, the system will gain plausibility.

These two are some of the most common brands of cars in the market. Whether you are looking for a luxury car or one that is an absolute necessity, there is no choice that you will go for you either Civic or a Porsche. These cars have superb performance levels; they are of high quality and are very reliable. They also give the customer top of the world driving experience class and comfort.

Honda Civic

The civic is one of the best in the line of production of the Honda Motors Company Ltd. This company is one of the best performing car manufacturers based on sales and performance. The production line of Honda motors also includes Accord, Fit, Insight, Odyssey and CR-V. Civic was however one of the best selling cars from Honda motors in 2007. Among the thing that analyst say that are responsible for the huge success of the car are fuel efficiency and a reliable engine that allows one good mileage before the need for repair. The fact the car can be easily modified to look like the newest Honda cars in the market have made car a favorite with the consumers too.

Porsche

The car comes from the production line of Porsche SE, one of the best known racing car manufacturers in the world. Porsche SE is also a majority shareholder in Volkswagen AG.

Porsche has earned the reputation of being one of the most luxurious and prestigious cars in the sports car industry. The 911 model, Porsche Boxter, the Panamera and the Cayenne are some of the makes of Porsche that are doing very well in the market. The class, comfort and the thrill that comes with driving a Porsche make it the top choice when sports enthusiasts are considering buying a sports car.

Difference between Honda Civic and Porsche

The obvious difference between the Porsche and the civic is their engine types. The civic comes either in the 1.8 litter 140 horsepower, 16-valve SOHC I-VTEC 4-cylinder engine or the 2.0, 197 horsepower, SOHC I-VTEC 4-cylinder engines from which the consumer can choose from. the Porsche on the other hand comes with the very powerful 320 horsepower 3.6liter 24 valves engine.

The fuel tanks capacity of the two cars is another point of differentiation with the Civic being able to hold a meager 50 liters while compared to the 67 liters that the tank of the Porsche can hold. The Porsche is also better at traction control because its wider tires prevent it from sliding on slippery surfaces. These factors coupled with the fact that the Civic is an affordable midsized car and the Porsche a powerful sports car clearly differentiate these two cars.

However, these cars are in money terms way above that of the cars that compete with them in their respective classes. Good sales of either of the cars are driven by customer satisfaction and performance in the period they own the car.

Brief:

These two cars cater for completely different customer needs. The Porsche is popular with the people in search of a luxurious high performing sports car while the Civic is the choice for people in need of an affordable mid sized luxury car with a good mileage.

I terms of performance, the Porsche’s out powers the Civic with its horsepower of 320 compared to the Civic with an engine of only 140 horsepower.

Porsche has a better anti-slip regulation than Civic due to its wider tires.

The Civic has an engine with a capacity of 1.8-liter compared with the 3.6 liters in Porsche.

Though the Honda civic and the Toyota corolla have most of their feature alike, these two have many differences that you should know to help make your buying decision. The Honda Civic is made by one of the largest US car maker while the Toyota Corolla belong to the largest Japanese car manufacturers and seller.

Honda Civic features

The first Honda was a 1972 two-door coupe. The three door hatchback was introduced later in the year and is today the second longest existing brand of car in North American roads. Among the recent improvements from the old school model is the honeycomb grill at the car’s front and also the wheels. It is now a five seater looks classy with a 376 liters boot capacity. Among the value added interiors is the improved air-conditioning, cruise control and central locking. It also has cup holders, an audio volume control system that is speed sensitive as well as heat absorbing windows but the car could do better with an improved rear seat head room.

Toyota Corolla

This is the longest surviving nameplate on the roads of North America since its introduction in 1968. The name corolla just like the other Toyota models is derived from the name of a crown that has been the tradition of Toyota for decades of naming their cars after “Crown”.  This specific name, corolla is a Latin name meaning a small crown. The company gave the car a facelift to see it through the 2st century in 2000 by giving it a more classy design and backing that up with modern technology but maintained the same old basic design that gives Toyota’s cars more interior space and a high roof.

The Corolla model has both 1.8L, 100kW petrol engine and the 2.0L Sedan engine but has no diesel engines and is one of the most reliable cars.

Distinction between Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla

Both the Corolla and the Civics’ are design and performance is a match. However, the trimmed parts of the corolla’s exteriors give the car a flashy look as compared to the side-body moldings on the Civic. However, the new Civic was given a face lift recently while the corolla retained the old look coming into the new century.

Also, though the Corolla is backed by more technology, the civic is fuel efficient and has more power than the corolla.

The corolla also allows more leg room ad safety features than present in the civic and the safety and comfort of the corolla as compared to the power and fuel efficiency of the Civic is what determines most people’s buy based on what features they give higher priority. However, whichever car you choose, you are assured to of the world performance.

In brief:

1. These two cars top the line of compact cars. The corolla is made by a Japanese manufacturer Toyota while the civic is made by Honda.

2. The Corolla tops in comfort and safety while the Civic is more fuel-efficient with a powerful engine to back it up.

Volkswagen produces two very famous family cars which are available in the market by the name of Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen GTI. These models are the part of the Volkswagen Golf series. Volkswagen is a leading car manufacturer. Golf series is one of their very famous car series. Since 1974, market has seen six generations of the Volkswagen Golf. The cars stand to the reputation of the company. If you are confused about which car you should go for, check out the differences mentioned in the article and decide yourself.

Both Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen GTI are hatchbacks while the former being a standard one whereas the latter is claimed to be high performance hatchback or hot hatchback.  The petrol and diesel models are available of Golf but to date, company has launched only diesel model for GTI. Comparison of the diesel models of both cars shows that GTI has lower mileage around only 31 miles/ gallon whereas Golf is more efficient and making up to 40 per gallon.  GTI is more about style whereas Golf appeals to economical people.

No wonder, the company has called GTI- a hot hatch. What would you call 200 horsepower with its 2000 cc engine then, if not high performance? On the other hand, even with the same capability Golf has been observed to achieve only a maximum of 170.

GTI has improved features such as bigger 18’’ alloy wheels whereas the sizes of alloy wheels in Golf are15” and 17”.  The audio system of latter is said to be excellent but the additional satellite radio of GTI takes the cake. Apart from this, one needs to purchase optional accessories such as hands- free Bluetooth, side mirrors, front seats and heated windshield washer nozzles with Golf but with GTI, these come as standard body parts.

Owning your own car is a must nowadays. Transportation plays a big role in this futuristic world of ours. It affects many factors, even people who have their own car for transportation seldom gets late on their way to work, how much more if you don’t own a car yourself? If you do own a car, you probably might know what these terms mean. But for those who don’t, below are the explanations for what this terms mean and how it does affect efficiency with regards to transportation.

What is FWD?

FWD means front wheel drive. These are the cars which carries the weight of the engine up front. It also carries transmission on the front as well. This type of car is not made for braking at high speeds for the weight of the whole car is transferred to the front wheels, if it does happen, it would cause a series of problems which you would definitely not want to happen. However, this car is good for daily driving.

What is RWD?

RWD on the other hand stands for Rear Wheel Drive. Car manufacturers have been producing this type of car on the early 1970’s. Customers at that time did have an option so this was pretty much a hot seller back to the old days. It was just in the early 1980’s when car manufacturers thought of FWD and then it became a standard.

What is AWD?

AWD specifies that a car has all four wheels driven at all times. Sports AWD cars has modified the force of power with their wheels to the rear compared to the original AWD system that splits from front to rear giving most of its power to the front.

What is 4WD?

4WD is said to be the best. This is an exquisite type of drive wherein a RWD can be shifted into a 4WD depending on the condition. This system has extra gears allowing transportation easier in terms of rough terrain and heavy loads.

Luxury, glamour, and durability, these are the best words that could describe a ford manufactured car. Ever since the car industry existed, Ford motors seemed to never fail in excelling among its competitors, they are always branded as no 1 in the car industry. And to have this prestige one would not expect that once, a strongly founded empire in the car world would experience an unavoidable defeat. The release of the Ford Falcon AU series II and III, two of Ford Astralia’s manufactured cars, was one of the most devastating events that happened to Ford motors’ history. After having a development investment of $600,000,000 the series didn’t make it successful in the car industry.

Ford Falcon AU II was released on April 2000, 2 years after its predecessor, Ford Falcon AU, which was released on September 1998. The model was intended to replace the first AU model after being not able to endear the Australian car market because of its awkward styling. The AU II was considered a minor facelift from the previous car model and had few modifications from the previous model. Though the latter functioned and looked well than the previous one, still it was not able to uplift the reputation the first AU had left. Because of the seemingly unsuccessful attempt to increase the AU’s salability, another successor to the AU series was launched a year after, The AU III.

Ford Falcon AU III succeeded the AU II and introduced a year after the previous model’s launch. November 2001 Ford astonished everyone for the release of the newer, more beautiful AU. There were few changes made to the newer model of the AU series, the only difference it had from the previous one is that the AUIII had an additional accessory, the anti-lock breaks. Though there were efforts to give the AU III a better impression, the latter still was not able to survive the tough competition in the car industry. A year after, Ford Australia released another Falcon, this time it was no longer named AU. The Ford Falcon BA, a more sophisticated model with better aesthetic qualities succeeded and replaced the AU series.

There are so many unexpected events that may happen in the world of business. There will always be twist and turns, we cannot say that if you’ve been a constant achiever, you will always be that way. Sometimes failure isn’t far from perfection. Ford Falcon AU II and III could be reflections of this phrase.

Differenced In brief:

• Ford falcon AU II was released on April 2000 to succeed the September 1998 Ford falcon AU.
• Ford Falcon AU II did not make it big in the car industry and was replaced by Ford Falcon AU III.
• Unlike the AU II, The AU III had anti-lock breaks.
• Just like the AU II, AU II wasn’t successful enough to create an impression in the car industry and thus was replaced with another model of Ford Falcon, The Ford Falcon BA.

Cars well loved by many but of different car manufacturers. Both belong to compact and subcompact class of cars first manufactured during the 1970’s. Because of its distinct features, would be buyers are still torn between these two.

Honda manufactured the Civic, a respected auto company from all parts of the world and that it is of Japanese origin.  In comparison with all the compacts, the Civic has an upper and lower A-arm. This feature is usually evident only among larger cars but not with the compact ones. The car had had the prestige of becoming the “The Car of the Year” not only once but twice in Japan and also enjoyed rave reviews and a couple of awards in other countries as well.

The Honda Civic recently underwent a total makeover to make it more appealing.  Its classy and cool looks will definitely spark up the interest of the masses towards it all over again. Engine sizes of the Honda varies from 1.3 L being the smallest engine to 2.0 L the largest engine with a power of 114kW and is usually used in sports Sedan. Majority of the engine size manufactured comes in the 1.8 L engine size with a 103kW petrol engine. But despite of its promising new look, user reviews have ranted about some areas of the car that needed improvement like the headroom at the rear seat.

The Lancer mobile is fabricated and designed by Mitsubishi motors. Its debut in the market failed to capture the hearts of the consumers.  In fact, the first batch of fabricated Lancers was sold at a discounted price to lure buyers into purchasing them.  As the following generations of Lancer are deployed into the market, improvements are pretty obvious as newer models with 2.4 L engines have a higher end features.  A feature like the keyless ignition is now being used to the present generation of Lancers. Practically speaking, purchasing a Lancer is more decent and cheap. Engine efficiency ranges from its effective burning of fuel as it is able to have a mileage of 100 km/ 7.7 L for the engine 2.0 and 100 km / 8.9 L for the 2.4 L engine. That is roughly 12.9 k/L and 11.2 k/L respectively.