German Car Manufacturers Going "Green" by Mike Bartley

The global community is now under siege of the global warming issue. To counter the huge amount of greenhouse gases being released by vehicles all over the world, car manufacturers continue to develop ways to cut down the fuel consumption of their production vehicles.

The American International Automobile Dealers Association's (AIADA) newsletter recently reported that German carmakers are among the players in the auto industry which have taken a keen interest in producing environment friendly cars. This may be their response to the ongoing debate on the stricter EURO6 emission standards set to be implemented in the year 2015. The steps being taken by German car makers are also a big help in the protection of the environment.

While according to the German newspaper Deutsch Welle, German car makers have yet to produce a true hybrid. And several car makers from the region expressed their interest on producing mild hybrids in the near future.

BMW has already announced that they will be teaming up with American car maker Chrysler in developing a mild hybrid transmission system for rear-wheel drive performance cars. This effort by the two car makers will further enhance the hybrid technology being used on cars today.

Another European car maker which has taken steps to produce environmentally friendly vehicles is Volkswagen. The German car maker has presented their lineup of super-efficient, ultra-low emission cars under the Blue Motion line. The company has already announced this technology in 2006 in the famous VW Polo. The technology is named after the color of Volkswagen's logo. Today, the Blue Motion technology is being planned to be incorporated on other Volkswagen vehicles like the Golf, Passat, and the Touran.

The Polo Blue Motion is equipped with a specially designed 1.4 liter diesel engine which has an astounding gas mileage rating of 60.3 miles per gallon. The fuel efficient Polo is also a very low emission vehicle with only 102 grams of CO2 released per kilometer. These figures beat the stats by the renowned Toyota Prius. The further enhancement of the Blue Motion technology will only help the car manufacturer produce more and more environment friendly vehicles.

Aside from the accomplishment of Volkswagen with the Blue Motion technology, they have also announced that they will be working with another German car manufacturer - Porsche. The two famous car maker has announced that they will be working together to produce eco-friendly cars which will be out in the market by the year 2008.

The partnership between the two forward thinking companies is hoped to bring revolutionary technologies which will help not only the companies but the entire auto industry in their battle against global warming. With Volkswagen leading the way for German car makers, it is only a matter of time before we see them as serious competition to Asian car makers who seemed to have the upper hand in the eco-friendly vehicle market all over the world.

Toyota and Honda has been leading the way when it comes to producing green cars. The Toyota Prius, the first successful electric hybrid car, is still selling in large quantities. The popularity of the Prius is well documented, aside from being the best-selling hybrid car in the U.S., the owners of these cars have created a group to celebrate their concern for nature.

A website dedicated to hybrid car owners is put up with the cooperation of Toyota. Another hybrid car which has been racking up sales in the U.S. is the Honda Civic Hybrid. The Honda Civic in itself is already famous thanks to its fuel efficiency and good performance in handling and in ride comfort. But with the introduction of the hybrid version, the buyer base of the Asian brand in the U.S. quickly supported the hybrid version.

The accomplishments of Honda and Toyota are what German car makers are shooting for. With continued developments, German car makers will surely be coming up with hybrid cars as efficient and as reliable as Dodge Rancho shocks.

Gold Coast BMW Mechanic – Tips To Find The Right One!

There can be nothing better than owning a BMW automobile in a heavenly coastal city like the Gold Coast. A smooth night-time ride in your elite BMW can give you the time of your life. However, as they say, ‘with power comes responsibility’ and so you need to be cautious about maintaining your beloved car. In most cases, finding a diligent Gold Coast BMW mechanic can be tough. If you are not into cars, you will definitely have some trouble trying to get your hands on the right person.

For this very reason, you need to go through the following tips, in order to ensure you are not putting your beloved BMW in the wrong hands.

Tip # 1: Find a Certified Service Centre or Mechanic

A Gold Coast BMW mechanic should ideally be a person who either is a certified BMW mechanic or has enough experience in dealing with the car and its perquisites. You can also try going for an authorised BMW service centre, which is right in the middle of the city. However, in cases of emergency, you would need a Gold Coast BMW mechanic to reach your destination to get the job done, which of course a service centre won’t do.

Tip # 2: Go For Registered Mechanics

If you own a luxury car, you should know you cannot let it be manhandled by just anyone. A mechanic who is not registered or licensed will most likely end up creating more troubles for your car. Therefore, it is best to do some research beforehand and keep contact information of a registered Gold Coast BMW mechanic always on hand. Remember, it is always better to be safe than to be sorry!

Tip # 3: Get Your Coverage!

You might not know that a registered Gold Coast BMW mechanic can get you your coverage from the company. The guarantees you got from the company when you bought can only be claimed if you work with registered mechanics or service centres. Do not make the mistake of letting an unregistered mechanic work on your car, as this will null and void the warranties you have from the company.

Since Gold Coast is not as populated as other major cities of Australia, such as Melbourne and Sydney, you might not have that many choices. Try to stick to the idea of working with a Gold Coast BMW mechanic, and no one else. If you want to prolong the life of your vehicle, then you must go for elite mechanics in the region.

Get the Best Gold Coast BMW Auto Repairer

Do you live in the Gold Coast, drive a BMW and are looking for a proficient auto repairer? If yes then you are at the right spot. Finding an experience and professional Gold Coast BMW auto repairer can be a little tricky, as you have a plethora of options lined up in front of you and choosing the right one can get to your nerves. What should you do? Well, here are a few tips to help you out with finding the best Gold Coast BMW auto repairer available!

Go For Service Centers:

First and the foremost, always prefer service centres to individual mechanics. Service centres are more reliable, have experienced professionals and take full responsibility of any damages that can occur. In addition, some service centres are even authorized by BMW and other brands to service on their behalf. In other words, you can get the repairing done under your warranty cover, if you have any left.

Look for Registered Professionals:

Let’s just say you have found a service centre or a Gold Coast BMW auto repairer, what’s next? Well, your next step should be to check if the repairer is licensed, registered and experienced in the field. If you work with a licensed professional, you won’t have to worry about any damages or stealth. A licensed and registered professional means he has enough knowledge in the field to provide you impeccable services.

Look for Specialised Professionals:

The easiest way is to use online directories to find a specialised BMW auto repairer who can provide you with flawless services. Remember, top-notch brands such as BMW, Mercedes Benz, Porsche and the like are not meant for ordinary mechanics to work on. These cars come with special needs and they should only be given to specialised professionals.

Check the Parts Being Used:

One of the most important things is to check if your Gold Coast BMW auto repairer is using branded BMW parts for the repairs. Never let a mechanic use unbranded or used parts for your car. Even the smallest component can create havoc for your beloved car. Be careful and investigate, as it is your right to!

Ensure Optimum Safety:

Don’t leave your car at a mechanic’s if he or she does not have enough security to keep your asset safe. Your car is an expensive asset and you wouldn’t want it to be stolen. In this very context, service centres are the ideal choice to make.