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To be introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2005, the all-new BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon will be available in the US beginning in October 2005. The BMW Sports Wagon will continue the highly successful tradition of combining more versatile cargo space with the performance and handling of a sports sedan.

The Sports Wagon will be powered by BMW’s new, advanced N52 3.0 liter 6-cylinder engine. This includes magnesium/aluminum composite engine construction, and BMW’s patented Valvetronic variable valve lift system, which replaces the conventional throttle for more efficient engine breathing and improved responsiveness. The 325i Sports Wagon is equipped with a new, standard six-speed manual gearbox and a six-speed STEPTRONIC automatic transmission is optional.

It is equally impressive in its space and roominess. Length (+1.65″), width (+3.07″), height (+0.35″), and wheelbase (+1.38″) are all increased compared to the previous generation Sports Wagon, providing front and rear occupants with additional space and comfort on the road.

Near 50-50 weight distribution, all-wheel drive, a long wheelbase, and short body overhangs front and rear are simply ideal for outstanding agility and driving safety under any circumstances.

The double-pivot front suspension, newly developed for the 3 Series Sedan, offers an optimum balance of driving dynamics and ride comfort in the Sports Wagon as well. Utilizing extensive aluminum component, this innovative suspension design offers superior tracking stability and low unsprung weight. The five-link rear axle in lightweight steel, ensures precise wheel guidance as well as excellent roll comfort, ensures class-leading agility and dynamic handling.

Safety features include the first front-to-rear Head Protection System to be offered in the 3 Series employs a curtain-type system, which takes up less space in the headliner and can remain inflated for several seconds after deployment, especially important in case of rollover. The 3 Series is BMW’s first to employ seat-mounted side-impact airbags, as opposed to the door-mounted type of the predecessor and other current Series. In their function of protecting occupants’ pelvis and thorax regions in side impacts, the seat-mounted airbags are equal to the door-mounted type, but offer greater freedom for the interior designers to achieve their functional and esthetic goals. It has a sophisticated electronic control strategy for managing the deployment of airbags and safety belt tensioners.

This approach to optimal effectiveness of safety systems now becomes more precise, thanks to a new sensing mat in the front passenger seat. Called OC3, the mat is more highly sophisticated than its predecessor; it measures the weight and analyzes the pressure distribution of the occupant in order to distinguish between an adult and an infant in a child safety seat. The front passenger’s airbags will be deactivated, should the driver install a forward-facing infant safety seat. The footrest is designed to crush under the force of the driver’s left foot in certain frontal impacts, so that the full impact force is not transmitted to his or her foot and leg. The Mastervac (brake master cylinder) is mounted so that as the front end deforms, it rotates, and with it the brake and clutch pedals. The pedals move forward, canceling much of the force transfer to the driver’s feet and legs if they are on the pedals

The very best in BMW Performance Parts, OEM Parts, Replacement Parts and Aftermarket Parts than anywhere else on the web can be found at Partstrain. It has your BMW Parts at better prices than you will pay elsewhere.

Parts Train’s BMW parts catalog is user friendly and as secure at http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByVehicle/BMW , for the BMW part you need and the best quality BMW auto parts, give our professional sales staff a call toll free and get the answers you need. Whether you need to replace your BMW 318i oxygen sensors or complete 528i exhaust, stock or performance cross-drilled brake discs, or BMW 740il water pump we have the BMW parts you need.

About the author: Jenny McLane is a 36 year old native of Iowa and has a knack for research on cars and anything and everything about it. She works full time as a Market Analyst for one of the leading car parts suppliers in the country today.

First released 15 years ago, the Mitsubishi Eclipse has been the franchise model of the Mitsubishi but has not always generated enough sales. The previews generation ‘geo-mechanical’ styling receives less attention as compared to other coupe in its class. Today, all hopes to take the dominance of Mitsubishi in sports compact coupe division with the launch of the all-new 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse are anticipated. Now in its fourth generation, the 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse rides of the Galant chassis platform in a coupe version. Set to hit the road in late spring this year, the 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse will be available in two trims and two new powertrain.

The new Eclipse feature a state of the art design, very unique to other vehicle of its kind. The exterior profile of the Eclipse presents a lot o tension inherent on the surface. ‘The designers who was developing it spoke a lot about a bow (like a bow and arrow’ so even thought the car is standing still, it feels like it is just about to spring,’ said Dan Sims, the General Manager for Design Center. Another good this about the design is the ‘teardrop-shape’ the Eclipse posses. The body starts wide moving the hip-like rear. The lean and mean exterior feature of the eclipse personifies the sporty, athletic, and well-crafted vehicle.

Under the hood lies the 3.8l V-6 engine also used by the Galant sedan, the most powerful in its class. The 6-speed manual transmission or Sportronic automatic transmission, traction control, and 18′ alloy wheels adds to the power and beauty of the Eclipse. The 3.8l MIVEC V6 produces 262hp at 5,750 rpm as a result of variable valve timing and lift. Torque can reach as high as 260 pound-feet at 4,500 rpm. It can zoom from 0-60 in 6.8 seconds.

The interior is amazing. The two-seater cockpit provides comfort in its leather cover. The uniquely beautiful, motorcycle adopted speedometer gives a different look in the dashboard. The Eclipse GT offers a 650-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system, complete with a 6-disc in-dash CD changer with MP3 playback. The Digital Signal Processing (DSP) surrounds you with an array of customizable sound settings served up by eight speakers with a 10-inch subwoofer.

The 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse is fun to drive, extremely balanced, fast, beautiful, and cool vehicle. For more information about the Eclipse, or to shop for parts for other Mitsubishi vehicles, visit http://www.partstrain.com/ShopByVehicle/MITSUBISHI .

About the author: Jenny McLane is a 36 year old native of Iowa and has a knack for research on cars and anything and everything about it. She works full time as a Market Analyst for one of the leading car parts suppliers in the country today.

From the beginning, starting with your first contact with whatever is connected to driving and cars, you must have heard of the utmost important aspect:the car insurance. To a certain extent the driver education must deal with this aspect which is vital for the driver and the car in itself.

There are many companies specialized in this field but you should know that there are many of them which make certain advantageous offers such as discounts for the good grades As and Bs, yet, for that you need to qualify;you should get in touch with your insurance company for it.Some discounts are given also for the application for some driver programs, these being quite advantageous too.

In addition, if you can make a choice, replace the new teen driver or family driver on the oldest and least expensive automobile. This can and will save you the rates. Whenever thinking about buying a new or second-hand car, make sure you get in touch with your insurance company to see if the rate will suit you and your finances. It is likely for you, without checking with the insurance company, to think over a car which is too expensive for you or just not suitable. As general piece of information, you should know that sports cars or other high-cost cars are due to have higher rates, thus disabling you to pay in time. It is also important to know what you buy. If you want to buy a car, it is utmost necessary to know what that car can do. These technical aspects can be revealed to you by means of a driver education course or just specialized magazines, provided you already bear the basic information.

Another aspect is the one related to the crash safety rating, because a percentage is given to every car according to this issue. You should always know how safe is the car you are driving, how well it can protect you. As well as the other aspects, you can learn this from the driver education course. In the unfortunate case of an accident, you should be aware of the average cost to repair it, in the case of the one-side insurance. If you want to replace your insurance check the rates of a greater number of companies because they vary from one company to another. Furthermore, every driver education course introduces the idea of the necessity to keep a camera with you in case an accident may occur;you could register the damage of all cars and the real placement. There are cases when the actual victim is found responsible for the simple fact that there are a lot of ideas and beliefs which alter the truth of an accident. A camera may come in hand if you get involved in a minor accident;you may want to get your car fixed without reporting it to the company. For a teenager, even a minor accident may lead to an increase in the rates, or maybe even more.

About the author: California’s Online Driver Education Class. Driver Education Course Accepted by the California DMV Drivers Education

Do you own a leased car, truck or SUV, but aren’t quite happy with the dealer-installed sound system? Would you like to have a video system in your leased vehicle, but are deterred by the expensive costs of the DVD player and overhead drop-down screens offered by the dealership. In the past, if you were unhappy with the entertainment system in your leased vehicle, you either had to accept the system as it was or pay to have it customized to your preferred taste and then pay once again for the original equipment to be reinstalled before returning your leased vehicle to the dealership. On top of that, if your custom installer did not restore all of the original equipment to make it look as if nothing had been changed, the dealer would tack on yet another fee.

This situation is obviously very reasonable unless you really love a quality automotive entertainment center and you have plenty of money to burn. Luckily, over the past few years, there have been products to hit the market that directly meet the needs of those who own leased vehicles and also enjoy the benefits of a quality sound and video system in their vehicle.

To enhance your sound system, consider an easy-to-install XM Satellite receiver. There are kits available that offer the receiver along with plenty of mounting and placement options. The kits include mounting hardware, a micro antenna, and both a cassette and power adaptor that allow you to play the XM Satellite radio through your vehicle’s original sound system. There are also wireless kits to accommodate vehicles that don’t have a cassette player.

In the video arena, there are new and innovative products that give you more options than the traditional drop-down or in-dash video screens. Now there are video monitor headrests and sun visors designed to replace the headrests or passenger-side sun visor in your vehicle. The manufacturers have even been so creative as to match the fabric, leather or vinyl to what is in your particular vehicle’s model and color. They’ve even gone so far as to match the stitching as well! The monitors easily connect to your vehicle’s sound system. They can also easily be connected to a DVD player or video game system. There are absolutely no holes involved as the wires run easily through the posts of the headrest. When you are ready to return your leased vehicle, you simply pop out the headrest monitors and reattach the original headrests.

These are just two examples of how you can customize the entertainment system in your leased vehicle. There are several other devices that can accommodate the needs of a leased vehicle owner as well. Just because you drive a leased vehicle doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy it as if you owned it!

About the author: Dwayne Wright is an automotive enthusiast with over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry. Visit his site at http://www.customautosearc h.com to find a custom auto dealer in your area.

Can we consider the home-study driver education a replacer for the traditional 30-hours classroom course?

With a view to obtain a proper result to this issue some specialists made a comparison between performance and background knowledge levels of some students, picked up randomly to accomplish three different driver ducation courses and another randomly chosen students to complete the other traditional course. We should add that the home study driver education courses which were to be tested comprised of two courses designed by Sky’s The Limit Interactive under the contract of DMV: the interactive CD ROM course and a paper book for practice, both of them warring the license of Private Educational Network’s(PEN) courses on the Internet and workbooks.

Moreover, the participants chosen randomly from California by means of voluntary application forms for participating in the study were assigned with both standard driver education and the some of three home-study courses. What should be also said is the fact that almost all the driver education schools participating in the research made an offer of highly reduced costs for students applying for the study, so as to enable teenagers by the permission of their parents to enroll in this research. At the end of the courses, DMV made a comparison between the results and performances of the students on both sides of the four courses, by means of an exam given at the end of the course, the DMV writing skills test and the DMV ‘behind the wheel’ drive test so as to remark if there were different levels of knowledge and performances given by the usage of the two different courses.

At the end of the test the balance seemed to be in favor of the home-study driver education, this way the primary question being answered. Researchers claim it is somewhat linked to the degree of focusing, interest and result, as a cause effect relation for the ones who have taken the home-study driver education which is bound to be the best alternative for the standard 30-hours classroom course.

About the author: California’s Online Driver Education Class. Driver Education Course Accepted by the California DMV Drivers Education

While major U.S. automakers are focusing on hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, Volvo took a different route, unveiling a sports car powered entirely with lithium-ion batteries. Volvo’s 3CC concept car, won “Best Design” and five Gold Standards at the recent Michelin Challenge Bibendum environmental competition in Shanghai, China.

“Not only does the 3CC combine classic Volvo styling cues with exotic gull-wing doors and a tapered, 2+1 seating configuration, but it does so with a highly advanced lithium-ion battery electric drive train. That’s a step apart from the crowd, which these days is largely focused on hybrid and fuel cell concepts,” says Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal.

“Just as the earlier ECC forwarded new thought in hybrid propulsion with its high-speed turbine-generator design,” adds Cogan, “today’s lithium-ion 3CC innovates with its thousands of smallish laptop computer-style batteries, which power this zero emission vehicle to impressive levels of efficiency and performance.”

Advanced research into sustainable mobility and Volvo engineers have placed particular focus on the conditions regulating safety in small cars and their ability to handle incoming forces in a frontal collision.

The unique aerodynamic styling of Volvo’s 3CC concept car allows room for a third seat in back. The unique ducktail design creates room for a third seat in the back, while the batteries are sandwiched into the floor panels.

The 3CC concept car features an 80-kilowatt motor that delivers up to 107 horsepower, it has a potential driving range of 300 km (approx 180 miles) the 3CC has a top speed of over 135 km per hour.

The carbon-fiber body is mounted on a steel space frame and composite floor panels, giving the lightweight vehicle the ability to leap to 60 miles per hour in less than 10 seconds. Volvo says the 3CC can travel 180 miles on one charge under ideal driving conditions

The Volvo 3 CC’s safety features include Volvo Safety Ride Down Concept, a unique solution with a seat system that moves forward, a bit like a sled, at the same time as the front is deformed. This movement is slowed with the help of adaptive shock absorbers that tailor the damping effect to suit the collision force and the occupants’ number and weight. The interior can be moved between 0 and 200 mm forward, which has the same overall effect as extending the crumple zone by a corresponding length. It has seats that slide forward at the moment of deformation, the intention being to compensate for the small car’s traditional lack of space in the crumple zone.

Virtual tests showed that the most important part of a ride-down system is the energy absorber and that it needs to be adaptive in order to be a viable concept, by responding to differences in occupant load and crash severity’.

An environmentally efficient car that also has to be comfortable, enjoyable to drive, attractive to look at and safe to ride is an entirely new approach. The result is the Volvo 3CC, a sporty and appealing, extremely aerodynamic and compact car equipped with an energy-efficient electric motor.

Like Volvo, Parts Train never compromise satisfaction when serving customers. Its proven reliability for genuine and quality Volvo auto parts keep customers coming back at their online shop http://www.partstrain.com/Sho pByVehicle/VOLVO/ for years. Dependable, long lasting Volvo replacement parts, performance parts make up its over a million stock. Browse through Parts train’s online store to gain access to its most affordable Volvo car parts. Their friendly sales staffs are on hand to give valuable assistance for confidence that you are getting first class quality Volvo car parts.

About the author: Jenny McLane is a 36 year old native of Iowa and has a knack for research on cars and anything and everything about it. She works full time as a Market Analyst for one of the leading car parts suppliers in the country today.

A risky venture in 1989 yet the shrewdest move for Mazda, this little Japanese roadster eventually chalked up 700,000 sales worldwide as it capped the Guinness Book of World Records world’s best-selling sports car. Mazda is now looking toward the 1 million mark with the third-generation, 2006 MX-5.

The 2006 Miata will make its debut in Canada this August, It will be called the MX-5 Miata for a year or two, but Canadians and Americans can look for the Miata name to disappear after that, unifying the vehicle as an MX-5 worldwide.

It will be wider and more muscular in appearance with a prominent front and rear fender arches that recall the same style on the flashy RX-8; a more smoothly tapered nose and tail; the inboard placement of the headlights and taillights; and a particularly appealing revised grille.

The body structure is now 47 per cent more rigid, and has a lower center of gravity that should enhance handling. One unusual feature of the ’06 Miata is the convertible roof, which, is a manually raised and lowered metal top.

A stiffer unibody structure serves as the chassis foundation, with a double-wishbone suspension in front and multilink system in the rear. Larger front-brake rotors and 25-percent-stiffer calipers help extract optimal stopping distances from the four-wheel single-piston-caliper disc system.

Power is enhanced with its new 2.0-litre engine rated at around 160 hp and balance will be improved by moving the engine 135 mm rearward to create 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution.

A newly developed six-speed manual transmission will be available, along with the standard five-speed manual. An available six-speed automatic transmission can be manually controlled by the shift lever and by steering wheel-mounted paddles.

For all of these technological wonders from Mazda, Parts Train offers the most impressive line up of Mazda Miata Performance and Replacement Parts. Suspension, spoilers, front and rear fenders, tailgate, hoods, hubcaps, electrical parts, engine parts and many others are the best in the industry. These heavy duty and highly reliable parts are available at http://www.partstrain.com/Sho pByVehicle/MAZDA. Online shopping for Partstrain’s top of the line Mazda Miata Parts reduces high maintenance cost for your vehicle.

About the author: Jenny McLane is a 36 year old native of Iowa and has a knack for research on cars and anything and everything about it. She works full time as a Market Analyst for one of the leading car parts suppliers in the country today.

Developing your own automotive dealer website can be significantly easier if you are privy to some secrets that will make your website an immediate success. Of course, you could start designing your automotive dealer website with no plan or goals and fail miserably. Or else, you could consider the following suggestions, mix them with your own ideas, and end up with an amazingly successful automotive dealer website that you can be proud of… and above all, one that will make you money. Read the following steps to ensure that your website is as profitable as possible.

Step #1 New classified ads To keep your website fresh at all times with new information for visitors you should have a section on classified ads. These can be from your inventory, or on consignment from dealers or individuals. Regardless of the source, new classified listings will keep people coming back on a regular basis to see what kind of vehicles you have for sale.

Step #2 Photo Gallery Make sure you have a photo gallery of all the cars you are selling. If you have a vehicle for sale and no photo, do not list it until you have a photo. Listing inventory for sale without photos makes customers frustrated and they probably won’t want to return to your site. If you do list a vehicle without a picture, be prepared to answer lots of time-consuming emails about that particular vehicle.

Step #3 Articles Another interesting section of your web page should include articles on vehicles, new car of the year, best old car, whatever topic you believe your customers would be interested in. Informative articles will provide informative reading and yet another reason for customers to return.

Step #4 Chat Room or Forum A chat room or forum is another thing you could include on your website. The reason for this is that it allows visitors to chat, talk about cars, the automotive industry, or simply share information. This is another aspect that will keep people returning to your site. The more traffic the better, so you should do everything you can to keep people coming back.

Step #5 Sales If a vehicle on your website sells, you should immediately remove the listing. The reason for this is that if you do not let new visitors know what vehicles have sold and which ones have not, you will find yourself dealing with irate customers, and when you anger a customer in this way they probably won’t return.

Step #6 Dealers Make a section on your website especially for dealers. It can be an area where they can share information, sell cars, manage their account and buy cars. Having an area solely for dealers allows you to fill another niche with you website and will boost sales activity.

Step #7 Parts Selling parts is another great option for your website and one that will bring in extra money. When people buy cars they are always looking for extra parts and accessories, so make these available.

About the author: Michael Turner shows you exactly how to increase web site traffic in his free 7 part mini-series. Grab it today at http://www.powertraffictactics.com/