The Mini Cooper scores an impressive 5 stars for the NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) driver-side impact and roll-over crash tests. The Coop also scored 4 stars for the front and rear impact crash test.

 
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been conducting the NCAP for a period of years now. The 2008 Mini Cooper is one of the most recent and most successful highlights of the NCAP.  The Coop managed to earn the highest rating (5) for two tests and scored a respectable 4 for two other crash tests.

The Mini Coop garnered praises for the exceptional performance of the vehicle’s safety system. The Coop managed to perform well in the test because it houses a total of six airbags. The airbag system includes an innovative head protection airbag curtain that, in the event of impact, protects passengers in the front seats and the back seats. The auto parts of the Mini Cooper are supported by a sturdy steel safety cage which manages impact in the event of a car crash.

 
In addition to these safety features, the Mini Coop also sports state-of-the-art braking technologies. These braking technologies offer advanced traction dynamics that allow the car to stop at red lights with more stability and control. The Mini Coop also features other standard brake mechanisms: Anti-lock Brakes, All Season Traction, Brakeforce Distribution, Corner Brake Control, as well as Dynamic Stability Control.  

 
Sources: The Auto Channel

Care to take a peek at the list of the world’s most expensive cars? It’s okay, you don’t have to pay. All you have to know is why these models are so costly and only affordable in the imagination. Are they expensive because of the brand’s legacy in the automotive industry? Or because of car’s power, even perhaps of the brake technology? All these questions will be answered, and you will surely agree by the end of the list that these cars are truly worth the figures in their price tags.

At the number one spot, the legendary Bugatti Veyron reigns supreme. This beast has the most powerful engine—the W16 which has 16 cylinders in 4 banks of cylinders pumping all throughout. With a price tag of $1.7M, you will agree since it is the most powerful and fastest street-legal production car in the whole world. Its top speed of 400 km/h, and a whopping 1001 horsepower! This explains why a lot of people are drooling over this car, but can’t afford to drive one. Unless you are Simon Cowell, then all of your very constructive criticisms will definitely pay off.

Next one on the list is the Ferrari Enzo which can be purchased for $1M. Complete with carbon-ceramic brake discs, F1-style sequential shift transmission, 12-cylinder engine, and a carbon-filter body—this Ferrari supercar is definitely one of the things you will hunt once you get a hold of a million dollars. Wrapping up the top three spot, is the Pagani Zonda C12 F with a tag price of $741,000. With a 602horsepower-generating 7.3 V12 powerplant, this car is definitely worth its price. While it is only young as it debuted at the Geneva Motor Show last 2005, it is very promising both on the road, and in the market.

And then there’s the Koenigsegg CCX which boasts a price tag worth $600,910. This Competition Coupe is equipped with a 32-valve V8 powerplant based on the Ford Modular engine architecture, which was enhanced with “twin Rotrex centrifugal superchargers”. Capping off the top 5 is the Porsche Carrera GT—this is kind of self-explanatory as it is Porsche’s premium supercar with a price tag of $484,000. The bottom five (but are still pretty high and hard to reach) are the following: Mercedes SLR McLaren=$455,500, Maybach 62=$385,250, Rolls-Royce Phantom=$320,000, Lamborghini Murcielago=$279,900, and the last but definitely not the least, is James Bond’s Aston Martin Vanquish=$255,000.

Source: 999 today 

Yes, $2,500 is what Tata’s new car is worth. If one must ask what’s the catch, why is this car so (ahem) affordable? We all certainly hope that it did not sacrifice its brake system and airbags. So upon hearing this, the first question that pops in our head is, “what is it lacking to have such an affordable price tag?”

Not to worry though, for Tata’s car (nicknamed as the People’s car for its name has not been revealed yet) is improving to comply with safety and environmental standards. Many critics have already been downsizing the car, saying that it will not pass emission tests in the States and in Europe, but this is all still in the works, according to Anurmita Roychowdhury of the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi. This means, that mandating of air bags and antilock brakes with full-body crash tests are in the works, so Tata is preparing its creation for that. However, Ms. Roychowdhury presumes that the car will cost more when these take into effect.

According to Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in Arlington, Va., “In most American cars, safety features alone cost more than $2,500. If what we’re talking about in India is people having the option of getting off the streets, from motorcycles and bicycles where they are at risk from bigger vehicles, this may actually be an improvement of the safety environment,” he said in a recent interview.

According to witnesses reported by Tuscaloosa news.com, the car was “a tiny, charming, four-door, five-seater hatchback shaped like a jelly bean, small in the front and broad in the back, the better to reduce wind resistance and permit a cheaper engine.” A.K. Chaturvedi, senior vice president of business development at Lumax Industries simply said that “It’s a nice car—cute.”

Source: Tuscaloosa news.com

It has been an impressive 2007 for the BMW group, which also includes the Mini brand. And why not, for after its effective technological advancements like the auto start-stop technology, brake energy regeneration, and their optimum gear shift indicator, which were all geared toward the reduction of carbon emissions. 94 percent of the BMW cars sold in the UK was equipped with the said technology, so it really helped them have a good 2007, and look forward to a better 2008.

In totality, they have reportedly sold 169,263 vehicles, which translate a 10 percent increase compared to their performance in 2006. It was Mini who is responsible for 25 percent of the sales, making 2007 the best year since its re-launch back in 2001. Mini even holds two percent of the BMW group performance in the UK market.

“2007 proved to be another extremely successful year for BMW Group in the UK,” Jim O’Donnell, managing director of BMW UK said in an interview. “Although it has been a competitive year, BMW and Mini have yet again achieved record sales. The introduction of a range of cars equipped with ‘Efficient Dynamics’ features helped us to consolidate our position as the leading manufacturer of premium vehicles.”

As mentioned earlier, the Efficient Dynamics features of BMW cars include breakthroughs in the car brakes, auto start-stop, and transmission for the reduction of carbon emissions.

“It is the perfect scenario for both private and corporate buyers: cleaner, greener, faster, more dynamic and less expensive to run,” Tim Abbott, sales director, BMW of UK said in an interview. “In my view no other car company has done more than BMW Group in 2007 to address both environmental issues and consumers’ desire for enjoyable driving. And that progress has been reflected in our record UK sales.”

Source: totallymotor.com 

Introducing, Kawasaki’s latest weapon of mass destruction—the Z750 bike. A very important feature in a motorcycle is its ability to smoothly stop at any given moment. Kawasaki’s latest road monster can do just that—equipped with a keen brake system, its rear will easily halt with the “softly set” suspension and its front will “dive urgently” on the brakes. Kawasaki has installed a triple petal disc brakes like those on the Ninja Supersport bikes. What’s more to this sexy but raging beast other than its superb braking system?

Well, for starters, it’s hooked up with a six-speed gearbox and a “re-worked” 748cc engine that was specified to produce a flatter, mid-range torque curve. Other detail-oriented features include reliable handlebars that are closer to the rider, and footpegs that were moved “inwards to streamline the rider’s stance”. The seat is also noticeably slimmer. It all the more emphasizes that shiny, 18.5-liter tank. This bike is definitely ideal for those curves along the road, or even some sharp turns. Comparable to the Yamaha FZ6, Honda Hornet 600, and Triumph’s Street Triple, Kawasaki has proven to be in a category of its own. It is not only powerful in its bike capabilities, but it is also impressively agile and its suspension is very comfortable. This bike is definitely the best for all those dare devils on the road. That, is if you are willing to shell out some 5,445 -5,795 Pounds.

Source: The Sun

The development of the car’s braking system is a very important phase in the automotive business. The car brakes are very important because they assure the driver that they control something as big and as fast as the car by making it stop with just one foot. Today, car brakes have gone far to the electronic braking systems, and it looks like they are not only performing well on the road, but in the market too.

According to a study called Global market review of electronic braking systems, one of the main reasons why this technology grew is because they were preferred over anti-lock braking system, and electronic stability system.

“When ABS was introduced, it was only fitted as optional equipment on high-end luxury models,” Herbert Hemming, executive vice president of the Bosch Chassis Systems Control division said in an interview. “Now it is standard across all new vehicles within the European Union and in many parts of the world. ABS has made braking safer, and has therefore made a major contribution to reducing accidents.”

ABS was first offered in 1978, and it was Bosch’s most-coveted brainchild. It was introduced as a product weighing just a little over 6 kilograms, but today—they are offering units that weigh only 1.4! This is probably to counter the trend in electronic braking systems. Either way, car drivers must make sure to prioritize efficiency over anything else.

Source: pr-web

Parking your car is no walk in the park. It involves a lot of accurate calculations and a great skill that only veteran drivers can acquire. So in a driver’s mind, they all hope to see the day when the car is able to park all by itself. Well, that day is almost here.

Along with the advancement of car brake technology, Lexus has made it possible for drivers to park using only the reverse and brakes of the Lexus LS 600h L. It cannot park all by itself, but it is the closest thing that we can get to that as of today. Why? Because only the Lexus LS 600h L is equipped with the right technologies and car parts. Comprised of an army of sensors, backup camera and electric power steering, the car can easily show any driver how to do a parallel parking. The process is pretty simple, but it doesn’t involve any super-artificial intelligence. All the driver has to do, is to “Stop the LS when the driver is level with the car at one end of an available parking space, pull forward and stop when the driver is level with the front bumper of the car at the other end of the space. Select reverse, make sure the flag icon on the navigation system’s screen is clear of any obstacles and the targeted parking area is bound by a green box, and the car is ready to do its thing,” according to an article by driving.ca.

The braking system of the Lexus LS 600h plays a very important role, given that the car can move all by itself, so it must at least give the power of control to the hands of the driver. So for all of you drivers, your dreams have almost come true. Check the Lexus LS 600h when it hits the market.

Source: driving.ca

Aesthetics is always paired with good engineering. A vehicle cannot be sufficient with just the unique exterior and flashy interior as it also needs efficient auto parts. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class, for example, boasts not only of sophisticated style but also top of the line performance courtesy of its precision-engineered brake system.

Safety is evident in this luxury car from the Mercedes marquee. Aside from the being armed with auto parts fit to reduce injuries to passengers, the vehicle is equipped with prevention systems starting with the car brake. The vehicle boasts of Brake Assist as well as the brands trademark ESP. With this kind of car brake technology, accidents that are caused by skidding are prevented. What it does is provide the driver a better control of the four-wheel machine during abrupt depressing of the brake pedal.

Aside from the road accident cushioning power of the car’s brake, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan also takes pride in its other auto parts that are aimed at minimizing damages. With the old trusty seatbelts and well-scattered air bags, low-speed collisions do not pose that much threat to passengers of the car. Moreover, the frame of the vehicle, which is composed of mainly steel alloys, is designed and manufactured to reduce impact during frontal or rear collisions.

Awarded with a Euro NCAP five-star crash test, the Mercedes-Benz Class sedan further defines what it is to have a peace of mind on the road. This mindset is only made possible because of the reliable safety feature of the vehicle which is its car brake system.

Source: New Car Net.

Safety is among the top priorities integrated in family cars. The Kia Carens, for example, is considered as one of the best vehicle for moms as this model is spacious enough to accommodate the groceries and the kids. Aside from its roomy and comfortable features, mothers, or any parent for that matter, invest for the peace of mind while on the road, thus it is a must to make sure that an efficient brake system is installed.

This Japanese-made Kia Carens takes pride in its precision-engineered brake system. Equipped with an anti-lock braking system or ABS, which is also known as the anti-skid system, this seven-seater mid-sized van does not suffer from wheels locking up. Because of such system, braking hastily is still manageable as the driver can still steer this Kia model. In automobiles without this brake system, a driver who depressed the brake pedal out of panic will encounter a jammed set of wheels. When this happens, he or she can no longer steer the vehicle and this surely pose a possible danger for the passengers as well as the other motorists. Another good find in this vehicle is that it is equipped with the electronic brake pressure distribution. Each wheel gets the right amount of stopping power when the brake pedal is depressed out of panic.

Aside from the reliable brake system of the Kia Carens, this vehicle also boasts of its rear parking sensors and safety seat belts. With these installed, parking difficulties are eased out while unfortunate collisions keep passengers, especially the young ones, in place.

The Kia Carens may not be a flashy mid-size van like the other brands, but this model can stand on carefully selected safety features that make driving with the kids worry-free.

The temperature drops down come fall until winter. During these months, roads become slippery because of the moist and icy paths brought about by the cold weather. Aside from gearing up with layers of coats and socks, motorists also have to make sure that the brake system is properly maintained and equipped with the Anti-lock Braking System or ABS to ensure utmost safety on the road.

ABS, which is also known as the anti-skid system, is installed in automobiles to upgrade the car’s brake system. What it does is it prevents wheels to get jammed up when the driver suddenly depresses the brake pedal. Since the wheels are not locked up, the driver is allowed to maneuver the vehicle out of potential danger, like running over a cliff.

How is this braking system possible? Each tire has a wheel speed sensor that monitors sudden changes when braking. When this sensor notices a speed difference of three miles per hour in a wheel or two, the ABS will immediately loosen up the pressure on the wheel/s, thus preventing any lock up or stuck up. A concrete is example is when the slippery road caused the vehicle to veer toward a cliff. Rationally, the driver will depress the brake pedal hastily from much panic. Moving away from the cliff, however, is very tricky especially when the wheels are jammed up. This is where the ABS comes in as it loosens up a wheel or two in order for the vehicle to be steered away from the cliff.   

Without a doubt, ABS is one of the ingenious car brake technologies most vehicles are equipped with. With this geared in a vehicle, the passengers are given with much peace of mind when driving during this time of the year.