So just what the heck is a “crossover”? Not only is it among the hottest vehicle types in a decidedly not-so-hot market this year, but it is also essentially a cross between an SUV and a car. More accurately, it is a high-profile vehicle that looks and behaves much like a sport-utility vehicle but is based on a car platform rather than a truck platform. Though nobody in the industry talks about the crossover craze the way they did about the SUV craze of the ’90s, the new vehicle type has proven to be among the most popular of the decade. Read more . . .
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Reducing fuel consumption is good conservation policy, good environmental policy, and in these times of rising gas prices it’s also good economic policy. The key is to find and apply methods that conserve fuel without putting people at greater risk in collisions because their more efficient vehicles aren’t as crashworthy.
The problem is that these choices have compromised safety. Smaller, lighter vehicles generally are less protective Read more . . .
Often the best-laid strategies of men and women go awry, but sometimes plans that were conceived as no more than stop-gap measures do
work far better than their planners expect. This was the case with the Land Rover.
In 1946, Britain was still feeling the devastating effects of World War II. Its businesses were in shambles; its supplies of raw materials drained; and its forward progress at a standstill. To survive and flourish, Britain’s car companies were forced to make do with what little they had available. In that spirit, Maurice Wilks, Rover Managing Director, looked at the U.S. Army surplus Jeep he had just acquired and said to himself, “We need to build something similar to this, only better.” He envisioned a growing market for such a vehicle, both in Britain and in export markets around the globe. Read more . . .
The years immediately following World War II were not very considerate to the British car industry. Its manufacturers were strained nearly 
to the breaking point by more than a half decade of armed conflict that left resources constricted, factories in rubble, and the labor force testy to get theirs after so many years of sacrifice.
Read more . . .
With gas prices exceeding two dollars a gallon in many parts of the country, the Car Care Council is offering gas-saving maintenance and driving tips that really work.
“Millions of dollars worth of gasoline is wasted every day by motorists, because simple and inexpensive vehicle maintenance is neglected,” said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. “Loose or missing gas caps, under-inflated tires, worn spark plugs, and dirty air filters all contribute to poor fuel economy.”
Fuel-saving tips
- Check vehicle gas caps– Read more . . .