Having noticed our post on fuel economy recently, the folks at Autolite directed us towards their new YouTube channel where they are spreading the gospel of the clean spark. Ok, so they design and sell spark plugs for a living, of course they want us to look at their ads videos. Really though, they’ve put together some pretty cool vids including ones with drag racers Cory McClenathan and Cruz Pedregon.
In this video, Autolite’s tech trainer talks about how the condition of your spark plugs affects fuel economy.
I know this will get a bunch of people all fired up but to be completely honest I have never really bought into the theory of global warming. Does this mean I don’t think we should be trying to be less dependent on oil? Not at all. Does it mean I don’t believe we should be working overtime to develop a more economical means of transportation and one that pollutes less? Of course not.
Granted I am only in my fifties, but even though I grew up on a ranch along the southwestern coast of Oregon where it seems to rain most of the year when compared to other states, having a good understanding of weather patterns was simply a part of life. It was not uncommon for me as a boy to hear old-timers talk of droughts as well as stories that took the opposite approach like, “I remember the year when it rained for 6 weeks straight.” and so on. Over the last 40 years I can remember major weather changes and yes even ones that affected the ice packs, the rise of the tides on our beaches, adverse effects on crops, timber and even wildlife. While some years were worse than others and with all the talk of global warming I am always alarmed how so many could forget about events that have happened as recently as the last 100 years that were far worse than anything than those who defend the theory of global warming would have you believe. For example, during the 30’s Americans and Canadians suffered what was known as “The Dust Bowl.” One of my favorite writers was John Steinbeck who wrote “The Grapes Of Wrath”. While Steinbeck’s work was just a story based on some facts, in fact the Great Dust Bowl was a reality based on many facts, a reality that drove many from their homes and destroyed lifes and furthermore affected the lives of countless others as a result. Continue reading →
A group of automotive designers from Coventry University have spent the last 18 months creating a complete automotive vision. Their program not only involves development of a new, environmentally friendly sports car, but also the ground up creation of a car company.
Taking their inspiration from the legendary Cooper Climax Formula 1 car from the late sixties, Continue reading →
In the new model year, which begins on August 1, the Boxster and Boxster S will be given more power and torque. Both these mid-engined sports cars will then offer even better road performance and low fuel consumption. The optional Tiptronic S transmission and the Sport Chrono Package have been given additional functions.The 2.7-liter Boxster engine now develops an additional 5 bhp, bringing the total to 245 bhp (180 kW). Torque has increased to 273 Nm, available from 4,600 rpm. Fuel consumption is now 9.3 liters per 100 kilometers, a reduction of 0.3 l/100 km. The Boxster accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds and has a top speed of 258 km/h. With the optional six-speed gearbox, 260 km/h can be achieved. The Boxster S engine, which has been increased in size from 3.2 to 3.4 liters, develops 295 bhp (217 kW) at 6,250 rpm – 15 bhp more than its predecessor – and 340 Nm of torque. The Boxster S sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds – a tenth of a second quicker than the previous model. This open sports car’s top speed has gone up by 4 km/h to 272 km/h. Its average fuel consumption is 10.6 liters per 100 kilometers.
Both flat-six engines are now equipped with VarioCam Plus valve control, with variable valve timing (VarioCam) and changeover valve lift (Plus). Inlet camshaft timing is adjusted by a vane-type actuator with a range of 40 degrees. The valve lift changeover mechanism uses two-position bucket-type tappets on the inlet side, actuated by an electrohydraulic valve.
The bucket-type tappets consist of one tappet inside another; the two tappets can be locked together hydraulically by a pin. Thanks to this technical device, the Boxster and Boxster S engines have a characteristic that combines strong pulling power with high peak output at low fuel consumption.
The Boxster and Boxster S can be supplied with the revised Tiptronic S transmission, which has new hydraulics and electronics as well as variable shift programs. When combined with the Sport Chrono Package, the sporty characteristics of both these mid-engine roadsters can be experienced even more intensely: up- and downshifts are made only at engine speeds above 3000 rpm; downshifts for engine braking are subject to less delay and take place at higher engine speeds. In the manual-shift mode, up-shifts are not made automatically when the engine reaches its maximum rev limit.
On both Boxster models, access for servicing has been improved: the coolant and engine oil filler caps are now behind an easily accessible flap, so that better use can be made of the rear trunk. For the first time, the Boxster and Boxster S are available with the 19-inch turbo forged alloy two-tone wheels that were developed exclusively for the new 911 Turbo. For Boxster models they are offered as an option in sizes 8 J x 19 (front) and 9 ½ J x 19 (rear).
The basic price for the new Boxster is 37,700 euros. Including sales tax and country-specific requirements, it costs 43,935 euros in Germany. The Boxster S has a basic price of 45,600 euros. With sales tax and country-specific requirements added, this more powerful model costs 53,099 euros.
