After famously cheating death in an 800-degree fireball in 1976, Niki Lauda passed away peacefully in his sleep in a hospital in Zurich, surrounded by family members in 2019. But who was the man who defied death and the odds to become one of the most legendary racing drivers of all time? Who was racing car driver Niki Lauda? Lauda’s death left the world without a man who gave so much to the sport of motor racing, who revolutionized it and brought joy to the fans. His bravery, his level-headedness, perseverance and ingenuity will be his legacy. Beginnings Andreas Nikolaus Lauda was … [Read more...]
What Is the Lifespan of Your Car? (updated)
One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a new or pre-owned car is its longevity. It’s important to consider how long you want to drive the car: is it going to be yours for a year or two, or is it your retirement car that will need to last ten or more years? What Influences the Longevity of a Vehicle? A car’s longevity and reliability depend on many factors – only some of which you – as the owner – have any control over. Manufacturing quality is out of your hands, but it is prudent to research this before buying a vehicle. Information about a vehicle’s build quality … [Read more...]
Car Depreciation: What Are the Risks? (updated)
When buying a car, you have to be prepared to lose money… Over time. No one wants to throw money away, and whether or not you will do that with a car purchase is up to you and your negotiation skills and the amount of preparation you’ve invested before buying a car. But one thing is for sure – cars tend to lose value as time goes by and start as soon as you drive them off the dealer’s parking lot. New cars usually lose around 11% in value as soon as you take them off the dealer’s lot, and by the end of the first year of driving, their value has decreased by 25%. However, the good news is … [Read more...]
What do the letters on car models mean? (updated)
Have you ever wondered what those letters in the names of car models mean? We have a guide to the different car model letters meaning and vehicle model abbreviations. Read more below: If you want to buy a BMW vehicle, would you know what the salesperson is offering you by the name alone? No? Well, that’s why you have us to make your life easier. Confusing letters in the name of a vehicle model are there to describe its body style. Moreover, they are often combined to give you more information about the car right off the bat. In that sense, there are standard and specific vehicle … [Read more...]
What are the total costs of vehicle ownership per brand? (updated)
When it comes to vehicle models, the maintenance costs by brand differ. Even if you’ve never bought a vehicle, you must know that owning it will cost you more than just the price you pay when making the actual purchase, right? In fact, as car owners must already know, when it comes to North America, besides a house, a car is the most expensive item for a family to own. But, does the brand you choose when buying a vehicle play a part in how much money you will need to pour into it over the course of your owning career? The cost of maintenance by car brand differs but what are the cars with … [Read more...]
Jeremy Clarkson: A Maker or Breaker in the Automotive World
If you follow the car news - even if you don’t - you can’t have ever missed the name the world’s most famous car show presenter, Jeremy Clarkson. His influence measures in the millions of cars sold just because he deemed them beautiful, or unsold since he said they looked like a frog. (Sorry, Ford Ka.) Let’s see who the man is and what makes him so important. Jeremy Clarkson was born on April 11th, 1960 to entrepreneur parents. To raise money to pay for their children’s education, his parents made 2 Paddington Bear toys (one for each child) and sold it through their business. Mr. … [Read more...]
10 Most Cost-Effective Hybrid Cars
With the Carbon tax now in full effect throughout Canada, people are looking for new ways to minimize their carbon emissions - which was the Government’s intent in the first place. Among other things, this also means that they are changing their requirements and desires when buying cars. Criteria like car dependability and lifespan still play a big role in choosing the vehicle, but overall, we can see a big shift towards electric and hybrid vehicles being purchased more often. If you are looking to buy a car, and your main criterium is how dependable it is, the latest J.D. Power … [Read more...]
10 Automotive Manufacturing Milestones (Infographic)
Since the late 19th century, and the first appearance of her majesty the automobile, our lives have never been the same. It’s become an irreplaceable part of our existence - and of many of us, the one thing they cannot go without. That’s why it’s only natural that it hasn’t stopped evolving - from appearance to speed and advanced capabilities, the vehicles of today are smart and more energy efficient. These changes resulted in some of the biggest automotive manufacturing milestones over the years, so take a look at the infographic to see what they are. CRS Automotive is in Hamilton and … [Read more...]
How Will Police Stop Self-Driving Cars?
As you know if you are a car buff, the automotive technology is constantly developing - and the car is evolving - bringing us significantly further from when it first appeared more than 100 years ago. Now we have not only cars running on electricity, but also smart ones - those that keep us connected with other people and in the know about the driving conditions in real time. And soon enough, people might not even be driving cars - with autonomous cars being developed by Tesla, Mercedes, Lexus, BMW and even Google as you read this. It’s an exciting time we live in, for sure, but it also raises … [Read more...]
Energy Efficiency: Electric Vehicles vs. Fossil-Fuel Vehicles
For a while back, we’ve been seeing the ever so slight shift within the automotive industry - from fossil-fuel vehicles to the electric ones. The first and most obvious reason for this is humanity’s attempt to reduce its carbon footprint and preserve the environment. The second and third are that electric vehicles are easier to maintain and electric charging is cheaper. However, there is one more thing to consider here. Apparently, electric cars have significantly higher energy efficiency than cars with ICE engines. Let’s examine. According to a study by the US Department of Energy … [Read more...]
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