Saturday, May 29, 2021

How To Make Your Car Last A Long Time - Simple Checks


The best way to keep your car in great shape is to regularly check the vehicle and keep up with preventative maintenance. This video will outline simple checks you can make on your car. The more frequent you check things like tire pressure and engine oil the better, but it's good to check all of the items in the video at the very least twice a year either yourself or by a professional.

We'll look at three main sections in this video. First we'll discuss tires, brakes, and suspension. Next we'll look under the hood and look at fluids and filters. Finally we'll look at exterior checks such as lights and wipers. Catching any issues early can help you make sure your vehicle lasts as long as possible.

Sunday, May 23, 2021

The Porsche Cayman GT4 Has Dimples Like A Golf Ball!


The Porsche Cayman GT4 and GTS 4.0 both feature a naturally aspirated flat-six cylinder engine. They both have PDK and manual transmissions offered. And in this case, they're both the same shade of blue. But there are actually dramatic differences in terms of how these cars perform, much of which might be overlooked by the naked eye. The aerodynamics of the GT4 are all about downforce, while the GTS 4.0 is all about minimizing lift. The GT4 has an upgraded chassis, suspension, wheels, tires, engine tune, and many aerodynamic changes to maximized downforce and minimize drag. Part of the solution? A dimpled underside, similar to that used on a golf ball!

On a golf ball, these little dimples cause turbulence, meaning little pockets of swirling air, so instead of a laminar boundary layer, you have a turbulent boundary layer. In this case, the turbulent boundary layer stays attached to the golf ball longer, wrapping around the ball, meaning the wake behind the golf ball is smaller when the airflow detaches from the golf ball, and a lower pressure region forms. With a smaller wake, the ball has less drag, and thus can travel farther. Porsche says the same logic applies to the GT4, in their words: “At the front end, the special surface on its underside is dimpled, reminiscent of that of a golf ball. As a result, the airflow follows the contour more precisely, reducing drag.”

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Did You Know? Four Facts About BMW's History


In the first episode of Did You Know? from Cars.com, we check out a few fun facts about BMW's company history.

Friday, May 14, 2021

Engine Knock Sound - Explained


What is the knocking sound coming from my engine? What is engine knock? Why is my engine making a knocking noise? Engine knock, or pinging, occurs when a separate pocket of air-fuel mixture ignites after the spark has ignited the air-fuel mixture within the combustion chamber. Engine knock can be prevented using higher octane fuels, retarding ignition timing, or by using a lower compression ratio, among other solutions.

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

World Premiere of the New Concept EQT


With the Concept EQT, Mercedes-Benz Vans is giving a tangible impression of the first premium vehicle in the small van segment for families and private customers keen on leisure activities: the T-Class and its fully electric variant.

The near-series-production concept vehicle combines ample and versatile space for up to seven occupants and a generous luggage compartment with a Mercedes-typical design and approach to high-class appeal, comfort, functionality, connectivity and safety. Mercedes-Benz Vans is thus translating the Mercedes-Benz V-Class’s recipe for success into a compact format, bringing a new premium quality into the small van segment. The Concept EQT by Mercedes-EQ underscores the unique combination of premium comfort and uncompromising functionality with electric driving pleasure with an electric longboard which is perfectly integrated into the load compartment.

Sunday, May 2, 2021

BMW Today – Episode 33: Luxury Class Highlights – THE 8 Golden Thunder Edition


Welcome to BMW Today. Let’s talk about luxury sports cars. Shall we? Fascinating dynamic performance is the striking quality of the BMW 8 Series models. And now besides power, they also have a touch of extravagance in their look. The BMW 8 Series Edition Golden Thunder demonstrates once again the capacity of BMW Individual to turn special vehicles into unique automobiles for customers with the very highest expectations in terms of style and quality. The exclusive exterior and interior design features add unmistakable accentuations. These give the edition models the character of a custom-built vehicle.

A body finish in Sapphire Black metallic or Frozen Black metallic and carefully selected colour accentuations in gold underscore the athleticism of the luxury sports cars. The dark look is supplemented by BMW Individual High Gloss Shadow Line with extended features and black brake calipers for the M sports brake system. Here, a striking contrast is created by means of golden accentuation lines running from the front apron to the side skirts and on into the rear apron.