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THE TUNE UP |
iPod Integration "The Most Sought After Feature" In New Vehicles
Taking your music on the road with seamless integration between your car and your iPod is now more common place then it was just a year ago! A host of top automakers offer elegant solutions for both new cars and prior-year models.
12% of the new cars in 2006 came with iPod integration, a full 50% of new 2007 vehicles will support the integration, this is quite a substantial leap over the previous year. That's almost as impressive as the iPod's 75% of the MP3 player market share. Nearly 60% of 2007 models feature some form of auxiliary input to allow iPods and other devices to connect to the car's stereo. The Telematics Research Group (TRG) reports that iPod integration is "the most sought after feature".
Other trends the company has uncovered show that support for MP3 and WMA encoded audio is up for 2007 from 61% in 2006 vehicles to 75% in 2007 vehicles. 80% of 2007 models will feature some form of "branded audio" that is, optional or standard stereo equipment manufactured by a premium brand, such as Harman/Kardon, Bose and Boston Acoustics.
TRG is also predicting that USB connectivity into an automotive entertainment systems "will gain considerable support" in their next generation, along with hard disk drives. Last year, there were no cars sold in the US that featured a built-in hard drive, however in 2007, 6 models have hard drives. Hard drives in vehicles are being used for navigation and music servers.
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DIYautoparts.com Auto Resources Showcase
Ask the Expert & Auto Forums
At DIYautoparts.com, our website is more than just selling auto parts, it is intended to be your complete Online Automotive Resource Center. It's true we sell parts online but we are much bigger than that. We have 12 ASE certified technicians working in 19 service bays. We tried to think about how we can shake up the industry and bring the benefits to you the DIY mechanic.
The idea we came up with is simple, they say nothing in this world is free, well we think differently, so we offer you FREE automotive advice to those hard questions that most auto shops are eager to charge you money for. In our Ask The Expert section, professional ASE certified Master Technicians will answer all those troublesome questions you just can't seem to find answers to without spending a small fortune for a lot of half truths and maybes.
Another great way to get some answers is by searching our vast database of previous questions and answers in the Auto Forums. Do-It-Yourself mechanics and other auto hobbyist also talk frequently about all things automotive and their DIY projects, or simply pass around common problems and answers. Also check out the Technical Tips for helpful tips on common or seasonal automotive issues.
To start asking our experts a questions, simply visit our site sign in and then click on Ask The Expert in the menu at the left. Once you are logged in, you'll be able to use this page to pose a question to our experts who will answer your question in a timely fashion. Remember you can always call us if you have trouble at 1-800-593-1443 Monday - Friday 8am-5pm EST. Free advice and Great services is what makes DIYautoparts.com stand tall above the rest.
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Hybrids: Performance Or Efficiency You Can't Have Both… Or Can You?
Hybrid vehicle sales catapulted more than 139% from 2004 to 2005 after increasing 81% from 2003 to 2004. Alas they remain only slightly more than one 1% of the new-vehicle market.
The 2007 model year promises further growth for hybrid vehicles, both in terms of the number of models and market share. Lexus debuts a range-topping large luxury sedan with a hybrid V8 to compete against other automakers' V12s. while General Motors is launching several hybrid SUVs. However The GMC's hybrid, the K15 Sierra pickup truck scores a 3 out of 10 on the EPA's emissions scale. It gets 18 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving. That compares with the 16 mpg attained by its non-hybrid version, the K1500 Sierra.
So what exactly is fuel-efficient about this vehicle? Take the Chevrolet C15 Silverado hybrid coming in at 19 mpg, as compared to the regular C1500's 18 mpg, or even some of the new vehicles touted as using significantly less gas than their peers still post mileage ratings that could be beaten by a regular small compact car. So are car manufacturers jumping on the pro-hybrid vehicle bandwagon, and making some quick changes to scam unsuspecting consumers, who are willing to spend big money to both save money and protect the environment?
Not quite, car experts say. Any vehicle maker has to balance fuel efficiency with performance. With the latest generations of hybrids, manufacturers are simply leaning more toward the performance side of the scale. The earliest incarnations is the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight, for example, were stingy with gas, getting EPA ratings of around 60 mpg. But "they weren't much fun to drive," was the complaint they were getting back.
The hybrid Honda Accord or the new Lexus RX, there is no compromise. You get more power and better fuel economy than other vehicles in the same class. There is not a huge savings at the pump, but there is no having to give up on fuel economy to get a more powerful vehicle.
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Toll Free: 800-593-1443 8am-5pm EST. Outside the U.S. 315-437-7696. Fax: 315-463-5990
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