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How Collision Warning and Automatic Braking Systems Work

Vehicle safety technology started moving away from mechanical systems more than a decade ago. Collision warning and automatic braking systems use advanced sensors and technology that makes cars much safer for drivers and pedestrians as well.

The way these systems work is very simple. They combine cameras and sensors to detect objects in front of the car. In some cases, radars are used to detect the distance between the car and the vehicle in front of it. This is being monitored by the car ECU continuously as long as the car is turned on. Even when the car is standing still, collision warning and automatic braking systems are active.

The automatic braking system works along with side collision warning systems. Automatic braking is triggered by collision warning sensors. When the ECU considers that the vehicle might collide with another vehicle, obstacle, or pedestrian it engages the brakes automatically without the input of the driver. This system takes into account multiple factors. The ECU checks if the driver engaged the brake pedal, the speed of the car, and the distance towards the object.

It also detects the moving speed of the object in front to determine a safe braking distance. If the driver fails to react accordingly, the collision warning and automatic braking system take control of the car, assisting the driver and avoiding a traffic incident.

If the car detects an obstacle approaching or if an object is dangerously close, it will not engage the brakes if it determines that the current stopping speed determined by deceleration, how hard the brake pedal is pressed and distance to the object make it possible for the driver to avoid the collision unassisted. Keep Reading

Smart Car Technology

Smart Car Technology is looking for a new vision of vehicle use that will provide better safety and sustainability of urban life. This technology uses artificial intelligence applied to autonomous cars – smart cars.

Smart cars will be exclusively autonomous battery-powered vehicles, and that the number of traffic accidents will significantly reduce. The development of the mobile service will be maintained by multimedia centers that will be interactive, with powerful virtual assistants far more capable than today. It expects that the control of the vehicle will be keyless, as most of these roles will take over by a voice assistant.

An autonomous car is a self-driving car under computer control and on artificial intelligence. Such cars combine sensors and software for control and management.

Autonomous driving technology tests are being carried out on the roads of large urban cities. According to the Global automotive supplier study highlights, the highest growth rate in the use of autonomous vehicles is expected in North America, followed by China and Europe. The scenario shows the highest growth rate in the period 2025 -2030.

The evolution of Smart Car Technology leads to the development of Automated Driving Systems.

Smart cars are becoming a reality.

The development of Smart Car Technology includes:

  • electronic fuel injection,
  • power distribution control for each wheel,
  • computer diagnostics,
  • advanced air-bag systems and satellite navigation,
  • smart traffic, jam assist,
  • interactive voice recognition,
  • night view,
  • driver state monitoring,
  • remote parking assist system,
  • smart blind spot detection,
  • motion recognition
  • message center,
  • telephony possibilities, and much more.

Car design

Mini vehicles – will be primarily used in cities and suburbs. Such vehicles provide excellent maneuverability, range 15-20 km, capacity 1-2 passengers. These are rental (sharing) vehicles, highly reliable and not expensive to procure and maintain.

Medium cars – will also be used primarily in cities and suburbs. Such vehicles provide greater comfort, offering more space to transport 4+ passengers. These are also rental vehicles.

Personalized vehicles – have no restrictions, neither in range, nor comfort, nor shape (sedan, hatchback, crossover, SUV). Given that the driver is not focused on driving, the interior design and media-entertainment industry will rethink what autonomous vehicle passengers do when on the road. In practice, it will show whether passengers have more time for work and leisure. In both cases, the visual message of the exterior and interior must, therefore, intelligently designed, creating the car as a marketable product.

Smart Cars in the future

The future of the car may look like this: when a passenger/driver enters, a task is issued by voice, for example, going to work. By interacting, the robot will offer the passenger a route concerning traffic. During the ride, the traveling robot will suggest other media services, given the personalization performed, and include real-time sensitive analysis of passengers using bio-signal recognition. Upon the car at the destination, the vehicle will head to the nearest charging station, after which it will park and wait for the order to return for the passenger and drive to the desired position.

The development of technology enables many changes and improvements in every type of industry, and the automotive industry is not far behind. That is why car companies, in cooperation with the main technology giants, are working to improve safety and comfort.

AWD Vehicles Versus 4WD… Do You Know the Difference?

AWD Vehicles Versus 4WD

In many modern cars, the difference between AWD and 4WD can be very confusing. As new technologies are implemented the line that differentiates the two becomes increasingly shallow. Having to choose between AWD vehicles versus 4WD starts with understanding how each system work.

AWD cars

Traditionally, AWD has 3 differentials. They have a differential for the front wheels, one for the rear wheels, and a central differential that distributes the torque to the front and rear axle. The differentials ensure that torque is distributed evenly between the wheels while allowing them to have different rotational speeds. All four wheels spin with the same force but can have different speeds.

In real-life scenarios, an AWD system can have one or more wheels slipping while the others receive the same torque. For regular driving, this system works quite well as it is quite rare to find yourself stranded on public roads. What it does is to ensure traction and stability on public roads.

4WD cars

4WD systems have a similar setup. When comparing AWD vehicles versus 4WD, you can notice that 4WD uses a central transfer case instead of a differential. The transfer case allows for the torque to be distributed unevenly, depending on where it may be needed the most. This means that the front axle may get more torque than the rear axle or the other way around depending on the conditions.

This type of setup makes 4WD cars more practical for off-roading. If for example, your front axle is slipping, the system can detect this event by monitoring the rotational speed of the wheels. If the front wheels spin more than the rear wheels, it indicates that the car may require more torque on the rear axle to get the car out of a difficult situation. The transfer case assists by sending more torque to the rear axle.

Which one is better?

The debate around AWD vehicles versus 4WD vehicles revolves around use case scenarios. AWD vehicles usually have the option to send all the torque only to the front axle. This means better fuel economy. 4WD vehicles manage torque distribution better across the front and rear axles which makes them better suited for off-road conditions.

Understanding how these systems work can help you determine which one is better for your situation. Both systems are good at what they do for the type of driving situations they were designed. In modern days, AWD systems are more common. They are not necessarily cheaper, but they are more commonly used since most people rarely drive in off-road conditions.

4WD systems tend to be more common in large cars with high ground clearance such as trucks. As the market demand for small SUVs and crossovers increased over the past decade, AWD is more common amongst vehicles by sheer sales volumes. Tucks, pick-up trucks, and dedicated off-road vehicles sell in smaller numbers than SUVs and crossovers.

In the end, AWD vehicles versus 4WD vehicles is not a fair comparison. AWD cars will always perform better on public roads while 4WD vehicles will be better for off-roading. Reversing their roles will not provide any kind of advantage.

5 Things You Need to Do for Your Winter Car Maintenance

Winter car maintenance is vital if you want to ensure that your car is safe to drive. Some of the maintenance work you can do on your own but for other tasks, you may need to request the help of a car mechanic.

 

1. Check your coolant

 

The first thing you should check is your coolant. Coolant gets diluted in time, making it more likely to freeze. There are special devices that can tell you at what temperatures your coolant freezes and based on that measurement you can add more coolant or a 50/50 mix.

 

2. Check your car battery

 

The battery is the second most important thing that you need to check as part of your winter car maintenance checklist. Colder temperatures slow down the reactions inside the battery and if your battery is already weak, it may even cause your engine to be unable to start. If you noticed that your engine is sluggish to start, your battery might need to be replaced. You should also have a technician check the health of your car battery.

 

3. Get winter tires

 

The next thing on your list should be tired. If you do not have winter tires, you should consider getting new ones. Driving with summer tires during the cold seasons is a bad idea. The rubber on summer tires hardens when temperatures get low, making them unable to maintain grip. Winter tires do not have this problem and they will make your car much safer to drive during the winter.

 

4. Check your brake fluid

 

Your winter car maintenance checklist should include a check on your brake fluid. Brake fluid can absorb water and if that happens, it can start to boil in the hose section close to the braking rotors. When the brake fluid boils, you will have gas or water vapors building up casing your brake pedal to have no effect or very little when pressed. In the winter, there is increased moisture and humidity in the atmosphere thus it makes sense to ensure that your brake fluid is in good condition in preparation for the winter.

 

5. Consider an oil change

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Latest Car Technology

The latest car technology is one of the best-referred topics by the ardent lovers of vehicles. The introduction of the latest technology in the automotive field had made traffic regulation easier without manual help. Many of the car lovers across the globe had already chosen the latest car technology in their new vehicles. Autonomous driving is a fine example that you can highlight in the latest car technology. Studies have reported less number of traffic blocks and less number of accidents due to the introduction of autonomous driving.

Traffic blocks due to a vehicle can be reduced by the action of the sensory equipment installed in the car. Those people in need of an affordable journey experience in a car with the latest technology option can opt for an autonomous vehicle. Many of the people in developed countries had already utilized autonomous driving option to make their journey effortless. People doing regular traveling can make use of autonomous driving technology to reduce the amount given to the cab driver. Effortless driving with smart sensory options is one of the main features of an autonomous driving facility in the vehicle.

The introduction of autonomous driving technology in vehicles can save the time of your travel by reducing the blocks in traffic. Hence you need only a few traffic signals to control the traffic. Also, the fuel efficiency of the vehicle can be increased by the introduction of the latest technology. Keep Reading

Introducing the 2021 Honda Pilot

The all-singing, all-dancing 2021 Honda Pilot brings a glut of new updates to the table. As standard, the latest Pilot off the assembly line offers an eye-catching array of upgrades including 9-speed automatic transmission, dual-zone climate control, and paddle shifters. On top of that, you’ll be pleased to know that a slew of other improvements has been introduced across the breadth of the Pilot’s trim line. For example, the Touring now provides onboard WiFi, the Elite now comes with rain-sensing wipers, and the Black Edition now offers red interior lighting. And that’s just for starters.

It doesn’t stop there either. Honda has gone above and beyond and even introduced a whole new trim level. Befitting its title, the Special Edition model delivers a hatful of goodies including 20-inch black wheels and a hands-free tailgate.

Engine and Fuel Economy

The latest Pilot boasts a tweaked V6 engine which is capable of producing a highway-gobbling 280 horsepower as well as an impressive 262 lb-ft of torque.

In terms of fuel economy, the 4 wheel drive version will achieve 20mpg under city-driving conditions and 27mpg out on the highway. Meanwhile, the all-wheel-drive edition fairs only marginally worse, achieving figures of 19mpg and 26mpg respectively.

All Wheel Drive

One major advance is that the 2021 Honda Pilot now offers the option of all-wheel drive. And not any old all-wheel drive at that. Oh no. You see, what the 2021 Pilot actually offers is Honda’s painstakingly engineered all-wheel-drive system, which distributes engine torque between the vehicle’s axles using a hydraulically-actuated rear differential.

Okay, enough with the science, how does all that translate to the road? Well, Honda claims that their all-wheel-drive system improves handling in all conditions. On top of that, the all-wheel-drive system also has the benefit of boosting the Pilot’s maximum tow rating from a more than respectable 3,500 pounds to a whopping 5,000.

Tech Features

One of the drawbacks of a 3-row SUV is that accessing the back row can all too often degenerate into something of an unedifying clamber. Not so with the new Pilot, however. You see, Honda has come up with a bespoke solution which allows the 2nd-row seats to shift electronically. What’s more, operating the helpful mechanism is no more taxing than pushing a button.

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Rotating Tires

Tires encounter a lot of wear and tear out on the road. When to Rotate Tires is an important question to ask. Go to a tire repair shop and get a professional opinion sometime soon. The repair team is willing to make the repair process work for any car.

By rotating the tires, the driver can ensure even wear across all four tires. That could prevent a blowout and other problems when driving the car long distances.

Understand that tires are expensive and there are steps to be taken. Take precautions and prevent the tires from wearing down too much. That is why repair shops are now answering the question of When to Rotate Tires.

These repair shops are staffed with professionals who understand the practice itself. People know When to Rotate Tires and can get some great advice along the way. Keep Reading

Car Care

After-market car care products can always prove challenging when first buying your car. Choosing the right products for your car helps in keeping your vehicle in excellent conditions. After purchasing your vehicle, the logical step is getting and using the right tools and chemicals that give it a perfect shine. Car applicators, sponges, car vacs, brushes, dusters, and leather care products keep the interior looking its best.

There is a various advanced level of car care far beyond those old stand-bys. Polishing utilizing a gentle, high lubricity formula that’s easy and safe for all paint types is the best. The latest clear coats can be used on daily basis to remove grime, dust and loose contaminants. You can establish a relationship with a reputable car shop if you are not versed as to what products are right for your vehicle.


Establish a rapport and outline what you plan to do from a full-service overhaul, simple clean up or just minor detailing for fun. Either way, you should be able to find the best specialty and regular products for your car.

Ceramic Coating

Waxes provide superficial protection to the car’s surface, as they cannot shield the cars from scratches. Ceramic paint coatings give ultimate protection to your car. The revolutionary benefits of nano-particles are available through premium-quality ceramic paint. The nano-particles form unbreakable bonds with the car’s surface and the thick coating prevents the grainy molecules from scratching the car’s surface. This thick coating can thwart the attacks of damaging chemicals and can remain on the surface for many years. Unlike the car waxes, the ceramic coating can protect the glasses from any unsightly marks. It does not just offer paint-protection.

It provides all-around protection to your car. It is impossible to remove the scratches or swirl marks after the application of ceramic paint protection. The auto-detailer needs to apply layers of car-clay onto the entire car before polishing. It is essential to clay the glasses before the application of ceramic paint coating on these areas. The application of ceramic paint-coating is a manual application process and the auto-detailers use foam applicators to evenly spread the paint-coating. A few drops of ceramic paint-coating are used each time and the auto-detailer spreads the coating in a thin layer. It is essential to properly smudge the coating after each application to avoid clumping. The ceramic coating is applied in a similar fashion onto the windshield, lenses, hubcaps and other areas of the car. Keep Reading