Avanti: the American Alternative to European Sports Cars

Avanti Motors the maker of Avanti catalytic converter can trace its roots back to the year 1962 when the first Avanti, which was at that time a product of the legendary Studebaker auto manufacturer, was launched.

The present Avanti is more of a modern tribute to the original revolutionary vehicle styled by Raymond Loewy. The 2007 Avanti still possess most of the original car’s unique lines such as the circular headlamps, the asymmetrical bonnet bulge, the absence of a front grill, and the coke bottle profile.

The 2007 Avanti is still built on a Mustang chassis. And its standard and only powertrain is the regular Mustang 300-horsepower, 3-valve, V8, with 5-speed automatic transmission. The car is available in a convertible model, in a standard Mustang top, or a coup with a unique side and back roof.

The technical specifications are identical except for the 245/40-18 and 275/40-18 tires fr/rr. The interior is also in standard Mustang GT with the Avanti logo sewn into the door and seat panels. The dashboard is made up of wood eliminating the large chrome rings around the speedo and tach.

Each Avanti is assembled by a team of highly dedicated craftsmen at the production facility located in Cancun, Mexico. They produce just 150 Avantis each year thus ensuring the exclusivity of the vehicle.

The originally produced Avanti was conceived as the American alternative to the luxury sports cars of the UK and continental Europe. The current Avanti continues that role.

Details on the 2007 Avanti Convertible and Coupe

Avanti Convertible

Engine Specifications:

Engine type: 4.6 OHV 24V VB

Engine Electronics: EEV-V

Displacement: 4.6L (281 cu. in.)

Horsepower (SAE net@rpm): 300@5750

Torque (lb-ft@rpm): 320@4500

Compression Ratio: 9.8:1

Bore and Stroke (in.): 3.6×3.6

Main Bearings: 5

Valve Lifters: Hydraulic with Roller Finger Followers

Fuel Delivery: Sequential Multi-part Electronic Fuel Injection

Recommended Fuel: Unleaded Regular

Exhaust: Dual Stainless Steel

Fuel Economy: 17/25 manual; 18/23 auto

Transmission Type: 5-speed automatic

Engine Block Material: Aluminum

Cylinder head material: Cast Aluminum

Avanti Coupe

Engine Specifications:

Engine Type: 4.6 OHV 24V VB

Engine Electronics: EEV-V

Displacement: 4.6L (281 cu. in.)

Horsepower (SAE net@rpm): 300@5750

Torque (lb-ft@rpm): 320@4500

Compression Ratio: 9.8:1

Bore and Stroke (in.): 3.6×3.6

Main Bearings: 5

Valve Lifters: Hydraulic with Roller Finger Followers

Fuel Delivery: Sequential Multi-part Electronic Fuel Injection

Recommended Fuel: Unleaded Regular

Exhaust: Dual Stainless Steel

Fuel Economy: 17/25 manual; 18/23 auto

Transmission Type: 5-speed automatic

Engine Block Material: Aluminum

Cylinder head material: Cast Aluminum

Go to gtchannel.com for more car videos and content. Can theses cars stand the heat? http – We take productions sport cars to the limit by putting them on a multiple lap around the Tsukuba track on a very hot Summer day. Oil & Water temps, and tire wear along with lap times are the criteria.

Many people find car insurance confusing – and as a result end up paying more than they should in a very competitive market. The monthly payments ? or premiums ? depend on several things – your level of cover, the company insuring you and how much of a risk the insurance company deems you to be.

The popularity of the internet has made it easier than ever to find, compare and choose car insurance on line. Most companies can give you a quote fairly quickly ? in general, it will take from between ten to twenty minutes to enter the required information into one of the online application forms. There’s also usually a free number to ring if you want to talk to a person.

Comparing car insurance quotes online

Obtaining car insurance quotes online is fairly straightforward – although there are some things you should keep in mind. Not all insurance companies will provide an instant quote on the screen in front of you; some companies may email the quote to you or ring you at a later date.

Some car owners don’t realise that even if their current policy isn’t up for renewal just yet, most insurance companies will allow a customer to cancel the policy, if they decide to switch insurance companies. In this case, you are generally entitled to a proportionate amount as a refund.

One way to easily compare car insurance rates and products is to use one of several web sites which offer comparison shopping. Two of the better sites are the aptly named
confused.com and moneysupermarket.com. Most sites compare the UK’s top insurance companies, including AA, Norwich Union and First Direct.

How to keep your premiums down

There are several ways you can reduce the cost of car insurance. Premiums are lower if you keep your car locked up in a garage overnight ? over 50% of cars are stolen at night. Otherwise, try to park in your driveway, rather than on the street ? this will also decrease the chance of vandalism.

Make sure you accurately report the mileage that you drive in a year ? don’t pay for too much mileage. A change in employment or lifestyle may mean less mileage ? many people don’t bother to change their car insurance details when this happens.

Having a car alarm or immobiliser installed in your car will also usually result in lower payments. An additional driver using the car may mean increased premiums. And of course, your past driving record also has a significant effect on the cost of your car insurance.

Basic car insurance policies

A recent ? and welcome – innovation in car insurance is the concept of so-called basic coverage, as offered by both Tesco and Norwich Union, in an effort to simplify the often confusing process. Basic coverage also allows car owners to take out adequate insurance without paying more than they need to.

Norwich Union’s product is appropriately named Simple Cover and is available online only. The product also eliminates some of the unnecessary extras that customers tend to unknowingly pay for. Another big difference is that the premium is payable in a yearly lump sum, rather than monthly.

Tesco value car insurance is also available online only ? even the application form is simpler ? and Tesco has taken some of the unnecessary extras out, which can increase the cost of premiums. For example, Tesco value car insurance doesn’t offer a replacement car for use during repairs, or cover a broken windscreen.

Shopping for car insurance online shouldn’t be difficult. With a little bit of research and the right list of web addresses, choosing the right car insurance can be easy and stress-free.

USING a mobile phone while driving became an endorsable offence in the UK at the end of February 2007 and GEM Motoring Assist ? formerly The Guild of Experienced Motorists – (GEM), that is concerned for the safety of all road users, has issued a useful list of things you can and cannot do while driving a vehicle.

It says that apart from using a phone that is not fitted with a ‘hands free’ device motorists need to remember that they cannot eat or drink while at the wheel. The driver can smoke, but lighting the cigarette while on the move can prove a challenge as if both hands are taken off the steering wheel the driver may not be considered to be in proper control of the vehicle.

Disposing of the cigarette by throwing it out of the open car window is also an offence as it may hit or distract another motorist or motorcyclist. In fact ejecting any rubbish from a vehicle contravenes litter laws.

Most recently GEM has noted that a health and safety inspector was stopped by police in Perthshire, Scotland while shaving as he overtook a line of rush hour traffic at between 60 and 70 mph, setting a particularly bad example as he was late on his journey to deliver a first aid course. He was banned for six months and fined £300 ($570).

Chief Executive of GEM, David Williams, points out that fines for using a hand-held mobile can be as much as £1,000 ($1,900) with an increase to a potential £2,500 ($4,750) for drivers of vans, lorries, buses and coaches. “You also may not use a hand-held mobile while stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic,” he said. “It is also against the law to use a mobile while supervising a learner.”

“Other offences which are also regularly witnessed are drivers reading maps while driving and women applying make up on the move. Both these activities could lead to substantial fines and penalty points being awarded, said David.

“Although it is not an offence as such, GEM recommends that no one should drive with a dog on the front seat of a car,” said David. “Not only is it a potential distraction but if you have an accident there is a very good chance the pet will be injured or killed as well or it may become protective and frustrate any rescue attempts to help an injured or trapped driver. “Dogs should be secured with a harness or a cage in the rear of the vehicle.”

David said GEM welcomed the fact that three penalty points will be added to the licence of a driver caught using a mobile phone, that is not hands free, while on the move. “All evidence points to the fact that a person on the phone whether hands free or not is much more likely to have an accident and the safest option is to turn the phone off as soon as you enter the car.”

Formula One racing is a challenging sport for both teams and drivers. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) sets demanding standards for this motor sport. These rules make it the most challenging and safest racing competition in the world.

In the past Formula One racing consisted of both private teams and corporate teams. The increasing cost of meeting the strict FIA rules combined with the dominance of teams owned by leading automobile manufacturers has forced most of the private racing teams to withdraw from Formula One racing. The only new teams to join the Formula One racing program in recent years have all been owned by automotive manufacturers.

Today four teams dominate Formula One racing: McLaren-Mercedes, Ferrari, BMW and Renault.

The McLaren-Mercedes team is based in Woking, UK. The team has been competing since 1966 and has won eight Formula One World Championships. The McLaren-Mercedes racecars feature a Mercedes-Benz FO 108T engine. Driving for McLaren-Mercedes are Lewis Hamilton and Fernado Alonso. Lewis Hamilton, from England, has entered a total of seven Grand Prix. He has not yet won a World Championship for Formula One racing. Spanish driver Fernado Alonso has entered over 95 Grand Prix races and has won two World Championships.

Based in Maranello, Italy, team Ferrari has been competing in Formula One racing since 1950. Ferrari has won fourteen World Championships. Ferrari utilizes a 056 engine in the team’s 2007 racecars. Brazilian native Felipe Massa has entered a total of 78 Formula One racing Grand Prix but has not yet won a World Championship. The 2006 Formula One racing season was Massa’s first with Ferrari. He is considered a rising star in the Formula One racing circuit. Massa’s teammate driver is Kimi Raikkonen of Finland. 2007 is Raikkonen’s first season with Ferrari but he has entered 112 Grand Prix during his Formula One racing career. His failure to win a World Championship is blamed on equipment performance rather than his driving ability.

Team BMW Sauber has dual home bases in Munich, Germany and Hinwil, Switzerland. Former team principal Peter Sauber stepped down after the team takeover by BMW in 2006. The team, which has been competing in Formula One racing since 1993 has not won a World Championship. For the 2007 Formula One racing season the team’s cars are equipped with a BMW P86/7 engine. Neither Nick Heidfeld nor Robert Kubica, the team’s two drivers, have ever won a World Championship. Heidfeld, a German, is more experienced, having entered 124 Grand Prix. Kubica is the first Polish driver to compete in Formula One racing. While he is an experienced test driver, Kubica has only entered 12 Grand Prix during his career.

Enstone, England is the home base for the Renault team. Renault has won two World Championships since it began competing in Formula One racing in 1977. For 2007 Renault is using the RS27 engine for Formula One racing competition. Finnish driver Heikki Kovalainen is a relative newcomer in Formula One racing having entered only 7 Grand Prix. His more experienced teammate, Italian Giancarlo Fisichella, brings the experience of 186 Grand Prix to the 2007 season but neither has won a Formula One World Championship.

Of the remaining seven Formula One racing teams for the 2007 season, only Williams-Toyota, Toyota and Red Bull-Renault are considered serious competition

Winning a World Championship in Formula One racing is dependent upon the right mixture of excellent equipment and skillful drivers. The competition is fierce. Finding the right combination is the difference between a win and second place. These teams are ready to go.