Feel the Glow
Maybe you have seen them. “Underglow” lights are neon or LED lights mounted under a vehicle to light up the road surface. The effect is quite interesting as it gives the vehicle an effect that makes the car appear as it is “floating”. The problem is, despite the fact that they are unarguably neat to look at, they are illegal in many states because they can be “distracting”.
Earnhardt Dodge in Gilbert AZ explains that the laws concerning the use of underglow lights are typically covered under individual state laws and traffic codes. The codes vary greatly from state to state so if you are thinking of mounting under glow lights under your car or truck, be sure to check with your state laws first. As we mentioned, check your state codes first! In general, you are allowed to have them under your vehicle but you can’t use them when on the road accept in a select few states.
Earnhardt Dodge in Gilbert AZ explains that the laws concerning the use of underglow lights are typically covered under individual state laws and traffic codes. The codes vary greatly from state to state so if you are thinking of mounting under glow lights under your car or truck, be sure to check with your state laws first. As we mentioned, check your state codes first! In general, you are allowed to have them under your vehicle but you can’t use them when on the road accept in a select few states.
Turbo 4x4
If you are considering a new vehicle with a diesel engine, you will almost certainly find there is a turbocharger included. Examples that can be optioned with turbocharged diesel engines are the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ram 1500 pickup, Chevrolet Cruze, and Mazda 6 vehicles. And as BMW Rockville in Rockville Maryland told us German manufacturers BMW, Mercedes-Benz, VW and Porsche all offer diesel engines in their US lineups.
The reason that turbochargers allow smaller engines to produce more power. A turbocharger forces more air, and therefore more oxygen, into the combustion process. This allows engines to be small and fuel efficient yet produce the power that larger engines do. Turbos are also catching on in the United States in gasoline engines, often in combination with direct injection. The combination of turbocharging and direct injection allows automakers to switch to smaller gas engines also. Its all about the fuel savings.
The reason that turbochargers allow smaller engines to produce more power. A turbocharger forces more air, and therefore more oxygen, into the combustion process. This allows engines to be small and fuel efficient yet produce the power that larger engines do. Turbos are also catching on in the United States in gasoline engines, often in combination with direct injection. The combination of turbocharging and direct injection allows automakers to switch to smaller gas engines also. Its all about the fuel savings.
2013 Jeep Patriot - 4x4 system you can count on
The Jeep Patriot may not be in the ranks of the Wrangler when it comes to off road capability...no one is. But the 2013 Patriot has some very impressive capability features, and it all starts with Jeep's trustworthy 4x4 system. Being prepared can make all the difference. For the ability to handle rough weather, sand and other low-traction surfaces choose the available Freedom Drive I full-time, active 4WD system with lock mode. For advanced Go Anywhere. Do Anything. capability, choose Patriot's Trail Rated Freedom Drive II Off-Road Group.The 2013 Jeep Patriot 4x4 offers up to 28 MPG+. This advanced engineering technology helps Patriot attain up to 408 miles on a tank-full. We recently swung by Sport Durst DCJ, a Jeep dealer in Raleigh, to learn more about the 2013 Patriot.
The Patriot features aggressive exterior styling with a body-color seven-slot grille and distinctive trapezoidal wheel arches all reflecting an authentic design steeped in Jeep brand DNA. Lower bodyside accent cladding enhances the Patriot's already robust off-road capable attitude. This rugged design fits its 4x4 abilities perfectly. However inside the Patriot, rest assured you will be driving in comfort. The Patriot has an interior with soft-touch points for added comfort. Tasteful Chrome accents along with a stylish hand-stitched, available leather-wrapped steering wheel speak to the vehicle's proud craftsmanship. This is one vehicle that will get you where you need to go, regardless of the weather or terrain.
The Patriot features aggressive exterior styling with a body-color seven-slot grille and distinctive trapezoidal wheel arches all reflecting an authentic design steeped in Jeep brand DNA. Lower bodyside accent cladding enhances the Patriot's already robust off-road capable attitude. This rugged design fits its 4x4 abilities perfectly. However inside the Patriot, rest assured you will be driving in comfort. The Patriot has an interior with soft-touch points for added comfort. Tasteful Chrome accents along with a stylish hand-stitched, available leather-wrapped steering wheel speak to the vehicle's proud craftsmanship. This is one vehicle that will get you where you need to go, regardless of the weather or terrain.
The Jeep moab edition takes home 4x4 of the year!
So you call yourself an off-road aficionado. You enjoy the mud flaps getting caked, the trails that seem impossible, and the fact that your friends will pull you out of any mess. Then you surely will love the look and capability of the new Jeep Moab Edition. Named after a 4x4 playground in the rugged terrain of Utah, the Moab is a miraculous machine. Now to top all of that Jeep has done it again by taking home the "4x4 of the year" award which is given away each year by Petersen’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road.
What exactly does the Moab Edition has to offer drivers who are looking to rip up the rocks, mud and dirt?
What exactly does the Moab Edition has to offer drivers who are looking to rip up the rocks, mud and dirt?
- 245/75R17 Goodyear® SilentArmor® off-road tires with Kevlar™
- Winch-capable steel bumpers and premium rock rails
- A standard Trac-Lok anti-spin rear differential with an available electronic rear locking differential
SUbaru xv named "suv of the year"!
And the award for best SUV of the year goes to the brand new Subaru XV Crossover! This new kid on the block surely had a lot to prove in a very demanding and competitive market. The SUV and Crossover segment currently is one full of depth and variety. The award was provided by a group of judges from 4x4 Magazine. When posed a question on why one judge had chose the Crossover from Subaru they simply said, "The Subaru XV was an interesting new arrival in that class, which did much to impress judges." So does being the new guy give you an edge? Well like anything else, new will naturally bring attention.
Beyond being new, here is what the XV Crossover brings to the party:
Beyond being new, here is what the XV Crossover brings to the party:
- Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
- 2-liter Subaru Boxer Engine
- and an available lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
- Oh and It's a Subaru!
Autospies discovers the best factory 4x4
If you are unsure what Autospies.com is then you should go ahead and check it out. For a quick rundown they are a renown automotive blog, and news source online. They also provide enthusiasts a lot of first impressions and can be considered the Auto Paparazzi.
Now to get to what matters! Auto Spies went ahead and put together a bit of testing to come upon what they believe are the best 4x4 on the market. Judges would collect date on acceleration, braking, then sandy hill-climbing and rocky stair-steps to test each individual models capabilities. Once this data was collected then they would compare each side by side.
So lets meet the competitors: Nissan Xterra, Ford Raptor, Jeep Wrangler, RAM Power Wagon, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Toyota 4Runner.
Here are the results!
1) The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. The Wrangler is no stranger to collecting such accolades, at this point the Jeep Brand is nearly a synonym for 4x4 excellence.
2) The Ford Raptor takes second place respectably. The Raptor is a ferocious wide bodied truck model that provides 4x4 enthusiasts more power than they would find in other truck and SUV models.
3) Rounding out the top 3 is the Ram Power Wagon. This is very similar to the Ford's Raptor model, as it is a powerful, wide bodied truck that provides drivers a great blend of power and off-road stability.
Honorable Mentions: Toyota Tacoma Baja Series, and the Nissan Frontier Pro-4x
Now to get to what matters! Auto Spies went ahead and put together a bit of testing to come upon what they believe are the best 4x4 on the market. Judges would collect date on acceleration, braking, then sandy hill-climbing and rocky stair-steps to test each individual models capabilities. Once this data was collected then they would compare each side by side.
So lets meet the competitors: Nissan Xterra, Ford Raptor, Jeep Wrangler, RAM Power Wagon, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Toyota 4Runner.
Here are the results!
1) The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. The Wrangler is no stranger to collecting such accolades, at this point the Jeep Brand is nearly a synonym for 4x4 excellence.
2) The Ford Raptor takes second place respectably. The Raptor is a ferocious wide bodied truck model that provides 4x4 enthusiasts more power than they would find in other truck and SUV models.
3) Rounding out the top 3 is the Ram Power Wagon. This is very similar to the Ford's Raptor model, as it is a powerful, wide bodied truck that provides drivers a great blend of power and off-road stability.
Honorable Mentions: Toyota Tacoma Baja Series, and the Nissan Frontier Pro-4x