Muscle cars are characterized by their sleek design, their speed, and the power of their engines. They were first built in between 1964 and 1973 and have evolved as a concept since then. Today they are pretty much medium-sized vehicles with a powerful engine and a racing trim for high velocity. If you want to drive a muscle car, make sure its engine can handle the pressure you want to put on it. Typically, muscle cars have a V8 engine because they provide the right amount of power for high performance.

Exorbitant oil prices in the world market today have reach untenable proportions and there’s no sign of abating. Prices might even double in the next five years. That’s the worst outlook for fuel prices.

With this in mind, Ford is exploring game-changing, long-term solutions, developing affordable, near-term ways to improve fuel efficiency is critical as well. A number of auto companies have also followed suit.

This long-term strategy is termed as Ecoboost Engine Technology is aimed at increasing fuel efficiency for car owners by as much as 20%. It involves developing next generation direct injection technology turbocharging.

Andreas R. Schamel, Ford’s chief engineer for Research and Advanced Engineering, says, “EcoBoost will provide a real-world fuel efficiency benefits in the near term with a shorter payback time than other advanced technologies. We believe hybrids, diesels and technologies such as plug-ins and fuel cells have a role, but we believe that having the right mix of fuel-saving technologies over time is the best approach.”

In 2009, Ford will first introduce EcoBoost on the Lincoln MKS featuring a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 that will produce the power and torque of a V-8 engine with the fuel efficiency of a V-6. With an estimated 340 horsepower and more than 340 lb.-ft. of torque, the Lincoln MKS will be the most powerful and fuel-efficient all-wheel-drive luxury sedan in the market – while saving customers about $340 a year in fuel costs compared with a standard V-8 model luxury sedan.

Luxury cars are a breed apart from other vehicles since they are manufactured with the highest quality materials and imbued with the latest technology plus more features anyone could ever need. They are usually produced in more limited numbers than commercial cars due to their difference in affordability. The interior of a luxury car typically consists of the comfort and aesthetic quality of leather seats, as well as woodgrain trim on the doors. There are also different levels of luxury cars – low-end luxury cars like Buicks and BMW 3’s, and ultra luxury vehicles like the Bentley and Maserati. Luxury cars are ultimately status symbols that show others what kind of lifestyle you can afford.

Top US car manufacturers have responded to the new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards following President George W. Bush’s recent signing of the new fuel economy law that orders cars and trucks to meet a 35 miles per (US) gallon fuel economy standard by 2020.

General Motors (GM), for instance, goes for more gasoline-electric hybrids and electric cars. Recently, the company talked about producing a new hybrid model every three months for the next two years in the U.S. market.

Ford Motor Co., on the other hand, intends to introduce more turbochargers. Also included in the plans are the promotion of direct fuel injection on smaller engines and the use of alternative fuels in half of its production by 2012.

For more information about CAFE, click here.

On the sales of hybrid cars, that is. Ever since the start of the “environmental craze” amongst the different car makers, different hybrid cars have been produced by car giants to keep up with their sales. But for General Motors, probably hybrid cars are not their cup of tea as GM is losing with their hybrid car sales. Toyota was able to sell close to half a million of hybrid cars. Ford sold about 5,000. And for GM? Not even a thousand—843 cars to be exact.

But GM has a definite answer to that. Hybrids are marketed as the cost efficient and environmental friendly cars but GM said otherwise. In the long run, people would have to spend more on their cars for maintenance and the like.

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Article by: Christine Zafra