AUTO XTREME CAR

Garmin and Suzuki have entered into an agreement which will equip most of the Japanese automaker's 2013 models with a fully integrated infotainment system by Garmin. The system will be available in most of the Suzuki models launched in the US, and select models in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Russia. The system will be displayed at the 2012 New York Auto Show.

Previously, Garmin has supplied the navigation component of Chrysler's UConnect infotainment system. It has also sold portable navigation units to Suzuki and Nissan. However, this is the first time that the company would be installing a complete, in-dash infotainment system in car models.

The Key Features

The factory-installed infotainment system boasts a 6.1-inch in-dash touch screen and CD player with AM/FM radio. It provides car owners with several connectivity options such as internal flash memory and USB, auxiliary port and Bluetooth. Car owners can enjoy Bluetooth hands-free calling, audio playback and Bluetooth audio streaming. The SD card slot can be used to store digital audio files or map updates.

Some other key features of the system include back-up camera support, Pandora radio and advanced voice control. According to Matt Munn, Garmin's automotive OEM group managing director, "By leveraging our long-standing experience in developing navigation software, user interfaces and hardware design, we created an integrated system that is easy to use and makes driving more enjoyable."

In case a GPS is unavailable, such as when driving in a tunnel or an enclosed area, Garmin's navigation system can provide location information and details by accessing vehicle speed sensors. The system also offers full integration with smart phones. The Garmin Smartphone Link application can also sync with Android phones via Bluetooth and provide drivers with real-time traffic, weather and fuel price updates. The navigation system of Garmin has a voice command system, which allows drivers to enter full addresses and select an audio source to access other functions. Garmin's PhotoReal Junction View provides lane guidance and can also display information related to traffic and speed limit. The data menu screen is customizable and can display several options, such as direction of travel, estimated time of arrival and distance to destination, on the screen. Updated versions of maps are also available for downloads from the Garmin Web portal.

How much is it?

There has been no formal announcement about the possible pricing and exact availability of the system in Suzuki cars. It is expected that the Grand Vitara, which costs $19,499 onwards, will be the highest priced model featuring this infotainment system along with it's oem Suzuki rims (most people choose 17 inch rims), keyless starter and leather seats which are often fitted by car owners on the Grand Vitara.

Garmin, a global leader in satellite navigation, has recently opened new offices in China, Japan and Germany to be closer to the leading car manufacturers and automotive suppliers of the world. By providing dedicated support in sales, marketing, product development and engineering, Garmin would be further able to cement its position as the strongest player in satellite navigation.

This article was brought to you by Heather Harless at OriginalWheels.com. For more information on used Suzuki Wheels or any OE Rims please visit us at OriginalWheels.com.

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An AC condenser plays a vital part in your car's air conditioning. It is not the air conditioner but a part of the system. Most people usually have this mistake when it comes to buying car parts or even maintaining it. They sometimes purchase the whole system instead of just the condenser! So what is a condenser?

Condenser works with other car parts to support the air conditioning system. We can therefore say that this part is actually a team player. Other air conditioning parts are compressor, evaporator, expansion valve, and accumulator. An AC condenser looks like a radiator's smaller version. This can be found at the front of the car next to the radiator. At times it has its own cooling system.

The air conditioning system and how a condenser works

To understand further how a condenser works, you need to know first how the whole cooling system does its job.

It all starts with refrigerants. These refrigerants are vacuumed in by the compressor which later on pressurizes it to become hot. After this step, the heated gas then passes the condenser which turns cooler. As it cools, it turns into liquid. Once this process is done, the expansion valve regulates the flow of the cold refrigerants so the coldness of the conditioning system is manageable. When cold air is comes out, the liquid refrigerants turn into gas again thanks to the evaporator. As this process ends, the whole cycle starts again with the air being filtered before being vacuumed again.

A condenser can never work on its own. In order to product the coolness you want, it should work well with other air conditioning parts. For it to perform well, proper maintenance is a must. Check if it has accumulated too much dirt both inside and out. It is a must to always clean the AC condenser to keep it performing at its best.

Fixing the car condenser

To always make sure that your car condenser is always performing at its best, cleaning it is not enough. You also need to check if there's a need to repair it.

Familiarizing yourself with the air conditioning process and parts will help out more in checking for corrosion or damages. While air conditioners may still work after years since the car was first bought, you need to remember that its parts are also prey to rust and dirt. You need to check the condenser tubes for corrosion although evaporators are usually the victim of such a problem. You can do this by using a testing sensor. In addition you need to check the motor or fan if it's working well. If it's not then better replace it immediately before bigger air conditioning problems occur. Better check for stores that sell quality ac condensers-one that doesn't easily rust and works well for a long time.

Halley Anne works as a freelancer. Among The Author's current projects is an auto parts store which caters to the car's air conditioning requirements. Feel free to visit Partsvalley.com and browse through its quality AC condenser selection and fan assemblies.

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General Motors has recently confirmed that 2013 Cadillac XTS and ATS have obtained the company's "Driver Assistance System" and this particular safety improvement that was implemented on the two vehicle models were intended to further improve their overall safety features. This move is also considered by many car experts as one of the company's way of promoting these models since most of their competitors have long been using the safety devices that are included in this system and this has established the notion that Cadillac was already been left behind.

Due to the availability of the driver assistance system on the 2013 Cadillac XTS and the Cadillac ATS, both of these vehicles will be equipped with cameras facing on the vehicle's front and rear, radar transmitters, and ultrasonic sensors. All of these technologies are very helpful in raising the driver's awareness when driving thereby increasing the chances of avoiding collisions with other vehicles or stationary objects when parking.

Aside from the technologies mentioned previously, the new system will also include other high tech devices that would further turn the XTS and the ATS into safer vehicles. This includes the forward-collision alert which is equipped with a red light mounted on the vehicle's dash that flashes when it senses that a possible crash is about to happen.

In addition to this, the rear-cross traffic system that provides an audible alert when it senses an approaching vehicle from the one of the two sides when backing and the automatic braking that functions at low speeds that could prevent a possible collision due to the driver's lack of full attention on the road while driving will also be available on the driver assistance systems found on the 2013 Cadillac XTS and ATS.

Since having all of these technologies on the XTS and the ATS in one bundle would surely boost both of the model's prices up, General Motors have decided to split these into two options. The first option will be introduced as the Cadillac Awareness package which includes the lane departure warning, rear-cross traffic detection, blind-spot monitoring, and forward collision alert. This package will be launched on the 2013 Cadillac XTS this spring and this might soon be offered on the 2013 Cadillac ATS.

The second option would be the Driver Assist package that includes some of the latest active features from General Motors such as the adaptive cruise control, auto collision preparation, and the automatic braking system that functions when the vehicle is running at a lower speed. This package will be introduced on the XTS then on the ATS this fall.

Both of the packages will also include the so-called "Cadillac Safety Alert Seat" that activates the same type of warning lights and sounds off the same audible warning when it detects a possible collision or a crash.

Marty Bay is an Automotive Journalist providing helpful tips and advice which powers the Car Finder at the Car Finder Service website.

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