2010 the year that was. Weekly Column

Every year has its trends: 2010 just happens to have more than most. Retrospectives are always eye-opening, whatever the year. 2010 may well emerge as a year where several gamechanging ones originated.

It’s not hard to see why. This was a year of a fair bit of tumultuousness. From the boom of scrappage to the end of it, from the hype of the General Election to the uncertainty once it had finished. For several days, the entire ruling of the country was in limbo, and we even went back to The Queen calling the shots. Amidst all this, no wonder the new car market has been morphing.

Visit the motorshows and you wouldn't believe it. It was pretty plain and simple: from the severe austerity of the past 18 months, the car market had recovered to its previous highs. The status quo of garish, glitzy and glamorous new cars (and girls) had returned. Just like the days of yore.

Look more closely though, and there were differences. The cars that the ladies were sitting on were not hyperpowered big-engined monsters, but downsized turbo fuel-sippers that had green, not greed, at heart.

One of the biggest surprises came at the Geneva Motor Show - the Porsche 918 Spyder. It ticked all the usual supercar boxes: top speed in excess of 200mph, 0-60mph in under 3.2 seconds, drop-dead stunning looks. But there was a twist: it could also average 94mpg and emit just 70g/km CO2. How so? It was a petrol-electric hybrid. A sort of extreme plug-in Toyota Prius.

The Porsche 918 Spyder is powered by a combination of 500hp 3.4-litre V8 petrol, combined with three electric motors pumping out a total of 218hp. Porsche speaks of a large range of operational modes, including a 16-mile electric-only e-Drive setting, while it apparently is also capable of lapping the Nurburgring in less than 7mins 30seconds - faster, in other words, than the mighty Porsche Carrera GT. Whoa....
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Auckland Car Rental Service – Make Auckland Tour More Enjoyable

Auckland is the city which was founded by Governor and also known as the “City of Sails”. It is the largest populated city in New Zealand.  New Zealand is a fabulous place to visit. If you are planning to visit Auckland New Zealand you should ensure that you have a basic itinerary of places you want to see and things you want to do so that you can maximize the time spent there. For this, Auckland Car Rental is the best option before you arrive. Car rental will make the driving experience more enjoyable and make your New Zealand holiday much smoother then roaming in buses and other vehicles. Rental car will give you the freedom and flexibility to go where you want and when you want. There are lots of car renting companies in Auckland. Many of them offer stunning deals and even discounts on their services. It depends on how long you rent, and other related factors.

The nice thing about the Auckland Car Rental companies is that they are not so hard to find and you do not need to do a lot of work to find a reputable rental company. You can save your time and hard earned money by following few steps while hiring a car:

   1. You can save your time by booking a car in advance.
   2. You can use car rental discount code or the car rental coupon to get discount on renting a car.
   3. You should do some inspection on the vehicle that you need.
   4. Even you can modify the reservation when you made it in advance according to your need and when your reservation rate has low down.

Every rental company has different agreement contract for renting a car. You should be careful before you are going to sign the agreement because it is not a bunch of papers only. It is a legal agreement between you and the company that spells out all the terms and conditions of yourcar rental.

Auckland Car Rental is one of the best options for independent travelers who want to enjoy everything in Auckland. Auckland Car Rental will give you the freedom and flexibility to go anywhere when you want to enjoy this wonderful city.

Jessica Whatson is an author of this article. To know more about Car Hire, Van hire and Auckland Car Rental please follow this link car rental Auckland.

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Honda wins top prize for car reliability in Fleet News survey

Honda has been named by Fleet News magazine as the most reliable car manufacturer in their annual vehicle reliability survey. Data is collated from the top FN50 UK leasing companies who run in excess of 1.0 million vehicles, with their multi-marque fleets of cars and vans.

Graham Avent, Manager-Corporate Operations at Honda (UK), said,”Winning the FN50 most reliable manufacturer accolade is a huge boost for Honda in the Corporate market. What makes it so important is the survey size- it’s great to know that out of over one million drivers, the Honda brand comes out on top”. Mr Avent went on to say,”The Civic’s top ten placing is also a great endorsement for our plant in Swindon that makes 85 per cent of the cars we sell in the UK. Honda has proven that British manufacturing continues to produce class-leading product for the fleet market.

Collected from- http://www.comparecontracthire.com/blog/index.php/2010/11/honda-wins-top-prize-for-car-reliability-in-fleet-news-survey/

Toyota unveils RAV4 EV Concept at Los Angeles Auto Show

Toyota is set to unveil a new RAV4 EV (electric vehicle) SUV Concept at the forthcoming Los Angeles Auto Show which starts on the 17th November. The full vehicle specifications, pictures and technical data will also be released then.

The car has been developed in conjunction with Tesla Motors with the new RAV4 EV being brought to the US market in 2012. Toyota is already leading the way with efficient and alternative models such as the Prius and Auris hybrid and has plans to further reduce CO2 emissions by focussing on fossil free technology. The current Prius, Auris hybrid and standard RAV4 are all available now on Toyota business car leasing.
Collected from- http://www.comparecontracthire.com/blog/index.php/2010/11/toyota-unveils-rav4-ev-concept-at-los-angeles-auto-show/

Travelling From Australia to New Zealand - Consider Booking a Rental Car

There are thousands of Australians who visit New Zealand every single year. Taking a holiday 'across the ditch' is a popular option. With regular and affordable flights available year round it's possible for anyone to come to New Zealand; whether that be for a girly shopping weekend, the grandparents visiting their grandchildren or even a couples getaway.

If you are considering visiting New Zealand, you will likely be looking to arrive into Auckland or Christchurch - both of which offer great International Airports. From the Airport you will need to consider how you are going to get to your next destination, which could be your accommodation or perhaps you are planning to travel out of town. If you haven't been to New Zealand before you may feel more comfortable relying on public transit, however it's important to remember that with options such as buses you will be bound by their timetables and routes, which may not necessarily suit you. Taxi's are fine, but if you are looking to save money wherever possible they aren't always the best option for your budget. If you were to book a rental car, you would then simply need to sign a couple of forms, pick up the keys and away you go on your journey, never having to worry about schedules or planning your events around when the next public transport option is available.

Driving in New Zealand compared to Australia is relatively easy, we drive on the left hand side of the road and there are well sign posted roads and speed limits, so you are sure to feel at ease once you start driving in a rental car. A good rental car company will advise you of anything you are not sure of, so don't be afraid to ask. As long as you are careful and willing to learn, you should have no trouble driving responsibly and having a great holiday with your own rental car in New Zealand.

Of course, you will need to take the time to find rental car hire services and obtain a suitable car that you can afford, but this is typically a simple process that only takes a little of your time. One of the best ways to find the ideal rental cars in NZ is to search online while you are planning your trip from Australia to New Zealand. Not only will you be able to plan well ahead so that you are prepared, but you will be able to compare different rental options and see which companies have the best deals.

Everyone expects something different when they hire a car in New Zealand, and it is up to you to find the rental that meets your expectations and needs. If you are planning a New Zealand holiday, make sure that you check into car hire services so that you can have a more enjoyable time on your trip.

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