Sunday, September 23, 2007

GPS tracking company



If your company uses a number of vehicles for any purpose, a reliable GPS system is absolutely necessary to track all of them. Most companies who have installed a GPS system in their vehicles are usually for navigation and security reasons.

After reading about the GPS Insight vehicle tracking system provided by GPS Insight, I got to learn about the other benefits of installing and implementing a GPS system. This includes able to calculate routing efficiencies, fuel savings and not paying for labour when the drivers are not really working.

I found their Blog for GPS vehicle tracking really informative. According to one of their latest posts, collecting GPS data might not be enough. The data needs to be collated into something quantifiable in order for it to be useful to the companies. Using the example of a large trash hauling operation in Denver, it is shown how they are able to come up with useful information from the tremendous amount of data generated, such as :
  • How many trips per truck
  • Average stopped time
  • Average to & from times
  • Exceptions
I guess this is what differentiates them from other GPS providers, which just fit you up with GPS hardware and software or just generates data from your activities and leaves it up to you to interpret them.

Based in Arizona, the corporation has been providing custom navigation, and messaging solutions to their customers' for over 3 years. They target the service and trucking companies, such as HVAC, sales forces, delivery vehicles, long haul trucking, etc. With a customer base of several hundred customers, and several thousand vehicles, they are spread throughout all 50 states in the US.

Their solutions include both GPS hardware products as well as web software-based technology and usability enhancements including Google Earth integration, routing, customizations, alerts, specialized reports, ERP integration, and data warehousing, etc. Customers will be able to obtain direct engine diagnostics so that an operator can obtain fault codes, speed, fuel consumption, odometer readings, idle time, etc., along with 2 minute updates. The great thing is that each system is customized so that customers get the best solution for their needs. I really like their idea of having GPS Insight support wiki for customers. This includes general information about their system plus support information and helpful tips.

Their system costs about $34.95 per vehicle per month (approximately US$1.50-2 per day per vehicle). For more pricing options in details, check out their pricing page. The fact that GPS Insight offers a 30 day money back guarantee on commercial sales, are often willing to offer "free trials" in local markets shows how confident they are with what they have to offer.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Frankfurt Autoshow video

See the new BMW X6, Mercedes F700, the F430 Scuderia, and the Lamborghini Reventon.

I am drooling.

Get lower prices on tyres

The OTR (off-the-road) tyre market is highly volatile and prices have increased dramatically over the years. There are several possible reasons for this but as I see it, this is directly related to the continued rising costs of raw materials. While the dealers and the manufacturers are blaming each other as well as the grey traders, for the price increase, the ones losing out are the customers.

If you are looking for OTR tyres, visit BuyBigTires.com. Located in Southeastern North Carolina, BuyBigTires.com is an international company specialising in OTR and specialty tire market doing business on 5 continents. They help customers find lower prices on those tires. They are able to do this by getting rid of the middleman and bringing the products directly to the end users.

A search of 4000R57 haul truck tires gave me two results. They have brand new tires from Michelin and Goodyear priced at $99000 and $105000 respectively.

Friday, September 7, 2007

Ford's Kuga


Ford is going to reveal their new Kuga AWD Crossover vehicle at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It takes many of it's designs from the iosis X concept.

The vehicle forms part of what Ford calls it's new kinetic design. The Kuga combines "elements of SUV and estate car design with a coupé-like profile". It's size is similar to that of the Ford Focus hatchback.

Though detailed specification of the engine have not been revealed as yet, we know that it features a 2.0-litre, 136 PS Duratorq TDCi common-rail diesel engine combined with a Durashift six-speed manual transmission.

The Kuga is not a concept and will be on sale here in the UK in summer of 2008.

For more information read the news release here: Kuga'S the crossover king.

Mitsubishi to introduce 3 concept cars

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is going to introduce three concept cars at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show. Besides the Concept-cX which I have already blogged about, the two new cars are the i MiEV SPORT and the Concept-ZT.


The i MiEV SPORT is based on the i MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle). This is a high power sporty yet environmentally friendly vehicle featuring zero-emissions electric engine.


The Concept-ZT ("Z" stands for the "ultimate", plus "T" for tourer) has a newly developed fuel-efficient, 2.2-liter clean diesel engine is mated to the new Twin Clutch SST (Sport Shift Transmission). Concept-ZT also features advanced active safety as well as passive safety technology, such as its pop-up hood.

For more information read the full press release : "Mitsubishi Motors lineup at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show"

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Mitsubishi vehicles at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

According to a press release from Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, they will unveil a few new cars at the 62nd Internationale Automobil Ausstellung (IAA) also known as the Frankfurt Motor Show. They are:
1. The European market version of the new Lancer sports sedan
2. The Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle (i MiEV) and
3. The Concept-cX compact SUV.

Concept-cX compact SUV


The interior

In total, 19 models (17 during press pre-viewing) will be on display.

NOTE: The the new Lancer sports sedan has already been launched in North America, Russia and Japan.

FYI, the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show will be held the Frankfurt Messe Complex and will be open to the public from September 15 through 23, with press and media pre-viewing September 11 through 14.

New Turkish sports car launched

Ilker Yoldas who blogs at The Thinking Blog informed me about the launch of a Turkish sports car - the Etox. It will be available in 3 different engine versions, namely:
- 1.5 liter, 125 bhp diesel engine
- 3.0 liter, 220 bhp diesel engine
- 3.0 liter V6, 272 bhp petrol engine



The company is called Etox Zafer and is based in Ankara. The car was launched on August the 30th - on Zafer Bayramı (Victory Day).

So went over to their website to check it out. Nice to see that they have an English version page. However, I was disappointed as the site doesn't provide any more technical specifications of the car apart from the the engine. According to the site:
The company still keeps many technical specifications of this car as a secret in order to create a marketing buzz.




The site has an over all amateurish feel - I mean they could have come up with some higher resolution pictures of the car.

It was also quite funny to see Google ads plastered everywhere. Among others they were advertising Suzuki and Skoda cars. It's not everyday that you see a car manufacturer advertising other companies on their site.

I learnt later that the Etox is technically not Turkey's first sports car model. The first was the STC-16. Designed by Eralp Noyan, it was in production between 1973 and 1975.

Source: http://wowturkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11088

Here a video clip of the new Etox:



Read Ilker's post as well: Unveiled: World's First Turkish Sportscar. Thanks for the buzz Ilker.

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