Hello , Welcome to the September issue of Fleettorque, brought to you by Fleetcare! |
| Mind your language |
If you have trouble telling your ABS from your EFI, then take a look at our quick guide and never let yourself down again.
 FWD: Front Wheel Drive
RWD: Rear Wheel Drive
PAS: Power Assisted Steering
SUV: Sports Utility Vehicle
HSV: Holden Special Vehicle
VVT (engine specification): Variable Valve Timing
DOHC: Dual Overhead Cans
EFI: Electronic Fuel Injection
STI: Subaru Technica International
FPV: Ford Performance Vehicle
TRD: Toyota Racing Development
ABS: Anti-lock Break System
GPS: Global Positioning System
Factory air: Factory Fitted Air Conditioning
Mitsubishi: 3 (mitsu) four sided diamond (bishi)
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| Citroën C-Crosser |
 Arriving here this month is Citroën's first SUV, the C-Crosser. Essentially a Mitsubishi Outlander with a Citroën face and HDi diesel engine, it's powered by Mitsubishi's 125kW 2.4-litre petrol four mated to a CVT gearbox or a 162kW 3.0-litre V6 with a six-speed auto.
Taking its name from the four-wheel drive concept car that Citroën first displayed at the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show, the new C-Crosser's elegant proportions (4.64m long, 1.81m wide and 1.73m high including roof bars) and powerfully sculpted design lines mean there is plenty of room inside to seat up to seven passengers. However, when there is a load to be carried, the C-Crosser's second and third row of seats can be folded away quickly and effortlessly to provide a flat floor.
With the C-Crosser's integral transmission, drivers have a choice of three settings, dependent on road conditions and driving style: two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive and a lock setting designed for low-grip conditions.
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| Bridgestone tyre tip |
Australia's roads are some of the toughest and most abrasive in the world and our car tyres frequently cop the worst of it. They cope with harsh environmental conditions and surfaces as well as personal driving characteristics. Different vehicles also use their tyres differently; a front-wheel drive car will wear its tyres very differently to a rear-wheel drive.
Fortunately we can look after our tyres by rotating them regularly. By rotating the tyres from front to back, left to right, the tyres wear more evenly and last significantly longer, ultimately saving you money! For advice on how often you should change your tyres consult a tyre technician. This tyre tip was proudly provided by Bridgestone. |
| Car pooling |
 The environment has become a hot topic over the last few years. Climate change is resulting in rising sea levels and glaciers are disappearing at an alarming speed. Environmental changes are global but also local, in Australia we are seeing farmers struggling to make ends meet due to excessive periods of drought while rainfall is increasing elsewhere. The changes are man-made; contributors are carbon emissions from cars, excessive air conditioning, pesticides and much more.
Yes, you've probably heard this before but your personal role in preserving the environment is vital. No one is suggesting you plant a tree everyday but do consider doing something to care for the environment, even the smallest things you do can alter your carbon footprint.
We constantly rely on our cars due to hectic lifestyles and they are unfortunately a contributor to many climate changes. Carpooling is an effective way to reduce emissions and pave a green path for our future generations. Get a lift with a buddy when you're heading in the same direction. It doesn't just need to be work related, consider sharing lifts to sports training, parties, uni, pubs and clubs - the options are endless. It's not just about reducing emissions but also about saving money. Fuel prices are sky rocketing so consider the amount you could save by car pooling.
There are also websites available to help you to car pool www.ecarpool.com.au. You can find people who are travelling to and from a similar destination to you who you could possibly share a lift with. You can specify the type of person you would prefer to carpool with by searching within certain ages, genders and other characteristics. Next time you're driving somewhere, consider sharing a lift so you personally change the way you treat the environment.
"It takes a noble man to plant a seed for a tree that will some day give shade to people he may never meet": David Trueblood
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| AFL grand final |
If you can't manage to score a ticket to this year's Grand Final but you still want to watch the footy in true Aussie tradition, give this meat pie recipe a go.
Ingredients for four Aussie meat pies: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 large brown onion, finely chopped; 500g lean beef mince; 1 tablespoon cornflour; 3/4 cup beef stock;, 3/4 cup tomato sauce, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 1 tablespoon barbecue sauce; 1 teaspoon Vegemite; 2 sheets frozen, ready-rolled shortcrust pastry, thawed;, 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed; 1 egg, beaten. Click here to read more...
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Don't push it Nissan have come up with an accelerator that pushes the driver's foot back when it detects that the pedal is being put to the metal.
The Eco Pedal is trumpeted as a world first and works by taking data on the rate of fuel consumption and transmission efficiency during acceleration and cruising, and then calculating the optimum acceleration rate. When excess pressure is detected, the system counteracts with a push in the opposite direction.
Nissan plans to commercialise the Eco Pedal, which includes an eco-driving indicator in the instrument cluster that calculates real-time consumption levels and indicates the optimal level for fuel-efficient driving, next year. According to Nissan, the system can improve fuel efficiency by as much as 10 per cent, depending on driving conditions. |
Letter to the Editor?
Is there something you'd like to know about driving, your vehicle, buying a new car etc? Write to us and we will answer one question each month. To thank you for your contribution we will send you a Fleetcare Showbag full of goodies.
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Clean Up the World Weekend This year's Clean Up the World Weekend takes place 19-21 September and will be celebrated all around the world. Clean Up the World was founded by an Australian, Ian Kiernan, and is a community based environmental campaign that inspires and empowers individuals and communities from every corner of the globe to make their environment a cleaner, healthier place to live.
Now in its 16th year, Clean Up the World, held in conjunction with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), mobilises an estimated 35 million volunteers from more than 110 countries annually making it one of the largest community based environmental campaigns in the world. The campaign brings together businesses, community groups, schools, governments and individuals in a range of activities
and programs that positively improve local environments.
If you'd like to find out how you can help Clean Up the World, go to www.cleanuptheworld.org. |
Wwwacky website Are you sick of getting your Dad socks and jocks for Fathers' Day? Check out www.dadshop.com.au for some fantastic gift ideas for your Dad, so you can reward him for being so great. The website has got everything from golf slippers to a remote control beer buggy to wack a smile on his face and something to brag about to his mates. It's a great option if you don't have time to get to the shops because everything can be ordered online. If you want to get Dad something special this Fathers' Day, then this site could be the place for you! |
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