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5 Innovative Car Parts That Deserve Our Thankfulness

Each November, we gather together to give thanks for different people and blessings in our life while stuffing our faces with turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, cornbread, pumpkin pie and much more. At Peruzzi Auto Group, we are thankful for our customers and being able to sell exceptional vehicles at affordable prices. What about you? When driving to work or dropping off your kids at soccer practice, do you often think of what car parts have revolutionized automobiles as we know them today? Here are five car parts that we all should be giving thanks for this Thanksgiving. Airbags One of the biggest improvements to driving safety was made in 1953 when John W. Hetrick received a patent for a safety cushion assembly. Hetrick designed the first prototype for airbags after he and his wife tried to protect their daughter from hitting the dashboard during an accident. That same year, Walter Linderer received a patent for an inflatable cushion. In 1969, federal law made it necessary that each new car had an automatic occupant protection system. Allen K. Breed created the first air bag sensor design for cars in 1968. Brakes Imagine a car without brakes. Scary, right? Brakes date back to the days of the Roman Empire, but in 1902, Louis Renault devised an internal drum brake that laid the groundwork for the brakes we use today. During the same year, Frederick Lanchester was granted a patent for a non-electric caliper spot disc braking system. Car Radio “I have these thoughts, so often I ought To replace that slot with what I once bought 'Cause somebody stole my car radio And now I just sit in silence” Twenty One Pilots’ Tyler Joseph is right: Sitting in silence in your car is unnerving and makes your mind wander, bringing up a variety of emotions. The car radio, first called the “Motorola,” was invented by Paul Galvin in 1930. It started out as a monophonic AM radio and then progressed to include capabilities for FM, cassettes, CDs and digital audio capabilities. Windshield Wipers Try driving in a downpour without windshield wipers. Seems impossible, right? James Henry Apjohn created the first windshield wipers, which were a mere two brushes that mechanically moved up and down the glass. Mary Anderson improved upon this design two years later with a spring-loaded wiper with a swinging arm. Robert Kearns revolutionized this part by inventing intermittent wipers in 1963. These wipers were based off the human eyelid and how it opens and closes. Battery In 1859, Gaston Plante invented the lead-acid battery. It was the first rechargeable battery and used as the basis for our car batteries today. The sealed car battery changed the game in 1971 because it was corrosion-free and didn’t need to be powered by water. So, when you are tweeting or posting a status on Facebook about what you are thankful for this Thanksgiving (#blessed), give a shout out to the men and women who invented these car parts. For information about Peruzzi Auto Group’s top-notch vehicles and their quality parts, visit https://www.peruzzi.com/.

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THE REAL COSTS OF MAINTAINING AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE

More and more, car buyers are considering either a hybrid or an all-electric vehicle.  These cars are better for the environment and the ever-improving technology makes them a more economical option.  Peruzzi Toyota offers a wide range of sleek, efficient electric or hybrid vehicles, but after years of driving traditional gas-powered vehicles, potential buyers may have some hesitation.  Are electric or hybrids trickier to keep up?  Are the costs involved more or less? So let’s look at the reality of owning/maintaining an electric vehicle. MAINTENANCE One of the best things about a hybrid or electric car is that they have a lot fewer parts than your traditio nal internal combustion engine – so there are fewer chances for things to break. Generally speaking, electric vehicles rely on about a dozen parts (versus the hundreds in a regular engine).  Thus, keeping things in shape is less complex and expensive. The only (possible) downside is the cost of the lithium-ion battery that keeps t he car humming along.  While it’s dropped from around $15K, the cost to repair or replace it can still run between $5,000 to $6,000.  One way to mitigate that pricetag is to keep up a regular maintenance schedule at Peruzzi Toyota.  Their experts can spot any leaks or defects before they turn into something major. FUEL COSTS You're probably used to sitting next to a gas pump, watching the dollars rack up.  With an electric vehicle, there are more charging stations popping up around the country.  It generally takes from 30 minutes to 2 hours at one of these stations to get a full charge; if you juice up the car at home, think about 12 hours.  While that may seem like a long time, consider the fact that you're saving a ton of money over traditional fuel costs. THE WARRANTY The electric and hybrid vehicles at Peruzzi Toyota come with the kind of warranty that offers terrific peace of mind.  Generally, they cover 8 years/100,000 miles (with options to purchase even longer coverage). This should make you feel even more comfortable about making the switch to one of Peruzzi Toyota’s exceptional electric cars. Of course, the best way to get over any heebie-jeebies about making the switch to a hybrid or all-electric vehicle is to take a test-drive.  The experts at Peruzzi Toyota are happy to answer all of your questions and give you the inside look at how well one can fit into your lifestyle.

Peruzzi April Blog Round Up

Did you miss some of the blogs posted on the many Peruzzi Auto Group websites in April? Catch up on the ones you may not have seen or read your favorites again! Last month on Peruzzi Toyota, we gave you your first look at two exciting new 2018 Toyota models, the 2018 Toyota C-HR and the 2018 Toyota Sequoia TRD Sport. These two vehicles should be available in Fall 2017 so keep an eye out for more information and details coming soon! We also gave you some insight into Toyota's deal with Microsoft to support voice recognition and gesture control in future vehicles. In addition we gave you three reasons to go with the 2017 Sienna Limited if you're interested in a minivan and three cool exterior details of the 2017 Avalon Hybrid. We also took a look at great spots to grab a drink in Hatfield and three places to take a day trip from the Hatfield area. With hybrids becoming more popular, we gave you a blog post that can help you decide if the Toyota Prius Prime is right for you. Rounding out Peruzzi Toyota's blogs for the month of April was our helpful guide on when you should set your parking brake. On Peruzzi Nissan, we gave you an overview of the brand new, redesigned 2017 Nissan Armada SUV. Find out why the Armada won Autotrader's "2017 Must Test Drive Award". We also gave you some details about the exciting new 2017 Nissan Sentra NISMO Edition, the first mainstream and afforable NISMO model available in the United States. For Peruzzi Buick GMC, we looked at the redesigned and upgraded 2018 GMC Terrain which will launch this summer. In addition, we took a first look at the new 2018 Buick Enclave models and the 2018 Buick Regal Sportback. On the Peruzzi Mitsubishi blog, we explored how Mitsubishi is experimenting with driverless technology and what this could mean for the future of the brand. We also celebrated Mitsubishi Motors' 100th Anniversary with a post about the history of Mitsubishi vehicles. For Quakertown Mitsubishi, we celebrated National Car Care month and talked about how you can spruce up your car for the spring after a rough winter. For Peruzzi Mazda, we provided you with in-depth looks at Mazda's great new technology. Find out how Mazda Skyactiv Technology can improve your Mazda driving experience and take a look at Mazda's Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integrations. Make sure you check out our blog posts from April and stay tuned for more informative and entertaining blogs from all of the Peruzzi Auto Group stores in the months to come!

Peruzzi March Blog Round Up

Catch this month’s Peruzzi blogs? Here are all the ones from this month so you don’t miss a thing. At Peruzzi Mitsubishi, we took a first look at the all-new 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. This stylish vehicle will be available later this year. And check out our blog at Quakertown Mitsubishi about the history of Mitsubishi Motors in honor of their 100 th year anniversary. This month at Peruzzi Buick GMC, we investigated what makes Buick vehicles so safe and why they consistently get 5-star ratings from the National High Traffic Safety Administration. Plus, we also have some tips for getting your car ready for spring. For Peruzzi Nissan, we dove into the advantages of the 2017 Nissan Leaf hybrid, and also compared the 2017 Nissan Rogue and the 2017 Murano. At Peruzzi Mazda, we checked out the 6 best accessories for the 2017 Mazda CX-9. We also looked into the advantages Mazda iACTIVSENSE and Active Driving Display Technology, and how it can make your drive even smoother. As for Peruzzi Toyota, this past March we examined accessories for your Corolla, like the universal tablet holder and how to clean your car out for spring. We also looked to the future. Later this year Toyota is releasing a special edition 86 sports vehicle, and the company also recently unveiled their i-TRIL concept, a futuristic car with a unique design and special controls. Although it’s unlikely that the i-TRIL itself enters the market, a lot of its innovative tech could be incorporated into future Toyota vehicles. Check in this April for more information on the latest vehicles, their accessories and more. And if you’re looking for a new ride, come to one of our 6 dealerships today and see our extensive line up for yourself.