MPV: Mazda’s Popular miniVan
In Japan, the Mazda MPV is known, marketed, and sold as the Efini MPV. This vehicle first made its way to public knowledge in 1989. It was constructed to be a rear wheel drive vehicle. Later on in 2000, it came back with a more modern front wheel drive. Originally, the Mazda MPV was designed in its every minute detail as a minivan. This was destined to be sold to the American market.
The Mazda MPV was first constructed using Mazda’s best platform that time. The company used the Mazda 929′s HC to be able to develop and start out the Mazda MPV’s LV platform. Later on in the design and construction process for this vehicle, the Mazda MPV was equipped with a V6 engine and an optional all wheel drive. This vehicle features traditional hinged doors instead of the sliding rear doors.
Making waves with the press, the Mazda MPV then earned its way to being named a part of the Car and Driver magazine’s Ten Best list for two consecutive years – 1990 and 1991. This magazine also featured the Mazda MPV as one of their “vehicles for the coming (fuel) crisis”. However, on the other hand, the Mazda MPV made a big unwanted splash with crash testers. Out of the four stars that a vehicle could receive from the Australian ANCAP crash test, the Mazda MPV only received one little star. As for the American IIHS crash tests, the vehicle received a poor “Marginal” rating. The sales for this vehicle went really well however it rapidly declined come the period when other automobile manufacturers started constructing and introducing to the market all wheel drivers and V6 engines.
In 1996, this vehicle underwent a refreshing. The I4 engine went into retirement and it was replaced with a similar engine – a 2.5 liter unit. Come the year 2000, the Mazda MPV came with a front wheel drive LW platform that was based on the Mazda 626. This set of Mazda MPVs was considered to be the second in this model’s generation. It came this time to be more traditional than the first batch. It held sliding rear doors and a front wheel drive. However, what was different for this generation includes a rear seat that folds flat into the floor and rear door windows that are rolled down. Read the rest of this entry »
Caravans
We will start with the definition of caravan. A caravan is a group of travelers or merchants banded together and organized for joint support and protection while traveling through unsettled or unfriendly country. Caravan trade, however, is associated with the history of the Middle East as far back as the records of ancient civilizations extend. The caravan trade was very well developed before the idea of sea commerce was ever considered.
The history of the caravan trades people has shown how well organized these groups of people were. The caravans crossed great distances across the unsettled desert trails, with little or no protection from the local governments.
The main modes of transportation were camels throughout the Arabian Peninsula. Camels could withstand the desert heat, and go numerous days without water,
The caravans were fundamental for the trade industry to prosper. The caravans worked under the regulation of the Arabian Empire. The Empire controlled their routes and tried to afford them some protection.
After the introduction of the motor truck and the airplane, the hardship of crossing the desert on foot or on came, has evolved to driving the truck to the marketplace to sell your goods. This is evident when you go to the flea markets of today, there are numerous vendors (what could have been called merchant caravans in middle east history) that travel from town to town bringing there goods to sell, trade or barter.
Webster’s dictionary defines caravan as: “a company of travelers on a journey through desert or hostile regions”, “a group of vehicles traveling together in a file”, and “a covered wagon or motor vehicle equipped as traveling living quarters”. As you can see by this definition, the term caravan has evolved into the 21st century. Just look around and you will see motor home caravans, semi-truck caravans, motorcycle caravans, all of these groups are traveling from one destination to another. Read the rest of this entry »