The 2011 Hyundai Elantra is turning heads and those that once eyed the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla when looking for a compact sedan are moving towards the 2011 Elantra. Newly redesigned on the inside and out the 2011 Hyundai Elantra is one great compact sedan.

Available as either the 4-door Elantra sedan of the 5-door Elantra Touring the 2011 Elantra is built with style and innovation in mind. The exterior design is based on the 2011 Sonata which has already proved itself in sales since its release a year ago. There is no doubt that the new Elantra will have no trouble keeping up with its older sibling.

The 2011 Elantra is built with a 1.8-Liter, 4-cylinder engine that will deliver seven percent greater horsepower than its predecessors. With its available manual or automatic transmission the Elantra will get an amazing 29 miles per gallon city and 40 miles per gallon on the highway. This standard gas mileage exceeds that of any of its competitors.

The 2011 Elantra also boasts more interior space than either the Honda Civic or the Toyota Corolla. In fact, because the 2011 Elantra has so much leg room the government classifies it as a midsize car instead of a compact; the Elantra has the most leg room in its class. It also has a wider wheelbase to give more shoulder room for both the front and rear seat passengers as well as 14.8 cubic feet of cargo space. Hyundai has also paid special attention to reduce the noise, vibration and harshness of the ride to ensure a smooth and quiet ride.

The available technology in the 2011 Elantra includes standard iPod/USB and auxiliary input jack as well as XM satellite radio. Every new Elantra comes with a three-month free trial of XM. The Limited version of the Elantra also includes electronic push button start, 7-inch navigation system, Bluetooth hands-free phone system and even a rearview camera. The Limited model also includes front and rear heated seats (a compact segment first), leather seating and a 360-watt audio system.

As far as safety goes the Hyundai Elantra is built with numerous safety features that are built to help you avoid accidents and protect you in case an accident does occur. Active safety features to prevent accidents include vehicle stability management system, electronic stability control, traction control system, anti-lock braking system, electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist. All of these systems work independently as well as together to prevent accidents from happening in hazardous situations. In case of an accident the Elantra is equipped with six airbags- advanced driver and front passenger airbags with occupant classification system, driver and front passenger side-impact airbags and roof-mounted side-curtain airbags to protect the rear passengers. The 2011 Elantra is also built with front and rear crumple zones as well as front and rear bodyside reinforcements and rear dual beams.

The 2011 Hyundai Elantra was clearly built for style, comfort, entertainment and safety. All of these along with the Elantra’s fuel efficiency make this vehicle a leader in its class.

The price of Chevrolet Equinox insurance is thought to be reasonably priced considering the fact that the Equinox is a mid sized SUV that is most often used by young families and as a company car. The Equinox is made by a manufacturer in Chevrolet that is known to produce quality, safe cars.

The specific safety features in a vehicle will help to limit the price of insurance rates and the Equinox is definitely not an exception. Safety features of the Equinox include dual threshold front airbags, curtain side airbags, front side airbags, a tire pressure monitor, anti lock brakes with brake assist, hill start assist, traction control, and GM’s StabiliTrak electronic stability control. A rearview camera and rear park assist are optional. These safety features are couple with a few other specific features that help Equinox owners achieve significant savings with insurance.

The fact that Chevrolets are made domestically helps to reduce the cost of replacement parts. If, or when, the Equinox is in an accident and needs maintenance, the cost of repairs are not astronomical. This factor helps to slightly lower the cost of insurance as the company will pass this potential savings on to the customer. If you are a new, or even an existing, owner of a Chevrolet Equinox it is important to shop around and get several quotes for insurance. Getting a bunch of different quotes will allow you to see how and where the savings are coming from.

There are many benefits to owning this SUV. The affordable price of Chevrolet Equinox insurance is just one of the many.

When it comes to a DIY rear view camera installation, the easiest system to install is a wireless backup camera that makes use of the existing rear license plate mounting holes. It is much easier than a wired rear view camera installation because it is not necessary to run several feet of video cable from the rear of your car, through the cabin, and up to the dashboard. Other than that, any rear view camera installation is basically the same.

Rear view cameras have become a more and more popular safety feature that is a standard feature of many new cars. In only a couple of years, backup cameras will become mandatory on all new cars.

Tools

The tools you will need are simple:

• Either a blade or Philips screwdriver to remove the license plate, license plate light, and mount the camera
• Double-sided tape in lieu of screws to mount the transmitter or power supply in the rear of your vehicle
• You may want to use a drill driver to mount the wireless transmitter inside the rear of your vehicle
• If you are unable to take advantage of the license plate light to route wiring, you may need to use a drill to make a small hole to route the wires
• If you do have to drill a hole, make sure you use the rubber grommet that comes with the kit to protect the wires from the rough edges of the hole
• Wiring connections to splice the power cables into the backup light wiring
• Make sure you have an available 12V power port to plug-in the video display monitor or have a plan for how your will hardwire the video display into your existing under-dash wiring

Wireless Backup Camera System Installation Steps

Each wireless backup camera system comes with three main components; a camera, a transmitter, and a video display/receiver.

Mount the Camera

1. Mount the reverse camera on the rear license plate by removing the license plate mounting screws and using them to mount the camera.
2. Every vehicle requires a lighted rear license plate and that is done usually with two lights on either side of and above the plate. Remove the light closest to the camera mount’s wiring source and route the wires through the hole with the other light wires. Replace the license plate light.
3. Route the wires inside the rear of your car or trunk to the closest rear taillight housing. You will need to identify the backup light wire and splice the appropriate camera power wire to that wire. This will insure that the camera system only operates when your vehicle is in reverse. This is for safety purposes.
4. The wireless transmitter will also need to be mounted inside the trunk or rear of the car and connected to the appropriate wire from the camera. Once that is complete, you are done at the rear of the car.

Mount the Video Display

1. The video display is easy to install, but may be difficult to give a finished look. Most units simply plug into a 12V power outlet (like a cigarette lighter) for power and may even have the receiver built-in.
2. The video display can often be mounted on the dash or windshield with the included mount.
3. Some video displays come in the form of a replacement rear view mirror. These are typically mounted over the existing mirror with built-in adjustable clamps. A rearview mirror camera that replaces the existing mirror is more difficult to install and those steps are not covered here.
4. If you decide to hide the wiring, you can run the power cord into the headliner, down the A-pillar, under the dash, and either to the nearest 12V power plug or wired directly into the vehicles wiring.

Test the System

1. Turn on the car and place the car in reverse. The video display should come on automatically with the rearview camera’s video displayed.
2. When you put the car’s transmission in any other position, the video display should go blank.

With your new aftermarket rearview camera system installed, you will be able to backup and park safer than before. It’s easy to see why a wireless backup camera is such a popular safety device on vehicles.