Fun Facts About Acura

The Acura logo has an interesting story behind it! The Acura logo was introduced in 1990 for the 1991 model year. According to Honda, a caliper design tool – used for measuring – can also be interpreted as a skewed “H” (for Honda) or a stylized “A” (for Acura), very clever indeed.

Did you know that Acura was actually the first Japanese automotive luxury brand to be sold worldwide? They launched in 1986 and pre-dated the appearance of fellow Japanese automakers Toyota and Nissan’s luxury brands Lexus and Infiniti by 3 years.

Acura has always produced luxury cars with a sporty feel, starting with the Venerable Acura Legend. Over the years they have built some high performance cars that would go head to head with anything else on the road at the time, namely the high performance NSX. 

Diagnose Issues Today with Scheduled Service on Your Acura!

Regular maintenance and service allows us to diagnose issues before they become severe and possibly more expensive to repair. If you have an Acura bring it to ArborMotion, Ann Arbor’s leading Japanese and European repair shop. Make an appointment today by scheduling or calling us at 734-761-1088. 

Check Out the A2AC Murals Downtown

Are you tired of being cooped up inside during these long COVID-19 winter months?  What if there was a new way to get out in beautiful Ann Arbor and still social distance?

A2AC is the culmination of pairing downtown Ann Arbor buildings and local and regional business owners, who have transformed walls into spectacular expressions of their skills – providing the community and visitors with an opportunity to experience and enjoy large beautiful displays of public art!

All you need to do is go to https://www.annarborartcenter.org/art-in-public/murals/

Download the map, grab a cup of coffee or hot cocoa, and let your adventure begin!

By the way, if you haven’t driven in a while, it’s always good to get your vehicle checked out to see if any damage was caused by sitting for so long.

Schedule Service on Your European, Asian or Domestic Car Today!

We’d love to be your go-to repair shop to help ensure you and your family are safe on the road. Bring your vehicle to ArborMotion and we’ll have it running in tip-top shape in no time. No question is too big or small. Call ArborMotion at 734-761-1088 to schedule your appointment today! Our professional team would love to take care of you and your domestic, Asian or European made vehicle.

Happy motoring from all of us at ArborMotion! 

Ford’s First Automobile

The 1896 Ford Quadricycle Runabout was the first car ever built by Henry Ford. It was a gasoline powered automobile that utilized commonly available materials like an angle iron frame, four bicycle wheels, a leather belt and chain drive for the transmission, and a buggy seat to accommodate passengers.

On June 4,1896 in a tiny workshop behind his Detroit home on 58 Bagley Avenue, Ford put the finishing touches on his pure ethanol-powered motor.  After more than 2 years of experimentation, Ford completed his first automobile at the age of 32.  He dubbed his creation the “Quadricycle,” because it ran on four bicycle tires. You even take a tour of the Henry Ford Museum where it is on display.

The earliest cars were built by hand, one by one. The first car Ford sold was for $200. In the 1800’s that was considered very expensive. These particular automobiles were seen as toys for the rich and famous. In the 1890s, the “horseless carriage” was a relatively new idea, with almost no one having any idea what a car should look like or how it should work.

The success of the little vehicle led to the founding of the Henry Ford company and then later the Ford Motor Company in 1903.  As they say, the rest is history!

Schedule Service on Your Ford Today.

We’d love to be your go-to repair shop to help ensure you and your family are safe on the road. Bring your vehicle to ArborMotion and we’ll have it running in tip-top shape in no time. No question is too big or small. Call ArborMotion at 734-761-1088 to schedule your appointment today! Our professional team would love to take care of you and your Ford.

BMW 3 Series Service in Ann Arbor!

We’re featuring the BMW 3 Series this month because our very own BMW specialist, Andrew Daley, drives one. Andrew drives the M3 model, the most powerful version of the 3 Series.

The BMW 3 Series has been in production since May of 1975 and is BMW’s best selling model, accounting for 30% of the BMW brand’s total annual sales.

The first generation in the 3 Series was only available in a 2-door Coupe. However, the model range has since expanded to include a 4-door saloon, 2-door convertible, 2-door coupe, 5-door estate, 5-door lift back and 3-door hatchback styles.  Since 2013, the coupe and convertible models have been marketed as the 4 series. As a result, the 3 Series no longer offers these body styles.

Fun Fact: The BMW emblem on the wheel cap of newer models is weighted so the emblem is right side up even when the tires are rotating.

If you have a BMW 3 Series or any other BMW, make an appointment for maintenance or repair at ArborMotion with our BMW specialist Andrew.

Schedule BMW Service or Repair Today.

We’d love to be your go-to repair shop to help ensure you and your family are safe on the road. Bring your vehicle to ArborMotion and we’ll have it running in tip-top shape in no time. No question is too big or small. Call ArborMotion at 734-761-1088 to schedule your appointment today! Our professional team would love to take care of you and your BMW.

3 New Year’s Resolutions for Every Car Owner

Happy New Year from the ArborMotion team! We hope you had a great holiday in your household and are feeling healthy and refreshed for a brand new year!

As we all know, the new year is a great time to set New Year’s resolutions or goals to help better yourself throughout the year. What are your New Year’s resolutions? Some of us at ArborMotion have resolutions focused on improving our exercise habits and some of us have resolutions to read more books.

Whatever your New Year’s resolution may be, did you take your car into consideration? While making resolutions to improve your health and overall lifestyle are great, adding a few for your car is a great idea. Make yourself a better car owner and keep your car in the best condition with these three New Year’s resolutions.

1. Don’t Neglect Car Maintenance

The most important car maintenance you’ll need to keep up with this year are oil changes, batteries, brakes, and your car's air filters.

2.  Stay Focused on the Road

 

Did you know that on average nine people are killed by distracted driving in the US every day?  There are many things that are considered distracted driving that we might all be guilty of: texting, changing the music, using an app, taking a photo, or even eating and drinking while cruising down the road. 

3.  Be Courteous to Other Drivers

Driving can be frustrating, especially in these unusual times. Let’s all share the road with understanding, patience and good vibes sent out to those around us. Even if you are not reciprocated in kind, you did your part to keep us all together. Can’t hurt, right??!!

Have a Happy and Safe New Year’s from all of us at ArborMotion!

Short History of Mercedes-Benz Early Day’s

Mercedes-Benz traces its origins to Karl Benz’s creation of the first internal combustion engine in a self-propelled car. The Benz Patent Motorwagen was financed by Bertha Benz’s dowry and brought into existence by Gottlieb Daimler and engineer Wilhelm Maybach’s conversion of a stagecoach by the addition of a petrol engine. The Mercedes automobile was first marketed in 1901 by Daimler-Mootoren-Gesellschaft (DMG).

Emil Jellinek, the European automobile entrepreneur who worked with DMG, created the trademark in 1902, naming the 1901 Mercedes 35 hp after his daughter Mercedes Jellinek.  Jellinek was a businessman and marketing strategist who promoted “horseless” Daimler automobiles among the highest circles of society.  His customers included The Rothschild family and other well-known personalities. But Jellinek’s plans went further: as early as 1901, he was selling Mercedes cars in the New World, to notable figures including US billionaires Rockefeller, Morgan and Taylor. 

At a race in Nice, France, in 1899, Jellinek rode under the pseudonym “Monsignor Mercedes”, as a way of concealing a competitor’s real name. The race ranked as the hour of birth for the Mercedes-Benz brand. In 1901, the name Mercedes was registered by Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschat (DMG) worldwide as protected trademark. The first Mercedes-Benz brand of vehicles were produced in 1926, following the merger of Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler’s companies into the Daimler-Benz company on June 28, 1926.

Fast forward to today, and the Mercedes-Benz brand is worth an estimated at $21.35 Billion US dollars. It is considered one of the most valuable luxury automobile brands in the world. The luxury and refinement of a Mercedes-Benz is unrivaled.

Schedule Service on Your Mercedes- Benz Today.

We’d love to be your go-to repair shop to help ensure you and your family are safe on the road. Bring your Mercedes to ArborMotion and we’ll have it running in tip-top shape in no time. No question is too big or small. Call ArborMotion at 734-761-1088 to schedule your appointment today! Our professional team would love to take care of you and your Mercedes-Benz.

Icy Roads and What You Need to Know to Stay Safe

Our #1 icy road driving tip is to reduce your speed. The most important thing to do when driving in ice and snow is to slow down. High speeds make it easy to lose control and difficult to stop in time to avoid a collision. You should never drive faster than 45mph when roads are icy, according to AAA – not even on highways!  

In many cases, slower speeds are necessary. You can slide off the road easily on roads with black ice at 10mph or even less! If you’re fishtailing or sliding, it means you’re going too fast for the road conditions.

A factor in many serious and fatal crashes is overconfidence. Don’t overestimate your ability or your equipment. Examples include: traction control, anti-lock brakes, stability control and winter tires. Some people think they have sufficient experience in winter driving, and can continue normally (at or above the speed limit).  But a fishtail on ice that occurs at highway speeds is usually unrecoverable by even the most quick-witted and experienced driver. Practicing slow speed slides in parking lots is useless for what happens to a vehicle at highway speeds.  A person who enters a high-speed slide will quickly learn that it is something that they can’t handle! But that realization could be to late…

If you do begin fishtailing or sliding, it usually means you’re going too fast. Remember to reduce your speed and always turn into a slide.

Some other things to keep in mind while driving on icy roads:

• Wear your seat belt!
• Pay attention to the weather, it can change at anytime in Michigan!
• Go easy on your brakes.
• Don’t stop for stranded vehicles along icy roadways.
• Try to avoid curvy, hilly or dangerous roads during icy conditions, if at all possible.

Schedule Service on Your Domestic, Asian or European Car Today!

We’d love to be your go-to repair shop to help ensure you and your family are safe on the road. Bring your vehicle to ArborMotion and we’ll have it running in tip-top shape in no time. No question is too big or small. Call ArborMotion at 734-761-1088 to schedule your appointment today! Our professional team would love to take care of you and your domestic, Asian or European made vehicle.

Happy and safe motoring from all of us at ArborMotion!