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June 18 Less Stress And Safe TomTom Inc. announces today that latest resultss from leading US research institute Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and Dutch research institute TNO confirm the helpful influence of portable navigation devices on driving and traffic safety. According to the Auto Channel, significant discoveries from the research revealed that drivers using a portable navigation device experience less stress pay more attention to the road and feel safer. The key findings of the US research were as follows: • The appliction of portable navigation devices lessens driver's stress • 72% of users specify that they feel less stressed while using a portable navigation device in the survey. 70% feel soother in the car, and 66% found that driving with a portable navigation device make them feel more tranquil. • The use of portable navigation devices make it simple for users to keep their focus on the road • In the survey, 59% of American users indicate that the use of a portable navigation device makes it easier to keep their attention on the road. • The use of portable navigation devices has a positive effect on driver behavior • 60% of respondents feel safer in the car when driving with a portable navigation device. "TomTom has always believed that our products provide drivers with added confidence on the road. These key findings from Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and TNO confirm our long-held belief that driving safely and efficiently go hand-in-hand with the quality navigation TomTom delivers. Our customers are our priority and we will continue to lead the market in developing and implementing innovative safety features such as handsfree calling, speed limit warnings, and TomTom's 'Help Me!' emergency menu," says Jocelyn Vigreux, president of TomTom Inc. June 13 The Ford Focus RS Will Return Ford RS is back! It’s official, and today the all-new Focus RS is all set to put the track on fire! An early prototype of the best ever Focus road car so far is now experiencing performance and durability testing at the exigent Nürburgring Circuit in Germany, in preparation for its global launch in 2009 which is now the most anticipated occurrence in the automotive industry. The principal architect of the Focus RS project is Ford of Europe’s Vehicle Line Director for Performance Vehicles, Jost Capito, whose Team RS development group were responsible for the first generation Focus RS in 2002, and more recently, the Fiesta ST and the new Focus ST. “The new Focus RS is as much a car for driving enthusiasts as the one before it and classic Ford RS models of the past. We’re staying true to the core RS principles of a no-compromise, affordable high performance road car you can live with. The new Focus RS will have the muscles, heart and soul of a genuine RS and will be exciting to drive every day,” says Jost Capito. A variety of chassis improvements, enhanced in cooperation with Ford’s Advanced Engineering Centre in Aachen are being balanced and tuned for the latest car by the Cologne-based Ford Team RS. “In early prototypes based on Focus ST vehicles, the new system is more than meeting our targets for exceptional levels of traction, handling and steering,” Capito added. “Given that the enthusiastic team behind the car are all performance vehicle enthusiasts, you can imagine that our standards are high.” June 03 $3,500 Hyundai Small Car In China By 2011The rising Shanghai, Korean
auto giant Hyundai Motor is setting up to start on a small car in China and India by 2011 with a price tag of
$3,500. Hyundai’s plans is said to be the best answer to meet the rising demands
for small cars in the two fast-growing large markets and other areas all over
the world. "We do not have immediate plans to fight with Nano, but
are planning a new small car keeping in mind consumers' demands in India as well as China. Pricing is crucial for us as
we want to deliver an affordable product to our customers. The project is now
in the development stage in Korea.
He said there was demand for a smaller model than its Santro being produced in India. The new
small car will be first made in India,
both for the local market and for export," says Hyundai Motor India
Managing Director and CEO H. S. Lheem last Friday. Tata Motors had launched the world's cheapest car called the 'Nano,' with a tag price of $2,500 earlier in January. India's second largest two-wheeler maker Bajaj Auto also tied up with Renault-Nissan to launch a small car in India in the next three years that would be priced at the same level of 'Nano.' Chinese auto manufacturer Chery's QQ hatchback model is priced at $4,800, making it the second-cheapest car in the world, after Indian firm Tata's $2,500 Nano model, and it has been well obtained in global and domestic markets. May 30 Keep It Coming For Volkswagen This year, Volkswagen has proven the world a lot of times how
great they are. Lining up with their awards received for 2008 is the best-full
line corporation! Yesterday, Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced that they
have been proclaimed as the best-full line corporation by Strategic Vision for
three straight years. Strategic Vision has named Volkswagen's best selling U.S. nameplate
as well courtesy of the Jetta, as the ultimate vehicle in its class in their yearly
Total Quality Index(TM) (TQI). The Jetta was praised because it offers a total
measure of a customer's newest car ownership experience. "We're thrilled that Volkswagen continues to do well in
Strategic Vision's Total Quality Index. It reiterates that our vehicles provide
a high standard of quality, are fun to drive, and that our owners are some of
the most passionate drivers in the market, as well as wonderful brand advocates,"
says Mark Barnes, chief operating officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. According to the Auto Channel, the Strategic Vision Total
Quality Index provides a comprehensive measure of the latest vehicle owner
satisfaction. It solicits opinions from customers to assess all characteristics
of their ownership experience, from purchasing and owning to performance and
handling. The study is more than just studying and counting problems. To a
certain extent, it offers an overall idea of how customers evaluate their newly
purchased vehicle ownership experience. Owners are asked by Strategic Vision to evaluate their new car experience to calculate TQI by measuring: The early awareness of quality, the general insight of satisfaction, the enthusiasm to be a supporter for the brand, emotional connection to vehicle, future purchase plan related with the brand and overall experience with the vehicle. May 24 Ford Leading in Lifelike Child Dummy Research The bond between Ford Motor Company and the Society of
Automotive Engineers (SAE) will kick off this fall on a global research of a further
realistic model abdominal insert for pediatric crash dummies. Pediatric crash
dummies with the more lifelike abdomen will help in studying the hazards of severe
injury to children during car crashes. According to various independent
researches, children ages 4 to 8 are at higher risk for injuries to the abdomen
and spine. “This effort furthers Ford’s commitment to help protect
families by focusing on one of the most common collision-related injuries among
children,” said Dr. Steve Rouhana, a senior technical leader with Ford’s
Passive Safety Research and Advanced Engineering Department. “It will help us
better understand the effects of crash forces on children’s abdomens.” According to Auto Spectator, the prototype pediatric abdomen
insert is same in size and shape as to that of a 6-year-old child. This
material is made of numerous layers of liquid silicone that, when hardened, it forms
a hard silicone shell. Located inside is a set of electrodes dunked in a
conductive fluid that consist of the sensors for the abdomen – six electrodes
at the front of the abdomen and one electrode located at the back. “In a typical crash dummy the pelvis area is very square. And when a safety belt interacts with this more square pelvis during a crash it will catch almost every time,” Rouhana said. “With a more realistic rounded pelvis, the belt may slip above the pelvic bone, which can be associated with abdominal injuries during a crash.” February 28 What’s With The 2008 Chevy Tahoe LT?What do we know about the 2008 Chevy Tahoe LT? Well, it is a fact that it is a fullsize SUV and it is also one of the youngest in this class. And with that, we sure can expect that it would be coming with quite a number of remarkable features that when combined would give something wonderful for the vehicle -- and maybe even give this fullsize SUV a better performance compared to the Chevy Blazer, yet another one of its siblings in the Chevrolet range. Power is one of the things that come with the 2008 Chevy Tahoe LT. Under its hood, you would find a 5.3 liter V8 engine which is capable of producing 320 horsepower. That is mated to a four speed transmission. However, experts who have tried out the vehicle seem to be dissatisfied with this combination. In Motor Trend, Mark Williams, an editor with this online magazine, shared, “It's the most fun to take to the back country and romp around in, but compared to other family-friendly haulers, it just doesn't keep up.” Awww… Too bad. Let’s move ourselves away from that and tackle the interior. What we can find inside the 2008 Chevy Tahoe LT is a really quiet cabin. If you’re in for simplicity, then you may get quite a kick from this vehicle for inside you would find the colors done in monotone. And, you would be getting quite a real good ride for there is enough space for headroom and there are bucket seats in front. If that isn’t comfortable, I don’t know what is. February 27 ACEEE: Four Mercedes-Benz Are Meanest Vehicles I wonder what was Mercedes Benz' reaction upon having four of its car models in the limelight, not as the coolest, cheapest or the greenest but, of all labels, the MEANEST. Whew! Strong accusation, isn’t it? The Mercedes Benz (MB) GL320 CDI, along with the MB R320 CDI, MB ML320 CDI and the MB G55 AMG were noted by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) as four out of 12 meanest vehicles or vehicles with the most terrible green scores. Setting water pump quality aside, these cars got along well with Volkswagen Touareg, Bugatti Veyron, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Lamborghini Murcielago better known as the Murcielago Roadster, the Hummer, GMC Yukon, Bentley Azure and the Bentley Arnage. According to an auto journalist, vehicles must meet the 35 miles per gallon standard for fuel economy in order to be a “green and not a mean car.” But unfortunately, Mercedes-Benz cars still have a long way to run in order to achieve that standard. According to greenercars.org, the Mercedez-Benz GL320 CDI has only 18 miles per gallon (MPG) in the city and 24 mpg in the highway. It earned a 17 green score. Take note: the Toyota Prius has 53. See the difference? Meanwhile, the Mercedes-Benz R320 CDI, with 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg in the highway, got a green grade of 17, too. Mercedes-Benz ML320 CDI having 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg in the highway got a plus one, with 18 green scores same with the Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG which can achieve only 11 mpg in the city and 13 mpg in the highway. German automaker Mercedes-Benz is
known for its luxury vehicles. While, the ACEEE put it into bad light, it has the
chance to redeem its stained image with its Mercedes-Benz C-Class’ final
nomination in the 2008 World Car of the Year Award.
February 22 The All-New Honda Fit -- Small But Big It’s in the package. The all-new Honda Fit, has it all-spacious versatile interior, standard features, fuel-efficiency and affordability. As Honda US Vice President tags it, “The all-new Honda will reconfirm that small can in fact be big.” The Honda Fit, a prototype of the Honda Pilot, will be launched in the upcoming New York International Auto Show (NYIAS). Wanna have a preview? C’mon! Check this out! Automobiles.honda.com guarantees
everyone the following Honda Fit's state-of-the-art qualities. First, it is quick on the draw with enticing exterior and smart interior. Second, it is user-friendly, featuring a flat cabin floor and available with manual or automatic transmission. For sure, it also has a reliable thermostat. Finally, it bears Honda’s official trademark - what else but safety. The Honda Fit is surrounded by six standard airbags in front, on the front side and on the side curtains. It is also equipped with the standard anti-lock braking system and was given a 5-star frontal crash safety rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA). According to Wikipedia, the Honda Fit, first introduced in June 2001 by Japanese automaker Honda, is a five-door hatchback automobile. It is popularly known as the Jazz in Europe, in some countries in Asia as well as in Oceania, Australia and Africa. It has been recognized as the Japan Car of the Year in 2001 to 2002 and in 2007 to 2008. Also, it was noted by Car and Driver in its 10 Best List of Best Small Cars in 2007 and 2008, by Top Gear Survey 2006 as Best Small Car and by Greencar.org as one of the Greenest Vehicles of 2007. It has won many other awards and citations, the latest of which is the US News and World Report’s Best Economy Car for 2008.
January 26 Three GsVisionary on many levels. That was how Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal and editor of Green Car.com, sees the first ever Green Car Vision awardee Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell. At a press conference at the Washington Auto Show, the said award was given to the vehicle that best envisions the road ahead. "Zero-emission vehicles destined for our highways in the years ahead will take many forms, from small car platforms to large. Powering a popular crossover model with a future fuel such as hydrogen, and doing so seamlessly with an efficient powerplant that creates no carbon dioxide greenhouse gases, is exemplary and Chevrolet should be commended for this," Cogan said. The Equinox Fuel Cell was chosen among four other nominees including the BMW Hydrogen 7, Honda FCX Clarity, Phoenix Electric SUT and Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid. Using an advanced hydrogen powertrain along with features such as four wheel ABS, OnStar, StabiliTrac, and front and roof rail-side impact air bags, it was a product of an in-depth 40-year fuel cell development program. General Motor's "Project Driveway," a field market research in which 100 hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles that will be driven by consumers across United States, won the Green Car Journal's recognition in favor of the Equinox Fuel Cell. Green Car Journal is a publication that releases quarterly focusing on environment-friendly vehicles. It has been circulating for 16 years now. "Without
vision, a man shall perish," so they say.
Envisioning is like getting a warm-up for a healthy future just the way
an Acura Integra thermostat does to your car engine. With environmental advocates like the Green
Car Journal that upholds the value of creating powerful visions particularly in
the car industry, the world will surely enjoy a green, great and glorious
future.
January 24 Lincoln Delivers The Great stuff In 2008 In the electrifying world of automobiles, the rise of several great new concept cars carries on each year to amaze the whole planet. The year 2007 brought in several hot and stunning production vehicles with sophisticated performance pulleys and concept cars that definitely contributed several exquisite highlights in the history of the automotive industry. This year, the surfacing of the new breed of great vehicles has already begun. 2008 started out with the world-renowned North America International Auto Show that took place in Detroit. This event generated great amazement all throughout the world with the unveiling of the hottest cars and exceptional vehicle technologies. One of the world’s greatest auto makers, Lincoln, has brought in their share of what they have as masterpiece for 2008. The company unveiled the Lincoln MKT concept - a vehicle with an unmatched balance of roominess, fuel efficiency and comfort. According to Media Ford, the Lincoln MKT concept is outfitted with a 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost engine along with turbocharging and direct injection that creates the power and torque of a V-8 engine with the fuel efficiency of a V-6. “EcoBoost engines can deliver better fuel economy and performance on a full range of vehicles, from small cars to large trucks,” said Mark Fields, the company's president of The Americas. “The Lincoln MKT concept offers the comfort of a luxury sedan, the spaciousness and flexibility of a full-size utility and the performance of a sporty roadster - executed with new technologies and materials that make it as environmentally friendly as it is elegant. The Lincoln MKT concept is understated but powerful - inside, outside and under the hood.” “We envisioned this concept as a modern grand tourer, really a Learjet of the road. With the Lincoln MKT concept, you find a premium utility that could as easily accommodate a businessperson slipping into the back seat on the way to his or her next meeting in the chaos of Manhattan as a family packed up for a weekend getaway to the coast,” says Peter Horbury, the executive director of Design for The Americas. January 12 How Batteries Go Bad Have you ever wondered how batteries go bad? Of course, you are not expecting your battery to really last a lifetime, but are you not curious what happens inside the battery and how it wears itself down? Well, if you are, read on as I share with you what I know about batteries. For starters, the automotive battery is composed of plates and sulfuric acid. Current is produced in the battery when the sulfuric acid comes into contact with the plate. The cell plates contain lead and it is what the sulfuric acid reacts with. When a battery starts to discharge, it is the time when sulfates get stuck to the plate. If that happens, the lead in the plates will no longer have a clear connection with fresh sulfuric acid. The sulfates are only taken off the plates when the alternator in your vehicle recharges it by forcing current to flow in an opposing direction. But recharging the battery does not mean that all the sulfates will be cleared from the plates. Over the course of time, sulfates will get permanently stuck into the plates. This is the time when the battery is loosing its ability to be recharged or store much power. This accumulation of sulfates in the plates can be accelerated if you run it down frequently or if left in a discharged state for few days repeatedly. When too much sulfate has accumulated in the plates, it can no longer be recharged. Thus, that will be the time that you need to buy a new battery. Usually, it takes about four to five years for sulfates to ruin your battery. But in places which have hot climate, battery life is considerably shorter, it can be of service for as short as two or three years. January 05 Electric Car Company Of The Year Goes To…After celebrating the dawn of a brand new year, Miles Electric Vehicles can have their post-celebration! The group just won the “Electric Car Company of the Year” title from GoodCleanTech - a 2007 Weblog Awards Finalist and an environment-friendly blog. The award was given last December 30, 2007. “In a brand new field of EV market entrants, one company continues to stand out and truly deserves to be called electric car company of the year,” wrote GoodCleanTech on its site. “Miles Automotive… will undoubtedly break through the clutter by spearheading environmentally friendly, affordable personal transportation.” According to my source, Miles Electric Vehicles struggled last year as a privately apprehended group. Just a small number of MILES’ 2007 highlights were the enhancement of its low speed product line to take in better-quality AC motor/controller technology, re-launching the interactive website (www.milesev.com), introduction of the low speed ZX40ST truck model and generating a firm dealer network. “We are poised for tremendous growth in the US and international markets in 2008,” said MILES CEO, Jeff Boyd. “GoodCleanTech’s recognition is certainly an important endorsement of our efforts.” Kudos! December 29 Honda heading to Auto Expo with the ‘Jazz’ Concept Honda Motor Co., the maker of premium Acura Integra control arm or high-quality engines, is heading to the 9th Auto Expo in India on January 10 to 17, 2008. The Japanese auto maker will showcase its car ‘Jazz’ Concept at the forthcoming event. Holding on with environment as a theme, the company will also showcase its globally best selling hybrids – the Civic Hybrid and the fuel cell FCX. According to Honda Siel Cars India Senior General Manager Marketing Jnaneswar Sen, “Our theme for the auto expo would be based on environment-friendly products. We would also showcase our Formula 1 racing car. Both the hybrids and F1 cars require quite advanced technologies and we would be showcasing our leadership in technology during the auto expo.” Honda will present its small car Jazz concept along with a new version of the top-end sedan Accord, which was recently displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show as ‘Honda Inspire’. To tap the surging demand for environment friendly vehicles and to further boosts its sales in the high volume small car segment in India, Honda has planned to invest Rs 1000 crore to establish its second manufacturing facility in Alwar, Rajasthan. The production is expected to start by 2009, to when the Jazz will be rolled out. Luxurious And Sexiest CarsForbes.com reveals the Top Ten Sexiest And Luxurious Cars on their website. The staff and writers of the Forbes.com found it really hard to come up with this list of the luxurious sexy cars. This is why we thank them for lending us the complete list of the cars. Here it is:
Sexiest Car For Hip-Hop Moguls: Rolls-Royce Phantom sedan
According to Forbes, “Attitude, class, enough rear-seat room to house a small hot tub and a sticker price that makes the car unattainable to almost everyone--the Rolls-Royce Phantom has all of the above, which explains its following among status-conscious rappers.”
Sexiest Car For Hollywood Agents: Lexus LS Hybrid sedan Forbes also said, “This soon-to-be-released Lexus hybrid - a version of the company's $61,000 flagship LS sedan - is the ultimate L.A. vehicle: trendy, upscale and green. The Lexus badge will beget you credibility, and the gas/electric hybrid technology will make Charlize Theron want to ride to red-carpet events in the backseat.”
Sexiest Car For Miami Beach Plastic Surgeons: Lamborghini Murciélago convertible
Sexiest Car For Mobsters: Cadillac Escalade pickup and SUV
Sexiest Car For Newly Divorced Dads: Chevrolet Corvette convertible
Sexiest Car For Newly Divorced Moms: Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG convertible
Sexiest Car For Lobbyists: Cadillac CTS sedan
Sexiest Car For Forbes Readers: Maserati Quattroporte sedan
Sexiest Car For NBA Players: Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
Sexiest Car For Driving Purists: Aston Martin DB9 and Ferrari F430 (tie) December 28 Honda’s Car Navigation System uses PC card to update Map Info Honda Motor Co. Ltd., a Japanese automobile maker, demonstrated the process of wirelessly updating map information through the use of mobile-phone networks in conjunction with the announcement of a new model of its Inspire series. The use of the networks is actually one of the services of “Inter-Navi Premium Club”, a communications service for automobiles. The map information is being updated through changing only “differential data”, which is the difference between the original and the latest map information. This is the second time the system is adopted. The first was for a Fit model released in October 2007. In the demonstration, Honda used a differential data that are about the road section between No 4 Shinjuku line and No 5 Ikebukuro line of the central belt line of the expressways in Tokyo - the section that opened to traffic in December 22, 2007. The differential data has a volume of about 396 Kbytes. With the use of a mobile-phone, the communication time was around one minute and 17 seconds. After the update was made, the distance between Yoyogi parking area and Kaga gateway turned out to be 22 km – 6.5 km shorter than before. For the Inspire vehicle, Honda added some new features to the map system. It can now obtain differential data from Honda’s Website. The company claims that it is intended for the users who want to save on the communication fee of cell-phone. To record the “navigation information for authentication”, a PC card is being inserted in a slot of the car navigation equipment. Afterwards, the differential data are downloaded from the Website, through the use of a PC. It is then recorded in the PC card. When the PC card is inserted in the slot of the car navigation system once again, the system updates the map information. The car navigation system and a 3G mobile-phone, as a new feature, can now be connected by a cable. Also, the communication terminal equipments – developed by Willcom Inc. – can now be used to update the map information. However, only Bluetooth-enabled mobile-phones can be used for the car navigation system installed in the Fit vehicle. I salute Honda, the maker of Acura Integra alternator, for this technology, as they intend to provide convenience to its users. December 26 Most Stolen Car: Honda Civic For the third consecutive year, the Honda Civic tops the list of the most frequently stolen cars. According to a list compiled by the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the Civic once again leads the set of most popular vehicles for car thieves. In fact, the first two places have been occupied by 1999 and 2000 Honda Civic SiR 2-door. Following the Honda Civic was the 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX/WRX STi 4-door. It is also the top one on the highest theft claims costs list. Richard Dubin of the Insurance Bureau of Canada said that the vehicles are highly popular with auto thieves due to lack of approved electronic immobilizer. An electronic immobilizer is a popular anti-theft technology that requires a special key or small electronic device to start a vehicle’s engine. Dubin said, “You’ve got cars like the (Acura) Integra, the (Audi) Quattro, the (Subaru) Impreza and the (Honda) Civic – these are cars that are sporty and desirable, so if they’re easy to steal they’re going to take them.” Below is the complete list of the Top 10 stolen vehicles:
Other than that, Dubin also pointed out that some of the stolen sportier models, like the Audi, are being exported to other counties and sold to unsuspecting consumers. Dubin also said, “They also use these vehicles strictly for transportation, getting from A to B, but there is a significant amount of organized crime involved in all of this.” Dubin recommends purchasing an “after market” electronic immobilizer that cost around $400. He said owners should not leave the car unattended with the keys in the ignition and “always protect your keys”. “If you have an immobilizer and they get your keys, you’re immobilizer is no use to you. Even in your house, don‘t leave them where you can see them in the kitchen window because that will incite break ins. Don’t leave extra keys in the car and park car at night in well-lit areas,” he added. Being responsible for the key and the car would do big to prevent theft cases! December 20 ABS for Safe Winter DrivingWinter is here. That means we may now find ourselves worrying about slippery roads, icy patches, and the risk of rear-end collisions.  So, what can we do to lower down the threat? Well, a good help will be the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). But first, all drivers should take consideration in understanding their ABS. That is to know what to do when they start to slide. Your owner’s manual will aid you to have the knowledge. Your owner’s manual can provide you the opportunity to ensure you have ABS and to be aware of how it works in your car. Then, check out the following information below for further assistance (courtesy of autos.canada.com):
Though you already have this set of tips, it is still important that you read your owner’s manual for the precise information regarding your vehicle and ABS (if there is). Your owner’s manual can help you out in many ways, especially in repairs that may require more than your effort in cleaning your personal Acura CL floor mats. December 19 Honda to flaunt a Prototype Pilot at 2008 NAIAS Honda Motor Co. Ltd., the maker of quality Acura CL car cover and the second largest seller of automobiles in Japan, is about to unveil a prototype of its next-generation Pilot at the January 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The prototype will bear the design features of the more boldly-styled, next-generation Pilot. It will also emphasize authentic SUV styling along with clever interior packaging and advance technologies for safety, fuel efficiency and convenience. The existing Pilot offers versatile eight-passenger seating and all-weather, medium0duty off-road capabilities. Its refined handling and ride comfort brought the Pilot to earn a distinctive reputation in the midsize SUV class. Due to its top-of-the-line quality, the Honda Pilot, in fact, earned Car and Driver magazine’s prestigious “5 Best Truck” award for six consecutive years (2002 thru 2007). Other than the new Pilot, Honda will also showcase some other vehicles, including the FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, of which was introduced at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show. It will also display the CR-Z concept vehicle – a next-generation lightweight sports car concept equipped with Honda’s original gas-electric hybrid system - which was introduced at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show. Most probably, those vehicles are enough for you to witness the event. So, I hope you won’t miss it! December 18 Volkswagen to produce Direct-Shift Gearbox in China Volkswagen AG, the world’s fourth largest automobile manufacturer, is expected to locally produce its most advanced gearbox – DSG (direct-shift gearbox) in China’s northeastern city of Dalian by next year. Based from a report published in Western China City Daily, a local newspaper, the gearbox will be equipped on the future version of Volkswagen 2.o TSI and Tiguan vehicles. Currently, the DSG is available to many Volkswagen models, including Audi TT and Audi A3, along with the Golf GTI that comes with quality Volkswagen Golf distributor rotor. According to the German company, Volkswagen Group’s GSG is designed to combine the ease of an automatic car with the efficiency and flexibility of a manual. Unlike conventional gearbox that works with one clutch, the DSG transmission gets two. One is in the gear, while the other pre-selects the next gear. At times when the gears need to be shifted, the second clutch takes the load with the first pre-selecting the next gear. The entire process only takes no more than three to four hundredths of a second. Other than that major use, the DSG transmissions also have a ‘tiptronic’ function. This function allows the gears to be manually selected. There are a number of benefits of the system, including improved acceleration and refined uninterrupted driving. Accounting it all, it is good that China will soon have such a wonderful technology from Volkswagen. December 14 The Best of Volvo’s Safety Offers Volvo, a Swedish automobile maker, has been known in providing top safety features in each of its vehicles. In fact, it has even used the Ultra High Strength Steel to the all new C70 to provide side and rear energy absorption protection. The vehicle is also provided with the world’s first side impact air bag from convertibles. There are also standard pop-up roll bars. Separately, the Volvo S80 gets a protective safety in the form of a network of exterior and interior systems that work together in reducing the risk of occupant injury in the event of a collision. The exterior systems are responsible in distributing and absorbing incoming collision forces, keeping the passenger space as intact as possible. The body has been structured in the form of a box-section using varying grades of steel. All the components interact in providing controlled deformation, which reduces impacting energy to the human body. Interior safety systems, on the other hand, have the task to keep the passengers securely in place. It involves helping maximize seat belt/airbag effectiveness and minimize the risk of serious injuries. Volvo even developed a couple of unique systems to provide the most effective protection possible. That includes the following (courtesy of scoop.co.nz):
The S80 also features a transversely installed engine and front-wheel drive. The transverse engine installation is intended to provide a controlled deformation zone in the engine compartment. It also helps in reducing the risk of engine intrusion into the passenger compartment in the event of a frontal collision. Preventive safety, or the avoidance of accidents, is by far one of the most important starting points in the development of the new S8. It has led an entirely new generation of advanced driving and support systems. Also, it has been the next step in Preventive protection. The combination of multiplexed electronics, advanced software and hardware designs created a new level of driver assisted technologies. The preventive safety systems were designed to transform surrounding environmental activities into usable data, helping out the S80 driver in avoiding dangerous situations. Currently, Volvo’s current 2007 model line-up includes the following:
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