tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44015000815341414472024-02-20T02:54:00.195-08:00From The Driver's SeatFrom the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.comBlogger244125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-13420636613107282022013-01-03T06:29:00.001-08:002013-01-03T06:29:14.372-08:00Volkswagen claim fuel economy crown the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid, with EPA estimated fuel economy ratings of 48 mpg on the highway, 42
mpg in the city, and a combined rating of 45 mpg,
becomes the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the Volkswagen lineup and the
seventh model capable of more than 40 mpg on the highway, VW officials said.<br />
With sales of
the Jetta Hybrid beginning later in January, Volkswagen will offer more
products that achieve this benchmark fuel economy figure than any other
automotive manufacturer in the United States. <br />
The other VW models to achieve more than 40 mpg are in the TDI® Clean
Diesel family: Beetle TDI (manual); Beetle Convertible TDI (manual);
Golf TDI (manual and automatic); Jetta TDI (manual and automatic); Jetta
SportWagen TDI (manual); and Passat TDI (manual and automatic). <br />
The Jetta Hybrid is Volkswagen’s second hybrid vehicle to go on sale in
the U.S. and its first in the compact hybrid sedan segment. It uses a
four-cylinder,1.4-liter, turbocharged and direct-injected TSI® engine
that is mated to an electric motor and a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch
automatic transmission, a unique powertrain in the class. The combined
rating of the powertrain is 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque.<br />
Priced from $24,995, the entry-level Hybrid S has standard 15-inch aluminum-alloy wheels,
Bluetooth, a six-speaker
sound system, and a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel. The SE
model, starting at $26,990, adds LED taillights, MDI interface with
iPod® cable, the Premium VIII touchscreen radio with SD memory card
reader, and keyless access with push-button start. By Joseph SzczesnyFrom the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-91823556615219521852013-01-02T11:57:00.001-08:002013-01-02T11:57:31.811-08:00Avis buying up Zipcar for $500 million Avis Budget Group Inc. has put together a $500 million deal to acquire Zipcar Inc. the world's leading car sharing network,<br />
Avis
has agreed to acquire Zipcar for $12.25 per share in cash, which represents a 49 percent premium over the closing price on December 31, 2012, which brought transaction value to the half-billion dollar mark. The deal is expacted to yield savngs that will allow Zipcar to expand its carsharing business, executives from both companies said.<br />
The transaction
is subject to approval by Zipcar shareholders and other customary
closing conditions, and is expected to be completed in the spring of
2013. Directors of both companies have approved the
deal, while Zipcar shareholders representing approximately 32 percent of
the outstanding common stock have agreed to vote their shares in support
of the transaction.<br />
Car sharing has grown to be a nearly $400 million business in the
United States and is expanding rapidly in major cities around the
world. Zipcar has led this industry, leading in innovation and
world-class service. Zipcar now has more than 760,000 members and a market-leading presence in 20 major metropolitan areas
in the United States, Canada and Europe, and fleet positioned at over
300 college and university campuses. <br />
"By combining with Zipcar, we will significantly increase our growth
potential, both in the United States and internationally, and will
position our Company to better serve a greater variety of consumer and
commercial transportation needs," said Ronald L. Nelson, Avis Budget
Group chairman and chief executive officer.<br />
"We see car sharing as
highly complementary to traditional car rental, with rapid growth
potential and representing a scalable opportunity for us as a combined
company. We expect to apply Avis Budget's experience and efficiencies of
fleet management with Zipcar's proven, customer-friendly technology to
accelerate the growth of the Zipcar brand and to provide more options
for Zipsters in more places. We also expect to leverage Zipcar's
technology to expand mobility solutions under the Avis and Budget
brands," he said.<br />
Avis Budget expects to generate $50 to $70 million in annual synergies
as a result of the transaction. In particular, Avis Budget expects
significant cost reductions across the fleet life cycle (from
procurement to operations and maintenance to disposition, as well as
financing), in addition to savings from eliminating Zipcar's
public-company costs. Avis Budget also plans to achieve substantial cost
savings by increasing fleet utilization across the two
companies. Significant revenue growth opportunities exist, including by
leveraging Avis Budget's fleet to meet more of Zipsters' weekend demand,
which is currently constrained by fleet availability.<br />
These synergies, combined with the expected growth and rising
profitability of Zipcar, are expected to make the transaction accretive
to Avis Budget's earnings per share in the second year following the
acquisition, excluding certain items and purchase-accounting effects.<br />
"We are delighted to announce our intention to join the Avis Budget
Group family of companies, and we believe this combination is a win
across the board for our members, shareholders and employees. We will
be well positioned to accelerate enhancements to the Zipcar member
experience with more offers and additional services as well as an
expanded network of locations," said Scott Griffith, chairman and chief
executive officer of Zipcar. By Joseph SzczesnyFrom the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-67917588321296460572012-12-28T08:56:00.001-08:002012-12-28T08:56:13.077-08:00Honda Accord in mid-size test<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Cars.com, the online resource for buying and selling new and used cars, reports the 2013 Honda Accord as the winner of its editors' Midsize
Sedan Showdown which pitted six of the most popular midsize sedans under
$26,000 against each other in a series of tests. Other sedans tested
include the 2013 Ford Fusion, 2013 Hyundai Sonata, 2013 Kia Optima, 2013
Nissan Altima and the 2012 Toyota Camry.<br />
<br />
"Nearly one in six new cars sold today is a midsize family sedan," said
Patrick Olsen, Cars.com's Editor-in-Chief. "Midsize sedans are some of
the most popular cars you'll see on the road. We test many different
types of cars, but the midsize Showdown is one of the most important
ones we do, because it provides practical shopping advice and expert
insight for those looking to buy."<br />
<br />
Tests included 185 miles of driving on varying roads to determine actual fuel mileage for each sedan; one day of round-robin driving, where each expert tested each of the sedans back-to-back on the exact same course and a day of family testing, where our test family went car-to-car judging seating, cargo, features and ride-quality.<br />
"The Accord is one of the oldest and most trusted midsize sedans on the
market," said Olsen. "With each redesign, the Accord continues to get
better. The 2013 won our Showdown because of its high-end standard
features, value for the money and great driving characteristics." By Joseph Szczesny<br />
</span></span>From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-1031103802560608882012-12-27T14:18:00.002-08:002012-12-27T14:18:24.712-08:00Hyundai Sonata chalks up new record Hyundai reports its mid-size Sonata broke its all-time yearly sales record this week, surpassing the 225,961 sales it logged in its record-setting performance in 2011 . Sonata joins the Elantra, Veloster, Genesis, and Equus in setting all-time sales records for Hyundai in 2012, Hyundai officials said.<br />"Sonata's redesign in early 2010 demonstrated that mid-size sedans that paired bold design and fuel-efficiency with long-time segment essentials such as roominess, safety and durability could really break through," said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. <br />Sonata's retail sales mix demonstrates the strength of its segment-first all-four-cylinder powertrain offering, including the well-equipped GLS, sport-focused SE, premium Limited, and fuel-efficient Hybrid. Through November, 52 percent of Sonata sales were GLS, 18 percent SE, 22 percent Limited, and eight percent Hybrid. Performance enthusiasts drove the mix of the 274-horsepower 2.0T turbo-charged model, available on both SE and Limited, to 13 percent of retail Sonata sales. <br /> In addition, while the mid-size segment as a whole experienced a significant 20 percent growth in fleet sales (primarily rental cars) in 2012, Sonata's record sales this year come with a lower fleet mix and fewer rental car sales than last year, dropping from an 11 percent fleet mix in 2011 to a projected 9 percent in 2012. <br /> Within the segment, only the Honda Accord had a lower fleet mix. Mid-size segment fleet sales will represent about 21 percent of total mid-size car sales in 2012. Most competitors, including those with all-new models, significantly increased sales to rental car companies and other fleets in 2012.<br /> Krafcik said Sonata's on-going sales success has been accompanied with not only low fleet mix but also very low incentive spending, yielding some of the highest residual values in the segment. According to Autodata, Sonata incentive spending through November is the lowest of all the top-ten best-selling mid-size sedans at just $1,350 per vehicle, more than 40 percent below segment average. By Joseph SzczesnyFrom the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-44000989659239231022012-12-21T14:06:00.002-08:002012-12-21T14:06:21.067-08:00Toyota fined again<div class="introduction" id="story_continues_1">
The federal National Highway Traffice Safety Administration fined Toyota
$17.4 million, which is the maximum allowed under US law - for taking too long
to report safety issues to authorities.</div>
It is the fourth time in the past three years that the
Japanese car giant has been fined by U.S. authorities. It paid
$50 million in fines in 2010 over its handling of car recalls. The new fine is for a recall in June of about 150,000 vehicles.<br />
The carmaker has recalled more than 10 million vehicles this year.<br />
<span class="cross-head"></span>
Last month, Toyota announced it would recall 2.7 million cars
worldwide because of problems with the steering wheel and water pump
system.<br />
In 2009 and 2010, Toyota recalled about 12 million vehicles, damaging its reputation for reliability.<br />
"It's critical to the safety of the driving public that
manufacturers report safety defects in a timely manner," said David
Strickland of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA).<br />
<br />
Strickland added Toyota had agreed to make changes to quality
assurance and to review its safety procedures in the US as part of the
settlement.The carmaker's chief quality officer Ray Tanguay said the
company had agreed to pay the fine "in order to avoid a time-consuming
dispute and to focus fully on our shared commitment with NHTSA to keep
drivers safe." By Joseph Szczesny<br />
<br />From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-75819857310126471432012-12-13T14:47:00.001-08:002012-12-13T14:47:04.505-08:00Boeing, BMW collaborate on carbon fiber research<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Boeing and the
BMW Group are joining forces to collaborate on research into the use and resuse of high-tech materials. The two companies have agreed to signed an agreement to collaborate on
research on carbon fiber recycling and share knowledge about carbon
fiber materials and manufacturing. <br />
<br />
Boeing and BMW are both pioneering the use of carbon fiber in their
products. Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is made up of 50 percent carbon fiber
material and BMW will introduce two vehicles with passenger
compartments made of carbon fiber in 2013. Recycling composite material
at point of use and the end of product life is critical to both
companies.<br />
<br />
"This collaboration agreement is a very important step forward in
developing the use and end use of carbon fiber materials," said Larry
Schneider, Commercial Airplanes vice president of Product Development,
who represented Boeing at the signing in Seattle. "It is especially
important that we plan for the end of life of products made from carbon
fiber. We want to look at ways to reclaim and reuse those materials to
make new products. Our work with BMW will help us attain that goal."<br />
<br />
"Boeing for us is a suitable partner for collaboration in the field of
carbon fiber," said BMW AG for Development Board Member Herbert Diess.
"Boeing has many years of extensive experience using carbon fiber in the
field of aviation, while the BMW Group has earned a significant
competitive advantage through its use of special manufacturing methods
for series production of carbon fiber parts. Through this cooperation,
we can merge know-how between our industries in the field of sustainable
production solutions."<br />
<br />
As part of the collaboration agreement, Boeing and the BMW Group will
also share carbon fiber manufacturing process simulations and ideas for
manufacturing automation. <br />
<br />
BMW opened a plant in Moses Lake, Wash. in 2011 that will provide carbon
fiber parts for the 2013 i3 and i8 models. Both new models will be
assembled in Leipzig, Germany. By Joseph Szczesny<br />
</span></span>From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-15499539394628247582012-12-11T10:53:00.002-08:002012-12-11T10:53:58.124-08:00Thousands of cars lost during East Coast storm<pre style="font-size: 9pt;"><tt> The National Insurance Crime Bureau said progress is being made in identifying and
removing thousands of vehicles damaged beyond repair by Sandy. The estimate of
230,000 insurance claims for vehicle damage in the areas affected by Sandy
remains unchanged at this time.</tt></pre>
<pre style="font-size: 9pt;"><tt> Many of those vehicles were flooded and are
being towed to holding areas where they will be loaded on car haulers and taken
to facilities to be crushed.</tt></pre>
<pre style="font-size: 9pt;"><tt> Last week, representative from NCIB visited holding areas in Brooklyn where more than
7,000 new vehicles awaiting delivery to dealerships had been parked when Sandy
flooded the area with more than three feet of water. All but 800 cars had been
removed. The vehicles suffered extensive damage as the wind and water shoved
them into each other and flooded their electronic systems, damaging them beyond
repair.
"New York City Police and the other law enforcement agencies around the area
were understandably focusing on other emergencies and disaster efforts
initially," said NICB New York Region Operations Director Thomas Lohmann. </tt></pre>
<pre style="font-size: 9pt;"><tt>"Now
they have begun to address the issue of dealing with thousands of flooded and
damaged vehicles, and they are doing an outstanding job of getting these
vehicles towed to holding areas where they can be identified and accounted for
prior to being scrapped. They are also going after towing companies that have
taken cars off the street without permission, and are submitting outrageous
towing and storage bills to insurance companies," he said. By Joseph Szczesny
</tt></pre>
From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-60143466646710491862012-12-10T08:38:00.000-08:002012-12-10T08:38:06.460-08:00Lear prepares for new Jaguar F-Type<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> With Jaguar coming closer to launching it's sporty new F-Type, Lear Corp. of Southfield, Mi., a leading global supplier of automotive seating and
electrical power management systems, has been selected as a key supplier. Lear will open a new
just-in-time seating plant near Coventry, Engleand. Lear will initially
hire more than 60 new employees to support Jaguar Land Rover's F-type
launch in the first quarter of 2013, Lear official said<br />
<br />
"I'm pleased to announce our new site that will open in the first
quarter of 2013 at Lear's new Coventry location 1.5 miles north of
Coventry city center," said Gideon Jewel, Lear President of Seating -
Europe and Africa. Lear has several facilities in the UK including
a technical center and offices in Coventry. Earlier this year Lear
officially opened a foam-manufacturing plant for vehicles in
Sunderland. By Joseph Szczesny <br />
<br />
</span></span>From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-24732310469837992672012-12-07T08:34:00.000-08:002012-12-07T08:34:02.460-08:00Top Gear cites Jaguar designer<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Ian Callum, </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Jaguar Director of Design, </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">has been named one of TopGear magazine's Men of<br />
the Year 2012, selected by its awards judging panel for "designing beautiful cars, again<br />
and again." The accolade adds to Callum's international success this year, following the<br />
worldwide acclaim for his design of the new Jaguar F-TYPE two-seater sports car<br />
[http://www.jaguar.com/gb/en/ftype ], revealed at the Paris Motor Show in September.<br />
"The genius of Jaguar director of design Ian Callum isn't just in the classically<br />
exact proportions of his cars, it's in the way they continue to intrigue and inspire long<br />
after the initial novelty has worn off," </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">TopGear noted.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">
"In 2012 the erudite Scotsman... cemented his iconic status with the F-TYPE,<br />
ironically as classic a Jaguar as there's been since Callum arrived there 12 years ago.<br />
Who else could have penned such a worthy successor to the E-Type."<br />
Commenting on his selection, Callum said: "It's an honour to be singled out by TopGear<br />
as one of their 'men of the year,' the magazine is respected internationally for its<br />
insight and its enthusiasm for all aspects of cars and motoring. However, it is with the<br />
benefit of having such a great team around me that we have been able to deliver the cars<br />
and designs that define Jaguar today, so they, too, deserve recognition for what we are<br />
achieving together," Callum said<br />
Since the introduction of the Aston Martin DB7, Ian Callum has been acknowledged as<br />
one of the world's foremost design talents. Born in Dumfries, Scotland, Ian attended a<br />
course in Industrial Design at Glasgow School of Art which was followed by a two-year<br />
course in Automobile Design at the Royal College of Art. By Joseph Szczesny<br />
<br />
<br />
</span></span>From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-22714634062526248712012-12-06T11:30:00.001-08:002012-12-06T11:30:31.065-08:00Motor Trends names Ram 1500 Truck of the Year.<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">December means awards and honors around the car business and the editors of Motor Trend have named the all-new 2013 Ram 1500 the magazine's 2013 Truck of the Year. The Ram has also is emerging as the leader in the race for the North American Truck of the Year, which will be settled just before the North American International Auto Show in January.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> The Ram 1500 is built in the Detroit area at the Chrysler Truck assembly plant in Warren.<br />
<br />
"The new Ram 1500 makes a powerful statement about our company and the
Ram Truck Brand," said Fred Diaz, President and CEO Ram Truck Brand and
Chrysler de Mexico. "Motor Trend's Truck of the Year is an amazing
honor; truly one of the most prestigious awards an automaker can
achieve. It reaffirms the fact that Ram has the best truck on the road
today. "<br />
<br />
Motor Trend editors praised the new 2013 Ram 1500 for its air
suspension, choice of engines, variety of trim levels and towing
capability. <br />
<br />
"We had a small but solid field of contenders for Motor Trend's Truck of
the Year," said Edward Loh, Editor-in-Chief of Motor Trend. "But in the
end, the choice was clear: Ram 1500 not only withstood our rigorous
testing, it impressed at every step along the way. Our judges were won
over by the performance of Ram 1500's broad array of standard and
optional equipment. It's a truck that can be tailored to meet most
anyone's needs. For these reasons and more, we're excited to name the
Ram 1500 the Motor Trend 2013 Truck of the Year." <br />
<br />
For 2013, the new Ram 1500 offers buyers best-in-class 25 miles per gallon fuel
efficiency, new technology and new features without sacrificing
capability. Ram 1500-the most recognizable pickup on the road-marks a
milestone for Ram as this truck delivers a truckload of pioneering and
fuel-saving systems. Equipped with a choice of engines, including the
legendary 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 engine or the award-winning Pentastar V-6,
the Ram 1500 offers the best powertrains in the industry and are known
for their reliability. <br />
<br />
The 2013 Ram 1500 features first-in-segment technologies: eight-speed
automatic transmission, stop-start system, thermal management system,
pulse-width modulation and active aerodynamics, including grille
shutters and active air suspension. The 2013 Ram 1500 is available in
nine trim levels and starts at $23,585 including $995 destination
charge.By Joseph Szczesny</span></span>From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-70216110301307125962012-12-04T12:40:00.002-08:002012-12-04T12:40:40.852-08:00Lutz to get new award at NAIAS from Eyes on Design Former General Motors and Chrysler excutive Robert Lutz will be honored next month at the North American International Auto Show with an award from Eyes On Design. Eyes On Design, plans to present Lutz, a former GM vice chairman, with its first ever Design Catalyst Award - which will be presented Tuesday, January 15, during the North American International Auto Show.<br /> The new Design Catalyst Award will go annually to an individual who recognizes the great among the many good designers, and serves to enable their continued success. The inaugural award will be presented by Wayne Cherry to Lutz, of whom it has been said "he is responsible for more vehicle styling on the world's roads while at BMW, GM, Ford and Chrysler than any man alive".<br /> Cherry himself will receive the EyesOn Design 2013 Lifetime Design Achievement Award next June as part of the EyesOn Design summer week of activities.<br /> Now in their eighth year, the Eyes On Design Awards honor the best production and concept cars making their North American or worldwide debut at the Detroit North American International Auto Show. The EyesOn Design Awards are selected by a panel of 25 active and retired design heads of automotive OEMs, transportation design chairs from top art schools, and an occasional designer from another field. <br /> he Award Categories are: The Best Designed Concept Vehicle Award and the Best Designed Production Vehicle Award. By Joseph Szczesny<br /><br />From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-4033269909283235652012-12-03T14:21:00.003-08:002012-12-03T14:21:48.075-08:00Lincoln planning for Super Bowl Ad Ford Motor Co. is breaking with its long tradition and buying an ad on the Super Bowl to promote its Lincoln brand.<br /> The plans for the Super Bowl are only one part of Ford’s effort to capture new space in the premium automotive market, where the Lincoln brand has been largely irrelevant for the past two decades.<br /> The new creative strategy behind Lincoln features the brand's first-ever Super Bowl ad. While General Motors announced last spring it would not advertise on the 2013 Super Bowl, brands such as Volkswagen, Hyundai and the Chrysler Group are committed to the telecast.<br /> “We are announcing a new beginning for a brand that has been part of our company and the American fabric for more than 90 years," Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally said Monday. <br />"The new Lincoln brand will be defined by great new luxury vehicles, such as the new MKZ, that feature quality, unique style with substance and innovative technology. These elements, coupled with a new level of warm, personal and surprising experiences, will enable Lincoln to appeal to today's new luxury customer," Mulally said.<br /> Mulally said the seeds of this announcement were planted several years ago when the company divested itself of other luxury brands, among them Aston-Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo, and made the decision to continue to develop the Ford and Lincoln brands. <br /> The Lincoln Motor Co. signifies the new future being built on the foundation that originally made Lincoln an inspiration for premium brands and a source of growth and value to its corporate parent, Mulally said.<br /> With its focus on attracting a new market of individual-minded luxury consumers, Lincoln will deliver a range of vehicles that combine stunning elegant design with technical innovation, he said.<br /> "The time is now for Lincoln," said Jim Farley, executive vice president of global marketing, sales and service, and Lincoln.<br /> "The 'Great Recession' changed people and their view of luxury. Today, luxury consumers make decisions based on what appeals most to their passions and not what they believe will impress others. We know we need to continually surprise and delight these new clients," Farley said.<br /> Farley said the all-new MKZ will be the first of four new Lincoln vehicles in the next four years created to appeal to these new luxury consumers who are emerging as a powerful economic force. <br /> Called progressive luxury consumers, they are responsible for nearly 25 percent of all luxury vehicle sales in America. They are affluent individuals who no longer purchase to maintain an image for others, but instead seek fresh new alternatives that appeal to them because they found a truly unique choice.<br /> Farley also announced that Lincoln has asked comedian Jimmy Fallon to lead the Super Bowl commercial written entirely through social media, with consumers participating through Twitter. Consumers will provide their best 140-character thoughts to a script, and Fallon will then lead the curation of the best contributions that will create the ad to run during the broadcast of the big game.<br /> As another highlight, all-time NFL rushing leader and three-time Super Bowl champion Emmitt Smith joined Farley for the MKZ launch and has signed on as a brand ambassador to help Lincoln continue to put MKZ in the spotlight at the game in New Orleans.<br />"It's an honor to join Lincoln Motor Co. on its comeback journey and I'm excited that the MKZ will star in Lincoln's first-ever Super Bowl commercial," said Smith. By Joseph Szczesny<br /><br />Contact Joseph Szczesny at 248-745-4650, email joe.szczesny@oakpress.com or follow him on Twitter at @opjoesez. From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-10981830725852860142012-12-03T09:07:00.001-08:002012-12-03T09:07:14.813-08:00Subaru wins LA design challenge<br />
Subaru Global Design came out on top in the LA Auto Show's annual "Design Challenge by presenting a futuristic police vehicle that can both monitor highway traffic around the clock and respond to emergencies.<br />
The theme for this year's challenge was Highway Patrol Vehicle 2025, which meant designers had
to create the ultimate 2025 law enforcement patrol vehicle that
supports the needs of dynamic urban environments. Six automotive design
studios from BMW, General Motors, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Subaru
showcased entries featuring cutting-edge vehicle designs with drone
technology, land and air capabilities, electric vehicle systems and
renewable resource-fueled vehicles equipped with topographical scanners.<br />
"All judges were impressed with the high level of innovation and technology from the finalists this year," said <span class="xn-person">Chuck Pelly</span>
from Design LA. "The SHARC captured the vision of the Design Challenge
theme by combining functionality and problem-solving technology around a
dynamic and plausible story."<br />
With global collaboration among its design studios, the creative
minds at Subaru developed the cutting-edge SHARC as an affordable and
environmentally conscious highway patrol vehicle that meets <span class="xn-location">Hawaii</span>'s
strict UltraGreen carbon-neutral environmental regulations. With
visible trends in reduced highway patrol budgets worldwide, SHARC
vehicles are powered by renewable energy and operate autonomously,
eliminating the need for a large full-time highway patrol staff.<br />
Entries were judged by multi-discipline design professionals who
selected the winner based upon various factors including: consideration
of future needs for advanced technology; speed and agility on future
freeway systems; creativity of the solution; meeting the specific
region's mandated emission standards; and environmental sensitivity for
maintenance and recyclability.<br />
Judges included <span class="xn-person">Tom Matano</span>, Executive Director, School of Industrial Design at <span class="xn-location">San Francisco</span>'s <span class="xn-org">Academy of Art University</span>; <span class="xn-person">Imre Molnar</span>, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at <span class="xn-location">Detroit</span>'s <span class="xn-org">College for Creative Studies</span>; Steward Reed, Chair of Transportation Design at <span class="xn-location">Pasadena</span>'s <span class="xn-org">Art Center College of Design</span> and <span class="xn-person">Bruce Meyer</span>, founder of the Petersen Automotive Museum and benefactor to automobile world. By Joseph Szczesny<br />
<br />
From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-64267907549866180052012-11-29T14:10:00.001-08:002012-11-29T14:10:13.996-08:00New Fusion named Green Car of YearBy Joseph Szczesny <br />
The 2013 Ford Fusion has notched another award as it was named Green Car Journal's 2013
Green Car of the Year during press previews for the Los Angeles Auto Show. The Fusion won out from an a very strong field of finalists including the 2013 Dodge Dart Aero,
Ford C-MAX, Mazda CX-5 SKYACTIV and the Toyota Prius c.<br />
Green
Car of the Year honors are reserved for production vehicles on sale by
Jan. 1 of the award year. Nominees are exemplary in that they forward
environmental performance in meaningful and quantifiable ways while also
presenting an accessible choice to enough consumers to make a real
impact on the environment. The new Fusion not only
significantly reduces petroleum use, CO2 emissions and overall
environmental impact, but is priced to encourage the kind of sales
volume that can truly influence environmental improvement.<br />Ford's all-new Fusion
exhibits a stunning design and Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety, plus an affordable point of entry at just
$21,700. Importantly, the 2013 Ford Fusion breaks new ground with five
diverse powerplant choices, among them three efficient gasoline internal
combustion engines including two with EcoBoost technology, a 47 mpg
hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid that's expected to top 100 mpg equivalent.<br />Powering
the base model is a 175 horsepower, 2.5-liter engine that's EPA rated
at up to 34 mpg on the highway. Making use of Ford's advanced EcoBoost
technology that combines direct gasoline injection and turbocharging,
the Fusion's 178 horsepower, 1.6-liter powerplant achieves up to 37
highway mpg, with the more powerful 240 horsepower, 2.0-liter EcoBoost
engine netting 33 mpg highway estimates. The Fusion hybrid provides a
combined 188 horsepower with notable 47 mpg fuel efficiency across the
board, while allowing travel at up to 62 mph on electric power alone.
Fusion Energi capitalizes on Ford's excellent hybrid powertrain, adding
plug-in charging capability and up to 20 miles of all-electric range,
with hundreds of additional miles available on gasoline-electric hybrid
power.<br />"The 2013 Ford Fusion approaches the market with a
'game-on' attitude," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green
Car Journal and <a href="http://carsofchange.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_5_1354226476304_407" target="_blank"><span class="" id="lw_1354226470_3">CarsOfChange.com</span></a>,
and president of the nonprofit Green Car Institute. "There's no
overstating the importance of what Ford has done. Many have long
envisioned new car showrooms where a desired model could be purchased
with one of many distinctly different and efficient powertrains,
selected to satisfy a buyer's particular needs and desires."<br /><br />From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-26015567777940361802012-11-28T13:42:00.001-08:002012-11-28T13:42:21.488-08:00Ford reveals fuel-efficient of Fiesta<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
The revamped Ford Fiesta, powered by the award-winning 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine that delivers 40 mpg-plus debuted during the press preview at the Los Angeles Auto Show.<br /> "Customers want cars that are
expressive and fun while offering class-leading fuel economy," says Mark
Fields, Ford president of The Americas. "Fiesta delivers all the
excitement drivers are looking for in a car we believe will raise the
bar even higher for small cars in North America.<br />"Our goal with
this Fiesta was to take a car that was already a leader in fuel
efficiency, performance, connectivity and personality, and make it even
better," Fields adds.<br /> Fields described the new version as the most
dramatic and distinctive Fiesta to date will deliver the best miles per
gallon among its rivals, led by Ford's patented new 1.0-liter EcoBoost
engine. This landmark engine, already selected for both the Popular
Mechanics 2012 Breakthrough Award and Engine Technology International's
International Engine of the Year Award in Europe, is expected to deliver
more than 40 mpg.<br /> With that, Fiesta is projected to be the most
fuel-efficient non-hybrid subcompact in America, and stands as a shining
example of Ford's commitment to provide consumers with the most
fuel-efficient cars, SUVs and truck,<br />
The 1.0-liter EcoBoost saves cash at the pump, it doesn't hold
anything back on the road. At 123 horsepower for each liter of engine
displacement (the engine's size), the 1.0-liter EcoBoost delivers more
power for its size than a Lamborghini Aventador (at 108 horsepower per
liter).<br /><br />EcoBoost is fundamental to Ford's strategy to provide
technologically advanced, high-output, smaller-displacement powertrains
that deliver uncompromised performance and fuel economy. EcoBoost
engines deliver fuel economy gains of up to 20 percent and reduction of
CO(2 )emissions of up to 15 percent, compared with larger,
less-efficient engines. Ford's leadership with EcoBoost has resulted in
more than 125 patents on the technology. Currently, more than 500,000
vehicles have this engine and by 2013 more than 1.3 million will have
EcoBoost, Fields added. <br /><br />"This car was built for the digital generation," added John
Schneider, Ford chief engineer, Upperbody Electronics. "With
Bluetooth connectivity and MP3 capabilities, tech-savvy people who
use social media to be constantly connected with the world around them
won't be slowed down when they get in this car.<br /><br />"It has always
been the belief at Ford that entry-level drivers deserve the best
technology," Schneider adds. "We launched SYNC AppLink on Fiesta, and
now transitioning to MyFord Touch with this new touch screen enables us
to go further in our quest to give drivers the best in in-car
electronics." By Joseph Szczesny<br /><br />From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-60446489999407542642012-11-21T15:30:00.002-08:002012-11-21T15:30:33.866-08:00GM steps up electricfication drive General Motors is saying it will have 500,000 vehicles on the road with some
form of electrification by 2017 with a focus on plug-in technology, according to the company’s top product development.
<br />
“The plug-in offers a unique opportunity to change the way people
commute,” Mary Barra, senior vice president of Global Product
Development told media attending the GM, said recently. Other automakers, among Volvo, Ford, Honda, Toyota and Volkswagen, have stepped up their commitmens to hybrids, plu-in hybrids and EVs.<br />
Barra said plug-based solutions will play a significant role in our
technology portfolio going forward.<br />
The plug-in <a href="http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/vehicles/volt/2013.html">Chevrolet Volt</a> extended-range electric vehicle, introduced in 2010, has become more than a statement for GM in the electric vehicle space, said.<br />
“What started out as a technology proof point… has turned into a
real-world starting point to push EV technology further and faster than
we thought possible five years ago,” she said. “The unique propulsion
technology pioneered in the Volt – the same technology that will be
featured in the Cadillac ELR – will be a core piece of our
electrification strategy going forward.”<br />
Learning from the Volt is being liberally applied to the Chevrolet Spark EV, which will go on sale next year in the certain U.S. markets and South Korea with other markets to be announced soon.<br />
“We’ll meet requirements set by certain regulatory agencies, but
we’re not building the Spark EV to check a regulatory box,” Barra said.<br />
GM is on track to sell more than 50,000 vehicles this year with
electrification – between the Volt and eAssist light electrification
technology on the Buick LaCross, Regal and Chevrolet Malibu. The 2014 Chevrolet Impala also will offer an eAssist model when he debuts next year.<br />
“Our commitment to eAssist is unwavering,” Barra said. “In fact, our
future portfolio calls for eAssist to be on hundreds of thousands of GM
vehicles annually by 2017.” By Joseph SzczesnyFrom the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-1743065826261642732012-11-20T07:12:00.001-08:002012-11-20T07:12:29.438-08:00MPG to honor Cadillac ATS<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> The Michigan-made 2013 Cadillac ATS has been named "Vehicle of the Year" by the Los Angeles-based Motor Press Guild.<br />
The ATS was one of six finalists chosen by MPG members who test and review cars on a regular basis.
The final vehicles were evaluated and ranked by all voting journalist
and analyst members at MPG's annual Track Day in October.
Vehicles were rated in the categories of safety, quality, value,
performance/handling, design/style, environmental/green impact and
technology/innovation. The award will be presented during the press preview prior to the official opening of the LA Auto Show.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> In addition, journalists were encouraged to
consider models that reflect the unique style of Southern California, according to MPG representatives.<br />
"In many ways, the ATS is a breakthrough vehicle for Cadillac," said
Laura Burstein, Motor Press Guild president. "Not only is it smaller
and leaner than other Cadillacs on the market, it's the first American
luxury car that truly goes head-to-head with compact luxury sport sedans
from well-known European and Asian brands. Our members remarked that
the ATS is capable on both the street and the track, offers a well-made
and attractive interior, is replete with the latest technology and -
perhaps most importantly - is fun to drive." <br />
"The ATS is the result of an extensive, all new, ground-up mission to
deliver a segment-winning vehicle," says Don Butler, vice president of
Cadillac Marketing. "That makes it especially rewarding when our efforts
are recognized and awarded by a large and influential panel of
automotive experts."<br />
To be eligible for the Motor Press Guild Vehicle of the Year award,
models must be all-new or substantially changed from the previous year
and available at dealerships on or before Jan. 1, 2013. Other 2012 VOTY
finalists (in alphabetical order) are the 2013 Ford Fusion, 2013 Honda
Accord, 2013 Nissan Altima, 2013 Scion FR-S and 2013 Subaru BRZ. By Joseph Szczesny</span></span>From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-37220596159580834122012-11-19T06:52:00.003-08:002012-11-19T06:52:47.827-08:00Volvo launches plug-in diesel<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Volvo Car Corporation is starting up production of what it describes as the world's first diesel plug-in hybrid, the new Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid, which can run for long periods on batteries or utilize the on board diesel engine for power. After the initial batch of 1,000 model year 2013 cars, production will increase to<br />
4,000-6,000 cars as of model year 2014. <br />
The assembly of the diesel plug-in hybrid has been successfully integrated on the same line as the company's other models at the Torslanda plant in Gothenburg.</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br />
This is a remarkable achievement considering that the sophisticated plug-in hybrid technology includes two complete drive trains and a powerful battery that provides a range of up to 50 kilometres on pure electric power.<br />
"We are first in the industry to integrate a plug-in hybrid in an established<br />
production flow together with other car models," says Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development at Volvo Car Corporation. "The integration in the standard production flow gives the plug-in hybrid buyer the possibility to choose in principle all options available for the standard V60." By Joseph Szczesny<br />
<br />
<br />
</span></span>From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-56434201870783807152012-11-15T05:55:00.001-08:002012-11-15T05:55:32.669-08:00BMW aids U.S. sledders <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> BMW of North America, the
Official Mobility Partner of the United States Olympic Committee, has
announced it is developing a new two-man bobsled for use by
Team USA in the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. In collaboration with
USA Bobsled & Skeleton Federation (USBSF), BMW aims to leverage its engineering and design expertise to answer longstanding
equipment and innovation needs of the U.S. Bobsled Team. <br />
Working first with USBSF to capture its deep empirical knowledge, BMW
then examined the design and performance history of existing two-man
sled platforms, one of which has been the default bobsled of Team USA
for more than 20 years, to completely re-engineer the two-man bobsled.
Similar to vehicle development, BMW EfficientDynamics have been applied
to the design of the two-man sled. The company has paired intelligent
lightweight materials, optimized aerodynamics and chassis dynamics to
leverage the energy output of the two-man team, increasing overall sport
performance.<br />
This project was sparked by a USBSF request for help in closing a technology gap specific to the innovation of the
U.S. two-man sled. While Team USA achieved momentous success at the
Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, winning a gold medal in the
four-man bobsled event, the two-man Olympic gold is one that has eluded
the U.S. since 1936.<br />
"We're extremely proud of what we've been able to accomplish as a team
in the last 10 years, and know that we have the athletic potential to
bring home more Olympic gold medals next year," said Darrin Steele,
chief executive officer of USBSF. "By bringing BMW in to provide its
expertise, we see an opportunity to close an equipment gap between Team
USA and countries that have historically led Olympic two-man bobsled
competition." <br />
More than one year in development, a prototype of the BMW two-man
bobsled has already been delivered to USBSF. The technology will be
refined in the next year in continuance of a highly iterative
development process that involves on-site immersion with USBSF athletes,
coaches and engineers by BMW Group DesignworksUSA, BMW Group's
international design studio headquartered in California, and on-ice
testing by USBSF. <br />
"What's been unique to this process is the level of collaboration by our
creative team with the performance staff at USA Bobsled &
Skeleton," said Laurenz Schaffer, President, BMW Group DesignworksUSA.
"The level of immersion we've been able to achieve, which included
athlete interviews for preferences and improvement areas, ergonomic
evaluations and optimization studies in aerodynamics, has helped us to
design what we believe will be a truly improved and innovative
product." By Joseph Szczesny<br />
</span></span>From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-30405303054676829912012-11-06T11:22:00.002-08:002012-11-06T11:22:49.303-08:00Ford, Microsoft celebrate alliance Despite persistent complaints about the the system’s effectiveness and user interface problems, Ford Motor Co. and Microsoft are celebrating the fifth anniversary
of the partnership, which spawned the SYNC system.<br />
More than 5 million Ford vehicles with the connectivity system,
which is on a Microsoft platform for mobile connectivity. Consumer
Reports recently said problems with the system led to lower levels of
consumer satsfication with Ford vehicles. But virtually every othe
manufacturer has followed Ford’s lead and offers its own connectivity
platform<br />
Meanwhile, Ford and Microsoft look to the future for next phase of the
connected car experience to be based on intelligence through fusion of
cloud<br />
computing and sensor data <br />
"SYNC has helped us evolve as an automaker, to think and act more like a
technology company, with a new level of openness and access that has
forever changed how we look at our business and respond to our
customers," said Paul Mascarenas, chief technical officer and vice
president, Ford Research and Innovation. "Ultimately, SYNC embodies what
Ford is all about: going further to transform innovative ideas into
products that are affordable, attainable and valuable to millions of
people."<br />
When Ford and Microsoft first initiated the collaboration in 2005, the
engineering teams recognized that mobile electronics were quickly
becoming an increasingly important part of people's lives as cell phones
and digital media players. Considering how quickly mobile device usage
had grown in just the previous few years, the development team decided a
new development approach was needed going forward. By Joseph Szczesny<br />
<br />
From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-84131593332798227772012-11-05T10:11:00.001-08:002012-11-05T10:11:22.917-08:00Average fuel economy of cars improves in October<span id="role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><div>
After adjusting the average for changes in the rating for Hyundai/Kia vehicles, the average<b> fuel economy</b> of new vehicles
sold in the U.S. in October was 24.1 miles per gallon - the highest level yet, and up 4 mpg from October 2007 when the survey began., according to the Univerity of Michigan Transportation Research Institute in Ann Arbor. This 20 percent
improvement in fuel economy corresponds to a 17 percent reduction in fuel
consumption (gallons per mile). For the description of the calculations
and the recent mpg values, please visit
<a href="http://www.umich.edu/%7Eumtriswt/EDI_sales-weighted-mpg.html" target="_blank">http://www.umich.edu/~umtriswt/EDI_sales-weighted-mpg.html</a>.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
The University of Michigan Eco-Driving Index (EDI)--an index that
estimates the average monthly<b> emissions</b> of greenhouse gases generated
by an individual U.S. driver--stood at 0.81 in August, an improvement of 19%
since October 2007. The EDI takes into account both vehicle fuel economy
and distance driven, which utilizes the latter relying on data that are published with a
two-month lag, according to U-M. By Joseph Szczesny </div>
</span></span>From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-75864539467013296072012-11-04T14:47:00.000-08:002012-11-04T14:47:19.514-08:00Hyundai and Kia face must adjust fuel economy estimates<div class="content-wrap" style="float: none;">
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Hyundai and Kia, both of which have chalked up big sales gains over the past three years, will have to adjust their fuel-economy stickers on the vehicles they sell in the United States after the Environmental Protection Agency said they had deliberately overstated the miles per gallon figures required by the government.<br />
The Environmental
Protection Agency uncovered the discrepancy during an audit. The Korean automakers, which share testing and engineering labs both in the U.S. and South Korea, insisted the mathematical mistake that led to the faulty numbers was not done deliberately. <br />
Nevertheless, they must retrofit the window
stickers on the cars, reducing their <a class="itxtnewhook itxthook" href="http://www.freep.com/article/20121102/BUSINESS01/121102005/1002/NLETTER28/EPA-finds-Hyundai--Kia-overstated-gas-mileage?source=nletter-BUSINESS-FREEP-business_9am#" id="itxthook1" rel="nofollow"><span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxtnowrap" id="itxthook1p"><span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxtnowrap itxtnewhookspan" id="itxthook1w" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: transparent transparent rgb(0, 204, 0); border-style: none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #009900; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 1px ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important;">fuel economy</span><img class="itxtrst itxtrstimg itxthookicon" id="itxthook1icon" src="http://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png" style="margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px ! important;" /></span></a> figures by one-to-six miles per gallon depending on the model, the EPA said. Both companies also face hefty fines.
<br />
"Consumers rely on the window sticker to help make informed
choices about the cars they buy," said Gina McCarthy, assistant
administrator of the EPA's air-quality office. "EPA's investigation will
help protect consumers and ensure a level playing field among
automakers."
<br />
The EPA said its inquiry into the errors is continuing, and the
agency would not comment when asked if the companies will be fined or if
a criminal investigation is under way. But the EPA said it's the first
case in which erroneous test results were uncovered in a large number of
vehicles from the same manufacturer. Only two similar errors have been
discovered since 2000, and those involved single models.
<br />
Hyundai and Kia executives apologized for the errors, insisting they unintentional, and promised to pay the owners of 900,000 cars and
SUVs for the difference in mileage. The payments, which will be made
annually for as long as people own their cars, could run into the hundreds of millions of dollars for both companies.<br />
Both Kia and Hyundai have touted fuel economy in their marketing campaigns over the past three yers. Hyundai especially has touted the fact it sell more non-hybrid models that get better than 40 miles per gallon than any other automaker.<br />
The EPA said it received about a dozen complaints from consumers
that the mileage of their 2012 Hyundai Elantra compact cars didn't match
the numbers on the window stickers. So staffers at the EPA's vehicle
and fuel emission laboratory in Ann Arbor, Mich., included the Elantra
in an annual audit that focused on cars that lead their market segments
in mileage.
<br />
The audit turned up discrepancies between agency test results and
data turned in by Hyundai and Kia, the EPA said. As a result, the
automakers will have to knock one or two miles per gallon off the
mileage posted on most of the models' window stickers. Some models will
lose three or four miles per gallon, and the Kia Soul, a funky-looking
boxy small <a class="itxtnewhook itxthook" href="http://www.freep.com/article/20121102/BUSINESS01/121102005/1002/NLETTER28/EPA-finds-Hyundai--Kia-overstated-gas-mileage?source=nletter-BUSINESS-FREEP-business_9am#" id="itxthook2" rel="nofollow"><span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxtnowrap" id="itxthook2p"><span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxtnowrap itxtnewhookspan" id="itxthook2w" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: transparent transparent rgb(0, 204, 0); border-style: none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #009900; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 1px ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important;">SUV</span><img class="itxtrst itxtrstimg itxthookicon" id="itxthook2icon" src="http://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png" style="margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px 0px 0px 4px ! important;" /></span></a>, will lose six mpg from the highway mileage on its stickers.
<br />
Hyundai and Kia, which have a common owner though they operate independently in the U.S. and other parts of the world, blamed the discrepancies on mistakes stemming from procedural
differences between their mileage tests and those performed by the EPA.
<br />
"We're just extremely sorry about these errors," said John
Krafcik, Hyundai's CEO of American operations. "We're driven to make
this right."
<br />
The changes affect 13 models from the 2011 through 2013 model
years, including seven Hyundais and six Kias. Window stickers will have
to be changed on some versions of Hyundai's Elantra, Sonata Hybrid,
Accent, Azera, Genesis, Tucson, Veloster and Santa Fe models, as well as
the Kia Sorrento, Rio, Soul, Sportage and Optima Hybrid.
<br />
Michael Sprague, executive vice president of marketing for Kia
Motors America, also apologized and said the companies have a program in
place to reimburse customers for the difference between the mileage on
the window stickers and the numbers from the EPA tests.
<br />
In an effort to compensate customers, Kia andHyundai plan to find out how many miles the cars have been
driven, find the mileage difference and calculate how much more fuel the
customer used based on average regional fuel prices and combined
city-highway mileage. Customers will also get a 15 percent premium for the
inconvenience, and the payments would be made with debit cards, Sprague
said. The owner of a car in Florida with a one mpg difference who drove
15,000 miles would get would get a debit card for $88.03 that can be
refreshed every year as long as the person owns the car, Sprague said.
<br />
If all 900,000 owners get cards for $88.03, it would cost the automakers more than $79 million a year.
<br />
For information, owners can go to www.hyundaimpginfo.com or www.kiampginfo.com .
<br />
Sung Hwan Cho, president of Hyundai's U.S. technical center near Ypsilanti, said the EPA requires a complex series of tests that are very
sensitive and can have variations that are open to interpretation. The
companies did the tests as they were making a large number of changes in
their cars designed to improve mileage. The changes, such as direct
fuel injection into the cylinders around the pistons, further
complicated the tests, Cho said.
<br />
"This is just a procedural error," he said. "It is not intended whatsoever."
<br />
Krafcik said the companies have fixed testing procedures and are
replacing window stickers on cars in dealer inventories. Owners can be
confident in their mileage stickers now, he said, adding that Hyundai
will still be among the industry leaders in gas mileage even with the
revised window stickers.
<br />
The mileage was overstated on about one-third of the Hyundais and Kias sold during the three model years, he said.<br />
Customers can find information about their Hyundai's m.p.g. <a href="https://hyundaimpginfo.com/">here</a>. Customers can find information about their Kia's m.p.g. <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20121102/BUSINESS01/121102005/1002/NLETTER28/www.KiaMPGinfo.com.">here</a>. By Joseph Szczesny<br />
</div>
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<a class="ody-comiconLG ody-sprite" href="http://www.freep.com/comments/article/20121102/BUSINESS01/121102005/EPA-finds-Hyundai-Kia-overstated-gas-mileage"><strong></strong></a>From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-38619347837658279262012-10-31T07:01:00.002-07:002012-10-31T07:01:16.640-07:00Volvo pushes ahead with self-driving car<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Cars that drive themselves are coming closer and closer.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Volvo Car Corporation has taken another step towards what autonomous driving<br />
- self-driving vehicles - by demonstrating a new traffic jam assistance system. The new<br />
system, whereby the car automatically follows the vehicle in front in slow-moving queues<br />
up to 50 km/h, will be ready for production in 2014.<br />
"This technology makes driving more relaxed in the kind of monotonous queuing that is<br />
a less attractive part of daily driving in urban areas. It offers you a safe, effortless<br />
drive in slow traffic," says Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development<br />
of Volvo Car Corporation.<br />
The traffic jam assistance function is an evolution of the current Adaptive Cruise<br />
Control and Lane Keeping Aid technology, which was introduced in the all-new Volvo V40<br />
hatchback [http://www.volvocars.com/uk/all-cars/volvo-v40/Pages/default.aspx ] earlier in<br />
2012.<br />
The driver activates the traffic jam assistance function by pushing a button. When<br />
active, the engine, brakes and steering respond automatically. The Adaptive Cruise Control<br />
enables safe, comfortable driving by automatically maintaining a set gap to the vehicle in<br />
front, at the same time as the steering is also controlled.<br />
"The car follows the vehicle in front in the same lane. However, it is always the<br />
driver who is in charge. He or she can take back control of the car at any time," says<br />
Peter Mertens.<br />
Mertens said slow-moving queues are part of urban commuting. Americans spend more than 100 hours a<br />
year commuting to work, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.<br />
This is more than the average two weeks of vacation time (80 hours) many Americans have<br />
per year.<br />
Drivers in major metropolitan areas such as New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Los<br />
Angeles spend even longer times queuing to and from work every day. By Joseph Szczesny<br />
</span></span>From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-75981901402068159892012-10-30T13:07:00.001-07:002012-10-30T13:07:47.353-07:00Nominees for Green Car of The Year selected The nominees for Green Car of the Year honor presented each year each year at the Los Angeles Auto Show are now in. The award is given to the vehicle that best exemplifies leadership in environmental concerns. The five finalists for the 2013 award are the Dodge Dart Aero, the Ford Fusion, the Ford C-MAX, the Mazda CX-5 and the Toyota Prius C. <br />
Last year's winner was the Honda Civic Natural Gas, while the Chevy Volt won the year before that.<br />
The Dodge Dart sedan and Mazda CX-5 compact SUV were each chosen because they are non-hybrid models that still yield impressive fuel economy figures.<br />
The Fords were chosen because they offer consumers a choice of efficient drivetrains; the C-MAX hatchback is available as either a hybrid or plug-in hybrid while the Fusion sedan comes in gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants.<br />
The Prius c was chosen because it expands the Prius lineup of efficient hybrids, alongside the original Prius and the larger Prius V wagon.<br />
The final selection will be made by a jury that includes the director of the Sierra Club, Jacques Cousteau's eldest son and Jay Leno. The winner will be announced Nov. 29. By Joseph SzczesnyFrom the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401500081534141447.post-27164351238550464662012-10-22T17:19:00.001-07:002012-10-22T17:19:23.786-07:00EV version of Scion IQ ready for the road<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Toyota Motor Sales is placing the 2013 Scion iQ EV in car
sharing fleets near college campuses around <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the United States<br />
“Toyota believes battery-electric vehicles have the potential to play a role in
future mobility strategies,” says Chris Hostetter, TMS group vice president of
strategic planning. <br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Up to now, cost and convenience issues have limited BEV’s
appeal with a broad consumer market. Toyota developed the iQ EV specifically as
a city commuter, for use in an</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
urban environment, where driving distances are
likely to be short, charging opportunities numerous, and its compact
proportions beneficial.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The iQ EV is a
battery- electric four-seater city commuter car designed for car-sharing
programs, in urban and campus environments.<br />
<br />
The iQ EV features Toyota’s newly developed high-output lithium-ion battery
which delivers a world-class electric power consumption rate of 104 Wh/km in an
ultra-compact and lightweight package. In ideal stop and go driving conditions,
the 12 kWh battery provides an estimated range of up to 50 miles on a full
charge. The vehicle can be fully charged in approximately three hours at 240V.
Its 78-inch wheel base and 13.5 foot turning radius makes the iQ EV highly
maneuverable in congested areas where streets are narrow and parking is at a premium.<br />
“Approximately 90 iQ EVs will be available for fleet and car-sharing
applications,” said Hostetter. “These programs will further expand Toyota’s
comprehensive portfolio of advanced technology vehicles which includes the
recently-released RAV4 EV, the Prius Family of gas-electric hybrid vehicles,
including the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, and the FCHV-Adv (Fuel Cell Hybrid
Vehicle-Advanced).”<br />
The iQ EV development process strongly focused on the conservation of power
consumption.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A compact lightweight
body, power-saving electrical equipment, and the application of experience
gained from hybrid and plug-in hybrid development resulted in excellent
all-around performance. The iQ EV is also equipped with energy conserving
features such as regenerative braking, heat pump air conditioning with a
pre-conditioning option, LED high-mounted stop light, heated front seats, and a
heated windshield defroster. By Joseph Szczesny<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</div>
From the Driver's Seathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16965995079075778903noreply@blogger.com0