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.

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.”


$3,500 Hyundai Small Car In China By 2011

The 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.


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.

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.”


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.


ACEEE: Four Mercedes-Benz Are Meanest Vehicles

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.



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.

 


Three Gs

Visionary 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.





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