Smart is recalling 43 cars, all sold in the US, due to defective paint. Doesn’t sound as intimidating or scary as exploding gas tanks, electrical fires, or most other safety recalls. But as it turns out, this is a little unnerving. The defective paint could lead to the loss of the windshield or roof while driving the little car. The paint in question was used to coat the frame and chassis, then an adhesive was placed over the paint. If the paint peels off the frame the adhesive goes with it, then say bye-bye to some rather important bits. We think the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration made a good choice with this recall.
We all know someone who doesn’t like cars. Every time you try to show this person a picture of the new Camaro, he/she goes off on some rant about all the great people you meet on the bus. No one knows why this person is so anti-car, but now there may be an answer. Maybe there was something traumatic from his/her childhood. If so, there might be a new member to the society as a grandmother in southern Florida left her three-year-old granddaughter on the roof of her car as she drove through a supermarket parking lot.
Brenda Bouschet said that she would never let anything hurt her granddaughter. But for those of you who may have compassion for this woman thinking that she just forgot about her granddaughter, and that we all make mistakes; she also said that she was driving at "snail-speed" and holding the child’s leg.
“That new car smell” has been long been an underlying selling point of cars. It helps describe the joy of being the first to wear in a car. But now it may also be the way you describe how you got your latest health concern. Last week, the Ecology Center released its 2nd annual consumer guide to toxic chemicals in cars and children’s car seats (www.HealthyCar.org). Of the cars tested, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spider GT scored the worst (highest contaminants), and the Acura RDX scored the best (lowest).
Chemicals of primary concern include: bromine (associated with brominated flame retardants); chlorine (indicating the presence of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC and phthalates); lead; and heavy metals. Such chemicals have been linked to a wide range of health problems such as allergies, birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, and cancer.
The Ecology Center’s study breaks down results by make or car category. So, before you take a big whiff from your new automotive purchase, you may want to know what’s getting into you.
Press release after the jump
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Whenever we view our childhood pictures or snapshots that were captured during our teenage period, we tend to get transported back to the time when it was taken. Some laugh out loud, some shed a tear while others feel like calling the individual who figured alongside during that ’cheese’ moment.
U.S.A.’s beloved lensman Andrew Bush, is exactly like all of us. His random snaps of persons driving their cars on U.S roads back in the 90s are nice, but more importantly, educates us how to drive today — distraction-less driving. These motorists are paying attention to the motorway and trying to the finest of their capability to drive safe.
My favorite is the pack of students who are heading north at 0 mph. What’s yours?
Gasoline engines emit far less noise compared to diesels but modern diesel engines employ a host of technological features which has muted it to a much quieter level.
The Priuses and Civics have become a common sight on U.S roads today and electric cars aren’t far behind, full credit to mounting gas prices. Electric vehicles generate absolutely no sound when in operation except for a little tire noise, and hybrids will make a librarian blush when driven confining to city speed limits.
Roads with minimum noise pollution would be easy on the ears and the blood pressure for all of us, but on the same hand, would be the worst nightmare for the blind. The sound which originates from a moving vehicle is the only means through which a blind person is able to assess the distance, speed and direction of an oncoming automobile. His or her safety entirely depends on sound which also is the difference between life and death for the person. The driver of a car may or may not be alert at all times and at tight corners or high-speed intersections, the risk is multiplied.
Accidents involving hybrid vehicles and blind people have reached an alarming juncture in the U.S. The best solution to eradicate this problem, says the U.S National Federation of the Blind, is by prescribing a minimum sound standard for all vehicles sold in U.S.A.
Now that Automakers have not yet come up with a proper solution, we would like you to help them out by suggesting the best fix for this problem begging for immediate action.
Toyota’s proficient Land Cruiser SUV, has impressed everyone in the British Insurance Car Awards by clinching the top spot in the 4X4 category for security.
Characterized with ruggedness and comfort, the addition of the security aspect gives this Toyota a sense of completeness.
Bearing Toyota’s first ever V8 with common rail technology, the eighth generation Land Cruiser went on sale earlier this year. It produces 650 Nm torque and 286 hp, enough to keep your mud-plugging sessions entertaining and eventful, while having capabilities to munch endless miles on the motorway sans headaches thanks to its unmatched reliability.
So what does this award mean to the owner? If parked outside for the complete duration of the night, the owner can fully expect to see his Land Cruiser right there the next morning!
That’s exactly what Peter Roberts, Chief Executive of insurer funded research centre conveyed at the awards ceremony. He said “Many car thieves are just having to give up – thanks to the industry’s continued quest to drive down car crime.”
2008 Toyota Land Cruiser V8 Picture Gallery
The all-new 2009 Dodge Journey earned 5-star ratings for driver- and front-passenger protection in a frontal crash along with 5-star driver and rear passenger ratings for side impact protection, the highest ratings in the U.S. government’s safety crash test program. The all-new 2009 Dodge Journey is now available at local Dodge dealers.
“The all-new 2009 Dodge Journey features the latest in safety and security features providing our customers the peace of mind they want and expect”, said Larry Lyons, Vice President – Car and Minivan Product Team. “Safety is a top priority and the Dodge Journey delivers with advance multi-stage front driver and passenger air bags, front-seat-mounted thorax air bags, all-row supplemental side-curtain air bags and a mid-size crossover first integrated child booster seat.”
When it comes to safety and security, Dodge Journey employs a two-fold approach: conventional features including pretensioning and load-limiting seat belt retractors and supplemental air bags are combined with accident-avoidance features including an Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) and Brake Assist.
2009 Dodge Journey Picture Gallery
BMW’s Chinese partner Brilliance, has signed an initial agreement with two U.S firms Rocket Capital and McCombs, to distribute their sedans in the U.S. The two billionaire firms will also help Brilliance in finding after-sales support.
This is not the first time a Chinese car maker has tried getting into the U.S. Previous attempts were futile as the low-cost copy cars failed in meeting safety and emission norms.
A lot of money will change hands in this deal- Brilliance will trade in 10 to 15% of its shares in exchange for $100 million from both clients.
Other Chinese manufacturers like Geely and Chery are also looking at overseas markets like U.S and Europe. Their profile will then read international as they try escaping fierce competition at home. Ambitions are high for these desirous brands- Brilliance plans to acquire 1 % of the European market by 2010. It is presently doing well at home and is well on its way in completing its second plant in China, which when commences production in 2010, will churn out 100,000 cars annually.
Pathetic brand image and poor quality are the two major issues that Chinese cars have to get rid of. The expectations and requirements of a developed nation is poles apart from a developing one. Safety and eco-friendliness are other prime areas which need attention as they are the basic and compulsory needs in order to qualify selling in global markets. Cater to all that and the market will determine the rest.
EuroNCAP finished the test for the Smart ForTwo. Conclusion: four out of five stars in Euro NCAP’s Adult Occupant protection rating. The Smart ForTwo has no rear seats and consequently has not been assessed for child protection.
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