Tag: Top Safety Pick

  • 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer named “Top Safety Pick”

    2015-Mitsubishi-Lancer_thumb2015-Mitsubishi-Lancer_651

    Owners of the 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer compact sports sedan have a new reason to be happy with their cars – the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has named the car “Top Safety Pick”. The Ralliart and Evolution models are not covered by this award, though.

    To name the 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer compact sports sedan “Top Safety Pick”, the IIHS used a total of twelve “small cars” for the so-called small overlap front crash test that has 25 per cent of the vehicle’s frontal area on the driver’s side impact a barrier at 40 mph (64 km/h). Introduced in 2012, the small overlap front crash test “replicates what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or an object such as a tree or utility pole,” according to the IIHS. Half of the vehicles evaluated achieved non-passing grades of “marginal” or “poor”; the IIHS requires that a vehicle earn a grade of “good” or “acceptable” to pass the test.

    “It is great to see our very popular Mitsubishi Lancer once again named as a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety,” said Don Swearingen, Executive Vice President of MMNA. “Lancer is a versatile compact sports sedan that has an exceptional degree of safety, excellent fuel economy, sporty performance and plentiful standard features all at price to fit almost any budget.”

    What’s even better for the Mitsubishi brand and people who consider buying a Mitsubishi Lancer compact sports sedan is that the “Top Safety Pick” designation is applicable to the 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer compact sports sedan. The new car improves on previous models by including heated side view mirrors with turn indicators (standard on all models); an advanced next-generation continuously-variable transmission (CVT) that mimics the operation of a precision 7-speed transmission (standard on SE AWC model and available on other versions); and expanded new standard features including redesigned 16-inch two-tone alloy wheels, FUSE Hands-Free Link System with USB port, high contrast meters with color multi-information display, chrome interior door handles, soft-touch upper door trim, 6-speaker audio system, fog lights, and Sport front fascia with color-keyed center bumper (SE AWC model). New available content packages for the 2015 Lancer include a feature-rich Value Package (ES model) and Sun and Sound Package (GT model).

    You can have the 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer in four different models – the Lancer ES comes with loads of features and sells for USD 17 195 (fuel economy of up to 34 mpg/6.92 liters per 100 km); the Lancer SE AWC comes with a standard all-wheel control all-wheel drive system (USD 20 995); the luxurious Lancer GT sells for USD 20 595, while the turbocharged Lancer Ralliart with a sure-footed Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) system and an available rapid-fire 6-speed Twin-Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission sells for USD 29 495.

    Source: Mitsubishi Motors North America

  • 2015 Sonata officially rated as very safe

    Korean automobiles are usually regarded as cheap alternatives to German and Japanese cars but quite often they win prestigious awards here and there. This is now the case of the 2015 Hyundai Sonata, which has been officially rated as one of the safest cars on the road today. This recognition comes from none other but the US Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), which has named the 2015 Sonata “2014 Top Safety Pick+”.

    Just a quick look at the car will convince you that this is indeed the case. The 2015 Hyundai Sonata comes with a host of active safety features such as Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, a Lane Departure Warning System, Forward Collision Warning and rear parking sensors. All these technologies bring a new level of safety and refinement to the midsize sedan category.

    “The TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation recognizes state-of-the-art safety,” said IIHS president Adrian Lund. “The 2015 Hyundai Sonata is not only engineered to protect people when crashes happen, but with its optional forward collision warning system rated basic in our tests, this car can help drivers avoid some of the most common kinds of collisions altogether.”

    “Occupant safety is at the forefront of Hyundai design and engineering,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president, Corporate and Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Sonata’s TOP SAFETY PICK+ recognition reinforces our dedication to occupant safety, and integrating our accident prevention technologies makes the 2015 Sonata one of the safest midsize sedans on the market today.”

    The 2015 Hyundai Sonata also offers a number of additional technologies that include Vehicle Stability Management, Traction Control, ABS and Tire Pressure Monitoring System with individual tire pressure indicators and Electronic Stability Control. The car, however, comes with no new engines. In the USA customers can choose between a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with 185 HP (136 kW) and a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine with 274 HP (201 kW) of power. The car also has a six-speed automatic transmission for both models and more versions of it are expected soon.

    In the USA you can have the 2015 Hyundai Sonata for as little as USD 17 870.

    Source: Hyundai

  • 2010 Nissan Cube – U.S. pricelist announced

    The pricelist for 2010 Nissan Cube is now announced by Nissan North America, Inc. The vehicle is on sale now at Nissan dealers across the country. There are three trim levels and a special Nissan Cube Krom Edition. (more…)

  • Audi Q5 earns highest NHTSA grades in front and side impact crash testing

    The unmistakable new Audi Q5 crossover vehicle just earned a Top Safety Pick award for 2009 from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and received the highest front and side crash ratings from U.S. safety regulators. (more…)

  • The Sapphire Black convertible Volvo C70 has reached its 50 000 owner

    Number 50,000 of the second generation of Volvo C70 has been handed over to its German owner, Harald Kirschey from Olpe. (more…)

  • 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid Earns ‘Top Safety Pick’

    The all-new 2010 Fusion and Fusion Hybrid – the most fuel efficient midsize cars in North America – has received a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

    Ford is the only automotive brand to offer two hybrids that have segment-leading fuel efficiency, “Top Safety Pick” awards and exclusive safety technologies. The Fusion Hybrid offers 41 mpg city while the Escape Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient SUV on the market and also garnered a “Top Safety Pick.”

    “Customers no longer have to choose between fuel economy and safety – now they can have both with the Fusion and Escape hybrids,” said Susan Cischke, group vice president, Ford Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering.

    The new Fusion Hybrid’s class-leading fuel economy bests the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg in the city. It also features Ford’s innovative SmartGauge™ with EcoGuide, which coaches hybrid drivers to maximize fuel efficiency.

    In addition, the new Fusion and Milan offer three fuel-sipping gas engine options, including the Duratec 2.5-liter I-4 and enhanced 3.0-liter V-6 and 3.5-liter V-6 Duratec engines. Fusions equipped with the 2.5-liter I-4 engine are expected to deliver at least 3 mpg better on the highway than the Honda Accord and 2 mpg better than the Toyota Camry. The 3.5-liter V-6 powers the all-new Fusion Sport model.

    Side impact protection
    Fusion and Milan get some of their core strength from the use of lightweight high-strength steel in the body structure. The structure of the Fusion helps it withstand intrusion in a side impact. The tailor-welded B-pillars between the front and rear doorframes are stronger at the top of the vehicle –from below the beltline upward – than at the bottom. This helps to channel energy below the level of the occupants. At the torso level and above, the structure helps to prevent intrusion into the passenger compartment.

    “The new Fusion and Milan continue to build on Ford’s leading safety heritage and prove yet again that a high level of safety can come in a midsize package,” said Steve Kozak, chief engineer, Ford Safety Systems.

    Fusion’s side-protection elements include:

    * Two energy absorbing foam blocks between the inner door panels and interior trim, aligned with the occupants’ chest and hip
    * Side-intrusion beams inside the door, anchored at the hinge and latch areas
    * Tailor-welded steel in the B-pillar structure with extra thickness—nearly a quarter inch of solid steel—above the beltline
    * Seat-deployed thorax air bags for front occupants and side-curtain air bags for head protection in both rows

    Segment-exclusive features
    Among the segment-exclusive safety and driver aid technologies on the new Fusion and Milan are Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert (CTA) and 911 Assist.

    BLIS with CTA uses two multiple-beam radars in the rear quarter panels (one per side) for two different – but important – purposes. BLIS checks the defined blind spot zone, which is about 10 feet from the back of the bumper to the outside mirrors. When a vehicle is detected, an amber light in the outside mirror of whichever side the vehicle is on lights up. The driver is still responsible for any lane changes, but the BLIS is there to help.

    Cross Traffic Alert notifies the driver of impending traffic when backing out of a parking spot and warns the driver when a vehicle is detected within three car widths of either side of the car. As with BLIS, the driver is warned with a light in the outside mirror on the side of the traffic. A warning beep is also sounded.

    For safety and security, the 2010 Fusion and Milan include 911 Assist, a new feature integrated into the award-winning Ford SYNCTM hands-free system. 911 Assist is designed to aid occupants in placing a call directly to a local 911 emergency operator if an accident that activates an air bag or the emergency fuel cutoff occurs. Unlike competitive systems that are routed through an intermediate call center, 911 Assist places the call directly to the 911 operator to speed response time. Ford Escape also features SYNC with 911 Assist.

    A recent Ford study shows that SYNC’s hands-free operation significantly reduces the level of distraction when drivers select a phone number or choose a song on their MP3 player compared with the same operations with hand-held cell phones and music players.

    “We know people want to stay connected in their vehicles, so we’re delivering that connectivity for them responsibly and safely,” Cischke said. “Our research backs up what most of us instinctively know – that it’s better while driving to place a call using a voice interface than dialing manually, so you can keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.”

    About IIHS’s Top Safety Picks
    To receive IIHS’s “Top Safety Pick,” vehicles must earn the top “good” ratings in the Institute’s offset frontal and side crash tests, and a rear crash test simulation that evaluates seat and head restraints. An added requirement since 2007 is that vehicles also must offer electronic stability control. Ford Motor Company has more IIHS “Top Safety Picks” than any other automaker.

    Both Fusion and Milan offer AdvanceTrac® electronic stability control as standard equipment. The safety system uses sensors to detect and measure yaw, or side-to-side skidding conditions, by monitoring the vehicle’s speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle. When AdvanceTrac® senses wheel slip, engine torque is reduced and braking is applied where needed to help the driver keep the car tracking on its intended path.

    Safety and Security
    Fusion and Milan’s standard safety features also include:

    Six Standard Air Bags and Ford’s Personal Safety System®: Safety features include six air bags (dual-stage driver and front-passenger air bags, chest side air bags for front-seat occupants and side-impact air curtains), safety belt pretensioners, seat weight-sensing system for the passenger seat and crash-severity sensing.

    BeltMinder®:
    BeltMinder is a Ford technology that takes over after the initial safety belt reminder stops chiming. If the driver remains unbuckled, the system chimes and flashes a warning lamp for six seconds every 30 seconds for five minutes or until the driver buckles up, whichever comes first.

    LATCH: The Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren system provides convenient mounting points for compatible child seats.

    Tire Pressure Monitoring System: This system warns a driver if one or more tires are significantly underinflated. An active pressure sensor with a radio transmitter is mounted inside each tire. A receiver in the vehicle monitors each transmitter, and if tire pressure is not within specific limits, it will activate a visual warning light.

  • 2010 Ford Escape Adds New Safety Technologies

    Ford’s 2010 Escape, the small SUV with the best crash test ratings of any vehicle in its class, is increasing its technology leadership with the addition of five new features that improve safety, reduce driver distractions and aid drivers by automatically parallel parking their vehicle. (more…)

  • Ford’s F-Series Reigns As America’s Best-Selling Truck And Best-Selling Vehicle In 2008

    The beat goes on. For the 32nd year in a row, Ford’s award-winning F-Series is America’s best-selling truck with 2008 sales of 515,513. (more…)