SAE 2010: MyFord Touch to provide eco-driving coaching, Eco-routing in Ford Nav
Filed under: MPG, Ford, SAE World Congress
MyFord and MyLincoln Touch EcoRoute – Click above for high-res image gallery
At the closing banquet of the SAE World Congress in Detroit today, Ford chairman Bill Ford announced some additional enhancements to its in-car information systems for the 2011 model year that have to do with teaching people how to drive in a more ecological manner. Coaching drivers to be more economical is nothing new for Ford. When the Fusion hybrid was launched in 2009, it included the SmartGauge system that includes an array of information to help drivers understand where their energy was going and encourage them to be more efficient.
The new MyFord Touch system debuting on the 2011 Edge and Lincoln MKX will incorporate some of this driver feedback into non-hybrid vehicles to guide them in the same way. The system will be further enhanced with a major update to the navigation system. For some time, navigation systems have included options to pick the shortest or fastest route or avoid toll roads or freeways. Ford systems (and some from other manufacturers) can also automatically re-route you around traffic jams.
The new Eco-routing option will automatically look at real-time and historic traffic data to determine what should be the most economical route. If a particular route is prone to backups at a particular time of day, the system will automatically send you down a path that is likely to consume less fuel. After the Edge and MKX, these systems will also be available on the 2012 Focus debuting early next year.
Bonhams to sell Avanti II and Raymond Loewy sketches as 20th Century Art
Bonhams will sell an-attractive-in-black ’75 Avanti II plus several designer Raymond Loewy sketches at its April 20, 2010 Spring Auction of 20th Century Decorative Arts. Hey, you don’t have to convince us; we’ve known cars are art for decades. Bonhams hosts many automotive, motorcycle, and art auctions, but this is the first time it has offered an actual automobile in one of its 20th Century Arts sales. And its a cool one too. These Chevrolet Small-block powered Avanti IIs capture the look and spirit of the original, and make great special interest classics, and everyday drivers if you wish.
This might be considered among the more pure Avanti IIs, as subsequent owners added body colored plastic covered bumpers, and morphed the car into a convertible, and a none-too-handsome long wheelbase sedan (Studebaker never built the original Avanti as a sedan or ragtop). This one appears in good driver condition, and its colors aren’t strange (something that could not always be said of many 70s cars).
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Toyota reportedly testing all of its SUV’s stability control systems
Filed under: SUV, Recalls, Safety, Lexus, Toyota, Luxury
2010 Lexus GX460 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Further proof that Toyota is taking Consumer Reports’ recent test and subsequent Do Not Buy rating of its Lexus GX 460 sport utility vehicle seriously is a report from AutoWeek that the Japanese giant is testing all of the stability control systems used on every single one of its SUV models.
Toyota took the decisive action of issuing a stop sale on its new Lexus GX 460 here in the United States (also in the Middle East and Russia) after CR found that it was possible to coax the big ‘ute into a massive sideways slide when the throttle is lifted mid-corner, seemingly defeating the standard stability control in the process. Under certain situations, the tall, heavy vehicle could potentially roll over.
According to Toyota, none of the 5,400 or so owners here in the States have reported any issues with their GX 460′s handling characteristics, but that doesn’t mean the issue isn’t serious. Click here to read our own explanation as to what might be prompting the errant handling woes and expect to hear plenty more on these SUV handling issues in the coming weeks and months.
Nissan Micra Indian Website
Nissan has launched the Indian website of Micra small car which will be launch soon. Visit the Nissan Micra website Here.
Report: Formula One considering 1.5-liter turbo engines
Filed under: Motorsports
It’s been 21 years since a turbocharger found its way onto a Formula One racer. In 1989, the FIA banned forced-induction due to the ridiculous power and speed they were generating. For better or worse, things haven’t been the same since, but if a report from Pitpass is to be believed, we may see the reign of the turbo return once again.
The site is claiming that the FIA is seriously considering bringing a new turbocharged 1.5-liter engine to F1, but don’t expect to see early ’80s power from these machines. The four-cylinder engine is being considered for one reason alone – to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
So we won’t see over 1,000 horsepower from the 2011 grid, but to make up for the dip in grunt, Pitpass says the FIA is also considering allowing KERS to return. While we’re sure the sanctioning body is keen to get the eco-minded off its back, odds are the FIA wouldn’t mind spicing up the racing a bit, either. While we were promised heart-stopping action from the 2010 season, so far the racing has been much of the same. Here’s hoping…
[Source: Pitpass]
Report: Formula One considering 1.5-liter turbo engines originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Video: Tuned Japanese car is (very) off camber
Filed under: Japan, Videos
Click above to watch the video after the jump
The Japanese domestic market is home to some pretty interesting tuning styles, and we’re grateful that there are plenty of cameras in The Land of the Rising Sun to catch these wonky rides in action. One such style is VIP, which mixes large, rear drive luxury vehicles with mods designed to give the vehicle more luxury, more flare and more bling. And sometimes, VIP can apparently be associated with the bizarre.
One gentleman sporting a video camera and a legitimate case of disbelief couldn’t help but drop an F-bomb (Seriously, NSFW) when he witnessed one of the most off-camber vehicles the world has ever seen. Hit the jump to see the brief yet bewildering footage of four very thinly rubbered wheels trying to do the splits. We can only hope the driver was on his way to the shop to have this issue looked at.
[Source: YouTube]
Continue reading Video: Tuned Japanese car is (very) off camber
Video: Tuned Japanese car is (very) off camber originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tata Ace crosses 1,00,000 sales mark
Tata Ace mini truck has crossed 1,00,000 sales mark in the domestic market segment for the year 2009-10. This makes it the first brand to achieve the feat in a single year. Currently Ace is available in 4 different variants.
Press Release:
“In 2009-10, the sales of the Tata Ace crossed the one lakh mark to reach 1,10,032 units. It has thus become India’s only goods commercial vehicle to achieve the milestone,” Tata Motors said in a statement.
Source: economictimes
