7 Seat SUV

Vehicle Airbag Defects

Since their invention in the 1950s, up through development during the 1970s and finally institution as a required feature in the 1980s, airbags have become an important factor in decreasing injuries of those involved in automotive accidents. Airbags function as supplemental safety devices designed to work with seat belts to minimize injuries in vehicle accidents. In theory, airbags reduce the chance that the occupant of a vehicle’s upper body or head will strike the vehicle’s interior during a crash, thus decreasing the incidence of injury. Both frontal and side-impact air bags are designed to deploy in moderate to severe crashes.

Sensors are the main determinant of the severity of a crash after an automobile accident. An onboard computer, called the Electronic Control Unit (ECU), processes the information and, in an event of moderate to severe crash, it sends a signal to the inflater inside the air bag module. At that point the airbag is supposed to inflate, protecting the vehicle’s occupants from serious injury as a result of striking the vehicle’s interior. As a result of the effectiveness of initial driver and passenger front airbags, the adoption of rear-passenger and side-impact curtain airbags has become more common over the last decade, in an attempt to create the highest degree of safety possible.

Unfortunately, as the number of airbags being placed in new cars has increased, so has the overall need for the airbags themselves. The quality of airbags has decreased as the increase of airbag manufacturing has occurred. One way this decrease in quality has become apparent is in the increasing incidence of defective airbags and airbag failure in automobiles produced both in the United States and abroad.

There is a possibility that an airbag is defective or faulty in many types or brands of vehicles, which is why there are many manufacturer recalls. If there is the potential for airbag malfunction or airbag failure.

The following is a non-comprehensive list of airbag failure-related automobile recalls instituted in April through June of 2007 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

April 2007 BMW is recalling 225 MY 2007 6-Series passenger vehicles for failing to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, ‘Occupant Crash Protection. The front passenger seat has a sensing system that detects if the seat is occupied. This sensing is programmed to detect if the seat is occupied by a small adult or certain child restraint seats. Automatic deactivation on a the passenger’s front seat may occur when a child seat is placed in this front seat. In some cases, the sensing system may misinterpret a properly seated small adult as one of these specific child seats, resulting in deactivation of the front passenger airbag when the airbag might be beneficial for the adult, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

May 2007

DaimlerChrysler is recalling 270,958 MY 2005 Town and Country and Dodge Caravan minivans originally sold in or currently registered in the 27 states plus the District of Columbia that use greater amounts of salt for winter road deicing. Brass bushings that were installed into vehicles may over time corrode causing water to enter the sensor in the up-front airbag sensor. These sensors provide enhanced air bag performance in certain types of frontal crashes. In one of these crashes, with one or both of the vehicle’s UF sensors inoperative, the occupants will not benefit from the enhanced air bag protection that these sensors would provide.

Hyundai de Puerto Rico is recalling 2,967 MY 2005-2007 Tucson vehicles. Static airbag deployment testing conducted by NHTSA using fifth percentile female dummies indicated that a small stature adult driver not wearing a seat belt and involved in a frontal or near frontal crash, the deployment of the driver air bag may result in an insufficient margin of compliance as measured by the test dummy used in the NHTSA test. This can cause increased risk of injury to the driver under certain crash conditions.

June 2007

DaimlerChrysler is recalling 798 MY 2007-2008 Sebring and MY 2008 Dodge Avenger vehicles. The front seat track position sensors utilized for the air bag system may not function properly. In certain vehicle crashes, front seat passengers risk of injury is increased.

DaimlerChrysler is recalling 39 MY 2007 Dodge and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 trucks. Hairline cracks and fractures may exist within airbag module diffuser material in a window. In the case of a crash with a trigger signal for the window airbag module, it is possible that such a diffuser may crack at the beginning of the airbag activation.

As one can see from this small sampling of the defective airbag recalls that have been instituted either voluntarily by auto makers, or at the insistence of the NHTSA, there are many occasions in which one or many of the airbags installed in a vehicle will not operate as intended and therefore be a defective airbag that might cause an airbag failure in an accident.

www.edmunds.com It’s as much a rite of passage as childbirth itself — the dreaded car seat installation. Fraught with anxiety about “doing it wrong,” millions of new parents nevertheless fight it out in a sweaty, grunt-inducing battle with the infant car seat, a hunk of white plastic that somehow holds the power of life or death over their fragile newborn. Upon the birth of their first child, even normally laid-back people have been known to worry about car seats with type A obsessiveness. Chances are that they’re getting it wrong anyway. Amazingly, research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that as many as 80 percent of all car seats are improperly installed and used. Eighty percent. It’s a significant factor in why automobile accidents are the number-one killer of children under 14. The great difficultly in installing car seats has always been the almost limitless variety in the way that both car seats and vehicle seats are made. Getting a good fit between car seat and vehicle seat is more difficult than manufacturers on either side of the equation would care to admit. Vehicle seatbelts might have automatic locking retractors (ALR), emergency locking retractors (ELR) or ones that switch between the two. Seat cushions can be flat or rounded, wide or narrow. Most newer cars’ middle seats have shoulder belts, some older ones don’t, but all models post 2008 will. Add to this the wide array of child safety seat dimensions and …
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Toddler Car Seat Safety “different Types and Installation Tips”

Your doctor will stress that your child should always ride in a safety car seat, but what’s best for my child. Well all situation are different and not every car seat will work for every child. So here are some tips and facts about the different types of car seats that might help you in buying the best car seat. Once your child is at least 1 year old and weighs at least 20 pounds, she can ride forward facing in her car seat. Although, studies show that it is still safer for her to ride rear facing for as long as she can comfortably do so.

There are 5 types of car safety seats that can be used forward facing.

1. Convertible seats are ones that can be used rear facing or forward facing.

2. Forward facing toddler seats can only be used forward facing with a harness. These are for children who weigh up to 80 pound. You must check the specifications on each model, because some can only be used up to 40 pounds.

3. There are car seats that can be used forward facing or as a booster. These are called a combination forward facing/booster seat. These car seats can be used forward facing for children weighing up to 40 to 65 pounds, depending on the model. They can be used as a booster car seat without the harness for children weighing up to 80 to 100 pounds.

4. Some vehicles are made with forward facing car seats built right in. Read your vehicle owner’s manual to find out the weight and height limits for your particular vehicle. They will vary.

5. Travel vests are a pretty new product on the market. They are a safe alternative for forward facing child car seats. Travel vests can be useful when you have a vehicle with only lap seat belts in the back seat. They are great to move from vehicle to vehicle, so you do not have to take your car seat in and out. If you have a small car, they don’t take up much room. Travel vests are used for large toddlers who can no longer fit in a traditional car safety seat or for children who just simply will not stay in their car seat. They can be used for children between 20 pounds all the way up to 168 pounds.

Installation tips for forward-facing seats

1. The car safety seat must be installed tightly in the car. The harness should fit snug against your child.

2. When rear facing, the shoulder straps must be in the slot at or below your child’s shoulders. To switch a convertible seat to forward facing, you must move the shoulder straps to the slots at or above your child’s shoulders.

3. With some car seats you may have to adjust the angle of the seat to recline.

4. Vehicles made after 2002 should come with the LATCH system. This is used to secure car safety seats. If you have this, it should be used. It keeps the car seat more secure than an ordinary seat belt. Check your owners manual for your vehicle to find out where your tether anchors are located in your car. Use your manual for you particular safety car seat to learn how to use this system with your car seat.

Always use your manual and your car seats specification when using and installing it. Remember, even though you think your little one is big enough to ride with just a seat belt, statistics show they are not. Even children from the age of 4 to 8 years should be in a booster seat. So keep your child safe and use a safety seat.

Tony Whitney visits the Vancouver Yaletown Classic Car show. The biggest names in the automotive scene join forces with expert automotive journalists to bring you the next generation in automotive television: The New Driver’s Seat. www.driversseattv.com
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“Seat Back Failure” a Life-Threatening Defect

“Seat back failure” is a life-threatening defect in many automobiles that cause numerous injuries and deaths each year. There are estimates that in 1990 there were 1,100 fatalities and 1,600 serious injuries due to seat collapses in rear-ended collisions. These injuries could have been prevented had the seat backs been designs been replaced with proven safety measures that have been readily available for decades.

The underlying problem is that the national safety standard does not require adequate seat strength and many manufacturers would rather install cheaper, more dangerous seats in the lower priced lines of their cars and trucks than the more expensive, safer seats. Every American automobile manufacture has had complaints regarding seat back failure.

Seat backs fail under various circumstances. However, the ultimate cause of these failures is the rearward collapse of the seat back by an occupant’s body mass. Some seat backs fail due to the relative acceleration of this mass during a collision, whereas others fail under the weight of the occupant while the vehicle is either stationary or traveling at a constant velocity.

The two most common types of collapse are the failure of the seat back support system to maintain an upright position and the deformation of the seat back frame itself. Failures that have been attributed to deformation of the mounting system that holds the seat to the vehicle floor or to a collapse of the vehicle floor pan are less common. Another problem is the detachment of adjustable head restraints during an accident.

When a vehicle is impacted from the rear, the forces of the impact propel the vehicle forward and the occupants are thrown backwards. The seat back should be able to keep the vehicle’s occupants safe by keeping the individual from ejection, and from striking interior components or other passengers. If designed properly, the seat back should keep the occupant in a secured upright position. When a seatback collapses rearward in an accident, many serious conditions arise:

- The driver can lose control of the vehicle if unable to sit upright while the vehicle is in motion, causing multiple collisions and further injury

- Partial or complete ejection from the vehicle, when the occupant has slid out from under the seat belt

- Interior impacts, by the occupant into the interior structures of the vehicle or into the other occupants

- A front seat collapsing can cause serious injury or death to the rear seat occupants trapped underneath the collapsed seat back

- Blocking of the exits, in the event that that a ruptured fuel system has caused a fire

There can be catastrophic results of seat back failure. Injuries to occupants of collapsing seats often include devastating or fatal head and spinal cord injuries. These injuries occur when the occupant’s seat collapses and allows the occupant to strike the rear seat or the b-pillar in the back seat. Injuries to the occupants behind collapsing seats often occur when the occupant of the collapsing seat strikes the passenger seated directly behind the collapsing front seat. The contact between the two occupants often results in fatal or devastating head or chest injuries.

The safety standards for automobile seats are viewed as being too lenient and not updated to protect vehicle occupants form injuries otherwise avoidable. Automobile seats are only required to pass a strength requirement. They are not required to go through a crash test rating system even though seat backs regularly fail during National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 30-mph rear impact crash tests (FMVSS 301). The hazard of seat back failure originates from the inadequate Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 207 – Seating Systems. This current standard has not been updated in over thirty years. It requires that a seat must withstand a pull of 3,300 inch-pounds applied about the seat back in a rearward direction.

The NHTSA has been petitioned numerous times to strengthen its existing standard. They have received complaints of seat backs collapsing in more that two dozen different cars, including models made by all of the American automobile manufacturers. The standard is so inadequate that the majority of the petitioners are asking for an increase at least 6-fold. That would increase the pull that a seat must withstand from 3,300 inch-pounds to about a 20,000 inch-pounds.

Ford Motor Company has been aware of dangerous seats for over 30 years. This deadly problem was investigated by Ford in 1992, and the outcome was that the seats cause serious harm in the event of rear-end collisions. The Ford Motor Company did not make any design changes to combat the seriousness of the seat back failure.

Bisnar|Chase represented a mother of a seven year old girl who died as the result of a seat back failure. The plaintiff and her daughter were rear-ended at 25 miles per hour while in a Ford Escort. As a result of the faulty seats, the mother’s head struck the daughter in the chest, causing the daughter’s heart to rupture, as well as internal bleeding. The young girl died one day later.

In 2000, another Ford Escort was in a rear-end accident that caused a man’s death. When the Ford Escort was rear-ended, the driver’s seat collapsed backward, hurling him into the rear of the car’s cabin. The man was fatally injured by the impact of the car’s rigid interior.

The Ford Explorer is another Ford model that has had a history of seat back collapse injuries. Our client was in a rear end accident when her seat collapsed backward ejecting her into the back of the vehicle. The impact severed her spinal cord and left her a paraplegic.

Virtually every front seat produced by General Motors Corporation (GM) from 1970 to the mid 1990’s was designed to collapse rearward in an impact in which there was a speed change of 15 miles per hour or greater. According to documents obtained by CBS for its series on seats collapsing in rear-end collision, in 1992, GM attorneys advised top executives that there standard seats could no longer be defended.

GM knew, as early as 1966, that seat strength is directly related to occupant safety in a rear impact collision. They have known that the occupant survival depends largely upon a front seat structure that holds the passenger in an upright position, yet, they have not upgraded there seats. A leading GM engineer, David C. Viano, in a 1994 internal GM study, projected that 376 to 470 lives could be saved each year and estimated that improvements would prevent 1,000 serious injuries each year in rear-end collisions if the company strengthened its seat backs.

DaimlerChrysler has been known to have seats collapse as well. In 2001, a mother, one of our clients, was driving one of the manufacturer’s minivans and was ejected from her seat during a crash due to a seat back collapse. The collapsed seat caused the mother to fatally strike her 8-month old child, who was in a car seat behind her.

The MOBILITY Center 800-708-6399 Sales@MyMobilityNeeds.com The Freedom Seat is a fully articulating seat mechanism that allows you to independently enter or exit your vehicle at will and with ease. It moves forward, backward, rotates right and left, and extends outside of the vehicle all at the touch of a button. The Freedom Seat is easily installed in a wide range of vehicles, including, sedans, pickup trucks, vans, mini vans, SUVs, and cross-overs. There are many features and benefits of the Freedom Seat which make it first in its class. These include: All Freedom Seats are non-invasive and will not damage your vehicle when installed. You now have the freedom to lease almost any vehicle for use with a Freedom Seat. Crash tested and certified to meet applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. FMVSS 207, 208, and 210. Comes equipped with a manual backup system. This allows you to return the seat to the interior of the vehicle in the case of power loss. Use original equipment seat or our after-market seat.The Freedom Seat utilizes all safety systems when using the original factory seat and vehicle. You can still enjoy all of the safety, features, comfort, and aesthetics of the factory-installed seat. Wired, Wireless, or Both. You have the option of controlling your Freedom Seat with a wired pendant or an RF key fob. ATRS Ready. The Freedom Seat is the only seat on the market that will work with ATRS. Once you have the Freedom Seat, the upgrade to ATRS is seamless …
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How to Choose A Britax Car Seat

Infant Car Seats

An infant car seat is the first seat your child will ever ride in. Its purpose is to safely harness a child in the event of a crash.

Do you really need (to buy) a car seat?

The answer to this question is yes. The infant car seat is so vital to protecting your little one from injury and can even save their life. Did you know that motor vehicle accidents are the number one killer of children in the Unites States? Many countries across the globe have mandated that children up to two years or more be placed in car seats, not only in cars, but other vehicles as well. Another point to note is that car seats help to prevent injury that can occur from sudden braking.

Placement of the car seat

The car seat is typically placed in the back seat, for maximum safety. It is dangerous to place in front of the car because inflated airbags can suffocate your child.

Installation

When installing a car seat, be sure to do the following:

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Read and re-read, until you fully understand them. In the right slot, pull the belt through and make sure that it is nice and tight, to ensure that it is secured. Place the straps over your child’s shoulder and make an adjustment to the harness so that one finger can fit snugly. Some safety seats have a metal slide that is used to adjust the length of the straps so you have to pass the end of the strap through all of the openings, and then back through the first opening to finally ‘lock’ it. Warning: if you don’t lock it, your child is in very great danger of being ejected out of his seat in the event of a crash.

What to look for when buying one

It is easy to install: If you don’t do it correctly, your baby is at risk. Belt adjustments: you should avoid seats that require you to adjust the buckle from the back of the seat. Get a car seat that lets you make adjustments from the front and have raised belt slots that allow you to buckle up easier. Adequate restraints: You should look for an infant car seat that would safely harness your child at five points- each shoulder, each thigh, and the final strap should be between your baby’s legs. It has a LATCH system: (short for Lower Anchors & Tethers for Children) this is designed to make installation much easier by directly attaching it to the vehicle, instead of using a seat belt to secure it. It is washable: Where there is a baby, a mess is soon to follow and it would be wise to buy a car seat with a machine-washable detachable cover. It is comfortable: The seat should be well padded and have plenty of head support, giving your child a much better ride to enjoy.

Toyota Sienna Auto Access Seat is the first Automotive Manufacturer installed rotating power ascending/descending Auto Access Seat. A transportation solution for anyone who needs help getting in or out of a vehicle. Installed on a new 2011 Toyota Sienna, the Auto Access Seat is available exclusively from your local Toyota dealer. The AAS rotates 90 degrees, extends from the vehicle, and lowers to within 19 inches of the ground to facilitate easy vehicle entry and exit by persons who have difficulty due to a disability. •Solution for caregivers to transport an elderly parent/spouse/anyone with a walking disability, and for parents to transport a child with a disability. •Genuine Toyota quality, dependability and reliability. •Service available at local Toyota dealerships.
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Booster Seats Protect Children

A child who has recently outgrown their child restraint seat should not go straight to a regular seat and seatbelt. Seatbelts are not designed for an child who weighs 80 pounds and will not provide the type of protection that a child needs to stay restrained. A booster seat that meets federal safety standards is necessary to help the child make the transition from a child’s car seat to the regular car seat.

Unfortunately, most of the 20 million children in the U.S. who should be in a booster seat in the car are not. While the worst-case scenario is for a child to be in an automobile unrestrained, having the wrong restraint can also pose a serious risk.

A child wearing a poorly-fitted adult safety belt can sustain serious, life-threatening injuries, including being ejected from a vehicle during a crash. Using just a seat belt, kids are 3.5 time more likely to suffer significant injury, and four times more likely to suffer a head injury. An adult-sized seat belt alone is 60 percent less effective than a booster seat.

A lap belt can ride up on the stomach and the neck and face can be covered by the shoulder belt on a small child passenger. Children are not only safer, but can see better and are more comfortable in a booster seat that allows the safety belt to fit and function as intended. A booster seat accomplishes this by lifting the child so that they are tall enough that the shoulder and lap belt fit appropriately. A lap belt should sit low on the body, be across the top of the thighs and not cover the stomach. The shoulder belt should come across the middle of the chest and collarbone or shoulder. This helps protect the internal organs, spine and head from injury in the event of a car crash.

Does Your Child Need a Booster Seat?

How do you know if your child needs to be in a booster seat? Children who have outgrown a child safety seat should ride in a booster seat until they are at least eight years old, or four feet, nine inches tall. Generally, kids from four to eight years old, and from 40 to 80 pounds, need to be in a booster seat. A child who is smaller than average may need to sit in a booster seat until they are ten years old or older.

Indicators that a booster seat is needed include an inability to sit all the way back against the seat back; an inability to bend the knees comfortably at the edge of the seat; a safety belt that does not cross the child’s shoulder between the neck and arm; a lap belt that does not sit low across the abdomen, touching the hips and thighs; and an inability for the child to be comfortable and stay seated like this for the entire trip.

Are Booster Seats Really Safe?

Many parents and caregivers incorrectly believe that booster seats may not be safe. Concerns include that booster seats are loose fitting and unstable that might not adequately restrain a child in a crash, but these are unfounded.

Children should stay in their car safety seat as long as possible before moving to a booster seat. Once your child reaches the upper weight or height allowed for your seat, as listed on the label and instruction manual for the seat), or his/her ears have reached the top of the seat, it’s time to move to the booster seat.

Booster seats, used in the back seat, are held in place by the seatbelt, and used with the lap and shoulder belts, just as an adult uses them. They are not tethered to the car like a child car seat. High-back and backless booster seats are available, and should be used until your child can correctly fit in lap and shoulder seat belts. Never use a booster seat with just a lap belt, as serious injury may result.

If your child was injured as the result of an ineffective car seat, you may have a legal claim. Contact an unsafe products or car crash attorney immediately for more information.

The Evenflo® Symphony65™ All-in-One Car Seat is a unique car seat that adapts to the changing needs of a growing child providing a simple and innovative way to keep them safe, secure and comfortable. This video shows some of the steps to installing your Symphony65™ in the forward-facing position using the vehicle belts. Always read and follow your car seat and vehicle owner’s manuals. Visit www.evenflo.com for more information on car seat safety.
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Your Children Must Always be in Car Seats

Too often I see children standing up in cars, looking out the back window or just sitting on laps. Don’t parents know that in an accident the body of an unrestrained child becomes a projectile, bouncing around the interior of the car? A child can be thrown from the car or through a window or windshield and fatally injured, and occupants of the vehicle can be hurt by a child impacting their heads or necks. Apparently, some people still have not gotten the message.

Are car seats too expensive? Or are people just plain lazy?

There are different types of car seat, usually varying depending on the size, age or weight of the child. Remember to buy a new car seat – old car seats may not have the latest safety features or may have been compromised in an accident.

Infant car seats – only face the rear; usually used in the back seat; may be used as an infant carrier and may be attachable to a stroller.

Convertible car seats – Used in the rear; when your child gets older may change into a forward-facing car seat or even a booster seat.

Booster seats – the last step before your child can wear a regular seat belt; used with the car’s seatbelt.

It is important that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions about how to attach the car seat. Also, you always want to send in the car seat’s registration form, so you are notified if the manufacturer recalls the seat for any defect. If your child is wearing a heavy coat, make certain that the harness straps are tight. Make sure to tighten the straps when your child wears lesser outerwear (when the weather warms up). Some safety agencies recommend removing your child’s outerwear in the car, so that the child can be fastened securely into the car seat.

Do not re-use a car seat after a serious accident – one that causes severe damage to the car. Get a new one.

Common car seat mistakes:

Placing child in wrong size car seat for his weight/size;

Placing a rear-facing car seat in the front seat of the car;

Not making sure the harness is tightened correctly;

Positioning the harness chest clip incorrectly;

Not using the latch correctly.

Not just a safety issue, it’s the law. Below I summarize New York Vehicle and Traffic Law, Section 1229-c. For specific questions, consult the statute. No person shall operate a motor vehicle in this state unless:

(1) all back seat passengers under the age of four are restrained in a specially designed seat which is either permanently affixed or is affixed to such vehicle by a safety belt,

(2) all back seat passengers of such vehicle who are age four or older but under age seven are restrained in an appropriate child restraint system (+ combination lap and shoulder harness belts)

(3) all front seat passengers (a) under the age of sixteen are restrained by a safety belt; or (b) if they are under the age of four, by a specially designed seat which is either permanently affixed or affixed to such vehicle by a safety belt, or children who are age four or older but under age seven are restrained in an appropriate child restraint system (+ combination lap and shoulder harness belts)

The rule changes somewhat if: the passenger four or younger weighs more than 40 pounds, or if the car is not equipped with shoulder harness belts, or if all the lap and shoulder belts are already in use by other children in the car

No person shall operate a motor vehicle unless such person is restrained by an approved safety belt. No person sixteen years of age or over shall be a passenger in the front seat of a motor vehicle unless such person is restrained by an approved safety belt.

This section shall not apply to taxis, liveries, and buses other than school buses EXCEPT no person shall operate a school bus unless all passengers under the age of four are restrained in a specially designed detachable or removable seat, or another approved restraining device.

With eight North American auto assembly lines at six plant sites, Honda produces 16 distinct Honda and Acura models for more than 1.3 million automobiles every year. That’s a lot of manpower on assembly lines… so Honda has a dedicated team working to develop better ergonomics for the health and well-being of it’s line associates. That work has lead to development of the “Super Seat,” which is designed to make some line tasks more ergonomic. Honda’s manufacturing plant in Lincoln, Alabama opened in November 2001 and is now the sole global source for Honda Odyssey mini-vans and pilot sport utility vehicles. The plant is now using the Super Seat to aid in associates installation of the rear seat belt retaining bolts, a difficult task made easier on the human body with this mechanical aid. The associate in the Super Seat moves the seat into the body cavity of the vehicle. The large orange platform moves with the seat and is synchronized with the speed of the assembly line. At this point, the associate controls lateral movement into the vehicle by simply “walking” on their heels… and when the blots are in place, swings the mechanical arm of the seat back out of the vehicle and its on to the next one. In addition to the rear seat belt installation, many more processes are being evaluated which could make even further use of the seat and help ease the strain on associate bodies.

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Diesel Passenger Vehicles

Both diesel cars and light trucks are receiving a
lot of attention in the United States as a near
term strategy to achieve fuel economy and climate
change goals.  

The renewed interest in diesel as of late stems
from its potential to improve passenger vehicle
fuel economy.  The best diesel passenger vehicles
of today are more efficient on fuel than their
gas counterparts, helping to reduce carbon
emissions by 30 percent or more.

There are some auto makers that are talking about
re-introducing diesel into light duty markets as
a solution for reducing global warming pollution
from both cars and trucks.  Another important
reason is that the higher efficiency of diesels
will provide a quick fix for manufacturers who
are struggling to meet federal fuel economy
standards for light trucks.

Even if the efficiency benefits of diesel do
yield real world improvements on the economy, the
potential climate change benefits are modest.

Even though diesel achieves more miles per gallon
than gasoline, many are concerned about the
impact that diesel passenger vehicles have on
the economy.  From time to time, the combustion
in the engine can cause black emissions to spit
from the exhaust, which is actually very bad
for the economy.

While gas is actually the worst, diesel is taking
strides to improve engines and the impact on
the economy.  Diesel is getting more and more
popular these days, as gas prices continue to
rise and rise.

Although diesel engines can have an impact on
the economy, they are the way to go for those
looking to conserve mileage.  Diesel vehicles
cost more than gas vehicles, although they will
offer you more than you can expect.  If you are
looking for a quality ride, diesel is the way
to go.

Get the whole story at TheAutoChannel.com. The 2010 Kia Soul urban passenger vehicle recently was named to the “Best Family Cars for 2010″ list in the “budget” category by family-favorite Parents magazine.

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Altea Xl: a Powerful Addition to the Seat Range

SEAT the Spanish subsidiary of Volkswagen and recipient of quality VW parts and accessories such as vw rubber floor mats will be presenting a new model that will join its range of SEAT vehicles. The Altea XL is the most recent model to join the SEAT range. It is also the first model equipped with the totally new 160 hp 1.8 TFSI engine. This new and enhanced 1.8 litre engine makes use of turbo-charged petrol direct injection technology that has been tested and tried on other SEAT engines.

The more compact engine block of the Altea XL takes up minimal space in the engine bay, while the new counter-rotating shaft arrangement minimized vibrations for lower noise levels. The XL’s 1.8 TFSI also sets new power and torque standards. Its turbo charger and the new engine management provide even faster response at low revs, allowing the torque to flow more smoothly. It produces a maximum torque of 250 Nm which is available throughout a wide rev range, from 1500 to 4200 rpm.

The Altea XL powered with this engine can reach a top speed of 210 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds. Moreover, the engine’s suppleness gives it 80 to 120 km/h in-gear acceleration of 10.4 and 13.3 seconds in fifth and sixth gears. Fuel consumption has been registered at 10.5 liters for city driving, 6.2 out of town and only 7.7 combined for every 100 km.

This makes the Altea XL 1.8 TFSI to be positioned as an interesting petrol engine alternative, combining excellent performance, contained fuel consumption levels with great driving pleasure. The Altea XL offer includes two petrol (the already mentioned 1.8 160 hp 1.8 TFSI and an additional 102 hp 1.6) and three diesel versions – the 105 hp 1.9 TDI, the 140 hp manual or DSG 2.0 TDI and the 170 hp 2.0 TDI.

The 160 hp Altea XL 1.8 TFSI, is exclusive in the Sport-up version—features stiffer coils than on Reference and Stylance models and more in tune with the car’s power and performance levels.The McPherson suspension springs at the front are perfectly angled and include rigid silent blocks that provide great stability in any driving conditions, from sudden load shifts to braking in curves. The silent blocks also helps in reducing loads on the driveshaft especially during acceleration and braking and minimize rocking.

The XL’s rear suspension features a multilink set-up, wherein three transverse and one longitudinal arm guides the wheels with truly exceptional dynamic qualities and smoothness. The XL’s near perfect wheel alignment helps in reducing both understeering and slips angles.

The SEAT’s DSR Agile Chassis concept provides greater control and lower response time result boosting the car’s safety. Likewise, the reduction in the command time between the steering wheel and the car’s response guarantees absolute control. Despite the XL’s high chassis it can turn surprisingly fast without the risk of body roll. This remarkable display of balanced and stability is made possible through careful tuning of springs and dampers, specific tyres with a lower slip angle and variable assistance electro-mechanical steering. This engine is exclusively available in the Sport-up trim, which implies 25% stiffer suspension ratings, and 23mm front and 19.6 mm rear stabilizer bars.

And lastly, the Altea XL with this trim level includes standard ESP electronic stability control + DSR. Its EBA emergency brake assistance, increases braking power in case of emergency, and automatically activates on the car’s hazard warning lights.

A solution to the world’s urban transportation problems could lie in two wheels not four. General Motors Segway announced Tuesday that they are working together to develop a two-wheeled, two-seat electric vehicle. (April 7)
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Infant Car Seat Comparison: Britax Marathon Convertible Versus Recaro Signo G2

So are you having difficulty on looking for the best infant car seat for your baby?

I understand how you feel – in fact I was comparing all different kinds of car seats through internet and shopping malls,and in result;  the more I see, the more I confuse which one I should buy for my little ones.  Therefore, I totally understand what you are going through right now.

But, I have a review for you… and it is this:

During our searches, we will tend to search for the popular brand name first, because it gives us more confidence from the brands’ reputations.  Therefore, I have picked two popular convertible car seats for review in this article as for your reference.

Britax Marathon Click and Safe Convertible car seat:

It is suitable for baby from 4 to 35 pounds (rear facing) and 20 to 65 pounds (forward facing).  The unique design”True Side Impact Protection” System which ensures your baby ‘ s head, neck and spine are properly aligned to prevent injury during accident.  The click and safe system design is for the appropriate level of snugness to the babies.  The superior comfort and positioning features are used for safety to the child and convenience to the parents purposes.  The 5 point tangle free harness with four harness heights allows the baby to enjoy the seat in comfort and secure feelings. These are the outstanding features that Britax could provide. 

However, there are also some drawbacks… and it is this…

It is kind of expensive at the range of around USD260.  The harness adjustments require re-threading and it makes many parents feel inconvenient. 

Recaro Signo G2 Convertible Car Seat:

It is suitable for child from 5 to 35 pounds (rear facing) and 20 to 70 pounds (forward facing).  It could fit to most of the vehicles and it also contains the side impact protection features.  Recaro has purposely design an infinite adjustable headrest for comfort and the innovative LATCH bar design for ease in changing from rear facing to forward facing positions.   It has a 5 point harness, top tether and microfiber cover.  Another high rated convertible car seat for most parents.  The installation is simple and easy to install for most parent use.

The drawbacks of this car seat are this….

It is expensive at the range of around USD290.  This could not fit into two seat vehicle as Recaro instructs clearly that it could not be install in the front seat in any vehicle. 

 Warning: Read the features and the drawbacks clearly and decided which one does fitted into your own needs and requirements.  In general, both convertible car seats are high rated by many users and they are definitely worth your time to study for further considerations.

Toyota will display an innovative Auto Access Seat, designed for use in the all-new 2011 Toyota Sienna minivan, for the first time at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Toyota is the first automaker in North America to offer a factory-installed, rotating, power ascending/descending lift-up seat. Designed internally, the Auto Access Seat will offer a new level of comfort and convenience to anyone who may need assistance getting in or out of a vehicle. Factory installed at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (TMMI) assembly plant, the Auto Access Seat offers consumers a seamless purchase-process alternative to the current aftermarket installation method, which requires the consumer to purchase their vehicle and then have it modified by an aftermarket supplier. The Sienna minivan equipped with the Auto Access Seat will offer a much needed transportation solution for the caregivers of an elderly parent or spouse with a walking disability, a disabled veteran, or for the parents of child with a disability. The Auto Access Seat features a one-touch operation and benefits from the all-new Siennas spacious interior and wide-opening sliding doors. A seat-mounted ingress/egress switch and a wireless remote control allows for easy and flexible seat operation. The seat rotates 90 degrees and can be lowered to within 19 inches of the ground to further facilitate easier passenger transfers at the exact height required. Once inside, the Auto Access Seat …
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In-depth study and Technical aspects of Indian Passenger Vehicle Industry

Indian Passenger Vehicle Industry: ‘Small is beautiful’

Owning a car is aspired by every Indian household and with low penetration, increasing income levels and resumption of buoyancy in the economy, the opportunity in the passenger vehicle market is humungous. At present, around 30 out of every 1,000 households in India own a car. Even if the households that can afford owning a car are considered, the penetration is as low as 45 per cent. Having said this, of the households affording a car, around 70 per cent fall at the bottom of the income distribution pyramid and can afford owning a small car only. Furthermore, the excise duty on small car is lower at 8 per cent as against 20 per cent on big cars. This would translate into strong growth in the small car segment. The factors like households affording big cars but opting for small cars on account of their easier maneuverability given the traffic chaos and parking constraints in metros and poor infrastructure and congested agglomerations in smaller towns would help pushing the small car sales growth. Furthermore, rich households opting for small cars as their additional cars either for female or young members in the family or for smaller trips would also push small car sales. ( http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=129357&rt=Indian-Passenger-Vehicle-Industry.html )

Nano is foreseen to give a supply-side push to the small car sales, as its first year cost of ownership, which typically determines the threshold income levels for buying the vehicle, is around 25 per cent lower than Maruti’s 800, the next cheapest available car. This has added 1 million households that can afford buying a car by 2013-14. The Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have taken into cognizance the humungous opportunity in small car sub-segment. Four out of the six launches till date in calendar 2009 fall in small car sub-segment, which includes Tata Nano, Maruti Ritz, Fiat Punto and Honda Jazz. Only Tata Manza and Chevrolet Cruze (General Motors) fall in mid-size sub-segment. Eight more launches are expected in the small car sub-segment in the next 15-18 months.

It developed a detailed statistical model that attempts to forecast the domestic passenger vehicle sales. The sales are segregated between personal use and commercial use on the basis of interaction with the industry and analytical acumen. Vehicle sales for commercial sales are forecasted on the basis of service sector GDP growth, while the vehicle sales for personal use are forecasted on the basis of ownership cost and the target household that can afford to own a car. Other qualitative factors like macro-economic outlook, consumer confidence, willingness of vehicle financers to finance purchases, actions of OEMs like launches, aggressiveness, sales push techniques, delaer network etc have also been quantitatively built in the demand forecasting model.

The report is divided into four sections. Section I presents viewpoint on the industry that covers domestic and export sales forecasts for the next five years and outlook on the profitability for next 15 – 18 months. Section II provides an in-depth study of the Indian passenger vehicle industry encompassing its evolution and the trends in the last five year. Section III provides profile of key players in the industry, while Section IV contains technical aspects and various key data tables as an Annexure to the report.
 

To know more and to buy a copy of your report feel free to visit : http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=129357&rt=Indian-Passenger-Vehicle-Industry.html

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a 1989 Honda Elite 50cc scooter can easily be outfitted with a pasenger trailer for a simple, enjoyable, injury risking afternoon! 28 MPH on the straight away! Im sure my clutch is not enjoying it the same way Bill is.
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