Cash For Clunkers Leaseholders Already Looking For A Way Out?
Last year the federal government's CARS program—better known as Cash for Clunkers—sparked a frenzy of shopping for smaller, more fuel-efficient cars, retired older guzzlers, and boosted an ailing industry.
Now, a year later, it sounds like a significant portion of those people are having regrets. The lease-trading marketplace LeaseTrader.com reports that less than 20 percent of Cash for Clunkers transactions were for leases, but an unexpectedly high portion of these lessees are now looking for a way out.
Since May, especially, LeaseTrader has noted an uptick in those who are looking to have their leases assumed—especially among those who are leasing affordable, popular vehicles like the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Ford Escape.
According to CNW Marketing Research, which tracks the leasing industry through periodic surveys, in 2009 one out of five leases was terminated early, and last year roughly one in four who had to break a lease cited a change in job status as the main reason.
Getting out of a lease isn't as easy as it sounds. About the only way of doing so without destroying your credit score is—if the leasing company allows—is by finding someone willing to assume the remainder of the lease terms. Companies like LeaseTrader.com, and also Swapalease.com help those looking to dump their lease with those looking for a shorter-term vehicle.
In order to have the federal CARS $3,500 or $4,500 rebate included in a lease, customers needed to commit to a five-year term, so especially for lower-cost vehicles people are often saddled with more interest and a longer payment scenario than they'd intended.
Many, apparently, are finding out that the decision to get a more fuel-efficient vehicle, as the economics might pay off in the long run, are probably disappointed with that choice as well. Fuel prices haven't risen significantly over the past year. They've surely fluctuated; last August 1, a gallon of regular unleaded averaged $2.24, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, but by September 5 it had climbed to $3.03. For the past week, it's averaged $2.74.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
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Feds: 55 Models For 2011 To Be Tested For Revamped 5-Star Ratings
For safety-conscious car shoppers, it's been more than a little daunting over the past couple of model years to tell the difference between the safest models on the market and those that are merely good.
Every automaker, it seems, has a five-star rating to boast about, and almost every vehicle, it seems, offers the claim of "class leading safety" in ads.
With the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) having tightened its requirements to be a Top Safety Pick for 2010, and now the federal government introducing a new side-pole test and tougher 5-star rating system for 2011, it will at last be much easier to tell the vehicles that offer exceptionally good occupant protection from those that don't.
In recent years, some have called the federal tests useless at first glance, as in some classes nearly all of the models have received top five-star results. Very few have received three stars or less over the past several model years.
With the recalibration, NHTSA says that three-star vehicles will again provide average or close to average injury protection compared to other vehicles of the same model year.
As before, side and rollover tests will be comparable across all types of vehicles, but because the vehicle's weight is a factor in the frontal test, it can only be compared in that category between vehicles that are plus or minus 250 pounds of each other.
The new ratings will include an overall score that combines the results of frontal crash tests, side tests, and rollover tests, and displayed in a new format on NHTSA's SaferCar.gov information portal. While the frontal tests haven't been significantly changed, a completely new side pole test has been introduced, to simulate a single-vehicle impact with a utility pole or tree (one of the deadliest types of accidents).
In addition, the agency will now also summarize pertinent "advanced technology information," which includes electronic stability control, forward collision warning systems, and lane departure warning systems.
"This new testing program significantly raises the safety bar for all vehicle manufacturers and will provide consumers with a great deal more safety information about the cars and trucks they want to buy," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in a release.
Shoppers won't be able to compare scores given by the new system with those of the old one, so this year NHTSA plans to test more vehicles than usual—55 models in all.
Click to the next page to see the complete list of 2011 model-year vehicles to be tested.
Dirty, Dirty Rental Cars Might Make You Sick
If you regularly rent cars for business or family vacations, you've likely had at least one or two rentals that grossed you out in some way.
Now you have a reason to be concerned, not just squeamish.
NBC's Today Show tested vehicles in Miami, which is one of the largest rental-car hotspots in the country, renting cars from six of the top rental companies—a wide range of vehicle types (showing a Pontiac G6, Chrysler Town & Country, and Saturn Vue)—and found them to be absolutely disgusting.
Visually, of course, they found the food crumbs and sticky residues we're accustomed to seeing, if not in the cupholders, under the seat if we dare look. But they also found dried vomit.
The show also had a team of microbiologists swab the interior, including the steering wheel, switchgear, knobs, and handles, and they found the vehicles to be ridden with illness-causing bacteria—as much as a public restroom, they said, including strains of bacteria that are markers for stomach bugs and flu virus. There was even bacteria present, on a rented child seat, that could cause strep throat.
And that's in addition to all the other toxins in new cars that we've already reported—such as lead, mercury, arsenic, bromine, and antimony, as tested by HealthyStuff.org.
According to the report, rental companies have been downsizing their cleaning staff and rushing the cars out for other rentals. A former franchise owner told NBC that only about 30 percent of the cars that come in get deep-cleaned, so 7 out of 10 are getting a very cursory tidying-up, or none at all.
Watch the video below for the full report. But trust us, it's probably not one that you should watch while eating
[Today Show, via Autoblog and MSNBC]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
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2011 Hyundai Sonata Bottom Line
Likes
Zoomy new styling
Fuel-conscious
Well-damped ride
Entertainment features
Dislikes
Stylish cabin isn't everyone's style
Inconsistent steering feel
If you have to have a V-6, you're out of luck
It's true in cars as it's true in politics—to rise above the clutter, you need to make a dramatic statement. While Hyundai won't be telling anyone it can "see Russia from its house!" anytime soon, it is giving its mainstream, mid-size Sonata a refreshing new look and a new mission. The goal: dislodge some Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion buyers (along with shoppers considering the Camry, Malibu and Accord) and bring them into the Hyundai fold.
In four previous generations of sedans (five, if you count one version not sold in the U.S.), the Sonata's been a conservatively styled piece. For the 2011 edition, Hyundai's chucked caution out the driver's window and endowed the Sonata with an intriguing blend of crests and curves. They call it "fluidic sculpture" design language. We think it's a daring look for a family sedan, with lots of curves and arcs accentuated by a deep sculptural strake in its side. There's lots of movement implied in the side view, and the grille has some of the "wave" look of the latest Infinitis. In all, it's exciting and engaging, particularly parked next to the more utilitarian 2010 Sonata—and with the Altima and Fusion, it's among our favorite sedans to see. There are some imperfect details, though. You might notice the gathering of cutlines where the mirror meets the front fenders, and the unusual arrow of chrome that rolls down the front fenders. Overall, though, the Sonata's handsome, jazzy, and a visual standout in its class.
The cabin takes its own chances, winning most of its bets, but it's a little out there, on the edge of cutting edge for traditional family-sedan shoppers. The interior shares some themes with the big Hyundai Genesis sedan, including the vents that flank a big LCD screen atop the dash. The new Sonata has even more dramatic sculpturing in its steering wheel and dash cap than the Genesis, and gets cut-tube-style instruments as well as an iconographic climate control shaped like a human. It's adventurous and functional, and maybe a little more dramatic than some families will want—especially in contrast with the 2010 Sonata's sedately good-looking dash. The Sonata can be had with a variety of dash trim: the SE gets metallic, grained plastic trim that will wear well, but painted plastic trim on the steering wheel, which won't. The Sonata Limited has piano-black trim, save for beige-interior cars, which get woodgrain.
Styling's a noticeable departure from the norm, and the 2011 Sonata will take its chances with powertrains, too. For 2011, the Sonata will be offered with only a four-cylinder engine, leaving buyers to move up to a Hyundai Azera if they want a V-6. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder will make 198 horsepower, thanks to direct injection and other advanced engine technology; PZEV versions with cleaner emissions are rated at 190 hp, while the Sonata SE's nearly identical engine gets a boost to 200 hp. Because this Sonata weighs a bit less than the competition, it's a bit swifter than, say, the Camry or Malibu four-cylinders; between highway passes and switchback curves, we rarely felt the Sonata straining for power, even with three adults in tow. A six-speed manual will actually be offered, but almost all Sonatas will be outfitted with a new six-speed automatic that gets a sport-shift mode on Limited cars and slightly flimsy-feeling paddles on SE versions. It's Hyundai's own transmission and it's a smooth-shifting unit, mated well with the quiet, balanced hum from the engine.
The manual, the lack of a V-6--it's all in the name of fuel economy. The Sonata GLS manual scores the best-in-class overall fuel economy with a 24 mpg city/35 mpg highway fuel economy rating, with all other Sonata models achieving 22 mpg city/35 mpg highway--not bad considering power output tops the base Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fusion.
Will the Sonata please enthusiasts along with the EPA? Probably. Its well-sorted ride quality is its best feature, while steering feel is inconsistent. For a family sedan, the engine-speed-sensitive electric power steering actually feels better the faster you go. On switchbacks during our test drive, the Sonata's steering felt hefty on center and meaty through a string of medium-speed curves. In town it got more nervous, at the transition point where the steering effort had been programmed to lighten up. The result makes the Sonata a little wandery on the highway as well. The Sonata rides very well, though, with a light touch to its damping, lower road noise, and on SE versions, monotube shocks that seem to snuff out body roll without costing the Sonata too much compliance. Braking felt fine—we encountered an emergency stop and the Sonata responded ably—and the base 16-inch wheels grow to 19-inch wheels on some trims.
You'll find plenty of room even for large adults in the Sonata, as we did during a driving route that curled through the hills east of San Diego. Already a big car, the 2011 Sonata is officially a "large" car by EPA rules, with 120 cubic feet of interior and trunk space. In the class, only the Honda Accord passes that hurdle. The driver and front passenger have plenty of knee and head room; we liked the Sonata's cloth seats for their bolstering better than the optional leather buckets, and the textured fabric's almost Nike-sportswear feel probably will be durable. The leather seats in front feel a bit flatter up front. The back seat sits at a good angle of recline, and only the tallest passengers will touch heads against the fabric headliner and the hard-plastic front seatbacks. The 16.4-cubic-foot trunk is about as large as that in the Ford Fusion, and the trunk gets larger when the rear seats are flipped forward. In the cabin, a deep center console and glovebox hide valuable goods; there's a niche near the audio controls for cellphones, a flat open bin in front of it for clutter, and a bin hidden behind a flip-down lid to conceal other goods—perhaps a radar detector? The Sonata also has dual power points, eight cupholders for those frequent cross-Sahara side trips, and coat hangers to keep your blazer looking sharp.
The 2011 Sonata arrives in showrooms wearing one big safety badge—a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). No NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) tests are available yet but Hyundai is hoping for five-star scores across the board (we'll update you when results are released). Standard safety equipment includes dual front, side, curtain airbags; anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control; and active headrests. Visibility from inside the Sonata is good, even to the rear quarters where minuscule triangular windows seem to be in place just to keep the side view flowing—even rear-seat passengers won't see much through them. A rearview camera is available only on the top trims, though.
The Sonata nearly matches the Ford Fusion's array of entertainment features. Standard equipment on all models includes Bluetooth connectivity and steering-wheel audio controls; an MP3-CD player with iPod and USB connectivity; daytime running lights; a tilt/telescoping steering wheel; cruise control; and power windows, locks and mirrors. The Sonata SE adds paddle shifters, a sport-tuned suspension, and some slight trim differences. Both the Sonata SE and Sonata Limited have parking sensors and push-button start. The Limited also gets standard heated front and rear seats; a sunroof; a backup camera; automatic climate control; and an automatic dimming rearview mirror.
Options are kept simple, bundled in packages. The base GLS can be upgraded to include a power driver seat and alloy wheels; the SE's options include a nicely executed navigation system packaged with a sunroof. There's also a new "Dimension" speaker package for some audio systems. The Sonata Limited adds on a CD changer and HD Radio, and can be equipped with an Infinity 400-watt audio system, bundled with the touchscreen-driven navigation system and the rearview camera. The nav system includes XM NavTraffic and Bluetooth streaming audio, as well as 8GB of flash memory for music storage.
Pricing for the Alabama-built 2011 Hyundai Sonata will start at just $19,195 for the base GLS model equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission. Adding an automatic, the price rises to $20,915. Moving up to the SE model will run up a bill of $22,595, while the range-topping Limited model is available from $25,295.
The Bottom Line:The 2011 Hyundai Sonata takes some smart styling and performance risks to raise its profile.
Other Choices:
If you like the 2011 Hyundai Sonata, also consider:
- 2010 Ford Fusion
- 2010 Nissan Altima
- 2010 Honda Accord
- 2010 Toyota Camry
- 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
Reason Why:
The new Sonata banks on swoopy lines and fuel economy to draw shoppers away from the class leaders. Of all its competitiors, it seems geared the most at the highly-rated Ford Fusion, which was refurbished for 2010 with a new interior, a bolder grille and neater dynamics. The Nissan Altima's also close kin, with big interior room and probably the best handling of all these four-doors, though its interior lacks the panache of the Sonata. The large Honda Accord still has an elusive quality feel that few cars can match, though its styling has not aged as well as Honda may have hoped. Finally, the Camry and Malibu are the conservative choices here, with an emphasis on quieter, more luxurious transportation.
Buying Tip:
Want more distinction? The Sonata gets a new pair of powerplants later this year. A turbocharged 2.0-liter version of the same four-cylinder will be added to the Sonata lineup next year, with a hybrid version outfitted with lithium-polymer batteries arrives late in the year.
This 2011 Hyundai Sonata Review originally appeared at TheCarConnection.com where you can see more photos and news on the Hyundai Sonata
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Hummer-Hating Artist Hacks H2 Into Horse Cart, Cites Hoover
Ah, conceptual art. Clearly our country would be less colorful were it not for the efforts of, say, New York artist Jeremy Dean, who got inspired reading about horse-drawn "Hoover carts" made during the Depression from old car bodies.
From there, it was just a short leap to buying a used Hummer H2--the biggest, baddest, heaviest, meanest symbol of SUV dominance ever built for sale in the U.S.--cutting it in half with a torch, and turning it into...a horse cart.
Yep. He cut up a perfectly good H2, which he bought used for $15,000. That's a good price, apparently, since H2s have now been out of production for many months and it's not clear that GM's sale of Hummer to a Chinese company will go through.
The project is called "Back to the Futurama," alluding to the Futurama displays mounted at both the 1939-1940 and 1964-1965 New York Worlds' Fairs by General Motors, with a nod to the famous 1985 movie "Back to the Future."
Dean has quite a lot to say on the genesis of the project on his website. A few excerpts ...
"At this time of record financial gains, the auto industry began producing ever extravagant cars and SUVs. These huge American gas guzzlers became a status symbol in society leading to increased demand for oil and fuel prices soared.
"So with our very American idea of Manifest Destiny, we meddle in any country that has oil and send our men and women into harms way so that we can continue consuming almost 80% of the worlds resources. But how long can that last?
"My own satirical prediction of the future: Unless we come up with alternative fuel sources and rethink our reliance on a hyperinflated consumer based economy, we may be left with no other options than to hook our cars up to a horse.
"As a symbol of this I [will] take either a Cadillac Escalade or HUMMER H2, which have become monuments to America's consumption, greed and arrogance, and convert it to a horse cart.
"The cart will maintain all its former glitz and glamour: chrome rims, GPS, working sound system, DVD player, and TV screens. But [it] will be pulled by a horse. "
Now being built at Slick's Garage in Palmetto, Florida, the finished Hummer carraige will premiere during New York City's Armory Week, starting March 3.
Dean would like to sell the piece, to recoup his costs (he's sunk his life savings into the project), and fund a series of horse-cart Hummers and Escalades. They include one whose entire body has been chromed, a pumpkin carriage suited for Cinderella, and more.
Our final thought: Given the Hummer's military roots, it's doubly ironic to display the artwork in a functioning armory, which houses actual military Humvees that are parked on Manhattan side streets when the building is used for events.
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2009 Auto Sales: Have We Hit Bottom Dead Center, Yet?
As the auto industry prepares for another year of auto shows, new-car introductions and crossed fingers, sales numbers for 2009 will be announced today, by most major automakers.
The question rolling around in CEO offices from Tokyo to Stuttgart to Detroit: have we hit bottom dead center yet?
It's been a rollercoaster ride in the auto industry since the hale and hearty days of 2005. In that year, the industry clocked 16.9 million sales in the U.S. It's been a downward spiral ever since, with a low spot in 2008 of 13.2 million sales guaranteed to be beaten by this year's estimated 11.4 million sales of light trucks and passenger cars.
Some analysts see a slight uptick in December sales as good news--but many, like Edmunds.com CEO Jeremy Anwyl, see the slight bounce as a mixed signal. The automotive-pricing Web site predicts sales in December will reach an annualized rate of 11.7 million units, but Anwyl says that could be due to bargain hunters poaching deals on low-priced vehicles from brands going out of business--like GM's Saab, Saturn and HUMMER units--and from vehicles left over from the disastrous 2009 model year of sales.
Still, the sales rate would mean consumers have some confidence, no matter how slight, in the economy. If the numbers hold as automakers release sales figures, it could result in the best sales month since December of 2008, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The slight rise could be a passing blip, however, warns Barclays Capital analysts, who told the Journal that more sales across the board could mean automakers are ramping up sales of fleet cars--typically, less well-equipped, less-expensive models sold to rental car companies, government agencies and other bulk buyers.
Analysts are watching carefully to measure how many sales will be recorded, the Journal reports--but more importantly, which buyers are actually signing on the bottom line.
2009 sales: clunkers help Subaru, while Chrysler, Scion and Suzuki bleed
With final figures due today from most automakers, only a trio of brands can claim good news in the 2009 sales figures. All other car companies and brands reported losses--most of them, double-digit losses.
Through November 2009, the list of companies with lower year-to-year sales includes GM, off 32 percent; Toyota, down 24 percent; Chrysler, down 38 percent; Ford, down 20 percent; Honda, down 20 percent; Nissan, down 22 percent; VW, down 7; Daimler, down 19 percent; and BMW, down 23 percent.At the brand level, GM's HUMMER brand watched sales roll off a cliff and fall 66 percent; fellow orphan brand Saab will end the year off 61 percent or more; and Suzuki, Scion and Chrysler will report sales falling in the 50-percent range for all of 2009 when they file sales numbers today.
The bright spots are few: Hyundai sales were up 6 percent through November, and sister company Kia's sales grew even more in 2009, up 8 percent.
Subaru's stellar performance in 2009 ended with record December sales and a year-to-year rise of 15 percent. According to spokesman Mike McHale, it's for a perfect storm of good reasons-- the right product, the right price, and the right time, he notes. Subaru also benefited hugely from the government's Cash for Clunkers trade-in program; almost all its "conquest" sales, from buyers new to the brand, came from former owners of big trucks.
2009 sales: surprising stability
With almost universal sales declines, some individual models fell, predictably--while others posted unexpected gains. A cross-section of sales through November holds some surprises:
Ford F-Series : Ford expected to sell a million F-Series trucks at some point in the past decade. This year, with 365,416 sold through November of 2009, they may pass 400,000 sales.
Kia Borrego: Kia launched the full-size Borrego SUV in late 2008 and expected to sell 20,000 a year; they sold 9510 copies through November of 2009, with only 825 moved in November. As a result, the Borrego's not in the 2010 lineup, and may not return.
Buick Enclave: The big, handsome crossover from Buick has been well-received, and sales held up reasonably well. GM sold 37,701 through November of 2009, versus 41,416 Enclaves in the first 11 months of 2008.
Toyota Camry: The best-selling sedan in America last year, the Camry and Camry Hybrid clocked more than 400,000 sales in 2008. Toyota should barely pass 350,000 sales of the combined models in 2009.
Dodge Journey: New for 2009, the Journey hasn't been well-reviewed--but sales rose in the first 11 months of 2009 to 46,954 units, from 42,822 units in the first 11 months of 2008. The Journey, however, was not on sale in January of 2008.
Volkswagen Jetta: VW's compact sedan is due to be replaced in 2011--and yet sales were up to 98,194 units through November 2009, up from 89,398 units through November of 2008.
Toyota Prius: The world's best-selling hybrid is hitting a soft patch like other conventional cars. This past year, through November, Toyota sold 127,907 Prius hatchbacks, down from 151,025 sales in the first 11 months of 2008.
Whatever the root, it seems car sales have hit a firm patch. Edmunds.com analysts expect that 11.5 million cars and light trucks will be sold in 2010.
[Automotive News; Edmunds; Wall Street Journal]
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Rollin’ In A 5.0, Once Again: 2011 Ford Mustang GT Gets 412 HP
Capping what just might just be one of the worst-kept auto-industry secret of the decade--but a very exciting one nonetheless--today we're officially bringing you more details on the 2010 Ford Mustang GT.
And yes, the recent leaks and rumors have been right: The 2010 Mustang GT packs a new 5.0-liter V-8 good for 412 horsepower. Almost as significant to budget-minded buyers today is that the new Mustang GT will achieve a projected 25 mpg on the highway.
That '5.0' badge alone is likely to bring back waves of nostalgia for anyone aged 30 to 60, as it represents a time when the Mustang was slowly crawling out of an emissions-regulation-induced coma that lasted through the '70s and into the '80s. By the mid-to-late '80s, the Mustang GT, with its stout 225-horse 5.0, was arguably the king of the pony cars and faster than many sports cars costing much more.
Now, 20 years later, the new 5.0 is poised to make nearly double that. With 412 hp and 390 pound-feet, the new engine is a radical evolution of the 4.6-liter overhead-cam V-8 that's been a Mustang GT staple since 1996. Not quite a clean-slate engine but a thorough rethink and redesign in nearly every way, the engine is, as Ford product development chief put it in a release, "the next chapter in the development of the world-class Mustang powertrain portfolio."
The engine, which carried the nickname Coyote through development, was inspired by the 1960s-era Coyote Indy racing engine, also a double overhead cam V-8. Ford engineers brought the new engine to production in record time thanks to computer-aided modeling and advanced machine work.
With variable valve timing, the new V-8 gets Ford's new Ti-VCT system, using cam torque and engine oil pressure to properly actuate the valves, while the oil system has been improved in several ways--with a greater (and baffled) sump capacity, piston-cooling jets, and design changes for reduced frothing at high revs. Redline has been pushed to 7,000 rpm, and the all-aluminum cylinder heads get four valves per cylinder, and the new aluminum block was developed with track-day crankcase pressures in mind.
On the exhaust side, the new engine gets tubular headers that, according to marketing chief Jim Farley, mean that aftermarket headers won't be the first stop after the dealership for Mustang GT buyers.
The new Mustang GT is only slightly heavier than the previous 4.6-liter Mustang, and the new 5.0-liter engine weighs just 430 pounds--20 percent less than the previous 5.0.
Fuel economy with the new engine, as we mentioned above, should be slightly improved overall, Ford promises, versus the outgoing 4.6-liter V-8, despite the increase in displacement and power. With the six-speed automatic transmission, the new Mustang will be rated at 17 mpg city, 25 highway (2 mpg higher on the highway that the 2010 GT automatic), and with the six-speed manual EPA ratings will stand at 16/24 (technically the same as 2010).
To match the higher output of the engine, the new Mustang GT will get larger brakes, plus stiffer rear suspension settings. A Brembo brake package will be optional, incorporating the larger rotors (14-inch discs in front) and calipers used in the Shelby GT500 Mustang, plus 19-inch alloys and summer performance tires. The 2011 Mustang GT also gets the Electric Power Steering System (EPAS), which Ford is in the process of phasing in through its entire lineup.
In addition to those prominent fender badges declaring it's a '5.0,' the new GT will get a higher 160-mph speedometer and three new colors: Yellow Blaze Tri-Coat, Race Red, and Ingot Silver.
Ford also promises various improvements both to overall noise and vibration control, and the convertible will get a stiffer body structure thanks to improved bracing.
Although Ford hasn't yet detailed feature changes, the 2010 Ford Mustang GT will offer a wide range of features, including integrated blind spot mirrors, a universal garage-door opener, and Ford's MyKey programmable vehicle key system.
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High Gear Media has partnered with Tesla Motors on a new writing contest where YOU can win a tour and road test of the 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport. You can submit as many articles as you like and enter multiple times. Enter now!
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Concept Cars Get The Comic Book Treatment
Concept cars don't always get the respect they deserve. Though some -- like the Cadillac Converj -- demonstrate production-ready designs, others seem like kooky high-fashion getups from the runways: so conceptual, so out there, they're more fit for sci-fi flicks than car conventions. And thus, it seems entirely appropriate that star illustrator Paul Pope has given three real concept vehicles (and one flying car of his own design) the comic book treatment for GQ. [via BoingBoing]
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Carfax Introduces Free Clunker Check
Vehicle history provider Carfax has partnered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to introduce a new Clunker Check service.
The simple Carfax query page allows you, merely by entering the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the suspect vehicle to check whether it was written off for salvage as part of the federal government's Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), better known as the Cash for Clunkers program, earlier this year.
The Clunker Check service is free, and independent of the company's Vehicle History Reports. And it includes the VINs of all vehicles traded-in as part of the program.
In less than 30 days this past summer, nearly 700,000 vehicles were accepted as trade-ins under the Cash for Clunkers program; as part of the agreement, which awarded new-car buyers a rebate of $3,500 or $4,500 to buy a new-car with better fuel economy (Toyota Prius sales soared), dealerships were required to see that the engines were disabled and that the bodies were sent out for dismantling. The dealer was also required to give you an estimate of the scrap value of your trade-in, applied in addition to the rebate.
Last month TheCarConnection.com reported that vehicles accepted as part of the clunkers program were stacking up at recycling yards, creating a backlog, while many other vehicles were being sent straight to the crusher rather than having used parts reclaimed. Recyclers have until early next year to crush all the vehicles. Furthermore, the CARS program has helped push used-car prices to all-time highs this fall as there's a relative shortage of older inexpensive vehicles. So we wouldn't rule out the possibility that a few clunkers have been snuck out.
[Carfax]
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BMW Pushing For Smart Traffic Lights To Aid Fuel Efficiency
Creeping along from red light to red light on your way from a major sports event or concert, or stopped by every red light on the way home late at night, on empty roads, you've probably wondered why traffic lights in the U.S. aren't a little more adaptable.
The short answer: they're not at all smart, and at least here in the U.S. they're horribly outdated. The typical U.S. traffic signaling system is (sorry, fellow GenXers) 30 to 40 years old. And the result of these inflexible geezers signaling traffic is a lot of needless idling and the lack of easy adaptability in most cases to either sudden events like traffic accidents or even daily events like traffic congestion in a certain direction at a particular time.
Vehicle miles traveled have grown in recent years 15 percent faster than our country's roadway network itself. And congestion keeps getting worse, leading to increased fuel consumption and increased emissions--plus growing economic consequences.
Developments like start-stop systems, which shut off the engine when sitting still in traffic, along with full hybrid systems that help increase fuel efficiency especially in low-speed stop-and-go traffic can help, but they're only part of the solution. That's why BMW is pushing for upgraded, smart traffic signals that would have the capability to adapt to traffic congestion, whether it's expected or not.
"Today the traffic lights have very limited detection abilities," says Dirk Kessler, the department manager for the BMW's Traffic Technology and Traffic Management group. Even the smarter signals today, Kessler says, have one or two sets of loop detectors capable of measuring queue lengths, average speeds, and number of cars. In the U.S. there's almost nothing in signals that's traffic-dependent," he says. "We think there's a lot of work to do."
Traffic signals have been one of the initial research subjects for the group. In its initial research, the group studied so-called Green Waves--a minimum of four signals in sequence that can eb synchronized for better traffic flow. Simply by changing the timing of traffic lights on a test stretch of roadway in Munich, the engineers were able to nearly double the fuel efficiency of a BMW 530d test vehicle--from 22 mpg to 42 mpg. That being an idealized situation, the company expects an overall 10 to 15 percent decrease in urban fuel consumption due to smart traffic signaling. Considering that motor vehicles use about 175 million gallons of fuel annually, and urban areas make up a significant chunk of miles traveled, that's a tremendous potential improvement.
It's in automakers' interest to advocate for improvements like this, Kessler said, because the investment is small compared to the investment required for incremental improvements in fuel economy for new vehicles. "Think about the money that's being spent to save one, two percent...and with a relatively small investment you could save much more," he says. "There is no witchcraft, there is only a bit of engineering,"
BMW has been meeting with U.S. DOT officials on the importance of upgraded traffic signals--hoping for a new focus on improving them--and will share results of their Green Wave studies with interested groups in the U.S. Although BMW hasn't yet examined how smarter signals would affect safety, it's likely that it would bring a significant improvement.
And this is all without talking about any communication between the cars themselves and traffic signaling. Broader-scope traffic management and car-to-network-to-car communication is the long range hope, which we'll bring you more on in an upcoming post.
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