Parking crashes usually don’t result in serious injuries, but repair costs can quickly mount, along with the hassle of going without the family vehicle while waiting for the body shop to finish work. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has launched a rear crash prevention ratings program to help consumers identify models with the technology that can prevent or mitigate low-speed backing crashes. Two systems earn the highest rating of superior, and four earn the second-highest rating of advanced.
Rear crash prevention encompasses several technologies. Parking sensors issue warning beeps and/or seat vibrations when the equipped vehicle gets too close to another vehicle or object directly behind it, or, in some cases, in front of it. Rear cross-traffic alert warns drivers of approaching vehicles that might cross their path as they back up. Rear automatic emergency braking systems detect objects behind a reversing vehicle and may automatically brake if the driver doesn’t heed alerts to stop.
IIHS engineers evaluated rear autobrake systems on six popular 2017 model vehicles — the BMW 5 series sedan, Cadillac XT5 SUV, Infiniti QX60 SUV, Jeep Cherokee SUV, Subaru Outback wagon and Toyota Prius hatchback.
Under the three-tier rating scheme, models with optional or standard rear crash prevention systems are rated superior, advanced or basic. Ratings are determined by whether the vehicles have available rear autobrake and, if so, how it performs in a series of car-to-car and car-to-pole tests with different approach angles. The availability of parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert also is factored in.
The Outback and XT5 earn a superior rating when equipped with optional rear autobrake, parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert. The Cherokee, 5 series, QX60 and Prius earn an advanced rating with this optional gear.
Michelin announced today it will expand the market footprint for its airless skid steer tires with the launch of two new versions of the award-winning MICHELIN® X® TWEEL® SSL airless radial tire: a 12N16.5 X® TWEEL® SSL All Terrain for a wide range of surfaces and a12N16.5 X® TWEEL® SSL Hard Surface for pavement use.
The development of Michelin’s Tweel technology is significant, since skid steer loaders equipped with traditional pneumatic tires, experience at least two or more flat tires per month. Desperate to find a solution to reduce flat-tire downtime, many users resort to using foam-filled, solid tires or other alternatives that result in diminished traction, handling and ride comfort. The 12N16.5 X TWEEL SSL provides the advantages of no air pressure maintenance, easy mounting, damage resistance, increased operator comfort, reduced operator fatigue, improved productivity and longer wear life than pneumatic tires.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7347551-new-michelin-x-tweel-ssl-airless-skid-steer-radial-tires/
The Renault-Nissan Alliance has sold its 200,000th electric vehicle and has a leading 58% market share for zero-emission cars.
To capture what the first 200,000 consumers love about their electric vehicles, the Renault-Nissan Alliance is launching a series of videos featuring EV owners on three continents. “I Made the Switch” tells why people bought their electric vehicles and how switching to a zero-emission vehicle has changed their lives. The first video features Chris Beers, a software engineer from Holliston, Massachusetts, USA, one of many Americans who powers his Nissan LEAF with clean solar energy. To see the video, click here: www.multivu.com/players/English/7381531-renault-nissan-electric-vehicle-sales/
In parallel with the new Mercedes-Benz Antos, FleetBoard is introducing new services for heavy short-radius distribution. The investment into telematics for touring coaches and vans is also proving more worthwhile than ever. Throughout Europe, FleetBoard is a market leader amongst providers of telematics solutions for trucks, vans and coaches of all brands, in all markets. FleetBoard has also gained many new customers in South Africa, Brazil and the Middle East. The company recently received the renowned Frost & Sullivan Award for growth and innovation.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/58041-fleetboard-introduces-new-services-for-heavy-short-radius-distribution
Istanbul Autoshow 2015 is held at TUYAP Fair, Convention and Congress Center on May 22-31 and automobile enthusiasts will meet the “new wonders of the world”
Istanbul Autoshow 2015, organized jointly by ODD (Automotive Distributors' Association) and TUYAP Tüm Fuarcılık Yapım A.Ş., was held at TUYAP Fair, Convention and Congress Center at Beylikdüzü between 22 and 31 May 2015, and more than 60 new models were introduced to car enthusiasts for the first time in Turkey. Among these new models, two of them celebrated their world premiers at the Istanbul Autoshow. TUYAP hosted the Autoshow in its 14 halls on a total indoor area of 120,000 square meters, presenting automotive enthusiasts the new wonders of the world: the latest car models.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7533851-new-wonders-exhibit-Istanbul-autoshow/
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) today issued a warning to the public about an organized scam involving sales of vehicles through the popular online market place, Craigslist.
Working with law enforcement agencies in the Chicago area and across the Midwest, NICB has identified nearly 100 instances of sales of vehicles that went sour when phony bank checks were used to pay for the vehicle.
“These scams are well organized and have all the appearances of being legitimate,” said NICB President and CEO Joe Wehrle. “But in the end, the criminal gets the car and the sellers or their financial institutions are left on the hook for thousands of dollars still owed on the car.”
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7523151-nicb-craigslist-auto-sales-scam/
The Los Angeles Police Department and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) are warning motorists of a growing problem with unauthorized tow truck operators in the LA area.
These “bandit” tow truck operators monitor police radios and respond to accidents seeking to hook up vehicles and tow them to body shops or storage facilities where they are held hostage until the motorists and their insurance companies pay inflated towing, storage and possibly repair charges to get the vehicle back.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/70506514-nicb-lapd-bandit-tow-truck-scams/
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC (MBFS) today announced it is adding an in-vehicle account management app to its suite of mobile tools for its customers in the United States.
The new app, called My MBFS, will automatically be added to the cloud-based infotainment system on model year 2013 and newer Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with the COMAND Navigation and a subscription to mbrace2™ with Mercedes-Benz Apps. My MBFS joins existing apps from Google, Yelp! and Facebook.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/61684-mercedes-benz-financial-services-mobile-technology-with-new-app
What will it take for drivers to stop texting behind the wheel? Car-buying platform Edmunds.com believes that a gentle reminder from a loved one could do the trick.
Developers of the award-winning Edmunds app recently broke from their usual work to produce “DrivePromise by Edmunds,” a free app that allows Apple Watch and iPhone owners to make and keep a promise to focus on the road while driving. When the device detects that it is in a moving vehicle, it pops up an uploaded photo of a loved one along with a reminder to drive safely. The app keeps count of all of the user’s safe drives to share with friends and family.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7514851-drivepromise-edmunds-app/
Micah Muzio, managing editor for Kelley Blue Book, offers sneak peak at auto industry’s most coveted event.
“Every year we invite some of the biggest names in the aftermarket tuning community to build some of the most exciting vehicles at SEMA,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president, Product and Corporate Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “We wanted this year’s builders to develop performance and luxury in tandem, and from what you see from our lineup of vehicles, they have exceeded our goals on every measure.”
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7278251-sema-show-2014-kbb-toyo-tires-hyundai-lexus-kia/
Affordable new cars have never been so cool, as detailed in this year’s list of the 10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000, hand–selected by the expert editors at Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com, the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry. The redesigned Mazda3 is No. 1 for 2014, and it notably has been featured on KBB.com’s annual affordable ‘cool cars’ list every year of the vehicle’s 11–year existence.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7218051-kbb-10-coolest-new-cars-under-18k-2014/
When it comes to tire development and technology, the road generally goes from the racetrack to the cul de sac. A great example is Yokohama Tire Corporation’s new passenger tire, the AVID Ascend®, which features orange oil, a special technology born on the track, and which can be seen discussed in the following video: http://youtu.be/TtrgVa7DHYQ
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/59183-yokohama-tire-corporation-passenger-tire-avid-ascend-features-orange-oil
