ZERO STAR crash test rating by Global NCAP

Shocking, scary, to say the least. Picture below is ... was a Suzuki Maruti Alto800.


picture from auto123.com

A ZERO crash test rating on cars built for the Indian market from Global NCAP.
Collision tests were performed by Global NCAP on certain Indian car models. There was a high risk of life threatening injuries in collisions at a speed of 64 km/h.
"Poor structural integrity and the absence of airbags are putting the lives of Indian consumers at risk. They have a right to know how safe their vehicles are and to expect the same basic levels of safety as standard as customers in other part of the world."

Models tested: 
Suzuki Maruti Alto800
Ford Figo
Volkswagen Polo
Hyundai i10
Tata Nano

No standard airbags were fitted on these test vehicles and their body structures were inadequate and collapsed.
After these test results were made public VW decided to withdraw the non airbag version of the Polo from sale in India. The new airbag equipped model of the VW Polo later was retested and received a four-star rating for adult occupant protection. Below there is a link to watch the full video of the crash tests conducted by Global NCAP. At the end of the video you will see this message "Weak structure of the Tata Nano in crash shows some airbags cannot make some cars safer"

For those of you around the world who read my blog and have ties to India please forward this article to them, the Indian people must be an aware of this severe safety issue!  
Our choices as consumers are made better by the knowledge that we accumulate in our lives.

Here in North America as well as Europe we have certain safety standards as far as occupant safety is concerned.
Here are the links for North American vehicle collision test results;
http://www.iihs.org/
http://www.safercar.gov/
and here is the link for European vehicle collision test results;
http://www.euroncap.com/home.aspx

If you would like read the entire article and see the shocking test video please click on the auto123.com link here:
http://www.auto123.com/en/news/several-cars-in-india-boast-zero-star-crash-rating?artid=164099

2015 FORD F150 - ALL Aluminum

 
Photo from Google images

2015 FORD F150 - ALL Aluminum, well not really but very close at 90%. Still remaining in steel on the F150 are the door latches and hinges, body rivets, mounting studs for fitting bolt-on parts, the cross-door side-impact beams, the majority of the firewall, and the frame.
The 2015 F150 has all sorts of new and updated gadgets specifically designed for the business side of the construction industry.
Features such as 100% LED headlamps, blind-spot monitor, remote tailgate release, rear step gate with assist handle, LED box lights, removable ramps, side-box step, spot lights on the mirrors, front, rear and side cameras (4 in total) for 360 degree view, 8 inch productivity screen, and 400 Watt in cabin inverter.
Ford global vice president of marketing Jim Farley said that the drivers comfort was the first priority in the  design of the new 2015 F150.
To watch the Car & Driver interview with Gordon Platto the chief designer on the F150: http://www.caranddriver.com/features/2015-ford-f-150-cool-features-functions-and-details-video


Photo from Google images

Ford will continue production of the F150 at their Kansas city plant. There will be four engine choices, new 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V-6 functions as the base engine, 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine, 3.5-liter EcoBoost and 5.0-liter V-8. The standard transmission across the range is a six-speed automatic.
Suspension will be front coil-on-shock and double-wishbone setup, and Hotchkiss-type live setup with leaf springs in back. Steering on the 2015 F150 will be rack-and-pinion gear, with electric boost, brakes will be four-wheel vented disc.


Photo from Google images

Full article on Car & Driver, 10 things you didn't know about the 2015 F150: http://blog.caranddriver.com/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-2015-ford-f-150/

2015 TOYOTA FCV - production fuel-cell vehicle

Fuel cell technology is the process of transforming hydrogen to electricity providing power to the electric drive motor. The process is fairly efficient as well as very environmentally friendly producing only water vapor from the exhaust as a bi-product.
Here are some characteristics and specifications now known about the 2015 Toyota FCV.

• Driving range of at least 500 km before refueling (300 miles)
• Cost of around $30 US to refuel for the 300 mile range
• Refueling of hydrogen should take approximately three minutes
• Seats four occupants
• Length 4870mm, Width 1810mm, Height 1535mm, Wheelbase 2780mm
• Power output peaks at more than 100 kW
• 0-60mph (100km) in around 10 seconds

Here is a simplified explanation of how Toyota's fuel cell system works:
 Picture from Toyota global website

The main issue that has perplexed vehicle manufacturers was the instability and flammability (explosiveness) of the hydrogen fuel. Toyota has designed high pressure hydrogen tanks featuring a polyamide resin liner on the inside with carbon fiber exterior.

If you would like to read more on the technology aspect click this link to Toyota: http://www.toyota-global.com/innovation/environmental_technology/technology_file/fuel_cell_hybrid.html

Toyota's multimedia page on the FCV with video and pictures:
http://www.toyota.com/fuelcell/
http://www.toyota-global.com/innovation/environmental_technology/fuelcell_vehicle/

All FCV photos from Toyota.com

2015 VW Tiguan and 2015 Cross-Coupe

Photos from Blendcars.com
2015 Cross-Coupe

The enlarged 2015 VW Tiguan (below)will be available in two wheel and all wheel drive versions. Wheelbase length of the 2015 Tiguan will grow to a 2700mm from the current 2604mm, using the VW MQB platform.
Power will be available through various engines depending on which world markets it will be sold in. So far a 1.6L gasoline and 2.0L TDi engines are known to be available for European models. As well Autoexpress does say that a 1.2L and 1.4L gasoline engines will be available in the UK. North American versions may also receive an updated version of the 2.0L TSi gasoline engine.
Cargo capacity is said to be somewhere between 470 and 500 Liters.
Prices should start at just under $30,000 US and around 31185 Euros in Germany.




Photos from thebestnewcars.com
2015 Tiguan

Further information sources on the 2015 VW Tiguan :
http://blendcars.com/new-2015-vw-tiguan-redesign
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/2015-volkswagen-cross-coupe-future-cars
http://www.2014bestnewcars.com/2015-volkswagen-tiguan/
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/tiguan/66800/chunky-look-new-vw-tiguan-2015

Youtube video of copy and paste photos by somebody with depressing music in the background (in case your interested): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwituWk1Kws

Top ten WORST USED vehicle purchases

This has got to be the best and most detailed quality control survey/test that I have ever come across by Steven Lang (on 17.01.2014)
He used data of used vehicles from auto auctions and the problems dealers themselves disclosed. As he is a frequent buyer and seller, he started the study with one key quality question for most car owners: “At what point does my car become so undesirable that I am willing to accept a wholesale used price for my vehicle?”
Lang says that trade-in vehicles are a great measurement of that emotional question. "Most consumers who trade their vehicle will get a price hundreds to thousands of dollars less than retail."
Lang has come up with a "trade-in quality index" http://members.wolfram.com/nickl/
It is designed to give the buyer an idea of what the long term reliability is of different makes and models based on real world used car data. (Models with less than 100 vehicles reported are omitted from the report.)
When you follow the above link to his page you will find a list of most vehicle manufacturers near the bottom of the page. Click on a manufacturer (ex. Honda) and presto data on quality by model (ex. Fit, Civic etc.), powertrain, transmission and engine issues.

I have copied the results as they appear in the article, due to the fact that I cannot explain it any better myself for you. So here they are:

WORST
10. Volkswagen New Beetle (automatic transmission issues and cheap interior components; diesel models with 5-speed manuals are by far the best powertrain option.)
9. Mazda 626 (automatic transmission issues, all models.)
8. Lincoln Aviator (a gussied-up, unpopular Ford Explorer that had unique sensor and software issues which negatively impacted the overall powertrain and electronics.)
7. Jaguar S-Type (Extensive transmission and engine issues on all V-6 and V-8 models. Along with Limited edition models with ungodly replacement costs.)
6. Lincoln LS (Same basic powertrain as the Jaguar S-Type with nearly identical results.)
5. Mazda Millenia (Engine issues, transmission issues and cheap interiors that just don't wear well.)
4. Land Rover Discovery (Expensive parts. Expensive powertrains. Electronics that are apparently the spawn of Beelzebub.)
3. Mini Cooper (Bad transmissions that are unusually expensive to replace. Cheap interior parts. Cheap hydraulics.)
2. Land Rover Freelander (A cost-cutting exercise that went way past the bone.)
And a true shocker, the single worst used vehicle at the wholesale auctions when it comes to overall defect rate at trade-in time is....
1. Mazda CX-7 (Engine issues on these vehicles are legion with nearly a third of these vehicles sold with "Engine needs service" announcements at the auctions.)

Link to the full article found on Yahoo!Autos: http://ca.autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/car-dealer-scientific-guide-10-worst-used-vehicles-222709616.html

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Steven Lang has also included the 10 BEST used vehicle purchases, here they are:

BEST

1.  Lexus LX (Toyota)

2.  Toyota Land Cruiser

3.  Ford E250

4.  Lexus LS (Toyota)

5.  Toyota 4Runner

6.  Toyota Avalon

7.  Toyota Sequoia

8.  Lexus GX (Toyota)

9.  Ford Excursion

10.Toyota Tacoma

Since 8/10 are Toyota I guess we should just buy a Toyota and forget about it, LOL.

Here is the link to the 10 best vehicles detailed study from Steven Lang: http://members.wolfram.com/nickl/QualityIndexRating.html

2015 Infiniti QX30 - luxury SUV

When we talk about luxury SUVs we think of BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus. A smaller player in the luxury SUV market is Infinity which is Nissan's luxury division.
For 2015 Infinity has an all new SUV the QX30. This will be the smallest SUV in the Infinity SUV lineup and will be targeted at a younger buyer. You can see by the photo below there is a slight resemblance to Mazda CX-7 although the QX30 has a much more fluid design.


photo curtsey of GoAuto.com.au

There is currently very little information about possible engine choices for the QX30. It is believed that the QX30 will be built at Nissan’s award-winning Sunderland England production facility.
The QX30 would be built on the chassis shared by the Mercedes CLA-Class and GLA-Class and sit below the QX50 in Infiniti's lineup.

Not clear as to what the final product will look like in various markets around the world, here are some different looking versions from Google images. Either one of these version is wonderfully designed as should be given a look at in the future.

2015 Honda Civic Tourer -- the wagon it's back!

 All photos from Google images


Not sure what to say. Front looks like the space shuttle from the Star Trek original series, the back looks amazing.
According to AutoBlog.com there will be 22 cubic feet of cargo space (623 Liters) with the rear seats up. Fold down the rear seats and it grows to 59 cubic feet (1670 Liters). The Tourer will be powered by either a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with i-VTEC or a 1.6-liter Earth Dreams i-DTEC diesel engine.
AutoBlog article: http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/10/honda-civic-tourer-frankfurt-2013/

Some really nice photos on tflcar.com follow link: http://www.tflcar.com/2013/08/the-honda-civic-tourer-is-sleek-spacious-and-not-coming-to-the-usa/





Us North Americans will probably never see the diesel or even the 2015 Civic Tourer altogether. So much variety for the Europeans so much blah for the North Americans.

Higher Octane Premium Fuel -- is it worth the extra money?

My personal opinion, yes, but it depends on your vehicle. In extreme weather conditions most engines will start and run better on higher octane fuels. As well you may see a slight increase in the amount of kilometers/miles that you may drive on the same amount of fuel.
Here in Canada where outside temperatures may reach -50 degrees Celsius with the windchill in the winter premium gasoline makes sense. Last winter I had been using premium gasoline only on my 2010 1.5 Liter VTEC Honda engine and 5W20 synthetic motor oil. Never did I have any cold starting issues during the entire 2012-2013 winter season.
This winter due to higher gasoline prices I have been mixing regular (87 octane) and premium (91 octane) fuels together (still using same synthetic motor oil). There have been at least four instances where my little Honda engine almost did not start, struggling it did eventually. Currently my beloved Honda engine is back solely on the premium 91 octane gasoline and I'm waiting for the next cold spell to see the difference.

I have also tried premium gasoline on a 2009 2 Liter Hyundai engine without variable valve timing system (older technology) using regular 5W30 oil. There was no increase in power on that vehicle, it is hard to judge if there was any extra distance traveled on the premium gasoline.

Here a two articles below with links on regular versus premium gasoline theories and tests:

Article from the Globe And Mail (PRO PREMIUM)
"A car's octane 'appetite' may increase with age. Over time, deposits can accumulate in your car's combustion chamber. In older vehicles, knock may be accompanied by engine run-on. If you hear knocking, a car owner should have their engine checked and/or use a higher-octane gasoline, says Chevron Canada spokesperson Deidre Reid."
"Any of the following can increase the octane level a vehicle may require: carrying or towing heavy loads, driving in low-altitude areas, driving frequent short trips, or driving in high temperatures, says Reid."
"John Thorne, who runs one of the United Kingdom's largest car-tuning services ... Pretty much consistently amongst all the tests - which cover vehicles from 20 years old up to brand new - generally speaking you have an 8 to 10 per cent improvement in power on any car, says Thorne. This generally equates to roughly half of that in fuel economy. It's not an exact science, because it depends on the car, but generally speaking we have been averaging between 5-10 per cent improvement in fuel economy when we had an 8-10 per cent improvement in power."
Link to full article -- http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/car-life/do-you-really-need-premium-fuel/article624005/

CBC News article (AGAINST PREMIUM)
Auto expert Marty Stanfel;
"In a test conducted for Marketplace, Stanfel fuelled up a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze — which is designed for regular fuel use — with Shell's regular, then premium V-power gas, and simulated identical drives with each. He found the high octane fuel didn’t burn efficiently and produced extra hydrocarbons, compounds that contribute to the formation of greenhouse gases."
"If they use the regularly priced gas… they’d be saving money as well as doing a favour to the environment, he said."
Link to full article -- http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/premium-gas-in-regular-fuel-cars-not-cleaner-expert-says-1.1187041

In conclusion it looks as if the higher the technology of the vehicle (Turbo, VTEC, high output compression engine) the higher the octane levels the vehicle will require.

New 2015 FORD Focus -- The worlds best selling car

 
 2015 Ford Focus (Courtesy of The Truth About Cars)

 
 2015 Ford Focus Interior (Courtesy of AutoGuide.com)

According to Wikipedia "As of the first half of 2012, the Focus surpassed the Toyota Corolla to become the world's best selling automobile nameplate."


1998-2004 Ford Focus (First Generation)


2005-2011 Ford Focus (Second Generation)


2011-Present Ford Focus (Third Generation)

The new 2015 Ford Focus is actually not "all new" this is in fact a facelift of the third generation Focus which was produced three years ago. The front hood, grill and rear lights have received "tweaks".
All engine choices will be carried over from last year from the 1L Ecoboost producing 98 hp all the way up to the 2L 247 hp version under the hood of the ST version.
The North American base engine will most probably be the same 2L four producing 160hp @ 6500 rpm.
European base engine will most probably be the 1L ecoboost delivering 100 hp. There is also a 1.6 L (TDCi) diesel engine available in the UK delivering a whopping 83 mpg as an option.
Of course us North Americans will most probably never see this 1.6 L TDCi engine brought here. Thus having to live with the gasoline only versions and the hybrid.

Link to thetruthaboutcars.com: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2014/01/new-face-of-2015-ford-focus-revealed/

First, second and third generation Focus photos courtesy of Google images 

Dodge Ram 1100 HP Diesel Pickup -- You gotta see the video

Insanity YES, but for a great show. You have to see this video, 1100 hp diesel RAM pickup blows away a Viper.


Photo from Yahoo autos
Not for view by environmentally friendly people.

To see the video click on the link from Yahoo autos: http://ca.autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/diesel-dodge-tuned-1-100-hp-smokes-viper-181710292.html

Your Car Battery vs Extremely Cold Weather

Recently here in eastern Canada we have been experiencing the coldest weather in decades. So far approximately three weeks of sub-zero temperatures between -20 and -30 degrees Celsius, with the windshield factor temperatures have reached -49 degrees Celsius.
The experts say that the windshield factor does not affect cars in any way, I do not agree with that conclusion here is why:
One of my cars uses synthetic oil (2010 Honda model) and is parked in the open, the other has conventional oil and is parked outside but in a wind shielded car port (2009 Hyundai model). The unshielded car with synthetic motor oil had trouble starting while the shielded car port car started immediately (both have original batteries).

Which brings me to car batteries, how do you know when it's weak or ready to die.The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) released an article on this subject, here are the results:

Signs to watch out for:
1) Your vehicle cranks slowly when trying to start. 
2) You hear a grinding, clicking or buzzing when you turn the ignition on. 
3) Your vehicle has previously stalled. 
4) Your headlights dim when you are idling but brighten when you rev the engine.

Some other tips:
1) Turn off your vehicle's lights, heater and radio before trying to start it.
2) Remember that the average life of a battery is three to five years, but driving conditions, weather and lack of care can shorten the lifespan of a battery.

Full article by CAA on Yahoo Autos: http://ca.autos.yahoo.com/news/winter-driving-tips-battery-die-175704545.html