Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Batman and Dale Earnhardt Jr. car baby seats are kind of creepy, kind of cool]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/batman-and-dale-earnhardt-jr-car-baby-seats-are-kind-of-creepy/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/batman-and-dale-earnhardt-jr-car-baby-seats-are-kind-of-creepy/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/batman-and-dale-earnhardt-jr-car-baby-seats-are-kind-of-creepy/#commentsFiled under:

Batman Car Seat

If you're looking for a different way to ferry your children about in the car safely, KidsEmbrace may have you covered. The company makes specialty car seats fashioned after DC Comics superhero Batman and NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Junior.

Why? Probably because there is no territory marketing departments won't fearlessly course through. The Batman seat features a cape and arm rests styled after the Dark Knight's own arms, complete with hands for cup holders. The Earnhardt Jr. example looks less like the racer himself and more like a generic helmet-clad hot shoe. Still, the treatment doesn't make the product any less creepy.

If you disagree, you can head over to the KidsEmbrace site for a closer look. The seats can be had for around $149 or so. Just don't be surprised if your kid isn't that excited about climbing into a legless crime fighter's lap for a trip to the grocery store.

Batman and Dale Earnhardt Jr. car baby seats are kind of creepy, kind of cool originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 May 2013 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batmanbatman car seatcar seatdale earnhardt jrdale earnhardt jr car seatkidsWed, 01 May 2013 07:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20551987/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/01/batman-and-dale-earnhardt-jr-car-baby-seats-are-kind-of-creepy/20551987/article-detail.xml 20551987 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/batman-car-seat-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/batman-car-seat-628.jpg <![CDATA[Will your next car feature Bluetooth-enabled, self-adjusting seats? [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/will-your-next-car-feature-bluetooth-enabled-self-adjusting-sea/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/will-your-next-car-feature-bluetooth-enabled-self-adjusting-sea/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/will-your-next-car-feature-bluetooth-enabled-self-adjusting-sea/#commentsFiled under:

Faurecia's Bluetooth-enabled smart driver's seat

At one time, recently at that, the 22-way adjustable seat was a marvel - especially since we didn't know our own bodies even had 22 different ways to be seated comfortably. Automotive supplier Faurecia plans on going well beyond that, however, with its prototype Bluetooth-enabled SmartFit seating system.

To get your seat fitted perfectly to your body without having to touch any of its controls, you enter your information into the SmartFit app: gender, height, weight, reach and a picture of yourself sitting down. The data will be uploaded to Faurecia's system, which will work out "your tailored comfort profile," then send that via Bluetooth to the car's seat, and the chair will automatically shape-shift to hold you just like you like.

The app includes adjustments for specialized conditions like back stiffness and leg or thermal discomfort. Going even further, Faurecia imagines you could purchase enhanced seating functions like Shiatsu massage, IsoHeat treatment and "workout relief." Word is they want to bring it to market in the next few years. You can see how it works in the video below.

Continue reading Will your next car feature Bluetooth-enabled, self-adjusting seats? [w/video]

Will your next car feature Bluetooth-enabled, self-adjusting seats? [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appbluetoothcar seatfaureciamassagemassaging seatseatseatingsmartfitsuppliervideovideosMon, 10 Dec 2012 16:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20397953/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/10/will-your-next-car-feature-bluetooth-enabled-self-adjusting-sea/20397953/article-detail.xml 20397953 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/faureciabtseat_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/faureciabtseat.jpg <![CDATA[UK judge finds mom culpable for child's injuries because of incorrect child seat]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/29/uk-judge-finds-mom-culpable-for-childs-injuries-because-of-inco/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/29/uk-judge-finds-mom-culpable-for-childs-injuries-because-of-inco/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/29/uk-judge-finds-mom-culpable-for-childs-injuries-because-of-inco/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Child Safety Seat

Any time a parent's poor judgment results in harm or injury to a child, it's a sad case. This story, however, seems particularly tragic. According to The Telegraph, a British woman whose daughter was seriously injured in a car crash was found negligent and partially responsible for her daughter's injuries because the girl was riding in an inappropriate child safety seat.

While the accident was judged to be entirely the fault of the other driver, according to the report, his insurance company insisted that part of the responsibility for the girl's injuries fell on her mother. Despite having an appropriate car seat with a five-point harness in the vehicle, the three-year-old girl was riding in a booster seat designed for older children. The judge agreed with the insurer and ruled that the mother was 25 percent liable for her child's head, spinal and internal injuries, which the report said will affect her for the rest of her life. The decision means the woman will receive less financial compensation from the insurance company.

While we're sure that the woman - who was described by the judge as "an excellent and caring mother," according to the report - feels no small measure of guilt, her case reinforces the necessity of proper seatbelt and child safety seat use. For more information about keeping kids safe in and around cars, please visit Parents Central, provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

UK judge finds mom culpable for child's injuries because of incorrect child seat originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car seatChild safetychild safety seatnational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsasafetySun, 29 Apr 2012 16:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20225931/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/29/uk-judge-finds-mom-culpable-for-childs-injuries-because-of-inco/20225931/article-detail.xml 20225931 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/carseat-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/carseat-opt.jpg <![CDATA[IIHS says most LATCH systems are too difficult to use [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/12/iihs-says-most-latch-systems-are-too-difficult-to-use-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/12/iihs-says-most-latch-systems-are-too-difficult-to-use-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/12/iihs-says-most-latch-systems-are-too-difficult-to-use-w-video/#commentsFiled under:

IIHS says most LATCH systems are too difficult to use

If you've ever tried installing an infant car seat in say, a Jaguar XKR, you understand that just because a car has LATCH anchors doesn't mean your car seat is going to fit. Those anchors are supposed to make child restraint installation a breeze, but according to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, many automakers aren't following the spirit of the law requiring them.

The study looked at the 98 top-selling vehicles from 2010-2011 and found just 21 that met its criteria for having "easy-to-use" LATCH hardware. Making the list were the Audi A4; Cadillac Escalade; Chevrolet Equinox, Silverado, Suburban and Tahoe; Chrysler Town & Country; Dodge Caliber, Grand Caravan and Ram; Ford Escape and F-150; GMC Sierra; Honda Pilot; Kia Sedona; Land Rover Range Rover Sport; Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class; Mitsubishi Eclipse and Lancer; and Toyota Tacoma.

The researchers used a test fixture that adhered to guidelines developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers to develop three criteria for evaluation. The first was having anchors that were easy to see and not buried beneath rear seat cushions. The second was having the LATCH attachment points unobstructed by seatbelts, foam or other parts of the seat. The third was that adults could correctly install the seats using less than 40 pounds of force.

While the study found that the majority of models didn't nail all three criteria, the list of vehicles that didn't meet any of them was much shorter: Buick Enclave; Chevrolet Impala; Dodge Avenger; Ford Flex and Taurus; Hyundai Sonata; and Toyota Sienna.

Scroll down to see a video about LATCH and read the full release from IIHS.

Continue reading IIHS says most LATCH systems are too difficult to use [w/video]

IIHS says most LATCH systems are too difficult to use [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car seatcar seatschild restraintsiihsinfant car seatinfant car seatsinsurance institute for highway safetylatchumtriuniversity of michiganuniversity of michigan transportation research instituteThu, 12 Apr 2012 14:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20214204/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/12/iihs-says-most-latch-systems-are-too-difficult-to-use-w-video/20214204/article-detail.xml 20214204 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/iihs-latch-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/iihs-latch-opt.jpg <![CDATA[New car seat concept uses your butt print as identification]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/new-car-seat-concept-uses-your-butt-print-as-identification/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/new-car-seat-concept-uses-your-butt-print-as-identification/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/new-car-seat-concept-uses-your-butt-print-as-identification/#commentsFiled under: , ,



If Fido can distinguish people and other pooches by their backsides, why not a seat? When students at the Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology in Tokyo, Japan asked that question, they came up with a car seat fitted with 360 sensors that makes a map of the pressure applied by your posterior. Among the six rumps tested, the seat was 98 percent accurate at sorting one from another.

The ultimate aim is to work with automakers to develop an anti-theft solution that would be available in the next few years. With such a small testing pool, it's too early to start asking the difficult questions about real-world viability (especially when you start to factor in things like different articles of clothing, Costanza wallets, and so on), but we have a feeling this kind of technology will find an application somewhere.

New car seat concept uses your butt print as identification originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advanced institute of industrial technologyanti-theftbuttcar seatcar seatingcar theftidentificationseatingsecurity systemtokyoFri, 30 Dec 2011 14:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20137596/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/30/new-car-seat-concept-uses-your-butt-print-as-identification/20137596/article-detail.xml 20137596 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/buttseatid_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/buttseatid.jpg <![CDATA[Overweight children no less safe in their car seats]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/07/overweight-children-no-less-safe-in-their-car-seats/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/07/overweight-children-no-less-safe-in-their-car-seats/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/07/overweight-children-no-less-safe-in-their-car-seats/#commentsFiled under: ,

Child in safety seat

As any parent will tell you, not all children are the same. Some are tall, some are short. Some are slim, and some are... less slim, if you catch our politically correct drift. This raises an interesting question: Do overweight children need specifically engineered safety seats?

According to a study released by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Center for Injury Research and Prevention, the answer is no. An overweight child, as long as he or she is placed in the proper seat for their size and age, is no more likely to be injured in an accident than any other child - assuming the seat is correctly installed, of course.

This is an important finding, says lead author Dr. Mark Zonfrillo, because some 32 percent of all children in the United States are considered overweight or obese. That's a sobering statistic in and of itself, but at least parents can rest assured that both their lightweight and heavyweight bundles of joy are safe in their child seats. Read more in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Overweight children no less safe in their car seats

Overweight children no less safe in their car seats originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baby seatbooster seatcar seatchilds safety seatobeseobese childrenoverweightoverweight childrensafety seatWed, 07 Dec 2011 08:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20121325/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/07/overweight-children-no-less-safe-in-their-car-seats/20121325/article-detail.xml 20121325 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/child-in-seat_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/child-in-seat.jpg <![CDATA[Toxic chemicals found in over half of children's car seats]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/07/toxic-chemicals-found-in-over-half-of-childrens-car-seats/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/07/toxic-chemicals-found-in-over-half-of-childrens-car-seats/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/07/toxic-chemicals-found-in-over-half-of-childrens-car-seats/#commentsFiled under:

Child Seat

Car seats are undoubtedly a must-have if you want to keep your child safe in the car. Yet, as with so many other things, they can hide surprises that you might want your child to avoid. In this case the surprise is chemicals that, according to HealthyStuff.org, possess "known toxicity, persistence, and tendency to build up in people and the environment." They include bromine, chlorine and lead, among others.

Some of the seatmakers, such as Graco, earned spots on both the best and worst lists. Although the best and worst performers in the tests earn a numerical score, the tests don't indicate the exact amount of the detected chemicals. Things have gotten better, though, with average car seat rankings improving by 64 percent since 2008.

You can find the press release with more details after the jump, and all of the tested seats ranked here.

Continue reading Toxic chemicals found in over half of children's car seats

Toxic chemicals found in over half of children's car seats originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>babiesbooster seatscar seatcar seatschemicalschildrenhealthystuff.orgkidssafetySun, 07 Aug 2011 12:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20011426/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/07/toxic-chemicals-found-in-over-half-of-childrens-car-seats/20011426/article-detail.xml 20011426 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/carseattoxicitystudy_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/carseattoxicitystudy.jpg <![CDATA[Ford developing seat capable of detecting heart attacks]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/25/ford-developing-seat-capable-of-detecting-heart-attacks/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/25/ford-developing-seat-capable-of-detecting-heart-attacks/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/25/ford-developing-seat-capable-of-detecting-heart-attacks/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

details of the Ford electrocardiogram seat

A heart attack behind the wheel can render much of your car's safety equipment moot despite decades of advancement. Ford Motor Company has tasked its European Research Center in Aachen, Germany with finding a way to reduce accidents caused by drivers experiencing heart trouble. According to the automaker, their prototype seat with contactless electrocardiogram technology can warn drivers to seek medical attention immediately by scanning for potential cardiovascular trouble through clothing.

According to Ford, by 2025, nearly one quarter of Europeans will be at least 65 years old, a figure that increases to one third by 2050. As risk of cardiovascular disease increases with age, drivers suffering from conditions like angina can be more than fifty percent more likely to be involved in an accident, so there's a lot of motivation to push this technology.

The prototype seat presently delivers accurate readings for 95 percent of drivers 98 percent of the time. Ford researchers are now looking into how the seat can be integrated with the other safety systems to work together to protect drivers who experience issues behind the wheel.

The safety aspect may be the most obvious application of this technology, but who knows - maybe it could also give real metrics about just how excited a thrilling run in a Mustang Boss 302 actually is. Press release posted after the jump.

Continue reading Ford developing seat capable of detecting heart attacks

Ford developing seat capable of detecting heart attacks originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 May 2011 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car seatcardioecgekgelectrocardiogramfordheart attackheart monitorWed, 25 May 2011 18:21:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19949310/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/25/ford-developing-seat-capable-of-detecting-heart-attacks/19949310/article-detail.xml 19949310 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/ecgseat11_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/ecgseat11.jpg <![CDATA[Video: Inflatable car seat is cheap, convenient... but is it safe?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/31/video-inflatable-car-seat-is-cheap-convenient-but-is-it-saf/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/31/video-inflatable-car-seat-is-cheap-convenient-but-is-it-saf/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/31/video-inflatable-car-seat-is-cheap-convenient-but-is-it-saf/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

easy car seat
Easycarseat inflatable - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Just about every time we go through airport security, we notice there is at least one family that has to lug their bulky car seat through the airport, dropping a trail of Cheerio crumbs as they go. And then there is the coworker in your lunch carpool that has a kid, which means everyone must stand outside the car, rain or shine, while he or she removes the seat and jams it in the trunk.

A company has invented an inflatable seat that should theoretically relieve some of these problems. The Easycarseat is inflatable seat that can handle children ages four and older from 33 to 79 pounds. The seat, which inflates in under a minute, only costs about $90, weighs about two pounds and can be folded for storage whenever a mom or dad needs it for travel.

An inflatable car seat just doesn't sound safe, but the company insists it has already met all applicable U.S. and European safety standards. The seat also features a pressure release valve that prevents the seat from popping in the event of an accident.

We're not so sure we'd opt for a blowup car seat for everyday use, but for anyone doing a lot of air travel or car hopping, this seat seems like a real luggage-saver. Hit the jump to view a one-minute demo, and stay for the crash test footage.

[Sources: The Stir, Easycarseat]

Continue reading Video: Inflatable car seat is cheap, convenient... but is it safe?

Video: Inflatable car seat is cheap, convenient... but is it safe? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baby seatbooster seatcar seatcar seat crash videoeasy car seateasy car seat demo videoeasycarseatinflatable car seatvideoThu, 31 Mar 2011 13:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19897682/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/03/31/video-inflatable-car-seat-is-cheap-convenient-but-is-it-saf/19897682/article-detail.xml 19897682 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/inflatable-car-seat_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/inflatable-car-seat.jpg <![CDATA[NHTSA issues new child seat guidelines]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/21/nhtsa-issues-new-child-seat-guidelines/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/21/nhtsa-issues-new-child-seat-guidelines/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/21/nhtsa-issues-new-child-seat-guidelines/#commentsFiled under:

NHTSA child car seat guidlines

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released new guidelines today to help parents decide on a safety seat for their child and the best use of that seat. According to the new guidelines, kids should stay in rear-facing child seats until they're two years old, or have reached the height and weight limits advised by the seat's manufacturer.

Whether kids are kept in a rear- or forward-facing seat, NHTSA says it is important children always ride in the back. If the back seat is unavailable, passenger air bags should be turned off when car seats are in front of them.

After kids reach two, NHTSA recommends leaving them in a child or booster seat appropriate for their weight and height until they properly fit in an adult seatbelt. Further, NHTSA recommends keeping kids in the back seat at all times until they hit those magical teen years.

Click past the break for the full press release from NHTSA.

[Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | Image: visualthinker - CC 2.0]

Continue reading NHTSA issues new child seat guidelines

NHTSA issues new child seat guidelines originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car seatchild seatchild seatsnational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsasafety seatMon, 21 Mar 2011 15:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19886275/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/03/21/nhtsa-issues-new-child-seat-guidelines/19886275/article-detail.xml 19886275 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/carseat630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/carseat630.jpg <![CDATA[NHTSA in hot seat after troubling baby car seat test found - Part II]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/06/nhtsa-in-hot-seat-after-troubling-baby-car-seat-test-found-par/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/06/nhtsa-in-hot-seat-after-troubling-baby-car-seat-test-found-par/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/06/nhtsa-in-hot-seat-after-troubling-baby-car-seat-test-found-par/#commentsFiled under:



Earlier this week, we reported that the NHTSA was in the hot seat when it failed to report infant seat failures. Our post stemmed from a report in the Chicago Tribune following its investigation through thousands of buried National Highway Traffic Safety Administration test reports. The Tribune report raised more than a few eyebrows as it called into question current child seat safety standards, and accused the NHTSA of negligence in not reporting the poor results to the public.

SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A., a national non-profit organization dedicated to child passenger safety, was quick to issue a response in a effort to clear up the Tribune's alarming and sensational report. According to SBS, the infant/child seat manufacturers do exhaustive testing of new designs on computers before they ever get bolted to a test sled. Those tests, run at 30 mph into a rigid barrier (as required by FMVSS 213), "...are the equivalent of hitting another car at 60 mph and more severe than more than 95% of real-world crashes." As of today, the largest collection of consistently analyzed cases of children in crashes over a ten-year period was done by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The findings indicated that "...the chance of injury of an infant properly restrained in a correctly secured rear-facing seat is less than 1%." While no restraint system (adult, child, or infant) is optimal for every crash scenario, all studies still indicate that a properly restrained infant is going to fend very well in a real-world crash. Keep 'em buckled up!

[Source: CarSeat.org]

NHTSA in hot seat after troubling baby car seat test found - Part II originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Car SeatCarSeatChicago TribuneChicagoTribuneChild SeatChildrens HospitalChildrensHospitalChildSeatnational highway systemnational highway tra...national highway traffic safety administrationnational highway transportation safety administrationNationalHighwaySystemNationalHighwayTra...NationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministrationNationalHighwayTransportationSafetyAdministrationNHTSASafetyBeltSafeFri, 06 Mar 2009 09:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1479865/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/03/06/nhtsa-in-hot-seat-after-troubling-baby-car-seat-test-found-par/1479865/article-detail.xml 1479865 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/03/infant_sled_ii_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/03/infant_sled_ii.jpg <![CDATA[PSA: Evenflo recalls 1,000,000 Discovery car seats]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/07/psa-evenflo-recalls-1-000-000-discovery-car-seats/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/07/psa-evenflo-recalls-1-000-000-discovery-car-seats/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/07/psa-evenflo-recalls-1-000-000-discovery-car-seats/#commentsFiled under:

Evenflo DiscoveryEvenflo has announced a voluntary recall of 1 million of its Discovery car seats. Discovery seats with the model numbers 390, 391, 534 and 552 manufactured between April 2005 and January 29, 2008 are affected. If you currently own and/or use an Evenflo Discovery, you are advised to check the white label on the underside of the seat, where you'll find the pertinent information listed. The problem which caused Evenflo to issue the recall is that the possibility exists for the car seat to separate from its base in the event of an accident. Customers who have affected units and participate in the recall will be sent an additional fastener that corrects the problem.

Additional information and/or instructions can be found at these resources:

Evenflo's press release has also been copied after the jump.

[Source: CNNMoney]

Continue reading PSA: Evenflo recalls 1,000,000 Discovery car seats

PSA: Evenflo recalls 1,000,000 Discovery car seats originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcar seatCarSeatchild seatChildSeatevenflo car seat recallevenflo discoveryevenflo discovery recallEvenfloCarSeatRecallEvenfloDiscoveryEvenfloDiscoveryRecallrecallThu, 07 Feb 2008 10:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1108796/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/02/07/psa-evenflo-recalls-1-000-000-discovery-car-seats/1108796/article-detail.xml 1108796 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/02/evenflodiscovery_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/02/evenflodiscovery.jpg <![CDATA[Evenflo recalls 450,000 car seats for defective handle]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/10/evenflo-recalls-450-000-car-seats-for-defective-handle/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/10/evenflo-recalls-450-000-car-seats-for-defective-handle/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/10/evenflo-recalls-450-000-car-seats-for-defective-handle/#commentsFiled under: ,

Evenflo Company Inc. in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 450,000 units of its Embrace Infant car seat/carriers. The defect has to do with the carrier's handle, which may unexpectedly release while the seat is being carried and tilt forward, potentially causing the infant to fall out.

While the defect doesn't have anything to do with the seat's use in a car, Evenflo has received reports of 160 injuries that have been caused by the defect, including a fratured skulls and other injuries. As such, we thought it prudent to make sure every auto enthusiast with children is aware of the defect so that the news can be passed along to other parents. Owners of the Evenflo Embrace car seat/carrier can contact the company at its website. The recall includes seats that have model numbers beginning with 317, 320, 397, 398, 540, 548, 549, 550, 556, 597, 598 or 599.

[Source: CNN Money]

Evenflo recalls 450,000 car seats for defective handle originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 May 2007 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car seatCarSeatembrace car seatEmbraceCarSeatevenfloinfantrecallThu, 10 May 2007 15:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/893449/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/05/10/evenflo-recalls-450-000-car-seats-for-defective-handle/893449/article-detail.xml 893449 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/05/embrace_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/05/embrace.jpg <![CDATA[All Mazda's CX-7 wants to do is Zoom-Zoom, but it poom-pooms?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/07/all-mazdas-cx-7-wants-to-do-is-zoom-zoom-but-it-poom-pooms/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/07/all-mazdas-cx-7-wants-to-do-is-zoom-zoom-but-it-poom-pooms/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/07/all-mazdas-cx-7-wants-to-do-is-zoom-zoom-but-it-poom-pooms/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Remember that horribly infectious song, "Rump Shaker" by one-hit wonders Wreckx-N-Effect? Apparently that's how the new Mazda CX-7 struck writer Warren Brown's family, butt not in a good way. While the reviewer enjoyed the crossover and its 2.3-liter, 244-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder, and its near sports-car handling, Brown's wife and daughters sharpened knives smoldered in their seats. Finally, they exploded, complaining how hard the firm squabs felt during the ride.

Didn't the family Brown also complain about the Lexus LS' seats? We haven't driven a CX-7 yet, but we're beginning to think that hard seats are the least of the author's worries.

[Source: Washington Post via the Post and Courier; Lyricsstyle.com]

All Mazda's CX-7 wants to do is Zoom-Zoom, but it poom-pooms? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jun 2006 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car seatCarSeatCX-7hard seatsHardSeatsWed, 07 Jun 2006 12:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/630539/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/06/07/all-mazdas-cx-7-wants-to-do-is-zoom-zoom-but-it-poom-pooms/630539/article-detail.xml 630539 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/06/mazda-cx-7-rear-left_thumbnail.jpg http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/06/mazda-cx-7-rear-left.jpg <![CDATA[Britney Spears giving her all to promote child seat safety]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/17/britney-spears-giving-her-all-to-promote-child-seat-safety/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/17/britney-spears-giving-her-all-to-promote-child-seat-safety/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/17/britney-spears-giving-her-all-to-promote-child-seat-safety/#commentsFiled under:

Pop star Britney Spears is doing more for the promotion of child car seat safety than the industry could have ever possibly hoped for, and yet she hasn't earned a dime. The starlet recently committed her second child seat faux pas when she put son Sean Preston in a car seat facing forwards in the back of her Mini Cooper convertible. While California vehicle code doesn't specify which way the child seat should be facing, it does mandate that motorists follow federal guidelines, which clearly state that the seat should be facing backwards.

In Britney's defense, manufacturers vary on the recommended positioning of the seat and Sean Preston's seat may very well be one which the manufacturer recommends it faces forward.

[Source: CNN.com]

Britney Spears giving her all to promote child seat safety originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 May 2006 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Britney SpearsBritneySpearscar seatCarSeatchild safetyChildSafetysafety seatSafetySeatvehicle safetyVehicleSafetyWed, 17 May 2006 18:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/619027/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/05/17/britney-spears-giving-her-all-to-promote-child-seat-safety/619027/article-detail.xml 619027 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/05/story.britney.carseat_thumbnail.jpg http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/05/story.britney.carseat.jpg <![CDATA[Volkswagen integrated child seat]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2005/12/27/volkswagen-integrated-child-seat/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/12/27/volkswagen-integrated-child-seat/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/12/27/volkswagen-integrated-child-seat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The German automaker is now offering a child seat for its Passat and Passat Estate vehicles. The new seat, designed for children ages two to twelve, integrates into the regular rear seating on its own or as a pair (parents of two children or twins take note.)

Side head restraints reduce impact on the head by up to sixty percent. Side supports, which fold out of the way, provide optimal support and restraint as well as ease of use. The belt buckle system extends to soften during an impact. The seat conforms with all European safety standards.

The seat is available for the new Passat and comes in four types: Trendline, Comfortline, Sportline and Highline.

Volkswagen integrated child seat originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Dec 2005 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bloggingbabycar seatCarSeatpassatvolkswagenTue, 27 Dec 2005 08:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/574695/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2005/12/27/volkswagen-integrated-child-seat/574695/article-detail.xml 574695 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2005/12/2051221.006.1L_thumbnail.jpg http://www.autoblog.com/media/2005/12/2051221.006.1L.jpg -1 2