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[Volvo testing F1-style KERS system, cites 25% fuel economy bump [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/29/volvo-testing-f1-style-kers-system-cites-25-fuel-economy-bump/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/29/volvo-testing-f1-style-kers-system-cites-25-fuel-economy-bump/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/29/volvo-testing-f1-style-kers-system-cites-25-fuel-economy-bump/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Volvo has been experimenting with flywheel propulsion systems since the eighties, but only recently has technology caught up with the possibility of real-world applications. In 2011, the Swedish carmaker was granted 6.57 million Swedish kronor (about $1M US) by the Swedish Energy Agency to work on a kinetic energy recovery system with Swedish bearing company SKF. Before it began trials, Volvo expected the fuel savings to be as high as 20 percent. After trials conducted last year on public roads the results were even better, Volvo finding that a KERS-equipped four-cylinder turbo performs like a six-cylinder turbo but gets up to 25-percent better fuel economy. It calls KERS "a light, cheap and very eco-efficient solution."

The test vehicle was an S60, its ICE driving the front wheels while the KERS - weighing six kilograms, measuring about 20 centimeters across and using a carbon fiber flywheel - was attached to the rear axle. Under braking, the four-cylinder engine is shut off and the KERS gathers rotational energy, spinning at up to 60,000 revolutions per minute. The stored energy is then used to get the car going again or to assist at cruising speeds. It's the same kind of vacuum-sealed flywheel design used by Audi in its R18 etron quattro, but with the opposite arrangement - in the Audi the diesel V6 drives the rear wheels, the KERS drives the front wheels.

Like the units in Formula One, it provides an additional 80 horsepower. When working with the four-cylinder ICE, the S60 with KERS can do the 0-62 mph dash in 5.5 seconds, a full 1.1 seconds faster than the S60 with the 3.0-liter T6 engine and all-wheel drive.

As we expect with hybrids, the greatest fuel savings came in urban environments with a lot of braking, Volvo suggesting that the combustion engine could be shut down "about half the time" on the New European Driving Cycle. A press release below has more details, along with a video Volvo released in 2011 to show how its system works.

Continue reading Volvo testing F1-style KERS system, cites 25% fuel economy bump [w/video]

Volvo testing F1-style KERS system, cites 25% fuel economy bump [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fuel economyhybridkerskinetic energy recovery systemstudyvolvo s60Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20549444/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/29/volvo-testing-f1-style-kers-system-cites-25-fuel-economy-bump/20549444/article-detail.xml 20549444 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/volvo-kers-cf-flywheel_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/volvo-kers-cf-flywheel.jpg <![CDATA[Study says voice-to-text no safer than regular texting]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/26/voice-to-text-no-safer-than-regular-texting/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/26/voice-to-text-no-safer-than-regular-texting/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/26/voice-to-text-no-safer-than-regular-texting/#commentsFiled under: ,



So much for all those systems that allow you to convert your voice to text messages. Reuters reports that a new study by the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M has found the technology to be no safer to use while driving than employing a traditional handheld device. The study found that drivers took around twice as long to react to situations on the road as they did while they weren't texting and that eye contact with the road decreased as well.

The study used 43 participants who were tasked with driving around a test course, first without any electronic devices and then with a voice-to-text system. Interestingly enough, using the speech-to-text device actually took longer than simply typing out a message on a phone. Despite this fact, the drivers said they felt safer while using the hands-free option. Researchers said that this response could lead drivers to attempt to text even when it isn't safe to do so.

Study says voice-to-text no safer than regular texting originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>researchstudytext messagingtextingvoice to textFri, 26 Apr 2013 11:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20549003/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/26/voice-to-text-no-safer-than-regular-texting/20549003/article-detail.xml 20549003 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/texting-while-driving-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/texting-while-driving-628.jpg <![CDATA[The music you listen to impacts your driving safety]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/16/the-music-you-listen-to-impacts-your-driving-safety/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/16/the-music-you-listen-to-impacts-your-driving-safety/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/16/the-music-you-listen-to-impacts-your-driving-safety/#commentsFiled under: ,

The Black Eyed Peas

Walking by any cardio class at the gym - or watching Iron Eagle - should be enough clue that music affects the tempo at which we do things. A study, admittedly a tiny one, by UK car and financial site Confused.com puts it in perspective behind the wheel. Using its MotorMate app to monitor driving behavior during a 500-mile road trip, it had the eight participants drive the first half without music, while the second half was accompanied by different genres of tunes from classical to heavy metal.

The results? Heavy metal caused a male driver to go "much faster," hip-hop made one of the female drivers crank up the aggression, and a classical playlist caused two other drivers to be more erratic than when there was no music. A psychologist at London University backed up the findings, accidentally sounding like one of those campy PSAs from the 1950s at the same time when he commented, "Music that is noisy, upbeat and increases your heart rate is a deadly mix," and, "Fast beats can cause excitement and arousal that can lead people to concentrate more on the music than on the road."

With the revelation that up-tempo tunes can lead to drivers matching the 'beat' with their driving, the "ideal" driving rhythm was said to be that which matches the human heart rate, about 60 to 80 beats per minute. On the top ten list of most dangerous songs to drive to was "Hey Mama" by The Black Eyed Peas at number one, followed by Fall Out Boy's "Dead on Arrival" and M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes." Ray Charles even made the list at number seven with "Hit the Road, Jack," as did Nickleback with "How You Remind Me," only slightly worse at number six.

A list of the ten best songs to safely drive to is a playlist straight from any easy listening radio station or Starbucks. Norah Jones took the lead with "Come Away with Me," groups like Coldplay, Elton John, Radiohead and Jason Mraz keeping her company. Interestingly, songs featuring Bruno Mars made both lists: you should stay away from "Young, Wild and Free" by Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa, feat. Bruno Mars, but Travie McCoy's "Billionaire Feat. Bruno Mars" is safe.

The music you listen to impacts your driving safety originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>confused.commusicsafetystudyWed, 16 Jan 2013 08:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20426160/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/16/the-music-you-listen-to-impacts-your-driving-safety/20426160/article-detail.xml 20426160 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/black-eyed-peas_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/black-eyed-peas.jpg <![CDATA[Volkswagen Group, BMW Z4 top Total Value Awards by Strategic Vision]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/11/volkswagen-group-bmw-z4-top-total-value-awards-by-strategic-vis/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/11/volkswagen-group-bmw-z4-top-total-value-awards-by-strategic-vis/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/11/volkswagen-group-bmw-z4-top-total-value-awards-by-strategic-vis/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Volkswagen logo

It was just nine months ago that Strategic Vision announced its 2011 Total Value Awards, but you don't have to wait until next year for the 2012 awards. The Volkswagen Group keeps its lead as the number one brand, with seven products taking top category spots: Golf, Jetta Wagon, CC, Eos and Audi A3 Wagon, Q5 and Q7. Strategic Vision says "true innovation" - "rich and impactful, intuitive, motivational, in-depth and is able to trigger description by the user in great specificity" - is the open secret of the brands with the strongest showings. Results are culled from 77,153 owners covering more than 350 new cars bought between September of 2011 and 2012 ranked in the Total Value Index (TVI).

Other notable winners are Hyundai-Kia following VW in the brand category and having the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Sorento among category winners, the BMW Z4 taking the premium roadster category and the highest overall score of any vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt continuing to gather silverware in the Special Category, nabbing the second-highest score of all and representative of "nearly perfect innovation," and Chrysler and Dodge being most improved.

Check out the press release below for your day's dose of jargon and all the winners.

Continue reading Volkswagen Group, BMW Z4 top Total Value Awards by Strategic Vision

Volkswagen Group, BMW Z4 top Total Value Awards by Strategic Vision originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Dec 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a3audiawardsbmwcceosgolfhyundaikiaq5q7strategic visionstudyTotal Value Awardstotal value indexvolkswagenz4Tue, 11 Dec 2012 09:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20396747/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/11/volkswagen-group-bmw-z4-top-total-value-awards-by-strategic-vis/20396747/article-detail.xml 20396747 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/vw-logo-large_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/vw-logo-large.jpg <![CDATA[J.D. Power: Mini, Lexus again offer most satisfying sales experience]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/29/j-d-power-mini-lexus-again-offer-most-satisfying-sales-experi/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/29/j-d-power-mini-lexus-again-offer-most-satisfying-sales-experi/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/29/j-d-power-mini-lexus-again-offer-most-satisfying-sales-experi/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



JD Power has released its annual Sales Satisfaction Index Study, and once again Mini and Lexus have taken top honors. Overall, buyers are more satisfied with the auto-buying sales experience than they were last year, with those surveyed reporting an average score of 664 points on a 1,000-point scale. That's up from 648 in 2011. Dealer satisfaction also increased by five points over last year as well.

All told, Lexus brought home an index score of 737, which was high enough to put it atop the luxury brands for the second year in a row. JD Power says Infiniti came in second in that category with a score of 728 and Cadillac rounded out the podium with it's rating of 725. Speaking of Infiniti, that brand saw the single largest jump in sales satisfaction of any brand on the survey, popping up 52 index points over 2011.

Among mass-market brands, Mini ranked highest with a score of 712, followed closely by Buick with 706 and GMC farther down the line with 683. You can check out the full press release below for more information.

Continue reading J.D. Power: Mini, Lexus again offer most satisfying sales experience

J.D. Power: Mini, Lexus again offer most satisfying sales experience originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Nov 2012 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buickcadillacgmcinfinitijd powerjd power sales satisfactionlexusminisales satisfactionstudysurveyThu, 29 Nov 2012 11:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20390871/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/29/j-d-power-mini-lexus-again-offer-most-satisfying-sales-experi/20390871/article-detail.xml 20390871 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/mini-dealership_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/mini-dealership.jpg <![CDATA[Women outnumber men for first time on US roads]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/21/women-outnumber-men-for-first-time-on-us-roads/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/21/women-outnumber-men-for-first-time-on-us-roads/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/21/women-outnumber-men-for-first-time-on-us-roads/#commentsFiled under: ,

Oprah Drivers

According to a study by the University of Michigan, women now outnumber men on US roads for the first time in the country's history. Analysts at the school's Transportation Research Institute used data from driver's license statistics for their findings, and the trend may have a widespread impact on the automotive industry as a whole. The researchers predict that if the trend continues, it could affect everything from vehicle design to traffic fatalities and fuel consumption. The study concludes that women are more likely than men to purchase vehicles that are smaller, safer and more fuel efficient, and that they drive less over all than their male counterparts.

The study looked at trends in driver's licenses over the 15 year period between 1995 and 2010. Over that time, the number of men between the ages of 25 and 29 years old with licenses dropped by 10 percent, while the number of women in the same age bracket fell by only 4.7 percent. In 2010, 105.7 million women could legally drive, while only 104.3 million men could say the same. Contrast that with the 1950s, when around half of adult women could operate a motor vehicle.

Women outnumber men for first time on US roads originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Nov 2012 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dirvers licensedriversdrivers licensesmenmore women driversmore women drivers than menstudytransportation research instituteuniversity of michiganuniversity of michigan transportation research institutewomenWed, 21 Nov 2012 08:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20384475/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/21/women-outnumber-men-for-first-time-on-us-roads/20384475/article-detail.xml 20384475 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/oprah-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/oprah-628.jpg <![CDATA[Redesigns that worked and flopped determined by new Cars.com index]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/15/redesigns-that-worked-and-flopped-determined-by-new-cars-com-ind/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/15/redesigns-that-worked-and-flopped-determined-by-new-cars-com-ind/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/15/redesigns-that-worked-and-flopped-determined-by-new-cars-com-ind/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



The 2013 Ford Fusion is probably the latest, greatest example of a completely redesigned car that has evoked widespread calls of "Look at that!" Above its buzzworthy looks, though, Ford will be concerned about how the 2013 Fusion sells and by how much - if at all - it beats sales of the previous version. Cars.com has run the sales numbers on 61 models that have been redesigned in the past four years, ranking them as Winners, Underperformers and Losers depending on how a new-generation model is selling compared to the one it replaces.

The rankings are sorted by sales class - small, medium and large sellers - so that the success of a niche sports car is weighted differently than the success of a popular midsize car. Compared to a four-year sales average for redesigned cars in each class, Winners were those who outsold the average, Underperformers didn't make the average but did outperform the previous year's (hence, the previous car's) sales, while Losers couldn't do any better anywhere.

Among the most recently introduced winners were the Toyota Camry and the Honda CR-V. The Camry beat the Four-Year Category Average Redesign Increase for large sellers by 2.2 percent, the CR-V managed 0.2 percent. Underperformers included the Audi A6/S6 which, even though it has outsold the previous generation by 58 percent, still isn't getting near the small seller category average of 79.2 percent. The new Hyundai Accent is also considered an underperformer, the new model boosting sales by 5.5 percent - nowhere near the 61.5 percent of the medium seller category average. The only Loser listed in the chart is the Honda Civic, taking one last thrashing before the "honed" 2013 redesign gets a chance to right the ship.

As for that Fusion, the 2013 model has strong numbers to follow: the 2010 Fusion was a huge winner, putting up a 55.1-percent increase in the large seller category, beating the average by 33 percent. It only trailed the redesigned 2011 Hyundai Sonata shown above, which pasted the average by 42.5 percent. You can find a few more of the ranked models in Cars.com's chart by heading over to their website.

Redesigns that worked and flopped determined by new Cars.com index originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accentauto salescamrycar salesciviccr-vcrvfordfusionhondahyundairedesignsonatastudytoyotaThu, 15 Nov 2012 15:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20380117/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/15/redesigns-that-worked-and-flopped-determined-by-new-cars-com-ind/20380117/article-detail.xml 20380117 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/hyundasonatacars_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/hyundasonatacars.jpg <![CDATA[New UK study suggests women better drivers than men]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/08/new-uk-study-suggests-women-better-drivers-than-men/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/08/new-uk-study-suggests-women-better-drivers-than-men/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/08/new-uk-study-suggests-women-better-drivers-than-men/#commentsFiled under: ,

woman driver

Now there's proof that women are the superior drivers.

A new study released recently by Carrentals UK, suggest that women are superior drivers after interviewing more than 700 people.

"While men would like to believe they are better than women behind the steering wheel, it is clear to see that male drivers performed worse in terms of speeding fines and penalty points," said Gareth Robinson, Managing Director of Carrentals UK.

Indeed. Survey results included:
  • 57 percent of men had been involved in one or more accidents compared to 44 percent of women
  • 45 percent of 36- to 45-year-old and men over 65 years old had been caught speeding
  • 60 percent of men over 65 had been involved in an accident, compared to 30 percent of women in the same age group.
However, the survey also notes that while men may be statistically worse off than their female counterparts, they often think they're better drivers.

"(M)en consistently rated their driving skills higher than women when asked," Robinson said. "It seems that, while men performed poorly on the questionnaire and typically had a worse track record on the roads, they believed that they were good drivers."

New UK study suggests women better drivers than men originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carrentals ukenglandstudysurveyunited kingdomwomen driversThu, 08 Nov 2012 17:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20372369/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/08/new-uk-study-suggests-women-better-drivers-than-men/20372369/article-detail.xml 20372369 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/woman-driver_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/woman-driver.jpg <![CDATA[White remains world's most popular car paint color, copper and bronze rising]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/11/white-remains-worlds-most-popular-car-paint-color-copper-and-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/11/white-remains-worlds-most-popular-car-paint-color-copper-and-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/11/white-remains-worlds-most-popular-car-paint-color-copper-and-b/#commentsFiled under:

2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake at 2012 Paris Motor Show in white

When it came to paint colors on new cars, for ten years, silver was the one hue to rule them all, not just extending its lead through 2009 and 2010 but doing so in the U.S., Europe and Asia. The revolution came in 2011, when white took over as the top color in the States and black claimed the number one spot in Europe, silver maintaining its hold in the Orient.

The annual study by the paint experts at PPG Industries notes how the the colorless hue has made more gains this year, white cars being the number one choice here and in Europe and tied for first place with silver cars in Asia. Black took second place in every market. Here, silver and gray grabbed third place, while our European cousins displayed their taste for 50 shades of metallic: gray took third place on its own, silver in fourth, four points behind. In Asia, "natural," which includes browns, tans, golds, oranges and yellows, was the pigment of choice after white and black.

Further back in the pack, mineral and alloy shades like gold, copper and bronze are getting more buyers, and based on some of the colors being previewed for 2015 and 2016 it looks like our automotive future has more than a chance of sparkle. The PPG press release below has all the trends and the numbers.

Continue reading White remains world's most popular car paint color, copper and bronze rising

White remains world's most popular car paint color, copper and bronze rising originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automotive paintcar colorscar paintcolorpaintpaint colorsppgppg industriesstudywhitewhite carsThu, 11 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20347285/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/11/white-remains-worlds-most-popular-car-paint-color-copper-and-b/20347285/article-detail.xml 20347285 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/ppgwhitehue_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/ppgwhitehue.jpg <![CDATA[CDC: Teen drinking and driving down by more than half]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/05/cdc-teen-drinking-and-driving-down-by-more-than-half/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/05/cdc-teen-drinking-and-driving-down-by-more-than-half/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/05/cdc-teen-drinking-and-driving-down-by-more-than-half/#commentsFiled under:

Underage drinking

One out of 10 teens has hopped behind the wheel of a car after drinking alcohol, a Center for Disease Control and Prevention study revealed this week. That means every month, there are potentially 2.4 million teenagers driving under the influence of alcohol. Hopefully, not all at the same time.

While the statistics are startling, leaders at the CDC point out that teens appear to be acting much more responsibly than when some of their parents were the same age, as the number of teens drinking and driving has dropped by more than half over the past 20 years.

"Nine out of 10 high school teens are not drinking and driving as of our most recent data in 2011," said Thomas Frieden, the director of the CDC, in a transcript of a news conference.

While optimistic, Frieden noted many teen drivers should continue to exercise caution.

"And, of course, even without alcohol, teen drivers are at a much higher risk of having a serious or fatal accident than adult drivers," he said.

CDC: Teen drinking and driving down by more than half originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cdccenter for diesease controldrinkingdrinking and drivinggovernmentstudyteenagersteensFri, 05 Oct 2012 08:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20341863/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/05/cdc-teen-drinking-and-driving-down-by-more-than-half/20341863/article-detail.xml 20341863 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/teen-drinking_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/teen-drinking.jpg <![CDATA[These car colors attract the most bird poop]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/21/these-car-colors-attract-the-most-bird-poop/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/21/these-car-colors-attract-the-most-bird-poop/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/21/these-car-colors-attract-the-most-bird-poop/#commentsFiled under: ,

bird poop on car

A new study has revealed red cars attract more bird droppings than any other color. The research, conducted by online retailer Halfords, revealed red vehicles made up 18 percent of cars marked by birds, while blue followed along in second place at 14 percent. Green vehicles got off the easiest, making up just one percent of those in the study. The sample included 1,140 cars in Brighton, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester and Bristol, though there's no indication as to the total number of each car color in the group.

The study also asked owners how quickly they removed bird droppings from their vehicle's paint. Only one in six said they took care of the problem immediately, while more than half waited until the next car wash. Halfords says leaving the strongly alkali substance on your vehicle's paint work can lead to costly repairs. The company estimates owners spend around $89.3 million per year in damaged paint. Read more details in the press release below.

Continue reading These car colors attract the most bird poop

These car colors attract the most bird poop originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Jun 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>birdbird droppingsbird poopbirdsresearchstudyvehicle paintThu, 21 Jun 2012 18:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20263496/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/21/these-car-colors-attract-the-most-bird-poop/20263496/article-detail.xml 20263496 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/bird-poop-on-car_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/bird-poop-on-car.jpg <![CDATA[Young motorists driving far less than even 10 years ago]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/17/young-motorists-driving-far-less-than-even-10-years-ago/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/17/young-motorists-driving-far-less-than-even-10-years-ago/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/17/young-motorists-driving-far-less-than-even-10-years-ago/#commentsFiled under:

Public Transportation

A new study by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group indicates Americans are driving less than they were a few years ago. That drop is largely thanks to young people. Those between the ages of 16 and 34 drove 23 percent fewer miles in 2009 than they did in 2001. While it's tempting to attribute the decline to the recession, the study suggests the decline may continue even after the economy picks up pace. Factors like steeper fuel prices, more readily available public transportation and a shift in priorities are likely to continue to allow young drivers to cut down on their time behind the wheel.

The study cites one poll that found a full 45 percent of those between the ages of 18 and 34 have moved to replace driving with other modes of transportation. By comparison, only 32 percent of older drivers have done the same.

Is this bad news? Not from our point of view. Our aging highway infrastructure is constantly struggling to keep pace with the volume of cars on the road. With more drivers opting for alternative transportation, there's bound to be less traffic and more room for those of us who actually prefer driving. Throw in decreased demand for gasoline, and we may even see fuel prices stay manageable in the near future. All hail the new generation.

Young motorists driving far less than even 10 years ago originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Jun 2012 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>americansdrivingdriving lessfuel pricesgasolinepublic transportationresearchstudyyoung driversyoung peopleSun, 17 Jun 2012 13:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20257531/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/17/young-motorists-driving-far-less-than-even-10-years-ago/20257531/article-detail.xml 20257531 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/public-transportation-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/public-transportation-628.jpg <![CDATA[Electronic crash-avoidance systems get thumbs up from consumers in federal testing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/29/electronic-crash-avoidance-systems-get-thumbs-up/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/29/electronic-crash-avoidance-systems-get-thumbs-up/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/29/electronic-crash-avoidance-systems-get-thumbs-up/#commentsFiled under: ,

accident avoidance

Starting last fall, eight carmakers worked with the Department of Transportation on a study assessing drivers' acceptance of accident-avoidance technologies. The initial six-month program in the Connected Vehicle Safety Pilot Program put people on closed roads in cars that communicated wirelessly to issue warnings about lane changes, blind spots, forward collisions and other cars approaching intersections. Of the 688 participants, more than 90 percent wanted the tech in their cars, and that response rate covered just about all age ranges.

But perhaps the most remarkable finding about the study was that in spite of massive favor, none of the participants wanted to have to pay "more than $250" for the technologies. We don't know how the question was phrased, but when an iPod Touch costs $195, adding Ford Sync to a Fusion SE costs $395 and a trip to Disneyland for a family of four can bankrupt a small nation, we're slightly surprised that a suite of potentially lifesaving features isn't even worth considering for more than $250.

The study isn't over yet - the next phase involves 3,000 test cars trying out the features on open roads in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It will begin this fall and run into next year.

Electronic crash-avoidance systems get thumbs up from consumers in federal testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 May 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accident avoidancecar to carcar to car communicationscollision avoidancecollision detectionConnected Vehicle Safety Pilot Programdepartment of transportationsafetystudyTue, 29 May 2012 09:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20245005/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/29/electronic-crash-avoidance-systems-get-thumbs-up/20245005/article-detail.xml 20245005 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/crash-avoidance_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/crash-avoidance.jpg <![CDATA[Teen girls twice as likely to use cell phones while driving as teen boys]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/26/teen-girls-twice-as-likely-to-use-cell-phones-while-driving-as-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/26/teen-girls-twice-as-likely-to-use-cell-phones-while-driving-as-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/26/teen-girls-twice-as-likely-to-use-cell-phones-while-driving-as-t/#commentsFiled under: ,

Crazed teen girl behind the wheel

Research by the American Automobile Association's Foundation for Traffic Safety has revealed teenage girls are twice as likely as their male counterparts to use devices like cell phones while driving. The study used video taken of young drivers while they were behind the wheel to determine how teenagers engage in distracted driving. While talking on the phone and texting ranked among the highest sources of distraction, personal grooming and reaching for objects in the vehicle also played significant roles. Outside of using electronic devices, AAA found teens were distracted around 15 percent of the time while behind the wheel.

Girls were also found to be 10 percent more likely than their male counterparts to be engaged in other distracted driving activities. AAA found the young ladies to be 50 percent more likely to attempt to reach for something in the vehicle and 25 percent more like to eat while operating a vehicle.

Of course, driving with passengers in the vehicle also contributed to distraction, while having a parent or adult in the vehicle caused rates of distracting behavior to fall off. Shocking stuff we know. Hit the jump for the full AAA press release.

Continue reading Teen girls twice as likely to use cell phones while driving as teen boys

Teen girls twice as likely to use cell phones while driving as teen boys originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaaaaa foundation for traffic safetydistracted drivingstudyteen driversteenage driversteenage girlsteenagersMon, 26 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20201039/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/26/teen-girls-twice-as-likely-to-use-cell-phones-while-driving-as-t/20201039/article-detail.xml 20201039 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/crazed-teen-girl-driver_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/crazed-teen-girl-driver.jpg <![CDATA[University study shows recalls have hardly hurt Toyota]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/16/university-study-shows-recalls-have-hardly-hurt-toyota/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/16/university-study-shows-recalls-have-hardly-hurt-toyota/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/16/university-study-shows-recalls-have-hardly-hurt-toyota/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Toyota Camry Emblem

If you think Toyota is still reeling from negative opinions stirred up by the company's rash of recalls in 2009, North Carolina State University has some news for you. According to a new study conducted by researchers at the institution, the recalls had "little to no impact" on how buyers see the Japanese automaker. Robert Hammond, an assistant professor of economics at NCSU, says the research specifically looked at the used car market to negate the impact of outside factors like incentives, marketing campaigns and models not associated with the recall to begin with.

The idea was that examining average prices of models affected by recalls associated with sudden acceleration would give researchers an idea of how willing buyers were to pay for the vehicles. Overall, used cars covered by the recall campaigns saw their price decline by a mere two percent. The figure is within the statistical margin of error for the study.

So, what's behind the slow in Toyota sales? Despite an abundance of fleet sales last month that saw the company's figures swell by 7.5 percent over January 2011, Toyota still fell well behind the industry average. With production back on track after last year's earthquake tragedy, the company may have some explaining to do. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading University study shows recalls have hardly hurt Toyota

University study shows recalls have hardly hurt Toyota originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ncsunoth carolina state universitystudytoyotatoyota recalltoyota salesused carused carsThu, 16 Feb 2012 13:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20173215/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/16/university-study-shows-recalls-have-hardly-hurt-toyota/20173215/article-detail.xml 20173215 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/toyota-camry-emblem-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/toyota-camry-emblem-628.jpg <![CDATA[Smoking pot nearly doubles risk of serious crash]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/13/smoking-pot-nearly-doubles-risk-of-serious-crash/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/13/smoking-pot-nearly-doubles-risk-of-serious-crash/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/13/smoking-pot-nearly-doubles-risk-of-serious-crash/#commentsFiled under: , ,

marijuana

Canadian researchers have discovered smoking marijuana three hours before driving can more than double a driver's chance of being involved in a serious crash. The study examined data collected from 49,111 victims who had been seriously injured or died in an accident. Researchers specifically looked at cases where tetrahydrocannabionol, the active compound in marijuana, was found in the victims' blood stream but where other drugs and alcohol were absent. The study also evaluated instances where the driver admitted to smoking within three hours of the crash. The findings demonstrate that, while those who drive under the influence of alcohol are still more likely to be involved in a collision than their pot-smoking counterparts, marijuana significantly impairs an individual's ability to safely operate a vehicle.

Shocking.

The study did not note precise levels of THC present in each instance, though as CBC News reports, other research has proven a positive link between the higher crash likelihood and elevated THC levels.

Law enforcement agencies are currently struggling to effectively test for THC impairment during roadside stops. Unlike blood-alcohol levels, which can be easily tested for using a breath test, THC is harder to detect. As a result, most agencies have adopted a zero-tolerance policy.

Smoking pot nearly doubles risk of serious crash originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>driving highdriving under the influencemarijuanapotresearchstudythcMon, 13 Feb 2012 09:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20169951/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/13/smoking-pot-nearly-doubles-risk-of-serious-crash/20169951/article-detail.xml 20169951 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/marijuana_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/marijuana.jpg <![CDATA[Latest reason for teen crashes? Peer pressure]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/03/latest-reason-for-teen-crashes-peer-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/03/latest-reason-for-teen-crashes-peer-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/03/latest-reason-for-teen-crashes-peer-pressure/#commentsFiled under:

teen driver

A new study from the water-is-still-wet research department has found that teens may have been the victims of peer pressure just before a crash. The studies were crafted by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm. The first study surveyed 198 teens and found that those who were more likely to have friends pile into a vehicle with them were also apt to call themselves "thrill seekers." Those teens also said they didn't want their parents to set rules or keep an eye on their comings and goings. In addition, they were less likely to perceive the risks associated with driving in general.

The second study, meanwhile, analyzed information from 677 teens who were involved in serious crashes while behind the wheel. As it turns out, both male and female drivers were more likely to be distracted just before the incident, with 71 percent of males saying they were distracted by their passengers. The study found 47 percent of female teens admitted the same. The study also found teen males with passengers were six times more likely to perform an illegal maneuver and twice as likely to drive aggressively before a crash compared to their counterparts driving alone.

While it's no secret that teens with passengers are more likely get into an incident, the two studies help shed some light on why that is.

Latest reason for teen crashes? Peer pressure originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>childrens hospital of philadelphiacrashcrashespeer pressureresearchstate farmstudyteenteen driversteensFri, 03 Feb 2012 08:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20159343/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/03/latest-reason-for-teen-crashes-peer-pressure/20159343/article-detail.xml 20159343 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/teen-driver_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/teen-driver.jpg <![CDATA[Jeremy Clarkson voted worst off-road trip partner in UK survey]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/02/jeremy-clarkson-voted-worst-off-road-trip-partner-in-uk-survey/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/02/jeremy-clarkson-voted-worst-off-road-trip-partner-in-uk-survey/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/02/jeremy-clarkson-voted-worst-off-road-trip-partner-in-uk-survey/#commentsFiled under: , ,



If you're about to embark on an off-road driving expedition, you're going to need the right co-pilot. Someone with good knowledge of how a car works, good survival skills and - most important of all - a good sense of humor.

This according to a recent study carried out in the UK by Continental Tires ahead of the launch of the Conti 4x4 Trophy, in which respondents ranked humor as an over-arching qualifying trait for the right person to ride shotgun.

So who did the British respondents choose? The blokes went with a pretty face in glamor model Kelly Brook, while the ladies elected Robert Pattinson of Twilight fame. But it's the least favorite picks that caught our attention.

According to the study, the worst person to have riding shotgun on such an off-road trip would be Jeremy Clarkson. Joining Jezza in the top ten least favorite co-pilots in the study were Katie Price (another "glamor model" like the aforementioned Kelly Brook who goes by the name Jordan), Prime Minister David Cameron, fashion model Kate Moss, TV show hostesses Carol Vorderman and Christine Bleakley, parliamentarian Nick Clegg, pop idol Madonna, Idol host Simon Cowell and F1 driver Lewis Hamilton.

For our part, we're not sure the Top Gear host (or for that matter the McLaren driver) would be at the very top of our list, but he certainly wouldn't be at the bottom. This after a similar study placed Jezza as the top choice for a house-sitter, one of the top five Brits that men would like to have a date with, and, most contradictingly, the country's top pick for a passenger on an on-road trip.

Continue reading Jeremy Clarkson voted worst off-road trip partner in UK survey

Jeremy Clarkson voted worst off-road trip partner in UK survey originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britainclarksonconti 4x4 trophycontinentaljeremy clarksonpollstudysurveyThu, 02 Feb 2012 10:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20162165/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/02/jeremy-clarkson-voted-worst-off-road-trip-partner-in-uk-survey/20162165/article-detail.xml 20162165 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/clarkson1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/clarkson1.jpg <![CDATA[UK insurer says "reckless fog light drivers" cause 300,000 accidents a year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/uk-insurer-says-reckless-fog-light-drivers-cause-300-000-accid/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/uk-insurer-says-reckless-fog-light-drivers-cause-300-000-accid/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/uk-insurer-says-reckless-fog-light-drivers-cause-300-000-accid/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It would probably be easier for researchers to change tracks and start telling us what doesn't cause cancer or obesity or car accidents. Latest on the list of automotive smash-up causes, according to a study by UK insurer Swiftcover, are drivers leaving their fog lights on in good visibility. The numbers are brazen, with Swiftcover attributing "as many as 300,000" accidents and two million near misses in the last 12 months "caused by drivers leaving fog lights on in the same period."

The UK highway code prohibits driving with one's fog lights on in conditions with visibility greater than 100 meters. Swiftcover's study says the lights dazzle other drivers, especially in London where 50 percent of incidents were registered, and that this applies to both front and rear fog lights.

Follow the jump for a press release on the study and a link to the Highway Code if you need a refresher.

Continue reading UK insurer says "reckless fog light drivers" cause 300,000 accidents a year

UK insurer says "reckless fog light drivers" cause 300,000 accidents a year originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car accidentcar crashfog lightfoglightinsurancestudyswiftcoverswiftcover.comukunited kingdomwreckTue, 31 Jan 2012 11:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20159161/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/31/uk-insurer-says-reckless-fog-light-drivers-cause-300-000-accid/20159161/article-detail.xml 20159161 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/13kiasorentoreview2011_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/13kiasorentoreview2011.jpg <![CDATA[<i>Consumer Reports</i> survey suggests buyers don't see differences between car companies]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/29/consumer-reports-survey-suggests-buyers-dont-see-differe/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/29/consumer-reports-survey-suggests-buyers-dont-see-differe/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/29/consumer-reports-survey-suggests-buyers-dont-see-differe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Consumer Reports Brand Perception Survey

Today's vehicles are more powerful, more efficient and safer than ever before. In fact, today's car buyer would be hard pressed to spend his or her money on a genuinely bad vehicle. But those overall improvements may have also led consumers to believe there are no real differences between the various products offered by the world's major automakers. According to the Consumer Reports 2012 Car-Brand Perception Survey, Toyota, Ford, Honda and Chevrolet have all seen their scores drop by double digits compared to last year.

The survey asks consumers to rate brands across seven categories. Consumer Reports says that by combining those categories, the organization can get a handle on how each brand is perceived in the marketplace.

This year, Toyota continued to lead in the survey, though its persistent recalls saw the brand's perception fall by 17 points this year. Ford, Honda and BMW all saw their perception scores plummet more than 20 points. The results may indicate consumers are seeing fewer differences between automakers as products continue to improve. While that's good news for smaller automakers like Hyundai, Kia and Subaru, larger names in the industry should be worried. Head over to Consumer Reports for the full report.

Consumer Reports survey suggests buyers don't see differences between car companies originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 car-brand perception studycar brandscarmakerschevroletconsumer reportsconsumer reports car brand perception studyfordhondaowner loyaltystudytoyotaSun, 29 Jan 2012 19:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20158299/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/29/consumer-reports-survey-suggests-buyers-dont-see-differe/20158299/article-detail.xml 20158299 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/consumer-reports-cars-brand-perception-2012_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/consumer-reports-cars-brand-perception-2012.jpg -1 2