Release Date

There may be more steering woes for the Ford Crown Victoria. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a preliminary evaluation into the Crown Vic and Mercury Grand Marquis from the 2004 to 2007 model years and the Mercury Marauder for the 2004 and 2005 model years because the steering shaft can jam. The issue could potentially affect an estimated 500,000 vehicles.

According to the regulator, there is a possibility that the drivers side heat shield for the exhaust manifold can rust, dislodge, and then wedge into the steering shaft. If this occurs, it leads to a situation where the driver can no longer control the car.

NHTSA has received five complaints of this happening, including one alleged case with an injury. In that situation, the car was driving onto the highway, lost control and rolled over. One occupant was hurt in the accident.

This isnt the first case of potential steering issues with the Crown Vic. Ford recalled 370,000 of them in 2013 in fix some components because of possible corrosion. NHTSA also investigated some police models for issues with the steering shaft.

A Ford spokesperson told Autoblog via email: "We are cooperating with NHTSA on this investigation, as we always do." It has no further information about the evaluation at this time. Scroll down to read the entire NHTSA report.

We have to hand it to Jerry Seinfeld for making a go of his web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. The king of observational humor manages to get some of the biggest names in comedy into some seriously cool cars (and some rather curious ones). But what if they werent getting coffee? What if they were getting an even more potent pick-me-up?

While we wouldnt condone drug abuse â€" certainly not while behind the wheel of a motor vehicle â€" thats the basis behind this comedic spoof. Starring Talk Soups Joel McHale (who you might also recognize from NBCs Community) and Tony Hale (of Arrested Development and Veep fame), the three-and-a-half-minute clip takes place behind the wheel of a 1959 Ford Skyliner â€" easily as cool as anything Seinfeld has driven, but hardly the kind of low-key getaway car youd want to take on a drug run. Watch them get the blow in the video below.

2013 Camaro Convertible. A veteran of the American automobile production. Evil and expressive. Under the hood is a V8 engine of the old school. An engine that boosted in a similar configuration for decades, including the Corvette. Our test car, a convertible with a six-speed automatic transmission has to be in contrast to the handset, however, be content with "only" 298 kW (405 hp). Manually change the gears, the Camaro makes 318 kW (432 hp) and thus only 5 hp less than the lightweight Corvette C6.

2013 Camaro Convertible

Just have to look a Camaro. Reminiscent of the icons of the past and other forward-looking with all the essentials. Simple and yet so diverse. Clearly structured with all the rough edges that make the Camaro is unique even in his mid-American applicants named Mustang and Challenger.

But what about the sound. After starting the V8 briefly babbles on about after falling into a whisper, which also fits with a V6. And that remains even after a kickdown Sun The Corvette is as different from it and celebrates the symphonies of sound of a V8, just as we expect from a car of this category. Ergo has a different muffler in, one with more volume and the corresponding V8 babbling. Otherwise, it feels a bit like that is almost neutered. And that should not risk it with a muscle car.


More Features

2013 Chevrolet Camaro donated a fair bit of equipment that makes its competitors will not actually in place really expensive. Xenon headlights for a Ami does not happen often, four airbags in a convertible, six in the Coupé, Head-up display, leather steering wheel with multifunction buttons and a rearview camera display in rearview mirrors are just some of the highlights of the standard.

Depending on the exterior color of the paint, the interior is matched. In our test car was dominated by the white leather seats in red with black trim. The door trim, also red, was indirectly illuminated at night by LEDs. The power of music is conducted using a CD-MP3 compatible radios including a Boston Acoustics premium audio system. Beautiful instruments that are easy to read and come up in the center console with four ads that were used to be quite as additional instruments for the motor sport is very useful. Oil pressure and battery voltage, oil temperature and transmission oil temperature can be displayed even nostalgic at the Camaro times reminiscent of the 70s.


Specifications: 2013 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

Engine: 8-cylinder gasoline engine
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Displacement: 6162 cc
Power in kW / hp at rpm xy / 298 kW (405 hp) / 5900
Max torque: 556 Nm at 4,300 rpm
Length / width / height in mm 4.836/1.917/1.378
Wheelbase: 2,852 mm in
Curb weight: 1.920 kg
Perm. Total weight: 2.300 kg
Luggage capacity: 308 liters
Tires: 245/45 ZR 20 front, 275/40 ZR 20 rear
Wheels: 8 x 20 "front, 9 x 20" rear alloy
Acceleration: 5.6 seconds
Maximum speed: 250 km / h
Fuel tank capacity: 68 liters
Fuel consumption combined transport: 13.1 liters per 100 km.

People with obesity are more likely to die in a road accident than the rest, the study obesity and the risk Driver of fatal injury traffic collisions During. Signed by Thomas M Rice and MoTao Zhu, University of Berkeley, and published in the British Medical Journal, the study confirms what I said a few years ago Jeff Crandall, a professor of biomechanics at the University of Virginia, to call attention to the problem of obese drivers, while opens an interesting debate on road safety of the vehicle occupants.

The authors believe that the automakers should tailor their vehicles occupants forms obese, and this can be read as the story of the chicken or the egg. Do order a society that does not evolve toward obesity is more realistic or adapt the vehicles to be protecting all the occupants?

The study is based on 57,491 road accidents between 1996 and 2008 in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System of the NHTSA. To draw conclusions, we analyzed collisions between two similar vehicles where both drivers were the only occupants died as a result of the crash. Of these, 3403 were selected pairs of conductors who knew the data on age, body mass, use of seat belts and the airbags are deployed.

Once weighted data, with a universe of drivers in that 46% had a normal mass, 33% were overweight and 18% were obese, established a risk ratio estimate for each strip of body mass index ( BMI, which is calculated by dividing the mass of the person by height squared) where the ratio of 1 would be the risk of drivers with normal BMI, which is 18.50 to 24.99 according to the standards set by the Organization World Health:

Classification BMI Risk Ratio Underweight <18.5 1.19 Average 18.50 to 24.99 1.00 Obese Type I 30.00 to 34.99 1.21 Obese Type II 35.00 to 39.99 1.51 Obese Type III ≥40,00 1.80

While drivers are underweight probability of mortality by 19% higher than drivers with normal BMI, as body mass increases the probability increases to 21%, 51% or 80% more, depending whether people talk about obese Type I, II or III, respectively.

Moreover, the study reveals that much of the fatalities obese did them wearing seat belts, because the excess fat in the pelvic area hampered the proper functioning of the passive safety device. In such cases, the poor fit of the belt produced underwater effect, so that the victims were rushed forward by the lower body, which was not properly secured.

Adapt the criteria to the reality that we

For some time now the dummies used for crash testing of vehicles come in different sizes, trying to imitate, becoming more successful, human occupants who use cars. Next to the dummy that measures 1.75 m in height and 77 kg mass is used as a dummy of 1.88 m in height and 100 kg of dough with a 95th percentile, ie, only 5% of the population it exceeds those characteristics.

Times change, and measuring instruments, too. Some will say that you have to do is ensure that our society stop overeating and, above all, that people stop eating fats and carbohydrates that burn with our daily activities. It is a point of view that you can hardly refute anything, especially if we look to the United States, where the food problem is already acute, with a third of the obese population.

Returning to the field of road safety, however, we can not ignore that the passive safety of vehicles must be adapted, by force, to this social change in order to remain effective, regardless of what the state of health of the occupants . And the interior of a vehicle, all calculated to protect the occupant in case of collision.

So every time the set of seats, backrests, headrests, seat belts and steering wheels are more complex, have more adjustment positions, in order to accommodate a larger number of disparate people. However, the study claims that such adjustments are more customizable yet. It should be borne in mind, however, that tear studied cases in 1996. In recent years, vehicles have been gaining in this field. However, this evolution is useless if users of the vehicle as we do not fit properly protect all items.

The Fiat 500 is a show star. Points, he can, especially with its cute looks and lovely details that take up the style of the legendary Cinquecento in 1957. Behind the beautiful facade hides a more conventional compact car that uses the technique of brother Panda brand. Unlike the cheaper five-door model is offered with three doors 500 closely and not very variable. Even sitting on the front Large Grown small little stalls comfy, adults in the rear have no more room, and the installation of child seats is difficult. Thanks to the split fold down rear seat of the small trunk can be expanded to shopping suitable size. The bottom line is the Fiat Sun primarily a single-car for the short - but an extremely lovable. Especially as a convertible with roll roofing.



Engine and chassis
For use in urban traffic is already enough of the 1.2-liter entry-level petrol engine with 51 kW/69 HP. Since this is a four-cylinder, the noise level is acceptable in a convertible. Who has higher performance requirements, can choose between two 1.4-liter petrol engines with 74 kW/100 hp and 99 kW/135 hp, which are the same but more expensive. The alternative offered 1.3-liter diesel with 70 kW/95 hp would usually come from the grueling application as a service or courier vehicles and should therefore be treated with caution. If you really want to be as efficient as possible on the way, should rather be looking for the end of 2010 introduced 0.9-liter two-cylinder gasoline engine with 63 kW/85 hp. The offer is still low.

The chassis itself is hoppelig and stuckerig. That is not even in a small car to be the case, shows the Ford Ka, which is built on the same basis as the Fiat, but has upgraded the suspension technology. In addition, the annoying large turning circle of 500, which is almost twelve feet. When it comes to longevity can not convince the technology. The TÜV complains a high defect rate on the front axle and steering - and this even at the first three years after HU. In addition, damage to wheel bearings are among the known issues.

The Fiat 500 Car of the Year in 2008 - not least because the jury was persuaded by the great safety features of the small cars. Five stars in the EuroNCAP crash test, and seven airbags are standard equipment for a small car quite respectable. Not all will go great with it, that the stability control only for the 1.4-liter petrol engine was available. The rest of the equipment on the other hand is fine, even the basic version of "Pop" offers up everything you need on the air conditioning.

Quality
Charmer and a pretty boy is often accused of lack of solidity. And the Fiat 500 could not deny such comments completely. In addition to the chassis as the alternator is considered vulnerable, and the exhaust system is not a paragon of durability. Known issue is also a tendency to piston seizure. When buying a used car is therefore made to the regular oil changes must be ensured.

Conclusion
The cute Fiat 500, one may see one or the other weakness. Too large but the tolerance should not be, since the micro-car is also sold as Used are to be fairly high prices. From $22,000 up should be invested for at least the closed version, preferably in a well-kept specimen with low mileage.

In San Francisco Lexus LS has presented the new generation. This new flagship boasts a sporty design and lots of luxury features.


The design also has the Lexus LS continued its new design line, which has been already presented at the GS. The LS has now also visually as the big brother of the GS and is mainly in the front area of the Lexus GS is very similar.

The voluminous rear looks at LS but very independent, with a length of 509 cm, the new Lexus flagship offers even more room. The long version is even at 521 cm and is thus characterized as a chauffeur-driven limousine with plenty of room in the rear.


The sportier appearance should also be reflected in the dynamics. The new Lexus LS has an adaptive suspension and can thus, depending on the wishes of the passengers go either comfortable or very sporty. The driver can drive modes of the Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport Select S + S, which regulate not only the chassis, but also accelerator response, steering force and shift points depending on the mode, defined in various ways.

Who wants it more sporty, can now also the LS to an F-Sport model grab, which has not only a sporty outfit including sills and front and rear bumper on a lowered suspension.

Completely new is presented and the interior, which can again spoiled with lots of luxury to passengers. Primarily there is a seat for all seats, climate control and an even better sound insulation for the interior. After almost no wind, roll or engine noise penetrating into the interior, is the Mark Levinson sound system with 19 speakers certainly be better.


Also new is a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, which is home not only the navigation display, but also about the many functions can be controlled.

At the start of the new Lexus LS stands as the 2013 Lexus LS 460 and LS 600h as available. While the Lexus LS 600h has been standard all-wheel drive, the LS 460 is available only to all-wheel. The performance of the 8-cylinder engine in the LS is located at 382 hp (285 kW) in the 2WD model and 362 hp (272 kW) in the four-wheel drive model. Both models have up to 250 km / h, accelerating from 0 to 100 km / h, the 2WD version in 5.7 seconds, the 4WD takes 6.3 seconds for the same task.

The same engine as in the LS 460 is also found in the LS 600h, this is only the help of an electric motor. The performance of the LS 600h is located at 444 hp (327 kW) and provides spirited performance. According to preliminary data, the hybrid car to accelerating from 0 to 100 km / h in 6.1 seconds and up to 250 km / h.


That the stronger hybrid accelerates faster, is mainly due to the heavy batteries and all designed to thrift motor coordination. On average, the LS 640H is only 8.6 liters per 100 kilometers approve, and the Lexus LS 460 will require the same distance on 10.7 liters. For the LS 460 has an 8-speed automatic, while the top model to be content with a CVT automatic transmission must not normally offered by the same driving pleasure as a torque converter.


Situated Bessert Lexus has the security systems in the new LS, which on the latest generation of advanced features pre-crash system, as well as a new Lexus Night View system, a blind spot warning, a newly developed high beam including LED headlights and a lane departure warning.

In United States, the new Lexus LS is in the autumn 2012 to the start. In Europe, people will expect the new Lexus flagship model until 2013.