Car Blog

On Display for the First Time in North America at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show – New 4.6-Liter Engine and 301-hp V8 with Six Speed Transmission – New Standard Power Fold-Flat Third Row and 10 Airbags

Lexus announced the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) for the all-new, second generation 2010 GX 460 luxury utility vehicle which will arrive at dealerships beginning in late December. For the first time, the GX will be offered in two grades, base, which will carry an MSRP of $51,970, and Premium which will be priced at $56,765. The MSRP does not include a delivery, processing and handling fee of $875. The all-new GX 460 will be on display for the first time in North America at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show in December.

The second generation GX 460 that is more powerful, more efficient and more luxurious will be powered with an all-new 4.6-liter V8 engine. The engine will produce 301 horsepower and 329 lb-ft of peak torque. It is teamed with an efficient six-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift that helps provide the best-in-class V8 fuel economy. Combined city/highway fuel economy is improved by 13 percent to an EPA-estimated 17 mpg. The GX 460 has an EPA-estimated 15 mpg city and 20 mpg highway.

In addition to the powerful engine, the GX 460 brings more versatile interior. The second row seat slides 4.1 inches fore/aft to maximize passenger and cargo carrying ability. The foldable and reclining second row seats feature a 60/40 walk-in function to access the standard power fold-flat third row seats. A new center console design offers the driver more storage and functionality.

Luxury is enhanced in the GX 460 with a quieter cabin, as well as new additional standard features and options. Heated and ventilated front seats, class leading 10 airbags, rear back-up camera (without Navigation), Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) and full-time four-wheel drive are all standard on the GX 460. Safety features available include the Pre-Collision System, wide-view front and side cameras, Lane Departure Alert and Intelligent High Beam. Among the new luxury options are semi-aniline leather, a heated steering wheel and heated outer second-row seats.

The exterior of the GX 460 demonstrates new convenience and styling features such as the rear glass hatch for easier access to the cargo area, integrated rear door handle and rear spoiler with integrated wiper. The GX color palette is also revised and includes two all-new colors: Knight’s Armor and Claret Mica.

Lexus Enform(TM) with Safety Connect(TM) is an all-new telematics system available by subscription. Lexus Safety Connect is standard on all GX 460, while Lexus Enform is only available with navigation-equipped vehicles. Complimentary one-year trial subscriptions of Lexus Enform with Safety Connect are included. The Lexus Enform and the Safety Connect response center operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – every day of the year.

Lexus Insider(TM), a complimentary, opt-in service available without a subscription, is also standard on Lexus Enform equipped GX 460 vehicles. The service offers in-vehicle audio casts with useful vehicle tips and event information, as well as insights into exclusive owners’ benefits. As part of the Lexus Enform navigation platform, XM NavTraffic® and XM NavWeather(TM) are available via individual XM® subscriptions. All XM services include a complimentary 90-day trial subscription.

Source: Lexus

Nissan North America, Inc.  announced pricing for the 2010 Nissan cube®, which is on sale now at Nissan dealers nationwide.

The 2010 Nissan cube is available in three well-equipped models: cube 1.8, cube 1.8 S and cube 1.8 SL and in a special cube 1.8 S Krom(TM) Edition. The starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price* (MSRP) for the cube 1.8 Base model of $13,990 USD is unchanged from 2009. Earlier today, the Nissan cube was named a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Every cube includes many standard safety features, including six standard air bags.

The front-wheel drive cube is offered with a standard 122-horsepower 1.8-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine and a choice of Nissan’s advanced, smooth shifting Xtronic CVT(TM) (Continuously Variable Transmission) or 6-speed manual transmission.

The 2010 cube Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) are:

Engine/Transmission M.S.R.P
cube 1.8 Base 1.8L I4 M/T $13,990 USD
cube 1.8 S 1.8L I4 M/T $15,030 USD
cube 1.8 S 1.8L I4 CVT $16,030 USD
cube 1.8 SL 1.8L I4 CVT $17,130 USD
cube 1.8 S Krom Edition 1.8L I4 CVT $20,120 USD

For 2010, the Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, leather-wrapped steering wheel and steering wheel audio controls are now standard for cube S and SL models. New standard equipment for cube S models includes the Interface System for iPod®, MP3 CD-ROM playback capacity, Radio Data System (RDS), speed-sensitive volume control (SSV) and two additional speakers (six total). One new exterior color is available, Sapphire Black.

The cube 1.8 S Krom Edition adds a new 4.3-inch color audio display with USB connectivity and RearView Monitor, along with Nissan Intelligent Key(TM) with Push Button Ignition as standard equipment. In addition, the 4.3-inch color audio display with USB connectivity and RearView Monitor is added to the optional SL Preferred Package.

2010 Nissan cube

The cleverly designed Nissan cube®, with its asymmetrical rear window, refrigerator-style rear door and wide range of personal accessories, enters its second year of production in 2010 with its unique style firmly intact. The cube’s roomy interior is designed as an inviting social space for up to five passengers, with comfortable front seating and a three-position sliding, reclining theater-style rear seat. Unique interior features include asymmetrical Fine Vision gauges, “Water Drop” interior accents and detachable multi-hooks.

Available cube technology includes the Nissan Intelligent Key(TM) with Push Button Ignition, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, Rockford Fosgate subwoofer with six upgraded speakers, XM® Satellite Radio (XM® subscription required, sold separately) and Interface System for iPod®. The cube also meets the practical needs of today’s active, environmentally aware drivers, providing a small footprint with a large interior space – along with fuel efficiency of 31 mpg Highway with the CVT transmission.

The specialty vehicle cube 1.8 S Krom Edition includes exclusive upper and lower front grilles, fully integrated front and rear bumper fascias and body side sills, rear roof spoiler and 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, along with a custom interior with exclusive black and gray seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminum-trimmed pedals, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, upgraded audio system with 4.3-inch color display, Rockford Fosgate subwoofer and RearView Monitor. More than 40 individual accessories are offered – ranging from a unique 20-color interior accent lighting kit and “shag dash topper” inserts to aerodynamic body kits and custom wheels – allowing cube owners to personalize their vehicles to reflect their own tastes and needs.

In North America, Nissan’s operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.infinitiusa.com.

* MSRP excludes applicable tax, title and license fees. Dealer sets actual price. Prices and specs are subject to change without notice.

Source: Nissan North America, Inc.

The Ford Fusion – America’s most fuel-efficient midsize sedan – was named MOTOR TREND’s 2010 Car of the Year®. The award comes hot on the heels of Fusion setting record-breaking sales for 2009.

“Ford has proven its resilience in these tough times by delivering to market a car with broad appeal to a broad range of consumers,” said Angus MacKenzie, MOTOR TREND editor-in-chief. “The Fusion range has matured into a competitive roster of midsize sedans, able to compete with sales juggernauts such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. It is no surprise the Fusion now ranks in the top 10 best-selling cars in America.”

The prestigious award from MOTOR TREND comes at a time when Fusion sales are already at an all-time high, further positioning the vehicle as a formidable contender in the competitive midsize sedan market.

“The MOTOR TREND Car of the Year award is another testament of our commitment to delivering a world-class car lineup,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Ford Global Product Development, who accepted the golden calipers on behalf of the Ford team. “Whether it is the best-in-class fuel economy or quality unsurpassed by Toyota or Honda, the Fusion and Fusion Hybrid are clear evidence that Ford is serious about our car lineup.”

To win the coveted Car of the Year award, Fusion outperformed the competition – including the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan – in six new categories: design achievement, engineering excellence, intended function, efficiency, safety and value.

“The Fusion brought a vast assortment of choice that has the potential to appeal to every type of driver, from the eco-conscious to the sport-minded,” said MacKenzie. “The Fusion’s combination of comfort, fuel efficiency, assortment and technology made it a clear winner among our panel of judges.”

The 2010 Fusion and Fusion Hybrid are the most fuel-efficient sedans in America. The new models offer more power; class-exclusive technologies, such as Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) and Ford SYNC®; and more total passenger and luggage capacity than the Toyota Camry.

The Fusion lineup expanded in the 2010 model year to include all-new Hybrid and Sport models and a new selection of gas-powered engines – all paired with six-speed transmissions – that deliver even more horsepower and better fuel economy.

Fusion: A hit from the start

The Ford Fusion has been generating excitement among journalists and consumers alike since the nameplate first launched in the fall of 2005. In fact, the introductory model – which marked Ford’s re-entry into the midsize sedan market – was a finalist for MOTOR TREND’s 2006 Car of the Year award.

Since then, Fusion’s popularity has continued to soar – and so have sales. Fusion set a sales record in April – the first full month of sales for the redesigned 2010 model and the new Fusion Hybrid – and overall sales are already at an all-time high for 2009.

With its quality unsurpassed by Toyota or Honda, best-in-class fuel economy, class-exclusive technologies and significant residual value improvement, the 2010 Ford Fusion is clearly delivering the key attributes that midsize sedan buyers want.

“Even at a time when industry-wide sales are down 26 percent, Fusion sales continue to grow,” said Ford Sales Analyst George Pipas.

The new Fusion Hybrid model has played an important role in Fusion’s success. The vehicle delivers an EPA estimated 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, topping the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway. It also offers innovative new technology – SmartGauge(TM) with EcoGuide – that coaches hybrid drivers to maximize fuel efficiency.

According to Fusion Marketing Manager Jonathan Richards, car buyers are so passionate about Fusion that they are choosing to buy the high series models – Hybrid, SEL and Sport.

“Data show that high series models account for 50 percent of sales,” he said. “Customers are also embracing technology offerings like voice-activated navigation, SYNC and Sony® Audio.”

Richards says the introduction of a Sport model is also drawing praise from Fusion customers, as is the new six-speed gearbox with SelectShift(TM) transmission.

Source: Ford Motor Company

Sensor enables adjustment of key engine parameters to reduce nitric oxide (NOx) emissions. Ideal for auto and heavy truck applications to help optimize the trade-off between emissions reductions and fuel economy. Continental is the world’s only supplier of Smart NOx Sensors.

Continental’s Smart NOx Sensor was named a finalist for a 2010 Automotive News PACE Award, further demonstrating the company’s commitment to the development of advanced technology that reduces emissions, improves fuel economy and helps automakers manage increasing environmental regulations.

The Smart NOx Sensor is an electromechanical sensor with a custom-integrated circuit and microprocessor controls. It communicates with the vehicle control bus to enable optimum adjustment of key engine parameters, such as exhaust gas recirculation, air/fuel ratio and after-treatment injection to reduce nitric oxide emissions.

“Continental’s Smart NOx Sensor is proving to be an ideal technology for the times,” said Kregg Wiggins, senior vice president, Powertrain Division, NAFTA. “Manufacturers around the world are looking for every possible method to balance increasingly stringent fuel economy and emissions regulations. The Smart NOx Sensor helps optimize a variety of powertrain applications.”

Continental is the only automotive supplier with this technology and more than two-dozen automotive, commercial and off-highway original equipment manufacturers have embraced it. There now are more than 1.5 million units in the field. With increased adoption in the commercial truck and off-highway markets, this number is expected to reach more than seven million by 2013.

“Configuring an engine for optimal fuel economy inherently increases the amount of emissions produced,” said Wiggins. “The Smart NOx Sensor is a market-proven solution that enables powertrain engineers to find the optimal calibration that balances performance and driveability, fuel economy and low emissions. It provides a baseline for the development of future products of this nature.”

In gasoline vehicles, the sensor is used in combination with lean-burn technology to control the regeneration cycle of the NOx storage catalyst.

In diesel passenger cars and light trucks, it is used in conjunction with the exhaust after-treatment systems for Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and NOx Storage Catalyst (NSC). It also has applications in SCR systems commonly used in heavy-duty trucks.

Source: Continental

Company Supplying Component from Recycled Materials for 2010 Ford Vehicles

Dana Holding Corporation announced that it is supplying cylinder-head covers made of recycled material on Ford Motor Company’s 3.0-liter Duratec engine, used in the 2010 Fusion and Escape vehicles – providing significant cost and environmental benefits.

Manufactured using EcoLon® nylon, the cover is the first automotive product of its kind manufactured from post-consumer recycled (PCR) nylon. Dana partnered with Wellman Engineering Resins – a leading compounder and supplier of high-quality nylon resins – to test, develop, and supply the material.

To repurpose nylon, Wellman grinds used nylon carpeting into fiber and recaptures the material through a proprietary process. The resulting product is a high-quality nylon resin, which Dana then uses to mold into cylinder-head covers through its injection-molding process.

“The push to go green in the automotive arena has never been greater; the challenge is to deliver solutions that also are economical,” said Marty Bryant, president of Light Vehicle Products for Dana. “Dana successfully met that challenge for Ford by providing an innovative cover made from recycled material and, thanks to EcoLon’s fixed raw material cost, we’re passing on substantial cost savings to the customer.”

Greener engines and cost savings aren’t the only customer benefits. The robust, highly durable nylon covers also provide greater fuel economy due to weight savings of nearly 20 percent when compared with aluminum die-cast cylinder-head covers.

“Dana’s state-of-the-art testing capabilities, coupled with its advanced manufacturing and engineering expertise, provided us with the resources needed to develop a highly-engineered, sustainable product that works well for the automotive industry. We’re pleased to have partnered with Dana on this program for Ford Motor Company,” said Bob Dastou, Southeast Regional Account Manager, Wellman Engineering Resins.

The cylinder-head covers are part of a module-based sealing system Dana supplies for the Ford Fusion and Escape programs, which also includes the engine cover, gaskets, fasteners, baffle/air-oil separator, and isolators.

Dana developed, tested, and is manufacturing the cylinder head covers at its Composite Sealing Center in Paris, Tenn.

Source: Dana Holding Corporation

Ford Motor Company is bringing to market the world’s first automotive inflatable seat belts, combining attributes of traditional seat belts and air bags to provide an added level of crash safety protection for rear seat occupants.

The advanced restraint system is designed to help reduce head, neck and chest injuries for rear seat passengers, often children and older passengers who can be more vulnerable to such injuries.

Ford will introduce inflatable rear seat belts on the next-generation Ford Explorer, which goes into production next year for the North American market. Over time, Ford plans to offer the technology in vehicles globally.

“Ford’s rear inflatable seat belt technology will enhance safety for rear-seat passengers of all ages, especially for young children who are more vulnerable in crashes,” said Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president of Sustainability, Environmental and Safety Engineering. “This is another unique family technology that builds on our safety leadership, including the most top safety ratings of any automaker.”

Safer and more comfortable

Advances in air bag inflation and seat belt construction methods have enabled Ford and its suppliers to develop inflatable seat belts that are designed to deploy over a vehicle occupant’s torso and shoulder in 40 milliseconds in the event of a crash.

In everyday use, the inflatable belts operate like conventional seat belts and are safe and compatible with infant and children safety car and booster seats. In Ford’s research, more than 90 percent of those who tested the inflatable seat belts found them to be similar to or more comfortable than a conventional belt because they feel padded and softer. That comfort factor could help improve the 61 percent rear belt usage rate in the U.S., which compares to 82 percent usage by front seat passengers, according National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data.

“Ford is pioneering inflatable seat belt technology to help enhance crash safety protection, while encouraging more people to buckle up with a more comfortable belt,” said Paul Mascarenas, Ford vice president, Engineering, Global Product Development.

In the event of a frontal or side crash, the inflatable belt’s increased diameter more effectively holds the occupant in the appropriate seating position, helping to reduce the risk of injury.

Vehicle safety sensors determine the severity of the collision in the blink of an eye and deploy the inflatable belts’ air bags. Each belt’s tubular air bag inflates with cold compressed gas, which flows through a specially designed buckle from a cylinder housed below the seat.

The inflatable belt’s accordion-folded bag breaks through the belt fabric as it fills with air, expanding sideways across the occupant’s body in about the same amount of time it takes a car traveling at highway speed to cover a yard of distance.

The use of cold compressed gas instead of a heat-generating chemical reaction – which is typical of traditional air bag systems – means the inflated belts feel no warmer on the wearer’s body than the ambient temperature. The inflatable belts also fill at a lower pressure and a slower rate than traditional air bags, because the device does not need to close a gap between the belt and the occupant.

“It’s a very simple and logical system, but it required extensive trial and error and testing over several years to prove out the technology and ensure precise reliable performance in a crash situation,” said Srini Sundararajan, safety technical leader for Ford research and advance engineering.

The inflated belt helps distribute crash force energy across five times more of the occupant’s torso than a traditional belt, which expands its range of protection and reduces risk of injury by diffusing crash pressure over a larger area, while providing additional support to the head and neck. After deployment, the belt remains inflated for several seconds before dispersing its air through the pores of the air bag.

Ford’s safety leadership record continues to grow

The inflatable seat belt debuting on the next-generation Ford Explorer continues Ford’s record of safety innovation. Ford today has more 5-star U.S. government ratings and “Top Safety Picks” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety than any other automaker.

Ford was the first automaker to introduce seat belts in 1955 and led the way in making driver and front-passenger air bags standard in most vehicles by 1993.

This year, Ford introduced radar-enabled Adaptive Cruise Control with Collision Warning with Brake Support and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with Cross Traffic Alert (CTA). These technologies – introduced on the new 2010 Ford Taurus and Fusion – help drivers avoid potential dangerous crash situations using radar to detect the relative position of other vehicles and warn the driver with a combination of visual and audio alerts.

Ford’s other recent seat belt and air bag innovations include the industry-first BeltMinder system in 2000, which the U.S. government credited with increasing front belt usage by 5 percent in Ford vehicles. On the 2002 Explorer, Ford launched the industry’s first rollover-activated side curtain air bags – called Safety Canopy – as well as Roll Stability Control technology that goes a step beyond traditional stability control systems by helping measure and prevent side-to-side skidding and dangerous situations that could lead to rollovers.

Ford also introduced on the 2009 F-150 and 2010 Taurus some of the industry’s first pressure-based air bag technologies that help deploy side air bags up to 30 percent faster.

Source: Ford Motor Company