A group of moderately priced midsize cars outperformed most of their luxury counterparts in a challenging new frontal crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) on 2013 models. Of the 18 midsize family cars evaluated in the small overlap test, two earn the top rating of good, 11 earn acceptable, three earn marginal, and two are poor.
In contrast, just 3 of 11 midsize luxury and near-luxury cars evaluated in the inaugural round of small overlap tests earned good or acceptable ratings. Midsize moderately priced cars are the second group to be tested. The best performers in this group are the Honda Accord 4-door and Suzuki Kizashi. Both earn a good rating.
The latest small overlap front crash test results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reveal a range of performance among many of the best-selling small cars in the U.S. market. Of the 12 models evaluated, half earn a good or acceptable rating and qualify for the IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ award.
The 2-door and 4-door models of the Honda Civic are the only small cars to earn the top rating of good in the test. IIHS evaluated the Civics earlier this year and released the results in March. The Dodge Dart, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and 2014 model Scion tC earn acceptable ratings.
The 2014 model-year brand and category winners of the annual Best Resale Value Awards, recognizing vehicles for their projected retained value through the initial five-year ownership period, were announced today by Kelley Blue Book, www.kbb.com, the leading provider of new and used car information. Both Toyota and Lexus earned top honors for best brand and best luxury brand, and each of those top brands had six segment winners from a total of 22 different segments. Honda earned three segment awards, while Chevrolet captured two segment awards and placed an impressive three vehicles in the overall top 10 list.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/63131-kelley-blue-book-kbb-2014-best-resale-value-awards/
A group of four minivans recently tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for protection in small overlap front crashes shows some of the worst possible outcomes for this type of crash, with only one vehicle performing acceptably.
The Nissan Quest, the Chrysler Town & Country and its twin, the Dodge Grand Caravan, all earn poor ratings. The exception to the disappointing pattern is the 2015 Toyota Sienna, which earns an acceptable rating. It joins the Honda Odyssey, which last year earned a good rating in the test, in the ranks of TOP SAFETY PICK+ winners.
New subcompact SUVs Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3 top the list of vehicles debuting this week at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show, says Edmunds.com, the premier destination for car shopping. The unveilings underscore the surge of interest that car shoppers have shown in compact and subcompact SUVs. Edmunds.com sales data shows that the segment has doubled in market share over the last decade.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7382851-edmunds-com-los-angeles-auto-show-small-suv-s/
Northwestern Mutual, presenting sponsor of the 2016 Rose Bowl Game®, today unveiled its float design for the 127th Rose Parade® presented by Honda. Titled Dancing into Adventure, it will draw attention to the fight against childhood cancer by showcasing the greatest adventure and dream of Peyton Richardson, a 13-year-old aspiring ballerina from Sugar Land, Texas, who is battling leukemia.
The theme of this year’s parade is Find Your Adventure. As an aspiring ballerina, Peyton wants to travel the world to see performances from the world’s most distinguished ballet companies and have a dance lesson with their principal dancers. Northwestern Mutual is using its sponsorship to bring Peyton’s adventure to life in flowers and raise awareness about childhood cancer.
“Peyton’s unique, positive way of using ballet to battle cancer and stay focused on her dream is truly amazing,” said Conrad York, vice president of marketing at Northwestern Mutual. “At Northwestern Mutual, we know that each family has a dream in mind for their future, and we are here to support them every step of the way.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7422155-northwestern-mutual-rose-parade-float/
Drivers of late-model pickup trucks are likely to find themselves squinting into the darkness or temporarily blinding other drivers, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's latest headlight ratings show.
All four small pickups evaluated are available only with headlights that earn a poor rating. The same goes for 3 out of 7 large pickups. Only one large pickup, the Honda Ridgeline, is available with good-rated headlights, though all but the most expensive trim levels come with poor ones.
Pickups are the third vehicle category to be put through the IIHS headlight evaluations. Midsize cars were the first in March, followed by small SUVs in July.
IIHS launched its headlight ratings after finding that government standards based on laboratory tests allow for huge variation in the amount of illumination headlights provide in on-road driving. In the Institute's evaluations, engineers measure how far light is projected from a vehicle's low beams and high beams as the vehicle travels straight and on curves. Glare from low beams for oncoming drivers also is measured.
The HGTV® Dream Home will mark its 21st anniversary on St. Simons Island, Georgia, where the white sand, moss-draped oaks and laid-back island lifestyle, make it America’s favorite beach town. The grand prize winner of this spectacular giveaway will receive the completely remodeled and fully furnished home, a new Honda Pilot, plus $250,000 from national mortgage lender Quicken Loans®. The sneak peek at this beautiful, one-of-a-kind makeover is now available at HGTV.com/HGTVDreamHome.
Interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn has restored a hidden gem into a one-of-a-kind seaside getaway with a design aesthetic that can be described as Southern Transitional. With Sea Island as the backdrop, the 1980s-built home maintains a traditional look that embodies true Southern charm with an emphasis on architecture reflective of its coastal location.
“The charming seaside location of St. Simons fits the bill as a ‘dreamy’ location where our fans can see themselves relaxing by the backyard fire pit or hosting friends by the pool,” said Ron Feinbaum, general manager and senior vice president of Home Promotions for Scripps Networks Interactive. “Working with architect Michael Stauffer and builder Allen Construction, we were able to transform this home into a residence with design inspiration that our fans can use in their own homes.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7986251-hgtv-dream-home-giveaway-2017/
The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt electric car, Honda Ridgeline pickup and Chrysler Pacifica minivan were named 2017 North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year, respectively, Monday.
The announcement was made at the North American International Auto Show Monday in Detroit.
The Bolt electric car received 364 points from the jury of automotive journalists across the United States and Canada. The Genesis G90 sedan from Hyundai’s new luxury brand was second with 105, followed by the Volvo S90 sedan with 101.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/8003351-north-american-car-truck-utility-vehicle-2017/
The 22nd edition of HGTV® Dream Home is putting down roots in Gig Harbor, Washington, where picturesque scenery, a quaint mix of old and new and a lifestyle that centers around its maritime history make it one of the most charming towns in the Pacific Northwest.
The winner of the grand prize package valued at over $1.8 million will receive the completely remodeled and fully furnished home, a new Honda Accord, plus $250,000 from national mortgage lender Quicken Loans®. The sneak peek at this striking, one-of-a-kind makeover is now available at HGTV.com/HGTVDreamHome.
Interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn has taken a formerly dated home and transformed it into a ruggedly elegant waterfront escape with a design aesthetic best described as “livable modernism.” Situated on a quiet and historic peninsula with unobstructed views of Puget Sound as the backdrop, the fully remodeled tri-level 1970s contemporary home maintains a coastal and casual look that embodies Pacific Northwest style and places a strong emphasis on natural materials.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8041054-hgtv-dream-home-giveaway-2018-gig-harbor-washington/
In a new round of evaluations, 5 of 7 small SUVs earn good ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for occupant protection in a passenger-side small overlap front crash.
The ratings bring to 16 the number of small SUVs the Institute has evaluated in the passenger-side small overlap front test, which was introduced in 2017 to encourage manufacturers to offer the same level of protection for front-seat passengers as drivers in this type of crash.
The BMW X1; Chevrolet Equinox and its twin, the GMC Terrain; Jeep Compass and Mitsubishi Outlander earn good ratings in the passenger-side small overlap front test. The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport earns a marginal rating, and the Ford Escape earns poor. For the 2018 model year, the Equinox shed weight to join the small SUV size class. Earlier models were classified as midsize.
None of the newly rated 2018 models earns better than acceptable marks for structure. (The Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 are the only small SUVs evaluated so far to earn good ratings for structure in the passenger-side small overlap front test.) The Outlander Sport is marginal, and the Escape is rated poor. Both the Outlander Sport and Escape allowed too much intrusion into the occupant compartment on the right side.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) today released its annual Hot Wheels report, which identifies the 10 most stolen vehicles in the United States. The report examines vehicle theft data submitted by law enforcement to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and determines the vehicle make, model and model year most reported stolen in 2017.
While Honda Accords and Civics produced prior to the introduction of anti-theft technology continue to dominate this report, a deeper look at the data demonstrates just how effective anti-theft technology continues to be. A total of (6,707) 1998 Honda Civics were stolen in 2017 compared with just (388) 2017 Civics. Put another way, (17) 1998 Civics were stolen last year for every one 2017 model.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8396151-nicb-hot-wheels-2018-hot-wheels-report/
