Lake Research Partners and Bellwether Research and Consulting recently released a new national poll sponsored by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) that finds likely 2016 voters have widespread and serious concerns about ethanol’s unintended consequences—including damage to engines, land conversion and food prices.
“Voters across party lines express grave concerns for the impacts of the corn ethanol mandate from the Renewable Fuel Standard that touch many parts of their lives from the cars they drive to the food they buy,” said Celinda Lake, president of Lake Research Partners. “They strongly support bi-partisan proposals that would reduce the impact of corn ethanol, and particularly support the Environmental Protection Agency reducing the amount of corn ethanol required by law.”
As the EPA recently closed the comment period on its proposed ethanol volumes for 2014, 2015 and 2016, the poll also shows that 67 percent of people favor the agency setting ethanol volumes below what is required by law, with 68 percent of Democrats and 71 percent of Republicans supporting volumes lower than the statute.
To view the multimedia release go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7576751-ama-national-ethanol-voter-poll/
Global NCAP, the umbrella body of consumer car safety testing bodies, welcomes the Indian Government’s initiative to launch a New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) but believes that this positive step should also be accompanied by action to apply the United Nation’s minimum crash tests standards.
India is now the fifth largest producer in the world of passenger cars but new independent crash tests show why the country should use internationally accepted safety standards. Crash tests of Nissan’s Datsun Go and Maruti-Suzuki’s Swift demonstrate a high risk of life-threatening injuries with both cars receiving zero-star safety rating for their adult occupant protection. These risks would be significantly reduced if the cars had to comply with the UN test regulation for frontal and side impact.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/72762582-nissan-suzuki-safety-test-score/
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.
Volvo Cars has chosen the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit to launch its new signature premium sedan, the S90, underscoring its long term commitment to the U.S. market and providing a clear sign of its confidence in continued sales growth in the coming year.
Volvo sales in the U.S. increased 24.3 per cent in 2015, with an especially strong performance at the end of the year with sales rising 87 per cent in October, 90 per cent in November and 89.9 per cent in December, driven by continued strong sales of the XC60 crossover and the new XC90 SUV.
“There are strong indications that Volvo is back on track in the U.S.,” said Lex Kerssemakers, Senior Vice President of the Americas at Volvo Car Group. “We expect this strong sales momentum to continue in 2016, helped by the new S90.”
The launch of the S90 highlights the ambition of the Swedish car maker, following an $11bn investment and the recent breaking of ground in Charleston, South Carolina, where Volvo Cars will build its first American production facility, employing around 2,000 workers.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7709951-kbb-naias-2016-detroit/
The Chevrolet Equinox and its twin, the GMC Terrain, are the only midsize SUVs out of nine evaluated to earn a good rating in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s small overlap front crash test, which continues to challenge manufacturers more than a year and a half after its introduction.
The Equinox and the Terrain qualify for the Institute’s highest award for 2014, TOP SAFETY PICK+. The Toyota Highlander, a midsize SUV whose acceptable small overlap rating was announced in December, also qualifies. The award is given to vehicles with a good or acceptable small overlap rating, good ratings in four other occupant protection tests, and a rating of basic or higher for front crash prevention.
Three other midsize SUVs in the test group rate poor for small overlap protection, and three are marginal.
Andrew Frankel reviews the Renault Zoe – one of a new breed of all electric cars that can truly claim to be a practical alternative to traditional fuel cars.
The S90 marks a giant step forward for Volvo Cars. The Swedish car maker is better known for its SUVs and estates, but with the launch of the S90 Volvo is clearly intent on shaking up the premium sedan segment with its distinctive executive class sedan.
Equipped with a host of new technologies ranging from cutting edge safety to cloud-based apps and services, the S90 is further proof of the Swedish brand’s continuing transformation.
“With the launch of the XC90 we made a clear statement of intent. We are now clearly and firmly in the game. With $11 USD billion of investment over the past five years we have not only reimagined what Volvo Cars can be – we are now delivering on our promise of a resurgent and relevant Volvo Cars brand,” said Håkan Samuelsson, President & CEO, Volvo Car Group.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7702651-volvo-stakes-its-claim-with-the-S90/
Call it a homecoming.
When Toyota introduced Lexus to the U.S. market in 1989, the Georgetown, Ky., plant – its first stand-alone vehicle manufacturing facility in America – was just in its second year of producing the Camry.
Fast forward 26 years and that same plant is celebrating the start of U.S. Lexus production. Today at a ceremony fit for a luxury brand king, the first-ever U.S.-produced ES 350 was unveiled before several thousand proud team members in Georgetown. And, just like a newborn foal at the nearby horse farms in Central Kentucky, the newcomer was brought into the world with plenty of TLC and hope for a bright future.
“This is really a proud moment for us and brings us full circle,” said Wil James, president, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. “To be the first wholly owned plant, building the number one best-selling car in America, the Camry, for 13 years in a row, and then to be selected to build the first Lexus is truly a tribute to our team members.”
For the past two and a half years, the Kentucky plant – Toyota’s largest in North America – has been gearing up to make the ES 350, Lexus’ best-selling sedan in the U.S. In all, $360 million was invested toward a new dedicated assembly line, adding 750 new jobs. Total capacity for the new line will be 50,000 vehicles.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7655351-lexus-kentucky-plant-es-350/
GAC Motor has hosted the first launch of new cars in China at the 17th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition (Auto Shanghai 2017) hosted from April 19 to 28 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai).
GAC Motor’s exhibition themed “Ingenuity in Mind, Excellence in Pursuit” will take stage in pavilion 2.1. A total of six new car models will be unveiled on April 19 at Auto Shanghai 2017, including the new five-seat SUV GS7, 2017 edition of GA8, plug-in sedan GA3S PHEV, plug-in SUV GS4 PHEV, pure electric vehicle GE3 and EnSpirit concept car.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8085451-gac-motor-shanghai-auto-show/
What if there were a way to prevent a leading cause of childhood death, but three out of four of us were doing it wrong? The startling truth is that a car seat can dramatically reduce childhood death and injury from motor vehicle crashes, but 75 percent are installed incorrectly.1
With Child Passenger Safety Week upon us, the good news is that community-based programs are making a difference. Buckle Up for Life is a national education program, created in 2004 by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Toyota, to save children's lives. Over the last ten years, it has grown to include a network of more than a dozen of the nation's leading children's hospitals and has educated more than 17,000 people about the proper use of car seats and seat belts. Toyota's sponsorship has provided funding for over 40,000 car seats for families in need.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7318951-toyota-cincinnati-children-s-hospital-child-passenger-safety-buckle-up-for-life/
The 2014 Chicago Auto Show is now open to the public. Held in the McCormick Place complex, the Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America and has been held more times than any other auto exposition on the continent. Exhibitions include: multiple world and North American introductions; a complete range of domestic and imported passenger cars and trucks; sport utility vehicles; and experimental or concept cars. In total, nearly 1,000 different vehicles will be on display.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/65459-kelley-blue-book-chicago-auto-show
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/
