Parking crashes usually don’t result in serious injuries, but repair costs can quickly mount, along with the hassle of going without the family vehicle while waiting for the body shop to finish work. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has launched a rear crash prevention ratings program to help consumers identify models with the technology that can prevent or mitigate low-speed backing crashes. Two systems earn the highest rating of superior, and four earn the second-highest rating of advanced.
Rear crash prevention encompasses several technologies. Parking sensors issue warning beeps and/or seat vibrations when the equipped vehicle gets too close to another vehicle or object directly behind it, or, in some cases, in front of it. Rear cross-traffic alert warns drivers of approaching vehicles that might cross their path as they back up. Rear automatic emergency braking systems detect objects behind a reversing vehicle and may automatically brake if the driver doesn’t heed alerts to stop.
IIHS engineers evaluated rear autobrake systems on six popular 2017 model vehicles — the BMW 5 series sedan, Cadillac XT5 SUV, Infiniti QX60 SUV, Jeep Cherokee SUV, Subaru Outback wagon and Toyota Prius hatchback.
Under the three-tier rating scheme, models with optional or standard rear crash prevention systems are rated superior, advanced or basic. Ratings are determined by whether the vehicles have available rear autobrake and, if so, how it performs in a series of car-to-car and car-to-pole tests with different approach angles. The availability of parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert also is factored in.
The Outback and XT5 earn a superior rating when equipped with optional rear autobrake, parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert. The Cherokee, 5 series, QX60 and Prius earn an advanced rating with this optional gear.
Nissan has created the world's biggest working Zorb, complete with a full-sized Note safely cushioned inside.
The giant inflatable ball, which measures six metres in diameter and more than 18 metres in circumference, was constructed to highlight Nissan's Safety Shield technology featured on the Nissan Note, its popular small family car.
Nicknamed the 'CarZorb', the colossal structure was successfully rolled down a course of steep hills in a two minute film released today.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go http://www.multivu.com/players/English/72762577-nissan-biggest-zorb-car-inside/
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today announced NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr., 26-time NASCAR winner, will be the featured expert who chooses Goodyear tires on and off the track in a series of broadcast, digital and print ads.
“We’ve already had a relationship due to the confidence that I have in Goodyear tires on the track with the 88 car and on the street with my own personal car,” said Earnhardt Jr. “There’s a huge trust factor that we’ve had for a really long time, so this feels like a continuation of something that has been going on for a while.”
Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s most popular driver 13 years running and one of America’s favorite athletes, has accomplished his significant racing achievements on Goodyear tires including his first NASCAR Sprint Cup victory in 2000 and Daytona 500 victories in 2004 and 2014.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/74044510-goodyear-dale-earnhardt-jr/
Cats, start your engines. Kitties can now enjoy their favorite gravy year-round with Friskies’ new line of gravy products available at Kroger stores nationwide.
To launch Friskies® Gravy Swirlers™, Friskies® Extra Gravy Chunky and Friskies® Party Mix™ Gravy-licious treats, Friskies teamed up with Kroger to debut its “Lap It Up” digital video starring the famous frowning Grumpy Cat and Kroger stock car driver A.J. Allmendinger’s furry friend, Mr. Tickles.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8146151-friskies-kroger-grumpy-cat-mr-tickles-racing/
Esurance caused a bit of a scene. The home and auto insurer staged a fender bender to encourage safe driving, an important message to address the recent series of car accidents caused by people playing mobile games while driving.
The scene on Chicago’s popular Magnificent Mile featured a car’s run-in with a hot dog cart, all caused by a fictional distracted driver and Esurance mobile game-inspired creature that causes fender benders, the Fenderbendix. As visitors walked past the jarring scene, they discovered that nobody was hurt. And they learned an important message about safe driving, smart people #DontCatchAndDrive.
“We’re always looking for unexpected, relatable ways to connect with people. Staging this scene allowed us to capture people’s attention and send an important message about safe driving,” said Alan Gellman, chief marketing officer at Esurance. “We understand the appeal of exciting modern technology like augmented reality gaming, but we want people to be smart about how they use it.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7910451-esurance-don%E2%80%99t-catch-and-drive/
http://forthebetter.com.au/
We took the Attention Powered Car on the world's longest inattention road test and we discovered that on average our drivers lost attention at least once every minute.
The Attention Powered Car then headed back to the RAC Driving Centre where further tests were conducted to investigate initial findings from the road trip.
In this new webisode we explore the effects a passenger can have on a driver's attention levels and ways in which passengers might help drivers regain or keep attention behind the wheel.
To see what we've learning about driver inattention, and to get involved with making WA roads safer, go to http://forthebetter.com.au/
The first all-new 2017 Subaru Impreza rolled off the assembly line at Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (SIA), officially launching the first-ever American-built Impreza from the automaker. The Impreza had historically been produced only in Japan. The start of Impreza production marks the culmination of more than three years of preparation and highlights the consistent growth in Subaru demand in the United States (U.S.). The positive economic impact of that growth is clear in the investment Subaru made to increase SIA’s production capacity and prepare for Impreza production. SIA invested $1.3 billion over the past four years, and hired an additional 1,400 associates in the past year.
“In a time when some manufacturers are moving work out of the United States, we’re proud to be bringing Subaru Impreza production to the heartland of America,” said Tom Easterday, Senior Executive Vice President of SIA. “The move has allowed us to create hundreds of new jobs not only at SIA, but also at our suppliers in Indiana and across the country.”
The all-new 2017 Subaru Impreza is the first vehicle built using the new Subaru Global Platform architecture that is designed to enhance safety, comfort, agility and driving pleasure. Available in sedan and 5-door models, the 2017 Impreza is equipped with new driver assist technology, multimedia features and standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. The new Impreza will be available in base, Premium, Sport and Limited trim lines starting in late 2016.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7673252-subaru-impreza-first-2017-american-made/
INRIX®, Inc., a global leader for transportation analytics, today released its 2015 Traffic Scorecard, a benchmark for governments and agencies in the U.S. and Europe to measure progress in improving urban mobility.
The report reveals the U.S. faces large challenges to solve congestion issues, fueled by continued economic and population growth, higher employment rates and declining gas prices. Cities that have experienced the most economic improvement during the past year are at highest risk for consequences related to worsened traffic conditions, including reduced productivity, higher emissions and increased stress levels. For example, Washington D.C., San Francisco, New York, Seattle and Boston all saw reduced unemployment rates bringing them below the national average of 5.3 percent for 2015.1 However, according to the INRIX Traffic Scorecard, congestion in those cities alone combined to waste 1.5 billion hours for daily car commuters last year. Nationwide, commuters spent a total of more than eight billion extra hours stuck in traffic, representing almost 50 hours per driver.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7775551-inrix-2015-traffic-scorecard/
The Attention Powered Car, developed by
the RAC, is into leg 3 of its road trip around WA visiting towns
including Donnybrook, Nannup and Pemberton, heading to Albany and then
finishing in the Wheatbelt town of Narrogin. In this
episode we put two drivers behind the wheel that drive for a living. We
wanted to see if their professional experience influenced their
attention levels. How will our Ambo and Australia's best truck driver
perform? First up was Mike. As a St John's Ambulance
Volunteer, he needs to be calm and confident driving under pressure and
at high speed. And it showed. So too with our second driver, Murray,
who's TNT Australia's best truck driver. Both came out determined and
focused to prove they had the edge. To some degree they did. Incidences
of inattention were fewer and further between, but they were still
there. Encouragingly, both drivers were much better at refocusing when
they did lose attention. Check out this webisode to see
just how they performed, as well as what insights we are finding about
driver inattention as we take the Attention Powered Car through
southern WA.
Kia Motors America (KMA) today unveiled the all-new 2017 Sportage at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The fourth-generation Sportage, KMA’s longest-running nameplate, wraps stunning contemporary design around a structure that is both stiffer and more spacious than before. Advanced driver assistance technologies, significant suspension and steering improvements, and available intelligent AWD vastly improve the Sportage’s driving dynamics while premium materials and world-class craftsmanship create a class-up experience in an otherwise utilitarian segment.
“Simply put, the Sportage is a breed apart in the compact CUV segment,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning KMA. “Instead of bland utility, the Sportage combines distinctly European and sporty styling with thoughtful design and functionality, including innovative packaging, premium materials, a turbocharged engine and surprising features. Sales of compact CUVs are on a sharply upward trajectory, and the all-new 2017 Sportage hits the sweet spot by providing an alternative for those seeking to express themselves with a vehicle that’s versatile enough to suit their unique lifestyle.”
The all-new Sportage’s roomier, more luxurious cabin features an impressive level of craftsmanship, with high-quality, soft-touch materials and a range of technologies improving overall comfort, convenience, and connectivity. Updates to the drivetrain provide enhanced efficiency and performance, while changes to the suspension deliver better ride and handling. Like the outgoing model, the all-new Sportage will be built at Kia’s production facility in Gwangju, Korea, and be available in three distinct trim levels (LX, EX, SX Turbo) when it goes on sale next year. Pricing will be announced closer to the Sportage’s on-sale date.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7436354-2017-kia-sportage-l-a-auto-show-debut/
Raminator, a monster truck sponsored by the Ram Truck brand, has broken the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® record for the Fastest Speed for a Monster Truck at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. Hitting a record speed of 99.10 miles per hour (mph), Raminator and Driver Mark Hall secured the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title at 8:44 a.m. (CT), breaking the previous record of 96.8 mph.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/71011510-raminator-and-hall-brothers-racing-shatter-guinness-world-records-fastest-speed-for-monster-truck/
