2010 Active Lifestyle Vehicle Awards

San Diego area athletes weigh in on this year’s entries

Athletes Judge the Best Value Category

This week, two dozen San Diego area athletes got their turn to drive the 2010 entries for Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year, and cast their votes. The awards program, now in its sixth year, recognizes new cars and trucks that best meet the needs of active buyers. The program is sponsored by AAA and the Active Network. The Active Network has hosted the one-day ride-and-drive program since 2005.

Twenty manufacturers participated in the 2010 competition, entering vehicles in seven categories. A panel of twelve automotive journalists, including Larry Edsall, Denise McCluggage, John Stewart, Jim Prueter, Sue Mead, Tamara Warren and others drove the initial field of entries and pared the group down to 28 finalists.

Athletes on hand included members of Team Aquaphor, Active Network Media, and the San Diego Triathlon Club, participating in sports that ranged from surfing and sprint triathlon to ultra-distance running. The athletes’ votes weighed fifty percent in the final tally: jury panel votes comprised the remaining fifty percent. Read the rest of this entry »

SEMA News

Automotive aftermarket show features accessories for active lifestyles

By Nina Russin

Yakima Rack-and-Roll trailer

SEMA is the Specialty Equipment Manufacturing Association: the biggest organization of aftermarket equipment suppliers in the world. Once a year, members gather in Las Vegas for a trade show of overwhelming proportions.

How big is it? According to a colleague, the 2007 SEMA show had twenty-six miles of exhibits, filling all three halls in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

While the current show is slightly smaller, it’s still an impressive display. In addition to the exhibition halls, hot rods and customs fill the open air spaces in front of the convention center. Despite the fact that admission is limited to industry members, attendance is huge. By mid-day, it’s hard to find space to walk down the aisles.

Among the thousands of participants are all the major manufacturers of roof racks, camping supplies, navigation systems, specialty suspensions, tires, and towing equipment. Following are a few of this year‘s highlights.

Roof and hitch racks

Yakima‘s new Rack and Roll trailers are an ergonomic alternative to roof racks. There are two models: a 66-inch wide rack that weighs about 130 pounds empty, and a slightly heavier 78-inch wide rack that can hold up to eight bicycles. Read the rest of this entry »

2009 Audi Q5 3.2 quattro Tiptronic

Style meets performance in Audi’s first compact SUV

By Nina Russin

2009 Audi Q5

This year, Audi expands its sport-utility lineup with the Q5: a compact alternative to the full-sized Q7. Built on the same chassis as the A4 sedan, the Q5 melds Audi’s race-inspired performance with sleek, upscale styling. Base price for the Q5 is $37,200, not including a $825 delivery charge.

Power comes from a 270-horsepower V6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission. The Q5 accelerates from zero-to-sixty miles-per-hour in 6.7 seconds. Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system maintains a rear bias under normal conditions, but can transfer engine torque between axles and wheels to maximize traction.

The Q5 tows up to 4400 pounds: well above our 3500-pound ALV minimum standard. A new navigation system displays maps with three-dimensional graphics, and includes real-time traffic updates ($3000). I found the graphics hard to read while I was driving: simpler is better to keep drivers focused on the road. Read the rest of this entry »

2009 Audi Q7 TDI Premium quattro Tiptronic

Full-sized SUV with a green footprint

By Nina Russin

2009 Audi Q7 TDI

Which technology is greener: gasoline-electric hybrids or clean diesel? Engineers on both sides of the fence can make good arguments in their favor. Hybrids yield exceptional fuel economy in stop-and-go traffic, whereas the fuel economy gains for diesel cars are smaller, but more consistent across-the-board.

Over the long term, owners of hybrids must address the issue of battery life and disposal: a problem that doesn’t exist for diesel. On the other hand, gasoline is still more readily available than diesel in the US, and in many cases, costs less.

Traditionally, American drivers have shunned diesel technology, primarily because of bad experiences with vehicles built several decades back. I can’t emphasize enough how different the current generation of diesel cars are from their predecessors. A relatively recent technology known as common-rail diesel uses on-board computer controls and very high fuel-line pressures to give the new cars power and performance comparable to gasoline cars.

The new clean diesel cars have excellent throttle response, and vastly reduced diesel tick. Audi has reduced particulates out the exhaust by 98 percent, compared to cars built in the late 1980s. Torque is up 70 percent. In short, the cars are environmentally friendly, fun to drive, and remarkably fuel-efficient. Read the rest of this entry »

2010 Nissan Sedans

Maxima, Altima, Sentra and Versa get refreshed styling and technology updates

By Nina Russin

2010 Nissan Altima sedan

Virtual imaging has been a blessing and a curse for the car world. On the plus side, design teams can take concepts from the drawing board into production faster. The drawback of virtual imaging is that designs have, in many cases lost the human touch.

The Nissan Xterra is a perfect example of how important humanism is to car design. The design team didn’t conceptualize the Xterra in the studio. They did it by spending time with athletes in and around San Diego, and observing their lifestyle needs.

The same type of humanism infuses Nissan’s sedans. The 2010 models offer many new features active buyers crave.

A good example is the $400 navigation system available on the 2010 Versa and Sentra. The value-priced option interfaces with onboard infotainment: it includes a touchscreen and is available with a rearview camera.

Renewed focus on sedan lineup

Sedans are Nissan’s bread and butter.  The upscale Maxima, best-selling Altima, compact Sentra and value-priced Versa compete against some of the highest volume vehicles in the car market: the Toyota Camry and Corolla, Honda Accord and Camry among them.

The recent economic slump has shrunk the pool of prospective customers, making it more difficult to conquest customers away from other brands. Nissan’s strategy has been to give the sedans refreshed styling and some important technology updates for the coming year.

All four models have redesigned front ends, including new headlamps, grilles and hoods. The redesign gives Nissan sedans a more cohesive appearance, enhancing their brand identity. Designers refreshed the vehicle interiors with new upholstery and updated instrument panels.

All sedans except the Versa come with standard vehicle dynamic control: one of the most effective accident avoidance technologies. A new Nissan quality assurance program includes updated computer systems in assembly plants, positioning the workers within eye level of the vehicles to reduce accidents and manufacturing flaws, and an enhanced vehicle inspection system. Read the rest of this entry »

Volvo Supports Distracted Driver Laws

Automaker supports federal legislation to control cell phone use in cars

Volvo tests its new autobrake system

Within the past three years, two triathletes in my neighborhood were hit by cars. One almost died. In both cases, the cyclists were obeying the traffic laws, but the car drivers were temporarily distracted.

This week, a two-day summit in Washington DC addresses distracted driving; specifically legislation that would control the way drivers can use cell phones in their cars. Although it is not a summit participant, Volvo is supporting federal legislation through full-page newspaper ads and a YouTube video.

“With the proliferation of cell phone use and text messaging while behind the wheel, distracted driving is on the rise and is a leading cause of traffic accidents,” said Doug Speck, president and CEO of Volvo Cars North America. “Reasonable laws that help focus a driver’s attention on the road will help reduce collisions, just as laws to enforce seat belt use have helped save lives.”

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, seven states currently outlaw the use of cell phones without a hands-free device while driving: eighteen states prohibit text messaging. Both activities are barred in DC.

Volvo is currently developing an auto-brake system specifically to protect pedestrians. To learn more about Volvo safety research, visit the company web site.

Lexus Displays Compact Hybrid Concept in LA

LF-Ch makes North American debut at auto show in December

Lexus LF-Ch Hybrid Concept

Following the introduction of the HS 250h, Lexus’ first dedicated  hybrid car, the automaker is unveiling what may be the second. The Lexus LF-Ch, a five-door hybrid concept, made its world debut this month in Frankfort. In December, the compact LF goes on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The LF-Ch has North American roots: designers from Toyota’s Calty Design Research Center in Newport Beach oversaw the project. The idea is to appeal to young urbanites looking for a combination of style, sporty performance, and a green footprint.

Designers blacked out the B-pillar and hid the rear door entry button, giving the LF-Ch the appearance of a coupe. An aggressive grille, front air dam and bright LED headlamps complete the sporty exterior.

Inside, the LF-Ch seats four passengers. High-tech features include integrated paddle shifters on the steering wheel, and headrest-mounted iPod docking capability for the rear passengers. Lexus’ remote touch controller uses a mouse device, allowing both the driver and front passenger to operate the navigation, audio and climate systems.

The LA Auto Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center opens to the public December 4, and runs through December 13th. For more information on the auto show, visit the official web site.

New Honda Personal Mobility Device

U3-X provides free movement in all directions

Honda U3-X

Honda has conducted robotics research since the mid-1980s, to develop technology that mimics walking. The U3-X is a single-wheel device that fits between the rider’s legs. The U3-X mimics walking, in that it can move in all directions: forward, side-to-side and diagonally. The rider controls the direction by shifting his body weight.

An incline sensor detects the incline of the device based on the rider’s weight shift. It uses this information to determine the rider’s intention in terms of direction and speed.

Multiple small-diameter motor-controlled wheels are connected in-line to form one large-diameter wheel. The large diameter wheel moves the device forward and backward. Moving the small-diameter wheels causes the device to move side-to-side. By combining the movements the device moves diagonally.

The U3-X’s lightweight monocoque body stows a foldable seat, footrests and body cover. The device weighs about 22 pounds.

Honda will showcase the U3-X at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show at the end of October. The U3-X runs on a lithium ion battery: it will run for one hour when fully charged.

Truck News from the Texas State Fair

Toyota and Ford unveil new models in the nation’s biggest truck market

2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty

Toyota and Ford reached out to truck fans attending the Texas State Fair in Dallas by unveiling two new models: the 2010 Toyota 4Runner, and 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty. The fifth-generation 4Runner appeals to off-road enthusiasts with a more powerful V6 engine, and new off-road handling features such as a multi-terrain select system. The 2011 F-Series Super Duty series trucks are available with a new turbocharged diesel engine that’s biodiesel compatible. Read the rest of this entry »

Volvo Tests Electric Car Safety

Safety center tests battery protection in electric C30

Volvo crash tests the electric C30

Electric cars have great potential in the market, since they are a viable alternative to gas-powered vehicles. But their large battery packs present some serious safety risks in the event of a collision.

Following the reveal of its electric C30, Volvo describes how its safety lab is evaluating the battery pack’s integrity. Safety testing includes five scenarios: normal driving, changes in performance, accident avoidance, collision, and post collision.

For normal driving, safety engineers determine if each battery cell maintains the correct voltage and operating temperature by regulating the cooling system. Since the battery pack weighs about 150 kilograms (330 pounds), it changes the vehicle’s front-to-rear weight balance. Engineers must make sure that the brakes, dynamic stability and traction control systems can handle the extra weight.

Volvo uses accident avoidance technology including collision warning and city safety to prevent or reduce the severity of collisions. Volvo’s proprietary city safety system debuted on the new XC60. The system automatically applies the brakes if the driver is distracted in stop-and-go-traffic. It can prevent rear-end collisions at speeds under 19 miles-per-hour.

To protect passengers if a collision occurs, the battery is encapsulated between the car’s wheel housings. Structural elements prevent intrusion to the area around the battery. If battery damage occurs, special ducts evacuate gas leaks away from the car and its occupants. At the point of impact, crash sensors signal the car’s on-board computer to shut off power, preventing a short circuit.

After the collision, the battery has a security cut-out that works like a circuit breaker. It shuts down and isolates the battery if current travels in the wrong direction. This could occur if the battery leads are pressed together as a result of the collision.