Thursday, September 29, 2011

How are cars becoming more user-friendly?

Are we approaching an era of self-driving cars?

“Fred Flintstone had a car that he had to power with his own feet; by that standard, all of today's cars are pretty easy to use. But cars are becoming even more user-friendly -- so user-friendly, in fact, that they may not even require a user at all. That's because much of the new car technology involves taking over the role of the driver.

For instance, no longer does a driver need to mind the blind spots, as certain cars come with detection systems that will alert the operator to obstacles in other lanes. If a driver should start to drowse off and drift into another lane, the steering wheel will shake or a voice will alert the driver to what's happening. Gone are the days of manually changing the cruise control speed when the car in front of you slows down -- now, adaptive cruise control uses radar to track the speed of that car and adjust the speed on its own. And since cars with adaptive cruise control can sense just how much space separates them from other cars, they can go into panic mode when cars ahead start hitting their brakes.

But you needn't fear a world of self-driving cars just yet. According to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive, drivers want features that improve safety, but they're not ready to turn over complete control of the road to a machine just yet [source: Adams]. In other words, while drivers may like alerts about a car in their blind spots, they want to be the ones that adjust their cars to account for it. And the same survey found that drivers are willing to keep their eyes on the road despite the goodies that new cars are offering; fancy features like WiFi or temperature-controlled cupholders are at the bottom of drivers' wish lists, perhaps indicating that drivers know they need to focus on driving, not on checking the latest sports scores online.

While today's drivers may be wary of cars that do too much for them, that doesn't mean they don't appreciate a little help and convenience. Keyless ignition systems save drivers the hassle of looking for their keys, new fuel tank caps that don't require a lot of turning can save time at the gas station, and self-repairing paint, which covers a scratch as soon as it occurs, eliminates the ordeal and expense of the body shop.”

Read more: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/trends-innovations/cars-more-user-friendly.htm

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Is Rustproofing Your Car Worth It?

Is rustproofing your car worth it? In short, yes!

Rust is a car’s natural enemy. More than just a discoloration of metal, rust is the corrosive result of a chemical reaction between oxygen and iron. Though rust technically corrodes just the surface of iron or an iron-based alloy (such as steel), fresh iron is exposed during this process of corrosion, which in turn can become “infected” with rust. Given enough time, this cycle will repeat over and over to the point when the rust completely disintegrates the metal.
Put simply: Rusted metal is not as structurally strong as rust-free metal. Since most cars are made of metal (especially steel) we can rightfully guess that a car with a rust problem is not as structurally sound and, therefore, more dangerous than a rust-free car. Rust isn’t much of a problem for those who live in dry, arid climates. However, cars constantly exposed to wet weather, humidity and corrosive road salts are more likely to suffer from potentially disastrous rust problems.
To combat vehicle rust, many manufacturers use a variety of rust-proofing techniques to keep rust at bay. Often, rust proofing measures will include the use of galvanized steel (steel that is coated in rust-unfriendly zinc) and PVC-based undercoatings. Paint itself is also considered a rust proofing measure, as it acts like a protective barrier against the elements. Some aftermarket rust-proofing treatments -- including wax-based surface treatments -- are also available.

RUST PROOFING ON AM
Though there is no way to completely eliminate the threat of rust, rust proofing is the best way to extend the life of a vehicle and all its components. As we mentioned earlier, rust will structurally weaken any piece of metal it has infected, so rusty car parts are often dangerous car parts. Rust proofing helps ensure that our vehicles won’t suddenly disintegrate as we drive down the freeway.
RUST PROOFING FACT
Sometimes, the best way to rust proof a car is to keep it clean. Waxing your car does more than just make it look good; a good wax job will serve as an extra layer of protection between the sheet metal and oxidizing elements like oxygen, salt and water. For those who live in snowy climates, not tracking massive amounts of snow (which will melt and form pools of water in a vehicle’s crevices) into the car is a good way to prevent rust build-up. Though it’s tough to do in the winter, keeping a car’s undercarriage free of road salts will also extend the life of any factory-engineered rust-proofing methods. A quick rinse of the undercarriage can do a lot of good.

Read more: http://www.askmen.com/cars/keywords/rust-proofing.html

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Tips for Driving In Rain

Check out the following tips for driving in the rain from Smart Motorist.

  • First and foremost: slow down! It takes longer to stop or adjust in wet weather.
  • Stay toward the middle lanes - water tends to pool in the outside lanes.
  • Maintain proper following distance (3 Second Rule). This needs to be increased in wet weather.
  • Drive in the tracks of a car ahead of you.
  • Don't follow large trucks or busses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.
  • Be more alert when driving in wet or slippery conditions. Watch out for brake lights in front of you.
  • Avoid using your brakes; if possible, take your foot off the accelerator to slow down.
  • Turn your headlights on even in a light rain, or in gloomy, foggy or overcast conditions. Not only do they help you see the road, but they'll help other drivers see you. If your car has daytime running lights you still should put them on, so vehicles behind you can see you better.
  • Before it starts to rain, replace old or brittle wipers.
  • Avoid off-road driving: it's hard to judge the actual depth of puddles and you can easily become stuck, even in an SUV.
  • Never drive beyond the limits of visibility. At night rainy roads become especially treacherous. The glare of oncoming lights, amplified by the rain on your windscreen, can cause temporary loss of visibility while substantially increasing driver fatigue. In rainy conditions pedestrians, livestock, and wildlife are extremely hard to spot and even harder to avoid.
  • Never drive through moving water if you can't see the ground through it; your car could be swept off the road.
  • When driving through a puddle of uncertain depth, go slow. If it's deeper than the bottom of your doors, turn around and find another route. Deep water can cause serious damage to a modern car's electrical system.
  • Avoid splashing pedestrians.
  • If possible, stay off the road during heavy thunderstorms. Large flashes of lightning can temporarily blind and disorient drivers, and the accompanying high winds and heavy rain can create deadly driving conditions.

Slow down! This should be obvious but it also very important. People are so used to driving certain speeds on certain roads that sometimes they forget the need to slow down when inclement weather presents itself.

Before you go - Wet-weather driving demands gentle use of all the main controls - steering, clutch, brake and accelerator - and a larger allowance for errors and emergencies. When you begin a journey in rain, your shoes will be wet and liable to slip off the pedals. Scuff the soles on the rubber matting or carpeting of the car before you start the engine. All motorists should regularly check that their headlights, tail lights, brake lights and turn signals are working properly.

How are your tires? - Check your tires on a regular basis. Bald tires significantly reduce your traction on wet roadways, and offer little resistance to hydroplaning. When your tires run over water, the water is displaced and it needs somewhere to go quickly. The best place is between the treads of your tires. If your tires are bald, the water has no place to go and you end up riding on a layer of water, like a boat. (See Hydroplaning, below.)

Turn on your wipers - Replace your wipers regularly, at least once a year. Wiper blades in bad condition don't clear water from the windshield very well and distort your view. Older vehicles may need to have the whole wiper arm replaced. The arms bend over time and sometimes can't keep enough downward pressure to clear the windscreen, even with new blades installed. Wipers will often clear light rain from the windscreen with a few sweeps, then run on an almost-dry screen and leave smears of drying dirt. Don't be afraid to use the windscreen washers liberally: the fluid is cheap (99 cents a gallon) and the safety benefit is high. Carry extra during the winter.

Don't follow large trucks or buses closely. Splash and spray from these vehicles can obscure your vision, creating a potentially disastrous driving situation. Keep your distance, and your windshield wipers on, when other traffic is in front of you.

Read more: http://www.smartmotorist.com/driving-guideline/tips-for-driving-in-rain.html

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Ford Aims To Create A World-Class In-Car Experience For Consumers

Ford aims to create a world-class in-car experience for consumers.

Ford is determined to transform the in-car experience. Consumers are increasingly demanding integrated communications, voice-controlled operations, and more in-car entertainment options — and Ford is happy to deliver on those requests.

But to truly develop the most innovative in-car experience possible, Ford isn’t relying on its own skilled engineers in Europe and the United States. The Blue Oval continues to forge partnerships with leaders in the consumer electronics industry to bring new features to consumers faster — and cheaper — than ever before.

“By harnessing the experience and expertise of the finest hardware and software manufacturers from a variety of fields, Ford is developing a system that is far ahead of the game and will continue to be thanks to its upgradeable design,” said John Schneider, chief engineer, Ford Global Multimedia and Infotainment.

Ford has already partnered with Gracenote, Microsoft, NAVTEQ, Nuance Communications, Sony Corporation, TeleNav and ViaMichelin, to name a few. These companies have worked together with engineers at Ford to bring new functionality to SYNC, Ford’s award-winning infotainment system. Each of these partners possesses their own unique experience and know-how in individual fields, and together they’ve helped develop a uniquely capable and comprehensively equipped system.

Each of these renowned companies brought something special to SYNC:

  • Gracenote – Provides technologies and music data that will enable SYNC with MyFord Touch to release the full potential of digital music players.
  • Microsoft – Developed Microsoft Windows Embedded Automotive, a powerful and reliable software platform that allows SYNC to connect drivers and passengers to their digital lifestyles.
  • NAVTEQ – NAVTEQ’s data is designed to support more precise guidance, to help driver orientation and generally improve the overall navigation experience.
  • Nuance Communications – Provided SYNC with unrivaled voice control capability through innovative speech technology.
  • Sony – Developed the high-quality audio systems on numerous Ford vehicles.
  • TeleNav – Provided an easily updateable navigation solution that includes regional and local information such as languages, guidance and maps.
  • ViaMichelin – Provides SYNC with MyFord Touch users with Michelin’s celebrated hotel and restaurant guide.

Schneider  added, “Developing a system as advanced as SYNC with MyFord Touch required expertise outside of the traditional car manufacturer remit, but the experience being gained from the project will continue to benefit Ford customers as our company develops as a producer of world-class technology.”

Read more: http://www.fordinthenews.com/ford-aims-to-create-a-world-class-in-car-experience/#more-2727

Monday, September 12, 2011

Ford Debuts 2012 Harley-Davidson F-150

   

Recently, Ford debuted the 2012 Harley-Davidson F-150.

A full-size pickup that offers a full-size dose of performance, style and power.

As is always the case when these two brands get together, the new H-D F-150 offers a bold and aggressive look, in this case highlighted by exterior details like a six-bar billet-style bright chrome grille with “Harley-Davidson” badging, 22-inch machined-aluminum wheels, deployable running boards, and a choice of two premium paint schemes: The traditional Tuxedo Black and, for the first time, White Platinum Tri-Coat. Especially eye-catching will be unique bodyside graphics that feature a snakeskin-like texture that echoes the real snakeskin inserts available on premium Harley motorcycles—and the snakeskin trim that adds a striking appearance to the truck’s interior.

The upscale cockpit of the Harley-Davidson F-150 also boasts standard technology that includes a 4.2-inch LCD productivity screen and a voice-activated navigation/climate/satellite audio system with an 8-inch touchscreen, as well as features such as ambient lighting, heated front- and second-row seats, handmade cloisonné badges, a rearview camera, power moonroof and more.

Of course, the truck wouldn’t be wearing the “Harley-Davidson” name on its sheet metal if it wasn’t wearing a potent powerplant beneath that sheet metal. In this case, the heart of the matter is Ford’s 6.2-liter V8—the same one found in the SVT Raptor. This high-performance engine makes a best-in-class 411 hp and 434 lb.-ft. of torque, courtesy of powertrain advances that include a single-overhead-cam valvetrain with roller-rocker shafts, dual-equal variable cam timing, two spark plugs per cylinder and dual knock sensors.

“This is a great pairing of two icons of the open road: Ford and Harley-Davidson. Both brands appeal to truck owners and motorcycle enthusiasts alike,” said Marc Lapine, Ford F-150 marketing manager. “For 2012 we worked with Harley-Davidson to continue to push the styling envelope while still delivering the durability and power that F-150 is known for and that our collective customers expect. It perfectly captures both brands.”

Read more: http://www.fordinthenews.com/harley-davidson-f-150/#more-2730

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Is texting while driving really worse than drunk driving?

Is texting while driving really worse than drunk driving? That’s the question that  Christopher Neiger from “How Stuff Works” asked. Read more to find out his conclusion. 

Texting, or short message service(SMS), is a quick form of communication that allows users to send 160 characters or less to and from their cell phones and smartphones. A study by the Pew Research group in 2009 and 2010 reported that out of the number of Americans who have cell phones, 58 percent of adults and 66 percent of teens use them to text [source:Motavalli]. With these high percentages of Americans using text messaging every year, many are bringing the habit along with them when they drive. The same Pew study showed that 34 percent of teens who use their phone for texting said they've done it while driving, and 47 percent of adults who texted said they had done it while driving, too [source: Motavalli].

In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that almost 6,000 fatalities and over half of a million injuries were due to accidents caused by drivers who were distracted [source: Motavalli]. The study wasn't focused on texting, but it does show the seriousness of driving while distracted. Like many other driving distractions, texting involves a certain amount of mental attention as well as physical application which may be why 28 states have banned drivers from texting while operating a vehicle [source: Motavalli].

But is there really proof that texting while driving is more dangerous than drunk driving? Even though research is just now being done to measure the effects of texting while driving, some in the automotive industry and others in research circles say that texting is definitely more dangerous than drunk driving. Mainly because taking a driver's eyes off the road significantly cuts down on his or her ability to react to changes.

In 2009, Car and Driver conducted a driving test with their editor-in-chief and an intern to prove or disprove that texting while driving was more dangerous than drunk driving. The first step of their experiment was to test and measure the reaction times of both drivers while driving sober with no distractions, and then while reading and sending text messages on their cell phones. A light mounted to the front windshield simulated a car braking in front of them [source:Austin].

As they read and sent text messages, their response time was measured based on the time it took between when the brake light came on and when the driver applied the brakes at both 35 miles per hour (56.3 kilometers per hour) and at 70 miles per hour (112.7 kilometers per hour) [source: Chang]. Both drivers had a longer response time while reading and sending the text messages when compared to driving without any distractions. After the initial test, both drivers then consumed alcohol and reached the legal driving limit for intoxication in their state. After running the same test again while driving drunk, response times for both drivers were better when the driver was drunk, compared to when they were reading or sending text messages while sober. Car and Driver writers mentioned that the test was performed on a closed airport runway, with no road signs and no turns. Although this test was performed on a closed course, slow response times due to texting could result in serious consequences in real-world driving situations.

Another test conducted by the Transport Research Laboratory in London took it a step further. It found that drivers who texted had slower response times, were more likely to drift in and out of lanes and even drove worse than those who were driving while high on marijuana [source: Nugent]. The study found that reaction times for those who texted while driving were 35 percent worse than when they drove without any distractions at all. When driving while intoxicated, the reaction time was only 12 percent worse than when the driver was sober and driving without any texting distractions [source: Nugent]. The researchers also found that there was a significant decrease in ability to maintain a safe driving distance between vehicles while texting and steering control dropped by 91 percent compared to driving without distraction [source: Nugent]. One of the study's commissioners eventually concluded that texting while driving is one of the most dangerous things a driver could do while behind the wheel of a car.

Read the full article: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/texting-while-driving-worse-than-drunk-driving.htm

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