Talks About Cars

South Korean tire manufacturer Kumho has recently unveiled a lavender-scented surprise---the Ecsta DX Aroma which is an all-season tire in 9 sizes that is according to Kumho spokesman Charles van Heusden.

He also said, "We use different waxes and emoluments that protect tires against ozone and UV rays. After a year of research, we developed an aromatic compound that can be incorporated into those ingredients. It helps to eliminate that heavy rubber smell that many customers hate when they enter a tire store. These tires smell pretty good, and the fragrance lasts about two years."

The current available scent is lavender but according to Mr. van Heusden the company will also offer other scents like orange and jasmine. The prices of the Ecsta DX Aroma range from $90 to $110 per tire. These scented tires are specifically designed for women driving female friendly cars such as Toyota Camry, Subaru Outback, Honda Accord, Chrysler Sebring, and Ford Taurus. However any man is also welcomed to purchase the tires.

But according to Seth Engelhardt senior assistant manager of the Discount Tire Store at Middle Belt and Seven Mile in Livonia, "We're sold out of stock several times. One lady asked for them because she kept her garbage in the garage and it smelled. She said the lavender tires made a world of difference. The Ecsta DX is a very nice riding tire to begin with; the only difference is they just happen to smell good."

Aside from the lavender-scented tires, the Ecsta SPT is also available. It is a tire that produces red, blue or yellow smoke and is commonly used in organized drifting and drag-racing burnout events.

Intelligent radar-based cruise control systems that maintain distances from vehicles is not new anymore but Nissan has taken this technology to new heights when it integrates an on-board navigation system that makes use of route information.

This new Intelligent Cruise Control system from Nissan can adjust vehicle speed in anticipation of an approaching curve. Then after it has pass the curve part of the road onto the straight road the system returns to its original speed.

Additional new feature of the Distance Control Assist, it alerts the driver to slow down despite of the accelerator being engaged. The accelerator pedal pushes back as a way of telling the driver to release the accelerator. In more serious situations, the system will give out audio warnings and messages to tell the driver to apply the brakes.

Nissan’s Intelligent Cruise Control system with Distance Control Assist may be controlled separately through the steering wheel controls. The system has also the ability to operate at full speed range starting at zero while early intelligent radar based systems have speed limitation in the range of 5 to 100km/h.

Honda the producer of quality Acura Integra brake booster has recently revealed its newly improved ASIMO, a humanoid robot. The new breed of ASIMO is able to function autonomously with people and other ASIMOs which according to the automaker will help pave the way for the humanoid robot to enter into mainstream society.

The improvements done by Honda on the ASIMO brings the automaker closer to the development of humanoid robots that can be put to practical use in real world situations where ASIMOs can coexist with people.

Honda has listed the key technologies that they have incorporated on the ASIMO and these are as follows:

• A new system that allows a number of ASIMO humanoid robots to share tasks and work together to provide uninterrupted service to people. Take for instance, if one ASIMO is recharging, other ASIMO robots can step in and perform the assigned tasks instead

• A newly added function enabling ASIMO to automatically charge its battery, when required

• An intelligence technology that enables ASIMO to avoid obstructions by choosing between stepping back and yielding the right-of-way or continuing to walk based on the predicted movement of oncoming people

• A new intelligence technology related to ASIMO’s ability to perform tasks such as carrying a tray and pushing a trolley.

The new ASIMO will hold a demonstration at the second floor lobby of Honda’s Aoyama Headquarters starting December 12, 2007 through January 31, 2008. ASIMO robots will provide guests with what they call as uninterrupted service.

Seven of the 2008 Chrysler vehicles namely 2008 Jeep Liberty, 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2008 Dodge Nitro, 2008 Dodge Caliber, 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, 2008 Chrysler Pacifica, and the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country recently earned the highly coveted five stars in the government crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA.

Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President Product Development, Chrysler said, "Through a broad range of engineering technologies, Chrysler is offering its customers the safety they expect and deserve. Both passive and active safety systems enhance the inherent stability and safety we design into all of our Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles."

In terms of safety Chrysler has employed a two-fold approach and these are conventional features that include pretensioning and load-limiting seat belt retractors as well as supplemental air bags combined with accident-avoidance features such as steering, handling, and braking.

Why the seven 2008 Chrysler vehicles were given the five stars?

2008 Jeep Liberty
• Equipped with 35 safety and security features including side-occupant protection system comprising of supplemental side curtain air bags with extended up time, tethers and multiple sensors in case of a rollover.
• Other safety features include Electronic Stability Program, Electronic Roll Mitigation, Anti-lock brake system, tire pressure monitoring (TPM), rain sensing wipers plus three new technologies such as the Trailer Sway Control, Hill Start Assist, and Hill Descent Control.

2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Offers electronic limited slip differentials and Electronic Stability Program; advanced multi stage front and supplemental side curtain airbags, tire pressure monitoring system, ParkView™ Rear Back-up Camera, ParkSense® Rear Park Assist System, SmartBeam® headlamps, high-intensity discharge headlamps and rain-sensing wipers plus three new safety and security technologies such as the Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Assist and Trailer Sway Control

2008 Dodge Caliber
• Standard safety features include supplemental side-curtain airbags, optional seat mounted supplemental side-curtain airbags, optional seat-mounted supplemental side airbags, standard driver and passenger front air bags, Electronic Stability Program and a tire-pressure monitoring system.

2008 Dodge Nitro
• Electronic Stability Program, Electronic Roll Mitigation, All-speed Traction Control, brake assist and advanced anti-lock brakes.

2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan
• Advanced, multi-stage driver and passenger air bags; all-row supplemental side-curtain air bags with added rollover protection; driver and front-passenger knee blockers; Electronic Stability Program with traction control and brake assist; a patented energy-absorbing steering column and three Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) child seat anchors. The new minivans also feature an Enhanced Accident Response System. This system switches on the interior lamps, unlocks doors, turns on hazard-flasher exterior lamps and turns the engine off by cutting off fuel in the event an impact causes air bag deployment. Other safety and security features include a rearview interior conversation mirror; power-adjustable pedals; remote, keyless, illuminated entry; power sliding passenger doors; power liftgate; tire pressure monitoring system; ParkSense(R) rear back-up assist system and ParkView(R) rear back-up camera.

2008 Chrysler Pacifica
• Standard supplemental three-row side-curtain airbags, driver and passenger-side knee blockers, advanced multi-stage air bags with occupant classification system, Electronic Stability Program, brake assist, patented energy absorbing steering column, available ParkSense rear park assist system and ParkView rear back-up camera.

Pontiac has recently announced the pricing of its new crossover vehicle that blends in versatility with sports’ car performance. The 2009 model year Pontiac crossover named Vibe will have a starting price of $15,895 once it enter showrooms in February next year. The four-wheel-drive and performance oriented GT models have a starting price of $19,495 and $19,895 respectively.

The Vibe offers stylish design and performance that does not sacrifice functionality and fuel economy. It is powered by a 1.8 liter engine and five-speed manual transmission that may be upgraded to a 2.4 liter engine. Standard safety features include four wheel disc brakes with ABS, StabiliTrak electronic stability control, six airbags and OnStar. The all-wheel drive and the GT models are offered with standard 158hp 2.4 liter engine.

Car and Drive magazine has recently announced the result of their 26th Annual 10 Best Cars Sold in the US. All the winners are to be featured on their January 2008 issue which will be available on newsstands as early as December 4, 2007.

Here are the winners of Car and Drive Magazine’s 10 Best Cars Sold in the US with the corresponding times of each model has made the list:

• BMW 3-Series (17)
• Cadillac CTS (1)
• Chevrolet Corvette (14)
• Chevrolet Malibu (1)
• Honda Accord (22)
• Honda Fit (2)
• Mazda MX-5 (9)
• Mazdaspeed 3 (2)
• Porsche Boxster/Cayman (9)
• Volkswagen GTI (3)

Wow! No Toyota model on the list. This is a rare occasion. Usually we see at least one Toyota vehicle included on the top list of vehicles. So what happens?

The winners were chosen by 12 Car and Drive editors through the ratings that each of the vehicles obtained on a scale of 1 to 100. The bases for the selection are functional performance, driving satisfaction, and value. The vehicles considered for the said award must be available in the US by January 2008 and must be priced below the cap of $70,000 or approximately 2.5 times the average transaction price of summer 2007. Manufacturers are also required to provide the vehicle to be used for testing by Car and Drive staff.

Hmmm…ok so does this mean that Toyota vehicles did not meet up with the standards set by Car and Drive editors?