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…and no, I’m not talking about stopping bullets here, but cars. That’s right, an emerging technology that could have a major impact on the way cars are designed in the future is currently being developed, with the new technology having the potential to save thousands of lives in serious car crashes.
According to a report by motorauthority.com:
The new technology is a special gel called d3o, which was developed by British chemical engineering company d3o Lab. The gel is described as a dilatant material and has the ability to harden almost instantly when violently impacted, such as from the force exerted from a speeding bullet or an oncoming car. In its natural state it resembles play dough.
Military groups are currently looking at the material as a lightweight and flexible padding for armored vests and this has led automakers such as Mazda to investigate d3o’s use in an automotive setting.
Speaking with Carsguide, Mazda’s European R&D chief, Peter Birtwhistle, said innovations such as d3o were “fascinating” and presented “glimpses of future design”.
He went on to explain that d3o could be used around a car’s cabin, such as in the lining of seats or around a baby’s bassinet. “It has unlimited applications in a car to protect its occupants,” he said.
Right now, this protective gel is being used in numerous protective products like motorcycle gloves, ski jackets, cell phone cases and more products are emerging with the added protection of the compound.
Here’s a quick video on how it works:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqDe0C4OKbM
It’s a pretty amazing material and has a nearly unlimited number of protective applications.
I’d really like to see this applied to the automotive world. How do you see this compound being used in the protective systems of today’s cars, trucks and SUVs? Does anyone have first hand experience with d3O? If so tell me about it!
Kelley Blue Book’s annual survey cites projected value over first five years
DETROIT – GMC Canyon and Sierra are again being recognized among the Top 10 in Kelley Blue Book’s Best Resale Value Awards.
It’s the second consecutive year both GMC models have been ranked in the Top 10. Kelley Blue Book® 2016 Official Residual Value Guide predicts Canyon and Sierra will retain the highest percentage of their original suggested retail prices over the first five years of ownership.
“A vehicle’s resale value is of critical importance, because a vehicle with high resale value will typically be less expensive to own over time than a similar vehicle with poorer resale value,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com.
Canyon sales were up more than 160 percent in November, over the same month a year ago, while Sierra sales were up more than 4 percent in the first 11 months of the year and are projected to exceed 200,000 for all of 2015.
“This recognition affirms everything this brand stands for and provides greater assurance for our customers that they’ve made a smart choice investing in GMC,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of GMC Sales and Marketing. “These vehicles are designed to deliver capability with refinement and style – a combination that is winning over more and more customers.”
Earlier this year, Canyon won Cars.com Midsize Pickup Challenge for its segment-leading capabilities and efficiency, including the latest in safety features, cargo-hauling and trailering versatility. Autoweek named Canyon as the “Best of the Best Truck for 2015,” and WardsAuto recognized the Canyon as one of its 10 Best Interiors for 2015, based on criteria including design harmony, ergonomics, materials, driver information, safety and comfort.
So….When was the last time you changed your wiper blades? 2 years? Then you’ll want to watch this. If you don’t know where your Wiper blades…get a bus pass.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJN7NqkUd1k
…or, you can always go the Red Green way of getting the most out of your windshield wiper components.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlS-hN6EmIA
If you can’t bring yourself to stop at an auto parts store to buy new blades, then the next time you are in for service, make sure you get you wiper blades changed. In all seriousness, this will really improve your visibility, especially at night as poor blades tend to leave streaks and make the headlights from on coming traffic even more of an annoyance than they already are.
The Buick Envision was designed, engineered and tested in Michigan as a world-class luxury crossover to challenge the world’s best competition. It was awarded Motor Trend SUV of the Year in China and has 127,085 sales so far this year. When it goes on sale in 2016, it will play an important role in a crossover lineup that currently represents 60 percent of Buick sales in North America. It targets customers shopping between the Encore, the best-selling Buick in eight years, and the Enclave, which has continued to grow its customer base since its 2007 introduction.
Envision highlights include:
252-horsepower (186 kW) 2.0L turbo engine with stop/start technology, matched with Buick’s first crossover vehicle application of HiPer Strut front suspension and Buick’s first Active Twin Clutch all-wheel-drive system
Efficiency-enhancing features including upper grille shutters that open and close to enhance aerodynamics on the highway and a body structure incorporating mass-reducing high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels – and a lightweight aluminum hood
LED daytime running lamps and rear LED accent lights
Sliding, 60/40-split rear seat, offering the flexibility of more legroom for second-row passengers
Kneeling cushions in the second-row seat enable a flatter load floor when the seat is folded
Standard Safety Alert Seat and Lane Keep Assist, as well as available Automatic Park Assist, and Surround Vision 360-degree camera system
IntelliLink with 8-inch color touch screen
Available OnStar with 4G LTE and built-in Wi-Fi hotspot
Programmable power liftgate with hands-free operation
Active noise cancelation
Standard 19-inch aluminum wheels
Passive entry and push-button start with standard remote start
Standard eight-way power-adjustable front seats and four-way-adjustable lumbar – including available adjustable thigh support on some models that enhances comfort for taller passengers
Standard heated front seats, heated rear seat and heated steering wheel
Available cooled front seats
Standard tri-zone climate control with rear-seat controls and console-mounted rear vents
Let’s face it, if you drive you need insurance. There are no “if, and’s or but’s”At some point in your driving career, you are going to need it for a fender bender, cracked windshield or total car loss.
People spend a lot on new cars and they require proper care, maintenance and PROTECTION. Here is where new car insurance comes into play. New car insurance helps safeguard you against costly vehicle repairs, most of which you probably never saw coming in the first place.
Insurance is a no brainer. Get it. Stay Protected…besides, it’s the Law. What does everyone else think about insurance? Has it paid off for you? Have you ever had to use it? Let me know!
Automotive logo builds on more than 55 years of history and a family legacy
LOS ANGELES – Buick’s tri-shield insignia, one of the most recognizable in the global auto industry, is receiving a makeover that advances the brand’s identity while retaining Buick’s instantly identifiable symbol.
Featuring wing-shaped elements and the return of three-color shields – red, silver and blue – the new insignia debuts on the 2017 LaCrosse. It is part of an all-new grille design inspired by the award-winning Avenir concept, which sets the new, chrome insignia against darkened waterfall grille bars.
All Buick models will adopt the new insignia by 2018.
“The new tri-shield insignia represents the next chapter in Buick’s storied design history and introduces a new face for the brand,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick. “It’s a progressive, contemporary design reflective of Buick’s newest vehicles and cognitive of the brand’s heritage.”
Introduced more than 55 years ago, the tri-shield design has its roots in company founder David Dunbar Buick’s ancestral heraldry. It has evolved over the decades, but honors the proportions and historical origins of the original.
When Buick was formed in 1903, the company didn’t incorporate a shield logo for about the first 35 years. Instead, the earliest models featured a bold Buick script on the grille. Later, a number of stylized emblems featuring Buick on the prominent radiator grille shrouds that characterized practically all motorcars of the time.
As legend has it, a designer researching the Buick family history at the Detroit Public Library in the 1930s found a description of the ancestral coat of arms in an approximately 80-year-old book of heraldry. Buick’s familial roots were in Scotland and while the book didn’t have an illustration of the crest, it described a red shield with a contrasting, checkered line bisecting it from the upper-left to the lower-right corners. The description also included a stag’s head in the upper right of the shield and a gold cross in the lower left.
The crest’s description was interpreted for a new, single-shield insignia that debuted on 1937 Buick models. It evolved over the next couple of decades, growing wider and, at times, taking on additional flourishes, but the shield crest adorned and identified Buick models through 1959 – although its prominence admittedly diminished during the 1950s.
LOS ANGELES – The all-new 2017 Buick LaCrosse introduces the new face of Buick, influenced by the dramatic cues of the award-winning Avenir concept unveiled at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and inspired by a Buick concept from the mid-20th century.
The LaCrosse, which goes on sale in early summer 2016, features a new grille design with a large opening distinguished by the return of a three-color – red, silver and blue – Buick tri-shield insignia, accented by wing-shaped elements set against darkened waterfall grille bars inspired by the 1954 Wildcat II concept.
Buick revealed the 2017 LaCrosse today at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
“The new LaCrosse is drop-dead gorgeous and signals the next phase of Buick’s international momentum,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick. “Its quietness, comfort and connectivity were developed to set new standards in the segment, supported by technologies not offered on competitors such as the Lexus ES.”
Longer, lower and wider than the current model, the 2017 LaCrosse is built on a stronger yet lighter structure. It is about 300 pounds lighter than the current LaCrosse – largely due to the use of press-hardened, high-strength steels – which contribute to greater efficiency and more responsive handling.
The new LaCrosse’s lower weight is also due in part to new lower mass sound-absorbing materials including a lightweight dissipative dash mat in place of heavier noise-blocking pads that result in a new threshold for Buick’s signature QuietTuning.
The balance of the efficiency equation comes from a technologically advanced, second-generation 3.6L V-6 engine paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission. Standard Stop/Start technology improves efficiency in stop-and-go driving.
Additional new and enhanced features include:
New five-link rear suspension and available HiPer Strut front suspension
Available electronically controlled Continuous Damping Control active suspension with selectable Touring and Sport modes
Driver-selectable Electronic Precision Shift
An available advanced, all-new dual-clutch all-wheel drive system
Efficiency-enhancing low-drag disc brakes with Duralife rotors
Electric power steering system with Lead/Pull Compensation
Easier rear-seat entry/egress
More usable storage space
Technologies including available wireless charging, available Teen Driver and configurable, LED driver information center with 8-inch-diagonal color display
Perforated leather-appointed front seats with new lumbar massaging feature
IntelliLink with frameless 8-inch-diagonal color touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot integration.
The 2017 LaCrosse also features extensive active and passive safety including:
Ten standard air bags – including two knee air bags for front passengers
Front Pedestrian Braking, which alerts drivers to and can automatically apply the brakes for pedestrians detected directly ahead in some driving conditions
Lane Keep Assist, which provides gentle steering wheel turns – and Lane Departure Warning alerts, if necessary – to help drivers avoid crashes due to unintentionally drifting out of their lane
Automatic Park Assist, which helps the driver parallel park/perpendicular park by automatically steering the vehicle into a detected parking space while the driver applies the brakes
Adaptive Cruise Control
Forward Automatic Braking
Forward Collision Alert
Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
Rear Vision Camera
Safety Alert Seat.
“We’ve blended sophisticated technologies and advanced safety systems to offer a more enjoyable and engaging driving experience,” said Aldred. “It’s a rewarding sedan for those who seek luxurious appointments, style and quality.”
New face of Buick
The new LaCrosse’s expressive exterior design creates a new proportion for a more dramatic road presence. The front wheels have been pulled forward and the wheelbase stretched 2.7 inches (65 mm), while the overall length is only 0.6-inch longer (15 mm). The dynamic proportion is further enhanced by a roofline that’s 1.6 inches (40 mm) lower than the current model.
The longer wheelbase is matched by wheels pushed outward 1.3 inches (33 mm) in the front and 1.1 inches (28 mm) in the rear, while the car’s width has grown only 0.4-inch (10 mm), creating a wheels-at-corners stance intended to convey road confidence.
Unique 22-inch wheels, expanded package of standard content drives exclusivity
DETROIT – GMC is taking the range-topping style, craftsmanship and capability of the Sierra Denali even higher with the 2016 Sierra Denali Ultimate.
It builds on the Sierra Denali’s already class-leading attributes with a package of precision-crafted features designed to elevate its comfort, design and capability in the growing premium niche of the full-size truck market.
GMC introduces the Sierra Denali Ultimate today, ahead of its public debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It goes on sale late in the first quarter of 2016.
“The Sierra Denali has helped drive the growth of premium portion of the light-duty crew cab segment,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of GMC Sales and Marketing. “This truck is the ultimate expression of the Sierra Denali with greater emphasis on the bold and refined presence and advanced features that make Denali models synonymous with precision and exclusivity.”
Thanks in large part to Sierra Denali, which was redesigned in 2014, GMC commands 15.5 percent of the premium full-size truck segment, where average transaction prices exceed $55,000.
The segment has nearly doubled in 2015 and grown tenfold since 2013, when GMC had zero percent of the market. In fact, Sierra Denali has helped GMC earn a higher share of the premium portion of the light-duty crew cab segment than of the overall full-size pickup segment.
Unique features and more standard technologies
The Sierra Denali Ultimate is offered exclusively on four-wheel drive 1500 crew cab models with either a 5’ 8” or 6’ 6” cargo bed. It is distinguished with 22-inch wheels with chrome or black insert), a standard sunroof, chrome tow hooks and standard technologies, including Tri-Mode Power Steps – that move rearward to serve as a step into the forward section of the cargo bed. Lane Keep Assist and IntelliBeam automatic headlamp control are also standard.
Sierra’s 6.2L V-8/eight-speed automatic powertrain combination offers the light-duty segment’s highest output: 420 horsepower (313 kW) and 460 lb-ft of torque (623 Nm). Active noise cancelation technology contributes to a quieter driving experience and is featured with the 6.2L engine. A 5.3L V-8 with the new Hydra-Matic 8L90 eight-speed automatic transmission is the standard powertrain.
An integrated trailer brake controller is standard on the Sierra Denali Ultimate and allows the driver to adjust the amount of output available to the electric trailer brake and to manually apply the brakes.
Additionally, Sierra Denali’s standard, segment-exclusive magnetic ride control delivers more precise body motion control, for a greater feeling of responsiveness to the driver and a smoother ride for passengers. Its sensors “read” the road every millisecond, triggering damping changes in as little as five milliseconds in electronically controlled shock absorbers that replace conventional mechanical-valve shocks.
Professional grade style and crafted interior
In addition to the special content, the Sierra Denali Ultimate includes all of the crafted interior, advanced features and design elements of other Denali models, including body-color bumpers, chrome exhaust tip, unique interior decorative trim, a polished stainless steel exhaust outlet and a factory-installed spray-on bed liner with a three-dimensional Denali logo.
It also wears new front-end styling introduced for 2016, including high-performance LED headlamps with GMC LED signature lighting, an all-new Denali grille and LED taillamps.
The high-tech interior features an eight-inch-diagonal Customizable Driver Display – with Denali-themed screen graphics at start-up – that can show relevant settings, audio and navigation information in the instrument panel. Sierra Denali’s standard eight-inch-diagonal Color Touch navigation radio with IntelliLink, located above the center console, is the hub for Bluetooth-connected phones and portable devices connected through four standard USB ports.
Exclusive design cues, content elevate industry’s first premium midsize truck
DETROIT – Denali is the ultimate expression of GMC’s professional grade style, luxury and capability – and it is coming to the Canyon midsize truck.
The 2017 Canyon Denali is being introduced today, ahead of its public debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It goes on sale in late 2016.
“Canyon is the segment’s first and only premium midsize truck, offering unparalleled capability and efficiency matched with maneuverability and refinement,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of GMC Sales and Marketing. “The all-new Canyon Denali builds on that award-winning combination with the distinctive styling, luxurious interior and elevated content that has defined the Denali nameplate since its introduction nearly 17 years ago.”
Like all Denali models, the new Canyon Denali is distinguished with a unique chrome grille and unique wheels – 20-inch ultra-bright-machined aluminum wheels with painted accents. Exterior cues include chrome fog lamp bezels, five-inch-diameter rectangular chrome assist steps, a polished exhaust tip and a standard spray-in bed liner.
The Canyon Denali will be offered in six exterior colors.
Inside, a Jet Black interior features Mulan leather-appointed seats with perforated, heated-and-ventilated front seats – exclusive content in the Canyon lineup – along with unique instrument panel and console trim; and Denali-logo sill plates and floor mats.
Standard technologies include Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning. Additional standard features include:
Heated steering wheel
GMC IntelliLink with Navigation, an eight-inch-diagonal color touchscreen and phone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
OnStar 4G LTE connectivity with a Wi-Fi hotspot
Automatic climate control
Full-color driver information center
Remote vehicle starter system
Two USB charging ports on the rear of the center console ad another USB port inside the console.
The Canyon Denali is offered on crew cab models and in two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive configurations. Powertrains include a standard 3.6L V-6 that tops competitors’ V-6 offerings with up to 7,000 pounds (3,175 kg) of maximum trailering and an Environmental Protection Agency-estimated 26 mpg highway on 2WD models.
Also available is the all-new 2.8L Duramax turbo-diesel, which includes a maximum trailering rating of up to 7,700 pounds (3,493 kg) and EPA-estimated fuel economy of 31 mpg highway (2WD). It is the cleanest diesel truck engine ever produced by General Motors and meets some of the toughest U.S. emissions standards, thanks in part to a cooled exhaust gas recirculation system.
The engine is paired with the Hydra-Matic 6L50 six-speed automatic transmission, which uses a unique Centrifugal Pendulum Vibration Absorber in the torque converter to reduce powertrain noise and vibration.
The best way to learn is by example. I can give you all sorts of statistics about the mortality rate of children who are not properly secured in their car seats. Instead though, I think I’ll just make this a “How To…” post and focus on saving your child’s life rather than use fear to help you realize the importance of securing your child in your car properly. Remember, most accidents happen within 5 miles of your house, so buckle them up EVERY time they are in the car.
Watch the video below, it contained a surprising installation technique that I didn’t think about.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5Oskgb508Y
If you have any questions, or want step by step installation instruction, Freeman Grapevine Service would be happy to walk you though it.
