Now THIS Is How You Stop Texting And Driving: ORIGOSafe
We've seen plenty of apps that address the problem of distracted driving -- and given the growing number of traffic fatalities linked to distraction, a solution can't come too soon.
Unfortunately, most of those apps have a fair share of flaws. Many can be disabled or removed at the whim of the phone's owner. Others activate when they detect the phone traveling at a particular speed, meaning that users can lose access to their phones even when they're a passenger in a car, bus, or train.
A new gadget from ORIGO called ORIGOSafe seems to work around many of those problems. It's not without its shortcomings, and we're not sure about its future prospects, but it's definitely worth a look.
THE GOOD
What separates ORIGOSafe from other distracted driving solutions is that it's more hardware than software. It is, quite literally, a safe for the driver's cell phone. And unless that phone is inserted in the ORIGOSafe, the car won't start.
But that doesn't render the phone completely useless. The driver can still take and make calls via Bluetooth, and the phone can be used to stream music, use voice navigation, and perform other functions. And while it's plugged in to ORIGOSafe, it's also being charged -- a handy bonus.
According to a company press release, a driver can remove the phone once the vehicle is started, however:
- If the phone is removed from the docking station at any time during a trip, ORIGOSafe will sound an alarm until the phone is replaced. The next time the driver tries to start the vehicle, he or she must contact the administrator in order for the phone to be reauthorized. These settings are completely configurable by the administrator.
- If the phone is lost or stolen, a One Time Use code can be obtained from the administrator to start the vehicle.
- If the vehicle is taken to be serviced, or left with a valet, simply provide the guest driver with the PIN you have created, and he or she will be able to operate the vehicle normally.
In other words, ORIGOSafe is designed to keep phones completely out of drivers' hands, minimizing distractions.
THE BAD
That said, the device clearly has a few flaws:
- At the moment, ORIGOSafe only works with iPhones. That's not such great news for the growing number of Android handset users. UPDATE: The device also works with the Android handset the Samsung Galaxy S3.
- The PIN sounds like a major loophole. If a valet or service technician can use it multiple times to start the car, what's to stop the driver from doing the same?
- At $279, it's not exactly cheap.
- How will this work with future technologies, like Google Glass or the rumored Apple Watch? Those gadgets may be a couple of years away from broad adoption, but a car's lifespan is far longer. Can ORIGOSafe be hacked to accommodate those devices, too?
Would you use a device like ORIGOSafe? Or do you have another solution (possibly sheer willpower) to address the problem of distracted driving? Check out the video above and leave us your comments below.
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This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Toyota FJ Cruiser Recall Affects 209,000 SUVs
Toyota is voluntarily recalling about 209,000 of its FJ Cruiser sport utility vehicles from the 2007 through 2013 model years because of a problem involving seat belt retractors.
Toyota said on its website that the seat belts for the driver and front passenger are mounted on the rear doors of the FJ Cruiser. Because of the insufficient strength of the rear door panel, cracks could develop over “an extended period of time,” especially if the rear doors are “repeatedly and forcefully” closed.
In the event that cracks appear around the lower seat belt retractor anchor, the retractor could loosen and detach.
The automaker said that it has not received any reports of accidents or injuries due to the problem.
Owners will be notified by mail “soon” and instructed to bring their vehicles to Toyota dealers for a free repair.
In the meantime, owners of 2007 through 2013 Toyota FJ Cruisers with any questions or concerns about the safety recall may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or find more information online at www.toyota.com/recall.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Nissan Recalls 2013 Altima, Pathfinder, Leaf, Sentra, Infiniti JX35 For Airbag Problem
Nissan is recalling five of its 2013 models for faulty sensors that may permanently turn off the front seat passenger airbag.
A notice on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website lists the recalled vehicles as the 2013 Nissan Altima mid-size sedan, the Pathfinder SUV, the Leaf electric car, the Sentra compact sedan, and the Infiniti JX35 SUV.
Nissan has not yet determined the number of vehicles involved in the recall or the manufacture dates for those vehicles.
The problem
The NHTSA bulletin and documentation from Nissan (PDF) say the problem involves sensors used to determine occupant weight in the passenger seat that may have been built out of specification. Faulty sensors could cause the airbag system to malfunction and block airbag deployment in the event of a crash.
The automaker said it began to notice an increase in warranty claims regarding the supplemental airbag warning light and/or the passenger airbag status light on certain 2013 vehicles last December.
According to a story in the Los Angeles Times, Nissan said that no accidents or injuries have been reported due to this problem.
What Nissan will do
Nissan will notify owners and dealers will inspect sensors in the occupant detection system (ODS) and replace them, as necessary. The Nissan safety recall campaign is expected to begin in early April 2013.
In the meantime, owners of 2013 Nissan and Infiniti vehicles involved in the campaign with any questions or concerns may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Alternatively, owners of vehicles involved in the campaign may contact NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to http://www.safercar.gov. Reference the NHTSA campaign ID No. 13V069000.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Ford Recalls 2013 Focus, C-Max, Escape For Faulty Child Safety Lock
Ford is conducting a voluntary safety recall of 5,675 2013 model year Ford Focus sedans, C-Max hybrids and Escape SUVs in the U.S. due to faulty child safety door locks. Another 859 vehicles are involved in Canada. This marks the first recall for the new Ford C-Max.
Affected vehicles were manufactured from November 16 through 21, 2012 at Ford’s Michigan Assembly plant in Wayne and Louisville Assembly in Kentucky.
The problem
According to a report in The Detroit News, the issue is that the child lock on the left rear door may have been incorrectly installed during assembly.
The publication quotes a Ford spokesman’s statement to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that “the child lock may not engage when the operator uses normal turning force to activate the child lock, and the operator may incorrectly believe the child lock is engaged.”
The automaker further said that it is not aware of any crashes or injuries due to the condition.
Ford said it discovered the problem November 20 and immediately halted sales of affected vehicles while they conducted an investigation. The faulty latch problem was traced to a supplier shipment of mixed parts.
What Ford will do
Ford will send notification letters to owners by the end of March 2013, instructing them to bring their vehicles to Ford dealers. The dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace the rear door latch, if necessary, at no charge.
In the meantime, owners of 2013 Ford Focus, C-Max and Escape vehicles with any questions or concerns may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Alternatively, owners of vehicles involved in the campaign may contact the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 for more information.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
NHTSA Nixes Probe Of Ford Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer, Lincoln Aviator
In August of 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation of the 2002-2005 Ford Explorer, the 2003-2005 Lincoln Aviator, and the 2002-2005 Mercury Mountaineer. According to a notice on NHTSA's website, the agency had received numerous reports of those SUVs mysteriously slipping out of park.
During the course of the probe, NHTSA examined 180 related complaints, many of which involved vehicles rolling away from the spot where they were parked. Some problems were traced back to the parking system itself, others were related to the brake-shift interlock (i.e. the safety device that prevents drivers from putting a vehicle in "drive" unless the brake is depressed). The Detroit News estimates the total number of vehicles involved in the probe at 1.56 million.
But that's all ancient history because NHTSA has called off the investigation. However, the agency was quick to point out that "The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist". Instead, NHTSA nixed the probe simply because "there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years". In other words, no one's really complaining about this anymore, so it's not much of a problem.
Although NHTSA doesn't come out and say it, part of the rationale for halting this investigation may be because some of the reported "problems" with Ford's SUVs appear to have been caused by "user error". In a letter dated December 2, 2011 [PDF], a Ford representative states that:
Ford agrees with [NHTSA] that drivers who do not follow basic, common sense vehicle driving practices that are consistent with safe vehicle operation may experience unintended vehicle movement while in Park. These practices include: ignoring any progressive changes to the shift system behavior or feel, ignoring the fact that the shift indicator is not in the Park position, ignoring the fact that the key could not be removed from the ignition switch, and/or ignoring the Owner's Guide instructions and the agency's recommendations to always apply the parking brake before exiting the vehicle.
Translation: if drivers would use a little common sense and stop being such litigious whiners, this wouldn't be a problem.
Click here to see NHTSA's official statement about ending the probe and to find links to 20 other documents related to the investigation.
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Lamborghini Veneno: The Hypercar That Surprised Even Its CEO
Of all the hypercars on display at this week's Geneva Motor Show, the Lamborghini Veneno may go down in history as the least rational and most astonishing. With only four copies total to be made, the 220-mph, $4.6 million carbon-fiber is a lawn dart aimed right at the heads of the competing McLaren P1 and LaFerrari, launched almost simultaneously on Tuesday.
The Veneno might also be the only car in recent memory to go from sketch pad to show floor without a final glance of approval by the company's CEO. In the rush to get it ready for the annual auto show, the only complete Veneno in the world went right to Geneva's Palexpo center before Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann could see it complete for the first time.
While it launches concept cars in other venues like Paris or even Pebble Beach, Lamborghini says only the Geneva Motor Show would do as the venue for the debut of the Veneno, a tribute to Lamborghini's 50th anniversary, says Maurizio Reggiani, director of research and development.
"Geneva is the most important venue in the world," says Reggiani, "Every supersport brand tries to have something to say: 'This is my vision of the future.'"
Geneva, he adds, is where the company puts out its most important news, and models, like the Aventador and Gallardo, reserving concepts like the Urus and Estoque for auto shows like Paris, Shanghai, even The Quail, to gauge public opinion, "to attack the market and to see the reaction, to allow us to take a decision" on whether to proceed to production or not.
A most extreme statement
This year, the statement from Lamborghini is arguably its most extreme yet.
"We want to say, this is our DNA. Nothing is forbidden to Lamborghini. We can be extreme in design, in technicality, in use of different materials, in different technology."
The mission handed to Reggiani and his engineers was to also make a car that could be fully homologated, and sellable.
The result is the Veneno, a name like every other Lamborghini, coined from a fighting bull, but also derived from the Spanish word for venom. Its Le Mans-ready look aside, the Veneno has 740 horsepower courtesy a 6.5-liter V-12 engine, a 0-60 mph time estimated at 2.8 seconds, and a top speed figured at 220.5 mph.The engine is naturally aspirated, and Reggiani says for now, at least, that's a Lamborghini hallmark--in marked contrast to the hybrid packs added to the McLaren and Ferrari hypercars also on the Geneva show floor.
"At the moment, from an engineering point of view, we want to be top, but to also guarantee the DNA of Lamborghini," Reggiani says. "If the rule of the game will change, we will see what is the best choice on maintaining the DNA of Lamborghini."
He acknowledges that those other hypercars are changing the equation--but still insists there's no need yet to alter Lamborghini's reliance on conventional powertrains.
"We see the road, we see the landscape of what is happening in the future. For us [it] is, what is the best in terms of sportiness to maintain our DNA? Until it is not a must, naturally aspirated is perfectly fitted in our DNA."
The car is developed to a top speed that's not coincidentally higher than the figures quoted for both the LaFerrari and McLaren P1, but far off the benchmark set by another VW Group hypercar, the Bugatti Veyron. Reggiani insists the Veneno's development wasn't held back by anything, and confirms it's been tested in prototype form to its top speed at Italy's Nardo test track.
"We decided in the end, 355 kph [220.5 mph] is a good number," he says, "something we can achieve without trouble. You are really at the limits of the car. I think about the customer and I say, this is enough."(more...)
2014 Infiniti QX60 Preview: New York Auto Show
First details for the 2014 Infiniti QX60 are out.
What is it? Well, if you know the current JX crossover, you know the QX60. It's not at all surprising that what Infiniti has shown, in first pictures today, looks just like the 2013 Infiniti JX, only with different badging and perhaps a few other subtle differences.
The QX60 is part of a broad new naming strategy at Infiniti that calls out sedans and coupes with 'Q' and crossovers with 'QX.'
Infiniti will formally roll out the QX60 at the New York Auto Show in a few weeks; in the meantime it's released some preview information—and a picture—of the 2014 QX60 Hybrid.
For the uninitiated, the QX is Infiniti's larger crossover vehicle, with three rows of seating and seven-passenger capacity.
While we're suspecting that most of the QX60 package, features, and amenities will carry over from JX, the QX60 Hybrid is truly what's new for 2014. This model will feature Nissan's new hybrid technology, combining a 2.5-liter supercharged four-cylinder engine and electric motor system—together making about 250 horsepower and connected to a continuously variable automatic transmission.
The QX60 will be one of three so-called Direct Response Hybrid models for 2014. With the hybrid system, a single 15-kilowatt electric motor and twin-clutch system aids the engine in some situations while capturing some energy in deceleration and coasting. But as we've noted in an early drive of a prototype with the new system, it doesn't provide much, if any, electric-only operation—of the sort you get with Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive.
The automaker claims that output will be like that of the 3.5-liter V-6, yet with four-cylinder fuel economy—and as for fuel economy, the model is projected to get an EPA Combined 26 mpg: Best in segment, according to Infiniti, and 24 percent better than the non-hybrid QX60 (or JX, in 2013 terms).
A compact lithium-ion battery, tucked under the third-row seat, allows the QX60 to continue with the same fold-flat load floor that we've enjoyed in the JX, with no change in cargo space and the same fold-flat seating arrangement.
According to Infiniti, pricing for the new QX60 Hybrid will be around $3,000 more than the non-hybrid QX60.
Check back for more information on Infiniti's new model names, as well as introductions from the New York Auto Show; and in the meantime, see our official preview of the 2014 Infiniti QX60 lineup.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Geneva Motor Showdown: Mercedes-Benz, CLA Pick A Fight With Audi, BMW
Geneva is a peaceful town, and the annual auto show marks a detente--usually--for the world's carmakers. McLarens park next to Bentleys and leave room to spare. Space is made for one-off tuner fantasies. Even rival execs rub shoulders and shake hands as they get a glimpse of the latest supercars and profit-makers alike.
It's all good, except when the gloves come off, as evidenced this year in the backhands lobbed between the Mercedes, BMW, and VW Group stands, kept at arm's length at the Geneva Palexpo.
The backstory: the battle for luxury car dominance is heated, with BMW ending 2012 at 1.86 million units worldwide. VW's Audi brand surged to 1.46 million units in global sales, while Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler finished the year at 1.42 million units. All are faced with a sluggish economy not just in Europe, but in the U.S. and even in China, the three biggest luxury-car markets in the world.
In the U.S., each brand ended last year on a high note, with the photo-finish between BMW and Mercedes setting the stage for some subtle Geneva digs. BMW sales surged December, surpassing Mercedes, which had led 11 months out of the year--but Mercedes says it saw more registrations, concluding that BMW had pressured dealers to acquire more vehicles without moving them on to retail customers.
"In the majority of markets, Mercedes continues to be perceived as the number-one luxury brand," said Daimler AG chairman Dieter Zetsche, who in an interview at this week's Geneva Motor Show indicated the year-end sales jockeying wasn't entirely unexpected.
"I told our guys over there definitely to stay course in December, not to do anything unusual," Zetsche said. "If substantially we pass the others or one other, that's great. If not, fine."
Zetsche, 59, who recently signed up for three more years as the company's chairman, was himself the source of some speculation at the show. The extension of his contract for three years, rather than the customary five years, had some rumoring discontent within the board of management over Mercedes' small-car strategy, while others noted that Zetsche is nearing retirement age, with a potential replacement in Wolfgang Bernhard waiting in the wings.
Zetsche has been chairman of Daimler since 2006, the final days of DaimlerChrysler. Bernhard served with Zetsche at DaimlerChrysler before returning to Germany, where recently he was appointed head of Daimler's truck division, switching roles with Andreas Renschler, who ran Mercedes' SUV plant in the U.S. and Smart before heading up its trucks division. Renschler will now take over Bernhard's role in purchasing, the company said in a release.
The tension between Germany's Big Three surfaced again at a pre-show event, when Mercedes' Dr. Thomas Weber indirectly compared its new SLS AMG Electric Drive to Audi's stillborn R8 e-tron, calling it "real Vorsprung durch Technik." The play on Audi's corporate slogan drew murmurs from the crowd of media and executives on hand for the global unveiling of the A45 AMG.
(more...)Subaru Recalls 47,419 Vehicles In U.S. For Remote Starter Issue
Subaru is recalling certain Legacy, Outback, Impreza and XV Crosstrek models from the 2010 through 2013 model years due to a remote starter that may allow vehicles to start without the key fob being pressed.
A notice on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) puts the number of vehicles potentially affected in the U.S. at 47,419. The Detroit News reports that another 2,819 Subaru vehicles are affected in Canada.
The recall population includes certain 2010 through 2013 Subaru Legacy and Outback models equipped with automatic or CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES), certain 2012 and 2013 Subaru Impreza sedans (not WRX/STI) equipped with an Audiovox RES, and certain 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek crossovers equipped with CVT transmission and an Audiovox RES.
The problem
The NHTSA bulletin and documentation Subaru (PDF) submitted to the NHTSA indicates that if the RES fob is dropped, it may malfunction and begin transmitting random engine start requests – without the button having been pressed.
The engine could run for up to 15 minutes or it could continue starting and stopping until the battery is depleted or the vehicle runs out of fuel. Should this condition occur in a confined space, such as a garage, there is a risk of asphyxiation as a result of carbon monoxide build-up.
Subaru said that only 12 Legacy and Outback models from the 2013 model year are affected. All other 2013 Legacy/Outback models are not affected. The automaker also said that the defect does not pose a risk during driving the vehicle, since the RES system is “completely deactivated after the vehicle is started with the key.” Also, original equipment keyless entry key fobs integrated on vehicle keys are not affected.
No reported accidents or injuries due to the condition are mentioned in the NHTSA filing or Subaru documentation.
What Subaru will do
Subaru will notify owners of affected vehicles and dealers will replace the RES key fobs. The service work will be performed at no charge. The Subaru safety recall campaign, identified as WQF-42, is expected to begin at the end of April 2013.
In the meantime, owners of vehicles involved in the recall with any questions or concerns may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Alternatively, owners of vehicles involved in the campaign may contact NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to http://www.safercar.gov. Reference the NHTSA campaign ID No. 13V061000.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Volvo XC60, Honda Civic, Lincoln MKZ, Mazda6: Top Safety Pick Plus
The 2013 Volvo XC60, Honda Civic, Lincoln MKZ, and Mazda 6 are all among the latest group of new vehicles to get the top nod from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) this week.
All four managed to earn top 'good' ratings in frontal, side, and rear impact tests, as well as in the roof strength test—and at least an 'acceptable' score in the new IIHS small overlap frontal test—adding up to Top Safety Pick+ status in each case.
However the 2013 Honda Civic and 2013 Volvo XC60 stand above those other two models, in achieving top 'good' ratings in the small overlap test, too—a qualification that the IIHS might require for Top Safety Pick+ status in future model years.
As the IIHS notes, both Honda and Volvo made accommodations for 2013—structural for the Civic and related to airbag deployment in the XC60—to perform better in the new crash test, which measures cabin intrusion and occupant forces in an impact that simulates a particularly deadly or injurious type of accident, when the corner of the vehicle hits a utility pole or another vehicle. The IIHS test is run at 40 mpg, with the vehicle hitting a rigid barrier that overlaps with 25 percent of the front end.
The 2014 Mazda 6 is an improvement over the previous 2009-2013 Mazda 6 because it steps both its rear crash protection and roof strength performance up to 'good.' Yet the new Mazda 6 didn't do any better than the previous-generation 6 overall in the small overlap test, which had already been run with a 2012 model. It avoided the previous model's 'moderate' score for kinematics and restraints; although in five other measures, it only earned top 'good' scores in two.
As for the Lincoln MKZ (for which the IIHS extended results from an earlier test of the closely related 2013 Ford Fusion SE), it did a bit better, with top 'good' ratings in all injury measures although 'acceptable' scores in the structural and kinematics/restraints categories.
The Top Safety Pick+ list remains quite exclusive for 2013, with a total of just 18 models qualifying for the new top tier at this time. More models are slated to be tested before the end of the model years, however, including a batch of compact crossovers later this month.
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This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
