A Great innovation that not enough car companies are using - Adaptive brake lighting

I'm on the GW Bridge the other day in stop-and-go traffic. The pace picked up a little bit, and I am following a late model BMW 535. He brakes suddenly, and I just barely miss rear-ending him. The only reason I didn't? He had a secondary set of adaptive brake lights, a brighter, secondary set of brake lights that illuminated to let me know he was braking hard.

The implementation seems simple enough; depress the brakes hard enough or panic stop, and an extra, brighter LED / bulb is activated to warn the driver behind you. The result is saving a few precious milliseconds that could be the difference between a short stop and a costly insurance deductible.

So the question is, why doesn't this kind of innovation, and other ideas make their way into more cars if it's clearly safer? For example, many VW Jettas have a feature that blink the brake lights when at a standstill, so you don't get rear ended at a traffic light. Recent Ford Mustang models also have sequential tail lights that indicate the direction of turn, which is also helpful.

In the last 50 years, the biggest innovation in brake lights has been the high-mount stoplight, which was so effective it was mandated into Federal law.  There are a lot of NHTSA regulations governing the illumination of brake lights, but for now the luxury car makers like BMW, Mercedes and Audi are leading the way. It will be interesting to see where this technology goes.

New Lincoln Continental (Will be Huge In China)

If you haven't noticed yet, Lincoln is in what you might call a bit of a renaissance. They have a new brand identity, and a stellar ad campaign which some love, some hate, but everyone remembers. Possibly the best thing about the new Lincoln is its bold new designs as of late, starting with the MKZ a few years ago which had one of the sexiest rear ends in modern sedans. It's good to see that bold attitude continuing.

Today they announced a new concept for the NY Auto Show, a modern take on the classic continental. It low, wide and screams luxury. It has LED's all around, an aggressive stance, and new technology like "Light Through Chrome" taillights and an adaptive sunroof. A design cue worth noting, it has a new smaller grill; a move which hopefully indicates a future design direction.

But here's the honest truth. This car is not for US buyers and it likely won't sell well here. But in China where big american cars are luxury and status, this car is sure to be a hit. Domestic automakers are continuing to turn toward China's booming market to make a profit, and create models that appeal to this market.

The continental is no exception.



info and photos from Newspress USA


Press Release
LINCOLN CONTINENTAL CONCEPT SHOWS THE FUTURE OF QUIET LUXURY AND UPCOMING FULL-SIZE SEDAN



-Elegant, effortlessly powerful and serene, the Lincoln Continental Concept signals the brand’s all-new full-size sedan coming next year and the future of quiet luxury
 -Lincoln Continental Concept integrates technologies designed to create better drivers, rejuvenate and entertain passengers, including all-new, Lincoln-exclusive 3.0-liter EcoBoost® engine, patented 30--way seats and premium Revel audio system
-New Continental Concept introduces E-Latch door handles, LED matrix headlamps with laser-assist high beams and SPD SmartGlass® tinting sunroof

NEW YORK, March 30, 2015 –Lincoln today introduces the Continental Concept, signaling an all-new full-size sedan coming next year and the future of quiet luxury.

Elegant, effortlessly powerful and serene, the Continental Concept blends meticulous craftsmanship and technologies designed to create better drivers and provide passengers with a more relaxing and entertaining environment inspired by first-class travel.

“Luxury at its best is about simplifying and quietly exceeding expectations, rather than being the loudest statement on the road,” said Mark Fields, Ford Motor Company president and CEO. “The Continental Concept showcases the promise of quiet luxury from Lincoln going forward. It also is a strong indication of what’s to come next year as we introduce our new Lincoln Continental full-size luxury sedan.”

With a sleek silhouette and a new centered chrome grille, the Continental Concept signals the arrival of a new face for Lincoln. A raised Lincoln badge is surrounded by a span of repeating polished aluminum Lincoln Star emblems.

E-Latch door handles tuck discreetly in the clean vehicle beltline. The door handle technology also provides for elegant entry. The doors open effortlessly with the touch of a button positioned on the underside of the door handle wings and close quietly.

“Some brands talk about ‘the machine,’ ” said Kumar Galhotra, Lincoln president. “Lincoln is different. For us, it is about more than the machine. It is about what our vehicles do for our clients.”

New technology is a hallmark of the vehicle. It starts with the vehicle sensing your approach and lighting up to greet you inside and out.

Outside, signature full-width tail lamps feature advanced light-through-chrome technology. Powerful LED matrix head lamps with laser-assist high beams reduce glare and improve visibility.

Rhapsody Blue metallic paint calls back Lincoln Continental’s signature color.

Inside are the brand’s most sensual materials ever, including Venetian leather seat and door panels, Alcantara® seat inserts and armrests, satin headliner and shearling wool carpet. Rose Gold trim around the instrument cluster provides warmth. Bright chrome trim on the instrument panel adds contrast.

Ambient lighting enhances the interior, creating a serene environment. Soft-gold LED lights glow from the center console and from the halo light overhead.

Patented 30-way Lincoln-designed seats use a new-to-market design that conforms to passengers’ sizes and shapes. The passenger-side rear seat can fully recline by moving the front passenger seat forward with the touch of a button.

From a panel mounted on the through-center console, rear passengers also can control climate settings and the Revel Ultima audio system, which allows passengers to select from three surround-sound modes: Stereo, Audience and On-Stage.

Rear-seat comfort is further highlighted by an SPD SmartGlass® tinting sunroof, which allows passengers to control heat from direct sunlight. With the touch of a button, the glass can cool the vehicle interior by as much as 18 degrees Fahrenheit, while blocking 99 percent of UV rays.

Rear-seat passengers also enjoy the convenience of a tablet-supporting lap tray that deploys from the through-center console. It also features a champagne storage compartment. Detachable, hand-crafted Venetian leather travel cases are mounted to the backside of the front seats.

Under the skin, the Continental Concept is powered by a Lincoln-exclusive 3.0-liter V6 EcoBoost® engine. It also features Lincoln Drive Control ride-enhancing technologies and Adaptive Steering. The car rides on polished-aluminum, painted-pocket 21-inch wheels.

Driver assist technologies include Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Enhanced Park Assist and a 360-degree camera that displays on the MyLincoln Touch™ screen.

“The Lincoln Continental name is associated with iconic beauty and elegance,” said David Woodhouse, Lincoln design director. “Capturing those qualities and building upon them drove us as we crafted this thoroughly modern sedan concept.”

The Lincoln Continental Concept is at the New York International Auto Show, which opens Wednesday for members of the news media.

Tolls going up. Again. Effective March 22nd

Once again the MTA is raising tolls on all of the river crossings in Metro NY.
Most crossings are going up about .50 cents to a dollar for cash payers, and slightly less for EZ Pass.

The new rates go into effect at 2 am ET on March 22, 2015.

Passenger car toll increases:
Throgs Neck / RFK Bridge /Midtown Tunnel 
(Cash / EZ-PAss)
$7.50 / $5.33 increased to $8 / $5.54
Verrazano Bridge (one way tolls) 
$15 / $10.66 increased to $16 / $11.08

To put this in perspective of inflation, I started commuting in about 2005, 10 years ago. At that time, the toll rates were $4 each way for the major crossing, double that for the Verrazano. That means in 10 years, we have seen a 100% increase, doubling the toll rate at the crossings. More information here.

Offical rates and more info on MTS' website here:
 http://web.mta.info/mta/news/hearings/2015FareTolls/FaresBT.html

The #1 Tip for Winter Weather Driving

Black ice, snow drifts, chunks of ice hurtling off trucks, and a few feet of snow. This winter is not kind to Northeastern commuters. While this is slightly bothersome, the real annoying part is that friend  we all have from up north who thinks he's bulletproof in the snow, and wants to constantly remind you of the fact. But even he probably knows that the single most important thing about driving in any kind of inclement weather is your tires.

Sure, there are lots of techniques and tips for driving in the snow, but none is more important than that layer of rubber that goes between you and the road. Lately I see a lot of automotive websites dismissing all wheel drive (AWD) cars, and preaching the necessity of snow tires. But the fact remains that snow tires just aren't practical for most people. This is of course unless your daily driver is a high-torque RWD sports car, or you live in the snow belt. But for the rest of us, we make due with our all season rubber. As for the AWD, it has its place, and that's smashing snowbanks and climbing icy hills.

Last winter was really rough for me, because I did not have adequate tires. There were times when I couldn't even get out of a parking spot after a snowfall. So this year, I did some online research and then made a call to Mavis Discount Tire to make an appointment.

Tires for my car are very big and very expensive. Also, I'm what you call a "spirited" driver, so usually a decent 245/45/18 runs me more than 200 dollars. I normally get my favorite tire, a Bridgestone Potenza RE960 AS, which are about $270 a pop. Since I needed 4 and my family needed to eat this month, this wasn't going to happen.

After talking with the service manager, I settled on a set of Goodyear Eagle GT's for $125 each, a significant savings. They came highly recommended, and after looking them up online, I was willing to take a chance.

And boy I'm glad I did. They have a mean asymmetrical tread pattern, they have a little flare which gives the appearance of an aggressive stance, and the sidewalls aren't too busy. But more importantly, they grip. They hold traction perfectly in the rain, and haven't hydroplaned yet, and with the snow we have experienced, I'm remarkably sure footed. I have had other people spin in front of me while I easily dodge them. My car puts 300 HP to the front wheels, which usually makes my immobile in the snow, but this year I have yet to get stuck.

So here's the moral of the story. Don't skimp on tires. they are literally the only thing between you and the road. Don't feel like you have to buy the most expensive, but it does pay to talk to someone who knows a thing or two about rubber and do some research before making the investment.

I'm an Absentee Father. But That's OK, Because I Drive a Four-Door Sports Car

Lets get something straight. The Nissan Maxima does not get the love it deserves. Not from the auto press and not from car enthusiasts. Any commuter would be hard pressed to find the combination of power, luxury and reliability at a decent value that the Maxima offers. That's probably why the nameplate derives such fierce loyalty, and I have owned 3. That being said, I'm very excited about the announcement of the 2015 Maxima, which was briefly teased at this year's Super Bowl.

Now I'm sure you have seen the commercial by now. Some people even understood the correlation that this super-cool racecar driver is a family man who chooses the sporty 4DSC Maxima as his personal ride. Unfortunately, they chose to use "Cats in a Cradle" as a soundtrack, whose opening note inspires guilt and anxiety in pretty much every father who wishes they could spend more time with their family. Not the kind of marketing message I would want to send, but I hope it works for them.  

But damn, its sexy. Official photos were released today. It has a very muscular front end and rear haunches that are reminiscent of Infiniti models, yet somehow different. It also takes design cues from Nissan's current lineup, with boomerang lights, while that grill fascia really needs to be available in a matte black. I'm a little nervous about the high beltline and visibility, but I'll reserve judgement until I take a test drive.

Photos from Newspress

As for the powerplant and technicals, no one knows what that will be, but I'd  venture guessing either a 3.5 or 3.7 liter V6, mated to a CVT. I don't think we will see a platform beyond FWD, as Nissan still relies on Maxima upgraders for the survival of the Infiniti brand.

The car is set to debut at the NY Auto show in April, and I'll be there.


information via http://www.newspressusa.com/

What's that big exclamation point on my Dashboard?

I am seeing a lot of web searches coming in for "dashboard exclamation point", so I decided to update this classic post.

Now that the temperature is dropping, a lot of drivers are noticing a new symbol which might have appeared in their dashboard. It looks something like this...

That huge exclamation point certainly looks scary, But don't worry,  this symbol is actually and alert for your cars Tire Pressure Monitoring System, (TPMS) kicking in.

When is gets colder outside, air contracts and reduces your tires air pressure (PSI) slightly. Usually, the reduction is not enough to be dangerous, but certainly enough to trigger the sensor.

How do you fix this problem? First, don't waste your money going to a mechanic. Go check your tires recommended PSI, (usually inside driver-side door) fill it up, and wait for the sensor to eventually turn itself off when driving. Don't fill it to the max psi rating that's printed on the tire.

The war on acid-crapping birds

Every May is starts. The dread. That fearful anxiety of simply knowing that THEY are coming. They are ruthless, dirty and menacing. They have no regard for the rules of war. Their numbers are overwhelming, and like a fire or plague, they move through, consuming and ravaging everything in their path. I'm talking about the European Starling infestation that roosts in my neighborhood every summer and just shits all over everything.

I moved into my current house about three years ago. It has a nice little driveway where I can fit one car and another behind it if I block the sidewalk. Otherwise parking is on the street. The whole front of the house is shaded by a lumbering ancient oak tree that has been there since before the house was built. This is where they start to gather. In April, I usually start a gauntlet of defenses. Bells, red tail hawk sounds, fake owls, and many other countermeasures that eventually prove ineffective. A swarm of 3000 little birds just has no natural predator.

But lets get this out of the way up front. I love nature. I love animals, tress, and being outside. I actually like their dusk and dawn chorus of chatter.

Artists rendition of my front yard

 But they just crap everywhere. My driveway is white. I literally had to clean the roof of my house this weekend with a pressure washer,  bleach solution and then scrub it because of the inches-thick layer of bird feces that have accumulated over the last year.  My grass is dying under the toxins. My kids toys in the backyard are covered, and when it rains, the smell of bird poop is so overwhelming we have to close the windows.

But the worst part is the cars. Normally I wouldn't mind a little bird poop, I can just hose it off. But these bastards shit acid. Seriously, legit Sigourney-Weaver-in-a-power-loader-fighting-the-alien-queen-acid. If I dare let the sun dry spots on the car, they literally strip the Clearcoat off, leaving a ring or a blemish on the paint. I have tried scrubbing, detergents and clay bars, there is just no getting this stuff off. My only defense is to frequently wax it to provide some layer of protection. It helps, but its like building a sandcastle in front of a hurricane.

For four months out of the year, I can’t even use my driveway. My wife has to park across the street, and I park in front of our house. But it doesn’t matter, half of one car will still always get covered.

I wake up to this every single morning. This particular morning was actually lighter than others.

“Try calling the town” you might say.

Well, me and all of my neighbors have tried. Their stance is that it’s an endangered species, and they wont do anything. Never mind the fact it’s actually an invasive species, but hey, I’m sure the public works person has a much more robust understanding of ornithology than I do.

I got a little excited this year when I found a couple of dead birds in my yard. And then I found a few more, and then some more. Then I started to get worried, as I suspected West Nile. So I called up the Nassau County board of health for testing. This is how it went;

Me: “Hi, I have some dead birds in my yard, and I wanted to submit them for testing.

County worker: “I’m sorry, but if you found a dead bird, we no longer accept them for testing. Please wrap it in a double thick plastic bag and throw it in the garbage.”

Me: “I see. Well does it matter that I have 23 dead birds here? My backyard looks like the Heavens Gate Compound back here.”

County worker: “Well I’m sorry sir, but if you have a dead bird, we no longer accept it for testing.”

Me: “I don’t think you heard me right. Not A dead bird, 23 dead birds. This is like some biblical shit going on in my backyard. You really don’t think this warrants at least some consideration?”

County worker: “ I’m sorry, sir we do not. Please simply double-bag the bird and put it into the trash."

So this is not going to get solved anytime soon. Now I’m holding out for colder weather, when these 3000 chirping little bastards migrate south for the winter, or return to hell from whence they are spawned. I’ll try pruning the massive tree some more this year, and perhaps invest in some bottle rockets for next year.  The war will rage on. but in the meantime, I have a lot of really good tips for getting bird crap off of car paint.