Tag Archives: news

Camry Gets Top NHTSA Safety Rating. Accord Still Leads

Starting with 2011 models, NHTSA introduced tougher tests and more rigorous requirements for its five-star safety ratings that provide more information about safety performance and crash-avoidance technologies. Safety rating changes include a new side barrier test and a new side pole test simulating a 20-mph side-impact crash into a 10-inch-diameter pole or tree at a 75-degree angle just behind the A-pillar on the driver’s side. New overall safety ratings, which combine the results from the various tests, are now provided. Continue reading

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Toyota to Export U.S. Built Camry to South Korea

The Camry mid-size sedans will be made at Toyota’s manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, which is Toyota’s largest manufacturing facility outside of Japan. The strong Japanese Yen is causing Toyota to increase production out of its home country. Whether a U.S. made Camry is any more suited for the Korean market given Japan’s troubled relations with Korea is debatable. Continue reading

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NHTSA Opens a Formal Defect Investigation into Chevrolet Volt Battery Fires When a Second Fire Occurs After a Crash Test

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – NHTSA – is opening a formal safety defect investigation to assess the risk posed by Chevrolet Volt battery fires after a serious accident. The formal investigation came after NHTSA observed two post-crash testing fires emanating from Volt’s lithium ion batteries, the latest occurring last Thursday. Since July, GM has implemented a post crash procedure that includes the depowering of the battery after a severe crash, returning the battery to what it calls a safe and low-powered state. Continue reading

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Cadillac XTS Sedan Unveiled With a V6 and All Wheel Drive

Cadillac XTS will be the most-spacious Cadillac sedan in the current line, with interior space roughly comparable to current full-size sedans. In what appears to be a clear bid to make the XTS saleable to the chauffer-driven communist ruling class in China, XTS has 40 inches (1,016 mm) of rear legroom. Continue reading

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New NHTSA Safety Ratings Are Incomplete, Potentially Misleading, Since Many New Vehicles Remain Untested

Many of the vehicles sold in the U.S. have not been tested since the ratings were revised last year. That evidently won’t stop carefully written press releases though. What’s needed here is a level playing field, one that won’t be slanted by automotive marketers until all cars are tested so the federal government safety program isn’t used to pick winners by p.r departments selectively presenting incomplete data. Continue reading

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