NHTSA Report on Traffic Fatalities 01/96 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 1994, 40,676 people died in automotive wrecks. 1994's fatality rate reflects a 1.3 percent rise over the rate from 1993 and amounts to just over 15.5 traffic fatalities for every 100,000 people living in the USA--111 deaths per day, or one every 13 minutes. 84 percent of those who died were occupants of vehicles involved in the crashes, while the remaining 16 percent were non-occupants such as pedestrians and cyclists. NHTSA reports that safety belts have saved 65,290 lives between 1982 and 1994 and that child restraints saved 2,655 children under the age of five during the same period. 1994 brought 16,589 alcohol related traffic fatalities (one every 32 minutes), the lowest number in years. 1994 deaths in alcohol related crashes were down 5 percent from 1993. 1993 saw 1.5 million d.u.i. arrests and, by NHTSA estimates, 40.9 percent of 1994's fatal crashes involved alcohol. Two of five Americans will be involved in alcohol related wrecks in their lifetimes. Men were involved in 3 times as many fatal wrecks than women, and comprised 67 percent of total fatalities, 68 percent of pedestrian fatalities, and 86 percent of all bicycle fatalities. 22 percent of all drivers involved in fatal accidents were drunk men, while only 11 percent were drunk women. Summarized by Paul Dever source: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/main/safety.html ##--##--news00020 Chrysler Recalls Minivans for Repair 01/96 Chrysler is recalling approximately 265,000 1996 Dodge Caravans and Grand caravans, Plymouth Voyagers and Grand Voyagers, and Chrysler Town and Country models built between January 1995 and early-August 1995. The company will replace fuel tank filler tubes on 80,000 1996 minivans and install ground straps on the rest of the vehicles. Chrysler investigated reports of fuel leakage and determined that when the recalled minivans are parked nose down on a hill and they have a full gas tank, fuel tank valves can leak, allowing gas into vapor canisters. To remedy the situation, dealers will install new fuel tank filler tubes that contain an additional fuel flow valve. Associated vapor hoses will be rerouted. On other vehicles Chrysler will install ground straps to prevent sparks from electrostatic discharge at the fuel filler tube, because under certain conditions (particular low temperatures, low humidity and low fuel tank level), sparks can occur when fuel nozzles come in contact with fuel fill tubes. Chrysler noted that a number of rare circumstances have to coincide for this to present a problem, and that they have only received two reports of minor paint damage due to the problems. No injuries have been reported. Summarized by Paul Dever source: 1996 North American International Auto Show Press Release ##--##--news00021 A 1996 Lincoln Limousine with Right-Hand Drive! 01/96 The first 1996 Lincoln Limousine with right hand drive made an inaugural appearance North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Lincoln-Mercury brought the car to the show to attract foreign interest. Features on a Town Car limousine include reclining seats, rear heat and air conditioning units and a functional writing desk. Tail lamps with the lower half amber turn signal and amber side marker lamps meet the requirements of many overseas markets. Lincoln-Mercury is looking toward emerging markets in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and New Zealand, and they expect the new limo will help them gauge reaction among them. In the United States, Lincoln currently holds about 75 percent of the limousine business. Summarized by Paul Dever source: 1996 North American International Auto Show Press Release ##--##--news00022 Alternative Fuel Ford Taurus 01/96 The 1996 model Taurus Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) is being built in Chicago and it offers drivers the choice of whether to use either ethanol or methanol gasoline mixes for fuel. Although the methanol version of the car has been available for three years, the ethanol version will be going into commercial production for the first time. 400 orders have already been placed. The ethanol and methanol based fuels for the cars are respectively known as E85 and M85, because they contain 85% ethanol or methanol and 15% gasoline. Both cars will run on unleaded fuel if their special fuel mixtures are not available. E85 and M85 can also be mixed in the cars' fuel tank. Ethanol or methanol burning vehicles can reduce the emission of hydrocarbons by up to 30 percent, as compared with unleaded gasoline. In the past three model years, Ford sold about 7,500 flexible fuel Tauruses to government, fleet, and retail customers in the United States and Canada. Illinois Governor Jim Edgar had this to say: "Production of a new vehicle designed specifically for optimal operation with ethanol is another milestone in efforts to increase the use of this clean, renewable fuel derived from corn. Ford and state government have joined together to invest in the future of Illinois." Ford offers a $1,165 incentive to prospective buyers. The incentive will offset the incremental cost of the FFV option. Ford expects high consumer demand, and the Chicago Assembly Plant has more than doubled the Taurus FFV capacity levels of previous years. Summarized by Paul Dever source: 1996 North American International Auto Show Press Release ##--##--news00023 Acura CL Luxury Coupe is the First U.S.-Designed, Engineered, and Manufactured Car Sold by Luxury Import Brand. 01/96 The American-designed and manufactured CL Series uses a broad base of research and development resources and manufacturing operations in the U.S., and demonstrates Acura's philosophy of building products where they are sold. The two-door CL goes on sale March 15 and includes a 2.2-liter in-line four-cylinder engine. A 3.0-liter V-6 model gets added in the fall. The car was designed in Southern California and further developed at the Honda R&D facility in Ohio. Performance testing was conducted at two facilities: the Honda Proving Center of California and the Transportation Research Center in Ohio. Expects to sell 20,000-30,000 of the cars. Their price tags will range between $22,000 and $27,000 price range. The Acura says the new CL bridges the gap between Acura's Integra and the TL Series of luxury sedans. Summarized by Paul Dever source: 1996 North American International Auto Show Press Release ##--##--news00024 The Aston Martin DB7 Volante Debuts at Auto Show 01/96 Aston Martin announced the debut of the new DB7 Volante. The car is scheduled to go on sale this summer, and preference will be given to the North American market. The Aston Martin DB7 is a classic 2+2 front engine rear wheel drive British sports car. It is powered by a 3.2 liter, supercharged 6 cylinder in-line 24 valve engine which develops 335 horsepower. There is a choice of a close ratio 5-speed all synchromesh manual transmission or a 4-speed electronically controlled automatic. It features twin airbags, side-impact beams, full "on board" diagnostic equipment and other luxury and safety features, all of which are offered as standard equipment. The suspension is independent at both front and rear and 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes are fitted as standard equipment. Ultra low profile Bridgestone radial ply tires have been specially developed and tuned to the suspension of the Aston Martin DB7 to provide exceptional standards of ride comfort and road holding. The maximum speed of both the manual and automatic transmission models is in excess of 160MPH and from rest to 60MPH is achieved in 5.7 seconds for the manual transmission model. The Aston Martin DB7's lines were designed by Ian Callum, former senior designer with Ghia of Turin. Summarized by Paul Dever source: 1996 North American International Auto Show Press Release ##--##--news00025 Audi TT Roadster First with Front and Rear-Seat Side-Impact Airbags 01/96 Audi's TT Roadster debuted at the 1996 North American International Auto Show, although versions of the Audi TT Roadster and TT Coupe won't go into production until 1998. Audi projects annual sales of approximately 20,000 Coupes and 10,000 Roadsters. The TT Roadster is powered by a concept study for a powerful sports version of Audi's turbocharged 1.8 liter, five-valve, four-cylinder engine that develops 210 horsepower, allowing it to achieve a 0-to-60 MPH acceleration mark in about six seconds. The TT Roadster includes roll bars, 18-inch wheels, side-panel outlets from the engine compartment and leather-covered seats. Summarized by Paul Dever source: 1996 North American International Auto Show Press Release ##--##--news00026