Nutson's Weekly Automotive News Digest
April 6-12, 2015
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By Larry Nutson
Senior Editor and Bureau Chief
Chicago Bureau
The Auto Channel
Auto Central Chicago IL, April 12, 2015; Every Sunday, along with senior editors Steve Purdy and Thom Cannell from The Auto Channel Michigan Bureau I give you our "take" on this past week's automotive news in easy to digest nuggets.
If you are a car nut like we all are here at The Auto Channel, you can easily wish to "catch up" on these stories as well as the past 20 year's 1,833,223 automotive news, automotive stories, articles, reviews, archived news, video, audio, rants and raves just search The Auto Channel's Automotive News Archive.
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Nutson's Weekly Automotive News Digest-April 6-12, 2015;
* Winners of the 2015 World Car Awards were announced at last week's New York International Auto Show media events. Mercedes-Benz pulled off a hat-trick with the M-B C-Class named World Car of the Year, the S-Coupe named World Luxury Car and the AMG GT named Performance Car. In other categories, the BMW i8 was named World Green Car and the Citroen C4 Cactus World Car Design of the Year. The judging panel consists of 75 auto journalists from 22 countries, including TAC's own Henny Hemmes .
* The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute's latest report from Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle says that the average fuel economy (window-sticker value) of new vehicles sold in the U.S. in March was 25.4 mpg—up 0.2 mpg from February. This change likely reflects the increased gasoline prices from February to March. However, fuel economy is still down 0.4 mpg from the peak reached in August 2014. Overall, vehicle fuel economy is up 5.3 mpg since October 2007 (the first month of our monitoring). However, the average vehicle fuel economy during the first six months of this model year (October 2014 through March 2015)—25.3 mpg—has stayed the same as during the preceding 12 months (October 2013 through September 2014).
* Another new report by Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle of the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute says that motion sickness is expected to be more of an issue in self-driving vehicles than in conventional vehicles. The reason is that the three main factors contributing to motion sickness (conflict between vestibular and visual inputs, inability to anticipate the direction of motion, and lack of control over the direction of motion) are elevated in self-driving vehicles. Quick, pull over!
* An autonomous car's recent 3,400-mile U.S. road trip proves there's at least one thing computers do better than humans: Follow the speed limit. Auto supplier Delphi Corp. fitted an Audi Q5 with radar, cameras and laser sensors to navigate the 15-state journey from San Francisco to New York, mostly traveling on highways. The car drove itself 99% of the time. A reported surprise to the researchers was the variation in lane markings on the roadway along the trip. Lane markings are used (or needed) to keep the car centered in the lane. I'm not surprised by their surprise.
* A service campaign by Hyundai will give owners of all versions of the 2015 Hyundai Genesis new tires. The Genesis with 18- or 19-inch wheels have been fitted with Hankook Venus S1 Noble 2 tires. The Hankook 18-inch tires will be replaced with a Michelin model, while all 19-inch tires will be replaced with Continental ProContact DX rubber.
* In an NHTSA investigation into rusty brake lines on older Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC pickups and SUVs, it took them 5 years to conclude that you need to wash the underside of your vehicle if you live where salt is used to clear the roads of snow and ice. NHTSA opened the investigation in March 2010 and now has advised drivers in 20 cold-weather states and Washington, DC to get the undercarriage of your car or truck washed several times a year.
* We’ve reported recently on western auto companies backing off the Russian market as political and economic troubles increase. Bucking the trend, Ford began production of the new Mondeo in the St. Petersburg plant this week saying it has confidence in the Russian market. Ford is planning at least three other new models for Russia this year.
* Last week’s news included a report of a $150 million court judgement against Chrysler as a result of older Jeep Cherokee fuel tank explosions caused by rear end crashes. Now NHTSA is considering reopening an investigation into the fuel tank issue. The safety agency determined over a year ago that the tanks “do not pose an unreasonable risk to safety.” Speculation from a variety of news sources sites posit an annoyance on the part of NHTSA that FCA did not do enough to address the problem voluntarily.
* Lots of news came from Honda this week as they revealed the end of production of the Accord-based Crosstour hatchback wagon because of dismal sales numbers. They are also planning to move production of the Accord hybrid from Ohio to Japan. Best news is the announcement that the new for 2016 Pilot will boast 280 horsepower and 9-speed transmission.
* GM asked the Warren, Michigan city council for major tax incentives as they plan a $1 billion renovation and rebuilding of the massive Tech Center complex north of Detroit. Opened in 1956 and designed by famous architect Eero Saarinen the Tech Center is on the National Register of Historic Places and covers 710 acres. Less than a year ago the complex was flooded and severely damaged by a huge storm that devastated most of the Detroit area. The project is expected to accommodate the addition of thousands of new jobs and aid the company in attracting engineering and business talent.
* Mercedes-Benz officials confirmed this week they will co-develop and build their new mid-size pickup with Nissan Motor Company. A decision has not been made whether to market the new truck in the U.S. but that decision will be made by year’s end according to Steve Cannon, CEO of M-B USA.
* GM spokesperson Melissa Hayes announced this week the roll-out of a new service for the collector car collectors, restorers and researchers. Called the Chevrolet Historical Services division it will include "millions of documents, long-assumed lost” that were “stored on a vintage computer recently found in a GM storage warehouse.” The computer is a Sperry Corp. UNIVAC unit from post WWII. Ms. Hayes says the data is 100% complete for all Chevrolet cars from 1948 to 1972. There will be a charge to access the information.
* A new high-rise condo residence in Miami will have three car elevators to whisk your car with you in it up 60 stories and slide it into the owner's personal steel-reinforced garage. The piston-shaped Porsche Design Tower with condo unit prices starting at $4 million will be finished in 2016.
