William Maley

Law enforcement agencies have a new patrol vehicle they can sink their teeth into. Ram has introduced the Special Services Police Truck and is built to take on daily grind. Powering the Special Services Police Truck is the 5.7L HEMI V8 producing 390 HP and 407 lb-ft of torque and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive comes as standard. The truck also comes equipped with a a 220-amp alternator for added electronics, a unique wiring harness called the Power Distribution Center to support the heavy loads of the radar, computer, lighting and radio equipment, and the options of ballistic protection and the RamBox storage system. Ram doesn't say how much the Special Services Police Truck will cost but local municipalities can place their orders later in the month. Press Release is on Page 2 Ram Truck Brand Offers Special Services Police Truck for Extreme Duty Cycles New Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Special Service package offers special equipment to support police and other emergency services Additional door support allows for installation of ballistic material inside front doors Added Power Distribution Center (PDC) and 220-amp alternator supports high-amp drawing systems and accessories Package includes 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 with 390 horsepower/407 lb.-ft. torque, 3.92 axle ratio and four-wheel-drive 5 year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty November 8, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Starting this month, Ram Truck will be offering a new Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Special Service package for law enforcement and other emergency agencies through Chrysler Group Fleet sales. The newest Ram model features a selection of severe-duty-adapted equipment available on the 2012 Ram 1500 and several unique features. Following the overwhelming approval of the Dodge Charger Pursuit by law enforcement and municipal administrators, the Ram 1500 package combines durability, reliability and value with an expedient solution for upfitting special equipment. “Like the Ram Truck brand, first responders give it their all with guts and glory, and we’re proud to offer a Ram truck that gives them the reliability and durability to get to the scene quickly and safely,” said Fred Diaz, President and CEO of Ram Truck Brand and Chrysler de Mexico — Chrysler Group LLC. “The Special Service package offers legendary Ram capability and a ready-to-go platform for the folks who require a truck they can depend on.” Made for extreme-duty cycles, emergency and municipal service trucks are sometimes left idling for extended periods of time. The Ram 1500 includes 100,000-mile sparkplugs and a larger oil cooler to protect the engine during the unforgiving stop-and-go operations associated with first responders. “The Ram 1500 Special Service Truck has been engineered to handle the severe demands of Law Enforcement,” said Peter Grady, Vice President of Network Development and Fleet, Chrysler Group LLC. “The same characteristics also make it and excellent choice for the Public Works, Maintenance, Engineering and Fire Departments. This package expands our portfolio of hardworking vehicles available to state and local governments.” To handle the high electric loads, the Ram 1500 Special Service Truck includes a 220-amp alternator. A unique wire harness is capable of providing power, ground and fusing for a variety of law enforcement lighting, siren, computer, modem, radar or camera systems. The package also includes a Power Distribution Center (PDC) with fusing and relays for circuits contained in the wire harness. The PDC is supplied from the battery with two separate 100-amp main fuses for camera, computer, modem and printer systems. The unique instrument panel houses a certified speedometer with engine hour and idle hour meter and a 110-volt inverter. The truck is available with a full-face steering wheel, four key fobs and ten-way power front seats which quickly accommodate multiple drivers. A special headliner with auxiliary dome lamp sits over stain-repellent cloth bucket seats in the first row and a vinyl bench in the second row. The center console is removed to add space for extra equipment and the shifter is located on the steering column. The Ram 1500 Special Service truck is offered exclusively in a roomy Crew Cab configuration with 125 cubic feet of interior volume. Additional welds in the front door structures handle the weight of ballistic material used by law enforcement vehicle upfitters. The truck also is available with the popular RamBox storage system. RamBox measures 50.5 inches and offers 7.3 cubic feet of lockable and lighted storage capacity. Powering the new package is the reliable 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 with Fuel Saver Technology, a six-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel-drive with standard ESC. The new model benefits from a 5-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Steel wheels wrapped with Goodyear LT 265/70R17 tires offer improved cooling to the ABS equipped 13.2-inch front vented discs and 13.8 –inch discs in the rear. The innovative coil-spring rear suspension on the Ram 1500 has provides best-in-class ride and handling both on- and off-road. A 3.92 axle ratio, 390 horsepower and 407 lb.-ft. of torque contribute to a towing capacity of 10,000 lbs., payload of 1,455 lbs. and a GCWR of 15,500 lbs. View full article

Today, General Motors told it's dealers that they are free to sell their Chevrolet Volt demonstration models. The move will increase the number of Volts on sale from 1,800 to 4,100. GM launched the Volt back in December in seven markets and since July has been rolling out the Volt nationwide to, and is nearing its target of 2,600 dealers in all 50 states. The problem is dealers have been given a Volt to use a demo only. “Multiple dealers have requested to sell their demo to satisfy customer demand,” GM said in a memo to dealers. GM spokesman Tom Henderson told Automotive News that GM is “giving them the choice to satisfy their customers and the flexibility to meet pent-up demand.” To compensate for depreciation and for the cost of removing some decals from the demo models, GM will reimburse dealers $1,500. But to get the reimbursement, dealers will need to sell the demo by January 3rd. Then dealers will need to get a new Volt demo by the end of January. General Motors is hoping with this move they will be able to meet their lofty goal of selling 10,000 Volts by the end of year. Through October, GM only 5,003 Volts. Source: Automotive News View full article

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Back in 2007, the US Congress created the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing federal loan program to allow the US Government to loan out $25 billion to car manufacturers. The loans were created to help car manufacturers to retool factories and build more fuel-efficient vehicles. But those loans have been slowly trickling out. Only $9.2 of the $25 billion set aside has been used. Also, the program has been taking a long time to approve companies for loans. So far Ford, Nissan, Fisker, and Tesla have already been approved for loans. Chrysler has been waiting for eighteen months while GM has pulled their application. Now, a congressman from Texas wants to get rid of the program. U.S. Rep. Bill Flores R-Texas., has introduced a bill into Congress to end the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing loan program. "My proposed bill to terminate the program prior to the end of the current fiscal year could potentially save additional billions in unused taxpayer dollars. Repealing the ATVM loan program will preserve much-needed funds to support projects that have the best chance of providing middle-class jobs here at home in the near term. It will also ensure that funds are provided for an immediate need, rather than letting them sit idly by waiting for a careless and inefficient bureaucratic process that has made little progress in the past three years.," Flores said. The bill is being supported by many Republicans, but Democrats, led by Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow and Rep. Gary Peters, are against the bill. The Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing federal loan program has been coming under a lot of scrutiny after solar panel manufacturer Solyndra LLC collapsed after receiving $528 million in loans. Last week, the White House launched a sixty-day review of the program. Source: The Detroit News View full article

To say MyFordTouch has been on a rough road since it's introduction this year would be understatement. The system which uses a combination of capacitive controls and a touchscreen to control certain fuctions has been criticized by owners and reviews for many things.The system has also caused Ford's rating in the industry's leading quality indexes to drop. Now, the blue oval han announced an update for some of the issues with its system for 2013 models and existing models. The big news comes in the form of a reworked interface for the touchscreen. Ford says they have reworked over a 1,000 screens in the MyFord Touch system by using larger, bolder fonts, making the designs more consistent, and removing low-priority elements while bringing the most frequently used controls closer to the driver. Response time has also improved with Ford saying the update makes the system two times faster. The update also brings support for the Apple iPad, access to Audible.com audiobooks through voice commands or the touchscreen, improvements to the Bluetooth system, updated map experience from TeleNav and Navteq, and improved voice recognition. The update will appear in Ford's 2013 models including the new Ford Escape, Flex and Taurus. Owners of existing models with MyFordTouch will be sent either a USB flash drive or can visit their Ford dealer to get the update around the same time. Press Release and Video is on Page 2 Faster, Simpler, Better: MyFord Touch Upgrade Provides New and Existing Customers Enhancements and New Features Ford will launch performance upgrades and new features for MyFordTouch® beginning with 2013 models – no-charge upgrade will be available to existing owners Simpler graphics, faster touch-screen response and easier-to-use controls are among the many enhancements to the voice-activated in-car connectivity system DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 7, 2011 – Ford customers said MyFord Touch® could be faster and feature simpler graphics that are easier to use and that’s exactly what Ford plans to deliver with a broad set of performance upgrades to the system – launching first on the new 2013 Ford Escape, Flex and Taurus. Available early next year – and offered at no charge to existing MyFord Touch owners – the software upgrade enhances the ownership experience as it was developed by listening and responding to customer feedback. “SYNC® has clearly been a game-changing technology and now we’re changing the game again, showing how quickly we can deliver more of what customers really want,” said Graydon Reitz, director, Ford Global Electronics and Electrical Systems Engineering. “Our strategy to create the SYNC software platform and add the customizable screens of MyFord Touch gives us a level of flexibility and speed to respond to customer input like never before seen in the auto industry.” The new touch-screen interface features simpler graphics and controls that are easier to use. Customers will also experience significantly faster touch-screen response times, one of the top requests from owners. New features include support for tablet devices and Audible.com audiobooks, improved navigation maps and enhanced voice recognition interaction. Listening to customers Since MyFord launched last fall, Ford has held four customer clinics in which hundreds of owners talked directly to Ford engineers about their experiences with the new technology. Owner feedback was clear and consistent, revealing that MyFord Touch was a key purchase reason. A survey of 2011 Ford Edge owners shows that four of the top seven purchase reasons were elements of the MyFord Touch system: the touch screen, steering wheel controls, voice recognition and dashboard styling. While owners reported that they love the system, there were distinct areas where they wanted improvements. Earlier this year, Ford started delivering on their requests, beginning with more instructions and information on how to best utilize the capabilities of the system. Ford launched two programs modeled after what consumers experience when purchasing a new electronic device. First, the company added a new MyFord Touch owner support website featuring how-to videos at www.syncmyride.com. Second, free “SYNC My Ride” personalized training sessions for new owners are now offered through Ford dealers – scheduled at customers’ convenience. “The keys to continuous improvement are simple: Listen, learn and respond. That’s how we’re going to keep our customers happy,” said Gary Jablonski, manager, SYNC Platform Development. “Evolving the software with meaningful enhanced features was part of our plan from the very beginning. It’s no different than the experience with our smartphones and laptop computers – except now, it’s your car that gets better.” Upgrade your ride All of the new improvements will be offered to existing owners of MyFord Touch-equipped vehicles, including the 2011 and 2012 models of Ford Explorer and Edge and the 2012 Focus. Owners of 2011 and 2012 Lincoln MKX crossovers will also receive the upgrade for their MyLincoln Touch™ systems. “We’re seizing the opportunity to continuously improve the Ford ownership experience, and revolutionize what it means to own a car,” said Reitz. “Introducing new technology is only one step in our journey to become known as a technology company. Consistently improving it based on what our customers are telling us marks another milestone in that journey.” Early next year, owners located in the U.S. will be mailed a USB flash drive with the software upgrade for installation that they can do at their own convenience. If they prefer, owners may also visit their local Ford or Lincoln dealer for the software installation. The upgrade mailing will include instructions informing owners how to simply plug the USB flash drive into the MyFord Touch Media Hub’s USB port in order for installation to automatically begin. New look The visual enhancements to MyFord Touch are based on simplifying the graphics with larger, bolder fonts, removing low-priority visual content, and designing screens based on a consistent pattern. More than 1,000 screens in total have been updated with the improved look. “Our goal when designing the upgrade was to simplify the screens and give customers a fast and easy way to get information at any given moment,” said Jennifer Brace, User Interface Design engineer for Ford. “That meant removing buttons, relocating high-use controls closer to the driver’s reach, simplifying tasks and improving font size.” The new fonts are as much as 40 percent larger on some redesigned screens. The fonts also are wider and bolder to provide easier legibility, particularly among the rapidly increasing number of drivers age 60 and older. New features Ford also took the opportunity to update the performance of the system and add new features for customers to help them keep pace with the fast-moving consumer electronics market. Faster touch-screen response time, for example, was a key request from owners. Initial testing shows that touch and voice response is at least two times faster than the current system. Also, the software upgrade includes the following enhancements: Improved voice recognition experience powered by Nuance Quicker voice recognition upon startup and faster command prompt when the voice button is pushed Voice commands used in conjunction with navigation are simplified through elimination of the need to provide street direction, e.g., “Main Street” instead of “North Main Street” Music requests are simpler by removing the need to include the additional song, album or artist information often found at the end of a name in parenthesis or brackets Customers can find their favorite sports team in action via new Sirius Game Finder simply by saying a command such as “Tune to Detroit Lions game” Tablet device compatibility Music and other media content from most popular tablet computers like the Apple iPad can now be accessed through a simple USB connection Audible.com audiobook support Listen to Audible.com content using voice commands or the easy-to-use touch-screen controls Connected navigation powered by TeleNav features new map data by NAVTEQ Updated map views are richer and feature more 3D landmarks views of freeway junctions and signs are enhanced through photorealistic screen images Smart routing options are provided based on a database of historical traffic patterns Phone compatibility Automatic Bluetooth® connection upon vehicle entry has been improved Noise and echo cancellation during phone calls has been improved to enhance call quality Gracenote® album cover art database inclusion of the latest music metadata available enhancing the music playback experience Improved voice recognition for music search allowing drivers to pinpoint artists with hard-to-pronounce names or nicknames View full article

Subaru is going to have a big showing for the Toyko Motor Show at the end of the month. Alongside the new BRZ Coupe, Subaru will be showing off the Advanced Tourer Concept. The Advance Tourer Concept is an evolution of the 2009 Hybrid Tourer Concept shown at Tokyo. The concept is 180.3 In long, 72.4 In wide, and 56.3 In tall which puts the concept between the new Impreza and Legacy. Powering the Avance Touer is a 1.6L turbocharged flat-four gasoline engine with direct-injection and a electric motor with a lithium-ion battery pack. A Lineartronic CVT transmission sends the power to the four wheels. Subaru says the car can travel on EV power alone at start-up and low-speed. Inside, the Advance Tourer has seating for four, a large glass roof that extends to the rear liftgate, and a a large monitor built into the steering wheel that displays maps and internet services. Press Release is on Page 2 Exhibition Outline of the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show 2011 Tokyo, November 7, 2011 - Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, announced its presentation at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show 2011. It will focus on “Enjoyment and Peace of Mind” which is the core value provided to the customers through the Subaru automobile experience, the foundation being Subaru’s global brand statement “Confidence in Motion”. “Confidence in Motion” is materialized in the concept car “SUBARU ADVANCED TOURER CONCEPT” which achieved its main goal to become a “Revolutionary Sports Tourer”. Also showcased will be the “All-New SUBARU IMPREZA” and the “SUBARU BRZ” – the latter a rear-wheel drive sports car currently under joint development with Toyota Motor Corporation carrying the Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine. The exhibition will also feature Subaru’s original and latest technologies. A press briefing by President Yasuyuki Yoshinaga is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. on November 30, 2011 at the Subaru booth. Main Exibits SUBARU ADVANCED TOURER CONCEPT (Concept car) 1. Concept Exquisitely balancing the enjoyment of driving with environmental friendliness, the car, under its product concept of “Revolutionary Sports Tourer”, embodies Subaru’s theme of “Confidence in Motion”. This C-segment class car was developed as a new-generation sports wagon providing both superior driving performance and utility. It features an innovative exterior design not found in conventional wagon models and expert wagon utility Subaru has cultivated over the years. The well established sports power unit, the Horizontally Opposed Subaru Boxer engine, is now with direct fuel injection. This highlight mixed with Subaru’s downsizing concept and original Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) expertise has enabled Subaru to make considerate progress on its unique Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) technology. An even sportier drivability and advanced environmental friendliness are both attainable in this new concept car. 2. Design and Packaging Exterior Design Subaru’s brand statement “Confidence in Motion” is portrayed in the outward design as well. The dynamic yet sleek look promises an enthusiastic drive, while the cabin offers all the usability of a C-segment wagon. A flowing line on the side surfaces augments the stylish design calling to mind a coupe style car. Interior Design In pursuit of Subaru’s human-centered philosophy, all passengers are assured a safe and pleasant ride in a comfortable and quality interior. An entire roof made of glass adds to the spacious feel. Various textures such as wood and metal are incorporated into the inside layout to produce ample ambiance. A large monitor is built into the steering wheel allowing access to maps, television and internet services. Information will be available at hand to support contemporary lifestyles even in the car. 3. Mechanisms Next-Generation Power Unit System - Downsized direct fuel injection turbo engine - The downsized direct fuel injection turbo engine is one of the principal technologies that will guide Subaru’s engine strategy in the future. Not only is acceleration quick and smooth with the new-generation Horizontally-Opposed engine, it is environmentally friendly. The direct fuel injection system which injects necessary amounts of fuel into the cylinders at appropriate moments, and a turbo system which efficiently supplies large amounts of air into the cylinders, along with the downsizing of current turbo engine displacements (2,500cc and 2,000cc) to 1,600cc drastically improve combustion efficiency at practical driving-speed range compared to the existing turbo engine. - High torque compatible Lineartronic (CVT) - Lineartronic is Subaru’s continuously variable transmission device designed for the new era. It is the world’s first longitudinally-mounted chain drive CVT to be utilized in mass-produced AWD passenger cars. For the concept car, the Lineartronic was refined to satisfy the high-power output turbo engine. - Hybrid system - Subaru’s original hybrid system has been developed to harmonize with the Symmetrical AWD technology, another one of its specialties, and to further enhance its appeal. A single motor system was employed for its simple structure and light weight. This system has an Electric Vehicle (EV) mode which allows AWD motion using only the motor at start-ups and low-speed drives. When decelerating, the regenerating mechanism uses the motor as a power generator. - EyeSight - Subaru’s advanced driving assist system EyeSight (Version 2), well received since its release in May 2010, has made further progress. The recognition range of the stereo camera has expanded considerably, both in width and depth. Major Specifications Length x Width x Height: 4,580 x 1,840 x 1,430mm Engine type: 1.6 liter Horizontally-Opposed direct fuel injection turbo engine Transmission type: High torque compatible Lineartronic Drive train: Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with hybrid system Battery type: Lithium-ion battery View full article