Thursday, January 31, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Going greener: Subaru hybrid to debut at New York Auto Show
A hybrid will help Subaru compete with its main rivals in Japan and the United States, while giving buyers a new and different green choice.
Subaru has long been associated with Birkenstock-wearing hippies, so it’s only natural that the Japanese carmaker is working on a hybrid. A Subaru official told the Detroit Bureau that the hybrid will debut soon, possibly at the New York Auto Show in March.
Kenichi Yamamoto, director of product management and coordination for Subaru of America, told the Detroit Bureau that parent company Fuji Heavy Industries feels Subaru needs a hybrid to compete in both its home market, where hybrid sales are on the rise, and the United States.
In the U.S., many Subarus qualify as partial zero emission vehicles (PZEV), thanks to the small four-cylinder boxer engines offered in most models, and continuously variable transmissions. However, with most mainstream carmakers offering both conventional and hybrid powertrains in their bestsellers, it’s easy to see why Subaru wants a hybrid of its own.
What will that hybrid look like, though? Subaru gave the world a clue back in 2011 at the Tokyo Motor Show. The Advanced Tourer concept featured a hybrid powertrain, consisting of a 1.6-liter direct-injected boxer engine, a single electric motor, and a lithium-ion battery pack.
A boxer engine will almost certainly provide the petrol power for a production Subaru hybrid. Whether it is the Advanced Tourer’s 1.6 or a bigger version from the Impreza, Legacy/Outback, or Forester remains to be seen.
Which Subaru will get the hybrid powertrain? Fuji Heavy Industries isn’t saying, but the Advanced Tourer was billed as a C-segment car, putting it in roughly the same size category as the Impreza and Forester.
The Advanced Tourer’s hybrid system was designed to work with Subaru’s trademark “Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive,” and it seems likely that the production hybrid will also have all-wheel drive.
That could be one of the Subaru’s biggest selling points. There are only a handful of all-wheel drive hybrids available, and they’re all SUVs.
We’ll get the full scoop on Subaru’s hybrid in late March, when the New York Auto Show opens.
Source: Digital Trends
Monday, January 28, 2013
Top 11 Important Car Seat Safety Tips for Toddlers
I say with fair confidence that the majority, if not all of us, reading this blog post use car seats for our toddlers. According to carseatsafety.org, “Kids should be in a carseat or booster until they can be seated properly in a seat belt. For most kids, this is around 8-12 years old or 4′ 9″ tall, but proper seatbelt fit is the most important factor.”
So we all use car seats to keep our kiddos protected in the event of a crash, but it’s important to be sure that you are using the car seat correctly. I gathered information from my own experience, but mostly from Car-Safety.org and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They’re the experts!
Car crashes are the number one killer of children 1 to 12 years old in the United States. The best way to protect them in the car is to put them in the right seat, at the right time, and use it the right way. – National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
A confession: For months, well on into Harrison’s second year of life, I thought I was strapping him in correctly. But then with the help of a few friends, I learned that I wasn’t. His chest strap was too low, he had extras in the car seat, etc. Which meant that Harrison wasn’t as safe as he could be. I’m not a helicopter parent and I’m not a fear-mongerer, but I do believe strongly in following basic, easy safety guidelines when it comes to my kid staying alive. So I’d like to be that friend for you and give you tips to help make sure you are using the right seat, the right position, and the right technique for strapping down your most precious cargo:
Rear-facing helps spread the impact of a crash throughout the chest and body, rather than taking it all in the neck and head, which is better for immature spines and large heads (like tots!). It used to be a rule that you could turn your child forward at 20 lbs or 1 years old, but now The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children be kept in rear-facing seats for at least 2 years (preferably until they outgrow the car seats rear-facing capabilities).
No coats! No coats! No coats!
Look, I know it's cold in the winter, especially for you up North. But it is not safe to buckle the car seat over the coat. Options? Put the coat on backwards over the straps. Use a blanket. Preheat the car.
It should not shake more than 1 inch each way
To be sure your seat is in correctly and tightly latched to the car, the seat should not move more than one inch in each direction. If it can, then tighten the tethers.
Know your strap slot height
Rear-facing: Straps below or at shoulder level. Forward-facing: Straps above or at shoulder level. Tip: Buy a carseat that is easy to adjust the straps so that you don't find excuses not to make adjustments as the kid grows.
The chest clip should be at armpit level
If it's down by the belly, it's wrong.
If it's been in a crash, throw it away
If your seat is in a crash, then destroy it immediately and contact your insurance company; your plan should cover the cost of the new seat. This is an excellent argument for not buying used unless you know with 100% certainty that the seat was never, ever in a crash or even a fender bender. (and in MANY states and provinces, it's become illegal to sell or purchase a used car seat. BE SURE you check with your local laws.)
The straps should be snug
Sometimes Harry complains that his are "too tight!" but I just say, "Sorry, bud." The straps should be snug enough that you cannot pinch any strap between your fingers.
Check the expiration date.
Did you know that ALL car seats expire? The protections wear down with age in the heat of a car. Check the expiration date on your seat and toss it out if it's over.
Use the belt or LATCH system, but not both
This is one time where doubling up does not equal better protection. Which system works best depends on your car, seat position, etc. Also, be sure to use the top tether when forward-facing.
Don't add any extras
No extra pillows or toys attached to the seat. For example, a neck pillow bought separate from the car seat can become lodged in a position where the car seat cannot function properly to protect the child's neck and spine.
Have it inspected
Most local hospitals and fire stations have car seat inspectors on site. Call ahead to make an appointment.
Source: Babble
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
2014 Subaru Forester to Get STARLINK and Other Driver Assistance Goodies
Subaru says the all-wheel drive 2014 Forester will be priced below its two-wheel drive competition, and it will bring the marque’s Subaru Eyesight driver assistance program and STARLINK cabin tech along for the ride.
According to a press release from Subaru, the Forester will be available with a veritable boatload of tech features, including hill descent control on CVT models, rearview camera, color multi-function display, navigation system with smartphone integration, and a 440-watt harmon/kardon sound system.
Subaru Eyesight debuted on the 2013 Legacy and Outback models and features several systems that work together to make the car safer, including adaptive cruise control, automatic pre-collision braking, and vehicle lane departure warning. The system processes stereo images of the vehicle’s surroundings, including cars and other objects ahead. Below 19 mph, the car is able to recognize pedestrians and automatically apply the brakes in the event a pedestrian is about to be pancaked by the Forester. Adaptive cruise control, meanwhile, can be used up to 87 mph and as slow as 1 mph– perhaps for parade duty?
The Forester will be the first model to get Subaru’s STARLINK system. Revealed for the first time at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Subaru says the system represents the automaker’s new infotainment strategy, featuring internet radio, podcast, and digital music content streaming abilities as well as hotel and restaurant recommendations, Facebook connectivity, and more. Though still a young system, Subaru promises the services and connectivity offered by STARLINK will continue to grow in the future.
More information about both STARLINK and Subaru Eyesight are available here.
Subaru says the 2014 Forester will start at $21,995 for a base 2.5i with a six-speed manual transmission. A fully loaded Forester with the Eyesight system (which comes bundled with keyless entry/ignition and HID headlights) will set you back roughly $35,500.
Article courtesy of Technology Tell
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Subaru and Nordica Kickoff Snowsports Season with the XV Crosstrek Run
Subaru of America, Inc. and Nordica USA will team up to kickoff snowsports season with the XV Crosstrek Run. Two talented free skiers will journey from coast-to-coast hitting major mountain resorts and events along the way, while piloting the all-new Subaru 2013 XV Crosstrek. Digital content will give fans a look into the free skiers lives, their slope side skills, and the versatility and capability of the XV Crosstrek.
Fans can follow the journey on Subaru & Nordica social channels. Bloggers and journalists can cover the XV Crosstrek Run. The media site features the schedule of XV Crosstrek Run stops, background on the free skiers and photos/videos which can be easily embedded into any blog or website.
"The XV Crosstrek Run is a great collaborative effort and comes at the perfect time as we are celebrating our 10th anniversary of the Subaru-Nordica Service Team," states Tim Tagye, promotions and sponsorship manager, Subaru of America, Inc. "Through the eyes of social media, we are able to capture how our relationship with Nordica and their loyal fans has grown over the past decade, and how the go-anywhere capability of the XV Crosstrek is an excellent fit for the skiing enthusiast."
Luke aka 'Lupe' Hagearty and Liam McKinley will set out on a journey hitting ski slopes and events throughout the United States. Twenty year old Luke Hagearty will be the featured skier throughout the XV Crosstrek Run. Luke is no stranger to Subaru, as his everyday driver is a 2002 Subaru Forester. Filming Luke's incredible runs will be twenty-one year old Liam McKinley. The two free skiers were handpicked by Nordica as participants.
Over the past 10 years, Subaru and Nordica have partnered together bringing common philosophies to adventure enthusiasts. Subaru and Nordica formed the Subaru-Nordica Service Team (SNST); technical reps that travel the country visiting hundreds of ski-related consumer facing events in Subaru Outback models. The Subaru-Nordica Service Team is able to master snowy conditions on and off the hill thanks to Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive technology and Nordica's technology and unparalleled skiing history.
"Subaru and Nordica have worked together for a decade to help build their brands and grow consumer awareness of the incredible products each offers," said Andy Hare, director of product and promotions, Nordica USA. "When Subaru announced the unveiling of the all-new XV Crosstrek and explained the target audience, it was instantly clear we could help because it is one that we have been targeting for a few years now."
Students from Champlain College in Burlington, VT will receive footage from the free skiers and package them into short videos. These will then be sent to Subaru & Nordica for distribution on their social channels. Champlain College is a private, coeducational college located in Burlington, Vermont with enrollment of just over 3,000 students.
"A major component of our Champlain College curriculum has always been for our students to apply their classroom knowledge to real-life work experience within their major fields," said Tom Myers, associate professor international business and management, Champlain College. "Nordica came to me last February with their new marketing vision for the younger generation. Naturally, we assembled the most talented students-skiers we could find in international business, marketing, graphic design, and digital film to help drive this initiative."
Source: Subaru
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Subaru Legacy named one of the safest cars of 2013
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has revealed its annual list of Top Safety Picks, an award that highlights automobiles it says offer "superior crash protection." A new and still more significant award, the Top Safety Pick+ honor, is given to those vehicles that earn good ratings for occupant protection in four out of five areas of measure. And while some 117 vehicles were given the TSP seal of approval for 2013, just 13 passed muster for TSP+.
To be fair, IIHS only evaluated 29 vehicles with its new testing procedures for TSP+ (we'd expect that the number of qualified cars will rise substantially for 2014). Luxury and Near Luxury midsize cars were the first groups evaluated, followed by midsizers in the Moderately Priced Cars category – unsurprisingly, it's only midsize cars that you'll find among the class this year.Only two luxury sedans made the list of 13 for 2013: the Acura TL and Volvo S60. The other 11 cars on the list included entries from domestic, Japanese and German car makers: Dodge Avenger, Chrysler 200, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord (sedan and coupe), Kia Optima (but not its close kin, the Hyundai Sonata, strangely), Nissan Altima, Subaru Legacy and Outback, Suzuki Kizashi and the Volkswagen Passat all made the grade.Courtesy of Autoblog.com
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