Volvo Cars new booster seat helps protect children who have outgrown their toddler seat. In combination with an extended Inflatable Curtain and new, stronger side body structure, and load limiting seat belts this world’s first two-step integrated booster cushion recently received international acknowledgement as a unique engineering solution to give children a safe and comfortable travel experience.

At this year’s World Traffic Safety Symposium a panel of judges from Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Automobile Association of America Foundation for Traffic Safety, National Road Safety Foundation, and New York Police Department Traffic Safety Division awarded Volvo received first prize in the Automotive Manufacturer category for this innovative safety feature. The award stands among three other safety acknowledgements: Public Service, Media Activity and Aftermarket Product Design. “Our goal is to help protect occupants. This award acknowledges our efforts to help protect our smallest passengers, our children,” commented Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor, Volvo Car Corporation, Sweden. “This new seat, in conjunction with our refinements in side body structure and the inflatable curtain will have a significant reduction in child injuries.”

Safety Potential Prediction
Seat belt positioning for children of different heights is important for better placement and protection. Several studies have shown that proper positioning with the use of a booster cushion helps reduce abdominal injuries caused by the child slipping under the seat belt. Field data in several studies supports these findings and emphasizes the importance of booster seats, and that the booster be designed to hold the belt firmly across the pelvis or thighs during a frontal impact. The overall effectiveness (Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale) of booster seats is estimated as 31 percent as compared to using only a seat belt and as high as 75 percent as compared to no restraint at all. Getting all children of appropriate age and size to use booster cushion offers a potentially significant safety benefit.

Booster Cushion Usage
For children using a booster cushion different types of misuse varies depending on which study is analyzed, but the share is significant. According to a study carried out by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, 2004), 39.5 percent of the 664 children inspected in belt-positioning booster cushion were considered as critical misuse. The most common occurring misuse was improper fitment of the shoulder belt followed by loose belt, improper fit of the lap belt and inappropriate age/fit. In Germany, the misuse rate was reported to be 46.8 percent. A Spanish study identified that nearly 50 percent of the children aged 6 to 12 restrained with a child restraint had some type of misuse, the most common being the seat belt placed behind the child.

Children’s Attitudes Toward Booster Cushion
A questionnaire-based study[1] on 4 to 11 year old Australian children reported that one of the reasons for moving the child from a booster to the adult seat belt only (69 percent) was primarily that the child was too big for the booster. Another major reason was the child disliked sitting in a booster and would be more comfortable using only the seat belt and, not surprisingly, the child thought they were too ‘grown-up’ for a booster cushion. The study concluded that the design of booster cushions should have the capacity to seat larger children as well as being more appealing to children. By offering the integrated two-stage booster cushions, Volvo believes the level of acceptance will increase among this age group.

Combined Safety System
“We took into account the child’s physical size and weight, seat belt misuse, child physiology, along with redesigning our vehicle side body structure and side impact inflatable curtain to come up with this new integrated two-step booster seat,” noted Broberg. “There will be better fitment of our three-point seat belt, a wider age and weight range, and better attitude for the child who can now easily see outside with the added benefit of reducing driver distraction. Hopefully we will hear less often: ‘Are we there yet?’”

Vehicle Option
This new child safety feature will be available this fall in the all-new 2008 XC70 crossover wagon, followed in February 2008 in the all-new 2008 V70. The single option includes two rear-seat mounted integrated booster seats and two pyrotechnically pretensioned seat belts with new load limiters to accommodate children using this booster cushion and normally positioned adults. Both seats fold flat to expand the cargo compartment and are indistinguishable from rear seats without this option.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the modern-day taxi in New York City, the all-new Kia Rondo crossover is among the vehicles to be reinvented into an iconic yellow cab, as part of Taxi ‘07, a project of the Design Trust for Public Space. This new collaborative process is intended to engage design professionals in fundamental civic planning.

Automakers were challenged to incorporate practical solutions into their taxi prototypes, addressing areas such as partitions that incorporate passenger services, roof lights with improved legibility, integrated child safety seats, wheelchair accessibility and fuel efficiency.

The all-new Kia Rondo, which offers innovative design, packaging and driving dynamics, provides both drivers and passengers with a spacious, comfortable and safe ride while occupying a small footprint - an ideal combination for New York City streets. Not only is Rondo’s footprint smaller than the Ford Crown Victoria, NYC’s leading taxi, it is also more fuel-efficient.

Kia Motors America (KMA) collaborated with a consortium of NYC-based design firms led by Smart Design to build two Rondo taxi prototypes. Both vehicles were built to be safer, more accessible and more efficient than a conventional cab. The design solutions developed by Smart Design, along with Antenna Design and Birsel + Seck, have greatly improved the user experience for both the passengers and driver. Antenna Design worked to create a more legible taxi roof light, which quickly communicates the cab’s availability status in a variety of lighting situations. Smart Design with Birsel + Seck designed an interior space that keeps the driver’s belongings organized and accessible, and installed an L-shaped partition to protect the driver while creating a more open social environment for the passengers. A Bruno motorized front passenger seat for those with limited mobility as well as an integrated, fold-down child seat were added for extra passenger accessibility, comfort and safety.

EXTERIOR MODIFICATIONS
• DuPont Yellow exterior paint
• Taxi roof light with enhanced vehicle information
• Updated NYC taxicab graphics
• Safety “check” mirrors fitted to eye-level rear door leading edges
• Panoramic skylight

INTERIOR MODIFICATIONS
• Durable, eco-friendly waterproof UltraLeather seat material
• BoltaSoft waterproof vinyl floor surfaces-shaped driver clear plastic partition
• Modified center console with space organizers
• Second row integrated child safety seat
• Accented visual cues to help passengers find critical touchpoints
• Taximeter
• On-board computer with full-featured rear seat passenger information monitor with touchscreen displays
• Sirius Satellite Radio real-time traffic information delivery

Just three years ago, 70 percent of new Ford Motor Company vehicles sold in the U.S. were trucks and traditional SUVs. The rest were cars. Now, the split is nearly 50-50 as Ford rides a major consumer shift to crossover vehicles (CUVs), along with the popularity of its midsize cars.

“(Crossovers are) one of the biggest and fast growing segments in the market,” said John Casesa, managing partner, Casesa Shapiro Group. “There is an offensive reason to be (in that segment) because of the growth, but there’s also a defensive reason. If you don’t have competitive crossovers, you are going to take a lot of market share risk.”

Crossovers, largely built on car-based architectures, offer much the same utility as truck-based SUVs, but generally are more fuel efficient. CUVs have grown from 500,000 in 2000, to 2.4 million in 2006, surpassing both full-size pickups and SUVs in annual sales. And the number of CUV models has nearly tripled during the same period.

Ford predicts CUV sales to reach at least 3 million units a year by the end of the decade, challenging small cars as the industry’s largest segment.

To that end, strong sales of the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers, as well as the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ midsize cars, are critical to bolstering Ford’s U.S. retail share, which lost one point in each of the last six years. So far, the new products are delivering.

“Since June of last year, the company’s retail share has remained at a fairly constant level — around 13 percent,” said Cisco Codina, group vice president, Ford North America Marketing, Sales and Service. “One of our objectives for 2007 is to stabilize share. We are on track to do that.”

The new Edge crossover, after only three months on the market, is outperforming the Fusion, which has grown sales each month since its introduction and received numerous accolades. In fact, sales levels and transaction prices of the Edge are comparable to — and in some cases better than — those of established competitors with well-deserved reputations, says George Pipas, manager of Ford’s U.S. Sales Analysis.

Edge’s conquest rate, its effectiveness at capturing competitors’ customers, is 41 percent, a figure Codina calls “very high.” Meanwhile, Lincoln’s MKX is outselling the Acura RDX and both Infinity FX models.

Altogether, first quarter sales of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury crossovers climbed 29 percent, the largest increase of any major automaker in the nation’s fastest-growing segment.

With Edge, MKX, a new Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner, the new Taurus X coming later this year and the new Ford Flex scheduled to hit dealerships in the summer of 2008, the company will have six crossover vehicles among its Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands.

Casesa calls the new Edge and Lincoln MKX “very competitive crossovers.” And he is very optimistic about the Flex.

“I think the Flex will be an extremely effective entry and probably with greater market potential than Edge because of the spacious interior packaging and the third-row seat,” explained Casesa.

Consumer demand for the Fusion, Milan and MKZ continues to grow in their second full year of production. Fusion sales were up 33 percent through the first quarter of 2007, while Milan sales climbed 34 percent. MKZ also experienced a sales increase. Fusion’s conquest rate has been running in the mid-40 percent range. Furthermore, Fusion and Milan both posted best-ever sales months in March.

“Often, when you see a new product get off to a good start in its first year, it begins to sputter in the second year,” said Pipas. “Fusion, Milan and Zephyr are in their second year, and we still haven’t found their ceilings.”

Ford’s car lineup with be further strengthened this year when the new Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable debut this summer and the redesigned Ford Focus hits the market this fall.

“This is the best product lineup I’ve had to work with in years. We still have challenges, but we’re seeing light at the end of the tunnel,” said Codina. “We’re introducing new products that consumers are excited to buy.”

As the weather gradually warms up, it’s the perfect time of year to take a trip. Whether you’re going to the beach, or to a baseball game, you no longer have to worry about fumbling with your map, or having the wrong directions.

A new partnership between Mapquest and OnStar is making it possible to download driving directions directly into your car. All you have to do is log onto www.mapquest.com, and hit the “Send to OnStar” link after typing in your destination. It will then send the directions to your car, eliminating the need to print out the directions. OnStar’s Turn-by-Turn Navigation will then get you to your destination with GPS guided voice prompts. Another innovative feature of this system is that it can save up to five destinations at a time, all of which can be ready to be retrieved from your car whenever you want.

Once in your car, all you have to do is press the white OnStar button and say “virtual advisor” and then select one of the five destinations. If you stop by along the way at a friend’s house or a gas station, the system automatically recalculates and resumes where it left off.

After recently announcing its vehicle manufacturer sponsorship of the 2007 SEMA Show, Toyota says it will also use the show to debut two new Toyota brand vehicles, according to a story in the Detroit Free Press.

The announcement underscores the importance of the specialty-equipment market and enthusiast with the automaker.

“Frankly, how we judge our success at Scion and Tundra will not be how many vehicles we customize but how many vehicles are on the floor at SEMA in other peoples’ displays,” says Jim Farley, group vice president, marketing for Toyota Motor Sales.

In addition to the dual world premieres, Toyota will also feature its Lexus brand at the SEMA Show for the first time.

“The SEMA Show has been instrumental to the growth of the aftermarket business and the ever-expanding partnerships between automakers and aftermarket suppliers,” Farley adds. “SEMA is very important to Toyota and has become one of the key annual automotive events for us.”

Farley previously led Toyota’s Scion brand and is trying to bring that brand’s customization spirit to the Tundra. Through Scion, Toyota learned that customers want to customize their car at the dealership, but aren’t always aware that it’s possible.

So far, Toyota has roughly doubled the number of direct aftermarket parts it offers for the Tundra to 45. It hopes to increase that number by partnering with more aftermarket suppliers.

At the Shanghai Motor Show (20 - 28 April 2007) Audi presented a study that defines a new segment in the field of crossover vehicles. The Audi Cross Coup quattro combines the design and dynamism of a compact premium sports car with the spaciousness and versatility of a four-seat sport utility vehicle (SUV). Innovative technical solutions show new ways of achieving efficiency, driving pleasure and comfort in a manner that is typical of Audi. The Audi Cross Coup quattr a car whose visual appearance clearly tells you what it is capable of and whose engineering matches this standard - on all roads, under all conditions.

The silhouette is typical Audi; the design of the study, painted in Liquid Silver, is highly reminiscent of the sporty models produced by the Ingolstadt brand. The proportions and the large 20″ wheels point clearly towards the offroad potential of the Cross Coup quattro. A new element is the fabric folding roof, which, when it is open, gives optimum levels of headroom and fresh air. The hood is opened and closed electrically.

The transversely installed four-cylinder inline TDI engine with common-rail fuel injection and piezo injectors is a completely new development. With power output of 204 bhp and 295 ft.-lbs. of torque, it gives the vehicle a sporty performance and a surprising degree of efficiency. On average the ultra-modern 2.0 TDI needs just 5.9 litres of diesel per 100 km. The diesel particulate filter and Bluetec system reduce soot and nitric oxide emissions effectively. Even today, the Audi Cross Coup quattro satisfies the emissions standards of the future.

The quattro permanent four-wheel drive system is a matter of course on an Audi with offroad potential. A Haldex clutch ensures that traction is precisely distributed according to the situation. The sporty Audi S tronic dual-clutch gearbox executes gearshifts in a matter of milliseconds.

The running gear, featuring a McPherson-strut front axle and a four-link rear axle is perfect for sporty and agile handling that retains a high degree of stability and makes cornering distinctly fun. As an additional quality, the driving comfort of the running gear impresses on all types of road and in rough terrain, meeting even the standards expected of a vehicle in a higher class. Ceramic brake discs promise excellent, non-fading deceleration. 20″ wheels give the Cross Coup quattro the ground clearance required.

Numerous electronic systems support the driver. The Audi drive select system makes it possible to preselect three highly individual configurations for the engine, gearbox, steering and adaptive shock absorbers. The result: a car that can be enjoyed in three completely different ways.

Besides the standard “dynamic” drive select mode and the “sport” setting, the Audi Cross Coup also has the “efficiency” driving program. Here, the engine map and the shift points are modified to support a particularly economical driving style. In addition, the system deactivates components that are particularly energy-hungry, for example the air-conditioning compressor.

Another innovation is the MMI control panel, which is operated by a touch pad. The monitor of the system employs, for the first time, dual-view technology. The system can produce different images for the driver and front-seat passenger. These images are only visible when viewed from a specific angle. This allows the driver to read data from the on-board computer while the front passenger watches a TV programme, listening to the sound through headphones.

The sound system with the prominent extending tweeters sets a new infotainment standard in the class. The ambient lighting with numerous light sources gives the interior a stylish ambience, even at night.

Dodge officially enters China with a bold and powerful statement at Auto Shanghai 2007 as it premieres the first two products for the brand: the locally produced Dodge Caravan and imported Dodge Caliber.

These two Dodge vehicles, in addition to the other Dodge products on display at the Shanghai show, clearly underline the scope and potential of the Dodge brand.

Each of these vehicles delivers the four key attributes of the Dodge brand: bold, powerful, capable and street smart … and together they stress the exciting present and future of the brand as it continues to expand into the global automotive market.

“We have a clear and assertive brand identity for Dodge,” said Thomas Hausch, Executive Director - International Sales and Marketing, Chrysler Group. “We established a strong and distinct character for our new Dodge products and now expand the brand into China, one of the most promising automotive markets in the world. As we begin to define the brand through its products at Auto Shanghai 2007, we can clearly illustrate the breadth, potential and excitement that the brand offers.”

Dodge Caravan
The new Dodge Caravan precisely interprets the mission of Chrysler Group to make the best-selling minivan in the marketplace the best looking, while staying true to the minivan formula of a right-size vehicle designed from the inside out.

The 1984 introduction of the modern minivan by the Chrysler Group changed the way people thought about family and business transportation. Designed with a formula that has proven to be successful for 23 years, the new Dodge Caravan for the Chinese market continues to embrace the original minivan formula with modern enhancements.

The Dodge Caravan stays true to the original design theme, striving for more comfort and convenience. With easy entry and exit; chair-height seating; a low, flat floor; flexible seating options with the Stow `n Go^TM seating and storage system; and multiple safety and convenience features, the Dodge Caravan has matured into a pleasant, comfortable and useful vehicle.

The Dodge Caravan is instantly recognizable as a Dodge by its bold styling and distinctive crosshair grille that has become the “face” of Dodge.

The Caravan is the first Dodge vehicle to be built in China, and will be produced at Southeast Motor (SEM), a Chinese auto manufacturer based in Fuzhou, in the Fujian province of southeast China, under a license agreement reached between Chrysler Group and SEM. The Caravan will begin sales in China toward the end of 2007.

“The decision to build the Dodge Caravan in China for the local market is key to being competitive in a country where significant growth opportunities are anticipated for years to come. Our leadership is committed to the expansion of the Dodge brand outside North America, and partnerships such as this one will help us to ensure the brand’s success,” said Hausch.

Dodge Caliber
With its successful entry into markets around the world, and securing its place as the top-selling Chrysler Group product outside North America this year, the Dodge Caliber now arrives to China. Caliber is a new slant on the C-segment, combining bold styling with high value and utility. The Caliber will appeal to customers who want Dodge attitude packaged with the capability and versatility of a sport-utility type vehicle, plus high fuel efficiency.

Dodge Caliber is a five-door vehicle that combines a sporty coupe-like profile with the strength, stance and functionality of an SUV. Caliber’s sheer surface treatment commands attention and evokes attributes that define the Dodge brand: bold, powerful, capable and street smart. Smart engine options, innovative features and high levels of safety and security round out the appealing package.

The new Dodge Caliber will be available for customers in China starting in the first quarter of 2008.

Dodge Viper SRT10 and Dodge Avenger
Dodge Viper SRT10 is the ultimate American sports car and the icon of the brand. It offers unbelievable power with stunning performance from its 8.3-liter V-10 engine and instantly recognizable looks.

The Dodge Avenger is an all-new, four-door, mid-size segment sedan that combines bold, aggressive Dodge styling with power and performance, fuel efficiency, innovative interior features and high levels of safety and reliability.

Both of these vehicles on display at Auto Shanghai 2007 are further tangible proof of the progress of the Chrysler Group product offensive and the great potential for the Dodge brand in China and other international markets.

Ahoy, raise the main sail, maties! “Somewhere in the World,” Volvo Car Corporation has sunk real-life treasure - a chest filled with $50,000s worth of gold doubloons plus a key to a brand new Volvo XC90 - and will soon be taking would-be pirates on a virtual high seas adventure to find it. Volvo’s online treasure hunt, inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, starts May 4 simultaneously in 22 countries.

Last summer, Volvo embarked on its official partnership with Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise by launching a global online treasure hunt for a buried Volvo XC90 V8. The hunt, like the movie, was a huge success and drew more than 100,000 participants from around the world. This year, with more countries participating and even more booty at stake, Volvo’s hunt promises to be bigger and better, with more than 6,000 treasure hunters already pre-registered.

“We had such a great response to the hunt last year that we really did feel the pressure to come up with something equally cool and attention grabbing this year,” said Linda Gangeri, national advertising manager for Volvo Cars of North America. “So, yes, we really did sink a treasure chest to the ocean floor filled with gold and the key to a new Volvo. It’s sitting there right now just waiting to be found.”

Volvo will release more details about the hunt May 3. All pirates, swashbucklers and scallywags are invited to register now at http://volvocars.us/thehuntsignup.html.