Would you drive an electric vehicle that delivered 200 mpg fuel efficiency? How about if it cost you just $16,000? And what if you could fold it in half to park it in a more compact parking space? Or drive it sideways to squeeze into tight corners?

Those are all features of the Hiriko, which means “urban car” in Basque. The team that invented the vehicle at MIT call it CityCar.

CityCar is designed for driving in urban environments, which is why its top speed is only about 20 mph – and that could account, in part at least, for the great fuel efficiency rating. A total list of features of this sleek new vehicle that looks like something from beyond The Jetsons include:

• Seats only two passengers
• All electric, which means it is pro-environment
• It folds into a five foot windowed box making parking a whole lot easier
• No drive train; instead, four electric motors mount on each wheel
• The wheels connect to each corner of the chassis allowing for side maneuvers and turning in place
• No side doors; passengers enter from the front of the vehicle
• Driver controls are flexible enough to swing left and right for passenger accessibility
• Top speed = 20 mph

If some of these features seem impractical, consider that the vehicle is designed for urban driving, not highway road trips. You will still need your family sedan or SUV for long trips and highway driving, but if you work downtown and don’t want to use your city’s public transportation, the CityCar could be an affordable alternative.

Automotive technology is getting a lot more sophisticated. And I’m talking about more than just controlling your car with your iPhone.

I’m talking about your car actually reading your mind.

The manufacturer that is planning to blow your mind with this ability is Nissan. The company is partnering with École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland (EPFL) to develop a car that will, in a sense, know what you are thinking and help you executive your maneuver safely.

The explanation gets a little tricky. The technology is called brain-computer interface (BCI) technology.

Let’s say you want to make a lane change, but there is a vehicle in your blind spot. If you turn the wheel to make your lane change, then your vehicle will refuse the move seeing the car that is there and knowing the move you want to make is dangerous. That’s one way the BCI technology will work in drivers’ favor.

Another way this technology could work in your favor is on turns or entering the flow of traffic. Let’s say you want to enter a busy freeway. If the speed limit is 55 mph but it happens to be rush hour and traffic is moving at 30 mph, then the vehicle will adjust its speed and enter at the appropriate angle for entering the freeway.

This is incredible technology and Nissan is the first major auto manufacturer to move in this direction. But rolling out a vehicle that actually performs these smart tasks still may be a few years away.

What kind of vehicles do Generation Y auto buyers want? According to the LA Times, they want hybrid vehicles packed with technology.

Generation Y is the name given to people age 18 to 31. These younger consumers have a distinction that older automobile buyers don’t have. First, they are more environmentally conscious so they are concerned with how their driving habits affect the environment. They are more likely to be concerned with limiting their carbon footprint.

The second thing Gen Y auto buyers are concerned about is high technology. They want their automobiles to be as smart as their mobile phones.

While this presents a unique challenge to auto makers, it’s not a huge challenge. Recent technology makes both of these buying habits easier to market to.

Of course, one of the big innovators in both hybrid technology and smart in-dash technologies is the Ford Motor Co.

The Ford Fusion is a late model hybrid due to be rolled out later this year. Ford is hoping that Gen Y buyers will like it enough to take it for a test drive.

Some of the high tech in-dash toys Generation Y auto buyers like to play with include touch screens and smartphone apps. And Gen Y buyers also want to be able to buy upgrades for their auto technologies the same way they want to upgrade their smartphones.

If you fall into the Generation Y category and you are looking for a vehicle that meets your specifications, stay tuned. Auto makers are working fast to meet these demands.

Blame it all on Ford. The automaker was the first to make use of the cloud for major in-car technology and the market bought it. Since then, every major automobile manufacturer has been innovating and experimenting, looking for new ways to take the latest technology to the next level with in-car in-dash power. And many of them are succeeding.

From Ford’s Sync system to Mercedes-Benz’s mbrace system, automakers are whipping up some techno-steam. Heck, they’re even talking about having the cars “talk to each other” on the road.

Automakers and others are looking to the day when vehicles talk to each other and to the road, keeping tabs on everything around us and alerting us to threats we aren’t aware of.

In fact, it’s already happening. And even better technology is on the way.

The cloud opens up all kinds of possibilities. Apps, audio technology, GPS navigation, remote control … these are just a few of the innovative technologies we’ve already seen go to market. What will we be seeing 10 years from now? This might be a clue:

Eventually, we’ll see cloud-based apps that work on your car just like they work on your phone. And that’s where things get interesting, because apps could lead us down new roads to greater convenience and safety.

Really? Cloud-based apps that work on your car just like they work on your phone?

Let your imagination run wild because the automakers are doing just that. You can bet that the next five years of automotive technology are going to be very interesting.

Lately in the auto industry, there’s been a lot of talk about TrueCar.com. TrueCar founder, Scott Painter, wrote a letter to the auto dealer community presenting a valid case for the benefits of his service. And dealers across the nation have raised important issues about the problems too.

Is there any middle ground?

First, in case you don’t know, TrueCar.com is a third-party service that connects with certain car dealers to offer consumers a chance to lock in a “guaranteed low price” online before they go to that dealer. Dealers pay a certain fee per lead that turns into a purchase.

Based on what people are saying so far, here are the pros and cons of using TrueCar.

Pros

• Consumers can find the lowest price for a new or used car online.
• Gives consumers more confidence to buy by giving them more information.
• Cost to the dealer is based on the purchase not just a lead.
• One in every three introductions to the dealer buys a car (per Scott Painter). (See TrueCar.com Stirs Industry Debate.)

Cons

• Low price of the car cuts into dealer profits, sometimes severely so.
• Dealers believe consumers are getting too much information, which forces dealers to go lower on price than they would like.
• Privacy of consumers’ data and of dealer pricing data may be an issue. (Disclaimer: TrueCar insists it’s not.)
• Many dealers do not participate with TrueCar so will not honor the pricing consumers see there.

In previous car purchases, I’ve done my research on Edmunds.com (and other sites) and learned about possible rebates, deals and invoice pricing. I felt like that helped me greatly when negotiating with the salesperson, so I am all for having more information. In general, the higher cost a purchase is, the more information the consumer wants—and deserves.

As a consumer, I feel like the car-buying experience has been one of the worst out there. I’ve had salesmen lie to me, highlight cupholders and safety instead of performance (because I’m a woman), and refuse to tell me the price of the car while negotiating in monthly payments instead. (I would’ve bought that Toyota Celica if we could’ve talked total price.)

But I still sympathize with many dealers’ responses. In reading many articles about TrueCar, I found two thoughts consistently returning—(1) Transparency in pricing is long overdue for the auto industry. (2) Dealers have been through a very tough time with the down economy, so I can see why they’re threatened by a service they see as a “drive to the bottom.”

The question is—Is the real bottom line that dealers are afraid of change after enduring all they’ve been through the past several years? I think so.

Consumers want more ways to get fair pricing on cars. The reality is that if dealers are not giving them what they want, they will go to other third-party services for satisfaction. Who’s fault is that? Not TrueCar’s.

Smart phones are incredible. There is virtually no limit to what you can do with them these days. And that includes control your car. That is, use your iPhone as a remote control for your vehicle controls. It’s not just a fantasy any more.

All you need is an app and you can do things like shut off your car alarm, unlock your doors, and start the engine.

Auto app maker Delphi created a remote app for the Sony Reader, which makes use of a Bluetooth link from your iPhone to your key fob. Sounds complicated, doesn’t it?

The combination of technologies allows you to locate your vehicle up to a mile away. You can then get a report on your vehicle’s status. So imagine lying in your bed on a cold winter morning and being able to start your car to warm it up – before you ever get out of bed.

Go ahead and climb out of bed, take a shower, brush your teeth, get dressed, pour a cup of coffee, and head on out to the door to work. Save yourself some time and enter a car that is warm and waiting for your presence.

No, it’s not the Jetsons. It’s your driveway. In 2012.

If this makes you wonder about security, don’t worry. The remote control requires physical possession in order to operate. Don’t lose your iPhone.

Like an ATM machine, your key fob requires a PIN to authenticate ownership. So if your iPhone is programmed with your key fob’s PIN and you maintain possession of both your key fob and your iPhone, security is not an issue. We’re looking forward to improvements in this technology.

Credit: Jivedanson (Flickr)

A recent study conducted by the insurance industry said one in seven drivers in America is uninsured. These uninsured drivers cost insured drivers an estimated $10.8 billion in 2007, though higher insurance premiums and administrative costs. Even though most states have laws requiring drivers to carry insurance, about 13.8% of drivers nationwide still have no insurance coverage.

Mississippi had the highest rate of uninsured motorists, with 28% of drivers driving uninsured. In New Hampshire, the only state without a law mandating insurance coverage, about 11% of drivers are uninsured – a number surprisingly below the national average.

What Is An Uninsured Motorist?

An uninsured driver is someone driving without any form of insurance coverage. These drivers have to pay for an at-fault accident out of their own pocket, something most Americans are ill-prepared to do. Costs for even the smallest of accidents can be thousands of dollars, something most motorists can’t afford. This leaves their victim and their victim’s insurance company to foot the bill. Underinsured motorists also cost insured drivers money. These are drivers who don’t carry enough insurance to cover the cost of an accident. As with uninsured drivers, any damage above the limits of the underinsured driver’s policy is paid by the insured driver and their insurance company.

Insurance companies will try to get their money back from uninsured drivers, but unfortunately, most of those who can’t pay for insurance can’t pay for the accident either. The premium that insured drivers pay their insurance company for uninsured motorist coverage goes towards offsetting this cost.

How Are Uninsured Motorists Costing Me?

The most direct way uninsured motorists are costing you money is though the coverage you pay for on your insurance policy. The premiums you pay go directly towards the expenses incurred by your insurance company as a result of accidents involving uninsured drivers.

In most cases, these premiums are not enough to offset all the costs of uninsured motorists, so insurance companies have to put some of their regular premiums towards paying as well. This raises premiums for all legally insured drivers. Unfortunately, as premiums get higher, fewer people can afford them and decide to go without insurance, increasing the number of uninsured drivers on the road.

Do Uninsured Drivers Cause More Accidents Than Insured Drivers?

Since it’s irresponsible to drive without insurance, it seems likely uninsured drivers would be irresponsible drivers and cause more accidents. In Ohio in 2007, there were 328,742 accidents. Of those 15,155, or about 4.6% involved uninsured motorists. That seems low – 16% of drivers in Ohio are uninsured – but it’s actually not surprising. Many accidents involve a single vehicle and it’s likely many uninsured single-vehicle accidents aren’t reported.

It may be best to look at whether the uninsured motorist was at fault in more of the crashes they were involved in than the insured driver. Of the 15,155 accidents involving uninsured motorists, 11,488 were blamed on the uninsured drivers. Some of these were single vehicle accidents, but nevertheless, uninsured drivers still caused more than half of the crashes in which they were involved.

What Are The Penalties For Uninsured Drivers?

Most states have fines for registering an uninsured vehicle or letting the insurance lapse on a registered vehicle. Most states also have the power to suspend or revoke the license of a driver driving without insurance.

During fiscal year 2008, the state of Virginia received 37,070 fines or $500 each from drivers who were not carrying insurance, a total of just over $18.5 million. This number went up to 39,698 fines and almost $20 million in 2009. Unfortunately, the cost of these enforcement programs is rolled into the fees we pay to register vehicles and acquire and renew drivers licenses at the DMV.

How Can I Protect Myself?

The best way to protect yourself against uninsured drivers is to take out good insurance coverage from a reputable company, with an uninsured motorist clause. The uninsured motorist coverage will pay for vehicle damage and medical expenses if you are hit by an uninsured driver. The coverage isn’t expensive and it can save you a lot of money if you’re hit by an uninsured driver. Sometimes this coverage will cover damage with an unknown culprit, like damage done in a parking lot.

You can also protect yourself and others by making sure no one you know drives without insurance. Not only are they risking their own financial well-being, but they’re also risking the financial well being of anyone they hit.

Miles Walker usually blogs about where to get the best car insurance quote over at CarInsuranceComparison.Org. He recently looked at the best options for Arizona car insurance.

In May this year, Autoconverse reported that eBay Motors has teamed up with the upstart InspectMyRide.com to provide third-party vehicle inspections.

Now, the company is entering into another partnership. Experian Automotive has agreed to provide consumers with AutoCheck® vehicle history report summaries under the InspectMyRide name.

What’s this mean for automobile consumers?

In a nutshell, it means that consumers who make automobile purchases can enjoy convenience by scheduling important reporting and inspection services online through third parties, but even more importantly, it means that customers can get a full view of a vehicle’s value and condition through InspectMyRide.com.

Using its own name, InspectMyRide.com could have an uphill climb with consumers due to its unrecognizable brand name. But because it has partnered with long-standing recognizable brand names like Experian and eBay, there is some built in trust and credibility.

Consumers purchasing pre-owned vehicles can schedule inspections in advance of buying a vehicle and receive a full report online, with photos, detailing the condition of a vehicle she is considering purchasing.

In recent years, auto buyers have been making more and more online purchases. InspectMyRide.com provides a valuable service to dealers who want to be known as respectable pre-owned car sellers and consumers who want to ensure they are not purchasing a lemon. It’s convenient and provides peace of mind to auto consumers.

Kelley Blue Book has announced the most researched vehicles of 2011. To some of us, it won’t come as any surprise.

Honda has four vehicles in the top 20 most researched vehicles of the year and three of those are in the top 5. Both Ford and Toyota have 5 vehicles in the top 20 most researched of the year. Hyundai has 2, Chevrolet has 2, Volkswagen has 1, and Nissan has 1. Everyone else? Nowhere to be seen.

Here are the top 20 most researched vehicles in order, from top to bottom.

1. Honda Civic
2. Honda Accord
3. Toyota Camry
4. Honda CR-V
5. Ford F-150
6. Hyundai Sonata
7. Hyundai Elantra
8. Chevrolet Equinox
9. Toyota Prius
10. Volkswagen Jetta
11. Nissan Altima
12. Toyota Highlander
13. Honda Odyssey
14. Toyota Corolla
15. Ford Fusion
16. Ford Focus
17. Ford Explorer
18. Toyota RAV4
19. Chevrolet Silverado 1500
20. Ford Escape

Winning industry awards is nice, but the true test of a vehicle’s market strength and worth among consumers is how the vehicle is treated by the car buying public. It appears that 2011 has been dominated by three major auto manufacturers: Honda, Ford, and Toyota. On the second rung of the popularity ladder are Hyundai, Chevrolet, Volkswagen, and Nissan.

I don’t know what you make of that, but for us that spells consumer preference toward practical over luxury. Congratulations to Ford and Toyota for having the most vehicles in the most researched category for 2011 and to Honda for having the most vehicles in the top 5. Thanks to Kelley Blue Book for its reporting.

Every year, the auto industry chooses a North American car of the year. They also select a North American truck of the year. The winner is announced in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the U.S. center of automobile manufacturing.

Finalists for the 2012 North American Car Of The Year are the Volkswagen Passat, Ford Focus, and Hyundai Elantra. In the running for 2012 North American Truck Of The Year are Honda CF-V, Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, and BMW X3.

These finalists were narrowed from a wider field of vehicles vying for the North American Car Of The Year title. Those vehicles include:

• Audi A6
• Audi A7
• Buick Verano
• Chevrolet Sonic
• Chrysler 300/SRT-8
• Fiat 500
• Ford Focus
• Hyundai Accent
• Hyundai Elantra
• Hyundai Veloster
• Kia Rio/Rio 5
• Scion iQ
• Subaru Impreza
• Toyota Camry
• Toyota Prius V
• VW Beetle
• VW Passat

And for you truck lovers, the following vehicles were in the running for the North American Truck Of The Year title:

• BMW X3
• Honda CR-V
• Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
• Mercedes-Benz M-Class
• Mini Countryman
• Nissan Quest
• Saab 9-4X

Each of these manufacturers should be proud of their achievements. Even the vehicles that didn’t make it to the finals have something to be proud of. Simply being nominated for the honor is a feather in the cap. Winners are selected by a vote of more than 50 automotive journalists from Canada and the U.S.

Credit: Christopher Cotrell/Flickr

If you are planning on hitting the roads this holiday season, you will not be alone. November and December are the two busiest travel months, with millions of Americans taking to the highways to visit relatives and friends. One of the downsides of this trend is that holiday driving can be far more dangerous than at other times of the year. If you are aware of the top driving dangers over the holiday season, you can remain safe during your Christmas trips – and avoid having to ring in the New Year with an insurance claim.

Drunk Drivers

Although there are drunk drivers on the road at all times of the year, the holiday season brings out an influx of drivers who imbibe then drive. Drunk drivers can create hazardous conditions on the road and cause accidents, some fatal. Beware of drunk drivers by keeping alert and focused on the roads. Drunk drivers often drive drastically above or below the speed limit and may swerve or drift into other lanes. If you spot a drunk driver, alert the police immediately and stay out of their way to avoid getting injured.

Dangerous Roads

In many parts of the country, snow and ice covered roads are the norm around the holiday season. These slick roads can cause your car to spin out and collide with other cars. Check the weather forecast frequently before venturing out in bad weather and avoid unpaved roads. Make sure you have adequate auto insurance coverage that will protect you in case of an accident. Avoid night driving when it may be difficult to see icy roads. Plan your route in advance and map out alternate routes in case your roads are not passable. Leave enough time so that you are not rushing to get to your destination. Inclement weather accounts for over half of fatal traffic accidents around the holidays so take extra precaution to avoid getting into a weather-related accident.

Have your car fully inspected before driving during the holidays to make sure it is in good mechanical order. Check the windshield wipers, tires, headlights and fluids before embarking on a long road trip. Make sure your auto insurance policy is up to date and carry copies of your insurance information with you in the car.

Tired and Distracted Drivers

Tired drivers can be more dangerous than drunk drivers when they are behind the wheel. In the United States alone, over 150,000 fatal accidents are caused by drivers who fall asleep while driving. Many people do not realize how tired they are and how drowsiness impairs their driving. Take frequent breaks when driving and switch drivers if you start to feel fatigued. Avoid driving during night hours when tired drivers are most likely to be on the road.

Distracted drivers who are sending and receiving text messages, interacting with passengers in the car, chatting on the cell phone or engaging in other distractions can cause devastating accidents. These drivers are often in a position where they can not react quickly to traffic changes and can cause serious injury or even death to themselves and others. Keep your eyes open for drivers that seem to be distracted and get out of their way. If you see a driver texting while driving, alert the police.

When driving, use and hands free device if you must make and receive calls. There are also devices that let you broadcast your cell phone calls through the car’s radio so you don’t have to worry about using your cell phone at all while driving. If you must send and read text messages, pull to the side of the road to avoid distracted driving.

Uninsured Drivers

Even though we don’t immediately think of uninsured drivers when we think of holiday dangers, they too pose a great threat to public safety. Statistically speaking, the more drivers are on the road, the more chance that some of them will not be carrying adequate insurance on their vehicles. Uninsured drivers can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your car and to your person. They are especially dangerous during the holiday season when poor weather, increased use of alcohol and heavy traffic can create particularly nasty accidents. Make sure your auto insurance policy protects you from uninsured motorists and the mayhem they can cause.

The holiday season can be a great time of joy, friends and family. It can also be a dangerous time to be a driver. Drunk drivers, reckless drivers and inclement weather make holiday driving especially dangerous. Take precautions to avoid the top driving dangers over the holiday season.

Miles Walker usually blogs about where to get the best car insurance quote over at CarInsuranceComparison.Org. He recently looked at the best options for Wisconsin car insurance.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has reported a decline in U.S. highway deaths for the first time since 1949. This news has some people and organizations encouraged.

The updated traffic fatalities report indicates that traffic deaths in 2010 were the lowest they’ve been with 1.10 deaths per 100 million vehicles on the road. In 2009, that number was 1.15.

In the same year the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the DOT agency that reports on traffic fatalities, started reporting a new category of traffic fatality – Distraction-Affected Crashes. This category measures how many traffic deaths are a result of a distracted driver. Distractions can be anything from cell phone usage to non-driver related distractions.

The Association of Global Automakers attributes the decline in traffic deaths to the auto industry’s focus on safety technology. This safety technology includes items such as Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Control, lane departure warning systems, active front head restraints, and collision mitigation systems.

Of course, technology can play a part in saving lives and making cars safer, but there is no substitute for driver-learned behaviors.

When it comes to safe driving, keep your speed down, don’t text and drive, and refrain from applying make up, shaving, talking on the phone, playing with the radio, or engaging in other risky behavior that takes your mind off of driving and your eyes off of the road.

As the 21st century gets underway, auto industry experts are expecting major improvements to automotive technology. As hybrid and electric vehicle technology takes off and third world markets start to grow, some of these changes could be a big surprise.

Here’s a quick look at what we might expect in the global automotive industry over the next decade.

• Emergency steer assist – Designed to work with your emergency braking system, ESA will “suggest” the proper steering motion for your situation.
• Active force feedback pedal - This technology is designed to alert when to upshift or downshift or assess traffic conditions and discourage acceleration when it could be dangerous.
• AutoLinQ – Continental is introducing an Android-based dashboard app that will read your e-mail and RSS feeds aloud for you.
• Intelligent tire system/Fill Assist – Better and lighter than current tire pressure monitoring systems, this one is mounted on your inner tire tread.
• Custom LCD displays – This dashboard system will allow you to switch between Eco Mode, Sport Mode, and Comfort Mode, showing the dashboard metrics that are important to you based on how you are driving at the time.

We live in exciting times. The automotive industry reflects the epoch and the future is looking brighter every day. Expect some great new technologies in the automobile industry over the next ten years.

Following in the wake of the Cars.com iphone app, Carfax decides to introduce its own iPhone app so that car shoppers can scan and research VINs on the spot.

How many times have you been shopping for a used vehicle and wanted to research its title history right then? You likely had to jot down the VIN and license plate number, go away, do your research, then call the car seller back to make your purchase. Now you can do all the research right there on the spot and make the purchase the same day. No more losing good deals.

The Carfax app for iPhones uses the camera on the phone to scan the VIN, or you can type the VIN or license plate number along with the licensing state and generate your report instantly.

The information you can find out about a vehicle you want to purchase includes:

• Number of previous owners
• Where the car is titled
• Service records submitted by auto dealers

The iPhone app will allow car shoppers more freedom in making car purchases by giving them greater in-hand flexibility and robust information on the spot. If you’re the first to get the necessary information for a buying decision and come up with the money, then you are likely to walk away with your used car. iPhone users now have a new car buying advantage.

Sometimes, drivers can get a little confused by the terminology that car salesmen and service centers use. CNET has an essential read on car terminology that no driver should miss. Here are some of the highlights.

• ICE: Internal Combustion Engine. This has been the auto industry’s main propulsion source for the better part of a century.
• EV: Electric Vehicle.
• HEV: Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
• PHEV: Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
• RE-EV: Range Extended Electric Vehicle.
• FWD/RWD/4WD/AWD: Front Wheel Drive/Rear Wheel Drive/Four Wheel Drive/All Wheel Drive. The difference between all wheel drive and four wheel drive, something that confuses a lot of drivers, is that all wheel drive is always on. Four wheel drive usually requires the driver to switch to four wheel drive from two wheel drive (most often, rear wheel).
• MPG: Miles Per Gallon.
• SOHC/DOHC: Single Overhead Camshaft/Dual Overhead Camshaft. The camshaft rotates in the engine cylinder to allow clean air to rotate in and dirty exhaust out.
• ETC: Electronic Throttle Control.

There’s plenty more automotive terms to learn as well. If you take your vehicle in for servicing or plan on buying a new vehicle, then you should brush up on your terms.

Can you think of some car terms you know that may not necessarily be common knowledge? How about sharing?

By Myke2020 via Wikimedia Commons

What does that mean exactly?

Vehicle winterization is the regular maintenance that every driver should perform just before the onset of winter. There are specific vehicle checks you should perform before cold weather hits to ensure your vehicle runs smoothly throughout the winter months. These include:

• Add antifreeze – Do yourself a favor and buy a bottle of 50/50 mix. It has the right amount of water and antifreeze for your vehicle.
• Check hoses - If you have leaky hoses, your fluids will drain. Even old hoses can crack, usually mid-winter, so replace them before the cold weather comes on.
• Flush your radiator – Simply adding antifreeze sometimes isn’t enough. You should flush your radiator at least once a year. Flush, then add antifreeze.
• Check your battery - Car batteries always seem to go dead in the winter. Cold weather actually has an effect on weak battery cells. Check the battery and open the caps to see if they are full.
• Check your belts – Particularly your alternator belt.
• Windshield wiper blades – Do they leave streaks? Do they clean the windshield with one swipe?
• Tire tread - Low tread won’t get enough traction on the ice and slippery roads.
• Brakes – If your brakes slip when the weather is nice, they will be worse in winter.

Be sure to perform your vehicle winterization checks and fix anything that needs to be fixed before the harsh weather hits.

The makers of Mercedes-Benz luxury vehicles have reasoned that since teenagers are involved in more accidents than adults, then they need more driver training. So, the auto manufacturer has started a driver training academy based in Los Angeles. The school is modeled after a similar Mercedes-Benz driving academy in London.

Trainers claim that Los Angeles is the driving capital of the U.S., which makes it a great place for a driver training academy. Plus, California driver training laws don’t give teenagers enough time behind the wheel.

In fact, they receive 30 hours of classroom training and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training. That’s just not enough.

So Mercedes-Benz decided to start a vehicle driver training academy that offers

The Mercedes curriculum, which received California state approval last week, includes 15 hours of online instruction, 10 hours of classroom study, a three-hour safety workshop, a two-hour distracted driving exercise and 16 hours of coached driving instruction.

That’s stepping it up a bit!

Another thing that sets the Mercedes-Benz driver training academy apart from other driver training programs are the vehicles they’re using for the driver training.

The school uses a mix of Mercedes-Benz C class sedans and larger ML hybrids because “so many kids that get licenses learn in small cars and their first car is an SUV,” Duchene said. “We wanted students to learn on a vehicle similar to what they’ll be driving once they’re out on the road.”

That makes a lot of sense. But this has me wondering: will Mercedes-Benz begin to offer vehicle driver training in other U.S. cities? Will other auto manufacturers hop on board and begin to offer driver training as well? Sounds like a reasonable plan.

Benz-Velo (from Wikipedia)

Auto insurance has had a rapid evolution since the first conception of liability coverage. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of liability or risk of loss from one entity to another. The insurer is willing to take the risk of the cost of potential damage for a fee. As far as the risk of liability goes, it’s basically a gamble.

We might imagine a prehistoric time when an early pessimist had the desire to shift the liability of their potential losses, due to a natural or man-made disaster, onto someone else in exchange for an immediate reward. And as humans began to invent more proficient ways to survive the elements of nature, perhaps the early optimist came along believing how low the odds were of a natural or man-made disaster, and thinking such an arrangement worked in their favor. Auto insurance actually begun 6,000 years ago in ancient China, and was used to protect the ship owners from potential maritime losses. Auto insurance since WWII was probably the defining moment it began to really take legislative shape in society.

Nineteenth century

The invention of the automobile in the 19th century created the need of equitable protection against enormous potential damages as a result of operating this unpredictable machinery. It revolutionized society economically, innovatively and culturally, but at the same time created an atmosphere of enormous collateral damage, injury and expensive losses due to accidents or theft. Auto insurance was initially designed based on the concept of maritime insurance. Around 1927, policymakers determined that operating an automobile was a privilege and not a right, so they enacted laws that required drivers must carry coverage to shield innocent third parties from potential injury or damage.

Road Traffic Act

As the automobile industry began to rapidly grow, society became enmeshed in the political dilemma between the freedom of citizens to do what they want and the need of government to regulate things for the good of the societal whole and prevent compulsory liability. Drivers who were not able to financially cover the damages they caused greatly increased, which necessitated legislative intervention. In the 1930’s, the UK was the first to make vehicle insurance mandatory. With their implementation of the Road Traffic Act, this made it a national requirement that all vehicle owners carry at least some form of liability insurance.

Auto Insurance since WWII

By the late forties, the auto industry continued to boom and automobiles were being mass-produced, which made the demand for auto liability even greater. By WWII, U.S. States began to adopt mandatory laws similar to the Road Traffic Act, which would be the defining legislation in the decades that ensued. Of the U.S. states, Massachusetts was the first to implement mandatory legislation. In the 50’s, New York and North Carolina followed. In the 70’s, numerous other states made auto liability coverage the law.

Types of insurance

No one owns a vehicle today without having at least some knowledge of auto insurance, and they’re undoubtedly familiar with the terms “deductible” and “premium.” But there are different aspects of auto insurance coverage that are not all mandatory and can be quite confusing. The different types of insurance coverage consists of:

• Liability
• Collision and Comprehensive
• Personal Injury
• Medical
• Uninsured motorist

Penalties for driving without insurance can be severe, yet laws as to which type of coverage is mandatory and which is optional can vary in each state and country. Liability, or third-party coverage, is mandatory in most U.S. states and covers all bodily injuries and damages to others. Collision covers damage to the insurer’s vehicle. Comprehension covers unrelated accident damage, such as natural disasters, theft, vandalism, etc. Personal injury covers the injuries incurred to the driver. Medical covers all participants involved, including passengers. Uninsured motorist covers damages incurred by drivers who are not insured.

Cost of insurance

Though auto insurance has changed since WWII, some of the same basic aspects of liability coverage are still followed that were once followed 6,000 years ago. Insurance companies today use several methods to calculate the cost of insurance, which include:

• Age
• Vehicle type
• Driving record
• Credit history
• Gender

The auto insurance industry is now the most heavily regulated industry in the market, and because of the sheer auto industry revolution that has continued since the early 19th century up to the present, almost all developed countries outside the U.S. now require some form of liability insurance coverage.

When he’s not reading about the latest developments in car tech, Miles Walker writes about car insurance quotes over at CarinsuranceComparison.Org. His latest article looked at the best Utah car insurance.

If you’re wondering which vehicles represent the best automotive buys for 2012, you can relax. The news is in. According to Consumer Digest, the following vehicles are the best automotive buys for 2012.

• Best Subcompacts – Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta, MINI Cooper/Cooper Clubman
• Best Compact Cars – Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Kia Soul
• Best Family Cars – Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Ford Taurus, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Lincoln MKZ
• Best Luxury Buys – Acura TL, Buick LaCrosse, Chrysler 300, Hyundai Genesis Sedan
• Best “Sporty” Vehicles – Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang (featured thumbnail, top)
• Best Full-Size Pickups – Ford F-150, Ram 1500
• Best Small Pickup – Toyota Tacoma
• Best Minivans – Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey, Volkswagen Routan
• Best Compact SUVs – Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain, Kia Sorento, Kia Sportage
• Best Midsize SUVs – Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Explorer, GMC Acadia, Honda Pilot
• Best Full-Size/Luxury SUVs – Dodge Durango, Infiniti QX56, Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Best Hybrids – Ford Fusion Hybrid, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, Lexus RX 450h

I like that there are multiple levels within the classes. Consumer Digest didn’t just pick the best SUV buys and best pickup buys, for instance. They broke it down to size, and I believe size matters.

Characteristics used to judge these values included starting and acceleration, shifting, steering, handling, braking, ride quality, and fuel economy.

Congratulations to the winners. For more information on the best automotive buys of 2012, read the full article at The Sacramento Bee.

Drowsy Ford drivers now have a means of controlling their vehicle through technology. This could very well be the innovation of the year.

It’s actually two pieces of technology, but we’ll call it two aspects of the same innovation. Ford wants to keep you awake and one way they’ve come up with to help you do that while driving your car is with the implementation of stay-in-your-lane technology. This coupled with a driver alert system that tells you when it’s time to sip a cup of coffee. No joke.

The new technology will be introduced to certain Ford models in 2012, namely, the Ford Explorer. Utilizing a camera system mounted behind your rearview mirror, this technology analyzes road markings to help you steer in your own lane in case you doze off while driving.

The second innovation – the Java suggestion – watches for certain signals such as swerving and provides a visual signal on the dashboard accompanied by a chime suggesting it’s time to stop for coffee.

OK, don’t chime in yet.

Just kidding. This is serious business. There are studies that actually indicate that drivers falling asleep on the road are the cause of numerous fatalities. Ford wants to prevent you from being one of those with its new driver alert system. I think this idea is pretty doggone caffeinated. Don’t you?

Image Credit: Zelda Richardson (Flickr)

Car insurance is an area where most people would like to economize and save money. This is definitely possible with today’s technologies and the possibility of comparison shopping. However, just as is the case with many other fields, car insurance companies are not always acting in your best interests. It is quite possible for them to deal unscrupulously with customers and to overcharge, sometimes even grossly overcharge, their clients. If you’re going to protect yourself from such irresponsible business dealings, you need to be familiarized with behaviors that signify it. The following are some warning signs that you may be getting ripped off on car insurance.

Higher Premiums than the Competition

One way to get a sense of how fair and honest your rates are is simply to get quotes from other companies and see how they compare price wise. You can either visit the sites of insurance companies online or call them to get rate quotes. If these quotes are substantially lower than the rates you are currently paying, that is a simple indicator that you are being overcharged. Though this may seem like an obvious step to take, some people simply do not compare rates in this manner. They may reason that since they already have car insurance there is little reason to check their rates against other companies. When it comes time to renew, they may simply renew with the same company out of habit. Don’t fall into this trap – make sure you know what the going rates are and do comparison shopping anytime to stay in touch with what is available as far as insurance.

Higher Premiums than Promised

Another sign that you may be dealing with dishonest company charging exorbitant rates is that they quote you one premium over the phone or online and then raise it substantially when it comes time to actually write the policy. They may say that the original quote was only an estimate and that there are extra “rate adjustments” that only came to light when they wrote up a detailed policy. This is almost a bait and switch type scenario, especially if the subsequent amount is hundreds or dollars higher than the originally quoted rate. Bait and switch marketing tactics are illegal and unethical, so don’t fall prey to them.

Sudden Rise in Rates

If your rates suddenly take a big leap when it comes time to renew or even during the policy period, this is suspicious. Keep in mind that insurance companies are simply businesses and want to make as much money as possible. As such they can do just what any other greedy business might do – raise your rates on some pretext or other, whether or not it is ethical or makes much sense. They may be counting on the fact that people have a tendency to simply pay what they are charged as long as it is in writing and there is some kind of reason given. Be the type of customer they don’t expect and can’t rip off by being educated and comparing rates from many different companies.

Sudden Drop in Rates

Oddly enough a sudden drop in rates can also signify dishonest business. If your rate suddenly drops by 100 dollars or more, it means that you were being overcharged before. Again, cross check your rates with many other companies for that same time period. Though supply and demand factors do cause rate fluctuation, there should be a general agreement across companies as to the range for specific policies and risk classifications.

Company Includes Extras you Don’t Ask For

If the company persistently tries to get you to take extras such as higher third party liability, collision, towing, roadside service and so on, or simply includes them without your consenting to it, that is not a good sign. The company should simply give you the type of policy that you want, with the inclusions and exclusions you ask for.

No Mention of Discounts

Discounts for all kinds of things – safety devices in cars, driver improvement courses, memberships in certain organizations – are a part of getting the best insurance rates. If a company does not even mention discounts or tries to change the subject when you bring them up, they may be trying to avoid discounting your rate when you deserve to have it discounted. That is not honest business. Make sure you find out all of the things that may qualify you for discounts and go through them one by one with the insurance representative. The representative should be helpful and cooperative with this, and if they are not perhaps you should consider another company.

Don’t be the victim of rip offs with your car insurance. Forewarned is forearmed. Be vigilant and use good industry wide knowledge to find an honest company that offers you the best insurance premiums.

Miles Walker is a freelance writer and blogger who usually looks at car insurance quotes over at CarinsuranceComparison.Org. His most recent review looked at the best Wyoming car insurance.

Kelley Blue Book has for years offered car owners and car buyers a way to judge the value of their vehicles in the resale market. It’s been a valuable service to everyone. But the Internet changes a lot of things.

Car buyers and sellers should be aware of a scam that uses the Kelley Blue Book name on a fraudulent website.

The practice is nothing new. Other popular websites have been the victim of scams before. The list is longer than you may think: eBay, PayPal, Amazon.com, a variety of dating websites, credit card sites, and many more. But this is the first – that we are aware of – of a prominent automotive site that has fallen victim to this type of fraud.

While Kelley Blue Book might be a victim in name, however, it is the people who are losing money who are the true victims. The article mentions that a consumer loses $1,000 per hour due to fraudulent vehicle listings.

Such scams can take a variety of forms. Consumers should beware of these fraudulent schemes and ensure that you are on the Kelley Blue Book website rather than a fake that may look exactly like it. And if you suspect that you may be the victim of a scam or you have landed on a fake website of any kind, contact the FBI and report it.

In the 21st century, car buying is becoming more and more social. Someday we might be be reading about how social media influences are determining car sales. It is highly likely that automobile makers and dealerships will be able to leverage apps and social media to drive sales and increase customer satisfaction. We’re already seeing it happen.

Cars.com is one online marketplace that is pushing the envelope in the social media auto world. And one way they are doing that is through their own iPad app.

So what’s included in the Cars.com iPad app?

I think you’ll like it. Some of the features include:

• Auto reviews
• Side-by-side vehicle comparisons
• A feature called My Showroom
• Facebook and Twitter integration for easier sharing

With Cars.com’s iPad app you’ll be able to save your vehicles so you can come back to them at a later date/time and get more in-depth consumer information about the vehicles you like. Then you’ll be able to share that information with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.

More and more, consumers are shopping for automobiles online. In fact, most consumers start online. And their mobile phone is one place where that initial car shopping experience is becoming more prevalent. Cars.com is revolutionizing the way the auto industry is selling and promoting vehicles. And can you guess who the prominent “inaugural” sponsor is?

Lexus.

How cool is that?

The 2012 Ford Taurus SE is a vehicle for all seasons. At MSRP $25,555, you drive off the lot with tons of value and you’ll be proud to tote the family around town in this sedan.

The engine is a 3.5-liter V6, which kicks out a hefty 263 horsepower at 6,250 rpm and 249 pound-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm. The transmission is a 6-speed automatic and the fuel economy registers at 18 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The drivetrain is front wheel drive.

Standard features of the 2012 Ford Taurus SE include:

• Power decklid unlock
• Child safety locks on rear doors
• Vehicle anti-theft via engine immobilizer
• 4-wheel anti-lock brakes
• Hill start control
• Rear power outlet
• AM/FM radio with 6 speakers, CD player, and MP3 player
• Windshield wiper activated headlights
• Automatic headlights with automatic on/off and time delay
• Tire pressure monitor
• Steering wheel mounted controls for audio and cruise control
• Remote trunk release
• Incredible state-of-the-art safety features
• Telescopic and tilt steering

If you enjoy the luxury that the Mercedes-Benz S-Class offers, then the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid Sedan is the vehicle for you. It is top of the line in luxury, affordable, and gets awesome gas mileage both in the city and on the highway.

The fuel efficiency registers at 19 and 25 mpg in the city and on the highway, respectively.

The engine is a 3.5-liter V-6 that kicks out 275 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 258 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm. It’s a rear wheel drive with a turning ratio of 20.0 inches.

You also get plenty of room inside for a sedan. Luggage capacity is 16.4 cubic feet. Standard seating is for 5 passengers and they get 42.3 inches of leg room in the rear and 41.9 inches in the front. Shoulder room is 59 inches all around and hip room is 59 and 60 inches, respectively.

Key features include:

• Front and rear map lights
• Driver and passenger illuminated vanity mirrors
• Auto dimming day and night rear view mirror
• Dual-zone automatic air conditioning with separate control for the rear
• State-of-the-art airbag system
• Front and rear fog lights
• Slide and tilt glass first row sunroof
• Fixed glass second row sunroof with sunshade
• Optional roof rack
• 12-way power front bucket seats with lumbar support
• Navigation system with voice activation features
• AM/FM/HD satellite radio with 6-disc in-dash CD player and 15 harman/kardon speakers