ZURICH – The Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended range capability and Chevrolet’s new flagship in Europe, the Malibu, have both been awarded a top five-star rating by the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP), which released its latest results.

The results confirm that both vehicles meet highest safety standards. The Volt’s safety performance and propulsion concept highlight the reliability and practicality that is inherent to this outstanding design,” said Wayne Brannon, president and managing director of Chevrolet Europe.

Euro NCAP is the latest third-party organization to give the Volt top marks. In April 2011, the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the car its “Top Safety Pick” while the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the car a five-star rating.

The new Chevrolet Malibu is the first to be sold in Europe and the eighth generation of the Malibu, the auto industry’s longest-running midsize nameplate, spanning six decades and 35 years. The European edition will be equipped with six air bags and a comprehensive range of chassis control systems.

arlier this year, the Aveo hatchback – currently the safest car in its segment – the Chevrolet Orlando and the Captiva SUV were awarded a five-star rating. The brand’s best-selling nameplate, the Chevrolet Cruze sedan, too, has earned Euro NCAP’s top safety award.

Source: http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages

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Model updates for the 2012 Model Year see the acclaimed Hyundai Santa Fe range receive a raft of stylish design refinements. Delivering high levels of performance and efficiency, the 7-seat Santa Fe now evolves its exterior look and offers even more appeal for discerning families.

Refined exterior updates include a new streamlined front skid plate with matching rear skid plate in silver, and a chrome tailgate garnish. The exterior of Santa Fe is further enhanced with a premium black piano finish applied to the roof racks and the fog lamp surrounds on the Elite and Highlander models. Further, the flagship ‘Highlander’ model variant receives perforated leather seat finishes and redesigned 18” alloy wheels to finish the new look.

In addition to a suite of design focused enhancements, the Santa Fe now offers Down-Hill Brake Control (DBC) on all versions except the entry SLX manual, which assists the driver to maintain vehicle control on steep downhill descents. The DBC system can be initiated via a conveniently positioned switch located on the centre console unit.

All Santa Fes models come complete with a full suite of active and passive safety features, earning it the maximum crash performance 5-star rating in the ANCAP assessment program. Standard on all models are ESC Stability Control, which includes Hyundai’s Traction Control System (TCS), driver and front passenger airbags, dual side front (thorax) airbags and front and rear passenger side curtain airbags (which extend to the third row). Rollover sensors are standard across all three trim levels of the Santa Fe range.

The Santa Fe is available in two powertrain variants, the All-Wheel Drive matched to the R-series 2.2-litre CRDi diesel engine and Front-Wheel Drive matched to the 3.5-litre V6 Lambda petrol engine. Three trim levels are available across both engine variants - SLX, Elite and Highlander.

Source: http://www.hyundai.com.au/About-Hyundai/news/Articles/Santa-Fe-updated-

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The BMW 135i Sport Coupé has continued its awarding winning streak, taking out the Best Sports Car of 2011 as voted by Australia’s Best Cars, for the fourth consecutive year.Under the bonnet is a 225 kW twin-turbo, direct-injection, 3.0-litre straight-six, winner of several international design awards going back some years. This is one complete engine, readily willing to send the tachometer needle racing to redline, or (thanks to a broad expanse of torque between 1300 and 5000 rpm), impress with its mid-range muscle. And when it really goes to work, there’s a stirring soundtrack to match,” said the judges.

Australia’s Best Cars celebrated its 12th anniversary at an awards ceremony held at the exclusive RACV Club in Melbourne last night. Still it remains Australia’s most comprehensive and independent consumer based award programme. Over 300 new vehicles were rated across a number of key consumer criteria with a special emphasis on the top three performers in each of the 15 categories.

Since its market introduction in 2008, the BMW 135i Coupé has established itself as a cult figure within the performance segment blending striking acceleration, poised and balanced handling, driver excitement and comfort as well as remarkable fuel economy.

BMW has blessed the smart-looking coupe with the ultimate in underpinnings to complement its class-leading performance: near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution, rear-wheel-drive, tuned suspension, hi-tech braking system and a comprehensive tyre and wheel combination.

Source: http://www.bmw.com.au/com/en/insights/newsandevents/latest-news/four-years

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DETROIT – Just because Buick engineers designed the all-new 2012 Verano luxury sedan to have one of the quietest cabins in its segment doesn’t mean it needs to stay that way. The audio specialists at Bose Corp. saw to that by designing a premium sound system that takes advantage of Verano’s quiet-tuned interior.

Verano is the perfect setting for music-lovers to enjoy their favorite recordings on the road, because its interior is well-insulated from outside noises, letting the Bose system shine,” said Chuck Russell, Verano vehicle line director. “Verano owners will be amazed by how great the Bose system sounds on the road, even at low volume.

Creating Verano’s available seven-channel, nine-speaker Bose premium sound system started with the company’s “Clean Sheet” approach, meaning Bose engineers completely analyzed the car’s interior before tuning and equalizing the system.First, Bose engineers recorded system frequencies for each seating position, using 10 different microphone readings for each speaker, collecting hundreds of initial measurements. Then, they analyzed the data and applied audio equalization settings specific to Verano’s unique acoustical environment.

With this approach, music is reproduced with tonal balance and detail; speech sounds natural, and there’s no audible distortion – even when the system is played loudly. Multiple bass sources – front and back – are controlled by a proprietary algorithm for performance that captures more of the power and emotion intended by the artist.

Bose engineers listened to a variety of test recordings on Verano’s sound system during the equalization process, fine-tuning the system to reproduce the sounds of individual instruments and their intended place within the recordings as accurately as possible. In the end, thousands of measurements were taken by the time the system was ready for production.

Source: http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en

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DETROIT - General Motors announced Monday initiatives for customer satisfaction and battery safety research to ensure ongoing confidence in the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle.The initiatives follow six months of research and testing in the United States with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration designed to induce electric vehicle battery failure after severe crash situations.

The agency advised GM on Friday that it would open a preliminary evaluation of Volt battery assemblies after NHTSA test results caused electrical fires up to three weeks after an initial vehicle New Car Assessment Program side pole crash test.

Mark Reuss, president, GM North America, said the company would take every precaution to assure the driving public of GM’s commitment to the safety of the Volt being handled after a severe incident and the total satisfaction of everyone who owned one.

Our customers’ peace of mind is too important to us for there to be any concern or any worry. This technology should inspire confidence and pride, not raise any concern or doubt.The question is about how to deal with the battery days and weeks after a severe crash, making it a matter of interest not just for the Volt, but for our industry as we continue to advance the pursuit of electric vehicles.

Source: http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en

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The Sohu.com website, one of the most popular and heavily trafficked sites in China, awarded RCZ the “Imported Cool Car of the Year”. This award, granted to RCZ by one of the top 10 most frequented sites in China and in the top 50 internet sites worldwide, should further strengthen the reputation of this model and the image of the Brand amongst the almost 500 million internet users in China (source: Internet World Stat).

The newspaper, Southern Metropolis Daily, a major newspaper in Canton and within the region, has granted RCZ the award of “Imported Sports Car of the Year.And finally, the Chinese edition of the celebrated automobile magazine Top Gear has granted the RCZ the “Best Sports Car of the Year” award.

Therefore, it is both the Chinese “on and off line” press, national, regional and specialized, that have unanimously judged RCZ both, as a sports car with style and a bold attitude as well as acknowledging the move up-market of the Brand as a whole within the Chinese market.

Source: http://www.peugeot.com/en/news/2011/11/24/the-peugeot-rcz-receives-

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Toyota City, Japan —Lexus announces that the “CT 200h” gasoline-electric hybrid five-door hatchback has received a maximum five-star rating in automobile safety testing and evaluation for 2011 carried out under the Japan New Car Assessment Program* (JNCAP). The rating is based on a new overall safety assessment structure introduced this year.

The new assessment structure integrates vehicle occupant protection and pedestrian protection performance during collisions under a single assessment structure, providing an overall safety evaluation for automobiles with the assignment of one to five stars. The CT 200h was awarded five stars for achieving the highest level of safety through features including a highly rigid cabin and impact-absorbing body, state-of-the-art technology in the form of a body structure that lessens injuries to pedestrians, and the vehicle’s Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) seats and eight airbags.

Source: http://www2.toyota.co.jp/en/news/feature/20111129.html

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Tokyo, Japan - Nissan Motor Co., Ltd reveales a bold new future for its Nismo performance arm. One of the undoubted stars of the Tokyo Motor Show is the Nissan Juke Nismo, an idea of how a premium sports version of the hugely successful compact crossover could look.

With its distinctive styling Nissan Juke has redefined the highly competitive B-segment, but the Juke Nismo Concept is even more dramatic. It’s lower, wider and has a tougher stance. Even standing still, it’s clearly a performance car.Aimed at a car-loving audience looking for a car that reflects an edgy personality, Juke Nismo Concept magnifies the standard car’s unique mix of compact car agility, coupé-like responses and SUV strength.

The grille pattern has been changed while the tailgate spoiler has been modified by the addition of side elements to control airflow more efficiently. Even the shape of the door mirrors has been altered to enhance the car’s aerodynamic performance and reduce front and rear lift without increasing drag.

Naturally the Nismo treatment extends to the chassis which has been lowered and stiffened using proprietary parts of the sort that will be available from the expanded Nismo’s parts catalogue, while the 1.6-litre direct injection turbo gasoline engine has been uprated to deliver more power and performance.

And Nismo touches can also be found in the interior of the Concept, where parts that interact with the driver’s sense of sight, sound, look and feel - such as the steering wheel, pedals, gauges, shifter knob and door trims - have been redesigned to provide greater involvement when driving. Further underlining the performance aspects of the car, special leather-trimmed bucket seats have been added while the importance of the tachometer means the dial and needle are illuminated in red.

Source: http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/NEWS/2011/_STORY/111129-01-e.html

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Toyota City, Japan — Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) began taking orders through Toyota dealers around the country for the “Prius PHV” (plug-in hybrid), a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle that can be charged using a household electric outlet. TMC will launch the vehicle in Japan on January 30, 2012.

Capitalizing on its electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid vehicle (HV) characteristics, the Prius PHV achieves high levels of both environmental and driving performance. For short-distance trips, the vehicle operates as an EV using the electric motor only, and for medium and long-distance trips, the vehicle operates as an HV. Because the Prius PHV automatically switches to HV mode when the battery depletes to a certain level, drivers do not need to worry about remaining battery power. TMC positions this vehicle, at a price obtainable by many, as a means to promote electric vehicles suitable for widespread use.

To help provide more enjoyable and eco-conscious use of the Prius PHV, the vehicle comes standard with a new service called PHV Drive Support, which is centered on a function that connects the vehicle and owner via the Internet. Five types of services are packaged and provided free of charge to Prius PHV owners for three years. These include a service that enables remote checking through smartphones of remaining battery power and charging station locations, and allows free use of chargers (G-Station) installed at Toyota dealers and other locations.

Overcoming oil dependence is crucial to achieving a low-carbon society, and electricity is an effective means for promoting the use of alternative energy sources. Because plug-in hybrid vehicles help reduce fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by using electricity, TMC positions them as the pillar of next-generation environmental vehicles after HVs. TMC aims for widespread use of next generation environment-friendly vehicles by bringing the Prius PHV to market.

Source: http://www2.toyota.co.jp/en/news/11/11/1129_1.html

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HIROSHIMA, Japan — Mazda Motor Corporation has released a special edition version of the Mazda Verisa compact car with high quality interior and exterior upgrades. The Mazda Verisa CLASSY STYLE goes on sale from at all Mazda, Mazda Anfini and Mazda Autozam dealers throughout Japan.

The special edition CLASSY STYLE features a sand beige interior with high-quality upgrades, such as exclusive sand beige seats with leather side supports. Additionally, the exterior is specially fitted with the ‘Dress-up package,’ which includes chrome trim and other extras that are usually only available as factory-installed options. The added features give the exterior a more sophisticated look and support driving at night and in the rain.

Mazda Verisa C (front-wheel-drive and electronically-controlled four-wheel-drive model grades with a 1.5-liter DOHC engine and a four-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission).

Special equipment
* Exclusive interior
* Exclusive flat-woven seats with side supports covered in leather (sand beige)
* Leather-wrapped steering wheel (sand beige and black)
* Door trim, upper glove box and meter console (sand beige)

Source: http://www.mazda.com/publicity/release/2011/201111/111128b.html

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