It seems that Enterprise, one of the nation’s largest car rental agencys, has been getting a ton of bad publicity due to a supposed “glitch” in their system. As the story goes, Enterprise purchases 66,000+ Chevy Impalas without the standard side impact air bags hoping to lower the cost. This is all fine and dandy considering they saved an estimated $11 million+ but what comes next wasn’t so dandy.

After the cars had their run, the company proceeded to sell 745 of the 66,000 purchased Chevy Impalas to consumers without telling them the side impact air bag had been removed. In fact, they actually told consumers that the cars did have the airbag, which is where said “glitch” comes in.

Hoping to remedy this problem Enterprise has said they will purchase the cars back for $750 more than their Blue Book value. What do you say, loyal readers, do we forgive them?

via autoblog

Tags: airbags, enterprise, rental, safety, Sale, side impact

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For its safety design features, the Audi Q5 has earned the nod as the Top Safety Pick award after receiving high marks on its front and side crash rating from U.S. safety regulators. A battery of results made showed that the Audi Q5 Crossover scored well in side impact, offset frontal and rear impact seat tests. The vehicle had garnered a five-star rating on all the tests.

“Audi engineers place unwavering emphasis on the protection of motorists and their passengers,” said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. “These outstanding ratings for the Audi Q5 confirm our intent to meet the most rigorous safety standards found anywhere in the world.”

Every Audi sold in the U.S. has standard four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock braking system, an electronic stability program, daytime running lights and a standard tire pressure monitoring system.

The Audi Q5 also features quattro permanent all-wheel standard on all models, providing high levels of active safety and traction on virtually any surface. All of these features are designed to help reduce the chances of a collision.

(Source) Press

Tags: anti lock braking system, audi of america, audi q5, Crossover, daytime running lights, electronic stability program, lock braking system, motorists, rigorous safety, safety design, safety regulators, side impact, star rating, tire pressure monitoring system, traction, wheel disc brakes

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For BMW’s proper use of steel that adhere to market demand and safety, the BMW X6 research and development team has been awarded the annual Automotive Annual Excellence Award. The award was presented today at the Great Designs in Steel seminar in Livonia, Mich.

The award recognizes individuals or teams from automakers, suppliers or the academic community who embrace innovation and make significant contributions to the advancement of steel in the automotive marketplace.

“The BMW X6 utilizes steel solutions that add to its unique, sporty design and meet new crash-test requirements, without sacrificing safety or increasing its weight,” said Ron Krupitzer, vice president of automotive applications for AISI’s SMDI. “BMW’s innovative use of ultra high-strength steel technologies has resulted in a vehicle that is safe, lightweight, environmentally friendly and offers the best fuel economy in its class.”

BMW uses unique processing technologies and several complex, ultra high-strength steel grades in its design. The vehicle features a steel structure and steel side frames, panels, rear and B-Pillar reinforcements and longitudinal rear member, which improve cost, performance, reduce weight and meet Insurance Institute for Highway Safety side-impact crash test requirements.

(Source) Press

Tags: academic community, automakers, automotive marketplace, bmw x6, class bmw, crash test, excellence award, fuel economy, processing technologies, side frames, side impact, sporty design, steel grades, steel solutions, steel structure, steel technologies, strength steel, test requirements

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The Hyundai Genesis, this year’s 2009 North America Car of the year, has placed another feather in its cap as it was chosen as the Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Hyundai’s all-new flagship earned a “good” overall evaluation in side impact, frontal offset and rear crash tests, the highest ranking awarded by the Institute.

Maintaining Hyundai’s emphasis on delivering leading safety technology, Genesis boasts world-class active and passive safety features to help both prevent accidents and maximize the wellbeing of its occupants in the event of a collision.

The Genesis continues the Hyundai tradition of standardizing key life-saving safety technology, and includes standard features like Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), eight airbags and electronic active head restraints.

(Source) Press

Tags: Accidents, airbags, car of the year, crash tests, electronic stability control, Genesis, Hyundai, insurance institute for highway safety, north america, passive safety features, rear crash, side impact

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Don’t let the impressive outer designs fool you. They may capture the eye of car buyers but they are also looking for actual safety provisions that new fleet models come with. And as far as the 2009 F150 is concerned, their new K-Bag feature is certainly a big boost to the popularity if this ever popular truck from Ford Motors.

The F-150 earned an IIHS “Top Safety Pick” last November and quadruple | 5-star government crash test ratings in January — making it the only full-size pickup to achieve both top crash-test ratings. Combined with the most standard safety features in the segment, the F-150 is America’s safest full-size pickup.

Among the truck’s unmatched list of advanced standard safety features is its patented “K-bag” technology, a new front seat-mounted dual-chamber side air bag named for its unique shape, which is designed to help protect the rib cage from excessive crash forces during a side impact. This air bag is supported with a state-of-the-art side crash sensing system that uses pressure pulses from the impact to deploy the air bag 30 percent faster than a conventional system.

(Source) Press

Tags: 2009 ford f150, air bag, crash test ratings, ford motors, front seat, government crash test ratings, side impact

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