Teasing the Prius; Ford vs. hunger; Hitting BRAKES
Toyota made a big splash by unveiling its fourth-generation Prius in Las Vegas last month.
By design, that intro concentrated on just that, the new Prius’ design. The world got a look at a longer, lower, wider, yes, better looking vehicle.
Lots of other items were hinted at, including details of the powertrain and fuel economy numbers.
That, too, was by design because there were still four months to go before the new Prius hit dealer showrooms. Toyota wanted to keep the buying public’s interest building with interim announcements. Of course, automotive journalists are interested, too.
The first update came on Oct. 13, when Toyota announced some of the advanced technology it has for the Prius. Highlights abound:
• The hybrid system components are now smaller and lighter. That includes the electric motor, transaxle, hybrid battery pack, and power control unit.
• The existing 1.8-liter gasoline engine has been redesigned, also shrinking in overall size and weight, achieving an expected 10 percent improvement in fuel economy and an impressive maximum thermal efficiency of 40 percent.
• Advances in battery technology are resulting in more compact battery packs (both lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride), allowing them to fit under the rear seat and increasing cargo space.
• A combination of a new rear suspension, more rigid chassis, and lower center of gravity (thanks to those battery packs) have Toyota promising this Prius will be much more fun and responsive to drive.
• Toyota’s Safety Sense system, which includes full-speed dynamic radar cruise control and a pre-collision system that detects both vehicles and pedestrians, will be available.
Adding styling, more technology, and a better driving experience is an intriguing value proposition. It will be interesting to have a first drive down the road.
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The Toyota Prius and other new and improved cars of 2016
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Ford vs. Hunger
With an emphasis on increased community outreach, Ford Motor Company recently introduced its Drive Safe for Life (DSFL) program to New England at the parking lots of Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.
DSFL is a free, hands-on training session aimed at developing driving skills and techniques, which educates young drivers on issues involving inexperience, distractions, and driving while impaired.
The Ford Motor Company Fund, Ford’s charitable arm, and Ford dealers also announced an investment of $2 million in the area over the next five years to address hunger issues in the region.
“More than 12 percent of those living in the New England area lack reliable access to the food and nutrition needed to thrive,’’ says Jim Vella, president of the FMC Fund and Community Services. “We are stepping up our efforts in the fight against hunger.’’
Vella made the announcement at a program with dealers and food bank representatives. In addition, Ford presented a new Ford Transit van to the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB).
Last year the GBFB distributed 54 million pounds of healthful food and is on a pace to increase that amount this year.
The 10 Northeast food banks receiving help are part of the Feeding America domestic program. Included are the Worcester County Food Bank in Shrewsbury, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts in Hatfield, and the New Hampshire Food Bank in Manchester, N.H.
Put on the B.R.A.K.E.S.
Most teens, at least for much of the day, actually are responsible, have goals, and realize that learning to drive well is a good thing.
However, the truth is that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 14- to 18-year-olds.
That’s where local advanced driving schools try to be proactive.
Kia has a program called B.R.A.K.E.S (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe). It’s coming to the New England area for the first time next weekend (Oct. 31-Nov. 1) at New England Dragway in Epping, N.H.
There will be four sessions available: 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. each day.
There’s a sad irony in the New England location being at New England Dragway. It was NHRA top fuel drag racer Doug Herbert who started the B.R.A.K.E.S program in Charlotte, N.C., after his two sons, John and James, were killed in a traffic accident in 2008.
“Across the country, 15 families a day get the call that my wife and I got, that their child was killed in an accident,’’ he says. “That’s almost 6,000 young people per year. But the story doesn’t stop there. Another 400,000 wind up in the emergency room or hospital.’’
The lessons, taught by professional instructors, are invaluable and include skid avoidance, distracted driving awareness, panic stops (with ABS), and drop-wheel (one wheel off a highway shoulder).
I’ve taken one of these courses—and am ready for a refresher.
You can’t go wrong being reminded how heavy the vehicles we drive today are, how they react to sudden weight shifts, how important it is to know how to brake and how to coordinate braking and steering.
The course is free, though a refundable deposit is required to hold your space. Registration is online at http://putonthebrakes.org/schedule.
Etc.
If I were a deep-pockets collector, I’d love a Dodge Viper in my garage-warehouse. They’ll likely appreciate even faster now that rumors have Fiat subsidiary FCA stopping production in a year or so … Equally sad is the disappearance of the local dealership. The reality of the automotive sales business is that big dealership groups, with economies of scale, have absorbed most of the local mom and pop stores already … Today is the wrap-up of the lawn events at Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline with Studebakers and Packards on display … Worse than raking leaves is putting fresh gas in the old cars and motorcycles, topping it off with gas stabilizer, and thinking of winter storage.
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