It may not have the gossipy appeal of the Brad/Angelina/Jennifer soap opera, but a seven-year study on advanced highway traffic safety technologies released by the U.S. Department of Transportation late last year could radically affect the safety -- and convenience -- systems available to Canadian drivers in the future.
The final report of the Intelligent Vehicle Initiative found that one way to decrease fatalities as well as road congestion is to include global positioning systems (GPS) units and wireless communication devices in every vehicle sold in the United States, as well as to integrate other sensors into highways and intersections so that warnings could be transmitted to the driver of upcoming dangerous scenarios, or that the vehicle is dangerously close to leaving the road.
U.S. auto safety legislation tends have significant influence on Canadians because the technology and features that are mandated south of the border almost always find their way into Canadian vehicles, which almost invariably are produced on the same assembly lines.
For example, since the United States mandated that frontal airbags become standard equipment in all vehicles in that country -- since September, 1998 -- such bags have appeared in every new consumer vehicle on the Canadian market, even though there is no law on Canadian books requiring them.
Transport Canada sets crash and air bag deployment standards, if so equipped, but doesn't specify what equipment is needed to achieve these crash standards.
Even if the Canadian or provincial governments can't or don't invest in the "intelligent" road and highway sensors needed to provide all the safety and traffic enhancements envisaged by the U.S. report, if auto makers do equip all Canadian vehicles with a GPS unit, it has the potential to radically increase the availability of advanced convenience features such as satellite radio, GPS navigation systems, automatic toll collection and in-vehicle internet accessibility.
GPS units in vehicles are coming down in price as they grow in popularity, but are still far from reaching overall market penetration.
The report is part of the U.S. government's Intelligent Transportation System program, whose main goals are to decrease fatalities on American roads while simultaneously helping to alleviate congestion issues.
The study was done in co-operation with nearly all the major auto manufacturers in the United States, as well as with government, auto parts and university research partners.
No specific timelines for the implementation of these technologies were made in the report, but estimates of overall ITS implementation by the U.S. DOT have pegged public safety benefits to occur by the end of 2009.
Sexy Eclipse Spyder
coming in April
It was far from the glitziest presentation, but Mitsubishi offered one of the best-looking production car unveils in Detroit last week: the 2007 Eclipse Spyder.
With a power top that folds down in 19 seconds, as well as a folding hard cover for the roof stack that keeps the car's lines impeccably smooth in al fresco mode, the Eclipse Spyder will start under $26,000 (U.S.) , said Dave Schembri, Mitsubishi's North American executive vice-president of sales and marketing.
This will translate to a starting price around $36,000 in Canada when it goes on sale in April, Mitsubishi Canada estimates.
The current Eclipse Spyder lists for just over $35,000, according to Mitsu's consumer website, so if the rest of the redesigned 2007 line follows the same pattern, a top-line V-6 Spyder should start around $43,000.
Both four- and six- cylinder models will be available in Canada, with similar engine specs as their hardtop counterparts.
Mitsubishi is calling it an "attainable exotic," and but though it no doubt looks good, even the top-line GT's 260-hp V-6 falls far short of exotic levels.
On the other hand, the Spyder comes standard with a Rockford Fosgate stereo that puts out 650 watts of peak power, while automatically adjusting sound quality when the top goes down.
A neat touch is that the smallish eight-inch subwoofer is integrated into the rear seatback as a design cue.
Thin not in
for Rolls-Royce
Nobody gave Rolls-Royce the memo that small and sleek was in at the Detroit auto show. Rolls introduced a new version of its Phantom to North America there, intended for people who would rather be chauffeured than drive their ultra-luxury sedan.
The Phantom EWB (extended wheelbase) was introduced late last year in Asia, and will become available in North America by the end of the year. Rolls-Royce CEO Ian Robertson said it's all part of the growing appeal of bespoke Rolls-Royces, as the majority of Rolls owners around the world are ordering items outside the standard Phantom offerings.
"Although this market is dominated by owners who drive themselves, we have found that a number of existing customers want to keep a Phantom at home to drive themselves, but a long wheelbase model for the city, to be chauffeured while on business," said Robertson.
The Phantoms is already the best-selling car in the world that costs more than $180,000 (U.S.), said Robertson.
U.S. auto writers
are anti-GM, says Lutz
In a wide-ranging interview on the state of General Motors last week to a roundtable of Canadian auto journalists, vice-chairman Bob Lutz couldn't help but decry what he sees as anti-GM media coverage among the American press corps, one of his favourite tangents.
The outspoken 74-year-old executive said the old motto of "what's good for GM is good for the U.S." seems to be operating in reverse now.
"I can tell within the first paragraph of reading a car review, whether it's written by an American or a Canadian," said Lutz. "The Canadian one will be fair and balanced, touching on things they like and don't like about the car; the American ones just rip it."
BMW planning
two crossover concepts
In an interview that appears this week on BusinessWeek magazine's website, BMW's Dutch design chief Adrian van Hooydonk said that BMW is working on two crossover concepts now that "are totally new to the car industry."
Van Hooydonk said the first will be an SUV-like vehicle that incorporates elements of a coupe, while the other will "combine the utility aspects of a touring vehicle with the elegance of a limousine."
He didn't specify where these concepts would be shown, but the next major international auto shows are in Chicago next month, Geneva in March, and the New York show in April. Of course, the Canadian International Auto Show is on in Toronto next month as well, but don't count on them appearing there.
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