Fleet Vehicle Leasing October 2011 Newsletter
Bumper to Bumper - October 2011 
Toyota’s New Research
Toyota’s Collaborative Safety Research Center announced ten new research initiatives, along with new research agreements with six leading North American universities and institutions, to work on new automotive safety innovations across North America.
The new projects were revealed at the 2011 Toyota Safety Technology Seminar at the Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The projects will research subjects ranging from driver education and collision mitigation to accident reconstruction and enhanced crash data analysis.
GM to Slow Production
Sources are reporting that Chrysler and General Motors have slowed production at auto assembly plants in North America. According to several news outlets, the slowdown may be due to a shortage of carpets and floor mats.
Hyundai Recall
Hyundai Motor Co. is recalling 205,233 model-year 2007-2008 Veracruz and Santa Fe vehicles because of potential air bag failure, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The clock spring contact assembly for the driver’s air bag supplemental restraint system may become damaged through usage over time, which could eventually lead to air bag failure during a collision. Vehicle owners can reach Hyundai at 800-633-5151.
Short Notes
Ford added Operator Assist, a new free service that allows vehicle occupants to speak with a live person, as a standard feature of its SYNC Services.
The National Transportation Safety Board has recommended banning the use of mobile phones by commercial drivers except in emergencies. This recommendation follows a crash where an 18-wheel semi killed 11 people.
The Detroit News reported that Toyota will no longer import Toyota Camry sedans to the U.S. from Japan, as the vehicle is manufactured in the U.S.
New Vehicle Architecture
Volvo revealed more information about its recently announced strategy for their future vehicle development. Volvo said there are several platforms within the automaker’s new joint Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA), which are cars that share the same basic chassis structure, seat frame, electrical system, and driveline.
These platforms are the basis for groups of complete car models. For example, the Volvo S60, V60, and XC60 form one cluster. Volvo said its SPA approach will allow the automaker to build vehicles that are 220-330 lbs. lighter than current models of the same size. The new architecture enables electrification at all levels without impacting available interior space and load space.
Study on Costs of Traffic
Published by the Texas Trans-portation Institute at Texas A&M, the 2011 Urban Mobility Report studied the effects of traffic congestion on businesses and commuters in the U.S. in 2010.
The study found the cost of congestion was more than $100 billion in 2010, which is nearly $750 for every commuter in the U.S. Additionally, traffic congestion is growing beyond “rush hour,” with about 40% of the delay occurring in the mid-day and overnight hours.
“Rush hour” actually lasts six hours, which is creating an increasingly serious problem for businesses that rely on efficient production and deliveries. The time delay the average commuter experienced was 34 hours, up from 14 hours in 1982.
The study predicts that traffic problems will only continue to get worse with the expectation that the average commuter will see an estimated extra three hours of delay by 2015 and seven hours by 2020.
FBI Shows Less Theft
The FBI issued a report that shows overall motor vehicle thefts in the U.S. dropped by 7.2% in 2010 when compared with 2009. The statistics used in the Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report issued by the FBI were submitted voluntarily by law enforcement agencies throughout the country.
The report provided statistics by city population, county type, year, and region. In a related story, Ford’s website stated that 40-50% of vehicle theft is due to driver error such as leaving doors unlocked and leaving keys in the ignition or on the seats.
Drivers Rate Selves Best 
According to a recent study by Allstate Insurance, the majority of American drivers surveyed considered their driving knowledge, skills, and other safe driving habits to be “well above” other drivers on the road.
Almost two-thirds of drivers rated themselves as either “excellent” or “very good” drivers, but didn’t feel the same about their close friends or peers. Only 29% rated close friends as equally skilled behind the wheel, and just 2% of respondents felt that others in their age group were equally skilled.
Expectedly, 81% of the surveyed participants rated teen drivers as either “average” or “poor” drivers, and 70% rated elderly motorists in the same categories.
2012 Chevrolet Sonic
General Motors has provided updates on its new 2012-MY Chevrolet Sonic, the vehicle will get 40mpg on highway and 29 mpg city driving. In terms of performance, the 1.4L turbo Sonic can reach 60 mph in 8.2 seconds, according to the automaker. The Sonic’s 1.8L engine with manual transmission gets 26 mpg city and 35 mpg highway.
The 1.4L Ecotec turbocharged engine is the same engine that is used in the Cruze, only smaller. The 1.4L’s turbocharger is integrated within the exhaust manifold, which reduces engine weight. A reinforced crankshaft and stronger connecting rods deliver additional strength to support the engine’s pressurized power and torque over a wide rpm band. The suggested retail price of the Sonic begins at $14,495.