Report by G.Meylemans/D. Collins

Bridgestone

Brussels–More than 90% of motorists drive on under-inflated tires which can put their safety at risk. Checking tires condition and pressure, loading carefully the vehicle and using dedicated tires for caravans are some of the key holiday tips given by Bridgestone.
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Land Rover

Land Rover enters 2008 with the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, LR3 and LR2 models. The Range Rover for 2008 features door sill plates in a ribbed-metal design and a storage slot for the rear seat entertainment system’s remote control added to the rear seat center armrest. The high-performance SUV Range Rover Sport incorporates the Land Rover’s Terrain Response™ system with a Supercharged V8 engine and Dynamic Response technology, for improved agility. The recently unveiled LR2 features a 3.2-liter inline-six engine which provides 0-60 mph acceleration in 8.4 seconds (0-100 km/h in 8.9 seconds). The engine is matched to a six-speed automatic transmission, with Land Rover’s CommandShift™ offering manual sequential gear changes when required. The LR3 new features for 2008 include enhanced ‘Noble Finish’ accents, elevated standard trim and updated option-package content.

In the past decade, an estimated 36 children have died every year from being left in a hot car, according to a study by the National Weather Service. Most hyperthermia deaths are accidental and many parents are unaware of how dangerous it is to leave children in cars unattended – even for a short period of time. For example, when the outside temperature is 75 degrees, a vehicle’s interior can reach more than 100 degrees in a half hour. The video below includes general views of children and cars heating up, a narrated package on child safety, and soundbites on hyperthermia and rising temperatures in cars.

Chevy Malibu

Following its recent announcement to shift its focus from trucks to cars, General Motors (GM) has received positive news regarding its 2008 Chevy Malibu. The car was recently ranked number one in the midsize car segment according to the J.D. Power and Associates’ Initial Quality Study. The rankings were based on feedback from more than 81,500 consumers who bought or leased new 2008 vehicles during a 90-day period.

MiTo

The MiTo is the first car to be built since the 8C Competizione and will be Alfa Romeo’s most compact sports car with dimensions of just 4.06 meters long, 1.44 meters high and 1.72 meters wide. The car will have special features available as standard such as the Alfa D.N.A. system, suspension with coilover springs, Q2 Electronic, DST as well as 7 airbags.
The name MiTo has great evocative resonance for Alfa Romeo for it was chosen to mark the deep-seated link between the past and future of the brand: between Milan, the city of design that brought to the car’s style into being, and Turin, which will be responsible for its industrial production, a decision that highlights the brand’s strong desire to consolidate its Milanese roots. The Alfa Romeo MiTo is due to be launched gradually from July in all major markets.

We have taken the data gathered by the NICB for 2007 Top Thefts by State and turned it into a convenient interactive map.

Check it out here.

Des Plaines, IL – Hot Wheels 2008, the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s (NICB) companion study to its annual Hot Spots auto theft report examines data reported to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and determines the vehicle make, model, and model year most reported stolen in 2007. See the full report at www.nicb.org.

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