Blog - Auto Body Shop Morgan Hill, CA | 408-776-3110 | Morgan Hill Auto Body |Collision Repair

I Can’t Drunk Drive at .05

May 16, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

A new title twist on the old Sammy Hagar classic rock song & video, “I Can’t Drive 55” …except the latest idea may just make the roads alot safer for everyone instead. The auto safety and driving news world is focused this week on new proposed legislation from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) suggesting that hundreds of lives could be saved each year if the legal blood alcohol content limit (BAC) were lowered from the current 0.08 to the proposed 0.05. Since one-third of all traffic fatalities today are alcohol related the NTSB submits that your risk of being in a car crash will be cut in half if the recommended lower level of 0.05 BAC is enforced. Here are some stories with differing viewpoints on the new proposal.

In Support of Lowering the Blood-Alcohol Limit to 0.05 – CarandDriver

by Clifford Atiyeh

When Roger Sterling takes a glass of vodka “for the road” on the television drama Mad Men, we laugh it off as another bit of black comedy. We’re smirking on our couches, nervously, from the reckless, carte blanche behavior seen on the show’s fictional 1960s setting. But five decades on, despite hundreds of laws on the books, drunk driving is still a very real problem. This week, the National Transportation Safety Board—the federal agency that investigates deadly air and road crashes—proposed lowering the legal blood-alcohol-content threshold from 0.08 percent to 0.05. And while many governors, restaurants, and even the acclaimed Mothers Against Drunk Driving are against it, we’re inclined—as professionals who drive cars for a living—to support tougher drunk-driving laws.

Most European countries, Australia, and even South Africa rely on a 0.05 limit. In Sweden, which has a 0.02-percent limit… [Read More]

To Combat Drunk Driving, NTSB Wants Tougher Blood-Alcohol Limits – TheCarConnection

Seeking to toughen the allowable alcohol limit for drivers, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is calling on states to lower the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) to 0.05 or lower from the current 0.08. The intent behind the proposed new standard is to cut down on the nearly 10,000 annual deaths related to alcohol-impaired driving…

Should we idiot-proof cars for an America that sucks at driving? – Jalopnik

by Juan Barnett

Yesterday NTSB presented a brilliant and innovative idea to reduce alcohol-related traffic fatalities – states should raise their measure of drunk (Blood Alcohol Content) from .08 to .05. The government reaches in the closet for a solution only to pull out…a bigger stick.

Morgan Hill Auto Body News : 3-30-13

March 30, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

Subaru gives a peek at next-generation WRX | CNET

by Wayne Cunningham

Subaru’s WRX concept takes the stage during the 2013 New York auto show. (Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

NEW YORK–When Subaru updated its Impreza for the 2012 model year, enthusiast were left wondering when a WRX version would follow. Here at the 2013 New York International Auto Show, the wait wasn’t over, but Subaru did hint at its WRX development work.

At the show, Subaru pulled the covers off the WRX concept, a sedan with fastback styling.

Subaru WRX concept makes world debut in New York (pictures)

[Read more]

Tesla takes on Texas in latest franchise law battle | AutoNews

In its latest battle with state dealer associations, electric vehicle maker Tesla Motors is trying to change existing franchise laws in Texas.

NHTSA SaferCar app allows consumers to track safety ratings, recalls | Autoblog

by Chris Tutor

While many car shoppers say safety is a big factor in their choice of new car, there hasn’t been an easy to way to access data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The government agency’s website is clunky at best, and close to unusable on mobile devices.

That’s why NHTSA decided to release the SaferCar app for mobile iOS devices. Users can easily access crash test ratings, recalls and complaints about hundreds of cars. Use the app to scan your car’s VIN and it will even alert you to news and recall notices. The app also helps with the proper installation of child safety seats by directing users to the nearest fire or police station and other entities that can assist.

But possibly a more important piece of news from NHTSA today is that it will open up its databanks and Application Programming Interfaces (API) to other app developers so the data can be used in other apps. NHTSA will even publish an online course to teach programmers how to access and use the APIs.

The free app is available now from Apple’s App Store, and you can read more about it in the press release below.

Continue reading NHTSA SaferCar app allows consumers to track safety ratings, recalls

I-CAR Announces Decision on OEM Repair Procedures Request | BodyShopBusiness

Organization will not uphold requests to recognize OEM repair procedures as industry standard. [Read More]

Morgan Hill Auto Body News : 2-28-13

February 28, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

2013 Volvo C30 R-Design Polestar Limited Edition [w/video] | Autoblog

by Jeffrey N. Ross

Last Hurrah Comes and Goes In A Hurry

It isn’t very often that we drive a new car that’s already out of production, but that’s exactly what has happened with this 2013 Volvo C30. After just five years on the North American market, the last C30 quietly rolled off the assembly line back in December. But before that happened, Volvo decided to send its compact hatchback out on a high note with a little added performance and exclusivity courtesy of this R-Design Polestar Limited Edition model.

The term “hot hatch” is admittedly tossed around a lot these days, but the combination of an R-Design styling package coupled with a good number of extra ponies under the hood should be more than enough to put the C30 in the mix with the likes of the Volkswagen GTI and its not-too-distant cousin, the Mazdaspeed3. The chief problem with the Polestar Limited Edition, though, is that it’s priced against sportier all-wheel-drive compacts like the Golf R and Subaru WRX STI, so we decided to spend a week with the Polestar to see if its exclusivity and performance are enough to make up for its higher price tag.

Continue reading 2013 Volvo C30 R-Design Polestar Limited Edition [w/video]

The Toyota FT-86 Open Concept Is Here To Scare The Mazda Miata | Jalopnik

by Travis Okulski

The Mazda Miata has dominated the small, open top rear-drive market for nearly 25 years now. It’s a personal favorite of mine as well as many on staff here. But the Toyobaru twins have been able to match it on the fun to drive scale. They just didn’t have that open top flair.

Until now.

The Toyota FT-86 Open Concept is a barely disguised look at what a convertible Toyota GT86/Scion FR-S and possibly a Subaru BRZ roadster will look like.

This concept comes with an electrically folding soft top. It also has an iPhone holder in the interior in the shape of the 86.

Smart Toyota. Smart.

We imagine it has the same flat four under the hood with 200 horsies and has gained a little bit of heft from the needed added stiffening.

I think it looks pretty good. Not Miata good, but I’m very biased.

We’ll see the real deal next week at the Geneva Motor Show.

Morgan Hill Auto Body News : 1-30-13

January 30, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

2013 Lexus ES350 | Autoblog

by Michael Harley

Finally Saying Goodbye To Its Camry Roots

In its equivalent world of breakfast foods, the Lexus ES350 is unquestionably the pancake. While its siblings may offer more interesting textures, flavors and consistencies – a generally more exciting culinary experience – the four-door ES is designed with ‘indistinct’ as its middle name. Its objective is to please just about every entry-level luxury buyer once it ends up on their plate.

Even after a complete redesign for the 2013 model year, the sixth-generation Lexus ES350 emerges every bit as family-friendly and non-polarizing as its predecessors. It is the everyman’s luxury sedan, offering attractive pricing and a satisfying fill of amenities and features with the sweetness of a long warranty and polished customer service to back things up.

As a result of its overall wholesomeness and demeanor, the ES350 sells like hotcakes, too. Last year, 56,158 customers took delivery, thus allowing the five-passenger sedan to continue its reign as the highest sales volume Lexus passenger car (it outsells the bigger LS nearly seven-to-one).

To learn more about the all-new ES, and take our own taste of its goodness, we recently spent a week with the midsize luxury sedan in Southern California.

Continue reading 2013 Lexus ES350

Quick news: New trims for A3 Cabriolet; BiTurbo power for Zafira Tourer

from Autocar

Audi A3 Cabriolet production ends after special edition announced; Vauxhall Zafira Tourer gains BiTurbo diesel

A limited run of the Audi A3 Cabriolet has been announced as the model ends its production run. The A3 Cabriolet Sport Final Edition and S-line Final Edition models replace the standard Sport and S-line trims and are priced from £23,775 and £30,615 respectively. Both models feature a range of extra equipment as standard, including leather seats.

The Vauxhall Zafira Tourer is now offered with the firm’s BiTurbo diesel engine. The 2.0-litre, 192bhp engine delivers an 8.5sec 0-60mph time and a top speed of 135mph. Vauxhall claims 50.4mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of 149g/km. It is priced from £27,685 with cars arriving in showrooms in the spring.

Porsche: Dealer profits, sales per store on the rise

from Auto News Feed

With more new products coming, sales per dealership at U.S. Porsche stores should jump 30 percent during the next three years, says Michael Bartsch, COO of Porsche Cars North America.

How To Improve Your Vehicle’s Fuel Efficiency | CarJunky

Get tips on how to improve your vehicle’s fuel efficiency from the experts at Royal Purple. Find out how to take care of your car’s fuel system with some simple car maintenance suggestions. [Read More]

Morgan Hill Auto Body News : 12-31-12

December 31, 2012 by admin

Infiniti teases Q50, an update to the G sedan | CNET

by Wayne Cunningham

Infiniti’s teaser photo reveals some radically new styling for the G sedan replacement.

(Credit: Infiniti)

Infiniti says it will unveil a new sport sedan, called the Q50, at the upcoming Detroit auto show. The model introduces the brand’s new naming strategy, and is billed as a replacement for the current G sedan.

Typical for pre-auto-show teasers, all we get is an image of the new car’s headlight. However, that shot reveals styling much different than seen on current Infiniti G and M models. Rather than the high lens of the current headlights, which mold into the pontoon-like front fenders, the teaser shows a hooded headlight topped by an LED strip.

The headlight design suggests the Q50 will resemble the LE concept we saw at the 2012 New York auto show. That concept sported a hood rising above the fenders, a radical change to current Infiniti styling. The spindle-shaped grille looked similar to that being introduced by Lexus.

Infiniti’s new naming strategy uses Q for every model, followed by a double digit to indicate size. Models named QX will be crossovers. The Q50 replaces the G sedan, while a Q60 replaces the G coupe. A future Q70 takes the place of the current M56. Infiniti has not said where or how hybrid models will fit into this naming strategy.

One detail slipped into a message from Infinit… [Read more]

Top 12 cars of 2012: Pagani Huayra | AutoCar

Breathtaking successor to the Zonda was one of craziest and most exciting cars we drove all yearThe 720bhp, 230mph Pagani Huayra was probably the wildest and certainly the fastest car that we drove this year. But then they don’t tend to do things by halves at Pagani. Never have done, never will.The legendary Zonda that preceded the Huayra (pronounced why-raa) was one of the world’s maddest, most iconic supercars, so replacing it was always going to be tough. Especially since Horacio Pagani had decided that he wanted to sell his new car in America (unlike the Zonda), which meant that all sorts of noise and emissions regulations would need to be adhered to this time round.In the event, what Pagani came up with was breathtaking – quite literally, given the fact that the car had to have a turbocharged engine in order to ensure it of a 10-year shelf life. But the Huayra’s 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12, designed and engineered specifically for the car by AMG, isn’t exactly your run-of-the-mill force-fed engine. This is a monster of a powerhouse in every way imaginable, and it defines the Huayra’s personality every bit as much as its beguilingly aerodynamic lines or its actively aero-enhanced chassis do. [Read More]

Taking The Scare Out Of Bad-Weather Driving | CarJunky

Taking the scare out of bad weather driving is simple when you know the car care tips that will keep your car in optimum driving condition. Get a free car care guide that will tell all about how to be safe during the upcoming bad weather winter brings. [Read More]

« Previous Page
1
…
3
4
5
6
7
…
9
Next Page »