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115 Winners of 2012 Top Safety Pick

ARLINGTON, VA — The list of winners of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award is longer than ever this year, with vehicles in nearly every size category the Institute evaluates earning accolades. From minicars to sedans to pickups, consumers have a record number of choices among 2012 models.

In all, 69 cars, 38 SUVs, 5 minivans, and 3 pickups earn Top Safety Pick. The award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rollover, and rear crashes based on ratings in Institute evaluations. The ratings, which cover all 4 of the most common kinds of crashes, help shoppers pick vehicles that offer the highest levels of crash protection. Because the federal government now requires all 2012 and later passenger vehicles to have electronic stability control to help drivers avoid loss-of-control crashes, ESC no longer is a requirement to win as it was in prior years.

The winners' circle includes 18 new recipients for 2012, while 97 models that previously qualified for the 2011 award carry over to 2012.

"For the second year running a record number of models qualify," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "It's tough to win, and we commend auto manufacturers for making safety a top priority."

That commitment to protecting people in crashes is evident in the fast pace of design improvements automakers have made during the past year. Initially 66 vehicles qualified for last year's award as less-than-perfect rollover ratings held back many contenders. Later the number climbed to 100 as manufacturers redesigned roofs to make them stronger or introduced new models to win. The Institute's rolling test schedule allows for recognition of additional winners throughout the year, so many 2012 models qualified for a 2011 Top Safety Pick.

Again this year every major automaker has at least one winner. Subaru remains the only manufacturer with the distinction of earning awards for every model it builds. Subaru picks up 5 awards, including one for the redesigned Impreza, a small car.

Toyota/Lexus/Scion has 15 winners for 2012, more than any other auto manufacturer. General Motors is next in line with 14, followed by Volkswagen/Audi with 13, and Ford/Lincoln and Honda/Acura with 12 awards apiece.

Honda improves: Ten of the 18 new additions are Honda/Acura models, including the midsize Accord sedan, which hasn't earned Top Safety Pick since the Institute toughened criteria to win the 2010 award by adding a test to assess roof strength in a rollover crash.

Vehicles rated good for rollover protection have roofs more than twice as strong as the current federal standard requires. The Institute estimates that such roofs reduce the risk of serious and fatal injury in single-vehicle rollovers by about 50 percent compared with roofs meeting the minimum requirement. A new federal standard for roof strength will phase in beginning with 2013 models.

Roofs on the 2009 Honda CR-V and 2010 Pilot scored marginal ratings in prior Institute tests, while earlier models of the Accord, CR-Z, Fit, and Insight rated acceptable. Now all of these 2012 models earn good ratings and Top Safety Pick.

"Honda/Acura deserves credit for most-improved status," Lund says. "The automaker buckled down and upgraded roofs on 10 models that missed winning last year because of rollover protection. Now, the automaker has winners in the minicar, small car, midsize car, small SUV, midsize SUV, minivan, and large pickup categories."

Another midsize sedan, the Toyota Camry, earns its first-ever Top Safety Pick. Last year, the Camry missed the mark because of a marginal rating for seat/head restraints. The Toyota Yaris also earns its first Top Safety Pick award. Toyota upgraded the roof and seat/head restraints of the 4-door hatchback model to win. Good ratings secure the Yaris a spot alongside 3 other minicars, the Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta, and Honda Fit, as 2012 winners.

"It's great to see the Accord and Camry, 2 of the top-selling midsize cars in the U.S. market, join the Top Safety Pick ranks this year," Lund says. "The Accord previously won the 2009 award but has been missing from the list since then."

With fuel efficiency and reduced emissions on many buyers' wish lists, the winners' circle includes more green choices. Toyota's all-new Prius v is among them. Roomier than the original, the v hybrid brings to 15 the number of winners available as hybrids. The plug-in electric Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf, winners in 2011, also earn this year's award.

For drivers who need to haul loads, the Ford F-150, Honda Ridgeline, and Toyota Tundra are good choices in the large pickup category. Small pickups continue to be shut out. None the Institute has evaluated qualify for the award.

"When we launched Top Safety Pick in 2005, consumers had 11 models to pick from. Six years later, finding a winner that fits most budgets and lifestyles is easy," Lund says. "It's a testament to the commitment automakers have made to going above and beyond minimum safety standards."

About the award: The Institute awarded the first Top Safety Pick to 2006 models and then raised the bar the next year by requiring good rear test results and ESC as either standard or optional equipment. In 2010, the Institute toughened criteria by adding a requirement that all qualifiers must earn a good rating for performance in a roof strength test to assess protection in a rollover crash.

The Institute groups winners according to vehicle type and size. Lund advises consumers to keep in mind that size and weight influence crashworthiness. Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford better occupant protection in serious crashes than smaller, lighter ones. Even with a Top Safety Pick, a small car isn't as crashworthy as a bigger one.

How vehicles are evaluated: The Institute's frontal crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of 40 mph frontal offset crash tests. Each vehicle's overall evaluation is based on measurements of intrusion into the occupant compartment, injury measures recorded on a 50th percentile male Hybrid III dummy in the driver seat, and analysis of slow-motion film to assess how well the restraint system controlled dummy movement during the test.

Side evaluations are based on performance in a crash test in which the side of a vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph. The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV. Ratings reflect injury measures recorded on 2 instrumented SID-IIs dummies representing a 5th percentile woman, assessment of head protection countermeasures, and the vehicle's structural performance during the impact.

In the roof strength test, a metal plate is pushed against 1 side of a roof at a displacement rate of 0.2 inch per second. To earn a good rating for rollover protection, the roof must withstand a force of 4 times the vehicle's weight before reaching 5 inches of crush. This is called a strength-to-weight ratio.

Rear crash protection is rated according to a 2-step procedure. Starting points for the ratings are measurements of head restraint geometry — the height of a restraint and its horizontal distance behind the back of the head of an average-size man.

Seat/head restraints with good or acceptable geometry are tested dynamically using a dummy that measures forces on the neck. This test simulates a collision in which a stationary vehicle is struck in the rear at 20 mph. Seats without good or acceptable geometry are rated poor overall because they can't be positioned to protect many people.

ALL 115 WINNERS

Minicars
Fiat 500 built after July 2011
Ford Fiesta sedan and hatchback
Honda Fit
Toyota Yaris 4-door hatchback

Small cars
Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet Sonic
Chevrolet Volt
Ford Focus
Honda Civic 4-door
Honda CR-Z
Honda Insight
Hyundai Elantra
Kia Forte sedan
Kia Soul
Lexus CT 200h
Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback
Mini Cooper Countryman
Mitsubishi Lancer except Ralliart and Evolution
Nissan Cube
Nissan Juke
Nissan Leaf
Scion tC
Scion xB
Scion xD
Subaru Impreza except WRX
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Golf 4-door
Volkswagen GTI 4-door

Midsize moderately priced cars
Audi A3
Buick Verano
Chevrolet Malibu
Chrysler 200 4-door
Dodge Avenger
Ford Fusion
Honda Accord
Hyundai Sonata
Kia Optima
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Toyota Camry
Toyota Prius v
Volkswagen Jetta sedan
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen
Volkswagen Passat
Volvo C30

Midsize luxury/near luxury cars
Acura TL built after September 2011
Acura TSX sedan and hatchback
Audi A4
Lincoln MKZ
Mercedes C-Class
Volkswagen CC except 4-wheel drive
Volvo S60

Large family cars
Buick LaCrosse
Buick Regal
Chrysler 300
Dodge Charger
Ford Taurus
Toyota Avalon

Large luxury cars
Audi A6
BMW 5 series except 4-wheel drive and V8
Cadillac CTS sedan
Hyundai Equus
Hyundai Genesis
Infiniti M37/M56 except M56x 4-wheel drive
Lincoln MKS
Mercedes E-Class sedan
Mercedes E-Class coupe
Saab 9-5
Volvo S80

Small SUVs
Honda CR-V
Hyundai Tucson
Jeep Patriot with optional side torso airbags
Kia Sportage
Subaru Forester
Volkswagen Tiguan

Midsize SUVs
Chevrolet Equinox
Dodge Durango
Dodge Journey
Ford Edge
Ford Explorer
Ford Flex
GMC Terrain
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Kia Sorento
Subaru Tribeca
Toyota Highlander
Toyota Venza

Midsize luxury SUVs
Acura MDX
Audi Q5
BMW X3
Cadillac SRX
Infiniti EX35
Lexus RX
Lincoln MKT
Lincoln MKX
Mercedes GLK
Mercedes M-Class
Saab 9-4X
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC90

Large SUVs
Buick Enclave
Chevrolet Traverse
GMC Acadia
Volkswagen Touareg

Minivans
Chrysler Town & Country
Dodge Grand Caravan
Honda Odyssey
Toyota Sienna
Volkswagen Routan

Large pickups
Ford F-150 crew cab models
Honda Ridgeline
Toyota Tundra crew cab model

Source: IIHS

Kia has recently won the 2012 Engine of the Year award thanks to its 1.6 petrol unit

While Europeans and Asians are busy giving cars with the “classic” Car of the Year award, the North American automotive market is obviously stranger and it’s giving the South Korean based automaker Kia the 2012 Engine of the Year Award, thanks to the 1.6 liter petrol unit. According to the car manufacturer, the engine that “won” the award has a 1.6 liter displacement and it has an inline four-cylinder layout, offering a great report in fuel consumption and performance.

The 1.6 liter four-cylinder direct injection engine made by Kia is developing a total output of 139 horsepower and it was developed out of older 1.4 liter and 1.6 liter units which used to power the Kia Cee’d and the Hyundai i30. Despite its main competition constantly upgraded its engine lineup, downsizing its units and fitting them with turbochargers, the South Korean based automaker Kia has remained faithful to naturally aspirated engines this whole time and thanks to the chain distribution, which was constantly used until a few years ago on most models, its vehicles can do over 200.000 kilometers without having major problems.

Source: inautonews.com

2011 NBA Preseason Begins Friday, Dec.16th! What NBA team are you most excited to watch this year?

The NBA today released its 2011 preseason schedule, a 30-game slate that tips off Friday, Dec. 16, with four games and continues until Thursday, Dec. 22, when two games wrap up the preseason.

NBA TV will broadcast at least 10 preseason contests live including Florida’s intrastate rivalry when the Orlando Magic hosts the Miami Heat Dec. 21 (7 p.m. ET), with Marv Albert and Mike Fratello calling the game and Craig Sager providing courtside reporting. For the other games, NBA TV will provide one of the local telecasts.

Kia NBA Tip-Off ’11 is scheduled for Christmas Day with five games on the slate. The Boston Celtics visit the New York Knicks to tip off the season at 12 p.m. ET. We then present a double-header when the Dallas Mavericks host the Miami Heat in a rematch of The Finals (2:30 p.m. ET), followed by the Chicago Bulls visiting the Los Angeles Lakers (5 p.m. ET). The day rounds off with a pair of games when the Oklahoma City Thunder hosts the Orlando Magic (8 p.m. ET), and the Los Angeles Clippers visit the Golden State Warriors (10:30 p.m. ET).

2011 NBA preseason schedule:

Date Game Location Time (local)
December 16 Philadelphia @ Washington Verizon Center, Washington, DC 7:00PM
December 16 Chicago @ Indiana Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN 7:00PM
December 16 New Orleans @ Memphis FedExForum, Memphis, TN 7:00PM
December 16 Cleveland @ Detroit The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, MI 7:30PM*

December 17 New York @ New Jersey Prudential Center, Newark, NJ 2:00PM*
December 17 Milwaukee @ Minnesota Target Center, Minneapolis, MN 7:00PM
December 17 San Antonio @ Houston Toyota Center, Houston, TX 7:00PM*
December 17 Sacramento @ Golden State Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA 7:30PM*

December 18 Boston @ Toronto Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON 1:00PM
December 18 Orlando @ Miami AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, FL 6:00PM
December 18 Oklahoma City @ Dallas American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX 6:30PM*

December 19 Atlanta @ Charlotte Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC 7:00PM*
December 19 Utah @ Portland Rose Garden, Portland, OR 7:00PM
December 19 LA Clippers @ LA Lakers Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA 7:30PM*

December 20 Washington @ Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA 7:00PM*
December 20 Detroit @ Cleveland Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH 7:00PM
December 20 Indiana @ Chicago United Center, Chicago, IL 7:00PM
December 20 Dallas @ Oklahoma City Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK 7:00PM
December 20 Phoenix @ Denver Pepsi Center, Denver, CO 7:00PM
December 20 Golden State @ Sacramento PowerBalance Pavilion, Sacramento, CA 7:00PM

December 21 Miami @ Orlando Amway Center, Orlando, FL 7:00PM*
December 21 Minnesota @ Milwaukee Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI 7:00PM
December 21 Memphis @ New Orleans New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA 7:00PM
December 21 Portland @ Utah EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, UT 7:00PM
December 21 Toronto @ Boston TD Garden, Boston, MA 7:30PM
December 21 New Jersey @ New York Madison Square Garden, New York, NY 7:30PM
December 21 Houston @ San Antonio AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX 7:30PM
December 21 LA Lakers @ LA Clippers Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA 7:30PM*

December 22 Denver @ Phoenix US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ 7:00PM
December 22 Charlotte @ Atlanta Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA 7:30PM

* Denotes games televised by NBA TV

Source: PhilBoxing.com

Stop in now between January 3rd and receive up to $2,500 in rebates!

Stop in now between January 3rd and receive up to $2,500 in rebates and 2.9% APR for 60 months on the 2012 Kia Sorento! Recently named a Consumer Digest Best Buy and a 2011 IIHS Top Safety Pick; making the 2012 Kia Sorento a great car for your anyone in your family.  Learn more about this vehicle special. 

We would like to thank Julie for sharing her experience with us. Great work team!

"We purchased a used 2009 Kia Sedona. When we bought the van, they had exactly what we wanted, i.e. color, leather interior, large model, etc. Luckily, it was the last one and a pretty good price as well. We also showed up 15 mins prior to closing time and the staff worked with us until we were finished and even traded in our old vehicle at the same time. We drove out of the lot almost an hour past closing with our new, used van. I have been happy with it since. I am very impressed with the service as they will give a free wash anytime for no reason. You don't have to have a repair done in order to get a wash like other dealerships. Plus, our first oil change is free, which we have yet to use. Thanks Kia of Puyallup for making our car buying experience successful and pleasureful. The only thing I would suggest is a popcorn machine :) for the customers while they wait and maybe water." - Julie

Four Kia Vehicles Named Consumers Digest “Best Buys”

Consumers Digest just named four Kia vehicles “Best Buys” – the 2012 Kia Optima, 2012 Sorento, 2012 Soul, and 2012 Sportage. This latest recognition comes after Kia Motors America (KMA) announced the company’s best-ever October sales and setting its 14th consecutive monthly sales record.

“Kia’s design-led transformation continues to attract new customers to Kia showrooms with stand-out design, fuel efficiency, a host of standard amenities as well as residual values that continue to outpace the industry,” said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing & communications, KMA. “Receiving four ‘Best Buy’ designations from Consumers Digest reflects the increasing awareness and consideration for the Kia brand, which we expect to continue with the 2012 Rio 5-door and Soul, now arriving in showrooms.”

Vehicles chosen as Consumers Digest “Best Buy” deliver the most value for the money in their classes based on purchase price and cost to own relative to criteria such as comfort, performance, and utility.

Source: kiainthenews.com