William Maley

It should be noted that the base CTS 2.0T and VSport models will not be affected by the price cuts.

Ariel is a very crazy company. Founded in 1902 as motorcycle manufacturer in Great Britain, the name was resurrected some years back to produce some of maddest street-legal track cars called the Atom. Think motorized scaffolding and you come close to what Ariel builds. The past couple of years have seen the company expand to building motorcycles. Now the company is now taking on the off-road buggy with the Nomad. The Nomad follows the same minimalistic approach as the Atom with a visible tubular steel frame - that is laser-cut, CNC-machined, bronze-welded, and phosphate and powder-coated - , an engine mounted in the back, and a bare bones interior. Where the Nomad differs from the Atom is a fully adjustable wishbone suspension which uses long-travel Bilstein shocks and Eibach variable springs. This allows the Nomad to have up 12 inches of ground clearance, and a 71-degree approach and 82-degree departure angle. Power will come from a Honda-supplied 2.4L four-cylinder that Ariel has tuned to produce 235 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. This is paired up to a six-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential. Tipping the scales at 1,477 pounds, Ariel claims a 0-60 MPH time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 125 MPH. A set of 9.5-inch rotors front and rear help keep the Nomad in check, while wheel choices range from 15 to 18 inches. The frame will be covered by composite body panels to protect passengers in the completely waterproof interior. Ariel says the Nomad will go into production for the UK this spring with a starting price tag of £27,500 before taxes (about $42,000). Ariel goes on to say they are in discussions with their North American partner, TMI Autotech to build the Nomad here. Source: Ariel Press Release is on Page 2 Ariel Nomad Introduction Ariel Motor Company announce the launch of the latest addition to the Ariel family – the Ariel Nomad. A brother to the now iconic Ariel Atom, the Nomad shares the same Ariel family genes as well as the proven Atom recipe of light weight, high performance and ultra reliability. But where the Atom is to road and track, the Nomad is to road and off it. Outboard suspension, raised ground clearance, long travel dampers, damage resistant body panels, washable interior and a host of options tailor the Nomad to go off road to places that an Atom and most car owners couldn't or wouldn't consider. Ariel's mission to put the fun back into driving takes another big and dirty step. The Nomad will be shown for the first time at the UK International Autosport Show and will made in low volume, alongside the Atom, at the Ariel factory near Crewkerne in Somerset. To be manufactured in similar quantities to the Atom, at up to 100 cars per annum, production of the Nomad begins in Spring 2015 with orders being taken immediately. For power the Nomad continues to build on the long standing relationship between Ariel and Honda, that began with the Ariel Atom and continued with the Ariel Ace motorcycle released in 2014. Featuring the 2.4 litre 4 cylinder K24 iVTEC engine the Nomad combines the ultra dependable, high volume drive train from Honda with Ariel's particular low volume production skills and bespoke build system. The result is a highly individual and exclusive vehicle but one with the reliability and provenance expected in today's market. As with the Atom and the Ace, the unique way that Ariel build vehicles allows each Nomad to be exactly tailored to individual customer choice and personalised for their own particular use and taste. With an emphasis on the advantages of low volume production and the particular benefits that this gives the customer, the Nomad demonstrates the positive aspects of Ariel's size and approach. No two Nomads will be the same and each one will be made to customer specification - a quality that is only possible with Ariel's hand built production. "There are things that we can do at low volume that you simply couldn't contemplate with mass production." said Simon Saunders, Director of Ariel. "We understand niche markets and we understand customers' demands completely. Everything we have learnt from the Atom has gone into Nomad and it shows. Nomad is Atom's tough brother and a continuation of our 'SERIOUS FUN' philosophy. If we can put a smile on people's faces, on road or off it, we have done our job". From an ultra cool road car or a 21st Century take on the dune buggy, to a high performance, off road competition vehicle, the Nomad is the third Ariel to put the passion back into driving. Designed by the in house Ariel team the concept of an 'off road Atom' has been nurtured for some time, fuelled by owners who have occasionally contemplated an 'Atom with knobbly tyres'. Although sharing a certain amount of proven Atom components, as well as its minimal design philosophy, the Nomad has been designed and engineered for the specific task of on and off road driving as well as having fun at all times. Tested on WRC stages, rock falls and off road race tracks, as well as proving grounds and race circuits, the Nomad has proved itself in all manner of environments and in varying climatic conditions. With a longer term ambition to compete off road, Ariel are considering the possibilities of rallying the Nomad as well as looking at Rallycross and Autocross possibilities. Competing in the 2 wheel drive class of Rally Raids is also a long term ambition for the Nomad. Said Henry Siebert-Saunders (Henry S-S) of Ariel, heading up the Nomad development, "Competition has always been an ambition for the Nomad since Day 1 of the project and, like the Atom, we know from experience that it directly improves the breed. It's early days but I want to see Nomads competing in as many forms of motorsport as possible, from local club racing to international level." Each Nomad will be handbuilt by one Ariel technician in an individual build bay, as with the Atom sports car and the Ace motorcycle, giving customers an even closer relationship with the creation of their own car. They can visit the factory to see their vehicle in build and discuss their Nomad directly with the technician building it, making this one of the most personal and bespoke vehicles in the world. Only when an Ariel technician is satisfied and has personally road tested it will the Nomad gain his personal build plate. Kelvin Marshall, chief technician on the Nomad prototype build and test cars, said, "We get to know our customers personally and we want everything to be perfect for them. You put a lot of yourself into every Ariel you build so it's a lot more than just building a car for an unknown person – it's like gaining another member of the family." Options allow customers to specify their Nomad exactly so that it becomes their Nomad and theirs alone. This tailor made aspect of Ariel is unique at this end of the automotive industry and allows Ariel customers to personalise their Nomad for their particular use. Different tyres, wheels, competition parts, engine tuning and suspension components are available focussed to off road and on road performance, as well as windscreen, underbody protection, lamps, bumper bars and winches. Full weather equipment for winter and off road conditions will also be available. As with other Ariels, the Nomad is also upgradeable over a period of time. Owners of Nomads can return their vehicles to the factory where upgrades, modifications and new options can be fitted to change it for different uses or to modify the specification at any time. Like altering a tailor made suit this is a system that has been incredibly effective with the Atom, where owners have kept their cars for many years changing them as their priorities or interests alter. Performance of the Nomad has been aimed at a mix of road and off road performance with inlet and outlet manifolds tuned for power and torque combined with fuelling and mapping via a Hondata ECU. Performance figures are similar to a standard Atom but necessarily restricted by specification and tyre choice. 0-60 takes around 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 136mph are standard for the car. Chassis Central to the Nomad is the recognisable Ariel perimeter space frame, again with form following function and an aesthetic derived from the engineering demands of the vehicle. Now an Ariel signature, the multi diameter structural steel chassis is created with laser cut components and CNC formed tubes which are bronze welded by hand. This mixture of modern technology with British craftsmanship is pivotal to Ariel's philosophy and gives a quality only achievable in low volume production. With built in roll over protection the chassis offers a full safety cage for very high levels of occupant safety as well as enormous structural rigidity. Phosphated and powder coated to customer choice of colour the Nomad chassis gives high levels of visibility off road as well as retaining the individual Ariel aesthetic. Engine and Transmission The Nomad retains Honda power, so successfully used in the Ariel Atom and more recently the Ariel Ace motorbike. Chosen for its power, torque , flexibility and advanced technology the 2.4 litre 4 cylinder unit used in the Nomad uses the same architecture as the Honda Type R found in the Atom, but with performance characteristics highly suitable for use in an off road vehicle. With the longer stroke, Honda iVTEC system plus tuned Ariel inlet and exhaust systems the engine gives 235bhp and 300 Nm of torque - as much as a supercharged Atom. Driving through a Honda 6 speed gearbox with Limited Slip Differential the Nomad has passenger car driveability on road but massive ability off road. Although only two wheel drive, the light weight of the Nomad at 670 kilos allows it to outperform 4 wheel drive vehicles in many situations as well as limiting mechanical complexity. Further options of different differentials are available according to the use the Nomad is put to. Suspension Ariel's knowledge and experience of making lightweight vehicles handle in on and off road environments as well as competition has been used to give the Nomad compliance on the road whilst maintaining wheel contact and suspension travel off it in many varying conditions. Double unequal length and adjustable wishbones are mounted on high-angle metalastic rubber bushes with high grade outer ball joints, giving road comfort and meeting strength requirements for off road conditions. The Nomad features outboard aluminium dampers, in contrast to the inboard units on the Atom, to give the suspension travel and robustness required, Developed in conjunction with Bilstein, known for their skill in lightweight vehicle suspension, the low friction, monotube design has been valved to give road comfort but also off road and on track performance. Complemented by Eibach variable and two piece springs, which can specified to suit customer preferences, the visible suspension is another Ariel trademark giving functional beauty and easy access for adjustment. Dependant on tyre and wheel specification the Nomad has over 300mm (12") of ground clearance, a front approach angle of 71 degrees and departure angle of 82 degrees. Designed for very high speed off road driving as well as low speed crawling and normal road driving, the suspension has various options to suit whatever purpose the Nomad is being used for. Customers have the option of different dampers and springs, tailored specifically for the Nomad and tuned for the varying conditions it will be used in. Brakes, Tyres and Wheels Braking is via an adjustable front/rear bias system featuring a choice of two piston and four piston calipers. Ariel's long association with Alcon Components continues with the Nomad which features ventilated discs and light alloy calipers to minimise unsprung weight. Proven repeatedly on track and performance challenges the brakes offer ultimate stopping capability and driver control. All Nomads feature Goodridge stainless braided hose as standard equipment and for off road plus competition use there is the option of an in line hydraulic handbrake. To give ultimate performance the Nomad is available with a wide range of Yokohama tyres, suited to the particular use or conditions. Choices of high speed road, All Terrain and full Mud Terrain right through to Gravel/Forest Rally and Sand/Paddle tyres are all available with rims in 15" and 18" to suit, in both alloy for both off/on road use and magnesium for road use only. Body Bodywork is a mixture of materials carefully selected for use on the Nomad and its driving environment, both on and off road. Contactable body components, including front end, rear covers and mudguards are rotationally moulded in self coloured, toughened polyethylene plastic - the same process and material used to make road cones and boat fenders. The ultra tough material gives outstanding fit and finish but is virtually unbreakable, flexing and springing back rather than breaking. Other components are self coloured composite, plus carbon fibre option, with Twintex composite for light weight and protection. The interior, with individual lightweight seats is designed to be simple and completely weatherproof so that the Nomad can be driven in any conditions and then hosed out afterwards. The windscreen option with a twin wiper system gives forward protection whilst a full weather equipment option completes the package for use in off road or bad weather conditions, covering sides, rear and roof. "It's a bit of a moment for us," said Henry S-S, "it will be the first Ariel that has a roof and doors! Although they are zippable roll up units as weight and simplicity was of particular importance." Instrumentation is via a Race Technologies LCD dash, also found on the Atom. The instruments feature programmable gearshift lights plus multi screen information that can be set up and scrolled through by the driver. A further option is the addition of a data logger that can show real time performance as well as log to an in built Compact Flash card. Hella halogen headlamps and LED indicator, side and tail lamps form part of the Nomad road pack with additional spotlamps and LED markers, for off road use, available as options. All Nomads can be road registered in the UK and are available in left and right hand drive for export. Discussions are underway with North American Licensees, TMI Autotech, to build the Nomad in the USA. Nomad prices will start at around £27,500 in the UK plus VAT, with a comprehensive option list to allow each car to be tailored to order. View full article

I'm with Drew. I'm very excited for the S60 CC. My first thought of seeing it was the Legacy SUS from 98 or 99, which I was also a big fan.

15 months ago, Cadillac announced that it would be raising the price of the new CTS. This move worried dealers as it would cause buyers to look away. It seems their fears were founded as sales of the CTS this past year dropped 3.8 percent when compared to last year. Cadillac is doing something about that. Automotive News got their hands on a memo issued to Cadillac dealers yesterday which announced that it would reduce sticker prices on most 2015 CTS models by $1,000 to $3,000. It also plans on increasing the amount of standard features in the CTS. "We're taking what we've seen are the more desirable optional features for customers and making them more readily available. Once a car has been on the market for a while, it's not unusual to look at the customer behavior and try to optimize for it," said Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell. An example of a price cut in action is the CTS Premium Collection equipped with the 3.6L V6. Originally costing $65,765, the model will now have a new price of $62,765. The price cuts are shift in strategy for Cadillac. Last September, Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen said that price cuts were off the table. de Nysschen believes the brand needs to charge more to be more in line with the German competitors, along with increasing resale values and improve the brand's image. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) View full article

I think that Mercedes treats it as a separate brand. Well then should the Freightliner version be counted too? No that would be considered as Freightliner (Trying to use Mercedes-Benz logic.. hurting my head).

I think that Mercedes treats it as a separate brand.

The dream of the autonomous car on public roads could be closer than many of us think. Ford's CEO Mark Fields told analysts and reporters on the eve of the Consumer Electronics Show that he could see an automaker release a self-driving vehicle to the public within five years. “Fully autonomous vehicles are a real possibility,” said Fields. “Probably, in the next five years, you’ll see somebody introduce autonomous vehicles.” Audi demonstrated how far we have come in self-driving tech by having an Audi A7 equipped with the latest tech to drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas on its own. The vehicle was able to do 560 mile trip with no problem. But while technology is here, there are still a number of obstacles that automakers have to overcome with self-driving cars, such as laws and insurance details. Source: Bloomberg View full article

I think what Dfelt is inelegantly saying (sorry) is that Mercedes is making great inroads into Buick's market (GLA/CLA), Chevy's market (SMART) and GMC's market (Sprinter) but not so great at the core business that they're known for. Stated as such, I would be inclined to agree. Just for fun, taking out the sales of the GLA/CLA and Mercedes sees a modest 0.7% decline. Since I still believe the CLA probably stole a few sales from the C-Class, they'd probably be just about even for the year with relatively stagnant growth through the rest of the line-up. Still, that's better than Cadillac could manage and nearly 300k sales for year. But what is it if you drop smart and sprinter too? (I'd also argue against B-Class, but that is insignificant at this point). Mercedes Benz is competing outside their "box" so to speak. Cadillac is never going to get to the volume Mercedes does unless they fold Buick, the Spark, and the GMC commercial vans into the Cadillac lineup. Since that isn't going to happen ever, there is no point in comparing the overall numbers of Cadillac and Mercedes. Then Mercedes-Benz would still be ahead. BV's number are Mercedes-Benz (the brand) sales for the year. Also, Sprinter and smart only made a small chunk of Mercedes-Benz's sales for the year.

I think a lot of Cadillac's problems isn't the products, it's the image. A lot of buyers still think of Cadillac as old hat: the boring, boat of vehicle that their grandparents loved in the 70's to 90's. We know the products don't reflect this, but how do you change the perception? Consider this quote from the Cadillac ATS and Perception Game editorial that I wrote almost three years ago (scary to think about). It takes a long time for the reputation to be built up once more. I think Cadillac needs to boast about their cars and explain why they are great. Also, maybe work on their dealers. The cars are there, but everything else is still waiting.

They only added them in the Spring, mostly due to some changes at Mitsubishi's PR office in the U.S.

Great, now I see the Honda Insight in the Volt's design.

Being one of the people who actually likes Lexus and the GS.. I'm kind of sad they didn't go any further with 5.0L V8. Its basically the same as you'll find in the RC-F. I was hoping for 500 or maybe little bit more. Otherwise, I'm glad Lexus has revealed the GS-F. The long rumors of V10s in it were starting to get very stale.

The past few years have seen Consumer Electronics Show (CES) become a stage for automakers and suppliers to show off new technologies and even vehicles. Alongside the Chevrolet Volt sneak peek, GM also announced three new technologies for their vehicles. First up is Chevrolet announcing a new piece of tech that will be able to predict and notify drivers when certain components need some attention. This is possible by the OnStar 4G LTE system that newer Chevrolet vehicles are being shipped with. Sensors in the vehicle will send data to GM where servers will be able to predict when a part will fail and notify the owner via email, text message, in-vehicle alerts or through the OnStar RemoteLink smartphone app. “This is a new chapter in our pursuit to provide customers with convenience and the best overall service in the industry. Using our innovative OnStar 4G LTE connectivity platform, we can actively monitor vehicle component health and notify our customers if covered vehicle components need attention. Nobody else in the industry is offering this,” said Alicia Boler-Davis, General Motors senior vice president of Global Connected Customer Experience. The system will be available in Chevrolet vehicles in the 2016 model year. For the time being, the system will only be able to battery, starter motor and fuel pump; though the company is planning to add more parts in the future. Along with this change, GM also announced that its OnStar RemoteLink app will get the ability to send a monthly report to owners, outlining key details such as the vehicle’s tire pressure, oil life, and other key maintenance information. Next, OnStar announced AtYourService. This feature allows drivers to find local deals and make connections with merchants from their car. Launching this year in the U.S. and Canada, AtYourService has teamed up with the likes Dunkin’ Donuts, Priceline.com, RetailMeNot.com, and Entertainment Book to provide deals and information. If a driver using OnStar asks for directions to a point of interest and it has applicable deal or connection to one of its partners, an OnStar advisor can send the info right to the vehicle. “On the heels of our 4G LTE connectivity launch last year, OnStar will continually roll out powerful, simple ways to bring daily-relevant connected vehicle features like AtYourService to complement our foundation of safety and security technology. We will continue to innovate in ways that make our customers’ time on the road more efficient and more convenient,” said Mark Lloyd, consumer online officer for OnStar. The last announcement is for a new service that will track your driving driving habits during a 90 day span. After 90 days, OnStar will send feedback about how you drive and how you can become a safer driver. If you happen to have Progressive as your insurance provider, you can send that information to lower your insurance rate. Now the important item about this system is that you have the choice to opt in. "The driver assessment is meant to help people better understand how they drive and give them feedback on how to be better, smarter drivers. This is the first time we can use actual driving behavior to deliver valuable important feedback to customers who want this information. This new service truly shows the power of the connected car. The beauty of this program is that control is in the hands of the customer. If they wish to participate, we’ll inform them of their driving behavior and then they’re able to choose if they want to share their information with Progressive,” said Greg Ross, director of Business Development and Alliances, Global Connected Consumer Experience, General Motors. Source: General Motors Press Releases on Page 2 Chevrolet Opens New Chapter for Driver Assurance Customers will soon drive vehicles that can predict future service needs DETROIT – Chevrolet is using advanced connected vehicle technology to give customers an unprecedented level of assurance in their vehicles later this year. This industry-leading prognostic technology can predict and notify drivers when certain components need attention – in many cases before vehicle performance is impacted. The predictive technology is initially focused on the battery, starter motor and fuel pump, all critical to starting and keeping a vehicle running. Additional vehicle parts and components are expected to be added in future model years. “This is a new chapter in our pursuit to provide customers with convenience and the best overall service in the industry,” said Alicia Boler-Davis, General Motors senior vice president, Global Connected Customer Experience. “Using our innovative OnStar 4G LTE connectivity platform, we can actively monitor vehicle component health and notify our customers if covered vehicle components need attention. Nobody else in the industry is offering this.” Building on the 15-year history of connected vehicle technology through OnStar, the prognostic service relies on OnStar 4G LTE to provide data streams from sensors within the vehicle. When a customer has enrolled their properly equipped vehicle in this service, the data is sent to OnStar’s secure servers and proprietary algorithms are applied to assess whether certain conditions could impact vehicle performance. When indicated, notifications are sent to the customer via email, text message, in-vehicle alerts or through the OnStar RemoteLink smartphone app. This service is expected to be available on select 2016 Chevrolet Equinox, Tahoe, Suburban, Corvette, Silverado and Silverado HD models equipped with certain powertrains, followed by more Chevrolet vehicles throughout the 2016 model year. Prognostic capability is the latest advancement in a suite of services that will keep Chevrolet customers informed from the first day of ownership through many years into the future. Another Advancement in Vehicle Diagnostics Chevrolet customers with an active OnStar connection today can monitor tire pressure, oil life and other key data points via the OnStar RemoteLink smartphone app or through a monthly diagnostic email sent from the vehicle. In 2016, Chevrolet is adding a new capability, which allows customers to check these key data points continuously, without having to wait for their monthly email. Keeping a vehicle’s tires filled to the recommended pressure and keeping vital systems well-maintained can lower fuel costs and extend a vehicle’s life. Together, Chevrolet’s advanced diagnostic and prognostic capabilities will keep owners more informed and empowered to make every trip confidently through years of ownership. OnStar AtYourService Brings Commerce to Connected Cars Offers hotel booking and delivers incentives from restaurants and retailers DETROIT – At the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show, OnStar will preview AtYourService, a commerce and engagement offering that connects drivers with retailers and merchants on their drive, providing information, convenience and money-saving values tied to their specific destinations. In addition, OnStar advisors can now help locate hotels and book reservations. AtYourService will roll out in the U.S. and Canada, where OnStar annually receives more than 35 million requests for directions and supports more than 53 million mobile app interactions. Building on these direct connections and adding more daily relevance for subscribers, OnStar has signed initial relationships with partners like Dunkin’ Donuts and Priceline.com. Digital coupon providers RetailMeNot and Entertainment Book will supply retail and shopping coupons. Parkopedia will serve data for parking nationwide, and Audiobooks.com will supply e-book content to drivers on the road. When a driver requests directions to a point of interest that has an applicable deal or connection to one of its partners, the OnStar advisor can send the special offer from that merchant. “On the heels of our 4G LTE connectivity launch last year, OnStar will continually roll out powerful, simple ways to bring daily-relevant connected vehicle features like AtYourService to complement our foundation of safety and security technology,” said Mark Lloyd, consumer online officer for OnStar. “We will continue to innovate in ways that make our customers’ time on the road more efficient and more convenient.” Said Scott Hudler, vice president, Global Consumer Engagement for Dunkin’ Donuts: “We can’t think of a more exciting and targeted way to connect with our guests than when they are in their vehicles looking for a Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant. We’ll bring value to GM drivers while driving those consumers to our stores with instant incentives.” Also beginning in early 2015, active subscribers with the full-service plan will be able to book a hotel through an OnStar advisor. Partnering with Priceline.com, OnStar advisors can provide information on availability, cost, amenities, and ratings, then book a hotel reservation and send directions to the vehicle. Subscribers can give advisors the general location where they would like to stay and advisors can select from Priceline’s participating hotels in that area. After booking a hotel, customers receive an email confirmation of their reservation. The service provides a simple way to find on-the-go accommodations while drivers keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. In a pilot program, nine out of 10 subscribers said they would book their last-minute hotel needs through OnStar again. “We were seeing a growing segment of our business, with Priceline users making same-day reservations for hotels while driving in their cars,” said Randy Schartner, president of The Priceline Partner Network. “Making Priceline hotels available to drivers through OnStar in a safe and secure way is great way for Priceline consumers and GM drivers to become one and the same.” This new service will continue to grow over time with new capabilities and more partnerships. “By delivering relevant connections, interactions, offers and services based on our subscribers’ needs, we are laying the foundation for a truly cohesive experience,” said OnStar’s Lloyd. ”Our hope is that OnStar AtYourService will help transform the way businesses and consumers interact in connected vehicles.” OnStar to Offer Driving Feedback; Customers can Seek Insurance Discounts Progressive® Insurance to offer discounts for consenting driver data use DETROIT – Beginning this summer, OnStar will offer customers the opportunity to sign up for a new service that can tell them how well they drive and provide some customers an opportunity to seek discounts from Progressive Insurance. The new connected vehicle service will allow OnStar customers a chance to enroll in a program that provides a detailed driving assessment at the end of a 90-day evaluation period. The assessment, provided only to OnStar customers who sign up for this service, will reveal how the customer performed in important driving metrics, comparing that customer against an aggregate of other anonymous enrolled customers. Driving tips will be provided by OnStar based on a customer’s individual assessment characteristics. After the assessment, some customers can choose to share their driving data and evaluation information with Progressive through its Snapshot® program, potentially leading to discounted insurance offers. This information sharing will be entirely voluntary following advanced consent from customers. “The driver assessment is meant to help people better understand how they drive and give them feedback on how to be better, smarter drivers,” said Greg Ross, director, Business Development and Alliances, Global Connected Consumer Experience, General Motors. “This is the first time we can use actual driving behavior to deliver valuable important feedback to customers who want this information. This new service truly shows the power of the connected car. “The beauty of this program is that control is in the hands of the customer,” said Ross. “If they wish to participate, we’ll inform them of their driving behavior and then they’re able to choose if they want to share their information with Progressive.” Progressive® Insurance is the first insurance company that will use OnStar data to evaluate actual driving behavior, subject to explicit customer consent, to offer driving-based insurance discounts. “We are looking beyond traditional expectations of car makers and insurance providers, toward helping people be smarter drivers,” said Dave Pratt, general manager of usage-based insurance at Progressive. “Providing drivers with feedback benefits consumers by making them more aware of their driving behavior, saving them money and keeping the roads safer. This program makes it easier than ever for consumers to take advantage of the latest in-car technology and the leading usage-based insurance program.” The smart driver assessment program is expected to be available for all 2016 GM models, most 2015 models, and select 2013 and 2014 models, starting this summer. The program is only expected to be available for U.S. drivers at this time. OnStar customers currently are able to receive low mileage discount offers through other insurance companies. These low mileage programs, however, do not require the collection or use of driver assessment data. View full article

Mercedes-Benz used the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) to reveal a fully autonomous concept called F 015 Luxury in Motion. The F 015 Luxury in Motion concept is quite the odd looker. With proportions of 205 inches long, 79 inches wide, and 59 inches tall, and a overall design that places it in sci-fi flicks from the eighties. But the odd looks do have a purpose. Step inside and the F 015 features seating for four people in a living room atmosphere. The seats swing outwards by 30 degrees to allow for easier entry or exiting of the vehicle. The dashboard is comprised of a large touchscreen and a steering wheel that retracts when the vehicle is in the autonomous mode. There's also four additional screens are integrated into the door panels. Other key parts of the F 015 Luxury in Motion include large LED light modules at the front and rear which allows the vehicle to to communicate and interact with the outside world, and a hydrogen-electric powertrain. Source: Mercedes-Benz Press Release is on Page 2 The Mercedes-Benz F 015 Luxury in Motion Forerunner of a mobility revolution January 06, 2015 - Las Vegas/Stuttgart Overview With the S 500 INTELLIGENT DRIVE and the Future Truck 2025, Mercedes-Benz has already made the vision of autonomous driving reality. The new research vehicle F 015 Luxury in Motion has its world premiere at the Consumer Electronics Show, and provides a concrete example of the visionary ideas the company is developing with regard to autonomous driving of the future. With this self-driving luxury sedan Mercedes-Benz illustrates how the car is growing beyond its role as a mere means of transport and will ultimately become a private retreating space. This new way of traveling gives passengers the freedom to use their valuable time on the road in manifold ways. Progressing from the self-propelled ("automotive") to the self-reliant ("autonomous") vehicle, Mercedes-Benz as a pioneer goes far beyond the purely technical realization of automated driving. The company's experts also have to anticipate different outlooks and social trends. People are always at the center of such considerations. Just as the 1886 Benz Patent Motor Car and its successors revolutionized personal mobility and, as a consequence, society as a whole, the first self-driving cars will also bring about major changes. "Anyone who focuses solely on the technology has not yet grasped how autonomous driving will change our society. The car is growing beyond its role as a mere means of transport and will ultimately become a mobile living space," explains Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. Expressive forerunner of a mobility revolution With the huge amount of space in its lounge-like interior, the Mercedes-Benz F 015 Luxury in Motion takes the concepts of comfort and luxury to a new level. Every facet of the vehicle reflects perfectly the Mercedes way of interpreting the terms "modern luxury", emotion and intelligence. This innovative four-seater is a forerunner of a mobility revolution, and this is immediately apparent from its futuristic appearance. It is obvious that the F 015 represents the vision of a brand new vehicle concept just from its unusual proportions (length/width/height: 5220/2018/1524 millimeters), its seamless, monolithic exterior and its large LED light modules at the front and rear. A range of different lighting functions can be provided through these LED fields. At the same time, the vehicle communicates and interacts with the outside world by means of the LED fields. These LED fields show for example, if the F 015 is driving autonomously (blue) or is controlled manually (white). The low-slung front end, smooth and streamlined roof line, flat front windshield and road-hugging rear end give the F 015 Luxury in Motion an extended and decidedly dynamic silhouette. The F 015 Luxury in Motion's unusually large wheelbase of 3610 millimeters in combination with its short overhangs clearly show that the design focus was on providing the maximum possible space for the passengers. A lounge-like interior with an atmosphere of wellbeingIn the interior of the F 015 Luxury in Motion the designers have created a lounge-like space with a feel-good ambience characterized by elegance, quality and lightness. Sensual, flowing transitions and warm, organic materials such as open-pore walnut wood shaped into a three-dimensional veneer, and extremely soft ice white nappa leather contrast with clearly-defined metal and glass surfaces with a cool and technical feel. The pivotal feature of the innovative interior concept is the variable seating system, with four rotating lounge chairs that allow a face-to-face seat configuration. In order to make getting in and out of the car easier, the electrically powered seats also swing outwards by 30 degrees as soon as the doors are opened. If necessary, the driver and front-seat passenger can also turn their eyes and attention towards the front – a prerequisite for manual driving. To this end the steering wheel extends automatically from the dashboard. The leather-covered cushions of the lounge chairs are set in curved mounts of highly-polished aluminium. Each seating mount has a contrasting light band of blue LED lights and can also be manually swiveled. One key aspect of the research vehicle is the continuous exchange of information between vehicle, passengers and the outside world. This is facilitated by six display screens harmoniously integrated into the instrument panel and the rear and side panels, which turn the interior of the F 015 Luxury in Motion into a digital arena. Passengers can interact intuitively with the connected vehicle through gestures, eye-tracking or by touching the high-resolution screens. Sensors recognize the passengers' hands and offer them user interfaces within convenient reach that present appropriate operating options for each particular situation. Particle streams on the displays visualize the vehicle's movement. Revolutionary vehicle structure The high-strength body of the F 015 Luxury in Motion ensures optimum safety and supreme comfort for its passengers. At the same time, the bodyshell's structure provides the ideal basis for the door concept that makes getting in and out especially easy, and for the communication-oriented seating featuring four lounge chairs in a face-to-face arrangement. New materials and structures were used to develop the highly efficient "Smart Body Structure (SBS)" of the F 015. By cleverly combining carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP), aluminum and high-strength steels in a way that matches the varying requirements exactly, the lightweight engineering experts were able to make the bodyshell 40 percent lighter compared with today's production vehicles. Another key element of the body design concept is the innovative saloon-door-style door system featuring rear-hinged rear doors. The front and rear doors can be opened and closed independently of one another. With an opening angle of 90 degrees for all doors, the spacious interior can be easily and comfortably accessed on both sides. B-pillars were not needed. A very sturdy interconnected system with mechanical locking elements ensures exemplary safety standards. These elements securely interlock the front and rear doors when they are closed at the same time as fixing them firmly to the roof frame and side skirts. The resulting composite load path allows an extremely high amount of energy to be absorbed in the event of frontal or side impact, with minimal intrusion into the passenger compartment. The doors themselves have a crucial role to play in the vehicle's passive safety concept. The crash-responsive beltlines underneath the side windows are vital here. The PRE-SAFE Structure, previously unveiled on the ESF 2009 Experimental Safety Vehicle and now further enhanced, offers maximum safety while taking up minimum space: in a side-on collision, these bodywork elements "inflate" in an instant, just like an airbag, allowing them to absorb as much impact energy as possible. In addition, the bodyshell of the F 015 Luxury in Motion was designed to allow the impact-protected integration of an electric drive system with fuel cell. This is based on the pioneering F-CELL PLUG-IN HYBRID system seen in the F 125! research vehicle from 2011, and combines on-board generation of electricity with an exceptionally powerful and compact high-voltage battery. The pressure tank made from CFRP is designed to store the hydrogen. The vision: greater quality of life for all city dwellersAs a foundation for creating the F 015 Luxury in Motion, experts from all areas of Mercedes-Benz developed a future scenario entitled "City of the Future 2030+", which considered many aspects of mobile living. The greater the advance of urbanization, the greater is the desire of the individual to be able to retreat to a private sphere. Autonomous driving will become a given. As drivers are relieved of work and stress in situations in which driving is not enjoyable, the time gained while in their car takes on a whole new quality. Time and space will become the luxury of the future. New technologies and forms of communication open up numerous new possibilities for interaction, both between the vehicle and its passengers and between the vehicle and other road users. Autonomous cars also open up new possibilities for urban infrastructure design. Following the example of today's low-emission zones in city centers, special "safety zones" that are only accessible to autonomous vehicles could be created. Urban space would be regained by autonomous vehicles parking themselves on the periphery. In the shared space of the future, humans and machines share the roads. The "car-friendly city" is transformed increasingly into the "people-friendly city" without any loss of individual freedom. The divide between residential, recreational and traffic areas therefore melts away. The result is superior quality of life for all urban dwellers. The road to autonomous driving Even now, vehicles from Mercedes-Benz are capable of detecting many different hazardous situations out on the road and reacting as the situation demands – by means of autonomous braking, for instance. And from the C-Class through to the S-Class, there are already Mercedes-Benz models driving semi-autonomously on public roads today, equipped with features such as DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist and the Stop&Go Pilot semi-autonomous traffic jam vehicle following function. Active Parking Assist with PARKTRONIC allows automated parking with active steering and brake control in both parallel and end-on spaces. In August 2013, Mercedes-Benz demonstrated to great effect that autonomous driving is possible now, even in complex urban and rural traffic situations. The close-to-production Mercedes-Benz S 500 INTELLIGENT DRIVE completed the approximately 100-kilometer journey from Mannheim to Pforzheim fully autonomously, following the route Bertha Benz took in 1888 on the first ever long-distance drive by car. Mercedes-Benz is setting the pace of development in the area of trucks, too – as the innovator and launcher of intelligent assistance systems. With its Future Truck 2025, the brand presented the world's first truck to feature autonomous driving at the IAA Commercial Vehicles in September 2014. In July 2014, this one-off vehicle, based on the Mercedes-Benz Actros 1845, drove at speeds of up to 80 km/h in realistic traffic situations on a section of the A14 autobahn near Magdeburg. As a global company, Mercedes-Benz has its sights set on autonomous driving worldwide. In order to factor in the differences in traffic and infrastructure in other markets, the experts also carry out testing in the USA, for example. In mid-September 2014, Mercedes-Benz became one of the first automotive manufacturers to be issued with an official license by the US state of California for testing self-driving vehicles on public roads there. In addition the company makes use of the USA's largest test facility, the Concord Naval Weapons Station (CNWS). View full article