Iowa Considering Digital Driver’s Licenses

Iowa Considering Digital Driver’s Licenses
Ford Drops MyFord Touch for All-New System
2016 Nissan Titan Spied Testing
Are Hybrids Reliable?
Ford Focus RS Officially Confirmed for US
Volvo Testing 180-HP Three-Cylinder Engine

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Having a plastic card as a driver's license may be a thing of the past.

Iowa is currently investigating a new app that would replace the plastic card in your wallet. It would only be accessible via a personal identification number, though further security in the form of fingerprint recognition may be added later. A barcode, much like the one on the back side of current licenses, would allow the app to be scanned by businesses or police, so that you don't have to hand over your phone.

"We are really moving forward on this," said DOT Director Paul Trombino. "The way things are going, we may be the first in the nation."

Iowa will begin testing the new app in 2015, although there is no official plans for rollout as of yet. The State currently allows drivers to show the authorities digital copies of their registration and insurance, and many see the digital license as an extension of that service. If the new digital licenses do come to fruition, the program would be optional, so individuals can choose to hold onto their plastic licenses if they want to.

[Source: Des Moines Register]

Ford Drops MyFord Touch for All-New System

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Ford previewed its next-generation infotainment system called Sync 3 at a press event in Dearborn, Michigan on Thursday, also announcing that new system will ditch the MyFord Touch moniker.

Since the inception of this hands-free, voice-activated technology Ford has been partnered with Microsoft but that's no longer the case. Now the automaker is working with Panasonic on all-new Sync 3 system.

Customer opinions are an important part of Sync and Ford says they've listened to tons of feedback from owners in a bid to make this system better. To date more than 10 million Sync-equipped vehicles have been sold.

Raj Nair, Ford's group vice president and chief technical officer, global product development said Sync 3 has an "all-new graphical interface," which matches the fresh computer code that powers it. It's also supposed to be more intuitive. "We really narrowed the amount of information on the home screen" said Nair.

Other changes include a background that's easier to seen in bright sunlight, a choice that should also show fewer fingerprints. Engineers have also added various gestures including swipe and pinch to zoom. Additionally address entry has been made simpler with one box to type in opposed to many separate ones for things like street name, zip code and address.

The home screen has been totally revamped, too. There's now a function tray located at the bottom, which resembles what Chrysler has with its Uconnect system. Apple's Siri voice assistant has also been incorporated into Sync.

Other changes include streamlined software updates, easier application development and the availability of other features. Sync 3 will launch next year but Ford representatives will not say when or in which vehicle it will debut.

Discuss this story at our Ford Forum

2016 Nissan Titan Spied Testing

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Nissan is gearing up to release the revamped Titan half-ton pickup at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show and we have photos of the new truck out testing.

This new set of photos reveals more of the front end, although the truck is still pretty well hidden. The new Titan will use a new 5.0-liter Cummins V8 diesel that will likely make around 300 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. Rumor has it that the new Nissan pickup will sit between half-ton and a three-quarter ton truck.

SEE ALSO: Previous Nissan Titan Spy Photos

The 5.7-liter V8 gas engine will still be present in the new truck, while a full interior revamp along with more packaging options are also said to be in store for the new Titan.

Nissan will officially reveal its new half-ton pickup at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. Check back to AutoGuide.com for live coverage from the show floor.

Discuss this story on our Nissan forum

Are Hybrids Reliable?

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With essentially two powertrains under the hood and loads of additional electric components, gas-electric hybrids are without a doubt complex vehicles. But that doesn't necessarily mean that they're prone to breaking down.

"Conventional wisdom holds that the 'more parts there are, the more likely it is for things to fail,'" says Michael Karesh, creator of TrueDelta.com. "Following this logic, hybrids should be more troublesome than regular cars, as they essentially have two powertrains, plus come complicated electronics. Not only should they fail more often, but when they do fail they should be more difficult to fix."

Hybrid Cars vs. Gas Cars

TrueDelta, like Consumer Reports, polls car owners monthly in order to get an up to date resource of reliability history and other statistics including fuel economy. "The reality though," says Karesh, "is that hybrid repair frequencies tend to be at least as low as those for regular cars, and lower in some cases."

Karesh isn't the only one with this information; other publications including Consumer Reports and J.D. Power are revealing similar statistics. Even with all those extra parts, hybrids are quite reliable.

"Hybrids are doing very well compared to traditional gasoline powered vehicles," says Renee Stephens, Vice President of Automotive Quality Research at J.D. Power. "On average, a hybrid sees about 99 problems per 100 vehicles, compared to gas vehicles' which have a rating of 133 problems per 100 vehicles."

Stephens points out that this information is based on J.D Powers' three-year dependability survey, where hybrids also experience 11 fewer engine and transmission issues than gas-powered vehicles, with 15 per 100 versus 26 per 100.

The data from Consumer Reports helps confirm this trend, but also brings up a few other discussion points about hybrid car reliability.

"Hybrids are generally more reliable than their gas counterparts because hybrids are often built on a proven reliable gas-powered platform," says Anita Lam, from Consumer Reports' Automotive Data team. "Hybrids built by Toyota and Lexus are the most reliable." But not all hybrids are created equally.

Which Hybrids are the Least Reliable?

"According to our survey data, the previous generation (2006 – 2011) Honda Civic Hybrid has had many problems with the hybrid battery," she says. Thirty percent of the 2009 and 2010 model year Honda Civic Hybrids have undergone a costly hybrid battery replacement, although Consumer Reports states most of these services were performed while the car was under warranty. Replacing an out-of-warranty Civic hybrid battery at a dealer would cost about $3,000 not including labour. Fortunately, newer models of the Civic Hybrid are faring much better.

Lam also said reliability for the Ford C-Max Hybrid is 80 percent below the average for new vehicles. The Ford Fusion, which uses the same gas-electric powertrain as the C-Max Hybrid also has a less than average expected reliability rating.

Which Hybrids Are The Most Reliable?

Determining the reliability of a new car isn't an exact science; it's more like an educated guess or a prediction. It should come as no surprise then that the hybrid versions of Toyota and Lexus models are predicted as the most reliable hybrids. Lexus models top the hybrid reliability ratings at Consumer Reports. The Lexus CT200h is predicted to be 73 percent more reliable than the average car, while the Lexus ES 300h is expected to be 71 above average. The Toyota models aren't far behind. The Prius c and Toyota Camry Hybrid are pegged at 66 percent more reliable than average, and the Toyota Prius is at 46 percent. Even the bigger Prius v is rated to be 44 percent more reliable than the average car. The regular Toyota Prius was Toyota's least reliable hybrid car, but still sported an expected reliability rating of nine percent above average.

Looking at Toyota and Lexus' reliability history and this shouldn't be a surprise. The company has a reputation for building dependable vehicles. The company is also seen as a leader in the hybrid segment, with over seven million hybrids sold globally and a hybrid offering in practically every market segment.

But other automakers are catching on. Honda, for example, seems to have gotten the bugs out of its hybrid powertrains, with the Honda Accord Hybrid featuring an above average rating for expected reliability. The Subaru XV Crosstrek and the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid also have high marks. And it's not all imports with the good ratings, the eAssist equipped Buick LaCrosse is a good bet if you're looking for reliability.

Ford Focus RS Officially Confirmed for US

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Ford's RS forthcoming hot hatch will finally be sold in North America.

"We're announcing a new Focus RS will be coming to the market and it will be coming globally," Ford CEO Mark Fields said in Dearborn during a press conference today.

Previous rumors suggest the Focus RS, which will sit above the ST in the product line, will arrive for the 2016 model year with Ford's turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine. Details on the new Focus are still light, but the same engine makes 310 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque in the 2015 Mustang. Rumors suggest Ford will actually tweak the engine for slightly more power in this application because the lighter car will allow a more aggressive state of tune without throwing fuel economy entirely out the window. Apart from being significantly more powerful than the ST, the Focus RS will also come with all-wheel drive to be a direct competitor with the upcoming Volkswagen Golf R.

Fields confirmed today that the Focus RS will be sold globally under the company's "One Ford" product strategy. The previous generation RS model was based on the European Focus that skipped this market. The U.S. Focus is built at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant, but the RS model will likely be built in Europe and exported to the U.S. and other markets, which could mean a limited supply.

Discuss this story on our Ford Focus Forum

Volvo Testing 180-HP Three-Cylinder Engine

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Volvo is preparing to add a three-cylinder engine to its lineup.

The Swedish brand has confirmed that a small three pot is in development and the company is already promising at least 180 hp from the little engine. Volvo is committed to downsizing its engines in the name of efficiency, and soon, four cylinder engines will be the largest in the brand's portfolio.

"We have learned a lot from the development of our 4-cylinder Drive-E engines and translated this into a highly responsive, compact and powerful premium-quality 3-cylinder engine. The engine is being developed primarily with our new CMA architecture in mind but will also provide power for our 60 Series cars thanks to Volvo's advanced turbo technologies, while also meeting Euro 7 emission targets," says Michael Fleiss, VP of powertrains at Volvo.

SEE ALSO: Volvo Drive-E Engines Detailed

The CMA architecture is a scalable platform that will underpin Volvo's family of small cars, in which the new three-cylinder engine will likely find a home.

Discuss this story at our Volvo Forum

Car Reviews

Thursday, 11 December 2014