Smoking In Cars Ban: Going Provincewide?

Doctors in Ontario want the province to outlaw smoking in vehicles that contain children. Any idea how bad the situation is?

The Ontario Medical Association challenged the province yesterday to ban smoking in vehicles with kids, amplifying a call for action that began this week at London city hall, reported The London Free Press. Doctors are calling on the provincial government to follow this lead and implement a provincewide ban on smoking in cars carrying children,” the medical association wrote yesterday.

Bernie MacDonald, London Coun.,  on Monday proposed such a ban in the territory, persuading colleagues to investigate whether the city held such authority. A similar measure was taken in York Region, both actions prompting doctors to act.

“If London follows through with their initiative, we hope it will lead to a provincewide ban on smoking in cars carrying kids,” said association president Dr. Janice Willett.

A 2004 OMA study stressed the harm caused by smoking in vehicles, including findings levels of second-hand smoke in vehicles can be 23 times more toxic than in a house. Children exposed to second-hand smoke are at a higher risk for asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and sudden infant death syndrome and as they get older are more likely to develop cancer and heart disease, the association wrote.

“Children deserve protection from elements that can harm their health and development,” Willett said. “Other jurisdictions are proving such a ban is possible. It’s time for our province to lead the way by becoming the first province to ban smoking in cars carrying kids.”

The said letter delighted MacDonald: “I’m thrilled everything has taken off so fast. I’m sure we’re going to see a better Ontario for it.”

Bans are already imposed in Arkansas and Louisiana, in certain cities in Maine, New Jersey and New York and in South Australia and Puerto Rico. The fines range from $25 to $2,000.

Personally, I am glad the legislature has come up with the ban to safeguard the young.

Jaguar Cars Reigned Blast Radius Best UK Online Experience Survey 2007

The strategic interactive agency Blast Radius’ Best UK Online Experience survey for 2007 was topped by Jaguar Car’s. Jaguar thrashed a bunch of world-renowned companies such as Magnet, Reebok, Burberry and Durex brand owner, SSL, to the crown.

According to TheAutoChannel.com, Blast Radius has accounted in its Best Online Experience survey on trade sites that tops the ’social shopping’ revolution for the past two years.

“This year we wanted to look closely at something we’d started to believe strongly – that the consumer goods industry could learn a lot from the retail channel that often serves them. In particular, that they could invigorate brand image, counter commoditisation and build loyalty by connecting and engaging directly with their customers and their passions online. To do this involves making the manufacturing ‘mother ship’ so evocative and compelling that customers come back again and again for an experience like no other,” says Blast Radius CEO, Gurval Caer.

FAW-VW To Launch Audi A8L

 A gorgeous car is yet to be unleashed by FAW-Volkswagen Automobile Co., Ltd…

The joint venture between China FAW Group Corporation and German Auto giant Volkswagen AG, launched Audi A6L, a car model equipped with 2.8L FSI engine, at the 5th China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition, said the Trading Markets.

The venture’s Audi-branded cars mirrored robust sales growth trend this year. According to a forecast, over 100,000 Audi-branded cars will be sold in the full year. To stress, 82,868 such cars were sold in the first 10 months of this year, including 6,433 imported cars. Of those imported cars, Audi A8 saw a 30% growth in sales.

China-made Audi A4 was still a major force in the domestic B-class car segment. The model reached sales of about 15,000 units during the period from January to October 2007, jumping 40% from the same period of a year earlier, the report continued. Additionally, FAW-Volkswagen will launch Audi A8L sedans and introduce Audi R8 sports cars into China, the world’s second-biggest auto market this December.

FAW-Volkswagen, which was formally created in 1991, has gradually improves its product lines and eventually developed into an automaker with a daily production capacity of over 1,000 vehicles under the Bora, Caddy, Golf, Jetta, Sagitar, and Audi brands.

FAW-Volkswagen, which earlier focused on the northern Chinese segment, changed its marketing system from March 2006 and strived to expand its market share in South China, added the report. The venture formed South China Strategic Business Unit (SBU) with the concentration on Guangdong and latter set up Guangzhou Brand Experience Center (GEC) in December last year.

In July, FAW-Volkswagen introduced the new VW Magotan in Beijing. With a price sticker that ranges between CNY 192,800 and CNY 249,800, the debut of the car is expected to break the layout of the Chinese B-class car segment. To note, prices of 6 B- class car models, such as Accord, Mazda6, and Mondeo were slashed earlier.

Lots of car manufacturers have been competing for the B-class segment due to the high profits and strong demand. Currently, there are approximately 25 B-class car models in China.

Audi A8L Specs

Pros:
Sizzling performance, even with base engine
Top-notch safety gear
Supremely comfortable rear-seat accomodations

Cons:
Low roofline makes ingress and egress tricky for taller folks
Small sideview mirrors
Rear-seat headrests block the rear view
Expensive

Bottom line:
Paradise on wheels for drivers and passengers alike

Details and specs:
Body style: 4-door sedan
Trim levels: A8, A8 L, A8 L W12
Price range (including options): $69,620 – $135,610
Base engine: 4.2 liter V8, 350 hp @ 6800 RPM, 325 lb-ft @ 3500 RPM
Optional engine(s): 6.0 liter W12, 450 hp @ 6200 RPM, 428 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM
Transmission: 6-speed automatic with manual control
Driveline: Front engine, all-wheel-drive
Emissions: Not available
EPA fuel economy estimates: 18 MPG city/25 MPG highway (V8), 15/21 (W12)
Where built: Germany
Standard safety equipment: Front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted torso airbags, front and rear side-curtain airbags, antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability control
Optional safety equipment: None
Major standard features: You name it, the A8’s got it
Major options: Rear-view camera, power trunk, heated front and rear seats, solar-powered cooling system, adaptive cruise control, four-zone climate control, refrigerator/wine cooler
Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles bumper-to-bumper, 12 years/unlimited mileage outer body rust-through
Roadside assistance/free maintenance: 4 year 24-hour roadside assistance

Best rivals:
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
BMW 7-series
Jaguar XJ8L

[credit: About.com]

Garmin Device In Volvos

Combine Garmin navigation device with Volvo Cars. What do you get? Mmm. Nothing less than an exquisite and reliable auto lineup. The Volvo-Garmin solution must be the best of both worlds.

CNN reports:
Garmin Ltd. said Monday Volvo Cars Corp. will install one of the company’s portable satellite navigation models in certain cars. The nuvi 760 will be used in the Volvo C30 and Volvo XC70, available at Volvo dealerships in North America and Europe. The nuvi 760 fits current Volvo car models and can be fitted to certain earlier models as well. The product is expected to be available in early December.

The nuvi 760 will be available starting December at Volvo dealerships across North America and Europe, Olathe-based Garmin said in a release last Monday. The device will be compatible with the Volvo C30, XC70 and some earlier models.

“Garmin is delighted to work with Volvo to offer its customers a high-quality satellite navigation system,” Roger Jollis, Garmin’s director of original equipment manufacturers and mobile marketing, said in the release. “Volvo and Garmin are passionate about safety, engineering and quality, and we believe customers will appreciate the design of this navigation solution. This transaction strengthens Garmin’s growing position as a recognized supplier to the automotive industry.”

Garmin has similar agreements with at least seven other auto manufacturers in the United States, North America and Europe, and seven car rental companies in North America, said company spokesman Ted Gartner.

“We have chosen Garmin as our partner for our new Volvo Portable navigation offer,” said Lars-Erik Roos, Volvo’s managing director, accessory business unit. “I believe that our customers will appreciate this combination navigation product with the Volvo integrated and well designed installation kit.”

The nuvi 760 innovation features a bright, widescreen that aids drivers with turn-by-turn, voice-prompted directions. If the driver misses a turn, the nuvi automatically recalculates and gets them back on track, the report continued. The nuvi 760 also includes Garmin’s latest safety feature, “Where Am I.”

According to the makers of the auto feature, a single tap on the screen shows drivers the accurate latitude and longitude position, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and gas stations. Also, it offers advanced but user-friendly portable navigation experience without compromising the quality, styling and safety specifications that a Volvo aficionado would expect from his car.

What Mike Hanley Say About The 2008 Mini Clubman

Mike Hanley is one among the commentators of Kicking Tires. Just this morning, he commented on the freshest 2008 Mini Clubman. He said, “Like an overbearing parent, BMW has stuck its nose in Mini’s business via the navigation system offered in the Clubman. The system features an iDrive-esque control setup featuring a small joystick in the center console that functions like an iDrive controller knob. The integration of the system’s screen into the center speedometer is pretty slick, but if you’re averse to iDrive, you’re not going to like the Clubman’s system. The practicality of the Cooper’s rear seats has always been questionable, but the extended-length Clubman has rear seats that you could actually use on a double date without fear of putting your friends in a crabby mood.”

Even Patrick Olsen of Cars.com also commented on the existence of the new 2008 Mini Clubman. He said, “The Clubman’s extra space eases getting in and out of this little charmer. Access on the passenger side, with the suicide-door opening, was really easy, even for me (6-foot-1).”

Olsen describes the new Clubman. He also said, “ The backseat in the model I was in were a very comfortable leather, and even with an adult in front of me my knees weren’t crunched. It wasn’t like sitting in first class, of course, but it would be passable for short trips. My kids would definitely be more comfortable in this car than they were in the original Mini, where they found themselves cramped at the end of a two-hour trip. The speedometer on the model I sat in was different from previous Minis I’ve driven; instead of a large dial, there’s a red plastic piece that runs along the outside of the speedometer. In the center was a navigation screen with a joystick controller on the center console.”