This month featured the country’s most revered auto show NAIAS’, Detroit Auto Show.  Upon first thought of the show chills of excitement made me giddy to be able to see the latest models for 2012 and beyond. Car manufacturer’s attended from across the globe and provided more than enough options when it came to new vehicles coming soon (or within the next year) to local dealerships.
The theme from the major auto players seemed to be adding diversity to vehicles so they could perform at multiple levels.  The line-up was immense while advances in safety, and technology were very clearly enhanced.

The show was also a way for manufacturer’s to show they have not only been listening to consumers but they have been heeding the call and meeting their needs.  One of the most buzzed about vehicles at the show (which has been kept tightly under wraps) was the new fully redesigned Ford Fusion.  No longer a big brother version to the Focus, the Fusion is now completely its own unique car.  It has midsize sized feel with a streamlined and sporty vibe. The Fusion will be offered with eco-options such as the pure electric Energi and the Fusion Hybrid models which will be released in Fall.  The coolest aspects of the Fusion Energi is that it takes half of the time to charge an Energi than most other electric cars within its class and it more than doubles the amount of electric drive time.

Ford then continued to show their eco-friendlier side by announcing they will be launching six electric and hybrid cars releasing this year to early next. They are the Ford Focus, Fusion (standard, hybrid and Energi), C Max Energy, C Max Hybrid, and Ford's Transit Connect Van.  Fusion Hybrid designers say they look to the release and the capabilities of the hybrid in achieving up to 47 miles per gallon later this fall. 

When the weather gets colder, our cars get more temperamental – but slow starts, frozen doors, and frosted glass isn't all you have to worry about as your family's Tire Super-Mom. Have you paid attention to those tires as the temperatures plummeted? If the answer is no, you're not alone – but fret not! Cooper Tire and AskPatty.com have joined forces once again to bring you important Winter Tire Safety Tips.

You know the basics from our Tire Super-Mom guide – and if you don't, go here for a refresher. Always make sure your tread is wearing evenly, check that pressure, and don't forget to air your spare. Winter, after all, is a magical time of year ... or is it? For many, winter temperatures and snow is enough to make a hermit out of the most adventurous. Yet, work, school, errands and life call us out of our warm abodes and, for those who drive, it's best to be aware of the importance of tire safety and maintenance, especially during the winter months. Why? Let's take a look.

Now’s the time to get your car ready for the demands placed on it in the coming winter months. Especially in rain, sleet, freezing rain, and maybe snow, you’ll want your vehicle to start and run reliably. And you’ll want your driving experience to be as safe and comfortable as possible. Here are some things to check to make your winter driving safer and more secure.

Start
Most important, you’ll want your car to start reliably every time. “While routine tune-ups are not what they used to be, your vehicle still needs to have new spark plugs installed periodically,” said Mark Wilkinson, Group Product Manager, Spark Plugs for Robert Bosch LLC. Bosch is the company that invented the first commercially-viable high voltage spark plug more than a century ago.

Installing new spark plugs will help assure quick starts even in very cold weather when battery power can be severely compromised. According to Wilkinson, “Most drivers feel that the original spark plugs performed well and lasted quite a while. Our Bosch Iridium is the replacement spark plug most like the Original Equipment (OE) plugs used in many late-model cars. Bosch Iridium has optimized spark projection in the combustion chamber and uses a fine wire electrode design for superior ignitability and performance. It is an excellent replacement plug for any car using older-technology spark plugs.”

Making sure you and your family are safe on the road this winter is of course a high priority, but who has the time to think about this, let alone do what needs to be done? 

Don’t fret. Taking action doesn’t have to be all that complicated or time-consuming. Do you ever use those so-called “30-Minute Meal” recipes? Here’s the winter driving tips version: 10 simple and easy-to-follow precautions you can take to be better prepared—come snow, rain or shine.

Remember Your Sunglasses

The glare of the sun reflecting off snow or ice can be more blinding.

Keep Your Tires Inflated

Did you know that, according to the Farmer’s Almanac, each 10-degree drop in temperature will cause your tires to lose one pound of pressure? Check yours regularly, especially when arctic blasts arrive. 

Diana Merrill Claussen
AskPatty.com
Senior Editor

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA conservatively estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes occur every year as a result of drowsy drivers, leading to 1,500 deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in monetary losses. Thankfully new vehicle safety policies and standards are always evolving because this leads to more innovative safety ideas from the auto industry as implemented in their newest designs.

At this year’s annual Detroit Auto Show, Ford Motors will not only be featuring their 2012s at this momentous event they will also be introducing their 2013 Fusion. Although many aspects of this updated model have been held tightly under wraps, one technological feature of the Fusion has been released to additionally entice enthusiasts and consumers. That feature is Ford’s new Lane Keeping System which is meant to help driver’s avoid unintended lane departures due to distraction or drowsiness. 

“We are not the first to offer this technology but we are the first to bring it to an affordable non-luxury vehicle,” said Michael Kane, Ford development engineer. “Fusion’s Lane Keeping System combines a digital imaging sensor with our own state-of-the-art control software to process images and then determines what level of warning or assistance should be provided to the driver. We have put a lot of effort into ensuring the accuracy of the lane detection capability and the smoothness of the assist.”

The Lane Keeping System uses a digital camera mounted on the windshield ahead of the rearview mirror, allowing the Fusion to watch the road ahead to detect an unintentional lane departure. It also has three levels of assistance available to the driver depending on what is happening: Lane Keeping Alert, Lane Keeping Aid and Driver Alert. It is also activated after vehicle speed reaches above 40 mph and then first reads lane markers and then transmits image of markers to the interior’s icon screen (which also shows the car between two lanes). The screen then illuminates on the instrument cluster to indicate the system has been enabled. Ford’s Lane Keeping System takes advantage of the electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) used in the new Fusion to provide a vibrating alert to the driver while gently steering the car back into the lane if the driver doesn’t respond.

“Ford’s Lane Keeping System software monitors the car’s position in real time,” said Kane.
When the system detects the edge of the lane without a turn signal activated the lane marker icon turns yellow and the steering wheel vibrates to simulate driving over rumble strips. If the driver doesn’t respond and continues to drift, the lane icon turns red and EPAS will nudge the steering and the vehicle back toward the center of the lane. If the car continues to drift, the vibration is added again along with the nudge. The driver can overcome assistance and vibration at any time by turning the steering wheel, accelerating, or braking.

Drivers can monitor whether the system is detecting behavior consistent with drowsy driving with an alert gauge in the instrument cluster that features a steaming cup of coffee. As the indicator gets closer to the coffee cup, the driver should consider taking a break to rest.

 If the driver doesn’t take a break and the system detects a driving pattern consistent with being tired, an audible chime and a visual alert will suggest the driver stop and rest. If the same conditions persist and the driver doesn’t stop, a second, more assertive warning will be issued. As soon as the driver stops and shuts off the engine or opens the door, the monitor resets its information.

Whether it’s a gust of wind, a momentary distraction or heavy eyelids that cause the vehicle to wander, the Lane Keeping System in the 2013 Ford Fusion effectively provides drivers with an extra set of eyes on the road and hands on the wheel to help them arrive at their destination safe and sound.

Well, winter has officially arrived in the Ask Patty Nation (the Winter Solstice is still inexplicably regarded as the "first day of winter," even though it's actually Midwinter, and the days begin getting longer from here, but that's a point for another post on another blog, probably) and this weekend we'll be counting down to begin 2012 in style.  But before we pop the champagne, Ford has brought us a different kind of countdown - the safety kind.  Here are Ford's own Top Ten Winter Driving Do's and Don'ts. Give them a once-over, and one of them may just save a life this winter.

Head past the jump for the list.

This Holiday PSA from the Ad Council and AskPatty.com CEO Jody DeVere needs very little in the way of introduction.  Watch the video and take Jody's message to heart this holiday season - remember, buzzed driving is drunk driving.

Jody DeVere was driving to a family gathering for the Thanksgiving holiday when a car suddenly crashed into her on the highway. It turned out the woman driving the oncoming car had a few too many drinks that evening. When she arrived at the emergency room, Ms. DeVere learned that the young children riding with the alcohol-impaired driver had tragically died from the crash, leaving an unfortunate mark on Jody that affects her still today. This holiday season we ask that you remember - you don't have to be falling down drunk to be too drunk to drive - Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. Visit http://buzzeddriving.adcouncil.org/.

Wow, it's hard to believe, but it's true: we are officially into single digits on our "days until Christmas" countdown.  A little more than a week remains until tinsel time, but there's still time to bring you one last Holiday Gift Garage post, this time focused on the one person we haven't shopped for yet:  YOU!

We've done the kids, and we've done the pets, now it's time for us to look at some great automotive themed gifts that will make your holiday a little bit brighter, and maybe a little bit safer, too.  Let's get to it!

The CarMD Vehicle Health System - Check engine light on?   It's one of life's deepest mysteries - what, oh what could that light possibly mean?  Is it your gas cap?  A sensor of some sort malfunctioning?  To find out, you'll have to take it to a mechanic and have it scanned, or - you could do it yourself, at home.  CarMD uses the same sophisticated technology your mechanic uses, but was designed for everyone to use. It does not matter whether you know a lot about cars or don't have a clue.  The CarMD Vehicle Health system will not only tell you what that check engine light means, it'll also tell you how much you can expect to pay for a repair, not to mention empowering you with the ability to diagnose and even fix simple problems yourself.  It even does emissions testing, so you're not surprised come inspection time. 

The Wagan Heated Seat Cushion - Some people have heated seats in their cars already.  I very much enjoy being in the passenger seat with those people during the winter, because my own car doesn't have that feature.  If you're in the same boat, stop hitching lifts to keep your behind warm and treat yourself to this heated seat cushion.  Apparently I'm not alone, because it's one of the most wished-for automotive items on Amazon today - and at $20, it's a no-brainer, really.

Jump-n-Carry Jumpstarter - No one wants to be stuck, especially not in winter.  If you get stranded with a dead battery it's either find a good samaritan to give you a boost, or wait for a friend, family member, or roadside assistance to arrive... and if it's the latter, you'll be waiting a while.  This jumpstarter can get you back on the road quickly and painlessly - it jumpstarts your own engine!  A must have for any vehicle emergency kit.

Craftsman NEXTEC Inflator - A perfect companion piece to the jumpstarter, this will keep those tires ready for the road.  Powered by a 12.0 Volt Die-Hard® Lithium-Ion battery for enhanced performance and longer shelf-life, this unit's powerful, adjustable air pressure quickly inflates objects all the way up to 200PSI! Fill up a variety of inflatable's including pool toys, sports equipment and yes, vehicle tires.    Simply use the up/down arrows to set the desired PSI on the digital screen and it will do the rest. Once the desired PSI is met the inflator will automatically shut off to prevent over inflating.

3M Scotchprint Wrap Film - Want to make your ride a little more distinctive?  More affortable and less permanent than paint, this awesome wrap film is the perfect way to customize your car for a day, a year, or more.  Choose from a variety of finishes, textures and colors including carbon fiber, that off a unique, head-turning look.  You can get a sample, more info, and installation instructions at 3M's website.

MADD Virgin Drinks - If you're attending holiday parties and driving, please remember to do so responsibly.  To help you keep yourself and your family safe, MADD presents a series of virgin beverages that allow you to participate in holiday cheer without any of the ill-effects.  These virgin drinks are all 100% alcohol-free, and varieties include champagne, merlot, chardonnay, mojito, pina colada, margarita, and even a virgin lager.  Remember, at the holidays and every day, buzzed driving IS drunk driving and one small step can and will save lives.

Brought to you by Car Care Council

It’s crunch time and if you’re still struggling with what to give a loved one, family member or friend this holiday season, the perfect gift can be an item related to vehicle safety. Tire pressure gauges, ice scrapers, emergency kits, windshield wipers or the new consumer Car Care Guide, published by the Car Care Council, are suitable items for any drivers on your list.

“These small and relatively inexpensive items play a big role in vehicle safety and reliability especially during winter driving when road conditions can be hazardous and unpredictable,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “They’re a perfect stocking stuffer or holiday gift that shows the drivers on your list that you truly care about them this holiday season.”

Every mom knows that “prep time” isn’t just for meals. You juggle schedules and parental responsibilities for your kids’ time at school, music or dance lessons, team practices and other activities. And unless you’re a famous Hollywood actress, you’re probably not lucky enough to have a personal assistant (though you could use one!).

So with the holidays just around the corner, you’ll be on double-duty; maybe even triple-duty if you’re planning a road trip. What should you put on your to-do list for your upcoming trip? Here are some tips to help you before and during your holiday travels.