The number and sophistication of electronic systems in vehicles is increasing at an unprecedented pace.  Electronics now account for a substantial portion of total vehicle manufacturing costs – up to 25% in luxury vehicles.

Tremendous growth, along with the resulting demands on power and design, presents tough challenges to automotive engineers.  In-vehicle networks must counter the expense and weight of complex wiring harnesses while advanced electronic systems  address increasing power demands.

Automotive electronics must survive harsh environments – a broad range of temperatures, high-impact, vibration and attack by corrosive fluids – and must perform over long vehicle lifetimes.

With these apps — that can be added to a BlackBerry, Android, or Nokia phone among others — a driver’s motion while they are in a car is detected via their phone’s GPS function, and a block is put on the phone once the driver reaches a certain designated speed. That is, if the teen (or adult!) picks up the phone to text their friend back, they will see a message such as “Messages Blocked” or “Blocker: Active,” and won’t be able to dial or text. Certain numbers, such as 911 or their parents’ pre-programmed phone numbers would be allowed. However, they will not be able to text or call others until they have reached their destination. What a lifesaver for parents! (Quite literally.)

Here are three apps to check out:

ZoomSafer

ZoomSafer is a program that makes a little sound once the person using it is in motion and the program gets set to “on.” Alternatively, the user can use a pre-recorded message of their own in place of this tone, such as “This is your mom – stop texting!” or “Phone down or car keys: gone!” Another great feature is that you can program your phone to send an automatic message to those calling, texting, or emailing you. It could read: “I’m driving right now; and will get back with you as soon as I can.” This program goes for a $3-a-month charge, but users can also choose to pay a one-time lump-sum fee. It’s available for use on BlackBerry or Windows/Mobile phones (but doesn’t work for iPhone, Android or Nokia, unfortunately).

iZUP

iZup is much more of a disabling device than most of the other apps of its kind. Once activated by the driver’s motion, virtually all the functions of the phone are disabled. (iZup only allows a designated GPS function to work at these times.) You can’t make any phone calls, except to 911 and up to three designated numbers. Additionally, once someone has stopped, it takes several minutes for the phone to kick in and work again. This prohibits the driver from texting while at a stop light, (which, let’s face it, could last longer than the light!). This phone app runs at $5/month or $50 for the year, and is available for Android and BlackBerry phones, with iPhone support coming soon.

CellSafety

CellSafety is an app which blocks everything you would not want your teenager to access while driving: texting, emailing, and Facebook… except phone calls. It offers location tracking and speed monitoring features. You can receive a text, for example, if your driver goes over 65 mph. Additionally, it lets you pre-define certain geographical areas as “no cell phone” areas for your child’s phone, e.g. their school. Talk about almost being able to “be there” with them at all times! There is, however, a function that allows the user to request permission for temporary access. Let’s say that your daughter is in a friend’s car and not actually driving, herself. She can then use this feature, which will text you to give you the option to unblock her phone. You simply need to reply with a text “unblock” to do so. (It also offers message monitoring, as an added, non-driving related feature.) This app. costs approximately $10/month and is available on Android, Blackberry and Nokia phones.

Once you have installed these applications, hopefully your mind will be put at ease and your son or daughter will become a safer and more conscientious driver.

Safety chiefs have unveiled their latest campaign today encouraging pre-school children to take care on roads and streets.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has produced a special pack of storybooks, music and games to help under-sixes remember to stop, look and listen outdoors.

The Simon and Friends resource is being introduced to thousands of schools nationwide after a successful regional pilot.

Launching the scheme at the Sophia Housing Association creche in Dublin, RSA chairman Gay Byrne said the road safety message was just as crucial for youngsters as it was for adults.

“Children learn good habits from a young age and it’s never too early to start educating young people on how to be safe on the road,” he added.

“But it’s also important to do this in a child-friendly way that it is understandable and interesting to the youngest of our road users.”

The new pack contains four individual storybooks with stories focusing on stopping and looking, holding hands and setting a good example. The campaign also includes a teacher’s guide and a CD with songs and recordings of the stories, which are also available in Irish.

“As parents, grandparents and guardians, we have a responsibility to set a good example for our children and ensure that the lessons taught in pre-schools and schools across the country are put into practice every day,” Mr Byrne said.

“I would encourage all pre-schools to get involved in the Simon and Friends programme and make road safety part of early years education.”

The resource is available free of charge and training sessions will be provided for interested pre-schools.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport is powered by a 8.0 L W16 engine, match the 7-speed DSG transmission. The maximum output power of 987 bhp (736 kW) at 6000 rpm, maximum torque of 1250 Nm at 2200 rpm, 0-100 km / h acceleration time of just 2.5 seconds, top speed of up to 407 km / h (360km / h when the roof removed). Starting price of about 2 million USD

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said the disclosure that Toyota told dealers in 31 European nations about sticky pedal problems in September — four months before it took action in the United States — was unacceptable.

Toyota has until Monday to decide whether to challenge a $16.4 million fine imposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over its recall of 2.3 million vehicles for sticky pedal concerns.

“The safety of the American people should never be left to negotiation, and Toyota’s responsibility to its customers should be the same in Belgium as it would be in Bemidji,” Klobuchar said. “Toyota’s reported withholding of vital safety information is a glaring sign that NHTSA must be given more authority to ensure driver safety. I will continue to work with the Commerce Committee to develop legislation that will address gaps in highway safety oversight, including strengthening the penalty structure, and provide government regulators with the tools they need.”

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, are working on legislation to reform the nation’s auto safety legislation.

NHTSA briefed the House Energy and Commerce Committee on its investigation into Toyota on Monday.

A sedan car is a passenger car with two rows of seats and adequate passenger space in the rear compartment for adult passengers. The vehicle usually has a separate rear trunk (boot in British English) for luggage, although some manufacturers such as Chevrolet, Tatra, and Volkswagen have made rear-engined models. It is one of the most common body styles for modern automobiles.

The sedans sold in China were made by Nissan’s joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Group Co between July 1, 2004, and April 18, 2008, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said on its website.

The agency said the defect could cause the engine to die, affecting vehicle safety.

Guangzhou Toyota says it has filed an application of voluntary recall, aiming to call back the cars affected and replace the faulty vacuum pumps for the car owners, free of charge. Toyota plans a six-month period to fix the problem for all the cars involved.

On March 21, China’s CCTV television network reported that many car owners had complained to Toyota about brake failures in Camry cars, saying that the problem may endanger their lives. It is learned that about 260,000 Camry cars, which were mainly manufactured between May 2006 and March 2008 suffer from the problem.

Guangzhou Toyota says that they adopted a new and more durable vacuum pump for Camry cars manufactured after March 3, 2008. The company states that it choose to replace the said part for consumers instead of recalling the cars saying that it is a minor problem.

The Toyota Camry is a mid-size car, formerly a compact car manufactured by Toyota since 1980. The name “Camry” comes from a phonetic transcription of the Japanese word kanmuri, which means “crown”, a tradition started with the Toyota Crown in the 1950s, and continued with the Corolla and Corona, which are also Latin words for “crown”. It is an anagram for “my car”.

For the East and Southeast Asian markets, high specification Camry models are seen as executive cars. Since the sixth generation XV30 model, the Camrys sold in these markets have sported revised front- and rear-end treatment. For the seventh generation XV40 series, the same was done, although the Australian-designed Toyota Aurion which is based on the seventh generation Camry was the donor model. The Aurion features revised front- and rear-end treatment and changes to the interior, but is fitted with the same powertrains. An up-branded luxury version of the Camry was sold in Japan as the Toyota Windom until 2006; the related Lexus ES shares major chassis and drivetrain components with the Camry.

In the United States, the Camry has been the best selling car for nine of the last ten years starting in 1997, with the only exception being 2001. The Camry also sells very well in Australia, Canada, and a number of Asian markets—in particular Cambodia where the vast majority of cars are Camrys. Despite its success, it has been criticized for less sporty handling, due to comfort-tuned suspensions in most models. It has not sold as well in Europe, where sales ended in 2004, and the Avensis became the flagship model in 2002.

FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Co., Ltd. on April 3 began a nationwide recall of 17,059 New Bora sedans due to their engine cover’s flaws, Guangzhou Daily reported, citing China’s quality supervisor.

The recalled New Bora cars, including the 1.6L and 2.0L models, were manufactured between August 12, 2008 and January 6, 2009, with the car bodies numbered from LFV3A215383000013 to LFV2A215693000200, according to the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (GAQSIQ).

The quality supervisor GAQSIQ said the reason for recalling these New Bora cars is that the sedan’s engine cap is difficult to open or shut and in some extreme case the engine cover couldn’t be completely locked or closed, which may give rise to safety hazards. The flaw is believed to be caused by the cap’s mis-adjustment during the manufacture of these sedans.

The Volkswagen Jetta is an automobile produced by German automaker Volkswagen since 1979. Positioned to fill an upscale saloon/sedan niche above the firm’s compact/small family car Golf offering, it has been known over its five generations variously as the Atlantic, Bora, City Jetta, Fox, GLI, Sagitar, or Vento. The name Jetta was derived from the Jet stream, continuing Volkswagen’s tradition of naming cars for various winds.

The model’s sedan body style was developed in partial response to Volkswagen’s observation that the North American market preferred that traditional configuration over the Golf’s then unconventional hatchback layout. The new saloon was marketed as a somewhat more luxurious car than its tailgated brethren, with nicer interior trim and a higher price. This proved to be wise on Volkswagen’s part, as the Jetta became the best-selling European car in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Over the years, the car has been offered in two and four-door sedan and five-door station wagon variants. As of 2005, over 6.6 million cars have been sold worldwide, over one-third in the United States alone. Since the original version in 1980, the car has grown in size and power with each successive generation.

Dodge is recalling about 72,000 2008 and 2009 model year Dodge Ram trucks due to a malfunctioning windshield wiper.

A defect notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration explains, “The windshield wiper module motor assembly may be susceptible to water intrusion that could result in partial or complete loss of windshield wiping capability.”

Dodge dealers will inspect the vehicles, and if necessary, replace the windshield wiper assembly free of charge. Those who wish to make their own repair arrangements may contact Dodge at 800-853-1403.

The Dodge Ram is a full-size pickup truck from Chrysler LLC’s Dodge brand. The name was first used in 1981 on the redesigned Ram and Power Ram, though it came from the hood ornament used on 1930s and ’40s Dodge vehicles.

Dodge Ram trucks have been named Motor Trend magazine’s Truck of the Year twice: the second-generation Ram won the award in 1994, and the third-generation Ram Heavy Duty won the award in 2003. The truck is in its fourth generation as of the 2009 model year.

The Ram is built at Saltillo Truck Assembly in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico; Saint Louis Assembly North in Fenton, Missouri, United States; and Warren Truck Assembly in Warren, Michigan, United States.

The problematic cars include 9,108 2.4L imported Outlander EX produced between November 7, 2007, and December 5, 2008, and 282 imported Lancer EZ produced between October 3, 2008, and November 20, 2008.

It is understood that the brake vacuum servo of the cars could fail to function because of defects in an internal valve.

Outlander, very favorably received in the Japanese and North American markets, is going to go on sale in China in January 2007 with the name Outlander EX.

Outlander EX is the same as the North American market Outlander and will be powered by a new high performance, low emission, low fuel consumption 3-liter V6 MIVEC*2 engine, coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission to deliver outstanding acceleration and high-speed cruising performance. Fully embracing Mitsubishi Motors’ All Wheel Control (AWC) concept, Outlander EX uses Mitsubishi’s electronically controlled 4WD system that continuously distributes front/rear wheel drive torque in an optimal way according to conditions.

Outlander sits on a next-generation platform that features enhanced stiffness and crashworthiness, together with an aluminum roof panel that lowers the center of gravity; this reduces roll inertia, improves steering response and handling, and reduces body roll and stagger without impacting ride quality. Outlander EX boasts a high level of specification, including a split tailgate that enhances convenience and loading ease. A spare tire is fitted as standard for the Chinese market.

The Mitsubishi Lancer is a small family car built by Mitsubishi Motors. It has been known as the Colt Lancer, Dodge/Plymouth Colt, Chrysler Valiant Lancer, Chrysler Lancer, Eagle Summit, Hindustan Lancer, Soueast Lioncel, Mitsubishi Carisma, and Mitsubishi Mirage in various countries at different times, and will be sold as the Galant Fortis in its home market from 2007. It has also been sold as Lancer Fortis in Taiwan with a different facelift compared to Galant Fortis from September 15, 2007.

Since its introduction in 1973 over six million Lancers have been sold.