Car and Driver teams up with Chrysler to battle distracted driving

You jump in your car, start the engine, put it in gear and start driving.  As you head toward the other side of town where you have a business lunch appointment, you look at the clock and see that it's 11:40 AM.  You immediately utter a choice word-- that shall remain unprinted-- because you know that you're at least 30 minutes away and your appointment is at noon.  What do you do?  If you're like many people, you grab your cell phone and immediately become a distracted driver.

That scenario plays itself out on roads countless times a day placing drivers and others in danger.  Consider a few facts found on the Distraction.gov website:

• In 2008, almost 20 percent of all crashes in the year involved some type of distraction. (Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - NHTSA)
• Nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted driver, and more than half a million were injured. (Source: NHTSA)
• Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Using a cell phone use while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (Source: University of Utah)

Numerous studies indicate that distracted driving remains a major problem and serious concern on American roads.  In an effort to make roads safer, Car and Driver Magazine has teamed up with Chrysler to release a nifty smartphone app called Txt U L8r.

The Txt U L8r mobile app, when active, automatically reads incoming text messages and reads them out loud for drivers to hear.  The app then sends an automatic response saying that you are driving and will text the messenger back soon.  Effectively, drivers need not take their hands off the wheel or eyes off the road.

Txt U L8r appears to be a branded version of the DriveSafe.ly app developed by iSpeech.org.  Both apps are currently available as free downloads for Android and Blackberry devices.  The DriveSafe.ly site indicates versions of that app for Windows Mobile devices and the Apple iPhone are coming soon. 

Since I'm an iPhone user, I have not tried either app and can't say whether they perform as advertised.  If you use Txt U L8r or DriveSafe.ly, share your thoughts on the apps and rate their performance.

Download Txt U L8r for Android or Blackberry

Download DriveSafe.ly for Android or Blackberry

BMW announces pricing for new X3 SAV

2011 BMW X3 SAV
Photo Credit: BMW USA

BMW announced pricing for its all-new 2011 X3 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) models on Wednesday. The X3 xDrive28i will start at $37,625 which is $2,100 less than its 2010 predecessor. The X3 xDrive35i will have a base price $41,925.  Both prices include a Destination & Handling fee of $875.

The second-generation BMW X3 draws inspiration from the original X3 which had a seven-year life cycle.  The X3 xDrive28i has a 240-horsepower engine while the X3 xDrive35i will sport a turbocharged, 300-horsepower engine.  Both models will arrive in dealer showrooms by the end of this year.

Among the new feature is the latest BMW ConnectedDrive technologies, including an available rearview camera with Top View.  BMW also offers what officials call "the most comprehensive integration for the latest Blackberry smartphone devices allowing owners to read emails from a Navigation screen while the car is stationary and, through innovative text-to-speech technology, listen to e-mails while driving.

The BMW X3 is manufactured at the companies North American plant in Greer, South Carolina.  New models will be in dealer showrooms by the end of this year.  

Hit and Miss: GM bats .333 with Thursday's major announcements

GM Orion Assembly Center in Lake Orion, Michigan
Photo Credit: General Motors

THE HIT:  As a Detroit native with family ties to the automotive industry, I am happy to learn that General Motors will invest $145 million in its Orion Township assembly plant for the purpose of building small cars.  It means saving jobs in the heavily depressed Southeast Michigan area and allowing good auto workers to continue doing what they do best-- build cars.

I also hope this new investment is another indication that growth continues following the rebirth of GM, which is an integral part of America's fabric.  It has been great watching the company come back behind the introduction and success of several new models including the Chevrolet Camaro, GMC Terrain, Cadillac CTS Coupe, Buick Lacrosse and others.  Today's announcement included news that Buick's upcoming new small car offering will be among the models manufactured at the Orion plant.  Officials even released a photo of the planned model.

smart USA plans to launch five-door model

One of the world's smallest cars will soon get a big sister.  smart USA, which currently markets the fortwo micro car, plans to introduce a five-door model to the American in the next 15 months.  The announcement was made today in Detroit.

Roger Penske

This will be quite a leap for smart which is known for tiny vehicles, large on efficiency.  "We are faced with continuing customer demand for a smart car with more seating capacity," explained Penske Automotive Group Chairman Roger Penske.  To meet that demand, smart will partner with Nissan to build the B-segment five-door car on architecture from the Japanese automaker.  The new model will only be sold in the United States.

Next Generation Mercedes-Benz CLS

Second generation Mercedes-Benz CLS (European Model)
Photo Credit: Mercedes-Benz

The revolutionary Mercedes-Benz CLS gets its first major redesign since being introduced in 2003.  The production version of the second generation CLS was recently unveiled at the Paris Motor Show.  Mercedes-Benz calls the new CLS "refined sportiness" citing a new design language, more efficiency and more safety among other features.

Mercedes created a new category when it introduced the CLS, combining the sportiness and elegance of a coupe with the comfort and functionality of a sedan.  The German automaker has sold approximately 170,000 CLS models globally.

GM to debut 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible at LA show

Photo Credit: General Motors

An affordable open-air motoring option returns to General Motors with 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, and everyone gets their first up close and personal look at the production model at the Los Angeles International Auto Show on November 17th.  And, there's more good news.  The Camaro Convertible will arrive in dealer showrooms in February at the starting price of $30,000, including destination.

Photo Credit: General Motors

"The Convertible will make the all-new Camaro, already a smash-hit, even more desirable to a greater range of drivers," said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing.  I know that I couldn't be more excited.  The rebirth of the Camaro has been nothing short of fantastic.