Well, it seems that BMW has officiall released their specifications, pictures and information about the redesigned 2009 Z4. The pictures show a beautiful retractable aluminum hard top, the same roadster proportions we know and love as well as slightly more agressive design than the first generation. The body also has noticibly less “flame surface” design that stood out in the first generation. Check out more about the car below:

THE NEW BMW Z4 ROADSTER
MODEL HIGHLIGHTS

First BMW Roadster with a retractable hardtop. The new model is the successor to both the BMW Z4 Roadster and the BMW Z4 Coupe. Two-piece electrohydraulically retractable hardtop in lightweight aluminum shell construction. The hardtop opens and closes fully automatically in each case within 20 seconds; the roof elements coming to rest in the roof compartment to give the car a low-slung rear-end design reflecting the traditional proportions of a roadster as well as a large luggage compartment. The high-quality interior lining finished in an extra-light color as well as large windows including the heated glass window at the rear ensure an exclusive ambience and optimized all-round visibility.

Long hood, large wheel arches, long wheelbase and small overhangs.

Head and elbow room as well as the degree of comfort in entering the car have been significantly enhanced over the former model. The low seating position near the rear axle guarantees the driving experience typical of a BMW Roadster. High-quality materials, first-class quality of finish and driver-oriented design of both the instrument panel and the center console guarantee an emotional driving experience in a particularly refined ambience.

Wide range of storage options within the passenger compartment including a spacious crosswise storage compartment behind the seats. First use of the BMW iDrive control system in the BMW Roadster. In conjunction with the optional navigation system the new generation of BMW iDrive comprises an ergonomically optimized Controller for the selection and control of functions by turning, pressing and tipping the Controller, function buttons on the Controller for direct menu entry, freely programmable favorite buttons for even easier operation, as well as a folding 8.8-inch display with high-resolution graphic presentation and an optimized menu structure. Enhanced navigation system with an even wider range of functions in entering destinations, planning trips and presenting maps. Optional audio system with hard disc memory.

Introduction of the new BMW Z4 with a choice of straight-six power units ranging in output from 255 hp to 300 hp. Both versions offering an optimum combination of acceleration and fuel economy in their respective classes. BMW EfficientDynamics featured as standard with specific highlights tailored to each model: variable VALVETRONIC valve management or, respectively, High Precision Injection direct petrol injection technology, Brake Energy Regeneration, on-demand management of ancillary units, variable oil pump, gearshift point indicator, all-aluminum or, respectively, composite magnesium/aluminum crankcase, optimized aerodynamics, and s with reduced rolling resistance. Both engine variants fulfilll the future EU 5 emission standard.

Seven-speed sport automatic with double clutch as an option on the BMW Z4 sDrive35i. Shifting gears without the slightest interruption of power, the transmission provides a unique combination of the extra comfort of a BMW automatic transmission with maximum performance. Acceleration and efficiency improved over the manual gearbox models. Six-speed sport automatic with optimized gearshift dynamics, direct connection to the engine and minimized converter slip available as an option on the BMW Z4 sDrive30i. Both sport automatic transmissions feature gearshift paddles on the steering wheel.

Outstanding driving dynamics thanks to near 50/50 weight distribution, rear-wheel drive and lightweight aluminum suspension with a double-joint tiebar front axle and centrally guided rear axle. Electromechanical power steering, high-performance brakes, latest generation of Dynamic Stability Control. Dynamic Drive Control featured as standard allows the driver to set up the car in three stages at the touch of a button. Dynamic Drive Control acts on the gas pedal control map, engine management, DSC response, the power steering control map, the dynamic gearshift on the optional sport automatic transmission and, on cars fitted with the optional Adaptive M Suspension, the control map for Electronic Damper Control.

Comprehensive safety concept with extremely stiff body structures, defined load paths, specific use of high-strength steel and special deformation elements, head/thorax airbags integrated at the front and at the side in the seat backrests, three-point inertia-reel seat belts with new belt tightening technology, massively reinforced A-pillars and roll bars behind the headrests, runflat tires and a Tire Pressure Monitor fitted as standard, headlights with standard bi-xenon adaptive light technology.

Engines:
BMW Z4 sDrive35i: 
Straight-six gasoline engine with Twin Turbo and direct fuel injection (High Precision Injection) 
Capacity: 2,979 cc, max output: 300 hp at 5,800 rpm, 
Max torque: 300 lb-ft from 1,400–5,000 rpm
Acceleration 0–60 mph: 5.1 sec 
(seven-speed sport automatic with double clutch: 5.0 sec) 
Top speed: 130 mph (150 mph with Sport Package) (electronically limited)
CO2 emissions to EU standard: 219 g (210 g)/km.

BMW Z4 sDrive30i: 
Straight-six gasoline engine with magnesium/aluminum composite crankcase, VALVETRONIC and double-VANOS
Capacity: 2,996 cc, max output: 255 hp at 6,600 rpm, 
Max torque: 220 lb-ft at 2,600 rpm
Acceleration 0–60 mph: 5.6 sec (sport automatic: 6.0 sec) 
Top speed: 150 mph (with Sport Package) (electronically limited)
 CO2 emissions to EU standard: 199 g (195 g)/km.

Source: BMW Press

If there’s one thing GM has done right in the last 5 years, it’s fund Zora Arkus-Duntov’s and his dream to turn the docile Corvette into a full-fledged sports car that could compete with the likes of Ferrari and Aston-Martin. Well, 50 years later, with a 628HP car that has the same brakes as a Ferrari Enzo, the 2008 Corvette ZR-1 has redefined high perfomance American cars and revolutionized the term bargain supercar. With a ripping LS9 supercharged engine sound, this is one of the best reviews Jay has done of a new car.

Congradulations to Jay and his Corvette ZR-1 #0001!

Audi has decided to officially release pictures of its new halo car ahead of the Detroit auto show. The 5.2L, V10 version of the R8 is 525HP of four wheel drive goodness, assuming you can afford the $180,000 price tag. Compared to it’s more athletic brother, the R8 LMS, the V10 uses the standard quattro four wheel system we all know and love. The design of the Audi R8 has already impressed experts, as evidenced by the double victory in the “World Car of the Year Awards 2008″. In the ten-cylinder model, the styling has been sharpened up even more. Known for it aggresive styling, LED only external lighting and obscene performance, Audi has finally put together a car that challenges more than just the entry level Porsche 911 and Ferrari F430. The V8 R8 was always a little more on par with the M3 and the basic 911 carrera, but now with proper power we’ll see what it can do against the big boys from Stuttgart and Maranello. With it’s new engine (using dry sump lubrication, FSI gasoline direct injection and variable valve timing) the new R8 weighs around 68lbs more than it’s little brother but is propelled to 100mph in just over 8 seconds. In addition to the crazy performance numbers, you still get all the stylish bits on the interior you’d expect like Nappa leather and a spiffy Audi GPS. However, the one thing that still remains is the sound. Will this car be a miniature Lamborghini Gallardo or a whole other engine sound? The stats have placed this car slightly lowed on the totem pole than the Gallardo in terms of performance (can you blame Audi?). However, considering the speed limits we’re constrained with, as long as this car sounds as fast as the Lamborghini, a lot of people might take the cheaper version. After all, it looks the same from the cockpit!

The new R8 will go on sale in Germany second quarter 2009. That means it should make it to the states by the end of next year. Click on the pictures below for larger pictures.

WHITE

For the second year in a row American’s have proven they like their cars like they like their washers and dryers, clean and crisp. 20% of the poll performed by DuPont paints favored white over any other color (with a combination of 17% plain white and 4% white pearl effects). Coming in a close second was a tie between the old trusty dust hider Silver and the venerable black, both with 16%.

DuPont also reports other favorites come in at the following percentages: Blue: 13%, Gray: 12%, Red: 11%, Beige/Brown: 5%, Green: 3% and Yellow/Gold at 2%. Also noted was blue’s comeback in more than one way, with many manufacturers using the “blue” title for hyper-economical diesel cars (BlueTec, BluMotion, etc).

Though many will chastise white for it’s incredibly monotone-monotony, I have to applaud the choice, as white cars with dark tint and black accents really make a sleek and eye catching ride. Consider most race cars’s base is white and you’re left with quite a few good reasons to own a car that’s the same color as your toaster. Here are a few favorites of mine:

Source: DuPont via LeftLaneNews

After a long history of being very uncouth to drive, diesel cars are starting to make a comeback for more than just their economy and “green” association. Many Hollywood stars previously seen in cars like the Toyota Prius are now moving back towards their large, ostentatious SUVs. However, at least they are using diesel SUVs with “BlueTEC” technology that allows for the ultra-low sulfer diesel to burn extra clean. Back in th 70s and 80s, diesels were known for their putrid smell, ultra-loud clatter and less than consistent cranking in the cold. However, the newest crop of direct injection and common rail diesel engines are as good (if not better) than their petrol counterparts. As cool as it is to be “green,” with the likes of Alanis Morissette, Gwen Stefani, Katherine Heigel, and Naomi Watts driving the newest Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTEC, it’s much cooler to be “blue.”

More from the official press release below:

Hollywood drives BlueTEC: Stars from Motion Pictures, Television and Music Go Green with Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC

When Academy Award Nominee Naomi Watts celebrated her 40th birthday in Los Angeles this fall, her partner Liev Schreiber (“X-Men,” “The Manchurian Candidate”) surprised her with a spectacular present; a Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTEC. Liev and Naomi are among the actors and musicians to discover the exceptional performance, efficiency, and high cruising range of Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC models, the world’s cleanest and most advanced diesels.

In addition to Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts, fellow BlueTEC drivers from motion pictures and television include “Desperate Housewives” star Kyle MacLachlan, “Sex and the City” siren Kim Cattrall, Academy Award Nominee and Golden Globe Winner Gary Oldman, and “Phantom of the Opera” star and singer Emmy Rossum. “My ML320 BlueTEC has all the power and luxury you’d expect of a Mercedes-Benz, plus the efficiency and low environmental impact of an economy or even hybrid vehicle,” says Emmy Rossum. “BlueTEC really is the best of both worlds.” Also from the world of music, pop superstar Gwen Stefani and her husband, musician Gavin Rossdale, have a BlueTEC parked in their driveway, as does singer Josh Kelley (husband of “Grey’s Anatomy” star Katherine Heigl).

Seven-time Grammy winning artist Alanis Morissette chose the fuel-efficient Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC for the video of “Underneath”, the first single and video from her latest album, “Flavors of Entanglement.” In the video, Alanis is sitting at a bus stop wearing a “Save the Earth” t-shirt and distributing fliers to encourage concern for the environment. When a Mercedes-Benz E320 BlueTEC passes by, Alanis salutes the Mercedes driver in appreciation for their environmentally aware choice. “Making green choices on a local level is important in creating global change,” says Alanis. “I’m glad that Mercedes-Benz has introduced a great option with BlueTEC.”

BlueTEC have also starred in some of the hottest television shows and series this season, including “90210″ (CW), “The Amazing Race” (CBS), “Privileged” (CW), “Starter Wife” (USA Network), and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (NBC).

About Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC

The BlueTEC wave began in October 2006 when Mercedes-Benz introduced the E320 BlueTEC sedan; it immediately captured accolades from consumers and critics alike and was voted “2007 World Green Car of the Year.” Now Mercedes-Benz has expanded the BlueTEC product range with the introduction of three new SUV’s – the R, ML and GL 320 BlueTEC – the first diesel SUV’s to meet the stringent emissions standards of all 50 States. The term “BlueTEC” is derived from the revolutionary AdBlue process that injects a reducing agent in the vehicle’s exhaust line, thereby clearly reducing emissions.

Ward’s Auto has released its annual list of the Ten Best Engines for the new year. There are a lot of great engines in here, however there’s something missing. Let’s see if you can guess:

• Audi AG: 2.0L TFSI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (A4 Avant)
• BMW AG: 3.0L turbocharged DOHC I-6 (135i Coupe)
• BMW AG: 3.0L DOHC I-6 Turbodiesel (335d)
• Chrysler LLC: 5.7L Hemi OHV V-8 (Dodge Ram/Challenger R/T)
• Ford Motor Co.: 2.5L DOHC I-4 HEV (Escape Hybrid)
• General Motors Corp.: 3.6L DOHC V-6 (Cadillac CTS)
• Honda Motor Co. Ltd.: 3.5L SOHC V-6 (Accord Coupe)
• Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd.: 4.6L DOHC V-8 (Genesis)
• Toyota Motor Corp.: 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Lexus IS 350)
• Volkswagen AG: 2.0L SOHC I-4 Turbodiesel (Jetta TDI)

It seems as though all the new cars have very useful, reliable and efficient engines, all the performance engines to come out of BMW, VW and Mercedes are nowhere to be found. The only traditional performance based engine that remains on the list is the venerable Hemi. Despite this, we are seeing engines that offer a unique combination of efficiency and performance (BMW’s 3.0L turbodiesel, 3,0L petrol, VW’s 2.0L turbodiesel and Audi’s 2.0L TFSI petrol engine). These engines mark the very peak of efficiency, yet sit in inside of cars that are known for being spunky (VW Jetta), handle very well (BMW 335d) and are known for their race car attitude (BMW 135i). It seems though the high performance engines likely to be in your M3 or GT-R aren’t on this list, Ward’s hasn’t gone completely boring and given the Toyota Prius Hybrid Drive the top 10 spots. However, whether you’re a weekend racer or a discerning traveler looking for something that’s going to get you far and not break on the way there, buying a new car is going to yeild some of the best engines we’ve seen in cars yet!

Press Release:

Ward’s Announces 2009 10 Best Engines Winners

SOUTHFIELD, MI – Amid plummeting vehicle sales, thousands of job losses, an economy officially in recession and pleas for federal assistance, a handful of auto makers have cause to celebrate.

Ward’s Automotive Group announces its 2009 10 Best Engines list, which reflects the diversity of powertrains that will play a role in reshaping America’s automotive landscape.

Selected by Ward’s editors, the 2009 list marks the 15th year for the Ward’s 10 Best Engines program, the North American auto industry’s only awards honoring powertrain excellence and considered by many to be the “Oscars” for automotive engines.

The winners for 2008 (engine and tested vehicle):

* Audi AG: 2.0L TFSI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (A4 Avant)
* BMW AG: 3.0L turbocharged DOHC I-6 (135i Coupe)
* BMW AG: 3.0L DOHC I-6 Turbodiesel (335d)
* Chrysler LLC: 5.7L Hemi OHV V-8 (Dodge Ram/Challenger R/T)
* Ford Motor Co.: 2.5L DOHC I-4 HEV (Escape Hybrid)
* General Motors Corp.: 3.6L DOHC V-6 (Cadillac CTS)
* Honda Motor Co. Ltd.: 3.5L SOHC V-6 (Accord Coupe)
* Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd.: 4.6L DOHC V-8 (Genesis)
* Toyota Motor Corp.: 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Lexus IS 350)
* Volkswagen AG: 2.0L SOHC I-4 Turbodiesel (Jetta TDI)

Awards to be presented during Detroit auto show in January.

“A decade ago, few consumers in the U.S. paid serious attention to hybrids or diesels. This year, they have to, if they don’t want to be pinched the next time fuel hits $4 a gallon,” says Tom Murphy, executive editor of Ward’s AutoWorld magazine.”The diesels from VW and BMW and the Ford Escape Hybrid all got better than 30 mpg (7.8 L/100 km) during our testing, and often they topped 40 mpg (5.8 L/100 km),” he says. “And the diesels meet the strictest emissions regulations in the world. If Americans want to find a vehicle that consumes less fuel and is fun to drive, our list is a great place to start.”

Among the winners is Ford Motor Co.’s redesigned 2.5L 4-cyl. hybrid-electric powertrain, which motivated President and CEO Alan Mulally’s Escape Hybrid cross/utility vehicle to and from Washington D.C. for federal-aid talks, makes the cut.

During Ward’s testing, the front-wheel-drive HEV managed to easily surpass the federal fuel-economy rating of 34/31 city/highway mpg (6.9-7.5 L/100 km).

BMW AG’s new 3.0L inline 6-cyl. turbodiesel scores a slot on the list in its first year available in the U.S. Joined by the auto maker’s twin-turbocharged and direct-injected gasoline I-6 engine, which returns for the third year, the diesel employs a sequential twin-turbocharger system that provides the 335d sedan with impressive fuel economy and a stunning 425 lb.-ft. (576 Nm) of torque.

Volkswagen AG joins the clean-diesel party this year, as well, with its new 2.0L 4-cyl. turbodiesel powering the Jetta TDI sedan. Fun to drive and frugal at the pump, the TDI is an affordable and entertaining alternative to many larger gasoline and hybrid-electric powertrains.

Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd. appears for the first time on Ward’s 10 Best Engines list with its all-new Tau 4.6L DOHC V-8. Introduced in the new Genesis luxury sedan, the engine’s velvety power delivery, competitive performance and attainable price epitomize the Korean auto maker’s drive for world-class engineering.
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Ward’s 10 Best Engines

Chrysler LLC’s venerable 5.7L Hemi V-8 returns to the rankings with added refinement, power and variable-valvetrain and induction technology. Its guttural roar and low-end grunt serves double duty this year in the all-new Dodge Challenger R/T and Ram pickup.

Toyota Motor Corp. scores its fourth consecutive 10 Best Engines win with its Lexus 3.5L DOHC V-6, a brilliant design that employs a unique, combination direct- and port-injection fueling system that helps generate 306 hp and 277 lb.-ft. (376 Nm) of torque.

General Motors Corp. and Honda Motor Co. Ltd. also make return appearances with their high-volume V-6 engines exemplifying practicality balanced with precision engineering.

GM’s high-feature 3.6L V-6 with direct-gasoline injection returns for the second time. Tested in the Cadillac CTS, yet flexible enough to proliferate through the auto maker’s CUVs, the advanced V-6 makes a hardy 304 hp on regular gasoline.

Honda underscores its longstanding reputation for great engines with the encore performance of its 3.5L SOHC V-6 in the Accord lineup. Merging exceptional performance with reasonable fuel economy, the engine employs advanced cylinder deactivation in the sedan and engaging power delivery in the coupe.

Audi AG’s 2.0L TFSI turbocharged 4-cyl., freshly revamped with 211 hp and a mighty 258 lb.-ft. (350 Nm) of torque for the all-new A4, rounds out the list with a fourth-consecutive 10 Best Engines placing as one of the best all-around turbo-4s on the market.

This year, six Ward’s editors nominated 32 different engines for the Ward’s 10 Best Engines competition. The nominee list consists of the 2008 winners as well as all-new or significantly improved engines.

Over a nearly 2-month period, the editors evaluated and scored each engine against all others in a number of objective and subjective parameters. Each engine must be available in a regular-production U.S.-specification model on sale no later than first-quarter 2009, in a vehicle priced no more than $54,000, a price cap indexed to the average cost of a new vehicle.

The awards will be given at a Jan. 14 ceremony in Detroit during the North American International Auto Show.

Complete stories about the 10 Best Engines will be featured soon on WardsAuto.com and in upcoming issues of Ward’s AutoWorld magazine and Ward’s Engine & Vehicle Technology Update newsletter.

Ward’s 10 Best Engines is a copyright of Penton Media Inc. Commercial references to the program and/or awards are prohibited without prior permission of Ward’s Automotive Group.

Yesterday Toyota released their November sales numbers. As you can expect, most models were down heavily in sales from a year ago. However, one in particular stood out as decidedly up, the Toyota Sequoia which was up in sales by over 50% (1,873 in 2008 vs 1,233 in 2007). On a year-to-date scale, the numbers look a little better for the rest of the brand. Yaris sales are up over 23%, the Scion xB has seen almost a 3% gain and Scion xD has seen a vast 186% sales increase vs. the same time in 2007 (though there were only 9300 sold by this time last year due to it being a new model). Land Cruisers and Sequoia were both up around 36% since last year and even at that time they saw significant sales numbers. In total, Toyota has seen a 8.4% drop in new car sales compared to the same time last year. Considering the doom and gloom GM, Chrysler and Ford are espousing, you’d think it’s the end of the world. However, Toyota’s innovative production facilities, excellent product offerings and excellent quality (not to mention their lack of labor and pension overhead) have kept them chugging along at a steady pace only slowing down because of the consumer’s lack of cash. However, their range of inexpensive Scions, Yarises and other sub-compact cars have kept American’s hankering for a new car well supplied.

Source: Toyota

The December 15 unveiling of the all-new BMW Z4 can’t come soon enough. However, as we get closer to the day, more teaser pictures seem to emerge from the internet. This more aggressive version of the super popular roadster deviates from the “flare surface” design of the previous Z4, but don’t think for a second Chris Bangle has stopped designing BMWs. He’s still in control of BMW design, and this just shows the evolution of his design into the next, more aggressive step.
Personally, I think it looks like the old Z8. The front grill accents and parallel door section have that BMW 507 look. As most car companies seem to be harking back to the days of yore (Mustang, Charger), perhaps even BMW isn’t immune to nostalgia.

The version in the picture is a retractable hard-top (no rag top this time, at least not until later).
Until we see official pictures it’s hard to make a judgment, but it looks pretty good thus far in our book.  Maybe we just have a thing for “Z” cars?

Here’s a rendition of the rear for good measure:

To most people, safety is the top priority when buying a new car. There’s nothing more important than the safety of you and your family and because of this, the IIHS releases yearly standard of how well each car does in various instances of crashes.

This year, there were 72 cars that hold a safety rating at or exceeding the standards of highest safety rating by the IIHS. These standards include various criteria pertaining to air-bags, crumple zones, cabin incursion, roll-over safety and and overall survivability (the chart to the right are a few more of the locations that can decide safety). Below is the official IIHS press release:

IIHS Names Top Safety Performers for 2009

ARLINGTON, VA – Crash Test Winners – Seventy-two vehicles earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick award for 2009. This is more than double the number of 2008 recipients and more than 3 times the number of 2007 winners. Top Safety Pick recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, and rear crashes based on good ratings in Institute tests. Winners also have to have electronic stability control (ESC), which research shows significantly reduces crash risk.

For the first time ever, winners represent every class of vehicle the Institute tests except microcars. Most car, minivan, and SUV models, midsize convertibles, and small and large pickups are eligible. Ford and its subsidiary Volvo have 16 winners, including the Ford F-150 large pickup. Thirteen winners are from Honda and its Acura division. The Honda Fit with optional ESC is the first minicar to earn Top Safety Pick.

Honda, Acura, and Subaru, which picked up 4 awards, are standouts for 2009 because they have at least 1 Top Safety Pick in every vehicle class in which they compete.

“Consumers are the biggest winners,” says Institute president Adrian Lund. “No matter what kind of vehicle buyers may be considering, now they can walk into just about any dealership and find one that affords the best overall protection in serious crashes.”

Front and side impacts are the most common kinds of fatal crashes, killing about three-quarters of the 28,896 passenger vehicle occupants who died in 2007. Rear-end crashes usually aren’t fatal, but they result in a large proportion of crash injuries. Neck sprain or strain is the most commonly reported injury in two thirds of insurance claims for injuries in all kinds of crashes.

Automakers improve protection: Top Safety Pick provides an incentive for manufacturers to offer safer vehicle designs that go far beyond basic federal standards.

“In order to win, automakers have beefed up the side structures of vehicles and added side airbags to do a better job of protecting people in serious side crashes,” Lund says. “They’re rapidly adding ESC to prevent crashes, and they’re designing seats and head restraints that do a better job of protecting against whiplash.”

The changes are evident in the safety equipment that is increasingly standard. For the 2009 model year, 84 percent of passenger cars, 99 percent of SUVs, and 23 percent of pickups have standard side airbags with head protection. The same is true for ESC. It’s standard on 74 percent of passenger cars, 99 percent of SUVs, and 37 percent of pickups.

Crash avoidance is required: The Institute began the Top Safety Pick program in 2006, initially giving out 2 tiers of awards. Gold winners scored good ratings for front, side, and rear crash protection. Silver winners had good ratings in front and side tests and acceptable ratings in rear evaluations.

For 2007, the Institute raised the bar to win by requiring good rear impact results and ESC as either standard or optional equipment. ESC helps drivers maintain control of their vehicles in the worst situation – loss of control at high speed – by engaging automatically when it senses vehicle instability and helping to bring a vehicle back in the intended line of travel. ESC lowers the risk of a fatal single-vehicle crash by about half, and it lowers the risk of a fatal rollover crash by as much as 70 percent.

Rear, side performance still lags: Crash tests have driven major improvements in the designs of all kinds and sizes of passenger vehicles. The Institute began conducting frontal tests for consumer information in 1995. Side tests were added in 2003 and rear tests in 2004. Most vehicles earn good ratings based on the frontal crash test, but significant differences remain among vehicles’ performance in side and rear tests.

Twenty-six models fall short of earning Top Safety Pick because of inadequate head restraint designs. The Smart Fortwo, the only microcar in the US market, missed because of its head restraints. The same goes for Toyota’s hybrid Prius, which performed well in the Institute’s front and side crash tests but came up short for rear crash protection.

Chrysler is the only major automaker lacking a single Top Safety Pick. It could have picked up 5 awards if the head restraints were better in the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring, the Sebring convertible, and the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country.

A 2008 Institute analysis of insurance claims found that, all other factors being the same, drivers of vehicles with seat/head restraint combinations rated good in Institute evaluations were 15 percent less likely to sustain neck injuries in rear-end crashes than drivers of vehicles with poor head restraints.

Eleven vehicles missed the mark because they didn’t earn a good rating for occupant protection in side crashes. Many of these vehicles are smaller cars whose size puts them at a disadvantage in the challenging test compared with larger, heavier vehicles.

“Still, the sheer number of this year’s winners indicates that automakers have made huge strides to improve crash protection to achieve Top Safety Pick designation,” Lund says. “For years Toyota had more also-rans than winners. For 2009 this automaker has come on strong by updating seats and head restraints in the Avalon, Corolla, FJ Cruiser, and RAV4 to earn good ratings. Volkswagen has done the same with the Eos, Jetta, Passat, and Rabbit.”

Winners include 8 large cars, 13 midsize cars, 6 small cars, 1 minicar, 3 midsize convertibles, and 3 minivans. Among SUVs, 19 are midsize, 10 are small, and 5 are large. The 2008 Toyota Tundra was the first large pickup to earn Top Safety Pick. For 2009, the Tundra is joined by the Ford F-150 and the Honda Ridgeline. The Toyota Tacoma is the only small pickup winner.

Each year the Institute offers to test Top Safety Pick candidates early in the model year. The policy is for manufacturers to reimburse the Institute for the cost of vehicles if the tests aren’t part of the group’s regular schedule. Top Safety Pick is presented by vehicle size because size and weight are closely related, and both influence how well occupants will be protected in serious crashes. Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford better protection in crashes than smaller, lighter ones.

“Just because small cars are Top Safety Picks doesn’t make them as crashworthy as larger vehicles,” Lund says. “Rather, it’s all the more important to choose a small car that rates highly for safety because you give up the protection of size and weight.”

How vehicles are evaluated: The Institute’s frontal crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of 40 mph frontal offset crash tests. Each vehicle’s overall evaluation is based on measurements of intrusion into the occupant compartment, injury measures recorded on a Hybrid III dummy in the driver seat, and analysis of slow-motion film to assess how well the restraint system controlled dummy movement during the test.

Side evaluations are based on performance in a crash test in which the side of a vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph. The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV. Ratings reflect injury measures recorded on two instrumented SID-IIs dummies, assessment of head protection countermeasures, and the vehicle’s structural performance during the impact.

Rear crash protection is rated according to a two-step procedure. Starting points for the ratings are measurements of head restraint geometry – the height of a restraint and its horizontal distance behind the back of the head of an average-size man. Seat/head restraints with good or acceptable geometry are tested dynamically using a dummy that measures forces on the neck. This test simulates a collision in which a stationary vehicle is struck in the rear at 20 mph. Seats without good or acceptable geometry are rated poor overall because they can’t be positioned to protect many people.

All 72 Winners of 2009 IIHS Top Safety Performers

IIHS 2009 Large Car Top Safety Performers
* Acura RL
* Audi A6
* Cadillac CTS
* Ford Taurus
* Lincoln MKS
* Mercury Sable
* Toyota Avalon
* Volvo S80

IIHS 2009 Midsize Car Top Safety Performers
* Acura TL
* Acura TSX
* Audi A3
* Audi A4
* BMW 3 series 4-door models
* Ford Fusion with optional electronic stability control
* Honda Accord 4-door models
* Mercedes C class
* Mercury Milan with optional electronic stability control
* Saab 9-3
* Subaru Legacy
* Volkswagen Jetta
* Volkswagen Passat

IIHS 2009 Midsize Convertibles Top Safety Performers
* Saab 9-3
* Volkswagen Eos
* Volvo C70

IIHS 2009 Small Cars Top Safety Performers
* Honda Civic 4-door models (except Si) with optional electronic stability control
* Mitsubishi Lancer with optional electronic stability control
* Scion xB
* Subaru Impreza with optional electronic stability control
* Toyota Corolla with optional electronic stability control
* Volkswagen Rabbit

IIHS 2009 Mini Car Top Safety Performers
* Honda Fit with optional electronic stability control

IIHS 2009 Minivan Top Safety Performers
* Honda Honda Odyssey
* Hyundai Entourage
* Kia Sedona

IIHS 2009 Large SUV Top Safety Performers
* Audi Q7
* Buick Enclave
* Chevrolet Traverse
* GMC Acadia
* Saturn Outlook

IIHS 2009 Midsize SUV Top Safety Performers
* Acura MDX
* Acura RDX
* BMW X3
* BMW X5
* Ford Edge
* Ford Flex
* Ford Taurus X
* Honda Pilot
* Hyundai Santa Fe
* Hyundai Veracruz
* Infiniti EX35
* Lincoln MKX
* Mercedes M Class
* Nissan Murano
* Saturn VUE
* Subaru Tribeca
* Toyota FJ Cruiser
* Toyota Highlander
* Volvo XC90

IIHS 2009 Small SUV Top Safety Performers
* Ford Escape
* Honda CR-V, Element
* Mazda Tribute
* Mercury Mariner
* Mitsubishi Outlander
* Nissan Rogue
* Subaru Forester
* Toyota RAV4
* Volkswagen Tiguan

IIHS 2009 Large Pickups Top Safety Performers
* Ford F-150
* Honda Ridgeline
* Toyota Tundra

IIHS 2009 Small Pickups Top Safety Performers
* Toyota Tacoma

ALSO-RANS For 2009 IIHS Top Safety Performers

The following 26 vehicles earn good ratings in front and side crash tests. They have ESC, standard or optional. They would be 2009 Top Safety Pick winners if their seat/head restraints also earn good ratings:

* Chevrolet Malibu
* Chrysler Sebring
* Chrysler Sebring Convertible
* Chrysler Town & Country
* Dodge Avenger
* Dodge Grand Caravan
* Infiniti G35
* Infiniti M35
* Kia Amanti
* Lexus ES
* Lexus GS
* Lexus IS
* Mazda CX-7
* Mazda CX-9
* Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder
* Mitsubishi Endeavor
* Nissan Altima
* Nissan Pathfinder
* Nissan Quest
* Nissan Xterra
* Saturn AURA
* smart Fortwo
* Toyota 4Runner
* Toyota Camry
* Toyota Prius
* Toyota Sienna

Source: IIHS

Cars have personality.  Some may be boring, others extreme and overbearing. Some cars lack personality, and this is arguably the case with most new model vehicles.

Enter the new Z-car from Nissan, aesthetically pleasing and a heritage of performance and pure driving pleasure. The Z is an immovable object and an unstoppable force, at the same time.

Nissan has always kept some passion in the Z brand, and the new model ignites something inside, demands attention. This vehicle clearly states, before even being started, that it will not be like any other “blast-from-the-past” remake of a classic.

Some will mock the design techniques, and ask for “this” or “that” until the car looks the exact same as the previous model. What would be the point?  When should there be designs for cars of the future? So ensue arguments over such new designs.

The car is sharp, clean, and beautiful. First impressions? Now that’s a Z car. I like this design, and would enjoy more forward thinking like this from all car manufacturing companies. And I’ll bet if you sat behind the wheel for 5 minutes, you’d forget about those “silly” headlights.

-J