Ford offers a free alternative to OnStar

One of the most important features of General Motor's OnStar system is its emergency response: If your car's air bags deploy, the system will automatically call for help. And even if you're unconscious, the OnStar operator can locate your car through OnStar's GPS receiver and direct emergency responders to it.

Now, Ford will be offering a similar feature called 911 Assist. Like OnStar, this system automatically dials for help if the car's air bags deploy. But, unlike OnStar, you don't have to pay a subscription fee.

911 Assist, which will be available later this year, is an upgrade for Ford's new SYNC system. Developed with Microsoft, SYNC allows you to wirelessly connect a Bluetooth-enabled phone or other portable device, and control it through voice commands. SYNC is available on about a dozen models already and, according to the company, will be available on most new Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles by the end of 2008. For people that already own a car with SYNC, they will be able to get a free firmware upgrade through a dealership when 911 Assist becomes available.

How 911 Assist works
Once you have set up your cell phone with SYNC, the two will automatically link up through a Bluetooth connection every time you enter the car. If your car is involved in an accident that deploys the air bags, 911 Assist will first wait for 10 seconds to give the driver or a passenger time to manually cancel the call if desired. If not, SYNC will automatically dial 911 through the cell phone.

When the 911 operator answers the call, a pre-recorded message will tell the operator that air bags have deployed. Following the message, an occupant can speak directly with the operator. Or, if this isn't possible, the operator could still locate your car's position either by triangulating the voice signal or, on some phones, by identifying your phone's GPS coordinates.

Ford says that 911 Assist allows you to reach emergency respondents more quickly because you don't have to go through a call-center operator, as with OnStar. But, while OnStar doesn't require the driver to do anything (other than maintain the subscription), 911 Assist puts more responsibility on you to make sure the system can work properly.

First, you have to set up SYNC so that it can connect to your cell phone. You have to make sure your phone is turned on while driving. (Be sure to have a car charger in case the phone's battery goes dead.) You also have to make sure it's able to receive a Bluetooth link. Some people turn the Bluetooth mode off when a connection isn't needed to extend the phone's battery life.    

For an operator to locate your car by GPS coordinates, your phone has to have a GPS receiver (as most new phones do). Plus, on many phones you have to manually put the phone into a mode that lets others see the GPS coordinates. Because some people regard this as a privacy issue, your phone may not be in this mode by default. Like OnStar, you also need to be in an area with cellular coverage.

This is not hard stuff, but you will have to be diligent about making sure all the conditions are right. And if you do, 911 Assist has the potential to be a valuable safety service that doesn't require a subscription fee. 

—Rik Paul

See our complete coverage of the 2008 Detroit auto show. And discuss the event in our auto show forum.

Getting in and out of a tight spot

Struggling to squeeze into a tight parking space ranks right up there with holiday mall traffic on the driver irritation list. The beeping front and rear proximity sensors on many cars’ backup sensors can help, but they still leave you feeling like you’re parking with blinders on. Lexus, of course, addressed the situation with its self-parking LS. But we found that to be a limited success; it’s not ideal for tight spots, it can be hit or miss in the best of situations, and often by the time you’ve lined everything up enough for the system to be happy, you could have already parked manually and been done with it.

At the LA Auto Show, I got my first close-up look at Infiniti’s new Around View Monitor (AVM) system, which is optional on the new EX35, and could make the task of tight parking a lot more manageable.

The AVM system is a 360-degree exterior camera that allows a driver to see all sides of the vehicle at one time. It uses four cameras: one under each side mirror and one each on the front and rear. The images are arranged on the in-dash display so that the driver gets a top-down view of the car. This allows you to see the area around both bumpers and both sides of the vehicle. In other words, you can visually monitor how close you are to other cars and miscellaneous dent-inducing objects, while also making sure that your passenger doesn’t have to step into a puddle on the way out.

Unlike conventional rear backup camera systems, the AVM can be used in any gear and stays on up to a vehicle speed of 6 mph.

I can also see security uses for this system. For instance, the EX35 just wouldn’t work well in a horror movie, because occupants could too easily watch every move as Jason or whatever creature tried to creep up to the car from the dark woods nearby. So much for suspense.

The AVM system is coupled with a standard rear backup camera that provides an extended view rearward. And, according to an Infiniti representative, it comes on instantly when a driver shifts into reverse rather than first flashing logos and assorted graphics, as some competitors’ systems do, that make the driver wait to see what’s behind.

—Rik Paul

Scratches, heal thyself!

It’s inevitable that a car’s finish will pick up minor scratches and swirl marks. This can be caused by such things as using a drive-through car wash that hasn't been well maintained, running fingernails across the paint around door handles, or simply sliding a grocery bag across the hood.

On the new Infiniti EX35, however, such scratches can be merely a temporary annoyance. That’s because Infiniti is introducing a new clearcoat paint technology on the EX, called Scratch Shield, which the company describes as self-healing. That is, the clearcoat automatically smoothes out such scratches and swirl marks, and is said to maintain its gloss for the life of the vehicle.

According to an Infiniti representative, the paint has a gel-like layer that softens under higher temperatures, allowing it to blend together and fill in small scratches. This will happen, for instance, on a warm summer day where temperatures reach into the 80- or 90-degree F range. The process can also be speeded up by pouring hot water on the paint.

To illustrate this at the LA Auto Show, the Infiniti rep used a wire brush to lightly scratch a small panel that had been coated with the finish. Then he got a cup of hot water from the Infiniti display’s handy cappuccino machine and poured it on half of the panel. Sure enough, the lighter scratches smoothed over within seconds, regaining its smooth, scratch-free look. This could be especially handy for optimum curb appeal come trade-in or resale time.

Scratch Shield, however, can’t help you if the scratches are too deep, such as those that go through the clearcoat or pigment layer. For those, it’s off to the detailer or paint shop. While the feature is appearing first on the EX35, it will be standard on all 2009 Infiniti models except the QX SUV.

—Rik Paul

Want to lease a fuel-cell car?

Honda’s big introduction at the Los Angeles auto show was its second-generation FCX fuel-cell car, which is now called the FCX Clarity. The company claims that this sedan will be EPA rated at a heady 68 mpg (combined city and highway) and have a 270-mile driving range, or about 30 percent more than the first-generation FCX.

Most intriguing, at least for a select few, will be that Honda intends to put this car into the hands of more everyday consumers. The previous FCX has been leased to three customers in the Southern California area. For the new one, Honda will offer a three-year lease for $600 a month to people in the areas of Irvine, Santa Monica, and Torrance, California, who are close to hydrogen refueling stations. Honda will also support the leased cars with dealership service training and a special FCX service center in the LA area.

The consumer lease program will be kicked off next year, but so far Honda won’t say how many cars will be in it. If interested, keep an eye on Honda’s Web site and on this blog, where we’ll pass along info as we get it.

GM also recently announced its Project Driveway program (see our recent blog entry) in which it will be putting its Chevrolet Equinox fuel-cell vehicles into consumers’ hands for a few months at a time. That program will be based in California, and in the areas of New York City and Washington D.C. For information or to throw your name into the hat, go to www.chevrolet.com/fuelcell.

—Rik Paul

Paint it green

Last year, the Los Angeles auto show was moved from its familiar slot in early January (where it was continually overshadowed by the larger North American International Auto Show in Detroit) to November, where it can make its own mark. Yet, another move that helps give the show its own identity is its overriding green-car theme.

 

On the first press day, more than a dozen vehicles were highlighted that provide cleaner and/or more fuel-efficient alternatives to conventional gasoline engines. This ranged from the familiar, such as diesels and flex-fuel vehicles (which can run on E85 ethanol) to more exotic designs, such as the second-generation Honda FCX Clarity fuel-cell vehicle and the plug-in, fuel-cell Volkswagen Space Up! Blue concept.

 

Chevrolet crowded eight vehicles onto its stage to provide the right setting for announcing that the brand will be GM’s big tent for fuel-efficient vehicles, and that its goal is to be “the industry leader for fuel-economy leadership.” The eight ranged from small, fuel-efficient conventional cars, such as the Aveo and new Beat, to hybrid versions of the Malibu sedan, Silverado pickup and Tahoe SUV, to the more advanced plug-in electric Volt and Equinox fuel-cell vehicle.

 

Among the intriguing, yet do-able, cars on display was the diesel/electric-powered Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueTec Hybrid. We were very impressed with the E320 BlueTec diesel we recently tested, rating it slightly higher than the similar E350 gasoline model. Like the E320, the S400 will be available in all 50 states. But in contrast to the E320’s 29 mpg overall that we got, the company says that the S400 will achieve 40 mpg while providing even quicker acceleration. That’s impressive for a relatively heavy luxury car. And even if Mercedes’ mpg number proves to be a little high compared with real-world results, the combination of clean diesel and hybrid electric power is promising and a design that we’ll likely see more of in coming years.

—Rik Paul

Travel info from space

After taking a tour of a “concept vehicle” in the XM display at the NY Auto Show, it’s clear that the company is moving further and further into being a provider of driver and travel information, as well as its familiar satellite radio programming.

We’ve already seen some factory and aftermarket GPS navigation systems that can display XM’s real-time traffic alerts in a number of metro areas nationwide. On the nav screens, they typically provide color-coded traffic flow information for major highways and pop-up icons noting the location of accidents, roadwork, and so on.

XM is also already providing real-time weather information for marine and aircraft use, which can be displayed as satellite-generated weather maps and include regionalized weather warnings. According to an XM representative, the next step is to bring this weather info—and more—to drivers.

XM is working with both automakers and aftermarket companies to create systems that can overlay satellite weather data over a nav system’s display and automatically warn drivers of hazardous road conditions related to snow, fog, wind, heavy rain, etc. According to XM, the first product to offer this capability will be the Bushnell Onix 400 hand-held GPS device, due this June. The first automaker systems with this capability are expected within the next year.

Another service on XM’s drawing board is real-time parking info for major cities. The concept vehicle was able to display the location of several parking garages in Manhattan as well as—and this is potentially sweet—the number of open spaces in each. XM says this concept could be applied to municipal and metro garages, airport and mass-transportation parking, and shopping malls. Again, the first applications of this are expected to be a year or more away.

In our experience with XM’s traffic info, we’ve found its usefulness to be limited, depending on what highways you use and the quality of the incoming data, which, as we all know from current radio reports, can dramatically lag reality at times. Likewise, the quality of the parking info will depend on how many garages are contracted with XM and can reliability provide real-time data. It’s always possible, for example, that a non-contracted garage with plenty of open spaces could be right next to the crowded one that’s displayed on your nav screen. And, of course, it would help to know the competing prices before you drive in. It sounds intriguing, and as soon as we can test these applications on vehicles or in portable GPS systems, we’ll let you know what we find.

--Rik Paul

I can see clearly now

You can see it on the road everyday. Witness the Infiniti FX, Dodge Magnum, and Mazda CX-7. It’s the now-fashionable coupe-like styling trend in which a vehicle’s beltline sweeps upwards in the rear, making the rear windows more narrow than the front ones. Yes, it look spiffy, aerodynamic, sexy, etc. But in a SUV or wagon, intended for family use, it can give rear-seat passengers a closed-in, claustrophobic feel. It can also make it harder for smaller children to see out, which increases their tendency to fidget and become a distraction for the driver.

Say what you will about the new trend toward boxy styling, as exemplified in the Ford Flex,  it’s definitely a more rear-passenger-friendly design. In the press frenzy following the Flex’s introducton, I was able to steal a little rear-seat time (at a point when the appointed “guards” were too busy keeping the hordes at bay to notice me checking out the interior). And my initial take is that its low rear beltline contributes to an open, airy feel that kids and adults will find inviting.

The theme resurfaced in Volvo’s press conference for the redesigned XC70, in reference to new two-stage integrated child seats. The seat’s lower cushion can be positioned at two different heights. This not only helps you better position the shoulder belt on a child, but it can let smaller kids get the same panaramic outside view as older ones. And, indirectly, this often leads to a happier parent at the steering wheel.

--Rik Paul

New innovations in GPS navigation

Whew! The GPS manufacturers were so spread out at CES that I could have used, well, a navigation system to track them down.

In our testing, we've found that portable GPS nav systems have gotten much better in recent years, but they still can't match the best built-in factory systems for overall navigation functionality. Based on my travels at CES, however, it's clear that the aftermarket systems are now setting the pace in terms of innovation, integration, and features. For instance, while few factory systems offer real-time traffic reports, it's quickly becoming a price-of-entry feature for aftermarket systems.

Here's a brief rundown of some of the major innovations:

Real-time local information. Garmin announced that its nuvi 680 (pictured, right) will be able to link to MSN Direct to provide--in addition to traffic and weather--such local information as fuel prices in nearby gas stations and movie times in local theaters. The nuvi 680 is priced at $999. The MSN Direct service will be free for the first year and about $50 per year thereafter (or $140 for a lifetime subscription). Garmin's StreetPilot C580, available in February or March, will also have this capability.

Dual-function capabilities. Magellan's new CrossoverGPS performs the functions of both an automobile nav system and a wilderness/marine GPS unit. It provides both road maps and topo-map coverage for the lower 48 states and Canada. A limitation on its wilderness use, however, could be its 8-hour battery life. The unit began shipping this week and is priced at $549. Magellan's $499 RoadMate 2200T can also be upgraded to display topo maps for $50.

Internet searches and automatic map updates. A spokesman from Dash Navigation said that its upcoming GPS nav system will augment its internal points-of-interest database with Internet searches through Yahoo! local search. This functionality will enable the system to provide more detailed POI results than typical database-driven units can. (The rep used the example of being able to find "dim sum" instead of just a "Chinese restaurant.") The Dash unit will also be able to receive automatic map and software updates either by WiFi or a cellular modem.

Car-to-car communication. The new Dash system will also address traffic in two ways. It will come with a preloaded database of historical traffic-flow information for all major roads, which it will use in combination with real-time reports to calculate the fastest route. It will also be able to relay traffic speed data wirelessly to other Dash units to provide additional real-time information. This latter feature is, of course, a minor advantage for now--given there will be relatively few Dash units on the road in the near future--but it's a potential sign of things to come.

Satellite radio integration. Direct Electronics is showing its $699 Scout 420 (pictured, right), which, by replacing its in-car cradle with a $99 option, can receive Sirius satellite radio signals and transmit them through a car's audio system through a FM modulator. It will be available by March.

New packaging. Pharos is integrating its GPS system into a new smart phone called the GPS Phone 600 (left). It's basically a Pocket PC PDA/quad-band phone with the navigation database built in. Available this spring, it will be priced at $600.

Roadmax is integrating its GPS system into a back-up warning system and into a rear-view mirror (right) that can be clipped onto a car's existing mirror.

And as I reported in a previous blog, Eclipse's new AVN2210p in-dash head unit includes a detachable TomTom GPS nav system.

--Rik Paul

Eclipse puts a TomTom in your dash

Portable GPS navigation systems have become an attractive alternative to built-in factory systems. They offer most of the functionality, along with lower prices and the ability to take the unit with you.

At a CES preview event, Eclipse introduced its new AVN2210p in-dash head unit, which combines the advantages of portable and built-in nav systems. The AVN2210p is a double-DIN unit that provides all the usual functionality of a modern car-audio system -- AM/FM, CD player with WMA/MP3 capability, and Sirius satellite radio reception (with optional tuner) -- along with a detachable TomTom GPS nav unit.

When you're driving, the TomTom snaps into the front of the unit and it provides all the normal navigation functions, plus it serves as the display for all audio functions. When you leave the car, the TomTom can be popped out and taken with you, and still be used for navigation while walking.  (I've had that exact need a few times while trying to locate an address in a city when I can't park close to the destination.)  This setup gives you the advantages of a portable nav system without having it mounted above your dash.

As with other TomTom units, this one can be used to access optional services such as real-time traffic reports and weather reports. And the Eclipse unit has a built-in microphone for hands-free operation with Bluetooth phones, a USB connector in the front, and an optional iPod connection cable.

The TomTom unit is specially designed to fit into the AVN2210p. A mounting bracket has not been announced by either company, though it would seem to be necessary for using the nav device in another car. Look for this feature before buying.

TomTom systems, by the way, have done well in our portable GPS testing. Four models have all earned Very Good ratings, and are rated below only a couple models each from Garmin and Magellan.

The AVN2210p will be available this spring and will be priced at under $1,000.

--Rik Paul

New Cobra GPS navigation model

Cobra used CES to introduce a new smaller, less expensive GPS unit than its current NavOne 4500. Available this March, the NavOne 2100 has a 3.5-inch screen and a retail price of about $350 (compared to the 4500's 5-inch screen and $600 price). Like the 4500, the 2100 can receive real-time traffic reports with the addition of an optional $79 receiver and subscription service. (This traffic function costs an extra $200 in the 4500.)

A neat feature in the 2100 is called "My Favorite Brands." This lets you set it up so that businesses you commonly use (a specific brand of gas station, bank, coffee shop, and so on) will be displayed on the map without being crowded by other brands. It also has a programmable button on the right side of the unit's face that lets you go directly to a function that you use a lot.

Cobra has also drawn on its expertise in radar detectors to offer a downloadable database of known red-light camera and speed zones, which can be integrated into the 2100.

The NavOne 4500 earned a Very Good rating (63 out of 100) in our portable GPS testing, but it is in the lower half of our overall ratings chart below systems by Garmin, Magellan, TomTom, and others.

For more information and ratings, read our complete guide to portable car GPS navigation systems.

-- Rik Paul