Safest Cars of 2010

Last Wednesday, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety awarded 27 vehicles for receiving the highest ratings for “safest vehicles for 2010”. All 27 vehicles received an award recognizing them for doing the best job against protecting motorists in front, rear, side and rollover crash. All vehicles feature, Electronic stability control (EST), which is a new state of the art anti-rollover technology.

With a new criterion, the numbers were cut in more than half. 94 were tested and approved in 2009, in comparison to the 24 this year.

Ford Motor Co. and its Volvo unit received the most awards with six, followed by five awards apiece for Japanese automaker Subaru and German automaker Volkswagen AG and its Audi unit. However, Subaru was the only manufacturer with an IIHS in all four vehicles classifications in which it completes.
“With the addition of our new roof strength evaluation, our crash test results now cover all four of the most common kinds of crashes,” said IIHS president Adrian Lund in a statement. “Consumers can use this list to zero in on the vehicles that are on the top rung for safety.”

Below is the IIHS list of vehicles given a top safety pick.

LARGE CARS: Buick LaCrosse, Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS, Volvo S80

MIDSIZE CARS: Audi A3, Chevrolet Malibu (built after October. 2009), Chrysler Sebring (4-door with optional ESC), Dodge Avenger, Mercedes C Class, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Volkswagen Jetta (4-door), Volkswagen Passat (4-door), Volvo C30.

SMALL CARS: Honda Civic (4-door with optional ESC, except Si), Kia Soul, Nissan Cube, Subaru Impreza (except WRX), Volkswagen Golf (4-door)

MIDSIZE SUVs: Dodge Journey, Subaru Tribeca, Volvo XC60, Volvo XC90

COMPACT SUVs: Honda Element, Jeep Patriot (with optional side thorax airbags), Subaru Forester, Volkswagen Tiguan

L.A. Car Connection, Inc. has the ability to get almost any make or model vehicle you choose. From Fords to Ferraris, to Hummer and Hybrids, L.A. Car Connection has the connection to get them all!

Feel free to check out our NEW WEBSITE and use our “Vehicle Finder”, to build your dream vehicle!

Safest Cars of 2010

Last Wednesday, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety awarded 27 vehicles for receiving the highest ratings for “safest vehicles for 2010”. All 27 vehicles received an award recognizing them for doing the best job against protecting motorists in front, rear, side and rollover crash. All vehicles feature, Electronic stability control (EST), which is a new state of the art anti-rollover technology.

With a new criterion, the numbers were cut in more than half. 94 were tested and approved in 2009, in comparison to the 24 this year.

Ford Motor Co. and its Volvo unit received the most awards with six, followed by five awards apiece for Japanese automaker Subaru and German automaker Volkswagen AG and its Audi unit. However, Subaru was the only manufacturer with an IIHS in all four vehicles classifications in which it completes.

“With the addition of our new roof strength evaluation, our crash test results now cover all four of the most common kinds of crashes,” said IIHS president Adrian Lund in a statement. “Consumers can use this list to zero in on the vehicles that are on the top rung for safety.”

Below is the IIHS list of vehicles given a top safety pick.

LARGE CARS: Buick LaCrosse, Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS, Volvo S80

MIDSIZE CARS: Audi A3, Chevrolet Malibu (built after October. 2009), Chrysler Sebring (4-door with optional ESC), Dodge Avenger, Mercedes C Class, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Volkswagen Jetta (4-door), Volkswagen Passat (4-door), Volvo C30.

SMALL CARS: Honda Civic (4-door with optional ESC, except Si), Kia Soul, Nissan Cube, Subaru Impreza (except WRX), Volkswagen Golf (4-door)

MIDSIZE SUVs: Dodge Journey, Subaru Tribeca, Volvo XC60, Volvo XC90

COMPACT SUVs: Honda Element, Jeep Patriot (with optional side thorax airbags), Subaru Forester, Volkswagen Tiguan

L.A. Car Connection has the ability to get almost any make or model vehicle you choose. From Fords to Ferraris, to Hummer and Hybrids, L.A. Car Connection has the connection to get them all!

Why one should always remember to bring toilet paper to Willow Springs Race Track:

“Whoa….that was even a close one for me.” Says Derek Bell, 5 time Le Mans Winner and famous sports car racer in England.  Bell made this comment as he was going into a right hand turn at a speed in excess of 130 mph; standing on the brake pedal, in the soon to be released, 2010 Bentley Continental Supersport…..and I was riding shot gun.

At the willow springs race track, they don’t take racing lightly. Being a L.A Car Connection’s account executive, I had the opportunity to partake in the Bentley Supersport Driving Event on October 21, 2009.
The event started with a group of us not knowing what to expect for the day. The instructor came out to explain to us of the four exercises planned for day.  The scene was exhilarating. There were over a dozen of the new, and some not even released, 2010 Bentleys there.

After some much needed instructions on the day’s actives, we got all “geared up” for the first exercise.
The first exercise was the electronic stability program exercise.  The exercise was performed in a Bentley that DID NOT have ESP Control. We were instructed to lay on the gas as hard as we possibly could and then once we got to the orange cones(after reaching approximately 40 mph), to let their foot of the gas and turn the steering wheel to the left as hard as we could, then immediately turn the steering wheel to the right. This exercise was designed to simulate the everyday occurrences that can happen to the everyday driver.  The Bentley spun out of control.

The second exercise was very similar except this time we drove the same Bentley WITH ESP control. This time when we reached the cones we were going about 80 mph. We repeated the same immediate left and right turn, and much to our relief we had complete control of the automobile. The ESP control that Bentley has installed in their automobiles is a phenomenal. Hopefully all manufactures will incorporate something of this nature in all vehicles to add to the many safety feature found in today’s vehicles.
The third exercise was the slalom course. This is what we had all been waiting for.  After the first two exhilarating exercises we didn’t know what to expect. This exercise was set up with ten cones spaced about 15 ft apart and we were instructed to weave the Bentley in out and around the cones. With zero roll and sway, the Bentley handled this course remarkably.

When our instructor handed us a helmet we were required to wear for this exercise, we then knew why we needed to bring the toilet paper. We were told it was basic exercise of going around the racetrack. Then we were told we were going to be doing this at a rate of speed in excess 100 mph.  This exercise was to allow us, the driver to really experience the power, the finesse and the true capabilities of the Bentley Supersport. What a remarkable automobile!

The day ended with one more trip around the track for each other of us. We were able to experience a true racecar driver, Derek Bell and his ability to handle this car as I have never seen done before. The speed matched with the control , left Derek with a statement of, “Whoa, even that was close for me.”