Black boxes in airplanes are instrumental in determining the cause of aircraft accidents. For this reason, they must be withstand high temperatures and extreme impact. Typically, they contain a flight data recorder and a cockpit voice recorder. After an aircraft accident, the Federal Aviation Administration collects data from the black box to help make their determination.
Beyond that, they also randomly check the boxes of many commercial aircraft to identify and correct potential issues. These could include a pilot making extreme maneuvers, or anything else that may alert them to a mechanical problem.
Electric vehicle range can vary greatly due to a number of factors, most notably the weather. While a recent Los Angeles Times article claims electric vehicle (EV) production will be up 67% in 2014 globally when compared to 2013, owners of these vehicles should know both their attributes and limitations.
The AAA Automotive Research Center recently showed some “cold, hard facts” about the effects of weather on electric vehicle range. Specifically, their range can be negatively affected by as much as 57 percent based on the outside temperatures.
The last Oldsmobile drove off the production line 10 years ago today. The final dark cherry Alero marked the end of a brand that had been around since 1897, when Ransom E. Olds founded the Olds Motor Company.
The design of many of the last Oldsmobiles were not especially eye-catching when compared to models made for other General Motors brands. As a result, sales lagged and Oldsmobile was not able to attract the younger buyers they so desperately wanted.
Ford Motor Company COO Mark Fields may soon become Ford CEO Mark Fields. That’s because beloved current CEO Alan Mulally is rumored to be retiring before year’s end, and Fields is said to be the pick to replace him.
Mulally has been CEO of Ford since replacing Bill Ford in 2006, leaving Boeing to take the reins at the then-troubled automaker. Since his arrival, he has not only managed to turn the company’s fortunes around, he did it without any government assistance during the 2008-09 economic crisis.
The 2014 New York Auto Show begins this week. Automobile dealers (including JKR clients), enthusiasts and media members everywhere will have their eyes on the Big Apple to see the latest and greatest creations by the world’s finest automakers.
The New York Auto Show opens to the media on Wednesday, April 16. The following day, there is a special, invitation-only event for dealers (credentials must be shown). Then on Friday the 18th, the show opens to the public and remains open until the 27th.
New York Auto Show Features
Let’s take a quick look at some of the more “mainstream” redesigned or all-new vehicles that can be seen at the New York Auto Show. In order to show no favoritism, they’re listed in alphabetical order.
Chevrolet Cruze: The new version of the Chevrolet compact car will feature interior and exterior cues from the latest editions of the Impala and Malibu, as well as a new version of OnStar (4G LTE).
Dodge Challenger/Charger: Both the Challenger and Charger are due for redesigns, and the timing coincides perfectly with the 100th anniversary of Dodge. One wouldn’t expect Dodge to depart too far from its muscle car roots with either of these two vehicles.
Ford Focus: A brand-new engine, upgraded interior and a host of new standard features are among the changes in Ford’s small car. The focus is expected to be in showrooms during the second half of this year.
Hyundai Sonata: Hyundai isn’t going to depart too much from the wildly popular current version of the Sonata. But the new version is longer and wider, noticeable changes include new headlights, grille and front end.
Jeep Renegade: The Renegade replaces the Patriot and Compass in the Jeep lineup. Jeep has made its living mostly on sales of the Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, so it’s no coincidence that the Renegade does bear a resemblance to the Wrangler.
Kia Sedona: Interestingly, Kia calls this a “multi-purpose vehicle” rather than a minivan. It does feature a more modern look than the previous generation, and it will seat up to eight people. Under the hood is a 3.3-liter, V6 engine.
Nissan Murano: Similar in appearance to the Murano concept shown at last year’s Detroit show, this Murano is more spacious inside. The third-generation Murano is also scheduled to receive a host of new safety and technology features.
Volkswagen Jetta: Its redesigned front fascia not only reduces drag, it looks cool! There are three engine choices plus a gas/hybrid combo. Look for excellent fuel economy in the new Jetta, rolling into VW showrooms during the third quarter of this year.
Black boxes in airplanes are instrumental in determining the cause of aircraft accidents. For this reason, they must be withstand high temperatures and extreme impact. Typically, they contain a flight data recorder and a cockpit voice recorder. After an aircraft accident, the Federal Aviation Administration collects data from the black box to help make their determination.
The last Oldsmobile drove off the production line 10 years ago today. The final dark cherry Alero marked the end of a brand that had been around since 1897, when Ransom E. Olds founded the Olds Motor Company.
The 2014