GMC Acadia Denali Crossovers for the 2013MY

At the 2012 Chicago Auto Show today, GMC lifted the wraps off its facelifted Acadia crossover that enters the new model year with a retouched exterior, higher quality materials inside and new safety features. The exterior redesign brings a new front end with a more prominent and upright grille with three-bars that was previewed by GMC's recent concept models like the Sierra HD All-Terrain, along with LED running lamps, and new headlamp and bumper designs.
At the back, we find new taillamps, a re-sculptured bumper, a wrap-around rear glass and a new rear spoiler, while GMC also introduced a fresh set of 18-, 19- and 20-inch wheels.
According to GMC, the interior benefits from upgraded soft-touch materials, with French stitching and a red ambient light that flows across the dashboard.
The top-of-the-line Acadia Denali enhances the crossover's updated looks with bespoke exterior and interior parts such as the 20-inch machined wheels, the polished grille, interior wood trims and leather seating.
Another highlight is the introduction of the GMC’s new front center air bag system that deploys from the inboard side of the driver’s seat and positions itself between the driver and front passenger.
"While no restraint technology can address all body regions or all potential injuries, the front center air bag is designed to work with the vehicle’s other air bags and safety belts to collectively deliver an even more comprehensive occupant restraint system," said Gay Kent, GM executive director of Vehicle Safety and Crashworthiness.
Even though the Acadia continues for the 2013MY with the same 288-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 that offers a towing capacity is 5,000 pounds (2268 kg), it gets a new Hydra-Matic 6T70 six-speed automatic transmission with better shift response and improved drivability.
The updated Acadia and Acadia Denali will arrive in showrooms across the U.S. in late 2012.

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De Tomaso Mangusta Legacy Design Study Inspired by the 1965 Original

The revival of the De Tomaso brand at this year's Geneva Salon with the Deauville showcar inspired design graduate and digital artist Maxime de Keiser to craft a modern interpretation of the original Mangusta from the late 1960s (De Tomaso had revived the name with the production version of the Bigua concept in the early 2000s). Introduced in 1967, the first Mangusta was designed by the famed Giorgetto Giugiaro, who at the time worked for Turin-based coachbuilder Ghia, and was offered with a choice of Ford-sourced V8 engines. It was replaced by the cheaper to produce Pantera in 1971.
Keiser's design proposal blends several characteristic styling cues of the original Mangusta such as the low-placed headlamps with a more angular shaped body that features a pair of scissor doors.
“Like the original, it had to be spectacular and communicate an impression of wild ferocity and power while recalling the serenity of a feline at rest, and the elegance of the animal that doesn’t need to fear anything," says Keiser.
Story References: CarBodyDesign

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The Machines Are Coming: 2013 Ford Fusion to Debut New Lane Keeping System

While Ford is not yet ready to let the cat out of the bag on the brand-new 2013 Fusion (which will form the base for the Mondeo's replacement in Europe as well), the Detroit carmaker revealed today that the mid-size model would debut a new optional safety feature called Lane Keeping System or LKS. Like the lane departure warning systems used by other car manufactures, the LKS is designed to help drivers stay between the lines.
Ford's system makes use of a digital camera mounted on the windshield ahead of the rearview mirror. Once it detects that the vehicle is approaching the edge of the lane without a turn signal activated, a warning icon on the dash lights up and steering wheel vibrates to simulate driving over rumble strips.
The Blue Oval says that if the driver doesn’t respond and continues to wander out of the lane, the icon turns red and EPAS will nudge the steering and the vehicle back toward the center of the lane.
If that doesn't do the trick, then vibration is added again along with the nudge. Ford says that the driver can overcome assistance and vibration at any time simply by turning the steering wheel, accelerating or braking.
“Fusion’s Lane Keeping System combines a digital imaging sensor with our own state-of-the-art control software to process images and determine what level of warning or assistance to provide to the driver,” said Michael Kane, Ford development engineer. “We’ve put a lot of effort into ensuring the accuracy of the lane detection and the smoothness of the assist.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 100,000 police-reported crashes occur every year as a result of drowsy drivers, leading to 1,500 deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in monetary losses.
Aside from the new Fusion, Ford will gradually roll out the Lane Keeping System to a wide range of its vehicles over the next several years, including the new Explorer that will get the optional feature sometime next year.

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