Mitsubishi Outlander has achieved the highest possible rating in the IIHS tests gaining the Top Safety Pick+.

Mitsubishi Outlander maintains its IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation for a third consecutive year

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) announced today that its redesigned and reengineered seven-passenger crossover, the 2016 Outlander, has been named an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ with the availability of Forward Collision Mitigation^*. 

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an independent non-profit scientific and educational organization that researches, performs evaluations, and assesses safety ratings in crash testing of production vehicles.

"Since its redesign in 2014, the Mitsubishi Outlander with available Forward Collision Mitigation has been an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+," said Don Swearingen, executive vice president, MMNA. "With over 100 improvements from the previous model year, the 2016 Outlander truly serves as an ambassador for the brand’s dedication to superior safety and reliability."

Standard safety features found on the Mitsubishi Outlander include seven air bags, Active Stability Control with Traction Control Logic, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and Anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist. Additional available features include Forward Collision Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning and Adaptive Cruise Control.

Unlike previous model years where advanced safety features were only available at the highest trim level, Mitsubishi has created the SEL Advanced Safety Package to make these features available at a more attainable price point on lower trim levels. The 2016 Outlander SEL with 2WD and SEL Advanced Safety Package is available for $26,545 and features Forward Collision Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, rain-sensing windshield wipers, power folding side-view mirrors, auto on/off headlights and front wiper de-icer.

The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander was launched in August of this year and in its first four months, sales are up 97 percent over the same four months of the prior year.  Overall, Mitsubishi Motors continues its sales momentum and has reported year-over-year sales increases for 21 consecutive months.

For more information on the Mitsubishi Outlander visit media.mitsubishimotors.com.

^*Applies only to models with optional Forward Collision Mitigation

Chrysler 200 and FIAT 500X both get the top marks in the IIHS tests, with the Top Safety Pick+ achieved.

• Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan, all-new 2016 Fiat 500X small crossover retain Top Safety Pick+ status, the highest rating given by IIHS
• Both vehicles achieved highest possible scores in every IIHS crashworthiness test
• Rugged 500X, stylish 200 available with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) technology

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) today announced the 2016 Chrysler 200 and the all-new 2016 Fiat 500X merit Top Safety Pick+ ratings for 2016.

The 200 mid-size sedan and 500X small crossover also earned the distinction in 2015. Top Safety Pick+ is the highest rating given by the IIHS.

Top Safety Pick+ status is contingent on the availability of AEB technology, provided it achieves ratings of “advanced” or “superior,” according to IIHS protocols.

“These results are a clear indication of where we’re headed,” said Mike Dahl, Head of Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance, FCA-North America. “That this advanced technology is available on these two distinctly different vehicles demonstrates our commitment to continue to incorporate AEB into our vehicle fleet.”

No mainstream auto maker offers the technology in more segments than FCA US LLC. AEB is available in eight FCA US vehicles across five segments:

• Full-size SUV (Dodge Durango)
• Mid-size SUV (Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Cherokee)
• Small SUV/Crossover (Jeep Renegade, Fiat 500X)
• Mid-size sedan (Chrysler 200)
• Full-size sedan (Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger)

As featured in FCA US LLC vehicles, AEB blends the benefits of radar with the capabilities of camera systems. This affords greater precision.

AEB technology in the Chrysler 200 is known as Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning-Plus. The IIHS gave it a rating of “superior.”

The Fiat 500X system, known as Forward Collision Warning-Plus, earned an “advanced” rating.

The Chrysler 200 and Fiat 500X may be equipped with AEB technology for $31,550 and $28,605, respectively.

IIHS crash tests simulate:

• a side impact with a large SUV or pickup truck;
• a moderate-offset frontal impact;
• a small-offset frontal impact;
• roof-deformation consistent with a rollover;
• and a rear collision capable of inducing whiplash.

In each, the Chrysler 200 and all-new Fiat 500X recorded the highest-possible score of “good.”

Subaru of America, Inc. announced today that all 2016 Subaru models, have earned the 2016 TOP SAFETY PICK+.

• The 2016 Legacy, Outback, Forester, Impreza, WRX and Crosstrek earned the IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+

Subaru of America, Inc. announced today that all 2016 Subaru models, equipped with the optional EyeSight^® Driver Assist Technology, met tougher criteria to earn the 2016 TOP SAFETY PICK award and the 2016 TOP SAFETY PICK+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).    

“We asked auto manufacturers to do more this year to qualify for our safety awards, and they delivered,” says Adrian Lund, IIHS president. “For the first time, a good rating in the challenging small overlap front crash test is a requirement to win, in addition to an available front crash prevention system.”

The 2016 Subaru Legacy, Outback, Forester, Impreza, WRX and Crosstrek are six of only 48 vehicles that took home the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award by earning the highest possible rating of “Good” in all five crashworthiness evaluations and, when equipped with the optional EyeSight, achieving a “Superior” rating for front crash prevention.

“The rigorous testing by IIHS encourages manufacturers to continue building safer vehicles,” said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc., “And I am proud of Subaru for consistently scoring their highest possible ratings. These awards represent our commitment to providing the highest level of safety standards to our customers.”  

As of November 2015, Subaru of America, Inc. has broken its previous annual sales record of 513,693 vehicles set in 2014 and marked the company’s eighth year of sales growth and seventh successive sales record.

Sales in 2015 have been driven by the Forester, Outback and Crosstrek carlines. Combined, the three crossover vehicles now retail over 350,000 per year. Subaru sedans; Legacy, Impreza and WRX/STI, have also seen significant year-to-date increases.

To win a 2016 Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must have a “Good” rating in all five tests of high-speed front and side crash tests, a rollover test, and evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts as well as a “Basic” rating for front crash prevention. The same level of performance in those tests, along with an “Advanced” or “Superior” rating for front crash prevention, is required for the higher accolade, 2016 Top Safety Pick+.

Audi's A3, A6 and Q5 all have earned the top award from the IIHS, the Top Safety Pick+.

• The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ award is the highest safety rating available
• A3 and Q5 models achieve Top Safety Pick+ rating when equipped with optional Driver Assistance package
• A6 earns Top Safety Pick+ award when built after January 2015 and when equipped with optional Driver Assistance Package

The Audi A3 Sedan, Audi A6 Sedan and Audi Q5 crossover earned the Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an independent organization that is one of the most important arbiters of automotive safety in the U.S. market. 

The 2016 Audi models received the highest possible ratings of “good” for each crash test within the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ program, including the Small Overlap Front Crash test.

The available Driver Assistance package, when equipped, earns the Audi A3 and Q5 an advanced rating for front crash prevention, along with the Audi A6 when built after January 2015. The Driver Assistance package available on all three models includes adaptive cruise control with stop & go functionality, Audi active lane assist and high beam assistant. The A6 also features a top view camera system and the Q5 model includes the Audi parking system plus. The Audi brand continues to address evolving criteria for consumer crash tests as designated by the IIHS by elevating standards of automotive engineering.

IIHS Safety Awards

IIHS tests evaluate two aspects of safety: crashworthiness — how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash — and crash avoidance and mitigation — technology that can prevent a crash or lessen its severity

To determine crashworthiness, IIHS rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal or poor, based on performance in five tests: moderate overlap front, small overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints.

In the area of crash avoidance and mitigation, IIHS assigns vehicles with available front crash prevention systems ratings of basic, advanced or superior, based on the type of system and performance in track tests.

The Fort Wayne production facility that makes Chevy and GMC Pick-ups has produced the 7 millionth model.

Customer and dealer join in milestone event

General Motors’ Fort Wayne Assembly Plant built its 7 millionth pickup truck today with the customer purchasing the blue double-cab 2016 Chevrolet Silverado helping with the build.

Lee Adams, owner of Tri-State Compressed Air in Goshen, Ind., ordered the truck for his sales force from Tom Naquin Chevrolet in Elkhart, Ind. According to Naquin, Adams’ company has purchased more than 50 Chevrolet trucks and vans since 1982.

Thad Naquin, Greg Fink and Tracy McDonald from the dealership, and Bedria Purifoy, Chevrolet district sales manager, accompanied Adams to the plant for a tour and a brief time on the line alongside members of UAW Local 2209.

The production milestone came during a $1.2 billion investment at the facility, where full-size Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks are built.

Acura will have the world Premier of the Acura Precision Concept, a look at the future of Acura Design.

Created by Acura's U.S. design team, Acura Precision Concept points to performance focus of future Acura design

Acura will unveil the Acura Precision Concept at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 12 at 8:00 am ET, the brand announced today. 

Created by the Acura Design Studio in California, the Acura Precision Concept will help set the direction for future Acura design; in particular, the next generation of performance-luxury sedans.

"The Acura Precision Concept will signal the stronger and sharper focus of Acura styling on our core DNA we call 'precision crafted performance'," said Dave Marek, global creative director for the Acura brand. 

"It is our intention to more strongly express performance through design and the Acura Precision Concept will serve as the inspiration for the styling and proportion of the next-generation of Acura vehicles, especially for our sedans."

Acura today also announced details of its launch plans for the next-generation NSX supercar, coming to market next spring. Acura is on track to post its fourth consecutive year of U.S. sales growth in 2015, and best sales since 2007, with sales up 6.9 percent through November.

Honda to give the new Ridgeline Pick-Up it's world début at the North American International Auto Show.

Honda will challenge conventional thinking in the midsize pickup segment with the return of the Honda Ridgeline truck, set to make its world debut at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday, January 11 at 1:15 p.m. EST.  

Designed, developed and manufactured in America, the all-new Ridgeline is the fourth new or significantly refreshed light truck model introduced by Honda in the past 18 months and will hit roads nationwide in the first half of next year.

"We developed this new Honda Ridgeline to offer something new and fundamentally better suited to the way many buyers use their truck," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division. 

"Ridgeline will deliver everything you'd expect in a Honda from incredible packaging and fuel-efficiency to top safety technologies and innovative, segment-first features.  We're honored to once again debut the Ridgeline in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show."

Honda began the complete remake of its light-truck lineup in the fall of 2014 with the freshened 2015 Honda CR-V, America's best selling SUV. Earlier this year, Honda launched the all-new HR-V crossover, gateway to the Honda truck lineup, and the third generation of its popular Pilot three-row SUV. 

In 2016, Honda will continue the strengthening of its light-truck family of vehicles with the new Ridgeline and a fully redesigned Odyssey minivan. 

Calendar year 2015 sales of Honda light trucks are up 11.8 percent to 599,507 vehicles through the end of November and are on track to set a new all-time sales record for the brand, beating the previous best of 602,123 units in 2006.

Like the first generation Ridgeline, which also debuted at NAIAS in 2005, the all-new Ridgeline was designed and developed by Honda R&D Americas, Inc., in its Torrance, California design studio and Raymond, Ohio, research and development center. The Ridgeline and its engine will be producedi by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, Inc., in Lincoln, Alabama.

Acura has announced more details of the upcoming 2017 NSX Supercar.

• 2017 Acura NSX U.S. MSRP set at $156,000
• First 2017 NSX to be auctioned for charity at Barrett-Jackson in January
• Online configurator and customer order taking to begin Feb. 25

Acura today announced additional launch details for the next-generation 2017 Acura NSX supercar, coming to market next spring, including pricing and the order taking process. Acura also revealed plans to auction off the very first serial production NSX, VIN 001, at the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction in Scottsdale, Ariz. the last week of January 2016. 

All proceeds from the auction sale will be given to a pair of children's charities: the first of which is the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Camp Southern Ground, the passion project of Grammy Award-winning artist Zac Brown. 

Designed, developed and manufactured in America, the 2017 Acura NSX will have a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)1 of $156,000 in the U.S. and will top out at $205,700 when equipped with all available factory features and options1. 

As Acura’s first build-to-order vehicle, customers will be able to design their NSX by selecting one of eight rich exterior colours and four interior colour schemes available in three different seating surface options. 

Customers can further customize their NSX through several exterior and interior features including three wheel designs with painted or polished finish, carbon-ceramic brake options, a carbon fibre interior sport package, carbon fibre roof, and more.

"The NSX is the pinnacle expression of Acura precision crafted performance and we're thrilled to take the next step toward bringing it to market," said Jon Ikeda, vice president and general manager of the Acura Division. 

"We're creating new space within the supercar realm, pushing the envelope beyond the conventional thinking about supercars – just like the original NSX."

Customer order taking for the new NSX will begin on Feb. 25, 2016 at authorized NSX retailers, in concert with the launch of a vehicle configurator on Acura.com.  

The configurator will be the first engagement point for customers interested in exploring the process of ordering a vehicle from an authorized NSX retailer and enthusiasts who want to configure their dream NSX. 

Once customers have customized their vehicle online, they can schedule an appointment with an authorized NSX retailer to finalize the order. 

The 2017 NSX will be the first all-new Acura vehicle to be auctioned for the benefit of charitable organizations – certified to be the very first serial production NSX. The winner will be able to customize their NSX to their choosing.

"The very first production NSX will be such a special and historic vehicle, so we wanted to make sure we treat the sale of it in an equally special way," said Ikeda.  

"It will be available for purchase by anyone – anyone that is, who submits the highest bid for VIN number 001 at the world famous Barrett-Jackson auction. And we're pleased to be able to support two incredible children's charities, Camp Southern Ground and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, with the NSX."

Audi is reaping the rewards of great cars with a number of international awards awarded recently.

• In China, J.D. Power Award 2015 went to the Audi A3
• In the U.S., three more Audi models secured IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designations
• U.S. industry organization “League of American Communications Professionals” commended Audi Communications with its “Platinum Award” for the technical animation of the A3 e-tron

China: Audi A3 receives “J.D. Power Award”

In China the “J.D. Power Award 2015” went to the Audi A3. This award, which is made on the basis of extensive customer surveys, rates the quality of new automobiles in China. The Audi A3 emerged victorious in the intensely competitive segment of compact luxury sedans. (November 1, 2015)

Pictures are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be confused 

with models mentioned in the text, and the pictures issues.

Switzerland: Audi Q7 is favorite car

Audi won the “Swiss Car of the Year” reader poll with the Q7 and also achieved third place with the R8. Over 68,000 readers voted for their favorite car. (December 2, 2015)

United States: top safety in Audi A3, Audi A6 and Audi Q5

The Audi A3 Sedan, Audi A6 Sedan and Audi Q5 have received the accolade of “Top Safety Pick+ 2016,” awarded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In achieving the highest grade “good,” they are the safest cars in their segment according to the U.S. insurance organization. Audi has previously received this distinction for the crash safety of numerous models in the past two years. (December 10, 2015)

New Zealand: Audi RS 3 Sportback most popular car in category

The Audi RS 3 Sportback took the honors in the “Performance Class” at this year’s “AMI NZ Autocar Car of the Year Awards” and can now be considered among the best new cars on New Zealand’s roads. The RS 3 Sportback impressed the jury with its design, the compact and efficient construction principle and not least its emotive sound. (December 2, 2015)

Australia: double award for Audi Q7

The Audi Q7 has achieved the top rating of five stars in the “ANCAP safety rating” for passive and active safety. It has also received the title of “Best Luxury SUV” from the renowned online magazine drive.com.au. The jury reserved particular praise for the fully digitized virtual cockpit, the new Audi touchpad and the sophisticated build quality. (December 4, 2015)

American award for technical animation by Audi Communications

The U.S. industry organization “League of American Communications Professionals” commended Audi Communications with its “Platinum Award” for the technical animation of the A3 e-tron. Audi also received the cross-industry special award “Most Creative Platinum,” fending off the challenge of such competitors as General Electric and Intel Corporation. (November 9, 2015)

Germany: special merit for Audi eKurzinfo

At the “German Design Award 2016”, the Audi eKurzinfo received a “Special Mention” for outstanding innovation in the “Apps” category. The award is made by the “German Design Council,” a nonprofit foundation of the German Federal Parliament with members drawn from industry, design, federations and institutions. (November 2, 2015)