In a move it says will save both time and money, Ford has become the first automaker to start downloading vehicle-specific software for its new MyFord Touch systems via dedicated Wi-Fi access points on the assembly line.
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People usually fall extremely on one side of the debate or the other: to DVD or not to DVD in the family car. 

I have to say that when the 2011 Mercedes-Benz R350 was delivered to our house last week, my kids were overjoyed at the thought of having a DVD player in the car. 

I used to be a purist, snubbing my nose at all those slacker parents who felt the need to plop their kids in front of a TV on the road just as they do at home. After my first long road trip with young kids, that all changed. I realized what a great tool an in-car entertainment system can be to enhance family time together — try road trip DVDs that have the family interact in a game-like fashion — or keep little ones hanging on just a little bit longer until the next rest stop.

The trick, I believe, is for the parents to be parents and set guidelines. My rule is that if the ride is longer than 45 minutes, I’ll let the kiddos use the DVD player. If it’s any less, there’s no chance in heck that I’ll turn it on.

How do you feel about playing DVDs in cars? What other feature in your car is a must-have for making family road trips easier?
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The 2011 Buick Regal has received the Top Safety Pick designation in the large-car category by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

To earn the award, a vehicle must receive the top rating of Good in front, side, rear and rollover crash tests. The vehicle also must have electronic stability control, which is standard on the Buick Regal.

Measurements taken from the dummies used during the Regal’s testing show a low risk of significant injury in a 40-mph frontal offset crash. During side impact testing (pictured above), rib fractures would be possible for the driver and there is a low risk of any significant injury for the rear passenger in the type of simulated crash performed during IIHS’ testing.

The Buick Regal is the seventh vehicle from GM to earn a Top Safety Pick award since the Institute implemented a tough roof-strength requirement to test vehicle rollover safety.

To pass IIHS’ roof-strength test, a vehicle’s roof must be able to withstand the force of four times the vehicle’s weight. The Buick Regal can withstand 4.97 times its own weight.

The 2010-2011 Buick Lacrosse has earned a Top Safety Pick award. To see other Top Safety Pick winners, click here.
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Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today announced that it will conduct a voluntary safety recall involving approximately 1.13 million 2005-2008 Model Year Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles sold in the United States to address some Engine Control Modules (ECM) that may have been improperly manufactured. No other Toyota or Lexus vehicles are involved in this recall.

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Toyota Motor Sales US and the Yellowstone Park Foundation celebrated the grand opening of the brand-new Old Faithful Visitor Education Center at Yellowstone National Park. It is the first national park visitor center to earn Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Toyota engineers partnered with Yellowstone to [...]
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German automaker BMW AG is thinking small in a bid to claim a bigger chunk of the growing global luxury vehicle market.
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Ford is recalling 462,750 1998-2003 Ford Windstar minivans over concerns that rear axles could corrode and fail. The recall covers vans sold or registered in 21 “Salt Belt” states, including Michigan.
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Washington — Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 1.3 million 2005-08 vehicles — Corollas and Matrix hatchbacks, plus Pontiac Vibes that it built for General Motors — for an engine problem that could cause them to stall.
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Washington — Ford Motor Co. is recalling nearly 576,000 1998-2003 Ford Windstar minivans over concerns that rear axles could corrode and fail.
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Just when you thought you heard the last of anything to do with this year’s Woodward Dream Cruise, I have one more story about a car to share: The 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS.
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