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What type of navigation system is ideal for you - Portable/Hand-Held, In-Vehicle, or Cellular Phone with GPS? AutoPacific’s VehicleVoice asked its panel members that question in May 2007. Respondents were equally split into 3 groups: those that own a navigation system, those that are currently shopping for one, and those that have no interest in owning one. Respondents are somewhat split on the type of navigation system they want. Over half prefer a portable/hand-held model and 4 in 10 want a system integrated into their vehicle. This is similar to current ownership, but skewed more toward the portable/hand-held versions.

Type of Navigation System Ownership Preferrence
Portable/Hand-Held = 54%
In-vehicle = 42%
Cell phone = 4%

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In Europe, BMW dealers have offered a 1-Series variant since fall 2004. But BMW of North America took a pass on the hatchback, which first also offered only four-cylinder power. BMW of North America was wise to wait for the four-seat coupe given American tastes.

The wait is almost over. The new coupe is due for a formal reveal at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show, but photos of the 135i and initial details have been released. U.S. sales are set for spring 2008.

During May 2007 VehicleVoice R&D Center conducted a survey of panel members concerning preferences for Navigation Systems.

One of the primary questions was whether the ideal navigation system should it have a touch screen or toggle buttons? Among automakers there is a split of opinion concerning whether touch screen or toggle buttons are preferred. Several makers simplistically conclude that a toggle button system is preferred because you don’t have to touch the screen and leave unsightly fingerprints on the screen. Most makers, however, have opted for a touch screen system because it is more intuitive and direct to use.

Strong Preference for Touch Screen

What do VehicleVoice panelists prefer? The question about preference was asked of vehicle owners (both navigation system owners and those interested in purchasing a navigation system). Overwhelmingly, the answer is Touch Screen – 83%. Less than a quarter of the respondents wanted a toggle/rotary/push button system – 22%.

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Volkswagen has developed a little brother for the Touareg SUV, and as a VehicleVoice.com reader, you may have seen our previous Tiguan report and podcast. Set to launch midway through 2008, the Tiguan is a small SUV of the crossover/modern style, based on the latest Golf (known as the Rabbit in U.S. dealerships). But like the Touareg above it, Tiguan has some rock-crawling capability (depending on equipment and market). With inspiration claimed in part from dune buggies, it is fitting that VW ensures the small SUV can get over some rocks and through some sand.

The formal reveal is scheduled for the 2007 Frankfurt auto show, but VW has been comparatively public about its development. The first hint of their intent was found in 2004’s outlandish Concept T, an odd cross between sports car, SUV, and dune buggy revealed the North American International Auto Show. Next the inspiration was applied to Concept A, a more rational development of ideas born in the Concept T shown in February 2006 at the Geneva auto show. In November 2006, the near-production Concept Tiguan was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show. VW has released quite much about the European-market Tiguan and invited a group of international journalists to tag along for some development testing in Namibia. The first production photos were released in June 2007 and we’ve got a pretty clear picture of the car you can buy next summer.

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I’m sure many of you have seen at least a few of the recent “news” reports that Ford will be selling its Jaguar/Land Rover operations any day now. Potential buyers mentioned (by people who should know MUCH better) have run the gamut from Fiat to Renault to a couple of Asian companies, with a few private equity groups thrown in because the Cerberus-Chrysler deal must be the beginning of a trend. Only a few weeks ago, Automotive News, that renowned and (too) oft-quoted trade weekly, let go with the spectacular revelation that Ford was just about to announce the sale of its Volvo car unit to BMW.

Wherever do they come up with this stuff?

To start with, the sale of Jaguar/Land Rover, or Jaguar alone. Or Land Rover alone or even Volvo would require Ford Motor Company to re-negotiate the conditions of the massive cash loans it took out late last year. Why, you may ask? Put simply, Ford placed its “automotive operations” (as well as a bevy of other assets) up as collateral for the much-need infusion of capital. Admittedly, the company could go to its lenders and revise its loans so the beleaguered automaker could shed one of these units, but said negotiations are rarely quick, difficult to keep quiet and always painful.

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I′ve been driving the Ford S-Max Crossover for about a week now through England and Wales. The S-Max is a derivative of Ford’s European Minivan - the Galaxy - and its European Mid-Size Car - the Mondeo. Very impressive vehicle in many ways. It was selected as the European 2007 Car of the Year as judged by 58 journalists across 22 European countries. Apparently, Alan Mulally, Ford’s new CEO is trying to bring the S-Max to the USA in 2009 or so. Will the S-Max work in America?

Is S-Max a Crossover SUV, Minivan, Station Wagon or Something Un-Identifiable?

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As thousands and perhaps millions of people prepare to rush their local AT&T or Apple Retail Store to secure their very own iPhone on June 29, there are a few features of this new multimedia device that may help change the way in-car communications take place. In fact, after just a bit of review, it’s clear that the iPhone may set a new standard for mobile communications - and I’m not talking about mobile phone use, either. I’m referring to navigation overall.

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DISCLAIMER: VehicleVoice is totally non-denominational and takes an agnostic, i.e. non-biased, approach to analytical issues. This summary details the position published by the Catholic Church on June 19, 2007.

Pastoral Care of Road Users

The Holy See of the Catholic Church in the Vatican has issued a “DOCUMENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF MIGRANTS AND ITINERANT PEOPLE: GUIDELINES FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF THE ROAD”. Part of this document are the Ten Commandments for Road Users included in “The Pastoral Care of Road Users″. Other sections include: “Pastoral Ministry for the Liberation of Street Women”, “Pastoral Care of Street Children”, and “Pastoral Care of the Homeless (Tramps)”.

After hearing about the new Ten Commandments for Road Users, we decided to find out exactly what was included and how the Vatican rationalized developing this document. Visiting the Vatican website provides a comprehensive summary of the document and the rationale the Vatican used when developing it. Perhaps the most interesting part of the rationale is that the Church intends to evangelize the issue of the Ten Commandments for Road Users and Road Safety. It’ll be interesting to see how much traction this document achieves internationally and what impact it, indeed, has with driving, drivers, and pedestrians.

Drivers’ “Ten Commandments”

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OK, the Mazda Tribute has been around for years. Mazda has practically forgotten about it. There is very little advertising for the Tribute especially since Mazda has its more modern and upscale CX-7 and CX-9 Crossover SUVs to pitch. Because Tribute lives in the shadows of its “more important” brethren it is easy to forget about it. That’s a shame, because the Tribute is a fine Crossover SUV overall, with only a few warts that could be corrected with very little investment or cost.

Mazda Tribute Derived From Ford Escape - Sweet Spot Among Crossover SUVs

Over the years, AutoPacific has had Ford Escape Crossover SUVs in product clinic research. Since introduction the Escape and its derivatives - the Mercury Mariner and Mazda Tribute - have represented the sweet spot among small to mid-size Crossover SUVs. Easy to live with, easy to get into and out of, good interior package. Wow. Very well thought-out and executed. Ford knew the solution to the SUV equation when they developed the Escape and Mazda benefits.

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