Honda : The Odyssey comes equipped with sophisticated technology

5-Star Safety
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) toughened up its crash-safety tests for 2011, and the Odyssey passed with flying colors. In fact, the Odyssey earned 5-stars in each seating position of all three crash-safety tests, as well as earning a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score[1].

Active Safety Features
Standard active safety features include the anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), which helps the driver retain steering control when braking hard, and Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®)[2] with traction control, which helps to detect and correct oversteer and understeer.

Active front head restraints help reduce the likelihood of whiplash injuries in the event of a rear impact. The head restraints are designed to tilt forward in a fraction of a second to decrease the space between the back of the occupant's head and the head restraint.

To help you avoid accidents in the first place, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)[3] uses a warning icon that will illuminate within the gauge cluster, notifying the driver that significantly low pressure has been detected in one or more of the tires. Also for 2011, the Odyssey features up to five Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) seating positions, making the Odyssey an excellent baby mover.

Peace of Mind
If the unthinkable happens, the Odyssey helps protect its passengers with the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, which is designed to absorb impacts of vehicles of various sizes in the event of front-end collisions. Front 3-point seat belts with automatic tensioning system, and front side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) all help to protect you and your passengers in sufficient impacts.

Honda's Safety Philosophy
Honda is committed to providing safety for everyone—that means crash protection not only for our own drivers and passengers, but also for the occupants of other vehicles, and injury mitigation for pedestrians. We are dedicated to identifying and implementing advanced designs and features that help enhance the safety of vehicles on the road.

Source: Honda

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Honda Achieves Its Best Ever Result in 2011 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study

HONDA

Honda leads industry with seven segment-leading models, more than any other brand
The Honda brand earned its best-ever ranking in J.D. Power and Associates' Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) for 2011, finishing second among all surveyed brands, including premium makes, the company announced today. Honda also led the industry with seven models earning the highest initial quality ranking in their respective segments, including its top-selling Accord and Civic models.

The Acura brand finished third overall in the 2011 IQS.

In the manufacturing realm, the 2011 study recognized three Honda plants for superior quality, including Honda's newest U.S. auto plant in Greensburg, Ind. Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, producing the Civic Sedan, was one of only three plants around the world to earn the Platinum Plant Quality Award. The Suzuka, Japan plant, line 1, earned a Silver Plant Quality Award, Asia Pacific (tie), for production of Civic and Insight, while the East Liberty, Ohio, plant took home a Bronze Plant Quality Award, North/South America, for production of the Accord Crosstour, CR-V and Element.

"Creating products of the highest quality and value is the foundation of our business, and it begins with a deep understanding of the customer," said Tetsuo Iwamura, president & CEO of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "These results are an important demonstration of our focus on the customer and the tireless efforts put forth by Honda associates throughout our organization—in R&D, in manufacturing and in sales—to exceed their high expectations of Honda and Acura."

Of the seven Honda models earning the highest initial quality score in their segment – the most segment leaders of any brand – five were manufactured in North America: the Civic (compact car); the Element (compact crossover SUV—followed by the CR-V in second place); the Accord (midsize car); the Accord Crosstour (midsize crossover SUV); and the Ridgeline (midsize pickup). Those five models were joined on the 2011 segment leader list by the Insight hybrid (compact car, tie) and Honda Fit (sub-compact car).

Honda automobiles made in North America are produced using domestic and globally-sourced parts.

J.D. Power and Associates' Initial Quality Study serves as an important tool for consumers in evaluating the quality and design of new vehicles. Since 1987, J.D. Power and Associates has been surveying owners to measure the initial quality of new vehicles after the first 90 days of ownership.


Source: Honda

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Mercedes Benz : Exterior and Interior AMG SLS

Exterior

The future-oriented, puristic design has drawn inspiration from the proportions of classic Mercedes-Benz sports cars. Opening the gullwing doors reveals the sweeping curved design with large opening angle. The extended bonnet, distinctive V-shaped front section and large air intakes as well as the low-position passenger compartment and the gently sloping rear of the vehicle are the embodiment of sports car design and give it the true look of a racing car. The innovative bi-xenon front headlamps with daytime driving lights and LED indicator lamps not only illuminate the road but also contribute greatly to the distinctive visual impact of the supercar.

Viewed from the side, the long wheelbase and short body overhangs are eye-catching features. The distinctive waistline that runs along the entire side wall and the prominent, powerful wheel arches underline the classic design of the SLS AMG – as if cast from a single mould.

The pronounced curved design of the rear windscreen offers an aesthetic transition from the solid B-pillar to the flat sloping boot lid. Super-flat, wing-shaped LED tail lights provide a fascinating and distinctive night design. As with a sports car, the LED reversing light and the LED rear fog lamps are centrally integrated. A robust rear bumper with diffuser and fully integrated tailpipes ensure an uninterrupted view of the wide rear tyres. The rear aerofoil, when retracted, blends seamlessly into the overall rear end design. As soon as the SLS reaches a speed of more than 120 km/h, the rear aerofoil is automatically extended. It can also be activated manually at a lower speed by pressing a button in the AMG DRIVE UNIT.


Interior

Embodying lightweight design, dynamic performance and pure emotion, Mercedes-Benz and AMG have developed a purist’s sports car interior for the new SLS. Opening the gull-wing doors offers a clear view of the impressive SLS interior. The interior combines authentic motorsport functionality with legendary Mercedes-Benz safety standards. Revealing a meticulous attention to detail, a range of fine materials, including nappa leather and real metal trim (real carbon trim available as an option), emphasise the exceptional design and hand-finished character of the SLS interior.

Design elements taken from aircraft construction are also reflected here – right down to the smallest detail. Situated prominently in the solid metal centre console, the AMG DRIVE UNIT with AMG E-SELECT selector lever mirrors the style of a jet control panel.

The wing-shaped instrument panel featuring four distinctive air vents and the AMG instrument cluster with white-backlit round dials is commanding and distinctively puristic. High-quality sports seats with magnesium backrests are finished in stylish designo leather or designo Exclusive leather and are available in nine colour shades to match the exterior. The classy designo Exclusive natural/braided leather upholstery in light brown is also available upon request.

Source: Mercedes Benz

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Chrome Audi R8 Spyder

Back in the day, there were two automakers responsible for the famed Silver Arrows of pre-war Germany. One was Mercedes-Benz, the other Auto Union. The former has been known to revive the honorific from time to time, but with Horch, DKW and Wanderer all long gone, the only one of the four Auto Union brands that's still around is Audi.

The Ingolstadt-based automaker has, as much as it Stuttgart-based rival, become a favorite among modifiers who chrome-dip every panel of their cars. Even the automaker itself showed off a chromed R8 5.2 at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009, and has now created a special chrome R8 Spyder for no less glitzy a celebrity than Elton John.



In fact, Audi made two of these R8s, both donated for auction to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation at its annual White Tie & Tiara benefit at Sir Elton's home. The first was sold for £250,000 (about $400,000). The second was sold for a similar amount, then donated back to the foundation and re-sold again, the two cars raising a total of £620,000 between them – that's nearly a cool million in American greenbacks.

Check out the bling in the high-res image gallery and the pair of press releases after the jump.

Source: Autoblog

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