Rear-Facing Advocate Is a Fan of the Car Seat Poncho!

Jim Peralta, aka "Grandpa Jim" is a fan of the Car Seat Poncho.  He purchased several for his grandchildren, and posted a link to our store on his website.



Jim is also a vocal advocate of extended rear-facing, because his grandson, Joel, was critically injured in a car crash.  The impact of the collision threw his body forward, and his car seat did its job of restraining him. But at 18 months, his skeleton was not mature or strong enough to keep his head from being thrown toward the front of the car.  Joel's neck was broken.



As Jim posted on Car-Seat.Org, "Some of the doctors put it in very simple terms...his skull, internally, became detached from his body... and was basically held on with his skin."



Babies and toddlers are not protected from neck and spinal cord injuries in the forward-facing position. The head is the heaviest part of the body at that age, and even at "low" speeds like 30 mph, a child's head would be thrown forward and pull the rest of the spinal cord with it. It's a very graphic term, but it's technically known as internal decapitation.  The American Association of Pediatrics recommends at least 2 years rear-facing, even better would be to rear-face to the height and weight limits set by your car seat's manufacturer.



Watch the news video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcG_CKT1j7c

Keep up with Joel's progress:  http://www.joelsjourney.org/index.html

All New 2011 Audi A8 Revealed - 87 Photos, Initial Details and Video

With much anticipation, Audi has unveiled the all-new fourth generation A8 full-size luxury sedan this evening in Miami. At a glance the A8 and its aluminum body structure features an updated MMI operating system with hand writing recognition touch pad, new driver assistance systems, full LED headlights and new technologies such as night vision assist with marking of detected pedestrians and Audi pre sense safety system.

The A8's core competitors include the Mercedes-Benz S Class and BMW 7 Series with the Lexus LS and Jaguar XJ described as secondary competitors. The 2011 A8 weighs about the same as the outgoing model despite being 3 inches longer, 2 inches wider and has more standard equipment (8-speed auto transmission, pre sense basic, keyless go, power trunk, etc.) versus competitors: ~50lbs less than S Class RWD, and more than 200lbs (90.7kg) less than S Class AWD; more than 200lbs less than 7 Series RWD and more than 400lbs (181.4kg) less than 7 Series AWD.

“The new Audi A8 is the sportiest sedan in its segment,” says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. “It combines numerous functions in a new and intelligent way. And it’s unmatched in the stylistic elements and impression of the interior.”

Set to arrive at U.S. dealerships in late 2010, the initial engine offering is the well known 4.2 FSI V8 with 273 kW (372 hp). The standard transmission is an all-new eight speed tiptronic coupled to the latest generation quattro all wheel drive as standard. 0-100km/h (62 mph) arrives in 5.7 seconds while Audi is claiming an estimated 15 percent improvement in fuel consumption versus the current A8 (EPA figures TBD).

A long wheel base variant will be revealed in 2010 in addition to the confirmation of a hybrid model on the way.

For complete details please see the press release below.

Mystery BMW M1 Mule Spotted

This BMW mule was caught on video while parked on a street in Munich. Covered in the usual black and white psychedelic camouflage, the body is curiously that of the old 1978 M1. The interior is also covered up.

In 2008 BMW revealed an M1 Homage car, a move that sparked speculation of a future BMW supercar or at least a revival of the M1 name. Its design was a clear hark to the original M1 inspired by the 1972 BMW Turbo show car and designed by Giugiaro. It was essentially a racer that customers could also be able to drive on public roads.

Lamborghini had initially been tasked with developing the chassis and for manufacturing but its financial position at the time hampered the project such that BMW ended up retaking control. Ultimately only 456 units of the M1 were ever produced, making it one of the rarest BMWs ever built. The car did not completely disappear when the last one rolled off the production line in 1981 because the first-generation M5 featured a modified version of its 3.5-litre engine.

Perhaps the mule is another Homage model or just simply a public showcase of the older car.