In an effort to help curb the growing number of alcohol-related road mishaps that kill thousands every year, Saab has designed its AlcoKey, a car key equipped with a mouthpiece and a breathalyzer. The driver breathes into the device which then sends a signal to the car’s electronic control unit through a radio transmitter. If the device detects alcohol in the driver’s breath sample that is above the permitted levels, the car’s electronic unit will immobilize the engine.

The Saab AlcoKey project is being supported by the Swedish National Road Administration. It is currently being tested in Sweden. It’s quite easy to use and is relatively affordable. If trials prove to be successful, it may be offered through Saab dealers in Sweden and elsewhere around the world.

The importance of seatbelts in vehicle safety can not be ignored. Over the yeas, innovations have been introduced to make seatbelts more efficient and convenient for vehicle occupants. New seatbelt designs and technologies are now being developed by a number of companies and automakers. Many automakers are working on seatbelts that are attached to the seats instead of the side or ceiling of the car as in conventional seatbelts. However, this type of seatbelts may not be convenient for rear-seat passengers than front-seat occupants.

Some automakers are also developing seatbelts that amp up the level of protection by automatically tightening as soon as it detects pressure on the brakes in the event of an impending crash. This ensures that the passenger is properly restrained in case of crash. Another seatbelt innovation still in the works is a rear-seatbelt warning system that inflates on impact.

Another high-tech innovation in seatbelts is a built in breathalyzer system that is linked to the car’s starter. Apparently, the car will not start if the breathalyzer detects a high alcohol content level in the driver. Still, this integrated breathalyzer must comply with varying state DUI laws. These new designs will be offered either as standard equipment or part of a safety options package.

Among the current models featuring seat-integrated seatbelts include the 2007 Honda Element, Saab 9-3 convertibles, Mercedes CL-, SL-class. The Infiniti Q45, M35, and M45 also offer electronic sensor system. The rear-seat shoulder belts in the new Ford Reflex concept feature air bags. Meanwhile, Volvo is developing an integrated breathalyzer and seat-belt system called Alcolock.

Safety in motor vehicles is often relegated to being second only in importance to a car’s looks. Most of the time, an automobile brand’s selling point is not how safe their car models are but rather how sleek and sexy they look. Forbes recently selected what it regards as the safest cars available in the market today. They based their list from the vehicles that posted high ratings at Consumer Reports findings, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The following vehicles made it to Forbes’ rather short list:

Acura RL
Honda Civic
Saab 9-3
Volvo S80

A number of exciting new concept vehicles were introduced this year. Some debuted to resounding success and roused the interest of the public. Which among the concept vehicles unveiled this year is the best among the rest? This year, a jury of professional automotive journalists from all over North America will choose the best concept vehicle from among a field of twenty five concept vehicles and twelve production preview vehicles that were introduced into the North American market for the 2005 Auto Show season.

The 2006 Concept Vehicle of the Year award will recognize the concept vehicles that have made the strongest impact in terms of automotive design, engineering and market responsiveness. The four categories are Best Production Preview Vehicle, Concept Car, Concept Truck, and Specialty Concept. The semifinalists were recently announced at the Atlanta International Auto Show. Meanwhile, the awards will be handed out in June in Detroit. The semifinalists are:

Concept Car
Chevrolet Camaro
Dodge Challenger
Saab Aero X
Mazda Kabura

Concept Truck
Dodge Rampage
Ford Super Chief
Suzuki PX
Toyota F3R

Specialty Concept
Ford Reflex
Maserati Birdcage
Volkswagen GX3
Mitsubishi CT

Production Preview
Aston Martin Rapide
Buick Enclave
Mini Traveller
Volvo C30

Every year, thousands of people are either killed or injured in alcohol-related road accidents. In 2004 alone, 16,694 people were killed due to drunk driving alone. Drunk-driving fatalities constitute almost 40 percent of all traffic fatalities recorded. Of course, there are laws that penalize drunk driving and measures such as field sobriety tests and chemical tests to determine if a driver is indeed intoxicated. However, fatal accidents can and will happen even before law enforcers can flag down potentially drunk drivers.

However, new technologies that will help prevent drunk driving are currently being developed and tested by a number of manufacturers. One of the most promising devices is an ignition interlock device which stops a car from starting if its driver has had too much alcohol. The device works by detecting alcohol on the driver’s skin surface which thus eliminates the need for blow-into-a-tube breathalyzers. These devices are currently generating considerable interest and catching momentum.

In fact, New York legislators are mulling over whether to oblige cars and trucks to use these devices as soon as 2009. Meanwhile, Volvo and Saab are already using such devices in their cars, according to a report from USA Today. Mothers Against Drunk Driving CEO, Chuck Hurley, explains that “…it is literally possible that the epidemic of drunk driving could be solved where cars simply could not be operated by drunk drivers”.

Unveiled on the first day of the ongoing Stockholm Motor Show (March 30 – April 9, 2006) in Stockholm, Sweden, the Saab BioPower Hybrid concept appeared to be nothing but a convertible version of the Saab 9-3 sedan. A closer look at the vehicle’s details, however, revealed that it is a hybrid vehicle concept. But the vehicle was no ordinary hybrid vehicle, because the Saab BioPower Hybrid is the first ever hybrid convertible to be conceptualized. And not only that! The Saab BioPower Hybrid concept is also the world’s first fossil-free hybrid vehicle!

The Saab BioPower Hybrid concept features a modular hybrid system made up of one BioPower engine and two electric motors. The BioPower engine is an all-aluminum, turbocharged, 2.0-liter engine that is capable of running in pure ethanol or E100 fuel and outputs 260 bhp. The electric motor combination, on the other hand, is made up of a 38 kW rear mounted electric motor and a 15 kW integrated starter generator (ISG). Other features of the hybrid system are a maintenance free, 300-volt battery bank and an all-wheel drive with electric power transmission to the rear wheels. All of these features are amazingly packaged tightly to fit in the Saab 9-3 Convertible without sacrificing accommodation or trunk space.

Running on either pure ethanol or electricity, there is really no way for the Saab BioPower Hybrid concept car to produce any fossil CO2 emissions. But that’s not the only benefit that the hybrid system has brought to the vehicle. With the system, the vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in a mere 6.9 seconds, which is a large improvement compared to the 8.8 seconds registered by its gasoline-powered counterpart. It can also generate torque values of up to three times greater than its gasoline-only equivalent. The system also features an electric-only ‘Zero Mode’ for city driving and regenerative braking.

According to Jan Ã…ke Jonsson, Saab Automobile’s Managing Director, the Saab BioPower Hybrid concept is currently not in the company’s production plan. He stated, however, that hybrids are “interesting for Saab in the future and this project allows us to evaluate and explore the potential of hybrid technology in combination with BioPower.”

Much have been said about General Motors‘ plan of giving its Saturn vehicle line-up a new appearance that will make them look more like Opel vehicles. Well, you be the judge if the transformation was worth it or not as Saturn displays new production vehicles and concept cars in the upcoming New York International Auto Show.

According to GM North America vice president Mark LaNeve, the new cars will show “GM’s commitment to raising the bar on product execution as part of our North American turnaround plan.” He further added that “Saturn’s dramatic new cars and crossovers, combined with an industry-leading positive retail experience, are a winning combination.”

So what are the new cars and crossovers that LaNeve and we are talking about? There are actually three, and these are the 2007 Saturn Aura, the Saturn Sky Red Line, and the Saturn Outlook.

The Saturn Aura is a mid-size sedan that, according to GM, carries with it the new Saturn design. The vehicle was first unveiled as a concept car on last year’s Detroit Auto Show. When unveiled at the New York Auto Show, GM promises us to see a fun-to-drive sport sedan with an aggressive exterior styling and plush interior designs.

The Saturn Sky Red Line, on the other hand, is a roadster that adds performance to the already stylish and refined Saturn Sky. Powered by the same turbocharged, 2.0-liter, direct injection, 4-cylinder engine used on the Pontiac Solstice GXP, the new Sky outputs 260 horsepower, making it worthy to become a new member of Saturn’s Red Line family of performance variants.

The last, but definitely not the least, on Saturn’s new vehicle line-up is the Saturn Outlook. Built on the new GM crossover platform, the Outlook boasts of an 8-passenger seating capacity. This is aside from the vehicle’s stylish exteriors and capable engine and mechanical parts.

Aside from the three production vehicles, GM will also be unveiling a new concept car. This new concept car will be joined by the Aero-X concept which was first unveiled in the Geneva Auto Show.

What is Electronic Stability Control? Among the numerous technological innovations introduced in the automotive industry for the last few years, ESC is probably one of the most important as a lifesaver. Picture this: you’re cruising along in your SUV at normal speed then you suddenly enter a curve that is too extreme for the speed you are traveling, the rear of your vehicle begins to slide and spin out, you panic and try to grapple with the steering wheel to avert a potentially serious accident.

Without ESC, you would probably end up off the road, rolling over or even worse. But with ESC, the system automatically detects that your direction is changing more quickly than appropriate for your intended direction. It then briefly applies the right front brakes to alter the direction of the vehicle back to the right path.

How does ESC work? Electronic Stability Control is an evolution from antilock braking technology which uses speed sensors and independent braking for each wheel. An ESC system uses automatic braking of each wheel to prevent the heading from either changing to quickly (spinning out) or not quickly enough (plowing out). ESC helps keep the driver in control of the vehicle while under extreme maneuvers although it does not increase traction. It also uses the driver’s natural reaction of steering into the right direction.

A study conducted by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that having ESC significantly reduced single-vehicle crash risk in cars by 35% and 67% for SUVs. Results corroborated with another study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and indicated that widespread application of ESC can save more than 7,000 lives per year. Furthermore, the study says that if all US vehicles have ESC, this can prevent as many as 800,000 of the 2 million+ single vehicle crashes that happen every year.

Electronic Stability Control is currently being offered as either standard or optional in pricey cars and SUVs from the likes of Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Infiniti, Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes and Saab. It is offered in different names such as Stabilitrak in GM cars and Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) in Toyota and Lexus. (For a list of 2006 ESC equipped vehicles, visit this site.)

However, it is quite ironic that only 6 percent of car buyers opt for ESC. It is partly because ESC as an option is still quite expensive. It may also be the lack of knowledge or plain indifference why most car buyers usually ignore this potentially lifesaving technology. This is why most automakers still don’t offer ESC as standard equipment especially in mid to low priced vehicles.

In any case, if people can afford less-important luxuries such as a high tech audio system, they should have the foresight to spend more on a proven, life-saving technology such as ESC.

With leaked pictures of the car making its way into the Internet a week before its official launch, the Saab Aero-X became one of the most highly anticipated concept cars in the 76th Geneva Motor Show. And when officially unveiled in the auto show, the concept car did not fail any expectation. The vehicle is simply gorgeous, with a very simplistic yet extremely stylish appearance. Beyond all those gorgeous looks, however, is a deeper explanation of its design—because the Saab Aero-X is representative both of Saab’s heritage and of its future design plans.

According to Saab, the Aero-X concept has captured in its design the aeronautical roots of the auto manufacturing company. While others cannot figure out how, the aeronautical theme is actually very evident on the vehicle’s design, which can be better characterized by its lack of components than the presence thereof. The concept car, for example, doesn’t have doors and windows. Instead, those two components were replaced by a wraparound cockpit canopy, reminiscent of those used on Saab jet planes in the past. Inside, the vehicle’s dashboard is also devoid of too many dials and buttons. Instead, driving information is displayed on glass-like acrylic ‘clear zones’ in graphic 3-D images.

Despite capturing Saab’s aviation heritage in its design, the Saab Aero-X concept never lost its futuristic touch. For one, the canopy and dashboard in themselves are already very futuristic. And so are the interior and exterior lights that make extensive use of light emitting diodes (LEDs)—something that we can expect to see on future Saab products.

On the technical side, the Saab Aero-X concept is equipped with a 400 bhp Biopower 2.8-liter V6 engine that is capable of running in pure ethanol. The vehicle is also relatively lightweight (1,500 kg), thanks to its carbon fiber body. Other advance components that can be found on the vehicle include a seven-speed gearbox and steering wheel-mounted paddles for sequential-shift mode.

Indeed, the Saab Aero-X concept is one of the best concept cars showcased in this year’s Geneva Motor Show. Too sad to learn, though, that Saab has no plans of getting the vehicle into production. On the brighter side, however, Saab revealed that some features of the concept vehicle will appear in their future products.