Happy New Year!

Whatever Happened to Hood Ornaments?

Remember when car hoods had fun, sleek or sophisticated figurines? Today, you’ll hardly ever see one. But what happened to the hood ornaments we knew and loved in the past? It turns out, there’s a surprising history behind hood ornaments - and why they disappeared.

Ornaments have long adorned our modes of transport, from lady luck strapped to the bow of a ship to the ornate spires worn by carriage horses. Car historians trace the hood ornament back to the early 20th century, when cars still had external radiator caps and temperature gauges. Seeking ways to dress them up, designers turned to miniature works of art—animals, emblems and model machines that embodied the car's identity. In the 1920s, the Cadillac LaSalle featured an elaborate statuette of its namesake, intrepid 17th century French explorer Robert de LaSalle, tipping his hat over a burned-out campfire.

By the end of the decade, the practical need for the hood ornament was gone, as radiator caps were relocated under hoods and temperature gauges moved to dashboards. But that didn't stop the auto mascot from enjoying a life of its own. Some sort of doppelganger topped most cars made in America between 1930 and 1950. Among the classics: the forward-leaning Roman messenger goddess Mercury used on Buicks in the 1930s; the wild and sinewy Archer on vintage Pierce Arrows; and the Goddess of Speed that once graced Packards.

Stripped-down hippie tastes, Nader-esque concerns that ornaments could turn otherwise minor pedestrian scraps into fatal accidents, and even irrational fears about heightened fuel costs from increased drag, began to erode the popularity of hood ornaments over the years.

Read the original article here: http://thebea.st/UkF42c

Traveling This Holiday Season? Keep Your Kids Safe!

Car seats save lives! Did you know that only 3% of children ages 1 - 3 ride in a rear-facing car seat? To ensure that your children stay safe in the car, make sure they’re traveling properly. Check out this infographic to get more information on how to protect your kids when they’re riding in a car:
http://www.edgarsnyder.com/infographics/car-seats-infographic.html

5 Simple Ways to Drive Safe in the Snow

Going dashing through the snow this holiday season? Make sure you’re ready for anything winter has to throw at you by following these tips from the NHTSA:

Keep yourself and others safe by planning ahead before you venture out into bad weather.

• Check the weather, road conditions, and traffic; plan to leave early if necessary.
• Don't rush! Allow plenty of time to get to your destination safely.
• Familiarize yourself with directions and maps before you go, and let others know your route and anticipated arrival time.
• Keep your gas tank close to full. If you get stuck in a traffic jam or in snow, you might need more fuel to get home or keep warm. Note: To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning when stuck in snow, be sure to keep your vehicle's exhaust pipe clear of snow and ice, run your vehicle only in the open with the windows partially down, and run it only long enough to keep warm.
• If road conditions are hazardous, avoid driving if possible. Wait until road and weather conditions improve before venturing out in your vehicle.

Carry items in your vehicle to handle common winter driving tasks such as cleaning off your
windshield as well as any supplies you might need in an emergency. Keep the following on hand:

• Snow shovel, broom, and ice scraper.
• Abrasive material, such as sand or kitty litter, in case your vehicle gets stuck in the snow.
• Jumper cables, flashlight and warning devices, such as flares and markers.
• Blankets for protection from the cold.
• A cell phone, water, food, and any necessary medicine (for longer trips or when driving
• in lightly populated areas).

Read the full article and get more tips from the NHTSA here: http://1.usa.gov/XLk5La

Concept 4 Series Coupe

With the launch of the BMW 4 Series coupe, we can officially say goodbye to the two-door 3 Series. As we've long reported, BMW is moving its coupe and convertible models up one digit (like the 5 Series/6 Series relationship); when the next-generation 1 Series launches in the States, it will actually be called the 2 Series. And while there are certainly a lot of 3 Series aspects to this new 4er, BMW says the new car "represents the zenith of a development curve" and that the automaker "has given the new model its own individual character and a standalone design."

Compared to the current 3 Series coupe, the 4 Series concept rides on a two-inch-longer wheelbase, adds 1.7 inches of width, and is just over half an inch shorter in height. The whole thing looks very sculpted and sleek, and there are plenty of design elements from the larger 6 Series, as well. The full-LED headlamps and aggressive lower fascia will certainly grab your attention, but if we're honest, some of us prefer the simpler, cleaner lines of past 3 Series models versus this somewhat overly stylized new coupe. From the rear, however, this thing is damn pretty.

The interior certainly looks good, too – premium leather is slathered on nearly every surface, and the overall design is modern and plush. A lot of what we see here is similar to the larger 6 Series, again, but that isn't a bad thing. Specific details have not been divulged for the production 4 Series, but expect a full suite of technological goodies to be packed inside the cabin, as well.

Speaking of specific details, we don't have any news to share regarding powertrain lineups just yet, though it's expected that both the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four and 3.0-liter turbo-six from the 3 Series sedan will carry over. Under that logic, expect BMW to roll out 428i and 435i models, though remember that elsewhere in the range, cars powered by the turbocharged inline-six also wear the 40i designation, so we could just as well see 440i-badged cars. We'll have to wait and see.

The 4 Series Concept will make its debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January, with the production car coming very shortly thereafter.

Article courtesy of: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/05/so-long-3-series-concept-4-series-coupe-previews-new-two-door/