F-Sport models of the IS 350C start at $57,500, not including an $875 destination charge, and they will arrive at dealerships later this month.
Pictured is an IS 350C wearing F-Sport accessories. Lexus will have images of the F-Sport Special Edition soon, though we don’t expect it to look drastically different than what you see here.
Ford’s security features include a hardware firewall that controls what information can go between the Sync’s entertainment system and the vehicle’s computer. The firewall prevents external parties from accessing the car’s computer.
The entertainment computer itself does not allow the download or execution of external applications, which could include dangerous software. Any upgrades to the Sync system will not come over the Internet directly. Instead, drivers will need to download an upgrade from a home computer and transfer it to a thumb drive that’s plugged into the car’s USB port. The computer won’t even run software that doesn’t come from Ford.
Data such as contact lists and address books from smartphones will also be protected. This includes a “valet mode” that lets drivers use a four-digit PIN to protect stored information from those they don’t want to have access.
Ford says it has no real-world instances of internet thieves attempting to hack on-board computers. But as car connectivity proliferates, surely this type of crime will become more tempting.
Ford Adds Security and Other Features to Sync (Gadgetwise)
This included the Child Protect System, which uses steel-reinforced padded bolsters around a child-safety seat for children between ages 3 and 12. This special seat protects car parts from penetrating the interior during an accident — essentially a padded tank for your child.
The ESF crew also showed off active door supports, which extend on the sides of the vehicle 20 to 30 milliseconds before a crash, and airbags near the driver’s headrest to protect the heads of the driver and passenger during a rollover.
“Virtual crumple zones” and radar sensors make up the “Pre-Safe 360 system,” which senses the impact of other vehicles before they happen and sends out warning signals such as flashing the lights, applying the brake or triggering a neck-protection system to prevent whiplash.
Mercedes-Benz did not make any prices clear, but these systems are likely expensive, and most will not reach the market for several years, though the automaker says to expect the child-safety seat in possibly three years.
Mercedes-Benz ESF 20009 Tests Future Safety Technology (Wheels)
These include vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. Cold states (and their adjoining states) that use road salts frequently are also included: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina.
The recall is due to a reinforcing bracket and the fuel filler pipe, which could corrode if exposed to salt and other road debris. This could create a leak in the fuel filler pipe and possibly lead to a fire in the presence of an ignition source.
Dealers will inspect the fuel filler pipe and replace it with an improved part for free. Owners may contact Mitsubishi at 800-222-0037 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hot line at 888-327-4236.
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