Safety Connect pricing set
Toyota Motor Sales will charge a $139.95 annual subscription fee for its new telematics system, Safety Connect, which will soon be an available option on the new MY10 Prius. Using the system’s cellular and GPS technology, subscribed Prius vehicles will provide: automatic collision notification in case of either airbag deployment or severe rear-end collision; stolen vehicle location; emergency assistance button, which the driver can push to initiate a call to the Safety Connect response center, which is open 24/7; and roadside assistance, to help drivers with a wide range of needs, such as towing, jump start, flat tire and fuel delivery.

An engine oil guarantee
Valvoline Instant Oil Change® says it will guarantee your engine for 300,000 miles so long as you agree to use the company’s SynPower® Full Synthetic or MaxLife® Full Synthetic motor oils. You can get a 150,000-mile guarantee if you use Valvoline Premium Conventional motor oil, or a 225,000-mile guarantee for using the company’s MaxLife® or DuraBlend® products. Vehicles are eligible to be registered only before reaching 75,000 miles. For more information, go to www.vioc.com.

Pay-as-you-go insurance
The California Department of Insurance proposed revised regulations in July that would give insurance companies the ability to offer consumers coverage plans that are paid for by the mile. Similar to plans that allow individuals to purchase prepaid minutes for their cellular phones, the California plan would allow drivers to pre-pay for a certain number of miles for a specified amount of time. Insurers would also be able to offer discounts for those who opt to purchase a mileage verification policy, which would allow Californians to pay for miles that are actually driven instead of an estimated number. The proposal could lead to lower rates as well as provide an incentive for drivers to drive fewer miles.

Ford’s answer to blind spots
Ford Motor Company has made available its Blind Spot Information System, or BLIS, on several of its 2010 cars. Two multiple-beam radar modules, packaged in the rear quarter panels, identify when a vehicle has entered the defined blind spot zone. An indicator light on the corresponding sideview mirror provides a warning that a vehicle is approaching. Meanwhile, the company’s Cross Traffic Alert feature helps warn drivers of approaching traffic while backing out by using two radar sensors to detect moving objects within 65 feet from either side of the vehicle.