Fall and Winter Driving Tips from Georgia's Clean Air Force

 

With fall in full swing and winter looming, it is important for motorists to be mindful of changing weather and temperatures and their potential effects on vehicles.

“Keeping cars well-maintained facilitates cleaner vehicle operations, which leads to better air quality for Georgians” said Michael Odom, Mobile & Area Sources Manager, Georgia Environmental Protection Division. “Georgia’s Clean Air Force encourages motorists to take some time this fall to attend to car care basics for cold weather driving.”
 
Here are some suggestions to ready your vehicle for the upcoming months:
 
Check the lights. Fewer daylight hours and the potential for winter precipitation are compelling reasons to ensure that all vehicle lights, including headlights, taillights, flashers, and brake lights, are in good working order.

Check the brakes. Both brake lines and brake fluid can be impacted by cold weather. Have them inspected to make sure they’re ready for the season.

Check the tires. Tires lose air pressure more quickly during cold weather than during warmer weather. Low air pressure contributes to lower gas mileage, decreased tire lifespan, and longer stopping times. Commit to checking tire air pressure on a regular basis.

Check the heater and defroster. You will undoubtedly use both more frequently during colder months, and they are essential for comfort and safety.

Check the battery. Freezing temperatures can cause a vehicle’s battery to lose strength. Check your battery now and attempt to keep it adequately charged during the winter. A fully charged battery has much more protection against the cold than a mostly depleted one. 

Stock a roadside emergency kit. Include items such as gloves, blankets, flashlights, a first aid kit, an ice scraper, reflective warning triangles, bottled water, jumper cables, and a portable phone charger.

Check the wipers. Make sure your vehicle’s wipers are doing their job before heading into the chill of winter. Don’t ask them to do more than their job, though. Use the car’s defroster and an ice scraper, not the wipers, to remove frost, ice, or snow from the windshield.     

2022 Nissan Sentra: Small Sedan Offers Big Value

 

Compact sedans can be seen as the most basic level of automobile transportation. But even as such, there can still be a lot to like about small cars, and the 2022 Nissan Sentra proves the point.

The Sentra is a sedan with seating for five and front-wheel drive. Under the hood there is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 149 horsepower and is mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission. 

Fuel economy is rated at 28 mpg city, 37 highway, which is one of the key benefits of driving a small sedan. It's become popular in recent years for people to choose hybrids or electric vehicles as they seek to cut down on the usage and expense of gasoline. However, those types of cars are generally still markedly more expensive than most traditional-fuel vehicles of the same size. So it still makes financial sense to purchase small, traditional-fuel vehicles. 

The Sentra features 18.8 cubic feet of cargo space, which is another selling point that you might not think of when considering a small sedan purchase. That space in the Sentra isn't cavernous, but it's pretty good for hauling around basic small loads that you might have. 

For the 2022 model year,  Nissan added a Midnight Edition Package that’s offered on the SR trim level and has a black grille, a black rear spoiler, black 18-inch alloy wheels and black badges.  

Other strengths of the Sentra include its interior quality and ride comfort. 

The Sentra is priced starting at around $20,000 and ranging to about $23,000.

For a reliable, low-maintenance small sedan, the Nissan Sentra deserves a good look. 

2022 Lexus NX 350: Sharp Small Crossover is Fun, Functional

 

The popular small crossover vehicle segment has a number of competitive entrants, including today's test-drive model, the 2022 Lexus NX 350.

This all-new edition has seating for five passengers. 

Under the hood, there is a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 275 horsepower and is linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. 

The NX 350 has fuel economy ratings of 22 mpg city, 29 highway, according to EPA. 

This version of the vehicle features a more dynamic design, with maximum cargo capacity of 46.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

The NX 350 comes in four trim levels: Base, Premium, F Sport and Luxury.

The NX 350 offers solid driving dynamics and a smooth ride. 

Pricing starts at around $42,000 and ranges to over $50,000.

For a compact crossover with some nice luxury features, the NX 350 is a solid choice. 

2022 Nissan Armada: Great Size, Smooth Ride

 

Large SUVs aren't as popular as they once were, giving way in large part due to the popularity of midsize crossovers. But that doesn't mean there isn't still a market for the behemoths, and this week's tester, the 2022 Nissan Armada, shows why.

This full-size SUV has three rows of seats and features a 5.6-liter V-8 engine that makes 400 horsepower and is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. The Armada has rear- and four-wheel-drive versions available, and includes 24 cubic feet of cargo space behind its second row and 10.4 cubic feet behind its third row.

That combination of power and size is still valued by many motorists, keeping the Armada relevant. 

Standard features on the Armada include 18-inch aluminum wheels, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, 12.3-inch touchscreen navigation system, Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity, satellite radio, forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. 

Options include 20- or 22-inch aluminum wheels, power moonroof, power liftgate, remote start, leather-trimmed seats, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats and second-row captain’s chairs.

The Armada received an update last model year, and it gave the cabin a more luxurious feel in higher trims and added space to the second row.  The third row remains tight on space, and cargo space is limited when it’s upright. 

The V-8 engine is powerful, but consumes quite a bit of fuel. Mileage is rated at 14 mpg city, 19 highway with the rear-wheel drive and 13 and 18 with all-wheel. And keep in mind that it uses premium fuel. 

The Armada starts at around $50,000 and ranges to around $71,000.

If you're in need of a large, powerful people and cargo hauler, the Nissan Armada is worth a look. 

Ford Opens Research, Innovation Center in Atlanta

 

Ford Motor Co. is opening an Atlanta facility to grow its digital efforts in areas such as software-led connected vehicles, university research, artificial intelligence and more. 

The Ford Atlanta Research and Innovation Center joins a network of Ford research and development facilities in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Palo Alto, Calif., dedicated to pioneering the future of transportation with automated, connected and electrified vehicles. The new Atlanta location places Ford in one of the most diverse tech talent markets in the nation and enables the company to develop a pipeline of software experts with a variety of backgrounds.

 

“Ford is transitioning from a traditional automotive company to a digital products and services company driven by software innovation,” said Jim Buczkowski, executive director for Ford Research, Advanced Engineering. “There’s a high demand for tech talent across industries, and we have an opportunity to create non-traditional career pathways to attract and develop the expertise needed to stay competitive.”

 

Ford says it remains committed to developing a workforce that reflects the communities and customers that it serves, including attracting and retaining historically underrepresented talent, especially in the software engineering and high technology fields.

 

“Atlanta continues to attract and grow tech companies and startups; and we continue to attract a desirable talent base — particularly for Black tech talent. We look forward to this partnership with the Ford Atlanta Research and Innovation Center, which has the potential to help us grow an even more robust and diverse pipeline,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.

 

Aside from serving as an innovation hub and delivering software solutions, the FARIC team will also focus on increasing Black, Hispanic and female representation in software engineering and high technology careers. Strategies include:

 

• Leveraging relationships with regional Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and The Atlanta University Center Consortium to help make high-tech career opportunities more available to diverse students
• Continuing to create and deepen relationships with regional colleges and universities, including HBCUs and Hispanic Service Institutions, to conduct pioneering research and address Ford’s growing need for the new competencies required for electrification, connected vehicles and software engineering that are revolutionizing Ford products, technologies and services

 

• Creating flexible, non-traditional career pathways for people interested in pursuing software and high-tech careers, including co-ops, internships, part-time work, and non-degree software programs in collaboration with Atlanta-based TechBridge and community partner City of Refuge

 

“Underrepresentation is a significant issue in software and engineering industries, especially when it comes to Black and Hispanic communities, which makes it particularly exciting to work with local colleges, universities and nonprofits to help bring greater diversity into the tech space,” said Doron Elliott, senior manager of Ford In-Vehicle Infotainment, who will also oversee FARIC operations. “Building this critical talent base will enable Ford to continue to find innovative and efficient ways to develop cutting-edge products and services to meet the demands of a very diverse customer base.”

 

New Workplace Design Standards

Located within the new 8West development on Atlanta’s Upper West Side (889 Howell Mill Road NW), the 24,000-square-foot FARIC space is designed to surpass standard ADA compliance with a thoughtful, accessible layout that supports inclusion, flexibility, collaboration and innovation.

 

The all-new workspace supports individual needs while promoting creativity and team collaboration through an open and accessible floor plan designed to support the needs of a diverse and innovative team. It includes individual focus space, sit/stand desks, soft seating, and phone booth-style space where employees can take calls or work independently.

National Center for Civil and Human Rights Set to Expand

 

Atlanta is close to realizing its initial dream for the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, as the center is beginning work on a major expansion of the unique attraction in downtown Atlanta.

Read Saporta Report for details. 

Fort Frederica National Monument: History and Culture

 

Fort Frederica, on St. Simons Island, Ga., was established in 1736 by James Oglethorpe to protect the southern boundary of his new colony of Georgia from the Spanish in Florida. Colonists from England, Scotland and the Germanic states came to Georgia to support this endeavor.

Named for Frederick Louis, the Prince of Wales (1702-1754), Frederica was a military outpost consisting of a fort and town. The entire area was fortified with a palisade wall and earthen rampart. The fort's location on the Frederica River allowed it to control ship travel.

Oglethorpe's foresight in establishing Frederica was rewarded in 1742 during the War of Jenkins' Ear. Spanish forces from Florida and Cuba landed on St. Simons Island. Oglethorpe's attack on a Spanish reconnaisance party at Gully Hole Creek led to the battle at "Bloody Marsh". Despite the name, casualties were light and the Spanish continued their campaign on St. Simons. Clever deception on Oglethorpe's part convinced the Spanish to retreat from Georgia seven days later.

This British victory not only confirmed that Georgia was British territory, but also signaled the end for Frederica. When peace was declared, Frederica's Garrison (the original 42nd Regiment of Foot) was disbanded, and eventually the town fell into decline. Today the archeological remains of colonial Frederica are protected by the National Park Service.

- National Park Service