What’s New: In Brief (August 03, 2007)

General Motors (GM) has announced that it will be using a PPG basecoat system in all of its dealership repairs. The PPG Envirobase High Performance and Nexa Autocolor Aquabase Plus waterborne basecoat systems from PPG Automotive Refinish recently received the major automakers approval. Skilled technicians using the right materials offer the only path to true customer satisfaction, Brian Dotterer, materials and technologies development manager of service operations for GM, said in a statement.

An Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study found that four of 11 luxury cars tested in low impact collisions, sustained more than $10,000 [approximately Cdn$10,527] in damage.The luxury brands had their bumpers tested in a series of four tests, full front and rear, with speeds between 3 and 6 miles per hour (approximately between 4.82 and 9.65 kilometres per hour), explains an IIHS release.The Infiniti G35 was the worst performer, sustaining almost $14,000 [approximately Cdn$14,735] in damage, while the Saab 9-3 was the best, sustaining $5,243 [approximately Cdn$5,518], the IIHS found.One of the primary problems, the institute suggests, is that a bumpers aerodynamic styling may allow it to slide under the bumper of the vehicle it strikes, but this does not allow it to perform its job of energy absorption.As well, bars under bumper covers designed to do the majority of the energy absorption may not be big enough to provide much protection from damage, especially if they dont extend to vehicle corners.