Carl F. Thelin

Annual model changes

      Surely you recall that in the 1950-70 period, new models were always introduced in September or October of the years before the model-date.

      I was still in the auto industry then, and I heard a Mercedes-Benz engineer tell me that the whole concept of a "1959" anything was strange to a European. M-B made engineering changes steady without notice. Only when a new design was ready would they bother to apply a date to the title, although the model name, such as "C325D" was enough.

      I agree that the majority of owners will never appreciate robotic assists of handling and braking functions - even when it works and avoids a crash -- that is what it is for. Long ago, I wrote that drivers who benefit from robotic-assist will generally not credit the gadget for the feat of not having serious crash. No one, not even the pro- and con- safety critics keeps statistics of "near misses".

      Finally, give credit to Toyota to using laminated side window glass beginning with the 2009 model. Benefits: reduced interior noise and vastly improved break-in (theft) resistance. I wonder why Toyota didn't add it to the Camry line, too.