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Desktop and Server Databases
Sharing a Microsoft Access Database
One of the types of applications you can use on a network is a database. A database makes it possible in an intranet to have a central location of information so that any computer on the same network can access the database. Probably the most common type of database used in a Microsoft Windows network is one of a Microsoft Access type. Fortunately, it is not particularly difficult to create and distribute a database on an intranet.
Distributing the Database
When it comes to distributing a Microsoft Access database, you may have some issues to deal with, not because it is difficult. One of the concerns has to do with the other computers. If the other computers don't have Microsoft Access, you would need something called the Access Runtime. This is probably the cheapest solution but it may present some challenges. We will not deal with that here.
Another solution is to install Microsoft Access on each computer. This may be the most expensive solution but it is the easiest. Most companies use that solution because it is easy either to purchase many copies or get many licenses of Microsoft Office Professional, which includes Microsoft Access.
After creating the database, in the server or the computer of your choice (normally, the database can be located on any computer that is a member of your network) where you want the database to be located, create a folder. Copy the database file into that folder
Access the drive that holds that folder. To share it, right-click it and click Share (this is a screenshot from Microsoft Windows Server 2008)
Click the arrow of the combo box in the File Sharing window and select Everyone:
After selecting Everyone, click Add. Click the down-pointing arrow on the right side of Everyone:
Click Share. If you receive a message box, click
You should receive a message box telling that the sharing was successful
Click Close.
In another computer where you want to access the database, open a file utility such as Windows Explorer. Click Network. Click the name of the computer to show its shared folders:
Open the folder that contains the database. Right-click the name of the database, position the mouse on Send To, and click Desktop (Create Shortcut)
As an alternative, you could right-click the database and click Create Shortcut, then copy that shoftcut where you want the database to be accessible.
To open the database from that computer, double-click the shortcut.
Introduction to Data Import/Export
Importing data allows you to get information from an external source and insert it in your database. Microsoft Access can accept data from various applications, and with a little trick, you can import even from unfriendly applications. Before importing data, you must make sure that it is in a format Microsoft Access can read; even if that data is coming from another application of the Microsoft Office suite.
To import a file or objects, on the Ribbon, you can click the External Data tab. In the Import section of the Ribbon, click the button that corresponds to the type of object you want to get. What happens depends on the type of file you are trying to import.
Exporting a Microsoft Access object consists of saving a table in a format that an application other than Microsoft Access can use. Because this depends on the external application, we will review different issues as we move on.
To import a file or objects, on the Ribbon, you can click the External Data tab. In the Import section of the Ribbon, click the button that corresponds to the type of object you want to get. What happens depends on the type of file you are trying to import.
Exporting a Microsoft Access object consists of saving a table in a format that an application other than Microsoft Access can use. Because this depends on the external application, we will review different issues as we move on.
Importing Microsoft Access Objects
Microsoft Access objects are probably the easiest objects to import because, created with the same application, these objects are already formatted and recognizable. You can import objects of a Microsoft Access type of any version. To import objects from another Microsoft Access database, on the Ribbon, click External Data. In the Import section of the Ribbon, click the Access button . This would open the Get External Data - Access Database wizard. You should first locate the folder that contains the database, and then select the database.
Practical Learning: Importing a Microsoft Access Object
Most of the databases we will create in our lessons are referred to as desktop databases because they are meant to be installed in the computer where they will be used. For maintenance purposes, the problem with this approach is that, if you distribute your database to the users or if you have distributed the database to a few people already, if you modify the database, you will have to visit each one's computer to install a new version of the database or to modify the database on each user's computer. For example, imagine that some or all users of the database call you and say that a certain form or report seems to produce a wrong result and you suspect that an expression in the database is false. Once you find out what needs to be done to correct the problem, you would have to visit each computer to make the change. Also, if you want to backup the database, although you need only the values stored in the tables, you may have to visit each computer. Sometimes this is not possible and it is unprofessional. Microsoft Access provides an alternative to this problem.
You can divide your database in two parts. One part would be installed on one computer that can be a server or just another computer. This is referred to as back-end. The other part would be installed in each user's computer. These users computer can then connect to the back-end database that stores the actual database. The users computer have only the graphical interface that allows them to work. If you modify the database (for example if you correct an expression that was producing wrong results), you can do it on the back-end database and the users' computers would receive the change. To implement this scenario, you split your database.
To split a database, on the Ribbon, you can click Database Tools. In the Move Data section, you can click the Access Database button (if you receive a Microsoft Office Access Security Notice, read it and click Open). This would open the Database Splitter dialog box with four paragraphs and two buttons. After reading them, you can click Split Database. This would open the Create Back-End Database dialog box. It would suggest a name of a database that is made of the original name of the database followed by _be. You can keep that name or change it. Once you are ready, you can click Split. The splitting process would start. When the splitting is over, you will receive a message box and you can click OK.
After splitting a database, the tables would be removed from the Navigation Pane. The linking tables would have new icons and each icon would appear with an arrow that indicates that the table is only linked to an actual table in the back-end database. Also, after splitting a database, since the actual tables would have been removed from the Navigation Pane, you cannot modify their structure from a user's computer. That is, you cannot add a column or change the data type of a field.
After splitting the database, you can install the _be file, that was created when splitting, to the server or the computer that will host it. Then install the original database on the user's computers. You should (must) then establish a connection between each user's computer and the back-end server.
Practical Learning: Splitting a Database
ACCDE Files
If you have created a database and decide to distribute it or to give it to a customer, colleagues or employees, they may be tempted to open the forms in Design View and possibly modify their structures. There are two disadvantages to such an action. They may compromise or corrupt your hard work, possibly rendering it obsolete. Some bad eye may decide to cheat on your VBA code. Microsoft Access allows you to make some or most of these actions difficult or impossible. An ACCDE file is a database compiled by Microsoft Access so the users of the database cannot change the design of forms or reports, create new forms or reports, view its VBA code, or import forms, reports or VBA code.
Before creating an ACCDE file, you should enable the security. To do this, on the Message Bar, you can click Options... In the Microsoft Office Security Options dialog box, click the Enable This Content radio button and click OK. To create an ACCDE file of your database, after opening it, on the Ribbon, you can click Database Tools. In the Database Tools section, you can click Make ACCDE. You will receive the Save As dialog box with a suggested file. You can accept that file name or replace it. After this, you can click Save.
Microsoft Access and Microsoft SQL Server
If you have a Microsoft SQL Server database and you want to use it in a Microsoft Access database, you have various options. You can import the objects from the server database or you can create a Microsoft Access project that is a database whose tables link to the server.
If you have one or more tables that are part of a Microsoft SQL Server database but for some reason you do not want, do not need, or are not allowed, to work directly on the database server, you can import the objects to Microsoft Access. You first need to create the recipient database in Microsoft Access.
Microsoft Access treats Microsoft SQL Server as one of the ODBC family of databases (the Microsoft Windows operating system has a driver that allows different database environments to communicate or interact with the same database, as long as they follow some rules of the ODBC driver; for example, an application created with Delphi and a PHP web site both can communicate with a Microsoft Access database or a Microsoft SQL Server database). Therefore, before importing a Microsoft SQL Server table (or a table from any ODBC compliant database), you should first create a data source. You can create the data source from Microsoft Access or you can first create it using Control Panel:
To start the data source from Control Panel, open the Control Panel, open the Administrative Tools, and double-click Data Sources (ODBC). This would open the ODBC Data Source Administrator:
You can then click Add.
To import a table in Microsoft Access, on the Ribbon, you can click External Data and, in the Import & Link section, click ODBC Database. This would open the Get External Data -> ODBC Database dialog box. If you want to import a table, you should accept the first radio button and click OK. This would open the Select Data Source dialog:
If you had already created the data source, you can select it and click OK. If the Data Source is not displaying but you know where it is located, you can click the Up One Level button to locate its folder and select it. Otherwise, you can create a new data source. To do this, click the New button.
In both cases, you would get the Create New Data Source dialog box (this dialog box may appear differently on your computer):
From there, you can click the type of database you want to import. In this case, you would click SQL Server. If you started from Control Panel, you would click Finish. If you had started from Microsoft Access, you can click Next. You would be prompted to enter a name for the data source:
After typing the name, you can click Next and click Finish. Next, the Create a New Data Source dialog box with the name you previously specified. You are allowed to type a small description of the database. You can type anything. Then, in the Server combo box, select the name of the server where the database is located. If the database is in the same computer you are using, you can type (local):
You can then click Next:
You can accept all defaults or, if you are creating a sensitive database that would require people to log in, you can click the second radio button, then provide a user name and a password. When ready, click Next. The next page of the wizard allows you to select the actual database that has the table(s) you want to import. To select it, you should click the top check box to access its combo box. Then click the arrow of the combo box to display the list of databases and select the one you want:
After selecting the database, you can click Next. The last page of the wizard allows you to set some options. Once you are ready, you can click Finish:
To make sure everything is alright, you can click the Test Data Source button. If everything looks alright, you can click OK. If you had started from the Control Panel, the process would end. If you add started from Microsoft Access, the Select Data Source dialog box would come back with the data source you had just created. You can then select it:
And click OK. A dialog box would display, containing all the objects that belong to the database you had selected. The names of the tables start with the schema name, in this case dbo:
Because there are many objects that Microsoft SQL Server creates for each database, you certainly would not need all of them. Therefore, you should select only the table (and probably the views). To select an object, simply click it, then click each of the other objects you would need. Once you are ready, click OK. Microsoft Access would start analyzing and importing the table(s). When the process is over, a dialog box would let you know. You can then click Close. Once you do, the names of the tables would appear in the Navigation Pane. Each starts with the schema name and an underscore. In most cases, you may have to rename each by removing the schema prefix.
Linking to a Microsoft SQL Server Database
Instead of importing the whole database or some of its table from a Microsoft SQL Server application, you can create a project in Microsoft Access that would connect to the table from the server. That way, if you enter data in the Microsoft Access database, the data would be stored on the server. This also makes it possible to create visually good looking objects in Microsoft Access instead of the somewhat less friendly tables of Microsoft SQL Server (in reality, you never want to let users work on the server and in fact, a visual interface in Microsoft Access allows you to exercise a great level of control over what your users can do or cannot do with your database).
To create an application in Microsoft Access that can communicate with the objects stored in a Microsoft SQL Server database, you can link the tables from Microsoft Access to tables of a Microsoft SQL Server database or you can create what is called a database project or simply a project. You have various options.
After creating a database in Microsoft SQL Server, to create tables linked to it, in Microsoft Access, on the Ribbon, click External Data and, in the Export section, click More -> ODBC Database. In the Get External Data - ODBC Database dialog box, click the second radio button:
Then click OK. The Select Data Source dialog box would open and you must select a data source. If you had not created one, then follow the steps to create it. In the Select Data Source dialog ox, click the data source name and click OK. This would open the Link table dialog box. In the list of tables, you should click only the actual tables you will use in Microsoft Access:
After selecting the tables, click OK. If Microsoft Access needs some explanation about some tables (or views), you may receive a dialog box asking you to identify the records unique identifiers. When everything is done, the linked tables would appear in the Navigation Pane. Once the tables have been linked, you can use them as you see fit. You can create the forms and allow the users to exploit the database. The new records would be added to the database on the server.
Exporting Microsoft SQL Server Tables
If you have created a database in Microsoft Access and want to use it in Microsoft SQL Server, you can export it. Before doing this, you must create a database in Microsoft SQL Server. It would also be a good idea to create a data source, although you can create it from Microsoft Access.
To export a table:
This would open the Export dialog box that asks you to specify the name of the table that will be created in Microsoft SQL Server. By default, the Export dialog box would suggest the same name as the database that was selected:
You can accept it or enter a new one. After specifying the name of the table, click OK. The Select Data Source dialog box would come up. If you had already created a data source, you can select its name. Otherwise, use the New button to launch a wizard that would assist you to create a data source. After specifying the data source of the database that will receive the table, click OK. If everything is alright, the table would be exported. Once the table has been exported, a dialog box would come up to let you know. You can then click Close.
Upsizing a Microsoft Access Database to a Server Database
Microsoft Access has some limitations as compared to Microsoft SQL Server. For example, Microsoft Access has limits on both the size of a database and the number of people who can connect to a back-end database at the same time. If you find out that Microsoft Access is becoming too restraint to accommodate your expanding database, you can upgrade it to a formal server database. That is, you can transfer the Microsoft Access database to a Microsoft SQL Server database where it would enjoy more options.
Before upsizing a database, you should enable the security. To do this, on the Message Bar, you can click Options... If the Microsoft Office Security Options dialog box, click the Enable This Content radio button and click OK.
To upsize a Microsoft Access database, open the database. On the Ribbon, you can click Database Tools. In the Move Data section, click the SQL Server button . This would open the Upsizing Wizard:
The first page of the Upsizing Wizard allows you to specify whether you will use an existing Microsoft SQL Server database or you want to create a brand new one. If you had already created a database on the server and you only want to add the tables (and queries) to it, you can select the first option. In this case, you must create a data source for the existing database, and follow the wizard. If you did not first create the server database, you can accept the second radio. Once you are ready, click Next. If you had selected the first radio button, clicking Next would open the Select Data Source dialog box. If you had selected the second radio button in the first page of the wizard before clicking Next, the second page of the wizard would come up:
The second page of the wizard allows you to specify the name of the server where the database will be installed. You must also specify how you will be authenticated. The bottom section of the page displays a text box with a suggested name of the server. The name is made of the name of the Microsoft Access database you started from and appended with the "SQL" suffix. You can accept that name or change it. Once you are ready, click Next. The wizard would analyze the database and display the names of the tables in the third page of the wizard:
The third page allows you to select what tables should be created in the database server:
After selecting the tables, you can click Next:
The fourth page of the wizard allows you to specify some options that would be applied to the database on the server. After accepting the defaults or making your selections, you can click Next:
In the same way, the fifth page presents some options. Once you have reviewed it, accepted or making changes, you can click Next (or Finish). The last page only lets you know that all information is ready to apply on the server:
You can then click Finish. The wizard would then start creating the database or applying the changes. When the process is over, a report would be presented to you.
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Luxury vehicle
Luxury vehicle is a marketing term for a vehicle that provides luxury — pleasant or desirable features beyond strict necessity — at increased expense (see luxury goods).
The term suggests a vehicle with higher quality equipment, better performance, more precise construction, comfort, higher design, technologically innovative modern, or features that convey an image, brand, status, or prestige, or any other 'discretionary' feature or combination of them. The term is also broad, highly variable and relative. It is a perceptual, conditional and subjective attribute that may be comprehended differently by different people; "what may be luxury for one may be premium for another."[1]
In contemporary usage, the term may be applied to any vehicle type— including sedan, coupe, hatchback, station wagon, and convertible body styles, as well as to minivans,[2][3] crossovers, or sport utility vehicles and to any size vehicle, from small to large—in any price range.[4] Moreover, there is a convergence in the markets and a resulting confusion of luxury with high price: where there may have been a clear difference in price between luxury and others, there is no longer an absolute separation between premium and luxury, with what may be premium brands now more expensive than the equivalent so-called luxury ones.[5]
Automobile manufacturers market specific makes and models that are targeted at particular socio-economic classes, and thus "social status came to be associated more with a particular vehicle than ownership of a car per se."[7] Therefore, automakers differentiate among their product lines in "collusion" with the car-buying public.[7] While a high price is the most frequent factor, it is "styling, engineering, and even public opinion which cars had the highest and lowest status associated with them."[7]
Every era in automobile history has had "a group of car marques and models that have been expensive to purchase, due to their alleged superiority of their design and engineering".[7] Aimed at wealthy buyers, such automobiles might be generically termed luxury cars.[7] This term is also used for unique vehicles produced during "an era when luxury was individualistic consideration, and coachwork could be tailored to an owner like a bespoke suit."[8] Although there is considerable literature about specific marques, there is a lack of systematic and scholarly work that "analyzes the luxury car phenomenon itself."[7]
Luxury vehicle makers may either be stand-alone companies in their own right, such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz, or a division/subsidiary of a mass market automaker (e.g., Lexus is part of Toyota). Badge engineering is often used for cost savings, for example, the Lincoln vehicles that are based on Ford platforms or Acura models derived from Honda.[9]
Though widely used, the term luxury is broad and highly variable. It is a perceptual, conditional and subjective attribute and may be understood differently by different people: "What is a luxury car to some... may be 'ordinary' to others."[4]
Global references
According to the European Commission, the "luxury vehicle" segment is classified as F-segment. However, the boundaries between the traditional segments are increasingly becoming blurred and diluted as features once exclusive to luxury vehicles become standard equipment on even small cars.[11][12][13]
- ACRISS is a code system used by many car rental companies in the US for classifying vehicles (but not brands or marques). The system includes "Luxury" and "Premium" categories.
- Australia: In Australia, for taxation purposes a luxury car is defined as a passenger car whose value exceeds a certain threshold, (see: Luxury Car Tax).[14]
- France: In France the term "voiture de luxe" is used.[15]
- Germany: In Germany the term "Upper class" (German: Oberklasse) is used.[16]
- Russia: Russian markets use the term "representative class vehicle" (автомобиль представительского класса, also translated as "luxury vehicle").[17]
- United States: The Consumer Guide publication uses a categorization that sorts luxury vehicles by size and it acknowledges that there can be considerable price variations within a class; for instance the Lincoln Town Car has a relatively low MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) compared to the Jaguar XJ, BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS, or Mercedes-Benz S-Class.[18]
Luxury market segments
Premium compact segment
The premium compact class[19] is relatively new, having been initiated by several European brands in the mid-2000s, and have displaced their compact executive cars to constitute the least expensive offerings in their lineups. The classification varies, for instance Consumer Guide Automotive in the U.S. considers the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class as part of the premium compact segment due to similar size and MSRP, though these are known in Europe as a small family car and a compact executive car, respectively.[20] Adding to some confusion, General Motors has positioned Buick as a "premium" nameplate to compete with Lincoln (whereas it formerly competed with Mercury) and front-wheel drive Acura and Lexus models, while Cadillac is aimed at the "luxury" segment which generally encompasses the performance-oriented BMW and Mercedes-Benz marques.[21][22][23]
The premium compact segment is targeted at a niche market of consumers who found the existing entry-level luxury offerings (mostly consisting of compact executive cars - see below) to be too expensive.[24] By offering a smaller, lighter, more fuel-efficient, and less expensive vehicle, premium compacts introduces younger buyers to the luxury marque, in hopes of retaining the coveted customer loyalty. This includes the Acura CSX, Audi A3, Buick Verano, BMW 2 Series, BMW i3, Cadillac ELR, Chrysler 200, Lexus CT, Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, Mercedes-Benz B-Class, Saab 9-2X, and the Volvo V40.[25][26] Premium compacts compete with well-equipped midsize (non-luxury) cars, and with options they overlap much with compact executive cars (entry-level luxury cars).[27]
Premium compacts may share components with mass market cars from the marque's parent company (the Audi A3 for example, shares much of its engineering with the cheaper Volkswagen Golf), and/or have less sophisticated platforms compared to upmarket vehicles in the lineup (such as the Mercedes-Benz B-Class which is front-wheel drive compared to the other marque's more expensive cars that are rear-wheel drive). However, the BMW 1 Series retains the front-engine longitudinal-engine rear-wheel drive configuration of more expensive BMWs.[26][28][29]
The body style tends to be a hatchback or compact wagon, previously associated with economy cars but regaining popularity in the United States for its afforded utility. As of 2013 there are small luxury sedans such as Audi A3, and Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class.[30] The luxury branding and style, high-quality interior materials, wide range of convenience features, and performance powertrains are key to distinguishing them from mass market equivalents (one mistake made by the Cadillac Cimarron) and making these appeal to consumers.[26][28][29]
Entry-level luxury/compact executive cars
This category is known as the compact executive car in Britain where it specifies both the price range and vehicle dimensions. In the U.S., there is a broader category called entry-level luxury, which includes the bottom vehicles in the line-up of luxury brands as well as the top-of-the-line models of some non-luxury brands.[20] Dimensionally, compact executive cars are smaller than Mid-size cars and sometimes even smaller than compact/Small family cars. Mass market compact cars typically use the economical front wheel drive transverse engine layout, well suited to the inline-4 engine, which also maximizes interior room.[31] Most compact executive cars are rear-wheel drive with longitudinal engines, for improved stability and handling,[31] and in order to accommodate the larger size of higher-performance engines (straight-6, V6, rarely V8), with four-wheel drive often being available.[32] Compact executive cars also tend to have more complicated independent suspensions, sportier transmissions, and high revolution engines that may require premium gasoline. The more complex powertrain and mechanical layouts of compact executive cars comes at increased cost and reduced interior passenger and trunk space.[32] Compact executive cars include the Acura ILX, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Jaguar XE, Volvo S60, Lexus IS, Infiniti Q40, Saab 9-3, BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Cadillac ATS, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class which particularly emphasize sporty handling.
In the United States and Canada these vehicles, and larger premium offerings at the same market position, are known as entry-level luxury cars.[33][34]
The American and Canadian classification of entry-level luxury (formerly dominated by premium marques e.g. Buick, Oldsmobile, Mercury, Chrysler) is a broad category which includes not only compact executive cars, but also midsize to large cars and SUVs such as the Lexus ES, Acura TL, Buick LaCrosse, Lexus RX being similar in price to the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.[37] However, the ES, TL, and LaCrosse do not fall under the European luxury classification of compact executive car nor are they sold in Europe. The ES and TL actually began as badge engineered versions of the mid-size Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, respectively, retaining the front wheel drive transverse engine layout, whereas Toyota's current Lexus IS does not share a platform with mass market Toyota cars. The ES and TL are not considered executive cars either (that slot is filled by the Lexus GS and Acura RL, respectively), despite similar dimensions, since executive cars usually emphasize higher performance, often being rear-wheel drive with longitudinal engines.[33][34] The present iterations of the ES and LaCrosse emphasize "comfortable, reasonably priced luxury",[38] while the TL has recently been targeted at the entry-level luxury sport market due to its SH-AWD.[37]
Recently, the entry-level luxury has been very competitive, and there has been price-overlapping with well-equipped non-luxury cars.[39][40] The bestselling vehicles of the marque are frequently compact executive cars, such as the BMW 3 Series that makes up 40% of the vehicles that BMW sells worldwide.[41][42]
Mid-size luxury/executive cars
The mid-size luxury segment is commonly referred to as executive cars in Britain, Obere Mittelklasse in German, and Grandes Routières in French.[15][16][45] Examples of models in this category include Acura TLX, Audi A6, Audi A7, Volvo S80, Volvo S90, Genesis G80, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Jaguar XF, Maserati Ghibli, Cadillac CTS, Lincoln MKZ, Saab 9-5, Lexus ES, Lexus GS, and Infiniti Q50.[46][47][48][49] Although Maserati vehicles have traditionally been priced as ultra-luxury cars, the new Maserati Ghibli III is intended to compete with high-spec executive cars, such as the Audi S6/S7, BMW 550i and Mercedes-Benz E550/CLS550.
Although having similar dimensions to mid-size cars and large family cars, executive cars are engineered and positioned as premium vehicles with better performance and technology amenities. There are also higher development and production costs, as many well-known mid-luxury cars use the longitudinal (usually front engine rear wheel drive layout) engine mounting which affords space for powerful engines such as a V8, instead of the more economical transverse engine layout of mass market cars which are restricted to inline-4 or V6. Executive cars usually have lower sales and production volumes compared to mid-size cars, as base trims with less equipment and smaller engines are not sold in U.S. and Canadian markets.[50] Also due to the problem of steep depreciation, especially concerning cars from less prestigious brands, most executive cars are produced by marques that specialize in larger/more expensive vehicles. Particularly in the United States, the mid-luxury segment is dominated by Mercedes-Benz and BMW, as executive cars from lesser-known manufacturers such as Citroën and Infiniti have not had much success.[51][52]
Vehicles in this segment include the mid-range models of several luxury car manufacturers.[53] Executive cars such as the BMW 5 Series are crucial to a luxury automaker's bottom line, and although not the highest-selling model, they generate a significant amount of profits due to the lucrative technology options.[42]
High-end luxury/full-size luxury cars
Also known as full-size luxury cars, grand saloons, flagship car, or premium large cars, while "Oberklasse" is used in Germany. Many of these are the marque's showcases for the newest automotive technology.[54] Several nameplates also offer long-wheelbase versions that offer additional rear legroom and amenities.[55] Full-size luxury cars sold in Canada and the U.S. typically have mid-displacement V8 engines, though recently some marques have offered six cylinder powerplants but without much success.[56][57][58]
Vehicles in this category include some of the models from the flagship lines of luxury car brands. In Europe, this includes the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Porsche Panamera, Volkswagen Phaeton, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and the Jaguar XJ. In Japan: Acura RLX, Lexus LS, and the Infiniti Q70. In Australia: HSV Grange / Holden Caprice. In South Korea:SsangYong Chairman, Hyundai Equus, Genesis G90, Kia K900,[46] in the US: Lincoln MKS, Chrysler 300, Tesla Model S,[59] Cadillac XTS, and the Cadillac CT6.[60] In the United States in 2004, the bestselling full-size luxury nameplates were the Lexus LS, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and BMW 7 Series.[61] There were also full-size luxury cars in the Soviet Union since 1930s until the 1990s, from the GAZ and ZiL (before 1956 - ZiS) factories, such as ZIS-101, ZIS-110, GAZ 12, GAZ 13 Gull, ZIL-114, ZIL-117, ZIL-4104, ZIL-41047.
Ultra-luxury cars
R.L. Polk and Company, a global automotive information and marketing firm that provides services[62] to automotive and related industries, has defined the term "super luxury" segment for luxury cars costing more than US$100,000.
This bracket includes the full lineups of Rolls-Royce and Bentley, as - unlike mainstream luxury brands such as Audi, Porsche, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz - these marques do not offer lower-priced, entry-level luxury or mid-luxury cars.[63] As of late 2011, super luxury automakers have been "pledging higher sales and offering ever sexier models" despite the economic uncertainty.[64]
Bentley and Rolls-Royce have recently moved into more affordable price brackets with new models priced considerably lower than their traditional offerings (Bentley Mulsanne and Rolls-Royce Phantom and Maserati Quattroporte). These new cars, the Bentley Flying Spur and Continental GT sister cars and Rolls-Royce Ghost,[65] created what Car and Driver described as the "entry-opulent segment".[66] Bentley, Maybach, and Rolls-Royce vehicles share platforms and derivatives of engines with other luxury brands from their parent auto company, however Rolls-Royce and Bentley are assembled in England (separate from the rest of BMW and Volkswagen Group's production plants) and this 'exclusivity' has helped to make these British marques a sales success. By comparison, Maybachs were built alongside the Mercedes-Benz S-Class which partly explains why they have not fared well in the market and were discontinued in 2012. Furthermore, the Maybach's brand pedigree was virtually unknown outside of Germany unlike its British rivals which have long enjoyed fame worldwide.[67][68] A Bentley executive was quoted as saying "that the brand's exclusivity, history and obsessive luxury help to convince customers that a Bentley is worth the price" which is at least twice that of a flagship luxury car from BMW or Mercedes-Benz.[69] Although Rolls-Royce and Bentley have traditionally been considered "as a purveyor of boxy British land yachts", newer offerings such as the Bentley Continental Flying Spur and Bentley Continental GT have "upended the super-premium auto segment, making Bentley for the first time a plausible choice for younger Hollywood and music stars".
Maserati vehicles such as the Maserati Quattroporte have traditionally been priced as ultra-luxury cars, although the new Maserati Ghibli III is intended to compete with high-spec executive cars, such as the Audi S6/S7, BMW 550i and Mercedes-Benz E550/CLS550.
The most expensive variants of flagship cars from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are often included here as well. They often feature a longer wheelbase and have V12 engines for great refinement and smoothness,[70] even though contemporary V8 engines can make similar output while being less expensive.[71][72] While BMW sells far fewer V12-engined 7-Series vehicles than V8 versions, the V12 retains popularity in the US, Brazil, China, and Russia, as well as maintaining the marque's prestige in the luxury vehicle market segment.[73][74] These trims also feature standard luxury and technology features that would be considered optional on their V8 siblings.[49][58][63]
There are ultra-high performance cars from "exotic brands" that also exceed US$100,000, but would not necessarily be categorized as luxury automobiles, such as the sports cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche, although the Porsche Panamera does compete in the high-end luxury/full-size luxury category.[63][75]
Luxury SUV/Crossover
Although only becoming popular in the 1990s, this category has been said to be created with Kaiser Jeep's 1966 Super Wagoneer as the first true luxury four-wheel drive (4x4) vehicle.[76] It was the first serious off-road SUV to offer a V8 engine, automatic transmission, and luxury car trim and equipment.[77] The Super Wagoneer was "a pioneer that blazed a trail for today's luxury SUVs".[78] It came with long list of standard equipment that included bucket seating with center console, air conditioning, seven-position tilt steering wheel, a vinyl roof, as well as "Antique Gold" trim panels on the body sides and tailgate.[78] After American Motors Corporation (AMC) purchased Jeep, the vehicles were upgraded and refined, including features such as an optional electric sliding steel sun roof, "possibly the first offered on an SUV".[79] The late-1970s Jeep Wagoneer Limited "set the sport-utility market on its ear ... was the most luxurious four-wheeler anyone had ever seen."[80]
The venerable Grand Wagoneer was still the leader in the luxury SUV market in 1986, and continued to be produced virtually unchanged through 1991, long after Chrysler bought out American Motors Corporation (AMC) in 1987.[81] The SUV market soon expanded with new entrants. By the mid-1990s, the U.S. Big Three automakers, "especially with Ford's Explorer and Jeep's Grand Cherokee, dominate[d] the market for the red-hot sport/utilities."[82] The fastest growing sector of this market was for the so-called luxury SUVs, which included the Jeep Grand Cherokee ... the Grand Cherokee's allure: "This vehicle is proof you can have a true off-road vehicle without giving up luxuries and amenities" with the Jeep providing a crucial new intangible factor for buyers — image.[83]
The SUV models generated higher-profit-margins than ordinary automobiles, and automakers introduced new luxury models during the late 1990s,[84] starting with Lincoln Navigator in 1997,[85] besides traditional models like Range Rover. For some manufacturers such as Porsche and BMW, luxury SUVs were the first SUV models they produced. Luxury SUVs catered particularly to the U.S. market where station wagons were unpopular, often being produced in North America (such as BMW Spartanburg) instead of the luxury marque's home country. Some of these models were not traditional SUVs based on light trucks, rather they are classified as crossovers using unibody constructions. SUVs from non-luxury brands had experienced a surge in popularity through early 2000s, causing the traditional luxury marques to follow.[86]
SUVs from the luxury marques grew at almost 40 percent to more than 430,000 vehicles, excluding SUV-only brands like Hummer and Land Rover, while luxury car sales in the U.S. during 2003 suffered a 1% decline, and non-luxury SUV sales were flat. By 2004, 30 percent of major luxury brands' U.S. sales are now SUVs. Luxury brands in particular led the development of crossover SUVs (as opposed to body-on-frame SUVs), making it one of the fastest growing segments in the market, as the forecast for 2002 was approximately 240,000 vehicles and that could double by 2006.[87] Research data showed luxury SUV buyers are compared those vehicles to SUVs of mass market brands, and not shopping around luxury cars, thus the SUV is becoming the key to bringing new customers to the luxury dealerships.[88]
Certain luxury SUVs use body-on-frame underpinnings, often being badge-engineered versions of their non-luxury counterparts, and retaining the rugged off-road and towing capabilities. Examples include the Lexus LX and Lincoln Navigator, which are the premium versions of the Toyota Land Cruiser (which is considered as a luxury SUV itself) and Ford Expedition, respectively.[89]
Other luxury SUVs are crossovers using unibody construction, often sharing the platform with compact executive and executive cars. For example, the Infiniti FX is based upon the Nissan FM platform that also underpins other Infiniti cars. Audi and BMW developed crossovers to compete in the SUV segment as they did not have an existing body-on-frame vehicle in their lineup.[87][90] The Lexus RX was the earliest luxury crossover on the market, and it has since been the best-selling luxury vehicle in the US, so it has inspired similar competitors from rival marques.[91] While early luxury crossovers released in the late 1990s have resembled traditional boxy SUVs, recent offerings have prioritized sportiness over utility — such as the Infiniti FX and BMW X6.[92][93][94]
Luxury cars tend to offer a higher degree of comfort than their mainstream counterparts, common amenities include genuine leather upholstery and polished wood or "woodgrain-look" dashboards.[49] Compared to mainstream vehicles, luxury cars have traditionally emphasized comfort and safety.[95] Luxury vehicles are also a status symbol for conspicuous consumption.[96]
Contemporary luxury cars also offer higher performance and better handling, which is often known as sport luxury.[34][97] However, in Europe, where large-displacement engines are often heavily taxed and many luxury buyers shy away from conspicuous consumption, brands offer buyers the option of removing exterior engine-identifying badges.[57]
Forbes noted that the reputation of luxury marques enables them to continually introduce many new safety technologies and comfort amenities, such as anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control and DVD entertainment systems, long before they trickle down to mass market cars. Numerous "smart car" features were found on luxury cars as early as 2009.[96]
Layout and powertrain
The rear-wheel drive with longitudinal engines (FR) is a common layout of luxury cars. European marques like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Jaguar have almost never adopted front-wheel drive and retained a lineup mostly or entirely made up of FR cars. Japanese brands such as Lexus and Infiniti also have predominantly FR lineups. The FR layout, while more expensive than the FF, has been retained by these luxury manufacturers as it allows for higher performance engines (particularly the straight-6, V8, and other engine configurations with more cylinders), better handling, and a smoother ride. [57][98][99][100]
American manufacturers also largely followed the FR for their luxury brands (as well as their mass-market cars of the time). However, due to the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973 and the 1979 fuel crises, began eliminating their FR platforms in favor of the more economical front wheel drive transverse engine layout (FF). Chrysler went 100% FF by 1990 and GM's Cadillac and Buick brands for the US were entirely FF by 1997. One of the few notable holdouts was Ford's Lincoln Town Car and Lincoln LS.[101]
In the 21st century, as part of the revamp of its design and image,[102] Cadillac returned most of its lineup (sedans, roadsters, crossovers and SUVs) to rear- or all-wheel-drive, the only exceptions being the front-wheel drive Cadillac BLS (since discontinued; never sold in North America);[103] Cadillac DTS (also discontinued); the Cadillac XTS (which replaced the DTS); and Cadillac ELR (a plug-in hybrid). Chrysler returned its full-size cars to this layout with the Chrysler 300 using shared technologies during the DaimlerChrysler era (Chrysler and Daimler-Benz (the parent company of Mercedes-Benz) co-developed the LX platform currently retained by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.[104][105] Ford's Lincoln division retained the longtime FR platform for the Town Car (phased out in 2011 with no direct replacement), intended for use as a limousine and chauffeured car.[106] However, newer offerings such as the MKZ and MKS use newer FF platforms shared with mainstream Ford vehicles, the Ford Fusion and Ford Taurus, respectively, with all-wheel drive as an option.[107]
History and sales
A wide array of European producers made luxury cars, including Rolls-Royce Limited, Bugatti, Delage, Delahaye, and Talbot-Lago made vehicles that are still collectible today.[108] Similarly, the Americans built the Duesenberg, Packard, and Cord luxury models.
Germany slowly became an export powerhouse during this period, building on success with the Mercedes-Benz brand, later joined by BMW, which now owns Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, and Volkswagen, which now owns Audi, Bentley, and Lamborghini.
In the United States luxury market, Cadillac and Lincoln Motor Company had long been the best-selling and second best-selling luxury brands until 1998, when they were overtaken by Japanese and German brands.[109] These cars were not relevant in most export markets; they were tailored to the U.S. market - moderate price point luxury vehicles not constrained by gasoline pricing.
The U.S. developed a special vehicle category, the personal luxury car, a stylized, mass produced 2 door coupé, relying on standard components. These vehicles were popular from 1958 to 1980.
Before World War II, France was a leading producer of powerful luxury automobiles.[110] After World War II, the French government used puissance fiscale tax regulations to encourage manufacturers to build cars with small engines, and French motorists to buy them.[110] Since many export markets do not have this same constraint, the French automobile industry has become less relevant as an export power and currently produces no luxury brands.
Italy focused on high end sports cars in the luxury market, such as the Ferrari and Maserati.
Since the 1980s, a host of new manufacturers have entered the luxury market to challenge the traditional players.[111] The three major Japanese auto manufacturers, Honda, Toyota, and Nissan, created their respective luxury brands particularly for the US. As a result of voluntary export restraints imposed in 1981, these manufacturers were limited to a number of vehicles they could export. While these companies sidestepped this by establishing US production facilities for mass market vehicles, their home factories soon begun producing higher-priced cars as they carried a greater profit margin per car. Acura was launched in 1986, while Lexus and Infiniti were unveiled in 1989. By 1992, these three divisions had sales of over US$3.5 billion, using lower prices and innovation to take market share from both domestic (Cadillac, Lincoln) and the European (Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, BMW, Audi and Jaguar) luxury car makers.[112]
Mercedes-Benz and BMW were the top-selling luxury import until 1991, when they were overtaken by Lexus.[113] Since 2000, Lexus has been the number-one-selling luxury car marque in the U.S.[114][115]
Since the 2000s, with the Cadillac CTS, the marque has seen a resurgence in sales and brand value.[116] Ford's Lincoln, which had seen sales fall as a result of an aging lineup, has attempted to return that luxury marque to competitiveness, by releasing new models such as the Lincoln MKS, as well as divesting itself of its other Premier Automotive Group brands.[117]
Hyundai had recently released the Genesis and the Equus, hoping to repeat the same strategy of undercutting their established competitors.[111]
2008 recession
The Late-2000s recession was the first time since the Great Depression of the 1930s that the luxury car market suffered considerably, something not seen in previous economic downturns. Many such customers saw their net worth decline following the collapse in financial markets and real-estate values.[96][118] For example, some of the steepest dropoffs came at the high end, including the BMW 7 Series and Rolls-Royce Phantom, and Mercedes-Benz unexpectedly dropped the starting price of its all-new 2010 E-Class. The unusually sharp decline in luxury car sales have led observers to believe that there is a fundamental shift and reshaping of the luxury automotive market, with one industry official suggesting that the marques no longer command the premiums that they used to, and another saying that conspicuous consumption was no longer attractive in poor economic conditions. [111] Additionally, mainstream brands have been able to offer amenities and devices such as leather, wood, and anti-lock brakes, previously found only on luxury cars, as the costs decline.[111]
However, luxury vehicle sales have not collapsed as much as their non-luxury counterparts.[119][120] Luxury vehicle marques generally benefited from financially healthier dealerships, better leasing and certified pre-owned programs and loyal customers, so sales are expected to rebound more quickly than mass market cars.[96] Others note that there is growing interest in luxury vehicles from emerging markets such as China and Russia.[111]
The entry-level luxury segment has been very competitive, and there has been price-overlapping with well-equipped non-luxury cars.[121][122] For example, in Canada, several luxury manufacturers set sales records in August 2009, due mostly to aggressive incentives on entry-level luxury vehicles.[40][123] In September 2009, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Audi all saw their Canadian sales increase by more than 10 per cent compared to a year earlier, despite overall Canadian auto sales being down 3.5 per cent compared to September 2008. The head of Mercedes-Benz Canada suggested that the brand "has been able to attract 'middle-class' consumers even during the recession because of the sense that owning a Mercedes-Benz comes with 'membership in a club'." BMW Canada's chief said luxury cars continued to be attractive, "I think due to new product offensives and due to new design and due to the fact that we are the benchmark in all areas when it comes to fuel efficiency... that together stimulates a lot of the market".[124] BMW has managed to remain profitable in 2009 while other competitors were posting losses, by scaling down production quickly to avoid cash burn through bloated inventories.[125]
Recent trends
In 2010, BMW was the best-selling luxury vehicle manufacturer by sales, ahead of rivals Audi AG and Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz marque. [125][126]
See also
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- ↑ Kaus, Mickey (2003-05-09). "Chrysler brings back rear-wheel drive". Slate. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- ↑ Johnson, Drew (2008-02-14). "2011 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger to remain rear-wheel drive". Leftlanenews. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- ↑ "Lincoln Town Car wins stay of execution". Spero News. 2006-09-19. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- ↑ Detnews.com The Detroit News
- ↑ http://www.mullinautomotivemuseum.com
- ↑ O'Dell, John (1999-05-06). "Cadillac Apologizes to Lincoln for Inflating Sales Numbers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- 1 2 http://www.facel-vega.com/mageng1.shtml
- 1 2 3 4 5 Eisenstein, Paul A. (2009-09-18). "Luxury car market may never look the same". MSNBC. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- ↑ "General Motors - A Corporate Governance Case Study". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 2008-06-23. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- ↑ "Lexus: The relentless pursuit". Absolutefacts.com. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- ↑ Green, Jeff; Ramsey, Mike (2009-01-09). "BMW, Mercedes, Lexus Car Sales May Drop to 13-Year Low in U.S.". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- ↑ Van Loon, Jeremy (2007-05-04), BMW Luxury Lead Threatened by Lexus, Stagnant Margins, Bloomberg
- ↑ Lienert, Dan (2005-12-12). "Best-Selling Luxury Cars 2005". Forbes.com. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- ↑ English, Bob (2009-06-24). "Lincoln measures up to stiff competition". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- ↑ Gupta, Poornima (2009-09-11). "Bentley sees signs of revival in luxury car class". Reuters. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- ↑ "Drop in Germany luxury car sales eases". AFP. 2009-09-08. Archived from the original on 2011-12-11. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- ↑ Rogoski, Richard R. (2008-12-01). "Recession not a roadblock for luxury-car sales". Triangle Business Journal. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- ↑ Van, Nicolas (2009-09-08). "Luxury makers smash August sales records in Canada". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- ↑ "How Mercedes got its groove back". Financialpost.com. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
- ↑ Vaughan, Michael (2009-09-09). "Incentives are 'an expensive way to sell'". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
- ↑ Owram, Kristine (2009-10-09). "The Canadian Press: Luxury brands' product, pricing helps them sell more cars despite economy". Google.com. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
- 1 2 "3rd UPDATE: BMW Lifts 2010 Guidance As Demand Improves". Online.wsj.com. 2010-06-13. Archived from the original on 2010-07-28. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
- ↑ "BMW Five Series | Mercedes Benz | Indian Luxury Car - Oneindia Living". Living.oneindia.in. 2010-06-14. Retrieved 2010-06-20.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
New York Post – by Raymond Kelly
While assault rifles serve no legitimate hunting purpose, and their ban would be a welcome advance after the Newtown slaughter, illegal handguns remain the weapon of choice for killers and other criminals in New York City.
Ninety percent, or 2,493, of the 2,779 illegal firearms seized from suspects in arrests in the city last year were handguns.
By contrast, a total of 77 assault weapons were seized in arrests in the city, less than 3 percent of the total.
In only three of nearly 1,400 shooting incidents last year were ballistics associated with assault weapons.
Ninety percent of the guns used in crimes in New York City also originated out of state, with Virginia, Pennsylvania, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida among the most frequent repeat states of origin.
The Ruger 9mm pistol used to shoot and kill Police Officer Peter Figoski in December 2011 was typical.
It was sold by a pawnshop in Colonial Heights, Va., to an individual who later claimed to have lost the gun.
With some guns, we may never learn how they reach the streets of New York. It's estimated that as much as 40 percent of guns are sold through the so-called gun-show loophole. A national requirement for universal background checks, regardless of how or where the gun is sold, would help with that problem.
Mayor Bloomberg, who on Saturday met again with Vice President Joe Biden on the issue, continues to lead the nation's mayors to achieve national solutions.
Meanwhile, the NYPD will continue to use its own proactive policing to suppress shootings and murders by flooding with police officers those neighborhood that experience spikes in gun violence and by taking as many illegal guns away as possible, mainly from young men before they can use them against one another.
We're also focused on violence-prone street crews, monitoring social media in order to intercept their retaliatory shootings. Clergy, grandmothers and others have joined in special efforts that have also produced results.
Last year, New York City experienced the fewest murders in over a half-century and the lowest number of shootings since we began tracking them.
Still, one murder is one too many. One illegal gun is one too many, too, because when someone is murdered in New York City — although that happens much less frequently than in the past — odds are an illegal handgun was used.
Raymond W. Kelly is New York City's police commissioner.


text:
Road injuries are the leading cause of preventable deaths and injuries to children in the United States. Correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent.
Engineers are working hard to ensure that cars and car seats are designed to keep kids as safe as possible. But it's up to every parent to take full advantage of these innovations by making sure car seats and booster seats are used and installed correctly. Here's what you need to know to ensure that your most precious cargo is safe in cars.
- Seventy-three percent of car seats are not used or installed correctly, so before you hit the road, check your car seat. Below is a quick car seat checklist to help you out. It takes only 15 minutes. If you are having even the slightest trouble, questions, or concerns, certified child passenger safety technicians are able to help or even double-check your work.
- Learn how to install your car seat for free. The Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office hosts car seat inspection events across the county where certified deputies can help make sure your car seat is properly installed. They will teach you so that you can always be sure your car seat is used correctly.
- Buy a used car seat only if you know its full crash history. That means you must buy it from someone you know, not from a thrift store or over the Internet. Once a car seat has been in a crash, it needs to be replaced.
- We know that when adults wear seat belts, kids wear seat belts. Be a good example and buckle up for every ride. Be sure everyone in the vehicle buckles up, too.
- Never leave your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. While it may be tempting to dash out for a quick errand, the temperature inside your car can rise 20 degrees and cause heatstroke in the time it takes for you to run in and out of the store.
Car Seat Checklist
- Right Seat. This is an easy one. Check the label on your car seat to make sure it's appropriate for your child's age, weight and height. Double-check the expiration date on your car seat label to make sure it is still safe.
- Right Place. Keep all children in the back seat until they are 13.
- Right Direction. You want to keep your child in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, usually until around age 2. When he or she outgrows the seat, move your child to a forward-facing car seat. Make sure to attach the top tether after you tighten and lock the seat belt or lower anchors.
- Inch Test. Once your car seat is installed, give it a good shake at the base. Can you move it more than an inch side-to-side or front to back? A properly installed seat will not move more than an inch.
Pinch Test. Make sure the harness is tightly buckled and coming from the correct slots (check car seat manual). Now, with the chest clip placed at armpit level, pinch the strap at your child's shoulder. If you are unable to pinch any excess webbing, you're good to go.
Please read the vehicle and car seat instruction manuals to help you with this checklist. If you are having even the slightest trouble, questions or concerns, certified child passenger safety technicians are waiting to help or even double check your work.
Choose the Right Direction
For the best protection, keep your baby in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible – usually until about 2 years old. You can find the exact height and weight limit on the side or back of your car seat. Kids who ride in rear-facing seats have the maximum protection for the head, neck and spine. It is especially important for rear-facing children to ride in a back seat away from the airbag.
When your children outgrow a rear-facing seat around age 2, move them to a forward-facing car seat. Keep the seat in the back and make sure to attach the top tether after you tighten and lock the seat belt or lower anchors. Use the top tether until your child weighs 40 pounds. After February 2014, your car seat labels will tell you exactly how much your child can weigh and still use the lower anchors and top tether. Until then, check both your child restraint and vehicle manuals to see if you can go beyond the weight limit for the top tether. If they both agree to a higher weight, it is fine to follow their directions.
Kids can remain in some forward-facing car seats until they're 65 to 80 pounds depending on the car seat limits. Check the seat label to find the exact measurements. Discontinue use of the lower anchors or top tether when your child reaches the limits set by your car seat and car manufacturers. You must read the manual to know about those limits. You will then switch to a seat belt that goes through the car seat at that time. Seat belts are made to protect very heavy adults as well as smaller children.
Check the Label
Look at the label on your car seat to make sure it's appropriate for your child's age, weight and height. Your car seat has an expiration date – usually around six years. Find and double check the label to make sure it's still safe.
Is it time for a booster seat?
Take the next step to a booster seat when you answer "yes" to any of these questions:
- Does your child exceed the car seat's height or weight limits?
- Are your child's shoulders above the car seat's top harness slots?
- Are the tops of your child's ears above the top of the car seat?
If the car seat with a harness still fits, continue to use it until it is outgrown. It provides more protection than a booster seat or seat belt for a small child.
Be Wary of Toys
Toys can injure your child in a crash, so be extra careful to choose ones that are soft and will not hurt your child. A small, loose toy can be dangerous and injure your baby in a crash. Secure loose objects and toys to protect everyone in the car.
Child Safety Seat Program
The goal of the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office Child Safety Seat Program is to ensure all children in our community have the opportunity to obtain a safe means of travel. The program is specially designed to assist the parents and guardians of children who are financially unable to obtain a certified child safety seat.
The Child Safety Seat Program was established at the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office in 2005. The Sheriff's Office currently has four certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians available. Each technician must complete a 40-hour certification and must re-certify every two years.
If you are in need of a child safety seat, please contact the Sheriff's Operations Center at 812-421-6201 to set up an appointment with one of our technicians. Our technician will contact you and determine if you qualify for the program. An appointment will be set for you to come to the Sheriff's Operation Center and have the child safety seat installed. The process normally takes 30 minutes.
For those individuals who are stopped for a violation of the child safety seat law, many deputies have state car seat vouchers to give out. With these vouchers, individuals will be able to visit the Sheriff's Operations Center (with appointment) and obtain a new car seat.
Families or individuals who already have a child safety seat (but are unsure how to install it correctly) may contact our office at (812) 421-6201 and ask to make an appointment with one of our technicians.
Updated 09.15.2024


text:
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