November 22, 2008
This was discovered by University of Alaska Anchorage researchers. "It looks like it's very strongly related to the number of engines and vehicles that are parked in the garage," Dr. Mary Ellen Gordian with UAA's Institute of Social and Economic Research said.
November 21, 2008
The new 2009 Cadillac CTS-V is equipped with basically the same electronics package as the 2008 Cadillac CTS. There's a lot to like about the system, but there are some deficiencies, too.
It's a comprehensive setup with a video monitor that motorizes up and down, navigation by Alpine and a 5.1 surround sound system.
Basically, the entertainment system can handle almost everything you throw at it. You can watch regular DVDs, play your 5.1 discs and listen to CDs. You also have a hard drive for storing your music, iPod playback and satellite radio. The video quality on the monitor is not exactly high-def, but then you're not going to be sitting in your car for hours watching videos. It's good enough for what it is, but the audio reproduction quality isn't where it should be.
Audio quality is also a problem despite the Cad's 10-speaker setup. It simply doesn't provide quite the immersive quality you might hope for. The sound stage lacks breadth and the tonal qualities are bland. Your 5.1 discs will sound better than CDs, but the realism is lacking. The different EQ settings each have advantages and disadvantages. There wasn't one that could be considered the best compromise.
I listened to an Emma Shapplin 5.1 disc in DTS. The song "Leonora" begins with the sound of thunder and bass strings. The rumble just wasn't quite there and the speakers seemed to struggle to play the bass note. Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" sounded better, but the dynamics were average. By adjusting treble, midbass, bass or trying the different EQ settings for each song I was able to get some better results, but I doubt many drivers would be willing to tinker with the configuration every time -- and they shouldn't have to.
Audio quality aside, in terms of functionality for an iPod, the system is just fine. I connected my iPhone via Cadillac's proprietary USB cable in the center console compartment and was able to access my tracks instantly. You have to scroll through your playlists, or songs or artists, etc., but fortunately the system scrolls through even thousands of tracks very quickly. I wished I could've selected an artist by choosing a letter, but it didn't slow me down much to find a specific song.
The best part of the technology package was the voice-recognition feature and the navigation. The latter allows you to add a voice tag to a location, making it easy to set a destination. I find voice recognition is often buggy in factory or aftermarket products, but here selecting music or nav commands by voice made things very convenient. The software worked without major issues, and the traffic information is among the best I've sampled, with quick updates and accurate data.
I like the ergonomic layout and overall design of the center stack on the CTS-V. Once you understand that the Audio button is for selecting a source, and not making audio adjustments (that's what the Config button is actually for) you'll be fine.
The hands-free calling, however, might be an issue for some drivers. That's because the built-in option is provided by OnStar (or else you need a portable Bluetooth product or earpiece for your mobile phone). The upside is that using OnStar probably will allow you to make calls over a greater area; and the audio quality and phone connection were indeed very good.
On the downside you'll have to buy minutes for your OnStar account. And it'll take you a long time to verbally add all your contacts with voice tags to your OnStar system. It would be easier to load your address book from your phone onto a standard Bluetooth system. That being said, I should note that GM will be offering Bluetooth in some other '09 models. -- Ben Oh, Inside Line Contributor
IL Tech Ratings (10 is Best): 2009 Cadillac CTS-V
Audio: 7
iPod: 8
Navigation: 9
Ergonomics: 8
Bluetooth: N/A (OnStar hands-free: 8)
Autoblog is reporting that Sport Compact Car is closing its doors. Is this a sign of things to come? Will we see more automotive media outlets also fall by the wayside thanks to the global financial mess? Our very own Scott Oldham and Josh Jacquot spent time at SCC, so this must hit a bit too close to home.
Full story here and here.
Oh those poor Detroit auto executives; it seems they can't get a break... After enduring a resounding kick in the butt from everyone for using their corporate private jets to fly to Washington in order to plead poverty, now even the governor of Michigan, Jennifer Granholm, has added her two cents:
"There was an opportunity to rehabilitate. I'm not sure that was successful," she told reporters in a morning news conference. Granholm said they should fly in commercial jetliners next time.
The idea of a 2WD motorcycle is not new, as there have been several attempts made at such a vehicle over the years. What's new is that KTM, besides making it 2WD, is also making it a hybrid.
This should be interesting to watch. KTM is brand long respected in dirt racing circles. One has to think that KTM looking into this, not so much from the "green" aspect, but rather to make a dirt bike even better (faster!) off road.
That's what IHS Global Insight is saying. It's also looking less likely that any help will be forthcoming before the administration changes.
Of course the question being asked is "what if...?" What if these companies file for Chapter 11? Most feel if that happens, Chapter 7 is sure to follow. Comparisons with the airlines having gone bankrupt are meaningless. Air flights for most people are a one-time deal. Buying a car is another matter. What happens with warranty claims, or anything service-related. Would you buy a car from a company that's filed for Chapter 11? The answer for most customers would be a loud and clear "NO WAY!"
Here's AutoObserver's take:
Chance of GM, Chrysler Bankruptcy 75 Percent Without Loans, Says IHS Global Insight
Automaker Rescue Package Dead for Now
Tracking the Bailout: When the Music Stops, Who's Going Bankrupt?
November 20, 2008
Are you seeing those sidewalks? They look pretty desolate don't they? No big deal maybe, but that wasn't the case at last year's L.A. auto show. Just 12 months ago, those sidewalks were awash in protestors. They were holding up signs, throwing paint on Hummers and converting Priuses to full electric power right there in the parking lot across the street.
And this year? Nothing. No one. Zippo. OK, there were a few taxi drivers mulling around smoking cigarettes, but saving the environment wasn't the topic of discussion. What a difference a year makes huh?
-- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor
Not to be outdone by the Porsche Experience, there was something similar in the Ford booth dubbed the "Mustang Garage". It showcased all the ways you could set up the new 2010 Ford Mustang. Sure, it wasn't nearly as dreamy as the Porsche hall, but at least we could imagine ourselves actually buying some of these parts someday.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor
One of the unique elements of the L.A. auto show is the Porsche display. Instead of occupying some corner of a big hall, Porsche always sets up shop in its own small venue just off the main corridor. You walk in one door, through the display, and out the other side, kind of like an amusement park ride. They call it the Porsche Experience, and it usually lives up to the name. Here's a quick tour of this year's setup.
We've already driven the 2009 BMW 750i and the redesigned 7 Series made its official debut in Paris. But we haven't yet driven the extended-wheelbase 2009 BMW 750Li, and BMW had one here at its booth in L.A.
The 750Li is pretty much what you'd expect: It rides on a 126.4-inch wheelbase (5.5 inches longer than the 750i's) and has 44.3 inches of rear legroom (an increase of 5.9 inches). With the extra room, chances a 750Li will have more humans (and likely heavier ones at that) riding in back, so BMW equips a self-leveling rear air suspension as standard on the LWB 7 Series.
We walked by the BMW outpost at least a half dozen times and at no point were all four outboard seats in the 750Li vacant for longer than 10 seconds. (The same was true of the 750i in the booth until it was confined behind a plexiglass wall.) People weren't taking photos, either. They were stretched out to the point of dozing off. We checked, and the car's rump didn't droop a bit under their weight.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor
I put in a good 20 minutes ogling the 2009 Nissan Cube this afternoon. I wasn't alone. The Super Silver GT-R on the other side of the stage wasn't getting nearly as much attention.
Finally, some employees of Scion walked up and when I saw their badges, I couldn't resist asking them what they thought.
"I don't like it," said one. "We build cars that are more uniform-looking, more, um..."
"Symmetrical?" I offered. (We were looking at the Cube's rump.)
"Yeah."
So what do you think? Can we allow the 2009 Nissan Cube to defy symmetry?
-- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
Sure, we're all at the L.A. auto show to see all the brand-spanking-new cars, but a few manufacturers chose to display some greats from their past. Here are some of the gems. My favorite is the Jag. -- James Riswick, Automotive Editor
The lights are out at Chrysler. No seriously, while every other manufacturer utilizes special additional lighting, the entire Chrysler stand just gets by with the high-up L.A. Convention Center lighting. I guess it can't afford the power bill. Compare this to Chrysler's next-door neighbors, Audi, whose stand you could probably perform surgery on. Next door to it is Volkswagen, who has an equal amount of lighting power and a white floor to boot -- it's like standing in Aspen on a sunny day.
The below video should give you an idea about the difference. My camera isn't sophisticated enough to change light levels mid-shot, so I could either have Chrysler all dark or Audi looking like the surface of the sun. I chose the former. -- James Riswick, Automotive Editor
The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro was packed in a corner away from all the prominently placed fuel-efficient Chevy models (I missed it when I did my earlier GM blog). I hopped the little glass fence guarding the two Camaros on display to check out what the interiors look like. After another journalist was scolded by the on-hand Chevy girl when he tried to sit in the Camaro, I thought it best to just peer in and tap on stuff. To my surprise, the materials were rather disappointing. Although it scores high on style points (especially compared to the Challenger), everything I touched was hard and a little coarse in texture. Contrast that to the Challenger and the 2010 Mustang, both of which have squishy dashes and more pleasant materials. The Hyundai Genesis Coupe was also very disappointing. On the upside, the Camaro's bespoke switchgear (i.e., not parts bin) looked pretty special, as did the two-tone plastic dash trim. -- James Riswick, Automotive Editor
Everything substantive you'd like to know about the 2010 Kia Soul is in our first drive.
At today's official unveiling at the LA Auto Show, Kia indulged in a little self-effacing wackiness. At least a dozen Souls were in attendance, easily surpassing Ford's collection of Mustangs, lending a packed-in feel to the press conference.
As Tom Loveless, vice president of Kia Motors America, spoke, his apparently college-age twins appeared on web cam, LOL-ing and OMG-ing via IM as he told us the story of the Kia Soul. We don't need to tell you much about target demographics, then.
We were also touched by the metallic "SOUL" sculpture that inflated like Jiffy Pop (in the images below), as Loveless and Tom Kearns, chief of Kia's U.S. design team, closed out the conference. There's no functional need for this bit of installation art, but it reminded us of the giant Fiat 500 at this year's Geneva show. It's just fun and weird. That's all.
Now for the informative stuff: The U.S.-spec 2010 Kia Soul goes into production in January 2009 and will be at dealers by early spring.
Kia doesn't want to talk about pricing, yet -- other than to let you know that it will be "aggressively priced," Loveless said. We take that to mean that you'll be able to get into a decent one for about $15,000.
Annual sales numbers, too, are anybody's guess, but, says Loveless, "There are two ways to look at 2009. One way is doom and gloom, oh my gosh, it's a 13-million-unit market.
"But we don't think we're held by the industry. The Soul is going to change the way people think about us. And we're coming right behind that with the redesigned Spectra."
Erin Riches, Senior Editor
Subscribe
LA Auto Show on Twitter (use #LAAS08)
Recent Posts
Archives
Manufacturers
Auto Shows
More Categories
Links
