Two of the most significant introductions for the U.S. market at the Frankfurt Auto Show are the BMW X1 and the 5 Series Gran Turismo. The X1 is obviously the smaller, entry level version in the X line which has the X3, X5 and X6. The engines: a 258 horsepower straight 6 will get 25 mpg in the X1 xDrive28i and there's the European 204 horsepower twin turbo four cylinder xDrive23d (pictured above).
A more interesting entry that won't have the popularity of the X1 is the 535i Gran Turismo which its project director Hans-Jurgen Branz calls "a business jet on wheels". Either a five-seater or optional four-seat configuration with rear arm rest to "travel in style" as Branz puts it. The engines: a 407 horsepower V8 mated to an 8-speed transmission and a 306 horsepower turbo 6. Europe of course will have the 245 horsepower diesel power plant. A unique feature is the two-door truck which can open a small access to the rear or a larger opening when the tailgate opens in hatchback style. This niche 5 Series hits showrooms in Europe Oct. 24 and arrives in the U.S. in December. An X-drive version will be coming next summer after the all-new 5 Series sedan comes out in the Spring.
The Audi R8 was one of many vehicles shown at the fabulous Volkswagen Group event in Frankfurt that entertained more than 2,000 people that included top VW brass and media. We will bring you more details in forthcoming blogs. Time to hit the sack and rest up for the crush of news from back to back media conferences.
On On the eve of media days for the Frankfurt Auto Show Kia had an exclusive media event to show off the new U.S. made Sorento crossover for the U.S. market and the Venga for the European market. The Sorento seen above will go into production in November. I was shuttled in the vehicle from the Kia event to the massive Volkswagen media party in the new Sorento and was very impressed with the ride and luxury of the new vehicle. Completely different than the body on frame SUV that I personally own. The model I was shuttled in even had the rear camera view fo backing up. The all new Sorento should be a welcomed replacement when it hits showrooms next year.
The Kia Venga was also impressive with its double panorama moonroof but sadly is just for the European market.
The Frankfurt Auto Show alternates every year with Paris and tomorrow the media days begin in a city that is experiencing off and on rain showers and amazing growth with building cranes from the airport to the area around the huge convention center. This is the largest auto show complex I've seen in my 20 plus years covering these events. BMW, Mercedes and VW all have halls that match the size of many entire shows. This is the first big auto show since the economy and car industry hit a huge speed bump that entailed bankruptcies and major reorganizations. Kia and Hyundai have big vehicle announcements. Above is the electric smart. Tesla also has their electric vehicles driving around the streets of Frankfurt (see below).
Porsche just showed off the Cayenne S hybrid to media in Los Angeles after putting the diesel Cayenne on sale in Europe at the beginning of this year. Another departure from Porsche's race car image is the 4-door Panamera sedan that hits U.S. showrooms on Oct. 17.
Dr. Michael Leiters, project manager for the Cayenne says though it can be put into any vehicle "hybrid is still a niche technology, out of the total passenger car market, hybrid is about 2%". He says the Cayenne S hybrid will come to market next year and expects 5 to 10% of global Cayenne sales to be the hybrid model.
Porsche with Volkswagen developed a parallel hybrid system with the electric and combustion engines on the same shaft. As you would imagine, Porsche's hybrid technology has some unique features like using a dual dry plate clutch to disengage the electric and gas motors from the drive shaft in 200 to 300 milliseconds. A technology currently in use at Porsche is the start-stop which shuts off the engine in long periods of idling then quickly re-starts when power is needed.
Porsche took the Audi S4 333-horsepower 3.0-liter Direct Fuel Injected V6 for their hybrid because of its high torque-low rev behavior. The Cayenne S hybrid goes up to 32 miles per hour in electric mode and can coast or "sail" up to 86 miles an hour while going downhill. The 38 kilowatt electric motor runs off nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries made by Sanyo. Leiters claims that "the Cayenne hybrid S accelerates like a V8 and gets better fuel consumption than a V6". Porsche engineers are targeting more than 24 miles-per-gallon for the Cayenne S hybrid.
The hybrid is best for urban use where speeds are frequently less than 30 miles an hour for electric motor use while diesels are most suitable for long driving. As for diesel in the U.S., Porsche says the premium manufacturers are paving the way, like VW's success with the TDI but a media and customer push is needed for it to really catch on and dispel myths that the new diesels are just like the polluters of the past. As for the Porsche diesel, it drove smoothly and was impressive and just needs the "clean" or Blue technology to be added so it can be sold in the U.S. and specifically California.
According to a recent study that forecasts hybrid vehicle growth outpacing diesel, Porsche may have greater success with hybrid in the U.S. than diesel. With diesel, hybrid and a 4-door performance sedan, Porsche is speeding past many competitors in multiple lanes.
The 2009 Nissan Altima summer commercial campaign "Look Closer Nissan Delivers" hits the Toyota Camry head-on. In a battle of Japanese sales-leading sedans, the Altima is a popular car and maybe you have to ride in one to notice how many are on the road around you. The Altima turns heads.
In seven months of 2009, Nissan has sold 115,680 of its best-selling Altima sedan which trails Camry's year-to-date sales of 184,216 - but it should be your taste, not the sales race stats, that attracts you to the car.
The Altima's smaller 175 horsepower 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine gets a combined 26 miles-per-gallon according to Edmunds.com so it made the Altima eligible for the top $4,500 Cash-for-Clunkers voucher making it worth a "look closer". The 4-banger was quick off the line with lots of pep and power. After a week of driving the Altima around Los Angeles and racking up 300 miles, there was still a quarter tank of gas left.
I had driven a rented 2009 Altima earlier in the summer on the twisting roads of Northern California's wine country with two sets of golf clubs and lots of luggage stowed in the 15.3 cubic feet trunk showing off Altima's surprising amount of room for both passengers and cargo.
The Altima sits on a 109.3-inch wheelbase with an overall length of 189.8 inches. The larger engine choice is a 270 horsepower 3.5-liter 24-valve DOHC V6 engine. The Altima comes standard with Nissan Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition and many available options like Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, RearView Monitor and Nissan Navigation with XM NavTraffic real-time traffic information.
The Altima has received the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) highest rating - 5 stars - for front-impact and side-impact crash safety. The 2009 Nissan Altima is available in four models: 2.5, 2.5 S, 3.5 SE and 3.5 SL. The Edmunds.com Editor's Rating is 7.8 while the Consumer Rating is 9.0. As the commercial says - Nissan delivers.
The new 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS will have a 450 horsepower 3.8 liter engine that redlines at 8500 rpm, delivering 15 more horsepower than its 911 GT3 counterpart, and mated to a six-speed manual transmission with shorter ratios and gearshift travel than in the 911 GT3.
Another new option in the GT3 RS is a lithium-ion battery reducing the weight by more than 22 lb and is mainly intended for the track. The front axle comes with nine-inch-wide wheels running on 245/35 ZR 19 sports tires while the rear axle features twelve-inch-wide wheels incorporating 325/30 ZR 19 sports tires.
The 2010 911 GT3 RS goes on sale in the U.S. in early spring of 2010 at $132,800.
The Hyundai ix35, conceived and engineered in Europe, joins the C-segment to replace the Tucson and will debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September.
Next to the ix35 will be the larger Hyundai Santa Fe that will be "significantly-revised" with new styling, powertrain, steering and suspension to fine-tune the driving experience and make it even more competitive versus rival 4x4s.
Kia Venga will make its world premiere during the Frankfurt Auto Show on September 15th and goes on sale across Europe later this year.
Designed, engineered and manufactured in Europe, the Venga will be marketed exclusively in Europe with a choice of two 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter gasoline and diesel engines, generating between 74 horsepower and 113 horsepower. The Venga is 160.2 inches long on a 103 inch wheelbase. Kia says, "Venga redefines its MPV category by offering levels of interior space typical of a larger C-segment vehicle, but within a B-segment footprint."
If gas prices soar again and there's another rush to small fuel-efficient vehicles, you think we may see these in the U.S.?
The all-new 2011Infiniti M performance luxury sedan enters its third incarnation with the M56 and M37 models. The M56 V8 is expected to offer more than 400 horsepower. For Western Europe, the M56 will be replaced by a V6 performance diesel.
The 2011 Infiniti M also features a completely redesigned body, with a low front end and deeply sculpted fenders inspired by the Infiniti Essence concept car. The 2011 Infiniti M will have a blind spot intervention system designed to help alert the driver if another vehicle is detected in an adjacent lane during an intended lane change, and then help assist the driver in returning the vehicle toward the center of the original lane of travel.
The 2011 Infiniti M is scheduled to go on sale across the world starting from spring 2010 after making its official public debut later this year.
The all-new 2010 Jaguar XJ is making its North American debut at the 59th Annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance tonight.The all-new Jaguar XJ will have a starting price of $72,500 MSRP and top out at $115,000 for the 510 hp XJ Supersport.
The new XJ will be available in both standard and long wheelbase models with a standard panoramic glass roof. Its lightweight aluminum structure makes it at least 300 lbs. lighter over steel body construction. The 2010 Jaguar XJ goes on sales early next year.
Hyundai's flagship premium luxury sedan, badged as the Equus in the Korean market, will launch in the U.S. next year. Developed under the codename "VI," launched this year in Korea is called the Equus, a nameplate used on their flagship model for 10 years and is built on Hyundai's rear-wheel-drive architecture, shared with the Genesis sedan.
The success of the 2009 Hyundai Genesis in the U.S. gave Hyundai reason to consider expanding its brand further into the upper echelon of automotive luxury.
The new sedan will be sold in the U.S. beginning in late 2010. Pricing, packaging, specifications, and the final name of the car for the U.S. market will be announced closer to launch.
2010 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe and Cabriolet will debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show September 17-27 with the first entirely new engine in its 35-year-history. The new flat-six boxer engine now displaces 3.8 liters and delivers 500 bhp, an increase of .2 liters and 20 bhp from the previous model. New innovations include Direct Fuel Injection, a new expansion intake manifold first seen on the GT2 and Porsche's turbocharger system with variable turbine geometry. Maximum torque is up by 15, to 516 lb. ft. when equipped with the optional Sport Chrono Package Turbo.
The Sport Chrono Package Turbo allows the 2010 911 Turbo to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds when combined with the new Porsche-Doppelkupplung, or PDK seven-speed transmission. The Sport Chrono Package Turbo includes engine mounts introduced earlier this year on the 2010 GT3 utilize magnetic fluid that automatically adjusts for comfort or sport, depending on the driving conditions. Top track speed is 194 mph for both the Coupe and the Cabriolet models.
The new 911 Turbo reduces CO2 emissions by almost 18 per cent compared to its predecessor while using significantly less fuel. Official EPA fuel economy figures are not yet available.
Also available for PDK equipped Turbos is a new three-spoke steering wheel with gearshift paddles as an alternative to the standard steering wheel with its shift buttons. Porsche Torque Vectoring can now enhance the standard Porsche Traction Management all-wheel drive and Porsche Stability Management. This new optional system includes a mechanical limited slip differential and actively distributes power between the rear wheels, making the car agile and precise in corners.
The 2010 Turbo Coupe and Turbo Cabriolet go on sale January 2010.
The 2010 Avalon full-size sedan, Yaris subcompact, Highlander Sport SUV and FJ Cruiser off-road SUV will cost more when they arrive in showrooms in the next month or two.
The 2010 Avalon which adds rear-passenger auto up/down windows and one new exterior color, Sandy Beach Metallic will have a base MSRP from $27,945 for the XL to $35,285 for the Limited, an increase of $100.
The 2010 Yaris will receive standard Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control. Yaris base MSRP will increase $150 and will range from $12,355 for the three-door model with manual transmission, to $13,915 for the four-door sedan with an automatic transmission.
The 2010 FJ Cruiser adds dual VVT-i and roller rocker arms on the 4.0-liter V6, which adds 19 horsepower and a one mpg. Minor suspension changes reduce the turning radius by more than a foot, and a new Army Green exterior color is offered. The base MSRP for FJ Cruiser will range from $23,680 for the 2WD automatic to $25,270 for the 4WD automatic, an increase of $360.
The 2010 Highlander Sport, which adds a stainless-steel exhaust tip and will increase $50. The base MSRP for the 2010 Highlander ranges from $25,705 for the base four-cylinder 2WD to $41,020 for the Limited 4WD hybrid model.
The 2010 RAV4 receives minor styling enhancements for 2010, including chrome-accented interior appointments on the limited model. The MSRP remains unchanged for 2010 RAV4. RAV4 models will carry a base MSRP that ranges from $21,500 for the base model 2WD four-cylinder to $27,810 for the 4WD Limited V6.
The 2010 Highlander gas model will have an available backup monitor on the multi-informational display for the Base grade V6, and a power tilt/slide moonroof for the Base grade four-cylinder. Highlander Hybrid carries over unchanged for 2010.
Add a delivery, processing, and handling fee of $750 for passenger cars and $800 for light trucks. The 2010 models will begin arriving at dealerships in August, except the Highlander which arrives in September.
The 2010 Suzuki Kizashi, equipped with a standard 2.4-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder engine connected to a six-speed manual or Continuously Variable Transmission, is Suzuki's first entry into the all-wheel-drive sport sedan segment. Suzuki is developing an even more fuel efficient hybrid version that will be added to the lineup in the future.
The Kizashi, which originates from the Concept Kizashi series introduced over the last two years at auto shows, measures 183.1 inches in overall length on a 106.3 inches wheelbase and a width of 71.7 inches.
Standard are keyless push start system, eight airbags, Electronic Stability Program, an anti-lock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution, projector beam headlamps, a tire pressure monitoring system, iPod connectivity and optional streaming audio via Bluetooth. Available on the Kizashi are 18-inch alloy wheels, premium leather with three-stage heated seats and a three-position memory program and the 425 watt Rockford Fosgate sound system.
The 2010 Suzuki Kizashi is scheduled to arrive in North American showrooms this winter.
The all-new 2010 Acura ZDX four-door sports coupe that debuted as a concept at the New York Auto Show in April, will be priced and positioned between the MDX luxury SUV and the RL luxury sedan and feature a panoramic glass roof, hidden rear door handles and bold fender flares.
The Super Handling All-Wheel Drive ZDX will have a 300 horsepower 3.7-liter V-6 engine mated to an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters and produce 270 lb-ft of torque.
When the ZDX goes on sale this winter, customers will have the choice of three distinct trim levels: ZDX, ZDX with Technology Package and the ultra premium, ZDX with Advance Package. The ZDX will come equipped with a panoramic glass roof with movable sunshades, hand-stitched leather interior, HandsFreeLink, Bluetooth connectivity, power tailgate, and a high powered audio system with CD player, AM/FM/XM radio and USB audio interface with iPod integration are all standard features.
The ZDX with Technology Package adds several features including a Navigation System with Voice Recognition, an Acura/ELS Surround premium audio system and a new multi-view rear camera. The Advance Package boasts additional customer enhancing technologies like a blind spot information system, a Collision Mitigating Braking System, and Adaptive Cruise Control.
The 2010 Lexus HS 250h hybrid standard version will have an MSRP of $34,200, while the Premium model will carry an MSRP of $36,970 plus a delivery, processing and handling fee of $875. The HS 250h utilizes the twin-cam Atkinson-cycle engine with Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence which alone has an output of 147 horsepower. In combination with the hybrid drive motor, the HS 250h generates 187 total system horsepower. HS 250h has nearly zero evaporative emissions.
The HS 250h features four drive-modes: Normal, Power, Eco and EV. Each drive-mode changes the rate of throttle opening for a given throttle-pedal angle. Both models received EPA-estimated ratings of 35 mpg city and 34 mpg on the highway for a combined 35 mpg utilizing regular 87-octane gasoline.
Standard features on the HS 250h include leather-trimmed seats; 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat with eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat; a 10-speaker, 137-watt audio system with a six-disc CD changer, a subwoofer and center speaker; Bluetooth for phone and music streaming capabilities; integrated subscription satellite radio (includes 90-day trial); USB/ iPod connectivity operated via steering wheel controls or the display screen; and 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The HS 250h incorporates a standard 10-airbag Supplemental Restraint system and front active head rests.
The HS 250h Premium model adds heated/ventilated front seats trimmed in semi-aniline leather; 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels; rain-sensing windshield wipers; heated electrochromic exterior mirrors; genuine wood interior trim; and a new memory system that allows individual driver settings for seat, power tilt/telescopic steering wheel, outside mirrors and air conditioning settings to be recalled automatically by individual key fobs.
The all-new 2010 Kia Forte Koup base EX models are powered by a 156 horsepower 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine, producing 144 pound-feet of torque and features Continuously Variable Valve Timing and multi-port electronic fuel injection, both of which allow for greater performance and fuel economy. The SX has an upgraded 173 horsepower 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine, also with CVVT, which delivers 168 pound-feet of torque.
All Forte Koup models feature Bluetooth connectivity with steering wheel-mounted controls that enable voice-activated hands-free operation for compatible cell phones, and a six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with SIRIUS Satellite Radio and three months of complimentary service. Steering wheel-mounted audio controls come standard on all models, as well as USB and auxiliary input jacks in the center console with full iPod/MP3 controllability via the audio head unit or steering wheel-mounted controls.
With a wheelbase of 104.3 inches, an overall length of 176.4 inches, an overall width of 69.5 inches and overall height of 55.1 inches, the Forte Koup body is 2.4 inches lower, 2.0 inches shorter and 0.4 inches narrower than its sedan sibling, but with the same 104.3-inch wheelbase as the sedan.
Like the Forte sedan, four transmission options are available for 2010 Forte Koup models: a standard five-speed manual transmission or an optional electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive (EX models), while the SX model features a standard six-speed manual transmission and an optional five-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and Sportmatic.
The all-new 2010 Forte Koup joins the Kia Motors America lineup later this summer as the company's first-ever two-door coupe.
The all-new Porsche Panamera Gran Turismo will be shown off to the North American public for the first time during Monterey Peninsula's Classic Car Week in Northern California August 9 - 16. The Quail Lodge will be the backdrop of a Porsche Experience Center where VIP test drives will be conducted throughout the week. The Panamera celebration also involves the 36th Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races where Porsche is the featured marque this year. Porsche will bring to the event a number of significant and rare historic race cars, the Formula One and Two cars among them.
Porsche's first-ever four-door sports car with 4 seats comes in three styles. The 400 horsepower Panamera S has a zero to 60 miles per hour of 5.2 seconds and a price tag of $89,800. The Panamera 4S also has 400 horsepower, a top speed of 175 miles per hour but a quicker 4.8 second zero to 60 and a $93,800 sticker. The Panamera Turbo has 500 horsepower, a zero to 60 of 4 seconds flat, 188mph top speed and price of $132,600. There are options that can push the prices even higher like Porsche Entry & Drive, ParkAssist (front and rear) including rearview camera and thermally and noise insulated glass, to name a few.
The Panamera will go on sale at Porsche's 202 U.S. dealers on October 17, 2009.
The all-new 2010 GMC Terrain five-passenger crossover, introduced at the New York Auto Show in April, will have a starting price of $24,995 for the front-wheel drive model and $26,745 for the all-wheel drive version. Both prices include a $745 destination and freight charge. The Terrain, which replaces Pontiac's Torrent, has a base SLE-1 model that comes standard with GM's new 4 cylinder 2.4-liter direct-injection engine that produces 182-horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that delivers EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 32 miles per gallon, with a city rating of 22mpg for the two-wheel drive and 20mpg city and 29 highway mpg for the all-wheel drive.
The Terrain offers a MultiFlex rear seat configuration that can optimized for either passenger legroom or nearly 64 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats. The base price also includes as standard, such features as an integrated rear-view camera system and six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with USB connectivity and XM satellite radio service, along with a full suite of safety equipment, including six airbags, StabiliTrak vehicle stability control, and OnStar.
The top-of-the-line SLT-2 trim level, which features leather seating, a premium Pioneer sound system, a power liftgate, sunroof and a special chrome appearance package, starts at $29,995 (including DFC) and has the Terrain's larger engine option, a 3.0-liter direct injection V6 engine that produces 264 horsepower and 222 lb-ft of torque. The two-wheel drive version is rated at 18mpg city/25mpg highway and the all-wheel drive at 17mpg city/24mpg highway. Other optional features include integrated navigation system and a rear-seat DVD infotainment system. The GMC website lists four trim levels, SLE-1, SLE-2, SLT-1 and SLT-2 with the 3.0-liter engine offered on all but the base SLE-1.
The GMC Terrain will be built at the CAMI assembly facility in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada, and will arrive in showrooms in September.
The all-new 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan and coupe go on sale today with Mercedes-Benz biggest marketing launch in recent years. The new E350 is powered by a 268 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 and starts at $48,600 and the E550 has a 382 horsepower 5.5-liter V8 starting at $56,300.
In the first broadcast spot called "What It's Made Of" (:30), the new E-Class sedan revisits its predecessors from generations past while the voiceover describes how that heritage of innovation -- which includes more than 50,000 crash tests and 889 safety patents and a world record for longevity and endurance -sets the stage for "one of the most technologically advanced automobiles on the planet."
The ninth generation E-Class campaign launches today around the theme "Everything We Know, Everything We Are: This is Mercedes-Benz." A six-week television commerical flight, including early morning news, primetime, MLB, PGA and cable programming which runs through July. A second wave starts again in September and October on primetime premieres and into the start of the NFL and college football seasons.
The Senate passed a reduced $1 billion cash-for-clunkers bill sending it to President Obama to sign. The current bill was cut back from a one-year, $4 billion program after some senators were concerned that not enough is being done to assure more fuel-efficient vehicles will get on the road.
It means the program, that offers $3,500 to $4,500 cash vouchers to consumers who trade in their cars for new, more fuel-efficient vehicles, will run for less than four months instead of a year as first planned. The bill goes into effect a month after Obama signs the bill.
Scrappage programs in Western Europe have led to 500,000 additional passenger vehicles sold in the region from January through May 2009.
Trade in a car that has been registered to you and in use for at least one year, and has a combined city/highway fuel-economy rating of 18 or fewer miles per gallon and then buy a new car, priced at $45,000 or less that has a window sticker EPA rating of at least 4 mpg better than the old one and you receive a $3,500 voucher, at least 10 mpg better, and you get a $4,500 discount voucher from the dealer selling you the new vehicle.
My clunker is an SUV which has more lenient rules. SUVs need only get 2mpg better for $3,500 and 5mpg better for the $4,500. My average condition 1996 Toyota 4Runner with 120,000 miles has an Edmunds.com Private Party True Market Value (TMV) appraisal of $3,205. The trade-in value is $2,502 and the dealer retail value is $4,427. Edmunds.com rates my 4Runner at 17mpg so I need to find a vehicle that has a combined city/highway 22mpg to get the maximum $4,500 voucher.
Now the search begins for a new SUV costing $45,000 or less - no problem. Better than 22mpg and one the wife will like - problem, unless you're happy with a hybrid-powered SUV which are rated 28-32mpg or a compact SUV like a Honda CRV, Nissan Rogue or Suzuki Grand Vitara which just reach the 22mpg threshold. I see the 2010 Chevy Equinox is rated at 23-26mpg according to Edmunds.com. Then, on second thought, I could pay nothing and drive my clunker 4Runner for another 100,000 miles and keep my powder dry, money in the bank.
The all-new 2009 Nissan NISMO 370Z went on sale today for $39,130. The new, second-generation NISMO Z has 18 additional horsepower, a special sport-tuned suspension and a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission with SynchroRev Match. The NISMO Z's standard 3.7-liter DOHC V6 engine with Variable Valve Event and Lift Control (VVEL) develops 350 horsepower and 276 lb-ft of torque (versus the standard 370Z Coupe's 332 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque), thanks in part to an exclusive free flow dual exhaust system, muffler tuning and an optimized Engine Control Module.
The well-equipped NISMO has only three accessories available - NISMO carpeted floor mats, illuminated kick plates and a carpeted trunk mat. The NISMO 370Z also features a refined 4-wheel independent suspension, a reinforced strut tower brace for enhanced body rigidity and a pair of performance body dampers to manage road-input vibrations. The NISMO-tuned suspension includes specially tuned springs, shock absorbers and stabilizer bars. Wider, unique 5-spoke 19-inch RAYS forged aluminum-alloy wheels are mounted with Yokohama ADVAN Sport Y-rated high-performance tires. Nissan Sport Brakes and a Viscous Limited-Slip Differential are also standard on the NISMO 370Z.
The all-new Infiniti G37 Convertible starts with an MSRP of $43,850 for the G37 Convertible and $43,900 for the G37 Convertible Sport 6MT. The G37 Convertible goes on sale June 19th.
The first-ever G Convertible has a three-piece power retractable hardtop and comes equipped with a standard 325-horsepower 3.7-liter V6, with a choice of a 7-speed automatic transmission with available magnesium paddle shifters or a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission, like the G37 Sedan and G37 Coupe.
General Motors will have an announcement on Monday - bankruptcy or no bankruptcy. GM, which has received $19.4 billion in federal loans, failed to persuade enough bondholders to accept a debt-for-equity swap of $27 billion in unsecured debt for 10 percent of the company's stock. Not only are bondholders losing a fortune, there is no promise on what the stock of the restructured company will be worth. This essentially means that the stage is set for the largest-ever U.S. industrial bankruptcy.
Can GM get 90 percent bondholder support to stave off bankruptcy before Monday? What would sway them in favor after so many rejections? Maybe a larger piece of the new company? GM reached an agreement on Tuesday with the leadership of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union.
Government restructuring outside of the courts or court-run Chapter 11 bankruptcy, GM will emerge much leaner. GM employees say "they are fighting hard" focusing on their core brands with fewer dealers and fewer nameplates. The news on Hummer's winning bidder will be followed by the announcement of new owners for GM's Saturn and Opel brands and the Swedish's government's decision on the fate of Saab.
The June 1st news on the bankruptcy decision will come a day before the May auto sales are released, which, based on yesterday's report that the Conference Board's index of consumer confidence for May jumped to 54.9 from 40.8 in April, could mean good sales data will come a day too late to save GM from bankruptcy.
In vehicle news - Cadillac announced today that the 2010 SRX Crossover, scheduled to begin production this summer, will be priced starting at $34,155 coming with all-wheel-drive and a 3.0-liter Direct Injection V6 engine. Later this summer, CTS Sport Wagon arrives with the same standard 3.0-liter Direct Injection V6 engine with highway fuel economy is estimated to reach 28 mpg.
Dave Parker, a Scuba diver, started Pelican Products in 1976 with the Pelican Float. He grew the business from a small garage operation into an international marketing and manufacturing firm which sells polymer construction cases such as the combat-ready Mobile Tool Chest for the U.S. military and flashlights like the submersible PeliLite 1800 Flashlight. All made and assembled in Southern California.
Dave's business success led him to car collecting and Dave's Garage. Dave (on the right with sunglasses and a smile) has 97 vehicles, all with high horsepower and each with a personal story - they include Ford Mustangs and Thunderbirds, Chevy Corvettes and Camaros, Dodge Vipers and Challengers. Dave says he drives all the cars and the biggest challenge is keeping the batteries charged. Dave rents out his "garage" for parties and for those of you who want a trip down memory lane - go for it.
On the smooth, well-kept highways around Nashville, this 2009 370Z was a dream to drive and looks sharp with backdrop of the NFL Tennessee Titans stadium across the river.
Zipping around the shopping areas of Franklin, a Bible Belt town which is the home to Nissan's new North American headquarters,
in this 370Z was nothing short of exciting. This base model Z has the optional $3,000 sport package which includes the SynchroRev Match 6-speed manual transmission making shifting gears silky and quick. There's a switch on the console to engage or disengage the SynchroRev Match, a feature that revs up the engine on downshifts for seamless shifting.
This 370Z base model priced out at $33,740 with the $3,000 sport package that includes the SynchroRev Match manual transmission, viscous limited slip differential, 19" RAYS forged wheels with P245/40R19 front and P275/35R19 rear tires, front chin & rear spoiler and Nissan sport brakes. Add another $115 for carpeted floor mats and $695 destination charge and you have a value-priced performance car that is reminiscent of its heritage dating back to the original 1970 240Z.
The 332 horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine provides plenty of power and 270 lb-ft of torque gives the Z lots of pep. The 370Z has the intelligent key with push button ignition - just be smart enough to kept track of the intelligent key so you don't leave it in the car. The basic 4-speaker audio system was the weakest feature and would be heavily criticized by American Idol judge Simon Cowell.
It's coming up to three years ago that Nissan moved their headquarters from Southern California to Tennessee to be about 40 minutes from their Smyrna plant which makes the Altima, Maxima, Frontier, Xterra and Pathfinder vehicles. It took me longer than 40 minutes because I missed a highway interchange that sent me another 20 miles before the first opportunity to exit and loop back. I saw gas as low as $1.88 in Nashville this week, 31 cents cheaper than Costco in Los Angeles. While Tennessee may have cheaper gas and much bigger homes for the buck, the California transplants at Nissan miss their In N Out burgers and the 70 and sunny weather.
The 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster with its soft-top roof was unveiled at the New York Auto Show and is scheduled to go on sale nationwide late this summer. The standard black cloth convertible top features a fabric inner liner, which helps reduce noise intrusion into the cabin, along with an enlarged (versus the previous generation Z Roadster) glass rear window with an integrated electric rear window defroster. The top operation takes approximately 20 seconds start-to-finish and is controlled by either a center console-mounted switch or by a button located on the doors. The automatic latch system secures the top to - or releases it from - the windshield header without driver intervention. The shape and position of the glass wind deflector, located between the fixed headrest bars, has been optimized to reduce turbulence into the cabin.
Like the hard top 370Z Coupe, the Roadster has the 332 horsepower 3.7 liter V6 delivering 270 lb-ft of torque. Estimated fuel economy for the 370Z Roadster is 18 mpg City/25 mpg Highway for both the 7-speed automatic and 6-speed manual transmissions. The available 7-speed automatic includes Downshift Rev Matching and Adaptive Shift Control and is designed to offer quick, manual-like shifting when operated in manual mode. Drivers can use the standard paddle shifters or the shift lever. The 7-speed's wide gear ratios offer improved fuel efficiency, while the Adaptive Shift Control is designed to adjust to the driver's driving style.
The 2010 Forte Koup production vehicle debuted at the 2009 New York Auto Show coming after recent introductions of the Soul and Forte sedan. The Forte Koup is smaller than its Korean sibling, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. The Forte Koup's wheelbase of 104.3 inches is almost 7 inches shorter and the overall length of 176.4 inches is 6 inches shy of the Genesis Coupe. The Kia Forte Koup is aimed at shoppers looking at cars like the Honda Civic Coupe, Ford Focus Coupe, Scion tC and Chevy Colbalt Coupe.
Built on a front-wheel-drive unibody frame, the Forte Koup utilizes the same platform as the sedan, with an independent front suspension with MacPherson struts and stabilizer bar and a torsion beam rear suspension with struts and coil springs.
The Forte Koup EX has a 156 horsepower 2.0-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine producing 144 pound-feet of torque and features Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) and multi-port electronic fuel injection. The SX features an upgraded 173 horsepower 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine, also with CVVT, which delivers 168 pound-feet of torque, more than the Scion tC.
Like the Forte sedan, two transmission options are available for both 2010 Forte Koup models: a standard five-speed manual transmission or an optional electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission (EX models). The SX model features a standard six-speed manual transmission and an optional five-speed automatic transmission with Sportmatic. The 2.0-liter engine offers 25/34 mpg (city/highway) when mated with either the five-speed manual transmission or the optional four-speed automatic. The more powerful 2.4-liter engine gets 22/32 mpg with the six-speed manual and 23/31 mpg when paired with the five-speed automatic transmission.
The Forte (pron. for-tay) sedan is expected "late Spring or early summer 2009" according to the Kia website which lists the Koup as an "upcoming vehicle" which presumably means the Koup isn't far behind.
The all-wheel-drive BMW X5 M (below) and the BMW X6 M (above), which debuted at the New York Auto Show, are powered by a newly-developed 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 M engine delivering 555 hp at 6,000 rpm and 500 lb-ft of torque from 1500 to 5,650 rpm. This new M engine is the world's first with a pulse-tuned exhaust manifold encompassing both rows of cylinders combined with high-performance twin-scroll twin turbo technology.
The special M suspension includes Adaptive Drive and newly-developed Servotronic power steering. Both models accelerate to 60 mph from a standstill in 4.5 seconds. Aluminum pull-style paddles on the steering wheel exclusive to BMW M allow manual shifting (Right for upshifts, Left for downshifts). Two new dream vehicles have arrived.
Three 2010 Land Rovers were shown at the New York Auto Show. The all-new LR4 replaces the LR3, the new 2010 Range Rover Sport and new 2010 Range Rover also debuted.
Two new engines will power the new models, a naturally aspirated 375 horsepower 5-liter engine delivering 375 lb/ft torque with a 0-60 mph time of 7.2 seconds and a 510-horsepower supercharged LR-V8 putting out 461 lb/ft torque sprinting from zero to 60 mph 5.9 seconds. The 375bhp engine has 25 percent more power and 19 percent more torque than previous 4.4-liter engine and the 510bhp engine has 29 percent more power and 12 percent more torque than previous 4.2-liter supercharged engine.
Land Rover says, "The engines were developed in conjunction with Jaguar - the first time engines have been designed from the outset with the requirements of both brands in mind. Shared primary objectives included the highest possible torque and fast response from low revs."
Pricing of the new models will be released closer to launch.
The Volkswagen Golf was chosen as the 2009 World Car of the Year by 59 international automotive journalists from 25 countries around the world. Also, at the New York Auto Show, the all-new Volkswagen Golf and GTI made their U.S. debut.
For 2010, the Golf will feature the optional 2.0 TDI clean diesel engine, which produces 140-horsepower at 4000 rpm and an impressive 236 lbs.-ft. of torque between 1750 and 2500 rpm.
Stefan Jacoby, President/CEO, Volkswagen of America, said "This is a great way to kick-off the new Golf here in America. We're excited for the arrival of the sixth generation Golf, which will be in Volkswagen showrooms later this year. Simply put, we believe this is the best Golf ever."
The Golf has sold more than 26 million units in 120 countries, making it one of the top selling vehicles of all-time. The new sixth generation Golf made its U.S. debut at this year's New York International Auto Show. The 2010 Golf will be available in dealer showrooms across the U.S. this fall in gasoline and TDI versions.
The 2010 Volkswagen GTI has a 200 horsepower 2.0-liter FSI turbocharged four-cylinder engine with the standard six-speed transmission or the optional six-speed DSG dual clutch transmission.
The all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, unveiled at the New York Auto Show, will be the first vehicle with one of Chrysler's all-new V-6 engines. The 2011 Grand Cherokee will have the all-new 280 horsepower 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine delivering 260 lb.-ft. of torque. It's an increase of 33 percent in horsepower and 11 percent in torque over its predecessor while providing an 11 percent fuel economy improvement.
Chrysler's overall $3 billion powertrain offensive will improve fuel efficiency across the Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge lineup by 8 percent on average compared with previous Chrysler V-6 engines. The Pentastar engines, which will ultimately replace seven current Chrysler V-6 engines, has double-overhead camshafts (DOHC) and a high-pressure die-cast aluminum cylinder block in a 60-degree configuration. Chrysler says that, "this design, combined with dual independent cam phasing, allows optimum volumetric and combustion efficiency over the full speed and load range, resulting in an exceptional, flat torque curve along with high specific power--the engine's torque exceeds 90 percent of its peak value from 1,600 to 6,400 rpm--which will provide customers with outstanding drivability and responsiveness, without the need for premium fuel."
The Pentastar V-6 is designed to run on regular gasoline, offering a 10 percent reduction in fuel cost compared with premium fueled engines. The engine also is fully flex fuel capable, offering consumers the choice of gasoline or E85 fuel without any degradation in performance or emissions.
The all-new 2010 Subaru Legacy sedan will debut at the New York Auto Show next week. The 2010 Legacy, built on a new platform, features a 108.3 inch wheelbase, a 3.2-in. increase over the previous Legacy and almost four inches of extra rear seat legroom. The new Legacy is 3.2 inches higher and 3.6 inches wider than the previous model.
There are three 2010 Legacy 2.5i models -- 2.5i, 2.5i Premium and 2.5i Limited -- are powered by a revised 170 horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder Boxer engine (with available PZEV rating) and equipped with a new standard 6-speed manual transmission or the new Lineartronic CVT (continuously variable transmission). Both transmissions help to improve acceleration, response and fuel economy.
The Legacy 2.5GT models, the Premium and 2.5GT Limited models are powered by a new 265-hp turbocharged, intercooled Boxer engine. Three new Legacy 3.6R models - the 3.6R, 3.6R Premium and 3.6R Limited are powered by a new 256 horsepower 3.6-liter
6-cylinder Boxer engine matched to a 5-speed electronic automatic transmission. All Legacy models for 2010 are equipped as standard with Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC), which combines stability and traction control capability. As are all Subaru models, every Legacy is equipped as standard with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.
Tesla Motors of San Carlos, California, has just introduced the seven passenger Model S with a base price of $49,900 after a federal tax credit of $7,500. It's powered by one of three battery pack choices offering a range of 160, 230 or 300 miles per charge. Tesla expects to begin producing the Model S sedan in late 2011 selling directly to consumers and at its own two stores. The Model S costs roughly $5 to drive 230 miles.
The standard Model S does 0-60 mph in under six seconds and will have an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph, with sport versions expected to achieve 0-60 mph acceleration well below five seconds.
The Tesla Roadster, which has a 0-to-60 mph acceleration of 3.9 seconds and delivers 244 miles per charge, has a base price of $101,500 after a federal tax credit. Tesla has delivered nearly 300 Roadsters, and nearly 1,000 more customers are on the wait list.
Tesla is taking reservations online and at showrooms in California. Tesla will open a store in Chicago this spring and plans to open stores in London, New York, Miami, Seattle, Washington DC and Munich later this year.
The Volkswagen Tiguan has the strongest rated roof and the Kia Sportage has the weakest among the dozen 2008-09 small SUVs evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. More than 10,000 people a year are killed in rollovers.
This new rating system is based on Institute research showing that occupants in rollover crashes benefit from stronger roofs. The small SUVs that did well in the Institute's new test have roofs that are 2.5 to 3.5 times stronger than the minimum federal safety standard for roof strength. Vehicles rated GOOD must have roofs that are more than twice as strong as minimum federal safety standards require. The VW Tiguan, Subaru Forester, Honda Element, and Jeep Patriot earn good ratings. The Suzuki Grand Vitara, Chevrolet Equinox, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, and Mitsubishi Outlander are rated ACCEPTABLE. Roofs on the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape are MARGINAL and the Kia's is POOR.
Institute research indicates that roofs have gotten stronger during the past few years. Part of the reason is that manufacturers have made structural improvements to earn better front and side ratings in Institute crash tests. Strong A and B pillars help prevent intrusion in these types of crashes and also help hold up the roof.
About 25 percent of occupant deaths in crashes of cars and minivans involve rolling over while 59 percent happen in SUVs. Electronic stability control is significantly reducing rollovers, especially fatal single-vehicle ones. When vehicles do roll, side curtain airbags help protect the people inside. Belt use is essential.
A record 73 vehicles have qualified for the 2009 TOP SAFETY pick award so far, and 8 of the 2009 winners are among the 12 small SUVs the Institute just tested for roof strength. However, only 3 of the 8 -- Tiguan, Forester, and Element -- have the roof strength to qualify for next year's award. For an acceptable rating, the minimum required strength-to-weight ratio is 3.25. A marginal rating value is 2.5. Anything lower than that is poor.
2010 Nissan GT-R gets five additional horsepower, a revised suspension, updated wheel finishes and standard front seat- and roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags. The GT-R's 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 engine has increased to 485 horsepower (from 480 hp) and the 6-speed, dual-clutch transmission receives new Transmission Control Module programming designed to optimize clutch engagement and vehicle acceleration is improved when Vehicle Dynamic Control activated. In addition, the braking system has been updated with more rigid brake lines for improved durability, and the brake calipers now carry both the Brembo and Nissan logos. Finally, the GT-R's suspension has been re-tuned with redesigned Bilstein shocks with a new valve body design and revised spring and damper rates.
For 2010, the Nissan GT-R will again be offered in two models - GT-R and GT-R Premium. All 2010 Nissan GT-Rs are equipped with a standard 3.8-liter twin turbo V6 backed by an advanced paddle-shifted, dual clutch rear transmission. The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price is $80,790 for the GT-R, and $83,040 for the GT-R Premium model. Destination & Handling is $1,000.
For 2010, the Nissan GT-R will again be offered in two models - GT-R and GT-R Premium. All 2010 Nissan GT-Rs are equipped with a standard 3.8-liter twin turbo V6 backed by an advanced paddle-shifted, dual clutch rear transmission and a world's first independent rear transaxle ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system.
The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price is $80,790 for the GT-R, and $83,040 for the GT-R Premium model. Destination & Handling is $1,000.
Two options and two accessories are available for the 2010 GT-R: The Cold Weather Package (no charge); Special Super Silver Paint ($3,000); iPod Converter ($400); and carpeted GT-R floor mats ($280).
Suzuki continues its ad blitz for the SX4 with the latest commercial that takes aim at the Mini Cooper. The spot opens with the SX4 Crossover and the Mini Cooper side-by-side and the narrator saying "The Suzuki SX4 versus the Mini." The SX4 zips through Los Angeles with a red cape and lightning bolt decals on the driver and front passenger door.
The ad proclaims that the SX4 is better than the Mini with 25 more horsepower, available all-wheel drive, America's #1 Warranty and standard navigation for thousands of dollars less (under $16,000). The ad's tag line: "The Suzuki SX4. It's mightier than the Mini! Lightening bolt stickers and cape not included." And, the ad ends with Suzuki's marketing slogan, "Live Large. Drive Small." I caught the ad on Fox News Network.
American Suzuki sales in the first two months of 2009 are 7,150, down 55% from the same period in 2008. The SX4 is Suzuki's biggest seller at 2,523 in January and February down 42% from 2008. Year-to-date, Mini sales are almost double the SX4 at 4,908, down 16.5% compared to the first two months of 2008. Let's see if this "super hero car" ad campaign can sway buyers to chose the Suzuki.
The sporty Sentra FE+ 2.0 SR goes on sale April 17th with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $17,760, the same price as the Sentra FE+ 2.0 S model, and comes with the 140-horsepower 16-valve 2.0-liter DOHC inline 4-cylinder engine. Estimated fuel economy is 34 mpg Highway/26 mpg City. The full 2009 Sentra lineup now features seven models, ranging from the entry-level Sentra FE+ 2.0 to the performance-oriented Sentra SE-R Spec V.
The "SR" starts with a standard Sentra 2.0 S gets SE-R-style front and rear fascias, side sills and rear spoiler; sport grille; dark chrome bezel headlights and dark smoked bezel taillights; 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels; exhaust finisher; and "SR" trunk lid badge. It is available in six exterior colors, including the limited Sentra SE-R/SE-R Spec V colors, and will be offered with a Charcoal cloth interior.
Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicle sales in the U.S. have topped the one million mark with six Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles led by the Toyota Prius, the world's first mass-produced gas-electric hybrid and the all-time worldwide leader in hybrid sales. From the summer of 2000, when Prius hit U.S. showrooms, through February 2009 more than 700,000 Prius have been sold in the U.S., making up more than half of the 1.2 million Prius sold worldwide.
"One million hybrids in less than nine years indicates how quickly American consumers have accepted this important technology," said Jim Lentz, TMS president.
Toyota sold nearly 75 percent of all hybrid vehicles in the U.S. over the past 10 years. Overall, cumulative worldwide sales of Toyota and Lexus hybrids have exceeded 1.7 million vehicles through January of this year.
A life-size pink Malibu Barbie™ New Beetle convertible made its debut at Barbie® doll's Malibu Dream House® exclusive birthday celebration. Seen here with model Heidi Klum, a real life Barbie. The Barbie® birthday festivities were complete with 1,800 pairs of Barbie® sunglasses, 3,500 pairs of tiny shoes, 3,500 mini handbags and numerous Hollywood celebrity guests.
Customization artists ABD Racing Werks, Katzkin Leather and Interiors and FoamMolders fully transformed the New Beetle convertible into the Barbie® ride. From the white custom leather interior and convertible top to the hand stitched floor mats and pink quilted leather lined door pockets and arm rests, even the dipstick is painted to resemble her favorite lipstick. The New Beetle convertible is equipped with a motorized vanity in the trunk and plenty of rhinestone accents and vanity mirrors. Over five shades of paint were mixed together to create the perfect pink color for Barbie® doll's car.
The all-new 2010 Honda Insight goes on sale March 24 with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $19,800 for the LX model and $21,300 for the premium EX. The EX with the navigation system is $23,100. Add $670 destination charge.
The five-passenger, five-door hybrid vehicle is powered by an Integrated Motor Assist system comprised of a 1.3-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder gasoline engine with intelligent variable valve timing and a 10-kilowatt DC brushless electric motor that together contribute to an EPA-estimated city/highway fuel economy rating of 40/43 miles per gallon. The Insight features the Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist), that provides feedback related to individual driving styles. With a 10.6-gallon fuel tank, the Insight delivers an estimated maximum driving range exceeding 400 miles. By comparison, the 2010 Toyota Prius starts at $23,500 and touts 50mpg.
A UFO-looking solar powered car reached Southern California late last week on its record-setting journey around North America where it has racked up 11,600 miles since the trip started on June 12, 2008. Though built by a Canadian in Toronto, the expedition began in Buffalo because of controversial street legal issues in the Province of Ontario. The car has been north of Canada's Arctic Circle through Alaska where truckers called 9-1-1 to report a UFO citing when it was actually this car. It then headed south through British Columbia and the Western U.S. to California. At Friday's event at the Canadian Consul General's home, a large crowd of onlookers included actors Peter Fonda, Ed Bagley Jr., Larry Hagman and Canadian actress Stana Katic (above right) who stars in ABC-TV's new series Castle that debuts tonight.
The solar car weighs 470 pounds, accelerates from zero to 50 miles an hour in just 6 seconds hitting a top speed of 75 miles an hour with its 10 horsepower engine and on a full charge with the sun shining has a range of 300 miles. The 893 solar cells generates 900 watts which is less than the 1,000 watts used by a toaster and takes anywhere from four to eight hours to fully charge. The Solar car uses photovoltaics cells (solar cells) to convert sunlight into electricity, then stores the electricity in batteries that power an electric motor that drives the car. A series of electric and electronic components control the whole process.
The first solar powered car was introduced in 1960 and the community of solar car builders remains small. The big question is about the viability of solar cars becoming the mass transportation solution? The answer is that cars like this are an inspiration and best suited for sunny climate zones. Word is that some Toyota Prius hybrid owners in Canada after seeing this solar car began experimenting with solar panels on their cars to make the electric motor less reliant on the gas engine for recharging.
The Power Of One, as the vehicle's project is known, started 9 years ago, taking Air Canada flight attendant Macelo da Luz and his team 50,000 man hours to construct. Breaking the old record of 9,000 miles, the goal is to reach 20,000 miles around North America. Marcelo, born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, immigrated to Canada at age 20 and has been a flight attendant for the past 10 years, most of which has been consumed on The Power of One project. He points out that this one seat solar car is not a "chick magnet" so he's already begun planning The Power of Two, a two seat version using the latest technology. Marcelo who is looking for donations to help his solar car cause, thrives on educating the public, especially children, who may someday see a car of this kind as commonplace.
Will aging vehicles lead to an explosion in car buying when confidence turns? I own 3 SUV's with an average age of 7.3 years and average mileage of just under 70,000. Am I ready to buy another? Yes, because I have two kids who drive and we've been sharing 3 vehicles among four of us so need another. My 13 year old SUV with 117,000 miles is running smoothly and is regularly serviced.
The median age of passenger cars in operation increased to 9.4 years in 2008, breaking the previous two-year record high of 9.2 years, according to figures released by R. L. Polk & Co. in its annual vehicle population report.
The median age for all trucks in 2008 increased to 7.6 years from 7.3 years in 2007. Light trucks increased from 7.1 years in 2007 to 7.5 years in 2008. Polk's annual vehicle population report represents data from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008, following an in-depth analysis of more than 249 million vehicles.
The percentage of total passenger cars and trucks scrapped in 2008 increased to 5.6 percent compared to 5.2 percent in 2007. The passenger car scrappage rate was 5.1 percent. For all trucks the scrappage rate was 6.3 percent and light truck scrappage was 6.4 percent, both up notably from 2007.
Europe offers incentives to get 10 year and older vehicles off the road, a motivation our government should consider. But is the age of vehicles as important as average mileage on those vehicles? With many working people now virtual, working from home, maybe they're not driving as much so are accumulating less miles on their vehicles. A resurgence in urban living to be closer to the office and higher gas prices pushing people to use mass transit are contributing to vehicles lasting longer.
February sales were at an annual rate of 9.3 million vehicles and logic dictates that the industry needs to sell 11 to 12 million annually in the U.S. to be profitable.
"The best medicine for bad times is first class products," according to Dr. "Zee" Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars at the opening of Media Days at the Geneva Auto Show today. The ninth generation E-Class will come to market at the end of March.
With up to 23 percent less fuel consumption compared with its predecessor, the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class has improvements including intelligent bodyshell technology that gives up to 30 percent greater rigidity, improved seats and a newly developed suspension whose shock absorbers automatically adjust to the current driving situation. The optional air suspension now works in combination with an electronic damping system.
The BlueEFFICIENCY E 200 CGI has a 184 horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder direct gas injection engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The E 250 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY has a 204 horsepower V6 engine with a five-speed automatic transmission as standard and maximum torque is more than 26 percent over the previous V6-engine. As before, the E 350 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY has a 292 horsepower direct gas injection V6 engine, the E 500 has the 388 horsepower V8 and the E 63 AMG has a 525 horsepower V8 all with a seven-speed automatic transmission, steering wheel selector lever and shift paddles. The E 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY and the E 350 V6 models and the eight-cylinder E 500, offer as an option the latest-generation Mercedes all-wheel drive technology.
The new E-Class has optional Adaptive Highbeam Assist using a camera on the windshield to recognize oncoming traffic and vehicles moving ahead and to control the headlamps so that their beams do not reach the other vehicle. The Lane Tracking package for the new E-Class includes Blind Spot Assist familiar from the S-Class, and as a new development, Lane Keeping Assist which seeks to prevent the vehicle from leaving the road unintentionally.
About 72 percent of all the body panels are made from high-tech steels to withstand high impact forces and the new E-Class has seven airbags as standard. Standard equipment includes a further improved suspension with adaptive shock absorbers.
Slumdog Millionaire sweeps the Academy Awards with 8 Oscars and now the long-awaited Tata Nano, the world's cheapest car, will be launched by Tata Motors at a function in Mumbai on March 23rd. The Nano will be on display at Tata dealerships in India starting the first week of April with sales beginning during the second week of April.
Since its unveiling on January 10, 2008, the Tata Nano has attracted over 30 million website hits and the creation of over 6,000 interest groups and communities. The rear-wheel drive Tata Nano will have an all-aluminium, two-cylinder 623cc/33 bhp rear-mounted gas engine with a four-speed manual transmission, and they're working on an automatic transmission and a diesel engine. The four-seater Tata Nano will have its trunk storage space in the front. It will come in three variants, including one with an air-conditioner.
Tata is creating the widest possible network to sell the car across the length and breadth of India. More on the sales process and other details will be announced on March 23rd. Tata said that the initial target production volume would be 250,000 cars per annum on two shifts, expandable to 350,000 per annum on three shifts. Ratan Tata talked about a one million production target by 2010. Over 500 engineers worked on the car for four years. The company has already applied for 34 patents so far.
Tata Motors is India's largest automobile company that was established in 1945. Tata is also among the world's top five manufacturers of medium and heavy trucks and the world's second largest medium and heavy bus manufacturer. It entered the passenger vehicles segment in 1991 and ranks second in India in this market. In March 2008, Tata Motors bought Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford for $2.3 billion.
American Suzuki showed off three customized Equator pickup trucks in Chicago: the 4-Wheel & Off-Road, Off-Road and Truckin'. For the 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine "4X4 of the Year" model, Allied Wheel supplied a set of custom aluminum beadlock wheels fitted with new Hankook Dynapro MT Tires, Shrockworks built a custom front bumper and inside is a pair of Master Craft RS Camelback seats with the rear bench reupholstered to match.
Truckin' magazine's version of the Equator is an extended cab 2WD Equator with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine adding MagnaFlow performance exhaust and Stillen performance rotors spinning within powder-coated calipers for braking. Polk Audio provided three 12-inch subwoofers, three amps and 1,800 watts of audio upgrade. AIM Industries' custom lowering kit with Nitto tires on Giovanna wheels makes it a hot rod truck.
2009 Nissan cube pricing for all the models was just released ahead of its May on sale date. As seen in my Feb. 20 blog, the 2009 Nissan cube has a starting MSRP of $13,990 plus $695 delivery charge for the cube 1.8 equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission. Three other models are also offered: cube 1.8 S, priced at $14,690 with the 6-speed manual and $15,690 with the Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission); cube 1.8 SL, priced at $16,790; and the cube 1.8 Krom specialty vehicle, priced at $19,370. Both the cube 1.8 SL and cube 1.8 Krom come with standard Xtronic CVT. Add the $695 delivery charge to those prices.
Available cube technology includes the Nissan Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition, Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, Rockford Fosgate subwoofer with six upgraded speakers, XM Satellite Radio (XM subscription required, sold separately) and Interface System for iPod.
In addition, cube will be available with more than 40 individual accessories, ranging from a 20-color interior illumination kit and "shag dash topper" to aerodynamic body kits and custom 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels - allowing cube owners to personalize their vehicles to reflect their own tastes and personalities.
Hyundai Motor America will have eight ads in Sunday's Academy Awards telecast on the ABC-TV Nework, including a 60-second spot, for its North American Car of the Year award-winning Genesis sedan, likely the same ad that debuted on the Super Bowl showing executives of companies like BMW and Lexus outraged about what Hyundai has brought to market. Also expect to see an ad for its Hyundai Assurance Plus program, which allows people to return their newly purchased Hyundai cars to the company after 90 days if they lose their jobs and can't make payments.
Also expect to see an ad for the new Genesis Coupe with race driver Rhys Millen at Road Atlanta. Rhys Millen won the title of "World Champion" at the inaugural 2008 Red Bull Drifting World Championship event in Long Beach, California.
The all-new 2009 Nissan cube 1.8 will start at $13,990 when it goes on sale in early May - an announcement made last week at the Chicago Auto Show. All cubes have 122-horsepower 1.8-liter DOHC inline 4-cylinder engine with a projected fuel economy of 30 mpg on the highway.
Compared to the other boxy cars, the cube with the $695 delivery charge starts at $14,685, that compares to the Kia Soul's starting MSRP of $13,995 and the current model Scion xD at $14,550. The 2009 Nissan cube will be offered in four versions, cube 1.8, cube 1.8 S, cube 1.8 SL and cube 1.8 Krom (chrome).
The cube Krom, developed by Nissan North America's Specialty Vehicles Group, has an extensive list of cube 1.8 S model standard features, a 3-bar chrome grille, 2-bar chrome front bumper grille, fully integrated front and rear fascias, body side sills, rear roof spoiler and exclusive 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.
Inside, the cube Krom offers Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, leather-wrapped steering wheel, woven black and gray seat cloth, an upgraded audio system with six speakers and Rockford Fosgate subwoofer, Interface System for iPod, Titanium interior trim accents, sporty aluminum trimmed pedals, Automatic Temperature Control, interior illumination system and more.
A new "Reserve Your cube" program, which allows consumers to research and reserve the cube of their choice, will begin later in the month, following the release of complete cube model and option package pricing.
The 2010 Kia Forte
(for-tay) four-door compact sedan was introduced in Chicago last week. The Forte with a 156 horsepower 2.0-liter 4 cylinder engine in the LX and EX trims and a 173 horsepower 2.4-liter 4 cylinder engine in the SX model replaces the best-selling Spectra in the Kia line-up this summer. Kia says that the Forte will go after Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Mazda3 buyers.
The new Ford Ranger makes its European debut at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, March 3 and 4. "The Ford Ranger nameplate is already established in more than 100 markets around the world," said Henrik Nenzen, Ford of Europe's Director of Commercial Vehicle Marketing and Sales. Built in Thailand, the new model will arrive in European Ford showrooms from April and is available from the entry-level XL to the range-topping Wildtrak.
The Ranger offers two versions of Ford's Duratorq TDCi turbo diesel engine, either 2.5-liter or 3.0-liter versions paired with either a five-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission. Ranger is available in three pick-up box dimensions, Single Cab, RAP Cab and Double Cab.
Ford Individual option packs have so far been revealed for the Ka, Fiesta, Kuga, Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy ranges to offer discerning customers something extra - detail touches that create an air of luxury and craftsmanship. Now at the Geneva Motor Show 2009, this is extended to the Ford's best-selling model in Europe, the Focus. Ford Focus Wagon (pictured).
Ford of Europe's Vehicle Personalization design team has developed distinctive interior personalization packs for both high series Focus Ghia and Titanium models in 3-door, 5-door or wagon body styles.
For the Focus Ghia, Ford Individual packs offer exclusive full leather seat covers, using two specially selected premium quality leathers. For the Focus Titanium, an Ebony pack uses the same innovative seat design as the Ghia, but with the combination of Nappa leather bolsters and Alcantara seat centers. Heated front seats are standard and the driver's seat is additionally enhanced with 6-way power adjustment. A rear view camera has now been added to the extensive option list for the Ford Focus.
At the Chicago Auto Show this week, Acura introduced a new, higher-performance version of the front-wheel-drive TSX with a 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine mated to sequential automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The 2010 Acura TSX V-6 goes on sale this summer.
The 2010 Toyota Tundra pickup truck will have a new 310 horsepower 4.6-liter V8 engine as an alternative to the 381 horsepower 5.7-liter V-8. The 4.6 liter V8 has an estimated 15 mpg city and 20 mpg on the highway which is not a whole lot better than the 14 mpg city and 18 mpg highway that the 5.7 liter. The 2010 Tundra, with a small facelift - new look grille and tail lights - goes on sale in April. The all-new Tundra Platinum Package and the recently announced Tundra Work Truck were on display in Chicago.
Everyone is happy that GM will have cars starring as transformers again but this time are also hoping that the company itself is transformed to compete and survive in this new demanding era under severe scrutiny from the government and taxpayers who are feeding its existence. Maybe the timely coincidence of promoting Chevy cars in yet another movie - "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" - is not coincidence at all.
The real head-turner this week at the Chicago Auto Show among the five Chevrolet-based characters, including four newcomers to the latest sequel, was SIDESWIPE - a stylized Corvette vision concept vehicle influenced by the original Stingray race car, introduced in 1959, but also drawing on Corvette heritage cues from other generations.
"SIDESWIPE represents an exercise in exploration for the Corvette," according to Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design. "By giving my creative team the freedom to design no-holds-barred vision concepts, it helps them push boundaries and look at projects from different perspectives.
Other car characters include: SKIDS and MUDFLAP - twin AUTOBOTS based on Chevy's Beat (a concept that will go into production as the Chevy Spark in 2011) and the other new AUTOBOT, JOLT, appears in the production form of Chevy's 2011 Volt extended-range electric vehicle. BUMBLEBEE, based on Chevrolet's Camaro concept from the first "Transformers" movie, returns.
If the movie is a hit maybe GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner can draw on director Michael Bay to help General Motors transform from the fallen.
2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe will start at $22,000 for a well-equipped 210-horsepower 2.0-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine 2.0T model and $25,000 for the 306-horsepower, 3.8-liter, V6 engine model when they begin arriving showrooms in a few weeks. The turbo will have base, Premium, Track and R-Spec packages while the V6 will offer base, Grand Touring and Track trims running the starting price for the top-of-the-line "Track" version to $31,000. Add $750 freight charge to the prices.
John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America president and chief executive officer told us at the Chicago Auto Show that besides Mustang which has its following, Hyundai saw a void in the affordable two-door sports car segment. Krafcik said they were able to give up some luxuries found on the new award-winning Genesis sedan but keep the exciting performance features such as race-like cornering to price the Coupe in the low-$20,000 range. Krafcik also said that even having the Genesis name and being built on the same platform, the Coupe is a different car.
The Genesis Coupe has already starting arriving at West Coast ports and will be in dealerships in a matter of weeks. If the Coupe follows its four-door namesake with awards and accolades, it may give the Mustang a challenge.
The Chicago Auto Show Media Days - or should I say media day or maybe half day - are underway with virtually nothing major expected. The big Chicago news is the weather with a high of 63 degrees today, breaking the Feb. 10th record going back to 1876! Fitting that Chicago is experiencing almost equator-like temps when American Suzuki, which introduced their Equator pickup truck a year ago in Chicago, will reveal all the awards this vehicle has won like 4-Wheel & Off-Road's "4X4 of the Year".
The 2009 Equator, a re-badged Nissan Frontier, offers a standard 152 horsepower 2.5-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder engine or an available 261 horsepower 4.0-liter, V6 DOHC engine which start as low as $17,995 (including the $775 destination and handling charges).
American Suzuki has brought back Koichi Suzuki, as executive vice president of the Automotive Operations unit of American Suzuki Motor Corporation who spent 5 years at Suzuki's Southern California headquarters during its haydays before heading back to Japan in April 2007. He was most recently group leader, North America marketing group at Suzuki Motor Corporation. Suzuki, like every auto executive, will be looking to make the business more efficient and cost-conscious. Mr. Suzuki, no relation to the brand he works for, will also assume the duties of Gary Akin, vice president of sales at American Suzuki, who "has left the company" after coming over from VW in March 2007.
Suzuki is a big force internationally with sales of 2.6 million cars in 2008 according to Gene Brown, Vice President of Marketing who says India and Japan are among Suzuki's biggest markets. American Suzuki sold about 85,000 vehicles in the U.S. last year. January sales were nearly cut in half from January 2008, somewhat surprising for a company that has fuel-efficient, inexpensive, made-in-Japan vehicles.
The all-new 2010 Lexus RX 350 luxury utility vehicle, the third generation RX, has a base MSRP of $36,800 for the front-wheel drive model and $38,200 for the all-wheel drive version. Tack on another $825 for a delivery, processing and handling fee. The 2010 RX 350 has a 275 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine with an all-new six-speed Multi-Mode Automatic Transmission.
The RX 350 introduces an all-new electronically controlled Active Torque Control AWD system, which uses an electronically controlled coupling ahead of the rear differential to vary torque distribution anywhere from 100:0 to 50:50 front to rear, depending on driving dynamics and road conditions. The new AWD system is 35 lbs. lighter than the previous system and reduces parasitic losses by 30 percent.
The RX 350 has Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management handling technology, which anticipates loss of vehicle control in virtually any direction by governing all of the vehicle's standard dynamic handling systems - the Anti-lock Braking System, Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control - employing them collectively and seamlessly to make corrections while allowing higher dynamic capability. The new RX adopts Hill-start Assist Control, which uses brake pressure to help prevent the vehicle from moving backward when starting out on an incline.
The 2010 RX 350 is equipped with 10 standard airbags, including side curtain airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags, rear side airbags (for the outboard seating positions) and knee airbags for the driver and the front passenger.
The new Lexus RX models accommodate a variety of music sources, providing auxiliary and USB inputs, Bluetooth Audio wireless connectivity and standard XM satellite radio capability (requires subscription), which is also joined by XM NavTraffic and XM NavWeather.
The RX 300 took the market by storm in 1998 leading many manufacturers to jump into the small luxury SUV segment making it a crowded space today. Lexus has added many innovations that will likely keep it atop the heap.
All-new 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback GTS and high-performance Ralliart will arrive in U.S. dealerships this summer. The Sportback's overall length is just slightly longer than the Lancer four-door sedan, yet it gains substantial cargo-carrying flexibility-especially when the 60:40-split rear seats are folded flat with one-touch auto-folding.
Sportback GTS has a 168 horsepower 2.4-liter engine delivering 167 pound-feet of torque and mated to either a five-speed manual or six-speed CVT automatic transmission. The Sportback Ralliart has a 237 horsepower 2.0-liter MIVEC turbocharged engine delivering 253 lb.-ft. of torque. All-Wheel Control with Active Center Differential is standard, as is the quick-shifting six-speed Twin Clutch-Sportronic Shift Transmission that it shares with the Lancer Evolution. Both the CVT and Twin-Clutch transmissions include magnesium-alloy paddle shifters.
The Toyota Tundra
full-size pickup truck will be featured in the 30 second "Killer Heat" spot during the Super Bowl XLIII Halftime Show. Tundra "Killer Heat" is one of two Toyota ads that will air during the big game, the other is "Faces" from Burrell Communications, Toyota's African American agency, for the launch of the new 2009 Toyota VENZA.
The 2010 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD small premium utility vehicle will have a starting price of $37,200 plus an $825 destination charge when it goes on sale this March - a year after I took this photo at the Geneva Auto Show when the XC60 was unveiled. The XC60 has a 281 horsepower 3.0-liter turbocharged T6 engine with torque of no less than 295 lb.-ft. and Volvo's all-wheel-drive system with Instant Traction as standard.
City Safety, a driver-support system aimed at preventing or mitigating collisions occurring at speeds of 19 mph or less comes as standard equipment along with leather seats, SIRIUS satellite radio (with complimentary six-month subscription), hands-free Bluetooth connectivity, HD Radio technology with USB and AUX ports are all standard. As a special introductory offer, the unique Panorama moonroof will be offered at no charge. Customers may also opt for Volvo's DVD-based navigation system with integrated back-up camera and two new colors: Lime Grass Green or Terra Bronze. Complimentary Factory Scheduled Maintenance program, which covers the first three years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first) comes with the new XC60.
It's big brother, the XC90, won many accolades when it hit showrooms as a 2003 model so with smaller now IN, the XC60 is hitting a sweet spot in the market but unfortunately the market isn't looking too sweet right now. The XC60 goes head on with the March introduction of the 270 horsepower Audi Q5 - all competing with the BMW X3, Infiniti EX35, Land Rover's LR2, Lexus RX350 and Mercedes-Benz GLK.
The all-new 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe national advertising campaign will debut on Sunday's Super Bowl with Smashing Pumpkins providing a rock soundtrack for a 30 second spot airing immediately before the kick off. Hyundai has a total of five 30-second spots - three during NBC's "Kick-Off Show" and two in-game spots during the Super Bowl broadcast. San Francisco-based creative agency Goodby, Silverstein & Partners developed the five new Hyundai ads for Super Bowl Sunday.
Genesis Coupe follows the recently named "2009 North American Car of the Year" Genesis sedan, sharing its rear-wheel drive architecture and independent rear suspension and offering a 30-mpg, 210 horsepower 2.0-liter model with a low-pressure intercooled four-cylinder turbocharged engine and a 306 horsepower 3.8-liter V6 Track model with Brembo brakes.
Audi is back in the Super Bowl joining the Cardinals and Steelers with a commercial that is a high-speed journey through luxury automobiles in American history. Actor Jason Statham makes his Super Bowl debut rushing from decade to decade to avoid capture, trying to find a vehicle to aid his getaway. He finds the supercharged, redesigned Audi A6 mid-sized luxury sedan. San Francisco-based Venables Bell & Partners, created the ad, which was shot on-location in Los Angeles.
Bridgestone Tire is back for its second year on advertising's biggest stage with two new commercials and as the title sponsor of the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLIII Halftime Show featuring Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band during the NBC telecast of Super Bowl XLIII from Tampa Bay.
Look for "Taters" at the end of the first quarter and see Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, two Hasbro characters, on a mountain road take an unexpected turn. The second Bridgestone spot, "Hot Item," will air in the third quarter and takes viewers to Titan, Saturn's largest moon where the ultimate space vehicle roams around equipped with high-performance Bridgestone tires.
No U.S. automaker is spending the $2 million to $3 million per Super Bowl commercial but at last check there were still two for sale.
Kandi Coco "Super-Mini" cars are manufactured in China and being distributed in North America by three companies. There's the Convertible Coco Car, The New Coco Hardtop, Mini Moke and Coco Electric. Millions of Kandi commuter vehicles have already been sold in Europe and Asia. New Millennium Auto Group out of Dallas is signing up dealers as it imports the cars through Seattle.
If they look like custom golf carts, it's because the manufacturer, Zhejiang Kangdi Vehicles Co. is a golf cart maker. They are not highway-legal, come in gas or electric with a top speed of 25 miles-per-hour and getting 60 to 70 miles-per-gallon. The rear wheel drive Kandi cars are powered by a 4 Stroke 250cc, 1 cylinder, water cooled engine with automatic transmission. Like Chrysler's electric GEMs, they are ideal for gated golf course communities and short suburban shopping trips. These "smart"-looking cars cost less than $10,000.
The 2010 Lexus HS 250h is a five-passenger, front-wheel-drive car and the "first dedicated luxury hybrid" according to Mark Templin, Lexus Group VP & General Manager who claims that "more than 60% of entry level luxury car buyers would have considered a hybrid if one had been available to them". Under the hood is an Atkinson-cycle, 187 horsepower 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine. Size-wise the HS 250h fits between the IS and ES in the Lexus line-up, 4.5 inches longer than IS and 6.3 inches shorter than the ES and rides on the same wheelbase as the Prius. The Lexus HS 250h is scheduled to arrive in dealerships Fall 2009 and we should get EPA miles per gallon ratings closer to launch.
The annual National Automobile Dealers Association meeting is in New Orleans this weekend and we'll report on the mood of the nation's manufacturers as they meet with their dealers and discuss today's weak economic environment.
Cadillac and Lincoln, the luxury divisions of GM and Ford, seem to be fairly well aligned in new introductions at the Detroit Auto Show. Both offered what we called station wagons as kids, the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon and the Lincoln MKT, now referred to as crossovers. On the concept side, Cadillac showed the Converj and Lincoln displayed the Lincoln C, and, as you can see, with differing perceptions for future small luxury vehicles.
The Cadillac Converj is a four-passenger concept with a top speed of 100 miles per hour using GM's electric propulsion technology, called Voltec, that enables up to 40 miles of gas- and emissions-free electric driving with extended-range (E-REV) capability of hundreds of miles. The Cadillac Converj's Voltec electric propulsion system is made up of a 16-kWh, T-shaped battery, an electric drive unit, and a four-cylinder engine-generator. When the battery's energy is low, the Converj switches to extended-range mode using a flex-fuel-powered engine that operates much like a home generator to create electricity so that it's always propelled by an electric drive unit. An all-glass roof incorporates solar panels that help offset power drain from the vehicle's accessories.
The Lincoln C concept, a smaller, C-sized car, features a 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine and Ford's all-new dry, dual-clutch PowerShift six-speed transmission, achieving 43 mpg on the highway, while offering 180 horsepower and 180 ft.-lbs. of torque. The Lincoln C has the overall length of a Ford Focus and the overall width of a Lincoln MKZ. "Lincoln C is about efficiency without compromise," said Freeman Thomas, director of Ford's Strategic Concepts Group, who says the aim was "go kart" visual stability combined with elegant lines and surfaces. The Lincoln C has bench seating in the front and back rows made from chromium-free leather and filled with soy foam. Where does your future lie?
The Car Stock Exchange goes on hiatus tomorrow and will hopefully return in the future. I want to thank all 7,000 traders who enjoyed trading and getting insight into future vehicles well in-advance of them hitting showrooms and anticipating six month sales. Please stayed tuned to my blogs for the latest industry and vehicle news. Congratulations to the winners, especially 3-time monthly champion "chung" who hopefully used his fantasy trading skills to make money in the real stock markets.
Today's news: Audi is back in the Super Bowl joining the Cardinals and Steelers with a commercial that is a high-speed journey through luxury automobiles in American history, sending the message that, in the luxury automotive marketplace, Audi is the most progressive choice. Actor Jason Statham, known for his action-packed roles in the "Transporter" series, "Snatch" and "The Bank Job," makes his Super Bowl debut rushing from decade to decade to avoid capture, trying to find a vehicle to aid his getaway. He finds that several other luxury vehicles fail to get the job done. That is, until he finds the supercharged, redesigned Audi A6 mid-sized luxury sedan. San Francisco-based Venables Bell & Partners, created the ad, which was shot on-location in Los Angeles.
In other news: General Motors said worldwide sales fell 10.8 percent in 2008, ending its 77-year claim as the world's largest automaker. GM sold 8.36 million vehicles last year, putting it about 616,000 units behind the 8.97 million reported by Toyota Motor Corp. according to Automotive News.
The Subaru Legacy Concept with a new 3.6-liter horizontally-opposed 6-cylinder engine powering the symmetrical all-wheel-drive powertrain may be close to reality as the next-generation Legacy midsize sedan due to arrive at U.S. dealerships in early 2010. The 20th anniversary of the Subaru Legacy celebrates total global production exceeding 3.6 million vehicles making it Subaru's core model. The Subaru Legacy concept is on a 108.3 inch wheelbase, more than 3 inches longer than the current model and stretched almost 4 inches in overall length to maximize interior space for four adults. The stainless looking exterior apparently has the same fingerprint issues as my home appliances but when it's polished and buffed there's nothing better looking.
Volvo S60 Concept, powered by a 180 horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline direct-injection engine, is an advance look at the next-generation S60 sedan that will go on sale in spring 2010.
The rear sliding door on the Volvo S60 concept created some "ahs" among onlookers and a debate whether the actual S60 will have the door that swings out and back, parallel with the body.
The 2010 Mazda3 five-door is four inches longer than it predecessor with a bigger front smile and slightly larger 2.5-liter inline-4 engine rated at 167 hp and 168 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed manual transmission and optional five-speed automatic. The Mazda3 boasts 21 mpg city/29 mpg highway with the six-speed manual transmission. Add 1 mpg in the city with the automatic.
The 2010 Mazda3 five-door was first shown December 3rd at the 2008 Bologna Auto Show in Italy and we saw it without a news conference fanfare in Detroit last week. The MAZDA3 5-Door has a 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback, a large center console and pampers you with dual-zone automatic climate controls, navigation system with a full-color display and a 10-speaker Bose Centerpoint Surround System with AudioPilot, as well as available leather-trimmed seats, an 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat with memory and heated front seats with 5-level variable heat settings.
For my regular blog readers, you know that the Mazda3 five-door is my 18 year old son's dream car so when I sent him a photo from my Blackberry, no surprise that he replied "sexybeast". The Mazda3, sedan and five-door, represented 42% of Mazda's 263,949 U.S. sales in 2008 so the all-new 2010 Mazda3's reception is critically important to the carmaker. The 2010 Mazda3 arrives in showrooms this Spring following its active high-volume trading on the Car Stock Exchange which shuts down this week.
The Dodge Circuit EV, Chrysler 200C EV, Chrysler Town & Country EV, Jeep Wrangler Unlimited EV and Jeep Patriot EV concepts were all part of Chrysler's Detroit Auto Show presentation with one of the five destined for production in 2010, assuming, of course, Chrysler successfully extends its 83 year heritage with our, the taxpayer, help.
The Dodge Circuit EV all-electric two-seater sports car is proof electric doesn't have to be ugly, in fact, it can actually have performance stats that impress including a 150-200 mile range per charge from its 268-horsepower electric motor with an advanced lithium-ion battery system. The Dodge Ciruit EV has a zero to 60 mph time of less than 5 seconds hitting a top speed of more than 120 mph and even has regenerative braking to charge the battery. If it looks like a Lotus, it should, it's based on the Europa. At this point, the Circuit is a proto-type.
The Chrysler 200C EV is a mini-300 though the wheelbase is only about 4 inches shorter and is capable of driving up to 40 miles on battery-only power - using zero gasoline and producing zero tailpipe emissions - the 200C EV uses a small gasoline engine and integrated electric generator that produces electricity to extend the driving range to 400 miles.
That's Ralph Gilles, Chrysler vice president of design explaining UConnect, Chrysler's Big Brother system to track your teen using W-Fi and satellite technology and an on-board camera to see who's driving and even regulate maximum speed and monitor erratic driving. If teens aren't your worry, you can store your personal settings including internet radio and MP3 access. The front seat passenger can access the internet which overcomes my pet peeve of current vehicles not recognizing a passenger who can program the nav system while in motion. All functions are managed by a touchscreen.
The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze five-passenger sedan replaces the Cobalt as a small Malibu and will have either a 140 horsepower 1.4-liter four-cylinder Turbo engine or a 138 horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission or Chevrolet's first six-speed automatic transmission in the compact segment. The Cruze will be offered in base, LS, LT and LTZ models when it appears in U.S. showrooms in April 2010.
The 2011 Chevrolet Volt is an extended-range electric vehicle that has a range of up to 40 miles using lithium-ion battery packs. Beyond 40 miles, a small engine-generator creates additional electricity to extend the range of the Volt several hundred additional miles. The Volt arrives in November 2010.
The Beat goes on but as the 2011Chevrolet Spark when it debuts at the Geneva Auto Show in March. The name Beat didn't seem to work in some cultures. The Spark goes on sale in 2011.
BMW introduced the Z4 two-piece converible hardtop and the MINI convertible while Volkswagen showed the Concept BlueSport, and Kia, the Soul'ster Concept - all topless when they want to be.
The 2010 Z4 sDrive 30i is BMW's first-ever retractable hardtop and comes with either a 255 horsepower inline six-cylinder engine or a 300 horsepower turbocharged inline six. The MINI Convertible shares the same 118 horsepower 1.6-liter engine as its hardtop siblings and has a starting MSRP of $24,550 (scroll back a few blog pages for a MINI photo).
Volkswagen debuted the Concept Blue Sport, a clean diesel sportscar with a 180 horsepower 2.0-liter TDI four-cylinder engine mated to the quick-shifting 6-speed DSG transmission creating a zero to 60 mph time of 6.2 seconds and achieving 35 mpg in the city and 50 mpg on the highway. The Concept Blue Sport is on the new MQB platform that underpins the Polo.
In other VW news, their new plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, will initially create 2,000 jobs to produce mid-size sedans by early 2011.
The Kia Soul'ster Concept name may have come from the old Saturday Night Live skit around the copy machine, if so, we may see a Soul'meister next. Concept by definition is a market tester to see if a vehicle can become a production variant so with the Soul'ster possibly being the most attractive Soul yet, it could be quick to follow the others which go on sale in March with two engine choices, a 122 horsepower 1.6-liter inline-4 or a 142 horsepower 2.0-liter inline-4.
After skipping the Los Angeles Auto Show Press Days in November, General Motors had a significant showing of vehicles at the Detroit Auto Show, especially its largest division, Chevrolet, which was 60% of GM's 2008 sales of 2,980,688. Chevy has the Camaro coming in March, the Equinox in June, the Cruze in April 2010, the Volt in November 2010 and the Spark, Orlando and new Aveo in 2011. The much smaller Buick division which ranks #6 out of 8 in terms of 2008 U.S. sales has the LaCrosse sedan coming as you know from the Car Stock Exchange which takes you well into the future. We have more details.
The all-new 2010 Buick LaCrosse is coming this summer with three trim levels and two engine choices. The CX and CXL get the 255 horsepower 3.0-liter V6 and the CXS is powered by a 280 horsepower 3.6-liter V6, both mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission for the front-wheel or available all-wheel drive choices. The LaCrosse which has the 100,000/5 year warranty, shares the same platform as Europe's Opel Insignia which went on sale a few months ago. LaCrosse interior designer Jeff Nasca says he was told to take his cues from the popular Enclave.
The refined styling of the LaCrosse should change Buick's stereo-typed grandfather driver image and attract younger buyers. Buick delivered 137,197 vehicles in 2008, a 26.2% drop from 2007 with a 3 vehicle line-up. The Lucerne had 2008 sales of 54,930, the Enclave 44,706 and LaCrosse 36,873.
In other GM news, the Chevy Malibu will be getting a 4-cylinder engine tied to a 6-speed transmission that will put its fuel consumption at 33 miles per gallon.
Day 2, and essentially the last day of of the Detroit Auto Show Press Days, had a very light schedule for high volume vehicles, unlike Day 1. The day started with Lincoln showing off the MKS with EcoBoost, a new under-the-hood option available this summer, a refreshed MKZ and Ford's Marketing Chief Jim Farley unveiled the MKT crossover, built on the same platform as the Lincoln MKS and Ford Taurus, due to hit showrooms later this summer. Also introduced was the Lincoln C concept complete with a talking computer to take voice commands for email, driving directions, phone calls and restaurant reservations.
General Motors Chairman Rick Wagoner returned without the cheering employees to announce a billion dollar plan to build a 31,000 square foot battery plant in Michigan in conjunction with research from the University of Michigan's Engineering College and a group of suppliers who could provide the best parts. All this for the Volt with its Voltec electric system due out late next year. Wagoner summarized his Day 1 announcement of the roll through of 17 models of cars which we will deal with in subsequent blogs.
Toyota unveiled the 2010 Prius gas/electric hybrid to a huge crowd touting a boost in miles per gallon from 46 to 50 mpg from its 134 horsepower engine. This 3rd generation Prius is due in late spring in the U.S. and Japan. Toyota expects annual volume of 180,000 up from last year's 160,000 as existing owners will return for a new model.
There was no press conference for the production version of the Honda Insight which was on display and will be on sale in the U.S. in April, slightly ahead of its new direct rival Prius.
With GM's and Chrysler's fate teetering with the economy and leaning on government, the Detroit Show had less glitz, no celebrities and an atmosphere of concern yet optimism for what may lie ahead for the industry in 2009. The main theme of this year's show was electric and fuel efficient cars, especially from the Detroit 3 who are trying hard please under the scrutiny of the public and government. Stay tuned for more detailed reports on the introductions at the Detroit Auto Show.
The day started off with the announcement of the North American Truck of the Year, the Ford F150, and the North American Car of the Year, the Hyundai Genesis sedan. We then moved to the General Motors conference where GM Chairman Rick Wagoner led cheering employees holding "Here To Stay" signs as they greeted a stream of vehicles that were paraded through Cobo Hall.
Among GM's introductions were the Chevrolet Beat concept that will be shown in Geneva in March as the Spark and the Chevrolet Orlando minivan that are expected in 2011. Also touted were the new Chevrolet Equinox compact crossover coming this summer, the longtime hyped Volt, the Buick LaCrosse along with Cadillac's SRX, CTS Sportwagon and Converj electric two-door concept.
Lexus debuted the HS250h, Ford showed the EcoBoost Flex, Shelby GT500 Mustang and the all new Taurus sedan. Chrysler talked about a line of electric vehicles including the 200C concept. BMW introduced the Z4 hardtop convertible, Volkswagen unveiled the BlueSport concept TT-like sportscar and Kia showed another variant concept of the Soul called the Soul'ster. Audi displayed the R8 5.2 V10, S4 and Sportback concept.
Rounding out the day, MINI unveiled their convertible, Subaru the Legacy concept, Jaguar the powerful R versions of the XF and XK coupes and Volvo the S60 concept.The pictured vehicles - the Equniox, Taurus and MINI - are coming and likely to be the best sellers among the production vehicles unveiled in Detroit on Day One of the Press Days.
Wagoner of GM and Chrysler's Chairman Bob Nardelli and Vice Chairman Jim Press were all upbeat and positive on their future after receiving their round of government bailouts. Stayed tuned for a Day 2 summary tomorrow and then more in-depth details of the onslaught of introductions.
Volvo Cars of North America says the XC60 will be a 2010 model arriving in March. The 281 horsepower T6 AWD 2010 XC60 comes standard with all-wheel drive with Instant Traction, HD Radio and City Safety, a driver support system aimed at preventing or mitigating collisions occurring at speeds of 19 mph or less. It utilizes a closing velocity sensor to help determine whether a collision is likely. Depending on the closing speed, City Safety will either pre-charge the brakes or automatically brake the XC60 to help avoid a rear-end collision or lessen its impact.
The XC60's standard sound system includes AUX and USB inputs to allow connection and control of personal music devices such as iPodsTM, memory sticks and other media players.
Final pricing for the XC60 will be released in January but Volvo says the price tag will be less than $40,000.
Stay tuned for breaking news from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
It's like the Academy Awards of the auto industry with the winners not necessarily being the top selling, but there are only two categories. Like the Oscars, an accounting firm handles the tabulation of votes, in this case, by the 50 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada who represent magazines, television, radio, newspapers and web sites.
The winners will be announced this Sunday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit for the North American Car of the Year and the North American Truck of the Year. The awards designed to recognize the most outstanding vehicles of the year based on factors that include innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar. For the first time in 16 years diesel-powered vehicles are among the finalists. There are two 50-state compliant diesels, one in each category. Five of the six finalists, and most of the vehicles considered, have traded on the Car Stock Exchange.
In the car category, the drum roll in on for the Ford Flex, Hyundai Genesis and Volkswagen Jetta TDI. The three finalists were chosen from: Audi A4, BMW 1 Series, Cadillac CTS-V, Dodge Challenger, Ford Flex, Honda Fit, Hyundai Genesis, Jaguar XF, Lincoln MKS, Mazda 6, Nissan GT-R, Pontiac G8, Toyota Venza, Volkswagen Jetta TDI.
In the truck category, the Dodge Ram, Ford F-150 and Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTEC are finalists as pulled from this list of trucks that, like the cars, had to be "all-new" or "substantially changed" from the previous model: BMW X6, Chevrolet Traverse, Dodge Ram, Ford F-150, Honda Pilot, Infiniti FX35/50, Kia Borrego, Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTEC, Nissan Murano, Subaru Forester, Volkswagen Tiguan.
Last year the North American Car of the Year was the Chevrolet Malibu and the North American Truck of the Year was the Mazda CX-9. Like the Oscars, you may be swayed to at least see the winner and even possibly buy it. Who would you vote for? Stay tuned, we'll have the winners for you on Sunday.
The 2010 Kia Soul appears to have taken the lead in the boxcar war by offering a $1,455 lower starting price than the 2009 Scion xD and $1,755 lower MSRP than the Scion xB. The Soul will start at $13,995 for the base manual transmission model with a 122 horsepower 1.6 liter four-cylinder engine, ABS, electronic stability control, six airbags, air conditioning, an audio system featuring CD, MP3 (USB and AUX inputs) and Sirius Satellite radio, tire pressure monitoring system, electronic stability Control (ESC) and power windows and locks.
The next three trim levels have the 142 horsepower 2.0 liter inline-four cylinder engine in either five speed manual or automatic transmissions. The Soul + starts at $15,645 for manual and $16,595 for automatic, the Soul! and Soul Sport both start at $17,645 for manual and $18,595 for automatic. The Soul + adds features like the Bluetooth hands-free kit, electric powered outside mirrors, 16-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels, disc brakes on all "corners", keyless entry and cruise control, while the top Soul! (exclaim) and Soul Sport have 18-inch allys, fog lights, leather wrapped steering wheel and audio upgrade and metal finish interior trim.
The 2009 Maserati GranTurismo has a 405 horsepower 4.2-liter V8, with zero to 60 mph acceleration of just 5.1 seconds. The 2009 Maserati GranTurismo base model lists for $117,500 and the 433 horsepower 4.7-liter V8 S model for $135,000.
The 2009 Ferrari California 2door hardtop convertible has a 460 horsepower 4.3-liter V8 that launches it from zero to 60 in 4 seconds. Price tag is $200,000. The new dual-clutch transmission defaults to fully automatic mode with each restart of the engine.
The 2009 Aston Martin DB9 with its 470 horsepower 6.0-liter V12 starts at $182,450. Are you shaken or stirred by any of these exotic cars that were shown in mid-November in Los Angeles?
The all-new 2009 Nissan 370Z Coupe just went on sale, a few days earlier than expected, with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting at $29,930 with a 6-speed manual transmission and $31,230 with the new 7-speed automatic transmission mated to the standard 332-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine. The new Z is also offered in a 370Z Coupe Touring model, which is priced at $34,460 with the 6-speed manual and $35,760 with the 7-speed automatic transmission.
Two option packages are offered: the Sport Package, priced at just $3,000, with 19-inch RAYS forged wheels and Bridgestone Potenza tires, aerodynamic front and rear spoiler, larger Nissan Sport Brakes, SynchroRev Match (6-speed manual transmission only) and Viscous Limited Slip Differential; and the Navigation Package, priced at $1,850, with Hard Drive-based Nissan Navigation System, 9.3GB Music Box Hard Drive and Interface System for iPod.
The smart Fortwo was introduced in Canada in 2004 and initially it was only available with a 40 horsepower .8 liter turbo-diesel engine which reportedly gets 61 mpg city and 74 mpg highway for a combined 69 miles per gallon rating to go more than 330 miles on its 4.8 gallon tank. My cousin bought hers in 2006 and gave me a fun three hour tour around Ottawa, Canada's capitol city. As a smart passenger looking forward it seems like any other car, you don't notice that the vehicle is only 8 feet 10 inches long and it zips around with impressive performance.
My cousin calls her smart, Angus, because of our Scottish ancestry and in her words: "Angus is great in the city, outmaneuvering all those big trucks and such; fun to drive (the reactions we get from other people must be what it's like to be a star--lots of smiles and waves)."
She goes on to say that, "Angus, having both a manual and an automatic-of-a-sort transmission, can easily adapt to most driving conditions. However, he is a little lightweight so I pack two 10 kg containers of kitty litter to help with driving in winter. He doesn't like climbing hills in automatic if the footing is uncertain, so I switch to manual and have more control. As well, in windy conditions on the highway, we definitely swing and sway.
He is big enough though for most of my needs. I can even get an IKEA bookcase into him by flattening the passenger front seat. Packing a standard poodle and a travel bag in the back was no problem. Mac the poodle could lie down in comfort and enjoy the changing scenery.
In short, I really enjoy owning Angus. I rarely have to pay more than $15 for fueling him."
Who can argue with that and 69 miles to the gallon!
In Southern California an automotive journalist's vehicle test drive is normally a one week routine experience of to-and-from work, possibly with a road trip thrown in, and typically in ideal driving conditions. In October I did a Seattle-to-Vancouver week long round trip test drive and got the famed Northwest rain. However, my recently completely pre-Christmas vehicle evaluation in a rear-wheel drive Hyundai Genesis on the same roads proved to be a test of survival.
Just two hours after leaving SeaTac airport we hit a blizzard 50 miles south of the U.S.-Canada border. The hazardous snowy driving conditions continued into British Columbia with just one mild skid into the snow bank around the center divide. The usual 3 hour drive took five. During my five day snow drive, I got stuck twice, getting out of the first encounter with the help of shovels and the second with patience and my strong son's pushing persistence. This driving experience engaged the ESC, Electronic Stability Control, almost continuously and it worked well - very well to ensure control and handling on the slippery snowy roads including the I5 highway.
The 2009 Hyundai Genesis with the 290 horsepower V6 engine was a smooth cruiser at 80 miles an hour on the dry highway and responsive in the snow for a rear-wheel drive sedan. The Genesis tested had a $36,000 MSRP with the moonroof and impressive upgraded crystal clear sound system lifting the price above the $32,250 base price.
2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring five-door compact will start at $18,495 (including the freight charge of $695) for a well-equipped entry-level model and $19,995 for one featuring a Premium-Sport package when it arrives at dealerships in the first quarter of 2009.
Elantra Touring has the same 138 horsepower 16-valve 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder found in the Elantra sedan. With a manual transmission, the Elantra Touring's mileage is 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway according to the EPA. With the optional four-speed, automatic transmission, the Elantra Touring's EPA rating is 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway.
The Elantra Touring offers standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control, ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist, and six standard airbags. Standard equipment also includes air conditioning, power windows, heated mirrors, door locks, remote keyless entry with alarm, steering wheel-mounted cruise control and audio controls, eight-way adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support, a cooled glove box and plenty of storage compartments. An integrated 172-Watt AM/FM/XM Satellite Radio/CD/MP3 audio system with six speakers, USB input and auxiliary input jack are also standard. The Premium-Sport package adds a power sunroof with tilt and slide functions, heated front seats and 17-inch alloy wheels with P215/45VR17 tires.
The 255 horsepower 2009 Audi A6 3.2 sedan Premium will start at $45,100, the 300 horsepower Audi A6 3.0T quattro sedan Premium will start at $50,100 and the Audi A6 3.0T quattro Avant Premium will start at $53,310. The 350 horsepower Audi A6 4.2 quattro sedan will start at $60,950, and the 435 horsepower 5.2 FSI V10 Audi S6 will start at $75,900. Prices do not include a destination charge of $825, taxes, title or dealer charges.
The 2009 Audi A6 3.0T quattro has an energy-recuperating alternator and efficiency-optimized gear ratios, to achieve 26 mpg highway and 18 mpg in city driving for a combined EPA fuel economy rating of 21 mpg.
The new A6 will also come with additional standard equipment, including a sunroof, Bluetooth, Homelink, heated front seats on quattro models, three months of free SIRIUS satellite radio service and Audi music interface with iPod connectivity. The 2009 Audi A6 which trades on the Car Stock Exchange is scheduled to arrive in U.S. dealerships by the beginning of January.
The Honda FC Sport shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show a month ago, proves that alternative fuel vehicles don't have to be ugly - they can be exotic, racecar-like and futuristic. The hydrogen-powered, three-seat FC Sport takes Honda's V Flow fuel cell technology - already in the Honda FCX Clarity sedan - and reconfigures it into a lightweight sports car design with an ultra-low center of gravity, powerful electric motor performance and zero-emissions.
The FC Sport is configured to accommodate a custom-formed high-power fuel cell stack, located between the rear seats, and a battery pack placed low in the middle of the vehicle. The electric motor resides just forward of the rear axle. Two fuel storage tanks, visible from above, are located above the rear axle.
The FCX Clarity gets a gas equivalent combined city and highway of 74 miles per gallon with a range of 280 miles from the 134 horsepower electric motor fueled by compressed hydrogen gas. When the infrastructure is built - this could be the fuel of the future.
Honda is trying to answer the dilemma of hydrogen refueling by testing the fourth generation Home Energy Station, developed in partnership with Plug Power, Inc. The Home Energy Station is a home-based refueling unit that provides hydrogen from natural gas for vehicle refueling, heat for domestic hot water use and electricity for the home. Honda R&D is also operating an experimental solar cell-powered hydrogen refueling station in Torrance, California, with next-generation CIGS solar cells which lowers the amount of non-renewable energy required for hydrogen production.
The 2009 Porsche Boxster and Cayman were shown at the Los Angeles Show because Southern California is a major market for Porsche. The Boxster has been thoroughly face-lifted with a new front and rear end and a 255 horsepower 2.9-liter six-cylinder engine - 10 horsepower more than the current model, while the upgraded Boxster S gets a direct-injected 310 horsepower 3.4-liter six cyclinder engine mated to a new dual-clutch seven-speed automated manual transmission which not only shifts faster than the Tiptronic, but also delivers better fuel mileage.
The 2009 Porsche Cayman's engines are a 265 horsepower for the base and 320 horsepower for Cayman S model. The new Boxster and Cayman go on sale in March in the U.S.
In November, Porshe had U.S. sales of 1,378 down from November 2007's record-setting 2,662. Through eleven months of 2008, Porsche's U.S. sales were 23,881 versus 31,802 in 2007, a decline of 25 percent.
The all-new fifth generation BMW 750Li comes with a new 400 horsepower 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 engine with direct injection that delivers 450lb-ft of torque sitting on a multi-link double-wishbone front suspension. The long wheelbase 750Li has self-leveling air suspension as standard and Integral Active Steering, which adds speed-sensitive rear-wheel steering. The standard Driving Dynamics Control allows the driver to choose between four settings for shock-absorber firmness, transmission shift characteristics, engine-throttle response and power-steering assist. Other options to help the 750Li driver include Active Cruise Control with new stop-and-go capability, Lane Departure Warning, Active Blind Spot Detection, Head-up Display, High Beam Assistant, BMW Night Vision with new Pedestrian Detection, Side View and Back-up Cameras.
The 750Li introduction at the Los Angeles Auto Show drew some interesting comments about its appearance - one trained eye called it "boring", which may be a compliment after previous 7 Series design changes, like the 2001 flat spoiler-style trunk, drew criticism. I jumped into the driver's seat and found it immediately fit me like a glove, with support from my head right down to the pedals. Consumers will have to decide whether the improvements to the iDrive are in fact that - improvements. Ease-of-use is subjective. I can remember playing with the revolutionary iDrive control in the 2001 model attempting to figure out how it controled its 700 functions. Our Edmunds.com reviewers say "the new shortcut buttons to the various functions such as radio and navigation (including a "back" button like an Internet browser) can be operated by feel, and navigating through its various menus is far more intuitive."
The rear-steering feature apparently makes the 750i more agile reducing the turning radius by 28 inches with rear wheels that move up to 3 degrees in the opposite direction from the fronts at low speeds. At higher speeds, the rear wheels turn in phase with the fronts to facilitate lane changes.
BMW Group's U.S. sales this year are down 6.8% from 2007 and without MINI's help, just the BMW brand has seen a 12.3% drop from 2007. The all-new 750Li may help. It went on sale in Europe a month ago and in the first two weeks had sales of 677 - not bad for a car that sells for $80,000 in the U.S., that's the 2008 750Li, we don't have an official price yet for the 2009 model.
Globally, the BMW Group has delivered 1,323,572 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand automobiles to customers between January and November 2008, down -1.8% from 2007. Worldwide MINI sales grew 7.6% between January and November 2008 compared to 2007 to 217,405 and Rolls-Royce in the first eleven months of 2008 has sold 1,055 vehicles, up 28.5% over 2007.
The new 2009 BMW 7 Series, which trades on the Car Stock Exchange, goes on sale in the March, April time frame with an estimated price of "low 80,000's" for the 750i and "mid 80,000's for the longer wheelbase 750Li.
Fast and furious may best describe the rare pace of Congress to pass a bailout plan to let General Motors and privately-owned Chrysler continue their unprofitable businesses in these troubled economic times. Let's take a break and relish in the earlier than expected release of the fourth installment of the feature film that marks the return of Vin Diesel who made just a cameo appearance in the last "Fast & Furious" feature.
A carmaker that can boast a 2008 sales increase over 2007 will have the starring car. The 2008 Impreza WRX STI, which was on display at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas a month ago, is featured in the upcoming "Fast & Furious 4" film. The suped-up WRX STI taken from the World Rally Car Concept has a Veilside body kit and hood and the stock turbocharged 305 horsepower Subaru Boxer engine producing 290 lb-ft of torque for the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system. The Perrin intake, Cobb Tuning ignition and 3 inch Cobb exhaust boosts horsepower a bit.
The next sequel in NBC/Universal's "Fast & Furious" series, filmed in Los Angeles and Mexican desert, will hit U.S. theaters on April 3rd, two months ahead of the original June 12th release date. The $34,995 Subaru Impreza WRX STI was one of the first vehicles to debut on the Car Stock Exchange just over nine months ago - how time flies.
The 2009 all-new Suzuki Equator pickup truck, the re-badged Nissan Frontier, will start at $17,995 for the Extended Cab Base two-wheel drive model with a 152 horsepower 2.5-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder engine that produces 171 lb.-ft. of torque that will also power the Comfort and Premium models. The Sport trim line, in either 2WD or 4WD, has the 261 horsepower 4.0-liter, V6 DOHC engine producing 281 lb.-ft. of torque with a five-speed automatic transmission.
The Equator Crew Cab Base two-wheel drive model starts at $23,985 while the Crew Cab Sport, which adds aluminum alloy wheels, cruise control and power windows and door locks starts at $25,150 for 2WD and $28,095 for 4WD models. The Equator Crew Cab RMZ-4 Off-Road version which starts at $29,325. An optional Sport Package for $2,050 on RMZ-4 models adds a factory-installed moonroof, Vehicle Dynamic Control, Hill Descent Control, Hill Hold Control, 380-watt Rockford-Fosgate AM/FM/6CD/XM Satellite Radio with eight high-performance speakers and subwoofer, an auxiliary input jack and Bluetooth hands-free phone system.
The 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara four-cylinder Base model starts at $19,249, the Premium model starts at $19,649, the XSport model starts at $22,499 and the top-of-the-line Luxury version at $23,999 for the two-wheel drive and $25,649 for the four-wheel drive.
The 2010 Ford Mustang V6 base model starts at $21,845, including an $850 destination charge making it $1,150 cheaper than its rival Camaro and $150 less expensive than the Challenger muscle car. The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro starts at $22,995, including a $750 destination charge and the base V6 2009 Dodge Challenger starts at $21,995, including a $675 destination charge.
The loaded 2010 Ford Mustang GT Convertible Premium model starts at $36,845, while the top trim 2010 Chevrolet Camaro V8 starts at $30,995. The prices are close enough that personal preferences will dictate the customer choice. Childhood memories for the older buyers will fuel the nostalgic buying impulse while appearance, trim levels, dealer deals, incentives, peer influences and other factors may sway the younger shoppers. The muscle car segment may suffer due to gas prices when they surge again and the current economic environment affecting the entire industry will steer buyers to practicality over personal statement.
Ford has sold 87,224 2009 model Mustangs in 2008, down 30.9% from 2007. Let's look at November - 2009 Mustang 3,667 vs. Challenger 3,364 - close race which the 2010 Mustang enters early next year followed by the Camaro in the Spring. All three muscle cars trade on the Car Stock Exchange.
The 2009 Audi Q5 introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show will be one of those $40,000+ premium compact SUV-type vehicles that will compete with the all-new 2010 Lexus RX 350, Acura MDX, Infiniti FX35 and BMW X3 and X5. Measuring 182.2 inches long, the Q5 is more than two inches longer than the X3, but shorter than the rest, including the 2010 RX 350 which will grow an inch and half from the 2009 model to 187.8 inches - 5 and a half inches longer than the Q5. Audi says the Q5 dimensions make "it sportier than any of its competitors".
Small is now IN in the U.S. and the Q5 is a great addition to the Audi line-up that should attract Yuppies who are starting families and need to move from their A4 while keeping the handling characteristics. I'd expect competitors' customers to also look hard at the Q5.
The Q5 will have the 3.2-liter FSI V6, rated at 270 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, mated to a conventional six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission equipped with the latest version of quattro four-wheel drive.
The third generation RX 350, also unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show with the new RX 450 hybrid, will be powered by an improved 275-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 engine mated to an electrically controlled, sequential-shift six-speed transaxle. The all-wheel-drive version will feature an Active Torque Control AWD system that optimizes torque depending on driving conditions. The RX 350 will have an all-new "Remote Touch" controller and will feature voice recognition as standard, the new navigation system will also include a new casual language voice-recognition system that acknowledges conversational commands. The new RX will have 10 standard airbags, including dual-stage driver and front-passenger airbags (including the Lexus exclusive twin-chamber front-passenger airbag), driver and front-passenger knee airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side airbags, and side-curtain airbags.
The Q5 is expected to arrive in U.S. showrooms in the Spring and the all-new RX 350 comes in February.
2010 Honda Insight Concept hybrid which goes on sale in the Spring got alot of attention at the Los Angeles Auto Show as it will take on the successful Toyota Prius. Honda will introduce the production Insight at the Detroit Auto Show in January and expects first year sales to top 100,000 in the U.S. and 200,000 globally, priced in the U.S. at "around $20,000". Honda was smart to revive the Insight name that badged its first gas-hybrid vehicle in 1999 giving it instant recognition as a hybrid.
The Honda Insight Concept has the Ecological Drive Assist System, or Eco Assist for short, that provided a driver-activated ECON mode that optimizes control of the CVT (continuously variable transmission), powertrain components to conserve fuel and a feedback function that tells the driver if he or she is driving environmentally responsibly. Your driving habits make a difference in your fuel consumption and Honda is driving that point home (excuse the pun) by giving you immediate about your current driving techniques and reports covering your longer term performance. The green "ECON" button on the instrument panel activates ECON mode to conserve fuel by adjusting the air conditioner operation to engage the idle stop feature sooner and increasing battery charging during regenerative braking.
The guidance function uses the speedometer background's color-changing, three-dimensional appearance to indicate fuel efficiency in real time. Fuel-saving activities like smooth acceleration and braking make the meter glow green. Somewhat less efficient driving makes the meter glow blue-green. Aggressive starts and stops that consume extra fuel make the meter glow blue.
The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI clean diesel was awarded the 2009 Green Car of the Year by Green Car Journal after recently taking the Most Fuel Efficient Compact category in the annual EPA and Energy Departments' list of the most fuel efficient vehicles.
Stefan Jacoby, CEO, Volkswagen Group of America said "with more than 8,000 units already sold since its mid-August market introduction, it's clear that a Volkswagen clean diesel is what the people want." The other finalists for the award were the BMW 335d, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Saturn Vue 2-Mode Hybrid and smart fortwo. The Volkswagen Jetta TDI took top spot - another vote of confidence that a diesel with EPA estimates of 30 mpg City and 41 mpg Highway can compete with the hybrids. Volkswagen went a step further to evaluate the real world fuel economy of the Jetta TDI and found it performed 24 percent better in real world conditions, achieving 38 mpg in the City and 44 mpg on the Highway. Earlier this year the Jetta TDI set a new Guinness World Record for Lowest Fuel Consumption as it averaged 58.82 miles per gallon as it traveled through the 48 contiguous states. The Jetta TDI sells for $21,990.
Now let's get really rev'd up with the Jetta TDI Cup "Street" edition special model.....
Buongiorno! Mazda unveiled the all-new Mazda3 sedan at the L.A. Auto Show last week but where was the new hatchback, the model that my son has wanted for two years since getting his drivers license? Mazda North American Operations President Jim O'Sullivan told me it'll be introduced at an auto show before year end. With the Detroit, Chicago and New York shows all next year it sounded like a baloney response. Close, Bologna.
Mazda will show the all-new 2010 MAZDA3 5-Door at the Bologna Motor Show next Wednesday December 3rd. All 2010 MAZDA3 5-Door models will be equipped with the newly developed 167 horsepower 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine that produces 168 lb.-ft. of torque and features like Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio capability, self-leveling Bi-Xenon High-Intensity-Discharge headlights with Adaptive Front-lighting System and Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry & Start System with push-button start. Molto bene! (very good!)
In other recent Mazda news, Ford is saying ciao and reducing its stake in Mazda from 33.4 percent to just over 13 percent through the sale of shares to Mazda and a group of Mazda's strategic business partners. The sales of the Mazda shares will net Ford approximately $540 million.
The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid unveiled last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show starts at $27,270, $8,000 more than the Fusion S base model. By comparison, the 2009 Toyota Prius starts at $22,000, the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid at $23,550 and the 2009 Toyota Camry hybrid which is within an inch in length to the Fusion sedan starts at $26,150, $1,120 less. Keep in mind, the Fusion hybrid and its Mercury Milan sibling will have next-generation hybrid technology which Ford says will have significant advantages over current hybrids when they hit showrooms in the Spring.
The Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids have the new 155 horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine running the Atkinson cycle mated to an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission (e-CVT). Ford says its hybrids can operate up to 47 mph in pure electric mode, approximately twice as fast as some competitors and the city driving range on a single tank of gas is expected to be more than 700 miles.
I had a fun-spirited conversation with Hyundai Motor America's President and Chief Executive Officer Jong Eun Kim at the L.A. Auto Show last week as we watched his sister company, Kia, unveil the Soul. Today we learned why Mr. Kim was in such a good mood - he's heading back to Hyundai Motor Company headquarters in Korea.
John Krafcik has been promoted to Acting President and Chief Executive Officer and will be responsible for implementation of strategic direction and management of the company's operations. Krafcik, who joined Hyundai in April 2004 from Ford Motor Company, moves up from his post of Vice President of Product Development and Strategic Planning.
Former BMW North America and Volvo Cars North America President, Vic Doolan told me at the L.A. Auto Show that the Hyundai Genesis sedan is "one hell of a motor car". Those sentiments are also found on Edmunds.com CarSpace pages.
The sizzle around the 2009 Hyundai Genesis sedan, which went on sale in the summer, continued at SEMA in Las Vegas a few weeks ago with three variants brought to us from RKSport/Hyundai America Technical Center (HATCI), RIDES magazine and DUB magazine.
The RKSport Genesis with a white body and black hood and roof has a Hyundai-developed screw-type supercharged 4.6 liter Tau V8 engine taking the stock 375 horsepower up to 460 horsepower enabling a zero to sixty dash in 4.9 seconds, not bad for a luxury sedan. With cylinder deactivation, similar to some GM and Chrysler engines, the Genesis achieves 18 miles per gallon in city and 27 miles per gallon on the highway matching the fuel economy of the Genesis 3.8-liter V6 engine.
The 2009 front-wheel-drive Nissan cube made its U.S. debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show after a decade of popularity in Japan with a surprisingly male dominated ownership. The 2009 cube is larger than its Japanese predecessor and comes with a standard 122-horsepower 1.8-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine and a choice of Nissan's advanced, smooth-shifting Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) or 6-speed manual transmission. The cube is expected to get over 30 mpg highway mated to the CVT transmission. Cube is offered in three models: cube 1.8, cube 1.8 S and cube 1.8 SL with six air bags, wide doors, a large wraparound rear window and a refrigerator-style rear door. The cube will be available for the first time in the United States beginning in spring 2009. The less powerful cube has a similar boxy shape to the 158 horsepower Scion xB, 166 horsepower Honda Element and expected 138 horsepower Kia Soul but it's also the shortest of the four. At 156.7 inches, the cube is over foot shorter than the Element, more than 10 inches shorter than the Scion xB and two-and-a-half inches shorter than the Soul. If beauty, not power and size, is in the eyes of the beholder and the price and personality statement are right, the cube should fit in the square garage.
Nine versions of the Kia Soul are on display at the L.A. Auto Show to drive home the point that the target younger generation can personalize their Soul with a sunroof, body graphics, grills, wheels and skirts. Tom Loveless, vice president, sales at Kia Motors America said, "the Soul will be aggressively priced in the teens" when it arrives in showrooms at the end of March.
There are four trim levels with the base Soul coming with a 122 horsepower 1.6-liter inline-4 engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. A notch above the base is the '+' (plus) and above that are the '!' (exclamation) and the Sport which get a 142 horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with either a five-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic achieving 31 miles per gallon on the highway.
The Soul has eleven color choices with Kia creating names for the eight paints that aren't shared with other Kia models. Those new names make a statement about the Soul and its target demographic. Here's a translation of Kia's color chart: cream = dune, brown = java, orange = ignition, green = alien, black = shadow, red = molten, blue grey = ghost, blue striped = denim while the shared colors are silver, white and titanium.
The Audi Q5 (above) was one of eight Car Stock Exchange traded vehicles shown on the first day of the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The 2010 MustangGT (above) is coming in hardtop and convertible models just in time to take on the Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger.
Here's the list of L.A. Auto Show Day 1 Car Stock Exchange vehicle debuts in alphabetical order: 2009 Audi Q5 with its 3.2 FSI six cylinder engine will be in showrooms by April. 2009 BMW 750i goes on sale in March with all-wheel drive version coming in September. 2009 Ford Fusion hybrid gets 700 miles on one tank. 2010 Ford Mustang is coming this Spring and starting at $21,845 for the base V6 model. 2010 Honda Insight hybrid goes on sale in the Spring and Honda expects first year sales to top 100,000 as it challenges the Toyota Prius. 2010 Mazda3 sedan was shown in Los Angeles and the hatchback model will be revealed at another show before both hit showrooms in the 1st quarter. 2009 Nissan 370Z base model starts at $29,930 and the Touring model price will come soon. 2009 Nissan Cube goes on sale at the end of April with many tech features.
This is not a concept, this is a smart fortwo that has been converted to a Batmobile courtesy of movie car designer George Barris and it's selling. According to Vertical Doors, Inc. out of Corona, as of November 4th when I was talked to them at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, 11 smart Batmobiles have been sold. This Batmobile has a new interior, doors, wheels, tires, suspension, paint, wings and pipe, but the same 70 horsepower 1.0 liter Inline 3 engine as the smart fourtwo which gets 33 mpg city / 41 mpg highway.
The smart fortwo Passion Coupe starts at $13,990, add the $20,000 Batmobile conversion and you can fight crime with a low annual fuel bill. The smart fortwo was one of the original Car Stock Exchange traded vehicles that retired at the end of August, achieving sales of 14,636 in its first six months on the market, just shy of the Edmunds.com estimate of 15,570. Sales may have rocketed past that projection had the Batmobile option been available and widely marketed. "To the L.A. Auto Show Batman!"
The 2009 Hyundai Genesis sedan, already on sale, and the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe, coming on March 1st, both trade on the Car Stock Exchange. At the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Hyundai showed off enhanced versions of Genesis Coupe to tantalize prospective buyers.
Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) created the "Art of Speed" Genesis Coupe, by taking the already light weight Genesis Coupe and make it even lighter. For example, a factory Hyundai Genesis Coupe door weighs 68 pounds but modifications made by RMR reduce the door weight to just 8.5 pounds.The rear widebody fenders are made out of fiberglass and blend into the vehicle design. The RMR Genesis Coupe utilizes a KW coilover suspension with two-way adjustable damping technology. This rear wheel drive Genesis coupe is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, which comes standard on the Genesis Coupe 2.0T, but RMR enhanced it by a Turbonetics turbocharger, waistgate and blow-off valve to provide extra horsepower and torque. RMR also designed a custom intake manifold to ensure better engine breathing.
This is HKS Genesis Coupedesigned by performance parts maker HKSwhich includes a GT2835R turbocharger upgrade and much more. When the target demographic sees what can be done, they may be far more inclined to make the purchase and start the personalization process. We'll see starting March 1st.
The 2009 Nissan 370Z starts trading on the Car Stock Exchange tomorrow and the excitement is building. Inside Line hosted a party on Saturday in Marina del Rey, California, inviting Z owners to bring in their prize Z possessions while Edmunds.com and Nissan showed off three new 2009 370Z coupes with different trim levels.
I gained entrance to the party with this photo of my two-seater 1978 Datsun 280Z which I got when I was single, drove it for 10 years and was forced to sell for a sedan just two days before my first child was born. The Z may have helped me lure the girl in the photo who is still with me thirty years later, though she won't tell.
The British Columbia ON AIR license plates went along with my TV sportscasting job which the Z image fitted perfectly. In fact, a sportscaster at a competing Vancouver station also had a Z. You may remember Bruce Nolan, the Jim Carrey reporter character in the 2003 Universal film, Bruce, Almighty drove a 280Z.
I've been without my Z for twenty years, and now with my kids driving themselves, is it time for me and other baby boomers to jump back into a two-seater sports car? The new 2009 Nissan 370Z is a performance sports car again, a modern version of the 280Z which I had and disappeared with the introduction of the softer-riding ZX models.
The Mercedes-Benz GLK, which trades on the Car Stock Exchange, was customized by four after-market companies in a 45 day competition to produce unique versions of the new small SUV. SEMA Show attendees voted last week and starting next week Los Angeles Auto Show goers will vote on the four GLK concepts: the RennTech Rally Racer, Brabus Widestar, the Urban Whip or the Four Corners Rock Crawler. Votes will be tallied and the winner will be announced on December 2, 2008.
Florida-based RennTech
, which modifies AMG vehicles, boosted the GLK's standard 268 horsepower to a 400 horsepower hybrid powertrain, added side air takes and a new front and rear. Mercedes plans to enter the Rally Racer GLK
concept into the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Florida-based Boulevard Customs
created the Urban Whip
by completely removing the roof, windows and door handles from a GLK 350. The original windshield was cut to accommodate the topless transition. The doors are opened by touching a sensor in the side mirror. A wide-body styling kit was used to add a fiberglass rear bumper and side skirt with 26-inch wheels and tires, a redesigned interior and a 5,700 watt stereo system. The $150,000 conversion turns the the GLK into a $200,000 vehicle. Find cover when it rains!
The other two GLK entries have not been as radically altered as the two shown above. The Four Corners Rock Crawler, designed to accommodate skate- and wakeboarders, was designed by Legendary Motor Cars and includes a winching system for extreme sports enthusiasts while the Brabus Widestar is based on a GLK300 Bluetec dressed in wide front and rear wheel arches and bumpers with Brabus wheels and a customized interior.
This is a testament to the fact that you can do almost anything you want to customize your vehicle - if you have the money. The 2009 Mercedes-Benz GLK goes on sale in January.
The Ford F-Series topped the U.S. sales chart at the end of October with sales of 43,324 for the month bringing the 2008 total after 10 months to 436,022, followed by the Chevrolet Silverado pickup with 402,191 and Toyota Camry at 386,118. The introduction of the new F-150 with one full month of sales in the market gave F-Series sales a boost. Last week at SEMA, four versions of the new F-150 were on display to give pickup truck shoppers more to features to draw them to the Ford.
The 2009 Ford F-150 Heavy Duty DeWalt Contractor truck is built on the base XLT Super Cab 4X4 with 8 foot bed and powered by the 5.4 liter 3-valve Triton V8 which has been converted into this $100,000 vehicle. Features include Roush cold air intake and performance exhaust and Mickey Thompson Baja Radial tires on 20 inch wheels. The Ford Work Solutions system featuring Tool Link RFID DeWalt inventory management system helps contractors keep track of their tools. There's an integrated on-board Heavy Duty DeWalt air compressor and two 3,000 Watt Power Invertors with 110V power outlets while inside the cabin there's a built-in charger for battery-powered tools in the center console, a customized storage area under the back-row seat and custom Leather Katzkin seats.
The 2009 Ford F-150 FX-4 "Fahrenheit F-150" by X-Treme Toyz is raised 6 inches by a Fabtech suspension system and Dirt Logic shocks and has clearance cameras at the front and rear ends for off-roading. It has a 9,000-pound winch, a bike rack and a Bedslide sliding cargo drawer equipped with a tool box.
The 2009 Ford F-150 by Street Scene Equipment, is the formal truck, loaded for comfort and luxury and the fourth SEMA F-150 is a fully electric Hi-Pa Drive F-150. These dream F-150's can only help sales and thus influence your trading of the F-150 on the Car Stock Exchange.
As we remember our war veterans on this Veteran's Day, let's look at the vehicles that began in combat, remain in our Forces' fleets and are also sold to civilians.
General Motors needs to revive, spruce up and gain attention for its consumer Hummer brand to attract prospective buyers not only for its vehicles but the entire brand. Three Hummer Concepts were on display at the SEMA Show last week, that's Concepts with a capital 'C' meaning there is no production promise.
The H3T which trades on the Car Stock Exchangeand sold 251 in its first full sales month in October was shown in its Weekend Warrior variant with an enhanced 5.3-liter V8 with upgrades coming from the GM Performance Parts catalog to provide 70 more horsepower onto the 300 horsepower production engine. The 5.3-liter V8 comes with the Alpha 4-door Crew Cab 4WD production model that starts at $36,105.
The H3 X Concept comes from the H3 X Alpha with the typical SEMA wheel and tire treatment and other kit add-ons. The recent significant drop in gas prices, if it lasts, should be a blessing for potential Hummer buyers. I'm confident that Jim Taylor, Hummer's new CEO, will work his Cadillac magic to boost the brand.
General Motors has given us almost too much warning on vehicles that will be hitting the streets way down the road. Case in point - the all-new 2010 Camaro, seen in the 2007 movie "Transformers", will hit dealer showrooms shortly after production starts in mid-February at GM's Oshawa, Ontario facility. We learned a month ago that the Camaro starts at $22,995 MSRP for the V-6-powered LS model and $30,995 for the V-8-powered Camaro SS (all prices include $750 destination charge). GM says that customer ordering opened on Oct. 13th after more than 600,000 enthusiasts had already requested information on the Camaro since its production was announced. All this pre-production hype and interest should get sales off to a running start.
Four Camaro concept vehicles shown at SEMA last week in Las Vegas will stimulate buyers to personalize and upgrade the rebirth of this 1960s muscle car.
Handsome in a matte monochromatic black finish, this Camaro is powered by a production 300 horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine. I grew up in my father's black cars, own three black vehicles so I would have to say this would be my preference.
This blue-and-yellow Camaro GS Racecar Concept with a production LS3 V8 and a Tremec six-speed manual transmission was inspried by Mark Donohue's championship-winning Camaro from the 1969 Trans Am series and developed by North Carolina-based Riley Technologies.
The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro trades on the Car Stock Exchange with Edmunds.com predicting sales of 36,000 in the first full six months on the market. The SEMA concepts stir imagination and possibly pre-orders.
The 2009 Volkswagen Performance CC sedan gets performance enhancing add-ons for the SEMA after-market trade show in Las Vegas this week. The 2.0L TSI engine has been upgraded by Alabama-based APR with their stage 3 turbocharger system, the highest of their three performance levels. In Full Power mode the Performance CC brings 311 hp and 313 lbs. ft. torque, the GT mode offers 252 hp and 268 lbs. ft. of torque and the Eco mode offers 222 hp and 236 lbs. ft. of torque. A production 2.0T CC automatic gets 28 hwy/19 city and in Eco mode gets 33 hwy, 27 city.
APR President/CEO Stephen Hooks tells me, "you get can 45 more horsepower, 85 more lbs. ft. of torque and 3 more miles per gallon with our Stage 1 ECU Flash for just $599." According to the goapr.com website a Stage 3 upgrade runs upwards of $4,999.
The front-wheel drive manual CC Sport with the 200 horsepower 2.0-liter turbo starts at $26,790 and the price runs up to the VR6 4Motion model shown above with an MSRP sticker of $42,630 which includes the $2,640 Technology Package with a rear view camera that hides under the VW trunk emblem which tilts to reveal the camera when the vehicle is in reverse. I was very impressed with the CC VR6 4Motion's handling on the road course at the AAA Speedway in Fontana. The Volkswagen CC trades on the Car Stock Exchange.
The 2010 Pontiac G8 ST (Sport Truck), the rebirth of the El Camino, which debuted at the New York Auto Show in March is coming to U.S. showrooms in the Fall of 2009 according to Pontiac. A version of the G8 ST is at SEMA, the auto industry after-market trade show in Las Vegas this week. The G8 ST may join the Car Stock Exchange so that your trading of this vehicle's stock can predict its success in the marketplace.
The G8 ST will have 361-horsepower 6.0-liter V8 from the G8 GT sedan mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and Active Fuel Management system with a zero-to-60 times of 5.4 seconds, according to GM press material. Pontiac's Jim Hopson says, "we are considering a 300-plus horsepower direct-injection 3.6-liter V6 that will be the base engine for the Camaro but there's no decision yet." Hopson also says Pontiac is still deciding on whether to include the pickup bed cover seen in these photos. The G8 ST, a sports car with truck-like cargo and towing capabilities, has a 73.9-inch cargo bed that has 42.7 cubic feet of cargo space and can carry a payload of 1,000 pounds or tow a 3,500-pound trailer.
About the name - "G8 ST", known as the Holden Ute in Australia. 18,000 possible names were submitted by thousands of fans during a "Tame the Name" promotion, which delayed a final announcement until each possibility was considered and cleared for possible trademark use. "We actually thought very long about El Camino," said Craig Bierley, BPG product marketing director for cars and crossovers. "In the end, we felt it was more appropriate to honor the El Camino's unique place as part of Chevy's heritage and not use that nameplate on a Pontiac."
More Pontiac News: Pontiac has the high performance G8 GXP sedan with a 415 horsepower 6.2 liter LS3 V8 engine from the Corvette and the Solstice Coupe with removable hardtop coming to showrooms in January. The horsepower for the new GXP was recently confirmed by Pontiac.
The 2009 Toyota Venza will have a starting MSRP of $25,975 for the four-cylinder with front-wheel-drive model, $27,425 for the four-cylinder AWD, $27,800 for the front-wheel-drive V6 and $29,250 for the all-wheel-drive V6. Toyota announced two engine choices, the standard all-new 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine likely producing 182 horsepower and an available 268 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. Both engines are mated to a six-speed sequential-shift electronically-controlled automatic transmission. Venza V6 models will start hitting dealerships in early December, with full production and sales of both engines in January. The 2009 Toyota Venza trades on the Car Stock Exchange.
The Camry-based Venza crossover at 189 inches in length is slightly longer than the Ford Edge, shorter than the Dodge Journey and Chevy Traverse and the Venza V6 is almost a perfect match in size, power and price to Nissan Murano. The Venza will likely battle its Highlander sibling for customers and, at $10,000 less, the Venza will be the lower cost alternative to its upscale Lexus RX350 relative which was the original crossover king.
The new Venza offers the Star Safety System as standard equipment for all models which includes enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRAC) Systems with a cutoff switch, Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. Venza's optional features include high intensity discharge headlamps with an automatic high beam feature that detects oncoming vehicles and automatically switches the headlamps from high- to low-beam. Additional options for Venza include Smart Key System with push button start and power rear door with jam protection.
The 2009 Audi TTS Coupe and TTS Roadster, the high performance versions of the TT sports car that was first introduced 10 years ago, have a starting Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $45,500 for the TTS Coupe and $47,500 for the TTS Roadster. The TTS trades on the Car Stock Exchange and will be in showrooms in time for Christmas - "late 2008". Audi says the direct-injected 265 horsepower turbocharged 2.0 TFSI engine in the TTS Coupe races from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds and achieves a combined fuel economy of 24 mpg.
The TTS Roadster has a 0-60 mph time of 5.1 seconds and the same combined fuel economy of 24 mpg which translates to 29 mpg in highway driving and 21 mpg in city driving based on government fuel-economy ratings.
The TTS gets a standard quattro all-wheel drive system specifically matched to the TTS, Audi's advanced S tronic dual clutch transmission with Audi launch control and a new lightweight aluminum suspension resulting in a 10-millimeter lowered chassis. The TTS models have continuously adjustable damping along with "Sport" and "Normal" modes for further driver control. Audi has also updated the TTS steering system to match the suspension modifications.
The all-new 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Hybrids debut later this year and will arrive in dealer showrooms in the first quarter of 2009. Ford's next-generation hybrid propulsion system uses a 155 horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine generating 136 lb.-ft. of torque running the proven Atkinson cycle mated to an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission or e-CVT. The Ford Fusion Hybrid trades on the Car Stock Exchange.
Ford claims that the Fusion Hybrid is expected to be at least 5 mpg better in the city than the Toyota Camry hybrid and that the overall system upgrade allows the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids to operate longer at higher speeds in electric mode. Ford says the hybrid vehicles can operate up to 47 mph in pure electric mode, about twice as fast as some competitors. A smaller, lighter nickel-metal hydride battery has been optimized to produce 20 percent more power. Plus, the city driving range on a single tank of gas is expected to be more than 700 miles.
The Volkswagen Jetta TDI sedan with manual transmission takes the Most Fuel Efficient Compact category and both manual and automatic versions of the Volkswagen SportWagen TDI are listed as the Most Fuel Efficient Small Stationwagon in the annual EPA and Energy Departments' list of the most fuel efficient vehicles. The Jetta TDI's are the only clean diesel vehicles to make the top ten list. Both versions of the Jetta trade on the Car Stock Exchange.
The Jetta TDI diesel with manual transmission is rated at 30 mpg city/41 mpg highway while the Jetta SportWagenTDI diesel has the same rating as the sedan for the manual and 29 mpg city/40 mpg highway with the automatic transmission. VW hired AMCI to test the Jetta TDI and found it performed 24 percent better in real world conditions, achieving 38 mpg in the City and 44 mpg on the Highway. This announcement comes on the heels of the Jetta TDI setting a Guinness World Record for Lowest Fuel Consumption across the 48 continental United States at 58.82 miles per gallon.
The Toyota Prius is listed as the Most Fuel Efficient Vehicle Overall getting 48 miles per gallon in the city and 45 miles per gallon on the highway. Other Car Stock Exchange vehicles that made the list were the Toyota Yaris as the Most Efficient Subcompact Car getting 29 mpg city/36mpg highway with manual transmission and 29 mpg city/35 mpg highway with the automatic transmission.
The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 was named the "Best New Pickup Truck" by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) after an intensive week of vehicle evaluations performed by professional automotive journalists at the annual AJAC Test Fest in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The Ram gets consideration for the Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY) awards which are announced at the Canadian International Auto Show held in Toronto every February.
The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 (above) defeated the new 2009 Ford F-150 (right) for AJAC "Best New Pickup Truck". This follows the F-150's "Truck of Texas" award and the Ram's "Full-size Pickup Truck of Texas".
Both the Ram and F-150 are the top selling and thus the most important vehicles for both U.S. automakers. They both trade on the Car Stock Exchange.
The Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango full-size hybrid SUVs will stop being produced at the end of December when Chrysler closes its Delaware plant as a result of disappointing sales. The Durango hybrid trades on the Car Stock Exchange and may face early retirement from trading, too. The Durango and Aspen which sell for $45,340 and $45,570, respectively, have the same two-mode hybrid system used in General Motors' full-size SUVs. The gas-powered Aspen and Durango may meet the same fate as the hybrids. Chrysler plans to introduce a hybrid version of the full-size Dodge Ram pickup in calendar-year 2010.
As truck sales plummet, GM said it would kill the mid-size Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and Saab 9-7X in December and now the future of GM's replacements for the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Suburban and Cadillac Escalade are in doubt.
Edmunds.com Inside Line correspondent Paul Lienert writes: General Motors executives last May canceled the CXX program -- the planned replacements for the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban and their siblings at GMC and Cadillac.
A story in Sunday's New York Times quotes GM vice chairman Robert Lutz, head of product development, as saying: "It would have been very difficult in today's environment to spend a couple of billion dollars to do a replacement."
Expect future GM SUVs to be based on Lambda, General Motors' full-size crossover SUV automobile platform, like the Traverse, Acadia, Outlook and Enclave.
The 2008 Consumer Reports Car Reliability Survey showed that nine hybrid models, mostly from Japan, earned above-average predicted-reliability ratings. The survey also found that conventional vehicles such as the Honda Fit, Scion xD, Smart ForTwo, and Toyota Yaris had few problems.
Ford's three brands - Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury - continue to pull away from the rest of the Detroit automakers. Almost all Ford models are now average or better, with the exception of some that are truck-based. Excluding those, Ford's reliability is now on par with good Japanese automakers.
General Motors is a mixed bag with a quarter of GM models are still well below average in reliability. The redesigned Chevrolet Malibu's four-cylinder version better than average and the V6 is average. The Buick Lucerne with a V8 and the Pontiac G6 with a four-cylinder are above average, and the Chevrolet Avalanche has improved to average.
Chrysler trails the pack with almost two-thirds of its products rating below average for reliability. The redesigned 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans earned low scores, as did the Chrysler Sebring V6 and Dodge Avenger sedans and the Jeep Liberty SUV. The Sebring Convertible has the worst score being 283 percent worse than average. The only above-average models are the Dodge Caliber hatchback and Jeep Patriot SUV.
Six Mercedes-Benz models, including the redesigned C-Class sedan, the sporty SL, and the ML350 SUV, have improved to average reliability.
Toyota seems to have rectified some of the problems with all 42 of the Toyota, Lexus, and Scion models in the survey scoring average or better. While the three models noted above scored merely average, most models got above-average Ratings. Subaru scored average or better in reliability.
Nissan showed striking improvements, with the perennially troublesome Armada SUV, Titan pickup, and Infiniti QX56 SUV finally gaining average reliability. The new Nissan Rogue and Infinit EX SUVs have started out above average, which is a good sign, and the Altima Hybrid sedan is well above average.
South Korean nameplates, Hyundai and Kia, rank right up there with the better Japanese makers. Most of their models scored average or better, with only the Hyundai Entourage and Kia Sedona minivans receiving below-average scores.
Audi continues to improve, with two-thirds of its lineup scoring average or better. Its sister brand, Volkswagen, has several models rating average or better in our survey, but the Passat sedan, Touareg SUV, and Eos convertible have not done well. BMW has also shown progress in recent years, with most versions of the 3 Series and some 5 Series models being average or better. The 6 Series improved to above average.
Volvo has continued the upward march as well. Of the nine Volvos for which we have sufficient data, only the redesigned XC70 wagon rated below average in reliability. Land Rover continued to fare poorly, with all four of its SUVs, including the new LR2, scoring well below average.
Volkswagen introduced an all-new Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Tiguan, CC and Routan this year and will follow that parade with TDI diesel versions of the Touareg and Rabbit next year. The Jetta diesel, Tiguan, CC and Routan all trade on the Car Stock Exchange. I just drove the Tiguan and was very impressed with the performance.
The Tiguan, with the 200 horsepower turbocharged 2.0 liter in-line 4 cylinder direct injection engine, was peppy off the start and fun to drive. The 6-speed Automatic Tiptronic transmission provides smooth shifting and quick acceleration.
The vehicle is smaller than you might think - my golf clubs would not be able to lie across the back because it is narrow. The Tiguan caters to the shift to small CUV/SUVs with a luxury feel but is a late comer as my Edmunds.com colleagues have pointed out. VW says the Tiguan gets 18 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway. Check out Inside Line'scomparison to the popular Honda CR-V and Toyota Rav4.
On the VW website the published starting price is $23,600. The MSRP is $26,925 on the Tiguan I drove (pictured) but this version had the DVD navigation with rear backup camera for $1,950, power panaramic sunroof for $1,300 and rear side supplemental restratints for $350, plus the $690 destination charge which brought the bottom line sticker price to $31,215.
VW is offering incentives of $1,000 off the purchase or lease, 3.9% financing or a 39 month lease of $359/month for the Tiguan which is in its 6 month of sales and set to retire from the Car Stock Exchange with sales well short of Edmunds.com projection. I would have expected the single drivers of the Jetta and Rabbit to move into the Tiguan after marriage and starting a family.
The BMW Group will deploy a fleet of 500 all-electric MINI vehicles in the largest U.S. urban markets such as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago for private use in daily traffic to test their popularity. MINI says there is huge interest though customers are not yet aware they will have a one year lease at $850 a month. Some still may consider that to be expensive even subtracting the $150 - $200 a month that would have gone to gas at the pump. Now if the remaining, say $650 a month, also has tax and carpool lane benefits, it's starting to look pretty good.
The MINI E will be powered by a 204 horsepower electric motor fed by a high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion battery, transferring its power to the front wheels via a single-stage helical gearbox nearly without a sound and entirely free of emissions. Specially engineered for automobile use, the battery technology will have a range of more than 150 miles. The MINI Ewill give its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19 and 20, 2008.
A 500-unit, limited-production MINI E series will be manufactured through the end of 2008 at the company's Oxford and Munich sites. The MINI E could join the Car Stock Exchange when it goes into full production after the 500-unit test.
The all-new 2009 Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram pickup trucks which just went on sale and are historically the biggest sellers for both American car makers who are competing in a tough market for customers and acclaim. The F-150 and Ram trade on the Car Stock Exchange
.
Texans use their trucks everyday in ranching, oil and construction so when the Texas Auto Writers Association votes for the "Truck of Texas"
after their annual Truck Rodeo, people pay attention. For the sixth consecutive year a Ford truck has won top honors, this time the new 2009 Ford F-150
. Ford brags that "the new F-150 delivers class-leading towing capability of 11,300 pounds and hauling capacity of 3,030 pounds - a combination no other competitor can match."
The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500
was voted "Full-Size Pickup Truck of Texas"
over competitors from Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Nissan, Honda and Toyota. The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram includes more than 35 new or improved features when compared to the previous light-duty Dodge Ram.
The high performance 2009 Cadillac CTS-V
with a 556-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine will start at $59,995, including a $775 destination charge, when it arrives in dealerships on November 1st. With optional features like Recaro seats, upscale trim, navigation system and Ultra-View sunroof you'll be looking at closer to $68,000.
Edmunds.com Inside Line
Editor in Chief Scott Oldham says it's "the fastest sedan Inside Line
has ever tested" and goes on to say "it sprints from zero to 60 in 4.3 seconds." Oldham says, "it's easily the top American performance sedan - period."
Inside Line
Senior Editor Daniel Pund says "it's in a different league, in fact, I think it's a legitimate competitor for the BMW M5."
Edmunds.com expects 1,350 CTS-V models to be sold in the first six months on the market but with a competitor like the 2008 BMW M5
with a 500-horsepower 5.0-liter V10 starting at $84,725, including an $825 destination charge, maybe CTS-V sales will outperform.
The 2009 Cadillac CTS-V trades on the Car Stock Exchange
.
The 2009 Nissan Maxima, which was launched in June, gets a price hike due to increased raw materials costs. Effective immediately, the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) for the Maxima 3.5 S and Maxima 3.5 SV are $30,160 and of $32,860 respectively. Both models are equipped with an advanced 3.5-liter V6 and Xtronic CVTÔ transmission.
The flagship Maxima is now in its seventh generation and has an enhanced 290-horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine, 35 more horsepower than the previous generation Maxima and fuel economy (EPA estimates) of 19 mpg City/26 mpg Highway.
The Maxima trades on the Car Stock Exchange.
Infiniti has priced the 2009 Infiniti G37 Sedan
and Infiniti G37 Coupe
which are receiving extensive revisions for the new model year including a new 328-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine with VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift) technology for the G37 sedan and a new all-wheel drive model for the coupe to be labeled the Infiniti G37x Coupe AWD that will have the advanced ATESSA E-TSâ„¢ intelligent all-wheel drive system. Both G37 Sedan and G37 Coupe also offer a new 7-speed automatic transmission with Drive Sport mode and Adaptive Shift Control.
The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2009 Infiniti G37 Sedan with 7-speed automatic transmission starts at $33,250. The 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe
with 7-speed automatic transmission is $35,900, with the new G37x Coupe AWD priced at $38,700. Four models are available for both Sedan and Coupe, including Sport models with 6-speed manual transmissions: G37, G37 Journey, G37S Sport 6MT and G37x AWD.
The 2009 Infiniti G37 Sedan and Infiniti G37 Coupe go on sale nationwide on November 5th. The Infiniti FX trades on the Car Stock Exchange
.
The new 2009 Toyota Venza
, a Camry-based crossover, was introduced in January in Detroit and is coming to showrooms before year-end ("late '08"). To spice up the hype look for suped-up versions at the 2008 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas in three weeks (November 4-7). Toyota announced two engine choices, the standard all-new 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine likely producing around 187 horsepower but not yet determined and an available 268 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine, both mated to a six-speed sequential-shift electronically-controlled automatic transmission.
The special SEMA Show Five Axis Venza Active Sports Versatility (AS V) has an Integrated Cargo Carrier stow away rack system created by Magna Car Top Systems that provides numerous opportunities for transporting a variety of wet and dry goods such as snowboards, skis and bicycles. Five Axis designed and created a multi-purpose rear cargo unit that allows for storage of various items. ASV exterior body enhancements include new front and rear bumpers and over-fenders for a more rugged appearance. Wider 20 x 10.5-inch wheels and larger diameter tires also complement the new look of the Venza AS V.
The other SEMA Show special is the Venza SportLux by the Street Image design team. Street Image added an assortment body kit modifications including a six-piece lip kit enhancement, rear hatch spoiler, custom grille and integrated hood scoop. Among performance modifications are several components from Toyota Racing Development (TRD) including a supercharger kit.
Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager says the Venza "will be ideal for active 'boomers' and young couples with small families", however, Bob may have to expand that target group given these special edition models to be shown off at SEMA. The Venza trades on the Car Stock Exchange.
This Toyota Highlander Hybrid,
specially wrapped as a political campaign billboard, proved successful by helping give my brother Andrew a seat in the next Canadian Parliament following yesterday's election that gave Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative Party a larger minority government. Andrew knocked off Liberal incumbent Don Bell who had never lost election in 34 years of public office. The North Vancouver area is across the harbor from Vancouver, British Columbia, host of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
The thrill and excitement of celebrating victory on election night is a rare event. A strong hard-working team of workers who identified the voters and then got to them polls deserves a lot of credit for Andrew's win.
Deploying signs, making phone calls and showing up at events in this wrapped vehicle all paid off.
A victorious Saxton, pictured left, welcomes the challenge of being part of a government in a financial crisis that has spread across borders.
At more than 26 miles per gallon, many people should see that the Highlander is a perfect fit. This election campaign was about the environment, doing business and stopping crime. The Conservative Party pulled in enough votes to win 143 seats in Parliament, just 12 shy of a majority in the 308 seat legislature.
Now all eyes turn South to see if McCain or Obama will prevail in tonight's debate and November's U.S. election.
The 2009 Pontiac G3 Wave
is on sale in Canada and, as part of GM's small car barrage responding to American demand, it will be coming to the U.S. The four door version with its BMW-style grill is pictured above but Pontiac announced plans to bring the five-door hatchback to U.S. showrooms early next year to give it a total of four vehicles capable of more than 30 miles per gallon on the highway.
The G3 offers an EPA estimated 27 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway and joins the all-new 2009 Vibe (32 mpg) and recently enhanced 2009 versions of the G6 sedan (33 mpg) and G5 coupe (37 mpg) in Pontiac's "Over 30" club. The five-door hatchback, just like the Chevy Aveo5 and the Pontiac Vibe are after the popular Mazda3 market.
The G3 is a re-badged Chevrolet Aveo which is a re-badged Korean Daewoo and like its siblings has a 106 horsepower 1.6L-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic transmission and comes with standard features like air conditioning, a CD/MP3 audio system with auxiliary input jack, fog lamps, rear spoiler, OnStar along with four airbags, that gain the G3 a five-star frontal crash rating.
The Pontiac G3 will arrive in U.S. showrooms in spring 2009 as a 2009 model and will be backed by GM's five-year 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. Pricing will be announced closer to introduction. The Pontiac G3 could be added to the Car Stock Exchange
stock portfolio soon.
The all-new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
starts at $22,995 MSRP for the V-6-powered LS model, and $30,995 for the V-8-powered Camaro SS (all prices include $750 destination charge). Customer ordering opens today with production scheduled to start in mid-February at GM's Oshawa, Ontario production facility, with dealership deliveries shortly thereafter. More than 600,000 people have requested information on the Camaro since its production was announced.
The Chevy.com/Camaro
Web site carries information regarding early ordering, along with vehicle packaging information, a specification sheet and anticipated frequently asked questions about the ordering process.
The new Camaro will be featured in NBC's new drama, "My Own Worst Enemy"
with Christian Slater as a man with two personalities that premiers tonight. Camaro's supporting role on "My Own Worst Enemy"
follows its big-screen debut as the Autobot named Bumblebee in the blockbuster 2007 movie, "Transformers
" (Pictured above)
The Camaro LS and LT use a 3.6L engine rated at an estimated 300 horsepower and 273 lb.-ft. of torque mated to the standard six-speed manual transmission or a Hydra-Matic 6L50 electronically controlled six-speed automatic, with TAPshift control, is available. LS and LT models are estimated at 27 mpg in highway driving. The high-performance Camaro SS is equipped with a powerful 6.2L V-8, with a choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Manual transmission-equipped models receive the LS3 engine, estimated at 422 horsepower and 408 lb.-ft. of torque.
A new, L99 V-8 engine is used on automatic transmission-equipped SS models. It is based on the LS3, but also includes GM's fuel-saving Active Fuel Management feature. It is estimated at 400 horsepower and 395 lb.-ft. of torque. It is matched with a Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed transmission that helps delivers an estimated 23 mpg on the highway.
The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro trades on the Car Stock Exchange
.
Mazda will show the sedan version of the all-new MAZDA3 (known as Mazda Axela in Japan), fully redesigned for the first time in five years, at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19. Since its launch in 2003, the current MAZDA3 has sold approximately 1.8 million vehicles in over 100 countries and accounts for almost one in three Mazdas sold every year. Following the world debut of the North American specification sedan with 2.0- and 2.5-liter engines, the five-door hatchback version will be revealed in line with Mazda's global sales schedule. That 5-door model tops my teenage son's vehicle want list. The new Mazda3 will likely be trading on the Car Stock Exchange
soon.
The 2009 Honda Fit was introduced on August 26th, a month earlier than the planned October 1st release date and it's no wonder that Honda moved up the date based on how well the vehicle is selling. Honda Fit sales in September were 6,515 bringing the 2008 total to 63,368, a 54.2% jump over the 1st nine months of 2007. American Honda's sales, including Acura, in 2008 are down just 1.1% with car sales up 7.7% year-to-date on strong Civic, Accord and Fit sales.
Now the marketing kicks in. Honda is buying all the online and mobile advertising space sold by Sony Pictures Television for a week starting yesterday to promote the launch of its Honda Fit. Honda' is spending half-million dollars across all Sony's mobile and online entertainment and third-party sites in the U.S. The Honda Fit campaign, aimed at metropolitan people who like small, fuel-efficient cars, includes ads on Sony Pictures' site Crackle, where viewers can share user-generated video. Ads will also appear on sites and music videos linked to Sony's music label Sony BMG, and on mobile networks Sony partners with, including wireless carriers Sprint and AT&T. Ads will be tied to Sony-created digital programming across third-party sites as well, including social networking sites MySpace and Facebook; video sites YouTube and Hulu; and the virtual world Gaia Online.
Sony's digital programming includes minisodes, which are TV shows cut down to five-minute episodes for the Web and mobile; CSpots, which are original short-form videos that appear online and mobile; and Sony Pix, which are full-length films from the studio's library available via online and mobile.
American Honda and the National Hockey League just announced they have entered into a 3-year agreement naming Honda as the official vehicle of the NHL which means sponsorship of NHL television and Internet coverage along with participation at NHL events in both the U.S. and Canada, such as NHL Face-Off Rocks 2008, NHL Winter Classic and NHL All-Star Weekend.
Steve Center who recently moved from the Acura division to take over as vice president of advertising and public relations for American Honda says "With more than 53 million fans in the United States and Canada, the NHL is a big part of the sports landscape in North America." The 3-year agreement with the NHL includes provisions for advertising on NHL.com and during game broadcasts, camera-visible signage during games and events, on-site displays of Honda vehicles at select events, and much more. Honda began its involvement with hockey when it became the presenting sponsor of the Honda Center, home of the Anaheim Ducks, in 2006 - the year the Ducks won the Stanley Cup hockey championship.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average has lost one third of its value since reaching its all-time high close of 14,164 a year ago and coming down 508 points to 9447 yesterday. In 2008, the Dow has lost 3,818 points or 28.8%. People's stock portfolios are tumbling and overall investments have lost a couple of trillion dollars. Though the market didn't lose the 33% in one day, its drop is more severe than what we saw in 1987 with the 22% fall on October 19, 1987.
While the nightmare continues on Wall Street, car buffs can dream about one day buying at the bottom and selling at the top so they could afford the amazing $497,750 Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR Roadster
with its 617 horsepower super-charged V8 engine.
The SLR goes from zero to 62mph in 3.8 seconds and has a top speed of 206 mph. It will never trade on the Car Stock Exchange because of its limited sales and expensive price tag but a fine car nevertheless.
The Paris Auto Show
is showing off new vehicles, some of which already trade on the Car Stock Exchange
and others that could be coming.
With gas prices still well above $3 a gallon, the new Honda Insight
concept will provide serious competition to the Toyota Prius at an affordable price, reportedly around $20,000 when it moves into production mode. The electric Smart Fortwo
also got rave reviews.
The 2009 Audi A6
, 2009 BMW 7 Series and 2009 Kia Soul which all trade on the Car Stock Exchange
are on display at the Paris Auto Show this week as well. We'll see a lot more vehicles that have CSX
stock potential at the Los Angeles Auto Show in late November.
The all-new 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
crossover will be in showrooms this month after production started Friday in General Motors' Spring Hill Tennessee factory which underwent a 12-month retooling with an investment topping $600 million to prepare for the Traverse.
The $600 million investment included a 500,000 square foot addition to the plant paint shop for a state-of-the art e-coat phosphate primer system, a complete clearing and rebuilding of the facility's 1.2 million square foot general assembly area and refurbishment and installation of 623 new robots in the 850,000 square foot, state-of-the-art body shop, that perform 3,826 weld spots on each Traverse.
R&B superstar Mary J. Blige
gets behind the wheel of the Traverse for a series of national TV
, magazine and online ads that started yesterday and continues through December. Targeting African American viewers and female-oriented programming, the TV spots are running on Black Entertainment Television and BET J, TBS, MTV and VH1 Soul and VH1 Hip-Hop Honors.
The Traverse trades on the Car Stock Exchange
. Pricing for front-wheel-drive Traverse models, including the destination freight charge, begins at $28,990 for LS; $31,545 for LT and $39,810 for the top-of-the-line LTZ. All-wheel-drive models begin at $30,990 for LS; $33,545 for LT and $41,810 for LTZ.
The Paris Auto Show Media Days are tomorrow and Friday and there will be many new introductions to fuel our Car Stock Exchange
pipeline of new vehicles giving you more to speculate on.
The BMW Concept X1 Sports Activity Vehicle
is in the premium compact segment measuring 175.5" in length, almost 4.3" shorter than the BMW X3. The wheelbase of the BMW Concept X1 measures 104.4". This vehicle is hitting the sweet spot of small luxury utility vehicles with the prestige of a BMW.
Stay tuned for more Paris introductions and September U.S. sales coming soon.
GEM (GreenEcoMobility
, formerly Global Electric Motorcars), a Chrysler LLC company, introduced the next generation of clean, gas-free and emission-free, battery electric vehicles last week.
The GEM Peapod
is the latest addition to the line-up at 10 year old company owned by Chrysler and GEM said it has plans to market a new light-duty, battery electric commercial truck and a larger city electric vehicle, with more range and performance within the next year. The Peapod represents the first in a series of product launches that will redefine the future of electric vehicles, according to GEM's CEO Bruce Coventry.
38,000 GEM cars are in use today in city centers, planned communities, military bases, college campuses, corporate and commercial centers, and city, state and national parks. Currently GEM models are available in six models: two-, four- and six-passenger cars and three utility vehicles. GEM neighborhood electric vehicles have a top speed of 25 miles per hour, a range of up to 30 miles per charge (battery charge is extended through use of regenerative braking) and are street legal in more than 40 states. The vehicles can be recharged anytime, anywhere with a standard 110-volt outlet. Recharge time is approximately six to eight hours.
Big news of the week. Electric vehicles from Chrysler - not a shock (no pun intended) especially when they decided to add the GEM logo to the Chrysler banner at NADA in February making the statement that have producing electric vehicles for years. GEM (Global Electric Motorcars which is being changed to GreenEcoMobility
) makes electric golf cart style vehicles, has been around for 10 years and has been owned by Chrysler for the past 8 years. Now with "electric" being the industry buzz word why not flaunt it and expand it.
Chrysler and its ENVI
organization, short for envi
ronmental and formed a year ago, is well into the development of advanced, production-intent electric vehicles and plan to apply this electric-drive technology to its front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive platforms in the next several years. Chrysler will select one electric-drive model to be produced in 2010 for consumers in North American markets, and European markets after 2010.
Chrysler revealed three prototypes this week with electric-drive technology - one for each of its brands. Based on information released, it appears that two of the vehicles have two "small-displacement" gas engines.
The Chrysler EV is a Chrysler Town & Country minivan that combines the electric-drive
components of an Electric Vehicle with an integrated small-displacement engine and generator to produce additional electricity to power the electric-drive system when needed. It has a 190 kW (255 horsepower) motor accelerating the minivan from 0 to 60 mph in approximately nine seconds and has the ability to drive 40 miles on all-electric power and a range of 400 miles on approximately eight gallons of gasoline.
The Jeep EV is Jeep Wrangler and, like the minivan, uses an electric motor rated at 200 kW (268 horsepower), an advanced lithium-ion battery system, and a small gasoline engine with an integrated electric generator to produce additional energy to power the electric-drive system when needed. The Jeep has a 200 kW (268 horsepower) electric motor. With approximately eight gallons of gasoline, the Jeep EV has a range of 400 miles, including 40 miles of zero fuel-consumption, zero-emissions, all-electric operation.
The Dodge EV is a two-passenger, rear-wheel-drive sports car accelerating to 60 mph in less than five seconds with a top speed of more than 120 mph and a driving range of 150 to 200 miles. It has an electric motor to drive the wheels, an advanced lithium-ion battery system to power the electric-drive motor and a controller that manages energy flow. To recharge the Dodge EV is recharged by plugging into a standard 110-volt household outlet for eight hours or into a 220-volt household appliance power outlet for a to four hour recharge time.
Approximately 100 Chrysler electric vehicles will be on the road in government, business, utility and Chrysler development fleets in 2009. We may see the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep EV trading on the Car Stock Exchange
when full production begins. For now, trade the Dodge Durango hybrid.
Stay tuned for Part 2: The new Chrysler GEMs, also announced this week.
The 2009 Kia Soul
is a long time coming with about two years of hype so far. The Soul is expected to be introduced in the U.S. before the end of the year or some reports say next Spring, after first being shown as a concept in 2006. We saw a "95% production vehicle" at the Geneva Auto Show in March in the form of the niche Burner, Diva and Searcher. The production version will be officially introduced in Paris at the end of next week. The Korean homeland got the first peek at the vehicle whose name sounds like their capitol - Seoul.
The Kia Soul will take on the likes of the MINI, Scion xB, Nissan Cube and smart fortwo when it hits showrooms and will continue trade on the Car Stock Exchange
.
After writing the previous blog and inquiring about the release of the U.S. version of the Volkswagen CC
"coupe-like sedan" VW steered me to U.S. pricing details from a September 8th press release.
There are 5 variants of the CC for the U.S. The Sport
model with the 200 horsepower 2.0 turbo inline-4 with a manual transmission starts at $27,480
including the $690 destination charge.
The Sport
with Tiptronic starts at $28,580 including destination charge and the Luxury
trim starts at $32,680. The two trims with the 280 horsepower 3.6 liter V6 engine are the VR6 Sport
starting at $38,990 and the VR6 4motion
starting at $39,990, including destination charge. Look for the CC in U.S. showrooms next month, keep trading the CC on the Car Stock Exchange
and keep reading for more info.
It's the Passat CC in Canada when it goes on sale October 1st and the Volkswagen CC
when it comes to U.S. showrooms this Fall. "A sedan that performed like a coupe?" is how Volkswagen is billing the new Passat CC. Canadian pricing was released and the starting price for the Passat CC Sportline is $31,975 ($30,920 U.S.)* with the 200 horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder TSI (Turbo Stratified Injection) engine mated to a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission with Tiptronic, a press-start ignition switch and 17 inch alloy wheels. The Highline has the same engine, leather seats and 18 inch alloy wheels starting at $37,975 ($36,722 U.S.)* and the Highline V6 comes with a 280 horsepower 3.6-liter V6 with Tiptronic 4MOTION for a Canadian dollar starting price of $44,975 ($43,490 U.S.)*. Volkswagen claims an EPA combined fuel-economy figure of 23.3 mpg for the V6.
The Volkswagen CC trades on the Car Stock Exchange
with a sales forecast of 6,300 in its first six months in the U.S. The VW CC also goes on sale in the U.S. next month starting at $26,790 so our friends to the North are paying a little more.
* The U.S. price shown in brackets is based on today's conversion rate of $1 Canadian = $0.967 U.S. cents.
The redesigned 2009 Acura TL
with the standard 280 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine linked to a five-speed automatic transmission arrives in showrooms Wednesday September 24th with a starting MSRP of $35,715, including a $760 destination charge, an $1,230 increase over the outgoing 2008 Acura TL. The front-wheel-drive 2009 TL with the technology package will start at $39,445, including shipping.
The all-wheel-drive 2009 Acura TL SH-AWD
with the 305 horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine goes on sale in November with the base AWD model starting at $39,265 and the top-of-the-line 2009 TL SH-AWD with technology package, 19-inch alloy wheels and high-performance summer tires starting at $43,995.
The technology package bundles the Acura navigation system with real-time traffic, weather radar mapping, Acura/ELS surround premium audio system, keyless access with push-button ignition and interior upgrades.
The 2009 TL is Acura's third redesigned vehicle launch this year joining the RL and TSX and all three trade on the Car Stock Exchange
. Through August, Acura's year-to-date vehicle sales are 105,831, down 13.9 percent compared to the same eight months of 2007.
The new Ford F-150
goes on sale in October and Ford claims that its fuel economy has improved an average of 8 percent across the entire lineup as a result of using lightweight ultra-high-strength steel to lighten the truck up to 100 pounds versus the current model and aerodynamic refinements.
The fuel economy gains reach as high as 12 percent versus the prior model year on F-150 models equipped with the high-volume 320 horsepower 5.4-liter, 3-valve Triton V-8 running on E85 (85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline), pure gasoline or any blend in between. The 4X2 trucks equipped with the 5.4-liter V-8 are EPA estimated to achieve 14 mpg city and 20 mpg highway. The Ford F150 comes in seven trim levels, the XL starting at $21,320, the STX starting at $24,120 and the XLT starting at $25,290, all have the 292 horsepower 4.6-liter, 3-valve V-8 with fuel economy on 4X2 versions at 15 mpg city and 20 mpg highway.
The 4.6-liter, 2-valve V-8 is the third V-8 choice in the line-up and delivers 248 horsepower with the same fuel economy numbers as the outgoing V-6 with 14 mpg city and 19 mpg highway on 4X2 versions. The FX4 starts at $34,605, the Lariat at $33,160, the King Ranch at $41,415 and the Platinum at $41,415. The new F-150 delivers towing capability of 11,300 pounds and hauling capacity of 3,030 pounds.
Ford built upon the F-150's capability by strengthening the frame while making it lighter, improving horsepower, boosting fuel economy, adding more usable interior space to the SuperCrew models and offering even more standard safety features. The new Ford F-150's quiet ride stems in part from an advanced technology called the Multi Activation Regression Simulation (MARS) model.
The Ford F-150 trades on the Car Stock Exchange
and Edmunds.com
expects sales of 360,000 in its first six months on the market. Ford sold 359,971 F-150 trucks in the 1st 8 months of 2008, down 25.2% from 2007.
The all-new 2009 Audi A4
which trades on the Car Stock Exchange
and recently went on sale is aiming their "Progress is beautiful"
TV commercials directly at the competition, a theme that may be popular and goes along well with U.S. election campaign antics. Unlike the election, Audi can chose their competition. Audi puts the A4 against three other all-wheel cars: the 2008 BMW 328xi, Mercedes-Benz C300 4matic and Lexus IS250 AWD and crosses the finish line first leaving the competition behind.
The A4 sedan with the 211 horsepower 2.0-liter inline-4 turbocharged engine starts at $32,700. The A4 sedan with the 265 horsepower 3.2-liter V6 starts at $40,000.
Using the Edmunds.com
vehicle comparison tool to look at A4 competitors, the A4 2.0T is even lower on price than the rivals in its commercials. It's 211 horsepower is less than the BMW 328xi at 230 horsepower and Mercedes-Benz C300's 228 horsepower but maybe that's where the fuel savings come in. The Lexus IS250 is 204 horsepower.
The more powerful A4 3.2 model runs into plenty of competition, all worthy of consideration, in the luxury mid-sized all-wheel drive sedan market. The BMW 335xi has 300 horsepower for $1,200 more than the A4 3.2's 265 horsepower model. The 306 horsepower 2008 Infiniti G35 sedan at $34,750 is almost 2 inches longer than the A4. Infiniti has the new the G37 sedan coming with its bigger 328 horsepower V6 engine.
The all-new 305 horsepower 2009 Acura TL base AWD model will start at $39,265 when it goes on sale next week.
The Audi A4 is the single most important car for Audi in the U.S., representing 50% of its yearly sales. In eight months of sales in 2008 through August, before the launch of the all-new A4, the A4, S4 and RS4 models sold a combined 28,906 slightly more than 2007 over the same period which bodes well for the new 2009 A4. Edmunds.com
forecasts first six month sales of 18,000 for the A4. You decide on how the A4 compeition stacks up and place your CSX
trades accordingly.
As actress and cancer survivor Suzanne Somers
hits the talk show circuit touting her 18th book called: Breakthrough: Eight Steps To Wellness
, Volvo announces that the new Volvo XC60 joins three other Volvo models recommended by the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association for its good interior air quality. Coincidence - I don't think so - new ways to staying healthy is a hot topic.
Somers, the star of the late '70's sitcom Three's Company
and the '90's show Step by Step
will be 62 years old next month and claims in her book, "We are under the greatest environmental assault in the history of mankind; we live in a world of unbelievable stress and pollution. Our bodies are no longer able to tolerate this assault and as a result people are sick."
In case you were interested the Thighmaster queen's Breakthrough medicine has 8 Steps to Wellness:
1. Get BHRT (Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy)
2. Avoid Chemicals and Detoxify Your Body
3. Take Nutrition Seriously
4. Create a Healthy GI Tract
5. Avoid Pharmaceuticals Unless Absolutely Necessary
6. Supplement Your Diet
7. Exercise Regularly
8. Get Proper Sleep
Introduced at the Geneva Auto Show
in March, the Volvo XC60
, along with the S80, V70 and XC70, are recommended by the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association.
Volvo Cars has developed two systems, IAQS (Interior Air Quality System) and CZIP (Clean Zone Interior Package) to ensure that the air entering the passenger compartment is as clean as possible. In the industrialized world, it is estimated that 45 percent of the population suffer from asthma or some form of hyper-sensitivity. Another XC60 health benefit is the amount of nickel that is released from metallic surfaces, like the interior door handles and the Volvo badges in the steering wheel and gear knob, has been minimized. Also, instead of chrome, a natural plant extract is used in the tanning of the car's leather trim. The Volvo XC60 trades on the Car Stock Exchange
and hits U.S. showrooms in early 2009.
Chrysler celebrated the manufacturing launch of the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram
at the Warren, Michigan Truck Assembly Plant
on Friday with an event involving approximately 1,000 attendees. Approximately $220 million was invested in Warren Truck Assembly to prepare for production of the new Dodge Ram which is also being built at Chrysler's St. Louis, Fenton, Missouri, North Assembly Plant.
Chrysler claims that the all-new Ram has more standard features and a lower MSRP than 2008
models, offering consumers thousands of dollars more in value as well as a number of segment-first and best-in-class innovations. Since seeing the debut in January with real live rams on the streets of Detroit, we've detailed the Rams' specs many times.
The all-new Dodge Ram will be offered in regular cab, Quad Cab and crew cab size configurations, with three box lengths: 8 feet (regular cab), 6 feet, 4 inches (regular cab and Quad Cab) and a new-for-2009 box length of 5 feet, 7 inches ( Ram Crew 1500). All fit in a standard-size garage. Five trim levels are offered: ST, SLT, TRX, Sport and Laramie. Powertrain choices include the new-generation 390 horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI, 410 horsepower 4.7-liter V8 and 215 horsepower 3.7-liter V-6 engines.
"More customer and dealer input was incorporated into the development of this vehicle than any other in Chrysler's history," said Doug Betts, Chrysler LLC Vice President and Chief Customer Officer.
"This is the kind of driving force that ensures our Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge customers will be satisfied with their new vehicles."
The all-new Dodge Ram trades on the Car Stock Exchange
and when these new pickups arrive at dealers shortly we'll see how they sell. Our Edmunds.com
experts predict that 168,750 will be sold in the first six months on the market. 175,246 2008 Rams sold through the first 8 months of this year, a 29% decline from 2007.
Brooke Shields
who, at age 12, rose to stardom as a child prostitute in the 1978 movie Pretty Baby
then became a teen heart throb in The Blue Lagoon
and went on to more movie and TV hits like Suddenly Susan
will be the spokesperson for Volkswagen's Routan minivan.
She's a wonderful person who I first met in 1984 when she had a summer internship at the San Diego Zoo and I was a TV sportscaster on KGTV. Brooke introduced me to her current husband Chris Henchy in 2001 on her birthday flying to San Francisco when she was heading to be a celebrity spokesperson at a national fund raiser for ALS or Lou Gehring's disease.
Now with two small children ages 5 and 2, the former Calvin Klein's jeans model, promotes the Routan minivan in "The Routan Boom"
campaign whose theme is "people of are having babies simply for German engineering". The advertising and marketing campaign that rolled out yesterday is part of the global brand platform Das Auto and includes TV, radio, print and online components featuring Brooke Shields as spokesperson.
Excite, stimulate and surprise the current crossover audience - that's the mission of Ford and its WPP Team Detroit creative group with the new Ford Flex advertising campaign starting this week according to Jim Farley, Ford group vice president, marketing and communications who says, "The Ford Flex is electric. When you see it, it provokes a reaction. So the approach we took to launch the vehicle is unconventional and quite unexpected."
The two 30-second ads, "Grid" and "Lights", coming this week are from award-winning director Mark Romanek, who did the Flex TV spots in June's launch campaign
, and backed by the music of DJ Squeek E. Clean and the vocals of Santogold.
The Ford Flex will be featured digitally in Esquire's 75th anniversary October issue using electronic paper display technology. Ford and Team Detroit have created a series of online CGI animated mini movies to entertain viewers, while informing them about the vehicles.
More Flex interference for your iPhone, Xbox, Dish and Yahoo in the form of Flex animations,
photo galleries and even a dealer locator using the iPhone mapping application and gamers can download Flex Theme Packs and Picture Packs to their console to view Flex videos. The Flex Dish Showcase allows users to link out from Flex commercials or access the showcase through their interactive program guide.
The Ford Flex, which trades on the Car Stock Exchange
, has sales of 5,593 in its first 3 months on the market and is looking to come up way short of the Edmunds.com
projection of 40,500 in its first six months of sales unless this campaign really excites, stimulates, surprises and even electrifies the car buying world. Place your trades accordingly.
Stayed tuned for Part 2: Ford vehicles in your movies and TV shows this Fall.
The all-new 2009 Kia Borrego,
in its first government test, achieved the highest possible five-star crash safety rating for all seating positions in the latest frontal and side impact crash tests conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Safety is a major buying consideration, especially for segments that include kid-haulers like the seven-passenger Borrego. Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile warranty is another selling plus.
The Borrego, the first Korean V8-powered SUV, starts at $26,245 and has standard safety features that include: advanced airbags, front seat mounted side airbags, full-length side-curtain airbags for all three rows and driver's knee airbag (V8 models only). Also adding to safety is four-wheel disc brakes with an anti-lock brake system, Electronic Stability Control and traction control system.
The Borrego comes with a 276-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 or a 337-horsepower 4.6-liter V8 engine, a version of the 268 horsepower V8 that powers the Genesis
from its sister company Hyundai. Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds for the V6 Borrego and a 7,500 pounds for the V8. Borrego fuel economy ratings are 15/22 city/highway for the V8 with 2WD and 15/20 city/highway for the 4WD. The Borrego V6 gets 17/21 city/highway in 2WD and 16/21 city/highway in the 4WD model.
The Borrego, which trades on the Car Stock Exchange
, sold 1,004 in its first full month of sales in August. Year-to-date, through August, Kia's U.S. sales are up 1.3 percent with 210,705 units sold in a challenging economic environment for the auto industry.With Kia showroom traffic and sales up in 2008, Borrego could catch on and reach the six month CSX
sales target of 9,000.
Having just heard Chrysler Vice-Chairman and President Jim Press
talk about how Chrysler wants to make "fun-to-drive, great looking, great ride vehicles, not appliances like other carmakers", I had to share my recent drive in one of those defining Chryslers.
The 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible
with the retractable hardtop roof is a great looking car that offers the best of both worlds, a quiet coupe with the roof up and a "soak up the sun", wind in your hair convertible with the roof down. I recently drove the Sebring Convertible Limited Edition with a base MSRP price of $32,055 that was optioned up to $38,055 with features like a touchscreen navigation system with GPS and Sirius Traffic and heated front seats.
This Sebring had the solid feel and handling of a Mercedes so you know that Daimler influenced its creation before the corporate separation. The 235 horsepower 3.5 liter High Output V6 24 valve MPI engine tied to a 6-speed automatic transmission was impressive, smooth and delivered plenty of power for driving up hills and high speed highway passing. The sound system with the 6 Boston Acoustics Speakers was excellent and pulled in the Sirius music with clarity and depth.
For all you loyal, active and less-active Car Stock Exchange traders, expect to see 20 vehicles missing from the trading list on Monday morning as they are being removed after having accumulated six full months of sales. Here's the list that will be priced based on their sales and published here next week: Lexus LX 570 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Toyota Sequoia Infiniti EX35 Nissan Murano Saturn Astra smart fortwo Mitsubishi Evolution Chevrolet HHR SS Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid GMC Yukon hybrid Mini Clubman Pontiac Vibe Toyota Corolla Toyota Matrix BMW M3 Dodge Journey Jaguar XF sedan Lexus IS F Audi A5 Good luck, continue trading and watch for all the new IPOs.
BMW of North America raised vehicle prices 2.1 percent on average across its model range of 2009 BMW brand vehicles due to continually rising raw materials costs, like steel, and ongoing foreign exchange rate pressure due to the weak U.S. dollar vs. the Euro. BMW raised prices by 1% in June and now model year 2009 vehicles, arriving at dealerships in October will cost you more. Will this be enough for BMW buyers to consider other options and impact their sales? BMW sales, including its MINI brand, year-to-date, through July, are down just 3% and for the month of July were up 2.2% over July 2007 which tells us a slight bump in the price won't have an impact but bigger economic issues might. For the BMW's that trade on the Car Stock Exchange
, here are the new Fall prices:
The BMW 1 Series now starts at $30,025, including the $825 destination charge for the 128i coupe, the least expensive vehicle in the BMW line-up, and $34,625 for the 128i convertible
. The 135i coupe starts at $36,425 and 135i convertible at $40,725.
The BMW M3 sedan at $55,325, M3 coupe $58,325 and M3 convertible at $66,975.
The most expensive BMW is the M6 convertible that will cost $108,325.
The BMW X6 xDrive 35i at $56,325 and the BMW xdrive 50i at $67,025.
By now you've heard that General Motors
is offering employee pricing on its vehicles through September 2nd. After surfing their site, there appears to be 91 vehicles in the GM garage that you could drive away in and likely get the special employee price. Eleven GM vehicles trade on the Car Stock Exchange
: 1 Cadillac, 5 Chevy's, 1 GMC, 1 Hummer, 2 Pontiacs and 1 Saturn.
My Edmunds.com
colleague Julia compiles a list of vehicles that have incentives to move metal off the showroom floors:
Toyota Sequoia - $1,000 Customer Bonus cash
Nissan Murano - $500 Customer Bonus Cash, $1,000 Loyalty Bonus Cash
Dodge Journey - $500 Owner Loyalty Cash
Hyundai Genesis - $500 Military Incentive
Hyundai Sonata - $500 Owner Loyalty Cash & Military Incentive
Infiniti FX - $1,000 - $4,000 For Current FX or Current Infiniti Owner
Check out the New Car Incentives & Rebates
page at Edmunds.com.
You'll find almost every manufacturer is giving a cash rebate, though when I searched using my zip code I noticed that Bentley, Honda, Mercedes and Porsche were sticking to their prices without serving up deals.
Let's see how this latest push boosts sales of CSX vehicles and the twenty that hit the 6-month finish line and retire from the game this weekend. Go shopping, there are deals to be had.
The 2009 Chrysler Aspen and 2009 Dodge Durango
two-mode hybrid powertrain SUVs began rolling off the assembly line last week at the Newark, Delaware Assembly Plant where new processes were implemented to accommodate HEV production, including a unique powertrain assembly process, and ergonomic-assist systems to aid in new functions, such as HEV battery installation.
Some of the unique components associated with HEV production that are installed at the plant, include a 300-volt battery, two-mode transmission, torque power inverter module, electric air conditioning, auxiliary power module, high-voltage cables (AC and DC), hydro-electric power steering pump, hybrid gate way module and cooling module.
Chrysler's two-mode full hybrid system, developed in partnership with General Motors, Daimler and The BMW Group, provides all of the fuel-saving benefits of a full-hybrid system, including electric-only operation. In this mode, the engine is "shut off," with the vehicle moving under electric-only power at low speed. The result is a significant reduction in fuel consumption in heavy stop-and-go traffic.
The all-new 2009 Acura TL
, which began trading on the Car Stock Exchange
last week, is the fourth-generation TL performance luxury sedan coming in the TL and TL SH-AWD trim levels with two VTEC powertrains. The TL has the standard front-wheel drive 280 horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine and the new Super Handling All-Wheel Drive's 305-horsepower 3.7-liter V-6 with Acura's Sequential SportShift 5-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Grade Logic Control. The new engine has projected EPA fuel economy ratings of 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.
The 2009 TL is 6 inches longer overall on a 1.4 inch longer wheelbase and is 1.8 inches wider and half-an-inch higher than its predecessor providing 1.3 inches more rear legroom and a half-inch of added rear shoulder room.
There's stiff competition in the four-door V6 $30,000-plus segment including the BMW 3 & 5 Series, Audi A6, Infiniti G35, Lexus ES350, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Cadillac CTS and Lincoln MKS. Information on the new TL has been dribbling out this summer and just last week the full release was delivered. The TL stands out as a good value proposition and TL sales should pick up when the all-new model hits showrooms "this Fall".
The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
is part of GM's answer to the fuel-efficient, small car blitz and will be officially unveiled at the Paris Auto Show in early October before going on sale in 100 countries starting next year. General Motors announced that it will invest more than $500 million in the U.S. to build the all-new global compact car at its Lordstown, Ohio plant.
"One of the key reasons for the success of the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 is the Lordstown workforce and the strong partnerships with the UAW and local and state officials," according to GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner. "Based on the quality of work and these strong partnerships, we are pleased to announce our plans to invest another $500 million in the Chevy Cruze product program in the U.S., including more than $350 million in Lordstown."
The Volkswagen Tiguan
compact sport utility vehicle, which trades on the Car Stock Exchange
, received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's top safety pick
award for 2008, the highest rating possible. The annual award recognizes vehicles that perform best in protecting passengers in the Institute's front, side and rear crash test evaluations, and includes only vehicles with electronic stability control (Electronic Stabilization Program on Volkswagen vehicles) and head protection airbags.
The Tiguan comes standard with the Prevent and Preserve Safety System comprising 45 safety features, including ESP and six airbags, with rear seat airbags as an option. Tiguan is available in S, SE, and SEL trim levels starting at $23,200 with EPA fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. VW dealers tell me demand is very high and so popular in Europe that there's a long waiting list.
Go get one! The all-new 50-state compliant clean diesel Volkswagen Jetta TDI sedan and SportWagen
, which trade on the Car Stock Exchange
, are now available for customer delivery. As reported in June, the Jetta TDI starts at $21,990 and the Sportwagen at $23,590. The Jetta TDI's EPA rating is 29 mpg City and 40 mpg Highway. VW hired third-party certifier, AMCI, which tested the Jetta TDI and found it performed 24 percent better in real world conditions, achieving 38 mpg in the City and 44 mpg on the Highway. The Jetta TDI sedan and SportWagen are eligible for a $1300 Federal Income Tax Credit as the Internal Revenue Service issued a certification letter affirming that both vehicles qualify for an Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle income tax credit.
The Volkswagen brand delivered 2.21 million vehicles worldwide in the first seven months of this year, up 4.7 percent over 2007, setting a new record for this period.
The completely-redesigned 2009 Honda Fit
with a more powerful 117-horsepower 1.5-liter
i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine goes on sale August 26 with a starting MSRP of $14,550, plus a destination and handling charge of $670. The Fit Sport, equipped with additional premium features, has a starting MSRP of $16,060, plus destination and handling. The 2009 Honda Fit trades on the Car Stock Exchange
.
A 5-speed manual transmission is standard and a 5-speed automatic transmission is available. Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters allow for manual gear selection on the Fit Sport equipped with the available automatic transmission. The Fit equipped with the available automatic transmission that achieves 28 mpg city/35 mpg highway while the manual transmission EPA rating is 27 mpg city/33 mpg highway.
Lincoln confirmed it will produce the Lincoln MKT, a premium, three-row luxury crossover based on the concept vehicle with seating for up to seven passengers and all the latest in-car connectivity technologies including a new version of SYNC, Ford's connectivity technology that fully integrates customers' Bluetooth technologies including mobile phones and MP3 players. Plus, next-generation navigation system technology and new safety and security features will be available, including the new Blind Spot Monitoring and Cross Traffic Alert System.
The MKT will join the Lincoln lineup in calendar year 2009, along with an upgraded Lincoln MKZ mid-size sedan - plus an additional version of the flagship Lincoln MKS sedan powered by an EcoBoost engine. The MKT follows the launches of the two-row crossover Lincoln MKX, and the Lincoln MKZ mid-size sedan. In addition to a fuel-efficient 3.7-liter normally aspirated V-6 engine, the Lincoln MKT also will offer an EcoBoost 3.5-liter V-6 engine that will deliver an estimated 340 horsepower.
The Lincoln MKT will be manufactured in Ford Motor Company's Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario, Canada. Expect the MKT to join the Car Stock Exchange
.
Cadillac provided a special sneak preview of the next-generation SRX Crossover and showed off the CTS Sport Wagon at events encompassing the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Northern California this weekend.
The 2010 Cadillac SRX
, accommodating five passengers will launch worldwide in mid-2009 replacing the current SRX Crossover, which first arrived in 2004. SRX sales in the first seven months of 2008 are 10,935, down 18.7% from the same period in 2007. This next-generation crossover is similar in styling and proportion to Cadillac's Provoq Concept that appeared in many auto shows during 2008.
The CTS Sport Wagon
, derived from the CTS sedan, Cadillac's biggest seller with 37,252 sold in 2008, a 34.1% jump over the first seven months of 2007, has a cargo area of 25 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats compared to the 14 cubic feet offered in the CTS sedan. Cadillac says to expect an auto show debut this fall, with sales beginning next spring.
"The next-generation SRX, along with the new CTS Sport Wagon, showcases Cadillac taking its dramatic design into new directions, particularly cars and crossovers that are the right size at the right time for today's luxury consumers," said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager.
The CTS-V trades on the Car Stock Exchange and all-new SRX will likely show up on CSX in the future.
The all-new Ford Fiesta
, developed by the European arm of Ford's global product development team becomes the first in Ford's portfolio of global small cars. Production is now underway at the Cologne Stamping and Assembly plant in Germany with production starting for the Asian market later this year in Nanjing, China and Rayong, Thailand and at Valencia Assembly Plant in Spain in January 2009. The next-generation Ford Fiesta will go on sale progressively between now and 2010, starting in Europe.
In North America, the new Fiesta subcompact will begin production in 2010 in Mexico at Ford's Cuautitlan Assembly Plant which will be retooled from its current production of F-Series trucks to small car production. The North American Fiesta and be offered in two models: the European hatchback and the two-door sedan. The next-generation Ford Fiesta will go on sale progressively between now and 2010, starting in Europe.
Within five years, Ford expects to build about 1 million vehicles worldwide off the new global B-car platform along with nearly 2 million vehicles off the global C-car unit. Since the first Fiesta was launched in 1976, more 12 million have been sold, with over 400,000 customers in 2007.
The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram
1500 features three cab configurations (regular, Quad Cab and crew-size), five trim levels (ST, SLT, TRX, Sport and Laramie), all-new exterior and interior styling with pricing starting at $22,170 for regular cab models, $26,225 for Quad Cab models and $32,530 for Ram Crew 1500 models. Prices include $900 for destination. The three engine choices are the new-generation 390 horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI, a 310 horsepower 4.7-liter V-8 and a 215 horsepower 3.7-liter V-6. The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram arrives in dealerships this fall and has been trading on the Car Stock Exchange
for months.
"It's a challenging time to introduce an all-new light-duty pickup, but Dodge never backs down from a challenge," said Mike Accavitti, Director - Dodge Brand and SRT Global Marketing and Communications
. "With more standard features and a lower MSRP than 2008 models, the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram gives consumers thousands of dollars more in value. Our all-new 2009 Dodge Ram has it all: head-turning design, class-leading interior amenities, capability for every need, customer convenience features inside and out, built-in craftsmanship and safety for every occupant - all at a great value. And with our new crew-size cab model, we're now competing in the fastest-growing and highest-volume part of the light-duty pickup segment." Through the end of July year-to-date sales of the current Ram pickup model were 150,272, down 30% compared with the first seven months of 2007.
The Acura CSX, no, it's not named after the Car Stock Exchange (CSX), though we'd like to think so, and no it's not available in the U.S., in fact, I'm told it's being discontinued soon. The CSX, an upscale Honda Civic with the Acura badge, is made and sold in Canada. The 2008 Acura CSX has a 155 horsepower 2.0-litre DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Canada didn't have the two-door RSX, which was sold in the U.S. so they got the CSX. The Acura CSX is not the only head turner that may surprise an American visiting our neighbor to the North and screaming "why don't we have that?"
The Nissan X-Trail, also priced around $30,000, is a compact SUV that was sold in Canada for the 2005 and 2006 model years and was replaced by the Nissan Rogue crossover for 2008. Nissan North America, the U.S. entity, apparently passed on the X-Trail waiting for the Rogue which has an entirely different appeal which makes you wonder about Nissan's decision to have the X-Trail skip the U.S. market. The X-Trail is very similar to the top-selling SUV in the U.S, the Honda CR-V. The X-Trail offered choices of a 140 horsepower 2.0 liter 4 cylinder engine, a 170 horsepower 2.5 liter 4 cylinder engine and some turbo diesels. The X-Trail is still sold in many parts of the world. Wait there's more....
The 2009 Acura TL, priced between the upscale RL and entry level TSX sedan, enters it's fourth-generation with the 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 front-wheel-drive and 305-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 SH-AWD ("Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive") versions. Both engines are mated to a five-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles on the steering wheel. The TL's wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer and now measures 109.3 inches and the overall length grows 6.2 inches to improve interior room.
In mid-July Acura released an appetizer news release about the new TL and now, a month later, we're getting more information and more horsepower than first anticipated. What should be another silky smooth Acura, the TL will be an IPO on the Car Stock Exchange next week.
Chevrolet's new advertising
for the Olympic Games highlights the Silverado full-size pickup truck, the Malibu sedan, Malibu Hybrid, the all-new Traverse and Chevrolet's range of fuel-efficient vehicles. The new "Beautiful Blue"
commercial is a music video flashing a collage of General Motors product images.
The Spring ad blitz for the Dodge Journey crossover certainly helped sales exceed early expectations, now let's see if the Traverse can enjoy the Olympic boost ahead of its launch to help it capture the gold.
See what the Edmunds.com editors are saying about the latest vehicles. Here are the links to some of the latest reviews on the vehicles that trade on the Car Stock Exchange:
The 2009 Ford Flex
received the top five-star rating in front and side-impact crash testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Flex crossover also got four stars for rollover safety on both front- and all-wheel-drive versions.
The Infiniti EX
is the only vehicle to get the Recommended rating by Consumer Reports
in a
group six of SUVs including the VW Tiguan, Nissan Murano, Land Rover LR2, Volkswagen Touareg 2 and Jeep Grand Cherokee. The redesigned Nissan Murano and VW Tiguan both achieved "Very Good" overall scores to now rank third among compact SUVs that Consumer Reports
has tested behind the top-rated Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4. The EX achieved a "Very Good" overall score, ranks midpack among that group of SUVs and "is a reasonable alternative to a Lexus RX 350 for about $7,000 less" according to Consumer reports.
This Friday in downtown Manhattan Hyundai will offer visitors in New York's Financial District an opportunity to take a in the new Genesis
premium sports sedan which it calls "a serious competitor to the likes of Lexus ES, Cadillac CTS and Chrysler 300." Genesis will be driven on a special course by professional drivers at the annual Financial Community Day Festival between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Hyundai's New York display is a part of a nationwide tour through 15 U.S. cities in 17 weeks to introduce the new sports luxury sedan to potential customers. The Genesis with the 375 horsepower Tau 4.6 liter V8 starts at $38,000 and the genesis with the 290 horsepower Lambda 3.8 V6 starts at $33,000.
All the positive news and vehicle exposure should give sales a boost. The Flex, EX, Tiguan, Murano and Genesis all trade on the Car Stock Exchange.
The all-new 2009 Audi A4
sedan will start at $32,700 and the A4 Avant at $34,500. The Audi A4 sedan can be equipped with either the all-new 211 horsepower 2.0 TFSI 4-cylinder engine rated at 21 miles per gallon city and 27 mpg highway or the 3.2 FSI V6 engine in either front-wheel drive or with Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system. Audi will begin delivery of customer orders in September 2008, but some dealers will have vehicles available for consumer test drives as early as the week of August 10th.
The 2009 Toyota Yaris
will range from $12,205 for the three-door Liftback Base model to $15,880 for the Sedan S model when the vehicles hit dealerships later this summer. For 2009, Yaris is available in three body styles: a sedan, three-door Liftback, and an all-new five-door Liftback, each in Base and Sporty "S" grades. Estimated EPA fuel economy ratings are 29 mpg city/35 mpg highway/31 mpg combined for all three body styles with an automatic transmission.
The Chevy Impala SS
was my car for two days in Detroit a few weeks ago. The top of the line Impala SS
has the 303 horsepower 5.3 liter V8 engine with Active Fuel Management with a base price of $28,235. This Impala with options, like sunroof and Bose speaker audio system, and destination charge comes to $31,645.
The power and the raw sound of power generated by the V8 (right) provided a strong first impression. The low end torque and power launched the Impala from a stop to ticketing speed very quickly which made me fear that it would suck gas - not so - it took me 160 miles of mixed highway and street driving around Motown to drain half the 17 gallon tank or about 19 mpg.
At first glance the Impala may seem like plain vanilla but after experiencing the performance, ride, comfort, roominess and sound, you quickly become impressed. Standard equipment includes a traction control system and Stabilitrak - Stability Control. The nameplate has been around for 50 years and I have fond memories of driving with my family around California in the early '60's so there is that nostalgic draw to the Impala.
The 2009 BMW M3
high-performance sports car gets a minor body facelift and the new generation iDrive control system which will facilitate even easier activation and control of the most important entertainment, communication and navigation features as well as a number of other functions.
The further advanced iDrive controller also provides for in-car use of the Internet, making BMW the first car manufacturer worldwide to offer unrestricted access to the internet as an option when it goes into production in September. The function of the controller is similar to a conventional computer mouse. Internet pages can be displayed on the screen in high resolution.
Other interior changes include a newly conceived fresh air grille located in the centre of the cockpit, a newly designed storage area under the armrest on the center console and a pearlescent chrome light switch cluster.
The new start/stop button and the rotary controls for the air conditioning sporting the same design are not only featured in the M3 sedan, but also in the Coupe and the Convertible. All variants of the BMW M3 will be equipped with crash-active headrests that reduce the risk of cervical injury in the event of a rear end collision.
Ford says it can save you as much as $200 a year at the pump by using regular instead of premium gas. In a recent Ford news release touting fuel savings based on gas grade selection, Ford claims Lincoln MKS
owners that fill up with regular unleaded don't have to worry about the common engine knock and pinging often associated with using a lower-grade gas. Ford's improved adaptive spark ignition system can sense what type of fuel is being injected into the motor, and communicates the information to the powertrain control module which adjusts the spark accordingly.
Other vehicles that feature the improved two-sensor adaptive spark ignition system include the Mustang, equipped with the 4.6-liter V-8, Mustang Bullitt and the 2009 Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner equipped with the 3.0-liter V-6.
Stephen Russ, a technical leader with Ford Powertrain Operations says, "Our vehicles, including our luxury products, will run normally on 87-octane regular fuel. Some customers may choose to use premium fuel to get additional horsepower, but our powertrains are designed so we don't have to require it."
The Lincoln MKS
, equipped with the 3.7-liter V-6 and front-wheel drive, delivers 275 hp and 274 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel. Fill up with regular unleaded, and the MKS still delivers more than 270 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque, along with maintaining 24 miles per gallon on the highway. The Lincoln MKS, Ford's flagship car, trades on the Car Stock Exchange
and is now on sale.
In a tough sales year for car companies where rebates and incentives are running rampant, Toyota has announced price increases
for Toyota, Scion and Lexus brand vehicles. The overall average MSRP for 13 Toyota brand models increases by $181, or 0.81 percent.
For those that trade on the Car Stock Exchange
, the 2009 Corolla
sedan will cost $100 more starting on August 25th with the base MSRP now ranging from $15,350 for the Base grade with a five-speed manual transmission to $20,050 for the XRS grade with a five-speed automatic transmission.
The 2009 Matrix
also increases its MSRP by $100, with the base MSRP going from $16,290 for the 4x2 Standard grade with a five-speed manual transmission to $21,950 for the 4x2 XRS with a five-speed automatic. Effective with vehicles processed on or after July 14, 2008 the amount of delivery, processing and handling fees (DPH) increased by $60 with the DPH for Toyota Division vehicles is now $720 for passenger cars and $745 for light trucks.
The movie industry occasionally takes risks on a new ideas but typically doesn't because it costs so much to make a film today. To cut their risk of failure Hollywood produces movies that are based on popular books and TV shows, sequels to previous blockbuster movies, proven super hero franchises, etc. The same has become true in the auto industry which is trying to reinvent success with cars that were popular during the baby boomers' childhood and early driving years. Enter the all-new Chevy Camaro.
The Camaro LS and LT models have a 300 horsepower 3.6 liter direct-injected V-6 engine with variable valve timing and a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions and an estimated 26mpg on the highway while the SS model has a 422 horsepower 6.2 liter V-8.
Similar to Chrysler's Charger and Challenger, Camaro has advanced powertrain technologies, including engines with direct injection and Active Fuel Management, enable a satisfying balance of performance and good fuel economy.
High tech features include Bluetooth phone connectivity, Premium Boston Acoustics audio system, USB connectivity, Ultrasonic rear parking assist and a remote vehicle starting system.
I remember 16 years ago when the Camaro and Pontiac Firebird debuted together - where is the new Firebird? The Camaro will join Car Stock Exchange
trading in early September.
The Jaguar XF
is an impressive luxury sedan with the latest electronics and comfort features. I was a passenger for a two hour drive from Northern California wine country to San Francisco Airport with a high-tech CEO who may have been the first Bay Area XF owner having bought the car about four months ago. He was a proud and happy new owner who had a lot to say about his 420 horsepower 4.2-liter supercharged V8 Jaguar XF. He bought the car because he was coming out of a previous Jaguar model which he obviously liked and the XF had the appealing look of a four door Aston Martin. No surprise considering both were designed by Ford before recently selling both brands.
The2009 Audi Q5
with its 270 horsepower 3.2-liter V6 FSI direct injection engine mated to a six-speed Tiptronic transmission has a zero to 60mph time of 6.8 seconds and will be coming to the Car Stock Exchange
at the end of July before going on sale in the first quarter of 2009. The Q5 will be the first Audi with the Generation 3 MMI (Multi Media interface) and navigation with real-time traffic information. The Q5 will try to attract shoppers looking at the BMW X3, Infiniti EX35, Land Rover LR2, Lexus RX 350, Mercedes-Benz GLK and Volvo XC60.
The 2009 MAZDA6
sports sedan will start at $18,550 for a MAZDA6 i SV, equipped with a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter I-4 engine and a six-speed manual transmission. Pricing for the 2009 MAZDA6 s, powered by a 273-horsepower V6 engine and six-speed Sport AT automatic transmission begins at $24,130. Destination charges for all 2009 model-year Mazda vehicles are $670, $715 in Alaska. The 2009 MAZDA6 trades on the Car Stock Exchange
and will be available at dealers across the U.S. starting in late August, 2008.
The 2009 Hummer H3T
with its 242 horsepower 3.7-liter inline five-cylinder engine will start at $31,495, including a $745 destination charge, compared to the 2008 Hummer H3 which starts at $31,340, including shipping. We're still waiting for the price on the upscale H3T Alpha version with its 5.3-liter V8 engine. Both are expected to land in showrooms in September. Total Hummer sales, H1, H2 & H3, in the first six months of 2008 were 16,158 down 40.4% from the first half of 2007. H3 sales were 12,393 of that down 41.3% from 2007. The Hummer H3T trades on the Car Stock Exchange
. Written by CSX Contributor Richard Saxton.
The all-new, completely redesigned 2009 Acura TL
will start trading on the Car Stock Exchange
in August and will hit dealer showrooms in the Fall. Acura just issued a news release or more like a "teaser" disclosing that the new TL "will have the most powerful Acura engine ever" and be available in two versions including the first ever application of Super Handling All-Wheel Drive.
The current model 2008 Acura TL
ranges in price from $33,725 to $38,425 with two engine choices, a 258 horsepower 3.2 liter V6 and a 286 horsepower 3.5 liter V6 engine. If the 2009 TL engine is the most powerful it will have to top the 300 horsepower 3.7 liter now in the RL and MDX. The TL, the mid-priced Acura sedan between the high-end RL and entry-level TSX, competes with the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, Infiniti G35, Lexus ES350 and Cadillac CTS to name a few.
Acura sales are down 14.3% at the midway point of 2008 compared to 2007 with TL sales of 23,681 in the first six months of the year, down 23.2% from 2007. Acura recently launched all-new RL and TSX models. Written by CSX Contributor Richard Saxton
An environmentally-friendly lithium-ion 2kWh battery takes the Santa Cruz, California-made, Zero electric motorcycle
to a top speed of 55 miles an hour with a charge that lasts about two hours covering 40 miles of roads or off-roads. The 140 pound bike currently comes in an off-road version with the street bike model coming in a few months.
The $7,450 electric motorcycle has a 7 month waiting list and Zero founder and C.T.O. Neal Saiki
says "we'll boost production well into the thousands next year." Add $300 for domestic shipping and about $1,000 will get it anywhere in the world.
All the major manufacturers are challenged with providing fuel efficient engines that maintain high performance characteristics. GM and Chrysler have large engines that they run on reduced cylinders by engaging cylinder deactivation while the vehicle is cruising under less power strain in certain driving conditions.
Ford has taken a different tact with their EcoBoost technology where they are taking a smaller engine and "making it act big when it needs to" according to Ford's Dan Kapp, Director, Ford Powertrain Research & Advanced Engineering. Kapp says that "Ford will have EcoBoost in 750,000 vehicles globally in the next 5 years providing 20% better fuel efficiency and a 15% reduction in carbon dioxide." EcoBoost runs on 87 Octane, not the more expensive premium grade gasoline.
Chevrolet Cobalt (pictured) to be replaced by the Cruze
Chevrolet has an all-new entry in the compact segment to be called Cruze which will make its global debut at the Paris Auto Show in early October. The name is the same but no relation at all to the Suzuki-made Chevy that sold in Japan - the new Chevrolet Cruze, as it will be known in every market it's sold, will have a turbo-charged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that GM Chairman Rick Wagoner discussed at the annual Shareholder Meeting recently.
The all-new Cruze was developed by a global design and engineering team and will be built in multiple locations around the world. According to the General Motors news release, the Cruze, measuring about 179 inches overall, "will have enough interior space and cargo capacity for five passengers, giving it an advantage over competition in the compact segment." Size-wise it's a little smaller than the Cobalt it might be replacing and in the same ballpark as the popular Civic, Corolla, Astra, Jetta, Focus and Mazda3. The high fuel price causing the small car attraction in the U.S. will put the Cruze on many car buyers' lists when it arrives in our showrooms two years from now as a 2011 model.
The new Chevrolet Cruze will be available in European markets in Spring 2009, followed by other global regions. In mid-2010, when it's U.S.-bound expect to see it on the Car Stock Exchange
. Written by CSX Contributor Richard Saxton.
Word is that Toyota held off on offering the 5-door Yaris
in the U.S market because it was similar to its Scion xD but now that gas prices are so high forcing America to go European with small, fuel-efficient vehicles, plus Toyota's 11.5% June sales drop from June 2007, you'd bet on Toyota offering all the small cars they can. The Yaris is currently offered in the U.S. as a 4 door sedan and 3-door liftback while our neighbors to the North also have the 5-door hatchback.
Toyota Motor Sales USA President Jim Lentz
said in Toyota's July 1st sales news release, "As the pendulum swings towards smaller, higher-mileage vehicles, we're well-poised to offer the right products at the right time. A five-door liftback will soon join the Yaris line-up, widening the choice for value-conscious consumers in challenging economic times." That time is late this summer.
The Yaris 5-door liftback/hatchback, whatever you prefer, will join the Yaris model line-up whose sales were 64,680 in the first half of 2008, a 40% jump over 2007, putting it at number 8 on the Toyota sales list behind the Camry, Corolla, Prius, Tacoma, Tundra, Rav4 and Sienna. Yaris competes with
the Honda Fit, Chevrolet Aveo5, Nissan Versa and its own Toyota Scion xD as mentioned, all priced around $12,000. The Yaris, with its 106 horsepower, 1.5 liter inline 4 cylinder engine gets 29mpg city and 34mpg highway. The Mazda3 and Toyota Matrix with the similar 5-door hatchback styling are a little more pricey.
The Yaris 5-door liftback will be coming to the Car Stock Exchange
soon.
The 2009 Chevrolet Traverse crossover will have a starting MSRP of $28,990, including a $735 destination charge, for the 2WD LS model and is
powered by a 3.6L engine with direct injection technology that helps produce power similar to many V-8 engines.
“
With its great styling, leading fuel economy and comprehensive roster of equipment, the Traverse is a great expression of Chevrolet value,” said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager
(pictured on right).
The 2009 Chevrolet Traverse is offered in LS, LT and LTZ models, in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations and with seating for up to eight adults, second-row Smart Slide for easy access to the third-row seats, six standard air bags, including side curtain air bags that deploy over all three seating rows, OnStar with Turn-by-Turn Navigation and Direction Download and eNav (with navigation system), XM Satellite Radio including NavTraffic real-time traffic feature (with navigation system) and Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity.
The Traverse goes on sale this Fall and currently trades on the Car Stock Exchange
...
smart USA, a subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group, delivered the 10,000th smart fortwo at smart center Bloomington, in Bloomington, Minnesota. This sales milestone was accomplished in less than six months from the initial sales launch of the vehicle in the United States in late January. Edmunds.com forecast is for 15,750 fortwo's to be sold in the six month period beginning on March 1st, which marks the starting point for Car Stock Exchange vehicles that went on sale anytime prior that date. In May, 2,695 fortwo's were sold and at that pace, sales will exceed our current forecast...
In 1999 and 2000, BMW's ad agency, Fallon Worldwide, pushed the envelope and created five BMW Films with running times of 6 to 9 minutes starring actor Clive Owen
(who should have played James Bond) and other famous actors like Forrest Whittaker, Madonna and Mickey Rourke
. The 007-style short films for internet play to show off the BMW car line were a smashing success getting 93 million views online over two years, according to Fallon's Fred Senn, who said they outperformed the television campaign by 40 percent with no media cost.
Now Ford is attempting to take a similar step by launching a three-minute movie commercial called MadCrazyLove
for the all-new 2009 Lincoln MKS which debuted during the Black Entertainment Television Awards pre-show Tuesday night with partner 30- and 15-second spots to air on select television stations. National print and digital media are included in the media mix and scheduled for rotation beginning in July...
The 2009 Maxima, Nissan’s all-new, flagship, went on sale yesterday with a starting MSRP of $29,290 for the 3.5 S and $31,990 for the 3.5 SV version, both coming with a 290-horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine mated to an intelligent Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). EPA estimated ratings of 19 mpg City and 26 mpg Highway, is one mpg better on the highway than the 2008 model, even with 35 more horsepower. Options: The seventh generation 2009 Maxima has an available Sport Package (3.5 SV), with sport-tuned suspension, 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, premium leather-appointed seats, paddle shifters and more. The Premium Package (3.5 SV), includes a dual panel moonroof, 7-inch color monitor with RearView Monitor, Eucalyptus wood-tone trim and more...
Ford is delaying the introduction of the redesigned 2009 Ford F-150
by two months so it can sell-off the slow moving current model inventory. Ford truck sales were down 14.7% in the first 5 months of 2008 vs. 2007 as the economy is being hurt by the impact sub-prime loan crisis on housing. All the home construction related trades that use big trucks to haul tools and supplies to job sites, like framers, drywallers, painters, roofers, finishers, floor layers, etc...
The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI sedan
starts at $21,990 and SportWagen
starts at $23,590 and have a 140 horsepower 16-valve 2.0-liter four-cylinder TDI engine.
"Our clean diesel vehicles offer consumers a true value with the fuel efficiency that drivers are looking for while providing power, utility and performance," said Mark Barnes, COO, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "The Jetta TDI's offer a no compromise alternative fuel driving experience."
While the Environmental Protection Agency estimates the Jetta TDI at 29 mpg City and 40 mpg Highway, Volkswagen engaged a third-party certifier, AMCI, which tested the Jetta TDI and found it performed 24 percent better in real world conditions, achieving 38 mpg in the City and 44 mpg on the Highway.
Jetta TDI's include six airbags, with optional rear side airbags, and like all 2009 model year Volkswagens, Jetta TDI's also feature standard Electronic Stabilization Program for added safety. Also standard for 2009 is Volkswagen's carefree maintenance program with no charges for the scheduled maintenance described in the vehicle's maintenance booklet for the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty -- three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first...
The 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid
starts at $45,340 and the 2009 Chrysler Aspen HEMI Hybrid starts at $45,570 including $800 for destination with customers getting an estimated tax credit of $1,800. The regular gas Durango starts from to 26,875 up to $37,635 and the Aspen starts from $32,425 to $35,300 so the hybrid is considerably more. By comparison, the Chevy Tahoe hybrid starts at $49,590.
"The new 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and Dodge Durango Hybrid deliver fuel economy up to 20 miles per gallon - a 40 percent improvement in the city and 25 percent overall - best-in-class cargo room, and are priced nearly $8,000 below the competition," said Deborah Meyer, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer - Chrysler LLC...
Gene Brown - Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations at American Suzuki
recently spoke at the monthly Motor Press Guild meeting in Los Angeles saying you don’t hear much from Suzuki because they don’t have the stream of new vehicle announcements like many of the other car companies, then he proceeded to list at least four new vehicles coming in the next two years.
During this time of record high gas prices, manufacturers are using every opportunity to brag about their vehicles fuel efficiency. Volkswagen is no exception talking up their all-new 2.0 liter TSI Tiguan, 2.0 liter Jetta TDI and Tiguan HyMotion Fuel Cell Concept.
The Tiguan HyMotion has a hydrogen fuel cell system producing over 107 horsepower and, with an assist from the electric motor, up to 134 horsepower allowing zero tailpipe emissions (clean water vapor is its only bi-product). The Tiguan HyMotion's top speed is 93 mph and it accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in about 14 seconds...
The Ford ad blitz is on for the Lincoln MKS and the Ford Flex, two hugely important vehicles for America’s number 2 car maker. It's a mini-van, no it's a station wagon, no it's an SUV, no it's the Ford Flex crossover combining features of all three. The Flex has started rolling off the assembly line in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Golfers will know Oakville as the home of Jack Nicklaus'-designed Glen Abbey course, a regular site of the Canadian Open...
Mitsubishi Stuck With Traffic
Mitsubishi Motors North America has selected Traffic to handle its $155 million advertising budget. The Traffic Agency, owned in part by The Cimarron Group, is headquartered in Hollywood, California.
Agency co-chairman Tom Cordner
was a guest on my AdBiz TV program on KWHY - The Business Channel
in the '90's when he was leading the Lexus creative team at Saatchi's Team One Advertising. After 15 years at Team One, from the 1988 start of Lexus, Tom went to J. Walter Thompson to work on Ford's advertising...
Ford has begun running ads to create hype around their new "flagship" MKS sedan which is being unveiled at more than 300 Lincoln and Lincoln-Mercury dealerships nationwide now, prior to its July showroom launch.
Their "Reach Higher" slogan is attempting to reach younger buyers with electronic synthesized music and without any voice over in a 30 second spot hitting television. I rode in the backseat of the MKS at the New York Auto Show and certainly had a limo plush ride through the Manhattan rain.
"Lincoln is a very special brand that's been long neglected," Ford's chief of global marketing and communications, Jim Farley, told us at the unveiling at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November. The former Toyota executive logged time with Lexus and is appling that learned success to Lincoln...
The all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger
SE with a 250-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 will start at $21,995, which includes a $675 destination charge. Challenger R/T with a 370-horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi V8 is priced from $29,995. The SRT8 with a 425-horsepower 6.1-liter Hemi V8 will start at $39,995. Your Dodge dealers are now taking orders...
The all-new 2009 Infiniti FX
luxury crossover SUV goes on sale June 24th at Infiniti retailers in the United States and Canada with a starting MSRP of $40,950 for the FX35 rear wheel drive model.
Both the FX35 RWD and FX35 AWD, with a starting MSRP of $42,350, have a 303-horsepower 24-valve DOHC 3.5- liter V6. The FX50 AWD with a new 390-horsepower 5.0-liter 32-valve DOHC V8 engine Variable Valve Event & Lift starts at $56,700. Each engine is paired with a new, standard 7-speed automatic transmission featuring Adaptive Shift Control and available solid magnesium paddle shifters...
The Lexus LX 570
is being called "a loaded Toyota Land Cruiser" costing $10,600 more, but the added Lexus refinements are substantial. The first thing you notice after the ease of entry into the vehicle, unlike other jump-up-and-in SUVs, is the suspension system controls in the console that elevate and lower the vehicle by as much as 3 inches using computer-managed hydraulics designed to improve stability. The LX 570 does share the same 380+ horsepower 5.7 liter V8 as its Toyota Sequoia and Land Cruiser siblings. When there's some open freeway, like the twisting and turning 110 from downtown Los Angeles to Pasadena, and your mind slips into sports car mode with the pedal to the medal, you get performance and handling from the LX 570...
BMW raised prices for the first time in over a year. As of June 1st you're paying less than one percent more for BMW's 2008 product line, with the exception of the BMW 1 Series, M3 and X6 models. The 1 Series, M3 and X6, which all trade on the Car Stock Exchange, went on sale in the past few months. Destination charge increases and selected option price increases will affect all models...
The $64,000 question: is the IS F
the Lexus flagship, the defining performance vehicle of the brand, the Japanese dream machine, the best Toyota can make?
It’s not a 600 horsepower Dodge Viper and it’s not meant to be. After some investigation into price, performance and dimensions, one can see that the IS F is Lexus' answer to the BMW M3, not the M5. Lexus, as it did in 1989 when it launched the LS400, aimed to make a dependable performance luxury alternative to the German sedans in a pricing sweetspot. On paper, the IS F is 3.1 inches longer overall than the M3 on a 1.2 inch shorter wheelbase, is 80 pounds lighter and its 416 horsepower is just two more than the M3...
The new 2009 Hyundai Genesis
sedan will start at $33,000 for the rear wheel drive base model with a 290-horsepower DOHC 3.8-liter V6 mated to an Aisin six-speed automatic transmission with EPA fuel economy ratings of 18 miles per gallon city / 27 mpg highway. The upscale 375-horsepower DOHC 4.6-liter V8 model with a ZF six-speed automatic transmission will start at $38,000 and have EPA ratings of 17mpg city / 25 mpg highway. Both include a $750 shipping charge when the cars reach U.S. dealerships in July...
The new Volkswagen Tiguan
TV spots dominated Game 4 of the Lakers-Spurs NBA Western Conference Finals on TNT last night. In fact, the spots ran heavily in the second half, which as we know, is when most NBA games are decided, many in the dying seconds of the game. So fans in the nation's second largest city watching their Lakers saw VW touting the Tiguan as a European award-winning SUV.
The base Tiguan S starts at $23,200 and with its 200 horsepower 2.0 liter inline 4 cylinder engine will get better mileage than most SUVs...
HONDA FCX CLARITY CONCEPT
Honda announced that a new small hybrid is scheduled for introduction in early 2009, with an official name and full product details to come later this year. This dedicated hybrid vehicle will be offered as a 5-door hatchback with seating for five passengers and will employ an exterior design concept that evokes the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle. Along with the Civic Hybrid, the new vehicle will be produced at an expanded IMA production line at Honda's Suzuka factory in Japan. HONDA CR-Z CONCEPT
The new small gasoline/electric hybrid vehicle will have expected annual global sales of 200,000 units per year -- approximately 100,000 of which are bound for the North American market...
The all-new, completely-redesigned 2009 Honda Pilot
with a more-powerful, 250 horsepower 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine with the latest generation of Variable Cylinder Management that works in 6-cylinder mode for performance and 3- or 4-cylinder mode for fuel efficiency, is set to debut at dealerships nationwide today.
The Pilot LX has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price starting at $27,595
, matching the price of the 2008 model. The 4-wheel drive LX starts at $29,195.
The upscale Pilot EX starts at $30,395 with alloy wheels and an upgraded audio system and the 4-wheel drive at $31,995...
Fourteen vehicles have a starting MSRP from $10-$20,000. 2009 Chevrolet Aveo5 $10,235 2008 smart fortwo $11,590 2009 Honda Fit $13,950 2009 Kia Soul $15,000*estimate 2009 Toyota Corolla $15,250 2009 Pontiac Vibe $15,310 2008 Saturn Astra $15,875 2009 Toyota Matrix $16,190 2009 Ford F Series $17,900*current model 2009 Hyundai Sonata $18,120 2009 Mazda MAZDA6 $18,990*current model 2009 Dodge Journey $19,360 2009 Mini Clubman $19,950 2009 Subaru Forester $19,995 Eleven vehicles have a starting MSRP from $20-$30,000. 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 $21,485*current model 2009 Kia Borrego $22,000*estimate 2008 Chevrolet HHR SS $22,710 2009 VW Tiguan $24,300 2009 Nissan Murano $26,330 2008 Pontiac G8 $26,910 2009 Honda Pilot $27,595*current model 2009 Nissan Maxima $28,270*current model 2009 Ford Flex $28,295 2008 BMW 1 Series $28,600 2009 Acura TSX $28,960 Nine vehicles have a starting MSRP from $30-$40,000. 2009 Volkswagen CC $30,000*estimate 2009 Hyundai Genesis $30,000*estimate 2008 Infiniti EX35 $31,300 2008 Mitsubishi Evo $32,990 2008 Subaru WRX STI $34,995 2008 Toyota Sequoia $34,150 2009 Lincoln MKS $37,665 2009 Infiniti FX $38,050 2009 Audi A5 $39,900 Nine vehicles have a starting MSRP above $40,000...
Six CSX
vehicles have incentives and rebates to spur sales. Infiniti is offering $2,000
cash back on the EX35 crossover
.
Mitsubishi is offering three ways to get $500
when you buy a Lancer Evolution
. Loyalty customer cash to current owners of Mitsubishi vehicle(s) or an immediate family member; the Education Edge customer cash is available to customers who graduated from an accredited college in past 2 years or will do so in next 12 months, and Military Rebate is available to active duty personnel in the armed services and reserves...
Cadillac reported that its 2009 CTS-V,
going through the final stages of testing and development,
broke the 8 minute barrier at
Germany's Nurburgring
race track clocking a lap time of the legendary Nordschleife in 7:59.32,
the fastest ever publicly documented lap time for a production sedan.
The eight-minute mark has long been recognized as a major Nurburgring milestone, reserved for race cars and the fastest exotic sports cars.
The CTS-V limited-edition high-performance model based on the CTS sport sedan, which has been called "the four door Corvette", was equipped exactly as planned for consumer production, which is scheduled to begin this fall.
The CTS-V has an LSA 6.2-liter Supercharged V8 engine estimated at about 550 horsepower with no official rating yet and the choice of 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions, with the new automatic sporting steering wheel-mounted shift buttons...</fo
BMW’s 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline six cylinder engine
was named winner of the International Engine of the Year
award by a global panel of judges. The BMW 3.0-liter twin-turbo engine, which also won ‘Best engine in the 2.5-liter to 3.0-liter’ class, powers the 1 Series, 3 Series and X6 in the 135i, 335i and X6 xDrive35i models.
BMW and MINI dominated the 2008 engine awards with five category wins. The 1.6-liter engine, under the hood of the MINI Hatchback and Clubman, won ‘Best engine in the 1.4-liter to 1.8-liter’ segment...
The 2009 Toyota Matrix
, an actively-traded Car Stock Exchange
stock, comes in three trim levels offering both manual and automatic transmission choices: the standard with a 132 horsepower 1.8 liter 4 cylinder engine and the S and XRS with a larger 158 horsepower 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine. Typically coming as a front wheel drive car, the Matrix S has an all-wheel drive version with a sporty - fun-to-drive - racing feel. This Matrix, with an MSRP of $21,320 excluding delivery and handling fees, is quick and responsive with the automatic transmission providing smooth shifting under strong acceleration. The rear wiper is a great feature found on almost all 5-door hatchbacks, SUV's, CUV's and minivan's rear windows...
The2009Cadillac CTS-V
has its IPO today on the Car Stock Exchange
and may get a power rating of 567 horsepower.
VW Follows BMW's Maintenance Free Lead Starting with Tiguan
It sounds something like BMW's 4 year or 50,000 mile Ultimate Service for $0. Volkswagen now has a no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program on its entire 2009 model line. That's right, no charges for a vehicle check within 90 days or 6,000 miles, whichever occurs first and scheduled maintenance at 10,000, 20,000 and 30,000 miles to the warranty length of three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first...
2009 TOYOTA COROLLA XLE
The top selling car on the Car Stock Exchange
and of all-time for that matter is the Toyota Corolla. The all new front wheel drive 2009 Toyota Corolla XLE
, the mid-priced, well-equipped
trim level with the smaller engine that starts at $17,550, was a pleasure to drive, with good visibility, quickness off the line, confidence in corners and power to pass at high speeds. The XLE has a fuel efficient 132 horsepower 1.8 liter inline 4 cylinder engine. My 175 mile test drive, with a mix of high speed and bumper-to-bumper highway driving on L.A.’s busy freeways, used half a tank of gas or about 6.1 gallons which equates to an impressive 28.7 miles per gallon...
The all-new 2009 Dodge Journey earned 5-star ratings for driver- and front-passenger protection in a frontal crash along with 5-star driver and rear passenger ratings for side impact protection, the highest ratings in the U.S. government's safety crash test program. The all-new 2009 Dodge Journey, now available at local Dodge dealers, has advance multi-stage front driver and passenger, front-seat-mounted thorax and all-row supplemental side-curtain air bags.
All Subaru Foresters dating back to 1999 get the GOOD rating from the IIHS, including this older model shown above, and the all-new 2009 Subaru Forester has earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's, "2008 Top Safety Pick" award...
The Around View Monitor system on the Infiniti EX35
integrates technologies developed by Nissan, Xanavi Informatics and Sony, who just won 2008 Automotive News PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers' Contribution to Excellence) Awards recognizing automotive suppliers for their innovation and technological achievements.
The Around View Monitor
synthesizes a bird’s eye image of the vehicle and its surroundings using four ultra wide-angle high resolution cameras mounted on the front, sides and rear of the vehicle to make parking easier through greater visibility of the surrounding environment.
Nissan initiated the research for the Around View Monitor concept in 2005, and had sought the collaboration with Xanavi and Sony to commercialize the technology. Sony had developed the ultra wide-angle, high resolution 1.3 mega-pixel camera, while Xanavi developed the software that processed the “bird’s eye view†image map using the data captured from each of the cameras...
Honda aims to sell 140,000 units of its new 2009 Pilot
in the United States in the first full year of sales, according to Honda. Edmunds.com
estimate for the Car Stock Exchange
takes 45% of the annual sales figure for the first full six months of sales. Based on Honda's 140,000 forecast that would equate to 63,000 in 6 months while Edmunds.com
forecast is 67,500, hence the $68 IPO and the current price of around $70 - actually one of the most rationally priced stocks on the Car Stock Exchange
. I'm not knocking the irrational levels of the other CSX
stocks, as analysts of the real stock markets will tell you, markets never act rationally because of the human behavior that drives them.
Today, Honda released details of the all-new Pilot which is powered by "a 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine featuring the latest generation of fuel-saving Variable Cylinder Management technology that operates in 6-cylinder mode for power and 4- and 3-cylinder modes for efficiency, an improvement compared to the previous Pilot's VCM system that works exclusively in 6- and 3-cylinder modes...
The all-new 2009 TSX
sports sedan that goes on sale April 24th starts at $28,960 and the TSX with Technology Package at $32,060, both with either a 6-speed manual transmission or 5-speed automatic for no additional charge. The 2009 Acura TSX is a 4.3 percent sales weighted average price increase over the current model. Destination and Handling of $715 is not included in MSRP.
In addition to its 3.0-inches greater width and 2.6-inches wider track, the 2009 TSX has a 1.3-inches longer wheelbase and 2.4 inches more overall length...
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) via readers and editors of their Automotive Engineering International magazine have crowned General Motors' Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and GMC Yukon Hybrid
as 2008's Best Engineered Vehicles.
The eight passenger Tahoe and Yukon Hybrids have a state-of-the-art two-mode hybrid system developed in partnership with BMW and DaimlerChrysler that give them improved fuel economy compared to their gasoline-only counterparts.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ratings for the two-wheel drive models are 21 miles per gallon (mpg) for city driving and 22 mpg for highway driving...
It might be showing my age but that commercial tag line - "Have You Driven A Ford, Lately" (from 1985?) - still rings in my head. When so many are skeptical about the future of America's "Big Three", here comes some positive news on the sales, quality and technology front.
RECORD SALES IN CHINA With constant news that American car companies are losing market share to import brands in the U.S., it’s reassuring to hear that elsewhere sales are on the rise. Ford Motor China delivered record first quarter sales of 90,791 units, a 47 percent year-over-year increase, in the critical China market, out-pacing the overall industry and despite the severe winter storms that slowed commerce in China in January and February...
Dodge executives, including Ram Chief Engineer Mike Cairns, were in Los Angeles last week showing off the more than 35 new or improved features on the new 2009 Dodge Ram pickup truck coming in "late August, early September" and the Dodge Journey (previous article). Sales In 2007, with U.S. sales of 358,296, the Ram represented one-third of Dodge’s U.S. sales and 17% of Chrysler’s total of just over 2 million vehicles sold in the U.S...
The 2009 Dodge Journey just had its first full month of sales in March - 2,640 were sold bringing its total sales to date to 3,382. The 2,640 pace translates to 15,840 for 6 full months which is slightly better than the Edmunds.com forecast for the Car Stock Exchange of 15,750. And now - incentives and the ad blitz will kick in. The Journey, still new to the market, already has a $1,000 cash to customer rebate...
We first saw the 2009 HUMMER H3T
at the Chicago Auto Show in February. Yesterday at the Dallas Auto Show HUMMER General Manager Martin Walsh detailed accessories saying
"the full range of accessories available for the H3T will make it one of the most customizable trucks available."
At start of production, HUMMER will offer approximately 75 HUMMER Genuine Accessories for the H3T, including brush guards, roof rack crossbars, off-road lamps, assist steps and an extensive cargo management system of bed-mounted storage boxes that mount to the trucks standard aluminum bed rail system. HUMMER will also introduce a new line of
approximately 50 functional
HUMMER Officially Licensed Accessories being developed by aftermarket suppliers, including SnugTop, Defenderworx, Truck Vault, MileMarker, Bushwacker, Boomerang and DiamondBack Truck Covers.
In 2007, H2 customers purchased an average of $1,800 worth of accessories per vehicle, while H3 customers spent an average of $600 per truck...
German carmakers Volkswagen, Audi and Mercedes-Benz are all pushing diesel as the alternative fuel to gasoline. Mercedes "election-style" New York Auto Show bash (above) was all about the new BlueTEC diesel
vehicles coming to all 50 U.S. states this Fall - the GL, ML and R class. Pro Diesel
Johannes Reifenrath, a Product Strategist for Mercedes-Benz, stresses the significance of diesel by saying "60% of all Mercedes sold globally are diesel and half of all brands sold in Europe are diesels" going on to say that "13% of all E class sales are BlueTEC diesels." With those kind of numbers, we can add the BlueTECs to the Car Stock Exchange
ahead of their Fall sales date...
With alot of hybrids coming to showrooms and the Car Stock Exchange
this year, it makes you wonder if a hybrid is really worth it. Using Edmunds.com
and doing some simple calculations, let's see if a hybrid SUV makes sense. Help me check the math. Gas vs...
"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's got the best electric of them all?" And when will we see them in big numbers on U.S. streets? There was lots of show and tell during media days at the New York Auto Show but most are still in the concept or experimental deployment stages. Manufacturers will get their "green" effort badges but when will the masses be driving these electric cars?..
MITSUBISHI PROTOTYPE 'S' IN GENEVA = LANCER SPORTBACK
The 5-door Lancer will be coming to the U.S., likely in 2009, as the AWD Sportback with the 237 horsepower 2.0 liter turbo which powers the Lancer Ralliart. It could make up a high percentage of Lancer sales.
LANCER SPORTBACK (rear view)
Look for the Lancer Sportback to join the Car Stock Exchange
portfolio ahead of its sales launch.
The Dodge Durango
and Chrysler Aspen hybrids are going on sale this year and will start trading trade on the Car Stock Exchange
this summer. With all the focus on alternative fuel vehicles, Chrysler is promoting the fact that they have had an all-electric vehicle for years.
GEM CAR ON DISPLAY AT NADA SHOW IN SAN FRANCISCO
Global Electric Motorcars
, based in Fargo, North Dakota, manufactured its first vehicle in April 1998, a 48-volt GEM car with a top speed of 20 mph. Chrysler bought the company in 2000...
To really appreciate the 2008 Lexus IS F
luxury high-performance sedan you'll have to see it on the big screen and you will.
National CineMedia's FirstLook pre-feature program, the largest digital in-theater network in North America, will be showing you commercials for the Lexus IS F on over 13,200 screens including AMC with the reach expanding to about 16,500 later this year when Loews is added.
The campaign is comprised of six :15 second spots, each posing the "What is F?" question with answers focused on attributes of the IS F - "F is a 170 mph top speed;" "F is 0-60 in 4.6 seconds;" "F is shifting in 0.1 seconds," "F is Precision Braking by Brembo," "F is Commanding Performance," and "F is Beauty within the Beast."
In one spot, sounds generated by the IS F's dual-stage intake engine are heard approaching on one side of the theater before they get a glimpse of the car speeding across the screen and roaring out on the opposite side. In another, the IS F is highlighted larger than life as the camera flies into and around the vehicle to showcase the interior...
The all-new GMC Terrain made its first appearance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the Riyadh Motor Show and there's speculation that General Motors will bring the 2009 GMC Terrain crossover to the U.S. market to replace the GMC Envoy and, possibly the Pontiac Torrent.
The Terrain is built on the same platform as the Chevy Equinox
which is priced from $23,355. GM is not saying whether the Terrain will make its way into U.S...
Volkswagen is producing about 12,500 special Wolfsburg Edition Jetta
2.0T models equipped a four-cylinder turbo-charged engine that produces 200 horsepower and 207 ft-lbs. of torque. The Wolfsburg Edition Jetta 2.0T features 17-inch alloy wheels, leatherette seats, and is available in Reflex Silver, Black, Salsa Red, and Platinum Gray colors. The Wolfsburg Edition Jetta 2.0T is priced at $20,875 with a six-speed manual transmission, and $21,950 with an optional six-speed DSG automatic transmission...
The all-new top-of-the-line Dodger Challenger SRT8, made along side the Charger and 300 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, goes on sale in April for $37,995. As previously written, all 6,400 of the 425 horsepower 6.1 liter Hemi V8 powered SRT8 with a top speed of 170 miles an hour, will be sold this year with its special production number. Next year when smaller engine variants will be available, sales could be "20,000 to 30,000 in 2009" according to Chrysler Vice Chairman Jim Press who said, "we had 55,000 hand raisers" when the Challenger was first announced. We can expect more on the other Challenger models at the mid-March New York Auto Show...
The 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
heads to the 3,900 Chevy dealers in the 4th quarter and joins the GM crossover line-up of vehicles which include the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook already on the market. Made in Springhill, Tennessee, the Traverse has a 286 horsepower 3.6 liter direct injection V6 engine mated to a 6 speed transmission. The "smart slide" 2nd row comes with a 60/40 split bench seat or optional captains chairs and leaves cargo room behind the 3-seat 3rd row. Traverse has a 4,500 pound towing capacity...
Only 6,400 Challenger SRT8 vehicles will be produced for sale in the United States for 2008. More than 4,300 orders were placed the first day the all-new Dodge Challenger SRT8 went on sale. The limited-edition 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 features a 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 engine, HEMI Orange paint, carbon-fiber-like hood stripes and a chrome fuel filler cap.
The first production 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 was auctioned at the 37th annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction on January 19, in Scottsdale, Arizona and the winning bid was placed by Craig Jackson, Chairman/CEO of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company...
The Pontiac G8 hits showrooms in a few months and the hype has begun. The Grand-Am Rolex Series kicked-off the 2008 schedule with the 46th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona giving Pontiac's new 361-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive G8 sedan its North American debut as the series pace car. Pontiac and the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 have signed a two-year agreement for Pontiac to continue supplying Pontiac Pace Cars to support the series for the next two-years...
FORD FLEX LINCOLN MKS FORD F-150
Ford Motor Company's 2007 full-year net loss of $2.7 billion was a big improvement from the 2006 full-year net loss of $12.6 billion which means they are on the right road according to Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally.
“Each of our Automotive operations is improving, and we are encouraged by the progress, which validates our strategy and plan. In 2007, we introduced great new products around the globe that received strong third-party endorsements for styling, quality and safety. This year, we have some outstanding new product introductions including the Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Ford F-150
in North America, and Ford Kuga and the production version of the Ford Verve
concept in Europe.”
FORD VERVE
Other Ford 2007 highlights as it pertains to vehicles touted in their financial statement, " In the U.S., Ford, Lincoln and Mercury crossover utility vehicles led the fastest-growing segment with a sales gain of 62 percent in 2007. Land Rover achieved a third straight year of record unit sales. Ford China unit sales rose 26 percent in 2007, outpacing industry growth in China...
The all-new Jaguar XF took top honours at the 31st annual motoring "Oscars", the What Car? Car Of The Year Awards 2008, sponsored this year by the RAC.
The Jaguar beat 14 category winners during a ceremony held at the Grosvenor House Hotel on London's Park Lane.
XF has already received a host of significant awards including 'Car of the Year' from The Sun newspaper, 'Limo of the Year' from Top Gear magazine, 'Interior of the Year' from CAR magazine and the 'Design Award' from Autocar magazine...
The all-new, totally redesigned, second generation 2009 Nissan Murano S FWD crossover starts with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $26,330. The Murano is priced $1,500 lower on all models versus the previous generation.
The 2009 Murano is offered in five models Murano S FWD, Murano S AWD (starts at $27,930), Murano SL FWD (starts at $27,880), Murano SL AWD (starts at $29,480) and a new Murano LE AWD model (starts at $35,910).
2009 NISSAN MURANO
Murano’s standard VQ-series 3.5-liter DOHC V6 265-horsepower V6 engine is an increase of 25 horsepower over the previous model with advanced, second-generation Xtronic CVT™...
The Ford Explorer
was launched as a 1991 model quickly becoming the top selling sport utility vehicle. More competition in the mid-size SUV segment and crossovers helped flatten Explorer sales. At the Detroit Auto Show, Ford showed Explorer America
Concept with a 3.5-liter Gasoline Turbo Direct Injection V6 said to produce 340 horsepower, more than the base 4.6-liter V8 in a Ford F-150 pickup truck. EcoBoost technology delivers up to 20 percent better fuel economy and 15 percent lower carbon dioxide emissions compared to larger displacement engines...
The 2008 Lexus IS F
with a 416 horsepower 5.0 liter V8 that does
0-60 mph in just 4.6 seconds will have a starting base Manufacturing
Suggested List Price (MSRP) of $56,000 plus another $765 for delivery,
processing and handling.
2008 BMW M3
The 2008 BMW M3 with it's 420 horsepower 4.0 liter V8 is expected
to be priced around $60,000.
2007 AUDI RS4 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C63
Last year's Audi RS4 quattro, powered by a 420 horsepower
4.2 liter V8, had a base MSRP of $66,000. We are still awaiting
pricing on the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG with it's 457
horsepower 6.2 liter V8 engine that replaces the C55 model...
The redesigned Cadillac CTS earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Pick for 2008, only one of three large luxury brands to do so under stricter guidelines. To qualify, these vehicles had to have superior front, rear and side crash tests plus be equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), a requirement added last year.
ESC, known as Stabilitrak on the Cadillac, helps a driver who loses control at high speeds, by engaging automatically when it senses vehicle instability and helps bring it back to its intended line of travel. ESC reduces fatal single vehicle crashes by half and the risk of a fatal rollover crash by 80%, according to the IIHS...
The base 2.4-liter four-cylinder 173 horsepower Dodge Journey
SE
starts at $19,985. The SXT and R/T models both have the 3.5-liter V6
235 horsepower engine. The SXT front-wheel-drive version starts at
$22,985 and the all-wheel drive SXT with performance suspension,
foglamps, and 19-inch aluminum wheels and tires is priced at $25,530.
The front-wheel drive R/T Journey starts at $26,545 and the AWD model
at $28,295...
The new 2009 Forester is only about three inches longer than its
predecessor, now at 103 inches, and its heavy-duty raised four-wheel
independent suspension system gives up to 8.9 inches of ground
clearance. The 2009 Forester offers naturally aspirated and
turbocharged/intercooled 2.5-liter Boxer engines equipped with
Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.
The 2008 LX 570, with several new technology features, enhanced safety, performance and comfort, will carry a base MSRP of $73,800, not including a delivery, processing and handling fee of $765.
The all-new 2008 LX 570 luxury utility vehicle is the third-generation LX with a new 383-horsepower, 5.7-liter V8 engine mated to a six-speed sequential-shift automatic transmission and with an increased towing capacity of 8,500 pounds.
The new Crawl Control regulates throttle and braking, allows the driver to focus more on steering over particularly rough ground. In addition, LX 570 is the first Lexus to offer a new Wide-view Front & Side Monitor feature designed for use in certain urban settings such as parking garages.
The full-size pickup Toyota Tundra is Motor Trend's 2008 truck of the year. That news should bode well for the just-released all-new large SUV Sequoia that's on the same frame.
The magazine said the Tundra is one of the biggest and most capable vehicles in the segment and one that can compete with any American-made pickup truck, at any level and showed impressive performance, load-carrying and towing capabilities. The 2008 Toyota Sequoia enters the realm of the Tahoe and Expedition on their own terms for overall size, room and engine power, while setting new standards for performance, handling and seating flexibility...</fo
Lincoln confirmed it will produce the Lincoln MKT, a premium, three-row luxury crossover based on the concept vehicle with seating for up to seven passengers and all the latest in-car connectivity technologies including a new version of SYNC, Ford's connectivity technology that fully integrates customers' Bluetooth technologies including mobile phones and MP3 players. Plus, next-generation navigation system technology and new safety and security features will be available, including the new Blind Spot Monitoring and Cross Traffic Alert System.
With its great styling, leading fuel economy and comprehensive roster of equipment, the Traverse is a great expression of Chevrolet value,” said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager
(pictured on right). 
In 1999 and 2000, BMW's ad agency, Fallon Worldwide, pushed the envelope and created five BMW Films with running times of 6 to 9 minutes starring actor Clive Owen
(who should have played James Bond) and other famous actors like Forrest Whittaker, Madonna and 
"Our clean diesel vehicles offer consumers a true value with the fuel efficiency that drivers are looking for while providing power, utility and performance," said Mark Barnes, COO, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "The Jetta TDI's offer a no compromise alternative fuel driving experience."
"The new 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and Dodge Durango Hybrid deliver fuel economy up to 20 miles per gallon - a 40 percent improvement in the city and 25 percent overall - best-in-class cargo room, and are priced nearly $8,000 below the competition," said Deborah Meyer, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer - Chrysler LLC...
Mitsubishi Stuck With Traffic
Agency co-chairman Tom Cordner
was a guest on my AdBiz TV program on KWHY - The Business Channel
in the '90's when he was leading the Lexus creative team at Saatchi's Team One Advertising. After 15 years at Team One, from the 1988 start of Lexus, Tom went to J. Walter Thompson to work on Ford's advertising...
Mitsubishi is offering three ways to get $500
when you buy a Lancer Evolution
. Loyalty customer cash to current owners of Mitsubishi vehicle(s) or an immediate family member; the Education Edge customer cash is available to customers who graduated from an accredited college in past 2 years or will do so in next 12 months, and Military Rebate is available to active duty personnel in the armed services and reserves...
Cadillac reported that its 
GOOD rating from 
The Around View Monitor
synthesizes a bird’s eye image of the vehicle and its surroundings using four ultra wide-angle high resolution cameras mounted on the front, sides and rear of the vehicle to make parking easier through greater visibility of the surrounding environment. 
“Each of our Automotive operations is improving, and we are encouraged by the progress, which validates our strategy and plan. In 2007, we introduced great new products around the globe that received strong third-party endorsements for styling, quality and safety. This year, we have some outstanding new product introductions including the Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and 
