Car Chase!
Happy Friday, here's your complimentary car chase. No one was seriously injured. Click here to ride along with the police. This is actually the second car stolen by the perp, after the cops spun him in the first car he ran out and stole this sedan. Full story here.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Guarding Guardrail: Aluminum Theft on the Rise
Search the Internet for the words guardrail and theft and most of the stories will involve criminals who are being pursued running into guardrails, but a local TV station is reporting on the theft of aluminum guardrails in the Bay Area. The motive? Scrap aluminum is commanding a high price. Caltrans and the CHP are setting up sting operations, but say that it will prove difficult to catch the thieves. I first learned about guardrail theft when Joy tried to steal a guardrail on My Name is Earl.
In any case, the victims of high aluminum prices are stacking up. First it was Subaru saying goodbye to our lightweight friend and now this. What's next?
The ultimate irony would be for an aluminum thief to lose control in a corner that had recently been vandalized. The chances of that are pretty slim. In the meantime if you see anybody working on guardrails at night they are probably not fixing it.
Ouch! China's Drivers Doing Their Worst
All sorts of action in this video footage. Click here.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Win Your Choice of a GMC Vehicle + A Maxum Boat (12/31/07)
Nice sweeps! You choice of a Jimmy up to $61K! Click here to enter!
GM's Puttin on the Spiffs
Recently GM announced that it would begin offering $750 to consumers, $200 to salesmen and $50 to sales managers for every 2005 and 2006 vehicle sold.
GM also quietly rolled out a program for GM Card cardholders offering them special bonus earnings toward the purchase or lease of a new GM vehicle. Eligible vehicles include all GM brands except Saturn. Some hot sellers, such as the Pontiac Solstice roadster and Chevrolet Corvette, are excluded. The bonus earnings will depend on the cardholder and the vehicle purchased.
GM has said that 2007 will see more incentives, but that the incentives will be targeted. If you're considering the purchase of a GM vehicle, it might not be a bad idea to request a brochure and specify a time frame of 0-3 months. No guarantees, but last year Ford sent out a lot of bonus offers to consumers who had expressed interest in vehicles such as the F-150.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Win a Suzuki SX4 (10/30/07)
I like the Euro flair of the SX4. Click here to enter.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
smart Trailer
smart's "discovery marketing" will be heralded by the arrival of three 38-foot tractor-trailers that will fan out and tour 44 cities and make 55 stops. The whole thing gets rolling in May. As previously promised, you'll be able to test drive the fortwo's (presumably off the trailer) and learn more about the brand. Other than the trailer concept the smart tour should be like most other manufacturer ride and drive events with major retailer tie-ins galore.
You'd probably best sign up at smart usa's website as an insider to make sure you get invited. You can also tune in to ACATT as I'll post the info as soon as I receive it.
BMW 1 series will come to U.S.: Yes; Hatchback?: No
Recently there have been rumors floating around that the good old USA would get a hatch version of the 1 series. However, those stories sounded pretty false to me b/c BMW USA have been very clear that ever since the bobtail 3 series disaster there would be no hatchback BMWs in the USA. It's sad that one bad experience can poison the minds of those who call the shots, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. The same goes for the constant rumors that Mercedes will finally give the USA the B Class. Not gonna happen. MB dealers really don't want anything less than the C in their showrooms. Heck they were ready to hop on a plane and tell Dieter where he could put his smart fortwo.
Automotive News is now reporting in its latest issue that the USA will get a coupe and a convertible which sounds much more believable. Several dealers have seen pictures of the vehicles and were pleased with what they saw.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Peugeot to test selling cars via the Net
EBay Motors makes a tidy profit, dealers buy used cars using various online auction resources, and now Peugeot is taking the next step by offering used copies of the slow selling 1007 online. Peugeot realizes that it must tread carefully to avoid angry dealers, so it will be interesting to see how this experiment works out for them.
When buying a car, you really have to touch and feel the merchandise but once you know what you like it's not unreasonable to buy a car site unseen. Buying from a manufacturer would add credibility to the sale.
Car dealerships are a labyrinth that many people would prefer to never navigate. Sure, there are some people who relish negotiating the last living cent out of a dealer, but most folks just want the experience in the sales office to be as quick as possible.
This will definitely be a developing story...
Full story here.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Consumer Reports Infant Seat Test Inaccurate
Consumer Reports magazine backed away from its recent negative report on infant car seats, saying test crashes were conducted at speeds higher than it had claimed. The magazine reported in early January 2007 that most of the seats it tested "failed disastrously" in crashes at speeds as low as 35 mph. In one test, it said, a dummy child was hurled 30 feet.
It all seemed a bit too improbable and now why find out why. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has smacked the nose of CR saying that the crash tests were conducted under conditions that would represent being struck at more than 70 mph. Oops. That's a huge difference.
With the headline grabbing results of the first test null and void, CR will begin retesting soon and have a new report available ASAP. I sure hope they do as good a job publicizing the new results and they did with the first test.
2008 Mercedes C-Class
It's all official now. Click here to download the 99 page press info pdf. Click on the photos for much larger versions.
Fields to Jet Home With the Rest of Us
...well, he'll be on the same plane at least.
When your company is in trouble, and Ford certainly is, everyone has to tightened their belts. Recently Mark Fields came under criticism for using Ford’s company jet to go home to Florida on the weekends. Regardless of what you think about Fields living in Florida instead of Michigan, there was this issue of a private jet taking him home. Of course the deal was all “above board” with Fields’ contract including this feature as a perk. A really pricey perk. In a gesture of support Mr. Fields has elected to take commercial flights and not the company jet. Of course Ford will pick up the cost of the tickets, but those tickets are a bargain compared to what the company was spending.
It’s the right move to make, it’s just a shame that it took public scrutiny to make it happen. I know that some executives feel entitled to the perks they receive because they believe themselves to be the best and deserve to reap the benefits. However, now is not the time to take Ford to the cleaners. Want perks? How about free Ford vehicles to give to friends and family instead of private jet trips? That shows support for your brands and still gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling that your getting all that you deserve.
As one boss said to me right before he fired a co-worker of mine, “No one is irreplaceable.”
Monday, January 15, 2007
Revolting? Some People Think So
GM was truly the belle of the ball at Detroit. It seemed that the company could do know wrong scooping up awards and press adoration with aplomb. However there is some carping amongst other manufacturers about the Chevrolet Volt.
Why? Well some automotive manufacturers claim that anyone could have created a mock up like GM did. No new earth was plowed and the battery technology that will make the Volt possible isn’t here yet. One individual quipped, “That Volt is just vaporware!” Those coming to the defense of GM say that the Volt shows that GM is very serious about hybrids and that the company will not let Japanese manufacturers’ lead go uncontested.
Maybe GM sweeping through the show like one of the horsemen of the apocalypse has something to do with the tisk tisking about the Volt.
My take? The promise that the Volt represents is worthy of the attention that it got. Cheating on the science project? Nothing is stopping the “other guys” from coming up with their own versions.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Win a GMC Acadia (1/17/2006)
Now hold on tigers, you can't enter until 1/15/2007. The sweeps seems to be only online for two days so you'll have to enter fast. However they are giving away over $200k in prizes so it looks like quite a haul.
Click here to find out more.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Ford: No Diesel Passenger Cars for North America
According to an Automotive News report, Ford has decided that it cannot make a profit selling diesel cars in the North American market. That means that the only Ford products getting diesels will be light trucks. Ford seems to feel that tricks such as turbos and direct injection along with hybrids will carry the day.
I'm not so convinced that this is a wise move. My philosophy about the auto market is that a full range manufacturer should be just that: full range. Ignoring an emerging market for diesels might seem like a prudent thing right now, but that's the same line that GM gave people about hybrids. GM fessed up, admitted it was a PR mistake and now has some interesting hybrid technology on the way.Yes, it's true that there are ever more technological solutions for enhanced fuel economy of gasoline engines such as homogeneous charge compression ignition. However, ignoring the passenger car diesel market could be something that Ford will later regret. Why not take a niche approach to diesels and produce a limited run, like Chrysler did with the Liberty, of 5,000 models. Yes, yes they may have to sell those vehicles at cost or at a slight loss but the knowledge and publicity gained would be worth it in my book.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
2008 Ford 500
The 500 looks better AND has more huevos under the hood. Ford media info below.
The Ford Five Hundred sedan packs nearly 30 percent more power and boasts a new look inside and out for the 2008 model year.
On sale by summer 2007, the Five Hundred features a new front end resembling the popular Ford Fusion, more horsepower and torque thanks to a new 3.5-liter V-6 engine, a new six-speed transmission and all-wheel-drive system and safety upgrades that include Ford’s available AdvanceTrac® electronic stability control system. Structural upgrades to further improve crash protection include reinforcements in the footwell area and new interior door panels.
“Customers love the Five Hundred’s ride and package, and its safety reputation is excellent,” says Cisco Codina, Ford’s group vice president of North America Marketing, Sales and Service. “For this year, we’ve dialed up the appeal with a new, more expressive look, a more powerful engine and more than 500 changes to make this great car even better.”
The Five Hundred’s 3.5-liter Duratec V-6 now delivers an estimated 260 horsepower and 245 pound-feet of torque. It also benefits from the same smooth shifting, six-speed automatic transmission and the same available all-wheel-drive system as the new Ford Edge. Importantly, even with the upgraded powertrain, real-world fuel economy for the front-wheel-drive model is expected to be similar to the current model – thanks to advancements in powertrain technology.
2008 Ford Focus
Ford media release details below.
The 2008 Ford Focus brings a bold design, modern interior, improved driving dynamics and competitive fuel economy to the growing small car market.
All-new exterior design strikes an exciting pose in two-door coupe and four-door sedan body styles.
Redesigned cabin offers contemporary styling and features such as silver metallic finishing on the dashboard and center console, available ambient interior lighting and available leather seating with contrast stitching – all creating a modern atmosphere.
Available Ford Sync™ offers advanced levels of connectivity to help create a second home on wheels inside the car.
New suspension tuning and chassis refinements improve an already rewarding and dynamic driving experience.
Improvements to sealing and sound deadening materials reduce noise, vibration and harshness levels providing a quiet, comfortable ride.
All-new exterior design strikes an exciting pose in two-door coupe and four-door sedan body styles.
Redesigned cabin offers contemporary styling and features such as silver metallic finishing on the dashboard and center console, available ambient interior lighting and available leather seating with contrast stitching – all creating a modern atmosphere.
Available Ford Sync™ offers advanced levels of connectivity to help create a second home on wheels inside the car.
New suspension tuning and chassis refinements improve an already rewarding and dynamic driving experience.
Improvements to sealing and sound deadening materials reduce noise, vibration and harshness levels providing a quiet, comfortable ride.
Chevrolet Volt
A plug-in concept from GM. The buzzword here is E-Flex power. Basically in the Volt's case E-Flex means that the gasoline engine only exists to keep the batteries charged: kicking in at 30% and turning off at 80% charge. The goal is to offer fully electric drive for up to 40 miles. After which the engine would have to start up and charge the batteries. The example is given where a commute would be 60 miles. The first 40 are electric and the last 20 have the engine charging the batteries. With a 50MPG motor doing the charging the equivalent MPG for the 60 mile trip would be 150MPG (not counting the energy used to charge the batteries at the beginning of the trip). Another bonus would be the fact that the Volt would not need any special home based charger. The car would literally plug into a standard 15AMP circuit.
All of this whiz bang stuff relies on lithium-ion batteries that have yet to be perfected for automotive use. But just like Whitney Houston, GM believes that "Lithium-ion batteries are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way."
Nissan Bevel
Update 2: Okay, here we go...Here are the official shots of the Bevel Concept. I like the Honda better :-)Autoblog has a whole series of photos taken from someone's apartment balcony. My guess is that this is the Nissan Bevel. Why? Well, we know that it's pretty much a lock that we get a version of the next generation Cube and my speculation is that it is the forthcoming Bevel. The car pictured looks to be a more mature version of the Cube, so that's my official explanation.
Click here to see the whole series.
Click here to see the whole series.
Update: Doh! Mag-X says that it's a Honda.
Gearing Up For Detroit
Ford Interceptor
Toyota FT-HS Concept
Lincoln MKR
Jaguar C-XF Concept
Mitsubishi Lancer
Mitsubishi Prototype X
Honda Accord Coupe Concept
Kia Kue
Nissan Rogue
Chrysler Nassau Concept
Jeep Trailhawk
Mazda Ryuga
Chevrolet Malibu
Volvo XC60 Concept
Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept
2008 Cadillac CTS
Mercedes-Benz Ocean Drive Concept
Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Concept
Chysler/Dodge Minivans
Sadly, due to family commitments I wasn't able to attend the LA Auto Show this year. My lovely wife did remind me that I just attended the Paris show a few months ago and more recently the San Francisco show. Hmph. Well, no use crying over it now. Okay, so now let's start getting ready for Detroit! Woo Hoo! Mitsubishi made good with some photos of the production Lancer, so I thought I'd russle up what photos we do have for a little show and tell.
Toyota will present its FT-HS concept.
Lincoln will show the MKR concept, featuring a twin turbo V-6.
Jaguar will be showing a four door concept called the C-XF. This is the future of the S-Type.Mitsubishi will debut the Lancer. Certainly a make or break for Mitsu here in the States. It's nice but not exactly rocking my socks. I'm eagerly awaiting the Evolution...
Nissan is promising a small crossover called the Rogue (shown in sketch form) and a concept called that Bevel (no sketch provided) that is "a dynamic, multi-purpose vehicle with a small size, big utility and fresh thinking."
Honda is giving us a peek at the next generation Accord with the Accord coupe concept.
From Kia comes the Kue concept.
Chrysler has dished out sketches of the Chrysler Nassau and Jeep Trailhawk concepts.
Mazda will rev up the Ryuga concept.
GM will have the product Malibu and CTS on display.
Volvo will show the XC60 Concept.
Acura will be showing its Advanced Sports Car concept
As for other vehicles that should be at Detroit: The new Caddy CTS, Hummer H4 concept, restyled Ford Focus, 500 and Interceptor concept, Toyota has the Tundra CrewMax and Highlander, and Chrysler minivans.
Certainly there are more vehicles debuting, but this gives us something to chew on!
Update: More photos added so I've bumped the story back up to the top
Update2: Back to the top as there are several more photos.
Update3: The buzz continues to build!
Update4: The last update before Sunday. Enjoy!sources: automotive news, carspyshots.net, manufacturers' press releases
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)