2010 Acura RDX SH-AWD review: Part one

2010 Acura RDX (Courtesy: MSheena)

Since the Acura RDX has been on the market for a few years, the brand decided that it was time for a slight refresh of the 2010 edition of the compact crossover.
 
In this link is a gallery of pictures I took of the RDX.  Be sure to check them out!

The first order of business was grafting on the new corporate nose.  To say that the shield grille has caused its fair share of controversy is an understatement, but in this application it looks just fine.  Click the read more link below to continue on...

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Give 'em Hell: Whitacre made permanent General Motors CEO

Edward E. Whitacre, Jr (Courtesy: General Motors)

In a move that surprised few, General Motors announced that Edward E. Whitacre, Jr., has agreed to continue as chairman and CEO of the company.

Whitacre is certainly no shrinking violet and has been very vocal since joining the company, becoming the star of commercials that helped to relaunch the company after bankruptcy and stacking the General's management ranks with his own appointees.

This isn't General Motors' first encounter with a strong willed Texan, many might recall the company's infamous showdown with Ross Perot back in the 1980s.

In a statement to the press, Whitacre stated,

The board of directors asked if I would be willing to stay on at GM and help continue the company's road back to success.  Having spent the past few months learning the business, meeting with our employees, customers and dealers, and working with the GM leadership team, I was both honored and pleased to accept this role. This is a great company with an even greater future, and I want to be part of it.

 Although General Motors had retained an executive search firm to help find a permanent CEO, it is unclear how much consideration was truly given to anyone other than Whitacre with the New York Times reporting that the search firm never presented a list of candidates to the board.

The "Given 'em Hell" phrase used in the title of this article was rumored to be have been said by Whitacre to his hand picked replacement, Randall Stephenson, as CEO of AT&T.

 

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General Motors engineer gives us the lowdown on Ecotec 2.4

Chris Meagher, chief engineer for the Ecotec 2.4, was kind enough to spend a few minutes with me to discuss the engine.

For those who don't know, GMs Ecotec 2.4L I-4 has been awarded Wards Auto World magazines 2010 10 Best Engines for North America. The direct injected engine with variable valve timing helps deliver segment-best highway fuel economy in GM's new crossovers, the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. The engine also debuts in the all-new Buick LaCrosse and Regal sedans this year.

Chris was also able to give me a brief overview of the 1.4 Turbo Ecotec, you'll see this baby in the Chevrolet Cruze.  The 1.4T was also fitted into the Aveo RS concept at the Detroit auto show.



General Motors covered my expenses so that I could attend the 2010 North American International Auto Show

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Buick Regal pricing revealed: Starts at $27,000

2011 Buick Regal (Courtesy: General Motors)

Buick has just announced today the retail pricing for the 2011 Buick Regal.

You can view the 2011 Buick Regal up close and personal in this linked slideshow and this gallery of official General Motors imagery.

The initial model run, which will be built in Germany, will be higher end models.  Therefore the "starting" price will be $26,995 (which includes $750 destination charge) for a premium CXL model.  For comparison's sake, the LaCrosse CXL costs $30,395 and the Acura TSX runs $30,120 (with $810 destination).  For those opting for the turbo model, and why wouldn't you, the starting price is $29,495 with destination.

The 2011 Buick Regal was revealed in Hollywood and I was there to cover the action.  You can read all about it in Part One:  2011 Buick Regal live in Hollywood: Up close and personal and Part Two:  2011 Buick Regal going rogue? From the Autobahn with love. 

For those reading through to the end of this story, I have a tasty little morsel.  In chatting with a certain GM employee at the Detroit Auto Show, it was hinted that the Buick Regal GS concept will not be the only Regal variant that we will see.  What does that mean?  Could there be even more powerful models on tap?  I suggested that a station wagon model was being hinted at, but in fact while a wagon may be considered, that was not what this particular employee was suggesting.  I could not pry any more details from Buick staffers at the show, but stay tuned!

Buick press release is shown after the "read more" link below:

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Helen Mirren and the Chevrolet Eqinox fuel cell electric vehicle

I'll be honest, I never thought much about Helen Mirren. Prime Suspect was a great show and her movie role have earned her many awards. Still, I didn't think much more about her until those famous bikini photos...

Well, I digress, what we have here today is Helen taking an Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell for a spin.  Ms. Mirren is part of the Project Driveway program that puts commoners and not so commoners into the Equinox fuel cell vehicles as part of a market test.  Enjoy!

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Visiting the 2010 San Mateo International Sportsmen’s Exposition

The 34th Annual San Mateo International Sportsmen’s Exposition (ISE), is in full swing at the San Mateo County Event Center through Sunday, January 17, 2010.  The family and I had a chance to visit the show on Friday and the kids had a great time checking out the boats and trying their hand at fishing.

You can check out my previous post  for the full press release and list of activities for this year's show.  For example, there is a rock wall that older children were having a lot of fun climbing.

ISE is being held at the San Mateo County Event Center, located at 2495 South Delaware Street in San Mateo, Calif., 94403. lSE show remaining hours are:  Saturday from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Entrance is $15 for adults; and free entrance for children 15 and younger. Discount coupons, tickets and more information are available at www. SportsExpos.com. Parking is $8 per car.

If you miss the San Mateo show, the next stop will be Sacramento from January 21, 2010 through January 24, 2010 at the Cal Expo, State Fairgrounds.

ISE provided tickets for my family to attend the show.

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Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept: Pictures and video interview with interior designer

Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept (Courtesy:  MSheena)

Cadillac's big news yesterday at the Detroit Auto Show was the introduction of the Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept.  To learn more about the XTS, view this linked slideshow.

The XTS foreshadows the STS / DTS replacement model that will unify Cadillac's large sedan portfolio.  The "Platinum" part of the title is a sub-brand that combined with the V-Series will mean that each Cadillac model will have either a more premium or sporty variant throughout the lineup.  For example, there is an Escalade Platinum, but do not look for a V-Series to appear.  However, a production XTS could theoretically spawn both Platinum and V-Series editions.

The concept sports both AWD and hybrid technologies.  All wheel drive is almost mandatory as a front wheel drive flagship sedan would not be the image the Cadillac wishes to convey.  I sincerely doubt that FWD will be available on any trim level.  A hybrid option would also be important match the competition.
When asked how close this concept is to the production model, GM Design Chief Ed Welburn answered simply "We don't have time to mess around."

I had a chance to interview the XTS's interior designer Christine Park.  She did such a great job of presenting everything that we discussed in the video clip embedded below that I will not bother to recap it here.



General Motors covered my expenses so that I could attend the Detroit Auto Show.

For more info: Read the full press release from Cadillac.

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GMC Granite: My top pick from the 2010 Detroit Auto Show

GMC introduced its Granite concept at the North American International Auto Show this week. When I heard about the Granite from fellow bloggers who had attended preview events hosted by General Motors, I cannot say that I was that excited. The vehicle was described at a Scion xB, Kia Soul, Nissan Cube type of vehicle. Been there, done that I thought to myself.  I was wrong, click read more to find out why...

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GMC Granite video clip

Here is more info on the GMC Granite, one of the top picks for me from 2010 NAIAS.

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2010 North American International Auto Show: Initial thoughts

January has once again arrived and I find find myself in Detroit for the Auto Show.  I have posted random tidbits on my Twitter account and full reports and interviews will be posted later on, but for now I just wanted to share some general observations.

The mood at the show this year is markedly different than 2009.  There is more confidence and optimism being shared by executives who are all too happy to close the books on a year that had more downs than ups.

Looking at the three domestics:  Both General Motors and Ford are showing a strong lineup of products, heavily influenced by future fuel economy mandates.  Chrysler was pretty quiet at the show.

In the GM aisle we saw the Aveo RS "concept" that basically shows us what the next Aveo will look like (minus the show car jewelry).  It is a stylish number that holds a lot of promise.  We also saw the Spark which will slot beneath the Aveo as the new entry level model in the lineup.  Also on the stage was the Cruze,  replacing the Cobalt,  which promises to offer a tremendous jump in refinement.

GMC showed us the Granite concept and it ranks up near the top of the charts for me at this year's show.  I honestly was not expecting to be so impressed with a car that had been described by some as a Scion xB, Nissan Cube type of vehicle. The Granite is much more than either one of those vehicles, its interior shows a real maturity and premium look that pleases the eye.  I spoke with Margaret Brooks, Product Marketing Director for small cars and crossovers at Chevrolet, and what she said applies to the Granite:  You cannot appear as though you are trying too hard or be overly juvenile in marketing to youth.  For me, the Granite might be in the shape of an xB/Cube, but it is in the spirit of Mini and I estimate it would likely command a similar pricing of $20K-$30K should it be produced.  My only hope is that the interior not be watered down too much in a production model.

Buick showed us the Regal GS concept and it has received a lot of compliments on the show floor.  The wheels on that car are fantastic and who is going to argue with more power hooked to a manual transmission?

Cadillac's CTS-V coupe takes a beautiful car and dumps a Costco sized container of chili pepper flakes on it.  It just might melt cars parked next to it.

Cadillac's XTS concept is thinly veiled look at the STS/DTS replacement.  I will be having a closer look at it today.

Over on the Ford stand the biggest news is the Focus and what a story it is.  The current U.S. Focus is a dumpy design whereas the new sedan and hatch are simply beautiful. We finally get the same car as the Euros and that can mean nothing but good things.  There is a lot of nice detail work in the sheet metal and the sedan does not get the short end of the stick:  It's just as attractive as the hatch!

Bottom line is that Ford and Chevrolet have two extremely competent entries in the Focus and Cruze that will give consumers powerful reasons to buy domestic again.

Lincoln showed us a refreshed MKX.  The new nose of Lincoln looks the best on this crossover. The interior also gets a nice touch-up, with touch sensitive controls on the center stack and better materials. The rear does see improvements, including a novel approach to LED lighting where the lights are turned around and reflected back, eliminating the "hot spots" that most LED taillights have.

Chrysler placed beautiful models in front of its vehicles and a Chrysler badged Lancia Delta hinted at what the future might hold in store for the brand.  Overall the only production news at the show were some special edition models, not much to write home about. Most interest was placed on Sergio Marchionne walking around the show floor.  He certainly has his work cut out for himself.

Honda showed us the CR-Z hybrid, a car I was prepared to hate.  However, in person it looks quite nice.  The only disappointment for me was that its mileage was only in the 30s for both city and highway.  I was shocked when I heard those figures.

Toyota displayed the FT-CH hybrid concept.  This car would be a little brother to the Prius and likely be part of a Prius family. I didn't spend a lot of time looking at it, but I have no initial objections.  Seems like a good idea.

Volkswagen showed us its NCC concept, but lets just call it the Jetta coupe and be done with it.  Very good looking car and the interior is attractive.  If I had to quibble, VW's instrument panels have become a bit ho-hum, how about shaking things up?

Audi showed us its latest take on the e-tron electric sports car concept.  This Detroit model is much better than the orange monster that I recently looked at in Los Angeles.   If the production model looks like this, it will be a clear winner.

When you add up all the debuts at this year's show, it wasn't quite the bumper crop of some years past.  For example, there was no news conferences from Nissan, Infiniti, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Acura, and Volvo to name a few.  When you add that together with the brands that are no longer with us this year, it adds up to a lighter schedule.  What was displayed at the show was good, there really were no stinkers from anyone.  Ford and GM really did the heavy lifting, the home teams have a lot to be proud of.  It would have been nice to have seen more from Chrysler, but they are in a major transitional period.


General Motors covered my expenses so that I could attend the show.

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2010 changes: Disabled parking violators in California get hefty fines

California DP parking placard (Courtesy: CA DMV)

New for 2010 in the State of California are increased fines, between $250 and $1,000, for violating disabled parking laws.

While researching this story, I went looking for some Creative Commons licensed photography, what I found wildly exceeded my expectations.  You can view some of the amazing work I found in this linked slideshow.

According to the legislation, any of the following acts will net you the enhanced fines:

1. A disabled person who knowingly permits his or her  disabled placard or plate to be used by a person not entitled to it
2. A person displaying a disabled placard that was not issued to him or her (except when transporting a disabled person), or a disabled placard that has been canceled or revoked
3. A person using a vehicle displaying a special identification license plate issued to another who parks in a parking stall or space designated for disabled persons
4. A person who, with fraudulent intent, displays or causes or permits to be displayed a forged, counterfeit, or false disabled person placard 
    

Placard abuse has long grated on the nerves of many.  Firstly, because it robs the truly disabled of convenient parking.  Secondly, because it robs many local coffers due to the exemption from paying parking meter fees.  Thirdly, it robs local businesses because there is no time limit, thereby limited turnover in business districts.

As an added bonus, DP placard violations no longer need to be treated as misdemeanors, so cities can elect to allow parking control officers to cite violators instead of having police officers show up.

You can read more about this topic in this SFGate story.

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Win a 2010 Honda Insight EX (1/31/10)

While the Honda Insight has an uneven record in the press, a free car is still a free car.  Don't worry about the "Tinked Out" Insight in the picture above, the car up for grabs is just a plain old Honda Insight.  You do not have to buy a DVD to enter, just click the "Enter without purchase" link.  Click here to enter.

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International Sportsmen's Exposition Opens Thursday, January 14 at the San Mateo County Event Center

Save $2.00 on e-ticket purchase with this limited time offer!  Offer Expires January 12, 2010. No Online Service Fees.

You might recall that I visited the ISE in San Mateo last year, well that time has come again!  Above is a link that will save you $2 off admission, but be aware that it is only good until 1/12/2010, so you have to buy your tickets in advance of the show opening.  Below is a press release from ISE regarding the San Mateo show...


ISE San Mateo is filled with retailers, manufacturers, lodges and resorts, guides and outfitters, clubs and enthusiast groups. More! Meet face-to-face with outdoor companies from throughout California, around the West, and from Africa, Alaska, Canada, Mexico and South America.

The 34th Annual San Mateo International Sportsmen’s Exposition (ISE), brings the best of the outdoors to the San Mateo County Event Center Thursday, January 14 through Sunday, January 17, 2010. ISE San Mateo is the Bay Area’s only gathering of the year for fishing, hunting and outdoor enthusiasts who want to check out new products, try and buy new gear at discounted show prices and research “staycations” or the adventure of a lifetime. From fly-casting lessons and dog long-jumping competitions,  hands-on clinics and expert-led seminars, outdoor enthusiasts of all ages can explore outdoor adventures – indoors.

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Buick Regal GS concept: Get some!

Buick Regal GS show car (Courtesy: General Motors)

Do you ever get frustrated when you see a performance Buick on stage at a Barrett-Jackson auction and wonder why Buick no longer makes anything remotely like that?  Stew no longer as Buick has seen fit to release information on the Buick Regal GS concept.

View a gallery of Regal GS images plus some pictures of performance Buicks from years ago in this linked slideshow.

Back in October of 2009, I speculated that Buick just might give us a Regal based on the high performance Insignia OPC.  That dream is coming closer to reality with this GS "concept" that looks pretty darn close to reality.

“We designed the Regal GS to explore the appeal of a high-performance variant of the Regal,” said Craig Bierley, product marketing director for Buick. “Like the Regal, the Regal GS is based on the award-winning Opel Insignia, and we believe it will reinvigorate Buick’s storied Gran Sport legacy.”

The General pulls a bit of an interesting move in that the OPC's 325-horsepower turbocharged V6 has been swapped for a 2.0-liter direct-injected EcoTec four-cylinder that pumps out an estimated 255 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque.  When you consider the fact that the 2.0 is on the US parts shelf and ready to rumble, it makes a lot of sense.  Besides, who is going to argue with 295 lb.-ft. of torque?  When asked about the Regal GS concept and its chances against the competition, a Buick insider had this to say about the matter.

The show car has all wheel drive, six speed manual transmission, Brembo brakes, Recaro high-performance seats, Interactive Drive Control System, jet black interior and a suede-covered, flat-bottom steering wheel.
No word on whether or not the GS will become a reality, but who are kidding here?  The GS is about as close to a "lock" as you can get in the car business.

Below is an embedded video of a Buick GSX, just to remind you of how things used to be.

For more info:   Read the official press release.

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2010 Chevrolet Equinox Features

General Motors is rightfully proud of the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and here are a few reasons why...

Programmable liftgate on 2010 Equinox





2010 Equinox front seat features







2010 Equinox rear seat features

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2011 Toyota Sienna: More photos, videos and information

2011 Toyota Sienna SE (photo by M.Sheena)

This is part two in my coverage of the 2011 Toyota Sienna from the Los Angeles Auto Show reveal.  For part one of this series, please click here.

More images of the 2011 Sienna, including some nice shots of the reclining middle row, in the slideshow below.

The 2011 Sienna offers some new options for buyers to choose from.  For example, you can now opt for a 187 horsepower four cylinder engine which serves up 19 mpg city and 26 mpg on the highway or a sportier SE model that offers 19" wheels, lowered suspension, various unique exterior and interior trim and sportier handling.  The SE shown at the show had a cloth/leatherette interior and it would appear that this is the way SE models will be equipped  That would mean that buyers wanting to "have it all" will have to forgo the SE and continue to opt for the Limited which is somewhat disappointing to me as I would like a sportier van, but I also want every bell and whistle.  All Sienna's promise to be somewhat crisper in the handling department thanks to engineering changes.

Several people have asked what the "wart-like" bump is on the first sunroof of Sienna's equipped with dual roofs.  I inquired with Toyota staffers and the answer is that it is a wind deflector for the second roof.  I also asked about the driver and front passenger door armrest cubbies that used to be on certain models, the short answer is that they are gone.  The sunglass case and conversation mirror have now been integrated into one unit, such as it is on the Honda Odyssey.

On the safety forefront, a driver's side airbag is now standard bringing the count up to seven.  It is interesting to note that the new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze will have 10 standard airbags, so six or seven bags are no longer cutting edge.  The Limited model offers an available Pre-Collision System (PCS) which integrates with the adaptive cruise control (which is now radar instead of laser based).  The backup camera can now offer 180 view which will help getting out of driveways and on screen guides to assist in the backup process.  There is also Safety Connect, standard on the Limited and available on the XLE, which like OnStar will notify authorities in the event of a crash.

Overall the 2011 Toyota Sienna is a relatively safe update of the current Sienna.  Nissan showed that radical entries in the conservative minivan market are rejected by buyers, so Toyota was sure not to move the needle too far.  Some buyers might be disappointed to see that certain high tech features like a hard drive based entertainment system are not available, but most will likely be quite satisfied with this updated edition.  While Toyota did not address a hybrid Sienna at this time, it is very likely that a hybrid Sienna will show up sooner rather than later in this model's life cycle.

There is much more to the 2011 Toyota Sienna and you can read all about it in Toyota's official press release.  Hopefully these highlights will be of some assistance to you.  Below this story are several videos.  The first two videos are the live footage I shot  at the press conference.  The third video is a Toyota representative demonstrating the removal and installation of the eighth seat (which stows in the back hatch area).


2011 Toyota Sienna Complete Press Reveal Part 1

2011 Toyota Sienna Complete Press Reveal Part 2

2011 Toyota Sienna Eighth Seat Removal and Installation

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2011 Toyota Sienna: Live pictures, video and insight

2011 Toyota Sienna (courtesy: msheena)

The 2011 Toyota Sienna was revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show and I was in the front row to cover all the action.

You can view some of the pictures that I took of the 2011 Toyota Sienna while attending the show in the slideshow below this story.

The third generation Sienna is an evolutionary vehicle that picks up on the strengths of the previous product and refines the overall look of the van.  You can immediately tell that the van is a newer model, yet there are no outlandish styling features that would send relatively conservative minivan buyers running for the hills.

The front of the van has a Venza inspired grille and does slightly resemble the F3R concept with a more pronounced chin.  There is a nice shoulder line running down the side of the van that gives the Sienna some visual interest.  When viewing the van from the rear, you will notice LED taillights, amber turn signal and hidden rear wiper tucked under the rear spoiler.

Climbing into the van, the instrument panel has been revised.  The graining on the materials is quite nice, but if you touch them you will find that former soft touch surfaces, such as the top of the dash, now feature harder plastics.  On the higher end models, the faux wood now has a much more realistic look to them, a la the Venza.  In the top center of the dash there is an information display.  For vans equipped with a DVD player, discs are loaded in the front of the dash in a slot loader (like the Honda Odyssey) as opposed to the current setup where you have to sit in the middle row in order to load the DVD.

I will have more information on the 2011 Toyota Sienna in part two of my coverage, but I will leave you with a YouTube clip that I took.  I walk around the van and then sit inside.  Hopefully it gives you a better perspective.

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2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe: Caution, may eat lesser cars

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

Cadillac released official photography and details today about the forthcoming CTS-V Coupe.

View the CTS-V Coupe from all angles in this linked slideshow.

The CTS Coupe is already a bold design in and of itself, the V treatment capitalizes that design and adds an exclamation mark.

The CTS-V Coupe scores the same 556-horsepower, 551 lb.-ft. of torque 6.2L engine that breathes fire in the CTS-V sedan.  That kind of whomp will send you to 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds.

Cadillac chief Brian Nesbitt had this to say about the new addition to the Cadillac family,

The CTS-V Coupe marries our most potent and sophisticated technology with our most dramatic production design.  This combination of visual and technical attributes is designed to create a very compelling choice for luxury sports car consumers.

When it comes to shifting gears, you can row it yourself with a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual featuring a dual-disc clutch or let a computer do the work with a Hydra-Matic 6L90 six-speed automatic with paddle-shift control.

Bringing the whole thing to a halt are Brembo brakes with impressive six-piston calipers in the front and four-piston calipers in the rear.  The Brembo's bite down on slotted and vented rotors.  Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 summer tires are standard equipment.

Keeping things sporty inside are available Recaro seats and an exclusive Saffron color option.  The same "suede like" microfiber steering wheel, seat inserts and shifter also make it over from the CTS-V sedan.

If you recall, there was a recent study that showed that men who drove a Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet for an hour had significantly higher levels of testosterone in their saliva than after driving a 16 year old Toyota Camry.  I would like to see a similar test for drivers who spent an hour behind the wheel of this coupe:  I would imagine that the levels would be off the charts.

Pricing is not yet available, but the CTS-V sedan starts at $62,845 with destination, so you have a framework for what the CTS-V Coupe will set you back when it arrives in early summer.

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Wyoming residents: Ray Romano wants you to reserve a Ford Fiesta

Ford Fiesta brand manager, Sam DeLaGarza (Ford)

First things first:  Ray Romano has nothing to do with the Ford Fiesta.  The Fiesta's brand manager, Sam DeLaGarza, who I think looks a lot like Ray Romano, posted on his Twitter account today that the only state not yet represented in the 2011 Ford Fiesta reservation program is Wyoming.

View the Fiesta in all its glory in this linked slideshow.

I interviewed Sam back in June of 2009 and he and I discussed the smart fortwo reservation system.  I had stated that in my own experience, I was disappointed that smart had not reached out to early reservationists with any special treatment such as sending out small trinkets or e-mail status updates as the year progressed towards the official launch. Sam said that Ford had heard the same thing from focus groups.  All of this would imply that Fiesta reservationists should be hearing from Ford while they wait.  Who knows, maybe Ford will even send you a little something (no promises, just a theory).

Ford is throwing in its SYNC system as an enticement to order early.  The reservation is non-binding and unlike the $99 smart fortwo program requires zero upfront payment.

In a side note, the real Ray Romano wants me to tell you about his new show, Men of a Certain Age, which is featured on TNT.

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Toyota 4Runner commercials ask 'Are you in?'

2010 Toyota 4Runner Trail (source: toyota)

The latest 2010 Toyota 4Runner commercials focus on the rugged, outdoorsy qualities of the SUV.  That makes sense because many reviews of the 2010 Toyota 4Runner peg the vehicle as being an extremely capable off roader.

However, I am always skeptical of vehicle advertising that does not focus on the hardware and features of the car or truck they are trying to sell to me.  Frankly, I get more out of photos such as those in the slideshow below this article than watching people having outdoorsy fun while I sit in front of a computer and write this post.

You can judge for yourself in the embedded videos below.  Do these clips make you want the Toyota 4Runner any more than you already do?


2010 Toyota 4Runner: Man vs. Rock Wall


2010 Toyota 4Runner: Man vs. Beast


2010 Toyota 4Runner: Man vs. Shark

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Win a Chevrolet Camaro (1/31/10)

I just saw a black Camaro on the road today with its halo rings lit up:  Show car looks, truly bad ass.  I was quite taken with the Camaro in my review of a 2010 1LT RS model, now here is your chance to win a Camaro for yourself. 
 
Click here to enter.

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2011 Audi A8: Top of the line model gets a new look

2011 Audi A8 (courtesy: Audi)

Compare the 2011 model to this 2009 Audi A8L

Audi's aluminum masterpiece received its fair share of attention when it was officially revealed at Design Miami 2009.

When examining the full suite of images provided by  Audi, shown in this linked slideshow, the changes the 2011 Audi A8 has received are subtle but tighten its design up nicely.

The A8 continues its extensive use of aluminum, which saves weight and is very strong but also tends to drive insurance companies nuts due high costs when repairing crash damage (that is not to say that the 2011 A8 will have higher rates than competitive models).  In the A8's case,  the Audi Space Frame weighs about 40 percent less than a comparable steel structure.

The A8 launches with a 4.2 liter V8 engine that sports 372 hp (up from 350 hp), 328 lb-ft torque (up from 325 lb-ft torque) and mated to an 8-speed transmission which all contribute to an estimated 15% improvement in fuel economy.  Look for more engine options to be announced by Audi at a later date as well as the introduction of the long wheelbase model.

When it comes to technology, the A8 is packed full of the latest gear.  For example, full LED headlights are available, something that is very rare in the automotive business.  These new LED headlights benefit the driver and oncoming traffic as they do not have the objectionable bluish tint that tends to send older drivers into conniptions whenever they encounter them in oncoming traffic.  That does not mean that LED headlights will be annoyance free.  Because the new LED units will allow unique packaging, some drivers will undoubtedly be tricked into thinking they are high beams.  Motor Trend did a nice comparison of LED vs. HID vs. halogen headlights, you can check out their article here.

Another A8 feature in the "trick" category is the navigation system's touchpad that allows the driver to "write" a destination address on the pad with their finger, a welcome feature that I look forward to testing.  The navigation system can also network with other modules in the car, for example it can communicate with the automatic transmission and the headlights.  Nifty.  The list of features in the A8 go on and on, in fact Audi has prepared a quick reference guide to recount the 2011 model's innovations and you can find it in this link.

The 2011 Audi A8 will hit U.S. dealer lots in late 2010 and will likely be priced very close to the current model which starts at $75,000.

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Honda SH150i: A new way to scoot

Here is the 2010 Honda SH150i:  I think it is a good looking scoot (brings back some Super Cub memories). With gas prices being somewhat uncertain, some readers might be on the lookout for fuel sippin' scooters. It's not cheap, at $4,499!  For more info, you can read Motorcycle.com's review.

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