During times like these, all car companies are dealing with the same concerns: high gas prices, the need for eco-friendly vehicles, a way to improve efficiency and performance. For one automotive company in particular, these concerns have been put to rest.
Back in 2009, Ford Motor Company introduced the Ford Fusion Hybrid, a sedan that received 41 mpg city. Not only was this vehicle fuel efficient, it was eco-friendly as well. Ford effectively responded to the needs of its consumers and their work has paid off: the Fusion has achieved the hybrid-best customer satisfaction rate of 88 percent, surpassing even the Toyota Prius.
Why are Ford Fusion owners so happy with their hybrids? For one thing, the Ford Fusion is the most fuel-efficient sedan in America. If that is not reason enough, the Fusion was also rated America’s most reliable sedan of either hybrid or fuel consuming models.
To ensure this level of reliability, Ford has tested, tweaked, and reworked its hybrid battery cells. Chuck Gray, chief engineer at Global Core Engineering, Hybrid and Electric Vehicles, says that "Ford's battery technology is so strong, the odds of experiencing an issue with one of our hybrid battery cells is around 8.5 million to 1 – about the same odds as a person being struck by lightning twice."
Ford’s impressive reliability and satisfaction ratings have led to the Fusion bringing in more new buyers to the Ford brand than any other Ford car. In addition, customers awarded the Fusion hybrid a 91 percent “overall vehicle quality” score.
And Ford is not going to miss their opportunity to capitalize on this success: by 2012, they hope to have five new electric vehicles on the road in the U.S.
Worried about the reliability of hybrids? Leary of the climbing gas prices? Maybe a Ford Fusion is the perfect solution. Their customers certainly think so.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
JK-8 Conversion Kit: Jeep Steps Back into the Pickup Industry.
Jeep has been repeatedly asked by enthusiasts when there would be a pick-up model. At this year’s Moab Jeep Safari, loyal Jeep buyers got their wish, the JK-8 conversion kit.
Mopar, Chrysler’s in-house parts unit, has begun selling the kit that will change a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited into a pickup truck. With an estimated time of 12 to 16 hours of body shop work, the permanent change is getting Jeep enthusiasts excited.
For a price of $5,499 you get the kit that includes steel body panels, a 44 by 50 in bed, a fiberglass hardtop, and sport bar extensions. It also comes with a 3-year/36,000 mile warranty. The kit is available for the long-wheelbase, four door Unlimited version of the Wrangler.
Inspired by the Jeep Scrambler pickup from the 1980s, a favorite among enthusiasts, and will be available at Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram Dealerships. The kit turns the Wrangler Unlimited four-door SUV into a two-door pickup that still has off-road capabilities. Buyers now have the option of owning a Jeep pickup-truck for the first time since the Comanche was discontinued in 1992.
The kit is among the latest and more involved customized packages that the automotive world is heading to. To gain profits, many makers are increasing their accessories business.
The Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Wrangler unlimited are some of the most accessorized vehicles. On average, a new owner spends more than five-hundred dollars on Mopar accessories. With the introduction of the JK-8 kit it adds even more of an opportunity to customize their Wrangler. Living true to their motto, “It’s a Jeep Thing”.
Mopar, Chrysler’s in-house parts unit, has begun selling the kit that will change a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited into a pickup truck. With an estimated time of 12 to 16 hours of body shop work, the permanent change is getting Jeep enthusiasts excited.
For a price of $5,499 you get the kit that includes steel body panels, a 44 by 50 in bed, a fiberglass hardtop, and sport bar extensions. It also comes with a 3-year/36,000 mile warranty. The kit is available for the long-wheelbase, four door Unlimited version of the Wrangler.
Inspired by the Jeep Scrambler pickup from the 1980s, a favorite among enthusiasts, and will be available at Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram Dealerships. The kit turns the Wrangler Unlimited four-door SUV into a two-door pickup that still has off-road capabilities. Buyers now have the option of owning a Jeep pickup-truck for the first time since the Comanche was discontinued in 1992.
The kit is among the latest and more involved customized packages that the automotive world is heading to. To gain profits, many makers are increasing their accessories business.
The Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Wrangler unlimited are some of the most accessorized vehicles. On average, a new owner spends more than five-hundred dollars on Mopar accessories. With the introduction of the JK-8 kit it adds even more of an opportunity to customize their Wrangler. Living true to their motto, “It’s a Jeep Thing”.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
The 2012 VW Beetle: Not Your Mom’s Beetle
Let’s face it: women like a certain type of car and men often appeal to another. That’s just the way it is. The Volkswagen Beetle tends to fall into the “woman’s car” category. Not that there is anything wrong with that. But Volkswagen hopes that the Beetle’s 2012 model will widen its consumer base as a whole, drawing in both men and women buyers.
Women accounted for over 65 percent of U.S. buyers for the outgoing “New Beetle”. However, Rainer Michel, Volkswagen of America's vice president of product marketing and strategy, predicts that only about half of those who purchase the 2012 Beetle will be women.
Part of the reason for this change of appeal is the Beetle’s new, more powerful engine choices. The base engine will remain a 2.5-liter five-cylinder, but this one comes new and improved. This new five-cylinder delivers 170 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, 20 horsepower more than its previous model.
And the 2012 Beetle comes in a 2.0T Turbo model which is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This bad boy produces 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque to satisfy the male need for speed.
In addition to improved engine options, the design of the 2012 Beetle is also meant to draw in more testosterone. The 2012 model has been streamlined, with a more flat top and more erect windshield. The top has also been sloped back to create more headroom for the backseat. A longer, lower, and wider structure makes the 2012 Beetle tougher and more masculine than ever.
The interior of the 2012 Bug has also been overhauled, opting for a more linear, retro look. And with the available Sunroof, Sound, and Navigation package, 2012 Beetle owners can blast their favorite songs on a Fender-tuned stereo with a subwoofer and get directions on their integrated navigation system. No need to stop at the gas station guys.
A final masculine touch: the flower vase found in previous Beetle models has been eliminated.
Whether the Beetle’s new design is truly more masculine or not, Volkswagen still hopes to garner more popularity with the 2012 model. And even if 65 percent of 2012 Beetle sales are still chalked up to women, who cares? A sale is a sale, right?
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
The 2012 VW Beetle: Not Your Mom’s Beetle
The Volkswagen Beetle has traditionally been perceived as a bit of a woman’s car and it’s really no surprise. There’s a flower vase built into the dash for crying out loud. But Volkswagen hopes that its redesigned 2012 Beetle will appeal to a more masculine consumer base.
Women accounted for over 65 percent of U.S. buyers for the outgoing “New Beetle”. However, Rainer Michel, Volkswagen of America's vice president of product marketing and strategy, predicts that only about half of those who purchase the 2012 Beetle will be women.
Part of the reason for this change of appeal is the Beetle’s new, more powerful engine choices. The base engine will remain a 2.5-liter five-cylinder, but this one comes new and improved. This new five-cylinder delivers 170 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, 20 horsepower more than its previous model.
And the 2012 Beetle comes in a 2.0T Turbo model which is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This bad boy produces 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque to satisfy the male need for speed.
In addition to improved engine options, the design of the 2012 Beetle is also meant to draw in more testosterone. The 2012 model has been streamlined, with a more flat top and more erect windshield. The top has also been sloped back to create more headroom for the backseat. A longer, lower, and wider structure makes the 2012 Beetle tougher and more masculine than ever.
The interior of the 2012 Bug has also been overhauled, opting for a more linear, retro look. And with the available Sunroof, Sound, and Navigation package, 2012 Beetle owners can blast their favorite songs on a Fender-tuned stereo with a subwoofer and get directions on their integrated navigation system. No need to stop at the gas station guys.
A final masculine touch: the flower vase found in previous Beetle models has been eliminated.
While Volkswagen hopes the 2012 Beetle will bring in more male consumers, they also hope it will appeal to younger, more diverse buyers as well. Either way, it is clear that the Volkswagen Beetle will be flaunting a new image for the 2012 model year; it’s not just for women anymore.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Nothing like a Little Competition: the Leaf & the Volt
It seems that nothing can go wrong for either the Nissan Leaf or the Chevrolet Volt. No matter the ebb and flow of sales and production, both brands remain continuously optimistic, pledging that the future is bright for electric vehicles.
But no matter the apparent confidence of either Nissan or Chevrolet, the facts tell another side of the story.
From January of 2011 to June, Nissan sold 3,875 Leafs while the Volt’s sales numbers teetered off at 2,745. However, there is more to this reality than sales figures alone.
Because General Motors is currently expanding and updating the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant where the Volt is produced, not one Volt was built in the month of June. Production is planned to resume in mid-July but the Volt will not be widely available again until August. As of now, only 200 models are available for purchase in the United States.
Certainly this lull in production is a great opportunity for Nissan to take advantage of. As such, Nissan is planning on pumping out six to seven thousand Leafs by the end of the summer, hoping to secure its lead.
Keeping with the brother/sister mentality, Chevrolet has planned an offensive. Since summer sales for the Volt will be minimal, Chevrolet plans to use its new and improved assembly plant to supply 16,000 Volts by the end of 2011.
But estimated production numbers and 2011 sales figures cannot predict the future. It was not too long ago that Nissan was dealing with slowed production due to the March earthquake in Japan, sinking to the number two spot. But they recovered and eventually secured the lead. The Leaf is the more affordable of the two, but the Volt offers a backup gasoline system in addition to its electric battery, a more comforting set-up for consumers than electric alone.
From their short six months of production and sales, these electric vehicles have constantly been on opposite sides of the ring. There is not straddling the fence: either you are a Volt person or a Leaf person. Surely in the future, the electric car will become more mainstream and this rivalry will be diminished. Until then, the Volt/Leaf competition lives on.
But no matter the apparent confidence of either Nissan or Chevrolet, the facts tell another side of the story.
From January of 2011 to June, Nissan sold 3,875 Leafs while the Volt’s sales numbers teetered off at 2,745. However, there is more to this reality than sales figures alone.
Because General Motors is currently expanding and updating the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant where the Volt is produced, not one Volt was built in the month of June. Production is planned to resume in mid-July but the Volt will not be widely available again until August. As of now, only 200 models are available for purchase in the United States.
Certainly this lull in production is a great opportunity for Nissan to take advantage of. As such, Nissan is planning on pumping out six to seven thousand Leafs by the end of the summer, hoping to secure its lead.
Keeping with the brother/sister mentality, Chevrolet has planned an offensive. Since summer sales for the Volt will be minimal, Chevrolet plans to use its new and improved assembly plant to supply 16,000 Volts by the end of 2011.
But estimated production numbers and 2011 sales figures cannot predict the future. It was not too long ago that Nissan was dealing with slowed production due to the March earthquake in Japan, sinking to the number two spot. But they recovered and eventually secured the lead. The Leaf is the more affordable of the two, but the Volt offers a backup gasoline system in addition to its electric battery, a more comforting set-up for consumers than electric alone.
From their short six months of production and sales, these electric vehicles have constantly been on opposite sides of the ring. There is not straddling the fence: either you are a Volt person or a Leaf person. Surely in the future, the electric car will become more mainstream and this rivalry will be diminished. Until then, the Volt/Leaf competition lives on.
Chevy Achieves Highest Brand Share in 20 Years
General Motor Co. has recently reported that Chevrolet cars are outselling trucks, SUVs, and other vehicle types. The brand share for sedans, midsize cars, and compacts peaked at just over 50 percent for the month of June (3rd month in a row) and analysts are citing the public’s desire for more efficient transport as the reason. If this trend continues, Chevy cars will attain the highest sales ratio in 20 years, nearly matching the 52 percent set in May, June, and July of 1991.
“You’ll see continued strength in passenger cars, particularly in the compact and mid-car segments. We have been a very, very strong trucks brand and frankly have under-performed in cars. It’s as simple as that. You have to go back a long way to a car performance this strong,” remarked VP of sales and service for Chevrolet, Alan Batey.
As consumers demand more and more fuel efficiency, car makers are looking toward smaller vehicles as saviors. With plans to release the new Chevy Sonic subcompact in the fall and increased improvements to the already popular Cruze and Malibu, car sales may remain augmented. All things considered there is equal optimism that truck sales will rebound given Chevrolet’s storied past.
“Although the cars will remain robust and strong, I expect the trucks will come back somewhat in the second half of the year,” Batey prophesized. General Motors speculates that, based on current numbers, they will sell 120,000 more vehicles than last year through the first six months of the year.
With the recession slowly dying, it seems that Chevy has positioned themselves nicely to begin making up for lost sales by creating an mpg-friendly lineup of mid-sized and sub compact cars.
Check out the full lineup of Chevrolet cars here
“You’ll see continued strength in passenger cars, particularly in the compact and mid-car segments. We have been a very, very strong trucks brand and frankly have under-performed in cars. It’s as simple as that. You have to go back a long way to a car performance this strong,” remarked VP of sales and service for Chevrolet, Alan Batey.
As consumers demand more and more fuel efficiency, car makers are looking toward smaller vehicles as saviors. With plans to release the new Chevy Sonic subcompact in the fall and increased improvements to the already popular Cruze and Malibu, car sales may remain augmented. All things considered there is equal optimism that truck sales will rebound given Chevrolet’s storied past.
“Although the cars will remain robust and strong, I expect the trucks will come back somewhat in the second half of the year,” Batey prophesized. General Motors speculates that, based on current numbers, they will sell 120,000 more vehicles than last year through the first six months of the year.
With the recession slowly dying, it seems that Chevy has positioned themselves nicely to begin making up for lost sales by creating an mpg-friendly lineup of mid-sized and sub compact cars.
Check out the full lineup of Chevrolet cars here
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Chevrolet’s Car Sales Swell
General Motor Co. has recently reported that Chevrolet cars are outselling trucks, SUVs, and other vehicle types. The brand share for sedans, midsize cars, and compacts peaked at just over 50 percent for the month of June (3rd month in a row) and analysts are citing the public’s desire for more efficient transport as the reason. If this trend continues, Chevy cars will attain the highest sales ratio in 20 years, nearly matching the 52 percent set in May, June, and July of 1991.
“You’ll see continued strength in passenger cars, particularly in the compact and mid-car segments. We have been a very, very strong trucks brand and frankly have underperformed in cars. It’s as simple as that. You have to go back a long way to a car performance this strong,” remarked VP of sales and service for Chevrolet, Alan Batey.
As consumers demand more and more fuel efficiency, car makers are looking toward smaller vehicles as saviors. With plans to release the new Chevy Sonic subcompact in the fall and increased improvements to the already popular Cruze and Malibu, car sales may remain augmented. All things considered there is equal optimism that truck sales will rebound given Chevrolet’s storied past.
“Although the cars will remain robust and strong, I expect the trucks will come back somewhat in the second half of the year,” Batey prophesized. General Motors speculates that, based on current numbers, they will sell 120,000 more vehicles than last year through the first six months of the year.
With the recession slowly dying, it seems that Chevy has positioned themselves nicely to begin making up for lost sales by creating an mpg-friendly lineup of mid-sized and sub compact cars.
Check out the full lineup of Chevrolet cars here
“You’ll see continued strength in passenger cars, particularly in the compact and mid-car segments. We have been a very, very strong trucks brand and frankly have underperformed in cars. It’s as simple as that. You have to go back a long way to a car performance this strong,” remarked VP of sales and service for Chevrolet, Alan Batey.
As consumers demand more and more fuel efficiency, car makers are looking toward smaller vehicles as saviors. With plans to release the new Chevy Sonic subcompact in the fall and increased improvements to the already popular Cruze and Malibu, car sales may remain augmented. All things considered there is equal optimism that truck sales will rebound given Chevrolet’s storied past.
“Although the cars will remain robust and strong, I expect the trucks will come back somewhat in the second half of the year,” Batey prophesized. General Motors speculates that, based on current numbers, they will sell 120,000 more vehicles than last year through the first six months of the year.
With the recession slowly dying, it seems that Chevy has positioned themselves nicely to begin making up for lost sales by creating an mpg-friendly lineup of mid-sized and sub compact cars.
Check out the full lineup of Chevrolet cars here
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
With July Brings NADA’s Pick for “Car of the Month”
Now that July Fourth has passed, it is time to focus on something other than fireworks and hamburgers. How about the top rated car for the month of July? That’s right, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) has issued its pick for July’s “Car of the Month”: the Chrysler 300.
The all-new 2011 Chrysler 300 boasts a spacious interior, improved handling, an impressive list of standard features, and a new polished design, all of which were taken into consideration by NADAguides. Presenting a truly luxury full-size sedan, the Chrysler 300 “goes above and beyond your typical feature set,” according to Troy Snyder, the Director of Product Development for NADAguides. He asserts that the 300 offers “the perfect combination” of both “luxury features and sharp design elements.”
In order to make their decision, NADAguides considered safety, fuel efficiency, pricing, engineering quality, test drives performed by the NADAguides team, and consumer interest. NADAguides first began to consider the Chrysler 300 when it entered the top 20 most researched vehicles on NADAguides.com in the first quarter of 2011.
And a “top Safety Pick” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety certainly helped.
Hailed for its world-class craftsmanship, ride, and handling, the 2011 Chrysler 300 is available in three trims, including the 300 Limited and 300C. Among the many innovative standard features, the 300 presents best-in-class seating comfort, best-in-class horsepower coming in at 292, LED accent and ambient lighting, and real wood insets.
The Chrysler 300C trim remains the best luxury sedan in its class, which is no surprise considering its incredible list of standard features. From its 363 horsepower, 5.7L HEMI® V8 engine with Fuel Saver Technology to its Uconnect Touch™ 8.4N Garmin navigation radio, the 300C continues to be the best of the best.
With its combination of eye-catching style and sleek design features, the Chrysler 300 fits right in with the excitement and pizzazz of July. While it may not sparkle in the sky like a firework, the 2011 Chrysler 300 remains a star on the road as the NADAguides “Car of the Month.”
Self Driving Cars May Be Closer Than You Think
For some time now, human beings have wished to control everyday devices via autonomous robotic technology. Whether it’s a Roomba® vacuum cleaner that automatically keeps your house neat or simply a DVR which, when programmed, will record your favorite shows, people seemingly clamor for technology that takes the work out of activities. Although dreamed about for years, until recently automated driving was a thing for science-fiction novels. It seems now, more than ever, the chances of owning a fully functional self-driving car have skyrocketed thanks to the nearly constant innovation from companies like Google and Volkswagen.
Über-company Google has been working on self-driving cars as side project for quite awhile and have now begun to use these cars in everyday situations. Though Google has been developing the technology in California, they have moved operations to nearby Nevada due to fact that the state has become the first to allow drivers to operate autonomous vehicles. After significant lobbying from Google, the bill passed with only a small portion of opposing votes.
In Mountain View, California, Google had taken the self-driving cars on 140,000 miles of robot-controlled test drives but decided to make the switch to Nevada based on the states physical geography and penchant for innovative business growth. Some like lobbyist David Goldwater, think that Google’s strategic move will be highly successful.
“Nevada offers very good geographic opportunities, and the pro-business environment both from a tax and regulatory standpoint offered an opportunity to show what autonomous vehicles can do,” stated Goldwater, who lobbied Google’s cause but says he is not a spokesman for the company.
While the search engine giant has been forging ahead of the game in self-driving vehicles, Google is certainly not the only company making strides to make our cars drive themselves. On June 21st, Volkswagen presented its Temporary Auto Pilot or TAP system at the European Union’s research project HAVEit (Highly Automated Vehicles for Intelligent Transport). Like the name states, TAP still requires vehicle operators to drive and is quite different than Google’s fully automated driving function. In an attempt to assist drivers when facing dangerous situations, Volkswagen has bundled lane-change-assist, adaptive cruise control, and other semi-automatic utilities into TAP to make driving safer.
For those paranoid about having a computer assist with driving operation, the system may be disabled at any time. Volkswagen claims that the purpose of the auto-pilot is to “prevent accidents due to driving errors by an inattentive, distracted driver. The German auto manufacturer says that the TAP system will be active when driving at speeds of up 130 kilometers per hour (80 mph).
Based on the progress of both projects, it is not absurd to think that you may be sitting in an automated auto sooner rather than later. With safety and efficiency as top priorities innovators hope to change the driving experience for better.
Über-company Google has been working on self-driving cars as side project for quite awhile and have now begun to use these cars in everyday situations. Though Google has been developing the technology in California, they have moved operations to nearby Nevada due to fact that the state has become the first to allow drivers to operate autonomous vehicles. After significant lobbying from Google, the bill passed with only a small portion of opposing votes.
In Mountain View, California, Google had taken the self-driving cars on 140,000 miles of robot-controlled test drives but decided to make the switch to Nevada based on the states physical geography and penchant for innovative business growth. Some like lobbyist David Goldwater, think that Google’s strategic move will be highly successful.
“Nevada offers very good geographic opportunities, and the pro-business environment both from a tax and regulatory standpoint offered an opportunity to show what autonomous vehicles can do,” stated Goldwater, who lobbied Google’s cause but says he is not a spokesman for the company.
While the search engine giant has been forging ahead of the game in self-driving vehicles, Google is certainly not the only company making strides to make our cars drive themselves. On June 21st, Volkswagen presented its Temporary Auto Pilot or TAP system at the European Union’s research project HAVEit (Highly Automated Vehicles for Intelligent Transport). Like the name states, TAP still requires vehicle operators to drive and is quite different than Google’s fully automated driving function. In an attempt to assist drivers when facing dangerous situations, Volkswagen has bundled lane-change-assist, adaptive cruise control, and other semi-automatic utilities into TAP to make driving safer.
For those paranoid about having a computer assist with driving operation, the system may be disabled at any time. Volkswagen claims that the purpose of the auto-pilot is to “prevent accidents due to driving errors by an inattentive, distracted driver. The German auto manufacturer says that the TAP system will be active when driving at speeds of up 130 kilometers per hour (80 mph).
Based on the progress of both projects, it is not absurd to think that you may be sitting in an automated auto sooner rather than later. With safety and efficiency as top priorities innovators hope to change the driving experience for better.
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