Jeep accomplished a feat no other domestic brand has been able to achieve; they have successfully gained over 1 million fans on Facebook. This is a major social media milestone; their fans exceed those of other domestic brands by more than 450,000.
They are one of the few automakers worldwide that has exceeded the 1 million mark. In 2010 the Jeep brand experienced triple digit growth in its fan base on Facebook, and stated that “The brand continues to foster a vibrant and innovative social community for its passionate fans and owners.”
Jeeps 1 million fans proves that it is clearly one of the most well-known and loved brands throughout the world. This year they celebrate their 70th anniversary and their strong fan base shows why they have been successful for so long.
The Jeep brand uses other social media as well, including Twitter, You Tube and foursquare web sites. Jeep was the first automotive brand to have an official profile on foursquare.com. The Jeep You Tube channel is on the list of top 10 sponsored channels with over 4.3 million views.
Jeep is clearly onto something with its social media use. They are setting the precedents for both domestic and foreign automakers.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Test Drive a Dodge and Raise Money for Schools
Dodge is reaching out to high school booster clubs around the country to coordinate test drives for fundraising efforts. The effort is designed to provide support for student activities that provide enrichment to the lives of teens. According to the President and CEO of Dodge Brand, “The launch of the Dodge Booster Club Fundraiser will give high schools an opportunity to raise money for their extracurricular activities in a fun and unique way without any sales pressure.”
The program is developed to connect local Dodge dealers with high school booster clubs to help raise money in fundraising efforts. Dodge will donate $20 for each test drive taken and the clubs can earn up to $2,000. Personnel from the dealership, including sales persons will be on site to answer any questions about the vehicles. Participants of the test drive will be able to drive the 2011 Durango, Journey, and Grand Caravan without any sales pressure. Test drives are only open to persons 21 or over with a valid driver’s license.
The program is developed to connect local Dodge dealers with high school booster clubs to help raise money in fundraising efforts. Dodge will donate $20 for each test drive taken and the clubs can earn up to $2,000. Personnel from the dealership, including sales persons will be on site to answer any questions about the vehicles. Participants of the test drive will be able to drive the 2011 Durango, Journey, and Grand Caravan without any sales pressure. Test drives are only open to persons 21 or over with a valid driver’s license.
Friday, March 11, 2011
2011 Civic’s Sales not Slowing Down Anytime Soon
It’s hard to believe that the 2012 Honda Civic is almost here, especially if you take a look at the 2011 model’s sales over the past few months. Despite the fact that the new model will soon be launched, the 2011 Civic continues to be a top 10 seller in the United States, and saw a record sales month in December. So what is it about Honda vehicles that make consumers unable to wait just a few months for the new models to arrive?
Honda has long been a favorite of US drivers, mainly due to the proven quality and reliability of their vehicles. Honda stays on top of styling trends, offering attractive vehicles that are not only a good fit, but are also comfortable. In addition, Honda engines are solidly made and fuel efficient, with the 2011 Civic receiving an EPA rating of 40 mpg city and 43 mpg highway, which is especially important as we see gas prices continuously rising.
While it remains to be seen how the 2012 Civic will stack up next to its predecessor, one of the major changes consumers have to look forward to is the introduction of new models of the Civic. The 2012 will be available in the traditional sedan and coupe, as well as a sportier “Si,” hybrid, and natural-gas variants. The new Civic will also be the first Honda hybrid to feature a lithium ion battery cell.
Honda has long been a favorite of US drivers, mainly due to the proven quality and reliability of their vehicles. Honda stays on top of styling trends, offering attractive vehicles that are not only a good fit, but are also comfortable. In addition, Honda engines are solidly made and fuel efficient, with the 2011 Civic receiving an EPA rating of 40 mpg city and 43 mpg highway, which is especially important as we see gas prices continuously rising.
While it remains to be seen how the 2012 Civic will stack up next to its predecessor, one of the major changes consumers have to look forward to is the introduction of new models of the Civic. The 2012 will be available in the traditional sedan and coupe, as well as a sportier “Si,” hybrid, and natural-gas variants. The new Civic will also be the first Honda hybrid to feature a lithium ion battery cell.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Sienna Proves Toyota’s Dedication to Safety
It’s not easy to be named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a point which was made evident in the minivan category when only one vehicle was awarded the title. The Toyota Sienna blew the other revamped minivans away, and was the only one to receive the highest marks possible in front, side, rear, and rollover crash evaluations, and offer electronic stability control.
Other safety features of the redesigned Sienna that helped wow the IIHS include Toyota’s Star Safety System, which includes traction control, vehicle stability control, anti-lock brakes, brake-force distribution, and brake assist, as well as seven airbags throughout the car. All of these features come standard on the vehicle.
In total, eight Toyota vehicles were named Top Safety Picks. The other vehicles that were recognized for their commitment to passenger safety are: the Toyota Corolla, Venza, Highlander, and Avalon, the Lexus RX, and the Scion tC and xB.
Other safety features of the redesigned Sienna that helped wow the IIHS include Toyota’s Star Safety System, which includes traction control, vehicle stability control, anti-lock brakes, brake-force distribution, and brake assist, as well as seven airbags throughout the car. All of these features come standard on the vehicle.
In total, eight Toyota vehicles were named Top Safety Picks. The other vehicles that were recognized for their commitment to passenger safety are: the Toyota Corolla, Venza, Highlander, and Avalon, the Lexus RX, and the Scion tC and xB.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Most Safe Cars in 2011
Many factors weigh in to determine Forbes’ list of Safest Cars for 2011. First, all cars had to be chosen as a 2011 “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. Second, in order to create a list exclusively made up of cars, all trucks, vans, SUVs, and crossovers were removed. Then, any models that did not receive a perfect score of “good” on every IIHS crash test were removed.
The four crash tests include; front-, side-, and rear-crash tests as well as a rollover test. The front test includes a 40-mph frontal offset crash that measures how well the car’s restraint system controlled the dummy’s movement during the crash. The side tests are based on crashes where the side of the vehicle is hit by an object moving at 31 mph. The rear-crash test measures the dummy’s neck pressure when they are hit from behind by an object moving at 20 mph. The rollover test, tests the strength of the roof when a metal plate is pushed against the roof at a rate of 0.2 inches per second. To get a “good” rating on the rollover test, the roof must withstand a force four times greater than the vehicles weight before reaching five inches of crush.
After all the tests had been completed and the numbers were calculated, Forbes’ named these vehicles as the safest cars in 2011:
• BMW 5-Series
• Buick LaCrosse
• Cadillac CTS Sedan
• Chevrolet Cruze
• Lincoln MKS
• Mercedes C-Class
• Mercedes E-Class Sedan
• Subaru Legacy
• Subaru Outback
The four crash tests include; front-, side-, and rear-crash tests as well as a rollover test. The front test includes a 40-mph frontal offset crash that measures how well the car’s restraint system controlled the dummy’s movement during the crash. The side tests are based on crashes where the side of the vehicle is hit by an object moving at 31 mph. The rear-crash test measures the dummy’s neck pressure when they are hit from behind by an object moving at 20 mph. The rollover test, tests the strength of the roof when a metal plate is pushed against the roof at a rate of 0.2 inches per second. To get a “good” rating on the rollover test, the roof must withstand a force four times greater than the vehicles weight before reaching five inches of crush.
After all the tests had been completed and the numbers were calculated, Forbes’ named these vehicles as the safest cars in 2011:
• BMW 5-Series
• Buick LaCrosse
• Cadillac CTS Sedan
• Chevrolet Cruze
• Lincoln MKS
• Mercedes C-Class
• Mercedes E-Class Sedan
• Subaru Legacy
• Subaru Outback
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
When You Can Wait to Repair Your Car
There is never a good time to have your vehicle be in need of a repair, but sometimes the issues seem to come at the worst possible moment. Whether you cannot afford the repair or simply do not have the time to deal with it, they are a burden. And while there are many repairs that need to be taken care of immediately, regardless of how it fits into your schedule, there are some that can be put off until a more convenient time. Here are five repairs that can wait.
1. Oil leaks. Oil leaks will eventually need to be repaired, but there are some things you can do yourself to put off that hassle. Many leaks can be temporarily fixed by tightening up the mounting bolts on a gasket. Be sure not to over-tighten though, as this can cause a larger problem. If tightening the bolts does not work, you can still delay the repair by keeping an eye on the oil level and filling up as necessary, for a period of time.
2. Body repairs. Of course, if the damage to the car causes a safety issue, then you definitely need to get it fixed immediately. However, most body damage can wait for a more convenient time.
3. Engine knocks. Like body repairs, some engine knocks do need to be fixed immediately, so before letting this go, get a proper diagnosis as to how serious the damage is. However, some engine knocks can go for a long time before needing to be fixed. Just make sure to get the engine fixed before it goes completely, which will set you back even more.
4. Damaged seats. Damaged seats are more of a cosmetic problem, and therefore, do not put your car in any danger when they go without maintenance. Replacing seats can also be expensive, so try some alternatives before paying for new ones. Seat covers will hide the damage, and are now made to be tightly form fitting. Another option would be to have the torn seat re-upholstered.
5. Paint jobs. Again, this is really more of a cosmetic issue. And, like new seats, a new paint job can be costly, so before you shell out thousands of dollars for one, try waxing your vehicle to restore the luster.
1. Oil leaks. Oil leaks will eventually need to be repaired, but there are some things you can do yourself to put off that hassle. Many leaks can be temporarily fixed by tightening up the mounting bolts on a gasket. Be sure not to over-tighten though, as this can cause a larger problem. If tightening the bolts does not work, you can still delay the repair by keeping an eye on the oil level and filling up as necessary, for a period of time.
2. Body repairs. Of course, if the damage to the car causes a safety issue, then you definitely need to get it fixed immediately. However, most body damage can wait for a more convenient time.
3. Engine knocks. Like body repairs, some engine knocks do need to be fixed immediately, so before letting this go, get a proper diagnosis as to how serious the damage is. However, some engine knocks can go for a long time before needing to be fixed. Just make sure to get the engine fixed before it goes completely, which will set you back even more.
4. Damaged seats. Damaged seats are more of a cosmetic problem, and therefore, do not put your car in any danger when they go without maintenance. Replacing seats can also be expensive, so try some alternatives before paying for new ones. Seat covers will hide the damage, and are now made to be tightly form fitting. Another option would be to have the torn seat re-upholstered.
5. Paint jobs. Again, this is really more of a cosmetic issue. And, like new seats, a new paint job can be costly, so before you shell out thousands of dollars for one, try waxing your vehicle to restore the luster.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Stricter Laws for Newly Licensed Drivers
Teenage drivers have the highest accident rates of any other age group on the road. The combination of their inexperience, immaturity, and high risk-taking leads to thousands of accidents, injuries, and deaths each year. In an effort to combat this problem, some states are creating stricter driving laws for these young, newly licensed drivers.
Michigan, one of the latest states to toughen-up their driving laws for teens, will enact new constraints this March. Their restrictions will follow in the footsteps of several other states, such as Illinois, Connecticut, and New York, by imposing an earlier curfew and limiting the number of teen passengers they are allowed to have. New teen drivers will only be allowed to have one non-family related passenger under the age of 20 in the vehicle with them, unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, or another adult who is 21 or older, and has been approved by the teen’s parents. Young drivers will also be banned from driving between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. However, there are exceptions to these rules when the driver is traveling for work or school purposes.
The purpose of laws such as these is to remove the factors that often lead to accidents. The more teens that are present in a young driver’s car, the more likely that driver is to participate in risky driving behaviors, such as not wearing a seatbelt, playing loud music, speeding, and getting distracted. The curfew will be in place to get inexperienced drivers off the road during the most dangerous hours. During this time, it is dark, visibility is bad, and other high-risk drivers, such as those who are tired or drunk, are most likely to be present.
Although Michigan joins a small number of states enacting these restrictions, changes may soon be coming for teen drivers in other states if these laws are effective. And so far, it looks as though they are. According to Connecticut, after imposing tougher restrictions on new drivers the number of teens involved in fatal crashes was reduced by 62%, while in Illinois, the number of teen-driving deaths dropped from 146 to 71.
Michigan, one of the latest states to toughen-up their driving laws for teens, will enact new constraints this March. Their restrictions will follow in the footsteps of several other states, such as Illinois, Connecticut, and New York, by imposing an earlier curfew and limiting the number of teen passengers they are allowed to have. New teen drivers will only be allowed to have one non-family related passenger under the age of 20 in the vehicle with them, unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, or another adult who is 21 or older, and has been approved by the teen’s parents. Young drivers will also be banned from driving between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. However, there are exceptions to these rules when the driver is traveling for work or school purposes.
The purpose of laws such as these is to remove the factors that often lead to accidents. The more teens that are present in a young driver’s car, the more likely that driver is to participate in risky driving behaviors, such as not wearing a seatbelt, playing loud music, speeding, and getting distracted. The curfew will be in place to get inexperienced drivers off the road during the most dangerous hours. During this time, it is dark, visibility is bad, and other high-risk drivers, such as those who are tired or drunk, are most likely to be present.
Although Michigan joins a small number of states enacting these restrictions, changes may soon be coming for teen drivers in other states if these laws are effective. And so far, it looks as though they are. According to Connecticut, after imposing tougher restrictions on new drivers the number of teens involved in fatal crashes was reduced by 62%, while in Illinois, the number of teen-driving deaths dropped from 146 to 71.
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