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Friday, February 01, 2008
Meet The Mariner And Escape In Washington DC
My heading sounds like a movie title, right? But that's not what I meant for this post. It's the 2009 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner in the state capital! Oh yeah, the newest Escape and Mariner models are on display at the 2008 Washington Auto Show. Ford.com reported that the company guarantees everyone that they will offer the hot-selling Escape and Mariner with the greatest features and standards. "This year, we make good on our commitment to freshen our showrooms. We just introduced the new 2009 Ford F-150 last week, and it was a hit. We also have Lincoln MKS and Ford Flex coming, as well as a new Mustang early next year," says Alan Mulally, Ford Motor Company President and CEO. Furthermore, Ford Motor Company will develop its commitment to biofuels as well by presenting three other vehicles to its range of E-85-power-driven vehicles for next year. "Ford Motor Company is increasing fuel economy and cutting greenhouse gas emissions with affordable technologies for millions of customers. In the near term, we will leverage existing technologies to achieve those goals, including advanced engines and multi-speed transmissions. The 2009 Escape and Mariner are great examples of how we're delivering today," says Sue Cischke, Ford senior vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering.
Posted at 06:15 pm by PattiKnight
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Friday, January 25, 2008
2008 What Car? Car Of The Year Award Goes To The Jaguar XF!
During the most recent What Car? Awards that took place in London, the big cat brand brought home the bacon! According to Ford's press release, the all-new Jaguar XF won the event's most prestigious honor, the What Car? 2008 Car of the Year title! In addition to this, the new XF notched top place in the 'Best Executive Car' category as well. Steve Fowler, the group editor of What Car?, said: "For us, the XF goes straight in there with the very best cars from Jaguar's past. And given that the car market today is more competitive than it's ever been, it's fair to say the XF is the best car Jaguar has ever built. The XF really does have it all - a sensational exterior and dramatic interior combined with a drive that will delight and pamper in equal measure. On top of that, it stacks up as a sensible buying and owning proposition, too." "All of us at Jaguar are delighted that we've taken the top spot at these awards, and that What Car? has named the new XF Car of the Year. It's especially gratifying as What Car? has such a great reputation for representing the British consumer. Jaguar is creating a new generation of cars that started with the XK, and now continues with the all-new XF - a four door, five passenger car that has the heart of a sports car and the looks of a grand tourer. Like the XK, XF is visually striking and thrilling to drive," says Mike O'Driscoll, Managing Director of Jaguar Cars. "We're very pleased with the reaction the car has received, and our customer order bank is growing fast. We're grateful to What Car? for this wonderful award." Yey to Jaguar!
Posted at 06:21 pm by PattiKnight
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Friday, January 11, 2008
Which Is A Better "Used" Car?
So you are finally settled on buying a used car. But which is a better used car? In purchasing a used car, it is best to choose a dealer with Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) used car program. These programs, which are operated jointly by the manufacturer and the dealer, guarantee the vehicle's quality, condition, and future long life of the car, pickup, crossover, or sport utility you like. AOL Autos has provided salient considerations in choosing a used car: Inspection and warrantyAlthough the content and extent of each brand's certified pre-owned program varies, one of the constants is the complete vehicle inspection offered by every program. Though the number of items - or points - inspected on the vehicle varies from 100 to 300, as a consumer you should feel comfortable knowing that everything important on the car was inspected by the dealer, under the guidelines of the manufacturer, and the worn or bad parts were replaced, if necessary, before the vehicle was put into the program. Aside from the inspections, the length and coverage of the certified-vehicle warranty also varies from program to program, and the buyer should make absolutely sure that the original manufacturer is offering the warranty, as opposed to a third-party or extended-warranty company. Depending on a vehicle's age, condition and mileage, it may in fact be cheaper to buy an uncertified used car from a dealer and then purchase a separate extended warranty for the vehicle. The CPO bumper-to-bumper warranties can be a bit complicated so be sure to do your homework and become familiar with all the ins-and-outs. You also get perksBeyond the usual vehicle inspection thoroughness and the length of the certified-vehicle warranty, the various manufacturers and dealers offer a large menu of extras on their certified pre-owned vehicles as enticements to a deal. Is it worth it?Due to the costs involved in the inspection, certification and warranties process, a certified used car will almost always be more expensive than a normal used car or one from a private party out of the classifieds. How much more? From 2-8% higher, according to Kelley Blue Book research. Actually, you can have the best used car deal with all the perks and significant auto features and offers at a much cheaper price. Just do your homework. [credit: CNN]
Posted at 07:15 pm by PattiKnight
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Wednesday, November 28, 2007
 How would you feel if old cars are banned? Would that be a blessing or a curse? There has been mixed reaction regarding government's plan to prohibit the import of used cars more than 10 years old from next January. The move is an effort to improve air quality. The government is quoted as saying the pollution from older, smokey cars is a slow killer. Dealers claim the expected changes will mean a decline in imports of used cars and see citizens holding on to older cars in the territory. But the Automobile Association disagrees. The association calls the changes practical. "Not only do you get a safer car if the car is newer, but you also get a car that actually is going to be friendly on the environment and is going to have lower emissions. So this addresses both of those issues," said Mike Noon of the AA. Older imported cars already registered in New Zealand as well as classic, racing and military vehicles, are exempt from the new law. The Land Transport Vehicle Exhaust Emissions Rule sets out a range of new standards the government hopes will clear up air quality. Associate Transport Minister Judith Tizard said the move is necessary. "We know the cost of a lot of things but we've forgotten the value of human health," she said. People will be left with no option but to keep cars longer, according to Andy Cuming from the Motor Trade Association. Currently there are 2.6 million vehicles on NZ roads, with an average age of 12 years. "There will be some casualties within our industry. We hope that a lot of those are some of the rogue importers bringing cars in willy nilly and only looking for a quick buck in it," Cuming said. The test will be shouldered by the importer, which Tizard expects will be passed onto shoppers. She said she hopes it won't be much, but with scientific research showing kiwis are dying early because of air pollution it is a matter of balancing the health and economic costs. "The price of children getting sick and old people dying early is pretty high too. It's time we moved," Tizard concluded. Credit: TVNZ
Posted at 08:34 am by PattiKnight
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Friday, November 23, 2007
New Impreza STI Earns Praises
Subaru is known for its high quality vehicles which are more often than not, turbocharged. That means you will be getting more power than a vehicle with the same engine size but without the turbocharger. Hood scoops are also common among Subaru vehicles making them a favorite of many performance enthusiasts. Subaru's team in the WRC and their high-flying cars are also reasons why thrill-seekers love Subaru cars especially the Impreza. Recently, the Japanese automaker unveiled the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Although it had a tough fight with the Nissan GT-R in attracting attendees, it is still proclaimed as one of the winners at the event. Mike Hanley of Cars.com had this to say about this Subaru: "It's interesting to see Subaru's burliest Impreza shift from a sedan to a hatchback body style for 2008, but the change looks good to me. Even though it has largely flared fenders and a gaping hood scoop, I wouldn't call the STI gaudy. I'm still not sold on the Impreza interior in general, but here it has a purposefulness that seems fitting for a performance car." David Thomas, also of Cars.com added: "Hubba hubba. I don’t like the looks of the standard Impreza hatchback, but in STI trim the little hatch looks menacing, especially in dark colors. Add the fact that the newly redesigned Impreza steps up the interior, and the STI snazzes it up even more with Alcantara, and I’m sold." And Joe Wiesenfelder made it three for three saying: "The styling doesn’t set my hair on fire — especially the silver taillights. Why do some fads take so long to die? But I’m glad to see the tall, vibrating hood scoop replaced by a more subtle and integrated one, and also the improved interior and the solid sound of the door slamming. Without driving it, any other commentary is moot."
Posted at 11:01 pm by PattiKnight
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Tuesday, November 13, 2007
The Los Angeles Auto Show may not be as large as the Tokyo Motor Show or the North American International Auto Show but it is prestigious in its own right. Thousands of visitors flock to the event to see what automakers have to offer. It is usually during these events when good-looking concept cars are showcased. I for one is looking forward to see what the event has to offer.
And I am not alone in this as members of the media are also hyped up about the upcoming event.
Mike Hanley, a reviewer for KickingTires, has this to say: "The hype for the L.A auto show has grown as it has distanced itself from Detroit's annual soiree in January, so it'll be interesting to see whether or not it can live up to its billing. More importantly, the show will be the first opportunity to see the Jaguar XF and Nissan GT-R in the flesh."
The unveiling of the XF and the GT-R are just a couple of the many reasons why you should go and see the event. Jaguar in my opinion does not fail in delivering cool vehicles and I think that the XF will not be an exception.
For environmentalists, the event will be a good one as automakers are expected to unveil green vehicles there. But David Thomas, the editor of KickingTires, is looking for performance. He said: "L.A. is just as much about being quick as it is about being green. Hybrids and fuel cells are nice, but in an area home to some of the country's best driving roads 'traffic notwithstanding', I'm looking forward to the faster stuff like the Nissan GT-R and BMW M3."
Don't take their word for it though. You can also visit the event as it is open to all.
Posted at 10:31 pm by PattiKnight
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Thursday, November 08, 2007
If there is a color to describe the trend in the auto industry, it would be green. Automakers are outdoing the competition in developing vehicles which can be considered as eco-friendly. Recently, Mazda announced that they will be collaborating with the government of Norway to develop hydrogen fuel and vehicles powered by the said alternative fuel. H.E. Mr. Åge Grutle, Norwegian ambassador to Japan had this to say: "I very much welcome the agreement between Mazda Motor Corporation and HyNor. The agreement illustrates that HyNor’s efforts to contribute to the development of hydrogen-based technologies are recognized by Mazda as a major global actor in this field." "The partnership between HyNor and Mazda is also very encouraging for Norway’s broader efforts to strengthen its cooperation with Japan in promoting research and technologies within the context of climate change mitigation, including a hydrogen society. For the Norwegian Embassy it is a top priority to support these efforts, working in close collaboration with Innovation Norway and the Research Council of Norway." HyNor is an initiative of different industries on Norway. The goal of said initiative is the implementation of a hydrogen highway. Refilling stations which offers hydrogen will be built across the country so that hydrogen-powered vehicles will become widely used in the country. Ulf Hafseld, chairman of HyNor said: "HyNor is very pleased to sign this agreement with Mazda and we think this cooperation will speed up the process of introducing hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel. By using the Internal Combustion Engine as a feasible technology to accelerate realization of the real hydrogen world, we can develop a hydrogen infrastructure much faster. HyNor is focusing on a carbon neutral infrastructure, and using hydrogen in the Mazda cars will ensure a complete carbon free line of fuel."
Posted at 11:06 pm by PattiKnight
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Monday, November 05, 2007
Improve Your Audi Driving
Even if you do not drive an Audi, I am sure that you want to improve your driving skills. And if you are living near Infineon Raceway, I think you might want to visit Audi's Sportscar Experience at Sonoma. At the said raceway, you can develop your skill while you are behind the wheel of the stylish and high-performance Audi R8. Scoot Keogh, chief marketing officer of Audi had this to say according to The Auto Channel: "The Audi Sportscar Experience allows drivers to experience the thrill of speed while challenging themselves in Audi's high-performance vehicles. The Audi Forum Sonoma not only gives visitors a taste of the Audi brand, it also provides the ultimate venue where drivers can really test Audi's full line of sports cars including the all new Audi R8 and S5 Coupe." These cars are known to have the performance that can make grown men weak on their knees and the reliability of Mazda MPV parts. There are different programs offered by Audi and here are some of them: RS 4 One-Day Program Designed to develop driving fundamentals, this program puts drivers behind the wheel of the Audi RS 4. Concentrating on braking, accident avoidance, car control and slalom, drivers develop their skills in a controlled manner and graduate by putting them to the test on the slalom course. ($1,295) RS 4 Two-Day Program Drivers will experience first-hand the remarkable capabilities of the RS 4 on one of the most exciting racing circuits in the world. ($2,495) R8 One-Day Program The One-Day program splits the driver’s time between the Audi R8 on the track and the Audi TT and all-new 2008 S5 coupe for fundamentals training. ($1,895) R8 Two-Day Program Drivers will enjoy ample seat time and instruction from professional drivers who are experts in their fields, all in one of the most beautiful destinations in North America. ($3,495)
Posted at 11:16 pm by PattiKnight
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Friday, October 26, 2007
Top Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle Programs for 2008 Named IntelliChoice.com
The leading source of automotive cost and value study and part of Source Interlink Media, the IntelliChoice.com (www.intellichoice.com) has announced yesterday the top honors in its ninth annual ranking of certified pre-owned (CPO) manufacturer-sponsored programs. Volvo was the overall winner for the best luxury program, beating the world-renowned Cadillac. It was a year after Cadillac put an end to Jaguar's long supremacy in the category. On the other hand, Volkswagen was acknowledged for four consecutive years for the best Non-Luxury program. The rankings were uncovered at the 2008 National Remarketing Conference & Used Car Expo, in Las Vegas, Nevada. "The luxury field in CPOs is very competitive, but Volvo edged out Cadillac on the basis of a strong compliance program. In general, the top luxury programs offer similar car warranties, and many received high scores, which shows that Volvo had that extra edge over the competition," said James Bell, the publisher and editor of IntelliChoice.com. "CPO programs hinge on used car inventory," Bell said. "Leasing has not been very popular for the last few years, and that limits CPO vehicles that are on the market today. However, car leasing is gaining in popularity this year due to rising interest rates, and we expect the same will happen in 2008. This in turn will drive CPO inventory in the years to come." Bell added that this year's criteria for the CPO awards differ from last year's, primarily to accommodate consumers' demand for comprehensive auto warranty programs on CPO vehicles derived from their proprietary Used Car Cost of Ownership Analysis.
Posted at 10:09 pm by PattiKnight
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Monday, October 22, 2007
Solar Cars Wave The Green Flag
Sun-powered cars around the globe raced into the Australia outback on Sunday at speeds nearing 100 kilometers-per-hour at the start of the World Solar Challenge.
Thousands of onlookers crowded the streets of Darwin in Australia's tropical north for the beginning of the 3,000-km (1,863 mile) race, a biennial event since 1987, gawking at the sleek foil-like vehicles resembling giant microchips, reported Reuters. The only rule over the mostly straightaway course through Australia's "red centre" in temperatures that can exceed 50 degrees Celsius is that the custom-built vehicles run on nothing but the sun.
"The drivers will be sitting on between 90 and 100 kilometers per hour as much as they can, though most are capable of going faster," said race coordinator Chris Selwood. "But this really is not just about who is the fastest, it's more about energy efficiency and management."
The racers from 17 countries were warned they were likely to encounter gusting desert winds, blazing temperatures, irate truck drivers and even kangaroos over three or four days before hopefully zooming across the finish line in the Southern Ocean port city of Adelaide.
Drivers and crew of the more than 40 vehicles are required to camp out where they end up each night. This is because the race takes place only during daylight hours. "It started out sunny and humid but there were some clouds starting to form, but that's just one more piece in the chess game as far as I'm concerned," Selwood added.
A vehicle entered by the University of Michigan in the United States so far provided the only "hiccup" in the race, colliding with its support vehicle several kilometers from the starting line, Selwood said. "Nobody was hurt and they hope to get back in the race," he said.
Thirty-eight solar powered vehicles are going through their final inspections today at the Hidden Valley Raceway before racing from Darwin to Adelaide, according to ABC Online. Competitors come from 19 different countries, including France, the United States, and South Korea.
Selwood said the Venezuelan team almost did not make if this far after losing a part of their vehicle in transit. "Other teams, from this time yesterday, have been working all through the night getting spare parts from different teams to get that car on the road," he noted.
The Venezuelan team has been replacing car parts that were shipped to Tennessee instead of Darwin. Venezuela's Jorge Clarembaux said there has been a lot of support from other teams. "Belgium helped us with the batteries," Clarembaux said. "Yesterday every team came here and talked with us - 'What's happened, how's your car, your batteries!' so there is so much fraternity here in the World Solar Challenge."
Nuon Solar, 3 times winner, from the Netherlands currently holds the record of 29 hours and 11 minutes.
The highlight of the race will be the time trials, giving the teams their positions for the main event. The winners are expected to finish in Adelaide in 3 days' time.
Posted at 01:36 am by PattiKnight
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Patti Knight....A member of the product development team of an automotive company, Patti Knight shares her insights on the automotive issue.
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