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March 31, 2005

Nissan Breaks a Million, Carlos Ghosn to be Canonized

Normally you have to wait a day or two until the end of the month to get sales numbers from the auto companies.

Nissan, however, announced at "11:14 a.m. PST today," that they had "joined the exclusive "million" club by reporting 1,000,000 total fiscal year sales."

The breast beating continues, "making NNA one of only six automotive companies in automotive history to have sold 1 million vehicles in the U.S. within a 12 month period."

Jed Connelly, Nissan senior vice president, said employees would get back to work after the celebration: "Although we've achieved our objective, we're still planning on selling cars for the rest of the day and our dealers are motivated to keep the momentum going."

Posted by Frank at 07:02 PM | Comments (0)

More People Buying Diesels

According to data from R. L. Polk, diesel vehicle sales have increased by 56% the last five years.

Diesel-powered pickups comprise nearly 93% of the total in the five-year period. Sales of passenger cars with diesel engines, however, have increased 49% in that period. In 2000, 22,543 diesel cars were sold; in 2004, 33,541 diesel cars were bought in the U.S.

The annual sales of 468,990 diesels in 2004 equates to a 3.37% market share, up from 2.25% in 2000.

The Diesel Technology Forum, which distributed the data, has another survey that shows 70% of Americans agree that diesel fuel is easily obtainable at local service stations. This data is counter to the popular, seemingly incorrect, notion that many people believe diesel is difficult to find at convenient filling stations.

Diesel proponents hope the availability of four new models will lead to greater penetration in the passenger vehicle segment. In 2004 the Jeep Liberty CRD, Mercedes E-320 CDI and the Volkswagen Passat and Touareg were released, giving consumers more diesel choices outside the pickup truck market.

Posted by Frank at 05:45 PM | Comments (0)

California Buying Fleet of Hydrogen-Equipped Priuses

Quantum Technologies, the same company that built the Army's Aggressor, has a contract from a California agency to convert 30 Toyota Priuses to hydrogen fuel.

Using a system known as H2ICE, Quantum will swap out the gasoline fuel lines and install hydrogen fuel cells to make the Toyota Prius an even more environmentally friendly vehicle.

The $2.3 million contract results in a cost of $76,667 per converted Prius, which includes the purchase price of the base car. Quantum can convert individual cars for about $50,000 each, according to spokesman Robert Wise.

The California South Coast Air Quality Management District, which ordered the vehicles, is simultaneously working to install hydrogen fueling stations in the six cities where the vehicles will be sited.

Now why would a state agency would take 30 perfectly good gas-electric hybrids off the roads? Besides the too-easy swipe at California, the answer lies in availability. While several automakers have hydrogen vehicles in working prototype stages, they're not that easy to come by.

And while I can't get a real dollar amount out of anyone, they are whoppingly expensive. The H2ICE conversion creates the opportunity to get real hydrogen-powered cars on the road now.

Posted by Frank at 04:20 PM | Comments (0)

Unintended Consequences Dept: Malaysian Mercedes Owner Gives Thieves the Finger, Sort Of

When a gang of machete-wielding thieves tried to steal a Mercedes in Malaysia, they kidnapped the car's owner to make him activate the vehicle's fingerprint-activated "safety" system.

After tiring of the trouble of carting the owner around whole, the gang chopped his finger off and drive away in the car.

Thanks to Ericke for the "tip."

Posted by Frank at 03:45 PM | Comments (0)

Test Driving the Honda FCX Fuel Cell Vehicle

Well ... test drive is stretching it. I had the opportunity to take Honda's fuel cell-powered FCX around the block in D.C., during the ride and drive portion of yesterday's Hydrogen Conference.

When I first walked up to the vehicle, I didn't realize it was running. When my ears ajusted to the light whir of the hydrogen-powered engine, I decided to try and get an audio recording.

Placing a Creative Labs digital voice recorder right on the hood, I let it capture a few seconds of the whisking motor. Or so I thought.

Playing it back, what I actually heard was a recording of me saying, "Is this my ride?" and the Honda guy responding, "Are you Frank?" If you strain to hear the motor, you can, but this explanation is probably a better demonstration than me posting the audio file and you putting your ear next to the computer speaker!

In the FCX, the Honda rep reminded me the car was running -- but you could barely feel it. Once in drive, the acceleration was immediate with no slug, and strong. Using the "gas" ["hydrogen?"] pedal, the FCX responded smoothly, if not even more so than a typical gas car. There was no rpm spike before the transmission started putting the power to use.

Steering and brakes on the car were tight -- think of a well-tuned compact car. Stopping at a light, the FCX shut down the same way a hybrid does, but that doesn't mean off, as in having to restart it, it was just conserving molecules. Green light means go, and the FCX took us down the road, around a coned construction area, with sprightly ease.

Three more right turns and we were back at the queue of folks waiting to get their own chance in the FCX. The experience was noted most for its lack of noise, smell or even the sensation that I was using a machine to move us through the city. The hydorgen power plant simply transfers the sensation of using an automobile into the background -- it was less like driving a car than gliding through the streets.

My impression of the car -- and by extension, the technology -- is that we are on the cusp of a profound shift in transportation.

Considering how quiet the FCX is, it is a marvel to consider a city full of hydrogen-powered vehicles, quietly transporting their occupants, and effectively subtracting the internal combustion assault we have all grown accustomed to.

The pollution will be magically subtracted as well, clearing the air in city centers for the first time since the Industrial Revolution. I think it's a fair bet to say the aggregate fleet of fuel-cell buggies will cause less stink than the horses that pulled early transports. [But then again, fuel-cell vehicles do produce "water" as a waste product, tinkled at will.]

Cities, roads and neighborhoods will be transformed by fuel cell vehicles. By one measure, it resembles a technology bell curve with time as the "y" axis -- the advent of machines may have advanced civilization, but at a price of environmental and emotional stress. As fuel cells become a reality the negative components of technology, the noise, pollution and psychic stress, will diminish, leaving the positive advances intact.

Posted by Frank at 02:10 PM | Comments (0)

"Stealth" Hydrogen Vehicle Built for Army Special Forces

This $1 million working prototype hydrogen-fueled vehicle, known as the Aggressor, was built to take advantage of the technology's quiet running capabilties.

Quantum Technologies spent four months building the Aggressor, which does zero to forty in four seconds. With a top speed of 80 miles per hour, the Aggressor also boasts a "very low heat signature" strengthening its stealth capabilties, according to Robert Wise of Quantum.

Already submitted to and accepted by the Army, the one-off vehicle has undergone initial testing, Wise said.

The Aggressor was built for the Army's Special Forces units, which wanted a vehicle that was "light, maneuverable and very quick," Wise said, for situations "where a they need to get somewhere quick, quietly."

The Aggressor has a range of 125 miles and a mind-boggling 1,681 Ft-lbs. of torque. [Compare the new Dodge Charger SRT, which has 420 Ft-lbs. of torque.]. In addition to the primary fuel source of a 10 kw hydrogen fuel cell stack, the vehicle also has a 60 kw nickel metal hydride battery, that kicks in when quick acceleration or hard maneuvers are needed.

The Aggressor is set to go back to the Army for six months of hard testing. The project's future is still undecided, but typically, if the military wanted to go forward with the concept they would first order another 4 to 6 prototypes to put them through realistic field trials. If that second stage proved successful, a final production run would be commissioned.

The Aggressor is a two-seater that has a combined rollbar and gear cage in place of an enclosure, and an open storage area in the rear. It also includes power outlets to run equipment such as laptops and radios in the field.

The removable MOMO steering wheel does not have a horn, Wise said, "because that would take away from its stealth capabilties."

Posted by Frank at 01:17 PM | Comments (0)

Ford 500 in the House!

Just took delivery on a Ford 500 Limited. Beautiful burgundy, which I haven't seen on this model before. Took it for a spin down the parkway and will have a complete first impression report later.

Posted by Frank at 11:04 AM | Comments (0)

March 30, 2005

GM Announces Fuel Cell Deal with Gov't

General Motors will build a fleet of 40 hydrogen vehicles under an agreement with the Department of Energy, according to AP.

Worth $88 million total, GM will contribute half that amount to establish the fleet in D.C., New York, California and Michigan, with the DOE paying the other half.

The announcement comes on the second day of the Hydrogen Conference, where we are off to in a few minutes. Check back later in the day for pics and stories.

Posted by Frank at 08:51 AM | Comments (0)

D.C. Metro's Progressive Policy for Car Sharing Companies

I'm going to the Hydrogen Conference in the District today, and as I was checking train schedules on the Metro site, I came across a link that said "car sharing available at this station."

I took the photo you see here at the King Street station the other night when I came back from the NY Auto Show. The link on Metro's website helped me put two and two together.

I knew cars were scattered around the area for members to pick up, but didn't realize there are agreements in place where municipalities provide parking for vehicles from Flexcar and Zipcar.

According to Steven Ginsburg's article in yesterday's Washington Post, Metro provides spots at 66 of their 86 stations. Arlington County provides another 20 spots near Metro stations, which helped double usership among country residents.

The article also points out that the D.C. area is the only market where both companies co-exist. Perhaps because the notion that competition increases market share rather than limits it, the two companies have a combined 226 cars and over 14,000 members in the region.

I've covered Zipcar before, and I think the cool thing for me as a journalist is how I came across the service twice in the last couple days. For me, that is the best proof the car sharing idea is moving from press release bravado to real world implementation.

Posted by Frank at 06:49 AM | Comments (0)

Cops Pull Over 120 Speeders in Two and a Half Hours on One Road

Ever speed up when you see the guy in front of you get pulled over for speeding?

Well, so did 119 other drivers on Connecticut Avenue in Maryland on Tuesday.

Using ten officers at different intersections, Montgomery County Police issued 118 tickets and two warnings from 9-11:30 a.m. You have to figure their finger ligaments gave out to prompt the two warnings.

If you're a cop, or know one, then you know the hardest part of this detail is to keep from laughing when you pull over the guy who thought he was home free -- no wait, I'm sorry, traffic enforcement is serious business!

Posted by Frank at 01:18 AM | Comments (0)

March 29, 2005

Hyundai Debuts the Azera -- and Perhaps the Hyundai Way?

Hyundai President and CEO Bob Cosmai calls the new Azera, "the best sedan we've ever built."

Looking at it another way, it might even be the most important.

That's not to take anything away from the Sonata, recently picked as Consumer Reports most reliable car, and J.D. Power's best entry-sedan in initial quality. The Sonata is also Hyundai's best-selling vehicle, thanks to a sales surge that included a greater than 50% increase in February.

No, the Azera is proof that Hyundai isn't sitting still, and has eyes on broader markets. Replacing the XG350, the Azera flagship is really an entry-level luxury sedan. While no prices have been announced, it will certainly be at or above the XG350's $24,889 MSRP, and likely to top out around $30K.

The Azera will offer consumers an impressive array of features and appointments found in more expensive vehicles -- just as the rest of the company's lineup does.

Starting with the powerplant, an all-new 3.8 liter V6 with over 250 horsepower, the Azera will deliver more oomph than either the Ford 500 or the Buick Lacrosse. Mated to the engine is a five-speed automatic with a Shiftronic manual, riding atop four-wheel independent suspension.

And Cosmai, in his presentation, pointed out the Azera also has more room, and more airbags -- than either the Nissan Maxima or Toyota Avalon.

What we have here, then, is really another expression of the "Hyundai Way" -- offering more features in a vehicle than similar brands, at a lower price point.

Because the new sedan differs in so many ways from the XG350, it is more than an upgrade, and Cosmai said "we really felt it needed a new name."

The Azera has a 1.1 inch longer wheelbase and is wider and longer than its predecessor, and both the engine and interior are larger. Safety features on the new Azera include an electronic stability control system with traction control, anti-lock brakes with electronic force distribution and the previously mentioned eight airbags.

The interior is clearly aimed at comfort. The all-leather seating includes a memory system for the driver's chair, side view mirrors, steering column and foot pedals; there is a dual-zone climate control, tilt and telescoping wheel, a power rear sunshade and rain-sensing wipers.

The top of the line Azera includes an option for a 10-speaker Infinity sound system; all models will come with a factory-installed XM-receiver, per Hyundai's new agreement with the satellite company.

Finally, the Azera will be covered by Hyundai's 5 year or 60,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty, as well as the 10 year or 100,000 mile powertrain coverage -- and a 5 year roadside assistance plan.

When written about in the press, Hyundai is often described as the car company that used to have quality problems and is now making a name for itself as the manufacturer of well-built affordable cars. With the addition of the Azera, the Notebook senses a sea change -- where Hyundai will be described as the company famous for well-built affordable cars that is now making headway into the luxury market.

Posted by Frank at 12:50 PM | Comments (0)

ESUVEE Cloned! Moral Crisis Looming!

A Notebook Exclusive!

ESUVEE, the woolly mascot for a nationwide safety campaign, has been cloned.

The Notebook's sources tell us the procedure occurred in the Netherlands, the country whose sole purpose in the U.S. is to act as a foil for commentators to rail about the failure of socialized [fill in the blank].

The appearance of the mini-mammoth poses a quandary for the Bush administration, which supports life yet opposes life enhancing scientific research.

Pundits are already buzzing that the White House may have an out on the life issue, due to the foreign-born status of the creature.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, an advocate for his right to be President, has yet to have his operatives mount a stealth campaign for the compact ESUVEE.

Curiously, animal rights activists and conservatives already seem to be forming a tentative truce on the issue.

A PETA spokeshuman is reportedly concerned that the stunted growth of the clone may be due to artificially high gas prices in Northern Europe.

Conservatives, for their part, are using the plight of the creature to illustrate why socialist gas taxes impede the right to self-expression.

Mini-ESUVEE courtesy of Vowe.net, via BoingBoing.

Posted by Frank at 10:54 AM | Comments (0)

March 28, 2005

It's Official -- the Ford 500 Will be Redesigned

The Wall Street Journal is reporting the Ford Five Hundred is receiving a facelift -- to look more like the Fusion -- in response to complaints about lukewarm styling.

The article does not name names, but "people," and "individuals" who supposedly know what's going on.

Despite the solid sales, the Five Hundred is getting tough, perhaps unfair criticism from many corners, and is relentlessly said to be boring in contrast to the Chrysler 300.

Still, at the NY Auto Show, when I saw the Fusion I did think to myself, "that's probably what people wished the Five Hundred looked like." It has sharper lines and a more aggressive stance. It does look like a more fun car.

According to the WSJ, the Five Hundred -- shall we call it the "Swan" edition? -- should arrive in dealerships in 2007.

Posted by Frank at 10:36 PM | Comments (0)

How the Automobile Industry is like the Bicycle Market

Once the excitement of the Hyundai press conference died down, I heard someone utter an easy slur, "they ripped off the Lexus."

The new Azera is indeed an easy to slide into entry-level luxury sedan. With a welcoming cabin, understated yet still sophisticated styling, right-sized powerplant and supple suspension, it will indeed capture some of Lexus' customers.

But remember the slur that accompanied the first Lexus, Infiniti and Acura models? They were Japanese Buicks.

At first. The three automakers worked on their lines, from a base of offering a higher-end version of their own products, all along the lines of a cushy sedan, they each expanded their own way. Now we simply refer to them as what they are -- a trio of lines that offer near and full-luxury automobiles -- with coupes, sports cars and SUVs in the mix.

Now Hyundai has clearly announced they are getting into the same business with the Azera. Not only is it unfair to say they ripped off Lexus, such a facile comment fails to take into account how innovation works in an industry. Innovation that brings a better quality product at a more affordable price to more people.

The best example is the bicycle market. Up until the early 1980s, there were junkers and there were super high-end bikes with Italian gears. There was no middle market for the middle-income enthusiast. More important, there was no middle market because the product wasn't available.

Then a historical trifecta occurred. At roughly the same time, the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, the mountain bike phenomenon and the Ironman triathlon exploded on the scene.

Simultaneously, feverish development of equipment was occurring. The Americans wanted to win in L.A., mountain bikes started moving from $2,000 machines down the price scale and the triathletes were all looking for ways to save tenths of seconds off their performance.

Suddenly, crazy pieces of equipment, like carbon-fiber wheels, snap-in cleats, shock absorbers, upright handlebars and even hammered-flat spokes started appearing in competition. Some of you may remember the bullet-shaped helmets and spray-on latex outfits some competitors were experimenting with.

At first, the prices were outrageous, only available on two-wheeled machines that cost well over four figures. Then mass-produced versions of a lot of the equipment started appearing. And mountain bike companies started popping up, offering more and more affordable versions of "professional" rides.

End result? today you can buy a bicycle for $499 that is better than a $2,000 bicycle from 20 years ago. Yes, you can buy a garbage bike that has front shocks for $79.99. But the point is you can buy an incredible bike today with equipment and performance specs that didn't even exist a couple decades ago.

Is anyone saying these vendors ripped off the welders at Gary Fisher bicycles? No, chances are you didn't even know then names of Joe Breeze, Fisher or Tom Ritchey. However, if you own anything that looks like a mountain bike, you are riding on the spirit of their innovation.

Again, because of these innovations, a huge market for well-made, high-performance bicycles exploded. People started buying bicycles again. Millions of them. The same has occurred in near-luxury automobiles. Not many people thought there was a market for a Japanese Buick, but they persisted and have carved out – some would say created – a huge market.

Once ideas are turned into product, and after a product language is accepted by consumers, the core essence becomes part of the public domain. Just as the early Japanese manufacturers started making small cars, then decided to get into the business of making "Buicks," so Hyundai and others are forging ahead with new products.

Perhaps they are taking advantage of some of the pioneering work done by others, and making a certain design language their own, but that is the way innovation operates. Hyundai may be building better cars in some cases, or cutting corners in others, but they are manufacturing and marketing cars toward reaching a broader customer base.

Bottom line, the consumer wins. The trio of the '84 Olympics, mountain biking and triathlons have contributed to a resurgence of cycling in the United States, and have made better bikes more affordable to more people.

As bicycles have gone in the last two decades, we are seeing the same advances in automobiles. One day, someone is going to accuse someone else of ripping off Hyundai. After taking advantage of their free food and drink, of course.

Posted by Frank at 08:42 PM | Comments (0)

Now You Have to Blink When Driving Through Town

Going forward, residents of La Pine, Oregon would appreciate it if you'd refer to their burg as a "one stop light town," thank you very much.

The rural town of 5,800 is about to get its very first traffic signal. Until the light can be installed, however, a matching set of four-way stop signs will serve.

No longer will anyone be able to deride their village with the phrase, "don't blink or you'll miss it"!

No word yet on whether the town drunk will be reclassfied as part of the municipality's permanent underclass.

Posted by Frank at 05:25 PM | Comments (0)

Negative Equity, Part Three: Edmunds.com Suggests Using Your Tax Refund to Get Out From Under

Our friends over at Edmunds.com have published a new article speaking to those who are upside down in their car loans.

In the Notebook's original articles, [part one, part two], we relied on Edmunds' data that shows 26.2% of consumers owe more on their car than it's actually worth. Hence the term "upside down" car loan.

With the average tax refund of a little over $2,200, Edmunds is suggesting consumers use it wisely, considering the scope of their overall finances.

Philip Reed, Edmunds Senior Editor, says, "It would be an excellent idea for consumers in an 'upside down' situation to apply their tax refund to their car loan to pay off their negative equity."

According to Edmunds' data, the average amount of negative equity in February 2005 was $3,646.

In his article at Edmunds, Reed points out a frightening observation -- 26% of car buyers consider trading in a car with negative equity to be "just part of the car-buying process."

This devil-may-care approach has worked up to now, but only because dealers have had high cash rebates for consumers to use to pay off that negative equity.

Reed cautions that if the big rebate money continues to evaporate, as much as one-quarter of the car buying public may be in for a rude surprise.

Without that rebate bankroll -- and for those who don't use their tax refund wisely -- car buyers may find they may simply be priced out of a new car.

Posted by Frank at 02:50 PM | Comments (0)

Hyundai Threw the Best Party at the NY Show

Just about the time I was thinking the car company's should hire professional spokesfolks to introduce their cars, Hyundai hosted a neat event for the unveil of their new luxury vehicle, the Azera.

By itself, the band was pretty good. Then Bob Cosmai, Hyundai CEO & President, told us we were in for a real treat -- besides showing us their brand new car, they were treating the assembled to a mini-concert from the broadway show, Movin' Out.

The lead singer, Michael Cavanuagh, sings all the Billy Joel songs that are the soundtrack of the hit Broadway show, and he treated us to a bunch. Even weirder for me, was that I wound up knowing the bassist, John Conte.

Anyway, the press conference was a smart move by Hyundai. It was held at the end of the first day, off-site, and people had a chance to chill out. It was just plain fun. And the entertainment was blended in nicely with the unveil of the car.

Hyundai also showed their tech savvy by giving out a flash drive with the Azera press kit on it, and I'm pretty sure they bluetoothed the photos onto my camera. There was a bunch on the memory card when I downloaded in the morning, so I figure that's how they got there. But then again, there was also free beer.

Posted by Frank at 02:04 PM | Comments (0)

March 27, 2005

Autographed Shelby Press Kits Going for Big Bucks on eBay

After the jubilant press conference for the Mustang GT500 at the NY Auto Show last week, Carroll Shelby was mobbed by fans asking for interviews, pictures and autographs.

Many were asking Shelby to autograph Ford's press kit, which includes a CD-ROM with photos, video and audio of Shelby talking about and driving the car.

At least five of those people have responded to the 82-year-old Shelby's graciousness by turning around and shilling the customized kits on eBay.

As of 10 p.m. Sunday night, there were twelve kits on sale, with bids ranging from $52 to $177.50. One particularly enterprising entrepreneur, "kickasstv," has four of the autographed kits. Another seller, "1dearborn," has three for sale, while "goszoom," was only able to badger Shelby for two no-cost opportunities at spinning a buck off his Texas scrawl.

Posted by Frank at 04:03 PM | Comments (0)

Ford Fusion on Sale in the Fall

Ford's mid-size 2006 Fusion, a sharply styled car that fits in between the Focus and the Ford Five Hundred, will sell for between $17,000 and $21,000 this fall.

Two powertrain versions are on tap, both four-cylinders, one with 160-hp, the other, 210 hp. Ford plans to offer five speed manual or automatic for the base engine and a six-speed automatic for the upgrade. Ford plans to add a hybrid version, based on the Escape SUV, after the initial launch.

Posted by Frank at 03:51 PM | Comments (0)

Subaru's SUV Exceeds Expectations

Elegant. That's the word that kept popping into my head and onto my tongue when I was interviewing Subaru execs at the NY Auto Show.

The B9 Tribeca SUV, Subaru's newest product entry is more than a new vehicle for consumers. It's a bold innovation for the company that has long had a loyal customer base and is looking for a way to break into the larger market.

The Tribeca is polished. The satin white pearl finish adorning the show vehicle is aptly named -- it has a lustre and depth to it that suggests the car is solidly built through and through.

Expected to sell for under $40,000, the Tribeca is a three-row, seven-seater SUV, which is pretty much de rigeur for company's who hope to sell big uprights to consumers who have grown edgy over gas consumption. In other words, if it doesn't have the extra seating, people are thinking of buying wagons.

The car's exterior styling is part of a "new design language" that will eventually find its way into other Subaru models, said Bill Cyphers, Subaru's VP of Sales.

The car's elegant nose, grill and hood lines are meant to evoke Subaru's heritage as an aircraft company, Cyphers said. Indeed, the vehicle's front profile has an aerodynamic visage that speaks of speed and ability. The design element continues along the side of the vehicle's "J-line," in a sculpted ridge that flares out toward the tail.

The Tribeca's interior may be even more impressive.

It incorporates the exterior's aerodynamic sweep in a front dash that wraps around the more than 180-degree horizon, and transmits a feeling of being ensconced in a customized space.

Rick Crosson, Subaru's VP of Marketing, said the interior provides the room expected of an SUV, "but it wraps around you instead of making you feel like you're floating."

Crosson said consumer reaction to the Tribeca has exceeded the company's projections. "We've gotten a lot of fantastic comments on the B9 Tribeca," he said, including over 100,000 hand-raisers who have signed up for updates at the Tribeca website.

The Tribeca will come equipped with a V6 Subaru Boxer engine as well as the company's symmetrical all-wheel drive. Mileage figures have not been announced for the vehicle, which will go on sale later this year. Eighteen-inch wheels are standard, as are safety features such as anti-lock brakes, dual-stage front airbags, side-impact front airbags and curtain air bags.

Posted by Frank at 01:59 PM | Comments (0)

Superstar Pontiac Solstice Presenter

Hands down, this guy was the best presenter at the NY Auto Show. After the executives do their speeches for the industry and auto press, product specialists take the podium and give presentations to the crowd over the speaker system.

Since over a million people walk through the NY Show, their job may even be more important than the company execs. After all, journalists don't buy all the cars they write about.

After three days of trudging through the show, I was beat. But I wanted to take a last run through the halls to see if there was anything I may have missed.

This guy, "Peter," was doing an audio standup about the Pontiac Solstice convertible and he caught my attention. He was so full of energy and enthusiasm, and was such a good showman, he got me to wander over.

I had seen the Solstice, and to me it was just another car. But Peter went through the talking points in a way that grabbed the audience and drew them in. Other people wandered over, and he kept hammering it home.

The Solstice, due later this year, is going to sell for 20 grand. It's exciting. Fully loaded, it'll be 25K. And so on. As I listened, the presentation made me think differently about the car. Kind of like, "hmm," and "really?" and "that's interesting."

And that's what a good salesman does. Makes you stop and think differently about something you may have overlooked, or even dismissed. Gets you excited about it.

His performance reminded me of Ed McMahon's old bit where he used to sell a pencil box on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Everyone could see it was just a cigar box, but Ed's point [he is not as famous for being a sales trainer, but he's got a book on it], is that it's not the box, but about how it means something to the potential customer.

Peter, who asked I not use his last name, turns out to be a professional voice over artist. He may also be a natural salesman. GM needs a platoon just like him.

Posted by Frank at 11:06 AM | Comments (0)

March 26, 2005

Mercedes New R-Class to be Built in Alabama

To refer to this vehicle as a crossover would be to create a false impression.

Yes, the body style and function design combines SUV, wagon and sedan elements, but the word crossover tends to imply something cobbled together, a mish-mash.

Up close, the new R-Class is weighty in appearance and in fact -- the V6 and V8 versions both come in just under two and a half tons. To compensate for American tastes, the R-Class that will be built and sold here will be longer than it's European counterpart. Specifically its five inches longer than a Cadillac Escalade and ten inches longer than the SRX.

The extra length creates the interior space necessary for three rows of seating, leaving over 30 inches of leg room between the second and third rows.

Official prices weren't released in New York, but the 268-hp V6 is expected to be just under $50,000; the 302-hp V8 will be slightly higher.

Since the company expects to sell 60% of global volume in the United States, it's no mistake the R-Class was unveiled in New York, and that special attention was made to cater to American taste.

Both models [R350 and R500, repsectively] boast full-time all-wheel drive, four-wheel independent suspension and a seven speed automatic transmission. The R350 has 17-inch wheels, the R500 has 18s, and comes with larger brakes.

They haven't been tested for fuel economy, and will probably need the 25 gallon gas tank to give owners a livable driving range. Mercedes will offer a diesel version, probably some time in late 2006.

High tech goodies include an optional dual screen entertainment center, allowing a movie to be watch on one side, and a video game or other entertainment can be viewed on the other.

Standard safety gear includes anti-lock brakes,ESP stability control, four-wheel traction control and brake assist. Front row occupants are protected by dual-stage front airbags and side impact and window curtain bags. Second and third row occupants are protected by window curtain airbags that deploy from teh ceiling and down the length of the cabin.

The vehicles will be built in Mercedes' Tuscaloosa, Alabama manufacturing plant, where they have recently spent $600 million to expand capacity.

Posted by Frank at 08:09 PM | Comments (0)

Scion Sciwag

This mouspad comes as a glued insert in the twice-yearly magazine put out for enthusiasts.

And it came just at the right time, as there are only so many times you can wipe down a mousepad that acts as a coffee cup coaster.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to track down exactly where you can get the mag online. They had plenty at the auto show, and one came in the Scion press kit. If anyone knows, clue me in and I'll post it.

Posted by Frank at 07:49 PM | Comments (0)

Aftermarket Black Box Available for Consumers

or, "I'm the parent. I am the law."

For $280, parents can install an interactive "black box" in their family vehicle that will monitor teen driving behavior when Mom and Dad are out of sight.

The RS-1000 from Road Safety International allows users to download trip data that includes driving times, speed, seat belt use and erratic driving behavior. The company plans to release a GPS module that will tell parents where their teen drivers traveled in the family car as well.

A particularly incriminating feature of the program are its ability to create printed reports that can be reviewed over the dinner table.

The device, however, goes beyond just snooping. It includes an on-board audio alarm, that goes off when speed and other factors reach troublesome levels, with the idea that the feedback will help teen drivers correct their driving behavior before a problem occurs.

Posted by Frank at 06:10 PM | Comments (0)

Black Box Backlash

A North Dakota state senator is leading an effort to prohibit "black box" data from being collected and used against drivers, according to AP.

Raymon Holmberg's bill would require that consumers be informed the unit -- known as a Sensing and Diagnostic Module [SDM] -- is installed in their vehicle at purchase, and is intended to quell privacy concerns as well as keep data away from prosecutors.

North Dakota law currently requires a search warrant to obtain data from the SDM -- which was designed to collect airbag deployment data. But prosecutors have won this right in several cases across the country and in Canada and used the data to obtain convictions for manslaughter.

A recent New York case, in which a pair of drag racers were charged with the deaths of two people, led to a ruling that the data could be used in the criminal trial. In the face of the evidence collected from the SDM -- the men were driving 139 mph -- the accused both plead guilty to second degree manslaughter.

Information is collected from the SDM using aftermarket devices such as this system made by Vetronix. The SDM records information such as speed and brake status before impact, seat belt use and whether the passenger's air bag switch is enabled.

Ten state legislatures besides North Dakota are considering black box legislation, acording to AP. California law requires dealers and rental companies to inform drivers a car has a black box, and New York prohibits rental companies from using GPS to track drivers.

Posted by Frank at 05:01 PM | Comments (0)

March 25, 2005

Scenes from the Urban Tuner Salon

In the front parking lot of the Jacob Javits Center, XM radio is sponsoring a tent filled with the latest and greatest in customized vehicles. In this pic, a Mazda 3 takes second rank behind Kerri Ford and Lisa Lombardi, both working the auto show for Mazda.

Tyrone Wimbush of New York makes working the show look easy in front of this '02 Civic Si

A rep for Turtle Wax is explaining the finer points of polish to showgoers.

This "DUB Edition" of the 300 belongs to Snoop Dogg.

Posted by Frank at 04:41 PM | Comments (0)

Suzuki Reinvigorates SUV Line with Concept-X2

Now here's a good sign -- when the speeches and the official debut of Suzuki's new SUV were done, a group of about 12 to 15 Suzuki dealers took command of the stage and launched into an enthusiastic team cheer.

Of course, auto dealers have to at least feign excitement for new vehicles that come from their suppliers, but this group wasn't faking it -- after the cheer they got busy taking pictures of each other in front of the car, inside it and with their arms around each other while grinning ear to ear.

All the while they were acting like they had won the lottery.

Cam Smith Arnold, Suzuki Motors Vice President, said while the company is excited about the new Concept-X2, the members of their dealer body are ecstatic.

"They've seen what we've done the last few years," Arnold said. "We let the results speak for themselves."

Suzuki is at an enviable inflection point in their 20-year history as an American auto retailer. Sales were up 26.5% last year, after the successful introduction of new car models such as the Forenza-Reno platform, the Verona sedan as well as the continued success of the Suzuki Aerio hatchback.

And the news about the company is no secret on the dealer side of the business. Arnold said Suzuki will add 60 new dealerships this year, bringing their U.S. total to 600, from the current 540.

Now the company that started as an SUV-maker is getting back to its roots, with a planned roll-out of two new sport utes in the next two years.

First on tap will be a production version of the Concept-X2, unveiled here in New York, an SUV that will replace the Grand Vitara. The X2 will have a 185 hp V6, as does the Vitara, but will be eleven inches shorter and four inches wider, likely giving the X2 a quicker, yet more sure-footed performance profile. The second new SUV to hit the streets will be a production model derived from the Concept-X, unveiled at January's Detroit Auto Show.

The X2 SUV "goes back to the core of Suzuki, that's our heritage," Arnold said. In terms of the company's performance, the new SUV freshens their offerings and should reenergize sales in that category.

"Now that we have a broader line, we have an opportunity to increase brand loyalty," Arnold said.

From the look of things here in New York, Suzuki dealers know their brand is on a roll.

Posted by Frank at 02:17 PM | Comments (0)

Sam Vassallo's 1968 Shelby GT500

When Ford knew they were going to be unveiling their new Shelby Mustang here in New York, they went looking for a couple classic models to add historicity to their display.

Sam Vassallo, of New Jersey, is pictured here beside his '68 Shelby "King of the Road" Mustang. His daughter Marina is inside the car. Father and daughter must be on good terms, because I didn't see him let too many other people climb inside, considering the way they maul the other show cars.

A member of the Garden State Mustang Club, Vassallo took the day off fom work to escort the car to the show. And no, he didn't drive it up the Turnpike. As the car is valued at about $90,000, Vassallo trailered the car in, and never ventured far. Plus, the air filter cover has Carroll Shelby's autograph on it, and running the engine could blister the ink.

The '68 is one of two classic Mustang's Vassallo owns -- he gave me a pic of the second car, and when I dig it out of my bag, I'll post it.

Posted by Frank at 01:30 PM | Comments (0)

Friday at the NY Auto Show: Camp Jeep Opens to Massive Crowds

People started lining up three hours in advance of the "Camp Jeep" exhibit opening this morning, and it seems like the truly "participatory" exhibit is going to break last years record of 36,000 test riders and 300,000 visitors.

Jeep has rented the entire North Pavilion for their 45,000 square foot display where visitors get to do a ride-along in brand new Jeeps, based on the theory that 40% of auto show attendees change their mind about which vehicle to buy, based on their show experience.

Sound cool? It is, but the really amazing thing is that Jeep hauled in 3,000 yards of dirt and four tons of rocks to create an indoor figure-eight track. With a dogleg.

Jeep drivers will take auto show guests up a couple hill climbs, over rocks and logs, around moguls and through water during the course of the seven-minute ride.

Jeep will be running 10 vehicles on the track at any one time, and visitors will get a chance to ride in the new Jeep Commander, the company's first seven-seat, three-row vehicle.

Posted by Frank at 12:19 PM | Comments (0)

Hyundai's new Azera Equipped with Infinity Sound System

Besides announcing they are going to factory install XM receivers in all their models, Hyundai is also raising the bar in terms of audio equipment quality.

The new Azera sedan [a more upscale replacement for the XG350] will have an option for a 10-speaker Infinity system that pumps 315 watts out the amplifier. The system will only be available on the Limited package of the Azera.

Posted by Frank at 11:46 AM | Comments (0)

Hyundai Gets Flashy

Hyundai loaded their NY Auto Show press kit for the new Azera onto this flash drive, which is cool in itself.

Those of us carrying 30 pound bags of press materials are especially grateful.

This particular drive's got 62 megs of memory, and I'm pretty sure it can be erased and reused -- but most of all, it's light and it's small!

Posted by Frank at 11:21 AM | Comments (0)

Test Driving the Gran Turismo Driving Simulator

Subaru runs a Gran Turismo driving simulator at the auto shows and this was the first time I had the chance to climb on board.

I ran the dirt course, and barely avoided going off the cliff during the three minute trial. I had a ball! Our friend Scott Putnam over at Subaru.net races these cars in real life, and now we're really interested in getting to a non-virtual rally race.

The game also has a fun feature where photographers jump in the middle of the road to grab a pic. I started aiming for them at the end, partly out of transferred frustration from all the jabonies here at the show that keep walking in front of your shot.

Posted by Frank at 11:01 AM | Comments (0)

March 24, 2005

Scion t2B

Scion's t2B concept car was unveiled in NY, and company reps were never far away from the car which everyone simply wanted to caress.

Hand built in three months by Toyota's Southern Cal Design team, the t2B is a working vehicle, but Scion's Brian Bolain said the car simply cost too much to take out for a spin, even on the company's campus.

This is the first all-new concept from Scion since introducing the first concepts prior to Scion's launch. Since those early unveils were done in New York, Bolain said they wanted to continue the tradition with the t2B.

The car is not -- repeat, is not -- a candidate for production. Bolain said Scion they created the project as a way to deliver the "element of surprise" that Scion has become known for.

Since this is the first full-year of national sales for all three Scion models, Bolain said the company is interested in seeing "what the market thinks of what we've done so far, so we can better decide what we should be doing next."

The t2B is a three-door hatchback -- a trick executed with suicide doors on the driver side and a single remote-controlled slider on the other. The front dash features a prominent iPod dock, a graduated light show and a straight-handled shifter for the four-speed automatic transmission.

Despite looking as if it might have been built on a stripped down xB platform, Bolains said the design team built the car from the ground up. The engine is a 2.4 liter 4-cylinder, and the car is fitted with 20-inch skins.

Bolain said he and his 15 Scion colleagues [it's a small unit] will be closely monitoring public reaction to the t2B. "So much of Scion is about listening to our customers," Bolain said. "What's more important is their perception -- what they want to be driving, not just what we think."

Part of listening to their customers takes the form of web surfing. Bolain recommended the independent site Scion Life as a place to get a good handle on the car company's burgeoning enthusaist community.

"It's great because it's a feedback mechanism we didn't have before," Bolain said, adding that whwen he gets back to Torrance, Scion Life will be one of his first stops.

Posted by Frank at 05:36 PM | Comments (0)

Dodge Charger in Four-Door Glory

Coming soon, the new Dodge Charger may steal some of the Mustang's thunder when it comes out with a V6/V8 lineup starting in the low-20s.

The V8 is the 5.7-liter Hemi with its 340 hp, and sports variable cylinder management to achieve better MPG. The V6 has 250-hp.

And not only does the Charger have two many doors, it only comes with an automatic.

Posted by Frank at 05:26 PM | Comments (0)

UPDATED: Dodge Charger Police Version

This car bears the number "54" and comes with the all-rubber, puke-resistant pebbled flooring. And the lights work.

Update: Dodge put out a press release on the police version, posted after the jump. My first impression: given the ongoing problems with the Ford Crown Victoria [Ford won't sell to departments that refuse to sign a no-sue clause over the gas tank issue], it looks like Dodge is trying to sniff out whether or not there's a market. Plus, it's great street cred for guys who dig the cop thing.

Dodge in Hot Pursuit of Police Car Market with HEMI(R)-powered 2006 Dodge Charger

- Dodge puts 340 horses under good guys' hoods
- Dodge Charger joins Dodge Magnum to make modern muscle available for street patrol
- Superior rear-wheel-drive performance and handling characteristics designed to perform and protect

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dodge charges into the police car market this fall with the all-new 2006 Dodge Charger police vehicle, offering law enforcement agencies a four-door sedan with all the power, handling and functionality they require to effectively patrol the streets.

"With rear-wheel drive and available HEMI(R) power at the pavement, the Dodge Charger provides optimum police car pursuit performance," said Darryl Jackson, Vice President - Dodge Marketing, Chrysler Group. "Dodge has a strong police heritage and is proud to offer vehicles armed with modern muscle and cutting-edge technology."
The 2006 Dodge Charger police vehicle will join the previously announced Dodge Magnum police vehicle to round out Dodge's growing fleet of bold, powerful and capable vehicles for law enforcement agencies.
"We listened to what law enforcement officers asked for and paid attention to the details that are important to them," said Ray Fisher, Vice President - Sales, Service and Parts Operations, Chrysler Group. "By integrating features and functionality into the original design of the Dodge Charger, we can give our police customers an affordable, capable vehicle with industry-leading innovations."
For the ultimate in pursuit power, the Dodge Charger police vehicle will be available with a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine that produces 340 horsepower at 5000 rpm and 390 lb.-ft. of torque at 4000 rpm. The V-8 HEMI engine features Chrysler Group's Multi-displacement System (MDS), which seamlessly alternates
between smooth, high fuel economy four-cylinder mode when less power is needed and V-8 mode when more power is required. Fuel efficiency improves by up to 20 percent with MDS, but not at the expense of performance. Dodge Charger police vehicles equipped with HEMI engines will be able to go from zero to 60 mph in just 6.0 seconds.
The 2006 Dodge Charger police car also will be available with a powerful, 3.5-liter High Output V-6 engine that provides 250 horsepower at 6400 rpm and 250 lb.-ft. of torque at 3800 rpm, offering an outstanding blend of performance and fuel economy.
A fully electronic five-speed automatic transmission with an
Electronically Modulated Converter Clutch (EMCC) offers improved shift feel to match a variety of driving styles, situations and road conditions. This transmission is standard on all Dodge Charger police cars. Heavy-duty brakes and linings, also standard on Charger police vehicles, provide secure and stable deceleration and braking capability.

In addition, Dodge Charger police vehicles will include an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Emergency Brake Assist, All-speed Traction Control and four-wheel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS). Combined, these features will provide balance and control for officers in a variety of surface and
weather conditions.
* ESP enhances driver control and helps maintain directional stability in turns, even on uneven surfaces, patchy snow, ice or gravel. If there is a discernible difference between what the driver asks through the steering and the vehicle's path, ESP applies selective braking and throttle control to put the car back onto the driver's intended path
* Emergency Brake Assist detects when maximum braking is required through sensing the rate of brake application. By applying full brake pressure to all four brakes, this system improves stopping distance
* All-speed Traction Control enhances mobility and prevents wheel slip when accelerating on slippery surfaces. It also provides a measure of directional stability control and helps keep the car on its intended course. The system works by braking the slipping wheel in low-traction situations. However, it also can adjust the throttle control, making the vehicle less
reliant on brake applications alone
* ABS keeps the vehicle straight and retains steering capability while braking on slippery surfaces by preventing wheel lock-up

Both passive and active safety features also are incorporated in the new Dodge Charger police vehicles. These include: advanced multistage driver and front passenger air bags, a front passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) for controlled airbag deployment, constant force seat belt retractors, pretensioners, an energy-absorbing steering column, optional side-curtain airbags and a tire pressure monitoring system to alert officers of low tire
pressure.

Preliminary Standard Features:
Standard features on the 2006 Dodge Charger police vehicle will include the following items of particular importance to law enforcement customers:
* 100-amp battery power feed in trunk
* 160-amp high-output alternator
* 160-mph calibrated speedometer
* 800CCA heavy-duty battery
* cloth front bucket seats with manual lumbar and rear fixed bench seat
* column shifter
* easy path wiring grommet between underhood and passenger compartment
* emergency rear-door-lock override
* external oil coolers
* four-wheel independent performance suspension
* heavy-duty brakes and linings
* integrated engine hour meter
* P225/60R 18 V-rated all-season performance tires and 18-inch steel
wheels
* performance-tuned steering
* police equipment interface module
* police equipment mounting bracket
* rear door locks and rear window switches inoperable from the rear seats
* severe-duty cooling system
* software-controlled alternating head- and taillamps
* special electrical wiring for police market applications
* speed control
* stealth mode switch for interior lighting

Additional standard features and optional equipment are available on the Dodge Charger police vehicle to provide law enforcement customers an affordable vehicle with industry-leading innovations that make upfitting the vehicle faster and safer.

Production:
Production for the 2006 Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum police vehicles will begin in the fall of 2005 at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Brampton, Ontario (Canada) alongside the 2006 Dodge Magnum, Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300.
The 2006 Dodge police vehicles will be available to county, city and state police departments in the fourth quarter of 2005, with pricing announced at that time.

BeaconWear(TM) Safety Vests:
Chrysler Group is committed to the safety and security of its customers, employees and those who keep America safe. To keep members of the New York Police Traffic Department safer while performing their law enforcement duties, the DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund donated 250 BeaconWear(TM) Safety Vests to the Department today at the New York Auto Show during the media reveal of the 2006 Dodge Charger Police vehicle.
While the Dodge Charger offers law enforcement agencies a four-door sedan with all the power, handling and functionality they require to effectively patrol the streets, the BeaconWear Safety Vest offers police officers the extra protection they need when outside of their vehicles.
The most common cause of injury for police officers is being hit by another vehicle while outside of a squad car. The BeaconWear vest features reflective strips that can be seen further and more clearly when it is dark or weather is inclement. With the aid of battery-powered illuminated vests however, there is a decreased risk of police officers being injured, disabled or killed by a motorist when they leave their squad cars.

Police Car Heritage:
The former Chrysler Corporation dominated the police car business
throughout the 1960s, '70s and early '80s, with U.S. market shares ranging from 45-60 percent. Police vehicles manufactured by the former Chrysler Corporation included the Dodge Monaco, Dodge Royal Monaco, Dodge Coronet, Dodge Diplomat, Dodge Dart, Dodge St. Regis, Plymouth Fury, Plymouth Gran Fury, Plymouth Volare and Chrysler Newport.
Recently, Dodge returned to the police car market after a 12-year hiatus with the 2002 Dodge Intrepid. The front-wheel-drive Dodge Intrepid earned a 4 percent share of the approximately 70,000 unit U.S. market. That vehicle was phased out of production in 2003.
In the fall of 2004, Dodge previewed the 2006 Dodge Magnum as a police vehicle offering enhanced rear-wheel-drive performance and handling with a spacious, flexible interior for police special service uses.

Posted by Frank at 05:20 PM | Comments (0)

Toyota's Demonstrates Personal Transporter in New York

Displayed solely for gee-whiz purposes

Posted by Frank at 02:17 PM | Comments (0)

Nissan Sport Concept Looks Ultra Cool, Ultra Fast in Real Life

The Nissan fella guarding the car had clear command of oneEnglish phrase, "please don't touch."

More pics and Nissan release after the jump.

Nissan Brings Urban Art Culture to New York Auto Show with Help from Barnstormer Artists; Artists from Critically Acclaimed Group Barnstormers Paint Creative Backdrop for Nissan's Latest Sport Concept

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 23, 2005--Visitors to this year's New York International Auto Show not only have a chance to see the latest new cars and trucks but can also take in a bit of urban culture at the Nissan display.

Nissan has collaborated with a group of New York-based artists to paint a creative backdrop for Nissan's newest vehicle, the Sport Concept, at its public world debut.

The interactive display will feature artists painting a 40-foot mural in real-time, inspired by the Sport Concept, and a "video jockey" mixing music and DVD video on a large LED screen above the canvas. Painting commences at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 23, and is scheduled to be completed by 3:00 p.m. for Nissan's media reception, where journalists attending the show on the first of two press days can take in the completed artwork and speak with Nissan designers about the Sport Concept.

"The Nissan Sport Concept is designed to appeal to the youth market that actively seeks out style, innovation, and personal expression," said Fred Suckow, director of marketing, Nissan North America. "We think the best way to showcase the Sport Concept is alongside artists who are expressing those exact same qualities."

The Nissan Sport Concept offers the look and feel of a sports tuner car, yet is conceived as an affordable, attainable vehicle for buyers entering the new car marketplace for the first time. It is designed to be a performance-oriented hatchback with the style and individuality to match the lifestyles of its young, active buyers.

"This car is a celebration of youth, with its simple pureness and raw energy," said artist Romon Kimin Yang, a.k.a. Rostarr. "Many of us draw our inspirations from our childhood with certain influences from urban living. This mural is the visual manifestation of the vitality and movement grounded in today's youth."

The painting will remain at the Nissan display through the public days at the NYIAS, which run from March 25 to April 3. Following the show, Nissan will take the art on a cross-country tour to its various North American facilities, underscoring Nissan's future offerings of small, youth-oriented vehicles.

About Nissan North America

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.nissanusa.com.

About the Artists

Rostarr

Romon Kimin Yang, a.k.a. Rostarr, is a New York based Korean-American artist who has exhibited throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. His work is defined by a style he calls 'Graphysics', which is based on Graphic design + Physics. Creating in a free-formed and automatic manner, his work weaves an individual vocabulary of iconography & symbolism to create abstract worlds. Nature, human psychology and spirituality are all inspirations in which he incorporates in his art. His work has been extended into the mediums of painting, sculpture, digital art/animation, textiles and collaborations with the art collective 'Barnstormers.' With sponsorships and collaborations with companies such as Nike, Gravis, Agnes B, Yamaha, etc., Rostarr has been branded on a worldwide scale. In January 2000, he was featured as one of I.D. magazine's "40 under 30". He was also recognized as an honoree in the 2004 A.I.C.P. show for graphics for Nike Basketball Asia. In 2001, he published the book "Graphysics" by Rostarr. His artwork has been reviewed by the New York Times, The Village Voice, Dazed & Confused, W, Vogue Nippon, Relax, Interview, The Fader, i-D, Surface and others.

Yuri Shimojo

Yuri Shimojo has been expressing her life through painting, drawing, writing, and dancing since she was 3 years old. Her upbringing in Tokyo consisted of learning Japanese traditional arts and experiencing foreign culture through traveling abroad. These two elements have influenced life's work. She now lives in Brooklyn where her daily inspirations come from collaborative "jam sessions" with her family of artists, the Barnstormers. She also practices ancient natural healing. Shimojo has published several books of her own artwork, including: "Crimson Full Moon" (1995), which showcases her earlier works; "Tiny Scribble" (1997), an autobiography of her unique childhood; and "Vagabonds" (2001), a picture journal from her trip in Central America and Mexico.

Christian Mendoza

Christian Mendoza is a New York City-based painter from Nicaragua whose work draws from the experiences of his homeland and the influences of New York City and Miami. His father was a respected architect and first inspired Mendoza to draw and paint. When his family moved to the Bronx in the 1980's, Mendoza began to develop a style that combined architectural draftsmanship with the new inspirations of letters, faces, and forms that covered the subways of New York City. Mendoza later moved to Miami, where he attended the Center for Media Arts and drew further influences from the city's colors and forms. He returned to New York in 2000, where he now lives and works in a range of styles that culminate all the influences of his early development. As a founding member of the Inkheads and an influential member of the Barnstormers, Mendoza has been involved in collaborative art making for over a decade. Mendoza has been commissioned by Altoids (Brooklyn & Miami), GASBOOK, the Micranots, The Creek South Beach Hotel, and is in the collections of performers including Bobbito, and KRS ONE. Mendoza's work has appeared in V Magazine, Interview, STYLE, NewYork1, RES Magazine, Tokion, and Relax Magazine among others.

Posted by Frank at 02:00 PM | Comments (0)

BMW Unveils New 3-Series in New York

Full BMW release and another pic after the jump.

All-New 2006 BMW 3 Series and Enhanced 2006 7 Series Make North American Debut at The New York International Auto Show

Prices Announced for 2006 3 Series, 7 Series as well as 5 Series

NEW YORK, March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The all-new 2006 3 Series and the enhanced 2006 7 Series make their North American debut at the New York International Auto Show. Prices were announced for the 2006 3 Series and 7 Series as well as the 2006 5 Series, including all-wheel drive models. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices for the 325i and 330i sedans are $30,995 and $36,995 respectively. Prices for the 750i with its new 360 hp V8 begin at $71,195. Prices for the 2006 5 Series, which feature all-new inline six cylinder engines and available all-wheel drive start from $42,495 for the 525i. The 530xi Sports Wagon has an MSRP of $51,795. All prices include destination and handling. All of these early 2006 models will be available beginning this May.

The all-new BMW 3 Series:
The quintessential sport sedan blends cutting edge technology with remarkable value

The fifth generation BMW 3 Series will yet again improve and refine a concept BMW pioneered more than forty years ago -- the sport sedan. The new 3 Series continues to offer style and quality combined with a unique combination of performance, practicality and European luxury in a compact package.

Above all, the 3 Series is renowned for how it drives. Since the beginning, the 3 Series has always been remarkably agile and pleasurable to drive, without compromising comfort and everyday usability. Though many have tried and are still trying, no one else quite knows how to match this constellation of attributes.

The new 2006 3 Series will arrive this May with two models available, the 325i and 330i. Two inline six-cylinder engines continue a 3 Series tradition. The all-new 3.0-liter unit in the 330i offers a significant increase in performance. It is rated at 255-horsepower at 6600 rpm, a 30-horsepower increase over its predecessor and has 220 lb-ft of torque at 2750 rpm. The 325i will now also feature a new 3.0-liter engine. This engine is rated at 215-horsepower at 6250 rpm and 185 lb-ft of torque at 2750 rpm.

In BMW's ongoing pursuit of weight reduction, this engine is the first in large-scale series production to use magnesium which, compared to aluminum, is 30 percent lighter. This engine is also the first six-cylinder to use BMW VALVETRONIC. With infinitely variable valve lift in place of the traditional throttle butterfly, this system improves both throttle response and fuel efficiency. Like previous BMW engines which have incorporated VALVETRONIC, the gains are impressive. In the case of the 330i, horsepower increases by 13%, while fuel consumption decreases by as much as 9%, depending on model. This unique technology works in tandem with BMW's double-VANOS variable valve timing for both intake and exhaust camshafts. The new 330i with manual transmission will accelerate from 0 - 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. Both models will be offered with a choice of a standard six-speed manual transmission or optional six-speed STEPTRONIC automatic transmission.

The 3 Series will be available with all-wheel drive, features BMW's xDrive, beginning this October.

The front suspension is enhanced to include BMW's double-pivot strut design while the rear suspension features a new five-link design. BMW has been able to further capitalize on its Dynamic Stability Control with a number of new features. When brakes risk fading due to heat build up caused by hard use, Brake Fade Compensation automatically reacts by increasing the hydraulic pressure relative to pedal force. When the driver lifts off the accelerator pedal abruptly, Brake Stand-by enables DSC to recognize that sharp braking may be about to occur and applies just enough pressure in the brake system to snug up the pads against the rotors. With Brake Drying, acting on input from the rain sensor the pads are periodically brought up to the rotors - just enough to eliminate any film of water between pads and rotors, but not enough to cause a brake application. Comfort Stop ensures smooth stops by modulating the brakes as the car comes to rest. Start-Off Assistant holds the car on a hill enabling a smooth start-off from rest.

With all this technology, the MSRPs of the 325i and 330i are $30,995 and $36,995 respectively. A typically equipped 325i includes the Premium Package, an automatic transmission, leather upholstery and metallic paint. At $35,645, a typically equipped 2006 325i is only $150 more than its 2005 counterpart and has substantially more equipment. When you factor in the Xenon Adaptive Headlights which are standard on the 2006 330i, that model with Premium Package, automatic transmission and metallic paint is actually $100 less than a similarly equipped 2005 model, again with substantially more equipment.

2006 7 Series:

Design enhancements inside and out are complemented by more power for V8 models

Since its introduction in 2002, the fourth generation 7 Series has proven to be the most successful 7 Series ever. The 2006 7 Series exterior receives subtle but significant refinements. Forward of the windshield, new elements include a larger rendition of BMW's traditional "kidney" grilles; a new bumper/spoiler ensemble; new headlights and foglights; and a re-contoured hood. The rear bumper's wraparound tucks in more noticeably at the wheelwell and thus visually emphasizes a 14-mm/0.6-in. wider rear track. Both 750 models have a new standard wheel design, with seven relatively wide spokes reaching right out to the rim. The trunklid is newly shaped while retaining the original's advantages in terms of aerodynamics and cargo space; the taillights now wrap into the lid, and are accented by a slender bright strip.

The refinements are carried into the interior as well. New climate- control knobs present improved tactile feel to the user, and are trimmed in an elegant new Titanium galvanic material that also appears in other details. The iDrive system's controller has a new, handier shape and a handsome leather insert on top. Functional enhancements include the audio system's new hard controls for AM/FM and entertainment source selection; MP3 capability added to the CD changer (standard 760i/Li, optional 750i/Li); and a Bluetooth cellphone interface. Whereas previously the 7 Series came standard with an installed (but also portable) phone, owners will now select their own phone from a list of BMW-approved handheld phones and can keep up with the latest developments in this fast-moving technology while also enjoying standard hands-free calling, auto-dial functions and Voice Command convenience. Encompassing an extensive array of features and functions within its pioneering color-display- and-controller concept, iDrive has again been refined and made more user- friendly.

The new 750i and 750iL feature a new 4.8-liter VALVETRONIC V8 engine. With 360 horsepower and 360 lb-ft of torque, this represents an increase of 35 horsepower and 30 lb-ft of torque over their predecessors. Although official 0 - 60 mph acceleration times are little changed at 5.8 seconds, the real story here is more urge virtually anytime the driver presses down on the accelerator pedal, especially at midrange speeds. The 6.0-liter V12 in the 760i and 760Li remains unchanged offering 438 horsepower and 444 lb-ft of torque. Both are mated to a 6-speed STEPTRONIC automatic transmission.

The price of the 750i and 750Li are $71,195 and $75,195 respectively. This represents a $600 increase over the previous models. Prices for the 2006 760i and 760Li are $110,695 and $118,095 respectively.

2006 5 Series:
New six-cylinder engines, available all-wheel drive and the return of the Sports Wagon

In only its third model year the latest 5 Series enters the 2006 model year with BMW's newest generation of inline 6-cylinder engines, available all- wheel drive and the return of the 5 Series Sports Wagon. The 5 Series shares its two 3-liter engines with the new 3 Series. The 525i/xi go from 184 to 215 horsepower while the 530i/xi go from 225 to 255 hp. All models are offered with a 6-speed manual transmission with an available 6-speed STEPTRONIC automatic. The 530i is also available with a 6-speed Sequential Manual Gearbox.

The 5 Series are the first passenger cars that use BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system, which has proven itself in the X3 and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles. xDrive goes beyond the traditional advantages of all-wheel drive to offer the driver an even higher level of stability and traction in all driving situations. While conventional all-wheel drive only responds when the wheels are already spinning, xDrive begins to react even before wheel spin is able to build up. Via an electronically control led multiple-plate clutch, the flow of power is redistributed within milliseconds between the two axles in the interest of enhanced traction, driving stability and agility.

The 5 Series Sports Wagon returns as the 530xi. Offered only as an all- wheel drive model, the 530xi Sports Wagon offers advantages not only over the Sedans, but also over its predecessor, last offered in 2003. The 530xi abounds with rational design and thoughtful details which include a high-lift tailgate -- almost 73 in. head clearance -- with Soft Close feature. The tailgate is electrically released from the exterior or interior switch or the remote. The rear window may be opened separately, for convenient loading without opening the tailgate. A power opening and closing feature is included in the Premium Package. Wider than that in the previous Wagon, and with straight, essentially vertical sides, the cargo area offers 17.6 cu ft. of volume up to the tops of the upright rear seats and a maximum of 58.3 cu ft., rear seats folded, cargo loaded to ceiling. The cargo area includes a lockable storage space under the cargo floor, in a tray with adjustable dividers to help secure smaller objects.

Like the Sedans, the Sports Wagon comes standard with a power moonroof; however, the Wagon's is a dual-panel Panorama Moonroof, a feature also seen in the X3 and X5 Series. With its overall roof opening of 41.9 x 34.8 in., the Panorama concept gives occupants almost the feeling of being in a convertible. The power glass roof consists of two panels, both of which can be tilted up at the rear. The forward, larger panel can also be slid open; together, their glass area is almost 10 square feet. Although the glass is effectively tinted, there is also a power-operated interior shade; a wind deflector rises at the front of the opening to reduce wind buffeting when panels are open. All motions have 1-touch operation, including that of the interior shade.

In addition to other enhancements, Servotronic vehicle-speed sensitive power steering is standard on all models and Adaptive Xenon Headlights are standard on 530i/xi models.

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Prices for the 525i and 530i Sedans are $42,495 and $47,195 respectively. For the all-wheel drive Sedans, the MSRPs are $44,695 for the 525xi and $49,395 for the 530xi. The all-wheel drive 530xi Sports Wagon has an MSRP of $51,795.

BMW Group In America

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand, the MINI brand, and the ROLLS-ROYCE brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 Roadster and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 340 BMW passenger car centers, 327 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 148 BMW motorcycle retailers, 80 MINI passenger car dealers, and 25 ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Posted by Frank at 01:53 PM | Comments (0)

Shelby GT500 Mustang

This car won the big buzz of the day award. Auto industry elder statesman Carroll Shelby was on hand, and got mobbed for photos, interviews -- and an endless string of autograph requests.

Part of the excitement for the car came from the sensation that it was a well-earned victory lap for Ford, which is enjoying feverish demand for its main line Mustangs.

This limited production model will sell for about $40,000, though street values for the approximately 7,500 cars the company will manufacture will send that number through the roof. Ford's press release, and more photos after the jump.

Carroll Shelby Teams With Ford to Introduce Ford Shelby GT500 Concept at New York Auto Show

Concept Is First Shelby-Branded Ford Mustang to Appear in 35 Years

LOS ANGELES, March 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Carroll Shelby International, Inc. , announced today that Carroll Shelby, its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Ford Motor Company, under license with Carroll Shelby Licensing, Inc., have teamed up to create the first Shelby-branded Mustang in 35 years -- the Ford SVT Shelby GT500 Concept. Unveiled today at the Greater New York Auto Show, this unmistakably Shelby-inspired performance powerhouse recreates the iconic image and legendary dominance of the original Shelby Mustangs of the 1960s.

"We're excited to see history repeat itself with the introduction of the new Shelby GT500 Concept," says John Luft, President of Carroll Shelby Licensing. "This car will put a new generation of Shelby enthusiasts on the road."

Powered by a 5.4-liter, 32-valve Ford V8 equipped with a Roots-type supercharger, the Shelby GT500 Concept delivers more than 450 horsepower and 450 lb ft of torque, making it the most powerful production Mustang ever produced. Equipped with a heavy-duty T-56 6-speed manual gearbox to put all of that power to the pavement, and revised shocks, springs and upgraded stabilizer bars front and rear to maximize road-holding and control, the Shelby GT500 Concept combines the performance, handling and on-road excitement of its storied predecessor.

"I've worked closely with Ford and its Special Vehicle Team (SVT) to reshape the modern muscle car landscape with what I'd have to call the Ultimate Mustang," says Carroll Shelby. "We wanted to create a world-class performance concept, true to the spirit of my original GT500, with an acclaimed chassis engineered to handle all the horsepower we could find. I think you'll agree we hit the target."

Outfitted in trademark "SVT Red" with dual Le Mans-style white racing stripes running nose to tail, the Shelby GT500 Concept is dominated by an impressive functional hood scoop, front and rear underbody aerodynamic treatments, including a reworked front fascia with functional air splitter and a rear spoiler reminiscent of a classic GT500. Revised headlight insets provide an aggressive look and symmetrical upper and lower grilles deliver that vintage Shelby design cue. Substantial 19-inch wheels and tires surrounding race-inspired cross-drilled Brembo brakes complete the package.

Inside, it's a purposeful, driver-focused cockpit, with luxurious black leather wrapping the interior from dash to stern, accented with red leather seat and door accents, logo-embroidered seatbacks, floormats and signature white performance gauges.

Expected to retail for around $40,000 when the production version goes on sale in 2006, the Ford Shelby GT500 is poised to launch a new era of sporty performance punctuated by Ford muscle and Carroll Shelby's legendary engineering prowess.

About Carroll Shelby International, Inc.

Carroll Shelby International, Inc. is the parent company of Shelby Automobiles and Carroll Shelby Licensing.

Shelby Automobiles Inc. is manufacturing high performance Shelby vehicles under the guidance of the legendary Carroll Shelby and will be involved in prototype manufacturing, design and engineering projects; and plans to increase production and availability of these Shelby products through an expanded dealer network and direct sales under a license agreement with Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc. For more information, call 702/325-4851 or visit the company's web site at www.shelbyautos.com.

Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc., founded in 1988, is the exclusive holder of automotive manufacturer and entrepreneur Carroll Shelby's trademarks and vehicle design rights, which include some of the world's most famous muscle cars and high-performance vehicles, including the car that brought home to the U.S. its first and only FIA World Manufacturers Championship in 1965, the famous Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe. It also holds trademark rights for Shelby-branded apparel, accessories and collectibles. For additional information about the company or licensing opportunities, call (310) 914-1843, or fax (310) 914-1853 or write to Carroll Shelby Licensing, Inc., 11150 West Olympic Boulevard, Suite 1050, Los Angeles, CA 90064 or visit www.carrollshelbyinternational.com or www.carrollshelby.com.

Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential future plans and objectives of the company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Posted by Frank at 01:29 PM | Comments (0)

March 23, 2005

GM Prez Gets Right Down to It

In opening remarks at the New York Auto Show, GM President Gary Cowger began with, "it was a tough week for us."

The scuttlebutt around the buffet line was that Cowger would either skirt the issue of GM's bad news week, or invite questions from a Gannonesque homer. He did neither. While acknowledging GM's problems, he said the company would not dwell on them, "but concentrate on how to overcome" them.

Chief among GM's tasks is communicating their brand value to consumers, Cowger said. After showing an almost kitschy ad for a 1964 Buick LeSabre to illustrate the way things used to be, Cowger said that with the extinction of the monolithic mass market all automakers now have to reach a "mosaic of mini-markets."

Besides a new ad campaign intended to make people aware of "the things only GM can do," Cowger also said GM is launching a training program in New York, aimed at bringing Spanish speaking people into the sales force. The Hispanic market is growing to over $900 billion in spending power and GM's B.E.S.T. [Bi-lingual Employment Sales Training] program hopes to add over 100 spanish speaking sales personnel.

Posted by Frank at 10:08 AM | Comments (0)

New Yawk City!

We got here a day early for the NY Auto Show and took in a sightseeing cruise around the city. The car wranglers, show staff and convention center folks were unloading and detailing cars, and getting things in place around the clock. If you're half as excited as we are -- woo-hoo!

Here is a list of press conferences for March 23, 2005:
8:00am Opening Breakfast, w/GM President
10:20am - 10:45am Mercedes-Benz
10:50am - 11:10am BMW
11:20am - 11:45am Chrysler Group
12:00n - 12:50pm Lexus
1:00pm - 1:25pm Ford
1:30pm - 1:50pm Bentley
2:00pm - 2:20pm Ferrari Maserati
2:25pm - 2:50pm General Motors
3:00pm - 3:30pm Nissan

Posted by Frank at 06:47 AM | Comments (0)

March 21, 2005

Subaru. Ad. Campaign.

Subaru has a new ad campaign titled: Think. Feel. Drive.

What a great website -- in itself -- and in terms of integration with the recently revamped Subaru.com. The four-speed shifter pictured here acts as a navigation platform for the "Read it," section of the site, complete with whooshy sound effects.

There are two other sections, "See it," which is a sharply produced video section. The third section, "Experience it," acts as the bridge between this general marketing effort and the new Subaru.com -- creating a unique, unified web campaign that exploits the best design while still accomplishing its mission.

If there are marketing awards for interactive advertising production, Subaru's team of DDB New York should win hands down in the auto category.

Because it also accomplishes the primary goal of all advertising -- it gets you excited enough about the brand to want to participate. Which means buying a Subaru, of course. [Check out the Notebook's Outback review.]

There's more to the new campaign besides the website -- a pair of 30-second TV spots, titled "Two Wheels" and "Road Grip," feature the Legacy and Outback. There is also a coordinated print campaign to compliment the vehicle promotion and the new three-word mantra.

Posted by Frank at 11:54 PM | Comments (0)

And the Lowlife Award of the Week Goes to ...

... Greg Grams, president of the Volo Auto Museum in Illinois.

This bloodsucker paid PR Newswire to distribute a press release with the following title:
John Z. DeLorean's Death Boosting Prices on GTOs and DeLoreans

The entire purpose of the news release [they cost about $500 per story] is to draw attention to Grams' museum, which showcases and sells cars such as the Pontiac GTO and DeLorean sports car, both of which Mr. DeLorean brought to market.

Grams, the heart-broken money changer, observes that his museum has "sold three GTOs in the last four days, including a 1969 GTO convertible for over $100,000," according to the release.

The sell-up began when "DeLorean became terminally ill, news spread fast among the collector-car market, Grams said."

And he expects prices of the DMC gull-wings, "to increase in the next few days," the release continues, directing readers to the museum's website, where they can view current prices. And bid them up in the grave dancing phenomenon that Grams is trying to squeeze as much juice out of as he possibly can.

Not only does this dirtbag revel in DeLorean's death, what's even creepier is the release alludes to the expected demise of a living automotive icon, Carroll Shelby.

Here's a direct quote from the release:

Shelby, who is 82 and received a heart transplant in 1990, will host a car show at the museum on May 28, 2005. The museum was in preliminary talks with DeLorean to do the same in 2006.

The implication of course is that Shelby is even older than DeLorean, who was 80 when he died, and if the company's luck in scheduling holds out, maybe he'll die before he gets a chance to appear at the museum. At least in corporeal form.

Just in case anybody thinks I'm over-reacting, here's the complete release, with the promotional contact info redacted:

John Z. DeLorean's Death Boosting Prices on GTOs and DeLoreans
Monday March 21, 4:05 pm ET

VOLO, Ill., March 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The market for the classic Pontiac GTO and the DeLorean Motor Cars gull-wing coupe already are feeling the effects of John Z. DeLorean's death, according to the Volo Auto Museum.

DeLorean suffered a stroke Thursday, March 17 and died late Saturday, March 19. He was 80.

The museum, 27582 W. Volo Village Road, Volo, IL, is home to the world's largest collection of muscle cars, including the cars DeLorean is most famous for designing and engineering -- the 1964 Pontiac GTO, considered by most experts to be the first muscle car, the 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge and the DMC gull-wing coupe driven by Michael J. Fox in "Back to the Future II."

"I consider John DeLorean the father of the muscle car," Museum President Greg Grams said. "He was an artist, and the value of his work will increase with his passing just like Picasso, Rembrandt or any other artist."

In addition to displaying antique, muscle and famous Hollywood cars, the museum sells about 80 classic cars each month. When DeLorean became terminally ill, news spread fast among the collector-car market, Grams said.

The museum has sold three GTOs in the last four days, including a 1969 GTO convertible for over $100,000. Grams said the price of DMC gull-wings, which have sold for $15,000-$20,000 since 1983, also are likely to increase in the next few days. The museum's most current GTO prices are available at http://.

"It is a phenomenon we have never experienced," said Grams, who has owned the museum since 1960. "It is impossible to tell at this point where these prices will top out."

Along with Carroll Shelby, creator of the Shelby Mustang, and a handful of others, DeLorean revolutionized the automotive world in the 1960s by taking seriously the truism "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday."

Shelby, who is 82 and received a heart transplant in 1990, will host a car show at the museum on May 28, 2005. The museum was in preliminary talks with DeLorean to do the same in 2006.

"Unfortunately for us, John ran out of time," Grams said. "We are fast approaching the end of an era."

The Volo Auto Museum is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $7.95. Special rates are available for children, seniors, veterans and active military.

Posted by Frank at 11:18 PM | Comments (0)

DCX Minivans Top Gov't Crash Test Ratings

Click on the pic to watch a crash test video.

The Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans both scored five stars in government crash tests, making DCX the only company with two vehicles to get the top rating of five stars.

Conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] the crash tests measure the probability of injury in the case of front and side-impact crashes. Complete results can be found here.

NHTSA's rating system is setup as follows: a five-star rating equates to a 10% or less chance of serious injury, four-stars means an 11% to 20% chance and three-stars implies a 21% to 35% chance of serious injury.

The DCX vans received five-star ratings for the driver and passenger seats in both front and side impact crashes. Other vans receiving across the board five-stars were the Mazda MPV, Nissan Quest, Kia Sedona and the Honda Odyssey.

The Odyssey, however, was also flagged as a safety concern by NHTSA, because the driver door became unlatched and opened in the side-impact test. According to NHTSA, "a door opening during a side impact crash increases the likelihood of occupant ejection."

The Chevy Astro van and GMC Safari were the only two vehicles to receive three stars, for driver safety in the front impact test. In the rollover test, the Ford E-150 also received three stars and is rated as having a 29.5% chance of rolling over in an accident.

Posted by Frank at 03:15 PM | Comments (0)

Last Call for Donations -- Help Send Car Buyer's Notebook to the NY Auto Show!

Updated: Only $400 to go!

We just received another $100 donation and are looking forward to ending this annoying promotion just as much as you are!

We're leaving for the NY Auto Show tomorrow morning and are making a last call for donations -- specifically, to pay for three nights in a hotel.

To date, donors have enabled us to pay for transportatation, and to buy some much-needed tech gear. The only thing that's left is to pay for the room. And in New Yawk City, human warehousing costs about $500 every 72 hours.

Of the 3,000 auto journalists from around the world, the Notebook may be one of the only ones relying on reader support to get to the show -- and we thank y'all in advance!

The Notebook is an independent, self-supporting news site dedicated to covering the auto industry. You can read more about us here, and the specifics about donating are here.

If you've read some of our stories, you can see we're much more than a typical blog. While we do link to plenty of topical material, there's also plenty of real research, interviews, data-driven stories and trend analysis -- worthy of your time and financial support!

Send Car Buyer's Notebook to the NY Auto Show!

We've received a major, unsolicited donation from one unknown reader, who described what we're trying to accomplish better than we can ourselves. His comments are here.

For you, this is an opportunity to support independent auto journalism at its finest -- and get involved in the process at the same time.

The Notebook invites all readers -- not just donors -- to submit ideas for coverage and questions for auto execs, stuff that can only be gathered at a live event.

So check out the NY Show's website, see what's on tap, and feel free to send in your suggestions for how we can make this site even better. And if you're so moved, make a donation!

Posted by Frank at 01:03 PM | Comments (0)

Mercedes to Take the Shroud off R-Class in NY

Mercedes will unveil its three-pointed crossover vehicle, the R-Class, at the NY Auto Show.

The R-Class is a melding together of design and functionality between a sedan, SUV and wagon, though no one dares call it a hatchback.

Pictured here, the R-Class is being subjected to extreme weather conditions in the "world's largest wind tunnel," based in Vienna.

Posted by Frank at 12:36 PM | Comments (0)

Ford Execs Rebuff Criticism of 500

Jamie Butters covers Ford reaction to criticism of their 500 sedan with an interesting take -- most of the problem seems to be it is suffering in comparison to favorable reception of the Chrysler 300.

We've covered the alleged problems with the 500 in this highly trafficked piece, and got some comments about how well the car is doing from David Reuter of Ford.

I would add another observation, alluded to in the Free Press article: consumer schizophrenia.

On the one hand, this week everyone is freaking out about gas mileage thanks to high prices at the pump. Oh my, consumers are flocking to high-MPG models.

From the hysteria, it seems like everyone's going to be buying the few remaining Honda Insights still on dealer lots. Jospeh B. White talks about this consumer personality disorder in a recent Wall St. Journal article.

On the other hand, everyone seems to be obsessed with the V8, high horsepower and speed. One of the main criticisms of the 500 is that the engine could use a shot of Major League Baseball go-go juice.

But actually, isn't the Ford 500 perfectly positioned to please MPG hounds and people who want a roomy ride? It gets decent gas mileage [21/29] and yet offers a nice-sized cabin with plenty of trunk space to boot.

Warren Brown of the Washington Post wrote about the degree to which auto journalists contribute to this problem in Sunday's ostensible review of the VW Jetta.

It took Warren nine paragraphs before he addressed the Jetta's performance, because he spent the first half of the article talking about the Aston Martin DB9.

For this article, that's a good thing, because it demonstrates how cars get a bum rap from auto writers. After driving the Aston Martin, the journalists in Warren's camp were dismissive of the 150 hp Jetta. [The 500 has 207 hp.] He ultimately liked the Jetta, by the way.

But no one we know either drives or is about to buy a DB9. So by comparison, car buyers [and companies like Ford and VW, by the way] get a distorted view of reality because of spoiled auto writers.

While driving fancy, expensive cars should be viewed as a perk of the job, it is instead aggregated in the journalist's mind as part of an unrealistic marketplace yardstick.

Ultimately, Ford now has a double task - marketing the car itself, and getting an honest impression of it to the consumer, past unfair coverage. Ford says their customer satisfaction numbers for the car are the highest they've recorded in years, and the platform [shared in common with the Mercury Montego and Ford Freestyle] is on pace to sell 200,000 units annually.

Posted by Frank at 11:16 AM | Comments (0)

The GM Crisis

The bad news is relentless. GM recently announced a lower earning projection, shocking investors and the stock market, and today we read that 2,000 white collar jobs are being eliminated and a rear-wheel drive concept is being abandoned.

This last bit is troubling, as GM is shifting resources to move big pickups and SUVs to market faster. This, in the face of rising gas prices and consumer sentiment that is starting to favor more fuel-efficient vehicles. Unless we're experiencing a temporary gas spike, this move could portend a fatal error.

Daniel Howe, a Detroit News columnist who's a real reporter, writes that the coming shakeout is long overdue.

Given the current environment, Gary Cowger, GM President, is going to face a hostile audience on Wednesday, when he gives the opening address to journalists at the NY Auto Show.

Posted by Frank at 09:59 AM | Comments (0)

Ford to Showcase Hybrid Diesel at NY Auto Show

The Mercury Meta One concept, a diesel hybrid V6 engine wth 248 horsepower, will be on stage in New York. Ford says the vehicle is the world's first diesel hybrid that meets PZEV, or partial zero emissions vehicle standards.

Joining the Meta One in NY will be the Mercedes S-class diesel-hybrid, that was also shown off in Detroit. Wired News reports that Chrysler sold 100 Ram diesel-hybrid trucks, produced in December as a test.

The problem with diesel hybrids is that they are even more expensive than regular hybrids. Estimates range from $8-10,000 more per vehicle than when equipped with a standard powerplant.

Gas hybrids costs about $3,000 more than a standard powered vehicle, and the cold fact is that the price premium take about 6-10 years to earn back after figuring in incremental gas pump savings.

Posted by Frank at 09:26 AM | Comments (0)

Getting Excited for the NY Show -- Watch a Clip from Last Year

Click on the pic to watch a video from last year's NY Auto Show.

Within the automotive industry and journalism communities, the debate over which is the most vital show continues at a low rage, but as far as the public is concerned, New York is The Show.

More people attend than Detroit, and the events garner greater media coverage, even if some of the stuff has been shown before.

As my friend Matt pointed out, all the TV studios have to do is send people over in a cab to get video and interviews. And New York itself is the show.

Check out the video for an idea of what's coming up in the next few days -- of course, the Notebook is going to be there.

Posted by Frank at 08:43 AM | Comments (0)

March 20, 2005

Electric and Fuel Cell Scooters on the Horizon

Click on the pic to watch a Vectrix scooter video.

Vectrix, A Rhode Island-based company is readying a pair of 400cc electric scooters for the international market, including a fuel cell version for which the company holds a patent.

The $10,000 rechargeable electric scooter will go on sale in Europe first, late this year or early in 2006. The company claims that despite the higher initial cost, the VXe scooter is 25% cheaper over the long-term, as there are lower maintenance costs and zero spent on gas.

The VXe delivers a top speed of over 60 miles an hour on nickel metal hydride batteries that cost fifty cents to recharge. Range is about 68 miles at 30 mph, recharge time is about two hours. [Click here for a PDF brochure.]

The company is also developing a fuel cell scooter, the VX-FCe, which will run on either hydrogen or reformed methanol. Both scooters include regenerative braking systems that help to extend battery life by recharging the battery packs. [Click here for a PDF brochure of the VX-FCe.]

The market for alternative energy two-wheelers is getting interesting, with news of a fuel cell motorcycle reported in Green Car Congress, and Honda's debut of a pair of scooters, one gas-electric hybrid and one fuel cell model, previously reported in the Notebook.

Posted by Frank at 08:33 PM | Comments (0)

Thinking About Satellite Radio? Sign Up for Free Trials, Compare Channel Lineups

Both XM and Sirius radio offer free, 3-day trials of their service online, and we think it's a great way to get to experience the programming before you go to the trouble of buying a radio or adding a new stereo to your car.

The Notebook also recommends you take a look at their channel lineup cards, to get an idea of the breadth of the offerings. Both are in PDF. XM's is here, the Sirius channel card is here.

Now's a good time to check out XM, as their price increase, to $12.95, is effective April 2. You can beat the rate hike however, if you sign up and pay for a full year [$119.88] before then.

Sirius is running a similar promotion, offering a $30 cash rebate on a plug n' play receiver to customers that also sign up for a year at $142.95.

Posted by Frank at 08:01 PM | Comments (0)

Stolen Mustang Returned to Owner -- 23 Years Later

A North Carolina man is once again driving his 1966 Mustang, after an eBay auction revealed the car had been stolen and police returned it to its rightful owner.

Mike Thompson thought the call from the Winston-Salem Police Department was a nasty joke. When an eBay buyer tried to get a clear title for the $22,500 vehicle, the numbers came back hot and the cops traced the car back to Thompson.

State Farm insurance earned some postive publicity points in the situation, asking only that Thompson repay the $4,000 claim they paid out to him when the car was orginally boosted.

Posted by Frank at 04:57 PM | Comments (0)

DeLorean Passes at 80

John DeLorean, the GM executive who went on to found an eponymous sports car company has died from complications of a recent stroke.

DeLorean was credited with pushing GM to produce smaller cars, and is considered the father of the muscle car, "in 1964 by cramming a V-8 engine into a Pontiac Tempest and calling it the GTO."

DeLorean quit GM in 1973 to launch his self-named sports car company. The first vehicle was produced in 1981, but the company failed and DeLorean was arrested in a drug deal he arranged, ostensiby to provide funding for his vision. He was acquitted on those charges.

Posted by Frank at 01:55 PM | Comments (0)

March 19, 2005

Four Virginia Cities Add Hybrids to Fleet

The cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach are adding a dozen hybrid vehicles to their fleet, according to the Viginian Pilot.

Despite the higher costs, officials say they are interested in the vehicle because of concerns over "national energy security" and out of a desire to be on the bleeding edge of technology.

Some of the vehicles are being added to police fleets but will not likely be used as patrol vehicles.

Posted by Frank at 10:10 AM | Comments (0)

March 18, 2005

VW Hires MINI Marketing Whiz

Kerri Martin, the marketer who helped BMW launch MINI to instant niche classic status in the United States, has been hired by VW to fill a new position.

Martin, who had a $40 million budget at MINI, will have access to VW's $500 million budget, starts on April 4, when a new Jetta campaign begins.

The new campaign "plays off the struggle between childhood and the adult world," according to Brandweek magazine, and will include a six-minute movie on DVD that will be distributed via a bagged Entertainment Weekly and given out at industry events. The movie features actors Joe Pantoliano playing an agent from the Federal Commission on Adulthood, and Kevin Connolly, of Entourage fame, playing a hapless schmoe.

Posted by Frank at 08:54 PM | Comments (0)

Lexus to Unveil Hybrid Luxury Sedan at NY Auto Show

Lexus will debut the all-new IS 350 sport sedan New York Auto Show next week. The IS series will offer four separate models for the U.S. market.

Lexus will also unveil the GS 450h hybrid luxury sedan, the first rear-wheel drive hybrid ever offered. The Super Ultra Low Emissions-rated GS 450h continues the trend toward offering high performance hybrids to the U.S. market.

Next Wednesday's 12 noon press conference will be webcast live via streaming video on www.lexus.com.

Posted by Frank at 02:53 PM | Comments (0)

Wow! Those Remote Starters Really Do Work -- Empty Car Crashes into House

Try telling this to the cops: "Honestly officer, I have no idea how my car started up and backed into that house."

After they stopped laughing, cops in South Haven, Indiana, found reason to believe the car's owner when she demonstrated the remote starter.

Hi-lariously, this sent the car traveling down the road a second time, forcing everyone to chase down the vehicle to prevent a second crash.

The woman believes she left the car in reverse, causing it to hit the house. Even worse, the car owner said this happened once before at a store. When the car started moving, her 11-year-old son was inside and yelled, "Mom, where are we going?"

Before the cops could take the remote starter away from her, the woman said she was taking it off her key chain. No one was surprised when she said, "I don't even know how the stupid thing works."

Posted by Frank at 01:21 PM | Comments (0)

Wall St. Journal Discovers Music

The Wall St. Journal has a page one [!] article today on how radio stations have been shamed into playing better music.

Shame for corporate radio stations, of course, can only be brought on by loss of revenue.

In this case, the iPod and satellite radio have beaten up radio stations to the point of a revolution -- they are now playing more music.

Ridiculous, isn't it? Let's dissect the logic -- people have been saying they hated radio all along, but the radio giants pooh-poohed such concerns, saying "look at our profit!" that shows we're giving people what they want.

No. It was indicative of a captive audience. For corporate radio to say consumers liked their music would be akin to stadium beer vendors saying people loved lukewarm, half-flat beer served in flimsy plastic cups.

Now that the iPod and satellite revolutions have hit the beach, and are still advancing, the lie has been given to what corporate radio has been asserting. And since it's in the WSJ, we now know it is true.

The article profiles KCJK, a Kansas City station, that has taken the audacious step of increasing their playlist to about 1,200 songs, up from 300-400.

There's also some nonsense about radio stations adding digital broadcasting capabilities, but that is such a bad idea, worthless to the public, and an ultimate waste of money, that it barely deserves mention.

Oh yeah, Clear Channel has also started playing shorter commericals, with less total time per hour in an effort to compete with iPod and satellite listeners, who never have to listen to them.

Not mentioned in the article is something the Notebook has covered -- the increased cash Clear Channel is throwing at politicians in an attempt to influence potential restrictions on satellite radio.

Posted by Frank at 12:35 PM | Comments (0)

Nissan Gets Sporty

Nissan is going to showcase their new Sport Concept three-door hatch at the NY Auto Show, and we just love it when an automaker gives their designers a longer rope.

Nissan has put out some funky designs the last couple years, and this new Sport Concept model seems to be more along the lines of what the designers wished they could have put on the street, before the marketing guys asked them to rein it in a little.

The three-door hatch boasts two-by-two seating, a tuner-inspired driver cockpit with a sport-throw shifter that we guess you're going to need for the manual transmission, usually recommended for small cars with under-200 hp engines.

Nissan says the car is supposed to give an idea of what might come down the road, yet not look too out of place in a showroom today. Is it too much to hope that Nissan might come out with its own Golf GTI/Honda Civic tuner wannabe?

The overall sporty-small car look is designed to capture the entry level market the car is aimed at, as are the 20-inch wheels.

And how 'bout those integrated headlight racks that extend off the front quarter panels!

The Nissan Sport Concept is the third in a series of youth concept vehicles from Nissan Design unveiled this year, following the Actic and AZEAL concepts.

Posted by Frank at 10:26 AM | Comments (0)

March 17, 2005

In-depth Interview on the Galloping Success of the Ford Mustang

Faced with red-hot demand for the all-new Mustang, Ford announced they are increasing production by 71% for the car that is drawing crowds of people to its showrooms across the country.

David Reuter, Ford Car Public Affairs Manager, said they will build nearly 200,000 Mustangs through the end of 2005, for a product launch that is the company's best in a decade.

"It's exciting stuff, especially when there's such high demand and we can give customers what they want," Reuter said.

Ford expects to sell from 160,000 to 165,000 Mustangs in '05, which should earn the car a spot on the top 10 best-selling list for the year, a mark it achieved in February, as previously reported in the Notebook.

The good news from the Mustang's success is showing itself in several ways, according to Reuter.

"We've never done it like this without incentives. We're doing this with no money, no spiff," he said. "We're selling this car based on how good it is."

Indeed, the V8 version of the Mustang, with its 300 horsepower engine, is responsible for 40% of sales, which is substantially higher than previous model years. The V8 hardtop starts at $25,570, and the cheapest V6 starts at $19,410.

The Mustang convertible, which began selling several weeks ago, is expected to account for about 30% of total sales in the $24,495 V6 and $29,995 V8 versions.

Reuter said the Mustang's success is due to three main reasons: "It's fast, it's fun and it's affordable -- no different than what's made the Mustang successful for 41 years."

The success of the reincarnated Pony is clearly driving sales to Ford dealers. Not only do 75% of Mustang shoppers "wind up driving away in one," Reuter said, but 5% of overall Mustang-driven traffic winds up buying a different Ford product.

So instead of simply losing potential from the 25% of Mustang shoppers who decide against buying the vehicle, dealers are still able to make a sale.

Further, Reuter claimed that 25% of Mustang buyers are in turn influencing "another Ford product purchase, through a friend or a family member."

Besides the bottom line for Ford corporate and its dealer base, the Mustang's success is having a positive effect on morale. "This makes us feel great, it makes our employees feel great," Reuter said. "It's just one piece of a car rejuvenation strategy that's working at Ford division."

As proof that things are going well for the company in other areas, Reuter pointed out that sales of the Ford Five Hundred, Freestyle and the Mercury Montego are on target to hit Ford's goal of an annual selling rate of 200,000 combined units.

Sales of those vehicles, which share the same platform, were up 35% in February and Reuter expects another double-digit increase for this month.

"There's no doubt customers love them. They're coming to the dealership and they're buying them," he said, adding that the cars are turning in the best customer satisfaction numbers "we've seen on a car in recent memory."

As for the Mustang, Reuter said part of its success is that the 210-hp V6 gives the customer nearly the same level of satisfaction as its souped-up sibling.

"It's just as exciting in the base model as it is in a fully-loaded GT. We've given customers an absolutely fantastic vehicle with the retro-styled interior, the twin cowl cockpit and double-barreled gauge pods.

"We've joked it's basically a $30,000 interior in a $20,000 car," Reuter said.

Help Send Car Buyer's Notebook to the NY Auto Show!

Posted by Frank at 06:14 PM | Comments (0)

67% of Nascar Fans Say Saving Gas is Patriotic

The lobby group Results for America has issued their poll showing two-thirds of Americans say buying more fuel efficient cars is a patriotic act.

I've already written that this poll is a brazen [and admirable] attempt by lefties to redirect the environmental debate onto the patriotism track.

Nevertheless, the website includes a nifty calculator that shows how much money you'd be saving if you drive a car that got 40 miles to the gallon or better.

By punching in your current MPG, the price of gas and your annual mileage, I guarantee you're in for an unpleasant reminder. The above example was generated by using 23 mpg at $2.05 per gallon over 22,000 miles a year.

In terms of real dollars, we're talking between $800 and $1,500 a year in savings -- enough to fund that retirement that politicos from the other side of the aisle are threatening to take away from you.

Posted by Frank at 03:05 PM | Comments (0)

Consumers Still Baffled by Credit, Minorities Top Subprime Category, Free Credit Reports Available

Two new studies show that consumers are not sufficiently aware of the importance of their credit ratings, and that minorities are more likely to get high-rate loans.

These studies illustrate a lag in consumer knowledge despite the availability of free credit reports, in 25 U.S. states to date.

Thanks to a 2003 Federal law, all Americans are eligible to receive a free credit report annually.

The three major credit reporting agencies have combined resources in one website, Annual Credit Report, that gives one-stop access to obtain reports.

The free service is being rolled out over the course of this year -- residents of 12 Midwest states became eligible to use the service on March 1. Southern state residents follow on June 1 and Northeastern residents can use the site September 1. Last year, residents of 13 Western states were the first to become eligible.

The General Accounting Office issued a report on Credit Literacy, and found that Hispanics possess the generally lowest knowledge of credit inticacies, as do those with only a high school education, or who have never used credit to finance a major purchase.

Consumers generally have even lower knowledge about the other uses of their credit score -- such as in obtaining auto insurance rates, and only a third know potential employers can make a hiring decision based on their record.

The second report, issued by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition [NCRC], shows that women and minorities in the nation's 331 metropolitan areas were more likely to receive high-interest sub-prime loans.

According to the report, prime lenders lagged subprime companies in reaching minorities in 76.7% of the metropolitan areas.For example, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, prime lenders made 19.9% of their loans to women while subprime lenders issued 39.8%. And, in Macon, Georgia, prime lenders made 13.7% of their loans to African-Americans, while subprime companies issued 59.3% of their loans to African-Americans.

Posted by Frank at 02:45 PM | Comments (0)

Car Buyers and Other Consumers: Free Credit Reports Available

Due to a change in federal credit reporting rules, American citizens are able to obtain free copies of their personal credit reports every year.

The program began in December for residents of 13 Western states, and was expanded March 1 for residents of 12 Midestern states. Resident in Southern states are eligible June 1, Northeastern residents, September 1.

The three credit companies -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion -- have created a single website, www.AnnualCreditReport.com, where consumers can request their reports online. Consumers can also request their reports via a toll-free number or through the mail.

While the new law, the Fair And Accurate Credit Transaction [FACT] Act, requires the companies to provide free reports, consumers will have to pay to receive their FICO score, or credit rating. [FICO is the brand name for credit scores based on a formula developed by Fair Isaac Corp.]

For consumers, this means they will receive the raw data on their reports -- mortgage, loan and credit card accounts, along with payment histories and credit inquiries.

When electing to purchase credit scores, consumers will receive what’s commonly referred to as their credit rating. The companies are charging between $5 and $7 for the scores.

Since the data on a credit report is used to calculate credit scores -- thus determining how much consumers can borrow and at what interest rate -- it is simply helpful to have it to know what potential financiers are seeing.

However, as investigations over the years have proved that a high percentage of credit reports contain incorrect information, the new law is aimed, in part, at giving consumers a chance to identify and correct erroneous data in their report. As identity theft has also risen as a factor in damaging sometimes unsuspecting consumers’ credit, the free reports will also enable people to determine whether loans or puchases were made without their knowledge.

And despite the rise of so-called "credit repair" companies, consumers are advised to take the necessary steps to repair their own credit.

The Federal Trade Commission, which oversees fair credit laws, operates a consumer website that explains credit and consumer rights, as well as helpful information on how to take on a credit repair project.

The FTC also provides a helpful page explaining vehicle financing, for consumers interested in purchasing a new car or truck.

Posted by Frank at 02:39 PM | Comments (0)

Nissan Opens New U.S. Design Facility, Has Two Weeks to Reach One Million Sales

Nissan's $14 million Michigan design studio opens today, as part of an effort to speed product development, and capture greater U.S. market share.

The center is built next to Nissan's tech center, which is also undergoing a $26 million expansion. The new design center will employ 30 designers in addition to the 1,055 employed at the original facility.

The company hopes the investment will pay off in the near and long-term, as Nissan has two weeks left in its "Drive to a Million" effort. Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has set a highly public goal of selling one million vehicles in the U.S. in the fiscal year ending this month.

With over 92,000 vehicles needed to be sold as of the beginning of the month, Nissan and Infiniti dealers are pushing hard to reach a goal that is about 15% higher than already surging sales.

While Nissan has been enjoying increased sales, particularly the Altima and Titan, it is also expected to enjoy increased sales from its Infiniti division, which just released five new vehicles in its M series.

Posted by Frank at 09:12 AM | Comments (0)

College Football Player DUI'd with "Homosexual" Sheep on Board

An Oregon State football player was caught with a sheep boosted from a campus lab when he was pulled over and arrested for DUI last week.

The 280-pound athlete said he did not know anything about the ram, which was taking part in a study on homosexuality in the breed, according to AP.

The 200-pound ram was riding in the bed of the athlete's pickup when he was pulled over for speeding. The footbal player blew a .14 BAC, and police said he may have been too drunk to remember picking the animal up at the campus' "Sheep Center."

Posted by Frank at 08:43 AM | Comments (0)

March 16, 2005

Gov't to Begin Comprehensive [Selective] Speeding Crackdown

Dr. Jeffrey Runge, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, recently laid out plans the government has to begin enforcing speeding rules, after years of neglect by federal and local law enforcement.

Dr. Runge told attendees of the Lifesavers Conference that the majority of fatalities occur on local roads and traditional enforcement as well as speed cameras, should be included in cracking down on this rediscovered problem. Excessive speed is a cause in nearly one-third, or over 13,000, traffic fatilies annually.

His remarks come at the same time a crackdown is occurring here in Virginia, along an 11-mile stretch of I-95.

Virginia State Troopers will begin issuing $500 speeding tickets on March 18. Combined with other increased fines for reckless driving, total levies could reach $2,500 per incident.

While speeding enforcement and shockingly high fines do serve a value in communicating a problem to the public at large, traffic enforcement is simply not an effective way to change behavior en masse.

Traffic enforcement is a revenue stream. We're all adults here and everyone knows this already, so why don't we just settle down and solve the problem?

If the problem is excessive speed on local roads with posted limits of 20 to 45 mph, the more sensible approach is greater deployment of speed humps. Sure, no one likes them, and you know why -- because they force you to slow down.

Posted by Frank at 09:05 PM | Comments (0)

Happy St. Paddy's Day from the Feds

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has created a St. Patrick's Day Mini-Planner website, complete with a trio of anti-drunk driving message posters like the one pictured here.

It's the usual stuff, feel good, be resonsible, etc., but not really doing anything to deal with the core problem of people with alcohol-related disease who will never stop drinking and driving, no matter what.

But the site's saving grace is that there is a version En Espanol, for all those places like Pancho McGillicuddy's Mexican Cantina:

Posted by Frank at 08:21 PM | Comments (0)

Ford's Finance Company Judged to Have Discriminated Against African Americans in Loan Rates

The judge in a class action suit brought against Primus Auto Finance has ruled the company did discriminate aghainst African American customers and has given the two sides 30 days to structure a settlement agreement.

U.S. District Court Judge Aleta Trauger said that if the two sides do not work out a settlement, she will impose the terms herself. The judge also said that by negotiating with the plaintiffs, Primus will not forfeit its right to appeal the case.

The lawsuit charges that Primus, a Ford-owned company, unfairly charged Afrtican American customers hundreds of thousands of dollars more than they should have.

Posted by Frank at 05:19 PM | Comments (0)

Sirius to Broadcast BMW's 44-Day Cross-Country Tour of New 3 Series

Starting March 26th, a caravan of new and classic BMW automobiles are driving from New York to Los Angeles to promote the new 3 series.

Sirius satellite radio is going to broadcast daily news bytes on their talk and entertainment channels along with way, finishing up with a special 18-hour broadcast on May 6th, the last day of the tour and the same day the 3 series officially goes on sale.

Known as "3 Across America," the tour is scheduled to stop in high-profile destinations across the country, in cities such as San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Dallas, Detroit, Seattle and Monterey.

The Sirius program will attempt to create a travelogue of the entire coast-to-coast tour, including "unique and eccentric stories from the road, live interviews, and vignettes," according to the company.

Posted by Frank at 04:15 PM | Comments (0)

TIPSY Driver Arrested for DUI

A 23-year-old Minnesota man may want to get a new license plate after getting arrested for driving under the influence.

The man, whose Chevy Silverado has a vanity plate that reads, "TIPSY," was arrested Friday after leaving a bar, according to AP.

The man faces DUI charges after allegedly impressing the Breathalyzer with a BAC twice the state's legal limit.

Saying he originally got the plate for a Jeep, to describe the way it drove, he kept it as a joke "because he likes to party," according to the story.

Now he says, he feels "stupid."

Posted by Frank at 10:38 AM | Comments (0)

Nine Year-Old Girl Drives "Ruth the Mule" to School

Saje Beard, of Bismarck, N.D., doesn't have to worry about high gas prices.

Her ride, "Ruth the Mule," gets her to school and back on a fuel mix of grain, corn and sweet peas.

The low-maintenance vehicle only requires a daily brushing before heading out.

The nine-year-old girl guides the mule over a two-mile path to get to her one-room schoolhouse that houses a total of five students, not including Ruth.

Posted by Frank at 10:11 AM | Comments (0)

Plan of Attack: UAW Quietly Laying Groundwork to Unionize Nissan's Canton Plant

Organizers from the United Auto Workers Union have met with Mississippi community leaders to hear second-hand complaints from Nissan workers, according to this Clarion Ledger story.

At issue are complaints over wages, a lack of job security and due process. The Canton plant pays between $12.50 and $20 per hour to about 4,000 full-time and 1,700 contract workers, according to Nissan. Turnover is about 3%.

Ron Gettelfinger, UAW president, and VP Bob King attended the meeting with about 15 civic leaders, according to the article. Joe Atkins, a journalism professor who attended, said, "They're laying the groundwork for a major effort to unionize Nissan."

UAW is taking a new approach to organizing, after losing two votes at Nissan's Smyrna, Tenn., plant. A vote to unionize 7,000 workers at Toyota's Kentucky plant will be held in April. No foreign-owned auto plants in the South are unionzed.

Posted by Frank at 09:42 AM | Comments (0)

The Gas Price Boogyman is Out in Full Force

A couple self-interested paries have put out rhetorically-charged releases about rising gas prices, and the Notebook is going to put them in perspective.

First, Kelley Blue Book says, "experts in the industry are currently forecasting that gas prices will reach the $3.00 mark by summer."

Funny, I haven't read that anywhere else. But even if it's not true KBB does have some actual statistics about car buyer behavior that we think are credible.

According to KBB, 41% of "in-market car buyers" are thinking about vehicles they wouldn't normally consider due to high gas prices. And 30% have indicated that if prices rose 25 cents "they would seriously consider a more fuel efficient vehicle."

Next, a thinly disguised green-Democratic front group calling itself "Results for America," a project of the "Civil Society Institute," has put out an audacious release trumpeting that, "most Americans now see buying a fuel-efficient vehicle as a patriotic gesture."

The RFA also says in their release that said patriotic act will reduce also will reduce "Middle Eastern oil dependency."

Starting March 17, the RFA will launch a website, http://www.40mpg.org/, that will include a calculator "showing how much Americans could save at the gas pumps."

Now, I don't mind a call to more efficient vehicles. I favor it. But both of these groups are trying to call attention to themselves. KBB for increased consumer awareness, RFA to advance their own agenda.

In the matter of RFA, it's clear evidence that lefties can learn new tricks -- wrapping themselves in the flag with the added bonus of xenophobic fear of Middle Eastern oil sheiks. And by extension, terrorists.

Bottom line: gas prices are high and are probably going higher. People are thinking about, and buying, more fuel efficient cars. It's something they should do anyway.

What follows are five gas saving tips Kelley included in their news release, unedited. I say this because I don't believe the second tip is true:

1. If your vehicle does not require premium grade gas but you use it anyway, it is ok to change to a lower grade to save a few dollars. In fact, you may find that you get better fuel economy with a lower grade of gasoline. Try two tanks of each of the lower grades and see for yourself. (Check your owners manual first, if your vehicle requires premium grade gasoline, stay with a premium grade.)

2. Four tanks of gasoline with an engine and valve cleaning additive like Techron or V-Power can clean your fuel injectors as well as most professional grade cleaners. Clean injectors will help your vehicle get better gas mileage.

3. Turn off or lower your air conditioning, but don't roll down your windows. Both create drag on your car, requiring more gas to keep up your speed. It takes about 5-8 horsepower to run the air conditioning. Using the recirculation feature is another option. Of course if it's more than 80 degrees outside, you may want to run the air intermittently.

4. Check your vehicle's air filter and tire pressure. A clogged or dirty air-filter can slow your vehicle down and use more gasoline. A clean filter will promote less gas waste. Under-inflated tires could also cause excessive drag, slowing the vehicle down and using more gas. This could become a safety hazard as well.

5. Accelerate normally from a fully stopped position and avoid flooring or stabbing the gas pedal. The flooring or stabbing action pushes more fuel to the engine than is needed to move forward.

Posted by Frank at 08:06 AM | Comments (0)

March 15, 2005

More Toyota Prius Aftermarket Hacks -- Including iPod, DVD, Satellite Radio and a Rear-View Camera

Click on the pic to go to a video page for Prius aftermarket accessories.

David Watson, the inventor of the "EV Kit" that allows the Toyota Prius to operate in electric-only mode, gave me an interview today about how he came up with the product. As usual, we learned plenty from just listening.

Watson owns Coastal Electronic Technologies that makes the EV kit, but perhaps more importantly, he also owns a 2001 Prius that came equipped without cruise control.

Saying his wife compelled him to fix that deficit, Watson soon invented a retrofit that created cruise control for a vehicle that didn't have one.

But the coolest thing about Watson's fix is that the control is housed on a wireless remote fob. That's right, with this kit you can control acceleration and deceleration from a remote control.

That little doo-dad prompted a worldwide response from Prius fans and geeks -- leading Watson to another invention -- a remote trunk opener made at the request of a man for his disabled wife.

These events all occurred before Watson bought his second Prius -- a 2004 model, which as previously written about, came to North America with the electric-drive-only mode disabled.

This was the second time Toyota had excluded a feature from Priuses sold here. Other country's were able to get the cruise control Watson had to build, and now people were actively questioning why they had to do without.

"There were a couple of people who got diagrams," for the EV-mode, Watson said. "Why can't people in the U.S. have it?"

Based on those schematics, he built the $45 kit that allows Prius owners to drive in electric-only mode.

Watson declined to say how many orders he's processing for the EV kit, but did say his company is receiving 400 to 500 e-mails a day.

As if the busy inventor wasn't busy enough, he's also built and is selling the "Toyota Viewtech," a $299 add-on A/V component that allows Prius owners to add such features as a rear-view camera, DVD [that plays on the central display screen], iPod and external satellite radio plug-ins.

Posted by Frank at 04:49 PM | Comments (0)

Two Auto Safety Reports Out -- Guess Which is Going to Be Most Popular?

So a couple auto safety reports hit the desk today, and it's no great task to guess which is going to get a bajillion hits.

That's right, even I succumbed -- the one with DYING and DEATH in the title, pictured here, from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety [IIHS], is certain to win the click derby today.

The other one, "Buying a Safer Car," from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is longer, more comprehensive and more useful for car buyers, but hey, the Betamax was better, too.

The IIHS report was so busy this morning, I had to employ a trick to get it to download. If you're having problems grabbing it, here's what you do:
-- Open Adobe Acrobat reader, first.
-- Click on 'File,' then on 'Open Web Page.'
-- Paste in this URL: http://www.iihs.org/srpdfs/sr4003.pdf, then hit 'Download.'
-- The file will begin downloading into the program, you'll be able to read it when it's done.

As for the NHTSA report, it has a nicely organized front section on crash tests, rollover resistance ratings and an explanation of safety equipment.

Following that is an exhaustive model-by-model chart showing ratings for each test and the safety equipment available on each, as well as whether or not it's standard or optional.

For anyone who values safety as a top concern when buying an auto, this free report is a must have resource.

The IIHS report, while entertaining in a grisly shock value context, has less real use to car buyers. That's not to say the data isn't accurate.

But to understand the report, please consider that the "death rates" for each vehicle are calculated per million registered years for each vehicle.

So while a 'death rate' of 308 [2 dr Chevy Blazer] sounds astronomical compared to 10 [Mercedes E Class], the scale of the data has to be factored in when looking at the numbers.

Also, please consider what's missing -- a coherent cross-analysis of demographics and driving behavior, alongside the death stats.

But if you take the time to read the report, you can deduce some of what's missing. For example, the least deadly vehicle class was large luxury cars, with 37 deaths per million vehicle years.

Now who drives large luxury vehicles? Maybe older folks, with more years of experience behind the wheel? Okay, maybe IIHS should come up with a data set of "million years of driver experience" to compare to the death rate!

And also consider the second least deadly vehicle class, large minivans and stations wagons, with 42 deaths per million vehicle years. And who is driving these vehicles? Parents, perhaps, who have "millions of years of potential life to protect" riding with them?

The point is, what's deadly here, the vehicle or the behavior -- or a combination of both?

But, for the record:
The IIHS death report's findings show that more people die in small cars than in luxury cars, and that small SUVs and pickups are generally more deadly than larger versions.

The only exception to this rule of thumb is that 'very large' four-wheel drive SUVs have a higher death rate than other 4-wheelers. In two-wheel drive SUVs, small and midsize models had the greatest mortaility rate.

Rollover deaths were found to be greater in SUVs overall, though two-door cars also made a decent showing.

Again, 'very large' SUVs had the greatest rollover death rate in the four-wheel drive category; in two-wheel drive, midsize SUVs killed the most, followed by small models, and then large ones.

But hey, if you think I'm grumpy about this report, imagine how the folks at Chevy feel today -- their models topped the 'most deadly' list, with 7 of the top fourteen!

Posted by Frank at 12:24 PM | Comments (0)

About Time Pocket Bikes Get Some Restrictions

After more than 3,000 kids under the age of 15 were injured riding pocket bikes or motorized scooters, several municipalities are now passing laws restricting their use.

Over 10,000 kids were injured on a variety of motorized toys between 2003 and 2004, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Unfortunately, a quick search of the site produced evidence that the government has once again failed to protect people.

In 1979, the Commission rejected a petition by two doctors to regulate motorized toys designed for children.

The rationale given was, you guessed it: "Commissioner Stuart M. Statler volunteered to work with industry to explore the possibility of compiling and disclosing the speed information and to promote voluntary safety standards for these vehicles."

To be fair, though I'm not really in the mood, at the time sales of mini bikes and attendant injuries had fallen.

Still, they didn't keep up their promise, did they? Cheap pocket bikes can be purchased for $199 and even to Cranky Frank, they do look pretty cool. Imagine how they look to a kid?

I'm not really interested in any Internet-fueled libertarianism here. It is the government's responsibility to ensure that people are kept from harm. I'm not saying the product should be outlawed, but they should be permanently banned from being ridden on streets, without helmets, without adult supervision, etc.

Common sense, folks. Which a lot of average folks simply do not have. If you want to buy your kid a bike and have a piece of land, either your own or a place to ride, great. Any accidents happen then, well, that's life. But letting these things on the streets is asking for trouble -- and an abdication of the proper role of government.

Growing up, a kid in my neighborhood got killed by a car that ran him over while he was driving a go-kart on the street. It made for the typical maudlin, hand-wringing tragedy of the day in the newspaper.

Come to think of it, that accident happened in the mid-70s, about the time those hallowed stastics were on the decline.

Afterwards, seeing his older brother -- who had built the go-kart using an old lawn mower engine -- made me realize that more than one person got their life whacked out of shape by a dangerous toy.

Posted by Frank at 10:15 AM | Comments (0)

Bernhard was Right! Mercedes Undertaking Drastic Action

Combine this news brief that Mercedes is replacing sales and marketing chief Joachim Schmidt, with this article about the "turnaround" task in front of the Three-Pointed Star, and you understand that ousted exec Bernhard Wolfgang was correct in his assessment of the dilemma facing Mercedes.

That why we love this money quote from the second article:

"What's happening now underlines that Bernhard was right," says Christian Breitsprecher, auto analyst for Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt. "Cordes is saying the same things -- just with nicer words."

Posted by Frank at 10:02 AM | Comments (0)

More Free Publicity, for Gung-Ho Entrepreneurs

A pair of Detroit inventors have done the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup trick with a basketball goal and a pickup truck.

Known as "Pick-Up Hoops," the product installs in the bed of a pickup truck and allows you to set up a basketball court in a parking lot or just about any level surface.

Jason Parr and Jonathan P. VarnHagen, the inventors, are currently renting out the assembly, which compacts inside the pickup bed for transport, while they attempt to secure start-up funding.

Posted by Frank at 09:41 AM | Comments (0)

Free Publicity for the EV1 Vigil -- Actress Gets Arrested

Former Baywatch actress Alexandria Paul and another activist, Colette Divine, were arrested for blocking two trucks attempting to haul 28 of the electric vehicles off to the crusher, according to AP.

The EV1, which GM has discontinued, is the subject of a month-long vigil in Burbank, California, by protesters who are demanding the automaker sell them the vehicles rather than destroy them.

GM has rebuffed the activists' offer of nearly $2 million to buy the vehicles.

The two trucks eventually made it past the protesters, leaving less than 50 EV1s remaining in existence.

Posted by Frank at 09:23 AM | Comments (0)

USMC Tells UAW to Get Lost

Lt. Col. Joe Rutledge said the Marines are not interested in the UAW's belated reversal of their policy banning reservist's "foreign-made" vehicles, or those bearing pro-President Bush bumper stickers. Marines under his command have secured another place to park.

Rutledge was quoted in the Detroit News: "...I've made my decision -- either you support the Marines or you don't."

Posted by Frank at 08:56 AM | Comments (0)

March 14, 2005

D.C. News Radio WTOP Offers Podcasts

WTOP Radio, the Washington, D.C. all-news station, has thrown their signal into the podcast arena.

TOP is a fave with D.C.'s newsy nerds and the Notebook thinks it deserves a wider audience. It is one of the few all-talk/news stations with a full staff of journalists and they do a good job without veering into either Alan Alda territory or Country Club nastiness.

The podcast will let folks outside the region -- and away from Internet access -- hear strong radio news. While today's podcast did include some local, Metro-D.C. news, there was also a segment on the budget process, which is of interest to all listeners nationwide.

So if you iPod in the car, especially your BMW, now you've got access to radio news the way it should be!

Posted by Frank at 09:40 PM | Comments (0)

Bill Ford Donates $3M Bonus to Charity

Despite not taking a traditional salary since taking over in 2001, Bill Ford does receive compensation for his toil. In 2004, his stock and bonus packgage was worth $16.1 million, this year it's estimated to be about $18 million.

But last year, Ford pledged the $1.5 million bonus portion of his compensation to a scholarship fund for the children of Ford employees. With this year's $3 million bonus, he's giving another $1.5 million to the scholarship fund, and the other $1.5 million to local charities.

So far, all the headlines I'm reading are leading with the $18 million, which I suppose is expected. The $3 million is getting buried, and the $1.5 from last year is not mentioned in the Reuters version.

Remember all that free press Lee Iacocca got for taking a $1 salary?

Posted by Frank at 05:21 PM | Comments (0)

Brutal! UK BMW Chief Threatens to Sack 20% of Dealers Despite Sales Spike

BMW sales rose a whopping 52% in Great Britain last year, but that isn't good enough for Jim O'Donnell, head of the company's operation there.

This latter day Capt. Bligh claims BMW could have sold 25% more vehicles if the laggards [30 of 160 dealers have been put on notice] had invested in their dealerships. O'Donnell said he's already sacked 50 dealers since 1990 and will do the same to the current crop if they don't pick up the pace.

Posted by Frank at 12:11 PM | Comments (0)

All Hail the Mighty Trabant

Imagine an ugly MINI -- made by Communists -- and you have a good start on understanding the Trabant, which the SF Chron writes is "an East German car widely reviled as one of the worst autos ever made."

This article takes time out from our modern auto marvels to marvel at the junkyard of misfit cars -- including the Gremlin, Yugo, Vega, Pinto and of course, the Trabant.

The article, like the cars themselves, is a mix of reverence and hilarity. Consider these comments about the Gremlin:

"I remember them from when I was little," says a smiling Tracy Sirianni, 37. "It kind of looks like the Pinto -- the ones that would explode -- but it's not."

and:

"It's the classic Gremlin," says another bystander, David Siegel, 43. "The fact that it starts is positive."

About the Trabant, I learned something new. Due to a steel shortage in the Eastern Bloc, the cars were made of a stew of of wood and cotton pulp mixed with resin:

"That's where you get the phrase 'cardboard cars,' " says Rod Dahlgren, a Napa auto appraiser who owns three Trabants.

Because the cars were edible, after a fashion, rats started nibbling on them -- prompting Trabant "engineers" to mix rat poison into the batter:

"The rats stopped chewing on the bodies," Dahlgren says, "but the manufacturer realized this (use of rat poison) was not such a good idea."

Posted by Frank at 11:37 AM | Comments (0)

Hybrids Save the World, Part 47

You know what they say, when things are going good, they just keep getting better. And so it is for hybrid vehicles, which are getting more sunshiney media than any celebrity on the newsstand.

That being said, we have this installment from the Sioux City Journal, that declares, "Hybrid cars called perfect for bird watching."

In what has to be one of the best community service promos of the year, an auto dealership lent the Platte River Valley Bird Observatory at Crane Meadows a Honda Civic hybrid expressly for the purpose of bird watching.

Heidi Hughes, the Executive Director of Crane Meadows told the dealer she "could get hybrids some exposure in the nature community by touting them as the 'best bird-watching car on the planet.'"

Apparently one of the hidden beneifts of the is that they are "befitting of the birder lifestyle" because of their noiseless operation.

The money quote from Hughes: "When you stop, all you hear is the wind...The only thing that might scare a bird away is if you drop your binoculars."

Posted by Frank at 09:57 AM | Comments (0)

Test Driving the Hyundai Tucson

The 2005 Hyundai Tucson is stellar proof that the company is making high-quality vehicles that deliver more than could be expected at such attractive price points.

My first thought on approaching the 2005 Hyundai Tucson was that it looked a little like a baby Porsche Cayenne -- the haunchy profile, especially in the rear, gives it a muscular, capable look.

The "Mesa Red" paint, really a lighter shade of burgundy, adds to the rich appearance of the vehicle. Personally, I like the wraparound body moulding and think it gives the Tucson a nice finish.

This isn't the first time I've mistaken a Hyundai for a more expensive model -- at least at first glance. A few months back an XG350 pulled into a parking lot, and out of the corner of my eye I thought it was a Lincoln [Especially in the grill.]

Of course, the Tucson is not a Cayenne -- the point is, Hyundai is adept at making cars that look richer than their price point.

Inside the cabin is a different story, but a pleasant surprise in its own right. The controls are simple, big-buttoned and easy to reach. The Shiftronic transmission stick is elevated off the floor, which is not only an ergonomic but also an aesthetic detail.

The Tucson's cabin and dash features are decidedly manual -- the only power options are windows and door locks. But in a year when over 30 million vehicles were recalled due largely to complicated electronics, the manual seat controls and relatively simple systems provide a sense of sturdiness rather than sacrifice.

One little feature that appealed to me was the location and operation of the cruise control stalk. Tucked under the right side of the steering wheel, the stubby control was intuitive to find and simple to operate. [I've found that long stalk cruise control levers often confuse me and get in the way of the main light and windshield washer stalks.]

Running some errands, I got a feel for how the Tucson handles on the road. First, in terms of profile, I found myself a little higher than minivan drivers and a little lower than bigger SUVs. A nice vantage height, actually.

The 6-cylinder, 173-horsepower engine gave me the right amount of acceleration, up inclines and for getting around a city-owned pickup truck driver who didn't seem in a hurry to get anywhere to do anything. I dubbed this the "Goldilocks" power plant -- not too much and not too little -- the power was just right.

The power assisted rack and pinion steering was also right smack in the middle. Turning the wheel takes just enough grip to make you feel in control of the vehicle without working too hard or having that weird, too-loose spinning effect you get with some power steering.

I experimented with the Shiftronic transmission shifter, trying to get the hang of something I've never really understood. In the move to all-automatic transmissions all the time, many car makers have gone to these trannies that provide you with a gate, off to the side, that allows you to manually shift through the four speeds.

I'm a manual transmission guy, and am proud to say I've never had to replace a clutch on more than half a dozen stick shifts I've owned. So I'm not that happy with the loss of choice in transmissions.

After awhile, I got over my resistance and got the hang of using the hybrid shifter. I can say that it definitely felt as if I got some control of the vehicle back, and was able to do things like downshifting to use the engine to brake, and revving the engine higher before shifting up. The Shiftronic system is dummy-proof, automatically shifting back down to first when you bring the Tucson to a stop.

The Tucson's rear seats are standard 60-40 split, and the independent hatch and window opening option is reminiscent of old-school station wagons. Given the moderate height of the Tucson, most people will be able to open the window to place bags and other "stuff" in through the window.

With both seats up, the Tucson has nearly 23 cubic feet of storage space, with them down, a little over 65 cubic feet. The vehicle comes with a thick rubber cargo tray mat, and a cover that fits between the rear seats and the hatch door.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a "near" full-sized spare underneath the Tucson rear storage bin. By near full-size, I mean that while the tire is the same 16-inch diameter as the regular wheels, it is a little narrower.

Still, when you do have to change a tire, at least you've got something that isn't the equivalent of a peg leg. I hate donut spares. Whenever I've had to use them they feel so unsafe I get right to a tire store. But that's probably the point.

In between the rear floor and the spare is a well thought-out storage tray with multiple compartments. Good for a roadside emergency or first-aid kits, etc. The Tucson also has retractable side view mirrors which have become pretty standard on cars, and are useful when dealing with tight alleys or parking spaces.

In terms of safety equipment, all trim levels come with four wheel anti-lock and power-assisted brakes, electronic stability control and traction control. Inside the cabin front and side airbags are standard in the first row; side curtain airbags are fitted in both rows.

I'm pleased to say the vehicle's performance helped me avoid two incidents with other drivers -- one guy pulled out without looking, causing me to swerve. The quick steering maneuver, at speed, did not cause the Tucson to wobble or feel out of control. Indeed, it handled the bank like a car.

Another driver made a careening turn right in front of me. Luckily my foot reacted faster than my brain -- I couldn't help thinking, 'what is that guy doing?' Because my foot hit the brake, slowing the Tucson from about 40 to 15 mph, we avoided any unpleasantries.

The SUV slowed smoothly, with no skid or any of that huffing and puffing ABS brakes are prone to when they're called into harsh action. After the butterflies settled down, I was able to admire the Tucson's ability.

A word about pricing: I'm driving the Tucson GLS V6 with 4 wheel drive -- it sells for about $21,549. That's in the same price range as a Honda CR-V, though there are some differences in the packages.

However, the CR-V only comes with a 4-cylinder 160 horsepower motor, whereas the Tucson six has 173 hp. In this class, I call the Tucson the winner.

While the 4-cylinder Tucson is cheaper than the lowest-end CR-V, the Hyundai four only has 140 hp. In situations like this, it comes down to emotion.

The Tucson 4-cylinder starts at 17,499, for 2WD, and the Tucson LX 6-cylinder, with leather interior, tops out at $22,799.

Besides the Tucson being about eleven inches shorter than the CR-V, they match up in most other dimensions, as well as fuel economy. The Hyundai six-cylinder gets 19 mpg city and 24 on the highway.

I'm not saying the CR-V is the only vehicle that matches the Hyundai, but am using it for comparison. There are at least two kinds of car buyers -- brand and segment. Some people are looking for their next Hyundai, and some are looking for their next compact SUV.

If you are in the market for a compact SUV, and haven’t yet considered the Tucson, add it to your test drive list.

Posted by Frank at 09:18 AM | Comments (0)

Speculative Fiction: CNET Reports on Car Viruses that Might Happen, Someday

The rumor that Lexus vehicles were infected with a computer virus turned out to be phony, but that didn't stop CNET from writing a story about the possibility of car-borne computer viruses.

The challenge for hackers who might want to crash your Electronic Stability System or post an obscene message on your Nav screen, is twofold.

First, while internal systems are increasingly linked, they're not all built on a single opeating system.

According to the CNET story, "Getting a virus to propagate from one system to another would be akin to designing malware that could pass from a Windows environment to a Macintosh system and on to a Linux machine--infecting them all."

Second, while there has been a rise in off-board links with Nav systems and telematics, car computers are not accessible in the always-on environment of the Internet, that makes it easy for hackers to plant spyware and pop-up window progams on your machines.

There is hope for aspiring auto-hackers, however. Microsoft has gotten into the auto software biz, in a deal with Fiat, to provide a two-way diagnstic feed via telematics.

BTW, you're not reading this on Internet Explorer, are you? [Insert Pop-up here.] Get Firefox!

Posted by Frank at 08:52 AM | Comments (0)

March 13, 2005

UAW Knows How to Win Friends and Influence People

On the one hand, you've got to hand it to the UAW for sticking to thier guns. On the other hand -- how out of touch can you get?

This Detroit News story tells how the UAW has banned Marine reservists from parking in their Deroit building lot if they either: a) drive a foreign car, or b) have a Bush bumper sticker on their vehicle, regardless of origin.

Marine Lt. Col Joe Rutledge has the money quote: "I don't know what a foreign car is today anyway. BMWs are made in South Carolina now."

Next story: UAW secedes from the [Federal] Union!

Posted by Frank at 07:58 PM | Comments (0)

Test Driving the Subaru Outback: Brainy, Athletic and Sociable

Subaru is sitting pretty. Consumer trends are catching up to where the carmaker has been all along -- the company's across the board all-wheel drive offerings are right in line with a "sudden" awareness that four on the floor traction is a desirable feature.

With the Subaru Outback wagon, the company finds itself in the eye of another perfect storm, as consumers show signs of tiring of upright SUVs and are migrating to so-called "crossovers."

We were fortunate enough to drive a top of the line Outback 3.0 R VDC wagon that retails for $33,495, but that shouldn't scare off the just-out-of-college or middle income folks who want AWD and versatility.

Subaru has seven options to get into their Outback "crossover" wagon that start at $18,995, ensuring that just about anyone can get into the next new thing that's been around for quite a while.

When we first walked up to our Outback, it was a little confusing. Here was a vehicle known for its outdoors-friendly demeanor, yet it was sharp looking with Garnet Red Pearl finish, black leather seating and sporty interior. And the athletic impression was further strengthened with the 250-hp engine and 17-inch tires.

Why the confusion? Because it offered too much in seemingly different categories? Here's an analogy -- remember the high school star athlete who was also valedictorian and impossibly attractive to boot? That kind of person usually has an aura of being unapproachable. More often than not, though, when you take the chance to get to know them they turn out to be mighty cool, too!

That was my take on the Outback. After I spent a couple days getting to know it.

One of the things you notice that's not much talked about, is the ground clearance of nearly nine inches. Of course, that's built into the Outback for presumed off-road jaunts, but it's a design feature that makes getting into and out of the vehicle a little easier than traditional cars. And not as onerous as hauling yourself up into an outsized SUV.

Driving the Outback with a 250-hp engine and 17-inch tires gives a feeling of both sportiness and stability. The turning ratio is tight, allowing you to take turns on the nimble but again, with the rubber, you never feel like you've gone too far.

The 3.0 comes with an automatic transmission with a manual shiftgate that transfers more control to the driver, particularly when wanting to push the revs a little higher or using the engine to slow the car down.

Interior controls are easy to understand, with a new instrument panel with electro luminescent LED display. Besides the eight-way power driver's seat, the dual-zone climate control allows both front row passengers to choose their own comfort level and the heated seats are a welcome touch in cold weather. [Like central air conditioning in Texas, they're definitely not a luxury when you need them!]

The Outback 3.0 also has an upgraded sound system -- 120-watt AM/FM stereo with 6-disc in-dash CD changer and six speakers. In the rear compartment the thick rubber tray/mat is the pefect accessory for sporty types who manage to bring evidence of their outdoor adventures with them, whether it be in terms of muddy gear, plants from the nursery center, or shaggy dogs that went for a run in the rain.

Oh, and we almost forgot about the super-sized sunroof [see below]. Unfortunately, we didn't take a measurement, but it's got to be twice as wide as the average roof window, and gave that much more open-air driving enjoyment on a crisp day.

The Outback 3.0 gets 19 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway with its 250-hp engine, other Outback models equipped with the 168-hp plant average between 22 and 30 mpg.

In terms of safety, Subaru has more to offer than AWD, which in itself helps make cars more stable on the road. The Outback is so well-stocked with safety features it earned a total of four five-star ratings from the government in front and side-impact crash test ratings.

Standard safety equipment on the Outback includes electronic stability control, four-wheel drive antilock brakes, front and side impact airbags, side curtain airbags for the second row and front and rear adjustable head rests.

So in terms of safety, Subaru has pulled off another feat -- whether or not the public is aware of it yet, they make cars that deserve the reputation [and loyalty] of that other wagon maker that made its name on being driven by safety!

Conclusion: For all those folks looking for the all-wheel drive feature and/or a vehicle that combines performance and versatility, the Outback should earn a high entry shopping list. Subaru's been right here, waiting for you all along.

Posted by Frank at 07:00 PM | Comments (0)

Read Why an Unknown Donor Gave $250 to Send Car Buyer's Notebook to the NY Auto Show

Imagine our surprise when we came back to the apartment to find a PayPal donation for $250 in our in-box.

Not only was the cash sorely needed to pay for our trip next week to the NY Auto Show, the comments that accompanied the generous contribution put a pep in our step.

Our patron, unknown to us until he made the donation, wrote Car Buyer's Notebook is a "spectacular blog, I have never seen such a great mix of industry comments and car comments." Full letter after the jump:

Text of the e-mail that accompanied the biggest donation sent to date to get us to the NY Auto Show:

"Just sent $250 to send you to the NY Show, or at least get you part-way there. Spectacular blog, I have never seen such a great mix of industry comments and car comments.

Most blogs focus on one or the other and are superficial regardless ("Here's the cars I like, here's the cars I hate" or "Here's why BMW sucks, here's why GM is great").

We could use lots more in-depth writing like this, with the demise of the Economist Intelligence Unit's Automotive series, the erosion of AI and Ward's into shadows of their former selves, and Automotive News's refusal to write anything longer than 300 words or so.

I do agree with you that Freep and Detroit News have taken the lead at this point. Anyway, keep it up!" -- Mr. M [name withheld by request.]

Posted by Frank at 10:20 AM | Comments (0)

Frank Giovinazzi, Car Buyer's Notebook Editor, on New York's Longest Running Automotive Radio Show

This week on the Auto Lab, we discussed the growth of a new sector of the U.S. auto manufacturing industry.

In the last 20 years, international companies such as Honda, Toyota and Mercedes, among others, have built plants here that employ nearly 100,000 employees and make over three million vehicles every year. A real success story! You can listen to the whole show by clicking here.

Posted by Frank at 10:11 AM | Comments (0)

Negative Equity, Part Two: How to Get Out From Under

In the first part of this article, the Notebook described what the term being "upside down" means, and ways to avoid getting stuck in a negative equity trap.

However, if you're already in a situation where you own more on your car than it's worth, there are a couple ways to remedy the situation:

1. Keep your vehicle until the loan is paid off. The simplest way to handle the problem, it can also allow you to build up a reserve in case you do not have gap insurance, thus preparing you in case the vehicle is stolen or totaled.

2. Make extra payments. Similar to the tactic for mortgages, where consumers make at least one extra payment a year, extra payments can be applied to your car loan -- with the caveat that you have to check and see if your loan carries any penalties for early payment.

3. Use your tax refund. We ran a couple stories last week about using your tax refund for either vehicle maintenance, or to get further in debt [!]. Again, if there are no early penalties, you can apply your tax refund to your auto loan.

4. Refinance. If you've had your loan for about a year, some finance companies will let you refinance at a lower interest rate.

5. Lease a new vehicle. Jesse Toprak, Edmunds.com's Director of Pricing and Market Analysis, said this "may actually be a viable option for consumers to get rid of negative equity."

While reserved for people with top tier credt, Toprak said, "some companies will allow up to 115% of MSRP to be financed." This option can absorb the deficit from the previous vehicle, and while it will result in larger than monthly payments, when the lease is complete, the negative equity will be gone.

Posted by Frank at 09:49 AM | Comments (0)

March 12, 2005

Convert Your Prius to All-Electric Mode with this Hack

A Florida company is selling this kit to convert the Toyota Prius into an on command all-electric vehicle.

Actually, the $45 kit, which takes 25 minutes to install, permits North American Prius owners to access an option that is standard on the car in Japan and Europe.

But the feature is disabled here and Toyota is warning Prius owners that installing this doo-dad will void their waranty.

According to the site of the company that sells the kit, the feature will allow the car to drive on the battery for short periods, up to 34 mph before the engine kicks in.

Apparently some Prius owners are going even farther afield, according to this Christian Science Monitor story. By adding more batteries, and a plug, some super-enthusiastic Prius drivers are converting their cars to all-electric, all the time.

Story via Make.

Posted by Frank at 01:43 PM | Comments (0)

March 11, 2005

iPod Your BMW Already

The BMW iPod adapter sells for $149.

It is very cool.

Just like this website.

Rock stars not included.

Posted by Frank at 03:01 PM | Comments (0)

Chinese Import Co. Picks Former Mitsubishi Head as COO

Click on the pic to watch a clip about Visionary Vehicles.

Visionary Vehicles, the company founded by Malcolm Bricklin to import Chinese made cars into the United States, is proceeding along, despite healthy skepticism from the automotive and business community.

Bricklin is infamous for his failed Yugo experiment, but less well known is that he also brought Subaru to America in the late 60s.

Indeed, looking at Bricklin's record -- Subaru to Bricklin to Fiat to Yugo -- and now with automaker Chery, the Notebook is wary of betting against a long-shot of Bricklin's nature.

Bricklin has spent a lifetime trying to achieve a low-price, small car success story. In his mid-60s, this is probably his last shot. Business history is replete with examples of late to the table winners and if anyone can succeed here, it may be Bricklin.

The latest news is that he's hired Pierre Gagnon, formerly head of Mitsubishi, to handle distribution. The company's plans range from the intriguing to the outright nutty -- the main premise, economy cars for under $10,000 may catch a lot of people's eyes.

But the proposed plans for hi-tech multimedia showrooms and projected sales of 2,000,000 vehicles per year are obviously showboating. However, to succeed, the company only has to fulfill its base premise -- selling a bunch of cheap cars to Americans.

Our prediction is that once a foothold is established, other Chinese automakers, probably backed by bigger companies, will come in Visionary's wake. Does anyone really think cars built by cheap Chinese labor are not coming to America?

Posted by Frank at 01:28 PM | Comments (0)

Old News: Toyota to Decide on US Hybrid Plant in June

Bloomberg has an article saying that Toyota will decide in June which of their plants will get the opportunity to build hybrids. The Notebook ran the same news on January 26.

Posted by Frank at 01:17 PM | Comments (0)

Negative Equity, Part One: The Hidden Driver Behind High Incentives

Editor's Note -- Part Two can be found here.

More than one in four drivers are "upside down" in their vehicle loans, placing consumers and the auto industry in a difficult Catch-22.

Technically known as negative equity, when a vehicle loan is "upside down" it simply means the consumer owes more money on the vehicle than its current resale value.

According to data from Edmunds.com, 26.2% of consumers are carrying loans with negative equity. The average deficit on these loans, $3,646, is one of the little known culprits that keep incentives for new vehicles at artificially high levels.

In other words, when a consumer with negative equity goes to trade in their vehicle for a new one, the amount of the deficit on the existing loan has to be absorbed before the new loan can be processed -- and that is usually done with incentives.

"Basically what's going on is a chain reaction," said Jesse Toprak, Edmunds.com's Director of Pricing and Market Analysis. Manufacturers need to maintain high rebates, Toprak said, "because of negative equity -- consumers need to have the rebates to buy new vehicles."

For those who keep their vehicle through the end of the loan period, the issue of negative equity may never be a problem. Once the loan is paid, the consumer owns the vehicle, though its market value may be lower than anyone wishes, considering how much was paid over the life of the loan.

For consumers, there are several ways to avoid getting caught “upside down” in their car loan:

1. Gap insurance – When financing a new car, consumers can add this coverage that guarantees the insurance company will cover what's owed on the loan or lease if the vehicle is stolen or declared a total loss after an accident. Without gap insurance, most companies will reimburse the owner only for market value – and if the consumer owes more on the car than it is worth, they are responsible to the finance company for the difference.

2. Look at resale values before buying – Vehicle depreciation is an important factor in how fast or how far a consumer will find themselves upside down in a loan. Everyone knows a new vehicle loses a big chunk of value when you drive it off the lot, but the real question is how much it is worth three to five years down the road. Some vehicles can still be sold for up to half their original price, while others lost two-thirds or more of their value.

Toprak said that even though a vehicle “may seem like a great deal today, when you go to trade it in it may not be worth as much.” Edmunds has a tool, called “True Cost to Own,” that helps consumers research resale value, as well as other variables such as insurance, fuel and maintenance costs.

3. Bigger down payment and/or shorter loan terms – One of the biggest causes that produces negative equity are low-down payment and loan packages stretched out over a long period of time. The rise in 60-month and greater loans over the last two years means consumers are paying more interest every month than they are on the principal.

Financing too much of the cost of a vehicle, and paying out over a long period increases the likelihood of being caught in a negative equity trap. The answer is simply to put more down on a new vehicle purchase, or take a shorter loan period. While that will mean higher payments in the short term, it also means the vehicle is paid off sooner, and with a higher trade-in value.

Posted by Frank at 07:57 AM | Comments (0)

March 10, 2005

Real World Review of Honda FCX [Fuel Cell] Car

Mark Phelan of the Detroit Free Press has a straighforward review of Honda's fuel cell-powered FCX. While he explains some of the techie stuff, he also spends a considerable amount of time describing how the car drives.

In short, he says it drives just as reliably and with as much power as a regular car. Indeed, he explains the 107 horsepower engine has more torque than a V6 VW Golf GTi, "giving the FCX enough oomph that I inadvertently squealed its all-season Yokohama tires several times on Woodward Avenue."

Reviews like this are important for the everyday reader, because it looks behind the curtain of the gobbledygook and tells people what they really need to know -- does it drive like a car?

Here's another example: "Driving the FCX to the grocery store or to meet friends for coffee was no different from driving any subcompact hatchback, except it had less environmental impact than throwing away the wrapper from a candy bar."

Phelan also clearly explains the main drawback with fuel cell vehicles -- the 190 mile driving range is too short by half for a practical production vehicle. Good read, well written.

Posted by Frank at 06:11 PM | Comments (0)

Hyundai Lands Five Best Buys in '05 Edition of The Car Book

Click on the pic to buy The Car Book at Amazon.com

The 25th anniversary edition of The Car Book lists five Hyundai models as best bets, the most for any carmaker. The Hyundai Accent and Elantra each won in their respective categories, and the Tiburon, Sonata and Santa Fe were also listed as among best in class.

The Car Book's author, Jack Gillis, has used an unusual format since he first published in 1981.

Rather than simply review vehicles by price and features, The Car Book includes important variables such as resale value, a complaint index drawn from government data and repair costs, as well as fuel economy and crash test ratings. The Car Book also includes safety features for each vehicle and typical insurance costs.

Posted by Frank at 02:10 PM | Comments (0)

Market Tremors: Are Gas Prices Hurting SUV, Truck Sales?

Reuters has a story suggesting that gas prices may be at fault for hurting light truck sales. Specifically, GM's sales are down 9.1% and Ford's are down 8.1% in this category.

While the minvan segment is stable industrywide, large pickup sales are down 2.3% for all makers; small pickups are down 9.1%.

The truth of the gas price dictating sales theory may be more easily discerned in the SUV category -- small SUV sales are up 34.5%, while medium SUVs are down 7.1% and large vehicles are down 21.6%.

Again, what does this mean for consumers? If you've always wanted a big ol' SUV, you can drive a hard, though fuel inefficient, bargain.

Incentives are going to rise and prices are likely to drop, and while the short-term gas forecast is for record-high prices, big SUV owners may be smiling 18 months from now. Maybe.

Posted by Frank at 01:21 PM | Comments (0)

Can Protesters Resurrect the Doomed EV1?

Click on the pic to watch the EV1 funeral [pic: EV1 Club.]

A cadre of diehard electric car fans are in the fourth week of a vigil outside a California GM depot where over 70 EV1 electric vehicles are awaiting their date with the crusher.

GM has refused to sell the plug-and-drive cars, despite receiving more than 100 pledges to buy them at $24,000 apiece.

The protesters have a web site, here.

The case is similar to that involving Ford and lessees of their electric Ranger pickups. Ford relented in that case, but GM does not appear to be so moved.

The Washington Post story reports an incident where a truck arrived at the site and apparently carted seven of the vehicles off to the crusher.

GM's position is also similar to Ford's initial refusal. The company's claim that selling the cars obligates them to provide service, even though the products have been discontinued.

GM asserts that despite spending $1 billion to produce the vehicle, it failed as a product and thus has to be put down.

Posted by Frank at 10:59 AM | Comments (0)

Your Tax Refund: On Second Thought, Why Not Squander it and Put Yourself Deeper in Debt?

A couple days ago, the Notebook ran a piece about investing your tax refund in your vehicle. We thought it a wise suggestion then, and even more so now in the face of a thinly disguised advertorial from Harley Davidson.

Harley posted a pr piece urging people to put their tax refund toward the purchase of a new motorcycle. Fair enough, everyone's gotta' make a living.

However, by quoting the IRS's statistic that the average refund is $2,447 -- and then listing a price for the cheapest Harley, $6,495.00, what are they actualy saying?

How about: "Use your tax refund to buy a toy and put yourself deeper in debt, all at the same!"

Posted by Frank at 10:22 AM | Comments (0)

U.S. Rep. Joe Barton Optimistic on Passage of "Right to Repair" Act

The "Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act" has a strong chance of being passed by Congress this year, Rep. Joe Barton [R-TX] told 250 members of the aftermarket industry last week. [For issue overview, see previous story.]

Rep. Barton, along with 118 co-sponsors, championed the the bill in the last Congress, as did Sen. Lindsay Graham [R-SC] and 10 of his colleagues.

The Right to Repair Act would require automakers to provide access to technical data needed by independent service stations to repair late model vehicles, which are dependent on complex, often proprietary computer systems.

Lobbyists for the aftermarket association contend that without this data, repair shops outside the manufacturers' closed system will effectively be forced out of business. The auto makers in turn argue that sharing the data exposes them to loss of trade secrets and costly R&D effort.

The bill's language is currently being reviewed before it is reintroduced in this Congress, according to Aaron Lowe, Government Affairs director of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association.

The two sides have been jostling over this issue, both here in the states and abroad. According to a The Wall Street Journal, the European Commission has opened an unfair trade practices inquiry against automakers, based on complaints from service firms that information is being illegally withheld.

Posted by Frank at 08:44 AM | Comments (0)

March 09, 2005

Mercedes Introduces Three New ... Bicycles

The Notebook's editor is one of those folks who believes there is nothing as elegant as the artistry of a finely designed bicycle.

Most of us take for granted the beauty of one of the most efficient machines ever created to work in tandem with human physiology.

But when bicycles are designed as works of art as well as functional devices that perform work, provide transportation, exercise and enjoyment, it can remind us that machines can also be expressions of creativity.

Mercedes has just launched a line of three such bicycles and the photos reminded me of the affection I've always had for human-powered two wheelers.

Mercedes' three models -- the Automatic Bike, a Mountain Bike and the Fitness Bike -- range in price from a little over $1,700 to over $3,300 and come in a color I'll refer to as Mercedes Silver. Mercedes makes car carriers specially designed to fit their own vehicles as well as the bikes.

The Automatic Bike [above] is so named because it's 8-speed gear system is self-adjusting, comes equipped with an on-board trip computer and has three different suspension settings.

This $3,300 model also includes front and rear lights controlled by sensors. Brake lights go into flicker mode when the rider applies brake pressure.

The Mountain Bike [below] has front and rear adjustable shocks attached to an aluminum Y-frame and is fitted with Shimano Deore LX gears for about $2,400.

The Fitness Bike [below] comes in two versions, Sport or Comfort, and employs a more classic design. The two versions have different frame geometry to appeal to different riders' styles -- though looking at the pics again, I think that may be politesse for saying there is a man's and a woman's model.

The $1,700 Fitness Bike is also equipped with Shimano Deore LX gearing -- and they appear to be fitted with disc brakes from the photo, but that information is not in the release.

Posted by Frank at 11:42 PM | Comments (0)

Eco-Driving Navigation System Nags You to Slow Down

The Japanese city of Kyotango is wrapping up a six month trial project of in-vehicle feedback systems that alerts drivers to behavior that wastes fuel.

The Eco-driving navigation system "detects sudden accelerations, abrupt slowdowns, harsh braking and idling, and calls the driver's attention to these problems by means of a computer-generated voice and a monitor display," according to the environmental site, Japan for Sustainability.

The project installed 244 nav-systems in municipal vehicles, taxis and private vehicles, and though the official trial ends this month, Kyotango City will continue to lend the systems to interested drivers.

This story came to us via Green Car Congress.

Posted by Frank at 09:07 PM | Comments (0)

Across the Gender Continuum: Edmunds.com Launches Section for Women Car Buyers

Edmunds has launched a vehicle buying site designed to give women an easy-to-access portal for researching and making informed decisions.

I especially liked the article on the "Crossover Continuum" from which I snatched the graphic. It's a good read and a valiant effort, because, believe me, all the configurations vehicles are coming out in nowadays is confusing to all of us, not just car buyers.

The index page of the site has seven categories you can jump to, that cover issues such as shopping, negotiating, safety and green concerns, among others.

Posted by Frank at 08:29 PM | Comments (0)

Self-Serving Yes, But a Valid Point About Auto Insurance

A press release from auto insurer Atlantic Mutual points out the hidden dangers of cheap insurance found on the Internet. It's transparently self-serving -- so much so that I don't mind running it, as we all know exactly what it is.

At the same time, the company raises some good points, expecially about whether low-cost policies cover things like original replacement parts, adequate value for totaled vehicles, rental coverage and claims service.

Full release, submitted for your discernment, after the jump:

Danger Ahead: High-End Cars, Low-Price Insurance

Atlantic Mutual Offers Drivers Questions to Ask About Auto Coverage and Claims Service

NEW YORK -- With a few insurance companies heavily advertising low prices and the ability to get quotes over the Internet, many people have become more price-conscious when purchasing auto insurance. But choosing the lowest price could end up costing consumers a lot more if they have an accident, especially if they own a high-end auto, warns Atlantic Mutual.

"We are seeing a growing tendency among consumers to view auto insurance as a commodity product," said Dan Olmsted, president of Atlantic Mutual. "This is a dangerous misconception because coverage terms and limits and service quality can vary greatly among companies."

Atlantic Mutual is offering a free list of questions to ask when obtaining auto insurance quotes. Available at http://www.atlanticmutual.com/, the questions will help consumers understand the quality of coverage and service being offered. Four of the most important questions are:

Will the insurance cover replacement parts from the original manufacturer? Some low-price auto policies will only pay for "generic" auto parts from third-party manufacturers. The quality of these parts may differ from the originals. The discrepancy can be of particular concern to owners of luxury or high-performance autos. Policies designed more for the affluent customer will pay for parts produced by the original manufacturer, also called "OEM" parts.

How much will I be reimbursed if my car is "totaled?"

Even if your 7-year old Lexus looks and runs like new, standard policies sold at the lowest rates can take thousands out of your reimbursement by applying the most aggressive form of depreciation. Replacing your car -- even with another used one -- could seriously dent your wallet. Ask about adding an "agreed value" clause to your policy. This feature enables you to establish the value of your auto with your insurance company before it becomes a total loss, so you avoid an unpleasant surprise.

Will the cost of renting a comparable car be covered?

Even if you're used to ferrying the kids to school or commuting in a large sport-utility vehicle, low-price insurance policies may come with per-day and total spending limits that barely pay for briefly renting an economy car. Repairing or replacing your auto could take weeks, so be sure to consider policies with limits that will allow you to rent a comparable car for an extended period.

What quality of claims service can I expect?

Even companies selling low-price policies promise to deliver excellent claims service, so it's best to seek a second opinion apart from the company's website or advertising. Ask an independent agent which company has the best claims service. Or, check with your state's insurance department. Some states (such as New York and New Jersey) provide information about the number of legitimate complaints lodged against auto insurance companies.

"It seems so easy to compare by price, but insurance consumers need to dig into the more complex coverage issues too," said Olmsted. "Insurance is an important financial service, and like any service or product, you get what you pay for."

"That's why we recommend working with an independent agent," continued Olmsted. "Representing multiple companies, the independent agent has the expertise to discuss coverage and service as well as price and make sure consumers select the company that best meets their needs." Consumers can find a list of agents representing Atlantic Mutual at http://www.atlanticmutual.com/.

About Atlantic Mutual

Atlantic Mutual offers property-casualty insurance products for individuals with substantial assets to protect. The Atlantic Mutual Insurance Co., formed in 1842, is a mutual insurance company owned by its policyholders. Its products are sold through independent agents. Additional information about Atlantic Mutual can be found at http://www.atlanticmutual.com/.

Posted by Frank at 06:48 AM | Comments (0)

Can this Man Save VW?

VW Savior?

Both VW and Wolfgang Bernhard have had a tumultuous year.

The German carmaker is trying to engineer a turnaround amidst oodles of bad news, and Bernhard got himself fired from the top position at Mercedes before he had a chance to properly take control.

This article provides a decent snapshot of the situation. The former #2 at Daimler Chrysler, Bernhard faces many of the same challenges at VW that he conquered at DCX.

However, he did so with massive job cuts, plant closings and cost cutting, tactics that VW has been loathe to implement.

Currently a minister without portfolio, Bernhard will assume the #1 slot for the VW-brand by the end of '05.

Posted by Frank at 05:51 AM | Comments (0)

More People are Leasing New Vehicles

Lease deals on new veicles increased 5% from 2003 to 2004, according to the The Association of Consumer Vehicle Lessors [ACVL].

The increase was small, approximately 74,500 consumers chose to lease rather than outright purchase. The ACVL notes this is the first year where numbers increased since 1999, a record year for the industry.

While the overall numbers increased, banks actually did less lease business; all new business went to car maker owned finance divisions.

Posted by Frank at 05:42 AM | Comments (0)

March 08, 2005

GM Throws Another Grand at Potential Customers

After taking a 12.7% drop in sales in February, GM will announce a $1,000 additional rebate on vehicles that have been on dealer's lots more than 120 days, according to this Reuters report.

GM already has the highest incentives in the industry, an average of $3,814 per vehicle in February, but that figure was a 9% decrease from the previous year.

Note to car buyers: If GM and Honda are panicking now, this is going to be a great year to buy a car -- check back for a report on how to read sales statistics like a commodities broker, and get the deal of a lifetime.

Posted by Frank at 03:36 PM | Comments (0)

Gas Will Go to $2.15/Gallon, Gov't Sez

With the average gas price in the US at $1.97.7 per gallon according to Fuel Gauge Report, consumers can expect an even bigger hit later this spring, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Betwen April and September, gas will average $2.10 a gallon, up 20 cents from last year, according to the EIA.

Posted by Frank at 03:32 PM | Comments (0)

Suzuki Aerio SX First Drive

What a neat little car! I've had the 155-hp Suzuki Aerio SX for a day now, and am having a ball driving the 5-speed manual transmission around town.

This morning I woke up around 3:30 and took a spin out on deserted roads to a convenience store. Let me say the manual tranny is a must for someone who knows they want a smaller, economical car but is afraid they might be giving up something in the performance department.

Not with the five-speed.

I can attest that the direct control helps you wring every inch of performance from the 155-hp engine -- which by the way is bigger and beefier than comparable vehicles in its class. Stay tuned for more impressions from driving this sporty mobile.

Posted by Frank at 09:55 AM | Comments (0)

Frank Giovinazzi, Car Buyer's Notebook Editor, on New York's Longest Running Automotive Radio Show

This past Saturday it took two segments -- at 7:30 and 9:30 -- to cover my [probably long-winded] take on new vehicle sales in the United States.

I appreciate Professor Wolchuk and the guys having me on twice, because there really were a lot of developments to cover -- from the Mustang breaking the top ten and Toyota grabbing the first two slots, to the Tacoma taking first place in the small pickup segment. We also discussed Toyota's increase in incentives.

The idea of Ford-bashing came up, and there was general agreement that no matter what the domestics do, or whatever new products they release, they can't get a fair hearing in the court of the media.

Posted by Frank at 09:43 AM | Comments (0)

Jeep Readies "Rocky Mountain" Editions for Spring

Jeep has gussied up three of their vehicles in Rocky Mountain styling packages that include upgraded wheels, stereos, body flair and badging.

The Rocky Mountain version of the Jeep Wrangler starts at $23,025 with a manual stick and $23,850 for the automatic. Besides colore-keyed fender flares, 15" aluminum wheels and 30" tires, the Wrangler has a heavy-duty axle and fog lamps.

For the Grand Cherokee Rocky Mountain the price starts at $31,230 for the 4x2 and $33,200 for the 4x4. The 3.7-liter V-6 engine is standard; the 4.7-liter V-8 is optional. Besides a sunroof and heated, two-tone leather seats there's a booming stereo that comes with a one-year pre-paid subscription to Sirius satellite radio.

The Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition starts at $24,035 for the 4x2 and $25,545 for the 4x4. Special features on the Liberty include body accents, a power sunroof and 16" aluminum wheels with graphite accented pockets.

Posted by Frank at 09:43 AM | Comments (0)

Novel Idea: Invest Your Tax Refund in Your Car

We got this idea from the Car Care Council this morning. Sometimes, don't you hate reading something that makes such total, absolute sense that you can't help but follow the advice? Eve though you were considering throwing caution -- and dollars -- to the wind?

The Council put out a release making this case: Since your car is your greatest investment, and can cause a lot of financial headache, people should consider putting their tax refund into their vehicles.

Whether for preventive maintenance or actual repairs, investing in your car allows you to keep it longer and actually helps you build your savings in the long haul. Great idea presented at the right time!

Posted by Frank at 08:59 AM | Comments (0)

UPDATED: Honda to Bump Incentives on Civic and Accord Following Disastrous '05 Start

The Notebook mentioned this could happen a couple days ago, when we did the numbers and found that Civic sales had dropped 26.9% on the year, and the Accord fell by 15%.

Adding insult to injury, the Accord's drop helped Toyota grab the #1 and #2 slots in the best-selling car list.

Now this Bloomberg story confirms that Honda is going to have to step up with greater incentives, as well as richer financing deals.

It is important to note, however, this this is more a correction for Honda than a sign of a big problem -- because Honda has traditionally had the lowest incentives of the Japanese, which in turn are the lowest in the industry.

Which means that Honda has been selling lots and lots of cars and actually making real money. The real point here is that price pressures caused by rampant discounting has finally caught up to the industry's full-price retailer.

Posted by Frank at 07:27 AM | Comments (0)

March 07, 2005

BMW's New Slogan: Why Buy a Dog when You Can Drive a Brand New Beemer?

Expensive? Yes -- but I'm worth it.

British study shows lifetime dog ownership costs more than a new 3-series

A study of 2,000 dog owners has found the average cost of caring for a pooch is over $38,000. That's enough to cover the cost of a 3-series convertible!

Hey, we're not picking on BMW. The headline from the Telegraph story is, "Dogs cost more than new BMW," so we're going with it.

And $38k is just the average. The top wallet busting breed is the Great Dane, which costs about $61k for a lifetime of drooling, lounging about and a really, really large "emissions" problem.

Posted by Frank at 05:43 PM | Comments (0)

Mitsubishi to Factory Install Sirius, XM Raises Prices

Starting with the Raider, Mitsubishi's new mid-size truck, the company will factory install Sirius-ready radio units in four different models.

The 2006 Raider, available in Mitsubishi dealers this fall, will come with a six-month free trial subscription to Sirius, as will the other three Satrad-equipped models, due in mid-to-late 2006.

XM radio, meanwhile, has announced a price increase for monthly subscribers, to $12.95 from the current $9.95, starting April 2. The new price brings XM into line with what Sirius charges, taking away a bragging point from the larger company.

XM is offering current subscribers the opportunity to lock in the $9.95 rate with a one-year prepaid plan, and has deeper discounts for 2-5 year plans.

Posted by Frank at 12:29 PM | Comments (0)

Scion Concept Car to be Unveiled at NY Auto Show

Toyota's red-hot Scion division will unveil the t2B, an all-new concept vehicle Thursday, March 24 at the 2005 New York International Auto Show.

Scion isn't saying much -- whether or not the concept belongs to the "just for fun" category, or if it will serve as the precursor to the rumored dL sedan.

The Scion press release [intentionally] leaves it vague: "This all-new concept, known as t2B, reflects Scion's key product philosophies of style, versatility and surprise. It encompasses bold exterior styling, innovative features, and a passenger-friendly interior, all packaged with Scion's requisite fun-to-drive factor."

Posted by Frank at 12:21 PM | Comments (0)

2006 Camry Solara Coupe/Convertible Prices

The Solara Coupe and Convertible go on sale next week, with only the barest of price increases. The SE Coupe starts at 19,380 with different models priced to $23,255.

The base MSRP for the Solara Convertible is $26,540, the SLE version starts at $29,810.

For 2006, Toyota has upgraded to a five-speed automatic transmission on four-cylinder models, and includes a gated manual shifter for more driver control.

Posted by Frank at 06:09 AM | Comments (0)

No Kidding: Small Cars Fare Poorly in Side-Crash Testing -- Against SUVs

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has found, that when ramming a 3,300 barrier into the side of small vehicles cars at 31 mph, most of them will crumple like a Hot Wheels car.

Really? I bet if I went outside and hit people in the head with a brick, most of them would say, "Ow!"

I'm curious what we should expect next. Perhaps a screaming headline declaring: "Vehicles Perform Poorly in Acapulco Cliff-Diving Simulation."

I think the test is ludicrous. It imposes an unfair standard of expectation on small cars that weigh about half the average SUV, and also are at a disadvantage due to the height differential.

It also reinforces the notion that small cars are inherently unsafe, along with the corresponding disposition for consumers to buy bigger, heavier vehicles in order to protect themselves from everything else that's bigger and heavier on the road.

And there is another way to consider the results, along with an alternate headline: "SUV design found to pose intrinsic danger to other vehicles." I'm not suggesting an anti-SUV campaign, but that's an example of taking the same results and demonzing a different target.

Perhaps a middle ground: "Small cars fare poorly in side impact crashes with SUVs; design changes to both classes can lead to greater safety for all."

Of sixteen cars tested by the Institute, fourteen were rated "poor," which is code for, "you're gonna' die." Only two were rated acceptable, code for, "you're gonna' walk funny." The test is meant to simulate a "T-Bone" crash of an SUV into the side of a car.

Seriously now. Only the Chevy Cobalt and Toyota Corolla -- both equipped with side impact air bags -- performed well enough in the test to receive the acceptable rating.

Without the air bags, both of these cars -- plus 12 others -- received the poor rating.

This is the point -- or I should say, useful information -- of both the study and the press release that came from the Institute. The headline should have read -- "Small Cars Equipped with Side Airbags Perform Better than Average."

Unfortunately, they chose to lead with the notion that all small cars did badly. In turn, every news outlet in the country is running headlines that say, "Small Cars Get Smashed," or some variant. Consequently, that is the only information people are going to walk away from this story with.

In the end, the Institute has squandered an opportunity to communicate useful information to the public with a poorly written news release.

Posted by Frank at 04:14 AM | Comments (0)

March 06, 2005

Online Contest: That Car is So Ugly ...

Ray and Tom Magliozzi

Calling themselves "undisputed experts" in the world of ugly, renowned Car Talk radio show hosts Tom and Ray Magliozzi have launched a contest to determine "What's the Ugliest Car?"

So far the best part of the contest are the comments that accompany the nominations. Consider this, from Joanne about the Dodge Magnum: "Looks like a hearse. Are caskets an option?"

And Jack writes this about the Subaru Baja: Who designed this? The Beach Boys and The Beverly Hillbillies?"

Click and Clack [aka the Magliozzis] swear all the comments came from the readers and not their own fevered brains.

Uh-huh. They may be ugly but they ain't stupid. Either that or they have an even uglier cousin who's also a lawyer.

Click here to vote, clack here to read the brutal [reader submitted] commentary.

As of my vote, the Pontiac Aztek was running away with 35% of respondents. Which is kind of cruel as the critter didn't sell, and Pontiac has already killed it.

I voted for the Hummer H2 -- only because I can't vote for the numbwits who drive them -- and think they're cool.

Posted by Frank at 05:44 PM | Comments (0)

AAA Presses Congress for Real-World Fuel Ratings; Hybrid Owners Already Have Them

The Automobile Association of America is backing legislation that would require the EPA to dramatically revise how MPG ratings [see 2005 guide] are determined for new vehicles.

Citing dozens of examples where AAA tests showed gross overestimation of 2003 and 2004 model vehicles, the advocacy group is supporting the “Fuel Efficiency Truth-in-Advertising Act of 2005” that would require the EPA to change its testing procedures.

“When it comes to gas mileage, some car buyers are finding out they are not getting what they thought they paid for,” said Susan Pikrallidas, AAA Vice President of Public Affairs. “When a consumer is told your mileage results may vary – it probably should say ‘your results WILL vary.’”

The bill has broad bi-partisan support, and at a time when gas prices are at historic highs, the timing for such a change is in its favor. According to the AAA-run Fuel Gauge Report, average gas prices are over $2 per gallon in seven states; recent predictions have included another immediate 10-15% price increase, plus the outlandish possibility of $80 per barrel prices for crude oil.

Meanwhile, owners of hybrid vehicles are way ahead of any proposed legislation, thanks to a nifty tool available at GreenHybrid.com, essentially a real-world database of gas mileage performance, the chart demonstrates the actual MPG of hybrids, allowing drivers to see if they are performing above or below the average.

The chart pictured above comes from the site, where hybrid owners can register their vehicles and record their fuel purchases, mileage and trip performance. The database currently boast 271 participating vehicles that have been driven 3,685,768 miles -- all on 3,162 tanks of gas.

Besides providing current hybrid owners with a tool to monitor their MPG, the database also serves the same function AAA is aiming for with the new fuel rating legislation.

By going to this hybrid vehicle spec page, potential hybrid buyers can see what kind of mileage their intended vehicles are actually turning in on the road, as opposed to what the EPA currently estimates.

With the exception of one vehicle -- the Honda Insight -- each hybrid model is producing MPG rates lower than estimated under current EPA testing.

Now, bear in mind that the participants in Green Hybrid's database are self-selecting individuals who are intensely interested in fuel economy -- and driving in such a way as to maximize MPG. Thus, the database suggests that real-world tests of other vehicles would indeed produce significantly lower economy numbers.

Editor's note:
Our friend Mike Capone suggests that all cars should come with on-board MPG meters, allowing drivers to observe their own fuel consumption in real-time. Such meters, which have been packaged in some vehicle's data readouts over the years, create a feedback loop for the driver that connects habits with fuel expenditure, and [hopefully] encourage drivers to respond accordingly to achieve better MPG.

Posted by Frank at 02:56 PM | Comments (1)

Censorship Alert: US Senator Wants to Apply Decency Rules to Satellite Radio, Cable TV

Sen. Ted Stevens [R-AK].

During an event sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters, Senator Ted Stevens [R-AK] said he thought Congress ought to subject cable and satellite programming to the same strictures broadcast content is subjected to.

In his speech to the group, Stevens acknowledged that "no one wants censorship," but also complained: "We spend millions to promote abstinence, while the public airwaves are increasingly promoting sex. Now broadcasters alone are not to blame. Cable is often worse,
very worse."

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), also present at the event was quoted as saying, that cable and broadcast TV "ought to play on the same field. If we can work out the constitutional questions, I'd be supportive of that."

While current precedent holds that cable and satellite are not subject to governmental regulation due to their subscription basis, lawmakers such as Stevens and Barton have been making noise about trying to corral pay services under the same government run nanny-state.

“I think we have the same power to deal with cable as over-the-air” broadcasters, Stevens said, and Barton concurred, saying, "It’s not fair to subject over-the-air broadcasters to one set of rules and not subject cable and satellite to (any) rules."

At issue, of course, is not decency but dollars. The National Association of Broadcasters, whose members are feeling the heat from satellite services such as XM and Sirius radio, have consistently lobbied in Congress and argued before the FCC to restrict these businesses from competing.

When Sen. Stevens opened his speech to the broadcasting group with, "I don’t think there’s a group that comes to Washington that I would feel more at home with," he meant it. In the 2002 election cycle, NAB donated $14,999 to his campaign, placing him third on the list of Senators who received cash from the lobby group.

Rep. Barton, on the other hand, received a $10,000 donation from radio giant Clear Channel Communications for his 2004 re-election bid. Clear Channel is the nation's largest operator of radio stations, with more than 1,200 stations nationwide.

But perhaps the most telling fact from the world of campaign finance is how much Clear Channel has raised their profile -- in 2002, the radio giant contributed $182,725 to national candidates and parties, placing them seventh on the list of top TV and Radio station donors.

In 2004, however, Clear Channel increased spending on campaigns by 400% -- to $793,326, placing them in the number one slot in the industry donor list. In 2002, NAB was number one with $1,009,169 contributed, and moved to the second position under Clear Channel in '04 with $680,528.

While FCC chairman Michael Powell has been quoted as saying attempts to regulate content on pay-services are likely unconstitutional, it appears lawmakers are ready to test previous rulings with new efforts at censorship.

During his speech to the NAB, Sen. Stevens made it clear that he and his colleagues valued public input regarding proposed rules for communications. To contact Sen. Stevens regarding his intention to censor cable and satellite, use this form. To contact Rep. Joe Barton, use this form.

Posted by Frank at 12:24 PM | Comments (0)

SF Paper Chronicles Story of Oakland Car Club

Click to check out other Falcon pics.

This article in the SF Chron covers the "Falcon Boys" of Oakland.

The 30 men have a sweet bond -- earned with sweat -- to a car that once was considered the best poor people could buy and has transformed into a status symbol for about 30 men who have earned the right to drive their restored vehicles "in formation."

Neat article about real life, though the author lays on the slang a little thick. Photo[s] by Penni Gladstone, SF Chron.

Posted by Frank at 10:11 AM | Comments (0)

March 05, 2005

Better than Saturday Morning Cartoons -- Shred This!

Click on the pic to watch these tires get shredded!

Apropos of nothing, I'm posting this video of a commercial shredder munching on a half-dozen tires like they were so many M&Ms. [via BoingBoing.]

Located at the site of the company that manufactures these monstrous destroyers, there's also some cool vids of bumpers getting eaten, other tire delicacies and so on.

Get thee to the microwave for some popcorn!

Posted by Frank at 09:22 AM | Comments (0)

March 04, 2005

Subaru Launches New Dot-Com Portal

It's flashy, in both the lower and upper-case sense of the word, and Subaru's new website is a vast improvement over the last iteration.

The new site makes it easier for prospective customers to learn about the company's vehicles, by providing mutliple points of entry into the data.

If Subaru has a communcation problem, it's due to their apparently limited model line. Technically, the company only has five, and purists will say the Outback/Legacy is the same car, but once you drill down, you find there are significant enough differences [in equipment and price] where folks can find a Subaru that speaks to their tastes.

This new site makes it easier - we particularly liked the easy-to-use build a Subaru function, that allows you to work the numbers so you can arrive at a Subaru in your aesthetic and financial range.

Posted by Frank at 11:18 AM | Comments (0)

March 03, 2005

Toyota Raises Incentives 17.4%

At least one major trend was reversed in February -- domestic automakers reduced the average incentive per new vehicle sold, yet Japanese automaker Toyota significantly raised its giveaway.

The average incentive given to vehicle buyers in February was $2,369, according to Mike Chung, an Edmunds.com market analyst. That represents a 3.7%, or $90 drop from the same month last year. It also marks a slightly smaller decrease of $39 [1.6%] from January '05.

Toyota, which enjoyed an 11.1% sales increase in February, went against the grain by increasing incentives an average of $174 per vehicle in its Toyota line, from $995 to $1,169. or 17.4%.

"This is the year Japanese automakers will act like domestics," and increase incentives, Chung said. "They want market share and their incentives are low enough that they can afford it."

To date, Toyota is the only Japanese company that's raised incentives. As the year progresses, Chung predicts that Nissan and Honda will also likely increase incentives to boost sales and capture additional market share. In February, incentives on Nissan and Infiniti brand autos were reduced by $138, and Honda dropped giveaways to $385, from $532.

As a group, the Detroit Three dropped incentives $125 per vehicle, but the average of $3,161 per vehicle is still an industry high. In this group, GM and Ford dropped incentives but Chrysler increased spending by $122 to $3,307 per vehicle. Ford dropped incentives by $158 to $2,675 per unit and GM decreased spending by $228 to $3,420 per.

Posted by Frank at 07:21 PM | Comments (0)

It's Official: Toyota Tacoma is the Best Selling Small Pickup in the US

As the Notebook predicted after looking at 2004 year-end numbers, the Toyota Tacoma is now the best-selling light pickup truck in the US.

And not only has the Ford Ranger been displaced from its number one perch by Toyota, but it came in fourth place in February sales, behind the Chevy Colorado and Dodge Dakota. Year-to-date the Ranger is the third best-seller, behind the Tacoma and the Colorado.

There's still a long 10 selling months ahead, however, and it would be unwise to count out the Colorado as having a legitimate shot at the number one slot. The Chevy did come in first in January, and GM has already slashed prices on SUVs, so there's no telling.

And yes, we see the Nissan Frontier is surging in sales, but we're not willing to suggest it can do much better than fifth. But who knows, Nissan wants that million unit sales number bad.

Posted by Frank at 05:43 PM | Comments (0)

Duh -- Smart Will Likely Never Produce ForFour

Eckhard Cordes, Mercedes CEO, has told analysts the Smart car subsidiary will probably never produce the pint-sized SUV, according to Reuters.

Given that Mercedes' US sales are shaky, and that Smart has already contributed to a whoping percentage of the three-pointed star's financial troubles, the Notebook has already predicted that Mercedes is likely to be shopping for a Smart [?] partner. If not ready to hand someone the keys.

Posted by Frank at 02:28 PM | Comments (0)

MD Hybrid Vehicle Owners Rally to Support Clean Car Legislation

Last Saturday, a quarter-mile long caravan of hybrid vehicles gathered from all over Maryland to rally in support of the state's "Clean Cars Act."

The pending bill would add Maryland to a list of eight other states that mandate sales of vehicles that meet tougher than Federal emissions standards. If passed and signed into law, the Act would require car makers to sell nearly 90,000 hybrids and 477,000 clean conventional vehicles in Maryland between 2007 and 2010.

According to Mike Tidwell of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, the parade's sponsor, “The support for this bill in Maryland was on full display here. When you get over 100 people traveling exclusively in hybrid vehicles all the way from the mountains of western Maryland to the marshes of the Eastern Shore, it speaks loudly for itself.”

The parade comes just days before the Maryland House of Delegates holds a hearing on the Clean Cars Act. This bill would add Maryland to a list of eight other states, including California and nearby New Jersey, that require the sale of much cleaner cars within their states.

Posted by Frank at 12:47 PM | Comments (1)

New Edition of Strategies for Smart Car Buyers Available

Click on the book cover to purchase from Amazon.

If you're in the market to purchase, lease or sell a vehicle, I recommend spending the $10.17 Amazon charges for this book from Edmunds.com.

It's an amazing phenomenon, but the things people spend the most money on -- houses and cars -- are subject to the least rationale buying decisions by the average consumer.

Think about it. How many people drive 10 extra miles to save a nickel on gas, but impulsively overbid $25,000 on a house in a nice neighborhood, or don't take the time to understand what the auto finance guy is telling them they're getting into?

Read this book in the comfort of your own home, learn the principles of car buying -- especially how to take advantage of Internet price quote tools -- and you will save yourself a bundle.

I have a copy of the first edition of Strategies for Smart Car Buyers on my desk. If I'm doing a story on vehicle financing, I routinely pick up this book to double-check my assumptions, and often learn something new. It's worth it.

Full Edmunds.com press release after the jump:

Internet Car Buying Approaches 30 Percent of Market; Edmunds.com's 'Strategies for Smart Car Buyers' Helps Shoppers Save Time and Money

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Soon nearly 30 percent of new cars will be purchased through car dealerships' Internet departments, and that number is expected to continue to grow as consumers become more savvy about the convenience and savings available. "Strategies for Smart Car Buyers," second edition, explains how to locate and price cars online and maximize savings by working with the Internet department at a dealership. Written by the editors at Edmunds.com (www.edmunds.com), the premier online resource for automotive information, the book teaches consumers that using the Internet wisely can save hours at a dealership and makes car buying faster, easier and less stressful than ever before.

"The only reasons most people need to go to a car dealership are to test-drive the car and sign the contract," said Philip Reed, "Strategies for Smart Car Buyers" co-author and Edmunds.com Senior Consumer Advice Editor. "Consumers should use the Internet, telephone and fax machine to research vehicle options and prices, to receive price quotes and to secure financing before ever setting foot in a car dealership."

Over the past five years, perhaps the biggest change at car dealerships is that most have created an Internet department, where commissions are based on sales volumes rather than transaction prices. This motivates Internet department salespeople to quickly offer each customer an agreeable price. Internet department salespeople also approach the selling process differently because they are accustomed to customers who have done a lot of research and are prepared to buy.

How can consumers best take advantage of this new way to buy cars? Among other things, "Strategies for Smart Car Buyers" recommends going to the Edmunds.com website and selecting the "Free Price Quote" option. This allows any consumer to choose a car and then use "Dealer Locator" to quickly send e-mails to multiple dealerships to check availability and receive price quotes from Internet department salespeople.

To illustrate the difference between online car buying and traditional methods, the Edmunds.com editors attempted a number of different approaches and ultimately saved about $1,000 by buying a $20,000 car through the dealer's Internet department. Describing these test cases in detail, "Strategies for Smart Car Buyers" teaches consumers what to expect and how to reap the benefits. For example, the book explains that some Internet departments prefer to call and give a price by phone. In that event, consumers should also ask to have the quote faxed to get written confirmation of the price. And consumers should make sure the fax describes the exact vehicle including all optional equipment, and confirm whether it includes related costs such as taxes, title, license and registration.

Since first published in 2003, "Strategies for Smart Car Buyers" has been thoroughly updated and expanded with 25 percent new content. In addition to the new strategies presented for online car buyers, the second edition offers the following new sections: Primer for Young Car Buyers, Dissecting a Lease Deal and Tips for Haggling.

Primer for Young Car Buyers

Mike Hudson, co-author of "Strategies for Smart Car Buyers" and Edmunds.com's 20-something Consumer Advice Editor, went undercover to find out how young car buyers are treated in the car buying process. He explains the simple ways young car buyers can overcome the common stereotypes attached to them.

Dissecting a Lease Deal

A car commercial that offers a new sedan for an amazingly low monthly lease payment is obviously designed to draw consumers into the dealership. But, in a real-world example described in the book, fine print in the ad lists the down payment, fees due at signing, mileage limits and sales tax, which added the equivalent of nearly $200 to the monthly payment and quickly made the lease far less appealing. This chapter gives consumers the knowledge they need to recognize a good deal.

Tips for Haggling

The Tips for Haggling section gives consumers the confidence to negotiate the best price for their vehicle, whether the negotiations are taking place in person, on the phone or by e-mail.

Along with the new content, the second edition of "Strategies for Smart Car Buyers" also contains all the great advice found in the previous edition: buying a new or used car, leasing a car, buying insurance and selling your old car. Car buyers tight on time can jump right to the 10 recommended steps found at the end of each section.

Also included is the popular investigative series "Confessions of a Car Salesman." For this assignment, Reed was sent to work undercover at two different dealerships to give readers an insider's perspective on the training, attitudes and behind-the-scenes tricks that dealers use to gain the upper hand. A Washington Post personal finance columnist declared that "Confessions of a Car Salesman" should be mandatory reading for all consumers before stepping on a car lot.

"Strategies for Smart Car Buyers" retails for $14.99 at most bookstores, or consumers can click on the direct link at www.edmunds.com/books to purchase it from Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com. Additional car-buying advice is available through the Strategies for Smart Car Buyers column at http://www.edmunds.com/advice/strategies/articles/index.html.

About the Co-Authors

Philip Reed is the senior consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com. A former newspaper reporter, Phil has also written a number of fiction and non-fiction books. He was initially hired by Edmunds.com to work as an undercover car salesman to better understand the automotive retailing business. The result was "Confessions of a Car Salesman" which is included in the "Strategies for Smart Car Buyers" book. After working as a car salesman, Phil took a more traditional role at Edmunds.com and found himself on the other side of the transaction -- buying cars for the company's long-term vehicle test fleet. He believes that this dual role has given him unique insight into the relationship between the car salesperson and the American consumer.

Mike Hudson is a consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com. He spent four years covering economics and the automotive industry as a reporter at Detroit News and Detroit Free Press. Mike has won numerous writing awards, including being named the Michigan Press Association's "Young Writer of the Year" for 2003. His past work has appeared in newspapers across the country including USA Today, Philadelphia Inquirer, Miami Herald and Boston Globe. He continues to write a monthly column for Detroit News focusing on youth and cultural trends in the auto industry. For the second edition of "Strategies for Smart Car Buyers," Mike, who is in his twenties, went undercover to find out how "Generation Y" car buyers are treated during the car buying process.

Posted by Frank at 10:50 AM | Comments (0)

Ford Mustang Lands on Top 10 Best Selling Car List

While the top-level news for Ford is indeed tough, the automaker's Mustang folks should be pretty happy today. Not only did the affordable muscle car break the top 20 best-selling vehicle list in February, it also claimed a spot as the ninth best selling car in America. Sales for the month were up over 32%, and are ahead 18.5% for the year-to-date.

Indeed, Ford is the only manufacturer with three models in the Top 10 car list, though the exuberance should be tempered somewhat due to the Ford Taurus' outgoing status.

Honda has the biggest concern in this segment, as its Accord and Civic models dropped in sales and rank. Accord finished 2004 as the second best selling car, the Civic was fourth.

And check out the Nissan Altima. As the Notebook has reviewed, this is a fashionable car for the midsize segment, and consumers are responding by making it the sixth best-selling car in February and the fifth best so far this year.

As for Toyota? Not only did the Camry hold onto its spot as the number one best selling car in America, the Corolla is now number two, for the month and the year. Unless Honda makes a serious move in terms of incentives -- or if their customers happen to be spring and summer shoppers -- Toyota could very well own the two best selling cars in America.

Posted by Frank at 09:49 AM | Comments (0)

March 01, 2005

Edmunds.com Says '05 Mustang GT Outmuscles Mazda and Nissan Competition

It almost seems like the race was over before the flag dropped.

Edmunds.com set out to compare a trio of sports coupes and the clear winner turned out to be the 300 horsepower Ford Mustang GT.

The Mazda RX-8 came in second and the Nissan 350Z third, but both lagged far behind the all-new Mustang in the final vote.

It wasn't just the sheer power advantage that turned the tide for the editors -- for a refreshing change, they also considerd a real-world practicality, price.

Despite trying to match the cars feature for feature, the Ford came out a significant winner in the affordabilty contest at $25k, while the Mazda and Nissan both topped $31,000.

That's right, though a lot of fans already know about the $25,000 V8, let's reinforce the idea: Ford is selling a hot car with a big-eight for $25,000.

The Edmunds' editors also liked the Mustang's retro styling and clean interior, adding the fold-down back seat was a plus for a car that would not always be taken out on joy rides. Plus, the Mustang has the biggest trunk in the trio and it's hungry engine doesn't require premium petrol, as do its competitors.

To watch a neat video of the three cars in action, go to Edmunds.com.

Posted by Frank at 05:40 AM | Comments (0)

Lexus Announces RX 400h Hybrid SUV Pricing

The greatly anticipated Lexus RX 400h -- which has over 11,000 hand raisers waiting to buy Unit One -- will go on sale April 15 with an MSRP of $48,535.

The hybrid version of the RX 330 SUV comes equipped with the same 3.3 liter V6, with the addition of front and rear hybid electric drive motors to make the Lexus the first all-wheel drive hybrid in any class.

Following Honda's lead with the Accord Hybrid, Lexus uses the electric motors to increase total power output from 230 hp in the RX 330, to 268 hp in the 400h. Honda's Accord Hybrid engineers also used the electric motors to increase horsepower from 240 in the gas-only Accord to 255 in the hybrid.

While environmental purists decry the use of the electric motors to increase horsepower rather than deliver even greater fuel economy, the 400h also earns green points with a SULEV certification for its super low emission output.

Lexus touts the RX400h not only delivers high-end SUV amenities, but also fantastic gas mileage of 27 on the highway and 31 city, as estimated by the EPA. The highway mileage is a 67% improvement over the RX 330; the 29 mpg average bests all V8 luxury SUVs by over 100%.

The RX 400h also features an enhanced electronic stability control system called VDIM, for Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management. Lexus claims VDIM will more proatively anticipate vehicle instability and make on the fly adjustments for greater safety.

Full Lexus press release follows:

Lexus Announces Pricing on the RX 400h Luxury Gas/Electric Hybrid SUV, As Well as Certified EPA-Estimated Mileage Figures

TORRANCE, Calif. -- The Lexus RX 400h, the world's first luxury hybrid vehicle goes on sale April 15, with a base Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $48,535. Beyond its advanced gas/electric hybrid powertrain and new Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) stability control system, the base price includes a wide array of premium standard features, which are typically offered as popular options on the RX 330, valued at more than $6,000.

"In the past, consumers may have wanted a vehicle that was kinder to our environment, but felt they had to make sacrifices in power, utility and amenities," said Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager Denny Clements. "There are no compromises here. The new RX 400h is what luxury buyers want -- the complete package."

The RX 400h incorporates a new, advanced Lexus Hybrid System that combines the 3.3-liter V6 engine found in the Lexus RX 330, with a high-torque electric-drive motor-generator, plus a rear electric-drive motor-generator to provide the security of all-wheel drive.

With a combined system output of approximately 268 horsepower, the RX 400h delivers rapid acceleration with unexpected fuel efficiency. At 7.3 seconds, acceleration from zero to 60 mph is better than many V8-powered mid-size luxury SUV competitors.

EPA certification of fuel economy ratings has now been confirmed. The RX 400h's EPA-estimated combined fuel economy rating of 29 mpg is better than the average for compact sedans and is an improvement over the previously reported number. Also better than earlier reports, highway fuel economy is EPA-estimated at 27 mpg, an improvement of 67 percent over the RX 330 -- already one of the best in its class. Finally, at 31 mpg, the city rating for the 400h exceeds most V8-equipped luxury SUVs by more than 100 percent.

With the RX 400h, Lexus also introduces a new generation of vehicle stability control systems known as VDIM. This new system goes well beyond conventional traction and stability controls that simply react to challenging conditions. Instead, VDIM anticipates vehicle instability in virtually any direction and makes stabilizing corrections while allowing higher dynamic capability.

In addition to the hybrid powertrain and VDIM, the base price includes: leather interior trim, power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, roof rack with rails, illuminated entry system, a one-touch open/close moonroof, Lexus DVD navigation system with rear backup camera, six-disc CD changer, HID headlamps with the Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS), electrically-powered air conditioning, new 18-inch wheels and an eight-year/100,000-mile battery and hybrid system warranty.

Posted by Frank at 05:13 AM | Comments (1)