"Jeep® and Mopar are ready for a week of wheeling in Moab.
The brands have created six new vehicles – all featuring a host of Jeep Authentic Parts and Accessories – for the annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. Now in its 46th year and taking place March 31 – April 8, the Easter Jeep Safari will be attended by thousands of die-hard off-road enthusiasts looking to enjoy a week of wheeling on some of the country’s most renowned and challenging trails. Mopar also announced the creation of an off-road division that will create Jeep Authentic Parts and Accessories.
“We’re delighted to showcase six new vehicles to our loyal Jeep fans at this year’s Moab Easter Jeep Safari,” said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “The Jeep Safari has long been a great way for Jeep to connect with its core audience. We look forward to spending the week demonstrating our latest potential production and customization ideas and gathering instant feedback from the most knowledgeable 4x4 enthusiasts in the world.”
To create these new vehicles, Jeep teamed with Mopar, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year and offers more than 1,000 accessories and performance parts for Jeep vehicles.
“Mopar is tapping into a growing trend among extreme Jeep enthusiasts who want even more power and capability on the trail,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “This year, Mopar is pushing the envelope in this arena by offering our customers new Pro 60 portal axles and a new HEMI conversion kit, which we will showcase in these new vehicles. In addition, to further maximize our presence in the off-road market, we are creating a Mopar Off-Road division to develop Jeep Authentic Parts and Accessories.”
Since 2002, Jeep and Mopar have teamed to create more than 30 unique concept vehicles for enthusiasts who attend the popular Easter Jeep Safari." [Read more]
Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Volkswagen Launches Electric Car Pilot Program
"Following the lead of corporate sibling Audi, Volkswagen is launching an electric vehicle (EV) pilot program in the United States. Cars will be distributed in specific markets and driven over a nine-month period to gather data for future electric Volkswagens.
Like Audi and other companies, VW modified an existing model for its EV pilot program. In this case, it’s the Golf, known to most Americans as the Jetta hatchback. The 20 test cars will be five-door Golfs, with electric powertrains in place of the standard hardware. The E-Golf is powered by an electric motor that makes 199 lb-ft of torque; VW did not say how much horsepower it makes.
The motor gets its energy from a 26.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Volkswagen did not quote an estimated range, but it did say the E-Golf was designed with energy-saving features. These include three different driving modes and regenerative braking, which are standard features on many other electric cars, and hybrids. The E-Golf can also coast when the driver takes their foot off the throttle.
Twelve of the E-Golf test vehicles will be given to Volkswagen employees, the rest will be distributed in Detroit, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. beginning in April. Volkswagen hopes to acquire data on the effects of climate conditions and driving patterns in the different regions.
Volkswagen will also test charging hardware. The 12 employees in the E-Golf program will get 220-volt charging stations installed at their houses. Every E-Golf will come with an iPhone that, through an app, lets drivers check the status of charging, adjust the air conditioning, and remotely charge the car (if it’s plugged-in). “For a successful market launch of electric vehicles, the way that home chargers are handled is very important, along with easy access to public charging infrastructure,” said Dr. Rudolf Krebs, head of Volkswagen Group E-Traction.
Testing EVs is a significant change of course for Volkswagen, whose previous eco-car efforts were focused on diesels. However, VW isn’t the first company to try an EV pilot program. BMW built an electric Mini, the Mini E, and is now testing electric versions of its 1 Series. Honda loaned a few Fit EVs to Google and Stanford University for testing. Audi, which is owned by Volkswagen, is testing its A3 e-tron with a similar pilot program." [Read more]
Friday, March 23, 2012
Volkswagen to test electric Golf in U.S.
"Volkswagen, which has scored big with diesels in the U.S., is about to expand its horizons. It's going to field about 20 Golf electric vehicles in a test, Automotive News reports.
It's only a nine-month test, but it should be at least a start in trying to see how owners will deal with the notion of having to plug in their car every day and other issues. It's a prelude to the e-Golf, which will arrive in showrooms sometime next year, the News says.
Buyers won't just get a car. Rather they will also get a 200-volt charging station, Apple iPhone with a VW app and a reference to a website where they can get more information." [Read more]
Thursday, March 22, 2012
KBB Marks Milestone
"Kelley Blue Book reports a one million-download milestone for its kbb.com Android mobile application. Launched in November 2010, the free, interactive app provides users with crucial car-buying information to help make confident purchase decisions.
The kbb.com Android app provides shoppers with access to new and used Kelley Blue Book Values, including MSRP, invoice, fair purchase price, certified pre-wned, suggested retail, private party and trade-in values. Car buyers and sellers can use this information in vehicle transaction negotiations to ensure they get the best deal possible, wherever they may be.
The application also offers several features for car shoppers, such as a dealer locator with detailed maps and directions, 360-degree vehicle photos, new-car video reviews from kbb.coms expert editors, and the kbb.com Twitter feed for the latest automotive news and information from Kelley Blue Books team of car aficionados. " [Read more]
The kbb.com Android app provides shoppers with access to new and used Kelley Blue Book Values, including MSRP, invoice, fair purchase price, certified pre-wned, suggested retail, private party and trade-in values. Car buyers and sellers can use this information in vehicle transaction negotiations to ensure they get the best deal possible, wherever they may be.
The application also offers several features for car shoppers, such as a dealer locator with detailed maps and directions, 360-degree vehicle photos, new-car video reviews from kbb.coms expert editors, and the kbb.com Twitter feed for the latest automotive news and information from Kelley Blue Books team of car aficionados. " [Read more]
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Silverado Among Least-Expensive to Insure
"Already touting plenty of efficiency and capability advantages against America’s other full-size pickups, the Chevrolet Silverado can now showcase another major benefit. It’s one of the least-expensive pickups in the U.S. to insure, trailing only its GM sibling, the GMC Sierra. And while the six-cylinder Sierra Regular Cab finished fifth overall on Insure.com’s rankings of low-cost insurance choices, the Silverado distinguished itself with two models in the top 10: The Regular Cab V6 was right behind the Sierra, in sixth place, and the Silverado Extended Cab V6 grabbed the 10th spot.
The Silverado light-duty family also offers:[Read more] "
Friday, March 16, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Fuel Efficiency Increases
"TrueCar.com provided actual fuel economy numbers from February light vehicle auto sales that indicate TrueMPG increased to 23.2 mpg in February 2012 compared to 21.4 mpg in February 2011, and increased from January 2012 at 22.9 mpg.
TrueMPG is the companys fuel economy measure.
According to TrueCar.com, the TrueMPG for vehicles sold by U.S. manufacturers averaged 21.2 mpg in February, up from 19.0 mpg in February 2011. European manufacturers increased their average fuel economy for vehicles sold from 22 mpg to 23 mpg; Japanese manufacturers increased their average fuel economy from 23.8 mpg to 24.9 mpg; and South Korean manufacturers increased their average fuel economy for vehicles from 26 mpg to 28 mpg." [Read more]
TrueMPG is the companys fuel economy measure.
According to TrueCar.com, the TrueMPG for vehicles sold by U.S. manufacturers averaged 21.2 mpg in February, up from 19.0 mpg in February 2011. European manufacturers increased their average fuel economy for vehicles sold from 22 mpg to 23 mpg; Japanese manufacturers increased their average fuel economy from 23.8 mpg to 24.9 mpg; and South Korean manufacturers increased their average fuel economy for vehicles from 26 mpg to 28 mpg." [Read more]
Friday, March 9, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Volkswagen Commits to US$52 Billion in Green Investments
"German automaker Volkswagen aims to drop the average emissions from its new vehicles to 120 grams CO2/km by 2015, as part of a "fundamental ecological restructuring" likely to be worth more than €40 billion (US$52 billion by 2016.
The company says more than two thirds of its entire €62.4 billion (US$82.1 billion) investment programme for the coming five years will be directly or indirectly spent on "ever more efficient vehicles, powertrains and technologies, as well as environmentally compatible production."
VW has been looking to bolster its green reputation since being targeted by campaign group Greenpeace over its alleged lobbying against deeper cuts to EU emissions targets.
The company's new emissions reduction target would represent a 30 percent cut on 2006 levels for Europe's largest carmaker, and a sizeable reduction on its current average emissions for new vehicles of 135.5g/km, which sits fractionally below the E.U. average of 136.1 g/km in 2011.
VW said that under the new plan it wants every new model generation to be on average 10 to 15 percent more efficient than its predecessor, while emissions will also be cut from both production processes and manufacturing plants.
As part of the announcement the company unveiled a new €600 million (almost US$790 million) investment designed to expand its use of renewable energies such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power, in order to achieve a 40 percent reduction in emissions from energy supplies by the end of the decade.
Plants will also aim to reduce water and energy consumption, as well as overall emissions, by a quarter over the next six years." [Read more]
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
New Chrysler 300 Named One of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com “10 Best Family Cars of 2012”
"Just days after earning the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) highest 5-star safety rating, the new 2012 Chrysler 300 flagship sedan is chalking up another accolade, Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com “10 Best Family Cars of 2012” award. For the last five years, the expert editors at kbb.com have awarded the 10 Best Family Cars that cater to unique family specifications and situations.
“Well-equipped at its starting price under $30,000, the Chrysler 300 qualifies as a screaming deal for those who favor a full-size sedan with outstanding comfort, loads of premium standard features and a distinctive sense of style,” said Jack R. Nerad, Executive Editorial Director and Executive Market Analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com. “Redesigned for 2011, the Chrysler 300 gets even better for 2012 thanks to a new economy-enhancing V-6 engine and segment-exclusive eight-speed automatic transmission.”
The 10 Best Family Cars of 2012 list consists of new vehicles that are family-approved in a big way, offering safety, comfort, child-friendliness, strong consumer ratings and impressive Kelley Blue Book Total Cost of Ownership statistics.
Transportation costs during the ownership period are important for families trying to get by on tight budgets. A vital part of kbb.com’s selection process was identifying new vehicles that have low cost of ownership in the initial five-year ownership period. Available on kbb.com, Total Cost of Ownership information examines depreciation, expected fuel costs, finance and insurance fees, maintenance and repair costs, and state fees for new models.
“At a time when the nation is regaining confidence and that fighting American ‘can-do’ spirit, the new Chrysler 300 series sedans reward these hard working folks with the world-class engineering, craftsmanship, safety and technology features that were once only found on high end sedans costing two or even three times the price,” said Saad Chehab, President and CEO – Chrysler Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “We’re honored that Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com editors scrutinized our Chrysler 300 flagship sedan and recognized it for its quality and precision engineering that were once limited to the privileged few. This recognition goes to further demonstrate that Chrysler brand is now a top choice for the most demanding consumers.”
Kbb.com’s 10 Best Family Cars of 2012 list can be found at http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/10-best-family-cars-of-2012 – and includes the kbb.com editors’ rankings and commentary about the finalists. " [Read more]
“Well-equipped at its starting price under $30,000, the Chrysler 300 qualifies as a screaming deal for those who favor a full-size sedan with outstanding comfort, loads of premium standard features and a distinctive sense of style,” said Jack R. Nerad, Executive Editorial Director and Executive Market Analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com. “Redesigned for 2011, the Chrysler 300 gets even better for 2012 thanks to a new economy-enhancing V-6 engine and segment-exclusive eight-speed automatic transmission.”
The 10 Best Family Cars of 2012 list consists of new vehicles that are family-approved in a big way, offering safety, comfort, child-friendliness, strong consumer ratings and impressive Kelley Blue Book Total Cost of Ownership statistics.
Transportation costs during the ownership period are important for families trying to get by on tight budgets. A vital part of kbb.com’s selection process was identifying new vehicles that have low cost of ownership in the initial five-year ownership period. Available on kbb.com, Total Cost of Ownership information examines depreciation, expected fuel costs, finance and insurance fees, maintenance and repair costs, and state fees for new models.
“At a time when the nation is regaining confidence and that fighting American ‘can-do’ spirit, the new Chrysler 300 series sedans reward these hard working folks with the world-class engineering, craftsmanship, safety and technology features that were once only found on high end sedans costing two or even three times the price,” said Saad Chehab, President and CEO – Chrysler Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “We’re honored that Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com editors scrutinized our Chrysler 300 flagship sedan and recognized it for its quality and precision engineering that were once limited to the privileged few. This recognition goes to further demonstrate that Chrysler brand is now a top choice for the most demanding consumers.”
Kbb.com’s 10 Best Family Cars of 2012 list can be found at http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/10-best-family-cars-of-2012 – and includes the kbb.com editors’ rankings and commentary about the finalists. " [Read more]
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Subaru Launches FirstCarStory.com Allowing Car Lovers to Share Their First Car Experiences Through Animated Storytelling
"Subaru of America, Inc. announced the launch of its First Car Story campaign supporting the all-new 2012 Subaru Impreza. The campaign hub, FirstCarStory.com, features a groundbreaking animation generator that allows users to recreate their first car, tell their story, and see it turned into an animated video, which they can also set to music and narrate with their own voice. Through Facebook, Twitter, or email, users can share their video with family and friends throughout their social network.
"Everyone loved their first car, no matter how bad, beat up, or borrowed. That first car became a new chapter in life or a ticket to freedom and first car stories are often the most memorable stories we have," said Alan Bethke, director, marketing communications, Subaru of America. "The First Car Story campaign provides a creative outlet for reliving those unique, funny, unforgettable car experiences anyone who had a first car can relate to."
First Car Experience
Using pioneering text-to-video technology, FirstCarStory.com turns words and phrases into custom animations. The experience begins when the user lands on the home page, where they find the car generator; this allows users to create their beloved first car right down to the degree of damage the car may have incurred. Next the user cruises over to the story entry page to tell their story through text. The animation generator tool isolates key words to begin populating visuals that bring the story to life. Users can also select key words and phrases to highlight in their story.
The storyteller can then take the driver's seat and record a personal, vocal narrative to accompany the animation. Before publishing, the storyteller selects an appropriate soundtrack to complete the personalization of their video.
With this unique social experience, the storyteller is able to tag Facebook friends to include in the video. Once completed, the storyteller then can share and publish their directorial debut across social media platforms. The storyteller user community can even see how their stories share common elements with other stories." [Read more]
"Everyone loved their first car, no matter how bad, beat up, or borrowed. That first car became a new chapter in life or a ticket to freedom and first car stories are often the most memorable stories we have," said Alan Bethke, director, marketing communications, Subaru of America. "The First Car Story campaign provides a creative outlet for reliving those unique, funny, unforgettable car experiences anyone who had a first car can relate to."
First Car Experience
Using pioneering text-to-video technology, FirstCarStory.com turns words and phrases into custom animations. The experience begins when the user lands on the home page, where they find the car generator; this allows users to create their beloved first car right down to the degree of damage the car may have incurred. Next the user cruises over to the story entry page to tell their story through text. The animation generator tool isolates key words to begin populating visuals that bring the story to life. Users can also select key words and phrases to highlight in their story.
The storyteller can then take the driver's seat and record a personal, vocal narrative to accompany the animation. Before publishing, the storyteller selects an appropriate soundtrack to complete the personalization of their video.
With this unique social experience, the storyteller is able to tag Facebook friends to include in the video. Once completed, the storyteller then can share and publish their directorial debut across social media platforms. The storyteller user community can even see how their stories share common elements with other stories." [Read more]
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