Archive for October, 2009
Volkswagen Gears Up To Build Amarok Pickup In Argentina
Posted on 31. Oct, 2009 by admin.
Volkswagen says it will start production of its new Amarok midsize pickup truck at its factory in Argentina before the end of the year, according to Ronnie Frost, communications director for Volkswagen Argentina.
“This is the most important project in the history of Volkswagen in Argentina and one of the most important in the global automotive industry,” said Frost. “[Volkswagen] has invested about $340 million for the development of this new pickup truck.”
The Amarok is expected to make its world debut on December 15. In preparation, Volkswagen has created a special interactive microsite where web visitors can learn more information about the truck and return each week to see the pickup slowly revealed.
Among the technical details that VW has officially confirmed so far: both gasoline direct injection and turbodiesel engines will be offered, all-wheel drive with ABS and stability control will be available and hill hold assist and hill descent control will help the Amarok tackle grades of up to 45 degrees (100% incline). VW also expects the diesel version of the truck will have a range of 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).
The Amarok will be sold in South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. There are no plans to sell it in the U.S.
[Source: Volkswagen]
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Most Read Car Reviews of the Week
Posted on 31. Oct, 2009 by admin.
We had a lot of new-car reviews this week. Unsurprisingly, new-car reviews get a lot of attention, but a few 2009 models also made this week’s top 10. Subaru reviews also are really popular with our readers. Click on any of the cars named below to read the full review.
Most Read Car Reviews
1. 2010 GMC Terrain
2. 2010 Subaru Outback
3. 2010 Porsche Panamera
4. 2010 Ford Taurus
5. 2010 Chevy Equinox
6. 2010 Subaru Forester
7. 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
8. 2009 Subaru Impreza
9. 2009 Toyota Venza
10. 2010 Lexus IS C
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VW and MIT Introduce In-Car Robot
Posted on 30. Oct, 2009 by admin.
Does that headline have too many acronyms? Trust us, it’s worth the initial confusion.
Volkswagen has partnered with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to introduce AIDA, the Affective Intelligent Driving Agent.
AIDA is a robotic device mounted onto the dashboard that uses a number of different information sources to help you plan travel routes, skip traffic jams, discover entertainment locations you’ve never previously heard of and even help you avoid running out of gas. It also happens to look like something out of a sci-fi movie.
AIDA is more than just a GPS on steroids, though. It also “learns” how you drive by monitoring features and systems like the gas pedal, brake pedal, windshield wipers, seat position, fuel gauge and tire pressure. It knows the city you live in, your home and work locations, and it learns your driving priorities.
For instance, you could be trying to make a 7 p.m. movie but a traffic jam threatens your on-time arrival. AIDA would then step in and direct you around the traffic using the quickest possible route. On the way home, it might recommend that you stop for gas based on how far away you live. Or it might suggest a restaurant to grab a bite at because it knows you’ve been in a movie for two hours and might be hungry.
AIDA sounds a little too much like HAL of “2001: A Space Odyssey,” but as long as AIDA doesn’t refuse to “open the pod bay door,” so to speak, this system could be very cool.
AIDA: It’s More Than an Opera (Up to Speed)
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GM to Offer Free Oil Changes to Pontiac, Saturn Owners
Posted on 30. Oct, 2009 by admin.
You read that right. General Motors wants to make sure current Pontiac and Saturn owners consider a new GM vehicle for their next car purchase by offering free oil changes at a Chevy, Buick or GMC dealer. That way the freebie takers will peruse new GM products from brands the company didn’t kill off in bankruptcy while they’re waiting for their car’s oil to be changed.
Final details on the offer will be released next week, including if it’s just a single oil change per customer or more. It sounds like a good idea to us, and most people we talk to like free things. What do you think?
GM Eager to Retain Pontiac-Saturn Customer Base (WardsAuto.com)
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2010 Lexus IS 250C Convertible Video
Posted on 30. Oct, 2009 by admin.
If you’re buying a hard-top convertible, it’s not for its utility. Ultimately, your decision will come down to minor details like how quickly the top retracts, does the top cut into the trunk space and can anyone sit in that cramped backseat? Cars.com reviewer Joe Wiesenfelder fills you in on these issues in his video, but he also notes a couple of key numbers that help the 2010 Lexus IS 250C stand out against the competition.
2010|Lexus|IS 250C
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2010 Chevy Camaro Vs. Drive-Thru
Posted on 30. Oct, 2009 by admin.
The guys over at Consumer Reports have found a bit of a drawback to the new Chevy Camaro. All that cool design work has led to a car that doesn’t handle the drive-through well.
Consumer Reports’ auto blogger Jim Travers explains “Visibility in general is not a Camaro strong suit, but when you can’t see the ATM you’re sitting next to, it takes a lack of a view to new heights. Or lows. I had to crane my neck just to see where the machine spat out my receipt, let alone reach it. And forget about opening the long, wide door to make things easier. There’s no room for that, either.”
Travers says the issue isn’t a “deal-breaker,” so go ahead and pull the trigger and learn to park and use the walk-up ATM.
Camaro driving tip: Skip the drive thru (Consumer Reports)
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Nissan Leaf to Tour U.S.
Posted on 30. Oct, 2009 by admin.
Nissan announced it will take its upcoming all-electric Leaf on a U.S. tour, beginning with a public showing in Los Angeles on Nov. 13. Its first auto-show appearance will also occur in the City of Angels at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show, which runs Dec. 4-13.
The five-passenger, five-door vehicle — which you can’t put a drop of gas in even if you want to — will hit 22 cities in 11 states, Washington, D.C., and Vancouver, Canada, to build a buzz and educate the public, media and possible partners both civic and private businesses.
You can follow the tour at Nissan’s Leaf website. Or click on the jump to see the cities where the Leaf will make an appearance, and, yes, we’re ticked it won’t swing by our hometown of Chicago.
Nissan’s Leaf Tour
Southern California
Los Angeles: Nov. 13-17
Orange County: Nov. 18
San Diego: Nov. 19-21
Northern California
Berkeley/Walnut Creek: Nov. 23-24
San Francisco: Nov. 25-29
Santa Rosa: Dec. 1
Sacramento: Dec. 1
San Jose: Dec. 3-6
Pacific Northwest
Seattle: Dec. 8-12
Vancouver, Canada: Dec. 14-15
Portland, Ore.: Dec. 17-23
Southwest
Phoenix/Tucson: Dec. 30-Jan. 5
Las Vegas: Jan. 6
Midwest/East Coast
Detroit: Jan. 11-13
Knoxville/Chattanooga, Tenn.: Jan. 16
Middle Tennessee: Jan. 19-21
Washington, D.C.: Jan. 26-28
Raleigh, N.C.: Jan. 29
Orlando, Fla.: Feb. 1-2
Texas
Houston: Feb. 5-6
New York
New York City: Feb. 9-14
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Halloween is a Dangerous Day on Roads
Posted on 30. Oct, 2009 by admin.
Everybody has heard to beware of the unwrapped candy with poison, but the far more frightening — and real — danger for kids on Halloween is being safe on the road. The chance of a child being killed while walking from 4 to 10 p.m. on Halloween is twice that of any other night of the year, according to Safe Kids USA.
After analyzing data from pedestrian deaths from 2002 to 2006, it concluded that 540 kids, ages 14 and younger, die while walking during those hours on Halloween every year.
Here are a few tips from our pals at MotherProof.com about how to keeping your child safe this year:
Go with them: While children over the age of 10 will likely declare themselves mortified if you go along, parents should definitely accompany those children 10 or younger.
Go early: Trick-or-treating in daylight is always preferable. With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, it shouldn’t be as much of a problem.
Go where you know: Stick with areas that are familiar, and, if possible, well-lit at night. The more street lamps the better.
Go without masks: Masks cut down on young ones’ visibility, and while kids might proclaim Batman’s mask is necessary to make a successful costume, keeping it raised on the top of their heads except when ringing the doorbell won’t hurt.
Go with light: Dark-colored costumes should get reflective tape, and all children should go with flashlights or at least glow sticks to make them obvious to drivers.
Go with safety: Stay on sidewalks and cross on crosswalks when possible. Obeying pedestrian traffic rules cuts down on the chance of an awful mishap with a driver.
Heed this advice, be safe and have fun this Halloween. For more ideas on Halloween safety, visit Safe Kids USA.
Keep Halloween Sweet by Keeping Kids Safe (MotherProof.com)
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2010 Jaguar XF Video
Posted on 30. Oct, 2009 by admin.
The 2010 Jaguar XF comes with an array of more powerful V8 engines than the 2009, so Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays takes the opportunity in this video to gauge the driving experience of this luxury sedan that can climb as high as $80,000. Along the way, he explains the joys of effortless passing power and why if you buy the XF, you may want to know a good mechanic.
2010|Jaguar|XF
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GM Extends 60-Day Guarantee
Posted on 29. Oct, 2009 by admin.
While it appears very few new GM buyers are opting for its new 60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee, GM is extending the program through the end of 2009 and slightly beyond, ending Jan. 4. Buyers can opt for the guarantee which allows them to return a new vehicle after 30 days but before 60 — with restrictions — if the buyer isn’t happy with it. Recent reports have the take rate of the program at 10% of new car sales; the other 90% are opting instead for a $500 cash back rebate. Only a handful of the 10% have actually returned a car.
We’ve already wondered if this counts as a “success” but since the program doesn’t seem to cost GM much, the publicity and marketing value is likely making up for any loss. That’s why GM will continue touting its “May the Best Car Win” slogan in print, online and TV advertising through December.
