The all-new Chevrolet Sonic—the only subcompact built in the United States—has earned another important distinction: Both the sedan and five-door hatch body styles have earned 5-star overall vehicle safety scores in the New Car Assessment Program, overseen by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Sonic now becomes the 10th GM vehicle to achieve a 5-star rating from NHTSA for the 2012 model year. [click to continue…]
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Using GM’s innovative OnStar system to recover a stolen car is a fairly common occurrence, as OnStar advisors provide this kind of assistance some 500 times a month. But it’s only been GM customers who have been benefiting from the award-winning service—until now. Thanks to the OnStar FMV aftermarket system, Jean Franklin—who drives a Chrysler 300—recently became the first driver of a non-GM product to recover a stolen vehicle with the system. And it took just 64 minutes. [click to continue…]
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To help bolster its growing reputation as a design leader in the automotive industry, Hyundai recently hired Christopher Chapman to lead the Hyundai Design Center in Irvine, Calif.; the studio is part of the Hyundai Motor America Technical Center Inc. (HATCI). Chapman joins the company with more than two decades of experience, including, most recently, nine years as director of Automotive Design at BMW.
There, Chapman guided the development of products like the BMW X5 and X3 “sport activity vehicles,” the Z4 sports coupe, and the BMW 1 Series. Prior to joining the Bavarians, he also spent time at Isuzu’s Technical Center of America, where he designed the exterior of the Isuzu XU-1 show car—named Best Concept at the 1993 Tokyo Motor Show.
“With over 22 years of experience in the industry working on esteemed automotive brands, Chris provides a level of talent that will help further our design portfolio,” said SukGeun Oh, head of Design, Senior Executive Vice President Hyundai Design Center. “We are thrilled to have Christopher Chapman as chief designer for Hyundai and look forward to continuing the strong momentum of our vehicle designs.”
Hyundai Options Ocean City point to Hyundai’s “fluidic sculpture” design language as a key driver of the automaker’s surging sales. First introduced on the Hyundai Tucson, then advanced on the Hyundai Sonata, the fresh approach to design is now evident throughout the company’s lineup, as well as in its sales figures: Hyundai had topped its 2010 sales total by the end of October, and has broken records in 10 of 11 months so far this year.
Building on that success will be a challenge, but John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai America, is confident Chapman will be up to the task.
“Christopher Chapman is an outstanding addition to the design team at HATCI,” Krafcik said. “We are proud to add such a talented individual to lead the team of dedicated designers at HATCI that will continue to develop innovative vehicles for both the United States and global auto markets.”
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Once again showcasing its role as a leader in automotive safety, the Toyota Motor Corporation—including its Lexus and Scion brands—recently earned 15 Top Safety Pick awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). According to Used Cars Annapolis, Toyota now has more 2012 IIHS honorees than any other automaker in the country, all of which met IIHS guidelines requiring electronic stability control and the highest possible ratings in the Institute’s front, rear, side and rollover crash testing. [click to continue…]
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With the completely redesigned CR-V setting the pace, seven more Honda vehicles were recently named Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS); including two models that earned Top Safety Pick status earlier this year, Honda now boasts nine different vehicles that meet the IIHS criteria of having electronic stability control and receiving the best possible grades in the Institute’s front, rear, side and rollover impact testing. [click to continue…]
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The safety watchdogs at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently announced their Top Safety Picks for the 2012 model year and awarded six different Hyundai models with the notable honor. Hyundai Options Pocomoke City explained that Top Safety Pick status only goes to vehicles with electronic stability control that also achieve the highest ratings in the IIHS’ front, side, rear and rollover crash-test evaluations. [click to continue…]
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To help owners get maximum enjoyment from the premium Bose sound system available on the 2012 Buick Verano, the brand went right to the source: A team of Bose engineers designed the seven-channel, nine-speaker audio setup specifically for the Verano—but only after they first meticulously analyzed the car’s cabin to ensure optimum sound performance. [click to continue…]
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The automaker’s small car effort adds its third piece of the puzzle with the Spark, a car 14-inches shorter than the Sonic. The five-door hatchback, which arrives summer 2012, features a 1.2-liter, four-cylinder engine with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. According to Winnipeg Used Car Dealers, Chevrolet plans on marketing the mini car to young city dwellers because of its diminutive size.
Following the trend in putting more content in smaller cars, Chevy includes several standard features including a seven-inch color touch screen radio capable of displaying smart phone-based navigation, media and contacts for hands-free calling, available heated seats and the availability of MyLink on upper trim levels. MyLink is GM’s media management system, which can link to Bluetooth capable phones to stream music from Internet radio outlets including Pandora and Stitcher, along with navigation that can be displayed on the system’s screen.
Air condition, power windows and 10 airbags are standard across the range. Fuel economy numbers haven’t been established, but Chevrolet expects Spark to get very good city mileage and be competitive in the mini car segment. Pricing is yet to be announced, but will come below the Sonic, which sells for about $14,000.Visit Car Dealerships In Bremerton for more information, or contact your local Chevrolet dealer.
–Bob Beamesderfer
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Arriving in 2013, the Honda Fit EV is the automaker’s first all-electric vehicle, adding to a range that includes hybrids, a fuel cell and natural gas vehicles.
Honda Fit CT says the Fit Ev will travel 120 miles in city driving, and its lithium-ion batteries can be recharged in less than three hours. Smartphone users can monitor the car’s charge from an app. Honda will lease the fit initially for $399 a month based on an MSRP of $36,625. Honda expects to put 1,100 Fit EVs on U.S. roads in the next three years. The car arrives in summer 2012. The automaker also said it will bring out a plug-in hybrid vehicle next year.
To understand how important the CR-V is to Honda, consider that it was the best-selling SUV four years running and might have made it five if not for the disruption wrought by the tsunami. This latest generation CR-V is heavily restyled, but will still offer front- and all-wheel drive powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine developing 185 horsepower and 163 lb.-ft. of torque. Front-drive fuel economy comes in at 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway, an increase of 2 and 3 mpg city/highway.Also new is EcoAssist, which provides the driver with feedback on how the vehicle is being driven.
Bluetooth phone connectivity and a full-color information display are standard across the range, and a Pandora Internet radio interface that’s compatible with Apple iPhones. The CR-V goes on sale Dec. 15 at Car Dealerships In Bremerton WA and dealers near you.
–Bob Beamesderfer
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Porsche describe the 911 as the heart and soul of the brand, which given its success on and off the race track seems less like hyperbole and more like a confession. Any new variant of the iconic sports car is met with keen interest, even though changes tend to be evolutionary. More surprising than the expected power boost to the Carrera and Carrera S is the longer wheelbase – nearly four inches more than the previous model.
The Carrera’s 3.4-liter, flat six engine produces 350 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque and is mated to either a seven-speed manual gearbox or Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch transmission. Carrera S gets a boost to 400 horsepower and 44o lb.-ft. of torque and features the same choice of transmissions. Carrera S makes the trip to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and tops out at 188 mph with the Sport Chrono package. The 911 goes on sale Feb. 4, 2012
With two Porsche factory drivers on hand, the automaker showed off the 2012 Panamera GTS. With air suspension, active dampers a lower ride height and brakes from the Panamera Turbo, the GTS is a more track-oriented version of the sedan.
Under the hood, the 4.8-liter V-8 now produces 330 horsepower and 384 lb.-ft. of torque driving all four wheels and producing a 0-60 mph time of less than 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 178 mph. Inside are sports seats and steering wheel, and lots of Alcantara.
For more information, visit Car Dealerships Bremerton WA or your local Porsche dealer.
–Bob Beamesderfer
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