The Best of The Clunkers Showcase!
September 28, 2009
Well, Cash for Clunkers has ended. The Government program was highly successful in getting drivers out of old junkers and into new and more fuel efficient vehicles. MileOne saw many clunkers come through our dealerships – more than 1,500! So here is a BEST OF THE CLUNKERS showcase!
Some Top Mileage Clunkers:
2001 NISSAN MAXIMA……………….128K MILES
1991 MERCURY MARQUIS……………148K MILES
1996 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS… 85K MILES
1995 HONDA ACCORD……………….181K MILES
2001 SATURN……………………………107K MILES
2000 TOWN & COUNTRY………….. 156K MILES
1995 SAAB……………………………….136K MILES
1994 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE………238K MILES
1997 CHEVY CAVALIER………………..177K MILES
1997 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER…………….281K MILES
1999 FORD WINDSTAR WAGON……211K MILES
U.S. says 90% of clunker claims have been approved
September 22, 2009
The U.S. Transportation Department says it has paid or approved $2.6 billion in cash-for-clunkers transactions, or 90 percent of the $2.9 billion submitted, as accelerated payments to dealers continue.
A total of 534,598 claims for $2.3 billion were paid as of Sept. 18, said a posting today on the federal cars.gov Web site. An additional 76,775 submissions for $322.3 million have been approved but not paid yet.
A claim approval is the next-to-last step before the Treasury Department wires payment to the dealer’s bank.
The latest figures show that Transportation may have to pay 146,828 claims for $615.1 million if it is to meet Secretary Ray LaHood’s Sept. 30 deadline for payment of all properly filed submissions.
Many of these unpaid claims include those that were rejected and resubmitted. Claims that were rejected before the Aug. 25 filing deadline can be re-entered at any time.
“There’s no question that DoT is pushing the ‘pay’ button significantly more as of late,” said Bailey Wood, a spokesman for the National Automobile Dealers Association spokesman. “They’re likely to come very close to meeting the Sept. 30 deadline.”
LaHood’s spokeswomen did not immediately respond to a request for comment today.
A total of 681,426 deals for $2.9 billion were entered between July 27 and Aug. 25.
Introducing the 2010 Porsche Panamera
September 15, 2009
The first true – built from the ground up – sports car for four, the Panamera is the product of over 60 years of uncompromising beliefs. This automobile can trace its remarkable DNA to every race winner, every engineering feat and every legend to wear the Porsche crest. From the very first sketch, this car was destined to be like every great Porsche before it: a true, groundbreaking original.
Every inch of the Panamera was designed to change the way four people experience the road. The executive class interior gives the driver, as well as each passenger, their own unique connection to pure, Porsche performance. From the ascending center console to the four individual power seats, the Panamera interior was meant to feel exactly like a sports car, but with a level of luxury and personalization never before seen. The rear seats are truly unique, with a surprising amount of head and legroom, even for taller passengers.
Fenders higher than the hood, muscular shoulders, a low, wide stance, and head lamps taken straight from motorsport: the Panamera got its look from a long line of stunning automobiles. But like every Porsche, the form comes from function, not fashion. It looks this way because it was built to drive like nothing else but a Porsche.
Built from the ground up, The Panamera was designed to be a pure, unadulterated sports car. The Panamera S achieves 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds, the Panamera 4S reaches 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and the Panamera Turbo reaches 60 mph in 4.0 seconds. Aside from pure power, the Panamera is the height of sports car technology. Direct Fuel Injection (DFI) provides more power with less fuel. Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) gives lightening fast, smooth shifts. And new Auto Start Stop saves fuel by turning off the engine when idle.
Tischer Porsche
3211 Automobile Blvd. Silver Spring, Maryland 20904
1.888.471.7853
Prepare your Mercedes-Benz for fall
September 11, 2009
Rear-Seat Entertainment System1
Bring along your favorite DVDs on your summer travels, and turn your back seat into a dynamic theater for passengers. The system includes two independently functioning 8″ LCD displays, two noise-reducing wireless headsets, one remote
control that can operate both displays and three auxiliary jacks that enable the use of gaming devices (devices not included). Vehicle applicability may vary.
Universal Media Interface or Nav + 42
Nav + 4 is a multifunctional navigation system and entertainment center available as a standard audio system upgrade for most MY08 – MY09 C-Class and MY10 GLK-Class vehicles with an Audio 20 CD headunit. Together, Nav + 4s map navigation, with real-time traffic for life at no additional cost, and in-vehicle music integration allows you to keep your finger on your music streams and your commute routes – all accessed simply and conveniently through integrated steering wheel controls or the central controller.
Two-Tone Wheels*
Emphasize the exclusive style of your Mercedes-Benz, and update your look, with Genuine Mercedes-Benz Two-Tone Wheels. Each wheel is engineered with state-of-the-art technology and safety-tested to uphold our rigorous standards so that you can experience the superior performance and enhanced driving responsiveness along with the eye-catching style you expect from Genuine Mercedes-Benz. Available for select vehicles.
All-Season Floor Mats
Custom-designed rubber floor mats are the perfect way to protect the carpet of your vehicle this fall. Deep channels trap water, mud and melting snow. Easy to clean. Available in black, grey or beige for most vehicles.
Cargo Management Products
Keep items secure and your cargo area dry with the Cargo Area Tray and Cargo Boxes, designed to fit the contours of your Mercedes-Benz. Cargo Area Tray and Cargo Boxes are sold separately.
Side Running Boards
Enhance the look of your vehicle with Mercedes-Benz Side Running Boards. Surface made of stainless steel with rubber nobs prevents slipping on the surface and eases entry into your vehicle.
*Not available for AMG models or vehicles with AMG bodystyling. Cannot be installed on vehicles with Side Step Bars or Front Mud Flaps.
Please call or visit your authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealer today. To purchase select automotive and Lifestyle Accessories call visit here.
Make every drop go further this fall. Schedule your fall vehicle inspection today.
Maintain the efficiency of your vehicle for better fuel economy and a cleaner environment, with a complete vehicle inspection. Call your local authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer today to get more out of every drop.
Preventive maintenance can save you valuable time and trouble down the road. Schedule your appointment today at one of our conveniently located Mercedes-Benz dealerships online here.
Volkswagen targets mainstream America
September 9, 2009
Volkswagen has ambitious plans to directly challenge Toyota — and a cornerstone of the plan for global expansion is to boost sales in the U.S. by building products with more American flavor.
The plan calls for the company to grow from 6.2 million sales worldwide in 2008 to 10 million cars by 2018, with American sales climbing to 800,000 cars a year.
To accomplish this, VW hopes to expand the appeal of products outside its current base of European car enthusiasts, attracting more of the shoppers who reflexively buy Toyota Camrys and Honda Accords today.
This means making cars that are bigger, but less expensive than today’s models, and expanding the model line into additional segments, such as seven-passenger crossover SUVs, where the company does not participate today, said Stephan Jacoby, president of Volkswagen Group of America.
“We believe that the brand has a fantastic foundation to grow into segments where we are not present right now and where we are not competitive right now,” he said.
VW said it will be building more of its models in the NAFTA trade zone, with an emphasis on U.S. production, he said. The company plans on assembling the cars in its new Chattanooga, Tenn. plant beginning in 2011. It also plans on building 85 percent of the vehicles in North American.
“We want to have U.S. suppliers, we want to be local here, we want to be good citizens, and we want to understand the market better than we do today,” said Jacoby.
This means that the company’s suppliers can be located close by the assembly plants, cutting transportation costs, simplifying logistics and insulating Volkswagen from currency fluctuations. “That is the key to offering a VW at a price that is competitive against mainstream American and Asian competitors,” Jacoby observed.
The company has already announced plans to build a mid-sized family sedan in the Chattanooga plant and to build a larger compact replacement for today’s Jetta model. The unnamed mid-size car will sell alongside the Passat, which will continue to be imported for those buyers who want their German engineering straight up, not diluted with the extra elbow room and Americanized amenities of the new models.
Today’s Volkswagens have unorthodox design features on sunroofs and seat recliners — differences which appeal to the sense of individualism in VW’s core enthusiasts but which result in lower J.D. Power quality score from newcomers to the brand who are confused by their operation.
VW’s adopt to the industry-standard approach to such controls for new mainstream models, said Jacoby. But he adamantly insists that such future models will nonetheless retain their Teutonic feel. “The new cars will be tailor-made for this market, while still being Volkswagens in their essence,” he declared.
Some observers are skeptical that it is possible to attract new customers by making Volkswagens more like Toyotas without losing the characteristics that appeal to current customers. “Lowering the costs will certainly make them more attractive, but at what cost to current VW fans?” asked Jon Linkov, managing editor for autos at Consumer Reports. “Making a Jetta more Camry/Accord like will certainly not make the repeat VW buyer happy, I feel, and I don’t know if they will be able to cover those losses and bring in more people.”
Volkswagen seems determined to rip a page from Honda’s playbook, unabashedly describing its plans to simplify its option lists into “Honda-like” trim levels with no factory-installed options, as well as adding new models such as the crossover three-row SUV described with the shorthand label, “Honda Pilot fighter.”
The company will also exploit its legendary image among small car buyers to join the minicar segment, with a larger, Americanized version of the next generation edition of the popular Polo minicar currently sold in Europe.
The company also plans to remain in the minivan market, where customers are largely unaware, or unconcerned, that the company sources its “German engineered” minivan from Chrysler LLC. While the minivan market has collapsed to half its previous sales level, minivan customers rate highly in loyalty and they are sufficiently pleased with the Routan for the van to rank second in the latest J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey.
2010 Honda Accord Crosstour
September 2, 2009
2010 Accord Crosstour Styling Conceals Surprising Versatility. The next evolution of the crossover offers CUV attributes while maintaining a premium sedan feel and a sporty, bold appearance.
TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 1, 2009 – The all-new 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour evolves the Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) concept by integrating a sleek and aerodynamic shape that blends sporty, low-profile contours with versatile CUV functionality, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.
“Our concept is to broaden the appeal of the Accord line-up by leveraging traditional Accord strengths of fun-to-drive performance and handling while also adapting to dramatic shifts in the light truck marketplace,” said Erik Berkman, vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “The Accord Crosstour accomplishes that by offering a modern interpretation of a CUV while integrating the refinement and efficiency of a premium sedan.”
Derived from the Accord Sedan, the Accord Crosstour maximizes car-like ride and refinement, yet maintains capabilities consistent with a CUV’s increased ride height and all-weather potential. The Accord Crosstour’s styling builds on the Accord’s familiar character lines and adds a bolder front grille complemented by a durable lower-body appearance, wedge-shaped C-pillars and an aggressive rear stance. The flowing roofline narrows smoothly into the rear of the vehicle to create an aggressive-looking design, which conceals a unique cargo area that can adapt to large objects that exceed the capacity of a sedan.
“We know SUV buyers like the commanding view of the road that comes with a high eye-point and like the comforts of living with an SUV,” said Berkman. “This vehicle meets the needs of buyers looking for those attributes yet at the same time want an image that is different from a conventional SUV.”
The Accord Crosstour will be positioned at the top of the Accord family when it goes on sale in fall 2009. Additional details will be announced later in the year. An Accord Crosstour Facebook page is available at www.facebook.com/accordcrosstour. Additional media information regarding all Honda products is available here. You may also access more information here.
Toyota Auris hybrid at Frankfurt show
September 1, 2009
Toyota will unveil a gasoline-electric hybrid concept of it Auris compact car at the Frankfurt auto show on September 15.
The concept, which is called the Auris HSD Hybrid, is a step forward in the carmaker’s plan to expand its hybrid lineup, the company said in a statement Tuesday.
Toyota will begin production of the Auris hybrid at its factory near Derby, about 200km north of London, starting mid-2010.
Toyota says the hybrid Auris uses 19 percent less fuel and emits 17 percent less carbon dioxide than the standard version.
The company builds most of its hybrid vehicles in Japan, but also produces a small number of Prius hybrids in China and the Camry hybrid in the United States.
In July, Toyota President Akio Toyoda said the carmaker would shift its focus in the diesel-heavy European market to hybrid vehicles as part of a new effort to use its resources more selectively.
Toyota Europe CEO Tadashi Arashima said making hybrids in Europe would help ensure that full hybrids “become more accessible to a wider range of customers.”
Toyota has a goal of selling at least 1 million hybrid vehicles a year within the next few years.
Toyota also will give its Prius plug-in electric car a world debut in Frankfurt. The car is based on the new, third-generation Prius.
The carmaker said it will offer 150 Prius plug-in cars to fleet customers to test next year.
Toyota will start making the Auris hybrid at its U.K. factory in mid-2010.
-AutoNews.com
