Cancer Survivor Featured on Extreme Makeover Home Edition
January 29, 2010
As Flagship sponsors of many American Cancer Society events, MileOne would like to share with you some exciting news…….
A Relay For Life family in Lexington, N.C., will be featured on ABC’s hit series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. The show was responsible for building a new home for the Creasey family in November… 2009. Because of the family’s commitment to Relay, during the home build, the local Relay For Life committee, community members, and Society staff hosted a 24-hour “extreme” Relay For Life event. The Relay event was in honor of Tricia Creasey — mother of three, school teacher, Relay survivorship chair, and team captain. She has been battling cancer since 2006.
Be sure to tune in or set your DVR. And bring tissues!
New Audi MMI with Google Earth Integration
January 20, 2010
Audi isn’t the first to add Google to its in-car information offerings. It is, however, the first to add Google Earth and then tie that in to a suite of mobile tools that will make using your navigation system almost as easy and comprehensive as using your home computer.
In the latest incarnation of Audi’s Multimedia Interface (MMI), Google Earth provides a bird’s-eye view of the surroundings. Then you can zoom over the landscape, choose a city to investigate and pull up its Wikipedia page. When you know where you want to go, let your finger do the typing on the touchpad to enter your destination. Follow the jump for a video of the system in action. The new A8 just got a little bit sweeter.
[Source: in2itech]
MicroCompactCar Defined
January 15, 2010
The Daimler AG brand smart fortwo that was introduced to the US market in January 2008 is a car that in the US has been called a “microcar”. The smart car has been called a micro car, a city car and a mini car, and by some a supermini—these terms are not new, and mean different things to different people. The British and other Europeans use the terms differently than Americans.
Outside the US, and outside American English, the definition of a micro car has a considerable amount of variation. This has to do with linguistic differences, and also varying jurisdictional, tax and licensing considerations, among other things—in some cases the definitions are quite limiting.
Not everyone in the US would use the micro term for a smart, and there are those in the US and those outside who would very definitely maintain that the smart is not a micro car in any way except in the most general sense of the word. There is a Shri Lankan company that makes vehicles called Micro but they refer to their Micro trend (name in small letters) model as a “city” car in terms of it’s class.
Interestingly, it was designed by Pininfarina. Micro the Shri Lankan Company only calls them micro cars because they are built by Micro the car company. There is also a French company called Microcar that manufactures what they consider microcars, and NEVs or Neighborhood Electric Vehicles, which are for short travel distances. Sometimes called “station cars” these are for very short trips. French Micro was founded as a division of the sailboat manufacturer Beneteau. Honda recently showed a pure concept car called the P-Nut or Personal Neo-Urban Transport..
Typical European microcars have had seats only for operator and occupant (smart fortwo fits here), but have had a range of displacement of about 50-500 cc (smart now has about 999 cc in the US gas-injection version), one wheel drive (smart has two), cable operated brakes (smart has fully-assisted hydraulic ABS brakes), quite simple suspensions (smarts are simple but not as simple), and 6-7-8 inch wheels (smart typically has in the US 15-17 inch wheels). So is the smart a true microcar in the Euopean sense? The smart fortwo is not considered a re-iteration or re-invention of the micro car—it is generally referred to as a “city” car which is another category altogether, but overlaps with the “micro” car category. The term “city” car is a very general term meaning a very small low power vehicle for use in the city or in urban areas. The term “urban” car is also used, or even “ultra-urban” and the smart is very definitely in the ultra urban city car category. In Europe these vehicles are an official car category known as “A-Segment” cars. Some small cars outside the US are referred to as CUVs or Compact Urban Vehicles. The term “minicar” generally refers to either a city car, a size category of Janpanese vehicle, the Brazilian Obvio!, the Bond Minicar from Great Britain, or the British Mini (1959-2000) or BMW MINI—though the last is sometimes called a supermini car.
A “supermini” is a British car classification name that is generally for cars larger than so-called “city” cars but smaller than a small family car. This term has been applied to smart cars but only if you do not call smart a “city” car, since a supermini is theoretically larger than a city car. Go figure. Even BMW’s Mini Cooper may be a super Mini but would not be any longer thought of as a “supermini”–go figure again. Some superminis are referred to as “hatchbacks” for obvious reasons. Smart is sometimes referred to simply as a hatchback car. The B-segment in Europe corresponds to the “Subcompact” in the US. Overall size of vehicle is an issue, but engine size seems to be a factor that is primary in importance in determining which cars belong in the category. Engine displacement over 700 cc seems to prevent inclusion into some notions of what a microcar is. Some definitions exclude cars whose production or manufacture ended before 1945. Historically, many microcars have been referred to as early as the 1920s as “cyclecars” and also “bubble” cars in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. Some of these have only three wheels.
Article written by Chris Sutch, smart center Annapolis, MD
A Real Two-Seater Supercar! Video
January 15, 2010
Have you ever wondered why all supercars are two-seaters?
This is the latest commercial from smart and it’s a funny one…
smart is also offering a free $25 Target gift when you test drive a smart car during smart Value Days! Click Here for more information.
What’s With the Quirky Transmission?
January 15, 2010
I wish I had a nickel for every time I’ve read that in print. The smart has had a lot of media attention since arriving in the US, some great, some not so great. Having been along for the whole ride of smart coming to America, (I was hired before the showroom construction was completed), I consider myself, as should you, a bit of an expert on the topic.
Now we’re all entitled to our own opinion but that doesn’t necessarily mean we have to subscribe to others opinions. Sometimes certain opinions are portrayed as facts and that’s when I get annoyed. Let’s look at the facts:
It is NOT a traditional 5 speed automatic
It is NOT a traditional manual
It IS an Automated Manual
What does that mean…? I’m glad you asked! It’s best to think of the smart as a manual that you can drive as an automatic, (wha?). You can put the car in Drive and go and never ever ever drive it as a manual, if you wish. In automatic mode the car chooses which gear you should be in and provides optimum fuel efficiency. The proper way to drive the car is to slightly ease off the accelerator when you feel it start to shift into the next gear, (like I said, it is not a traditional automatic). Those that say the transmission is “quirky or jerky or weird” have not been properly taught to drive a smart. That’s my job. C’mon down, I’d be thrilled to show you the uniqueness of the car and how to drive it properly.
But, your missing out, (in my opinion), on all the fun if you never drive the car as a manual. I like driving a manual transmission. My father taught me to drive in a manual car when I was sixteen. I think it’s fun and sporty and I love going through the gears and raising the RPMs and having that control of the power! I don’t, however, enjoy driving a manual sitting in rush hour traffic. What a nightmare. Clutch-gas-clutch-gas and the next thing you know you have a cramp in your leg and you’ve moved 7 inches. Here’s the cool part. The smart has an electric clutch. No stalling, no leg cramps. It’s the best of both worlds and makes the car even more awesome than it already is!
So there, thank you for letting me share my opinion. Oh, one more thing, open your mind…
Article written by Angela Sand Fiedorowicz, smart center Annapolis, MD
MileOne Tischer BMW has won the 2010 DealerRater BMW Dealer of the Year award
January 14, 2010
We are pleased to announce that MileOne Tischer BMW has won the 2010 DealerRater BMW Dealer of the Year award. This title is awarded to those dealerships who are committed to quality customer service and who receive numerous reviews demonstrating their excellence.
Since 2002, DealerRater.com has become a worldwide dealership review site featuring more than 24,000 US car dealers and 85,000 user reviews. DealerRater provides the opportunity for users to search for car dealerships, read current reviews, write their own review, and find car deals – all for free. Car Dealers are rated on the criteria of customer service, quality of work, friendliness, price and overall experience.
In 2008 MileOne became committed to the dealer review process in all locations. This decision was made to better understand our customers and to enable a car buying experience best in market. Ratings are like performance reviews. Based on a bad or good review, dealers are able to identify good processes and also where improvements are needed.
MileOne’s mission is to create an unparalleled car buying, ownership and service experience that puts the customer’s needs first and results in a lifetime relationship. Ratings are just one of many practices used to monitor that relationship.
We are extremely proud of that hard work our employees have done to prove our dealerships are the best. Also, thank you to all our great customers who have helped us get to this point. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure an unparalleled service.
Herb Gordon Volvo Installs New Top on Demitric Evans’ 1971 Olds Cutlass Convertible
January 13, 2010
Demitric Evans – Defensive Linebacker of the San Francisco 49ers and formally for the Washington Redskins has shipped his 1971 Olds Cutlass Convertible to Herb Gordon Volvo to have some work done.
Although Demitric is currently playing in San Francisco, his permanent residence still remains on the East Coast in Virginia and he continues to depend on Herb Gordon Volvo for all his automotive needs.
Manager, Ed Sarecky speaks highly regarding their relationship with the NFL athlete. “He is very loyal to us and we are glad to return the favor when we can. Most recently we shipped a used SUV to his mother in Louisiana and now we are thrilled to have the Cutlass in the repair shop.”
The antique car was purchased from Kentucky and is getting a new top. It is expected to be completed by the end of January, just in time for the off-season.
Next time you stop in ask about this classic car and just maybe you will be lucky enough to sneak a peek!
Ford Fusion Hybrid win Car and Transit Connect wins Truck of the Year
January 11, 2010
DETROIT — The Ford Fusion Hybrid was named the North American Car of the Year today while Ford’s Transit Connect picked up Truck of the Year accolades in a poll of journalists.
The Fusion Hybrid topped car finalists Buick LaCrosse and Volkswagen Golf. The Transit Connect came out on top over the Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Outback.
In the 17 years for the awards, U.S.-based automakers have taken home the car trophy nine times. European companies have won four times, Japanese three and South Korea’s Hyundai once.
In the truck category, domestics have claimed the crown 11 times, followed by four for Japanese makes and two for Europeans.
Last year, the Hyundai Genesis won car of the year, and the Ford F-150 pickup was honored as the top truck.
Hybrids, which have been becoming increasingly more popular, now have won five honors. More than 50 vehicles were considered this year.
Automotive News is represented on the 49-member voting panel by Executive Editor Edward Lapham.
[Shawn Wright, Automotive News]
Top 20 Best-Selling Vehicles of 2009
January 6, 2010
December’s new car sales were the highest of any month in 2009, with many key models picking up significant volume and most automakers posting a sales gain over December 2008, but it wasn’t enough to rescue the entire year.
The Ford F-Series full-size pickup and Toyota Camry midsize sedan were yet again the nation’s favorite vehicle and car, respectively, both December and throughout 2009.
Ford also saw strong success from its redesigned Fusion midsize sedan, which jumped from 17th place in 2008 to a slot on the top-10 best-selling list of 2009, and its Focus compact and Escape midsize weren’t far behind. The Escape was also the best-selling SUV in December, unseating the Honda CR-V that itself had stolen the crown from Ford’s Explorer several years ago.
General Motors, meanwhile, had an excellent month for its Chevrolet Malibu midsize, which beat out the Fusion and Nissan’s Altima in December to be the country’s third-best-selling midsize sedan, behind the Camry and Honda Accord. The Chevrolet Equinox compact/midsize SUV also did well at over 12,000 units — a record for the model — and the compact Chevrolet Cobalt’s sales improved from abysmal to just mediocre. GM did, however, see its best-seller — the Chevrolet Silverado pickup — slide below both the Toyota Camry and Corolla last month even as its own sales jumped significantly month-to-month. (see sales charts below the article)
In other Ford/GM news, the automakers’ ongoing rivalry between the Mustang and Camaro retro muscle cars saw the Ford inch closer to the sales of its rival, narrowing a once-mighty gap to just over 1,000. This Mustang sales increase comes even as Camaro sales stay strong at 7,500 last month and in the same month that Ford announced it would give massive upgrades to next year’s Mustang.
Best-selling cars of 2009
- Ford F-Series- 413,625
- Toyota Camry- 356,824
- Chevrolet Silverado- 316,544
- Toyota Corolla- 296,874
- Honda Accord- 290,056
- Honda Civic- 259,722
- Nissan Altima- 203,568
- Honda CR-V- 191,214
- Ford Fusion- 180,67
- Dodge Ram- 177,268
- Ford Escape- 173,044
- Chevrolet Impala- 165,565
- 1Chevrolet Malibu- 161,568
- Ford Focus- 160,433
- Toyota RAV4- 149,088
- Toyota Prius- 139,682
- Hyundai Sonata- 120,028
- GMC Sierra- 111,842
- Toyota Tacoma- 111,824
- Chevrolet Cobalt- 104,724
[Source: Examiner.com]
“from Autoblog by Jeremy Korzeniewski
