On the Move by Tallahassee Democrat

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ON-THE-MOVE

TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT » MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Confidence Comes Standard! Visit Cars.com for side-by-side comparisons, consumer, expert reviews and more! For advertising information, contact your local Cars.com On-The-Move Sales Team at 599-2329.

FRANKFURT, Germany —

Volkswagen is rolling out the latest version of its mainstay Golf hatchback in a key test of its ability widen its lead over other mass-market automakers in Europe, to lower manufacturing costs and overtake Toyota as

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White, 8 CYL, Auto. Stock #U593762M.

Vibrant White Clearcoat, 4 door, RWD, Sedan, 4Speed Automatic, 4.6L V8 16V MPFI SOHC, Stock# U541876B.

Cranberry, 4 door, RWD, Sedan, 4-Speed Automatic, 3.0L V6 24V MPFI DOHC, Stock# P033732A.

Natural White, 4 door, FWD, Minivan, 5-Speed Automatic, 3.3L V6 24V MPFI DOHC, Stock# S253421A.

Legacy Toyota

$6,000

Legacy Toyota

850-575-0168

$6,250

Legacy Toyota

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$6,500

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‘01 TOYOTA RAV4

‘09 CHEVROLET Cobalt

‘02 TOYOTA Highlander

‘06 LINCOLN Town Car

Titanium, 4 door, FWD, SUV, Automatic, 2.0L I4 16V MPFI DOHC, Stock# 1013090A.

Summit White, 4 door, FWD, Sedan, Automatic, 2.2L I4 16V MPFI DOHC, Stock# 10781P.

Millennium Silver Metallic, 4 door, AWD, SUV, 4Speed Automatic, 3.0L V6 24V MPFI DOHC, Stock# S155900A.

Silver Birch Clearcoat Metallic, 4 door, RWD, Sedan, 4-Speed Automatic, 4.6L V8 16V MPFI SOHC, Stock#

$8,000

Legacy Toyota

$9,250

Legacy Toyota

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$10,500

Legacy Toyota

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$11,750

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‘06 CHEVROLET Silverado 1500

‘10 TOYOTA Corolla

‘07 TOYOTA Camry

‘11 TOYOTA Corolla

Blue, 4 door, RWD, Extended Cab Pickup, 4-Speed Automatic, V8, Stock# 10798P.

Classic Silver Metallic, 4 door, FWD, Sedan, 4Speed Automatic, 1.8L I4 16V MPFI DOHC, Stock# P046598A. TOYOTA

Barcelona Red Metallic, 4 door, FWD, Sedan, 5Speed Automatic, 2.4L I4 16V MPFI DOHC, Stock# U556646M. TOYOTA

Magnetic Gray Metallic, 4 door, FWD, Sedan, 4-Speed Automatic, 1.8L I4 16V MPFI DOHC, Stock# 10811P. TOYOTA

$12,500

Legacy Toyota

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Legacy Toyota

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le Nw. ir c

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‘04 TOYOTA Sienna

$5,900

St .

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Mission R d.

W. Th a r p e

N N ES S E E S T R E ET

Cap

3800 W.Tennessee St • Tallahassee

W. TE

‘01 CADILLAC Catera

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TD-0000215507

LEGACY TOYOTA

‘02 FORD Crown Victoria

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Legacy Toyota

‘88 CHEVROLET Corvette

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Legacy Toyota

LOOS/AP

See GOLF » 4D

na 850-575-0168 n o g e r ’ “You his place!” www.LegacyToy.com www.12000under.com love t

Legacy Toyota

Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn stands next to the new Volkswagen Golf 7 during the model’s launch Tuesday in Berlin. STEFFI

Associated Press

B a r i n ea u R d .

VW launches lighter, more fuel-efficient Golf model

By David McHugh

Compact sedans go upscale T

he Buick Verano was a new compact sedan for 2012. It seats up to ﬁve people and competes with the Acura ILX. An all-new model for Acura, the ﬁvepassenger ILX compact sedan is the brand’s new entry-level model, and is priced below the TSX sedan.

2013 Buick Verano

Starting MSRP: $23,080 to $29,105 ■ A new Verano Turbo debuts in late 2012 with a 250-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that pairs with a standard sixspeed automatic transmission or an optional six-speed manual; newly standard backup camera; standard Buick IntelliLink system, which uses Bluetooth or the USB port to pair a smartphone to the touch-screen stereo; base 180-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder. ■ City: 21 mpg; Highway: 32 mpg

HONDA

COMPARISON

New or notable

Fuel economy

2013 Acura ILX

Starting MSRP: $25,900 to $29,200 ■ Relatively high mileage; keyless access standard. The base engine is a 150-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder. It teams with a ﬁve-speed automatic transmission with a selectable manual mode. A second all-gas engine is a 201-hp, 2.4-liter fourcylinder that comes only with a six-speed-manual transmission. Hybrid version available. ■ City: 22 to 24 mpg; Highway: 31 to 35 mpg

■ Features familiar Buick styling cues including a chrome waterfall grille, blue-tinted projector-beam headlights and porthole appliques on the hood. Exterior features include: 18-inch wheels; daytime running lights; automatic headlights.

Exterior

■ The ILX simultaneously plays down the silver grille in other Acura models and spices up other aspects of the car’s design. The front bumper is more intricate, and hood creases and side character lines are more pronounced than you’ll ﬁnd on the TSX. Small exterior differences accompany the drivetrain choices.

■ Inside, upscale appointments include soft-touch trim, ambient lighting and a woven headliner that’s designed to make the cabin more quiet. Additional sound-deadening measures include acoustical laminated glass and triple-sealed doors. Interior features include: available push-button start and remote start; automatic air conditioning; 14.3-cubic-foot trunk.

Interior

■ The base ILX interior has cloth upholstery with imitation leather side bolsters on the front seats. Higher trim levels come in the form of two option packages. The Premium and Technology packages add leather, heated front seats, a stereo upgrade and a backup camera. The Technology option adds a top-level stereo with digital music storage, a navigation system, an information system and a multiview backup camera. Standard features include keyless access with push-button start and a modest degree of smartphone integration. Even without the navigation system, the ILX provides a color display similar to Honda’s simple, streamlined i-MID system. The center control panel is clean and easily navigated, anchored by Acura’s multifunction controller knob.

■ Standard safety features include: front and rear side-impact airbags; side curtain airbags and knee airbags; all-disc antilock brakes; electronic stability system.

Safety

■ Standard safety features include: front, side and side curtain airbags; antilock brakes; electronic stability system with traction control.

2 » MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 » TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT » ONTHEMOVE

Gem Mazda

‘99 MAZDA 626 LX

‘05 CHRYSLER Town & Country

‘03 MAZDA MX-5 Miata LS

‘04 HONDA Civic LX

Stock #2827A. 148,509 Miles. 4 Door. 4-Speed Automatic. DOHC V6.

Touring EXT. Stock #2894A. 97,520 Miles. 4 Door. 4-Speed Automatic. OHV 12V V6.

Convertible. Stock #P890. 117,514 Miles. 2 Door. 5-Speed Manual. DOHC Inline 4-Cylinder.

Stock #2837A. 91,483 Miles. 2 Door. 4-Speed Automatic. 1.7L I4 16V MPFI SOHC.

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‘06 CHEVROLET Impala LS

‘03 LEXUS ES 300 Base

‘11 MITSUBISHI Galant FE

Stock #2832A. 90,150 Miles. 4 Door. 4-Speed Automatic. 3500 OHV V6.

Stock #2621A. 134,720 Miles. 4 Door. 5-Speed Automatic. DOHC 24Valve V6.

Stock #P908. 31,005 Miles. 4 Door. 4-Speed Automatic. SOHV MIVEC I-4.

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Stock #P928. 69,944 Miles. 2 Door. 4-Speed Automatic. DOHC 16V VVT-I I-4.

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‘04 MINI Cooper S

‘08 HONDA Civic EX-L

‘06 MITSUBISHI Eclipse GT

‘10 CHEVROLET Cobalt 1LT

Stock #2853A. 84,143 Miles. 3 Door. 6-Speed Manual. Supercharged I-4.

Stock #2868A. 90,723 Miles. 4 Door. 5-Speed Automatic. SOHC I-VTEC 16V I-4.

Stock #P917A. 57,396 Miles. 2 Door. 5-Speed Automatic. SOHC 24Valve V6.

Stock #2767B. 44,056 Miles. 2 Door. 4-Speed Automatic. ECOTEC DOHC 16V VVT I-4.

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‘11 TOYOTA Corolla LE

‘10 DODGE Caliber R/T

‘09 MAZDA 6 iTouring

‘05 JEEP Wrangler Sport

Stock #P903. 32,865 Miles. 4 Door. 4-Speed Automatic. DOHC 16V I-4.

Stock #2810A. 9,908 Miles. 5-Door. CTV2 Automtic. DOHC 16V VVT I-4.

Stock #P933. 45,076 Miles. 4 Door. 5-Speed Automatic. DOHC VVT 16V I4.

Stock #2350A. 59,187 Miles. 2 Door. OHV Power Tech 12V I-6. 6-Speed Manual.

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‘09 NISSAN Altima 2.5 S

‘07 MAZDA CX-7 Grand Touring

‘09 MAZDA 3 iTouring

Stock #P905. 30,970 Miles. 4 DR. 5-Speed Automatic. SOHC I-VTEC 16V I-4.

Stock #P924. 32,887 Miles. 4 Door. CVT Automatic. DOHC 16V I-4.

Stock #2823B.47,892 Miles. 5 Door. 6-Speed Automatic. Turbo Charged DISI 16V I-4.

Stock #2855A. 47,607 Miles. 4-Door. 4-Speed Automatic. DOHC VVT 16V I-4.

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‘08 JEEP Grand Cherokee

‘08 MAZDA MX-5 Miata Touring

‘09 MAZDA RX-8 Grand Touring

‘09 TOYOTA Highlander Base

Laredo. Stock #2762B. 65,985 Miles. 5-Door. 5-Speed Automatic. 3.7L V6 SOHC.

Convertible. Stock #P934. 23,754 Miles. 2 Door. 6-Speed Manual. DOHC 16V I4.

Stock #P912. 43,844 Miles. 5 Door. 6-Speed Automatic. Renesis 2Rotor.

Stock #P936. 81,250 Miles. 5 Door. 5-Speed Automatic. DOHC VVT-I 24V V6.

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TD-0000215506

ONTHEMOVE » TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT » MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 » 3

Continued » 1D

the world’s biggest automaker. The new Golf looks much like the old one, but the key differences are on the inside. The car has been completely redesigned and based on a new common mechanical structure for the chassis, engine and other basic parts. The new Golf is “the acid test” in VW’s efforts to ramp up mass produc-

The car has been completely redesigned and based on a new common mechanical structure for the chassis, engine and other basic parts. tion and achieve lower costs while maintaining quality standards, according to Marc-Rene Tonn at Warburg Research. The car is the company’s mass-market flagship, having sold

29 million since it was introduced in 1974. The common structure will underpin not just the Golf, but other Volkswagen vehicles. Savings from sharing parts should make the compa-

ny’s cars cheaper to build, analysts say. Those savings in turn will help VW add on more environmental, safety and energy-saving features that will help Volkswagen reap higher profit margins. The common structure — with the jawbreaker name of modular transversal toolkit, or MBQ from its German abbreviation — will eventually underpin the Polo, Golf and Passat models as well

TRENDS

as some Skoda, Audi and SEAT models. It actually debuted with the Audi A3 in June, but the Golf represents much bigger manufacturing volume. The company said Wednesday that the new Golf will go on sale Nov. 10 in Germany, and orders are being taken now. The basic model starts at $21,353 — same as the old one. The company is not saying when the new version will make it to the other markets such as the

United States. The MBQ common structure will mean that 40 to 50 percent of parts could be shared based on value. Volkswagen is telling analysts it will mean 20 percent savings in manufacturing costs and similar savings on the fixed costs already sunk into developing new versions. By 2018, vehicles using the platform may represent two-thirds of VW’s global output.

TRENDS

Best-selling cars in August

Toyota, Honda sales surge for Accord, Civic, Corolla, Matrix

NISSAN

A fuel-economy-plus model of the 2013 Sentra will get 40 mpg on the highway.

New Sentra due at dealers can be equipped with a manual. The FE+ (fuel economy plus) modhe 2013 Nissan Sentra is redesigned with a new engine and a more up- els will get 40 mpg on the highway, scale look, inside and out. The compact Nissan says. CVT-equipped models sedan, which hits dealerships this fall, are rated at 39 mpg on the highway. Leather seats are newly gets lighter, longer and more AD MORE AT RE available, as is maple woodfuel efﬁcient for 2013. tone trim. They join a redeThe Sentra grows 2.3 signed instrument panel. inches longer and wears Go to Cars.com for Newly standard are a tilt/ the Altima’s new trapezoidreviews and advice, and shaped grille and similar www.kickingtires.net for telescoping steering column, news and updates. six-way manual driver’s seat, wraparound headlights with two auxiliary 12-volt power LED accents. All models are powered by a new outlets, remote keyless entry and the 130-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylin- Easy Fill Tire Alert system. Options der engine. Nissan says its continuous- include the NissanConnect navigation ly variable transmission is standard system, dual-zone automatic climate across the lineup, but base S models control and Bluetooth connectivity. KICKINGTIRES.NET

4 » MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 » TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT » ONTHEMOVE

TOYOTA

Sales of the Toyota Corolla and Matrix, above, increased nearly 50 percent in August. KICKINGTIRES.NET

ew-car sales in August continued a trend that dates to May: massive gains for Toyota and Honda relative to an earthquake-stymied 2011, with solid — albeit smaller — gains among other major automakers. The industry’s seven biggest automakers gained 20.4 percent in August sales. The highest gains among big sellers came from the Honda Accord and Civic, whose combined sales nearly doubled. Toyota Corolla and Matrix sales increased nearly 50 percent. Detroit winners included the new Ford Escape and Chevrolet Cruze.

Top-selling vehicles in August 1. Ford F-Series: 58,201 2. Chevy Silverado: 38,295 3. Toyota Camry: 36,720 4. Honda Accord: 34,848 5. Ford Escape: 28,188 6. Chevrolet Cruze: 25,975 7. Nissan Altima: 25,889 8. Ram Trucks: 25,215 9. Honda Civic: 24,897 10. Toyota Corolla/Matrix: 24,311 KICKINGTIRES.NET

REVIEW

TRENDS

Cadillac scores big with ATS for entry-luxury buyers

PHOTOS BY HYUNDAI

The Santa Fe Sport, above and below, offers an optional turbocharged engine.

PHOTOS BY GM

Starting price for the 2013 Cadillac ATS, above and below, is $33,990. By JAMES R. HEALEY USA TODAY

adillac, which needed an entry car more like the BMW 3 Series, started from scratch and came up with the ATS. It’s the smallest, lightest, least-expensive Caddy and the only one offering four-cylinder engines. ATS might lack the purely Germanic feel of a BMW or Audi, but ATS is roundly satisfying to drive. It provides crisp handling, quick acceleration, snappy braking, responsive steering, and entertaining technology. The 3 Series that’s in Caddy’s cross-hairs is $3,405 more expensive, though it comes with more power: 240 horsepower vs. 202 horsepower from the ATS’ base 2.5-liter four-cylinder. The other two ATS engines are a new-design 2-liter turbo four rated 272 horsepower and GM’s 3.6-liter V-6 rated 321 hp. Impressions: ■ Track. Everybody ought to have

access to a race course to exercise this kind of car. The manual transmission that felt too stiff and balky on regular roads became just-so in slap-it-hard track driving. ■ Engines. Eager and quick to answer the throttle. But if you drive the turbo four or the V-6 ﬁrst, the base four will seem tepid. ■ Dynamics. Steering’s nicely centered, responsive. Suspension is ﬁrm, but not harsh. Brakes are wonderfully free of the spongy-pedal feel, and they seem to haul the car down promptly from high speed. ■ Tech. The full-on CUE (Cadillac user experience) system lets you amuse yourself for hours learning things it’ll do that you didn’t even know you might want a car to do. Not so good: sliding bar for stereo volume. Knobs, please. No better way. ATS is a delight and is the credible starter model Caddy has needed to snag entry-luxury buyers.

2013 Santa Fe Sport all new wheel drive with models starting at he all-new ﬁve-passenger 2013 $27,025, and numerous option packagHyundai Santa Fe Sport — not es that offer features such as automatic to be confused with the seven- headlights, leather seating, power drivpassenger 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe — er’s seat with four-way lumbar control, heated rear seats, dual zone starts at $25,275, including AD MORE AT RE climate control, back-up an $825 destination fee. camera, navigation, and panThe thoroughly redesigned oramic sunroof. 2013 Santa Fe Sport is The 2013’s optional tur$1,225 more expensive than Go to Cars.com for and advice, and bocharged 2.0-liter fourthe outgoing 2012 Santa Fe. reviews www.kickingtires.net for cylinder engine makes 264 Standard equipment innews and updates. horsepower. Choosing the cludes the 2.4-liter engine and Santa Fe Sport 2.0T with six-speed automatic transmission from the Sonata sedan, 17-inch alloy turbocharged four-cylinder and frontwheels, LED headlight accents, satellite wheel drive bumps pricing to $28,525. radio with USB input, Bluetooth connec- The 2.0T also adds 19-inch wheels, tivity and Hyundai’s Blue Link commu- dual exhaust and smart key entry with push-button start. Adding all-wheel nication system. Optional equipment includes all- drive brings 2.0T pricing to $30,275.

KICKINGTIRES.NET

ONTHEMOVE » TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT » MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 » 5

Pickups drive auto sales By Tom Krisher Associated Press

DETROIT — Strong pickup demand fueled a big jump in U.S. auto sales last month. GM’s August U.S. sales rose 10 percent compared with a year earlier, while Ford’s rose 13 percent and Chrysler’s 14 percent. Most automakers reported strong gains as

Americans flowed into dealer showrooms, drawn by model-year closeouts, low-interest financing and appealing new models. Pickups, traditionally the top sellers in the U.S., drove much of the business, thanks to a recovering housing market. Sales of Ford’s F-Series trucks rose 19 percent, while Chrysler’s Ram jumped

by the same. GM’s pickups, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, among the oldest trucks in the market, saw a 6 percent sales increase.

Holding off on purchases The overall increase was mainly because of pent-up demand as consumers and businesses

were forced to replace aging cars and pickup trucks, said Yingzi Su, GM’s senior economist. The average age of a vehicle on U.S. road is approaching 11 years. “People have been holding off on new purchases for such a long time, since 2008 to now,” she said. See SALES » 8D

REVIEW

Chrysler’s U.S. sales rose 14 percent in August. AP

TRENDS

Grand Caravan lowers price

TOYOTA

Family-friendly features on the 2012 Prius include a low step-in height for toddlers.

Prius takes care of families By SARA LACEY

CARS.COM FAMILY

2012 Toyota Prius

Starting MSRP: $24,000 to $29,805

he 2012 Toyota Prius is a great car for smaller families. It easily handles kids and a good amount step-in height that’s a snap for toddlers of cargo, and it gets amazing gas mile- to manage. The Prius still wows with age. MORE AT EAD its fuel-economy numbers: This wasn’t my first time R 51/48 mpg city/highway. It test-driving the Prius. I’m aluses a 98-hp, 1.8-liter fourways fascinated that no matter what I do — short of taking a Go to Cars.com and cylinder engine and an elecwww.kickingtires.net for road trip — I can’t get the gas family-oriented news and tric motor to make 134 hp. reviews about cars It’s a good amount of power gauge below half a tank over and can get peppy for when the course of a week. This gas-electric hybrid has surpris- you’re not driving so eco-consciously. There are tons of cubbies, bins and ingly good pickup. It gets up to speed shelves in the Prius’ front row. In the without any hesitation and is easy to backseat, space and storage are a little manage in stop-and-go traffic. What’s a benefit to families is the low tighter but not by much.

6 » MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 » TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT » ONTHEMOVE

CHRYSLER

Dodge is dropping the price of the Grand Caravan base trim by $1,000 for 2013. KICKINGTIRES.NET

or 2013, Dodge is lowering the Grand Caravan’s starting price by $1,000; prices stay the same for the other versions. The 2013 Grand Caravan in base American Value Package trim, which goes on sale this fall, starts at $20,990, including a $995 destination charge. The base AVP model again joins SE, SXT, Crew and R/T trim levels. Power still comes from the 283-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6. Standard features on the lower-price entry model include seven airbags, second-row in-ﬂoor storage bins, third-row Stow ’n Go seating,

power windows, locks and mirrors, remote keyless entry and cruise control. Standard on AVP is a second-row bench seat, replacing other models’ buckets. The bench reclines, folds and is removable. In other Grand Caravan lineup news, a new Blu-ray video player will be available on Crew and R/T versions. It can play Blu-ray discs and DVDs. New-for-2013 standards across the board include 17-inch wheels (up from 16s) and trailer-sway control. Options such as a Black/Sandstorm interior color scheme and 17-inch aluminum wheels are new for 2013.

Ford issues another Escape recall By Tom Krisher Associated Press

DETROIT — Ford is recalling 7,600 new Escapes to fix coolant leaks that can cause engines to overheat or catch fire. The recall affects 2013 models with 1.6-liter fourcylinder engines. Plugs in the engine may not have been installed properly and can fall out while the

motor is running. Coolant can leak and cause engines to overheat. Dealers have repair parts available and owners should make service appointments as soon as possible, said Ford spokeswoman Marcey Zwiebel. Ford will fix the problem for free. It’s the third recall in less than two months for the completely rede-

signed SUV, which also has had problems with fuel lines and carpet padding. In July, the company recalled 11,500 Escapes to fix lines that can crack, leak and cause fires. That same month, Ford said it would recall more than 10,000 of the vehicles to fix carpet padding that can interfere with braking. Three recalls in two

months shows there are quality problems with the new vehicle, said Clarence Ditlow, executive director for the Center for Auto Safety, a consumer group. But Zwiebel said the recalls show that Ford is responding quickly to problems and that they are not a sign of quality issues. Ford issued the latest

recall after getting a single report from a dealership, and no customers had filed complaints about the problem, she said. The dealer reported that the fire broke out in an Escape driven by an employee. Coolant spilled onto hot engine parts and caused a fire that was quickly put out, Zwiebel said, adding that no one

TRENDS

was hurt. About 2,000 of the recalled Escapes are still on dealer lots, she said. The engines on the recalled SUVs were built from Oct. 5, 2011 to Aug. 31, 2012 at a Ford factory in England. Older-model Escapes, which are completely different vehicles from the new ones, also have been See ESCAPE » 8D

TRENDS

2012 Camry SE Sport gets in the game

CHRYSLER

The 2013 Ram 1500 with a 3.6-liter V6 engine will get 17/25 mpg city/highway. TOYOTA

The 2012 Camry SE Sport features navigation and a powered moonroof. KICKINGTIRES.NET

s the ﬁrst model year for the new eighth-generation Toyota Camry comes to an end, Toyota has announced a limited-edition SE model that offers an array of features for an extra $2,775. Called the 2012 Toyota Camry SE Sport, the sporty-minded model will be available with limited color options and will be produced only for about three months. Compared with the regular SE trim, the SE Sport adds 18-inch alloy wheels, an eight-way powered driver’s seat, a powered tilt/slide moonroof and a 6.1-inch touch-

screen with navigation and Entune for $25,995, excluding a $795 destination fee. Like all SE trims, the SE Sport comes with a ﬁrmer suspension and quicker steering; a leather-wrapped, three-spoke steering wheel; and paddle shifters. The SE Sport is only available with a 178-horsepower four-cylinder and a six-speed automatic transmission. It comes in three exterior colors: Barcelona Red, Attitude Black or Blizzard Pearl, all paired to a black/ash interior color. The model is in limited production through early November.

Ram readies 1500 pickup Seeks to entice buyers with fuel efﬁciency, new technology

USA TODAY AND DETROIT FREE PRESS

rmed with a substantially upgraded Ram 1500 pickup and 20 percent improvement in fuel efficiency, Chrysler hopes to lure buyers from competitors even though truck owners are fiercely loyal to their brands. The 2013 Ram 1500 has a new engine and eight-speed transmission while introducing Chrysler’s first stop-start system and an air-suspension system to adjust clearance. Pricing starts at $23,585, including a $995 destination charge. Chrysler picked Ram to introduce start-stop technology that turns off the engine when idled and restarts upon acceleration. It is a feature on a new high-

fuel-efﬁciency 2013 Ram for customers who cite fuel economy as a major consideration in choosing a pickup. The HFE version gets 18 mpg in the city. The 2013 model hits showrooms in October with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine generating 305 horsepower and 269 pounds-feet of torque and an eightspeed transmission replacing the old four-speed. The extra gears contribute to fuel economy of 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway. Ram will continue to offer its 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine that could also have leading fuel economy numbers when it goes on sale early next year with the eight-speed transmission.

ONTHEMOVE » TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT » MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 » 7

Continued » 6D

August sales could hit more than1.2 million vehicles, up around 20 percent from a year earlier, analysts predict.

Recovering from 2011 earthquake Toyota, which now has a full inventory of new cars at dealers, continued its recovery from last year. Sales grew almost 46 percent. Like Toyota, Honda saw its factories hobbled by the earthquake in Japan last year; it reported a 60 percent increase led by the Civic compact, CR-V small SUV and the Accord midsize sedan. Kia sales rose 21.5 percent from a year earlier, while Hyundai’s rose only 4 percent over strong numbers from August 2011. Volkswagen continued its staggering growth. Sales jumped 63 percent on strong demand for the Jetta and Passat sedans.

Chrysler also reported a big spike in minivans, with sales of the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country each rising more than 30 percent.

New models help rebound from July At Ford, sales rebounded from a poor July, driven by the new Escape and Explorer crossover SUVs. The redesigned Escape bounced back from a safety recall last month to increase 37 percent. Explorer large SUV sales were up 33 percent. GM also recovered from a bad July, with all four of its brands reporting increases. Chevy sales were up 11 percent, led by the Cruze compact. The Sonic subcompact, which had barely reached showrooms in August of last year, saw sales jump to more than 8,700. GM also said it was helped by heavy advertising on the Olympics and a full month of a money-

back guarantee program for Chevrolets.

Incentives up, interest rates down Customers likely found good deals on 2012 models last month. Chrysler is offering $4,289 in discounts on the Ram 1500, Edmunds said, while Honda raised its incentives 27 percent in August from July to an average of $1,666 per vehicle. Buyers also were drawn out by new models such as the midsize Nissan Altima and the Dodge Dart compact, said Jeff Schuster, senior vice president at LMC Automotive. Chrysler sold more than 3,000 Darts in its first full month on the market. Low interest rates also were pulling people in. A 48-month new-car loan averaged 2.98 percent last week, according to Bankrate.com. Automakers were offering no-interest loans on some models.

All People Are Approved With A Job And Money Down

Chevrolet Buick of Quincy

TD 0000215500

Chevrolet Buick of Quincy

Ford is recalling about 7,600 Escape SUVs to fix coolant leaks that can cause fires. The recall affects 2013 Escapes with 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. AP Continued » 7D

recalled recently. Ford recalled nearly 485,000 of them in late July to fix sticking gas pedals that can cause crashes. That worldwide recall covered the following Escapes: the 2001 through

CHEVROLET • BUICK • GMC

2004 model years powered by 3-liter V-6 engines with cruise control. U.S. safety regulators received 68 complaints about the problem, including 13 crashes, nine injuries and one death. A teenage girl died when an Escape crashed in Arizona in January.

2039 W JEFFERSON ST, QUINCY 850-875-4200 SALES: MON-FRI 9AM-8PM; SAT 9AM-6:30PM; SUN CLOSED SERVICE: MON-FRI 7:30AM-8PM; SAT 7:30-12PM; SUN CLOSED

QUINCYCHEVROLETBUICK.COM

‘03 CHRYSLER PT Cruiser

‘05 CHEVROLET Impala

‘06 VOLKSWAGEN Jetta

‘04 GMC Yukon

Black Clearcoat, 4 door, FWD, Wagon, 2.4L I4 16V MPFI DOHC, Stock# 5529575.

Laser Blue Metallic, 4 door, FWD, Sedan, 4Speed Automatic, 3.4L V6 12V MPFI OHV, Stock# 5208736.

Blue Graphite, 4 door, FWD, Sedan, Automatic, 2.5L I5 20V MPFI DOHC, Stock# 5796811.

Pewter Metallic, 4 door, 4WD, SUV, 4-Speed Automatic, 5.3L V8 16V MPFI OHV Flexible Fuel, Stock# 5282025.

$6,484

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$7,784

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$9,184

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$13,884

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‘07 FORD Edge

‘11 CHEVROLET Malibu

‘05 TOYOTA Tundra

‘11 CHEVROLET Malibu

RedWre Metallic, 4 door, AWD, SUV, 6-Speed Automatic, 3.5L V6 24V MPFI DOHC, Stock# 5B07513.

Silver Ice Metallic, 4 door, FWD, Sedan, 6-Speed Automatic, 2.4L I4 16V MPFI DOHC, Stock# 3379850.

Natural White, 4 door, 4WD, Crew Cab Pickup, 5-Speed Automatic, 4.7L V8 32V MPFI DOHC, Stock# 5471173.

Brown, 4 door, FWD, Sedan, 6-Speed Automatic, 2.4L I4 16V MPFI DOHC, Stock# 9177593.

$14,084

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$15,284

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$15,995

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$16,484

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‘08 DODGE Ram 1500

‘09 VOLKSWAGEN New Beetle

‘12 CHEVROLET Cruze

‘11 DODGE Ram 1500

Electric Blue, 4 door, RWD, Crew Cab Pickup, Automatic, 5.7L V8 16V MPFI OHV, Stock# 5109750.

Silver, 2 door, FWD, Convertible, 6-Speed Automatic, 2.5L I5 20V MPFI DOHC, Stock# 5411864.

Blue, 4 door, FWD, Sedan, 1.8L I4 16V MPFI DOHC, Stock# 3280555.

Flame Red, 4 door, RWD, Crew Cab Pickup, Automatic, 4.7L V8 16V MPFI SOHC Flexible Fuel, Stock# 3674033.

$18,184

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$18,684

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$18,880

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$20,084

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YOU WON’T BUY FOR LESS! IF YOU HAVE BEEN SHOPPING FOR A NEW CHEVY, BUICK, OR GMC - I WILL GIVE YOU A PERSONAL GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE THE BEST PRICING AND THE VERY BEST SERVICE BAR - NONE 8 » MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 » TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT » ONTHEMOVE