Monday, August 8, 2011
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Study: New, redesigned autos more appealing By Salvador Rodriguez Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — Although the reliability of new and redesigned automobiles fell, consumers generally found them more appealing, according to an annual survey. New launches and revamped models paid off for carmakers across the board as they appealed more to consumers than carryover vehicles, the 2011 J. D. Power & Associates Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout study found. While kinks in the new launches hurt reliability ratings — many got lower scores in last month’s J.D. Power reliability study — the fresh looks of and new technologies in those same models were found to be highly appealing to consumers. The appeal survey measured what consumers liked and disliked most about their vehicles during their first three months of ownership. New technologies, such as Ford’s MyFord Touch touchscreen system, resulted in automakers getting poor reliability scores, but consumers were attracted by them. “People want the experience they have outside their car to be echoed inside their car,” said Jeremy Anwyl, chief executive of auto information company Edmunds.com. “People want the functionality, but you shouldn’t make it work like a smartphone.” New model launches are “where a manufacturer really has an opportunity to redesign a vehicle or launch an all-new vehicle, something that resonates well, something that creates great buzz,” said Raffi Festekjian, director of automotive research for J.D. Power.
New technologies, such as Ford’s MyFord Touch touch-screen system, resulted in automakers getting poor reliability scores, but consumers were attracted by them. Leading the way in appeal were Dodge and BMW, each winning in three categories. It was a boost for Dodge, which was cited as the least reliable nameplate in last month’s J.D. Power quality study. The redesigned Durango and Charger models had the highest scores for appeal in their respective segments, while the Charger had the biggest improvement in its score. “We put a lot of effort into 16 new cars, and this is where we really get an opportunity to see how much the people who bought the new cars liked them,” said Doug Betts, Chrysler Group senior vice president of quality. Keeping pace with its performance in 2010, BMW, with its redesigned X3 and 5 Series, earned the third spot in overall nameplate appeal behind Porsche and Jaguar. Dodge finished 26th out of 32 brands. “Two of their redesigned models — you have the 5 Series and the X3 — pretty much hit their marks, and consumers are delighted with their vehicles,” Festekjian said. “BMW owners like several aspects of their vehicles.” Porsche also kept a streak going, being named the top nameplate for the seventh year
Chrysler
The 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 is one of four high-performance models Chrysler Group is reintroducing to establish its new stand-alone SRT brand. in a row. “Porsche across the board, with all of its vehicles, does really well, and a lot of that is due to exterior styling,” Festekjian said. In 2010, domestic vehicles beat out imports in appeal for the first time since 1997, but that was not the case in 2011. European and Asian manufacturers improved the appeal of their vehicles. But the industry as a whole reached new heights, earning its highest score in the history of the study: a 781 in a 1,000-point scale, up from 778 in 2010.
The 2011 BMW X3 xDrive35i is the unabashed sports car of the luxury compact SUV segment. Don Kelsen/ los Angeles Times
Page 2 / Monday, August 8, 2011
Tallahassee Democrat / OnTheMOve
Infiniti combines fuel economy, luxury in M Hybrid By Susan Carpenter
2012 INFINITI M HYBRID
Los Angeles Times
Shuddering in anticipation of increasing federal fuel economy standards, luxury car manufacturers that traditionally paid little attention to gas consumption are finally paying heed. Take Nissan’s up-market marque, Infiniti, which for 2012 introduced its first-ever hybrid, the M. Few green-leaning people of means want to swap their prime rib for soy patties, so it follows that Infiniti would design its hybrid luxury sport sedan for drivers who want better fuel economy and performance too. Let the less financially endowed downsize with Nissan’s low-budget Versa. Moneyed folk still want to revel in climate-controlled leather seats and a vehicle with enough power to keep lesser cars in rear view. Starting at $54,595 after destination charge, the 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid costs $6,000 more than the V-6 version of Infiniti’s M37 — the car the M Hybrid is based upon. In hybrid form, the mid-size sport sedan is the first car to achieve 360 horsepower and a fuel economy rating of 32 miles per gallon on the highway from the Environmental Protection Agency. The M Hybrid is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, a 50-kilowatt electric motor and a 1.4-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery. The M Hybrid is the first car on the market to employ a one-motor parallel hybrid with a double clutch that feeds power directly to a seven-speed automatic transmission for better accelerator-pedal response. It gets 30 percent better fuel economy than the gas-powered M37. Actual results, of course, vary. There are four different drive modes in the M Hybrid — Standard, Snow, Sport and Eco. Being a bit of a green jeans, I spent my first day or so in Eco mode, which was surprisingly responsive despite the car’s design to reduce throttle sensitivity
n Base price: $54,595
Photos by MCt
Infiniti’s M Hybrid is the first car to achieve 360 horsepower and a fuel economy rating of 32 miles per gallon on the highway from the Environmental Protection Agency. It’s a hybrid luxury sport sedan for drivers who want better fuel economy and performance too. when driving in that mode. Flooring it, however, my right foot engaged in a wrestling match with the accelerator pedal. When I pressed the pedal to the floor too hard, it actually pushed back. Part of the technology package on the test car I was driving is what’s called an eco-pedal, which works as a training mechanism for the lead-footed. In the best of circumstances, i.e., feather-footed driving, the Eco mode yields as much as a 10 percent fuel economy gain. The M Hybrid drives as a pure electric vehicle as much as half the time. It can travel as a pure electric up to a speed of 62 mph when accelerating and up to 85 mph when coasting. That’s enormously significant. Many hybrids get better fuel economy in the city because of a lower top speed in pure electric mode. The M Hybrid, with its higher top electric speed, enables it to get 32 mpg on the highway versus 27 mpg in the city. In an ideal world, the fre-
quent transitions between the gas-powered engine and electric motor would be seamless, but that isn’t always the case with the M Hybrid. I was often startled by the shimmy of the gas engine as it took over the car’s propulsion, especially at low speeds and when idling. On a lesser car, that shimmy would be a deal breaker, but there’s a lot of deep thinking to the details of the M Hybrid. Aesthetically, the M
Hybrid’s exterior design is quite va-va-voom. It’s curvaceous yet athletic. It’s also welcoming. Literally. Approaching the car at night, the presence of the key fob triggers an illumination of the door handles. And once the door is opened, the car lights the way through startup, washing the door frame in light as the driver settles in, then illuminating the ignition button. There is a single trim level for the M hybrid, though
several upgrades are available. The test car was outfitted with technology, deluxe touring, premium and 18-inch wheel packages, which added $10,800 to the car’s price altogether. For those who appreciate artistry and elegance, the deluxe touring package is especially worth the money. I was particularly enamored with the Japanese white ash wood trim, which made its debut on the 2011 M37. Finished with silver dust, the inlaid wood in the center stack and dash has an alluring metallic sparkle unlike any I’ve seen on a wood surface, either inside a car or in furniture. The M Hybrid’s optional Forest Air system is an intriguing take on ventilation, alternating the vents through which the air flows to mimic a natural breeze, while twin speakers in the shoulders of the driver’s and front passenger seats upped the amplification and surround sound of the car’s premium Bose audio. Most of the tech package is
(including destination charge) n Price as tested: $65,395 n Powertrain: Sequential multi-port fuel injection, DOHC, 3.5-liter, V-6, four valves per cylinder, Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid System with 50-kilowatt electric motor and 1.4-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, seven-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode n Curb weight: 4,129 pounds n Overall length: 194.7 inches n Wheelbase: 114.2 inches n 0 to 60: 5.4 seconds n EPA fuel economy estimate: 27 mpg city/32 mpg highway n Final thoughts: Luxurious performance without the mpg guilt
overkill, including the lanedeparture and forward-collision warning systems, which beep whenever the car senses it’s in danger. For drivers awake at the wheel, the beeps will be as welcome as a nagging spouse. All the beeping just made me feel like a bad driver, especially when I was carrying passengers. I took the M Hybrid to San Diego for a long weekend with a fellow mom. Together, we were carrying three kids and three major pieces of luggage, all of which fit comfortably in the back seat and trunk. Overall, I found the ride quality comfortable, but the road noise was ever-so-slightly more than I would have liked for a car at this price point. Still, the M Hybrid hits a sweet spot, marrying enough luxury trimmings to satisfy the hedonistic with great off-the-line performance and fuel economy that won’t make luxury-oriented greenies cringe.
TD-0000182397
OnTheMOve / Tallahassee Democrat
Monday, August 8, 2011 / Page 3
Page 4 / Monday, August 8, 2011
Tallahassee Democrat / OnTheMOve
For some drivers, gas mileage ratings don’t add up By Jerry Hirsch Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — The government will require new cars and trucks to meet a fleetwide average fuel economy standard of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. Fat chance. Many motorists know they can’t expect to get the mileage they see on the window sticker if they drive too fast or don’t keep the car in optimal condition. But what most of them don’t know is even if they do drive like highway saints, they still won’t get the Environmental Protection Agency-rated results. Under rules announced Friday, tough new mileage standards will be phased in starting in 2017. But critics say those mileage ratings are notoriously unreliable, even under optimal conditions. That’s because the mileage tests are conducted with professional drivers inside of laboratories using betterperforming fuel and with air conditioning turned off for most of the ride. Harold T. Holmes thought the Chevrolet Equinox he bought recently would get the promised 32 mpg, yet when the retiree from Columbus, Ohio, began driving the small SUV, he got 26 to 27 mpg at best. And that’s even with conservative driving
habits such as anticipating red lights and avoiding sudden stops. “It is all funny math and it is very frustrating when you invest $30,000 in a car and it doesn’t get anywhere near what they are advertising,” said Holmes, who can “squeeze mileage from a rock,” in the words of his wife, Judy Wharton. When it comes to fuel economy, drivers such as Holmes are finding the numbers don’t add up. And that’s why some say the debate over new fuel-economy requirements seems hollow. Critics say the problems with the mileage tests conducted by the EPA start with testers who never break a speed limit and operate cars with far more precision than typical drivers. Vehicles are tested inside laboratories on machines called dynamometers rather than on outdoor test tracks. The tests also don’t account for jack-rabbit starts and quick stops. The highway speed portion of the test averages only 48.3 miles per hour and tops out at 60. Few drivers go less than 60 mph in open highway traffic. The test lasts about 95 minutes, but the car’s air conditioning is on for just 10 minutes. Cars the EPA tests run on indolene, a form of gaso-
“If you really want to know what your mileage is, you have to record what’s on your odometer and the number of gallons you buy at each stop and do the math.” DAn EDmunDs director of vehicle testing at Edmunds.com
line used specifically for the tests to avoid variations. But people filling vehicles at the corner gas station often buy fuel that is mixed with 10 percent ethanol, which has one-third less energy than gasoline. The test procedure was mandated by Congress after the Arab oil embargo in 1973 as part of an effort to increase fuel efficiency. Some additional tests were added later solely for the EPA to come up with more accurate window sticker ratings. But even the window stickers don’t reflect real-life driving conditions, according to the Sierra Club, which today will call for overhauling the way the EPA tests mileage.
“When it comes to how we set fuel efficiency standards, we are in a world of fantasy numbers that are divorced from reality,” the environmental group said. Certainly drivers are finding that’s the case. “Excessive fuel consumption” was among the most frequent complaints in this year’s J.D. Power and Associates initial quality survey of new vehicles. Although they use mileage ratings prominently in advertising, automakers place any blame on the EPA. “The government sets the test for those window stickers. We have nothing to do with what the outcome is,” said Michael Albano, a Chevrolet spokesman. For the most part, the EPA relies on automakers to conduct their own tests, based on the standards, and report the results. The agency physically tests about 15 percent of the models on the market. The EPA said in a statement that “fuel economy for each individual vehicle will vary since no test can ever account for all driving styles, maintenance practices, and road and weather conditions.” “Unfortunately, there is no perfect test — drivers will get higher or lower mileage,” the agency said. On its website, the agency warns driv-
ers that the tests are useful for comparing models but that the rating “may not accurately predict the average MPG you will get.” High gas prices are making the issue bigger for consumers because “customers are more aware of fuel economy than they were in the past,” said Mike O’Brien, Hyundai’s vice president of corporate and product planning. As gas prices started to climb toward $4 a gallon in late 2010 and stayed high, many buyers made fuel efficiency their top priority when deciding which model to purchase. Sales of fuel-efficient cars and crossovers captured 22 percent of U.S. auto sales in the second quarter of this year, the third-highest rate in the last five years, according to auto information firm R.L. Polk & Co. But as they started to put miles on their new cars, drivers found their fuel economy didn’t match the EPA rating advertised by automakers. And as fuel efficiency increased, mileage variations that once went unnoticed became more apparent. A 10 percent variation in a truck or SUV that is listed at 15 miles to the gallon amounts to just 1.5 miles. But that same variation in a vehicle listed at 35 mpg is 3.5 miles.
It’s more than just drivers finding that the mileage data and ratings don’t add up. Consumer Reports tested the four-cylinder version of the Ford Fusion and came up with 24 mpg in combined driving, including just 15 mpg in city driving but an impressive 38 mpg on the highway. According to the EPA, the vehicle gets 25 mpg in combined driving — close to what the magazine found — but it rates the Fusion much higher for city driving at 22 mpg and much lower on the highway at 30 mpg. The difference between what drivers expect based on car window stickers and their actual mileage may be worse than they realize. Technicians at auto information company Edmunds. com tested the results reported by the electronic fuel economy gauges in vehicles. Edmunds.com found that the gauges reported 5.5 percent better fuel economy on average than what the autos actually experienced. One gauge was 19 percent higher than the actual result. “If you really want to know what your mileage is, you have to record what’s on your odometer and the number of gallons you buy at each stop and do the math,” said Dan Edmunds, director of vehicle testing at Edmunds.com.
US auto industry uneasy after posting weak July sales By Dee-Ann Durbin and Tom Krisher The Associated Press
DETROIT — Auto sales rose only slightly in July as skittish consumers pulled back on car buying and threatened to derail the industry’s fragile recovery. With the economy weak, popular cars in short supply and dealers offering very few discounts, carmakers endured a third straight month of disappointing sales. Just over 1 million new cars and trucks
were sold in the month, up 1 percent from last July and flat with June. Sales started strong this year but have slowed as the economy faltered and Japan’s earthquake left Toyota and Honda dealers short of popular models. Unemployment rose to 9.2 percent earlier this summer, the highest level this year, and consumer confidence is shaky. “We’re still not back on the track of recovery yet,” said Jeff Schuster, executive
director of global forecasting at J.D. Power and Associates. “There’s definitely some weakness kind of looming out there.” Adding to buyers’ worries in July was the government debate over the debt ceiling. “Uncertainty, in our business, is always bad for consumers,” GM Vice President of Sales Don Johnson said. Both Ford and GM have scaled back their annual forecast for the year, say-
ing U.S. sales are likely to be closer to 13 million instead of the 13.5 million they had hoped for. Consulting firm AlixPartners estimates that unemployment and underemployment could cost the auto industry up to 1.5 million in lost sales this year, and believes sales will fall short 13 million. But John Hoffecker, head of the automotive practice at the firm, says that’s still a healthy recovery from 2010, when sales totaled 11.6 million.
He said automakers need to accept that the recovery could take longer than they anticipated and shouldn’t panic and resort to discounts to sell more cars. The month wasn’t a total loss. Sales of small cars such as the Kia Optima and Chevrolet Cruze rose sharply, as did sales of new, more fuelefficient SUVs like the Ford Explorer. But truck sales were down, hurt by continuing weakness in construction.
Detroit’s automakers fared well, thanks to their lineups of new, fuel-efficient cars. Sales rose 8 percent at General Motors Co., led by the compact Cruze, which gets 30 mpg. Ford Motor Co.’s sales rose 6 percent, thanks to small cars like the Fiesta, which saw sales rise 58 percent. Chrysler Group said its sales rose 20 percent over last July, helped by new products like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which saw sales jump 76 percent.
Monday, August 8, 2011 / Page 5
OnTheMOve / Tallahassee Democrat
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Page 6 / Monday, August 8, 2011
Tallahassee Democrat / OnTheMOve
Monday, August 8, 2011 / Page 7
OnTheMOve / Tallahassee Democrat
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1-866-938-4982
$18,980
Proctor Honda
1-866-938-4982
$18,980
Proctor Honda
1-866-938-4982
$18,987
Proctor Subaru
1-866-938-4982
$17,995
Proctor Subaru
866-527-5191
$19,984
866-527-5191
‘07 CHEVROLET Tahoe
‘08 INFINITI G37 Coupe
‘09 HONDA Accord Sdn
‘06 INFINITI G35 Sedan
‘10 HYUNDAI Santa Fe
‘08 NISSAN Altima
‘08 HONDA CR-V
‘08 HONDA CR-V
‘08 FORD Explorer
5.3L V8, A/C, Alloy Wheels, Split Folding Rear Seat, ABS, Rear Air Conditioning.
V6 Cylinder, A/C, Alloy Wheels, ABS, Tilt Wheel, CD Player.
4 Cylinder, A/C, 4DR I4 Auto LX, ABS, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, PL.
3.5L V6, A/C, Alloy Wheels, 4DR SDN AWD, Auto, ABS, Tilt Wheel, CD Player.
4 Cylinder, A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, ABS, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio.
3.5L V6, A/C, Alloy Wheels, Split Folding Rear Seat, ABS, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio.
4 Cylinder, A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, 2WD 5DR EX, ABS, Tilt Wheel, Power Moonroof.
4 Cylinder, A/C, Alloy Wheels, Split Folding Rear Seat, ABS, Tilt Wheel, Power Moonroof.
4.0L V6, A/C, Alloy Wheels, Split Folding Rear Seat, 4WD 4DR V6 Eddie Bauer.
$27,990
Proctor Acura
$30,980
Proctor Honda
1-866-938-4963
$19,480
Proctor Honda
1-866-938-4982
$19,980
Proctor Honda
1-866-938-4982
$19,980
Proctor Honda
1-866-938-4982
$19,987
Proctor Honda
1-866-938-4982
$20,870
Proctor Subaru
1-866-938-4982
$20,770
Proctor Subaru
866-527-5191
$22,990
866-527-5191
‘08 BMW X5
‘10 ACURA MDX
‘10 HONDA Element
‘11 HYUNDAI Sonata
‘08 LEXUS IS 250
‘08 HONDA Ridgeline
‘08 FORD Expedition
‘10 SUBARU Legacy
‘07 INFINITI G35 Sedan
3.0L I6, A/C, Alloy Wheels, Split Folding Rear Seat, AWD 4DR, ABS, Tilt Wheel.
V6 Cylinder, A/C, Alloy Wheels, Split Folding Rear Seat, AWD 4DR, ABS.
4 Cylinder, A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, 2WD 5DR Auto LX, ABS, Tilt Wheel.
A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, PL, Cruise, PS.
V6 Cylinder, A/C, ABS, tilt Wheel, Pwr Moonroof, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, PL.
3.5L V6, A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, 4WD CRew Cab, ABS, Tilt Wheel.
5.4L V8, A/C, Split Folding Rear Seat, 2WD 4DR Limited, ABS, Rear Air Conditioning.
4 Cylinder, A/C, Alloy Wheels, Split Folding Rear Seat, ABS, Tilt Wheel.
3.5L V6, A/C, ABS, Tilt Wheel, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, PL, Leather Seats.
$37,990
1-866-938-4963
TD-0000182393
1-866-938-4982
$10,987
‘04 VOLVO XC90
1-866-938-4963
Proctor Acura
Proctor Honda
‘05 HONDA Accord Sdn
1-866-938-4963
Proctor Acura
$10,575
‘07 NISSAN Maxima
1-866-938-4963
Proctor Acura
Proctor Honda
‘05 MERCEDESBENZ C-Class
1-866-938-4963
Proctor Acura
$16,990
Proctor Acura
$37,990
1-866-938-4963
Proctor Honda
$20,987
1-866-938-4982
Proctor Honda
$21,951
1-866-938-4982
Proctor Honda
$24,450
1-866-938-4982
Proctor Honda
$25,980
1-866-938-4982
Proctor Honda
$29,975
1-866-938-4982
Proctor Subaru
$23,490
866-527-5191
Proctor Subaru
$23,900
866-527-5191
Page 8 / Monday, August 8, 2011
Tallahassee Democrat / OnTheMOve
î è N " Magnolia !A ¨® A Drive
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����������� Ford ���� Tallahassee ������� Lincoln
Tallahassee ����������� Ford ���� ������� Lincoln
����������� Ford ���� Tallahassee Lincoln �������
Tallahassee ����������� Ford ���� ������� Lincoln
‘05 CHEVROLET ��� �� �� ��������� ����� Tahoe
‘07 FORD �� Edge Edg �� ��� �� ���� ����
‘09 NISSAN ����� Versa V ��� �� ������ �
���� I4, 2.5L ��� ���� ABS, PS. ���
���� V8, 5.3L ��� A/C, ���� ���� ABS, ���� Air ��� Conditioning, ������������� Rear Tilt-Adjustable ��������������� Steering �������� Wheel, PW. ������ ���
����������� 5-Passenger ��� SUV ���� With � A ���������� Sedan-Like ����� Ride.
���� 1.8L ��� I4, ���� A/C, Tilt����� ���������� Adjustable �������� Steering Wheel, ��� PS. ������
������ $6,995
�������������� 1-888-259-7004
����������� Ford ���� Tallahassee Lincoln �������
������� $14,488
�������������� 1-888-259-7004
������� $14,995
����������� Ford ���� Tallahassee Lincoln �������
1-888-259-7004 ��������������
����������� Ford ���� Tallahassee ������� Lincoln
������� $14,995
1-888-259-7004 ��������������
��� ���� ‘06 JEEP �������� Wrangler
��� ���� ‘08 JEEP ������� Liberty
��� ‘07 ����� DODGE ������ Dakota
��� ‘08 ������� MERCURY Milan �����
4 2DR ��� SE, � Cylinder, ��������� ��� ����� ���������� TiltAdjustable �������� Steering Wheel, ��� CD, ��� PS, ����� 2.4L. ������
You The ��� Will ���� Enjoy ����� ��� ������� ��� Feeling You ��� Get ����� Every ���� You ��� ���� Time Slip ������ Behind ��� The ������ Wheel.
4WD. ����
Leather, ���������� Automatic. ��������
������� $15,995
�������������� 1-888-259-7004
����������� Ford ���� Tallahassee ������� Lincoln
������� $16,488
�������������� 1-888-259-7004
������� $16,995
����������� Ford ���� Tallahassee Lincoln �������
�������������� 1-888-259-7004
����������� Ford ���� Tallahassee ������� Lincoln
������� $17,995
�������������� 1-888-259-7004
��� FORD ���� ����� ‘10 Focus
��� FORD ���� ������ ‘10 Fusion
��� ‘03 ���� FORD ����� Super ���� Duty ����� F-250
��� ‘09 ������ TOYOTA ���� RAV4
� ��������� 4 Cylinder, ���� A/C, ��� 4DR ��� SDN SE, ABS, TiltAdjustable ��� ���� ����� ���������� Steering Wheel, ��� CD, ��� PW, �������� ������ PDL, ��� PS, ����� 2.0L, ����
���� I4, ��� ���� 2.5L A/C, ��� 4DR ��� SDN SE ABS, ���� Tilt ��� And �� FWD, ���� ���� Telescopic Steering ���������� �������� ������ ��� Wheel, CD, ��� PW, ���� PDL, ������� Cruise.
���� 6.0L ��� V8, ���� ABS, ������� Leather Upholstery, ������� Cruise, ��� PS. �����������
���� 2.5L ��� I4, ���� A/C, ���� ABS, ���� Tilt And ���������� Telescopic �������� Steering ��� Wheel, ��� CD, ��� PW, ���� PDL, ������ ������� Cruise, ��� PS.
$17,995 �������
�������������� 1-888-259-7004
Tallahassee ����������� Ford ���� ������� Lincoln
$17,995 �������
�������������� 1-888-259-7004
$18,995 �������
Tallahassee ����������� Ford ���� ������� Lincoln
�������������� 1-888-259-7004
Tallahassee ����������� Ford ���� Lincoln �������
$20,788 �������
�������������� 1-888-259-7004
‘08 F-150 ��� FORD ���� �����
‘06 F-150 ��� FORD ���� �����
‘10 ���� FORD ������� Mustang ���
‘06 ���� FORD ����� F-150 ���
���� To Easy �� Keep ���� Clean. ������
������� Loaded.
�� GT �������� Spoiler, ���������� Automatic, �������� Exterior ����� Sport ���������� Appearance �������� Package.
���� 5.4L ��� V8, ���� A/C, ���� ABS, ���� Tilt ������ Wheel, ��� CD, ��� PW, ���� PDL, ������� Leather ����������� Upholstery, Cruise, ��� PS, ����� 5.4L, �������
������� $21,995
1-888-259-7004 ��������������
����������� Ford ���� Tallahassee Lincoln �������
������� $21,995
1-888-259-7004 ��������������
������� $21,995
����������� Ford ���� Tallahassee ������� Lincoln
1-888-259-7004 ��������������
����������� Ford ���� Tallahassee ������� Lincoln
������� $21,995
1-888-259-7004 ��������������
��� FORD ���� ���� ‘07 Edge
��� FORD ���� ������ ‘11 Fusion
��� ‘07 ���� FORD ����� F-150 ��� XLT ���� Crew
��� ‘08 ���� FORD �������� Explorer
������� With ���� 18” ��� ������ Leather Chrome Wheels. �������
��������� ����������� Automatic 5-Passenger Sedan. ������
������� Trailer ��� Tow �������� Package; Premium ���� 6-CD ����� Audio ������� ������� System; ���� 4WD.
����� Sync, ����������� Convenience Group, ����� Cargo ���� Area ����� Cover ������ ��� And ������� Reverse ������� Sensing ������� System.
������� $22,488
�������������� 1-888-259-7004
Tallahassee ����������� Ford ���� ������� Lincoln
������� $22,995
�������������� 1-888-259-7004
Tallahassee ����������� Ford ���� ������� Lincoln
(888)
$23,388 �������
�������������� 1-888-259-7004
Tallahassee ����������� Ford ���� Lincoln �������
������� $23,995
�������������� 1-888-259-7004
259-7004
TD-0000182395 �������������
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‘00 ‘0 FORD Ran Ranger R ange ��� �0 � FO ��RD ���� �� ��� ������ � �ger ���
Monday, August 8, 2011 / Page 9
OnTheMOve / Tallahassee Democrat
#FGPSF :PV #VZ %SJWF 0O #Z Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
‘00 FORD Ranger
‘03 FORD Ranger
‘97 FORD F-150
‘02 HONDA Civic
2.5L I4, ABS, PS.
V6 Cylinder, A/C, ABS, PS, 3.0L
4.6L V8, ABS, PDL, PS.
4 Cylinder, A/C, 4DR SDN EX Auto, ABS, Tilt-Adjustable Steering Wheel, Sun Roof.
$6,995
1-888-259-7004
Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
$7,995
1-888-259-7004
$7,995
Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
1-888-259-7004
$8,995
1-888-259-7004
‘06 FORD F-150
‘05 CHEVROLET Tahoe
‘09 NISSAN Versa
‘07 BUICK Lucerne
4.2L V6, A/C, ABS, Tilt Wheel, PS.
5.3L V8, A/C, ABS, Rear Air Conditioning, Tilt-Adjustable Steering Wheel, PW.
1.8L I4, A/C, TiltAdjustable Steering Wheel, PS.
3.8L V6, A/C, 4DR SDN V6 CXL, ABS, Tilt- Adjustable Steering Wheel, CD, PW, PL.
$9,995
1-888-259-7004
Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
$14,488
1-888-259-7004
$14,995
Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
1-888-259-7004
Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
$15,995
1-888-259-7004
‘10 FORD Fusion
‘09 NISSAN Rogue
‘09 TOYOTA RAV4
‘07 HONDA CR-V
2.5L I4, A/C, 4DR SDN SE FWD, ABS, Tilt And Telescopic Steering Wheel, CD, PW, PDL, Cruise.
2.5L I4, A/C, FWD 4DR S, ABS, Tilt-Adjustable Steering Wheel, CD, PW, PL, Cruise, PS.
2.5L I4, A/C, ABS, Tilt And Telescopic Steering Wheel, CD, PW, PDL, Cruise, PS.
4 Cylinder, A/C, 2WD 5DR EX-L, ABS, Tilt And Telescopic Steering Wheel, Sun Roof, PW, PDL.
$17,995
1-888-259-7004
Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
$20,488
1-888-259-7004
$20,788
Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
1-888-259-7004
Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
$20,988
1-888-259-7004
‘10 MERCURY Grand Marquis
‘08 FORD F-150
‘09 CADILLAC CTS
‘08 NISSAN Pathfinder
4.6L V8, A/C, 4DR SDN LS, ABS, Tilt-Adjustable Steering Wheel, CD, PW.
4.6L V8, A/C, ABS, Tilt Wheel, CD, PW, PDL, Cruise, PS.
V6 Cylinder, A/C, 4DR SDN RWD ABS, Tilt And Telescopic Steering Wheel, CD.
4.0L V6, A/C, ABS, Tilt-Adjustable Steering Wheel, PW, PDL, Cruise.
$20,988
1-888-259-7004
Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
$23,995
1-888-259-7004
$25,995
Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
1-888-259-7004
Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
$26,988
1-888-259-7004
‘11 FORD Fusion
‘09 HYUNDAI Genesis
‘08 FORD Super Duty F-250
‘09 FORD Super Duty F-250
3.5L V6, Tilt And Telescopic Steering Wheel, PW, PDL, Cruise, PS.
3.8L V6, A/C, 4DR SDN, ABS, Tilt And Telescopic Steering Wheel, CD, PW, PL.
8 Cylinder, A/C, ABS, Tilt Wheel, PDL, PS, 6.4L.
8 Cylinder, A/C, ABS, Tilt Wheel, PDL, Cruise, PS, 6.4L.
$27,488
1-888-259-7004
Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
$27,995
1-888-259-7004
Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
$33,995
1-888-259-7004
243 N Magnolia Drive
(888) TD-000018239 TD-000 TD-0000182396 0182396 018239 6
Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
Tallahassee Ford Lincoln
$37,995
1-888-259-7004
259-7004
Page 10 / Monday, August 8, 2011
Tallahassee Democrat / OnTheMOve
Cadillac’s Black Diamond is on the cutting edge By Mark Phelan
car facts
Detroit Free Press
You’ll probably never need a 200-mph station wagon, but if you do, isn’t it nice to know the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Black Diamond is also a good value, comfortable and has plenty of room for people and cargo? The Black Diamond edition adds sculpted Recaro high-performance seats and visual glitz to the CTS-V wagon’s superb drivetrain and chassis. That’s right, your image of station wagons as stodgy suburban drones is just sooo 20th century. The few station wagons on the road today are stylish luxury models, loaded with power and technology. The CTS-V wagon cranks the power to almost cartoonish levels with a 556-horsepower supercharged V8. Dolled up in Black Diamond cosmetics and with running gear upgraded to handle the power and keep the shiny side up, the CTS-V is an exciting package, despite its high fuel consumption and the lack of some relatively common features. Ask yourself this: What’s it worth to have a car that combines the practicality of a station wagon, the comfort and features of a luxury sedan and 4.0-second zero-to-60 mph acceleration? It’s worth exactly the sticker price of a 2011 Cadillac
2011 caDILLac cts-V WaGON n Base price: $62,360 (before destination charge) n as tested: $68,615
Martin KliMeK/Courtesy CadillaC/MCt
The Cadillac CTS-V Black Diamond edition is offered on all three body styles — sedan, coupe and wagon — and comes with a host of unique features.
reView CTS-V station wagon, which starts at $62,360. Every CTS-V wagon comes with a brutally powerful 556-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine and a sixspeed manual or automatic transmission. I tested a well-equipped CTS-V with the Black Diamond appearance package that cost $68,615, including a $1,300 federal gas-guzzler tax. All prices exclude destination charges.
The CTS-V is by far the most powerful station wagon you can buy. It competes with other luxury and performance models like the Audi A6 Avant 3.0T Quattro wagon, BMW 550i GT hatchback, Lincoln MKT crossover wagon and Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic wagon. All the CTS-V’s running gear is upgraded to handle the extra power. The engine uses an Eaton supercharger to compress air, effectively giving it the output of a bigger powerplant. Superchargers are compressors that are driven by
a mechanical connection to the engine. Turbochargers, which also compress intake air, are driven by the engine’s exhaust gas. Superchargers boost power virtually instantly, while turbos often suffer a delay as the exhaust gas builds up and begins spinning the turbines that compress the air going into the cylinders. The downside to superchargers is that they draw some power directly from the engine. That may increase fuel consumption more than a turbo.
Superchargers and turbochargers both help engines generate more torque at lower rpm. None of the competitors can match the CTS-V wagon’s horsepower, torque or 4.0-second 0-60 time. The 550i GT comes closest, at 5.4 seconds. All the competitors get better fuel economy than the CTS-V’s EPA rating of 14 mpg in the city, 19 on the highway and 16 in combined driving. All the vehicles except the MKT use premium fuel. The CTS-V wagon is quiet and comfortable at high speeds. It absorbs bumps well, despite its 19-inch wheels and low-profile Michelin PS2 performance tires. The adaptive magneto-rheological ride control monitors the vehicle every millisecond for maximum comfort and control. Brembo brakes — with special yellow calipers on the Black Diamond CTS-V I tested — provide excellent stopping power and feel. The CTS-V comes with a lot
of advanced goodies standard, including the adaptive shocks, an excellent Bose stereo, a navigation system, touchscreen controls and compatibility with Bluetooth handsfree phones. It lacks a few features you can get on less-expensive cars, including a blind-spot alert, Bluetooth audio, adaptive cruise control and more sophisticated voice recognition. The CTS-V Black Diamond wagon’s interior is comfortable, useful, luxurious and contemporary. There’s plenty of passenger space, and the cargo compartment offers 25 cubic feet when the rear seat is in use; 58 when it’s folded. The power tailgate features two opening heights and is programmable for a third to suit drivers of all heights and garages of all sizes. The interior materials included black perforated leather seats and optional suede wraps for the steering wheel and shifter. The optional Black Diamond exterior paint is flecked with glistening highlights, which are matched by subtle sparkles in the midnight sapele wood-trim package. Anybody looking for a fast, lovely and practical luxury car will have a hard time topping the Cadillac CTS-V Black Diamond wagon.
Optimism growing among auto executives, survey shows By Zlati Meyer Detroit Free Press
DETROIT — The auto industry is back — and poised for a positive future — according to a KPMG survey of 100 top automotive executives. The poll, released last week, found that 73 percent increased revenue last year and 72 percent expect to do so next year, too. Coinciding with that, more than half added personnel since last
year, with an additional 62 percent anticipating hiring people next year. “I would characterize it as positive news,” said Gary Silberg, KPMG’s national automotive industry leader. “Not only has revenue grown, but profits have grown and balance sheets have improved significantly. ... Given the dour mood of the rest of the economy, which is not very positive, here you have automotive executives saying
they’re going to hire in the next year.” Of the 13 sectors KPMG surveyed — including aerospace and defense, pharmaceuticals, banking, technology and building and construction — automotive was the most bullish on hiring. In addition, close to seven out of 10 auto executives see “significant cash” on their balance sheet and 71 percent are planning for capital spending next year.
Most of that money will be spent on new products or services (39 percent), acquisition of a business (39 percent), expanding facilities (28 percent) and information technology (28 percent). More than two-thirds reported their companies were having an easier time than last year securing financing. And expect some mergers and acquisitions in the next two years. Of all types of government
regulation that will have a positive or negative impact on the auto industry, 52 percent point to the new Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE standards, 50 percent to emissions standards and 44 percent to health care reform. “It’s positive on investment. It’s positive on employment,” Silberg said. “It’s not talk. It’s real. Look at the balance sheet and the Tier 1s. They’re significantly better. ... In my per-
spective, it’s very reasonable to be optimistic.” Barriers to growth over the next year include pricing pressures (36 percent), energy prices (28 percent), the strength of the U.S. dollar (21 percent) and volatile commodity/input prices (18 percent). KPMG conducted the poll among U.S.-based executives of domestic and foreign automakers and auto suppliers in June.
Monday, August 8, 2011 / Page 11
OnTheMOve / Tallahassee Democrat
Supplies of Japanese cars slowly rebuilding
By Terry Box The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS — In the days after an earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan in March, severely damaging many of the country’s auto factories, import dealers feared a long, hot summer of empty lots. Things never got quite that bad, but now, in peak selling season, inventories at many area Japanese-brand dealerships remain at half or less of normal levels. Vehicles such as the Toyota Prius hybrid, 4Runner SUV and the new Honda Civic can be as hard to find as Ferraris. Honda and Toyota recently told their dealers that full production at all factories should resume in September, at least two months ahead of original repair schedules. “That’s some great news,� said Pat Lobb, who owns Pat
Lobb Toyota and Scion in McKinney, Texas, and is a representative on Toyota’s regional dealer council. “I’ve got 300 vehicles in the (order) pipeline, which is the most I’ve been able to get since March or April.� Analysts estimate that Japanese automakers — including Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Nissan and Infiniti — have lost at least 200,000 sales in the United States since March, worth about $6 billion. Some have even lowered their estimates of total U.S. sales this year to reflect those losses, concluding that the manufacturers won’t recoup the losses. Nonetheless, many of the manufacturers plan aggressive sales campaigns this fall in an attempt to reclaim lost business, and significant incentives are likely to be part of their efforts, analysts say. “The biggest worry among
Japanese automakers is: Will they be able to get that share back?� said Jesse Toprak, vice president of industry trends at TrueCar.com. “Consumers have a lot more choices now, and brand loyalty industrywide is not as strong as it once was.� For at least the next two months, supplies of Japanese-brand vehicles are likely to be tight and prices high. In addition, used-car prices — many of which are at all-time highs — also will stay inflated, partly because of the disaster in Japan. After three straight years of weak new-vehicle sales, the used-car market needs more trade-ins. The loss of 200,000 more new-vehicle sales with their potential trades will put even more pressure on the segment, analysts say. “There simply are not enough used cars com-
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dicted Lobb, an auto industry veteran. At Freeman Toyota in Hurst, Texas, general manager Dane Minor says he can plan his business better now that he knows shipments of new vehicles will be arriving in the next few weeks. “We’ve got a 20-day supply of cars on the ground, and a 45-day supply is optimal,� Minor said. “It’s tight. When cars come off the truck, a lot of times they’re already spoken for.� Like Lobb, Minor anticipates much stronger sales in the fourth quarter, aided by incentives. For Toyota dealers, a new Camry sedan may provide an added boost. Sky-high used-car values are also likely to play a significant role. Their pumpedup values make it easier for consumers to trade for new vehicles. “We traded for a customer’s 2-year-old Corol-
la, which had 30,000 miles on it, for $1,000 less than he paid for it new,� Minor said. “He was pretty happy about that.� Toyota, which provided more details about its recovery than Honda or Nissan did, expects its North American production to rise to 80 percent of capacity by next month. Rusty Wallis counts on a similar resurgence at Honda. He estimates that his Honda dealership in Dallas has 100 new vehicles in stock — down dramatically from a normal level of 450. “July was a hard month, and August will be even more difficult,� said Wallis, who also owns Rusty Wallis Volkswagen in Garland. “We’ll be down to about 20 cars and will look like we’re going out of business. But help is on the way, and I think we’ll finish the fourth quarter real strong.�
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‘11 CHEVROLET ĹŽ CHEVROLET %*'841.'6 ‘07 Aveo /QPVG %CTNQ Silverado 1500
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Page 12 / Monday, August 8, 2011
Tallahassee Democrat / OnTheMOve
RIVER ‘08 HONDA Fit
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‘07 GMC Envoy
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