As technology continues to get better and better, more gauges and such are wanted/needed on the instrument panels of vehicles. The problem is that there is only so much room available on the instrument panels.  An article was written on edmunds.com called “Technology Muscles In on the Instrument Panel.”  Many things on vehicles have changed such as styles, power sources, etc, but the instrument panels have stayed the same until recently when more and more manufacturers are trying to find different ways to set up the instrument panels with more technological advances. 

The new Subaru Tribeca is moving the fuel-level and engine-temperature levels to the far lower right and left of the instrument cluster.  This will take some getting used to by the owners, because it’s so different than what anyone is used to.  The new BMW 3 Series has done away with the coolant temperature gauge.  Something that has become standard equipment on vehicles 2008 and later is the tire-pressure gauge, that monitors your tire pressure.  Now, there needs to be room for this gauge, so something must go or move to another spot most likely. 

It’s kind of neat to see how different instrument clusters are.  Some are becoming quite technological and fancy, while others are just staying traditional and the same as they have been for many years.  It will be interesting to watch the instrument clusters continue to improve and show more technology and gauge more in your car. Who knows what kind of technology will be available in the years to come for instrument panels. 

www.cadillacctsvseries.com

Hello again, for those that read this blog often. Sorry, it’s been awhile. The holidays messed me all up!  So, I thought I’d talk about another high end car for those thinking of upgrading for a New Years Resolution.  How about you try the new 2009 Cadillac CTS-V?  It’s a nice looking car for sure with extra power for those of you looking for that feature.  The V series of the CTS has many competitors;  the Mercedes-Benz AMG series, the Lexus F models, the Audi S cars, and the BMW M models as well.  The CTS has many features that make it stand out.  You can get to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds and the top speed is 191 miles per hour.  The Cadillac CTS-V has a 556-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 engine that is boosted by a supercharger.  This vehicle also has the Magnetic Ride Control feature, which is said to be the world’s fastest reacting suspension system.  The sticker base price is $59,995, which is no drop in the bucket, but if you want a luxury vehicle, this price is in the ballpark for sure.  So, if you are looking for a fun, smooth riding luxury vehicle to start your new year off right, get the Cadillac CTS-V.  I think it’ll be worth the money.    

If you were excited about the Detroit Auto Show coming on January 17-25, 2009, then you should be even more excited to hear what Toyota plans to unveil there.  Toyota will be bringing a small, battery-electric ”urban commuter vehicle concept” according to autoweek.com.  There are not many details known about this car, but it is said that Toyota will just put this vehicle on the show floor and answer whatever questions are asked by the media during the media preview January 11-13.  They do not plan to have a formal press conference about this battery-electric vehicle.  A spokesperson for Toyota hinted that this car would be similar to the Toyota iQ.  Toyota plans to mass produce a battery-electric car for 2010.  Also on a side note,  Toyota will reveal the 2010 Prius at the Detroit Auto Show as well.  During these bleak economic times and especially for the auto industry, the Detroit show should get people a little enthusiatic about the new cars that will be out in the next few years.  I’m excited and looking forward to more news on new cars to be revealed at the show in the next month.       

According to Car and Driver magazine’s January Issue, they have found what they see as the “10 Best Cars” in the United States for 2009.  Here is the list in no particular order. 

1.  Jaguar XF - the starting price is just under $50,000. Supposedly there is “bond-level gadetry and a shifter that is much more satisfying than the BMW and Mercedes column levers.”

2.  Mazda MX 5 Miata - the MSRP is not being disclosed until January.  According to auto writers, this car has “all-around satisfying handling dynamics, as well as impressive quality and value.”

3.  Honda Fit - MSRP of $14,550. To make it look and feel bigger, there is a panoramic glass sky roof.  This car has good fuel mileage. 

4.  Honda Accord - MSRP just under $21,000. This is an ever popular car that gets decent gas mileage and “performs like a champ.”

5.  Volkswagen GTI - MSRP just under $23,000.  It has a sporty feel and has been given many awards over the past few years. 

6.  Porsche Boxster - MSRP starts at $46,600.  It has more power, higher fuel efficiency, quicker acceleration than its 2008 counterpart.

7.  BMW 3 Series - MSRP around $34,000.  Edmunds.com calls this car a “world-class fit and finish, ample power and a comfortable ride and handling trade-off that is unmatched by most cars at any price.”

8.  BMW M3 Sedan - MSRP of $54,500. This car was around 10 years ago and is finally back. It can reach 60 mph in under 5 seconds.

9.  Infiniti G37 - MSRP of $37,000.  Offers, according to Car and Driver magazine, “serious horsepower, refined manners, and excellent handling.” 

10.  Porsche Cayman - MSRP $50,300.  Many sing this car’s praises for its ”driveability, quality, no-nonsense interior, and stunning performance.”

So, here’s the list. Some of the cars are really expensive, especially when the automotive market is so tough right now. It will be interesting to see if these cars will be the top 10 SOLD models of 2009 at this time next year. I guess we’ll have to wait and see…..

Michael Bettenhausen of the Bettenhausen Dodge dealership in Tinley Park, IL is offering an unbelievable deal to its customers….buy two cars for the price of one.  An article by Bradford Wernle of the Automotive News that I found on Autoweek.com talks about how Chrysler dealerships around the country are just trying to survive during these tough times and sell cars if they can at the same time. 

Specifically, Bettenhausen Dodge offered a two-for-one promotion starting in October.  Customers could buy a new car and a specified low-mileage used car together.  One of the deals included a 2008 Dodge Dakota which has a sticker price of $27,590, and a used 2008 Chyrsler PT Cruiser with 17,700 miles for $27,590.  By itself, the PT Cruiser would cost about $10,963.  The dealership was able to do this because of $6963 in dealer incentives that were available on the Dakota and a national rebate of $4000, which totals $10,963.  Bettenhausen is still having big problems with sales, because there is a problem getting customers credit. 

It’s amazing that a dealership would actually sell two cars for the price of 1, but as I said earlier, these dealerships are just trying to make ends meet and move their inventory any way that they can.  Hopefully, the economy will turn around soon for them and others as well. If not, more dealerships may be offering 2 for 1 deals!  

www.canim.net

The Covini C6W is a new car that will be produced and sold starting the end of 2009 to a limited number of people. The uniqueness of this car is that it has 6 wheels!  Yup, that’s right, I said 6 wheels!  I think it looks a little strange. This is the first car to be built with 6 wheels. 

The Covini C6W has two smaller tires in the front with the intention to “increase air penetration and have a smaller frontal area effectively reducing drag” according to www.jalopnik.com.  According to www.jalopnik.com, here are the reasons for the 6 wheels: less risk of front tires deflating, less risk of aquaplaning, better braking, better grip, better comfort, and better absorption of frontal impact.  The Covini C6W has a 4.2-liter engine with 433 horsepower and top speed of 185 mph.  There is not price available for the 6 wheeled beast, but I’m sure it won’t be cheap.  More information as it becomes available. 

www.techblissonline.com

An article by Vanessa Gera of the Associated Press talks about a driver that went around the world in a solar-powered car.  The driver named Louis Palmer, is a Swiss schoolteacher.  He wanted to make this trip to show that technology can stop global warming.  This was the first time in history that a solar-powered car travelled around the world without using a single drop of fuel. 

The car, which is called the Solar Taxi can go up to 60 mph and cover about 200 miles before needing to have the battery charged.  Palmer travelled 32,000 miles on his journey that began 17 months ago in Lucerne, Switzerland.  He went through 38 countries.  The reason for the name Solar Taxi is because the car has given more than 1000 people a ride to show them the vehicle’s technological abilities.  The Solar Taxi is a two-seater and it was pollution-free.  Palmer was able to show the world, literally, that pollution-free vehicles, such as the Solar Taxi can be a reality.    

There was an article in my local paper written by Steven Cole Smith of The Orlando Sentinel.  The title was “Durango hybrid a big step.”  It’s true. The 2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid is awesome!  Chrysler and General Motorsworked together to develop the hybrid system for the Durango.  GM’s version of this car was debuted last year as the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and the GMC Yukon Hybrid.  The GM’s cars are more expensive.  The Tahoe hybrid starts at $54,210 with shipping, which is $8870 more than the Durango Hybrid. 

The Dodge Durango hybrid will be debuted with its “corporate twin” the Chrysler Aspen Hybrid.  Soon, Chyrsler will be introducing the 2009 Ram full-sized pickup that is a hybrid as well.  The Durango has an electric air conditioner, electric power steering pump, and an electric fans that cool the radiator.  New regular cars have many diagnostic checks that the car performs on itself, well the Durango Hybrid has all of these “standard” checks as well as 600 more!  That’s pretty unbelievable.  According to Smith, “To say this is a sophisticated vehicle is an understatement.” 

Here are some specs for the Dodge Durango Hybrid. The city gas mileage is 19 mpg, and the highway is 20.  This hybrid only costs about $3000 more than the gas-driven model.  There is also an $1800 tax credit for buyers of the hybrid, so the extra cost is only $1200.  That’s a big bonus! You will make up that price in a few years, with the gas mileage savings.  So, here’s the price…..it’s a little steep, but worth it for the sophistication of the Durango, right?…..fully loaded $45,340 (including shipping.)  The Durango Hybrid has a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine with 385 horsepower.  So far, so good, people that have test driven this vehicle really like it. Hybrids are becoming more of the norm, so people may not mind spending a little more. We shall see.        

www.hotridersworld.blogspot.com

While we, the United States, sit in a recession, some of us (not sure who) might have $270,000 burning a hole in their pocket and would like to buy the very slick, James Bond car, the Aston Martin DBS.  The price is cheap….for some probably!  It is said that approximately 300 people will buy this car this year.  Crazy to think that 300 people have the burning hold in their pockets, but I guess it’s true. 

Here are some of the specs of the Aston Martin DBS.  It has a V-12, 5.9-liter engine with 510-horsepower.  It can go from 0 to 60 in 4.2 seconds with a top speed of 191 mph. That’s fast!  The DBS has a 1000 watt Bang & Olufsen sound system. 

The Aston Martin DBS’s top rival is the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano.  This car has a 612-horsepower, so if you want more power, I guess you would choose the Ferrari.  The cost is more at $310,000 and according to Lawrence Ulrich of the New York Times News Service, the Ferrari cannot beat the looks of the Aston Martin DBS.  So, for those of you car lovers that need to splurge, go and become one of the 300 proud owners of a new Aston Martin DBS.         

Here’s a crazy thing…..according to Shawn Langlois of the MarketWatch.com, the SUV and truck cars are selling. This is the bright spots of the otherwise dreary auto industry right now.  Now granted, they are selling at very cheap prices, but not everyone has jumped on the small car bandwagons.  In May, when the gas prices were around $3.70/gallon, only 9 percent of SUV motorists that traded in their vehicles, bought another SUV, according to JD Power & Associates.  In August when the gas prices began to plunge, 20% of SUV drivers went and bought another SUV.  I’m really surprised actually. I really thought that between the gas prices, the poor economy, and the fact that there is such a global warming problem, that more and more people would stay away from SUVs. I guess more people are trying to buy other cars, but the thing is that big families need bigger cars. It’s a fact.  The fuel efficient cars are small.  That’s another fact.   It will be interesting to see if the SUVs and trucks can continue to sell. Obviously, sales are down as they are for every sector of the auto industry, but automakers are selling some SUVs and trucks, and as a matter of fact, Ford announced that they will be increasing production of the F-150s.  Good news for SUVs and trucks, I guess.