CBS is way behind WatchMojo.com… but they do have some more info on this make or break car for Chevrolet:
To say General Motors has a lot riding on the Volt is both a bad pun and a big understatement.
GM says this electric car is designed to lead the company into the second century - if it is to have a second century.
But when GM invited reporters to experience the Volt, what they actually drove was the Volt technology stuck into a conventional car called the Chevy Cruze, reports CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds. The real Volt is not yet ready.
The rush to showcase the technology was clearly designed to generate publicity for the car and public support for the federal money GM needs to stay afloat.
“What makes the technology so significant is actually what is under the skin,” said Frank Weber, with GM.
What is under the skin is a 6-foot-long battery that you can recharge every night by plugging it into your garage socket.
Battery power takes the Volt 40 miles. Since most Americans drive less than 40 miles a day, GM says the Volt will use zero gasoline and produce zero emissions. When the charge wears off, an on-board gas tank can power the car and extend the trip 400 miles, addressing what’s know in the trade as “range anxiety.”
“The current Prius doesn’t deliver that,” said Brian Johnson, an industry analyst with Barclay’s Capital. “The current Honda doesn’t deliver that, so they are trying to leapfrog the competition in that respect.”
“This is a livable vehicle,” said Tony Posawatz, a vehicle line director with GM. “It’s not a golf cart or whatever. This is something that people could buy in quantity … particularly if we can get the cost down.”
Perhaps way down - because the sticker price will be about $40,000 - for what GM calls a spunky car that can go from zero to 60 in less than nine seconds.
The Volt is due in dealer showrooms by the end of next year, which is itself a show of optimism about GM’s future. But there’s a problem: sales of existing hybrids have been plummeting for months because the price of gasoline has dropped. If that consumer attitude holds, it could mean that GM will be bringing out the right car at the wrong time.
Slated to enter the U.S. market for the 2011 model year, the Cruze could replace the Cobalt small car.
General Motors released the first photographs of what will be the company’s new Chevrolet Cruze compact car Thursday. The Cruze represents a more aggressive attempt by GM to truly take on the small car market, according to an industry analyst.
“Particularly at GM, they’ve always viewed their small cars with disdain,” said Ed Kim, an analyst with industry marketing consultants Autopacific.
Where cars like the Chevrolet Cobalt, which the Cruze will replace, are seen as money-losers needed to meet government fuel economy requirements, the Cruze is a serious attempt to create a more-than-competitive small car, said Kim. Continue reading…
According to Peter Valdes-Dapena
Hybrids and small, fuel-efficient cars are in short supply, and the auto industry, in general, is having one of its worst years ever.But auto buyers, driven by rapidly rising gas prices, found some appealing fuel-efficient mid-sized and crossover vehicles in the $18,000 to $30,000 range. Sales of some models in this segment surged in June 2008, compared with June 2007, and the increase provided a ray of hope to automakers otherwise struggling to stay afloat.
The biggest winners were the Chevrolet Malibu sedan (25 mpg), sales up 73.4% in June 2008 compared with June 2007; Honda Accord sedan (24 mpg), sales up 54%; Chevrolet Equinox crossover (19 mpg), sales up 45.9; Subaru Forester crossover (22 mpg), sales up 41%; and Pontiac G6 sedan (25 mpg), sales up 34.2%. Read more…
According to Jacqueline Mitchell
“Auto buffs love to rave about burled walnut, custom rims, and V-12 engines, but most car buyers just want a pleasant car at a good price. Especially now. With the housing-boom excesses dragging down the economy and a possible recession looming, extravagance is out. Like investors fleeing exotic securities for the safety of gold or T-bills, it’s time for car shoppers to make safe, practical purchases that will hold up through tough times, if necessary.
So we’ve scoured our data on hundreds of models and highlighted the cars that offer the best mix of value, performance, and curb appeal. These aren’t necessarily the cheapest cars or the most priggish gas misers—standard-issue econoboxes tend to lose their value quickly, plus they’re usually dull and joyless. Instead, we’ve included cars that offer lots of conveniences and safety features for the money, get decent mileage, handle well, and score above average in the U.S. News Best Cars and Trucks rankings. Those scores account for important factors like expected resale value and the long-term costs of maintenance and repairs—things that can affect your wallet directly down the road.” - Rick Newman on www.usnews.com
| Model | Base MSRP | Mileage (city/highway) | Strong Points | Weak Points |
| ECONOMY CARS | ||||
| Honda Fit | $13,950 | 28/34 | Versatile seating; good standard features; fun to drive | Subpar seat comfort and support |
| Kia Rio | $10,890 | 27/32 | Six air bags; good gas mileage; perky engine | Spartan interior; spotty crash-test results |
| Toyota Yaris | $11,300 | 29/36 | Cute design; decent storage; spacious front seats | Slushy pickup; poor crash-test results without optional curtain air bags |
| Hyundai Accent | $10,775 | 27/32 | Good entry-level value; strong set of safety features; long warranty | Weak acceleration; dull design; cramped rear seat |
| Nissan Versa | $12,630 | 26/31 | Seats five comfortably; decent cargo space; cool six-speed manual | Wimpy engine; noisy; worse mileage than competitors |
| Honda Civic | $15,010 | 26/34 | Stable, comfortable, and quiet ride; chipper interior; good handling | Minimal storage space |
| Hyundai Elantra | $13,525 | 24/33 | Fun to drive; comfy seats; lots of safety features; strong crash-test results | Iffy handling; tricky manual transmission; bland interior |
| Mazda3 | $13,895 | 24/32 | Peppy pickup; sporty handling; bold design | Cramped interior; weak crash-test results without curtain air bags |
| Saturn Ion | $12,300 | 23/32 | Better power than some competitors; dent-resistant polymer body | Bland interior with low-quality materials |
| MIDSIZE CARS | ||||
| Nissan Altima | $18,230 | 23/32 | Sporty; good 4- and 6-cylinder engines; stylish interior | Antilock brakes not standard; cramped back seat; complex options |
| Mazda6 | $18,990 | 21/29 | Sporty, zippy acceleration; good handling | Cramped interior compared with competitors |
| Hyundai Sonata | $17,670 | 21/31 | Spacious; good standard features and safety features; long warranty | Spongy handling; weak base engine; generic design |
| Honda Accord | $20,360 | 22/31 | Roomy; stylish; superb engine choices | Limited trunk space; no folding rear seat |
| Chevrolet Malibu | $19,345 | 22/30 | Bold, sporty styling; spacious rear seat; tasteful interior | Outdated 4-speed transmission |
| Kia Optima | $16,995 | 21/31 | Good mileage; spacious; cheaper than competitors | Sluggish on highway; key safety features optional instead of standard |
| Ford Fusion | $17,770 | 20/29 | Pleasant Euro-handling; classy interior; large trunk | Fine-print instrumentation; no standout qualities |
| Saturn Aura | $19,745 | 22/30 | Pleasant road manners; good power for the price | Plasticky interior parts |
| LARGE CARS | ||||
| Hyundai Azera | $24,535 | 18/26 | Luxury feel; loads of features; good engine choices | Squishy handling; no navigation or Bluetooth options; not a Bimmer |
| Dodge Charger | $21,675 | 18/26 | Bossy styling; spacious cabin; decent handling | Weak base engine; some cheap materials; poor rear visibility |
| Chevrolet Impala | $21,310 | 18/29 | Can seat six; thoughtful interior; good engine options | Blasé design; ho-hum handling; old 4-speed transmission |
| Chrysler 300-Series | $24,595 | 15/22 | Vast interior; dramatic styling; tasteful interior | Lethargic base engine; some key safety features not standard |
| UPSCALE CARS | ||||
| Audi A4 | $28,900 | 20/31 | Great handling and acceleration; classy cabin | Gets pricey with options; requires premium fuel |
| Lexus ES | $33,720 | 19/27 | Quiet ride; luxurious cabin; top safety features | Bland styling; uninspiring handling |
| BMW 3-Series | $32,400 | 18/28 | World-class performance; great safety features | Complex electronics; gets very pricey with options |
| SPORTY CARS | ||||
| Mazda MX-5 Miata | $20,585 | 22/27 | Primo handling; easy-to-manage convertible roof; high fun-per-dollar ratio | Cramped (duh); weak base stereo |
| Hyundai Tiburon | $16,875 | 20/28 | Good power and handling; sleek design; good value | Small rear seats; key safety features not standard |
| Volkswagen GTI | $22,730 | 21/29 | Powerful; great handling; strong standard features; convenient hatchback | Economy-car design; requires premium fuel |
| WAGONS | ||||
| Toyota Matrix | $15,510 | 26/33 | Versatile seating; good mileage; higher seating than other wagons | Noisy engine; inscrutable gauges |
| Kia Rio5 | $12,915 | 27/32 | Six air bags; good mileage; funky design | Spartan interior; options quickly inflate price |
| Scion xB | $15,650 | 22/28 | Good safety features; spacious cabin; cheap, oddball design | Noisy, underpowered engine; oddball design |
| Subaru Outback | $21,995 | 19/26 | Powerful engines; right height; smooth carlike handling | Tight rear seat |
| Volkswagen Passat-Wagon | $25,115 | 21/29 | Fun to drive; friendly cabin; strong safety features | Pricier than competitors; spongy brakes; spotty reliability history |
| COMPACT SUVs | ||||
| Ford Escape | $18,770 | 22/28 | Muscular styling; quiet interior; comfortable seats | Stale driving dynamics |
| Honda CR-V | $20,700 | 20/27 | Lots of space and storage; sleek design; smooth ride | Lacks third-row seat option; no V-6 available |
| Hyundai Tucson | $16,995 | 20/25 | Cheaper than CR-V or RAV4; decent features; long warranty | Sluggish engine; cheap materials; road noise |
| Jeep Patriot | $15,475 | 23/28 | Boxy Jeep styling; versatile and roomy interior; simple controls | Cheap interior materials; uncomfortable rear seat |
| Toyota RAV4 | $21,100 | 21/27 | Great handling; feisty 4-cylinder engine; optional (if cramped) third row | Hinged rear door can be awkward; no navigation option |
| Honda Element | $18,980 | 20/25 | Cargo space; easy-to-clean interior; low ownership costs | Awkward “suicide” doors in rear; uncomfortable rear seats |
| Kia Sportage | $16,050 | 19/25 | Sound handling; stylish, classy interior; roomier than most small SUVs | Weak base engine |
| MIDSIZE SUVs | ||||
| Hyundai Santa Fe | $20,945 | 17/24 | Good standard features; strong crash-test results; long warranty | Subpar handling and braking |
| Toyota FJ-Cruiser | $22,545 | 16/20 | Cool retro design; real off-road capability; decent ride on pavement | Big blind spots; awkward rear “suicide” doors; marginal gas mileage |
| Mazda CX-7 | $23,750 | 17/23 | Sporty, carlike handling; quick engine; aggressive styling | Cramped rear seat; sleek design compromises cargo space and visibility |
| Nissan Murano | $27,750 | 18/23 | Smooth handling; modern styling; strong engine with good mileage | Sleek design cuts into cargo space |
| Ford Edge | $25,330 | 16/24 | Quick acceleration and smooth ride; intuitive controls; roomy | Gets expensive with options; no third row available |
| Honda Pilot | $28,395 | 16/22 | Loaded with standard features; spacious; carlike ride | Bland design; mediocre fuel economy |
| Saturn Outlook | $27,820 | 16/24 | Strong engine with decent mileage; spacious; third row; nimble handling | Clunky transmission |
| Toyota Highlander | $27,300 | 18/24 | Versatile seating; third row; good standard safety features | Soft handling; little cargo room with all seats in use |
| MINIVANS | ||||
| Chrysler Town & Country | $22,460 | 17/24 | Smooth ride; buslike interior space; numerous seating configurations | Sluggish base engine; nerdy square styling |
| Kia Sedona | $20,695 | 16/23 | Generous standard features; strong safety ratings; long warranty | Middling cabin; no navigation system available |
| Honda Odyssey | $25,860 | 16/23 | Great handling for a minivan; versatile seating; can fit eight passengers | Bland styling; it’s a minivan |
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 9 /PRNewswire/ — Southfield Chrysler Jeep - the nation’s largest Chrysler Jeep dealer - pioneers automobile advertising and reaches a wider audience to increase sales with the success of “Talk To Toni” commercials in Arabic.
The path-breaking ads on Middle Eastern Broadcast Network (MBN), local cable TV stations, WMZK-AM radio and on the Internet feature Toni Anttwan, the store’s leading salesperson with his family. Southfield Chrysler Jeep is a multicultural dealership with employees representing Iraq, Poland, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Israel, India, Albania and the Philippines in both language and culture. The store’s “Ask Toni” advertising campaign is one example of its multicultural approach.
The path-breaking ads on Middle Eastern Broadcast Network (MBN), local cable TV stations, WMZK-AM radio and on the Internet feature Toni Anttwan, the store’s leading salesperson with his family. Southfield Chrysler Jeep is a multicultural dealership with employees representing Iraq, Poland, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Israel, India, Albania and the Philippines in both language and culture. The store’s “Ask Toni” advertising campaign is one example of its multicultural approach.
“Our customers and our staff are a big global group,” said Southfield Chrysler Jeep General Manager Paul Steel. We value the pluralism of the many cultures of Metro Detroit which helps us best serve everyone who walks through our doors.”
“We are excited with the positive response to the “Talk To Toni” ad campaign,” said Steel. “Market specific advertising has been very successful for our dealerships.” Anttwan has sold more than 30 cars per month since the debut of the campaign, which he attributes to the new sales approach.
The spots were produced by David Clements Productions and can be viewed at http://davidclementsproductions.com/media/1106-Ask-Tony.htm.
Southeastern Michigan has the largest Arabic language community in North America.
Southfield Chrysler Jeep is a certified DaimlerChrysler Five Star Dealer, the automaker’s highest dealer recognition. The Five Star rating requires the dealership to earn consistently high scores on customer satisfaction surveys and meet rigorous standards in all areas of operation.
Southfield Chrysler Jeep is a member of the Chrysler Jeep Superstores Advertising Association, a group of 39 independently owned Chrysler Jeep Superstores in Southeastern Michigan from Monroe to Fowlerville and from Clinton to Port Huron.
Web site: http://www.chryslerjeepsuperstores.com .
For more information on Southfield Chrysler Jeep, call 248-354-2950 or visit http://www.southfieldchrysler.com .
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