Audi is Hard to Get, But Worth It

Audi has a big presence on a recently released list of the toughest cars to get. The Audi R8 (tough to get because it's $114,000, among other reasons), S4, A5 and S6 made the rankings, which were compiled by Forbes magazine.

Also on the list are the Dodge Charger (a nice car, but a somewhat curious selection), BMW 5-Series, Subaru Legacy and Volkswagen GTI.

To read the full story and see the list, click here:

http://www.forbes.com/2010/06/11/hardest-to-get-cars-autos-lifestyle-vehicles-sales.html?feed=rss_popstories

Lexus GX 460 Offers Inspired Styling, Good Safety

It can be tough out there for luxury SUV makers. First you get slammed by rising fuel prices, then you get hit by a crappy economy.

Finally, if you're Lexus, you get smacked with Consumer Reports magazine's kiss of death, the Do Not Buy label, which was bestowed on the GX 460.

It was given this dubious status because, the mag said, it is top heavy and if it were driven aggressively through a corner, then shifted in direction, it could lose stability and tip over.

Well, yeah.

Toyota, Lexus's parent, quickly stopped all sales of the GX until the problem was fixed.

It's back on the market now.

So how is it?

It has a powerful engine and pretty sharp interior and exterior design cues.

It has three rows of seats, all of which are adequately spacious.

The 4.6-liter V-8 engine makes 301 horsepower and is linked to a six-speed automatic transmission and full-time all-wheel-drive.

The GX gets 15 mpg city, 20 highway, according to EPA.

You must give the GX props for its safety features -- 10 airbags, electronic stability system, active front head restraints and antilock brakes.

Also, there's a pre-collision system that tightens seat belts and enhances stopping performance before a collision.

For convenience, the second-row seating slides fore and aft for increased leg room. The third row folds flat into the floor.

A backup camera, nine-speaker audio system and navigation are standard.

Three-zone air conditioning is optional.

Prices for the base model start at around $52,845 and for the higher trim at $57,640.

Realized the Error of their Ways

General Motors wisely reversed itself on an ill-conceived move to try to get its employees to stop using the Chevy name.

The original memo signed by Alan Batey, vice president for Chevrolet sales and service, and Jim Campbell, GM vice president for marketing, told employees at the corporation's Detroit headquarters "consistency" is important for the Chevrolet brand -- and it would be helpful in that regard to stop referring to Chevrolets at Chevys, The New York Times reported.

Now?

GM says Chevy is OK.

READ MORE:

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2010/06/10/GM-retracts-Dont-say-Chevy/UPI-56201276147889/

Call Them Whatever You Want, Just Don't Call Them Smart

General Motors has reportedly ordered its employees to stop referring to its iconic Chevy brand as Chevy. Chevy, the geniuses at GM are saying, now must be referred to strictly as Chevrolet.

The New York Times got its hands on a memo the company sent out, and reported that it reads thusly: "We'd ask that whether you're talking to a dealer, reviewing dealer advertising, or speaking with friends and family, that you communicate our brand as Chevrolet moving forward.

"When you look at the most recognized brands throughout the world, such as Coke or Apple, for instance, one of the things they all focus on is the consistency of their branding," the memo continued. "Why is this consistency so important? The more consistent a brand becomes, the more prominent and recognizable it is with the consumer."

Ok, so do these brain surgeons really think consumers are confused about whether Chevy is the same as Chevrolet?

These corporate rocket scientists also reportedly have established a jar in which employees must drop a quarter each time they say "Chevy."

The Beat is seriously considering a new policy of, from now on, only referring to Chevrolet as Chevy.

We really love the cars; the Malibu is awesome, the Impala is pretty good and the Aveo is a decent little subcompact.

Let's hope the mental giants who came up with the anti-Chevy memo don't make their way into the product development department.

GM Recalling 1.4 Million Vehicles for Fire Hazard

General Motors is recalling 1.4 million vehicles in the U.S. to fix a problem in which fires can be caused by a heated windshield washer fluid system.

GM recalled 944,000 vehicles for this same problem in 2008, but now says the fixes it made aren't stopping new fires. Now GM dealers will simply disable the system altogether.

READ MORE:

http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/08/autos/gm_washer_heater_recall/index.htm?hpt=T3

Georgia Bans Texting While Driving

On July 1, texting while driving will be illegal for all Georgia drivers, and young drivers with provisional licenses will be banned from any cellphone use behind the wheel. A violation can cost the driver $150.

READ MORE:

http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/perdue-signs-ban-on-541877.html?cxntlid=daylf_artr

Chrysler Announces Recall of Minivans, Jeep Wranglers

Chrysler announced a recall of nearly 600,000 minivans and Jeep Wranglers in the United States and an additional 100,000 elsewhere because of brake or wiring problems that might compromise safety.

Chrysler said the recall will affect 288,968 Jeep Wranglers from the 2006-2010 model years because of a possible leak of brake fluid.

Some 284,831 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans from 2008 and 2009 will be recalled because of a wiring defect that can cause a fire inside the sliding doors.

The company also said 76,430 Wranglers and 34,143 minivans will be recalled in Canada, Mexico and other international markets.

No crashes or injuries have been reported from the defects, Chrysler said.

Last week, Chrysler also announced it is recalling about 35,000 Dodge Calibers and a limited number of Jeep Compasses because of a potential problem with sticky gas pedals.

Gorgeous, Great to Drive and Good on Fuel- Buick LaCrosse

A gorgeous design and outstanding driving dynamics are enough to make you sit up and take notice of a car. But when you add really good fuel economy to the mix, it's enough to do flips about.

If that's the case, the Buick LaCrosse powered by a four-cylinder engine will turn you into an acrobat.

This car does a great job of putting to rest the old notion that Buick is a brand for those age 65 and over.
The LaCrosse has sharp styling with wonderful on-road performance, presenting a compelling value to consumers.
The LaCrosse also can garner some positive attention from its sticker price.
With the four-banger, LaCrosse starts at around $26,245.

At around $27,900 you get a CX model with a 3.0-liter V-6 engine.
The 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, rated at 182 horsepower, gets around 23 mpg - very nice for a car this size.

The six-banger gets around 19-20, which still isn't bad. It makes 255 horsepower.

Will you notice the missing ponies with the four-banger?

Yes.

But not to the point at which you would call the car woefully underpowered.

So saving some money on the sticker price and at the pump is worth it.

The LaCrosse offers optional all-wheel drive and a number of new technological options.

There is also a rear-seat entertainment system and remote starting.

CX models feature premium cloth seats and 17-inch wheels.

The CXL is LaCrosse's midlevel version, with either front- or all-wheel drive.
The front-drive version starts at around $30,400 and has a 3.0-liter V-6, heated leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, fog lights, outside mirrors with LED turn signals and puddle lamps, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

The all-wheel-drive model CXL is $33,765.

The CXS is the highest trim LaCrosse, and, as tested, was priced at $33,765. It comes with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine making 280 horsepower and 259 pounds-feet of torque, and 18-inch chrome wheels.

The CXS also has heated-and-cooled perforated leather seats; 19-inch wheels are optional.

The V-6 models also come with a six-speed automatic transmission; no manual is offered.

The LaCrosse has dramatic exterior lines that maintain some of the Buick heritage, but greatly update it.
The familiar waterfall grille and faux portholes are still present, but the portholes move to the hood now, rather than the sides of the front fenders as was previously the case.

We loved the ice blue ambient lighting found throughout the cabin and extending to the door panels.

GM says the car has a European-designed chassis and suspension system with real-time damping, high-intensity-discharge adaptive headlights that turn slightly in the same direction the car is turning, a side blind-zone-alert system and Bluetooth phone connectivity.

GM also says the LaCrosse's QuietTuning feature, is designed to block and absorb noise before it enters the passenger cabin.
We'll buy that, because the interior was silent as a church mouse.

The new LaCrosse gets a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which conducts its own crash tests independent of the federal government's testing program.Other LaCrosse safety features include four-wheel antilock disc brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist; traction control; front seat-mounted side air bags; and roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for both rows.

GM builds the LaCrosse at its Fairfax assembly plant in Kansas City, Kan.

Tips for Improving Your Mileage

[] Check tire pressure. There's a 1percent loss of fuel efficiency for every 2 PSI under maximum pressure (usually in the 35-psi range). So if you're running at 26 psi, you're giving up about 5 percent fuel efficiency.

[] A synthetic motor oil can improve fuel efficiency. You can realize a 5 percent to 10 percent gain by switching to a synthetic motor oil such as Mobil 1.

[] Drive slower. Most modern automobile engines are most efficient at below-highway speeds. Around 55 mph gets maximum efficiency. The gas mileage difference between 60 mph and 80 mph is going to be in the 15 percent range.

[] Take out the added weight from your vehicle. For every 100-pounds in cargo, you're burning about 2 percent more gas. Avoid putting cargo on the roof, which diminishes gas mileage.

Fuel Economy Myths

• 
  

  Hitting the road this holiday weekend? If so, you surely will want to get the best gas mileage possible. Here are some fuel economy myths from Fueleconomy.gov, the federal Web site for gas mileage information.

  
  

  --It takes more fuel to start a vehicle than it does to let it idle.

  People are really confused about this one and will leave a car idling for half an hour rather than turn it off and restart. A group of youths recently started an anti-idling campaign in the suburbs and are shaming parents into shutting down their cars.
  
  Idling uses a quarter- to a half-gallon of fuel in an hour (costing you one to two cents a minute). Unless you're stalled in traffic, turn off the car when stopped for more a few minutes.

• Vehicles need to be warmed up before they're driven.
  That is a long-outdated notion. Today's cars are fine being driven off seconds after they're started.

• As a vehicle ages, its fuel economy decreases significantly.
  Not true. As long as it's maintained, a 10- or 15-year-old car should have like-new mileage. The key thing is maintenance -- an out-of-tune car will definitely start to decline mileage-wise.

• Replacing your air filter helps your car run efficiently.
  Another outdated claim, going back to the pre-1976 carburetor days. Modern fuel-injection engines don't get economy benefits from a clean air filter.

• After-market additives and devices can dramatically improve your fuel economy.
  There's not much evidence that these "miracle products" do much more than drain your wallet. Both the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Reports have weighed in on this. There are no top-secret 100-mpg add-ons out there.

• Using premium fuel improves fuel economy.
  You might as well write a check to BP if you believe this. Only use premium if your car specifies it.

Infiniti Restyles its Big SUV

The 2011 version of the Infiniti QX56 gets a restyling that certainly adds an extra element of luxury and fashion. This large SUV formerly shared a platform with the Nissan Titan pickup and Armada SUV, but now is based on the Nissan Patrol, a vehicle built and sold in Japan.

The QX still comes with a 5.6-liter V-8 engine, but it has been made more fuel efficient and been given more power. In fact, it's the same powerplant as found in Infiniti's M56 sedan.

Infiniti recently showed off the new QX at an unveiling event in Louisville, Ky., at which it acknowledged that the large luxury SUV market isn't so, well, large anymore. However, Infiniti officials said, it is still somewhat substantial and probably pretty lucrative.

The officials said that it's common now for this segment to produce sales of around 105,000 vehicles per year, compared with the peak year of 2006, when more than 290,000 vehicles were sold.

Remember those days, when we really didn't give the price of gas much of a second thought?

Well, most folks do think about it twice, maybe even three times now. So back then, when everyone who wanted to sport a little bling was buying a Cadillac Escalade, other manufacturers wanted to, shall we say, enrich their big SUV offerings.

But Escalade remained the market king, and still does.

But there is room for other players in the segment, Infiniti officials say, because the market has changed.

The bling isn't the thing anymore, they say. Meaning that those buyers who just wanted big and gaudy are gone from this segment.

The segment now, Infiniti says, is made of high-income family buyers, who have two, three, maybe even four kids, possibly a pet or two, and maybe a boat to haul around on weekends.

They need the functionality of a big SUV, but also want the niceties that come from a luxury brand.

If that's true (it probably is), then those buyers will find a nice piece of machinery in the QX. The sleeker looks are very appealing, the inside is designed well (check out the huge legroom in the second row) and it drives smoothly.

The QX56 comes with a base price of $56,700 for a two-wheel drive model and $59,800 for a four-wheel drive.

VW Tiguan Might be a Big Hit

If you are reading this, you can punch the nearest person because you are seeing a Volkswagen.

Of course, that might not be socially acceptable -- despite those popular VW commercials.

But the VW Tiguan, a small SUV that has some neat features, might make you a little punchy anyway.

Why?

Well, the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is powered nicely, producing 200 horsepower.

It is linked to a six-speed automatic or manual transmission, and all-wheel drive is available in addition to the standard front-wheel configuration.

Fuel economy is OK; 18-19 mpg city, 24-26 highway.

And it has pretty decent looks - nothing too radical, just a nicely styled small SUV, inside and out.

With all of those good qualities, you'd like to say that it is also value priced.

Uh, not quite.

At the lower end, a Tiguan can be had for around $24,000, but if you add on a few things, you can go as high as $33,000.

That's a little steep for this type of vehicle.

The tester, which did not have a sunroof or satellite radio, was priced at a little north of $26,000.

While that's not terribly expensive, you might expect a bit more goodies at that price point, and you can certainly get them from competitors such as the Hyundai Tucson (almost fully loaded at the VW tester's price), Kia Sportage (fully loaded for a couple thousand less) and Chevrolet Equinox (better styling and performance for around the same price).

But that's not to say that the Tiguan is without positive attributes.

That four-cylinder engine, for instance, is very strong, with a towing capacity of 2,200 pounds and a payload rating of 1,352 pounds, according to VW.

The 16-inch alloy wheels are attractive, and 17- and 18-inchers are available.

There are three trim levels: S, SE and SEL.

The S has an eight-speaker sound system, step up to the SE and you get heated front seats and touch screen audio system and the SEL has leather seats, optional sunroof and upgraded interior trim.
The Tiguan also drives rather spiritedly, as you might expect of a Volkswagen.

It handles curves nicely, accelerates smoothly and brakes assuredly.
For convenience, the tire pressure monitoring system keeps an eye on whether tires are properly inflated.

And for safety, the Tiguan includes front and front-side airbags that are standard and the vehicle receives a five out of five star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
So, if you are impressed by all those features, and you don't mind forking over a few extra dollars, go ahead and drive a Tiguan.

And watch as bystanders punch each other in the arm.


I

You are Hereby Ordered to Drive the New Sonata

Hyundai continues to dazzle the automotive world with great-looking products that are affordable, reliable and fun to drive.

Its latest masterpiece is the 2011 Sonata midsize sedan.

This model has, over the past few years, been a fine competitor among sedans.

Now, with a substantially redesigned body, it is one of the most compelling vehicles on the market.

That's right - it almost should be mandatory that everyone test drive this car.

The most notable thing about it is its striking beauty.

Sleek lines and dramatic design language now dominate the Sonata's exterior.

It certainly was not a bad looking car before, but it wasn't highly distinguished among competitors such as the Honda Accord or Chevrolet Malibu.

Now, it stands out like a beautiful, athletic, healthy thumb (it certainly could not be referred to as a sore thumb).

Its chrome trim and grille, tapered roof and contoured side panels make it look like a car that easily costs around $40,000.

But it's not even close - more on that in a second.

Another thing you'll love is the fuel economy.

Hyundai has been quite insistent about touting the 35 mpg rating it gets from EPA, and as well it should.

Because the engine, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that makes 198 horsepower, is plenty strong - not puny like some other cars that boast high mpg numbers.

The Sonata gets 22-24 mpg in the city.

There is no six-cylinder offered, and none is needed.

The four-banger is direct injection, creating fewer emissions and added power.

Coming later this year, though, will be a hybrid version and a turbocharged four-cylinder.

Yikes.

After being thrilled by the exterior, you won't be disappointed one bit with the interior.

There are quality materials throughout, and luxury options include power sunroof, heated leather seats, premium sound system, touch-screen navigation system and rearview camera.

You can also get 16-inch steel wheels or 17- or 18-inch alloys.

If safety is a concern, check out the Sonata's top-safety-pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

That group must have been impressed by the six airbags, traction control and electronic stability system.

So this beauty must be kind of pricy, eh?

Think again.

The Sonata has three trim levels: GLS, SE and Limited.

Pricing starts around $19,200 and tops out at about $26,000.

That is remarkable for what is basically a premium sedan.

With this kind of beauty, fuel economy and affordability, you must drive a Hyundai Sonata.

Right now.

And if you don't like it, you must never be permitted to drive anything else again, ever.

If you do like it, you probably won't want to drive anything else again, ever.

ANOTHER COOL NEW HYUNDAI:

http://atlantaautobeat.blogspot.com/2010/04/hyundai-tucson-howd-they-do-all-that.html

Ugly is in the Eye of the Beholder

Check out this list of the ugliest cars ever made.

Do you agree? Did you own one of these?

Some of the picks might surprise you.

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/10/1028_50_ugliest_cars_of_past_50_years/index.htm

Nissan Aiding Post-Flood Efforts

Nissan today announced an immediate $200,000 cash donation to the American Red Cross in Middle Tennessee and a $50,000 cash donation to Second Harvest Food Bank to assist with flooding relief efforts in Tennessee. Nissan also will match employee donations to American Red Cross and Second Harvest Food Bank, dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000.

Additionally, Nissan will offer employee pricing and delayed finance payments on Nissan and Infiniti vehicles to eligible individuals who lost their vehicles due to flooding. Employee pricing and payment delay will be extended through June 30 to any resident of Tennessee and bordering Kentucky counties whose vehicle was damaged by flooding. Customers are required to show proof of damage and should work with area dealers to apply this offer. More information can be found by following a special link at www.InsideNissan.com.