bouncar: September 2007

Volkswagen Plans to Overpower Toyota in 2015

The Toyota Motor Corporation has been making waves in the international car market selling a huge amount of cars for the past years. And it even sent the Ford Motor Company to the third spot as the biggest automaker in the US for the past months. Toyota was also able to overpower the Chrysler Group in the latest sales report. And even General Motor Corporation is rumored to have been overpowered by the Japanese automaker.

The fact that the car maker is doing great in the car market, more auto builders find it a threat to their future car sales. Even in European countries, Toyota is doing excellent sales on almost all the markets in the world. Toyota is even tagged as the fastest growing auto maker of the world.

During these tough times, Toyota would always sell. The Japanese car maker boasts its quality and budget-friendly units against expensive brands. And on the latest news from theautochannel.com, the German car maker Volkswagen is planning to overtake the world’s famous Prius maker as the number one car maker in the year 2014 and 2015. Auto Motor und Sport, a German industry magazine, released the news on their official website earlier this day just like Tokico shocks which are now available online as well.

Michael Kern, the head of sales and marketing for the Volkswagen brand, was quoted by Auto Motor und Sport saying, "We want to overtake Toyota in volumes and by profitability.”

Kern said, "In the next three years we are going to bring 12 new models to the market and we are going to expand our presence in the United States, Russia, India and other markets.”

Toyota is planning to boost its volume production on 2014 or 2015 which made the Volkswagen make an internal planning to surpass Toyota as released by the Auto Motor und Sport’s company sources.

Toyota expects a huge amount of 9.34 million vehicles this year over General Motors which only hopes for 9.3 million according to the magazine, while the German car maker will only have an estimated more than 6 million vehicles sold at the end of this year.

Sales Rep Affects CPO Vehicle Sales

If you are looking for a car and you don't have enough to buy a new one, an alternative that automakers offer is for you to buy certified pre-owned vehicles. As these vehicles have been used (probably leased previously), it is only obvious that it is priced much lower than a new vehicle. And if you are considering buying a CPO vehicle, I think that you would agree with J.D. Power and Associates that sales representatives play a major role in your decision.

In an article I stumbled upon on theautochannel.com while I was looking for a colleague's site who wants me to look up auto parts such as that fan blade Canada for his car, it said that J.D. Power conducted a study on customer satisfaction concerning sales of certified pre-owned vehicles. The study considered seven factors which affects the decision of CPO vehicle buyers. These are price, salesperson, vehicle condition, financing and insurance process, certified pre-owned vehicle program features, inventory, and delivery.

According to J.D., 57 percent of certified pre-owned vehicle buyers learned about CPO vehicles from sales representatives. That means that if their sales rep did not open up the possibility of acquiring a used vehicle in good condition, they might have bought a new car in the future or they may hear it from a competing dealership. More importantly, 38 percent of the respondents said that their impression with the salesperson has a lot to do with their decision to buy a used car.

Jane Crane, the director of automotive retail research at J.D., has this to say: "Shoppers in the market for a used vehicle have a complex array of factors to consider, particularly regarding price, warranty and vehicle condition. A salesperson who is effective at conveying the advantages of purchasing a CPO vehicle - including explaining the certification process and terms of the warranty - and who displays concern regarding the shopper’s budget, can be particularly effective in influencing buyers to consider and ultimately purchase a certified pre-owned vehicle."

Aside from treating consumers well during the pre-purchase period, Crane also pointed out that dealerships and salespersons should also interact with their customers well even after the purchase was made. "Not only is it important for the CPO salesperson to gain shoppers’ trust by treating them with honesty and fairness, but it is also critical for dealerships to build on that trust by following through on their commitments to customers once a sale is complete. Customer satisfaction drops considerably if dealers fail to respond to customer post-purchase phone calls, follow through on post-purchase promises or treat buyers well when they return for service," he concluded.

Mazda Drops The 5 To Make Something Supreme!

Mazda is making something supreme by dropping the number 5 and entertaining tweaks and upgrades. So what’s the hottest member of the Zoom-Zoom family?

FoMoCo’s Japanese subsidiary Mazda Motor Corp. recently announced the modifications it has made on the sporty Premacy. Yes, the Mazda 5 is now the Mazda Premacy in Japan!

Major Features of the Enhanced Mazda Premacy

Exterior

Front design has been modified to produce a smooth, clean line that sorts of link the hood to the bumper
Newly designed headlights highlights the Premacy’s refined expression
LED indicator lights embedded in the door mirrors as well as the LED rear combination lights emphasize the Premacy’s quality premium model grades

Interior

The instrument panel design and layout have been changed
Black dials have visible white illumination for a more dynamic design
Interior colors and seat fabric have been changed to suit different model grades resulting to a more stylish and personalized expression.

Inside, the instrument panel was redesigned and the layout modified. There are also 7 additional body colors offered for the Premacy including the Golden Sand Metallic.

Dynamics

The implementation of the sequential valve timing (S-VT) has been broadened to enhance performance of the highly reputed 2.0 liter and 2.3 liter MZR engines
The front-wheel-drive models were equipped with an electronically controlled five-speed automatic transmission
The additional modifications have increase torque as well as linear acceleration that makes everyday driving more satisfying.

With the use of the S-VT together with the electronically controlled 5-speed automatic transmission, the fuel economy of the Premacy is improved. All of the FWD models with the 2.0 liter MZR engine meet Japan’s 2010 fuel economy standards plus 10% which makes them eligible for Japan’s Green Tax exemptions.

Also, the FWD and 4-wheel-drive (4WD) model grades also qualify as Super-Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles (SU-LEV) with exhaust emissions that are 75% lesser than the Japanese government’s 2005 exhaust emissions regulations.

Other features include:

Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
HDD navigation system that is compatible with Mazda G-Book Alpha telematics technology
An improved parking assist system with an additional CCD camera in the passenger side door mirror
Bluetooth® Hands-Free system
AUX terminal for external devices

Other enhancements made to the minivan include the improved “Communicative and Dynamic” product concept which is an electronically controlled five speed automatic transmission mounted in an all-front-wheel-drive (FWD) grades and the adoption of sequential valve timing (S-VT) has been made available to other model grades.

The models for the redesigned performance compact minivan are now available in Japan. They could be purchased at all Mazda, Mazda Anfini, and Mazda Autozam dealers. Globally, the sales target volume per month is 1,800 units. The manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) for the Premacy range between 1,768,000 to 2,355,000 yen including consumption tax.

According to the Japanese automaker, ask and you will receive. So the Premacy is out for grabs!

Are you still thinking of those Dodge parts? Tell me.

Consumers Can’t Get Enough Of The 2008 Models On Cars.com!

I admit, I am one of these millions of visitors checking out the freshest 2008 models at Cars.com! The fact is, we can’t help it! The 2008 models are mysteries that we need to unfold… Aside from engine mount Canada and other parts that we would like to inquire, Cars.com is regularly visited by a number of car enthusiasts everyday, and their main intention? Find out more information about the 2008 year model cars! Absolutely!

According to the latest Cars.com Consumer Search Index that was published on TheAutoChannel.com, a number of vehicles that were redesigned for next year have caused awareness among consumers shopping at Cars.com. Cars such as the 2008 Saturn Vue, Toyota Highlander and the Subaru Impreza are on top of the list of new and redesigned cars earning the most increase in searches on Cars.com!

Here is the list of vehicles with the most searches on Cars.com and the vehicles experiencing the largest increases and decreases month over month.

Green Fabric From Mazda

When it comes to automotive safety, we think about Volvo. If we talk about fast cars, Ferrari comes to mind. When green cars are concerned, we tend to think of Toyota first. But ToMoCo no longer appears to be on the frontline in the fight against global warming. Ford has the Escape Hybrid and General Motors is working on the Chevy Volt and its European counterpart, the Opel Flextreme. And we also have the Tesla Roadster and the ZAP Xebra. And then Mazda also appears in the picture with its newly-developed green fabric.

In the auto industry, green does not only mean the color of a product but its state of being eco friendly. Mazda's new fabric is green because it is made from 100 percent plant fiber. That means it does not have oil-based materials. Oil-based component when manufactured release a certain amount of potentially harmful gases into the atmosphere. With Mazda's biofabric, as the product is called, plant-derived fibers are the key.

The said biofabric has been developed by the automaker in partnership with other Japanese companies - Teijin Limited and Teijin Fibers Limited. According to the automaker, the said fabric is made up of 100 percent polylactic acid, a kind of plastic made from the combination of large numbers of lactic acid molecules made from fermented carbohydrates such as plant sugars.

The fabric is expected to be used on Mazda vehicles in the future along with precision engineered components such as clutch discs, ball bearings, shock absorbers and other auto parts. In the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show 2007 this October, the biofabric will be used on the all-new Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid. It will be used as seat covers and door trim for the said hydrogen hybrid car. The said concept vehicle will also use Mazda's bioplastic developed by the company last year.

Seita Kanai Mazda's director and senior executive officer for R&D said: "Mazda succeeded in developing this 100 percent plant-derived biofabric for use in vehicle interiors by leveraging the technical expertise we have amassed in the Hiroshima area. We are convinced that our new technology, which enables the manufacture of this material without any oil-based resources, will become a cornerstone for future biotechnologies aimed at reducing the burden on the environment. Mazda, working together with our locally-based partners, will continue its research and development programs aimed at achieving a future car society that is eco-friendly."

With this development, Mazda affirmed that they are going to continue the development of eco-friendly products for automotive application.

Time‘s Worst Cars of All Time includes Ford Model T

Time Magazine just recently announced the Top 50 Worst Cars of All Time on their official website. I was able to get the list so here it is. Have a closer look at the cars that made it to the top 50 list.

1990-Present
1995 Ford Explorer
1997 GM EV1
1997 Plymouth Prowler
1998 Fiat Multipla
2000 Ford Excursion
2001 Jaguar X-Type
2001 Pontiac Aztek
2002 BMW 7-series
2003 Hummer H2
2004 Chevy SSR

1975-1989
1975 Bricklin SV1
1975 Morgan Plus 8 Propane
1975 Triumph TR7
1975 Trabant
1976 Aston Martin Lagonda
1976 Chevy Chevette
1978 AMC Pacer
1980 Corvette 305 "California"
1980 Ferrari Mondial 8
1981 Cadillac Fleetwood V-8-6-4
1981 De Lorean DMC-12
1982 Cadillac Cimarron
1982 Camaro Iron Duke
1984 Maserati Biturbo
1985 Mosler Consulier GTP
1985 Yugo GV
1986 Lamborghini LM002

1960-1974
1961 Amphicar
1961 Corvair
1966 Peel Trident
1970 AMC Gremlin
1970 Triumph Stag
1971 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron Two-Door Hardtop
1971 Ford Pinto
1974 Jaguar XK-E V12 Series III

1940-1959
1949 Crosley Hotshot
1956 Renault Dauphine
1957 King Midget Model III
1957 Waterman Aerobile
1958 Ford Edsel
1958 Lotus Elite
1958 MGA Twin Cam
1958 Zunndapp Janus

1899-1939
1899 Horsey Horseless
1909 Ford Model T
1911 Overland OctoAuto
1913 Scripps-Booth Bi-Autogo
1920 Briggs and Stratton Flyer
1933 Fuller Dymaxion
1934 Chrysler/Desoto Airflow

The Ford Model T was one among the very first cars ever made by Henry Ford back in 1909. It vanished in the US car market by the year 1927. The car was first made on September 27, 1908 at the Piquette Plant in Detroit, Michigan. Ford gave it the first ever Ford car parts excluding of course the Carburetor Canada which was not yet available during those times. Although it was considered as the pioneer of Ford cars, it is still considered to be one among the 50 top worst cars of all time.

But why do they consider it a worst car? According to the Time magazine, “Let's stipulate that the Model T did everything that the history books say: It put America on wheels, supercharged the nation's economy and transformed the landscape in ways unimagined when the first Tin Lizzy rolled out of the factory.”

The model T was made by the engineer William C. Klann. And the vehicle was designed to use the most harmful engine part according to the news. The panels are made up of blacksmith including the crude instruments. The magazine even regarded it as “a piece of junk, the Yugo of its day.”

Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle With Celebrities!

Let’s all forget about our Volkswagen oil pumps for a while and prepare yourself with this semi-kinda celebrity news I have for you today! Listen up… According to the news I’ve read from TheAutoChannel.com, today, September 8, 2007, stars will shower down from the skies at Heart Castle! Oh yeah, the most anticipated star-studded event, the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Heart Castle, will feature celebrity attendees in the joint venture program sponsored by Audi and Best Buddies International. This will be the first time Audi will host and be a title sponsor of the annual charity bicycle tour - the Audi of America's! 35 cars will be provided by Audi to transport guests to and from the Audi Best Buddies Challenge event.

Western Region director Michael Cagle, and other superior executives will welcome celebrity guests and riders to the historic Hearst Castle in northern California's San Simeon Hills. The celebrities are:

Maria Shriver and her husband
California's governor Arnold SchwarzeneggerLegendary actor and director Clint Eastwood
Lacey Chabert of Mean Girls and TV's Party of FiveThe Bachelor's Andy Baldwin and Tessa Horst
Celebrity trainer Kim LyonsGunter Schlierkamp from Beerfest and The Hulk
The Ex-Wives Clubs' Marla MaplesActor Greg German and Adrian Pasdar from TV's Heroes
Actor Rob Lowe (Brothers and Sisters, The West Wing)

Lowe will lead the peloton through the first 20 miles of a challenging 100 mile ride along the Pacific Coast Highway in an Audi RS4 Friendship speed car which has been hand painted by famous Brazilian artist Romero Britto.

The event is a bicycle tour taking riders from Chateau Julien in Carmel to the Hearst Ranch in San Simeon. Maria Shriver, California's First Lady, will serve as the Honorary Chairperson and will also ride in the event.

"Since our partnership with Best Buddies began in June, the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle is the first major event we've had the opportunity to help lead. Just as Best Buddies is leading its field through innovation and a pioneering spirit, Audi's constant dedication to engineering the best cars in the world makes our organizations a perfect fit. Nowhere is Audi's commitment to social responsibility better showcased than in extraordinary events such as this, which join luminaries across many industries to a tremendous charitable cause. We are excited to welcome Audi and Best Buddies supporting guests, including California's Governor and First Lady Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, legendary actor and director Clint Eastwood, Lacey Chabert of Mean Girls and TV's Party of Five, The Bachelor's Andy Baldwin and Tessa Horst, celebrity trainer Kim Lyons, Gunter Schlierkamp from Beerfest and The Hulk, The Ex-Wives Clubs' Marla Maples, actor Greg German and Adrian Pasdar from TV's Heroes and many others to help us raise money to further Best Buddies' great work," says Johan de Nysschen, the executive vice president of Audi of America.

Porsche's New Ad Agency

German automaker Porsche recently announced that it has picked Cramer-Krasselt of Chicago as its new creative arm. The said firm will handle Porsche's media buying which is part of the automaker's United States account. The partnership may see a shift in Porsche's approach to marketing their vehicles. Although I think Porsche is one of only handful automakers that don't need any advertising, it is still a vital part of the automaker's operations.

David Pryor, the vice president of marketing of Porsche Cars North America, said: "Our decision to go with Cramer-Krasselt was based on seeking new and innovative approaches to marketing our unique products to a difficult-to-reach audience. Cramer-Krasselt took a fresh approach to targeting these affluent, advertising-averse consumers. Their team very quickly showed a tremendous passion and understanding of our business and developed a compelling, evolutionary expression of our brand."

Before Cramer-Krasselt was chosen by the automaker, it has the unenviable task of choosing among four finalists which I think are of very high caliber just like the CV boot Canada for our brothers across the border. The three other firms which Porsche reviewed are SS+K of New York, Martin Agency of Richmond, and Carmichael Lynch which was the company Porsche has been working with since 1999. Carmichael will still be working for Porsche until the first quarter of the next year.

Pryor said this about Carmichael Lynch and their working relationship in the past: "We have been pleased with the work that Carmichael Lynch has done to help us achieve record sales growth during the past several years; they clearly understood the core values of the brand and excelled at speaking to our passionate owner group. At the beginning of the review process Carmichael Lynch was awarded a significant project that will extend through the first quarter of next year, and this will continue under Carmichael’s responsibility."

Safety Systems in all Subaru Vehicles

Recently, I have learned that Subaru is creating a big name in the safety line. They were able to gain high ranks in the crashworthiness test made by Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). The new Impreza was in the spotlight. But, it is not just that single model that made it to the top. Included in the complete list were the all-wheel drive Forester, Liberty, Outback and the Tribeca. They are all the ones who lifted the Subaru name above all others.

Let’s take a look with what’s behind the five-star rank for occupant safety and four-star pedestrian rating. Of course, it has been brought about by the active safety systems available in all Subaru vehicles. If they were able to create efficient Subaru coil springs, safety equipment would be as effective as well. Based from autoweb.drive.com, these are all the active safety features:

Constant All-Wheel Drive – provides constant drive to all four wheels, promoting balance and control.
Anti lock brakes (ABS) – controls the braking force, which provides high stability in braking. Furthermore, it has the ability to steer around traffic hazards when braking, thus avoiding the risk for “locking up” and losing control. It is found to have cross-linked dual channel system. It works through retaining the brake on at least one front and one rear wheel (one left and one right) if a channel gets faulty. The brake piping of Subaru vehicles is inside the floor panels to reduce damage or corrosion.
Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) – improves rear wheel braking in response to load shifting caused by deceleration.
Vehicle Dynamics Control – activates to control each wheel individually. It happens when the electronic control unit (ECU) detected unstable or unusual wheel speed, steering position, front/back and lateral (sideways) G ford, and yaw rate, even swerving sideslipping or entering a spin. With its function, the car gains stability from its most stable wheels. Some models are found with Traction Control System (TCS), which helps in limiting traction loss during acceleration on slipper surfaces.

For the passive safety features, here is the list:

Ring-shaped reinforcements – surrounds the passenger cabin. It forms a high strength safety cell, which results in greater body rigidity and minimum distortion on impact.
Dual front and side SRS airbags – operate in conjunction with the front seatbelts to ensure maximum occupant protection.
Front seatbelt pretensioners – used to quickly tighten the belt on impact and remove any slack between the belt and body.
Automatic Emergency Locking Retractors (AUELR) – seatbelts are ratchet back into position for more positive security of child safety seats. It happens when the belts are fully extended. Ratchet is cancelled in fully retraction.
Engine impact limitation – the flat horizontally opposed boxer engines go under the passenger cabin in a heavy frontal collision.
Steering wheel impact minimization – support beam inhibits the rearward movement of the steering wheel in a collision.
Reinforced door beams and strengthened side frames – provide extra protection in a side collision. It also provides solid base frame for suspension, which ensures that the body flex does not affect vehicle stability.
Safety pedals – reduce injury to the driver’s lower legs in a heavy frontal collision.

These are actually just a few clips. Take some time reading autoweb.drive.com to know more.

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