Posted by william preisinger on Mon, Jan 09, 2012 @ 01:04 PM
CAR TUNES by ryanautomall.com
Radios are so much a part of the driving
experience, it seems like cars have always had
them. But they didn’t. Here’s the story.
SUNDOWN
One evening in 1929 two young men named William Lear and Elmer Wavering drove their girlfriends to a lookout point high above the Mississippi River town of Quincy , Illinois , to watch the sunset. It was a romantic night to be sure, but one of the women observed that it would be even nicer if they could listen to music in the car.
Lear and Wavering liked the idea. Both men had tinkered with radios – Lear had served as a radio operator in the U. S. Navy during World War I – and it wasn’t long before they were taking apart a home radio and trying to get it to work in a car. But it wasn’t as easy as it sounds: automobiles have ignition switches, generators, spark plugs, and other electrical equipment that generate noisy static interference, making it nearly impossible to listen to the radio when the engine was running.
SIGNING ON
One by one, Lear and Wavering identified and eliminated each source of electrical interference. When they finally got their radio to work, they took it to a radio convention in Chicago . There they met Paul Galvin, owner of Galvin Manufacturing Corporation. He made a product called a “battery eliminator” a device that allowed battery-powered radios to run on household AC current. But as more homes were wired for electricity, more radio manufacturers made AC-powered radios. Galvin needed a new product to manufacture. When he met Lear and Wavering at the radio convention, he found it. He believed that mass-produced, affordable car radios had the potential to become a huge business.
Lear and Wavering set up shop in Galvin’s factory, and when they perfected their first radio, they installed it in his Studebaker. Then Galvin went to a local banker to apply for a loan. Thinking it might sweeten the deal, he had his men install a radio in the banker’s Packard. Good idea, but it didn’t work – half an hour after the installation, the banker’s Packard caught on fire. (They didn’t get the loan.)
Galvin didn’t give up. He drove his Studebaker nearly 800 miles to Atlantic City to show off the radio at the 1930 Radio Manufacturers Association convention. Too broke to afford a booth, he parked the car outside the convention hall and cranked up the radio so that passing conventioneers could hear it. That idea worked – he got enough orders to put the radio into production.
WHAT’S IN A NAME
That first production model was called the 5T71. Galvin decided he needed to come up with something a little catchier. In those days many companies in the phonograph and radio businesses used the suffix “ola” for their names – Radiola, Columbiola, and Victrola were three of the biggest. Galvin decided to do the same thing, and since his radio was intended for use in a motor vehicle, he decided to call it the Motorola.
But even with the name change, the radio still had problems:
When Motorola went on sale in 1930, it cost about $110 uninstalled, at a time when you could buy a brand-new car for $650, and the country was sliding into the Great Depression. (By that measure, a radio for a new car would cost about $3,000 today.)
In 1930 it took two men several days to put in a car radio – the dashboard had to be taken apart so that the receiver and a single speaker could be installed, and the ceiling had to be cut open to install the antenna. These early radios ran on their own batteries, not on the car battery, so holes had to be cut into the floorboard to accommodate them. The installation manual had eight complete diagrams and 28 pages of instructions.
HIT THE ROAD
Selling complicated car radios that cost 20 percent of the price of a brand-new car wouldn’t have been easy in the best of times, let alone during the Great Depression – Galvin lost money in 1930 and struggled for a couple of years after that. But things picked up in 1933 when Ford began offering Motorolas pre-installed at the factory. In 1934 they got another boost when Galvin struck a deal with B. F. Goodrich tire company to sell and install them in its chain of tire stores. By then the price of the radio, installation included, had dropped to $55. The Motorola car radio was off and running. (The name of the company would be officially changed from Galvin Manufacturing to “Motorola” in 1947.)
In the meantime, Galvin continued to develop new uses for car radios. In 1936, the same year that it introduced push-button tuning, it also introduced the Motorola Police Cruiser, a standard car radio that was factory preset to a single frequency to pick up police broadcasts. In 1940 he developed with the first handheld two-way radio – the Handie-Talkie – for the U. S. Army.
A lot of the communications technologies that we take for granted today were born in Motorola labs in the years that followed World War II. In 1947 they came out with the first television to sell under $200. In 1956 the company introduced the world’s first pager; in 1969 it supplied the radio and television equipment that was used to televise Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the Moon. In 1973 it invented the world’s first handheld cellular phone. Today Motorola is one of the second-largest cell phone manufacturer in the world. And it all started with the car radio.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO….
The two men who installed the first radio in Paul Galvin’s car, Elmer Wavering and William Lear, ended up taking very different paths in life. Wavering stayed with Motorola. In the 1950’s he helped change the automobile experience again when he developed the first automotive alternator, replacing inefficient and unreliable generators. The invention lead to such luxuries as power windows, power seats, and, eventually, air-conditioning.
Lear also continued inventing. He holds more than 150 patents. Remember eight-track tape players? Lear invented that. But what he’s really famous for are his contributions to the field of aviation. He invented radio direction finders for planes, aided in the invention of the autopilot, designed the first fully automatic aircraft landing system, and in 1963 introduced his most famous invention of all, the Lear Jet, the world’s first mass-produced, affordable business jet. (Not bad for a guy who dropped out of school after the eighth grade.)
Posted by william preisinger on Wed, Dec 14, 2011 @ 03:42 PM
ryanautomall.com
Newest Charger SRT8® offers modern SRT performance in limited-edition, back-to-basics package
Available in Stinger Yellow or Pitch Black with exclusive interior and exterior appointments
Powered by proven 392-cubic inch HEMI® V-8 with 470 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque
Arrives in U.S. dealer showrooms in first quarter 2012
Auburn Hills, Mich. , Nov 9, 2011 - Designed and built for the core performance enthusiast, the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8® Super Bee makes its public debut at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show on Nov. 9. There is no mistaking the unreserved performance attitude of the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee. Available in either Stinger Yellow or Pitch Black exterior paint with special Super Bee graphics, the exclusive models reflect a specially designed modern and extroverted interpretation of the legendary Super Bee performance built for the enthusiast who enjoys a vehicle with one mission in mind – to go fast. "The 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee is a salute to the fun-loving past of Dodge muscle cars powered by the legendary 392 HEMI® V-8 in a back-to-basics performance machine," Ralph Gilles, President and CEO - SRT and Motorsports said.
Exclusive Super Bee Content Inside and Out
The race-inspired interior of the 2012 Charger SRT8 Super Bee features the SRT exclusive three-spoke contoured performance steering wheel, exclusive Z-stripe cloth performance seats with amped yellow and silver striping in both the front and rear as well as silver accent stitching and embroidered Super Bee logos on each of the front seat headrests. The instrument panel also features the Charger Super Bee logo on a unique dash plaque. Newly modified software includes the appearance of the Super Bee logo in the center instrument panel’s Electronic Vehicle Information Center at vehicle start up. On the exterior, the Charger Super Bee features a unique SRT badge with a 3-D helmeted bee mascot on the new split crosshair grille finished in Gloss Black. Satin black hood graphics mirror the black decklid stripes with a solid wide center line flanked by solid dual tracer lines on the Stinger Yellow model, while charcoal gray graphics are used on the hood and decklid of the Pitch Black model. Standard rear decklid spoilers are matte black on the Stinger Yellow model or matching body color on the Pitch Black model. Both front fenders tout the historically significant V-8 engine with "392 HEMI" badges first seen on the 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392. Flanking both rear fenders are the legendary round Super Bee graphics, which now include the wording "Powered by SRT" to commemorate the modern incarnation of
this celebrated performance icon. New 20 x 9-inch, five-spoke cast-aluminum wheels with black painted pockets developed specifically for the Super Bee models provide a unique performance look. Available Goodyear F1 Supercar three-season, ultra high performance tires give the Super Bee tenacious grip on the road or track. Also available are Goodyear Eagle RS-A 2 all-season tires that make the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee an all-season performance machine. Braking power for the Super Bee comes courtesy of SRT engineered Brembo brakes with vented and slotted rotors with four-piston Brembo calipers painted anodized black. A limited number of 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee units will be built for the U.S. market. All Dodge Charger models are built at the Brampton Assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Both Stinger Yellow and Pitch Black Super Bee models will be available for ordering in December at Dodge dealerships nationwide and will be arriving in U.S. dealer showrooms in the first quarter of 2012.
SRT’s legendary performance The 2012 Dodge Charger Super Bee is powered by the new 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 that delivers 45 more horsepower and 50 more lb.-ft. of torque than the 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 it replaces – up 11 percent to 470 horsepower (351 kW) and up 12 percent to 470 (637 N•m) lb.-ft. of torque. The new for 2012, exclusive SRT heated steering wheel features available mounted paddle shifters for hands on the wheel shifting both on road and at the race track. World-class stopping power from 60-0 mph in 120 feet comes through 14.2 inch (front) and 13.8 inch (rear) vented/slotted rotors with four-piston Brembo calipers. Improved brake cooling and fade performance at all four corners comes courtesy of a new underbody belly pan with integrated brake ducting. Performance numbers include 0-60 mph acceleration in the high 4-second range; quarter mile in the high 12-second range; 0-100-0 mph in less than 16 seconds; top speed of 175 mph and stopping power from 60-0 mph in 120 feet. Super Bee history
The Dodge Super Bee, first introduced in 1968 as a member of Dodge’s Scat Pack performance group, brought a high-performance vehicle to the low price class. Based on the mid-sized Coronet model, the standard engine for 1968 was the 335 horsepower version of the 383 cubic-inch V-8 while the legendary 426 HEMI V-8 also was available. The standard transmission was a heavy-duty four-speed manual with a Hurst Competition-Plus floor shifter. The power bulge hood let everyone know this was no ordinary car. The Super Bee could accelerate to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds and cover the quarter mile in 15 seconds. Not bad for a car that you could buy for a little more than $3,000.
In 1969, the radical 440 Six-Pack was added to the Super Bee’s list of engine options. By placing three Holly two-barrel carburetors on top of the 440 Magnum V-8, the Super Bee generated 390 horsepower and 490 lb.-ft.of torque. The Super Bee was switched to the Charger model for 1971 but continued to offer its impressive engine line-up, as well as its heavy duty suspension. The Hemi-power ’71 Super Bee could reach 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and ran the quarter mile in only 13.7 seconds. In its brief original four year run, the name Super Bee reached legendary status by giving the customer an ultra-high performance vehicle that they could drive to work during the week, yet take to the track on the weekend and outperform the competition. For the 2007 model year, Dodge and SRT revived the Super Bee nameplate with the limited-edition Dodge Charger SRT8. It featured "Detonator Yellow" exterior color with black hood and deck-lid face, unique "hockey stick" stripes on the rear fenders, Super Bee logos on front and rear fenders, and contrasting yellow stitching on the seats, steering wheel and shift knob. The wheels were fully polished versus the stock SRT8 Charger which featured wheels with silver painted areas. Powered by the 6.1-liter HEMI® V-8 producing 425 hp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque, the 2007 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee was the first special edition Charger from SRT. Only 1,000 units were built for the 2007 model year. The 2008 Charger SRT8 Super Bee package featured a B5 Blue Pearl Coat exterior reminiscent of the blue used by Chrysler vehicles in the 1960s and 1970s. Instead of fully polished SRT8 Charger wheels, the "pockets" were painted black. Blue accent stitching inside replaced the yellow found on the seats and steering wheel from the previous model year. Only 1,000 units of the Charger SRT8 Super Bee were built in 2008. In 2009, the Super Bee package featured Hemi Orange Pearl Coat paint with decals on the hood and rear quarter fenders; new Super Bee wheels with black anodized pockets with silver Brembo brake calipers. On the inside were orange accented seats and a serialized dash plaque. Only 425 units of the Super Bee were built in 2009.
Get yours today at ryanautomall.com
Posted by william preisinger on Tue, Dec 06, 2011 @ 02:53 PM
ryanautomall.com
Grand Cherokee Sales Continue to Soar!
Best Jeep Brand Sales Since 2003
Best monthly Grand Cherokee sales since August 2006.
Best November Grand Cherokee sales since 2005.
14th Consecutive retail month-over-month gain.
Continues to be The Fastest Selling Price Class!!!
• Luxury segment is a Overland
Overland Summit is The Most Luxurious SUV in its class!
•Luxury SUV segment represents 30% of all full size SUV sales.
•Retail sales up 101% for November
•Total Sales up 23% in November
•Sales up 54% CYTD through November
•Segment share of 13.2%, up 4% vs 2010 CYE
Jeep Fact #85 Wrangler Sales… Best November EVER!
ryanautomall.com
•Retail sales up 40% YoY for November
•Sales up 29% CYTD through November
•Segment share of 29% CYTD
Best Jeep Brand Sales Since 2003
14th Consecutive retail month-over-month gain.
Best monthly November Wrangler Sales EVER!
6th Consecutive Best Month EVER
July BEST Month Ever July 2011 14,355
Posted by william preisinger on Wed, Nov 30, 2011 @ 04:28 PM
Jeep Wrangler Wins 2 More Kelley Blue Book Honors
Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com Honors Jeep Wrangler with Two More Best Resale Value Awards
Kelley Blue Book 2012 Best Resale Value Awards: Top Ten Cars (#1)
Kelley Blue Book 2012 Best Resale Value Awards: Compact SUV
Second consecutive year Wrangler wins Best Resale Value Award
"Jeep had one of the better year-over-year improvements with a 4.1 percentage point gain in its 60-month residual value for 2012," said Eric Ibara, director of residual value consulting for Kelley Blue Book. "Particularly the Wrangler, among this year’s top-10 list, has been a steady performer, consistently racking up high values. For example, the 2007 model has yet to dip below 60 percent of MSRP as a 5-year-old vehicle. Each succeeding model year has managed to maintain that same high level of performance."
"In the last 18 months, we have completely updated the entire Jeep vehicle lineup, highlighted by the introduction of an all-new Grand Cherokee, as well as a new, more fuel-efficient and powerful Jeep Wrangler" said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "The result has been increased showroom traffic, a 44-percent improvement in sales so far this year, and increased residual values for our vehicles. We are delighted that Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com has recognized the Jeep brand’s improvements, and particularly these two awards for the Wrangler."
For more information visit Ryanautomall.com
Jeep Fact #82
Posted by william preisinger on Mon, Nov 07, 2011 @ 04:39 PM
Do you live in or near Buffalo, MN? Are you the adventurous type? Do you love the free world and can handle a little off-road adventures on your days off? You need look no further than a 2012 Jeep Wrangler. It has a Chrysler group 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 engine with massive amounts of horsepower. It is also more fuel efficient. Without a second thought, the 2012 Jeep Wrangler is named the 4x4 of the year. . Jeep Wranglers are one of Chrysler?s most precious baby?s. Or should we say ?cousin? to show the indirect affiliation.
You won?t have to worry about your surroundings at all, while at the same time being fully immersed in them. Have you ever taken the ?road less traveled?? If not, you might want to consider this particular ride for 2012 so that less traveled road will be an open adventure for the king or queen of off-roading. It is true that many people love Jeeps, men and women alike. However, this 4x4 of the year is one that you will want to keep traveling on and off road.
The 2012 Jeep Wrangler is also now a 5 speed automatic transmission just like the Jeep Grand Cherokee. This gives it greater capabilities for more powerful and exciting off-road exploring. If you decide to get a 2012 Jeep Wrangler with manual transmission, you will be able to go from 0 to 60 in less than 7 seconds. This is a speed achieved in faster sports cars. Why would you want to go that fast in a Jeep Wrangler? That?s like asking why you would want potatoes with your meat. How can you go off roading and have fun if you aren?t going fast enough? That?s what kicks an adrenaline rush in. Why go on an adrenaline less adventure?
You can choose from four different styles of the Wrangler or Wrangler Unlimited. There is the Sport, the S Sport, the Rubicon, and the Sahara. They are also available in either 2 or 4 door models. However, you can take off the doors and pull down the windows for even more excitement. The new Wranglerrange high in the ?hotness? category right along with the Fiat. These girls are hot, but they definitely aren?t afraid to sling some mud around. Don?t let their beauty fool you. Or, maybe you should let it fool you. It was once said, ?In order to become wise, you must become a fool first?. I would gladly become a fool for a jeep Wrangler, how about you?
Posted by william preisinger on Thu, Nov 03, 2011 @ 03:45 PM
Chevrolet Says 'Thanks' for 100 Successful Years
Centennial year celebrated with events across America and around the world
2011-11-02
DETROIT – In celebration of its 100th birthday Thursday, Chevrolet is recognizing the people who have made Chevrolet the successful global brand it is today. The brand is offering dealer promotions in hometowns across the United States, starring in a feature-length documentary, and inviting fans to share their Chevrolet memories online.
The activities cap a year-long celebration of Chevrolet's Centennial that kicked off in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and encompassed events in Chevrolet hometowns around the world.
"We understand Chevrolet is more than a brand – it belongs to everyone who owns, designs, builds, sells or loves Chevrolets," said Chris Perry, vice president, Chevrolet global marketing and strategy. "The past 100 years wouldn't have been possible without millions of people who have each made Chevrolet a part of their life's journey."
To thank U.S. customers, Chevrolet dealers across the nation will sponsor open houses and a number of promotions through Nov. 7. Chevrolet customers can visit the Chevrolet website to learn more about centennial celebrations in their area.
The passion many feel for Chevrolet is the subject of a new Chevrolet Centennial documentary produced by award-winning filmmaker Roger Sherman. "Chevy 100, An American Story" explores Chevrolet culture through owners, collectors, journalists and historians. Following a Detroit premiere Thursday at the Detroit Institute of Arts; the film will air nationally Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. on the Velocity Channel and will then be available on DVD from chevymall.com.
A global brand, Chevrolet is also celebrating its centennial around the world. For example, Chevrolet Europe is recognizing Louis Chevrolet's Swiss birthplace of La Chaux-de-Fonds by commissioning a public artwork on the Parc de l'Ouest. In Korea, Chevrolet customers set a Guinness World Record by creating the world's largest car logo.
Chevrolet in August hosted a Chevrolet parade at the Woodward Dream Cruise, where more than 100 old and new Chevrolets – 50 of them Chevrolet Volts – cruised Woodward Avenue. Chevy also served as presenting sponsor for the Cruise, which brings more than 50,000 cars and 1.5 million car fans to Detroit's storied Woodward Avenue each year.
Chevrolet also joined with the Indianapolis 500 to celebrate 100 years of shared history, and announced that it is returning to Indy car racing as an engine supplier and as sponsor of the Detroit Grand Prix.
To connect with fans globally, Chevrolet launched its interactive Chevy100.com website earlier this year and recently added two interactive web experiences: "The Road We're On" and "The Ride of Your Life." In addition, Chevrolet asked its fans on Twitter to post questions that Alan Batey, vice president, Chevrolet sales, service and marketing, will answer Thursday on the Chevrolet YouTube page.
Upcoming introductions include the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle in Europe and China; as well as the Chevrolet Spark in the United States and Canada in 2012 and its electric sibling in select global markets in 2013. They join new global introductions such as the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu sedan and new Chevrolet Colorado midsize truck.
About Chevrolet
Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 140 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Sonic, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers "gas-friendly to gas-free" solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at ryanautomall.com.
Posted by william preisinger on Thu, Oct 06, 2011 @ 03:39 PM
Let's get this out of the way right now: The Chevy Volt is a good car first and foremost, regardless of its nouveaupowertrain. We're fully aware its forte is returning mega-mileage numbers for those with short commutes, but this 4-day, 1,400-plus-mile adventure in the Volt serves as a real-time demonstration of how readily this plug-in rechargeable car can rise to a long-distance challenge if necessary -- a feat that would leave some of its plug-in only competitors sitting idle in the garage. More than just a simple mileage trial, this escapade was partially intended to gauge public interest and consumer awareness while evaluating the ease and availability of the evolving network of public charging stations.
Several online databases (CarStations, Charge Point and the Energy Department) exist to aid one's search for legitimate charging stations, and armed with a laptop or smartphone, finding a station is kind of fun. It's like participating in a "Mad Max"-themed geocaching event, only with the gasoline so highly coveted by the vagabonds in the post-apocalyptic epic replaced by a 240-volt supply of electricity, complete with an industry-standard SAE J1772 male charging plug at the end of the cable. It's in this manner that we found the charging station at Mom's Market in Timonium, Md., a suburb of Baltimore. We have Volts at: Ryanautomall.com
The station is part of the ChargePoint network. A phone call to the 800 number listed on the unit was all it took to unlock the coupler from the base unit and begin our charging session. Mom's Market has two charging stations -- one is 120-volt, the other is 240-volt -- and for the time being, charges are free. (Many stations charge a fee, which will require a credit card or existing account.) The mellow “power to the people” attitude displayed by Mom's Market makes sense when you consider the comments of Mom's founder and owner, Scott Nash: "They get some use here and there, but the reason why we have it up so early is because it's like an advertisement for electric cars. Seeing the station might make people think about buying one. The charging stations have to go in first, and then the cars get bought, so we're ahead of the curve a little bit. We think it could explode in the next year or two."
After three or so hours of shopping at Mom's and sampling the finest caffeinated beverages the Timonium Starbucks has to offer, we grow restless, reluctantly sever the Volt's umbilical-like connection to Mom's charging station and head toward Washington, D.C., just shy of a full charge.
No matter how well-packaged, in a car this compact it's impossible to ignore the 400-pound gorilla in the room -- that is, the T-shaped battery pack that runs the length of the passenger compartment. It's why rear passengers ride in bucket seats (note: Children LOVE them) instead of on a bench. Its low, center-mounted position gives the Volt a favorable center of gravity and relays a secure, confident handling feel to the driver, no matter how perverse the physics. Is this what Ford meant back in the '70s by “road-hugging weight?”
In fact, the Volt's road dynamics are as boring as those of any comparable economy car. Impacts are subdued and wind noise is minimal; in fact, it's eerily quiet inside. A wind-cheating 3-piece spoiler resides underneath the front bumper and scrapes the ground on even the tiniest of bumps; GM says it's “replaceable.” The interior B-pillar will intrude on the shoulder space of anyone who buys their suits off the large end of the rack, and the graphics on the door panels look as if they were lifted directly from the side of a '70s arcade video game. The graphics and switch gear on the center stack lean more toward the Apple aesthetic than PC.
In D.C. and the surrounding affluent suburbs, the Volt is a certified superstar. Our first hint of this comes when a long, gaunt arm resembling that of a John Holstrom illustration pokes through the window of a late-model VW GTI to offer an unsolicited, celebratory thumbs-up as it blitzes past. Later, hotel manager Justin Cortez recognizes the Volt upon arrival and begins rearranging parking assignments to position us in front of an outlet. When we were double-parked in front of the FDR Memorial for more than 20 minutes, a gruff (and fully combat-armed) police officer approaches, and before I can utter a word in my defense says, “The new Volt, right?” “Yeah,” I reply, “we're here to check out the Solar Decathlon on the Mall.” “Cool,” he says, nodding in approval. Then he simply walks away. Karma, apparently, is battery-powered. 
Rolling in electric-only mode through D.C. is sublime; pedestrians in this enlightened district readily dispense knowing looks and smiles of approval. One caveat: Don't get too wrapped up in the self-righteous love-fest, as the engine can kick on when battery power gets low, and when it does, it brings a swift end to the latest meeting of the mutual admiration society.
Members of the many collegiate teams that are competing in this year's Solar Decathlon are well-versed in all things Volt, some having interned with companies involved with the development of the software and hardware employed in hybrids and charging stations. While getting a Döner Kebab and a quick, satellite-fed football fix at the Döner Bistro in Leesburg, Va., a final accolade comes from a fellow diner -- a temporarily transplanted German in the employ of Mercedes Benz -- who says in a heavy German accent: “Is that your Volt man? It is nice car. For a Chevy I mean.”
So, after four days, 1,413 miles, 34.4 gallons of gasoline and a respectable 41 mpg, what have we learned that we didn't already know?
For starters, the Volt makes a fine road-trip car when all of your other options are exhausted. Second, large swaths of the public are fully aware of the Volt and absolutely love what it does. But they just can't get their heads around the price. Yet.
Posted by william preisinger on Wed, Sep 28, 2011 @ 10:07 AM
By Peter Valdes-Dapena | CNNMoney.com
SUVs are not going extinct — far from it. Small and fuel-efficient models, especially, are taking off. These SUVs have had the biggest sales increases so far this year.
1. Ford Explorer.
Jan - Aug 2011 sales: 75,720
Jan - Aug 2010 sales: 28,104
Price: $28,170 - $39,740
Fuel economy: 18 City / 25 Hwy
People keep predicting the death of the SUV, but it's just not happening. That's because SUVs have changed so that consumers can now find ones that do what they've always loved, including going off-road occasionally, without the things people always hated, like the bad fuel economy and rough rides.
Exhibit A is the new Ford Explorer which, so far this year, has had the biggest increase in number of vehicles sold of any SUV. It probably helps that last year's pre-redesign Ford Explorer sales were Exhibit A in the "SUVs are dead" argument.
While the new Explorer has met with mixed reviews — its ride and handling qualities are more SUV-like than you might think — it's unquestionably much more fuel efficient than the truck-based vehicle it replaces while retaining enough towing, hauling and off-road capability to satisfy the realistic needs of most SUV buyers.
Here are nine more SUVs that have seen the biggest sales increases from last year, according to data from the automotive Web site Edmunds.com.
2. Chevrolet Equinox
Jan - Aug 2011 sales: 112,932
Jan - Aug 2010 sales: 76,859
Price: $23,450 - $30,890
Fuel economy: 22 City / 32 Hwy
Many long-time SUV owners have been looking to downsize but don't want go so far as to switch to a car.
"Maybe it doesn't make sense to get a Tahoe right now, but I still want an SUV," said Jeremy Anwyl, chief executive of the automotive Web site Edmunds.com, paraphrasing the mindset of many shoppers.
Compact SUVs like the recently redesigned Equinox have become the vehicle of choice for these people. With the Equinox, GM engineers achieved car-like fuel economy without expensive hybrid technology.
3. Ford Escape.
Jan - Aug 2011 sales: 140,842
Jan - Aug 2010 sales: 106,414
Price: $21,240 - $27,920
Fuel economy: 23 City / 28 Hwy
The Escape's rise up the sales charts is really remarkable. Yes, compact SUVs are one of the fastest-growing auto market segments today, but the Escape isn't exactly the newest product.
Despite a redesign in 2008, it hasn't changed a whole lot since its introduction in 2000. Besides the general rush to fuel-efficient small SUVs, chalk it up to Ford's improved dependability and the general popularity of Ford Motor Co. as "the one that didn't take the money."
Higher-than-average spending on sales incentives, according to Edmunds.com, also helps.
4. Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Jan - Aug 2011 sales: 64,869
Jan - Aug 2010 sales: 30,869
Price: $26,995 - $54,470
Fuel economy: 17 City / 23 Hwy
With its combination of off-road capability and on-road style, the Grand Cherokee has long been one of Jeep's most popular products.
Its sales rise this year is largely due to a hugely successful redesign that improved the Grand Cherokee's ride and handling while retaining the all-important, at least for the sake of image, off-road capability.
The most remarkable change is on the inside. The Grand Cherokee's interior now looks like fine furniture, not like lawn furniture.
5. Dodge Durango.
Jan - Aug 2011 sales: 28,935
Jan - Aug 2010 sales: 46
Price: $28,995 - $42,995
Fuel economy: 16 City / 23 Hwy
Durango sales have increased this year by an amazing 63,000%. That's because the Durango wasn't in the production line-up last year, so dealers were just selling off the few lonely strays left on the lot.
Now the Durango is back, built in the same factory as the new Grand Cherokee and sharing most of its engineering. The new Durango trades some of the Jeep's off-road toughness for better on-road performance. It also offers an optional third row of seats not available on the Grand Cherokee.
While its still a car-based SUV, just like the Explorer, Dodge markets the Durango's old-school SUV toughness. In one TV spot, an Explorer laughably loses a tug-of-war with a V8-powered Durango.
Just goes to show, some SUV buyers still want an SUV and not a tall car. And, given the Durango's truck-like capabilities, its fuel economy remains a selling point.
6. Kia Sportage.
Jan - Aug 2011 sales: 29,302
Jan - Aug 2010 sales: 10,477
Price: $18,500 - $28,400
Fuel economy: 21 City / 29 Hwy
Kia is on nearly as big a roll as its sister-brand Hyundai. Two factors, product quality and eye-catching design, are driving their sales run-up.
The sharp-looking Sportage, built in Kia's new Georgia factory, is enjoying a 180% sales increase compared to last year's lumpier-looking model.
7. Honda CRV.
Jan - Aug 2011 sales: 124,859
Jan - Aug 2010 sales: 106,928
Price: $21,895 - $28,095
Fuel economy: 21 City / 28 Hwy
The CR-V's sales rise is a healthy — but not mind-blowing — 17%. But any increase at all is especially impressive given that Honda's overall sales are way down following this year's massive Japanese earthquake and tsunami. This run probably won't hold up for long. A redesigned version of the CR-V is due out soon and new models usually slow sales of the soon-to-be-retired version.
But the CR-V is practically the iconic small SUV, so with buyers looking for fuel-efficient choices, it makes sense that many would settle on this one.
8. GMC Terrain.
Jan - Aug 2011 sales: 48,666
Jan - Aug 2010 sales: 30,903
Price: $25,480 - $32,930
Fuel economy: 22 City / 32 Hwy
The Terrain is a squared off version of the Chevrolet Equinox with lots more chrome up front. Like the Equinox, it's easy on gas and also benefits from recently increased interest in the GMC brand. Sales of both the Terrain and the larger Acadia are swinging way up.
9. Nissan Rogue.
Jan - Aug 2011 sales: 69,171
Jan - Aug 2010 sales: 53,313
Price: $21,460 - $25,680
Fuel economy: 22 City / 28 Hwy
The Rogue is far tamer-looking than the more recently introduced bug-eyed Juke but, perhaps partly for that reason, it remains far more popular.
Also, while not exactly roomy, the Rogue at least has more usable space inside, while still getting excellent fuel economy. It's fun to drive, too. Overall, it's one of the bright spots in Nissan's line-up during this tough quake-rattled year for Japanese automakers.
10. Kia Sorento
Jan - Aug 2011 sales: 75,040
Jan - Aug 2010 sales: 59,795
Price: $21,250 - $34,850
Fuel economy: 20 City / 27 Hwy
The Sorento adds another thruster to Kia's rocket-like rise in the U.S. market. The Sportage's slightly bigger brother, the Sorento shares much of that SUVs style and, so far, shares its sales success, too.
Visit ryanautomall.com for current crossover specials. We ship throughout the USA.
Posted by william preisinger on Wed, Sep 14, 2011 @ 04:55 PM
ryanautomall.com
By Jeremy Korzeniewski
General Motors has finally let one of its biggest cats out of its bag: The 2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1 will be officially rated at 580 horsepower and 556 pound-feet of torque.
Al Oppenheiser, chief engineer of the Camaro, is justifiably proud of his creation, saying, "The Camaro ZL1 delivers supercar performance and technology in the sports-car segment. For sheer power, the ZL1 delivers more horsepower than a Ferrari 458, more torque than an Aston Martin DB9 V-12, and a better power-to-weight ratio than a Porche Carrara GTS."
The supercharged engine is the most powerful mill ever put in the engine bay of a Camaro – besting the rated output of the 1969 Camaro ZL1's 427-cubic-inch V8 by 150 horses – and it can be mated up with either a six-speed manual gearbox or, importantly for mass appeal, a six-speed automatic fitted with Drive, Sport and Manual modes for increased driver involvement.
You may be wondering how Chevrolet expects all that power to reach the ground in any meaningful fashion that doesn't involve incinerating a fresh pair of tires. And the answer would be with Performance Traction Management and third-generation Magnetic Ride Control. Magnetic Ride control uses Magneto-Rheological fluid in the shocks and is computer controlled with readings that adjust damping a staggering 1,000 times per second, and has Tour, Sport and Track settings.
Performance Traction Management, not surprisingly, is a traction control system with five distinct modes appropriate for everything from rain to race, which is calibrated for use at drag strips conditioned with VHT (a traction compound sprayed on asphalt).
Posted by william preisinger on Mon, Aug 29, 2011 @ 04:27 PM
Ryanautomall.com
By Chris ShunkRSS feed
Posted Aug 29th 2011 4:27PM
It has been over 70 years since the first Jeep rolled off the assembly line. The legendary off-road machine was instrumental to the Allied victory in World War II, and it became such a big hit with servicemen that the CJ was built for civilians after the war.
More than 65 years after that first commercial CJ hit the streets, the Jeep name is still going strong. But how much different is the 1945 CJ than the current Wrangler? Motor Trend looked into the transformation of the Jeep, and it translated its findings into an informative video.
Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself. The latest Wrangler may be two feet longer, nearly twice as heavy and feature almost five times more power than the original CJ, but the functionality that makes the Jeep a big hit with off-road enthusiast remains intact.