25% of Americans Couldn’t Afford a US$2,000 Car Repair Bill

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPeF3v7mVVBJYYqAfcS018Qd2aBvAcz7KCdKCIPGHzLmVoSkG_Rbf8IDxtPGfc4CqSurQ9XuB5Tc-_3hZ4KmBI_9rE_vHtQ7DdNed-EBtIfP3cW2omdH_bQUEBPdfNjusmXFNriVTreo/s1600/Fo-rd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPeF3v7mVVBJYYqAfcS018Qd2aBvAcz7KCdKCIPGHzLmVoSkG_Rbf8IDxtPGfc4CqSurQ9XuB5Tc-_3hZ4KmBI_9rE_vHtQ7DdNed-EBtIfP3cW2omdH_bQUEBPdfNjusmXFNriVTreo/s640/Fo-rd.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><!-- adsense -->The former American Automobile Association, now known by its acronym AAA, is probably the most recognisable organisation of its type in the world. </span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And with some 52 million members, it’s also one of the world’s largest if not <i>the</i> largest automobile associations in the world. </span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Suffice to say, when the AAA speaks, the world listens. In a recent telephone survey of 1,009 adults in the continental United States, the AAA found that 12.5% couldn’t cover a US$1,000 (€701) car repair bill and 25% couldn’t cover US$2,000 (€1,402) car repair bill. </span> <a href="http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/08/aaa-survey-reveals-25-of-americans.html" name="more"></a> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Additionally, 50% of those surveyed are holding on to an older vehicle until the economic climate improves and 25% have neglected repairs or basic maintenance on those vehicles over the last twelve months. Doing so, the AAA says, can greatly increase the risk of major and costly repairs. </span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Marshall L. Doney, AAA’s VP for Automotive and Financial Services explains:</span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">“Economic conditions have taken their toll on many Americans resulting in them neglecting their cars and leaving them at increased risk for very expensive repair bills. Many Americans rely on their cars for their livelihood and losing access to them could be financially devastating during an already troubling economic time." </span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"It’s important for drivers to not only continue to maintain their vehicles, but also have a financial emergency plan in place should they be faced with a sudden unexpected auto repair bill,” continued Doney.</span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Of those who can afford the US$2,000 repair bill, 38% said they would pay with their savings account, 20% said they would pay by credit card and 11% would have to borrow money from friends, family, their retirement fund or home equity to pay it. </span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Things are a little less grim for those can afford the US$1,000 bill. 46% said they would pay with their savings account, 22% would pay with their credit cards and 14% would need to borrow money.</span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Such bills are not unheard of with older vehicles, especially those that have been mistreated or improperly maintained. A transmission repair can cost anywhere from US$2,000 (€1,402) to US$4,000 (€2,804) and engine repairs can exceed US$5,000 (€3,506).</span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Similarly, major brake repairs or a new set of tires can pull US$300 (€210) to US$1,000 (€701) depending on the make and model. </span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">All in all, the AAA survey should give owners of older vehicles something to think about in the coming months or years of ownership.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85wjPn9DI8Ml_a6cxmnMJxay4jYsifixwJzUy4kplHQZFZ9vlDA7zHZnsqkGff2m-jndmeqPu6P0KelIei3TvDDCAgstOtu2SGH4ZoeobVEnJsoBxGeRUgk2p0LwgeHleMYXxe78OJU8/s1600/Chryslerr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85wjPn9DI8Ml_a6cxmnMJxay4jYsifixwJzUy4kplHQZFZ9vlDA7zHZnsqkGff2m-jndmeqPu6P0KelIei3TvDDCAgstOtu2SGH4ZoeobVEnJsoBxGeRUgk2p0LwgeHleMYXxe78OJU8/s400/Chryslerr.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span> <br /></div><script type="text/javascript"><br />var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true};<br /></script> <script src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=snakenoise" type="text/javascript"><br /></script><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Read more In <b><a href="http://carsandtec.blogspot.com/" target="_new" title="cars">Cars</a></b></div>

25% of Americans Couldn’t Afford a US$2,000 Car Repair Bill

The former American Automobile Association, now known by its acronym AAA, is probably the most recognisable organisation of its type in th...

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Opel Says Second Generation Ampera Will be Cheaper

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxC554AP308-fxVE71VlOqhoL5f-crVTli0_YP5DaZ36LvsSi3mUVVkZsmrk3NLcyk6WuJ_LiCcXIl1SZN0f_zgBvU-zrGzzrV3t-5XX8GG8xaGbgNHM8zM6lSn8Nx1QxmbeFMECwmptM/s1600/OPEL_AMPERA_40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxC554AP308-fxVE71VlOqhoL5f-crVTli0_YP5DaZ36LvsSi3mUVVkZsmrk3NLcyk6WuJ_LiCcXIl1SZN0f_zgBvU-zrGzzrV3t-5XX8GG8xaGbgNHM8zM6lSn8Nx1QxmbeFMECwmptM/s640/OPEL_AMPERA_40.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><!-- adsense -->Even though deliveries of Opel’s extended-range hybrid aren’t expected to begin until early 2012, the company is already planning the successor to the Chevy Volt’s European alter-ego.</span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">According to British magazine </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Autocar</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">, the second generation of the Opel / Vauxhall </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ampera</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> is scheduled for release in 2015 and, if sources from within the company are reliable, it feature a more radical design and a lower starting price than the current model.</span> <a href="http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/08/opel-says-second-generation-ampera.html" name="more"></a> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In the UK for example, the Vauxhall Ampera, which is already available to order, costs a rather steep £28,995 –and that is after the government’s £5,000 rebate. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Opel </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">engineers say that the battery pack alone costs around £7,000 but improvements in technology in the next four years will enable the company to reduce the cost by 50%. </span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">However, that’s not enough. Opel CEO Nick Reilly said the price of the Ampera will be further reduced by economies of scale due to increased demand and more localized production: “We have an education job to do on the technology of the Ampera, but that will come in time. We hope that it will establish itself as a market leader and we’ll be able to capitalize on that with a cheaper, more expressively designed second generation model”.</span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Economies of scale could also come from fitting the Ampera’s extended-range powertrain in other Opel and Vauxhall models. If this happens, then the cost of tooling and manufacturing would drop significantly further lowering the costs.</span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Nevertheless, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">GM </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">has to first assess sales of the model before it goes ahead with any decision, such as manufacturing its next generation in Europe, as it currently builds it alongside the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Volt </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">at its Warren, Michigan plant in the US. So far, things are looking good since 7,000 of the 10,000 units allocated for 2012 are already presold, with 75% of the sales going to fleet customers. </span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Opel would also like to give the next-gen Ampera a more aggressive style that will be more in line with the other models in its range. </span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The German firm's designers didn’t have a lot of freedom in the first generation because of the restraints forced on them by the car being a rebadged Volt. If they get the green light, the 2015 model will follow the company's new design “language” , recently previewed in the brand-new </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Opel Zafira Tourer</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">. </span></div><script type="text/javascript"><br />var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true};<br /></script> <script src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=snakenoise" type="text/javascript"><br /></script><br /><div style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">PHOTO GALLERY</span></span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1CNeMK2gQln2AefqMIhIAU2M2JbFbr3zqDtBrHv3AfBaVoa6K4_PKNxNrxCGGzwPcwyF5Fhip6hC-DbowVIrw1OZyZlurG8HaJLePw2HQScvZcfQDS9RV_eRH6hT2rI7enuhyUdhAdw/s1600/CHEVROLET_VOLT_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1CNeMK2gQln2AefqMIhIAU2M2JbFbr3zqDtBrHv3AfBaVoa6K4_PKNxNrxCGGzwPcwyF5Fhip6hC-DbowVIrw1OZyZlurG8HaJLePw2HQScvZcfQDS9RV_eRH6hT2rI7enuhyUdhAdw/s400/CHEVROLET_VOLT_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWD5eliPKX75R6tcytSur7kwfUCKsIdEqAVkX9WKz5hGVoyX6Ewbkg34Qf3Zb2rSy-j0KX1zWQ6zIRzJrkiqG-tKN0DzFdboNnf-G8euQQ97sTwVZlsH_JDXdO2j_gtgG1AsbyIzSnCk/s1600/OPEL_AMPERA_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWD5eliPKX75R6tcytSur7kwfUCKsIdEqAVkX9WKz5hGVoyX6Ewbkg34Qf3Zb2rSy-j0KX1zWQ6zIRzJrkiqG-tKN0DzFdboNnf-G8euQQ97sTwVZlsH_JDXdO2j_gtgG1AsbyIzSnCk/s400/OPEL_AMPERA_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrwLbkTlzQJgSSdsWPFPVhPh7fQTuSLtpYGV6YVk1pLOyXd4Ub85PXcbmiRBXnhAeZ51zWyW8WF31wnBNc6vA-HegKmXQGQfhoaT_nCHzxo8hma8vMy-8Udzrg1jcrDK6kM74OqT5jAY/s1600/CHEVROLET_VOLT_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrwLbkTlzQJgSSdsWPFPVhPh7fQTuSLtpYGV6YVk1pLOyXd4Ub85PXcbmiRBXnhAeZ51zWyW8WF31wnBNc6vA-HegKmXQGQfhoaT_nCHzxo8hma8vMy-8Udzrg1jcrDK6kM74OqT5jAY/s400/CHEVROLET_VOLT_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHKYiZn-W3K7BzHdU55trLq-XDCFOi2y6CGztFs54vu3X7x6sxX__kUU6iCT_mbd084VEK8ocLQfASFpWAvdT99zy4msxZvOPfByuZoQFrKWXeYLqFOyouAHAYTnJ-nv7GBjYe3NyK9k/s1600/OPEL_AMPERA_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHKYiZn-W3K7BzHdU55trLq-XDCFOi2y6CGztFs54vu3X7x6sxX__kUU6iCT_mbd084VEK8ocLQfASFpWAvdT99zy4msxZvOPfByuZoQFrKWXeYLqFOyouAHAYTnJ-nv7GBjYe3NyK9k/s400/OPEL_AMPERA_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrilCrdbpTLZfhAtCkeddtTZp48tKT5bO0ce_QgyxAlb44FLems7tFRJLkjscpn5lO-EHsfKmhGU0ZuvxhuDc9MHLZBuRlQBsp7aeY0j9tCuix1bjJDSpjvc5z7_9ZnZcInjWcrzAMUCE/s1600/OPEL_AMPERA_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrilCrdbpTLZfhAtCkeddtTZp48tKT5bO0ce_QgyxAlb44FLems7tFRJLkjscpn5lO-EHsfKmhGU0ZuvxhuDc9MHLZBuRlQBsp7aeY0j9tCuix1bjJDSpjvc5z7_9ZnZcInjWcrzAMUCE/s400/OPEL_AMPERA_5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWgg1KWD_H2AfOQ731-xY9fT5VKJkoWldpboQkKltOlBY1EMl5Yw1F-gq5MOuyMyjgoeSdnFlnASkXklkYHBp07QF_WZBYN8Sa6bdYopwDJzkP0TdSi26WgMLIThHpU5O09_tN8Z90fQ/s1600/OPEL_AMPERA_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWgg1KWD_H2AfOQ731-xY9fT5VKJkoWldpboQkKltOlBY1EMl5Yw1F-gq5MOuyMyjgoeSdnFlnASkXklkYHBp07QF_WZBYN8Sa6bdYopwDJzkP0TdSi26WgMLIThHpU5O09_tN8Z90fQ/s400/OPEL_AMPERA_4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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Opel Says Second Generation Ampera Will be Cheaper

Even though deliveries of Opel’s extended-range hybrid aren’t expected to begin until early 2012, the company is already planning the succ...

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Ebay news: Camaro Meets Batmobile

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-1MqrX0-oHM49e6HySvNcqD2p_El4BsJ-v1Vp0q1ABGqUF6aeANdycAVNwGiosLQBdLcE5JRORM1HVA0zyQJ4doVBEmcYPjbqBUDjL0X8WfbBelDe9_N7xwsCWIBEXlqpngfnAIP2d8/s1600/dreamryder-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-1MqrX0-oHM49e6HySvNcqD2p_El4BsJ-v1Vp0q1ABGqUF6aeANdycAVNwGiosLQBdLcE5JRORM1HVA0zyQJ4doVBEmcYPjbqBUDjL0X8WfbBelDe9_N7xwsCWIBEXlqpngfnAIP2d8/s640/dreamryder-20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><!-- adsense -->Fancying a GM classic with a little more, ahem, <span style="font-style: italic;">pizazz</span> than your run-of-the-mill F-Body Chevrolet Camaro? Welcome to the wonderful world of eBay and the DreamRyder (that's how the owner spells the name of the car).</span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The DreamRyder is the creation of one Bill Logan who used a V8-powered 1984 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible as a base. Logan says he spent 13 years to complete all the customizations, which include a fiberglass body said to be inspired by a number of animals such as the bat ray and the eagle. </span> <a href="http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/08/it-came-from-ebay-hell-camaro-meets.html" name="more"></a> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The DreamRyder is up for sale on eBay at an undisclosed reserve price, with the highest bid currently standing at $5,900. Head down for more photos, a video and the seller's description of the car.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span> <br /><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></b><br /><blockquote><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">eBay Seller's Description: </span></b> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"Built on an "F" body 82-92 Camaro over a 13 year period, I consider it functional art.</span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So my work is an animalistic representation in the form of a sphinx like creature, crouching between its flanks, about to pounce. In the front is a face with a beak, fangs and eyes.</span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The roof is kind of a bat ray with an eagle like head and its body spread out behind it, embracing the rear window and ending in a sweeping transition into a creatures buttocks in the rear.</span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">All the lights are functional and are fiberglass as is the rest of the body as are the side pipes.</span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I have built a set of molds so I can reproduce any part I might need. I am considering building an enhanced version eventually.</span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">It is a driver and a traffic stopper and is very well received at shows."</span></blockquote><div style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">VIDEO</span></b></i></div><div style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></i></div><iframe width="620" height="383" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JuME8_jaVdE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><div style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> PHOTO GALLERY</span></span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmWPq-FkUfwGKQuXWNC0RFB0RI0SgiQzHz5R2KTG9t9hgLhcWFkEcbmknjFISl27ob9AFqp6x7gY1s2kAAnYfyRu34Hq-nvTbwNaPfySXVri4qT0HjFmEx0jMZGlgelOd5od3AQa-Fs0/s1600/dreamryder-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmWPq-FkUfwGKQuXWNC0RFB0RI0SgiQzHz5R2KTG9t9hgLhcWFkEcbmknjFISl27ob9AFqp6x7gY1s2kAAnYfyRu34Hq-nvTbwNaPfySXVri4qT0HjFmEx0jMZGlgelOd5od3AQa-Fs0/s640/dreamryder-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXXGLDv5PYiqUYE14o86xb84uM2Uv5ODZx9UV5NyYO225n-OmcbKBAvIkaTOO1umzEDX_P9ywiQthXCwFb-UouiRihgIwBjscTLdR3QRGK4jGjbJETjKDk3PqFWsmu3yFQsvmWx0UZnk/s1600/dreamryder-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXXGLDv5PYiqUYE14o86xb84uM2Uv5ODZx9UV5NyYO225n-OmcbKBAvIkaTOO1umzEDX_P9ywiQthXCwFb-UouiRihgIwBjscTLdR3QRGK4jGjbJETjKDk3PqFWsmu3yFQsvmWx0UZnk/s640/dreamryder-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1iL30dHtG6GWh2Pe9sz8Kkh93bR1b_-XCw_Xvei6HmfTFH0bRvlNl73vqm2kK8s85NzjZVOvkK1JbElStF4OgHU6OrK7vznfVwFoAPz8Ol2riClQsv06zZmhmLzpCdjTVixXBn0I0Us/s1600/dreamryder-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1iL30dHtG6GWh2Pe9sz8Kkh93bR1b_-XCw_Xvei6HmfTFH0bRvlNl73vqm2kK8s85NzjZVOvkK1JbElStF4OgHU6OrK7vznfVwFoAPz8Ol2riClQsv06zZmhmLzpCdjTVixXBn0I0Us/s640/dreamryder-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>

Ebay news: Camaro Meets Batmobile

Fancying a GM classic with a little more, ahem, pizazz than your run-of-the-mill F-Body Chevrolet Camaro? Welcome to the wonderful world of...

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GM is World’s Number One Automaker, Toyota Drops to 3rd Place

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSw1_QZDrXFkwLjw709bNfJphAfJGsEv02a2DFxTv2czrJQCqGQovbUt4vzQ18OMGWj9VX_tx72CRd-qPrJvqGk5W4pdAA82c_JRgoG6ndq7nMT2WhASyXcfD38qAXLYG0girkgxMl5zU/s1600/Chevrolet_Cruze_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSw1_QZDrXFkwLjw709bNfJphAfJGsEv02a2DFxTv2czrJQCqGQovbUt4vzQ18OMGWj9VX_tx72CRd-qPrJvqGk5W4pdAA82c_JRgoG6ndq7nMT2WhASyXcfD38qAXLYG0girkgxMl5zU/s640/Chevrolet_Cruze_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count" href=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><!-- adsense -->Well, it was almost certain to happen after the March 11 earthquake and Tsunami hit Japan causing multiple problems to the country's automotive industry. </span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Toyota</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">, the world’s largest carmaker, saw its production drop by 23% to 3.37 million units for the first half of the year - and includes sales of Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino vehicles.</span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">As a result, the Japanese company lost the title of the world’s largest automaker that it held since 2008 to </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">General Motors,</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> which saw its sales rise by 8.9% to 4.536 million units for the first six months of 2011. For the time being, second place goes to the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Volkswagen Group</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> which sold 4.13 million units worldwide.</span> <a href="http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/08/gm-is-worlds-number-one-automaker.html" name="more"></a> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Toyota has announced that </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">its factories already operate at 90% of their capacity</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> since June and expects production to fully recover by November. Moreover, it will produce an additional 350,000 units from October until next March to make up for the lost ground. </span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">However, analysts like Carnorama’s Takeshi Miyao, don't believe that Toyota can recuperate quickly: “Even if it recovers production it will take another few more months for sales to recover too, as it takes time to deliver the cars to the dealers. Therefore, Toyota may even trail VW in the full year as well”. </span> <br /></div><script type="text/javascript"><br />var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true};<br /></script> <script src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=snakenoise" type="text/javascript"><br /></script><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-0lrnxnP5AhQTqQg1DsA2UEMy5qztuh_zm13JO9fZ4X6WIuuzC4t6iq4s5gQcIPVyE-whofYAmlDK64xSJEWheK1WqpG6O-ccm9BgZXHrbXC6WcolIik5vhqTsTFeApnnnXIEluAqYc/s1600/Toyota_Production_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-0lrnxnP5AhQTqQg1DsA2UEMy5qztuh_zm13JO9fZ4X6WIuuzC4t6iq4s5gQcIPVyE-whofYAmlDK64xSJEWheK1WqpG6O-ccm9BgZXHrbXC6WcolIik5vhqTsTFeApnnnXIEluAqYc/s400/Toyota_Production_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Read more In <b><a href="http://carsandtec.blogspot.com/" target="_new" title="cars">Cars</a></b></div>

GM is World’s Number One Automaker, Toyota Drops to 3rd Place

Well, it was almost certain to happen after the March 11 earthquake and Tsunami hit Japan causing multiple problems to the country's a...

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2012 Buick GS and Buick eAssist Prices

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count" href=""></a> <a class="addthis_button_tweet" href=""></a> <a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style" href=""></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhCImytXOsbXgRr6CJGIaz9JPYFj6RR4WbF6meW3jUT4Oa14QSowvv8e3tW3-StDQ-eAncrt1Qf91CAwicCZAsNvBGQjMFMCozzfrZK5wA-CsV2YB6oytgN3npyvAtsO5kIzn92jxdZM/s1600/2012-buick-regal-52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhCImytXOsbXgRr6CJGIaz9JPYFj6RR4WbF6meW3jUT4Oa14QSowvv8e3tW3-StDQ-eAncrt1Qf91CAwicCZAsNvBGQjMFMCozzfrZK5wA-CsV2YB6oytgN3npyvAtsO5kIzn92jxdZM/s640/2012-buick-regal-52.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><script type="text/javascript"><br />var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true}; <br /></script><script src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=snakenoise" type="text/javascript"><br /></script><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><!-- adsense -->This fall will see Buick adding two more offerings to its Regal range, namely the performance orientated GS that's powered by a turbocharged four, and the fuel efficient eAssist featuring a "light" hybrid powertrain. </span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Pricing for the 2012 Regal GS starts at $35,310 while the 2012 Regal eAssist at $29,530 , with both prices including $860 in destination charges. </span> <br /><a href="http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/08/gm-releases-pricing-on-2012-buick-gs.html" name="more"></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Regal GS comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 270 horsepower (201kW) and 295 lb.-ft. of torque (400Nm). Power is transferred to the front-wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox, with a six-speed automatic to be available later in the year. The Regal GS returns an estimated fuel economy of 27 mpg on the highway.</span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Standard features include 19-inch rims, push-button start; a leather-wrapped, flat-bottom sport steering wheel with audio controls; metal sport pedals; leather-appointed, heated and 12-way adjustable sport seats and a Harman Kardon sound system with nine speakers.</span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Regal eAssist features a belt-driven, liquid-cooled electric motor/generator in place of the alternator that provides15HP (11 kW) and 79 lb-ft of assistance for the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. </span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The system allows the Regal eAssist to deliver an EPA-rated 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. </span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Buick said the eAssist system is a $2,000 option on the Regal base model which will continue to be offered as a standalone model with the 2.4-liter gasoline engine. </span><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="color: #990000;"><b> PHOTO GALLERY</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30SQ13cXPQRdsz81d8Tt7db8v3Nf193aLEcAmmlaV8ievf6tGsJqPb_6d8vv6hYhrxozPKFkPAByQsewkhQ6rqjHyX8tZWf7z6aDfwOQcebn_WsF2_G6bJQoYwPOoMkpDNxNUsYuq0y0/s1600/2012-buick-regal-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30SQ13cXPQRdsz81d8Tt7db8v3Nf193aLEcAmmlaV8ievf6tGsJqPb_6d8vv6hYhrxozPKFkPAByQsewkhQ6rqjHyX8tZWf7z6aDfwOQcebn_WsF2_G6bJQoYwPOoMkpDNxNUsYuq0y0/s400/2012-buick-regal-5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwKnoxbBEShhj0xgPk1iMQyFsKX2WKB-LvsfunVE7rgo3xFWfwkIbeIGSPET_0MkXu9wqDEbEyttmr3IKLFBj7UVgZqohC7L7n74dj1SUqGpw_Ffk6WmbJ_wrvZTxPHIGS9jgm2FHLrs/s1600/2012-buick-regal-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwKnoxbBEShhj0xgPk1iMQyFsKX2WKB-LvsfunVE7rgo3xFWfwkIbeIGSPET_0MkXu9wqDEbEyttmr3IKLFBj7UVgZqohC7L7n74dj1SUqGpw_Ffk6WmbJ_wrvZTxPHIGS9jgm2FHLrs/s400/2012-buick-regal-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMGzpErEPh6w_NEgqXY3LT-t1bPjcVYSnD-akJl0KO_NlTbYHMAB-Lmt1WlYiyAI63-RCbZkDgK8N0E7Vs4v-cKHDHNQSOXxbAAaowRV1RwI6kxygLZoYmh7wgNPXri_SFHqS68Q11OE/s1600/2012-buick-regal-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMGzpErEPh6w_NEgqXY3LT-t1bPjcVYSnD-akJl0KO_NlTbYHMAB-Lmt1WlYiyAI63-RCbZkDgK8N0E7Vs4v-cKHDHNQSOXxbAAaowRV1RwI6kxygLZoYmh7wgNPXri_SFHqS68Q11OE/s400/2012-buick-regal-10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg748m85Ub6lxJ2dehoWeLZ_dGtMowIBmfXMMZS62gN8hrdP4HwByxykVH5CBYsyybkYNPYbezq_yjMxmdl8kXj5biKfSIAWDJ0QR3tcwbjGbdwZ1Dqf3iUU36fsaRrJp_IjqbfZiJ7Ac/s1600/2012-buick-regal-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg748m85Ub6lxJ2dehoWeLZ_dGtMowIBmfXMMZS62gN8hrdP4HwByxykVH5CBYsyybkYNPYbezq_yjMxmdl8kXj5biKfSIAWDJ0QR3tcwbjGbdwZ1Dqf3iUU36fsaRrJp_IjqbfZiJ7Ac/s400/2012-buick-regal-9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtxBxz4VNWWl9HZ0QrsaPvNqyZSMQRZ5uCGOX-3XsQ1drweSexBiesQWS4uUMaC7RRWnLKVf0j0qpQ0gXDVHINRpIZ_owMzQ8UBTDQuVF2agdfJsShBVK9H053NQk7sk4sFFr56J46_s/s1600/2012-buick-regal-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtxBxz4VNWWl9HZ0QrsaPvNqyZSMQRZ5uCGOX-3XsQ1drweSexBiesQWS4uUMaC7RRWnLKVf0j0qpQ0gXDVHINRpIZ_owMzQ8UBTDQuVF2agdfJsShBVK9H053NQk7sk4sFFr56J46_s/s400/2012-buick-regal-7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6kDcuSM4OpP7cM2v47wsZfBU4lf14DUpTahTw27PdMl6M38CKtXCTtsW_BQaeMaag_bOw6k-faefuhBBJ8QQRIMjKtmW88FM6uy-unIEqGhN6UKgm6AU7OI7ux3vYLgPlwEZ5YAdFdQ/s1600/2012-buick-regal-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6kDcuSM4OpP7cM2v47wsZfBU4lf14DUpTahTw27PdMl6M38CKtXCTtsW_BQaeMaag_bOw6k-faefuhBBJ8QQRIMjKtmW88FM6uy-unIEqGhN6UKgm6AU7OI7ux3vYLgPlwEZ5YAdFdQ/s400/2012-buick-regal-11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF88K9u5a8adK3tTN5ZYDP5YFlBBiAtPHuM06dGW1pUcilH5Jn6RCuyYxTr37AgnPqw-EanbG9bbmkFK5UAkQIOtXVE-qangKpv4FkA2ncOEtWLYjUl72Y_VgwfyBLehKGqTe0n-sD6Zg/s1600/2012-buick-regal-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF88K9u5a8adK3tTN5ZYDP5YFlBBiAtPHuM06dGW1pUcilH5Jn6RCuyYxTr37AgnPqw-EanbG9bbmkFK5UAkQIOtXVE-qangKpv4FkA2ncOEtWLYjUl72Y_VgwfyBLehKGqTe0n-sD6Zg/s400/2012-buick-regal-12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAON7nkclkU5-kUbia0PkM90PrMR2gAHv8eaeoT2v5m0sHJ4CS-8d080VFtokR899aXEVpdyvfZ0Ls4Bw3U52gDypBuMobADoJgS0WaagFPwPOzvxF_ab8fqmJnAqxbVADujJQ80zg2k/s1600/2012-buick-regal-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAON7nkclkU5-kUbia0PkM90PrMR2gAHv8eaeoT2v5m0sHJ4CS-8d080VFtokR899aXEVpdyvfZ0Ls4Bw3U52gDypBuMobADoJgS0WaagFPwPOzvxF_ab8fqmJnAqxbVADujJQ80zg2k/s640/2012-buick-regal-2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDciZr2H72dvylQ5yN8glMhnvLnTQL4CYCn7P2caFtZKzS06j8Fj3Hy8xwA5npBESjylbgoFGKNGDcip7VJPxugrk9KTKJGObmv0CFvKixR_V1AcPNW8wGD2OQFKZ1zLTyZt72Wt7NCg/s1600/2012-buick-regal-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDciZr2H72dvylQ5yN8glMhnvLnTQL4CYCn7P2caFtZKzS06j8Fj3Hy8xwA5npBESjylbgoFGKNGDcip7VJPxugrk9KTKJGObmv0CFvKixR_V1AcPNW8wGD2OQFKZ1zLTyZt72Wt7NCg/s640/2012-buick-regal-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Read more In <b><a href="http://carsandtec.blogspot.com/" target="_new" title="cars">Cars</a></b></div>

2012 Buick GS and Buick eAssist Prices

This fall will see Buick adding two more offerings to its Regal range, namely the performance orientated GS that's powered by a turb...

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Hacking your Car through a Smart Phone

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count" href=""></a> <a class="addthis_button_tweet" href=""></a> <a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style" href=""></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqv6YWwjw_zSpIW6Py88LYGATCykmAtiTLwW3RX60X69-y4CvlQt1dvrzKU4SFC7qWh3BY0SZa__6xlF4v5wDkak-SNsEEVfU8zbpaoK6_12721jKqpfhdRI9QNw9hIC-R9gxRaSvt04/s1600/mobile-1_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqv6YWwjw_zSpIW6Py88LYGATCykmAtiTLwW3RX60X69-y4CvlQt1dvrzKU4SFC7qWh3BY0SZa__6xlF4v5wDkak-SNsEEVfU8zbpaoK6_12721jKqpfhdRI9QNw9hIC-R9gxRaSvt04/s640/mobile-1_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><!-- adsense -->Security consulting firm iSec Partners warns drivers that thieves could exploit smart phone apps that allow the unlocking and starting of cars remotely.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Researchers Don Bailey and Mathew Solnik have hacked the protocols some of these apps use and demonstrated how they can take advantage of them using a laptop.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">According to Mr. Bailey, the whole process of hacking and improvising the signals these apps send – what he dubs “war texting” – can take as little as two hours.</span><a href="http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/08/hacking-your-car-through-your-smart.html" name="more" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: none;"></a><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Mr. Bailey will discuss the research at Black Hat Technical Security Conference in Las Vegas this week. Of course, he won’t name the products or provide full technical details of Mr. Solnik and his work until the software makers can patch them. GM, Mercedes-Benz and BMW all use the technology in one form or another.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Bailey and his cohort intercepted messages sent between the server and the target vehicle over standard mobile networks. He explains:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"We reverse-engineer the protocol and then we build our own tools to use that protocol to contact that system.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Researchers at iSec think this is indicative of a more widespread problem created by the proliferation of “cheap and easy” mobile networking technology.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Bailey suspects that security considerations are often minimally addressed, thereby making devices using the technology susceptible to exploitation and misuse.</span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3JDRDZu4l45FL29NS3Bi0wngAvJJ6ehZD-Bk3z7BZUl8X2NHAJP4egcuPMuq7CnwlKAhO1Zr_1o0hKKnuZlqlWOv95oAUdcbdR7VkKsDoCAPQ-i1_izI6DtpY83y_V1LlVZYPCy51_k/s1600/mobile-1_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3JDRDZu4l45FL29NS3Bi0wngAvJJ6ehZD-Bk3z7BZUl8X2NHAJP4egcuPMuq7CnwlKAhO1Zr_1o0hKKnuZlqlWOv95oAUdcbdR7VkKsDoCAPQ-i1_izI6DtpY83y_V1LlVZYPCy51_k/s640/mobile-1_1.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><br />Read more In <strong><a href="http://carsandtec.blogspot.com/" target="_new" title="cars">Cars</a></strong></div>

Hacking your Car through a Smart Phone

Security consulting firm iSec Partners warns drivers that thieves could exploit smart phone apps that allow the unlocking and starting of...

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Chevy Uses Solar Power to Charge Volts

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count" href=""></a> <a class="addthis_button_tweet" href=""></a> <a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style" href=""></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkrGeDrlfvMIVVOi_9fiT4tOnF0Ak7G5F5W10KGqDG5EdHebxRMOMQyAQilndu7bsZCjVkFb5PPCmMPE9840l7qNE-RLD9VdijIrV2csB5CDT1PFxpbLA-K2NvmR9UUQUyVoPwGG67As/s1600/Chevrolet_Volt_Green_Zone_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkrGeDrlfvMIVVOi_9fiT4tOnF0Ak7G5F5W10KGqDG5EdHebxRMOMQyAQilndu7bsZCjVkFb5PPCmMPE9840l7qNE-RLD9VdijIrV2csB5CDT1PFxpbLA-K2NvmR9UUQUyVoPwGG67As/s640/Chevrolet_Volt_Green_Zone_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><!-- adsense -->Chevrolet announced today that it is installing solar-powered electric charging stations at two dozen dealerships in North America as part of its Green Zone initiative.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The new units will generate enough electricity to fully-charge 12 Chevrolet Volts a day, while excess electricity created will be used to power the dealership, supplementing their power needs. According to the Detroit automaker, each canopy generates enough electricity for up to 4,500 charges per vehicle annually.</span><a href="http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/08/chevy-uses-solar-power-to-charge-volts.html" name="more" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: none;"></a><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">“The beauty of this program is that there is no capital cost required from the dealership” said Dave Halvorson, president of American </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Chevrolet </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">in Modesto, California which, along with Al Serra Auto Plaza in Michigan will be the first two dealerships to become a part of the Green Zone initiative.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">“The question isn’t whether to install a solar canopy, it’s where and how many” added Joe Serra, president of Serra Automotive. “It’s a win for us because the electricity generated will help reduce operating costs, and it’s a win for the environment since solar power helps reduce our carbon footprint.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Chevy Green Zone is a part of </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">GM</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">’s plan to invest $7.5 million in Sunlogics, a solar panel manufacturing and development company that will manufacture and install both the solar panels and the charging stations.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>PHOTO GALLERY</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkHrXcHiX04tOvDHkPnnGOpEtxVWxzLKhG2PRJOOeinc4-JPtfcDjN9UDKx13EZbSSY0j3eCLTY5rQ2sHSI90QKjFRF9jIqYNrJidCAU8tsDBo_Si0JNMp2S03XzzNrCY9JNd0Q4hCGw/s1600/ChevroletVoltGreenZone15.jp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkHrXcHiX04tOvDHkPnnGOpEtxVWxzLKhG2PRJOOeinc4-JPtfcDjN9UDKx13EZbSSY0j3eCLTY5rQ2sHSI90QKjFRF9jIqYNrJidCAU8tsDBo_Si0JNMp2S03XzzNrCY9JNd0Q4hCGw/s400/ChevroletVoltGreenZone15.jp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMU0iA-HUZSWzkMy-tjcaIk5vTlvHFvy8nPhTfvgWCwhNqjlLDfZuCebmkHRFRs8MMf7mW5uInv1JjxhNvKAzUKYNYZ8lNYNRfUsppaxIAjsNLwhvL5GuT5im520KYE91DV4I-xH0rQg/s1600/ChevroletVoltGreenZone13.jp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMU0iA-HUZSWzkMy-tjcaIk5vTlvHFvy8nPhTfvgWCwhNqjlLDfZuCebmkHRFRs8MMf7mW5uInv1JjxhNvKAzUKYNYZ8lNYNRfUsppaxIAjsNLwhvL5GuT5im520KYE91DV4I-xH0rQg/s640/ChevroletVoltGreenZone13.jp.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tQWvNkSIod_HT0ACgAfSd2WX2JMNUdLvaagC0FdG9HKjfv9mFe2l-_DitTGunbbmVR2HHUFkPblhV-dxnjsMUxm2lCXMuyWipofyu_XOHob0bxz5reBQzLsoCzXbLLVe3ZrPGv0nwpU/s1600/ChevroletVoltGreenZone43.jp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tQWvNkSIod_HT0ACgAfSd2WX2JMNUdLvaagC0FdG9HKjfv9mFe2l-_DitTGunbbmVR2HHUFkPblhV-dxnjsMUxm2lCXMuyWipofyu_XOHob0bxz5reBQzLsoCzXbLLVe3ZrPGv0nwpU/s640/ChevroletVoltGreenZone43.jp.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivu8Bf41jVJNzoJmqHtUn46noLitaSfzIGg55wm1ubhxJfPJwHrg16rwcnYNcDwoLAoUzRHsTCPpYZHwIAIkmLDyE8jFoM0mh4_W8c0tg0RUlT4r9tTG0rcoZeVqY-Nb-LUo3-geGxLgw/s1600/ChevroletVoltGreenZone72.jp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivu8Bf41jVJNzoJmqHtUn46noLitaSfzIGg55wm1ubhxJfPJwHrg16rwcnYNcDwoLAoUzRHsTCPpYZHwIAIkmLDyE8jFoM0mh4_W8c0tg0RUlT4r9tTG0rcoZeVqY-Nb-LUo3-geGxLgw/s640/ChevroletVoltGreenZone72.jp.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true};</script> <script src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=snakenoise" type="text/javascript"></script> Read more In <strong><a href="http://carsandtec.blogspot.com/" target="_new" title="cars">Cars</a></strong></div>

Chevy Uses Solar Power to Charge Volts

Chevrolet announced today that it is installing solar-powered electric charging stations at two dozen dealerships in North America as par...

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Opel and Chevrolet too close for Comfort?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count" href=""></a> <a class="addthis_button_tweet" href=""></a> <a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style" href=""></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7lQ9lTYaI-N4-B_2B6x7sgRDjoTQSwBJklgVQ2CC4pNj1JmPltTfd3i3YCsXulWmcWMsnzj7ysvXgx5nHAvzq1l_ReGHXtg0z2gZMjJl6Y8s4t1J3SdkPCQfWuZpb4ij6sTCgixCwnQ/s1600/Opel-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7lQ9lTYaI-N4-B_2B6x7sgRDjoTQSwBJklgVQ2CC4pNj1JmPltTfd3i3YCsXulWmcWMsnzj7ysvXgx5nHAvzq1l_ReGHXtg0z2gZMjJl6Y8s4t1J3SdkPCQfWuZpb4ij6sTCgixCwnQ/s640/Opel-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #292929; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><!-- adsense -->Sibling rivalry: every family faces it, at one point or another. And what are automotive groups such as </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">General Motors</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> if not one, big (and bailout-happy) family? Platform and parts sharing is the name of the game in order to reduce costs and maximize profit margins. But what happens when two brands, like Opel and Chevrolet start to overlap each other?</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Having introduced five new cars in the past 18 months and on the verge of launching a major TV, print and digital campaign this summer to celebrate its centennial anniversary, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Chevrolet</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> is trying to become more premium.</span><a href="http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/08/opel-and-chevrolet-too-close-for.html" name="more" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: none;"></a><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">However, as it becomes more attractive, while also retaining its value for money position, it starts to tiptoe on Opel's shoes. And that, according to Opel’s CEO Nick Reilly, is a problem they need to work out.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Reilly suggests that, even though research shows only 1.5% of Opel buyers would consider a Chevy, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Opel</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> still needs to move more upmarket in order to differentiate itself</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">“Undoubtedly Chevrolet will move up the pecking order with the quality of new products that have been launched and which are planned for launch,” Reilly told British magazine Autocar. “Therefore it’s logical that we’d like to see the Opel/Vauxhall product range and company image move up accordingly to keep them separated.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Wayne Brannon, President of Chevrolet Europe, thinks that what sets his brand apart is its American identity: "If you ask 100 Europeans what they know about Chevrolet, research shows that 85 of them think of 'Chevy' as a brand with American roots and values. No other volume brand in this marketplace can say that".</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Reilly agrees stating, “Chevrolet is an American brand with its own reputation and a goal of always being priced below the mainstream. In contrast, Opel and Vauxhall are very European brands. Cars such as the Meriva and Ampera show that we can lead in areas of technology in a way that Chevrolet won’t”.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Right. Like Chevrolet would ever have the technology to develop and build something called the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Volt</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">, start selling it in the US and then let Opel rebadge it as the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ampera </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">for Europe…</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>PHOTO GALLERY</i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HXQXwSzGvZY9BqQpyrCyMyR7p8B1de3WMU5pZgJ_rjFq22mZs9Dh1lpNOLbFOxhRULsTZmrjat0jXxkHJHcEGZfSztIl1ky-j0Lt2KXPVJiDIkwH763m1SkMIzjWaUvdUO7B_MdzJf8/s1600/258176+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HXQXwSzGvZY9BqQpyrCyMyR7p8B1de3WMU5pZgJ_rjFq22mZs9Dh1lpNOLbFOxhRULsTZmrjat0jXxkHJHcEGZfSztIl1ky-j0Lt2KXPVJiDIkwH763m1SkMIzjWaUvdUO7B_MdzJf8/s640/258176+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBysk8z9xQCEiQW77r1ijDV-iE9Lx0PYKEfYMW5Fip2IS3swxOuVBdBhpmVq80zeEi0l4_-PsV_Wwt5THC2sT60TaWGW_AXXc8Od3YFii_fynpB3xfxm91DDLOmXWxiq2XZHw4-zdO7OU/s1600/Chevrolet_Cruze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBysk8z9xQCEiQW77r1ijDV-iE9Lx0PYKEfYMW5Fip2IS3swxOuVBdBhpmVq80zeEi0l4_-PsV_Wwt5THC2sT60TaWGW_AXXc8Od3YFii_fynpB3xfxm91DDLOmXWxiq2XZHw4-zdO7OU/s640/Chevrolet_Cruze.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDS9RUyG4N3ZFP_sz3UIG4-oAGhGTY9uez63JUEkgdz7U6B3SC5nO8wcYW7C8vpg149iYLUbeP48yDDZmTkepVk3CO9HU5cLfR90-ZLt_O3pzPwUIA3-uS70hOT2ptRKNrLJk0NGpDwtw/s1600/Chevrolet_Volt_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDS9RUyG4N3ZFP_sz3UIG4-oAGhGTY9uez63JUEkgdz7U6B3SC5nO8wcYW7C8vpg149iYLUbeP48yDDZmTkepVk3CO9HU5cLfR90-ZLt_O3pzPwUIA3-uS70hOT2ptRKNrLJk0NGpDwtw/s640/Chevrolet_Volt_.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgkyA1I8KyepRj2y6szKGDpnno-cd4rTNQ90zTzexQfvXAX8ArGzrIfnEx_AGzjI-uJWcauO735m8cOq3C-fwnRwZuMZ7ii7Ory7H-VuFlY44s-2oXKGDZyJULEd60xqiZrTikpFgflk/s1600/Opel_Astra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgkyA1I8KyepRj2y6szKGDpnno-cd4rTNQ90zTzexQfvXAX8ArGzrIfnEx_AGzjI-uJWcauO735m8cOq3C-fwnRwZuMZ7ii7Ory7H-VuFlY44s-2oXKGDZyJULEd60xqiZrTikpFgflk/s640/Opel_Astra.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><br /><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true};</script> <script src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=snakenoise" type="text/javascript"></script> Read more In <strong><a href="http://carsandtec.blogspot.com/" target="_new" title="cars">Cars</a></strong></div>

Opel and Chevrolet too close for Comfort?

Sibling rivalry: every family faces it, at one point or another. And what are automotive groups such as  General Motors  if not one, big ...

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More American Car Buyers Opting for 4-Cylinder Over V6 and V8 Engines

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count" href=""></a> <a class="addthis_button_tweet" href=""></a> <a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style" href=""></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5trIJIbyqt9f_kML75s5_Ljtw0jPs4C1V-atWuD1WoQ0ctp_dHM-tstIcV69zfkip9gIBuSiWCF5wIVja4II7H3m19x9OYrYJxoUSC03ac_rRiRmRdPEpjNXNdcF4ngcNg-e60T_jdQ/s1600/11Explorer-E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5trIJIbyqt9f_kML75s5_Ljtw0jPs4C1V-atWuD1WoQ0ctp_dHM-tstIcV69zfkip9gIBuSiWCF5wIVja4II7H3m19x9OYrYJxoUSC03ac_rRiRmRdPEpjNXNdcF4ngcNg-e60T_jdQ/s640/11Explorer-E.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #292929; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><!-- adsense -->Once upon a time, in the land of the free and the home of the brave, most consumers liked their cars with six- or eight-cylinder engines. Blame the rising costs of fuels or advances in technology, but now, American buyers are turning to smaller 4-cylinder units in increasing numbers.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">According to a </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">report</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> from IHS Automotive, in the first half of the year, more than 43% of the light vehicles sold in the US were equipped with four-cylinder engines, compared to just 30% five years ago.</span><a href="http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/07/report-more-american-car-buyers-opting.html" name="more" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: none;"></a><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">It was the opposite in 2006, when V6s had a 43% market share. In the meantime, four cylinders’ sales rose and those of six-cylinders declined, with the former overtaking the latter in 2009. The V8 is losing ground even faster: its sales account for one in every six vehicles, whereas in 2005 that number was one in three.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The four-cylinder domination is even bigger if you do not take into account fleet sales, where many vehicles are trucks or vans with V6 or V8 engines.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The choice of fewer cylinders in new cars is explained by the downsizing trend, due to the increasing oil prices and the manufacturers’ efforts to build more fuel-efficient cars in order to meet </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">the 35.5 mpg average consumption target</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> set by the government for 2016.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">For example, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ford’s</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> new Ecoboost turbocharged four-cylinder coupled with six-speed transmission as standard has been introduced in many new models in its US line-up.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In addition, sales of smaller vehicles in the US are increasing, with small and mid-size sedans accounting for 44% of sales in 2001, compared to 36% six years ago.</span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7UbMQGcRBzr1hRQXvTpNcrN0G1NLcJ3KPjPphm-yaq8ppyBynEDkV97Ci9Pwh0h69kUHfS0pAZllp-9q-M-YAPDxJS2IfagOo5PRxb3Dy8OzJyDfNZXlQdmTvaJ7VXkZbmXBkbRo6Ak/s1600/Hm-i1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7UbMQGcRBzr1hRQXvTpNcrN0G1NLcJ3KPjPphm-yaq8ppyBynEDkV97Ci9Pwh0h69kUHfS0pAZllp-9q-M-YAPDxJS2IfagOo5PRxb3Dy8OzJyDfNZXlQdmTvaJ7VXkZbmXBkbRo6Ak/s400/Hm-i1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript">var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true};</script> <script src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js#username=snakenoise" type="text/javascript"></script> Read more In <strong><a href="http://carsandtec.blogspot.com/" target="_new" title="cars">Cars</a></strong></div>

More American Car Buyers Opting for 4-Cylinder Over V6 and V8 Engines

Once upon a time, in the land of the free and the home of the brave, most consumers liked their cars with six- or eight-cylinder engines....

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Cadillac SRX 2012

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style "><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5301605116058601439"></a> <a class="addthis_button_tweet" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5301605116058601439"></a> <a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5301605116058601439"></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqYzdTH-MgeGg858RZGmO1YKJeDPk1OlhKioCzA3MNkaXTcGwm27L9RBJ2U9zFn6pkF5BLv3DAVaLfo9Z1chQEALgKm0-2jIlV8ZcrzWUX2pd2nOGDz0WE0IeI_fq5876kw5o8-VplSI/s1600/2012-cadillac-srx-cros12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqYzdTH-MgeGg858RZGmO1YKJeDPk1OlhKioCzA3MNkaXTcGwm27L9RBJ2U9zFn6pkF5BLv3DAVaLfo9Z1chQEALgKm0-2jIlV8ZcrzWUX2pd2nOGDz0WE0IeI_fq5876kw5o8-VplSI/s640/2012-cadillac-srx-cros12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #292929; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><!-- adsense -->The latest Cadillac SRX has been on the market for just two model years, but for 2012, General Motors is making some important tweaks to improve the crossover model's performance.</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">While GM had made the announcement on the2012 SRX back in April, the company came out today with additional information and revised performance figures, just before the SUV goes on sale.<a href="http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/07/cadillac-introduces-2012-srx-with-new.html" name="more" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: none;"></a></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Headlining the changes for the 2012 Cadillac SRX is the presentation of a new 3.6-liter V6 known by its “LFX” code, and which will be the sole engine offering in the range.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It produces 16-percent more horsepower at 308HP (SAE-rated) and 18-percent more torque at 265 lb-ft (359Nm) than the outgoing V6, which is rated at 265HP and 223 lb.-ft (302 Nm).</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The LFX is also E85 ethanol-capable and is paired up to an electronically controlled six-speed automatic transmission. Customers can choose between front-wheel drive only and all-wheel drive systems, with the latter incorporating an electronic limited-slip (eLSD) rear differential.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Detroit firm's engineers also revised the Base and Sport suspension systems for the 2012MY to improve the ride quality.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Other upgrades include a new sound-absorbing material placed throughout the vehicle to make the SRX quieter as well as new additions to the standard equipment.</span><br /><br /><blockquote style="border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 5px; font-style: italic; padding-bottom: 0.3em; padding-left: 2em; padding-right: 2em; padding-top: 0.3em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Feature and content enhancements for 2012 include:</span><br /><ul style="line-height: 1.4; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2.5em; padding-right: 2.5em; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: initial; border-width: initial; color: #292929; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Standard Bluetooth phone connectivity on all models, with on-screen caller identification</span></li><li style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; color: #292929; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">OnStar Turn-by-Turn automated directions are loaded to the vehicle</span></li><li style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; color: #292929; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Improved voice recognition for phone activation, navigation and radio station changes</span></li><li style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; color: #292929; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A heated steering wheel on the Luxury, Performance and Premium Collections</span></li><li style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; color: #292929; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Door lock switches on the driver and passenger door panels as well as the center console</span></li><li style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; color: #292929; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cruise control buttons on the steering wheel</span></li><li style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; color: #292929; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Memory seat set – the occupant can set the seating position simply by pressing “set” and the number simultaneously</span></li><li style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; color: #292929; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Backlighting for map lights in the overhead console</span></li><li style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; color: #292929; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A new machined-face finish on the 20-inch wheels, which are standard on Performance and Premium Collections</span></li><li style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; color: #292929; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Available all-ebony interior trim</span></li><li style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; color: #292929; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One new exterior color available this fall: Xenon Blue Metallic.</span></li></ul></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">More details including pricing and fuel economy ratings will be released within the next few days.</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>PHOTO GALLERY</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVxrANo9vq6TTAgNOHLW6Ix0vdo0IklNYQ-uOOMuQaHgqUIMeBDqpX7gAndjRflLDbcpSev0iUEVQSxFUqs0XzrWZGtT12Y7KFwxV4TqtSIL_Fc1_TCCrUPh5Ni2Qhg-jT3glqkH42yI/s1600/2012-cadillac-srx-cros01+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVxrANo9vq6TTAgNOHLW6Ix0vdo0IklNYQ-uOOMuQaHgqUIMeBDqpX7gAndjRflLDbcpSev0iUEVQSxFUqs0XzrWZGtT12Y7KFwxV4TqtSIL_Fc1_TCCrUPh5Ni2Qhg-jT3glqkH42yI/s400/2012-cadillac-srx-cros01+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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Cadillac SRX 2012

The latest Cadillac SRX has been on the market for just two model years, but for 2012, General Motors is making some important tweaks to ...

Read more »