Mercedes b-class begets the dodge hornet

The Mercedes B-Class, a line of compact cars about the size of a Volkswagen Golf, is expected to be imported to the U. S. market within one or two years time. This model is unusual in that it will be the first vehicle marketed by Mercedes in the U. S. that is not a true luxury car. Instead, the German automaker is hoping to capitalize on its venerable name by serving a greater share of the American populace by marketing a more ordinary model. Soon after the B-Class’ debut, yet another small vehicle derived from Mercedes will also make its appearance in the U. S.: the Dodge Hornet. Both the B-Class and Hornet are being developed to revolutionize their respective brands, pitting DaimlerChrysler against some of the leading youth brands in the world.

Not everyone thinks that it is a good idea for Mercedes to sell a budget model in the U. S., particularly one sporting the Mercedes marque. Yet, Mercedes has been building smaller models for years and in Europe the brand is known for producing luxury cars as well as vehicles for the masses. Indeed, Mercedes’ biggest adversary, BMW, also produces a line of small cars and is planning on bringing these vehicles to the U. S. shortly. Thus, like it or not, Mercedes must respond and the B-Class will be the answer.

For Mercedes, the B-Class likely to make it to the U. S. will be a four door sedan outfitted with a six cylinder gas engine. A hatchback, popular in Europe, will probably not be included in the deal knowing American consumers’ disdain for that particular body style. Diesel powered B-Class’ are a possibility and will become even more likely should BMW introduce the same.

For Dodge, the Hornet represents an answer to Scion and their line of youth oriented brands. While the Mercedes B-Class will likely appeal to VW and Nissan owners, the Hornet will target Scion owners as well as those inclined to purchase a Honda Element or other small, boxy vehicle. DaimlerChrysler, the owner of both Mercedes and Dodge, knows that the Hornet is necessary as the brand’s current entry level vehicle, the Caliber, is too expensive to compete against the lowest priced cars from Japan and Korea. Considering that Chinese cars selling for $8500 or less will also be arriving soon, DaimlerChrysler must respond and respond quickly with the Hornet.

While plans haven’t yet been finalized, the Hornet will likely strongly resemble the concept vehicle now on display at car shows around the country. This means that the Hornet will sport a 1.6L I4 mated to a 5 or 6 speed manual transmission, with a horsepower output of 170. With 19 inch tires, stow and go seating, and Saturn ION-like doors, the Hornet will not be confused with any other vehicle on the road which is exactly what Dodge hopes will happen.

To keep production costs down, DaimlerChrysler is looking for a manufacturing plant, probably in Mexico, to build the vehicle. Aiming to keep prices to around $10,000, DaimlerChrysler may tap Volkswagen to produce the vehicle at one of its own plants. This would enable VW to fill excess capacity and give DCX a readily available source to produce the Hornet.

Yes, the B-Class is poised to change the way American consumers think about the Mercedes brand while giving the make a chance to capture a broader chunk of the market. With the Hornet deriving its platform and other key components from the B-Class, Dodge will also benefit and be able to holds its own against Asian imports. Yes, both products present risky moves for parent DaimlerChrysler, one that the automaker must take in an ever changing and highly competitive world.

How to avoid speeding tickets

Speeding tickets could cost you much money and additional points on your record. That is why it is encouraged that you do try to keep your speed within the limit. This not only decreases your chances of getting pulled over by a traffic enforcer. This also helps you out in decreasing your chances of meeting accidents, crashes, or collisions that could be the result of driving beyond the given speed.

You should first learn the three types of speed limits which are the absolute, the presumed, and the basic. The absolute speed limit means that if you drive a mile over the posted limit, you are speed. If you can legally exceed the posted limit as long as you drive safely pertains to the presumed speed limit law. As per the basic limit, it actually allows you and other drivers to drive only as fast as conditions allow, no matter what the limit is posted.

You should also be cautious for you should always be on the alert. You should also be able to note that all states have a basic speed limit. Study your state laws. You see, in California, Arizona, Colorado, and Connecticut, the speed limits are absolute either on highways and everywhere else.

In general, the most basic thing to keep in mind is that you should always drive at or below the posted limit on interstates and state highways. This is generally just to be on the safe side.

Here are the speed limits in the states in the US: Alabama – 70, Alaska – 65, Arizona – 75, Arkansas – 70, California – 70, Colorado – 75, Connecticut – 65, Delaware – 65, District of Columbia – 50, Florida – 70, Georgia – 70, Hawaii – 60, Idaho – 75, Illinois – 65, Indiana – 70, Iowa – 70, Kansas – 70, Kentucky – 65, Louisiana – 70, Maine – 65, Maryland – 65, Massachusetts – 65, Michigan – 70, Minnesota – 70, Mississippi – 70, Missouri – 70, Montana – 75, Nebraska – 75, Nevada – 75, New Hampshire – 65, New Jersey – 65, New Mexico – 75, New York – 65, North Carolina – 70, North Dakota – 75, Ohio – 65, Oklahoma – 75, Oregon – 65, Pennsylvania – 65, Rhode Island – 65, South Carolina – 70, South Dakota – 75, Tennessee – 70, Texas – 70, Utah – 75, Vermont – 65, Virginia – 65, Washington – 70, West Virginia – 70, Wisconsin – 65, and Wyoming – 75.

Jeep commander stuck in a sales rut

Just months after its much publicized release, the 7 passenger Jeep Commander is a major disappointment for DaimlerChrysler to the point where it has become an albatross around the automaker’s neck. Stung with bloated inventories in excess of 100 days – an industry killer – the Commander is now commanding discounts of over $5000 per vehicle. What went wrong? Plenty, especially if you read what the pundits and prognosticators have to say about the new Jeep.

No vehicle introduction should be problematic however, as for the Jeep Commander this model has fallen well short of sales goals. There are many reasons why the Commander may be failing to live up to expectations including:

High Fuel Prices – Gasoline pushing past $2.50 per gallon cannot help any SUV. With the Commander’s three thirsty engine choices, the price at the pump can be painful. Yet, the even bigger Chevrolet Tahoe is selling well despite high fuel prices.

Dated Styling – Jeep mentions the Commander’s “heritage exterior design” as one of the chief draws for the vehicle. Take one look at the Commander, and the styling cues of the 1984 Jeep Cherokee quickly come to mind. While some vehicles successfully incorporate “the look” of an earlier model without copying the style, the Commander looks awfully like the earlier Cherokee, only stretched out. Personally, I find the style to be dated and awkward.

Cramped Interior – Put the Commander up against the next biggest Jeep, the Gran Cherokee, and you will see that the interior space is just about the same. This is bad because the Commander comes equipped with a third row of seats so there should be more room. Many have complained that only two small children could fit in the last row which, incidentally, does not completely fold into the floor like the “stow ‘n go” feature on the DCX minivans.

Overpriced – Fully loaded Commanders are retailing for well over $40,000. While this price range can be expected for the likes of a Yukon, Tahoe, or Expedition, it can’t for the Commander. Of course, the Commander is bigger than the Gran Cherokee which is priced just under $40,000. However, if you put the two models side by side, many would say that the Gran Cherokee is the better of the two.

So, will DaimlerChrysler actually discontinue the Commander? That isn’t likely. Instead, look for big rebates to remain in place and production to be permanently cut back. For the long term, DCX will need to give some serious consideration as to whether the Commander will remain part of the Jeep line up. In my opinion, if it does, it needs to be seriously overhauled in order to compete in today’s marketplace.

In all, the Commander is a costly mistake for the automaker. During these times of strong and aggressive competition, the Commander is a misstep that cannot be ignored by DaimlerChrysler. Goodness knows the Commander is being ignored by Jeep faithful who are spurning the model altogether.

Hyundai out to inform the world about the esc

There is a new initiative out now. And Hyundai Motor America has got something to do with all of it.

You see, Hyundai has recently announced to the public that it is out to set out on informing consumers of the essential life-saving technology that has been included as features in many of their vehicles. These technologies have already been made as standard equipment and features on more than 70 per cent of their vehicles.

As part of the whole campaign of informing the public, all Hyundai vehicles would be used as a medium. This would be starting out in June when all the vehicles from the company that has the Electronic Stability Control, or more known as the ESC, as a standard feature would be having a small window decal. This decal would contain this: “ESC: Life-saving technology confirmed by NHTSA and IIHS studies.”

The posting of the said small window decal would be part of the whole campaign towards disseminating information. Also, it would assist in raising awareness about the ESC. It also becomes part of Hyundai’s campaign towards informing the public that the company is dedicated in providing utmost and optimum safety with the use of sophisticated technology like the ESC.

John Krafcik, the vice president of product development and strategic planning for Hyundai Motor America, says, “Research universally substantiates that Electronic Stability Control is an invaluable life-saving technology, and Hyundai is proud to lead all popular automotive brands in providing it as standard equipment to our customers. Other manufacturers may talk about their commitment to this technology, but at Hyundai, we’ve demonstrated our commitment by making ESC standard equipment on more than 70 per cent of our volume – a higher level of standard ESC than Toyota, Honda, GM, Ford, or Volvo.”

Beneath the volvo 940

The Volvo 940 is a part of the Swedish car maker’s line up of vehicles. Fact is, this vehicle is one of the last of the large rear wheel drive cars that is produced under the Volvo brand and name. In the United States and the rest of North America, the Volvo 940 made its way to public knowledge as a 1991 model. This series of vehicles were in essence just a style and design makeover of the Volvo 740. People claimed this was so because the drivetrains one found on the Volvo 940 is also what the Volvo 740 used. But not only that, for the Volvo 940 also has most features that the older vehicle had.

The sharing of components part was what led people to think that the Volvo 940 was just another Volvo 740. In fact, the Volvo 940 held the same dashboard, and the same choices for its drivetrain. Also the same was the sheetmetal from the A pillar forward. But of course, there were changes and distinctions between the two. If one would look at the brighter side of these two cars, he would be able to see that the Volvo 940 is more updated and was the car that underwent evolution.

This vehicle model from Volvo was made available in body styles that comprise of the sedan (salon), and the wagon (estate). The last of its kind rolled off the manufacturing plants in the year 1998. Going back to its humble beginnings, the Volvo 940 was actually introduced to the public along with its sibling, the Volvo 960. Both of these vehicles held seen petrol engines with four cylinders. There was also the optional turbocharged engine as well as the turbo diesel engine with six cylinders. And just like any other Volvo vehicle, the Volvo 940 came packed with safety features. The collection of safety features included a three-point inertia-reel seat belt, an adjustable head restraint in the middle of the rear seat, and an integrated child seat built into the rear sear’s middle armrest. The adjustable head restraint was actually a precursor to the world’s first. This leaps done by Volvo with the Volvo 940 as per safety was recognized well enough. And for that, Volvo received international awards that included the “Prince Michael Road Safety Award” as well as the prize for the best safety features from Auto Car and Motor.

Lincoln s american dream and four new vehicles

Remember the Ford Motor Company’s campaign on people creating and doing ‘Bold Moves’? Well, the Lincoln brand has certainly made sure that they would be having their own campaign. And theirs would be called the ‘American Dream’. Lincoln claims that it would be targeted towards people to pursue and live the American Dream. In fact, this new marketing and advertising campaign has been built on the success of the sales of the Lincoln Mark LT as well as the Lincoln Zephyr. As part of this campaign, the brand would also be showing off and presenting to the public four new vehicles.

To further explain this new strategy of bringing and drawing in customers, Al Giombetti, who is the president of the marketing and sales departments of Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury, states, “The ‘Dreams’ marketing platform is about the vision that motivates successful people and the rewards for achieving success. It is an idea that fits perfectly with our brand because we are turning Lincoln into a new American success story on the strength of innovative products. In fact, eighty percent of our showroom is all-new for 2007.”

Sales have certainly gone up for the brand by about eight per cent and they are giving full credit to the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr as well as the Lincoln Mark LT for such an increase in profit. The Lincoln Zephyr is the new midsize sedan which has just been launched last fall. As per the Lincoln Mark LT, it is the brand’s full size luxury pickup truck. Both vehicles have been well acclaimed and have been the target for praise and accolades. Just recently both had been awarded with high marks during the J. D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study. Aside from this, the Lincoln Zephyr took home the Ward’s Auto World “Best Interior Award” for the segment it was in.

Mike Richards, the general marketing manager for Lincoln and Mercury, comments, “Lincoln will build on the success of the 2006 Zephyr and Mark LT with four terrific vehicles that are designed to inspire and reward those who believe in and pursue the American Dream. Each of these vehicles – the new Lincoln MKX, MKZ, Navigator, and Navigator L – will deliver a business class driving experience that will celebrate our customers’ success.”

Buying versus leasing a car

If you are considering whether to buy or perhaps lease your next car and which would afford you the best deal, most consumer experts agree that from a purely financial aspect you will be better off in buying your next car.

Of course paying cash in full is the best possible scenario since with this option you would avoid any type of finance charge. But for the vast majority of us and for the scope of this article we’ll take a look those purchases or leases that involve financing.

In the short term leasing may look attractive to you because monthly lease payments will more than likely be less than the monthly payments of a purchase agreement. Why? Because with a lease you are essentially only paying for the part of the car you are going to use. It’s kind of like splitting the cost of a pizza with someone. You are only paying for the pieces that you are going to eat. In car terminology the part that is left over in a lease is called the residual value of the car. The higher the residual value of the car the less of the car you will use during the lease so you payments for the part that you do use (the lease) will be lower.

Typically lease durations are 24, 36, or 48 months. Do not sign up for a lease beyond 48 months. Actually anything beyond 36 months is pushing the value of the lease. Don’t let the car salesman get you into a longer lease just because they make your monthly payments look more attractive. Remember time costs you money and the car’s residual value will plummet and you loose all the advantages of leasing and still be left with nothing in the end.

For some drivers the car buying decision isn’t based purely on bottom line numbers. And this is fine. It’s strictly personal. Leasing does afford you the ability to always be driving a new car. A car that is within a few years of the latest body style and technology. A car that is always under the factory warranty. For the person that has accepted the fact that they enjoy being in a newer car and that car payments is just another monthly expense, then why not get the most car for the money? Then leasing could be a good alternative.

If this is your personal preference the other two questions you must answer are how many miles a year do I drive and how hard on cars am I? The mileage question can really come back to haunt you if you are not careful. People who are in new cars and thus enjoy driving them and showing them off more will have a tendency to drive them more. Be very careful with you mileage. Going over your allotted mileage on your lease could end up costing anywhere from 15 to 30 cents per mile beyond the lease mileage allowance and this can get painful in a hurry. In most leases you can purchase additional mileage up front at the time of the lease but keep in mind if at the end of your lease you haven’t used all of your miles, you don’t get that money refunded back to you.

I mentioned a bit earlier you need to consider how well you treat your cars. Only you will know this and you need to be honest with this one. Don’t think that you can turn your lease car in at the end of the lease with the car in sub par condition. If you do, you may be assessed reconditioning fees that could become rather hefty.

In summary, from a purely financial perspective buying your next new car is the best over the long haul. But, car with car ownership, so much personal preference, and personal priorities come into play. If you think leases look attractive, be absolutely certain about your mileage you will drive. Take good care of the car. And finally check with your insurance agent first to make sure that you don’t give back the money you save in monthly payments to your insurance company.