Subaru BRZ Commands Brisk Sales in Japan as U.S. Debut Nears

Beautiful car. Looking forward to the US debut!

Subaru’s BRZ sporty coupe, scheduled to go on sale in the United States April 20, is off to a brisk start in Japan, selling at a monthly rate quadruple initial forecasts. According to Automotive News, since the car’s Feb. 3 debut, Subaru parent Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. has sold 3,551 of the rear-wheel-drive BRZs. Subaru had forecast monthly sales of only 450 units in Japan. The sporty 2.0-liter, four-cylinder BRZ, which starts at 2.06 million yen ($24,830) in Japan for a stripped-down version, is the platform-sharing twin of Toyota’s Scion FR-S. The U.S. monthly sales goal for the BRZ is 500. Initial sales data suggest the BRZ is tapping a coveted younger customer base attracted to the car’s promise of sportier driving. So far, nearly 60 percent of BRZ customers are under 40 years of age – and two-thirds are picking the six-speed manual over the automatic transmission. The top-selling color is WR blue mica, in a nod to the signature hue of Subaru’s WRX performance line.

Read more about the Subaru BRZ’s sales figures in Japan ahead of its launch in U.S. showrooms!

GM introducing natural gas-powered pickups

Did you know that natural gas-powered vehicles produce about 25 percent less carbon dioxide (CO2) per mile than cars running on gasoline? General Motors did. The company will be offering versions of its 2013 Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks that can run either on gasoline or natural gas.

General Motors announced today it will offer bi-fuel versions of its 2013 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks that run either on gasoline or natural gas.

The two trucks are the 2500 HD (heavy duty) model, and can be ordered in rear-wheel or four-wheel drive and with a standard or long bed.

The pickups are fitted with a 6.0-liter V-8 engine that is modified to switch seamlessly between burning compressed natural gas, or CNG, and gasoline.

GM chose the bi-fuel option, it said, because it relieves buyers of the need to stay within range of a local natural-gas fueling stations.

No range anxiety

"Range anxiety is very real," said Joyce Mattman, director of GM commercial product and specialty vehicles. "We worked with the Chevy Volt team on that, and saw the same issues" among customers who worried about running out of electricity.

The trucks run on natural gas as standard, then switch to gasoline when the CNG runs out (or if the driver pushes a button to do so).

Natural gas-powered vehicles have lower emissions, producing about 25 percent less carbon dioxide (CO2) per mile than those running on gasoline.

The fuel is plentiful and domestically produced, with 98 percent of U.S. natural gas produced within the country.

Cheaper fuel costs

And with gasoline costs soaring, the cost advantage of CNG is by far its most attractive feature. Fleet customers may save $2,000 a year or more per vehicle on fuel costs.

Natural gas prices are much less volatile than gas prices, and CNG equivalent to the energy content of one gallon of gasoline costs slightly more than $2 in most areas.

Today, there are fewer than 1,000 natural-gas fueling stations in the U.S., according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, more than half open to the public. Stations are most prevalent in California, Oklahoma, New York, and Utah.

Full GM warranty

The trucks will be built at GM's pickup assembly plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and then trucked 70 miles to Union City, Indiana, where supplier IMPCO will add the gas storage tanks at the front of the bed as well as the fuel delivery system.

The complete vehicle, including all of the natural-gas equipment, is covered under the standard factory warranty, which covers the vehicle for three years/36,000 miles and the powertrain and emissions system for five years/100,000 miles.

Both fuel systems can be serviced as standard factory equipment at the local Chevy or GMC dealer.

That differentiates it from after-market natural-gas conversions for various trucks and commercial vehicles that several companies nationwide offer to fleet customers.

The IMPCO hardware meets the full range of requirements for cold start (down to -40 degrees F), hot-weather running (up to 140 degrees F), corrosion resistance (for 10 or more years), and all Federal safety and crash tests.

Because the 2500 HD versions of the pickup trucks weigh more than 3 tons, GM does not have to provide EPA gas-mileage figures--and it doesn't.

Asked about the fuel economy of the trucks, GM refused to provide numbers, saying only that the gas mileage of the bi-fuel trucks would be "the same as the [gasoline] truck" when running on gasoline.

Orders in April, deliveries Q4

Chevrolet and GMC will start taking orders next month for the dual-fuel pickups, with deliveries before the end of this year. Both trucks are available not only for fleet buyers, but also to retail customers.

Neither brand has released pricing for the new flex-fuel trucks, but the company expects the trucks will provide "a quick return on investment" for their buyers, according to a GM spokesperson.

GM offered natural-gas fueling options for certain vehicles from 1997 to 2006.

Last year, it began offering versions of its Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans with both compressed natural gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) powered engines to fleet and commercial customers.

Unlike the new pickup trucks announced today, however, those vans run solely on compressed gas, and do not offer the ability to switch to and from gasoline.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/03/05/gm-introducing-natural-gas-powered-pickups/#ixzz1r6S6MgNg

Car of the Week: 2012 Buick Enclave AWD

The 2012 Buick Enclave AWD was listed as Forbes “Car of the Week” last Wednesday! We’re looking forward to seeing the debut ’13 model from the New York Auto Show next month.

The Car: 2012 Buick Enclave

Where I drove it: Four out of five boroughs, and Long Island, too.

First Impressions: I’ve watched the “Cars” movie at least 17 times over the past three months. I have a three year old, and this is the only program he wants to see during his allocated television time. I actually don’t mind the Pixar film — there’s enough characterization of each car that keeps the film entertaining. It’s no accident that I when I think Doc Hudson, I think Buick. The Hudson Hornet was also a Detroit made car, and in the movie, Doc is aging race car that still secretly had a dream to be fabulous again. Buick is older than Hudson, it is the oldest American marque, originating in 1899, and in the ‘50s Buick ran drag races like a boss. Like Doc, Buick desperately wants to be king of the hill, and recognized for its stature, and not cast aside as an old fogey. And so we have the reigning Buick boss — the Enclave. This is the last we’ll see of the ’12, as the ’13 Enclave debuts at the New York Auto Show in April.

Second date: As a member of the premium group, a marketing term that must be inspired by frequent travelers who have Marriott points — a little bit extra is part of the standard package at this price point. Standard features include amenities such as rear park assist, rear vision camera, heated mirror, heated and cooled seats, rear power outlet, Bose audio and usb ports. This means that the price tag is what it is, without getting bumped up by dozens of fine print options. The ride is smooth and serene.

On the inside: As a childhood space camp fan, the “captain’s chair” gets me every time. Big people can drive the Enclave without feeling cramped. Sometimes in the small car craze, its easy to forget about the big and tall, or those who simply want a little extra elbow room. Enclave is sensitive to these matters, and this logic carries over to the second row. In the crunch to squish maximum space in minimum quarters the back seat can become miniscule. Not in the Enclave, which has substantive legroom for big people. If you squeeze in the third row, then understandably these proportions change, but you can get everything big into a smaller page. There are plenty of things to play with in the Enclave cabin including headphone jacks and audio controls.

MPG: 16/22

Under the Hood: 3.6 liter V6, brake assist hill start

Five Days Later: I drove the Enclave in January. An SUV in the wintertime feels like a comfy pair of UGG boots and my Burberry jacket, but the only trouble is that it was 60 degrees in January in New York City. The AWD drive option was lost on me.

What people said: “Mommy can we watch Cars 1 again?” Thank you for the rear seat entertainment, GM.

Parting thoughts: A solid sleeper in a sea of SUVs.I’m curious to see what tweaks will take place on the 2013 Buick that will be unveiled in a few weeks.

Extras: Audio system with navigation, power sunroof with second row skylight, 20” chrome clad aluminum wheels, carbon black metallic paint.

Read more at Forbes.com.

Have a Safe Spring Break With These 10 Driving Tips

It's almost Spring Break! Enjoy your time off and make sure to have fun, but also remember to drive safely and take the appropriate precautions before you leave town. Need to get your car checked out? No problem. Give us a call and we'll get you a tune-up. Also, here is a great list of the top 10 safe driving tips from HowStuffWorks.com. Have a great vacation!

10: Don't Drive Drunk

More than 30 percent of all auto accident fatalities in the United States involve drivers impaired by alcohol. These accidents led to 11,773 deaths in 2008 alone [source: NHTSA]. Most of those deaths could've been avoided if the drivers involved simply hadn't gotten behind the wheel while drunk.

Alcohol causes a number of impairments that lead to car accidents. Even at low blood-alcohol levels, intoxication reduces reaction time and coordination and lowers inhibitions, which can cause drivers to make foolish choices. At higher levels, alcohol causes blurred or double vision and even loss of consciousness. Drunk driving isn't just a terrible idea -- it's a crime. In the U.S, getting caught behind the wheel with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 or higher will probably earn you a trip to jail.

It's easy to avoid driving drunk. If you've been drinking, ask a sober friend for a ride or call a cab. If you're planning to drink, make sure you have a designated driver. The mild inconvenience of taking a cab home is nothing compared to the disastrous consequences of driving drunk.

9: Don't Speed

As the old public service campaign so succinctly put it, "Speed kills." Research has shown that for every mile per hour you drive, the likelihood of your being in an accident increases by four to five percent [source: ERSO]. At higher speeds, the risk increases much more quickly.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) explains the consequences of fast driving quite simply: "Speeding is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes. The economic cost to society of speeding-related crashes is estimated by NHTSA to be $40.4 billion per year. In 2008, speeding was a contributing factor in 31 percent of all fatal crashes, and 11,674 lives were lost in speeding-related crashes" [source: NHTSA].

For your average drive across town, driving even 10 mph (16.1 kph) faster is only going to save you a few minutes -- while increasing your crash risk by as much as 50 percent. Even on long trips, the time you'll save is inconsequential compared to the risks associated with speeding. Take your time and obey posted speed limits. If you really need to get there as fast as possible, there's one fool-proof solution: Leave earlier.

8: Avoid Distractions

Many states in the U.S. have passed laws that ban the use of cell phones while driving. The reason is the number of deaths attributed to this seemingly harmless activity: 2,600 deaths nationwide every year, by some estimates [source: Live Science]. In fact, those numbers may actually be too low, due to the continued rise in cell phone use behind the wheel. If you think that talking and texting while driving isn't a big deal, consider this: One researcher compared the reaction time of a 20-year-old driver talking on a cell phone to that of a 70-year-old driver. What's more, working a cell phone behind the wheel can delay reaction times by as much as 20 percent.

It isn't just cell phones that cause distractions, however. Eating, applying makeup, fiddling with electronic devices or interacting with passengers also diverts a driver's attention in potentially deadly ways. Perhaps the best advice on driving distractions came from rocker Jim Morrison: "Keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel."

7: Don't Drive Drowsy

A study conducted by researchers at Virginia Tech reported that 20 percent of all accidents have sleepiness as a contributing factor [source: TheDenverChannel]. If a driver is tired enough to actually fall asleep while driving, the results are predictable. Even on a relatively straight highway, a sleeping driver will eventually drift off the road. Trees, utility poles, ravines and bridge abutments turn this into a deadly scenario -- and that doesn't even take other cars into account.

You might think a few yawns are nothing to worry about, but just being a little drowsy is enough to increase your risk of getting in an accident. Responses can range from dozing off for a few seconds at a time to simply "zoning out" and losing all focus on the road. At highway speeds, one or two seconds of inattention can lead to disaster.

The solution is simple: Get a better night's sleep! Make sure you get a solid eight hours of sleep, not just on the night before a long drive, but on a regular basis. Failure to get enough sleep every night builds a sleep deficit that can leave you drowsy and unable to focus. If you're driving and feel the least bit groggy, take action immediately. Don't think you'll get any kind of warning before you fall asleep, or that you can fight it off. People can move from drowsy to sound asleep without warning. If this happens to you, have a friend take over behind the wheel, find a rest area where you can catch a few hours of sleep or take a break until you're feeling more alert.

See the rest at HowStuffWorks.com.

13 Unbeatable New-Car Lease Deals

The conventional wisdom for generations among those looking to get the most for their money has been to purchase a new car and hold onto it until it would cost more to repair than it was ultimately worth. However, a growing number of consumers are finding leasing a vehicle for a set term, rather than buying one outright, to be financially advantageous thanks to a perfect alignment of market forces. According to Forbes, record low interest rates and high resale values caused by an ongoing shortage of used cars are helping automakers offer some of the best lease deals in years. Leasing now accounts for 21 percent of all new-vehicle transactions, according to Kelley Blue Book, which is up from around 12 percent in 2009; analysts believe leasing could account for as much as 25-30 percent of the new-car business over the coming years. How good are the deals these days? Forbes’ slide show runs down a baker’s dozen of the best deals it could find among a wide range of makes and models. Check it out!

Kia Soul

Segment: Compact wagon 
Deal: $169/36 months 
Due at Signing: $1,999 
Annual Mileage: 12,000

 

 

 

Honda Civic

Segment: Compact sedan
Deal: $179/36 months
Due at Signing: $1,999
Annual Mileage: 12,000

 

 

 

 

Hyundai Elantra

Segment: Compact sedan
Deal: $179/36 months
Due at Signing: $1,999
Annual Mileage: 12,000

 

 

 

 

Honda Accord

Segment: Midsize sedan
Deal: $219/36 months
Due at Signing: $1,999
Annual Mileage: 12,000

 

 

 

 

Toyota Camry

Segment: Midsize sedan
Deal: $219/36 months
Due at Signing: $2,199
Annual Mileage: 12,000

 

 

See the others at Forbes.com!

Subaru, The Road-Gripping Brand, Gets Its Moment

Subaru has always been the well-regarded, but often overlooked runner-up to big Japanese names like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. However, this week, Consumer Reports named Subaru as the top-quality brand in its list of the best vehicles for 2012. That not only brings bragging rights, but can also lead to sales.

“Subaru’s score of 75 – two points higher than last year – reflects better test scores for such redesigned models as the Impreza, Legacy, and Outback over the last few years. The 2012 Impreza, which Consumer Reports just tested, now tops the small-sedan class and is the Consumer Reports Top Pick in that category. Subaru’s average road-test score of 82 is the highest in Consumer Reports analysis,” wrote the magazine.

Even before it won the title, Subaru had a good February. Its sales of 25,374 were up 17 percent over February 2011, figures showed Thursday, and its sales for the first two months of 2012 are up 19 percent over 2011. Its vehicles’ symmetrical all-wheel drive capability is especially important to buyers in New England and in Northwestern and Midwestern states where dramatic weather can make driving treacherous.

Read more about Subaru’s success at Forbes.com.

Car buyers can't always get what they want

How do you feel about the new approach to vehicle customization?

When it comes to ordering new cars, buyers are finding you can't always get what you want.

Automakers are drastically cutting the potential combinations of trim levels and options in a trend that recently has accelerated:

• Buick offers its new Verano compact in only 18 potential combinations of trims and options.
• Volkswagen slashed the ways you can order a Passat midsize sedan from 148 to 15.
• Toyota cut the ordering complexity of its current-generation Sienna minivan by 80%.

Automakers say fewer choices lead to higher quality because they perfect the few configurations. It avoids "creating complexity for the sake of complexity," says Chuck Russell, General Motors director of compact cars in North America.

It also cuts costs with fewer combinations to plan for and track on assembly lines. And it simplifies inventory planning for dealers.

One way automakers cut complexity is to herd options into "packages." Sienna's "preferred" package, for example, bundles power side doors with satellite radio. To get a Passat with a sunroof, you also must buy the premium sound system.

The potential downside: "You end up buying things you don't want or need in order to get things you do want or need," says John O'Dell, a senior editor for car research site Edmunds.com.

But automakers say the lower costs may be passed on to buyers and that they've gotten better at figuring out bundles buyers want.

"It's actually a relief. They are removing the work of trying to figure out what I want," says Kristen Andersson, senior analyst for shopping site TrueCar.com, who says buyers can even end up happier, with goodies they wouldn't have ordered but later love.

Not all makers are embracing the trend. High-end brands are more likely to still let buyers pick and choose. About 30% of Porsche buyers, for instance, custom order their cars. "It's expensive to do it the way we do it," spokesman Dave Engelman says. "It slows down the assembly line."

And even mainstream makers are going that way for key models:

Chrysler Group, for example, has cut combinations on many vehicles, reducing the number of ways you can order some of its biggest-selling vehicles for 2012, like Dodge Durango crossover or the Grand Caravan minivan. It reduced trim levels to five, down from 12. but for its $15,995-to-start, all-new 2013 Dodge Dart compact, it is allowing custom factory orders in up to 100,000 combinations.

Dodge Director Richard Cox says à la carte choices include "citrus peel" paint — a "vivid greeny yellow" — and push-button ignition. "They might want the 8.4-inch touch-screen but don't want navigation. We give them the ability to get that (without having to buy) a $3,000 package."

How does a plant handle that without driving up cost? "World-class manufacturing," says Cox.

Read more at USAToday.com.