Are you ready for the Subaru Crosstrek?

Is this Subaru for real, or is the new XV Crosstrek arriving this fall just faking it? If another automaker attempted to elevate one of its small wagons to the status of “off-roader,” it would risk becoming an industry laughing stock. But Subaru is different. It always has been. And just when you think the Japan-based company has settled down and become a conservative member of the community, it ratchets up the funkiness and creates this bold and brash offshoot of its Impreza wagon. You just gotta love it.

In developing the niche-oriented Crosstrek, the Impreza wagon was an ideal starting point. Subaru completely reinvented its popular entry-level model for the 2012 model year, making it larger, better looking and significantly more fuel-efficient (albeit less powerful) than before. And with its standard four-wheel-drive, the Impreza has the right stuff to be converted into a pseudo Rubicon Trail-conquering hero. The reality, however, is that the Crosstrek is best suited for rough road and weather conditions plus limited off-trail adventuring. Anyone familiar with Volvo’s XC70 wagon will think of this Subie as a scaled-down and less expensive copycat as well as sharing kinship with the now-retired Impreza Outback Sport and current Subaru Outback wagon.

The right look is critical for any sport style vehicle and Subaru has provided the Crosstrek with its own distinctive nosepiece, front and rear bumpers, roof rails and rear spoiler. In addition, extra cladding for the wheel arches and rocker panel has been installed. The meaner macho look is completed with darker window tinting and a set of 17-inch all-season tires mounted to custom-look rims. You might not find them entirely to your taste, but they do set the Crosstrek apart from its lower-key Impreza roots.

The slightly bigger front brake rotors add stopping power and a hiked-up suspension provides 8.7 inches of ground clearance, which is three more than the Impreza. That’s just shy of the competing Jeep Patriot’s 9.0-inch stance and should be plenty for straddling rock-strewn terrain and fording shallow streams.

Finally, Crosstrek owners who undertake more desolate journeys will appreciate the 15.9-gallon gas tank, which is a gain of 1.4 gallons over the Impreza.

The more generous fuel reservoir should go a long way when feeding the Crosstrek’s 148-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that comes straight from the Impreza. That’s significantly less oomph than the pre-2012 170-horsepower Impreza, but the offset is a 25-mpg city number and 33 mpg on the highway, ratings that crush the old “Imp’s” 20/27 numbers. The horizontally opposed engine layout, with one pair of cylinders located at 180 degrees to the other pair, lowers the center of gravity and provides all kinds of underhood room.

Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/08/17/2275230/2013-subaru-crosstrek.html

Malibu focuses on Child Safety

Child Passenger Safety Week is today, September 17^th through the 22^nd. The 2013 Chevy Malibu is trying to make it better.

One mother working at Chevy is helping to develop the new safety features included in the 2013 Malibu making sure that it’s not only safe for your children, but hers as well giving her a real-world perspective.

It’s very rewarding that my work helps to make children safer” said Julie Kleinert-GM child safety technical lead and mother of four as well as a grandmother of two.

To see more of her story visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr49o_SrB98&feature=plcp

Experience a New Lease on Luxury with Buick

Introducing the Experience Buick Lease get two years of all-inclusive premium services including vehicle maintenance, OnStar and SiriusXM Satellite Radio, all for one simply monthly lease payment. Vehicle maintenance includes:

• Scheduled oil changes
• Oil filter changes
• Tire rotations
• Chassis lubrication

OnStar includes:

Automatic Crash Response: A specially trained emergency Advisor is connected to your vehicle the moment a crash is detected.

Hands Free Calling⁴: OnStar Hands-Free Calling keeps you connected, even when your cell phone can't.

Stolen Vehicle Assistance: OnStar works with the authorities to attempt to recover your stolen vehicle swiftly and safely.

Turn-by-Turn Directions: Just push a button for directions you’ve saved with eNav or speak directly with an OnStar Advisor.

Vehicle Diagnostics: Every month, OnStar can automatically run hundreds of diagnostic and maintenance checks on your vehicle's key operating systems.

Remote Door Unlock: A quick call connects you to an Advisor, who can send a remote signal that usually unlocks your doors within minutes.

Emergency Services: Simply press the red button and you’re instantly connected to an Advisor who can contact Emergency Response.

The OnStar RemoteLink Mobile App⁵ brings unmatched vehicle connectivity to the palm of your hand. You can use your smartphone to access real-time vehicle data, lock/unlock your doors, sound your horn/flash your lights or remotely start your engine.

Imagine hearing the music you want without having to flip through commercials, fumble with CDs, or manage a playlist. Imagine cheering on your favorite team, no matter where you are. Or having channels and channels of comedy, talk, news, entertainment, family programming, and more. Now imagine having all of this, all in one place — and being able to listen wherever you drive. And when it comes to traffic, SiriusXM’s NavTraffic⁶ appears right on the screen of your vehicle's optional GPS navigation system to show detailed traffic data when its needed the most — while you're driving. It’s all here, all in one place. And best of all — it’s included in your 24-month lease. For more information, visit Buick’s Sirius XM page.

With the XM Premier package³, listen to over 140 channels, including:

• Commercial-free music from every genre.
• Live play-by-play from every major sport.
• Exclusive entertainment, comedy, and talk.
• World-class news, local traffic, weather, and more.
• Plus NavTraffic⁶ — detailed traffic information on your Nav screen

For more information on Buick Lease options visit http://www.buick.com/experience/lease-offers.html or give us a call at (307) 200-4699

2013 Subaru Crosstrek Debuts Next Month

The 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek may be best thought of as the automotive equivalent of a good cross-training shoe--not sharply honed for any one thing, but surprisingly fit and fortified for a wide range of conditions. As the epitome of a crossover, the Crosstrek looks brawnier yet not too carlike; it adds some rugged off-road ability but still handles like a hatchback or sport wagon on the road; and it offers some pretty impressive cargo space, versatility, and places to stow gear--for the trip out to the ski slopes, the campsite, or the beach.

Up close, or from afar, the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek is what it is, which is a hatchback, built up with more ground clearance, protective lower-body cladding, and all sorts of more outdoorsy and off-road-oriented cues--many of them functional, some of them, perhaps intentionally, resembling outdoor gear and wear. Yet at the same time, the Crosstrek's differences yield a completely different stance and entirely different proportions it seems, with a certain level of the familiar Outback charm. Inside, it's mostly just a matter of some new upholsteries to fit the character.

To make sure it's good for the trail, the Crosstrek gets good cleats--up to 8.7 inches of ground clearance, plus various suspension and structural reinforcements, improved engine cooling, unique front fenders, and body cladding, that altogether make it quite different than the Impreza hatchback on which it’s based. It also has good approach and departure angles (of 18 degrees and nearly 28 degrees, respectively), and with its all-wheel-drive system, which is always sending power to all four wheels, we think it might be one of the best vehicles yet for snowy New England driveways. Handling is surprisingly nimble on the road, considering how well the Crosstrek rides and how well it soaks up harshness from trails and gravel roads.

The sore point for some may simply that it's lacking some muscle. Go with the five-speed manual, and the Crosstrek feels far more charming, especially when you need do order up some power quickly at lower speeds. With 148 horsepower for about 3,200 pounds in a fully loaded Crosstrek Limited, and the engine’s peak 145 pound-feet of torque not reached until 4,200 rpm, this is not a sprightly or quick vehicle, and the available CVT can exaggerate the lag in power delivery. On the plus side, you get phenomenal fuel economy for a crossover (the best in the class, really), at up to 25 mpg city, 33 highway with the CVT (or 23/30 with the manual).

Cabin accommodations go well beyond the expectations of the granola set, although they won't be any sea change to anyone who's owned a Subaru before. Seating is arranged well enough so that adults can fit fine in back--and get in and out easily--and seats flip forward to a flat cargo surface. All models include a rubberized cargo tray that's easily removed and hosed off, and the roof rack on all models is standard and can carry up to 150 pounds. Crosstrek models come rated to tow up to 1,500 pounds, too. Adding on to its appeal is a smooth, refined ride is a step above rival models like the Nissan Juke, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, and Mini Countryman. About the only thing that not everyone will warm up to is a set of materials and trims that are merely average for this price range, and that some interfaces for audio and trip-computer displays feel clunky and outdated.

With a starting price of just $21,995, the 2013 Subaru Crosstrek Premium makes a very strong value proposition. Keyless entry, air conditioning, power accessories, and cruise control are all included even in this base model, as of course are all-wheel drive. Leather upholstery, leather shift-knob and steering-wheel trim, automatic climate control, and a fold-down rear-seat armrest with cupholders are all extras that you get with the Limited. They also get a step-up display audio system with 4.3-inch screen, rear camera and HD Radio, and a navigation system with XM NavTraffic, voice control, and text-messaging ability is optional.

Article courtesy of: http://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/subaru_xv-crosstrek_2013

Is texting while driving really worse than drunk driving?

 

Texting, or short message service (SMS), is a quick form of communication that allows users to send 160 characters or less to and from their cell phones and smartphones. A study by the Pew Research group in 2009 and 2010 reported that out of the number of Americans who have cellphones, 58 percent of adults and 66 percent of teens use them to text. With these high percentages of Americans using text messaging every year, many are bringing the habit along with them when they drive. The same Pew study showed that 34 percent of teens who use their phone for texting said they've done it while driving, and 47 percent of adults who texted said they had done it while driving, too.

In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that almost 6,000 fatalities and over half of a million injuries were due to accidents caused by drivers who were distracted. The study wasn't focused on texting, but it does show the seriousness of driving while distracted. Like many other driving distractions, texting involves a certain amount of mental attention as well as physical application which may be why 28 states have banned drivers from texting while operating a vehicle.

But is there really proof that texting while driving is more dangerous than drunk driving? Even though research is just now being done to measure the effects of texting while driving, some in the automotive industry and others in research circles say that texting is definitely more dangerous than drunk driving. Mainly because taking a driver's eyes off the road significantly cuts down on his or her ability to react to changes.

Read more: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/texting-while-driving-worse-than-drunk-driving.htm

The Key to a Long-Lasting Vehicle

Basic car care is the key to a long-lasting vehicle, improving its safety and dependability, says the Car Care Council.

“Neglected vehicle care almost always means much higher costs down the line in the form of more extensive repairs or lost resale value,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Following a routine maintenance program makes financial sense, extending useful vehicle life and helping avoid costly repairs down the road.”

The Car Care Council recommends 10 basic maintenance procedures to keep your car operating at its best for the long haul:

1. Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.

1. Check the hoses and belts to make sure they are not cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or showing signs of excessive wear.

1. Check the battery and replace if necessary. Make sure the connection is clean, tight and corrosion-free.

1. Check the brake system annually and have the brake linings, rotors and drums inspected at each oil change.

1. Inspect the exhaust system for leaks, damage and broken supports or hangers if there is an unusual noise. Exhaust leaks can be dangerous and must be corrected without delay.

1. Schedule a tune-up to help the engine deliver the best balance of power and fuel economy and produce the lowest level of emissions.

1. Check the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system as proper heating and cooling performance is critical for interior comfort and for safety reasons such as defrosting.

1. Inspect the steering and suspension system annually including shock absorbers, struts and chassis parts such as ball joints, tie rod ends and other related components.

1. Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.

1. Check the wipers and lighting so that you can see and be seen. Check that all interior and exterior lighting is working properly and replace worn wiper blades so you can see clearly when driving during precipitation.

The Car Care Council has introduced a newcustomserviceschedule. The personalized schedule and e-mail reminder service is a free resource to help motorists drive smart, save money and make informed decisions.

Article courtesy of: http://www.carcare.org/2012/04/car-care-the-key-to-a-long-lasting-vehicle/

Old Bill’s Fun Run For Charities 2012 Presented by the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole

Old Bill’s Fun Run 2012 will be held at Jackson Town Square on September 8^th at 10AM. Participants run or walk 2K, 5K or 10K in competitive or recreational categories. There will be costumes, music, a free brunch and awards.  Register for the run/walk here by September 7^th at 5PM.

Mr. and Mrs. Old Bill generously provide the first $500,000 in matching funds. The Community Foundation raises additional matching funds from individuals, businesses and organizations in the community, known as Co-Challengers and Friends of the Match. When all the gifts have been recorded and acknowledged – approximately four weeks after the run – the Community Foundation calculates the match percentage based on the total amount of match money available relative to the total amount of designated contributions, up to $25,000 for each organization. All eligible participating organizations receive the same percentage match on the first $25,000 in designated contributions they raise. The match percentage will be announced at the Awards Party on October 22, 2012. 

100% of all designated contributions are passed on to eligible organizations that donors recommend (subject to the Community Foundation’s variance power) along with a match percentage on the first $25,000 raised on their behalf. 20% of the matching pool is allocated to the Foundation’s Competitive Grants program for the coming year, providing a year-long opportunity for organizations to apply for grant support. To successfully produce the event each year, the Foundation assesses a 5% administrative fee from the match pool. 

Over the past fifteen years, the event has helped local charities raise nearly $83 million and has touched the lives of thousands.

Information courtesy of: http://www.cfjacksonhole.org/old-bills-fun-run/