Hyundai Super Bowl Commercials Debut Early!

Being the experts on Super Bowl car commercials, we can do things like bring you the ads before they even air as part of our Super Bowl Ad Watch. Below we have the five advertisements Hyundai will show during and before the big game. Three of the ads will run during pre-show, also sponsored by Hyundai, and "Bosses" and "Contract" will run during the second and third quarters. Our perspective on these new advertisements below.

Title: Contract
Grade: C
Message: Hyundai has your back if you lose your job or income.
Our Take: For people who are freaked out about the economy the message may hit home, but it's just so boring.

Title: Commitment
Grade: C+
Message: If you're willing to commit to Hyundai, they're willing to commit to you.
Our Take: The 'commitment isn't scary' approach of this commercial for the Hyundai Assurance program works better than the "Contract" commercial because it implies we're all in the economic mess together. Still, it's rather boring.

Title: Columns
Grade: B
Message: The Hyundai Genesis won the 2009 North American Car Of The Year, something the automaker is obviously proud of as evidenced by the bragging.
Our Take: The commercial is good and, given Hyundai can afford multiple Super Bowl spots, there's nothing wrong with a little boastfullness. What really sells it, though, is the clip of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

Grade: B+
Message: By winning the 2009 North American Car Of The Year award we've put BMW and Lexus on notice.
Our Take: Because everyone may not be cool with the idea of buying Korean while the American economy is hurting, Hyundai is smart enough to take aim at the Germans and the Japanese. The portrayals of the two "axis powers" is a bit over the top, but it makes the ad work.

Title: Epic Lap
Grade: A-
Message: You want the Genesis Coupe so badly you'll go to EditYourOwn.com and re-edit your own commercial, which isn't up yet.
Our Take: Yeooooowww! Much like the 2010 Hyundai Genesis reveal, this car is all about power slides and burnouts. What does Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins have to do with driving an epic lap? We have no idea. But we give the 1990s alternarock icon credit for mixing together a sweet commercial.
Source: jalopnik



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New Ford Focus RS Video

The Focus RS is a serious performance machine, all indications point towards this. But on this video a more somber, normal Focus RS shows itself proving that there's more to this spicy lime hatch than mere numbers.


Pushing the car forward is a 6-speed manual gearbox that helps the RS reach the 100km/h target in second gear. For certain engine frequencies a ‘sound symposer' is used to transfer certain pleasing sounds the car makes as it goes along into the cabin. Those bonnet louvers are there to help with idle cooling especially after heavy runs on a track so they aren't just there for aggressive looks.


For the longest time Ford wasn't even breathing a word related to the Focus RS. Then suddenly a flood of information came through, including confirmation that the RS would make a return after a six year hiatus. When details burst out, few really believed that the RS was to be driven through the front wheels, given its power figures of 300bhp (224kW) and 440Nm of torque from a 2.5-litre turbo.


After all, front-wheel-driven cars with slightly less power than the RS are known to have excessive torque steer. Nevertheless Ford had an answer to that in a hi-tech system called RevoKnuckle, a specially design steering knuckle containing two ball bearing sets which help compensate for torque steer. Additionally an LSD is fitted for extra traction.





via:World Car Fans



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Cadillac CTS Coupe delayed until summer of 2010

The production 2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe was scheduled to make its debut at the 2008 LA Auto Show after which it was delayed until the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Well, both auto shows have come and gone and GM has yet to release the much anticipated model.

According to Joanne Krell, a GM spokeswoman that spoke with Automotive News, the 2010 CTS Coupe had been scheduled to go into production later this summer but has now been delayed until the summer of 2010.



“We made a few changes to the overall portfolio,” said Krell. “Obviously we are in a challenging economic time, and one of the changes is to move the coupe back a year. Instead of coming out this summer, it will come out next summer.”

The 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon is on schedule for spring along with the 2010 Cadillac SRX.
via egmcartech




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Chevrolet Releases 2009 Corvette Competition Sport Package

Chevrolet has announced a track-oriented Competition Sport package available on its 1LT and Z06 models.

Aimed at enthusiasts who use their Corvettes to the fullest on closed courses, the Competition Sport package includes the Z51 performance package, a performance exhaust system and a differential cooler to the 1LT and a handful of appearance upgrades to both models.
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Barack Obama's Used 2005 Chrysler 300C Up On eBay

If I remember correctly, the current owner of Barack Obama's used 2005 Chrysler 300C is a restaurateur in the Detroit area and he only knew about the previous owner of the car when he already bought it. What luck!

By the way, Obama sold it off because this car is not environmentally friendly and he had to get rid of it in order to attack GM and Chrysler for the vehicles. Obama replaced this car with a hybrid.

Starting bid for the car is US$100,000 which the owner justified with the transacted prices of some other vehicles, namely Pope John Paul's Ford Escort which fetched almost US$700,000 and the BIN price has been set at a million dollars. Real market value for such a car, without taking into account its previous owner, is priced at about US$13,500.
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Chrysler has discontinued the PT Cruiser...

Jan. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Chrysler LLC, pruning its lineup to save money, will stop building the PT Cruiser this year and is seeking buyers for the equipment used to make the model, President Tom LaSorda said.

Production “ends this summer,” LaSorda said today in a telephone interview. “Would we sell those assets? Yes. Do we have any offers to sell those assets? No. Would we be pursuing a buyer? Yes.”

The PT Cruiser, with a rounded body to mimic 1930s-style station wagons, would be the seventh model to be canceled since Cerberus Capital Management LP bought Chrysler in August 2007. The third-largest U.S. automaker is using $4 billion in federal loans to stay in business while reshaping operations to end losses.
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Obama's New Cadillac Limo Officially Unveiled

While the new Cadillac One may look like a stretched Cadillac DTS, it’s in fact based on the gigantic GMC Topkick truck platform. Security tech likely includes five-inch thick bulletproof glass, ultra high strength ceramic armor and cellphone jammers, but the Secret Service is putting the kibosh on official details for security reasons. One tech item they are talking about are the LED spotlights that’ll illuminate the fender-mounted flags at night.
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$50K Smart Electric Vehicle set for Limited Production Run - powered by Tesla

In a recent statement, Daimler AG announced, "The next generation prototype of the smart fortwo electric drive is being presented in the US for the first time during the NAIAS Autoshow. At the End of 2009, smart will start the production of the smart fortwo electric drive with a lithium-ion battery. The company is exploring opportunities for the United States market."


These Smart cars should cost US$49,900 when they go on sale this year according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk who confirmed the existence of this business relationship between his company and Daimler AG.


Tesla had been struggling to meet its financial obligations until late 2008 when it announced it had received business financing to the tune of $40 million from investors. The Smart car order should help its balance sheet pick up even more.

Tesla Motors is going to be supplying Mercedes-Benz with 1,000 EV battery packs and chargers. The power packs are to be installed in Smart electric cars as part of a cooperation between the electric car maker and Daimler AG, the parent company of Smart and the Mercedes-Benz Group.
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Detroit auto show highlights energy saving amid economic downturn

The Smart Electric drive car is seen during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan January 12, 2009.


Toyota introduces its 2010 Prius vehicle during press days at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, January 12, 2009


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Toyota introduces its 2010 Prius vehicle during press days at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, January 12, 2009.


A model stands beside the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan January 12, 2009


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The Maserati Sports GT S is seen during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan January 12, 2009


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Volvo Car Corp. President and CEO Stephen Odell (L) and Senior Vice President of Design Steve Mattin pose next to the S60 concept vehicle during press days at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, January 11, 2009


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Detroit Auto Show: Fisker to Show New Concept & Unveil Karma Production Model

Fisker Automotive’s First Production Vehicle, the Fisker
Karma, to be Showcased at the North American International
Auto Show (NAIAS)

IRVINE, CA. Dec. 2, 2008: Fisker Automotive, Inc., a green American
premium sports car company, today announced that its first production car,
the Fisker Karma, will be showcased at the North American International
Auto Show (NAIAS). With only minor design enhancements made to the
exterior of the vehicle, the production Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid retains the
extreme proportions and beautiful sculpture of the January 2008 Karma show
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Detroit Auto Show: Ford Announces Aggressive New Electric Vehicle Plan

DETROIT, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ford Motor Company today launched an aggressive plan to bring pure battery-electric vehicles, next-generation hybrids and a plug-in hybrid to market quickly and more affordably during the next four years.


The plan, unveiled at the 2009 North American International Auto Show, signals the next phase in Ford's commitment to deliver the best or among the best fuel efficiency with every new vehicle it introduces and to make fuel efficiency solutions affordable for millions of customers.
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via:World Car Fans


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Dodge Circuit EV Unveiled in Detroit

As suspected from some recent spy photos Chrysler's ENVI group has continued to work on the car that first appeared last fall as the DodgeEV. The car that was nothing more than a Lotus Europa with an electric powertrain and Dodge badges now at least looks kind of like it belongs in a Dodge dealership.


The front fascia now sports the traditional Dodge cross-hair grille while the posterior gets cleaner look with a small diffuser. New wheels and a coat of orange paint that Chrysler's press release dubbs"Tangoreen" round out the visual changes.


As near as we can tell from that same press release the only real functional change to the car that is now called the Circuit EV is the positioning of the plug. The original car had the plug on the right side of the car, which would be the driver's side over in the UK where this car was built.


The Circuit now has the plug socket on the left flank where it would be more convenient to charge in this country. The A123 battery pack and 200 kW motor remain from the original iteration.
Source: autobloggreen



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2010 Ford Taurus Unveiled in Detroit, pricing starts at $25,995 with video

The 2010 Taurus features an impressive set of standard and optional technological features including: Adaptive Cruise Control with Collision Warning, Intelligent Access with Push Button Start, MyKey parental programmability, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert, Rain-Sensing Wipers, EasyFuel capless refueling, Ford SYNC and Voice-Activated Navigation with SIRIUS® Travel Link.


Ford will take the wraps off its 2010 Ford Taurus tomorrow during the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. The 2010 Taurus, as you can see from the pictures, has been completely redesigned with class-leading features, new technologies and better quality that will help it compete better against other premium luxury sedans. The best part of it all? The new 2010 Ford Taurus will start at $25,995 - the same price as the 2009 model.


Power comes from a Duratec 3.5L V6 engine that produces an estimated 263-hp with a maximum torque of 249 lb-ft. The base level Taurus SE model will come with a standard 6-speed automatic transmission while the range-topping SEL model will get SelectShift with shift control paddles mounted on the steering wheel. All-wheel-drive is available as an option. Ford says that the advanced twin-turbo EcoBoost 3.5L V6 will also be available on the Taurus at a later date.



via:egmcartech



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Saleen reveals future plans for SMS Limited brand

Later this year, SMS will reveal plans for a new 460 Mustang package based on the new 2010 Ford Mustang. While the car is still in the design stages, The Detroit News reports that it will come with a patented SMS Red Butterfly Induction hood over a supercharged V8 engine. Towards the end of the year, or possibly in early 2010, SMS will add a modified Chevrolet Camaro to its lineup.



Instead, the SMS label will be used for a new range of modified muscle cars, based around the new 2009 Dodge Challenger, 2010 Ford Mustang and upcoming 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. Based in Anaheim, California, SMS is currently building the first of its new hotted-up muscle cars, the Dodge Challenger 570 Series.


Starting at $60,000 for a complete car, the SMS prepped Dodge Challenger 570 delivers more than 500hp (373kW) from a highly modified 5.7L V8 engine. Also on offer is a 700hp (522kW) version, which is priced at $70,000.


At the start of last year American performance workshop Saleen announced plans to establish its new SMS Limited brand. The company then rolled out a stunning supercar concept to coincide with the launch of the brand, but unfortunately financial hard times put an end to plans for production of the mid-engined concept.
via motorauthority



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Buick unveiled the 2010 LaCrosse

Buick has officially unveiled the 2010 LaCrosse ahead of the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Unlike Buicks of the past the redesigned model is aimed at entry level luxury buyers instead of the senior citizen crowd normally associated with the brand.


Thankfully the upscale design carries over to the interior where occupants are greeted by a flowing two-tone interior that has sweeping dark wood accents which run from door-to-door while other luxury touches include French stitching on the instrument panel, tastefully applied chrome accents, and cool blue ambient lighting.


The quad headlights and questionable styling of the current is no more as the new model features a modern exterior with flowing lines and an elegant appearance. Staying true to the Invicta concept which debuted at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show, the car is "instantly recognizable as a Buick, with its signature ‘sweep spear' body-side styling, portholes inside the character line on the hood, and waterfall grille" according to Ed Welburn, GM's vice president of global design. The car is the result of a truly global effort as designers from the United States and China worked hand in hand to create the LaCrosse's dramatic exterior.


The redesigned 2010 LaCrosse will go into production this summer at GM's Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City with deliveries expected to begin shortly after that.


The big news under the hood is that the LaCrosse features GM's brand new 3.0-liter engine with direct injection, it produces 255 horsepower (190 kW) and 211 lb.-ft. of torque (286 Nm). GM says the new engine helps to increase fuel economy and lowers cold-start emissions by up to 25 percent. Sporty CXS models will be powered by GM's 3.6L direct injection V-6 that is tuned to produce an estimated 280 horsepower (209 kW) and 261 lb.-ft. of torque (354 Nm). Another first for a Buick sedan is the availability of an intelligent AWD system which will be offered on the mid-level CXL LaCrosse.


In a clear showing that this Buick is aimed squarely at the younger generation, the LaCrosse features the latest in technology including Bluetooth connectivity, an auxiliary audio input with a USB port, and an available in-dash navigation system. Among the long list of options are a power rear-window sunshade, a rear DVD entertainment system which has displays mounted on the front seatbacks, an adaptive lighting package which aims the headlights up to 15 degrees based on steering inputs, a Side Blind Zone to alert the driver of cars hiding in blind spots, and a rear view camera.

via:World Car Fans




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