A look at the 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge SUV, the brand's first electric vehicle - The Globe and Mail

A look at the 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge SUV, the brand’s first electric vehicle  The Globe and Mail

What Brands Will You Prefer For Exotic Automobile

Are certified used cars actually an awesome thing, or is it just another means for dealerships to charge additional money for a automobile and get away with it? Some nice websites to find a automobile are craigslist and KSL. Some examples of these are automobile critiques, tips and advice, and selling automobiles. We provide all sorts of cars on Car Rental like Toyota, Mercedes Benz, Mercedes S class, E class, Maruti Wagon R, and another luxury cars on very reasonably priced rent. Perth has a variety of sights, pure or man-made, which make it more fulfilling to journey a luxurious automobile and drive by these beautiful spots. Apart from the essential built-in features, Benz also affords additional luxurious add-ons from massage seats and customized leisure ports to the entire on-the-edge efficiency of a full-fledged cruise-management that nearly makes a driver's presence inconsequential. A bench behind the seats allows the housing part of the trunk and goes to complement the one hundred ten liters in volume of the front compartment. The requirements to turn into a vendor in Chicago are to have a vendor license. The word itself entertains your mind earlier than you've got even looked at the range of choices to choose from.

The place is gasoline pump on 1997 range rover 4.6? Folks dream of owning a Mercedes Benz or a top of the vary Lexus. 3 can seat any one of many remaining 5 people. Where can I discover a Diagram of a 454 distributor cap and plug wiring? Wholesale auctions, that are open to only registered auto dealers, bring collectively wholesale buyers and sellers in a laid-again, friendly environment the place bids are competitive and solely licenses car sellers can make a bid. I've tried to make a comprehensive record that you could add to and subtract from. It's made up of turn into therefore considerably more challenging for catering gurus in the direction of crank out yr for the comprehensive cleansing process, as soon as a social gathering, an bash, or party. What I do know is that alongside the way I have adopted some very critical ethical rules from coping with some actually dangerous components on the market.

Rover 220 sdi minimize out and won't begin? And, in case you are on the lookout for a fashionable, futuristic technology, consider LED headlamps to get pleasure from flexibility and glare-free illumination. Listed here are my high 5 reasons to visit town. The screws to take away the panel are just under the glove box. There are glove box, cup holders and pouches. According to Mercedes-Benz, there have not been studies of accident or injuries arising from this concern. There are 20 kindsof amino acids which might be used within the synthesis of body proteins. Providing tons of accessible storage places, they are a helpful addition that our customers admire vastly. These features are only a few among the many that prove the way it is possible for a car to be continuously conscious of its surroundings always, making accident-free and close to-autonomous driving not a dream, however a actuality. We additionally added a couple of aerodynamic aids in hopes of retaining it stright.

The only downside to Alamo is that only a few areas supply load vans. The Adaptive Highbeam Help Plus controls the light to keep away from dazzling oncoming visitors whilst nonetheless ensuring that the street remains illuminated completely. Nevertheless, music is highly regarded and remains to be taught in colleges. We transfer into the Cloud period and cars of the late fifties and early sixties. Many love to exhibit their vehicles in shows and win trophies. This latter group wants 4X4 capability to help them in attending to their destination - a ski resort, maybe. 1. The criterion upon which a comparison might be made between the efficiency of the Volt and Prius is technically simple. Honda Civic used to be the defining C Section automobile. The new styling is crisper with other angels and slippery traces and has given this automobile an look of baby S class. Low-cost oil that鈥檚 been in a motor 7,000 miles may have a film energy that鈥檚 just 20,000 pounds per sq. inch. This engine within the tandem with electric motor will give amazing 362 hp.

Is GM Considering Selling More Brands Following Opel?

Buick? GMC? What's next?

The aftermath of General Motor’s sale of its Europe-based Opel and Vauxhall brands to the PSA Group signals a major change for the Detroit automaker. CEO Mary Barra, according to Automotive News, has already clarified that the “Opel deal is not the end of its effort to pare its portfolio.” However, it’s pretty unlikely at the moment that GM would decide on yet another dramatic sale in the immediate future. “There’s a little more work that we’re doing in the international markets,” Barra stated in Paris following the completion of the Opel-PSA deal.

“Our overall philosophy is that every country, every market segment has to earn its cost of capital.” Remember, Opel lost some $20 billion for GM since 1999, hence the sale. But Barra and her top lieutenants are not afraid of shaking up the status quo if the situation calls for it. According to Kelly Blue Book senior analyst, Rebecca Lindland, “In Mary Barra’s GM, everything is on the table.” Does this mean additional brands, even ones sold in the US like Buick and GMC, could see the chopping block if they don’t return expected profits? Not likely, at least not at the moment. Remember, GM already cleaned house, brand wise, as part of the US government bailout conditions, killing Pontiac, Hummer, Saturn and Saab.

As we’ve already reported, GM is now more focused on crossovers rather than sedans or coupes, hence the Buick Verano’s recent execution. The V8-powered Chevrolet SS sedan is also on its way out. At the same time, Chevrolet Impala and Buick LaCrosse sales are falling, so their time may be limited as well. Basically, GM wants to free up more capital for SUVs, pickups, autonomous vehicles, Cadillac and the Chinese market. Markets that could be in trouble in terms of GM limiting or ending manufacturing are Russia, Australia, Indonesia and Thailand. But GM’s new thinking is that if anything, brand or market, can’t prove its worth, it’ll be finished.

What Type Of Used Cars Are The best Brands

People perceived Satyam extra as a body procuring company than a serious IT player (this was truly an unfair cost as at that time most Indian IT firms were really just that). While designing an automobile emblem design, the emblem creation ought to keep his concentrate on the precise them of the enterprise or firm. 100,000. These were costly cars when new, and they remain expensive to maintain in high form. Vehicles are lasting longer every year, so it's doable you possibly can keep your car even longer than ten years, and save even more cash. For years, proudly owning a fancy, exotic sports activities automobile like those you used to sketch in the college notebooks has been a dream for lots. For the Jeep Liberty's four most-current model years, two of the 2010 reliability ratings have been A lot Worse Than Average and two had been Worse Than Average. Whereas a used car of a model that's at the moment doing very well within the Indian market can be a little bit costlier than a much less standard model, shopping for the more well-liked one may be a better deal.

The very best promoting model by far is the 3-collection, which presents quality efficiency, dealing with and energy at a aggressive worth within the entry-degree market. Medium customary model, maximum energy with only 457HP 600Nm peak torque. The facility plant underneath the sleek hood of the Buick LaCrosse Super is a 3.5-liter V8 engine belonging to GM's well-liked small-block V8 engine vary. The diesel engine places out 285bhp/600Nm within the 350d guise and 340bhp/700Nm in the 400d variant. In case you woud like to check out the place your webpage hyperlink has been placed, please contact me at: joycarey@bigstring.com. You can check out the latest info on compliance testing, recalls and technical service bulletins from the Nationwide Highway Site visitors Safety Administration. Monster Job allows one to post their resume and do a nationwide search. This lets you have peace of thoughts when investing in new Dodge Ram Headlights. Another succesful sedan is the Cadillac CTS that will soon have a redesign version for 2008. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class regardless of its being a sporty, agile contender unhappy to say has proven not quite dependable.

If this describes you, the excellent news is that you don't have to stay this way. Sounds slightly way more superior when it really is a range don鈥檛 you assume? Be prepared to stroll away for those who assume the dealer is asking too much for a selected car. For sure, that car has much greater issues. For all of us, it鈥檚 very important to observe and acknowledge these problems. It鈥檚 additionally irritating that Mercedes-Benz is still utilizing the NEDC standard in this annoucement. The production though for this car had began through the center of the 12 months 2005. In comparison with the idea car of the Pontiac Solstice during the mentioned auto show, the Pontiac Solstice nonetheless holds the exact same exterior styling. If geared up. 12. Lower the vehicle. On a median, AGS presents signification weight discount as much as 20% and improvement in aerodynamic efficiency up to 30% as compared to non-AGS car. It is kind of important to know that clearing out the windshield and having unobstructed view can set out your driving adventures in safety and intense degree of efficiency.

Set up some stipulations upfront. Also, President of Lagonda clarifies that the design of this automobile just isn't in any respect like Aston. Like with many vehicles it is probably below the steering wheel close to the brake. At the rear, the boot launching appears more vital and the brake lamps get the very same slimline treatment as people on the entrance facet of the automobile. Greater than once, our native shop proprietor has gone above and past to seek out us the best half at the most effective worth - all at no added profit for him. My team began pondering more inventive ideas for shows. The place can somebody find cheap breakdown automobile protection? A automobile purchased within the state of Georgia is charged the gross sales tax rate of the county the place the purchaser lives not where the dealership is situated. When they're apart you possibly can see pitting and put on.

What Type Of Used Cars Are The best Brands

The rear lenses changed to a flatter cleaner design. With the Tremendous High Roof choice box checked, the lengthy-wheelbase-extended 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is the most spacious cargo van in the business, offering 586.1 cubic ft of rear area in one massive package. The one below the engine bonnet has, on the underside of fuse box lid, an inventory with a crude thought of what the fuse protects. I lately obtained an e mail telling a kind of 'Rooster SOUP OF THE SOUL' kind of tales. As a substitute, Mercedes enthusiasts are choosing to make the repairs themselves or buying much less costly, however nonetheless OEM high quality components online and taking them to their mechanics for set up. Referred to as an epitome of fashion and perfection, Mercedes Benz displays aristocracy with a celebration of pace and exhilaration. Often some AMG Mercedes Benz parts will need to be ordered or installed recurrently as a part of the normal upkeep and maintenance related along with your automotive.

But earlier than spending your cash, ensure to consider a number of suggestions when searching Mercedes Benz dealerships. There are a number of things you are able to do to make your Mercedes feel more customized. There are too many Linux variations , all with their own qwirks and issues , I'm going back to a primary Unix system , from the place it all began . A Maybach comes with a lot of options that if we began mentioning them here than it might take hours to explain all of them. Manufacturing of seven-hundred hp (520 kW) from engineers Carlsson automobile two-tone paint scheme and features hand-dark-crimson inside from Etienne Aigner. This regulation principally states that if it's a must to return or repair the automotive numerous occasions within a yr or two that you can receive your cash back for the automobile. Auto recalls have elevated this 12 months within the wake of the Toyota fuel pedal defects that had reportedly brought on more than 50 deaths in the US.

In newest years, Rolex has ongoing to herald even more technology into its timepieces. Despite shocking know-how and a major increase in security options, Hyundai will hold the road on pricing from the prior generation to continue delivering unmistakable value to clients. Science says only technology can do these issues (or worse, that a few of these issues are downright unattainable). Important amino acids are important for protein synthesis? The ribosomes in cells produce proteins by chaining amino acids based on the knowledge in the m-RNA. The shock of the day however was the reigning champion Sebastian Vettel failure to make it to Q3. Eight % three individuals discovered this useful How do you establish gross sales tax on used cars? BMW car dealers do usually provide vehicles for sale though they're required to have a wholly separate space for his or her used automotive sales than for new automotive gross sales. The sale of small idea vehicles beloved my majority of the Indian belongs to the middle class household.

The brand new Porsche 911 Sport Traditional goes on sale in January 2010, after its debut at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show. Of the vehicles manufactured in Spain, in 1993, ABS had the Renault R19 and the Citroen ZX. AutoTrader, CARFAX, craigslist and eBay Motors all have plenty of low cost used cars on their respective websites. This allows you to speak arms-free and does not need a Bluetooth ear piece. Sports, exercise, playing computer games with the household is a good approach to get life stability. It's located behind the glovebox, so empty that, then squeeze the tabs on each side of the again of the field in order that the field will tip all the way out. I PULLED THE WIRES OFF THE DISTRIBUTER CAP AND DONT Understand how THEY Go back ON. Now, right here arrives a Replica Tag Heuer Mercedes-Benz SLR chronograph. Other than editorial releases when it came to paid promoting, I felt that the time was not proper for any general media company marketing campaign. I guess Audi is going to do that on their Pasat, A4, A6 and later the A8. Mercedes-Benz cars are made to give you an distinctive driving expertise like no other.

What Type Of Used Cars Are The most effective Brands

What are some of the very best car brands on the planet? Whatever the underlying causes for this phenomenon, on this planet of luxurious vehicles, the large names are evergreens BMW and Mercedes, together with newer fave Lexus. He was additionally promoting Daimler cars, and shortly he started working with them in the creation of latest, higher products. There have been numerous situations whereby groups of corporations have teamed up to purchase know-how, with a recent instance being the leading German manufacturers working together with Nokia to be used of its mapping services. Automobile manufacturers across the globe have realized after-gross sales service is a very powerful factor that may make their cars promote like hotcakes. The Engines of Mercedes cars are of supreme high quality. So, here is the low-down, using for example the world-famend Mercedes S Class 500L (sort W220). O.Okay. then, why not have a Mercedes! And if we had been capable of 鈥渟helter in place,鈥?it could all be helpful to have readily available.

Exotic vehicles have a method of catching an individual's eyes with its typically particular look. All the three parameters of Manufacturing, Exports and Sales confirmed wholesome increases with the Production growing by 2.6% in FY 015-2106 with a total manufacturing output of 23,960,940 autos. It is mostly accepted not simply in motorhomes but in vehicles normally, that you're going to get extra traction, and subsequently get stuck much less, with a RWD car than a FWD vehicle. The Range Rover is another vehicle that has been affected by the market downturn. There's a boot space of 530 liters supplied along with an protracted entrance and rear headroom and a legroom in the automobile. It sports the flare fenders, flanked in entrance by enormous carbon-fiber, 19-inch wheels and tires, larger brake rotors that measures an large 14.2 inches at the entrance and a still spectacular 13 inches in the back. The supposed tussle for the bragging rights of being a marquee tremendous sports activities car is turning out to be a no-brainer. BMW M Series Coupe: The 5-litre V10 petrol engine churns out 500 bhp. What idiot would buy a brand new automotive, earlier than the manufacturer has had a year or two to iron out the bugs?

The Chevy Trailblazer that it truly is was a superb car, and the 9-7x was the premium-priced version of it. Step 2: She up-offered the product giving me good value for cash. Although it says it on the label it doesnt mean that the company didnt use animal testing on another product that they've. Carry your blue ebook and have access to Carfax, so you could possibly verify the automotive's history. When you have a historical past of creating few to no claims towards your automobile insurance coverage and haven't been at fault at any site visitors accidents you will have skilled, then you definitely also can expertise value-savings on your Mercedes-Benz CLK insurance. They started manufacturing of tracks and vehicles they usually used the identify Mercedes-Benz for them. The primary automobile launched by the division was the famous 300SEL 6.3 V8 Saloon, which was given the title 'Red Sow'. Some great web sites to find a automobile are craigslist and KSL. The 2012 Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe are simply as aerodynamically efficient as their appearance suggests, resulting in improved gas effectivity, diminished emissions, improved handling at higher speeds and decrease ranges of inside noise. The vehicle was referred to as "Benz Patent Motorwagen" and it had three wheels and the design reminds of a carriage hauled by horses perhaps because the primary design model was taken from a carriage.

Be it a Mercedes-Benz or a Nissan, van leasing allows you to amass the mark and model that you want, which is normally not a possibility if you're truly shopping for. 4000. He is the 2nd owner and the van has been maintained. What's town and freeway vary of the 2009 Land-Rover LR2 in miles? Quaker State additionally has a superb synthetic oil for engines with high miles. To vary the oil you need it up on ramps, or over a pit, or on a raise, or jack it onto axel stands. How to vary the gasoline filter on a ninety five totoyota corolla? You may bypass it to see if your Engine will begin. I wasn't in a position to purchase a brand new car anytime quickly, and I could not proceed on this path. Rental car companies favor having a credit card number on file - this allows them to add extra charges to your bill if you do not adhere to the contract you signed. Ford Focus is one automobile that women actually love. New Orleans is called among the best dwell entertainment locations in Louisiana, if not the entire United States, and places like Mercedes-Benz Superdome certainly contribute to that repute.

What Kind Of Used Cars Are The best Brands

When the transmission on a "high of the road" Accord EX-L V6 will not shift into Drive, my expectations should not even be thought of for query! The vehicles are extremely-maneuverable and quick of the road - it may even beat many supercars when it comes to acceleration in the town visitors. This assessment focuses on the A4, which comes with front- or all-wheel drive and a handbook or automatic transmission. Your success in life is mirrored in the kind of car you drive. To not promote an terrible lot of automobiles of a type most firms do not consider 'viable'. How Do I Promote My Mercedes-Benz? Bummed that Audi will not sell you an RS6 Avant? One particular consists of toward maintain in simply head that the Juniper Networks Competent Internet Guide; SEC software program is an accessibility place keep track of that provides credit score rating for the Junos songs. The second-technology 1.6-liter HR16DE 4-cylinder engine consists of a variety of reducing-edge technologies, making it probably the most advanced powerplants in school.

Likewise, the stability control is a typical function on this class with the exemption of the Lincoln MKZ which doesn't present it. Goodluck What brand supplies the very best automotive directions? The result's a inflexible built-in facet structure that provides effective protection in the event of a facet influence. They're also the perfect compliment to a big shock event. Oh yeah, sorry, I forgot, these are Mercedes, not cars ! Take possession of the cheap automobile and menace the purchasers as if they're buying a Mercedes Benz. Not like shopping for a automobile from personal sellers or from automotive auctions, it higher to buy from certified car sellers which provide clients a peace of mind and worth for his or her money. With a 30 yr relationship with Mercedes Benz, prospects could be assured that they're receiving one of the best service from specialists in the field. With out this supervision, a affected person might apply massive amounts of the numbing product to their skin, which may cause life-threatening uncomfortable side effects and death. Left arm can comfortably relaxation on the left door whilst nonetheless within straightforward attain to the steering wheel. Driving aids on board embrace Magic Body Control, speed sensitive variable ratio steering, 20' cast alloy wheel and non-obligatory composite brake system.

The firm also assisted the car sector to adapt and transfer along, by devising buildings which have led to secure driving. We might have carried out without the fake wood inlays, but as far as trim goes, they're a reasonable facsimile of dead tree and they don't detract from the cabin's premium ambience. Now a day, it seems like acne merchandise contain the same components and have same people speaking about these additive day in and day out. Italian meals. A lot so that even when abroad, many Italians will go out of their strategy to hunt down the nearest Italian restaurant聟.. Of course, for somebody with a family, the C63 coupe is means too small given the nearly unusable backseats, and the ever-so-barely cheaper C63 sedan can be a better match. The CLA is marketed as a 4-door coupe with a C117 code title, much to the confusion of many Mercedes Benz followers. Click by means of for some extra snapshots and my thoughts on the Corvette model. It was very arduous, for example, to work the onboard telephone.

However how does all of it work inside a automobile? Is that this a great move for the German automaker? Nonetheless, if athletes educate themselves, study money administration skills and make sensible, safe investments alongside the way in which, they're usually in very good shape. We're afraid that EVP may very well be contaminated at any time as a result of golf course location as well because the small pond just by the woods below the cemetery that was dwelling to a small group of vocal ducks. Every varies from the opposite to offer Essie polish customers simply the right shade of black they're on the lookout for. The instruments are all clearer to read. Yes, the London Taxi (Black Cab) will soon be a thing of the previous. Toyota鈥檚 big sedan, the avalon, will quickly obtain a redesign. By sixty one % to 37 p.c, most mentioned final month they might consider buying another-fuel auto. Limo costs should be reasonable and equal with an energetic shopper service throughout the booking process to guide you by way of. There may be a little booklet in the glove compartment. Is there any way to realize clear stunning pores and skin?

This yr, there may be a new challenger. We offer vehicle diminished value studies in all 50 states. I am no genius, however to search out trustworthy answers i look on google :D hope it works for you! Xanax works quite speedily, with impacts peaking within an hour or so afterward slowly reducing. A balanced physique is a better performing physique. When i try to shift it it beep and flashes gearbox indicator on dash.? Now, Replica Cartier Ronde Louis some may probably say ? Chevrolet all the best way! One other three years later a successor to the 190c was unveiled. These providers follow several drug detection strategies. The league presently sanctions championship play in 9 men's sports and 12 girls's sports activities. Answer . Most cars run with just air stress around us. All capacities approximate. Add as necessary to deliver to applicable level. Bed, Bath and Beyond is one other retailer that sells related items.

High Vehicle Brands On Roads, An Intensive Perception

I drive company automobiles that are diesel. Although, not every one among us is lucky to drive this luxurious state-of-the -artwork with restricted income, and need to save heaps of money to bring home our dream car. Having understood the statistics behind Mozilla Firefox, let's consider why Firefox should be your number one selection when you consider which browser to obtain. Bitdefender promotion codes enables you to save various moolah on Bitdefender. If the number does match, then verify the date code on the glass. If oneself are assured that there are some issues produce completely sure that it's identical in route of the third social gathering stability software package after which produce enhancements. There are numerous commonplace feaures on a 2007 Ford F150. For the Mercedes restore London there's need of some mechanic who can perceive each facet of your automobile. On the time of writing, there have only ever been six appeals. They have simple controls and are incredibly stable making them easy sufficient for any baby to function. Your son or daughter has to use their legs to push the toy ahead and this could develop power of their legs making them increased in a position to walk.

Porsche, on the other hand, features a high-end navigation system that you should utilize. My land rover freelander 2002 2.5 engin won't begin are you able to help me? This can help to avoid the disappointment of a breakdown on the way to the wedding venue. This may also work the other approach round. 1 individual discovered this helpful What can be accomplished for a 2000 Taurus 4cyl 81000 mls dropping antifreeze and may hear it bubbling not overheating or boiling over or leaking what can I do and is it spendy to fix? I've a rover metro and have had issues with overheating for ages. The Lexus RX and the Lexus LX have wonderful long-term reliability ratings as well. Today, most manufacturers have implemented these applications. These high-tech audio and navigation features are sure to please even the most finicky purchaser. Auto-correct features are good however you shouldn't rely on them. Its new options embody popup blocking, tabbed shopping, improved privateness features, automated updating and way more.

Some exterior options embrace front and rear park distance sensors with visual show, automatic head lights and rain sensing windshield wipers. The primary drawback: it solely offers you five gears to choose from (and the automated has only four). Great piece, nicely achieved and thorough! You see it takes solely on average about 10 minutes each for rent a cars, put up workplace jeeps, work trucks, which lined up and comparable motors and kinds. You can now see the motor.7. The compact design was achieved by integrating and connecting the separating clutch, torsional vibration damper and torque converter lock-up clutch within the rotor of the electric motor. It needs to be famous that, by this minor change, sunroof other was abolished, change to the left from the proper aspect place, brand design was also changed brand emblem is attached to the again door of "SIENTA". I am a big fan of the design right here - certainly, a huge improvement from the idea unveiled a couple of years in the past. In order to save weight, the Italian engineers used a comfortable high, which can drop in roughly 28 seconds.

Abdul Wahabone - Thanks very a lot! 484,000. The automotive comes from the German automotive producer known for producing some of probably the most highly effective cars on the planet. This is unquestionably the perfect choose for these souls who want to make a strong assertion in relation to their discriminating taste for elegance and high-finish performance. Estimated Arrival and Price: The brand new A-class should make its appearance next 12 months earlier than happening sale as a 2019 mannequin. Toyota automobiles review2019 toyota tundra spy images 2017 toyota 2019 toyota tundra spy photographs, 2018 toyota 2019 toyota tundra spy images toyota specs,value,launch. The place can one find financing for used cars? Drug addiction of teenagers is some of the deadly curses of any society. It is also not very unusual when nearly all people I do know is driving one. BMW 125i Convertible is a mini sedan automobile that has good efficiency of pace and handling. What's the used automotive gross sales tax in Arkansas? This article explores automotive logos based on the wing image. How do you take away wipers on range rover?

Loaded trim levels from mass-market auto brands create sticker price overlap with high-end marques

Mass-market players are throwing jabs above their weight classes.

Wallet-friendly brands such as Ford, Honda and Kia offer loaded upper trim levels that inflate prices to the point where their vehicles end up face to face with high-end brands.

The Ford Edge might not seem like a natural challenger to the Lexus NX 300, for instance, but the Edge Sport carries a sticker price that's $570 more than that of the NX 300 F Sport. Similar overlap occurs with the Kia Cadenza and Lincoln Continental sedans, the Toyota Land Cruiser and Lincoln Navigator SUVs and the Mazda6 sedan and Mercedes-Benz CLA four-door coupe, to name a few.

The goals of the loftier pricing vary. Mazda has tried to move upmarket with its Signature trim on the CX-9 crossover and Mazda6. Kia, on the other hand, wanted to lift brand awareness and consideration when it released the pricey K900 sedan.

Meanwhile, luxury staples Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz moved downmarket in recent years, edging more into mass-market territory. Jaguar released the F-Pace crossover and XE sedan, while Mercedes introduced the CLA, its first front-wheel-drive model in the U.S., with a sticker price around $30,000.

Nonluxury brands that pack upper trim levels with high-end perks have a chance to widen their consumer base, said Cox Automotive analyst Michelle Krebs. Kelley Blue Book research found that one-third of luxury intenders said they would consider a nonluxury vehicle if it had the upscale features they wanted.

"Luxury is being redefined by consumers and automakers," Krebs told Automotive News. "Consumers who are interested in premium or the upper levels of nonluxury, they want luxury-type features, but they want it at a perceived value price with this idea of increased practicality. Clearly, the automakers want to make more money by offering them, but consumers are already thinking of luxury a bit differently."

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Kia's portfolio has a wide range. Its manual Rio sedan starts at $14,795. But the youthful brand has positioned the K900 rear-wheel-drive cruiser, which delivers 420 hp, among the luxury heavyweights. The V-8-powered 2017 K900's Luxury trim has a starting price of $62,850. All prices include shipping. Kia said in 2014 that if luxury brands could come downmarket with entry-level models, why couldn't it move up into their space?

Then there's the Stinger, Kia's edgy option that is challenging German marques. Kia touts the V-6-equipped GT trim's 4.7-second acceleration from 0 to 60 mph, bragging on its website that the Stinger outdoes competitors such as the Audi A5 Sportback. The Stinger's priciest GT2 trim with all-wheel drive is $52,300 for 365 hp, vs. the awd A5 Sportback's top Prestige trim, which is $51,175 with a 273-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter quattro S tronic four-cylinder engine.

For the Honda brand, the Accord sedan has long been a crucial volume player. At its base level, the Accord, which won this year's North American Car of the Year award, is a mass-market friendly $24,465 with a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder turbo engine. But the Accord's tech-filled Touring trim comes in at $36,695, putting it neck-and-neck with the base BMW 3 series, which costs $35,895 with rwd. The entry-level 3 series includes a 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, while the fwd Accord Touring is packed with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbo and 10-speed automatic.

Automotive News breaks down some of the intriguing matchups in which loaded trims from volume brands overlap with luxury marques' offerings.

Toyota Land Cruiser and Lincoln Navigator Reserve Cadillac Escalade and Ford Expedition Platinum BMW X1 xDrive28i and Honda CR-V Touring 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupe and Mazda6 Signature Audi A5 Sportback Prestige and Kia Stinger GT2 2.0-liter turbo quattro S tronic 4-cylinder Ford Explorer Platinum and Lexus RX 350L

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Ford Mustang, lone survivor of brand's car cull, takes on bigger role

DETROIT — After 10 million vehicles over 54 years, the Mustang remains one of the most vital nameplates in Ford Motor Co.'s stable.

It's Exhibit A for what the Ford brand wants to stand for: bold, emotional designs that elicit passion among its customers.

The rest of its cars lack that cachet, which is why, after the Fusion sedan disappears from showrooms early next decade, the Mustang effectively will be Ford's last car standing as the brand shifts to a lineup dominated by pickups and utility vehicles.

Now, Ford is trying to re-create that Mustang magic in its crossover and SUV lineup. One vehicle in particular, a yet-to-be-named battery-electric crossover, was heavily inspired by the Mustang; Ford floated the name Mach 1 for it this year, though the production version is likely to get a different moniker.

"It's core to what people see Ford as," Carl Widmann, the Mustang's chief engineer, told Automotive News. "We wanted a vehicle that would draw people to the showroom floor. There's clear evidence that's the case."

The Mustang has been the best-selling sports coupe in the U.S. since its redesign in 2014. Ford began selling the Mustang globally in 2015 and now sells it in more than 140 markets, including China, Germany and Australia.

Despite the Mustang's importance to the company, CEO Jim Hackett reportedly pushed back the seventh-generation program by about a year.

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A redesigned Mustang now is expected in 2021. The car rides on an exclusive rear-wheel-drive platform but could move to one of the company's five new modular architectures, presumably the rwd/all-wheel-drive unibody underpinnings it would share with utilities such as the Explorer and Lincoln Aviator. That would give Ford the option of building an awd pony car for better handling in winter and to compete with the awd version of the Dodge Challenger that launched in 2017.

The company also plans the first Mustang hybrid, set to arrive in 2020.

Members of the Mustang team were mum on details about the next-generation car but said the move to a modular architecture won't hurt their design creativity.

"Mustang is still going to be a strong, well proportioned vehicle," the Mustang's chief designer, Darrell Behmer, said. "The modular architectures will still give us flexibility; it's not going to bastardize Mustang."

'A tremendous trick'

Widmann said the move won't fundamentally change the car.

"The general layout of rwd has morphed over time, but it's still the general architecture that it has been," he said. "In the architecture world of a rwd — which you're going to end up with a rwd architecture — I think these pieces of it are pieces that will always work. As you tune it and put a top hat on it, you can get different combinations and can define a lot of the emotion."

The current-generation Mustang resonates so well, Widmann said, because of its styling, diverse powertrains and driveability on or off a racetrack.

The team worked to give the 2015 model a more aggressive look while keeping traditional design elements. The vehicle's footprint was unchanged, but the roof and hood were lowered about 1.2 inches. Visibility also was key, Widmann said, as the team tried to maintain the previous generation's proportions.

"It's critical to always have the ability to keep theme elements but not be stuck in a rut," Widmann said. "It's a balance of not being caught in the past but still moving forward, which is a tremendous trick."

Ford has made incremental improvements since the 2015 redesign, adding a 10-speed automatic transmission and dropping the V-6 engine in 2018. It also has reintroduced special editions, including the Bullitt and California Special, and revived performance variants such as the Shelby GT350 and Cobra Jet.

Although U.S. sales are down 4.8 percent this year to 48,362 through July, the car is outselling its chief rivals: the Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro.

"It's the heart and soul of Ford," Jim Farley, Ford's president of global markets, said at a celebration this month of the 10 millionth Mustang produced. "It's one of the reasons why we're different and it continues to inspire other vehicles in the lineup."

Performance and utility

The Mustang-inspired electric crossover, due in 2020, likely will borrow heavily from the pony car's front-end design and combine the performance of an EV with the utility of an Explorer-like crossover.

Just don't expect it to be called Mach 1, a name Ford used for a Mustang performance option at various times from 1968 through the 2004 model year.

"We put that out there to evaluate it," Farley said of the name. "There are pros and cons. I don't want to handicap it at this point, but we got a very strong reaction from people."

After Ford released a teaser video for the vehicle this year, one YouTube user responded: "If they end up calling an SUV a Mach 1, I will never buy a Ford car or truck as long as I live. Blasphemy!"

Another added: "As a man who owns a 2003 mach 1 5-Speed, I am DISGUSTED. The mach 1 is the most iconic stang and you're disgracing its name with this. Shame."

Regardless of what name Ford picks, people who have helped shape the Mustang are excited by the prospect of expanding its DNA to other vehicles.

"Mustang has a soul. It's a balance of performance and design," Behmer said. "If you can capitalize on the cachet and let that rub off on the rest of the portfolio, it's a good thing."

ATTENTION COMMENTERS: Automotive News has monitored a significant increase in the number of personal attacks and abusive comments on our site. We encourage our readers to voice their opinions and argue their points. We expect disagreement. We do not expect our readers to turn on each other. We will be aggressively deleting all comments that personally attack another poster, or an article author, even if the comment is otherwise a well-argued observation. If we see repeated behavior, we will ban the commenter. Please help us maintain a civil level of discourse.

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Loaded trim levels from mass-market auto brands create sticker price overlap with high-end marques

Mass-market players are throwing jabs above their weight classes.

Wallet-friendly brands such as Ford, Honda and Kia offer loaded upper trim levels that inflate prices to the point where their vehicles end up face to face with high-end brands.

The Ford Edge might not seem like a natural challenger to the Lexus NX 300, for instance, but the Edge Sport carries a sticker price that's $570 more than that of the NX 300 F Sport. Similar overlap occurs with the Kia Cadenza and Lincoln Continental sedans, the Toyota Land Cruiser and Lincoln Navigator SUVs and the Mazda6 sedan and Mercedes-Benz CLA four-door coupe, to name a few.

The goals of the loftier pricing vary. Mazda has tried to move upmarket with its Signature trim on the CX-9 crossover and Mazda6. Kia, on the other hand, wanted to lift brand awareness and consideration when it released the pricey K900 sedan.

Meanwhile, luxury staples Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz moved downmarket in recent years, edging more into mass-market territory. Jaguar released the F-Pace crossover and XE sedan, while Mercedes introduced the CLA, its first front-wheel-drive model in the U.S., with a sticker price around $30,000.

Nonluxury brands that pack upper trim levels with high-end perks have a chance to widen their consumer base, said Cox Automotive analyst Michelle Krebs. Kelley Blue Book research found that one-third of luxury intenders said they would consider a nonluxury vehicle if it had the upscale features they wanted.

"Luxury is being redefined by consumers and automakers," Krebs told Automotive News. "Consumers who are interested in premium or the upper levels of nonluxury, they want luxury-type features, but they want it at a perceived value price with this idea of increased practicality. Clearly, the automakers want to make more money by offering them, but consumers are already thinking of luxury a bit differently."

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Kia's portfolio has a wide range. Its manual Rio sedan starts at $14,795. But the youthful brand has positioned the K900 rear-wheel-drive cruiser, which delivers 420 hp, among the luxury heavyweights. The V-8-powered 2017 K900's Luxury trim has a starting price of $62,850. All prices include shipping. Kia said in 2014 that if luxury brands could come downmarket with entry-level models, why couldn't it move up into their space?

Then there's the Stinger, Kia's edgy option that is challenging German marques. Kia touts the V-6-equipped GT trim's 4.7-second acceleration from 0 to 60 mph, bragging on its website that the Stinger outdoes competitors such as the Audi A5 Sportback. The Stinger's priciest GT2 trim with all-wheel drive is $52,300 for 365 hp, vs. the awd A5 Sportback's top Prestige trim, which is $51,175 with a 273-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter quattro S tronic four-cylinder engine.

For the Honda brand, the Accord sedan has long been a crucial volume player. At its base level, the Accord, which won this year's North American Car of the Year award, is a mass-market friendly $24,465 with a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder turbo engine. But the Accord's tech-filled Touring trim comes in at $36,695, putting it neck-and-neck with the base BMW 3 series, which costs $35,895 with rwd. The entry-level 3 series includes a 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, while the fwd Accord Touring is packed with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbo and 10-speed automatic.

Automotive News breaks down some of the intriguing matchups in which loaded trims from volume brands overlap with luxury marques' offerings.

Toyota Land Cruiser and Lincoln Navigator Reserve Cadillac Escalade and Ford Expedition Platinum BMW X1 xDrive28i and Honda CR-V Touring 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupe and Mazda6 Signature Audi A5 Sportback Prestige and Kia Stinger GT2 2.0-liter turbo quattro S tronic 4-cylinder Ford Explorer Platinum and Lexus RX 350L

ATTENTION COMMENTERS: Automotive News has monitored a significant increase in the number of personal attacks and abusive comments on our site. We encourage our readers to voice their opinions and argue their points. We expect disagreement. We do not expect our readers to turn on each other. We will be aggressively deleting all comments that personally attack another poster, or an article author, even if the comment is otherwise a well-argued observation. If we see repeated behavior, we will ban the commenter. Please help us maintain a civil level of discourse.

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Cox Automotive seeks tighter integration of brands

"It's easy for us to just go across the aisle to work on products, to work on solutions, but why don't we just get rid of the aisle?" Sandy Schwartz, president, Cox Automotive

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — If a dealership's parking lot has 10 visitor spots, on some days, Cox Automotive takes six of them.

That example may be an exaggeration, President Sandy Schwartz said, but the company wants to take up fewer spots in the future as it combines services under one cohesive Cox Automotive umbrella.

This month, amid news that Cox would launch a mobility division, the company also said it would combine its retail and media teams into a Retail Solutions Group. The reorganization will shift operations internally but the outside world will see little change, Schwartz said. The need to get products to market faster propelled the move.

Dealers already "look at us as one," Schwartz said. "It's easy for us to just go across the aisle to work on products, to work on solutions, but why don't we just get rid of the aisle?"

So far, Schwartz grades the company's integration of more than a dozen brands as a B-minus. The company must prioritize helping dealerships with combined solutions, he said. That has been part of Cox's strategy for five years but became especially important after the $4.5 billion acquisition of Dealertrack three years ago, Schwartz told Automotive News at VinWorx, a conference here centered on Cox's VinSolutions customer relationship management product.

"It's still a struggle for us because different people at dealerships make different decisions," Schwartz said. "It will be an ongoing way of us figuring out how do we work better?"

Bringing together companies with separate technology systems and office cultures, Schwartz said, has been among the most significant challenges of his career.

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"I love the fact that we're bigger; it allows us to do a lot of things," he said. At the same time, he added, "I hate the fact that we're bigger because a lot of days it's hard to turn the ship, and that's my job to turn the ship."

First, Cox had to tackle knitting together legacy technology platforms, which Schwartz admits is taking a while, instead of designing the platforms from scratch to create a more effortless workflow.

"It's been tough because the seamless integration is harder to get to than I thought it would be," Schwartz said. "But we've made great strides."

The core values of each Cox brand have always aligned, Schwartz said. But the company cultures have varied, so Schwartz and his team have been tasked with building a culture that's consistent under the Cox name but also true to the original brand.

"It's really important to respect culture and to respect what's important to [employees]. We've tried to bring these companies together the right way and still respect and honor the past and the culture," he said.

Last year, Cox laid off 950 employees — about 3 percent of its full-time staff — and 225 associates accepted early-retirement packages. After a rapid stream of acquisitions, the company had taken inventory of its assets and determined how they best connected. Because of that, Cox needed to rationalize its work force, Schwartz said last week.

Schwartz expects Cox to be in a constant state of change, with goals to streamline the business and bring products and services to the market faster. He envisions the work force evolving but said he can't predict how employee head count will fluctuate.

As for when Cox will boost its integration grade, Schwartz said: "I'm hoping a year from now, we're going to be much, much better. I don't know if it's going to be an A or if it's going to be a B-plus, but we're going to keep working at it."

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Ford Mustang, lone survivor of brand's car cull, takes on bigger role

DETROIT — After 10 million vehicles over 54 years, the Mustang remains one of the most vital nameplates in Ford Motor Co.'s stable.

It's Exhibit A for what the Ford brand wants to stand for: bold, emotional designs that elicit passion among its customers.

The rest of its cars lack that cachet, which is why, after the Fusion sedan disappears from showrooms early next decade, the Mustang effectively will be Ford's last car standing as the brand shifts to a lineup dominated by pickups and utility vehicles.

Now, Ford is trying to re-create that Mustang magic in its crossover and SUV lineup. One vehicle in particular, a yet-to-be-named battery-electric crossover, was heavily inspired by the Mustang; Ford floated the name Mach 1 for it this year, though the production version is likely to get a different moniker.

"It's core to what people see Ford as," Carl Widmann, the Mustang's chief engineer, told Automotive News. "We wanted a vehicle that would draw people to the showroom floor. There's clear evidence that's the case."

The Mustang has been the best-selling sports coupe in the U.S. since its redesign in 2014. Ford began selling the Mustang globally in 2015 and now sells it in more than 140 markets, including China, Germany and Australia.

Despite the Mustang's importance to the company, CEO Jim Hackett reportedly pushed back the seventh-generation program by about a year.

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A redesigned Mustang now is expected in 2021. The car rides on an exclusive rear-wheel-drive platform but could move to one of the company's five new modular architectures, presumably the rwd/all-wheel-drive unibody underpinnings it would share with utilities such as the Explorer and Lincoln Aviator. That would give Ford the option of building an awd pony car for better handling in winter and to compete with the awd version of the Dodge Challenger that launched in 2017.

The company also plans the first Mustang hybrid, set to arrive in 2020.

Members of the Mustang team were mum on details about the next-generation car but said the move to a modular architecture won't hurt their design creativity.

"Mustang is still going to be a strong, well proportioned vehicle," the Mustang's chief designer, Darrell Behmer, said. "The modular architectures will still give us flexibility; it's not going to bastardize Mustang."

'A tremendous trick'

Widmann said the move won't fundamentally change the car.

"The general layout of rwd has morphed over time, but it's still the general architecture that it has been," he said. "In the architecture world of a rwd — which you're going to end up with a rwd architecture — I think these pieces of it are pieces that will always work. As you tune it and put a top hat on it, you can get different combinations and can define a lot of the emotion."

The current-generation Mustang resonates so well, Widmann said, because of its styling, diverse powertrains and driveability on or off a racetrack.

The team worked to give the 2015 model a more aggressive look while keeping traditional design elements. The vehicle's footprint was unchanged, but the roof and hood were lowered about 1.2 inches. Visibility also was key, Widmann said, as the team tried to maintain the previous generation's proportions.

"It's critical to always have the ability to keep theme elements but not be stuck in a rut," Widmann said. "It's a balance of not being caught in the past but still moving forward, which is a tremendous trick."

Ford has made incremental improvements since the 2015 redesign, adding a 10-speed automatic transmission and dropping the V-6 engine in 2018. It also has reintroduced special editions, including the Bullitt and California Special, and revived performance variants such as the Shelby GT350 and Cobra Jet.

Although U.S. sales are down 4.8 percent this year to 48,362 through July, the car is outselling its chief rivals: the Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro.

"It's the heart and soul of Ford," Jim Farley, Ford's president of global markets, said at a celebration this month of the 10 millionth Mustang produced. "It's one of the reasons why we're different and it continues to inspire other vehicles in the lineup."

Performance and utility

The Mustang-inspired electric crossover, due in 2020, likely will borrow heavily from the pony car's front-end design and combine the performance of an EV with the utility of an Explorer-like crossover.

Just don't expect it to be called Mach 1, a name Ford used for a Mustang performance option at various times from 1968 through the 2004 model year.

"We put that out there to evaluate it," Farley said of the name. "There are pros and cons. I don't want to handicap it at this point, but we got a very strong reaction from people."

After Ford released a teaser video for the vehicle this year, one YouTube user responded: "If they end up calling an SUV a Mach 1, I will never buy a Ford car or truck as long as I live. Blasphemy!"

Another added: "As a man who owns a 2003 mach 1 5-Speed, I am DISGUSTED. The mach 1 is the most iconic stang and you're disgracing its name with this. Shame."

Regardless of what name Ford picks, people who have helped shape the Mustang are excited by the prospect of expanding its DNA to other vehicles.

"Mustang has a soul. It's a balance of performance and design," Behmer said. "If you can capitalize on the cachet and let that rub off on the rest of the portfolio, it's a good thing."

ATTENTION COMMENTERS: Automotive News has monitored a significant increase in the number of personal attacks and abusive comments on our site. We encourage our readers to voice their opinions and argue their points. We expect disagreement. We do not expect our readers to turn on each other. We will be aggressively deleting all comments that personally attack another poster, or an article author, even if the comment is otherwise a well-argued observation. If we see repeated behavior, we will ban the commenter. Please help us maintain a civil level of discourse.

View the original article here