Seattle to Sun Valley Idaho and Back in an All-New 2015 Mazda CX-9

Transcription

February 2015
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2015 – “An Asian Invasion”.............................page 2
Honda Accord Hybrid Best Value...................page 2
Barrett-Jackson Breaks Records...................page 3
Peter Mullin “2015 Man of the Year”..............page 3
Motorcycle News Bytes..................................page 4
Mitch Silver expands Arizona Auction Events...page 5
OnStar 4G LTE Vehicle Fast Facts..................page 7
Show Case Reviews......................................page 10
Mary Barra, GM C.E.O...................................page 13
Mecum Collector Car Auction LV Feb 27-28...page 15
The Petersen at Thermal Racing Club..........page 16
McCormick Auction Palm Springs Feb 20-22...page 17
NEW Aftermarket Special Section................page 19
Toyota of Kirkland builds New Dealership...page 26
O’Brian Auto Group Preowned.....................page 27
Ford Fends Off
Competitors with
All-New 2015 F-150
by Bill McCallum
The surge of all-new truck
models hitting U.S. dealers started
last fall. In past issues, we have
reported on the new GM models,
Ram models, Toyota models, and
the all-new Chevrolet Colorado.
You will see the “Big Dog,” the
all-new 2015 Ford F-150, hitting
dealer lots across the U.S. I had a
chance to visit the Dearborn Truck
Plant in December. With 22,000
feet of conveyors (4.2 miles), the
plant produces 1,200 trucks per
day. Three crews work four-day,
ten-hour shifts, seven days a week
to produce the all-new 2015 Ford
F-150 featuring an all-new highstrength steel frame and a highstrength aluminum-alloy body (700
pounds less weight).
The 2.7-liter Ecoboost engine
delivers 26 mpg highway with
22 mpg combined. With best in
class towing 12,200 pounds and
3,300 pounds payload on certain
models, you can understand why
the Ford F-150 has been the “best
selling truck” in the U.S. for over
three decades.
If you’re in the market for a new
truck during 2015, a F-150 “test
drive” is recommended.
“Published monthly for 27 years”
Seattle to Sun Valley Idaho and Back
in an All-New 2015 Mazda CX-9
Sarah, Team Auto News with All-New Mazda CX-9 (photo Auto News)
by Bill McCallum
Every year during the holiday
season I take a roadtrip from Seattle
to Sun Valley, Idaho, and back. Sun
Valley from this skier’s point-ofview is one of the best, if not the
best, ski areas in North America.
As you might expect, the sun usually shines in Sun Valley, and this
year is was no exception. Getting
there is another matter. Driving
conditions usually include, snow,
wind, ice, and fog.
This year my test drive vehicle
was the all-new 2015 Mazda CX9, and we did encounter all of the
above road and driving conditions.
The 2015 Mazda CX-9 Grand
Touring All Wheel Drive SUV was
by far the best vehicle I have driven
to Sun Valley in the last decade.
When we encountered icy road
conditions, the CX-9’s Active
Torque-Split All-Wheel-Drive
with the 6-speed Sport AT gave us
the traction to hold the road with
no slipping or sliding.
We also took a day trip from
Ketchum to Galena to rent snowmobiles, and we encountered
compact snow on the 50-mile trip.
No issues with slipping or sliding.
Perfect traction. The 3.7L V-6 273
hp engine gave us the power to
pass when the roads were free of
snow and ice.
When you are on a road trip with
lots of gear, extra space is important. So when you fold the third row
50/50-split fold-flat seats down,
you have loads of extra space for
skis, snow boards, boots, baggage,
coolers, and odds-and-ends.
The combination of Sirius XM
Satellite Radio, Pandora, Music
Discs, and the Bose Centerpoint 10
speaker Surround Sound System
gives you the quality of tunes to
make a roadtrip enjoyable.
The 2015 Mazda CX-9 may have
the largest footprint of the Mazda
line-up, but its handling capability
and driving dynamics make the vehicle feel compact and sprightly - a
race car in a mid-size SUV body.
The 2015 Mazda CX-9 is safe,
reliable, sporty and with just a bit
of attitude. If you’re a winter sports
enthusiast, I highly recommend the
2015 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring
All Wheel Drive model, with a base
MSRP of $36,625.
You can test drive the 2015
Mazda CX-9 at your local Mazda
dealer.
The Bold Camry gets a “refresh” for
2015 with New exterior design features
All-New 2015 Ford F-150 (photo Ford)
All-New 2015 Ford F-150 rolls down Dearborn Assembly
Line (photo Ford)
Bold New 2015 Toyota Camry (photo Auto News) Story on Page 26
2
February 2015
2015: Look
for an Asian
Invasion
Lexus
RC 350
“test drive”
CES: Drones,
Driverless
Cars and More
BMW 535d
“Not Your
Father’s Diesel”
Honda Accord
Hybrid “is a
Best Value”
Bill McCallum
editor
Art Gould
feature writer
Joyce Chow
feature writer
Ed Barrett
feature writer
Scot McCallum
“Green Car Guy”
2015 promises to be the “year of
automaker market share creep.” i.e.,
I predict an all-out war over U.S.
auto sales in 2015.
Toyota is gearing up for a frontal
attack on the two Korean brands,
KIA and Hyundai.
Both Kia and Hyundai have
captured market share from both
Toyota and Honda as well as others.
Toyota and Honda have accumulated large cash reserves, and with
new models they are both willing
to invest in large ad campaigns to
“move the metal.”
Plus, Subaru is on track for
another successful year, and Nissan
has the desire and means to jump
into the Asian Automaker War for
increased U.S. market share. With
new models and renewed Zoom
Zoom, I look for Mazda to make
a big end run with increased U.S.
market share.
On the European front, we have
VW striving for world dominance
that will spill over in the U.S.
market, and Volvo is trying to get
back on track in the U.S.
There is no doubt that truck sales
will do the heavy lifting for the three
U.S. automakers, Chrysler, Ford
and GM, but will it be enough to
fend off the “Asian Invasion “ in the
car market? Time will tell, and there
will be two results you can count on.
A record year for U.S. vehicle sales
and market share creep in the U.S.
Good luck to all of the automakers and Happy New Year.
Lexus, a longtime leader in the
luxury car segment, introduces
the latest in luxury sport coupes
eclipsing the best in the business.
The Lexus RC 350 and the RC F
come to market with fast and agile
four-seat coupes made to leave a
lasting impression.
These coupes are designed
with exceptional handling ability
featuring an ultra-stiff platform.
The new RC lineup takes the best
from the current Lexus GS midsize
luxury sedan and latest generation
IS sport sedan. Features of these
two performance leaders have
found their way into the refined
RC coupes.
The front end gets its exceptional
handling characteristics from the
Lexus GS mid-sized sedan that
sets new standards for stiffness
and chassis response. The rear
platform of the RC coupe is based
on the new-generation IS sport
sedan. The sedan is proven with its
performance and handling prowess
in this hotly contested segment.
The new RC 350 arrives in
either rear-wheel drive (rwd) or
all-wheel drive (awd) coupled with
the six-speed automatic transmission including paddle shifters for
the best in all-weather driving.
An eight-speed electronically
controlled automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted
paddle shifters comes in the rwd
versions.
This Sports Program Direct Shift
(SPDS) transmission debuted in
the IS F high-performance sedan
Walt Disney’s land of tomorrow
is coming to life. Audi’s A7 Sportback piloted driving concept car is
close to Disney’s vision. Heralded
as the world’s longest drive by a
“driverless” car, it traveled 560
miles from Silicon Valley to Las
Vegas for the 2015 International
Consumer Electronics Show.
Highlighting the need for driverless car education, the Audi being
driven on stage stopped just before
it hit the members of the press at
the press conference. We knew
it would stop, yet we all jumped
backwards.
Sitting behind the wheel of the
moving car, the driver said it all
when he raised his hands, and
people were surprised. A driverless car requires a driver behind
the wheel at all times, according
to insurance companies.
The automobile is also now an
extension of your smart phone,
and technology is helping to make
driving safer while offering conveniences.
While data privacy is an issue
and people are used to their data
being sold, it was good to hear
both issues during the Ford press
conference and later on the Ford
stage from Ford CEO Mark Fields
commenting that customers own
In Germany, half of the cars
on the road are powered by
diesel engines. In the U.S., the
percentage is less than 10 percent.
Americans have never been fond
of diesels. Images of sluggish,
smelly vehicles pumping out soot
are embedded in our psyche.
However, those images are very
outdated. The modern diesel has
none of those earlier nasty traits. In
fact, most people would not know
that they were riding in a modern
diesel car unless they were told. All
the German automakers, including
BMW, now offer diesel cars for
American buyers. The latest to
join the ranks is the BMW 535d.
BMW lifted the 3.0-liter, turbocharged diesel from its X5 sport/
ute to power this version of their
midsize sedan. The engine generates 255 horsepower, and more
importantly 413 lb-ft of torque at
a low 1500 rpm. Power comes on
immediately enabling the 535d to
zoom to 60 in just 5.6 seconds.
An eight-speed automatic transfers power to the ground, via the
rear wheels, or the optional allwheel drive. Paddles on the steering
column allow drivers to shift for
themselves when they desire. But
probably the best news is that the
535d averages 30 mpg in combined
The Honda Accord Hybrid once
again exceeds expectations and
offers one of the best values in the
automobile market today. In addition, for Seattle Seahawk fans, this
vehicle may pique your interest.
Let’s start with economy: the
Accord Hybrid’s average MPG is
47 with an estimated annual fuel
cost of $1,100 and annual cost
savings for the average driver
of $5,500. The 2.0 liter 18 valve
engine offers plenty of acceleration, and the overall exterior look
is sleek and sporty. The feel of the
vehicle while driving is solid.
Once again, Honda hits a home
run with its state-of-the-art Honda
intelligent Multi-Information
Display (i-MD) and its navigation
system. I drive a lot of cars, and
this car’s dashboard is without
question one of the most intuitive
and feature-rich I’ve experienced.
In particular, the entire dashboard displays in triumphant Seattle Seahawk colors: blue, green
and silver. The car I drove had a
Pearl Blue exterior. By adding a
Seahawks bumper sticker and 12th
Man flag, a new owner would have
the perfect team customization. So
for you Hawks fans out there, you
really need to check this car out!
The interior is spacious with
continued on page 12
SEE: All-NewAftermarket
SPECIAL Section page 19
continued on page 6
February 2015
3
Barrett-Jackson Reaches Historic Peter Mullin: Automobile Magazine’s 2015
Highs for Sales, Crowds and
Man of the Year
Celebrity Appearances in Scottsdale
• Barrett-Jackson sold 1,611
vehicles, which went for more
than $130 million (unaudited),
smashing records in the company’s 44-year history during the
10-day auction at WestWorld of
Scottsdale.
• Automobilia sales nearly
tripled world records, with 2,000
pieces selling for more than S6.55
million.
• Celebrity attendance and
crowds, along with ratings on
Discovery and Velocity spike
The World’s Greatest Collector
Car Auctions, reached historic
highs during the Scottsdale auction at WestWorld from January
10-18. During the 10-day auction,
Barrett-Jackson recorded more
than $130 million in vehicle sales
(unaudited) and a world record
$6.55 million in automobilia sales
(unaudited), making it the highest
auction in sales to date. The Ron
Pratte Collection alone brought in
over $40.44 million in vehicle and
automobilia sales.
“This year’s Scottsdale auction
was on a scale unlike anything in
our 44-year history,” said Craig
Jackson, chairman and CEO of
Barrett-Jackson. “From sales
and consignments to our ratings
on Discovery and Velocity, we
smashed records at every level.
Our week kicked off with a gala
and continued to build excitement
with our largest vehicle consignment in history, including the sale
of the Ron Pratte Collection on
Tuesday. Everyone who attended
this year’s Scottsdale auction was
a part of automotive history.’’
In addition to the record-setting
continued on page 5
(BACK-ROW Left to Right) Mark Fields Ford CEO, Craig
Jackson, Aaron Shelby celebrate with JDRF Kids after
Shelby GT-350 Mustang #001 sells for 1 million to benefit
JDRF (photo Auto News)
The Petersen Automotive Museum’s Chairman of the Board
Recognized With Prestigious Industry Honor.
Automobile Magazine recently
named Peter Mullin its 2015 Man
Of The Year. As Chairman of
the Board of both The Petersen
Automotive Museum and Mullin
Automotive Museum, Peter Mullin
is devoted to preserving automotive
history. He is also the driving force
behind the $125 million transformation of The Petersen Automotive
Museum, a decisive factor behind
his most recent honor.
“We choose our Man of Year
in conjunction with Automobile’s
All Stars testing every fall,”
said Contributing Editor Ronald
Ahrens. “This year’s award recognizes the person who did the most
to advance automotive design.
Peter Mullin’s visionary leadership of The Petersen Automotive
Museum and contributions to Art
Center College of Design made
him our choice.”
“I was pleasantly surprised to
receive this award,” Peter Mullin
commented. “Between the Art
Center expansion, The Petersen
remodeling project, the Art Of
Bugatti exhibit at The Mullin Automotive Museum, and the Automobile Magazine honor, 2014 has been
an incredibly memorable year.”
Peter Mullin’s love of cars
began early in life, and this passion
manifested itself in an appreciation for pre-war French Art Deco
cars. He currently owns a large
Bugatti collection, which includes
a beautiful Type 57SC Atlantic.
The Mullin Automotive Museum,
which celebrates French Art Deco
style, also houses a large collection
Peter Mullin
of Avions Voisin vehicles. Mullin
campaigns some of these vehicles
in vintage races.
Philanthropically, Peter Mullin
recently donated $15 million to
the Art Center College of Design,
that institution’s largest-ever single
gift. His leadership in re-imagining
The Petersen Automotive Museum
includes housing a satellite Art
Center campus at the new museum,
which will have 22 galleries to
interactively entertain and educate
museum-goers. The Petersen will
re-open in December 2015 as one
of the world’s truly great automotive museums — another crowning
achievement for Peter Mullin.
Read the Automobile Magazine Man of the Year article at:
http://www.automobilemaa.com/
features/awards/1501-2015-manof-the-vear-peter-mullin/
ABOUT THE PETERSEN
The Petersen Automotive
Museum Foundation is a non-profit
501(c)(3) charity. The Museum is
located at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard (at Fairfax) in Los Angeles,
California 90036.
For general museum information, call 323-930-CARS or visit
the museum’s website at www.
Petersen.org.
4
February 2015
Politics and the Environment
Nissan Group is the most
fuel efficient full-line
automaker in the United States
PO Box 3327
Bellevue, WA 98009
Established 1988
Published Monthly
Serving the West Coast
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Trademarks owned
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Opinions and comments of
contract writers do not represent the opinions of this
publication.
Reproduction of any of the
contents of this publication
by any means is prohibited
without the specific written
permission of the publisher.
All rights reserved.
Note: Products, prices,
offers and rebates are in
effect as of publication
date. Prices and rebates are
subject to change without
notice.
Ads Expire:
March 10th
Nissan Group is the most fuel
efficient full-line automaker in
the United States, according to the
2014 Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) “Trends” Report.
Nissan’s fleet-wide fuel economy
rating of 26.2 combined mpg
was highest among all full-line
automakers in the annual report,
which is the authoritative reference
on new light-duty vehicle carbon
dioxide emissions, fuel economy
and powertrain technology trends
in the United States.
Nissan’s 26.2 combined mpg
rating, based on 2013 model-year
Nissan and Infiniti vehicles, marks
a 2.1 combined mpg (8.7 percent)
improvement over 2012 modelyear Nissan and Infiniti vehicles,
the largest year-over-year gain
among all manufacturers. The
26.2 combined mpg mark is 4.4
percent more efficient than the
No. 2 spot and exceeds the fullline automaker industry average
(manufacturers offering vehicles
for sale in every product segment)
of 23.3 combined mpg by 12.4
percent.
As a full-line automobile manufacturer, Nissan sells passenger
cars, SUVs, CUVs, mid-size and
full-size pickup trucks, compact
and full-size vans, a taxi, vehicles
with V-8 engines, a 545-horsepower supercar, luxury hybrid
vehicles, and a zero-emissions
plug-in battery electric vehicle - a
range of products to meet consumer
needs across the full spectrum of
product segments.2
“Reaching this point is a direct
result of a dedicated companywide effort to scrutinize every
aspect of each new model to extract
the most fuel efficiency possible,”
said Pierre Loing, vice president,
Product Planning, Nissan North
America. “Our engineers and
designers have worked hard to get
us here, and we look to continuously improve fuel efficiency of
our models to face the challenges of
future regulations while surpassing
customer expectations.”
The realization of this accomplishment came in part due to
the introduction of three all-new
fuel-efficient models for the 2013
model year - Altima, Pathfinder
and Sentra. These models each
brought a significant improvement
in fuel efficiency to the marketplace compared to their predecessors. Average combined fuel
economy for the 2013 Altima sedan
improved 4 mpg or 14.8 percent.
The most fuel-efficient 2013 Sentra
model improved from 30 mpg to
34 mpg combined, or just over 13
percent compared to the model
it replaced. The 2013 Pathfinder
SUV saw the largest gains, with an
almost 30-percent year-over-year
improvement and a combined fuel
economy of 22 mpg4.
Fuel economy improvements
are attributed to several key
engineering advancements such
as reduced powertrain friction,
improved aerodynamics and the
use of efficient Xtronic transmissions. Nissan also employs an engineering lightweight strategy to all
new models to significantly reduce
vehicle curb weight - a key factor
to improving fleet fuel economy.
Nissan reduced the weight of the
2013 Nissan Pathfinder by 500
pounds, the 2013 Nissan Sentra
by 150 pounds and 80 pounds for
the 2013 Nissan Altima.
Nissan expects continued
improvements in future model
years. Next year’s report will
include the Rogue, which was
completely redesigned for model
year 2014 and achieves a capable
combined average of 28 mpg - 3
mpg better than the model it
replaced5. The trend will continue
with future models like the all-new
2015 Murano and next-generation
Maxima, as well as the upcoming
all-new Titan full-size pickup
truck. Murano features an ultralow, sports-car-like .31 coefficient
of drag, lower curb weight and
efficiency improvements in its
powertrain. Maxima and Titan
will also feature improved efficiency without compromise to the
customer.
For more on Nissan’s fuel
efficient vehicle line-up, visit
NissanNews.com/FuelEconomy.
To view the entire EPA LightDuty Automotive Technology,
Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and
250 New & Preowned In Stock!
445 East Pacific Coast Highway, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Tel 949/673-0900 • Fax 949/673-6079
Toll 800/423-7077
www.newportautocenter.com
Fuel Economy Trends Report,
please visit http://www.epa.gov/
fueleconomy/fetrends/19752013/420r13011.pdf.
About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan’s
operations include automotive
styling, engineering, consumer
and corporate financing, sales and
marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to
improving the environment under
the Nissan Green Program and has
been recognized as an ENERGY
STAR Partner of the Year in 2010,
2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 by
the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information
on Nissan in North America and
the complete line of Nissan and
Infiniti vehicles can be found
online at www.NissanUSA.com
and www.InfinitiUSA.com, or visit
the Americas media sites NissanNews.com and InfinitiNews.com.
About Nissan
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.,
Japan’s second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in
Yokohama,
Japan, and is part of the RenaultNissan Alliance. Operating with
more than 244,500 employees
globally, Nissan sold almost 5.2
million vehicles and generated
revenue of 10.5 trillion yen (USD
105 billion) in fiscal 2013. Nissan
delivers a comprehensive range
of more than 60 models under the
Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun brands.
In 2010, Nissan introduced the
Nissan LEAF, and continues to
lead in zero-emission mobility.
The LEAF, the first mass-market,
pure-electric vehicle launched
globally, is now the best-selling EV
in history with almost 50 percent
share of the zero-emission vehicle
segment.
For more information on our
products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit
our website at http://www.nissanglobal.com/EN/.
AUTO NEWS® BYTES
MOTORCYCLE
Three-Day MECUM Auction Achieves 83 Percent
Sell-Through and $7,277,820 in Total Sales
The 24th Annual Mecum MidAmerica Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction
was an excellent way to kick off the New Year with a record-setting
714 vintage and antique motorcycles crossing the auction block in
just three days on January 8-10. An enormous 83 percent sell-through
rate was achieved as 590 motorcycles hammered sold for $7,277,820
in total sales.
“As it has consistently done for the past 23 years, the Mecum
MidAmerica Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction again set the market
tone for collectible motorcycles in 2015,” states Motorcycle Division
President Ron Christenson. “With collectors and enthusiasts from all
50 states and 19 countries in attendance, auction sales in Las Vegas
serve as an accurate reflection of country-wide and even world-wide
demand for these collector motorcycles.”
British motorcycles were once again sought after collectibles with
BSA, Triumph, Matchless and Vincent models bringing $25,000 to
$135,000. Numerous individual collections were offered as well with
excellent results. “What we are seeing is the trend of sellers bringing
their entire motorcycle collection to auction as a featured group,”
Christenson describes. “We had 17 separate motorcycle collections
totaling 277 motorcycles offered for auction. There seems to be a
special excitement among buyers when a collector offers all of their
motorcycles at one auction, and sales reflect that enthusiasm.”
Top sales honors were claimed by a 1952 Vincent C Rapide (Lot S59)
from the Sinless Cycles LLC Collection. Hammering for an impressive
$132,500, this four-speed V-Twin presented in original condition with
less than 10,000 miles on the clock and just three owners from new.
Achieving a high bid of $87,500, a meticulously restored original
1918 Henderson four-cylinder (Lot F85) came in as the second-highest
sale of the three-day auction followed by a 1927 BMW R47 Racer
(Lot F131) and a 1933 Matchless Silverhawk (Lot S120) that each
gaveled at an even $80,000.
1. 1952 Vincent C Rapide (Lot S59) at $132,500
2. 1918 Henderson 4 Cylinder (Lot F85) at $87,500
3. 1927 BMW R47 Racer (Lot F131) at $80,000
4. 1933 Matchless Silverhawk (Lot S120) at $80,000
5. 1923 Hirsch Berlin (Lot F66) at $76,000
6. 1929 Indian Ace Four (Lot S171) at $75,000
7. 1940 Indian Four Cylinder (Lot S113) at $75,000
8. 1911 Harley-Davidson 7A Single (Lot S115) at $70,000
9. 1914 Thor 14A (Lot S64) at $70,000
10. 1903 Rex Belt Drive (Lot F70) at $66,000
For access to complete auction results and other member benefits,
sign up for the free InfoNet service offered at www.mecum.com.
Mecum’s next antique motorcycle auction will be the E.J. Cole Collection March 20-21 at South Point Casino and Exhibit Hall in Las
Vegas. Touted as 50 years’ worth of collecting American Motorcycle
Treasure, the impressive lineup includes more than 200 vintage and
antique motorcycles dominated by Harley-Davidsons and Indians.
April 12 will see the return of Mecum’s Houston Motorcycle auction at the NRG Center. For more details on an upcoming auction, to
consign a motorcycle or to register as a bidder, visit www.mecum.
com or call (262) 275-5050.
February 2015
5
Barrett-Jackson Reaches Historic Mitch Silver Expands Arizona Auction Events
by Ed Sharman
Highs for Sales, Crowds and
Every year Palm Springs, homes last year,” said Silver. “What location, on the hotel side of the
California, holds a couple of car I like about the Arizona auction casino, and are enclosed in tents.
Celebrity Appearances in Scottsdale auctions. It’s in an area where local is the caliber of cars that come in All of the events begin with
continued from page 3
docket, a record number of bidders attended the Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale auction for a chance
to purchase from the wide range
of American muscle, European
classics, exotic sports cars and
one-of-a-kind customs. The top
10 cars sold in Scottsdale include:
• 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super
Snake (Lot #2509) -$5.1 million
• 1950 GM Futurliner Parade
of Progress Tour Bus (Lot #2501)
- $4 million
• 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special Motorama Concept Car (Lot
#2500) - $3.3 million
• 1949 Talbot-Lago T-26 Grand
Sport Franay (Lot #5087) - $1.65
million
• 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster (Lot #5090) - $1,595 million
• 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL
Gullwing (Lot #5075) -$1.1 million
• 1937 Mercedes-Benz 320B
Cabriolet (Lot #5086) - $1,045
million
• 1936 Delahaye “Whatthehaye”
Street-Rod (Lot #2515) - $671,000
• 1991 Ferrari F40 (Lot #50711
- $643,500
• 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S
Cabriolet (Lot #50761) - $643,500
“It’s been an absolute pleasure
working with Ron and building
his collection over the years,” said
Steve Davis, president of BarrettJackson. “It’s been as equally
rewarding to work with him to
prepare for this once-in-a- lifetime
sale of his vehicles. Ron took great
pride in the cars and automobilia.
He painstakingly restored many
of the vehicles, making them truly
outstanding collectibles. It’s wonderful to see ownership of some
amazing vehicles pass along to
new collectors.”
Led by the 1950 GM Futurliner
(Lot #25011 that raised $4,650,000
($4 million bid and $650,000 in
additional pledges) on Saturday
evening, a total of 10 cars crossed
the Scottsdale auction to raise
$8,735,000 to benefit local and
national charities. The Futurliner
was donated by Pratte, a Vietnam
veteran, to benefit the Armed
Forces Foundation. The other nine
charity auctions were:
• 2015 Jeep Wrangler Custom
SUV (Lot #3001). donated by
SEMA to benefit Child Help and
Victory Junction - $85,000
• 2015 BMW M5 (Lot #3002),
donated by BMW to BMW Car
Club of America Foundation and
Tire Rack Street Survival Program
- $800,000
• 2016 Cadillac CTS-V (Lot
#3003), donated by GM to benefit College for Creative Studies
- $170,000
• 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Hurst
(Lot #3004), donated by Joe Riley
for Cancer Research Fund at TGen
in memory of Russ and Brian
Jackson - $140,000
• 1939 Cadillac LaSalle C-Hawk
Custom Roadster (Lot #3005). donated by Bubba Watson for Birdies
for the Brave - $410,000
• 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Convertible “1st Retail” (Lot
#3006), donated by GM for United
Way - $800,000
• 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
NASCAR Busch Series Stock
Car (Lot #3007), donated by Jeff
Gordon and Ray Evernham for
Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation - $500,000
• Ford Shelby GT350R VIN
#001 Coupe (Lot #30081 donated
by Ford for Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation - $1,000,000
collectors can use their vehicles
year around and snowbirds from
the north are anxious to keep using
the collectibles during the winter
months.
It gave Spokane auctioneer
Mitch Silver an idea. Why not
do the same thing in the Phoenix
area, where he’s already had great
success for 17 years. (He and
five other auction houses stage
huge Paradise Valley events all
within about a week of each other
in January.) So, last fall, when
the snowbirds were arriving in
Arizona, he staged a smaller event.
His first November event went
well, and he’ll be back again this
year at the Fort McDowell Casino
in Scottsdale, a smaller version of
his January sale.
“We did close to 200 cars and
had a better than 50 percent sell
rate, moving half of those into new
from all over the southwest; it’s
not unusual for us to get $70,000
and $80,000 cars, and even over
$100,000.” However, his average
sale price is in the $25,000 range.
“If you bring me a $30,000 car,
I’m ecstatic because that pushes
my numbers up,” he said. “We put
the same energy into selling a car
no matter what the asking price;
we have a reputation of being very
skilled at saying the right things to
encourage people to buy almost
everything we put in front of them.”
It’s a knack Silver has developed in
his 35 years in the business.
So, this time around, Silver
Auctions will hold three sales at
Fort McDowell – a smaller one
in November when the snowbirds
arrive in Arizona, the major one in
January, and a smaller one in March
when the snowbirds are heading
north. They are all in the same
opportunities to buy automotive memorabilia – gas pumps,
porcelain signs, old tin cars, neon
signs, framed pictures, etc. The
November sale runs from 4:30 to
9:30 p.m. on Friday, the 28th, and
from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on
Saturday the 29th.
Silver is returning to a threeday, 400-car event in January,
having outgrown the time frame
he’s allotted the last three years.
It begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday,
January 15, resumes at 10 a.m. on
Saturday the 16th, and at 9:30 a.m.
on Sunday the 17th.
The March sale follows the
November format and is slated for
March 13 and 14.
For additional information on
the sales, contact Silver Auctions at
800-255-4485 or SilverAuctions.
com. For Fort McDowell accommodations, call 800 843-3678.
Oldsmobile 442 (photo Silver Auctions) SEE BACK PAGE AD
Fort McDowell Silver Auction (photo Silver Auctions) SEE AD PAGE 28
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6
February 2015
Lexus RC 350 “test drive”
by Lexus. The SPDS transmission
has three driver-selectable modes
- Normal, Sport and Manual.
This all helps deliver the best in
fuel economy along with quick
performance shifts.
At 306 horsepower and 277 lb.ft. of torque, this aluminum block
3.5-liter V6 performs perfectly for
most needs. The RC 350 with rwd
starts at $42,790, while the awd
model begins pricing at $45,025.
In the case of the Lexus RC F,
more is certainly more! This 467
horsepower DOHC 32-valve 5.0liter V8 delivering 389 lb-ft. of
torque is ready for that weekend
track experience that is becoming
so popular today.
In fact, having the opportunity
to take the RC F on multiple
shakedown cruises around the
NOLA road course in New
Orleans, I found this sports rocket
exceptional on the multi-turn road
course. The RC F can perform
0-60 in 4.4 sec. Top track speed
(electronically limited) at 170
mph and quarter mile numbers at
12.5 seconds. I took many of these
numbers at the manufacturer’s
word as I wasn’t going to try to
verify these estimates with my
driving skills (or lack of).
One thing for sure, off the
showroom floor, the RC F is a
track-ready coupe that will bring
a smile to any car nut who is into
fun with cars. Remember that the
RC 350 has a more than acceptable ‘fun factor’ and is practical
to drive every day. Pricing for the
RC F starts at $62,400. Your track
time is extra.
These stylish coupes from Lexus
deliver on what is promised. The
RC F continues with the aggressive look with a domed hood, a
deeper designed grille with the ‘F’
motif repeated in the mesh pattern,
specific fascias that go along with
the flared fenders and plenty of
cooling ducts.
Included in this race car in street
trim is a rear wing that deploys
from the RC F deck lid at a vehicle
speed of approximately 50 mph.
This helps to increase down force
as the vehicle speed rises. As
the vehicle’s speed drops below
approximately 25 mph, the wing
retracts.
Premium Audio systems play
Lexus RC 350 (photo Art Gould)
all the popular digital formats,
whether from CD, iPod, USB or
other device. The standard audio
system plays through 10 speakers,
including a 10-inch subwoofer
with 256 watts of total output.
Lexus is the only auto brand to
offer mobile audio by Mark Levinson, one of the world’s best home
audio brands. In the RC F, a new
Mark Levinson 17-speaker system
creates a stunning 360-degree,
three-dimensional sonic space. The
system produces 835 watts total
output designed to resemble the
Mark Levinson home equipment.
The new Clari-Fi technology
automatically analyzes compression in the signal of digital tracks
and determines how much amplification is needed, and where, to
correct it. The result is a cleaner
sound that is closer to the original
recording.
The 2015 Lexus sport coupes
are sure to make their mark on this
exciting segment of the market.
The exceptional looks, agile
performance and the return of the
‘thrill of driving’ are sure to leave
a lasting impact on how sport cars
are thought of from here out.
Chrysler 300 Sales Grow
by Art Gould
Most of us like a good success
story. The car that started the idea of
performance in a full-sized car six
decades ago continues with a strong
showing for 2015. The legendary
1955 Chrysler 300 brought 300
horsepower to customers direct
from the showroom. This changed
everything as you could have the
thrill of driving without the confines
of a sports car.
The success story continues with
the current Chrysler 300 series as
it experiences exceptional growth
year after year. For instance, sales
have grown 49% since 2010, which
is more than four times the growth
of the full-size segment. The bold
move that was the first Chrysler
300, sixty years ago, continues as
America’s big, bold rear wheel drive
sedan that has grabbed the attention
and admiration of car buyers from
many segments of the market.
The 2015 Chrysler 300 model
lineup includes four well-equipped
models. The 300 Limited starts at
$31,395, followed by the sporty
300S at $34,895. It continues with
the 300C at a beginning price of
$37,895 and features the 300C
Platinum model at $42,395. Destination charge for all versions is
$995. Available all-wheel drive is a
$2,500 option on any of the models.
A new standard benefit for all
300 models is the TorqueFlite eightspeed automatic transmission that
helps fuel mileage with up to 31
miles per gallon (mpg) depending
on configuration. A space saving
electronic rotary transmission
shifter is also part of the package
not found on other vehicles in this
class. This feature opens up valuable real estate on the dash panel
to make room for many comfort
and convenience items as well as
infotainment devices.
The best seller, with about 45
percent of the mix, is the 300
Limited that comes equipped
with the 3.6-liter 292 horsepower
aluminum V-6 engine with mileage
estimated to be up to 31 mpg.
Bluetooth with voice commands
along with the segment’s largest
touchscreen at 8.4 inches also lead
the way.
It is estimated that about 20
percent of the sales will be from
the sporty 300S. This blacked out
trim version adds a 300 horsepower
3.6-liter V-6 engine with a sporttuned dual exhaust system. Twentyinch wheels add to the sport look
with specially tuned suspension and
increased damping included.
Of course, with this sport model
it’s only fitting that a 363 horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine,
also with the eight-speed transmission, is available. Uniquely sculpted
side sills and a deck-lid spoiler are
visual clues that this is something
special.
The 300C includes 18-inch
wheels, dual-pane panoramic
sunroof, heated and cooled perforated leather seating, with second
row heated seats and a 360-degree
heated steering wheel. Other creature comforts include memory
for the radio, driver’s seat, autodimming and tilt mirrors. A power
backlight sunshade completes
the surprise-and-delight features.
Chrysler is looking at a product
mix of about 30 percent of sales
for the 300C.
Rounding out the line-up is the
300C Platinum model that represents the pinnacle of the 2015
offering. Touring suspension with
20-inch polished-aluminum wheels
add to the luxury look along with
quilted and perforated leather seats
and door panels. Many interior
refinements also identify the Platinum presence. Even the 5.7-liter
HEMI V-8 is available.
The real fun is in the driving experience. With all that these models
have to offer, the story has to be
about performance. Truth be told,
the smooth running V-6 Pentastar
engine found throughout almost
all of the line-up showed the best
of all worlds. Lots of power when
you need it and an effortless drive
throughout the various rpm ranges.
Just arrived the all new 2015 Chrysler 300 in stock now!
February 2015
7
Winter Car Care Tips
BMW i3 Wins “Green Car of the YearAward and Travel IDEAS . . . . . !
BMW’s i3, an innovative
electric car built with a lightweight
carbon fiber passenger cell and
an aluminum drive module, has
been named Green Car Journal’s
2015 Green Car of the Year. The
award was announced at the L.A.
Auto Show and accepted by Jacob
Harb, Head of Electrical Sales &
Strategy for BMW. Green Car of
the Year finalists also included the
Audi A3 TDI, Chevrolet Impala
Bi-Fuel, Honda Fit, and VW Golf.
The Green Car of the Year award
is an honor widely recognized as
the auto industry’s most important
environmental accolade. Green
Car Journal, the leading voice in
the intersection of automobiles,
energy, and the environment since
the publication’s launch in 1992,
celebrates the high-profile award’s
10th anniversary at the L.A. Auto
Show this year.
“BMW’s i3 is a milestone vehicle
in many respects and illustrates the
automaker’s expansive vision of
future motoring,” said Ron Cogan,
editor and publisher of Green Car
Journal and CarsofChange.com.
“It is purposefully designed with a
small environmental footprint and
zero emissions, offering the best
features of an electric vehicle with
the functionality of an available on
board engine-generator that nearly
doubles its battery electric range.”
The first all-electric vehicle
to win Green Car Journal’s
Green Car of the Year, the i3
benefits from BMW’s years-long
“project i” initiative that focuses
on future mobility and strategies
for sustainable transportation.
The result is a unique approach
that finds the i3 embracing
technologies, materials, and
construction methods breaking
new ground for a mainstream
model. While the i3 is designed as
a battery electric car, its optional
REx gasoline engine-generator
enables extended driving range
with electricity created on board,
easing potential range anxiety.
“Unlike other manufacturers
that build vehicles and then create
advanced powertrains to go in
them, BMW rethought the whole
process of building a car from the
ground-up, using new materials
and techniques,” said noted TV
personality and avid car collector
Jay Leno, pointing out one of many
strengths the i3 had going into the
competition. Leno has been one
of Green Car Journal’s Green Car
of the Year jurors since the award
program launched in 2005.
Along with Leno, the Green Car
of the Year jury includes leaders
of noted environmental and
efficiency organizations including
Jean-Michel Cousteau, president
of Ocean Futures Society; Matt
Petersen, board member of Global
Green USA; Mindy Lubber,
President of CERES; Kateri
Callahan, President of the Alliance
to Save Energy, and Dr. Alan
Lloyd, President Emeritus of the
International
Council on Clean Transportation
and former CalEPA Secretary and
Chairman of the California Air
Resources Board. The jury is
rounded out by a smaller number
of Green Car Journal editors.
The magazine’s extensive
vetting process considers all
vehicles, fuels, and technologies
as the field of nominees is
narrowed down to five finalists
that significantly raise the bar
in environmental performance.
Vehicles that are all-new, or in
the early stages of their model life
cycle, are considered, and finalists
must be on sale by January 1 of
the award year. Availability and
market significance are factors
to ensure that models have the
potential to make a real impact
on improving air quality, reducing
greenhouse gases, and promoting
transportation efficiency.
As finalists for 2015 Green Car
of the Year, the Audi A3 TDI, BMW
i3, Chevrolet Impala Bi-Fuel,
Honda Fit, and Volkswagen Golf
are additionally honored with
Green Car Journal’s 2015 Green
Car Product of Excellence.
About Green Car of the Year
The GCOY award is an
important part of Green Car
Journal’s mission to showcase
environmental progress in the
auto industry. Since 1992, Green
Car Journal has focused on the
intersection of automobiles,
energy, and environment. Today,
the magazine is considered the
premier source of information
on high fuel efficiency, low
emission, advanced technology,
and alternative fuel vehicles.
CarsOfChange.com presents
‘green car’ articles online along
with a focus on infotainment and
connectivity. Green Car of the
Year is a registered trademark of
Green Car Journal and RJ Cogan
Specialty Publications Group, Inc.
Winter tires – when temperatures
drop, changing to winter tires is
smart:
• Winter tires provide increased
traction, braking and handling.
When you equip your car with
winter tires, you’re prepared for
changing road conditions.
Cold temperatures decrease the
elasticity of the rubber compound
in tires, contributing to a reduction
in traction. Winter tires are designed
to remain flexible in cold weather,
which allows the tire to conform to
the road surface and maintain grip
on snow and ice.
Winter car care – prevention and
maintenance – is key to keeping
your car moving in harsh weather:
• Check your tire pressure. Although you want to do this monthly,
it is especially important to check
tire pressure in winter weather. For
every 10 degrees the temperature
drops, your tires can lose about
one pound per square inch (PSI)
of pressure. It’s quick and easy to
do. You can find the manufacturer’s
specific tire pressure on the inside
of the doorjamb.
• Turn on your headlights – In
inclement weather, visibility is oftentimes less than perfect. Turning
on your lights allows you to see,
and just as important, to be seen by
others. Remember this general rule:
Wipers On - Lights On.
• Keep a roadside emergency kit
and necessary supplies in your vehicle during the winter months. We
suggest carrying: Hand/feet warmers, a stocking cap and a blanket,
LED flashers/flares, a spare phone
charger, kitty litter, and food/snacks.
8
February 2015
Cadillac Escalade
by Bill McCallum
The all-new 2015 Cadillac
Escalade is now in dealerships and
ready for test drives. Cadillac is
referring to the new model as the
“Cadillac of Escalades,” and with
other automakers transitioning
their large SUVs to car platforms
(CUVs), the Cadillac Escalade will
gain market share during the 2015
model year.
According to the 2015 Cadillac
Escalade introductory brochure:
“The next-generation Escalade
is the arrival of the most anticipated generation of Cadillac’s
crown jewel worthy merely of an
introduction or should it be more
of a celebration? We would argue
the latter considering the level of
design, craftsmanship and detail
that transformed it into the epitome
of luxury. The charge of taking
an American icon and elevating
it to extraordinary new heights,
which previously existed solely
in the hearts and imagination
of the world’s finest designers
and artisans, was as exhilarating
and monumental as the vehicle
itself. Welcome to the Cadillac of
Escalades.
Some people look at an automobile and all they see is metal and
glass. But the Escalade sculptors,
designers and craftsmen are true
artists with a real passion for the
automotive form. They immerse
themselves in everything about the
vehicle and infuse their spirit into
everything the vehicle becomes.
They feel, and we agree, that it’s
truly amazing to bring something
handcrafted into the world.
The available reconfigurable
Head-Up Display offers a fullcolor interface that conveniently
projects desired information – such
as speed, engine rpm, navigation
and more – on the windshield.
This smart system places all the
important information in your
natural line of sight so you can
keep your focus on the road ahead.
Customize your 12.3” diagonal
LCD gauge display to one of four
personas that mixes traditional
vehicle data with navigation,
entertainment and detailed 3-D
vehicle images. The 16-speaker
Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound
System features Advanced Staging
Technology, an innovation that
creates an immersive sound that
brings you the feeling of being
front row, center stage.
Displayed on an intuitive screen,
CUE – Cadillac User Experience
– functions like a tablet with touch
features, device synchronization
and the ability to recognize your
natural voice.
Standard navigation brings constantly updated maps to your 8”
diagonal CUE touch screen, while
NavTraffic, included for three trial
months, keeps you informed of the
latest traffic conditions.
Cadillac ELR
Have you ever fantasized about
owning a dream car—something
so sleek that looks like it’s doing
sixty even when it’s sitting still?
Well, the new Cadillac ELR might
just be that car. The ELR looks like
it’s constantly in motion, yet it is
environmentally green too.
The Cadillac designers reached
a new high with the styling of the
ELR. The wedge-shaped body is
both sleek and muscular. Strong
character lines and sharp creases
in the sheetmetal emphasize Cadillac’s angular design language.
Turbine-style wheels convey
movement and speed. The shieldlike grille symbolizes the strength
of the Cadillac marque.
The interior sparkles with high
style too. The sculptured dash is
layered in leather and microfiber
suede. The digital instrument
panel glistens with blue and
green lighting and a myriad of
symbols. There are no dials of any
sort on the center control panel.
Virtual buttons on the panel and
a touchscreen display activate
audio, navigation and climate
controls. However, I never did get
comfortable with these new virtual
switches.
The ELR seats four, sort of.
Passengers up front have plenty
of room, and 16-way power seats
ensure that people of all sizes will
be comfortable. However, those in
All-New 2014 Cadillac
Escalades . . . . . in Stock
2014 Luxury ATS Sedan
the rear don’t fare so well. Headand legroom are at a premium. But
all are ensconced in very supple
leather. Trunk space is limited to
nine cubic feet, but it will carry two
suitcases, or a couple of golf bags.
The ELR is Cadillac’s first
plug-in hybrid, and it uses the
same power system as the Chevy
Volt. An electric motor, with 157
horsepower and 295 pound-feet
of torque, drives the front wheels.
It is fed by a 16.5 kWh lithiumion battery pack, which resides
beneath the trunk. When the battery
pack is depleted, a small gasoline
engine springs to life and generates
more electricity.
The electric motor runs on
battery power up to 37 miles.
The gas engine produces enough
additional electricity to give the
ELR a range of 320 miles. Then
by adding gas, the ELR can go on
indefinitely. Power transfers to
the front wheels via a planetary
gear system.
On the road, drivers can choose
four different drive modes, Tour,
Sport, Mountain and Hold. Tour
is the default setting that comes
on when you start the car. Sport
enhances the throttle response,
tightens the steering and firms
up the suspension. Mountain
conserves battery power for extra
oomph on steep climbs, and
Hold preserves battery range on
freeways by using the engine/
generator. I used each of these
modes while driving the ELR, and
each delivered as advertised.
The ELR feels well planted on
the road, delivering a slightly firm
ride. It takes off immediately from
a traffic light, but is not all that
quick to 60, which takes about
eight seconds. I liked driving in
the Sport setting the most, which
noticeably enhanced the steering
feel. The ELR seemed willing to
take on corners rapidly, but the tires
started to protest when they were
pushed. One cool feature worthy
of mentioning is the regenerative
braking system that drivers can
augment by squeezing paddles on
the steering column when going
down grades.
The ELR comes equipped with
features expected in a luxury car,
such as keyless ignition/entry,
rearview camera, a heated steering
wheel and a Bose 10-speaker
sound system. Also included are
safety features like lane departure
warning and forward collision
alert. Blindspot warning, crosstraffic alert, and adaptive cruise
control are also available at extra
cost.
The Cadillac ELR has stunning
looks and a marvelous power
system, but it also has a glaring
drawback, and that’s its price. The
ELR costs more than twice that of
the Chevrolet Volt, on which it is
based. The Volt starts at $34,995;
the ELR starts at $75,995. As a
result, sales of the ELR have not
lived up to expectations. At the
current rate, fewer than 750 ELRs
will find new owners this year.
That’s a shame.
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2014 Cadillac ELR (photo by Ed Barrett)
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Inside Asia
AUTO NEWS BYTES
by Bill McCallum
WINDS OF CHANGE IN CHINA MAY AFFECT LUXURY
CAR SALES
China is going through some political changes that could
have both near and long term impacts on global luxury automakers. According to the Wall Street Journal in a recent
report, President
Xi Jinping, acting through his anti-corruption chief Wang
Qishan, is cracking down on corruption that has evolved in
China as the economy has experienced rapid growth during
the last two decades.
As reported in the WSJ article, “This political duo is the
main axis of power in China today: Mr. Wang tears down:
Mr. Xi rebuilds from the ground up.” So how does this affect
U.S. and other global automakers?
What is starting to happen in China is the government is
targeting the perception of excess spending by the wealthy, i.e.
country clubs, gambling, and luxury cars. Recent examples
are the government restricting and closing some golf country
clubs, gambling in Macao is off 30 to 40%, and VW/Audi
sales were off in November for the first time in their long
history of doing business in China.
BOTTOM LINE: Luxury cars sales may slow down in China.
February 2015
Hyundai Tucson test drive
Review . . . . . by Ed Sharman
by Ed Sharman
While most sport utility vehicles
seem to get bigger every year,
Hyundai continues to produce its
Tucson compact SUV, which has
its advantages in an urban environment. It’s small enough to park and
operate easily in city traffic, yet
large enough to provide plenty of
leg and head room to accommodate
four adults.
But, the small size of the Koreabuilt crossover only gets a disappointing 25 miles-per-gallon on
the highway and 20 in the city,
according to the Environmental
Protection Agency. I couldn’t
even get from Spokane to Portland
without stopping to re-fuel in my
all-wheel drive tester!
The Tucson is very comfortable
on long hauls, with very supportive
heated front seats and dual climate
controls, a tilt-telescope steering
column, and electronic stability
control. The latter involves rear
multi-link suspension and stateof-the-art shock absorbers that
combine to optimize ride comfort
and handling control. Hyundai
calls it SACHS Amplitude Selective Dampening.
The four-cylinder, 2.4-liter
direct-injection engine produces
182-horsepower, which is more
than enough to get you up to speed
on freeway on-ramps. The six-
speed automatic transmission does
its thing smoothly and efficiently.
New this time around in the
Tucson are an enhanced navigation system including a small
rear-camera screen, a touch-screen
audio set-up that is very easy to
operate, standard projector headlights, and a cutting-edge outside
appearance.
On the safety side, the Tucson
received an overall 4-Star safety
rating (out of 5) by the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It got 5-Star side crash
scores for both the front and rear
seats. The Tucson has side impact
and curtain, as well as front air
bags. Anti-lock brakes, traction
control, tire pressure monitoring,
and hill-start assist control, and
downhill brake control are part of
the package. The downhill feature
is great under slick conditions.
It slows the vehicle going down
a steep hill at under 22 milesper-hour to under 5 mph without
braking.
Other amenities include pushbutton start/stop, a sunroof, a
full-size spare tire, turn indicators
on the folding outside mirrors, a
lane-change blinker set up, 18-inch
alloy wheels, reclining rear seats,
and a security screen that, for the
size of the vehicle, is larger-thanexpected.
9
All-New Hyundai Sonata Review byArv Voss
The Hyundai Sonata has changed
dramatically since its U.S. debut in
1988, resulting in six generations
of continual refinement and evolution, along with a revolutionary
Improvement in style, safety and
driving performance. The Hyundai
Sonata now enters its seventh
generation.
This latest Hyundai Sonata
epitomizes the essence of what
consumers expect, with exterior
and interior styling that reflects
Hyundai’s new design philosophy.
The 2015 Hyundai Sonata has
grown in stature – it is taller, wider
and longer than before, with classleading aerodynamics (Cd=0.27).
The 2015 Hyundai Sonata offers
two four-cylinder engines: the base
2.4-liter, GDI that produces 185
horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 178
pound feet of torque at 4,000 rpm;
and a performance oriented 2.0-liter
twin-scroll Turbo GDI that delivers
245 horses at 6,000 rpm along
with 260 pound feet of torque in a
range from 1,350-4,000 rpm. Both
engines gear power to the front
wheels through a 6-speed automatic
transmission with Shiftronic (the
2.0-liter turbo’s transmission also
comes with paddle shifters). A
third engine variant is also available – a 1.6-liter Eco Twin-scroll
turbo GDI 4-cylinder that mates to
a 7 speed EcoShift DCT transmission with Shiftronic. The 1.6-liter
motor makes 177 horsepower and
195 pound feet of torque. Mileage
estimates for the three engines are
respectively: 25/37 – 23/32 – and
28/38 city/hwy mpg.
Trim levels for the new Hyundai
Sonata include: SE which replaces
GLS; Sport which replaces SE;
Limited; Sport 2.0T, Sport 2.0T
with the Ultimate Package; and
Eco. The Sport trim with the
2.4-liter engine is expected to be
the volume model Sonata along
with the Limited. 2015 Sonata
pricing begins at $21,150 (SE) for
a $300 price reduction from 2014
with a $300 added feature content.
This latest Hyundai Sonata
features new rear suspension,
revised front suspension and
improved steering response,
all combining to provide better
handling capability and vehicle
stability.
The 2015 Hyundai Sonata
displays a sleek overall form that
leads off with Hyundai’s winged
hexagonal grille that flows into a
sloped, sculpted hood and sharply
raked windscreen carrying over
a gently curved cabin roof into
a slanted rear window and short
deck with an integrated spoiler
lip. In profile, the fast, gracefully
arching C-pillar creates a sporty
coupe-like persona despite its four
doors, and the car sits low with
pronounced wheel wells hugging
the wheels and tires. There is a
strong side character line, which
Hyundai refers to as a Sabre line
that’s reflected and complemented
by precise rocker detailing.
At the national media introduction, I was able to experience a
Sonata Limited with the 2.4-liter
engine and 6-speed automatic, as
well as a Sonata Sport powered
by the 2.0T with the paddle shifter
Shiftronic automatic. The Limited
sported a Quartz White metallic
exterior finish, complemented by a
Beige interior. The base price was
set at $26,525, with the final tally
coming to $32,385 after adding
the Tech and Ultimate Packages,
and Inland Freight and handling
charges.
2015 Hyundai Sonata (photo Arv Voss)
Hyundai Tucson (photo Ed Sharman)
Inside Europe
AUTO NEWS BYTES
by Bill McCallum
VOK DAMS Winner at Automotive Brand Contest
After the international prices at the EX and GALA Award, the global
launch of the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster in Miami also
succeeded in convincing the judging panels at the renowned Automotive
Brand Contest 2014. The jury awarded the launch as winner in the category
Architecture & Events.
The motto of the launch: “The Fastest City Takeover Ever!” 400 international dealers as well as lifestyle and automobile journalists experienced the
extreme performance and the elegant design of a world brand on Miami’s
Ocean Drive. It was here, at the “boulevard of the American automobile
elite” that the official presentation was kicked off.
After a test-drive parade through town, a unique high-speed experiment
was conducted at Miami International Airport, the busiest airport of the
United States. Several Lamborghini Aventador Roadsters sped in front of a
Boing 777 on the runway. It was a PR-spectacle that went around the world.
The event also kicked-off a live campaign, a campaign in which the event
is not just a mere communication channel but generates content and thus
forms the epicenter of the overall campaign.
The Automotive Brand Contest is the only neutral, international design
competition for automobile marques. With the competition, the German
Design Council honours outstanding product and communication design.
In this context the focus is on the integral and consistent use of the brand
across all media and products.
For current information on VOK DAMS see www.facebook.com/vokdams. For current information on Automotive Brand Contest, 2014 see
www.german-desiqn-council.de.
LYNNWOOD
2015 Sonatas – NOW IN STOCK!
* Convenient Location (Highway 99)
* Large Inventory
* Fair Pricing
DOUG’S HYUNDAI
20612 Highway 99
Lynnwood,WA 98036
www.dougs.com
(425) 774-9000
(206) 523-0138
(888) 200-9994
(425) 771-1191
Phone
Seattle
Toll Free
Fax
10
February 2015
2015 Jeep
Renegade
Review
The all-new 2015 Jeep Renegade
expands the brand’s vehicle lineup,
entering the growing small sportutility vehicle (SUV) segment,
while staying true to the adventurous lifestyle and 4x4 capability
Jeep is known for. Renegade
delivers a unique combination of
best-in-class off-road capability,
open-air freedom and convenience,
a segment-first nine-speed automatic transmission that contributes to outstanding on-road and
off-road driving dynamics, two
fuel-efficient engines, worldclass refinement, and a host of
innovative safety and advanced
technology offerings. The result
is an efficient vehicle created to
attract youthful and adventurous
customers around the world to the
Jeep brand.
“The all-new 2015 Jeep Renegade symbolizes the brand’s
renowned American design, ingenuity and innovation, marking the
Jeep brand’s first entry into the
small SUV segment,” said Mike
Manley, President and CEO - Jeep
Brand, Chrysler Group LLC.
“Renegade expands the brand’s
product portfolio and targets the
rapidly expanding small SUV
segment with a best-in-class
combination of fuel efficiency and
off-road capability, while at the
same time delivering outstanding
driving dynamics and the open-air
freedom customers expect from
Jeep.”
Best-in-class off-road capability
thanks to two all-new 4x4 systems
Leveraging 4x4 technology
from the all-new Jeep Cherokee,
the all-new 2015 Jeep Renegade
offers two of the most advanced
and intelligent 4x4 systems in its
class, all to deliver best-in-class
off-road capability. Both systems
can provide up to 1,475 lb.-ft.
(2,000 N•m) of the engine’s available torque to the rear wheels, for
optimal grip:
•Jeep Active Drive - full-time
4x4 system
•Jeep Active Drive Low - classexclusive full-time 4x4 system
with 20:1 crawl ratio
Innovation is also at the forefront
of any new Jeep vehicle, and the
Renegade features the segment’s
first disconnecting rear axle and
power take-off unit (PTU) - all to
provide Jeep Renegade 4x4 models
with enhanced fuel economy. Jeep
Active Drive and Active Drive
Low 4x4 systems instantly engage
when 4x4 traction is needed.
Both Jeep Active Drive and
Active Drive Low 4x4 systems
include the Jeep Selec-Terrain
system, providing up to five modes
(Auto, Snow, Sand and Mud
modes, plus exclusive Rock mode
on the Trailhawk model) for the
best four-wheel-drive performance
on- or off-road and in any weather
condition.
Trail Rated: Renegade Trailhawk 4x4 model
For customers who demand the
most off-road capability from their
Jeep vehicles, the Renegade Trailhawk model delivers best-in-class
Trail Rated 4x4 capability with:
•Standard Jeep Active Drive
Low with 20:1 crawl ratio
•Selec-Terrain system with
exclusive Rock mode
SHOWCASE REVIEWS
HONDA Accord 4 DR EX
The Honda Accord is still
doing the “heavy-lifting” in
the sales department for
Honda. The popular
4-door sedan is a “top-pick”
in the awards game because
of its value, mpg, design,
and safety features.
BASE PRICE: $ 30,045
TYPE: Sedan
ENGINE: 2.4L DOHC
TRANS: CVT - w/sport mode
HORSEPOWER - 185 hp
MPG: 27 city/36 highway
NISSAN ROGUE SV AWD
The Nissan Rogue is a major
player in the small SUV
segment. The 170hp 2.5L
engine gives you the power
to haul those vacation loads.
Lots of room for this compact
SUV and loaded with safety
features. Great value for your
first SUV.
BASE PRICE: $25,840
TYPE: SUV
ENGINE: 2.5lL
TRANS: Xtronic CVT AWD
HORSEPOWER: 170 hp
honda civic ex-l
Honda has stepped up its
entire lineup, and its popular
compact, the Civic, is no exception. You’ll discover better
MPG, new design and more
safety and comfort features.
BASE PRICE: $24,240
TYPE: Compact Sedan
ENGINE: 1.8L SOHC
TRANS: CVT
HORSEPOWER: 143 hp
hyundai genesis
The Hyundai Genesis is the
anchor of the Hyundai luxury
lineup. Priced well under its
European competitors, the
Genesis has all the options you
would expect from a luxury
sedan.
BASE PRICE: $38,950
TYPE: Luxury Sedan
ENGINE: 5.0L V8
TRANS: 8 speed AT
HORSEPOWER: 420 hp
VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI AUTOBAHN Volkswagen TOUAREG TDi Sport
Volkswagen has been
expanding their lineup and
refreshing most models for
the last year. The VW Jetta
GLI offers value, economy,
comfort, and new safety
features. This “fun-to-drive”
sedan has been one of VW’s
all-time best sellers.
BASE PRICE: $30,005
TYPE: Hybrid
ENGINE: 1.8L DOHC
TRANS: CVT
HORSEPOWER: 134 hp
The VW Touareg is an
upscale SUV offering a
luxury, roomy interior with
the creature comforts you
would expect. Powered
with a V6 turbo-diesel that
offers above average mpg.
autonewsonline.com/showcase reviews
(under construction)
BASE PRICE: $51,035
TYPE: SUV
ENGINE: 3.0 liter
TRANS: 8-speed AT
HORSEPOWER: 240 hp
February 2015
Mazda Miata to be
introduced at New
York Auto Show
This fall, 25 years of storied
MX-5 Miata history will turn
the page to unveil the beginning
of its fourth chapter as the nextgeneration roadster will be rumor
no more during simultaneous
global events in Japan, Spain
and the United States. Officially
confirmed as a 2016 model, the allnew MX-5 coyly made an initial
debut at this year’s New York
International Auto Show in the
form of an exposed SKYACTIVCHASSIS. MX-5 historians
eagerly scribbled notes, snapped
photos and speculated on what the
final product would be.
“We’re excited to make this
official, to announce that the
newest member of the MX-5
Miata family will be arriving
soon,” said Jim O’Sullivan,
president and CEO, Mazda North
American Operations (MNAO).
“Along with our colleagues
around the world, we continue
to celebrate the MX-5’s 25th
anniversary and look forward to
sharing even more news in the
near future.”
In addition to the global
unveiling of the 2016 MX-5
Miata, MNAO has partnered with
the enthusiast-operated event
eponymously known as Miatas
at Mazda Raceway, which will
be held on September 5-7. The
next-generation roadster will be
on display along with an array of
heritage, concept and motorsports
MX-5s. MNAO also will lead
consumer discussion sessions
covering history, motorsports,
R&D and design as well as
coordinate one of the largest
gatherings of MX-5 Miatas in
North America. Registration
for the annual event is free
and open to the public. For
more information, visit www.
MiatasAtMazdaRacewav.com.
Honda Accord
Hybrid “test
drive Review”
plenty of room, and the overall
“creature comfort factor” is well
above average. In particular,
Hondas are known for safety, and
this vehicle is no exception. ABS
and best-of airbag technology and
other standard safety features are
all on board.
What makes this car unique
from a safety perspective are
the Forward Collision and Lane
Departure warning systems as well
as ACE Body Structure and Side
Impact Door Beams that minimize
structural damage in the event of
a collision.
No manufacturer has been providing hybrids to the American
market longer than Honda - their
first was introduced in 1999. When
you combine the Honda history
with the Honda name and new
technologies that reside in the
new Accord Hybrid, there is no
question that this vehicle deserves
a test drive!
2015 Jeep Renegade Review
•Increased ride height 0.8
inches to 8.7 inches
•Skid plates and signature red
front and rear tow hooks
•Unique fascias deliver 30.5
degree approach, 25.7 degree
breakover and 34.3 degree departure angles
•Unique 17-inch wheels with
aggressive on-road and off-road
tires
•Up to 8.1 inches of wheel
articulation
•Hill-descent Control
•Up to 19 inches of water
fording
•Up to 2,000-lb. towing capability with 2.4-liter Tigershark
engine and available tow package
A global Jeep design for a rapidly
growing global brand
From the start, Jeep designers
knew the Renegade would need
to deliver best-in-class off-road
capability with city-sized proportions that exuded the brand’s
rugged style, while at the same time
enhancing versatility, maneuverability and style.
Additionally, designers were
tasked to create an all-new SUV
that would symbolize the Jeep
brand’s renowned American
design and ingenuity, as it would
mark the brand’s first entry into
the small SUV segment in more
than 100 markets around the globe.
Last, Renegade had to offer the
open-air freedom that dates back
to its 1941 roots, with the Willys
MB Jeep.
The result is the all-new 2015
Renegade, a vehicle that builds
on the Jeep Wrangler’s powerful
stance, and features fresh new
styling with rugged body forms
and aggressive proportions, which
enable best-in-class approach
and departure angles purposely
designed to deliver best-in-class
off-road capability. And for
segment-exclusive panoramic
views, two available “My Sky”
open-air roof panel systems conveniently stow to provide passengers
open-air freedom with ease.
All-new interior exudes a rugged
11
and energetic appearance
The all-new Jeep Renegade
interior features a rugged and energetic appearance that builds upon
Jeep’s legendary brand heritage.
This small SUV’s precisely crafted
detail, innovative and high-quality
color and material appointments.
Jim Morrison, Jeep Brand Director presents Renegade at
Seattle Auto Show Press Day (photo Auto News)
12
Mark Fields, Ford CEO/President makes Keynote speech at Las Vegas
C.E.S. Show in January (photo by Joyce Chow)
February 2015
Tricia Helfer from “Battle Star Gallactica” and “Ascension” participates
in C.E.S. Panel Sponsored by Ford (photo Joyce Chow)
C.E.S. Report
from Las Vegas
their own data. Could this philosophy extend to other companies?
The 2015 Ford F-150 was the
Official Vehicle of the 2015 International CES, complete with the
latest in SYNC technology, giving
a smartphone like experience to
your car. The 360-degree camera
and Ford’s Blind Spot Information
System with cross traffic alert are
highlights.
VOXX Electronics introduced
Baby on Board, which will literally
save lives of unattended babies in
car seats. If you walk away from
the vehicle, you are notified via a
key fob. It’s especially important
for busy parents and babysitters
who become distracted.
Dash cameras are growing in
popularity with cameras documenting your fender benders and
accidents. They available from
GPS companies such as Cobra and
Garmin, consumer tech companies
Polaroid and Parrott, and 2015
CES Innovations Awards honoree
Korean’s Thinkware.
If you have the need for speed,
ESCORT Radar updated its Passport MAX2 radar detector for an
air patrol alert on those long drives.
JVCKenwood unveiled their
downright sexy Digital Cockpit
System design concept in collaboration with McLaren Automotive.
The McLaren 650s Spider has a
360-degree view of the road and
i-DAS Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.
Cars continue transforming,
becoming more than a vehicle of
transportation to now becoming an
extension of your entire lifestyle.
February 2015
WOMEN in the
AUTO WORLD
women in the AUTO WORLD
Mary Barra, GM CEO
by Bill McCallum
In her first year on the job, Mary
Barra, the new CEO of General
Motors, has appeared before congress on a number of occasions,
had to deal with the largest recall
situation in the history of GM,
has been featured on the cover of
TIME Magazine, made hundreds
of public appearances, and still had
time to oversee one of the largest
companies in the world.
With most of the recall issues
behind her in 2015, Mary and her
team will be able to devote more
time to managing General Motors
in the competitive global automotive market place. But I have to
say I have NEVER seen a set of
challenges so skillfully handled by
any auto executive in my 40-plus
years in the industry.
Congratulations to Mary Barra
on a job well done in her first year
as CEO of General Motors!
Mary Barra was named Chief
Executive Officer of General
Motors effective January 15, 2014.
Under her leadership, GM is driving to become the global industry
leader in automotive design and
technology, product quality and
safety, customer care and business
results. She is also a member of the
GM Board of Directors.
Prior to her current position,
Barra served as Executive Vice
President, Global Product Development, Purchasing & Supply Chain,
since August 2013, and as Senior
Vice President, Global Product
Development since February 2011.
In these roles, she was responsible
for the design, engineering, program management and quality of
GM vehicles around the world.
Previously, Barra served as GM
Vice President, Global Human
Resources; Vice President, Global
Manufacturing Engineering; Plant
Manager, Detroit Hamtramck
Assembly; Executive Director of
Competitive Operations Engineering; and in several engineering and
staff positions.
In 1990, Barra graduated with a
Master’s in Business Administra-
tion from the Stanford Graduate
School of Business after receiving
a GM fellowship in 1988.
Barra began her career with GM
in 1980 as a General Motors Institute (Kettering University) co-op
student at the Pontiac Motor Division. She graduated with a Bachelor
of Science degree in electrical
engineering in 1985.
Barra is a member of the General
Dynamics Board of Directors. She
serves on the Board of Directors
of the Detroit Economic Club, as
Vice Chair of the Kennedy Center’s
Corporate Fund Board and as a
member of The Business Council.
She is also a member of the Stanford Graduate School of Business
Advisory Council.
In 2012, Barra and her husband,
Tony, chaired the Barbara Ann
Karmanos Cancer Institute’s 30th
annual dinner, which raised nearly
$1.7 million for cancer research.
In 2014, Barra was named to the
WOMEN in the
AUTO WORLD
Time 100, Forbes magazine named
her one of the “World’s 100 Most
Powerful Women” and Fortune
magazine placed her first on its list
of the “50 Most Powerful Women
in Business.”
Mary Barra, GM CEO (photo GM)
2015 GMC Canyon is part of
GM “3 Truck Strategy” for 2015
by Bill McCallum
I had a chance to drive an all-new
2015 GMC Canyon 2 WD SLT
CREW SHORT BOX pickup truck
on a road trip from Los Angeles to
Phoenix and back last month. The
2015 GMC Canyon pickup is one
of two (also Chevrolet Colorado)
medium size pickups that are part
of General Motors “Three Truck”
strategy for 2015.
The drive route was, as they say,
“straight as a string” with freeways
all the way. I did have a chance to
test mileage and acceleration. The
GMC Canyon delivered 26 mpg
on the highway as indicated, and
the 3.6L DOHC V6 produced the
“power to pass” you need on a long
road trip. I was driving solo, but
if I’d had passengers, there would
have been more than enough room
in the second row of this crew cab
pickup. Driver comfort was A+ and
the GMC Canyon, like most trucks,
gives the elevated view expected
as a driver.
With a base MSRP $31,650,
this crew cab model is easy on the
pocket book if you’re looking for
a new medium size pickup truck.
I am very bullish on the medium
size truck segment. Most of the
full size pickups are pushing 50K
with add-ons, and the medium size
trucks of today are as big as the
full size trucks of a decade or two
ago. So if you’re looking for a new
truck for a trip to the dump, to help
a friend move or that shopping trip
to COSTCO, I suggest checking out
the all-new GMC Canyon pickup
at your nearest GMC dealer.
New features, vehicle highlights,
and safety features for the all-new
GMC Canyon are listed below:
NEW FOR 2015
• All-new midsize truck with
class-leading capabilities and
versatility
• Segment’s best horsepower 200 hp for the standard 2.5L and
305 hp for the available 3.6L V-6
• Maximum trailering rating of
7,000 pounds
• Segment-first available forward collision alert and lane
departure warning
• Standard rear-vision camera
• Extended Cab with 6’ 2” bed or
Crew Cab with 5’ 2” or 6’ 2” bed
lengths offered in base, SLE and
SLT models
• All Terrain package available
on SLE
VEHICLE HIGHLIGHTS
• Standard CornerStep rear
bumper
• EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate is
standard SLE and SLT and available on base models
• Standard locking tailgate
• Standard two-tier loading
• Thirteen standard tie-down
locations throughout the bed for
use with available, movable cargo
tie-down rings
• GMC IntelliLink with 8-inch
color touch screen, featuring Text
Messaging Alerts and Siri Eyes
Free
• OnStar with 4G LTE and standard built-in W-Fi hotspot (includes
3GB/three-month data trial)
13
2015 GMC Canyon Pickup at Thermal Racing Club (photo Auto News)
2015 GMC Canyon at Marina Del Rey, California (photo Auto News)
14
Ride & Drive: at
Gamble Sands Golf
Course In a Honda Accord
by Ed Sharman
There’s a new and challenging
golf course in Central Washington.
It’s a challenge to even find it.
But it shouldn’t be a big problem
with the satellite-linked navigation
system of the Honda Accord I was
driving. Still, turning off a state
highway and heading up a dirt
road through an apple orchard for a
couple of miles had me wondering.
That was followed by two miles of
blacktop, which was encouraging,
but Gamble Sands Golf Course
doesn’t come into view until you
arrive at the clubhouse.
Gebbers Farms is a major apple
and cherry producer in nearby
Brewster, Washington. The course
is the dream of Gebbers Farms
President and CEO Cass Gebbers,
a descendent of Don Gamble, who
planted the first apple orchard in
the area in 1927. Gebbers was also
a three-sport standout at Wenatchee
High School (not including golf)
about three decades ago.
Honda has been producing cars
for more than three decades, and
the 2014 model is the ninth generation of its signature vehicle, the
Accord. This version is the safest
ever. In addition to the usual front,
side, and side curtain air bags, and
anti-lock brakes, the Accord has
forward collision warning that
senses a vehicle in front of you and
gives audible and visual alerts if it
calculates you’re at risk of a collision. There’s also stability assist
with traction control that brakes
individual wheels and reduces
engine power to help restore your
intended course of travel.
Traveling a long distance away
from population centers is required
by most players to get to Gamble
Sands. Why built it in such a remote
place? “The Gebbers family had
a vision for a high-end resort in
a dramatic setting with a course
created by a world-class designer,”
says general manager Dave Christenson. “I think it’s a miracle in
north central Washington.” The
course stretches over 180 acres in
a dramatic setting overlooking the
Columbia River. It’s a links course
designed by David McLay Kidd,
whose reputation bloomed when
he created the renowned Bandon
Dunes first course on the Oregon
coast.
February 2015
2015 Subaru Impreza Earns 2014 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Award
Subaru of America, Inc.
announced that the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety
(IIHS) has recognized the new
2015 Subaru Impreza as an IIHS
2014 TOP SAFETY PICK, and
when equipped with the optional
EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, the model receives the
IIHS 2014 TOP SAFETY PICK+
award.
The redesigned 2015 Impreza
achieved the highest possible
rating of ‘Good’ in the Institute’s
crashworthiness evaluations of
front small overlap, front moderate
overlap, side impact, roof crush
and rear impact. The vehicle also
received a ‘Superior’ rating in the
Institute’s front crash avoidance
testing.
Subaru has more 2014 IIHS
Top Safety Pick awards than any
other brand. Seven Subaru models,
including the Legacy, Outback,
Forester, BRZ, WRX/STI and XV
Crosstrek (model year 2014), have
earned 2014 safety awards from
IIHS, three with TOP SAFETY
PICK and four with TOP SAFETY
PICK+ including its Impreza,
Forester, Legacy and Outback
models equipped with optional
EyeSight.
“The Institute’s findings demonstrate our dedication to providing
our customers with the latest
advancements in safety technology,” said Thomas J. Doll,
president and chief operating
officer, Subaru of America, Inc.
“We are proud of the 2014 TOP
SAFETY PICK endorsement for
every Subaru vehicle in our line-up
and to be the only manufacturer
with IIHS Top Safety Picks for
all models for the last five years
(2010-2014).”
Redesigned for 2015, the
Impreza is available in 4-door
and 5-door models and offers the
highest fuel economy of any gasoline all-wheel drive car available in
the U.S. Its EPA estimated ratings
of up to 28 mpg city / 37 mpg
highway and 31 mpg combined
for models with the Lineartronic
continuously variable transmission
(CVT) are comparable with frontwheel drive cars.
Impreza sedan pricing begins
at $18,195, while Impreza 5-door
model pricing starts at $18,695.
EyeSight Driver Assist Technology is available on the Impreza
2.0i Limited 4-door beginning
at $25,090* and the 2.0i Sport
Limited beginning at $26,885*
(*excluding destination/delivery).
About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji
Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan.
Headquartered at a zero-landfill
office in Cherry Hill, New Jersey,
the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and
accessories through a network of
more than 600 retailers across the
United States. All Subaru products
are manufactured in zero-landfill
production plants, and Subaru of
Indiana Automotive Inc. is the
only U.S. automobile production
plant to be designated a backyard
wildlife habitat by the National
Wildlife Federation.
2015 Subaru Impreza (photo Subaru)
Subaru Sales
Growth Success
Honda Accord at Gamble Sands Golf Course (photo Ed Sharman)
Subaru of America, Inc. has
reached a significant milestone
in its history by retailing 500,000
vehicles in a single calendar year.
The milestone caps a remarkable
seven year growth period for the
brand in the U.S. in which the
company has grown from 187,699
vehicle sales in 2008 to what will
total over 500,000 sales in 2014.
The growth in Subaru sales
can be attributed to a combination of improved vehicle offer-
ings, targeted and award-winning
marketing and an improved retailer
body. The current generation
of Subaru vehicles grew in size
compared to the previous generation in order to better suit the needs
of the American buyer while also
delivering improved interiors, technology and safety features such as
the award-wining Eyesight system.
Furthermore, the company’s
retail outlets have embraced
process and amenity improvements
as sales volume increased, while
the total number of outlets has
remained steady.
All of the company’s current
models have contributed to its
sales success; the current Impreza
(four and five-door) is enjoying
its best-ever generation, and the
Outback and the Forester mid¬size
CUV now retail 300,000 units per
year, combined. The new small
CUV entrant, XV Crosstrek, has
also added over 60,000 sales to
the year-total, while the all-new
Legacy sedan is enjoying its best
sales ever, more than doubling its
year-over-year monthly sales since
the launch of the 2015 model.
On the performance side, sales of
the company’s sporty models, the
WRX and STI, are at their highest
levels ever following the debut of
the all-new 2015 models.
TM
February 2015
15
250 Collector Cars Selling at No Reserve Feb. 27 & 28
in Las Vegas “Mecum Auctions to Sell Rogers’ Classic
Car Museum Collection to Benefit Arts & Education
Mecum Auctions will have the
exclusive opportunity to offer the
Rogers’ Classic Car Museum Collection of more than 230 classic
cars at auction this Feb. 27-28, at
no reserve. Mecum will take the
auction stage directly to the cars and
the auction will be held right from
the collection’s museum display
space in Las Vegas, Nevada. All
proceeds from both the vehicles
and collected gate admission will
benefit The Rogers Foundation –
dedicated to transforming lives
through arts and education.
Media mogul, former chancellor
and lover of all things automotive,
Jim Rogers was one of this era’s
most passionate activists and most
generous philanthropists – and in
addition, he was a prolific collector
of classic automobiles.
Rogers passed away in June
2014 at age 75, but his passions did
not die with him. He left behind a
legacy larger than life, as well as
his massive car collection. Named
by Time magazine as one of the top
12 philanthropists in the nation,
after his donations to institutions
of higher education reached $275
million, Rogers gave more than just
money – he also devoted his time
and his voice.
Owner of the NBC affiliate
station for Southern Nevada and
also the chancellor of the Nevada
System of Higher Education, he
had strong beliefs on both media
operation as well as secondary
education. In Rogers’ five years as
chancellor, he accepted a salary of
only one dollar per year, believing
that the position was not about making money but rather an opportunity
to give back to an institution he
believed in with such conviction.
Rogers was also passionate in
his personal life, and classic cars
were closest to his heart. Along
with the help of his friend, museum curator Mike Pratt, Rogers
assembled a grand collection. “In
our 16, almost 17-years working
together, we grew the collection
from about 20 cars to nearly 300
at its peak,” says Pratt. “We went
after mostly American cars, and
we went after the rare cars that not
many people had.”
“Jim’s desire was to create a
collection that represented the
American working man’s climb
to success,” explains his widow
Beverly Rogers.
Rogers’ resulting 230-plus-car
assemblage is a well-thought-out
grouping of primarily American
classics sprinkled with European
luxury rides including everything
from a 1915 Ford Model T through
not one, but two 2012 Fisker
Karma Sedans. Some of the auction
headliners include a 1953 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible, a 1962
Rolls-Royce Mulliner Drophead
Coupe, a 1956 Dual-Ghia Convertible and a 1939 Cadillac Series 90
V-16 Imperial Touring Sedan, to
name a few.
“When you buy a car from Jim
Rogers’ collection, you’re not just
buying a well-made or refurbished
automobile,” Beverly says, “you’re
buying a piece of American history.
Take it to heart – enjoy it – and my
heartfelt request is that someday
you pass it on, and let the next
generation understand and appreciate the place of the automobile in
American history. That, my friends,
will do Jim proud.”
Rogers’ legacy will live on
through his cars as well as through
the work of The Rogers Foundation, the namesake nonprofit, established with a mission to provide
and enhance arts and education opportunities for students in Southern
Nevada. The Foundation seeks to
ensure that students have access
and support for academic achievement and artistic development
through scholarships, grants, and
other initiatives. This auction will
serve as the inaugural major gift
to the foundation, a giant first step
to the long-lasting and meaningful
mark The Rogers Foundation seeks
to leave on Southern Nevada and
a perfect way to pay homage to a
remarkable man.
For more details on the Rogers’
Classic Car Museum auction, the
individual consignments or to register as a bidder, visit www.mecum.
com or call (262) 275-5050.
Schedule
Rogers’ Classic Car Museum
Auction
Feb. 27-28, 2015
1480 Gragson Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89102
Preview: Friday, Feb. 27 from 9
a.m. to 6 p.m.
Auction: Gates open Saturday,
Feb. 28 at 8 a.m. with auction start
at 10 a.m.
About Mecum Auctions
Nobody sells more than Mecum.
Nobody. The Mecum Auction
Company is the world leader of
collector car, vintage and antique
motorcycle, and Road Art sales,
hosting auctions throughout the
United States. The company has
been specializing in the sale of
collector cars for 27 years, now
offering more than 15,000 vehicles
per year and averaging more than
one auction each month. Established by President Dana Mecum
in 1988, Mecum Auctions remains
a family-run company headquartered in Walworth, Wis. For further
information, visit Mecum.com or
call (262) 275-5050. Follow along
with Mecum’s social media news
and join us on Facebook, Twitter,
YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram.
About The Rogers Foundation
The Rogers Foundation is a
501(c)(3) non-profit organization
based in Las Vegas. Founded in
2013 by Jim and Beverly Rogers,
The Rogers Foundation awards
scholarships to individual students
in Southern Nevada, grants to educational institutions in Southern
Nevada, and support for artists
and organizations that support the
arts in Southern Nevada. For more
information, visit the Web site at
TheRogers.Foundation.
(253) 582-5830 Office
www.crcoachworks.com
16
BMW 535d “Not Your
Father’s Diesel”
city and highway driving.
The 535d handles like a typical
5-Series sedan out on country
roads. The standard Driving
Dynamics Control enables drivers
to change the suspension stiffness,
the steering effort, the throttle
response and the shifting algorithm.
They can select EcoPro, Comfort,
Sport or Sport+ settings.
I chose the Sport mode on my
favorite back road. The 535d went
precisely where I pointed it, and
it felt well planted in corners—
bumps in the road didn’t disturb
it. The brakes felt superb, stopping
the car from 60 in short, straight
stops. In everyday driving, I used
the Comfort mode. The 535d felt
rock-solid, but the ride was a bit
busy on city streets.
All 5-Series sedans got updates
this year. However, in the styling
department, only the most devoted
BMW aficionados will notice the
body changes for the 2014. Up
front, the designers tweaked the
grille a bit and reshaped the lower
air intakes. Adaptive HID headlights are now standard. At the rear,
the taillights got reworked and look
a bit sharper. On the inside, a new
rear entertainment system is now
available, but backseat legroom is
still tight.
Additionally, buyers can now
customize their Bimmers with
Luxury, Modern or M Sport lines,
which provide unique trim to the
cabin and the exterior. My test car
had the M Sport line that added
aluminum interior accents, a sport
steering wheel, black headliner,
ground-hugging bodywork and
double spoke alloy wheels. It
looked formidable inside and out.
Of course, BMW offers a number
of other packages. These include a
broad assortment of options, some
of which, like a rearview camera,
are standard on less expensive cars.
Perhaps the most significant one,
safety-wise, is Driver Assistance
Plus, which provides blind-spot
assist, lane-departure alert, parking
cameras and collision warning. This
one I would definitely recommend.
The diesel powered 5-Series
car sells for $1,500 more than its
gas-powered sibling, and it will
take a few years of driving for
most owners to realize a financial
benefit with this Bimmer. However,
the 535d offers the convenience of
having a 500+ mile driving range, as
well as excellent fuel economy. The
base price of the Diesel is $57,525.
My test car, with M Sport Line, plus
Premium and Lighting packages,
had a price tag of $65,875.
February 2015
Dodge Challenger
by Bill McCallum
Dodge doesn’t seemed to have
a challenge marketing the 2015
Dodge Challenger. The buzz is
everywhere in the auto industry. It
starts with the “Hellcat” edition and
its 707 HP 6.2 Liter supercharged
V8 combined with exterior and
interior design upgrades.
I drove a 2015 Dodge Challenger during the LA Auto Show
Press Days and a road trip to Palm
Springs to attend McCormicks Fall
Collector Car Auction (see page 17
ad and story).
Seat time tells the story, and I
suggest a test drive at your nearest
Dodge Dealer.
My test drive vehicle was the
all-new Challenger SXT Plus. This
“hot rocket” still gets 30 mpg on
the highway and is value priced at
$29,995 base MSRP.
With 19 safety features you
will feel secure when you put the
“pedal to the metal.” The 2015
Dodge Challenger SXT Plus I
tested is powered with a 3.6-liter
V6 24-valve VVT engine mated
with a TorqueFlite Eight-Speed
Automatic Transmission and has a
five year/100,000 mile powertrain
warranty.
Interior features include:
•7-Inch Reconfigurable Display
•Uconnect 8.4AAM/FM/SXM/BT
•Uconnect Access 6-Month Trial
(Reg Required)
•For details, visit www.DriveUconnect.com
•SiriusXM Satellite Radio w/
1-Yr Radio Subscription
•6 Premium Speakers
•276-Watt Amplifier
•Integrated Voice Command
with Bluetooth
•Media Hub (SD, USB, Aux)
•Heated Front Seats
•Ventilated Front Seats
•Heated Steering Wheel
•Leather-Wrapped Steering
Wheel with Audio Controls
•Power 6-Way Driver Seat
•Power 4-Way Driver Lumbar
Adjust
As I said earlier the only way to
appreciate the 2015 Dodge Challenger lineup is a test drive at your
local Dodge Dealer.
Christine Reed LA Makeup Artist, with All-New Dodge
Challenger (Hat by Drew Bird - photo Auto News)
NEW LOCATION!
February 2015
McCormick Car Auction Planned for February 20, 21 & 22
On the heels of a record-breaking
auction, Keith McCormick is planning to pick up the pace with another
auction in February featuring a variety of classic and collectible cars,
trucks and motorcycles - the winning
formula for a successful event.
“We expect another great auction
this winter,” McCormick said, since
a “variety of classic and collectible
vehicles are already signed up” for
the Feb 20-22, 2015 auction at the
Spa Resort Casino parking lot in
downtown Palm Springs.
The previous auction in November grossed $7.7 million in sales, the
highest in the company’s 28-year
history. “Our sales rate tops 80
percent, which is a record for a
reserve auction.” Attendance also
set a record. The Friday auction
was expanded to 180 cars to accommodate more sellers.
“We offer a mix of cars, both
high end and low, something for
everyone,” McCormick added.
Notable cars in November
include a 2002 Pontiac Trans Am
Firebird WS-6 (Lot #220), Dale
Earnhardt Jr’s personal 2002 Daytona 500 parade and pace car. The
car comes with the original window
sticker and drivers side visor signed
by Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The auction will stream live via
the Internet for three days, and
people who register in advance may
bid via proxy bidding. At the previous auction, people tuned in from
across the United States, Europe
and New Zealand to bid on cars.
Video cameras will be set up to
show different views of each car as
it passes through the auction tent.
To connect to the live broadcast and
receive registration information,
go to www.classic-caraution.com.
People bidding via proxy will
have to register in advance and
follow the same procedures as
people attending the auction,
McCormick noted. Bidding
requires a $30 registration fee and
a “good faith deposit,” which is
refunded if nothing is purchased,
McCormick said.
The auction opens on Friday at
noon and is free and open to the
public. It continues on Saturday
and Sunday, with admission at $15
for one day and $25 for two days.
To preview cars to be auction
and other information, go to www.
Classic-CarAuction.com.
FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY – FEBRUARY 20, 21 & 22, 2O15
er
v
O 80
5 rs!
Ca
P
O
NS
ORED
B
Y
The McCormick family invites you to their 58th auction featuring over 580 antique, classic,
exotic, muscle, sports and special interest autos. Ask for Keith, Jason or Julie to answer
S
WE SOLD 72% OF ALL CARS ENTERED AT OUR LAST AUCTION!
your questions (760) 320-3290.
WHERE TO STAY
Tourism in Palm Springs is booming and difficult for us to secure special room rates for our
auction attendees however we have managed to get a few rooms at a 15% discount at the
Alcazar Palm Springs Hotel (walking distance to event) for our guests. Give them a call at
760.318.9850 and mention you will be attending the auction. For other hotel options you
can always contact Vacation Palm Springs at 760.778.7832
MEDIA SPONSOR
ENTRY FEES
Friday night, Saturday and Sunday $300. Add $100 for prime time placement –
only 128 cars. No numbers will be reserved without consignment fee being paid in
full. Visa, Mastercard and AMEX are accepted. Positions will be filled on first-come,
first-served basis. To reserve the position you desire, send your check covering the
entry fee or phone in your credit card number. You may specify the cars you’re
entering at a later date. Entry fees are REFUNDABLE less $50 handling fee if you
notify us in writing 14 days prior to the auction. Color photographs may be included
in our exclusive color brochure. We strictly limit the number of positions available in
this three-day event of 580 cars. COMMISSION STRUCTURE: FLAT 5% OF SALES
PRICE (One of the lowest in the business). WE SOLD OUT OF LOT NUMBERS
DURING OUR PREVIOUS SALE SO BOOK EARLY.
www.Classic-CarAuction. com
17
Located at the Rear of Our Showroom
in the Spa Resort & Casino Show Area:
McCORMICK’s
PALM SPRINGS
COLLECTOR
CAR AUCTIONS
244 North Indian Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, California 92262
18
February 2015
Continental Tire offers a Complete Winter Tire Lineup
Winter weather is right around
the corner and it’s time to start
thinking about winter tires. Did
you know that once the temperature
drops below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, an all-season tire’s ability to
grip the road decreases. Severe
weather brings on a new set of
driving challenges - slush, ice and
hard-packed snow - and with it, the
need to replace your all-season tires
with winter tires if you live in a part
of the country where temperatures
drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit
on a regular basis.
With all the performance capabilities built into today’s vehicles,
they will only perform as consistently and responsively as the tires
they run on. In winter weather, that
can mean the difference between
focused braking power and out-ofcontrol handling.
“All-season and winter tires are
about as similar as sandals and
snowshoes,” said Travis Roffler,
director of marketing, Continental
Tire. “Summer and all-season
tires aren’t designed to grip the
road in the same way that winter
tires do. Without the proper tires
during winter weather conditions,
drivers can experience a dramatic
drop in grip, resulting in longer
stopping distances, less driving
control, and less confidence. It’s
also important to install winter
tires on all four wheel positions
for optimal control.”
Continental has been one of
the main driving forces in the
extraordinary improvement in the
performance of winter tires over
the years. With cutting-edge technology, today’s modern winter tires
are uniquely designed to deliver
confidence and control in snow,
ice and cold weather conditions.
They are specially engineered to
deliver a substantial increase of
traction over all-season radials
by as much as 25 to 50 percent.
That’s enough gripping-traction
and braking power to avert a severe
weather-related accident.
Continental’s ExtremeWinterContact tires are engineered with
pliable tread compounds and tread
designs that remain soft and flexible in even the coldest temperatures, increasing the contact area
and providing better grip on wet or
icy roads. This tire is designed for
excellent snow and ice traction and
performs superbly on dry and wet
pavement in cold temperatures.
When making the switch to
winter tires, it’s also a good time to
have your tires rotated. Make sure
to check the tread depth of your
tires as well. This can be done by
placing a penny into several tread
grooves across the tire. If part of
Lincoln’s head is always covered
by the tread, you have more than
2/32” of tread depth remaining,
which is the recommended depth
per the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration
(NHTSA). Lastly, check tire
pressures. Tires can lose one
pound of pressure for every drop
of 10-degrees Fahrenheit so it’s
important to follow the pressures
outlined in the owner’s manual for
your vehicle. And don’t forget to
check the spare tire too.
Once your car is properly shod
for the season, follow this list of 10
items to prepare your car for winter
driving (note: some work may need
to be done by a professional):
1. Antifreeze - Make sure the
level is full and at a 50/50 mix of
water/antifreeze.
2. Wipers - Replace wipers for
Continental Winter Drive Tips
maximum performance in snowy,
slushy, icy conditions.
3. Wiper Fluid - Fill up, because
one long mile in slushy conditions
behind a semi-truck can mean low
visibility.
4. Shocks - Have a professional
check your shocks as defective
shock absorbers increase braking
distance and shorten the life span
of tires.
5. Battery - Clean posts and
check for optimum performance.
6. Brakes - Have brakes inspected
for optimal performance in slick
conditions.
7. Spark plugs - Check for wear
and replace if necessary.
Four More Tire Dealer Groups Join Forces with Mighty in 2014
Mighty Distributing System of
America, a franchiser of sales and
services in auto parts, announces
that four of their new franchise
distributors added in 2014 are affiliated with tire dealer groups. These
organizations added a Mighty Auto
Parts division to centrally distribute
preventive maintenance parts
to their stores. Twenty-five tire
dealer groups, representing over
375 locations in the United States,
now operate a Mighty franchise.
“We are excited to expand
Mighty’s brand presence with
these four groups, broadening
Mighty’s reach to a new audience
in these territories with exceptional OE quality parts and our
unique stocking program,” said
Ken Voelker, Mighty Auto Parts
President and CEO.
Voelker added, “Establishing
their own distribution division
provides a consistent, OE quality
product offering for each of their
retail tire stores and creates a new
source of revenue and profits.”
Griffin Brothers Tire, founded in
1961 and led by Larry Griffin Jr.,
has ten locations in the Charlotte,
North Carolina area. Their motto is
“family-owned, customer driven.”
Griffin Brothers Tire is recognized
for their superior service and
outstanding workmanship. “The
Mighty product line has simplified
our inventory and greatly enhanced
our ability to have the right part on
the shelf when we need it which
saves time and improves profitability.”
Trombley Tire and Auto was
founded by Richard Trombley in
1958. Richard’s son Tim is now
president and operates six locations in the Finger Lakes region
of central New York. Since the
beginning, their goal has been to
provide the customer with exceptional service before, during and
after the sale.
Boyd’s Tire & Service Center,
founded in 1996 by Keith Boyd, has
seven locations in central Ohio. The
Boyd’s name stands for quality,
value and trust. Boyd’s Tire is
heavily involved in several charity
causes. They are a major sponsor
of the Ohio Ride for Autism and
the Make it Fit Foundation.
Family owned and operated
Virginia Tire & Auto was founded
in 1976 by Myron Boncarosky
and is currently led by his son-inlaw, Mike Holmes. They operate
13 retail locations in northern
Virginia. “The professionalism
of the Mighty team is an excellent fit with Virginia Tire & Auto.
The Mighty brand and system
will dramatically simplify our
store operations and enhance the
customer experience,” said Holmes
about the Mighty franchise acquisition. Virginia Tire & Auto has built
a strong reputation in the automotive service space with highly
trained customer service personnel
and skilled service technicians.
About Mighty Distributing
System of America
Mighty Distributing System of
America, a franchisor of sales and
services in aftermarket auto parts,
is headquartered in Norcross,
Georgia, and supports distributors
in 41 states and four international
markets.
The Mighty System features
attentive local service, inventory
management expertise, classroom
and on-site training in conjunction with extensive offerings of
OE quality undercar, underhood,
chemical products and shop
supplies.
The Mighty business model
attracts independent repair shops,
quick lubes, tire centers and new
car dealerships across the nation
and abroad. Recognized as a “top
25 franchise brand” by The Wall
Street Journal, Mighty’s unique
approach of dealing directly and
exclusively with automotive
professionals began in 1963.
February 2015
19
AFTERMARKET
Ford Gears Up for Exciting Launch Season
with New Model Parts Ready To Go
For the last decade, the Ford
team has been working tirelessly to
make sure all new vehicle launches
are supported by a service parts
availability program that sets the
bar for the industry. Since 2002,
Ford has successfully ensured that
nearly 100% of all new service
and maintenance parts associated
with new model launches are available when vehicles hit showroom
floors. This year, Ford is on par to
achieve the same success with an
impressive 16 launches underway.
“For new vehicle launches, there
is no aftermarket for parts,” said
Mike Mclsaac, Manager,
Release, Catalog and New
Model, Ford Customer Service.
“We don’t launch a vehicle until
we know original engineered (OE)
parts designed specifically for that
vehicle are available to do maintenance and repairs, if needed. When
a customer buys a Ford vehicle,
they can rest assured quality OE
parts will be accessible to keep it
running smoothly.”
Recent launches including
the New Expedition/Navigator,
Transit Connect, Full Sized
Transit and the Lincoln MKC all
met or exceeded Ford’s rigorous
new model vehicle service part
availability. Anticipated launches
including the F Series Truck and
the Mustang will also provide the
same best-in-class requirements.
The New Model Vehicle Service
Part Availability Program is
designed to ensure parts are available from Ford and Lincoln dealerships and authorized distributors for servicing Ford vehicles,
especially including the newest
launches. For more than a decade
Ford has set this standard in North
America, and today the program is
more than just an expectation of
customers; it is part of Ford’s DNA.
About Motorcraft
Motorcraft offers a complete
line of replacement parts that are
recommended by Ford Motor
Company. From routine maintenance to underhood repairs,
Motorcraft parts offer value with
high quality and the right fit at
competitive prices. Motorcraft
parts are available nationwide at
Ford and Lincoln dealers, independent distributors and automotive
parts retailers, and are backed by
the Service Parts Limited Warranty
of Ford Motor Company. For more
information, visit motorcraft.com.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global
automotive industry leader based
in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures
or distributes automobiles across
six continents. With about 175,000
employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive
brands include Ford and Lincoln.
The company provides financial
services through Ford Motor Credit
Company. For more information
on the company and about Ford
products, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
MKW Wheel Co. intros RSR Wheels at SEMA
MKW Alloy, Inc., an innovative
market leader and manufacturer of
automotive wheel design, celebrates
its 15th anniversary with the launch
of its newest brand division – RSR
(Road, Street, Race) – within its
global line of wheels – and marked
the new brand’s debut during the
November 4-7 SEMA Show in the
Las Vegas Convention Center.
Appearing on a 2014 Audi S7,
RSR, was the first luxury marque
to enter the MKW family of wheel
brands and has an extensive upscale
line with bolt patterns that will
fit Audi, Mercedes, VW, BMW,
Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lexus,
Infinity, most Japanese brands and
Mustang vehicles.
“With many wheel choices in
the market, we strive to bring you
a product that not only enhances
the look of your vehicle but will
increase the performance of the
car,” said Bill Koenig, executive
vice president for MKW.
RSR has a strong engineering
and design pedigree with more
than 21 years of experience in
designing and manufacturing high
performance wheels. “We utilize
advanced materials and the latest
manufacturing technology in an
effort to provide higher-end yet
cost-efficient products for the
enthusiast and motorsport community,” said Koenig.
RSR will be bringing both street
and race versions to market with
three different construction levels
that offer the ability for a staggered
set-up and include cast wheels
with high-end finishing. RSR lines
include:
• Road – boasting a flat face,
allowing for big brake upgrades
and larger brake calipers;
• Street – an upgrade in both
lifestyle and design – offers a
mid-range face that will become
standard for street design; Street
will also sport a deeper concave
face profile that works well with
rear wheels; utilizes a flow-form
manufacturing technique that takes
a cast aluminum wheel and lightens
it by 30 percent.
• Race – higher technology,
lighter weight, forged magnesium
and aluminum with custom-built
wheel options available. Some of
RSR’s race version will be manufactured in California and ready for
delivery in 2015.
MKW at SEMA 2014
As MKW Alloy enters its 15th
year in the marketplace, the
company highlighted four of its
divisions at the 2014 SEMA Show,
within a larger 20’x100’ display
area and including four full-size
vehicles on display. MKW showcased the following brands:
RSR – shown on a 2014 Audi
S7 with 20x10.5 RSR wheels (on
Nitto tires), the brand will have
three distinct series:
• 700 series as the base model,
includes a 20” package with retail
pricing up to $2100/set
• 800 series (street version with
light weight flow forming manufacturing) with retail pricing up to
$2600/set
• 900 series (race version, arriving
in 2015) with retail pricing up to
$5,000+/set
MAK – MKW is the official U.S.
importer of this Italian line of performance wheels, and was displayed on
a 2014 Range Rover Sport with 22”
MAK wheels on Nitto tires. (MAK
is the official wheel supplier of the
Lotus Cup in Italy)
The MAK range can be divided
into 3 main categories:
• Universal Wheels For Passenger
Cars (Many styles can be fitted on
every car model...)
• Dedicated Wheels (Mak has at
least one style that is designed to
perfectly fit Audi, BMW, Mercedes,
Porsche, Range Rover car brand)
• SUV/Sprinter Van wheels
The MAK line includes high-end
SUV parts fitting Range Rover,
Porsche Cayenne, Porsche Macan,
Audi Q5 and Q7 and BMW X5
MAK wheels are made to accommodate larger diameter SUVs with
sizes ranging from 20” ($2,500/
set) and 21” ($2,900/set) and 22”
($3,300/set)
MKW, displayed for SEMA on
a 2014 Chevrolet 2500 HD pickup
truck, shows new 20x9 MKW offroad wheels with KUMHO tires
MKW wheels fit a wide variety of
passenger cars and off-road vehicles
from base to full luxury models and
can be purchased in painted and
chrome plated finishes
Sizes for MKW wheels range
from 16” to 28” with retail pricing
ranging from $500/set to $3,000/set
Hostile – the company’s off-road
line boasts an aggressive application for lifted vehicles and was
showcased on a lifted F250 Ford
Extreme show truck with custom
paint with Hostile’s newest wheel,
H-105, 24x14 on Toyo tires.
• Hostile wheels range from 17”
– 24x14 with costs up to $3,500/set
• Hostile wheels were displayed
on 12 vehicles throughout the show,
including outside truck displays
and within booths #36053, #23343
and #21333
About MKW
Located in Southern California,
MKWAlloy was founded in June of
1995, originally exporting wheels
from the U.S. to Korea. In October
of 1998, the company introduced its
line of wheels to the U.S. market,
firmly establishing itself as the
market leader within the large
diameter chrome marketplace. An
innovator in the ‘ultra-big’diameter
SUV market, MKW was first to
launch a 26” wheel in 2004.
The company continues its global
reach and currently distributes four
separate divisions of cast aluminum
wheels ranging from upscale to
niche applications. MKW’s City
of Industry headquarters houses
a warehouse, and 8,000-square
feet dedicated to administration,
sales, marketing and design. For
more information: http://www.
mkwalloy.com/.
WeatherTech, the worldwide
leader in aftermarket floor and
cargo liners, today became the official and category exclusive sponsor
of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
This is a new type of sponsorship
for the race circuit, which hosts five
major race events each year, and
track rentals on a near daily basis.
“We are thrilled to welcome
WeatherTech to the Mazda
Raceway Laguna Seca family,”
said Gill Campbell, CEO and
general manager of the facility.
“The WeatherTech team believes
in the all-American values, which
aligns perfectly with the track’s
roots of being developed on the
former Fort Ord military installation.”
For WeatherTech, involvement
with Mazda Raceway Laguna
Seca is another step in supporting
venues that reach a highly-defined
target audience. “Our portfolio of
automotive accessories, especially
our DigitalFit FloorLiners, match
perfectly with the interests of the
competitors and spectators that
WeatherTech is Named Official Sponsor of
Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca
RSR (Road, Street, Race) Wheel Lineup intros at SEMA
20 Visit: www.AutoNewsOnline.com
February 2015
Cold Weather Battery Tips from Interstate Batteries
Cold weather affects auto
batteries more than any other engine
component. Interstate Batteries
encourages motorists to protect and
care for that part of the vehicle a
driver depends on most every day.
Filled with fluid containing
mostly water, batteries are susceptible to freezing when the battery
is not fully charged. Additionally,
cold weather thickens engine oil,
forcing the battery to work harder
when starting the car. Your vehicle’s
battery loses approximately 35
percent of its efficiency when the
temperature dips below freezing
and close to 60 percent of its efficiency when the temperature falls
below zero.
“Motorists should have their
battery checked when they learn
of an incoming wave of cold
weather,” said Interstate Batteries
engineering services manager Gale
Kimbrough, also known as ‘Mr.
Battery.’ “A fully charged battery
is the best defense against cold
weather and vehicle non-starts.
In cold weather, engines require
more cranking amps, and batteries
are less efficient, reducing their
charge acceptance and ability to
start an engine.”
Interstate Batteries recommends
you take special precautions with
your vehicle battery this winter:
• Have the vehicle’s starting and
charging system tested every three
months or every oil change.
• Use a battery charger to maintain charge levels and keep the
battery in good condition.
• Inspect the battery cables, posts
and fasteners. Cable corrosion
prevents power from flowing freely
from the battery, reducing the power
available to start the car.
• Clean the battery terminals with
a wire brush or battery cleaner spray.
• When possible, keep the vehicle
in a garage overnight or plugged in,
especially in areas with extremely
harsh winter conditions. If garage
storage is not possible, invest in a
battery heater.
• If the battery is not a sealed
model, check the fluid levels, using
distilled water to fill any cells that
appear low.
Drop your old batteries to be
recycled at any Interstate Batteries
or Interstate All Battery Center
retail store. While you’re there,
ask for a free winter battery check.
The more electrical devices in the
car such as electronic fuel injection
systems, electric windows, sun
roofs and audio systems, the more
power the battery should have. If the
car will be exposed to extreme cold,
the best guarantee against failure is
a battery with a high charge level
and adequate cold cranking amps,
500-700, depending on the type of
engine in your vehicle.
In just 30 seconds, Interstate
All Battery Center locations can
provide motorists with a free
printout analysis of their vehicle
battery condition. In addition to
automobile batteries, Interstate
All Battery Center offers an outrageously dependable line of thousands of different products.
About Interstate Batteries
Interstate Batteries delivers
Outrageously Dependable portable
power solutions. The Dallas-based
company distributes automotive
batteries, franchises and operates retail battery stores, recycles
batteries, and provides motive and
critical power products. Interstate
sells products throughout North
America, Australia, the Caribbean and Latin America. Interstate employs more than 1,700
team members throughout North
America. For more information,
visit interstatebatteries.com.
The new Volkswagen Golf perfects
VW’s game with the seventh generation
of “hot hatches.” This term defined the
sporty GTI VWs throughout the 40
years of the Golf tradition. Starting with
the Mk 1 versions from 1975-1984 and
continuing its magic through iconic sport
hatches for six generations, the new 2015
Golf and GTI models now take their
place in the historic legacy known as the
‘do-it-all’ hatchbacks.
Volkswagen has sold more than 30
million Golf models worldwide, finally
replacing the Beetle as VW’s best all-time
seller. The latest family includes the
all-new Golf 1.8 liter four-cylinder turbo,
the Golf diesel-powered TDI and the
sporty Golf GTI. We also had an early look
at the future with the first Volkswagen full
Battery Electric Vehicle, the e-Golf, due
to go on sale later in 2014.
Driving the electric Golf illustrated just
how quiet, smooth and effective this new
car was in our urban test-drive loop. The
thrill of having all the torque instantly
available upon initial acceleration is
part of the amazing feel of driving an
electric car. Although not designed for
drag racing, this electric could easily
out-accelerate most cars from the initial
launch.
The ‘hatchbacks that do everything
well’ are the first of the VW models to be
built on the new modular MQB platform
that will show up eventually on the Jetta,
the Passat, the Audi A3 and TT. The
new platform features 10 percent more
torsional stiffness while saving weight
along the way.
The new cars are 2.1 inches longer and
a half-inch wider. This all adds to better
handling and more interior space. The
Golf has 22.8 cubic feet of cargo space
behind the rear seat. With the rear seats
folded flat, the storage room expands to
52.7 cubic feet, which is as much as some
small crossovers.
With room for five passengers, the
new Golf series comes through with
practicality for people and cargo capacity,
while never forgetting the fun factor that
VW fans look for in this easy to use and
easy to get used to car line. Even with this
Mk 7 series Golf, VW never forgets what
their customers expect from this popular
line of cars that ‘do it all.’
Power is provided by three new engines.
The 1.8-liter turbo replaces the 2.5-liter
five cylinder in the base TSI model. This
engine delivers 170-horsepower with
torque listed at 200-pound feet. Fuel
economy has improved from 23 mpg to
as much as 26 city and 37 mpg highway
when matched to the six-speed manual
transmission.
The TDI provides exceptional mileage
as you would expect with a diesel. The
2.0-liter turbodiesel now provides 150
horsepower with torque at 236-pound
feet. Fuel economy never disappoints
with a VW diesel, this version coming
through with 31 city and 42 mpg highway.
Now this combination is even cleaner than
last year with the addition of selective
catalyst reduction and the use of urea
injection.
The third power train comes in the
GTI. The 2.0 liter turbocharged engine
now produces 210 horsepower with
258-pound feet of torque. Fuel economy
improves from 21/31 with the manual
transmission to 25 city mpg and 34 mpg
highway. A Performance Package will
be available later, which will include
larger brakes and 10 extra horsepower
with suspension changes that will add
even more fun to the GTI that already
has a fun factor of ‘extreme.’
The Golf/GTI line comes in a fourdoor or two-door, but always with the
versatile hatchback design. Sport bucket
seats make the GTI even sportier and are
more form fitting.
The launch edition Golf has an
attractive starting price of $17,995 for
the two-door with manual transmission.
The Golf TDI has a starting price of
$26,315 with destination and the manual
transmission. The GTI SE version as
tested was priced at $29,095 with a $820
destination charge.
No matter which model you may
choose, VW has come through with
the continuation of the very popular
worldwide selling Golf line. Whether
you pick the TSI base model, the great
mileage TDI, the iconic sport version GTI
or even the e-Golf that will follow later in
the year, VW has made Golf much more
than just a ‘game.’
Volkswagen Golf GTI test drive review by Art Gould
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2015 VW Golf GTI (photo Art Gould)
February 2015
2014 Silverado Reaper by Southern
Comfort & Performance by Lingenfelter
2014 Reaper Silverado (photo by Harold Allen)
WeatherTech is Named Official Sponsor of
Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca
attend the great events held at the
iconic race track.” David MacNeil,
founder and CEO of WeatherTech
said.
The Mazda Raceway Laguna
Seca 2015 season features the
TUDOR United SportsCar Championship (May 1-3); eni FIM
Superbike World Championship, GEICO Motorcycle U.S.
Round (July 17-19); Monterey
Pre-Reunion (Aug. 8-9); Rolex
Monterey Motorsports Reunion
(Aug. 13-16); Pirelli World Challenge (Sept. 11-13); and Porsche
Rennsport Reunion V (Oct. 9-11).
Tickets for the 2015 season go
on sale December 3, with eni FIM
Superbike World Championship,
GEICO Motorcycle U.S. Round
tickets becoming available for sale
on January, 14. For more information visit MazdaRaceway.com or
call 831-242-8200.
by Harold Allen
A new entry into the mega off
road trucks has arrived. Upfitter
Southern Comfort has partnered
with Lingenfelter to build a GM
Silverado to compete with the Ford
Raptor. The Ford Raptor has been
flying off the lots of Ford dealers
for a long time, but GM loyalist
have had nothing to purchase in
this league.
Now two companies have put
together a contender to help GM
dealers have an option for their
customers. Not that the off road
Silverado can’t do it, but a heavy
duty enthusiast likes to be the top
dog when it comes to their rides.
From the front clip of the truck to
the graphics on the bed, the Reaper
looks ready for the task of taking
on the competition.
Southern Comfort has provided
the enhanced muscular styling
and amped-up off-road performance. Lingenfelter Performance
Engineering has added available
upgrades including a Magnuson
TSV 1900 Supercharged 5.3L or
a 6.2L tuned engine for additional
performance.
Items on the Reaper that I tested
at Willow Springs raceway had a
high clearance bumper, Fox racing
suspension, Lingenfelter performance exhaust package, Reaper
20” wheels, 33” off road tires, rock
guard/side steps, Reaper gauge
package, and Headrest covers.
Performance is more than adequate, and the suspension works
well. Styling is subjective, but
the Reaper looks tough enough to
conquer any task the driver wants.
One item on the Ford Raptor is
a front mounted camera that helps
you as you approach a hilltop, and
41st AnnuAl CORVETTE & HIGH
PERFORMANCE MEET
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FebruAry 7 & 8, 2015
(;;/,>(:/05.;65:;(;,-(09,=,5;:*,5;,9
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Over 900 vendor spaces for new and used parts/cars
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0U]P[H[PVUHS]LOPJSLKPZWSH`
5L_[.LULYH[PVU(\[VTV[P]L,_OPIP[PVU
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A NW Automotive Social Event Like No Other!
-69469,05-6*(33
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21
it’s pretty amazing. Another Reaper
standard feature is a three-inch lift
for long-travel off-road driving.
While the Ford is a factory-built
truck, the Reaper is an aftermarket
version of the Silverado. With this
in mind, it does have a 3-year,
36,000-mile warranty with a few
exclusions, and that helps give
the owner peace of mind when
purchasing this type of truck.
No doubt the battle of monster
trucks in this arena is an ongoing
challenge to see who can outdo the
other. You can learn more about
this new offering at www.reaperperformanceusa.com or www.
lingenfelter.com.
185 horsepower direct-injection
power plant that provides impressive acceleration. The form-fitting
front seats are heated, and there
are dual climate controls and a
moonroof. The leg room for the
driver and front and rear passengers
is exceptional.
Gamble Sands is the second
exceptional course Christenson
has opened in the Northwest.
The first was Circling Raven in
Worley, Idaho. “It seems like I open
courses that are somewhat remote,
I guess that’s my MO; I find them
or they find me,” he said. “There
are obviously a lot of challenges,
but the end product is fun to share
with people and see their smiling
faces, so that’s really rewarding.”
He suggests taking a caddy your
first time on the course. “It’s better
to take someone who knows the
course and can point out how to
play it,” said Christenson.
That makes a big difference and
helps keep you on the right track.
Not unlike the Lane Departure
Warning System on the Accord.
Small cameras behind the rearview
mirrors look for lane markings on
the road and alert you if it detects
you drifting into another lane
without signaling.
To signal your turn into the
nearest dealer to check out the
Accord, turn on the blinker of whatever you’re driving. To arrange to
drive a golf ball at Gamble Sands,
call (509) 436-8323.
Ride & Drive at Gamble Sands in
a Honda Accord by Ed Sharman
With minimum coasting, you
can average 30 miles-per-gallon
in the Accord, according to tests
by the Environmental Protection
Agency. In safety crash tests,
it gets a five star overall rating,
which is the highest awarded by
the National Highway Safety
Administration. The Accord gets
four stars for frontal crash and five
stars for side crash and rollover.
In a golf cart, you roll over
between 4,797 yards from the front
tees and 7,169 from the medal
tees at Gamble Sands. You see the
clubhouse when you tee off on the
422-yard first hole and don’t see it
again until the 566-yard 18th. The
longest, and number one handicap
hole, is number three, which
stretches as much as 633 yards.
The shortest, at between 81 and
155 yards, is number 10. The entire
course is planted in fescue grasses,
and there’s no collar between the
fairways and greens. You can’t
tell where one stops and the other
begins. It can lead to extremely
long putts. And there’s a gigantic
putting green so you can practice
those lags before you begin.
To begin operating the Accord,
you just walk up to the driver-side
door. With the key fob within
32-inches of the handle, the door
automatically unlocks. Once
inside with the fob, a push of the
red button on the dash fires up the
engine. It’s a 2.4-liter, 16-valve,
22
February 2015
Road Trip - Seattle to
Tucson in a Hyundai Tucson
by Bill McCallum
Leg 4 of my summer road trip
was the straightest, Tuscon to Los
Angeles, and the last leg. To recap:
Leg 1 was Seattle to Lake Tahoe,
Leg 2 was Lake Tahoe to Monterey,
and leg 3 was Monterey to Tucson.
The last leg didn’t require a lot
of driving skills. I set the Hyundai
Tucson on cruise control and took
Highway 10 direct from Tucson to
Los Angeles, with a stop in Palm
Springs (see photo).
As I have mentioned before,
the 2.4L 182 hp engine gives you
the power to pass with above
average mpg. And the six-speed
transmission was smooth as you
would expect with freeway driving. Interior features, including
climate control, audio systems,
driver comfort, luxury trim, and
easy-to-use control panel, are
above average. Even though the
Hyundai Tucson is considered a
small SUV, the cargo space (25.5
cu.ft.) gives you plenty of room
for your road trip gear.
Value priced at a starting MSRP
of $21,500 and up to $ 27,800 with
add-ons, the Hyundai Tucson is
easy on the pocketbook. I suggest
a test drive at your nearest Hyundai
dealer.
Scale Racing Center Takes
Slot Car Racing to Another
Level in Tacoma, WA
Scale Racing Center takes slot
car racing to another level. The
16,000 square foot facility located
in Tacoma, WA, across the street
from Griot’s Garage retail store,
Museum, and Event Center opened
in September 2014.
The owner has been in the business in the U.S since 1995. Scales
Racing Center also represents
BRM, Scaleauto, and SCALEXTRIC brands in the U.S. and the
global market.
Families can enjoy slot car
racing in a 5,000 sq. ft. area with
three tracks or watch Formula
1 racing, attend parties or meetings in the 11,000 sq. ft. Event
Center. Scale Racing Center
draws customers from the entire
Northwest, and they are trying to
attract new customers in Pierce,
King, and Thurston counties as
well as Western Washington.
Scale Racing Center also caters
to car club events. The Porsche
Hyundai Tucson in Palm Springs (photo Auto News)
Club and MINI Club have already
scheduled events at Scale Racing
Center.
Scale Racing Center is open
7 days a week, Monday through
Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and
Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8
p.m. with appointments available
for hosting private races.
Races last about one hour. If
you own your own car, the cost is
$15 for the first race, $10 for the
second race, and the third race is
FREE. If you don’t have a car, you
can purchase a car at Scale Racing
Center. Practice for the first month
is FREE and $5.00 an hour after
the first month.
Scale Racing Center is a family
friendly Event Center with an environment where all are welcome,
adults and children. If you have any
questions, call 1 (253) 255-1087
and ask for Alan. See the Scale
Racing Center ad below.
The ScaleRacing Center
(across the street from Griot’s Garage)
Slot Car Fun For All The Family
“The New Philosophy in
1/24 Slot Car Racing”
Slot Cars on the track at Scale Racing Center
All The Fun of Motor Racing
• Events
• Parties
• Birthdays
• Racing Leagues
Open 7 Days a Week
www.132slotcar.us
1 (888) 774-3227
One of 3 tracks at Scale Racing Center
3723 S. Lawrence St.
Tacoma, WA 98409
1 (253) 255-1807
February 2015
23
Biggs Eastside Automotive
Championship Motors
Championship Motors, a pre-owned car
dealer, was opened by Steve Spencer and
his brother Dave 12 years ago. The facility, with a 2400 sq. ft. office and 80 cars
on the ground, is located in Redmond on
Avondale Way NE. With six employees,
Championship Motors is open 9 a.m. to
7 p.m. seven days a week and serves the
entire Northwest. Steve has been in the
car business for over 30 years and started
his career as Sales Manager at Acura of
Seattle at Southcenter for six years. Steve
is active in Eastside communities, having
raised his three daughters who were active
in Little League sports.
Steve has also supported Eastside
Chamber Commerce groups and said, “We
specialize in quality cars, with a low pressure sales staff and offering a fair price.”
See Championship Motors ad on this page.
CLASSIC, ANTIQUE, HOTROD SALES
Conveniently located at 12700 BelRed Rd. in Bellevue, Washington, Biggs
Eastside can serve the entire Seattle metropolitan area. They specialize exclusively
in Land Rover and Range Rover service,
and you can expect the best quality of
service available for Land Rovers in the
entire northwest.
The shop has an Autologic diagnostic
system with all the latest software, capable
of everything the Dealer’s TestBook can
PERFORMANCE RACING CARS
do and more, even on the newest models.
Unlike many independent shops, they also
carry a full line of factory equipment and
placement parts. All the technicians are
Land Rover factory, ASE and ASA certified.
Biggs Eastside is truly the “dealer alternative.” For more information, log onto
www.biggseastsideautomotive.com and
look for the Biggs Eastside Automotive
ad in the Auto News Service Directory.
WE PAY CASH FOR CARS
Steve Spencer
HOT RODS & COLLECTOR CARS
WHEELS & TIRES
ANTIQUE BOATS FOR SALE
You Can Buy
This Space
for $40/mo.
(206) 484-6529
VEHICLE/VESSEL LICENSING
COLLECTOR TOP & INTERIORS
CAR INSURANCE & MORE
24
February 2015
BOOKS4CARS.COM
Books4cars.com is the largest seller of
automotive shop manuals and auto books
in the U.S. The business, located in Seattle,
stocks over 40,000 titles.
Books4cars.com was started by Alex
Voss, a 30-year automotive veteran
who developed an interest in the auto
industry growing up in the Northwest.
Alex eventually moved to the Motor
City (Detroit) where he completed his
education at the General Motors Institute.
At the time, Alex was working as an
engineer with General Motors. He worked
on the Buick Park Avenue power train, C5
Corvette and all wheel drive power trains.
Alex was collecting repair manuals while
working with GM, and when he returned
to Seattle, he started books4cars.com.
Every day, books4cars.com will ship
over 100 orders all over the world. Alex
advertises books4cars.com in national
publications such as “Old Cars Weekly”
and “Hemmings.” Look for their ad in the
Auto News Directory.
AUTOMOBILE REPAIR & SERVICE
SIMBA’S AUTO SERVICE
Simba Auto Service, established on
Mercer Island in 1975, moved to its current location in Redmond in 2011. The
full service auto repair shop is located in
Redmond right behind Redmond Town
Center at 16909 Redmond Way. They
share the parking lot with the Union 76
service station.
The business is owned by Amin Adatia,
who has been in the business for 38 years.
MOTORCYCLE SALES & SERVICE
Amin is a member of the Mercer-Island
Rotary Club.
Simba’s Auto Service is a full service
shop working on all makes and models.
They are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday
through Friday and can work on six to eight
cars per day. Appointments are suggested.
They service the entire Eastside.
See the Simba Auto Service business
card listing on this page.
CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE
WESTLUND AUTOMOTIVE
North Seattle
927 N. 126th
$69.95
LUBE - OIL - FILTER CHANGE - CAR WASH
POLISH AND WAX VEHICLE EXTERIOR
Restrictions apply
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE - NEW LOCATION
AIR BAG SERVICE & DIAGNOSIS
USED TIRES - NEW LOCATION
ACCOUNTING & TAX SERVICE
Steven B. Bishop, CPA, CVA, CFF
Principal
Get great advice from
CPA’s who like cars as
much as you do.
206.613.0240 direct
sbishop@badermartin.com
1000 Second Ave. 34th Floor
Seattle, WA 98104
Certified Public Accountants + Business Advisors
EVENTS & CATERING
You
Buy
You Can
Can Buy
This
Space
This Space
for $40/mo.
$40/mo.
for
(206) 484-6529
998-1247
(206)
DOUG (425) 417-3565
ANDY MEYER (206) 915-8808
February 2015
EXTREME AUTO SERVICE & WHEEL REPAIR
BELLEVUE
STEVE’S CUSTOM CARS & WHEEL WIZARD
Steve DeBoer, owner of Steve’s Custom
Cars & Wheel Wizard, has been in the
automotive business for over 30 years
in the Puget Sound Region. Most of his
career has been involved in wheel repair
and fixing curbed wheels. During the
last few years, Steve and his crew have
expanded their business model to include
minor body and bumper repair. Steve’s
business is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
through Friday and draws customers from
the entire NW. Steve uses PPG paints, and
they work on all makes and models. They
can work on 10 to 15 cars per day from their
Bellevue location, and they are members of
the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Steve said, “We offer quality work at a
fair price.” Look for the Steve’s Custom
Cars & Wheel Wizard ad in the Auto News
Service Directory.
(NEW LOCATION - across street - See Ad on page 16)
Extreme Auto Service & Wheel Repair,
a Monroe, WA based retail and manufacturing business, has opened a Bellevue,
WA retail store (See business card on
same page).
Tye McNabb, owner and founder of
Pop Topics & Car Nutz, has hired Corey
Joungren, a 30-year wheel repair veteran and formerly with Fosters Wheel
Care, Seattle, to manage the store. With
three employees and two service bays,
EXTREME AUTO SERVICE & WHEEL
REPAIR, specializes in wheel repair,
window tinting, LED & HID auto lighting
and wheel straightening. Tye McNabb also
manufactures and sells worldwide a wheel
straightening machine he invented. (See
photo above story)
With a Monroe and a Bellevue location,
Extreme Auto Service & Wheel repair is able
to service the entire Western Washington
area. (See ad below)
AUTOMOTIVE SALES & SERVICES
SPRAY-ON-BEDLINERS
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE - NEW LOCATION
INDOOR KART RACING
ALIGNMENTS & ACCESSORIES
PAINTLESS DENT REMOVAL
25
WHEELS & TIRES
MUFFLERS
26
Visit:
www.AutoNewsOnline.com
February 2015
Toyota of Kirkland Opens 91,714 Sq Ft All-New Dealership on 4.72 Acres
Toyota of Kirkland has recently
constructed and opened a brand
new dealership on 4.72 acres
(205,503 sq/ft site). The all-new
dealership is located a few blocks
east of their old location on 124th
NE at the intersection of 132nd
NE in Kirkland.
The state-of-the-art facility
has 54 service bays located on a
53,294 sq. ft. garage level with
2 alignment racks and 70 loaner
vehicles for service customers. The
38,420 sq. ft. first floor show room
offers a customer waiting area with
wi-fi and USB charging stations,
a café with expresso bar and soda
fountain machine, a media and
Toyota of Kirkland Opens New Dealership (photo Auto News)
Toyota of Kirkland Show Room (photo Auto News)
Toyota of Kirkland Service Entrance (photo Auto News)
2015 Toyota Camry (photo Auto News)
theater room with a kids’ area.
The kids’ area features a “kids’
wall for photos” and a showroom
TV display.
With 160 to 180 employees,
Toyota of Kirkland estimates new
and preowned sales to be 6,000
per year. With one of the largest
inventories of new and preowned
Toyota vehicles in the Northwest,
you might want to check out the
newest Toyota dealership in the
Northwest when looking for a new
or preowned Toyota.
Toyota of Kirkland is part of
the O’Brien Auto Group family
of dealerships. (see ad on page 27)
Bold New 2015 Toyota Camry
Most Popular Car in U.S.A.
Toyota has stepped up with the
redesign of the 2015 Camry. The
Toyota Camry has been America’s
most popular car for 12 years. With
10.2 million sold and 6.6 million
still on the road, the all-new 2015
Camry is built with 75% North
American content and is the
sportiest model in its long history.
This segment is one of the most
competitive in the U.S., and the
2015 Toyota Camry is prepared
to fend off European, Asian, and
U.S. competitors.
We tested the 2015 4 door XSE
V6 Sedan Camry with a base
MSRP $31,370. Toyota has always
been known for bringing models to
market with value and economy in
mind. The 2015 Camry we tested
delivered 31 mpg on the highway
and 25 mpg combined. The 3.5L
V6 DOHC 24V mated with a 6
speed AT produces 265 hp. With the
sport tuned suspension and paddle
shifters standard on this model, you
get the feeling of driving a sports
car you don’t normally associate
with a family sedan.
With a 5 STAR IHS safety rating,
the 2015 Toyota Camry is loaded
with safety features including
10 airbags, Star Safety System,
Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Anti-lock
Brakes, Brake Assist and Smart
Stop Technology, LATCH-Lower
Anchor & Tether for Children, and
Anti-Theft System with an alarm.
If you’re in the market for a new
look with the most popular car in
the U.S., we suggest you stop by
your local Toyota dealer and take a
look and a test drive in the all-new
2015 Toyota Camry.
February 2015
All-New Lexus NX 200T Compact SUV
by Bill McCallum
The all-new Lexus NX 200t
compact SUV rounds out what
most industry experts feel is the
best luxury lineup in the industry.
The lineup includes the Lexus CT
200h, ES, GS, GX, IS, LS, LX, allnew RC, and RX, to name a few.
Lexus has been able to combine
one of the best new exterior
designs with a number of interior
upgrades to enter the competitive
luxury compact SUV segment.
When it comes to the exterior
design, the all-new Lexus NX
200t wins the “thumbs-up” award
for this year. One comment by
an interested onlooker sums it
up: “Wow, can’t decide whether
it looks like a spaceship or an
airplane.”
The all-new Lexus NX comes
in four trim lines, 200t (which
I tested), 200t F, Sport, and
300h. The 4 door compact SUV
is available in front wheel or
all-wheel drive (AWD). Lexus
introduces a turbo engine with
the NX. Power trains include a
2.5-liter 4 hybrid (194 hp) and a
2.0-liter 4 turbo (235hp) mated
with a CVT, 6-speed automatic
transmission.
The Lexus NX enters the
luxury compact SUV market
with a $38,000 base MSRP, and
with options can reach $46,000.
Options on the 200t NX we tested
included a navigation system,
blind spot monitor w/rear cross
traffic alert, intuitive parking
assist, and a comfort package that
included a garage door opener,
driver seat, outer mirror and
steering wheel memory and power
tilt/telescopic steering wheel.
To sum it up, the all-new Lexus
NX 200t offers cutting edge
design, interior luxury upgrades,
new safety features with the value
you would expect from Lexus.
We suggest a test drive if you’re
considering a compact luxury
SUV.
All-New 2015 Lexus NX 200T at Lexus of Bellevue (photo Auto News)
27
February 2015

Seattle to Sun Valley Idaho and Back in an All-New 2015 Mazda CX-9

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