Heels & Wheels

Women journalists discuss the state of the industry

By Nina Russin

Heels & Wheels 2011

My colleague, Christine Overstreet, who has worked in the car industry for fifteen years, came up with the idea of gathering female automotive journalists, products specialists and engineers for a two-day summit on the state of the industry. Read the rest of this entry »

Active Lifestyle Vehicle 2012 Program Update

ALV introduces two new jury panel members and its athlete team leaders

By Nina Russin

Jill Ciminillo

Now in its eighth year, the Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year is the only car of the year award with input from elite and local athletes as well as national recognized automotive journalists, combining their evaluations to recognize the best vehicles for buyers with active lifestyles.
 
This year, ALV welcomes two new jury panel members: Jill Ciminillo and Larry Webster.

They join Jol Dantzig, Brian Douglas, Larry Edsall, Chuck Giametta, Denise McCluggage, Sue Mead, Jim Prueter, Tamara Warren, Nina Russin, Linda Sharp and Jim Woodman. 

Larry Webster

Jurors will drive more than 40 vehicles entered in seven categories to narrow the field to no more than four finalists in each of those categories: Urban, Best Value On-Road, Best Value Off-Road, Luxury On-Road, Luxury, Off-Road, Green and Family.

Those finalist vehicles will participate in the athletes’ ride-and-drive program October 22 at the Local Motors micro factory in Phoenix. Read the rest of this entry »

2011 Chevrolet Volt

Coming to a Main Street near you

By Nina Russin

2011 Chevrolet Volt

There seem to be as many theories about the best way to stretch our diminishing oil reserves as there are car companies. Nissan, Chevrolet, MINI, Toyota and Honda all have electric production cars in the pipeline, but each is slightly different.

Keeping all of this information straight can be confusing to consumers who have limited access to the cars in dealerships for test drives.

Both Nissan and Chevrolet have addressed the issue with special events in selected markets. Chevrolet is taking the Volt to the streets as part of Main Street In Motion: a series of programs which invites participants to drive current GM models and their direct competitors. Read the rest of this entry »

Is Leasing a Car a Smart Idea?

Understand the terms of the lease before signing on the dotted line

By Edward Pacheco

Are you thinking about leasing that new off-roader of family sedan that you’ve been eyeing lately? Is leasing better as opposed to buying? Oftentimes, leasing seems like the better idea because the payments are lower. However, there are some questions that you need to ask yourself before entering into this kind of agreement. For many people these days, buying a new car that meets all their requirements can be very expensive. It can be beyond the amount of money that the family can spend. On the other hand, leasing that new car can be a cost effective way to ensure that the family gets the car that they need without having to buy a second car as soon as it’s outgrown. Just like everything else, there are advantages and disadvantages to leasing a new car. By taking the time to understand how a lease works as well as how the terms of the lease fit into your lifestyle, you will be guaranteeing that you are getting the best possible deal for the money that you have available to spend. Read the rest of this entry »

Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists Hosts Traffic Skills Classes

The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists, a not-for-profit education and advocacy group, is hosting two traffic skills courses for Phoenix-area residents in March and April.

On March 26, the group presents Traffic Skills 101 taught by and for women only. The course covers basics of helmet fitting, an overview of state bicycle laws, and accident avoidance. The class begins at 11 am at Global Bikes, 835 North Gilbert Road, #111 in Gilbert, Arizona.

On April 9, instructors from the League of American Bicyclists host a Traffic Skills 101 course open to both men and women. The course covers the same topics as the March program, and takes place at Global Bikes in Gilbert.

Students must complete an online portion of the course prior to each event. Cost for each course is $25. For more information, visit the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists web site.

2011 Chicago Auto Show

In the Windy City, it’s all about the horsepower

By Nina Russin

2011 Chicago Auto Show

I would argue that Chicago has more serious gearheads than any other city in the United States. Granted, I’m biased, having spent fifteen years of my professional life there.  People in Los Angeles and Detroit will probably take issue with me, the former having nicer weather and the latter, the big three car companies. None-the-less, I’ve met more people on the streets of Chicago with motor oil in their blood than any other city I’ve spent time in.

The Chicago Auto Show, which boasts higher consumer attendance than LA, Detroit or New York, is evidence of what I mean. On the first Saturday of the show, it’s hard to find an inch of unoccupied floor space, despite the fact that the event covers more than 1.2 million square feet.

The Chicago Auto Trade Association which organizes the show knows its audience, tailoring the event with features that appeal to driving enthusiasts. This year, Jeep, Ford, Toyota and Chevrolet have constructed indoor test tracks to put potential buyers behind the wheel. The Jeep track, meant to showcase the brand’s off-road driving capabilities, looks especially fun. I wonder if they’d let me run hill repeats on it in the off hours. Read the rest of this entry »

Jeep Reveals 2011 Compass in Detroit

Trail-rated SUV offers 29 mpg highway fuel economy

After this week’s freak snow storm, the redesigned Jeep Compass might be just the ticket for drivers along the nation’s southern tier. Originally introduced as a sport-utility vehicle for on-road use, the 2011 model is trail rated, meaning it has passed grueling tests for off-road capability.

Exterior design borrows cues from the new Grand Cherokee, including a slight “power bulge” on the hood. 2011 models come with standard 17-inch aluminum wheels; 18-inch chrome rims for the upscale Limited model. Interior upgrades include more soft touch surfaces, redundant audio, Bluetooth and cruise controls on the steering wheel, and a new cloth interior with bucket seats. Read the rest of this entry »

Prius Family of Vehicles Debuts in Detroit

Toyota expands hybrid-only offerings with new models for families and urban singles

Toyota Prius Family of Vehicles

The Prius v has an extended cargo area to meet the needs of active families. While its hybrid synergy drive technology is the same as the third-generation Prius liftback, the design is new for the ground up.

The Prius v seats up to five passengers and has 50 percent more cargo space than the current model. Folding split rear seats and a fold-flat front passenger seat create a variety of configurations for passengers and luggage. Read the rest of this entry »

All-New Volkswagen Passat Unveiled in Detroit

TDI model offers 43 mpg fuel economy

2011 Volkswagen Passat

An all-new Volkswagen Passat rolls into dealer showrooms this year, including a clean diesel model with 43 mile-per-gallon fuel economy. Volkswagen unveiled the new sedan at the North American International Auto Show taking place in Detroit.

Pricing will start at about $20,000. There are three drivetrain options: a 2.5-liter gasoline engine, 3.6-liter V-6, and the 2.0-liter clean diesel. Buyers can choose between a five-speed manual gearbox and a six-speed automatic transmission. The V-6 comes with a dual-clutch automatic transmission, offering better gas mileage than traditional automatics, with performance characteristics closer to manual gearboxes.

Standard features include Bluetooth connectivity and automatic climate control. All models come with complimentary maintenance for the first three years or 36,000 miles.

Standard safety features include intelligent crash response, a system which automatically cuts the fuel supply, certain electrical equipment, disconnects battery power, unlocks the doors and turns on the hazard lights after a collision. Electronic stability control and antilock braking are standard on all models; manual transmission cars come with hill start assist.

Volkswagen’s newest midsized sedan, which was designed in Germany and America, will be produced at Volkswagen’s all-new assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Kia to Unveil KV7 Concept in Detroit

New crossover has an active lifestyle focus

Kia KV7 Concept

In January, Kia takes the wraps off its newest active lifestyle concept car: the KV7. Kia will unveil the car at the North American Auto Show in Detroit, which opens to the public at the Cobo convention center on January 15.

Kia has a tradition of staying close to its concept cars as vehicles evolve into production. The KV7’s two-box architecture and versatile, roomy interior shows lots of promise for buyers who carry bicycles and other large cargo. Stay tuned to this web site for further details.