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July 30, 2009

2010 Suzuki Kizashi: Can This Flyweight Hold Its Own With the Big Boys?

Suzuki_2010_Kizashi_two.JPGSuzuki unveiled the company's very first mid-size sedan this week, and VehicleVoice staff were on hand to witness the car's global debut. The importance of the car to Suzuki cannot be overstated. The company has long been known for small vehicles, specifically compact cars and SUVs. But, buyers of small vehicles tend to want to move up to larger vehicles next time around and by and large, Suzuki has not had larger vehicles to move owners up into (we'll ignore the forgettable Verona, a rebadged Daewoo sedan). Thus, the company has not been able to retain its customers as they progress through their lifestages.

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Posted by Ed Kim at 3:43 PM | | Comments (0)


July 28, 2009

Americans Open to Vehicles From China And India

Untitled1.jpgNew Study Shows Willingness to Accept Unknown Brands

Tustin, CA (July 28, 2009) -- Newly released research shows fifteen percent of new car buyers in the United States say they would consider purchasing their next vehicle from China, and eleven percent would consider buying a car from India, without knowing specific brands or vehicles. This compares with sixteen percent who said they would consider a vehicle from Korea, which has been marketing vehicles in the U. S. since the 1980s.

"As Hyundai and Kia have been on the American scene for decades now, it's surprising that consideration for Chinese and Indian brands, sight unseen, would be about as strong as it is for the Korean brands," said George Peterson, president of automotive research firm AutoPacific and author of the study. "However, with so many premium and high-tech non-automotive products already being made in China and purchased by Americans, why not automobiles too? It appears that buyers in America are willing to give Chinese and Indian vehicles a chance right out of the box. Understanding these consumers will be critically important to the success of any newcomer."

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Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 12:00 PM | | Comments (0)


2009 Honda Accord 2Dr EX-L V6 - The Everycar; Couped

If Honda's goal was for the Accord to reflect "Honda's desire for accord and harmony between people, society and the Automobile," they've been hitting their mark for more than thirty-three years. The Honda Accord has been attracting hoards of loyal buyers since its successful debut in 1976. In fact, the Honda Accord has been so successful it is practically synonymous with the brand. And Accord has done so by adapting to its environment. Growing in terms of size, options, and price, the Accord has kept pace with our society and its core audience; the Baby Boomers.

HAfrt3:4350.jpg

Interesting Aside: Redesigned just last year (2008MY) the Accord four-door became rated a large car by the EPA, whereas the coupe still squeaks by as a mid-size car.
HAinstruCont350.jpg

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Posted by Keagan Patrick at 8:00 AM | | Comments (1)


July 21, 2009

2010 Buick LaCrosse Finds a Sweet Spot

Bui_10_LaCrosseCXS_3a.jpgWe recently spent a morning with Buick LaCrosse, the star of the Buick showroom for 2010MY. You know by now that Buick is one of the four core brands that GM retained post-bankruptcy. Wildly successful in China, the brand has challenges in the States, evidenced by Chevrolet Camaro outselling the entire brand in June 2009-- an atypically high month for Camaro that also speaks to the sad shape of Buick sales today.

Buick needs to connect with buyers who have not hit exit-level, and they know it. Based on our first drive, the 2010 LaCrosse has product credibility to build on the success Enclave started. As Buick navigates a renaissance inspired by Cadillac's success, the LaCrosse is a strong, firm step forward.

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Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 8:06 AM | | Comments (0)


July 14, 2009

2009 Dodge Sprinter: Cooler Than a Real Luxury Vehicle?

rockstar.jpgAsk yourself this the next time you're driving next to some high-zoot luxury or sports car: what kind of person is behind the wheel? Maybe a doctor or lawyer? Maybe a business executive of some sort? Now ask yourself this: who's cooler, a doctor/lawyer/executive or a rock star? If you are like most people, you'd say it was the rock star.

I would then have to submit that a Sprinter is cooler than most luxury vehicles out there. Ok, I have truly gone off the deep end. Or have I?

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Posted by Ed Kim at 8:52 AM | | Comments (0)


Americans Keeping Their Cars Longer

Untitled1.jpgThose Intending to Keep Car More than Four Years Up Over 12 Percent

TUSTIN, Calif. (July 14, 2009) -- An annual survey of new vehicle buyers shows a significant increase in the number of people planning to hold onto their cars and trucks. In 2005, just over 46 percent of new car acquirers indicated they would not be shopping for a new vehicle for four years or more; in the just completed survey that number has risen to about 59 percent -- an increase of almost 13 percent. At the same time, the number of people intending to replace their vehicle within the next 2 years has fallen.

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Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 7:33 AM | | Comments (0)


July 9, 2009

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: Guess What? Hybrids Aren't the Only Way to Drive Green.

Volkswagen_2009_JettaTDI_badge.JPGDiesels stink. They're noisy, slow, smelly, and dirty. Right? Um, wrong. At least, not anymore. Chances are, you've never driven a modern diesel because you live in America. That means you've been missing out on some incredibly clean, green, and powerful engines that until now were only available on the other side of the Atlantic.

I recently got some seat time in the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI and came away more than impressed. Here's a really nice compact sedan that got me 40mpg during my drive (which consisted of a lot of urban and mountain driving) and none of the compromises you would normally expect from a car that gets that kind of fuel economy. What kinds of compromises, you ask? Oh, things like tepid acceleration, no off-the-line oomph, and lack of a fun-to-drive factor.

Continue reading "2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: Guess What? Hybrids Aren't the Only Way to Drive Green."

Posted by Ed Kim at 8:07 AM | | Comments (2)


July 7, 2009

2009 Toyota Venza: Those Baby Boomers Keep Driving Change!

Toyota_2009_Venza_exterior.JPGToyota's long and successful history in the US owes a lot to the Baby Boom generation. Now in their mid-forties into their sixties, Boomers have always been agents for change. The various cultural revolutions of the 60s and 70s? Those were driven by young Baby Boomers. How about acceptance of Japanese cars (and Toyotas in particular) at a time when many Americans thought of anything from the land of the rising sun as cheap junk? Again, it was the Baby Boomers.

Today, more and more Baby Boomers are entering the "empty nest" stage of their lives. Their kids have left the house, and many are looking to consolidate and simplify their lives. Many have spent the last few years driving minivans and SUVs in order to accommodate family life. But now, they don't need three rows of seats or that domesticated family vehicle image.

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Posted by Ed Kim at 8:02 AM | | Comments (0)


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