- New Lamborghini featured at swanky Beverly Hills gala
http://t.co/DMOjzVZ92011/12/01 13:52 by HootSuite - Honda's natural gas Civic named Green Car of the Year
http://t.co/NNCNiTsf2011/11/30 13:55 by HootSuite - Amazing ICON redesign of the classic Ford Bronco.
http://t.co/kkvQcwpW2011/11/30 08:10 by HootSuite
via LA Times
Several of the largest automakers have pledged to work towards a universal charging station for electric cars. It would also be fast charging, drastically cutting the time needed to charge a car.
The system will use a common vehicle inlet/charging connector and will have a standard electronic method for the vehicle to communicate with the charging station. This will allow electric vehicles from Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Porsche and Volkswagen to share the same fast charging stations.
The seven auto manufacturers said “the development of a common charging approach is good for customers, the industry and charging infrastructure providers. Standardization will reduce build complexity for manufacturers, accelerate the installation of common systems internationally and most importantly, improve the ownership experience for EV drivers.” LA Times, 12 Oct 2011.
According to the article, Nissan has also announced price cuts for home charging stations.
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Disneyland Promotional Photo
Thousands of Chevrolet employees are going to the world’s happiest place. And it’s not just to spin until their heads fall off in an oversized teacup. It’s to get trained by a leader in customer service.
General Motors’ Chevrolet brand is trying to make a boost in California, a state where it has seen some of the biggest depletion in market share. It’s being outsold by Toyota, Honda and Ford, so dealers’ salespeople are going to learn about customer service from Disney, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The training is aimed at the big things, as well as the little ones. Just as Disneyland employees are taught to do small favors for parkgoers, Chevrolet’s staff will be told to make sure they wash a service customer’s car and put a cold bottle of water in the cup holder, the Times says.
GM North America chief Mark Reuss told reporters earlier this month that he plans to make a stand in California, the nation’s biggest car market. He says that GM made too many mistakes in the Golden State, taking customers for granted or not offering them a lineup of cars that would appeal to them. Now, with more small, fuel-efficient vehicles than ever coming to the lineup, Chevrolet is well positioned to make gains, he says. USA Today, 18 Oct 2011.
So what could better customer service do for Chevrolet? Here are a few customer service statistics:
An unhappy customers is 80% more likely to use your service again if the reason for their unhappiness is taken care of quickly and effectively.
A happy customer is much more likely to give you free advertising, by the tried and true word-of-mouth marketing.
70% of customers are willing to spend 13% more if they receive great customer service.
78% of customers have bailed on a service because of poor customer service.
59% of customers will try a new service if they believe the customer service will be better.
Bottom Line? Treat your customers well. They’ll keep coming back.
Statistics taken from Hyken.com.
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via USA Today
According to USA Today, white is now the most popular car color, with 21% of new cars wearing the colorless shade. The rest of the rankings are as follows:
- White
- Silver
- Black
- Gray
- Red and Blue (tied)
- Natural Colors (brown, gold, oranges and yellows)
- Green
So what does this matter? The survey, conducted by PPG Industries, asked consumers how color affected their car choice. According to the press release,
48 percent of consumers claimed to make an automobile purchase based on color
77 percent of consumers said color was a factor
30 percent of consumers said color is an important factor
31 percent said they would pay more for an auto in their preferred color
Interestingly, 40% of consumers said they would prefer a wider range of color choices when purchasing a vehicle. However, the data backs up the theory that Americans like their cars like they like their wall paint, in shades of neutrals. PPG is offereing 70 new colors for 2014 car models, including colors named Goldeluxe, White Nougat, Muddy Waters, Grape Spritz, and Pot O’Gold.
You can read the full article from USA Today by clicking here.
You can red the full press release from PPG Industries by clicking here.
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via Fobz.com
Name the celebrity that had his canary yellow Lambourghini stolen in April?
Sylvester Stallone
Nicholas Cage
Guy Fieri
For the answer, and more trivia about celebrities who’ve had the misfortune of being victims of auto theft, click over to Yahoo!.
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If you’re an obscure car lover and know the exact make and model of this vintage burgundy beast, comment below with your guess. Head over to the USA Today Drive On Forum for the answer. Then pat yourself on the back for being a genius if you’re right.
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Buying a car can be a tricky business, and if you’re looking for the best bargain it takes a lot of research, trust and chance. Dealerships offer the most reliable choice, but come with the highest price. And eBay can be a little too risky, requiring flights, car inspections by unknown entities and other problems.
Carhelp is here to, well, help. We’ve collected a few resources for Portland area buyers, but each of these resources can be used nationally. Angie’s List, Craigslist, and eBay classifieds have resources in most cities. We hope this helps you purchase the best car for you and your family.
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Oregon Live – Sponsored by Oregonlive.com, it’s a comprehensive site for new and used car buyers in the Portland area. It includes listings, ads from local auto dealerships, auto reviews, and specials. My favorite feature is the ability to search by model, make, year, new, used, and many more options.
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Portland Craigslist – Warning: Go at your own risk! Craigslist is famous for its deals, but also its scams (as evidenced by the homepage). But if you’re ok with a high level of risk, Craigslist is a great local option. My advice? Never view a car alone or in a remote location. My favorite option is the ability to shop by owner alone. I go to Craigslist for a deal, not another listing by a dealership.
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Angie’s List – A full list of the 790 car dealerships in the Portland, Oregon area, including 63 top rated dealerships. It also includes a “penalty box” reserved for dealerships with especially terrible reviews. The only drawback is the lack of search options. Used dealerships are lumped in with new, as are dealers that specialize in trailers and RVs.
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eBay Classifieds – A list of classified listings (over 750 as of this morning) for cars and trucks selling in the Portland area. Ads are organized by listing date and you can search by a variety of options, including distance from your house, price, year, mileage and by type of seller.
portlandor.ebayclassifieds.com
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What’s your favorite resource for buying a car in Portland? Comment below with your answer.
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My husband works long distance from a company located four hours from our house. It’s just close enough not to justify an expensive flight, and because I volunteer for the organization, I frequently ride along with him. The problem is that the trips are often scheduled during working hours. There are quite a few things I can do on a smartphone, but sometimes I run into a problem that can only be solved on my laptop.
And that’s why I’m going to ask for an Audi this Christmas. Great reason, right?! A girl can always dream.
The 2012 A6 comes with it’s own wireless network. Add that to a list of unbelievable features like driver’s assist and a supercharged v6, and this baby will make you feel like a million dollars for a mere starting price of $40K.
See the Car & Driver’s review by clicking here.
Drivers in the Portland, Oregon area can test drive the all-new A6 at the following Portland area Audi dealerships:
Drivers in the San Diego, California area can test drive the all-new A6 at the following San Diego area Audi dealerships:
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via Autoblog.com
In case you needed any creative ideas for a weekend project to work on with your music loving teenager, this group of Russian teenagers has an idea that will result in a lot of laughs, serious injury, or an arrest. All it needs is one motorcycle, an altered drumset, and a seat for the guitarist.
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1960 Blue Jaguar MK 9 (Mark Nine) Saloon
A 1960′s Jaguar and 1950′s Messerschmitt were just two of the cars celebrated at the recent 2011 Krasl Concours. The Jaguar MK 9 (pronounced Mark Nine) Saloon was produced between 1959 and 1961 and featured a standard transmission. While the 1955 Messerschmitt KR200 was manufactured in Germany and featured plaid upholstery and polished wood trim.
1955 Messerschmitt KR200
The event for vintage cars takes place in August of each year at the Krasl Art Center in St. Joseph, Michigan. An application is required for participation. You can access the website here or become a fan of the center on Facebook.
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