Pontiac's Vibe Slam event was webcast at www.pontiacunderground.com, introducing the 2009 Pontiac Vibe to the media and a Pontiac fan base all at the same time. Pontiac chose Detroit-area artists, vocalists, and poets to help, showcasing talent that they felt personified Pontiac energy and style. Before we heard from the marketing, design, engineering, and development guys, three vocalists dramatized the distinct personalities of three Vibe models (base, AWD, and GT). Each described their lifestyle in automotive terms tailored toward each Vibe model (Vibe, Vibe AWD, and Vibe GT).

Despite talented performers with smart and clever lines, the event's vibe didn't drive the excitement Pontiac was looking for in the sparse live audience, most of whom might have been a little past the target age bracket. The point of these presentations is showing off the image, improvements, and benefits of a new car, but this one tried too hard.

Poets aside, Pontiac brings an evolutionary Vibe to its showrooms next spring. The Vibe is versatile, the right size for many, and has the attributes to fill the image Pontiac wants. The AWD model is set to evoke an SUV look while the GT addresses those looking for a speed-racer mindset with manual transmission, bodykit, and rear spoiler. The base car looks competent but not cheap. But buyers are always the ones who determine the cool factor, and we were fed adjectives over information. (Click to see the presentation yourself, or for a short YouTube interview with the three vocalists.)

Continue reading "2009 Pontiac Vibe: A Vibe for Every Lifestyle"

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 01:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The New BMW 1 Series

Continue reading "VehicleVoice #80 - Looks Like a BMW, Only Smaller"

Posted by Cameron at 08:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The rumors are heating up that the buyer of Jaguar and Land Rover is close to being finalized. The front runner appears to be the huge Indian conglomerate Tata and its automotive arm Tata Motors. Others involved in the due diligence process thought to be less advantageous to Jaguar Land Rover for various reasons. The two private equity firms - Apollo and One Equity Partners (led by former Ford CEO Jacques Nasser) - are thought to be a bit too aggressive to have the best interests of the Jaguar and Land Rover brands and their workers at heart. Profit, profit, profit is the name of the game among the private equity sharks. A second car company that is interested in JLR is Mahindra & Mahindra another Indian manufacturer specializing in SUVs and 4x4 vehicles. M&M may be a good fit with Land Rover, but Jaguar is well out of their experience zone.

So, Tata may be the winner when the dust settles adding JLR to its recent acquisitions of Tetley Tea and Corus Steel.

A November 23 Economist article is below the fold with more details.

Continue reading "Jaguar/Land Rover Sale - Rumors Heat Up That Tata Will be Buyer"

Posted by George Peterson at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Giving us all a little break from the green car parade at the LA Auto show, Porsche gave North America it's first look at the 2008 911 GT2. Based on the current 911 Turbo, the 911 GT2 is a beast, not designed for your average LA attorney. We had a few minutes with David Pryor Vice President of Marketing of Porsche Cars North America. David, a 911 driver, summed it up like this, "The GT2 is the perfect blend between the Porsche Turbo and the GT3." The GT3, At 415 horsepower, is the most powerful naturally aspirated six cylinder engine in any production car.

Continue reading "Green, Schmeen: Porsche Gives North America a look at the New 2008 911 GT2 at Los Angeles Auto Show"

Posted by Dan Hall at 09:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The Pontiac G8

Continue reading "VehicleVoice #79 - A Sports Sedan from Down Under"

Posted by Cameron at 01:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The Chevy Silverado Hybrid Pickup

Continue reading "VehicleVoice #78 - It's All About Big Fat (Hybrid) Trucks - Really"

Posted by Cameron at 01:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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SUVs are on their way out and Crossover SUVs are on their way up. Those in the market for a versatile vehicle with seating for four full size adults and cargo, the ride quality of a car and the image of an SUV have flocked to Crossover SUVs. It’s not a new concept but the idea really didn’t catch on until Lexus came out with their RX 300 in 1998. XUVs as they’ve come to be called are typically built off of a unitized car platform and owners really appreciate the benefits. They tend to cost less than SUVs, get better fuel economy and handle better.

Continue reading "Infiniti Announces Pricing on 2008 EX35 - $31,300 - $36,250 (to well over $40K)"

Posted by Keagan Patrick at 09:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Giving us all a little break from the green car parade at the LA Auto show, Porsche gave North America it's first look at the 2008 911 GT2. Based on the current 911 Turbo, the 911 GT2 is a beast, not designed for your average LA attorney. We had a few minutes with David Pryor, Vice President of Marketing of Porsche Cars North America. David, a 911 driver, summed it up like this, "The GT2 is the perfect blend between the Porsche Turbo and the GT3. The GT3, at 415 horsepower, is the most powerful naturally aspirated six cylinder engine in any production car. The twin turbo GT2 has ONLY 530 horsepower.

Continue reading "LA Auto Show - Green, Schmeen: Porsche Gives North America a look at the New 2008 911 GT2"

Posted by Dan Hall at 09:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Whether you’re tired of fuel prices creeping up to $4 dollars a gallon, uncomfortable with the idea that your money is making it’s way over to the Middle East or simply want the feel good endorphins to pump through your body as you are seen as a socially responsible human being, a hybrid may be the answer. They have become the American answer to slow all personal transportation energy woes and Volkswagen, no stranger to fuel efficiency, wants a piece of the action. The VW space up! blue plans to provide just that…

Continue reading "LA Auto Show - Volkswagen space up! Blue – Deutschland In Da House Y’all"

Posted by Keagan Patrick at 05:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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In 1995 a friend of mine picked me up in one of the crudest stock production cars of our time. First of all, there were no exterior door handles or a roof and I had to be careful not to burn my shins when getting into the vehicle as the side pipes (exhaust pipes running down the sides of the vehicle) were hovering around 230 degrees. The vehicle reminded me a lot of the AC Cobra, only bigger. It was a first generation Dodge Viper with what, at the time, seemed to be a ridiculous amount of horsepower (400) and unbelievable torque (465 lb. ft.). It was the first time off the track that I ever though I needed to wear a helmet. The brute force that pinned me into the not so comfortable seats seemed endless and yet at that moment the message that Chrysler was sending me seem ever so clear. It’s not about feeling comfortable you idiot, it’s about performance pure and simple. Anything and everything needed to increase speed is paramount and everything else is a moot point. I had to sit down in my driveway for a while after the 'joy ride', but with the Dodge Viper Chrysler left an indelible mark, both on my shin and on the industry.

Continue reading "LA Auto Show - 2008 Dodge Viper ACR - More Venom Anyone?"

Posted by Keagan Patrick at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The LA Auto Show was beginning to feel a birthday party for Ed Begley. Fuel cells, hybrids, bluetec, plug-ins, clean diesel. How about a brief introductory course in the "New European Driving Cycle"? While technology is making green more interesting all the time, you can't replace horsepower with the warm and fuzzies of a green car. Thank God for Porsche. Certainly, our friends from Stuttgart won’t let us down. Wrong. Porsche came to the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show with a green pitch, albeit somewhat tempered.

Continue reading "Porsche Cayenne Hybrid Protoype"

Posted by Dan Hall at 09:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The Nissan GTR - $70,000 of Pure Racing Beauty

Continue reading "VehicleVoice #77 - The Nissan GTR - Finally Coming to the USA!"

Posted by Cameron at 04:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Is your S-Class blending in? Does the word BMW sound passé? Are you too young for a Bentley but owning a Ferrari was a lifestage or two ago? There may still be hope. A little known, often forgotten, manufacturer may just have the answer. They offer true exclusivity, segment leading personalization and hand-crafted attention to detail. They’ve been known to produce cars with extraordinary performance and luxury but meant for everyday use.

Continue reading "LA Auto Show - Maserati Quattroporte GT S – Tired of Blending In?"

Posted by Keagan Patrick at 06:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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