Lincoln to offer free maintenance on all summer 2010 sales

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Lincoln, Autoline on Autoblog, Luxury

Lincoln MKS Ecoboost – Click above for high-res image gallery

With Mercury vehicles set to disappear from showrooms in the next few months, Ford hopes to jump-start Lincoln sales with a free maintenance deal from now until labor day. Anyone who buys or leases a Lincoln this summer won’t have to pay for any regularly scheduled maintenance during the first three years or 45,000 miles of ownership.

The promotion applies to all 2010 and 2011 model year Lincolns and follows similar moves in recent years from brands like BMW and Volkswagen. At many Lincoln-Mercury dealers in the United States, Mercury accounts for a significant percentage of store sales. Those dealers will need programs like this to boost volumes until two new Lincoln models arrive in the next couple of years. So far, Lincoln has only confirmed that a compact is forthcoming. The seventh member of the Lincoln family remains a mystery.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Lincoln MKS Ecoboost

[Source: Lincoln]

Continue reading Lincoln to offer free maintenance on all summer 2010 sales

Lincoln to offer free maintenance on all summer 2010 sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 11:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paging Captain Obvious: Survey says men like car interiors cooler than women

Filed under: Etc., UK

A new survey from the UK’s Kwik-Fit chain of repair shops apparently proves once and for all that men like it cooler in the car than women. Astonishing, we know. What’s more, men and women – drum roll, please – argue over the temperature inside the car. Knock us over with a feather.

In fact, nearly half of all survey respondents admit to fighting over the HVAC knobs in their cars. One final “shocker” – Women are usually the winners in these battles. In somewhat related news, water’s wet and fire burns.

If you’re as flabbergasted as we are over these new revelations, there’s more in Kwik-Fit’s press release after the break. You might also want to consider a car with dual-zone climate controls.

[Source: Kwik-Fit]

Continue reading Paging Captain Obvious: Survey says men like car interiors cooler than women

Paging Captain Obvious: Survey says men like car interiors cooler than women originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 BMW 5 Series xDrive sedans start at $52,775

Filed under: Sedan, BMW

2011 BMW 535i – Click above for high-res image gallery

The all-wheel-drive editions the 2011 BMW 5 Series won’t be arriving stateside until October, at least we now knowwhat the latest xDrive models will cost. The 535i xDrive kicks off at $52,775 while the twin-turbo V8-powered 550i xDrive will set you back minimum $62,875. Both prices including an $875 destination charge.

The xDrive system new 5 Series is not quite as sophisticated as clutch-controlled torque vectoring X6, it can utilize individual braking rear wheels send torque either side as needed counteract oversteer or understeer. The central clutch pack also defaults sending 80 percent torque rear axle minimize understeer and retain BMW’s familiar driving dynamics, shifting balance front only when needed for traction. All xDrive 5 Series models also get hill descent control maintain a constant speed when going down a slippery grade. See press release after the break for all the details.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 BMW 535i

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading 2011 BMW 5 Series xDrive sedans start at $52,775

2011 BMW 5 Series xDrive sedans start at $52,775 originally appeared Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use feeds.

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GM nixing summer shutdown, hiring thousands of temps to meet demand

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, GM

The Detroit auto industry’s annual summer shutdown is a tradition that goes back many decades, but this year, General Motors is taking a pass. It comes from a time when the new model year started in September for every car and they all debuted simultaneously, usually in dealer showrooms. The shutdown was the two week period in the summer during which all the plants installed updated tooling for the new models.

In more recent times, the practice has persisted as a time to do maintenance and other work that might interfere with production – even if it hasn′t coincided with the launch of a new model. This year, however, GM’s inventories on many models are running so low that nine of the automaker’s 11 assembly plants will keep producing vehicles during the designated shutdown period. Among the plants that will stay open are the Detroit-Hamtramck plant that builds the Cadillac DTS, the Delta Township plant builds the Lambda crossovers and the Chevrolet Corvette plant in Bowling Green, KY. Full press release after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading GM nixing summer shutdown, hiring thousands of temps to meet demand

GM nixing summer shutdown, hiring thousands of temps to meet demand originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM nixing summer shutdown, hiring thousands of temps to meet demand

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, GM

The Detroit auto industry’s annual summer shutdown is a tradition that goes back many decades, but this year, General Motors is taking a pass. It comes from a time when the new model year started in September for every car and they all debuted simultaneously, usually in dealer showrooms. The shutdown was the two week period in the summer during which all the plants installed updated tooling for the new models.

In more recent times, the practice has persisted as a time to do maintenance and other work that might interfere with production – even if it hasn’t coincided with the launch of a new model. This year, however, GM’s inventories on many models are running so low that nine of the automaker’s 11 assembly plants will keep producing vehicles during the designated shutdown period. Among the plants that will stay open are the Detroit-Hamtramck plant that builds the Cadillac DTS, the Delta Township plant builds the Lambda crossovers and the Chevrolet Corvette plant in Bowling Green, KY. Full press release after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading GM nixing summer shutdown, hiring thousands of temps to meet demand

GM nixing summer shutdown, hiring thousands of temps to meet demand originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM nixing summer shutdown, hiring thousands of temps to meet demand

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, GM

The Detroit auto industry’s annual summer shutdown is a tradition that goes back many decades, but this year, General Motors is taking a pass. It comes from a time when the new model year started in September for every car and they all debuted simultaneously, usually in dealer showrooms. The shutdown was the two week period in the summer during which all the plants installed updated tooling for the new models.

In more recent times, the practice has persisted as a time to do maintenance and other work that might interfere with production – even if it hasn’t coincided with the launch of a new model. This year, however, GM’s inventories on many models are running so low that nine of the automaker’s 11 assembly plants will keep producing vehicles during the designated shutdown period. Among the plants that will stay open are the Detroit-Hamtramck plant that builds the Cadillac DTS, the Delta Township plant builds the Lambda crossovers and the Chevrolet Corvette plant in Bowling Green, KY. Full press release after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading GM nixing summer shutdown, hiring thousands of temps to meet demand

GM nixing summer shutdown, hiring thousands of temps to meet demand originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hyundai steps in for Porsche, offers to take on Mini at Road Atlanta

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Hyundai, Mini, Porsche

Turnabout Is Fair Play: Hyundai takes up Mini challenge – click above to watch the video after the jump

Mini can safely be considered the 800-pound gorilla of viral marketing in the automotive sector, but fresh from its big showing this year with its Assurance program and successful Super Bowl appearances, Hyundai is showing real pluck. Need more proof? The boys from Korea have just stepped up to stand in for Porsche, offering to take on Mini at its Road Atlanta Challenge.

In a smack-talk-tastic video response they’ve released to Mini USA head Jim McDowell, Hyundai says they’re eager to bring their Genesis Coupe to Hotlanta raceway next month. What about Mini’s planned June 21 event? Seems Hyundai race driver Rhys Millen is a bit busy getting ready to climb a certain mountain, so Hyundai is challenging Mini to a race in July.

As Hyundai spokesman Dan Bedore tells Autoblog, “Since we launched the Genesis Coupe, we’ve always said that we’ll take on all-comers when it comes to comparison tests. And we’ve had some experience on the race track at Road Atlanta. We’d be happy to meet Mini on the race track.”

To step in and offer to take a punch for someone you don’t really even consider a buddy (read: Porsche) is either bold or downright crazy – or more than likely, some glorious combination of the two – but either way, it takes serious cojones. Will Mini step up to the challenge? Better still, might there be a three-way battle royale? Check out the video after the jump and stay tuned, everyone… this just got interesting.

Gallery: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe – First Drive

Photos by Michael Harley / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Hyundai]

Continue reading Video: Hyundai steps in for Porsche, offers to take on Mini at Road Atlanta

Video: Hyundai steps in for Porsche, offers to take on Mini at Road Atlanta originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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