Cars
Mercedes-Benz Brings Sports And Entertainment Together
The stars from the entertainment world and sports world were out in full force earlier this week. Mercedes-Benz and Variety Magazine brought them all together for a star studded night. Variety’s Sports Entertainment Summit showcased some of the most noteworthy voices in sports and media in Los Angeles for a full-day of discussions about the state of the industry. The event included keynote speeches from Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, as well as appearances from Jamie Foxx, Hannah Storm, and many more.
As a presenting sponsor, Mercedes-Benz displayed a new 2017 S-Class Cabriolet outside the Vibiana in Los Angeles for athletes and celebrities to check out upon arrival.
Jul 16th
Mercedes-Benz Style Introduces The Garia Golf Car
Mercedes-Benz has always been a fan of golf. Whether they are sponsoring athletes or tournaments Mercedes-Benz is present on the golf course. Now they introduce the Garia Golf Car. This new car transfers the unmistakable Mercedes-Benz automobile design to a premium-class golf cart. The show car is the result of a partnership between Mercedes-Benz designers, Daimler’s Think & Act Tank Business Innovation and the well-known golf cart manufacturer Garia.
The Garia Golf Car has integrated onboard touchpad that displays several car functions, as well as the layout of the golf course, current position and an electronic score card. There is a built in refrigerator under the bench seat and a storage tray under the dashboard to hold a row of golf balls at one time.
The hands-free system with Bluetooth connection and hi-fi speakers integrated into the rear roof frame, allowing music from any smartphone make all those who love tech and gadgets swoon. It has a range of up to 50 miles with a top speed of 19 mph and uses LED technology in headlamps, ensuring good visibility in any weather conditions. So who is ready to test it out on the course?
Jul 13th
Find Your Own Road In The 2017 Nissan Pathfinder
If you are in the market for a new SUV you got to look at the all-new 2017 Nissan Pathfinder. The 2017 Pathfinder takes performance and style to a higher level with an aggressive new exterior look, increased power, and enhanced safety and technology.
The reborn Pathfinder has bold new styling that evokes a stronger sense of adventure, character and presence in one of Nissan’s best known nameplates. The refreshed exterior reflects Nissans latest signature design elements, including the new “V-Motion” grille and boomerang-shaped headlights with LED daytime running lights. Additionally, the 2017 Pathfinder features a new hood, front bumper, fog lights, and aerodynamic optimization efforts.
The roomy, refined interior will have a number of updates focusing on convenience and connectivity. The biggest change is the adoption of new-generation information technology, including improved Advanced Drive-Assist Display, voice recognition, and NissanConnect Services. Furthermore, the 2017 Pathfinder steps up its adventure credentials with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, allowing for more power, torque and towing capacity.
Jul 8th
Lincoln Looks To Pick You Up
Lincoln just added something very cool to their car buying experience. Today Lincoln announced their new Pickup and Delivery Service across all 2017 nameplates starting with the all-new Lincoln Continental. The exclusive standard service builds on the brand’s commitment to providing a human, warm and personal experience at all Lincoln dealerships.
Lincoln Service Valet will pick up a client’s vehicle at an agreed location and, provide a complimentary Lincoln loaner vehicle, and then take the client’s vehicle to the dealership for service. Once complete, clients can arrange for their washed and serviced vehicle to be returned to them at the location of their choice.
“Lincoln Pickup and Delivery service revolves around complementing our luxury vehicles with outstanding luxury experiences,” says Andrew Frick, Lincoln North American director of sales and services. “This kind of Quiet Luxury provides an exclusive and personally crafted service experience that enhances their lifestyle and saves them what is a true luxury item – their time.”
This exclusive Pickup and Delivery marks another milestone in Lincoln Motor Company commitment to merge great products, an outstanding experience and impeccable service – part of its original 2012 business plan. Since Lincoln began this journey, it has delivered four all-new products in four years, established a dealer network in China, built brand awareness, and increased volume for the brand and Lincoln products.
As part of Lincoln’s ongoing client experience efforts, these successful programs have already been implemented:
Lincoln Concierge: A trusted personal advisor – like the most attuned hotel concierge – assists clients 24/7 online at www.lincoln.com. While other luxury brands offer similar services, only Lincoln provides clients with an opportunity for video chat with a live person.
Black Label: Started in 2015, the number of participating dealers has increased to more than 90 committed locations. Black Label provides personalized shopping with dedicated personnel in the showroom, online, or in locations convenient to clients. Specially trained Black Label experience liaisons meet prospective clients at their home, office, or anywhere within 30 miles of the showroom to begin the experience. Acting as a personal shopping assistant, the liaison helps clients identify their ideal vehicle by sharing paint and wood trim samples, as well as material swatches. Lincoln Black Label owners enjoy special privileges – ranging from extended premium service and maintenance coverage on wear items to Culinary Collection membership that provides access to a curated list of restaurants from coast to coast.
Date Night: This extended test drive allows qualified buyers the chance to experience a Lincoln vehicle for up to 48 hours. In 2015, Date Night resulted in more than 11,000 sessions at select dealers, prompting nearly an 11 percent increase in Lincoln purchases. The program attracted nearly 70 percent of clients who had been with other luxury nameplates.
Lincoln Institute: Training for key client-facing individuals is provided through Lincoln Institute. The program, which combines all of the brand’s training efforts under one umbrella, has been expanded to include all Lincoln dealers. Lincoln Institute includes not only hospitality training, but an all-new series of workshops that provide participants with tools to help local teams develop and execute processes consistently for luxury clients.
Pickup and Delivery is an important milestone in Lincoln’s commitment to providing personal client services to match its unique luxury products, coming at the perfect time as Lincoln prepares to launch the much-anticipated 2017 Lincoln Continental.
The all-new Lincoln Continental returns as the brand flagship this fall, offering first-class travel for clients in America and China through warm, human touches and a contemporary design. The full-size sedan is designed to appeal to culturally progressive clients who define luxury on their own terms – craving superior quality, craftsmanship and safety.
Jun 28th
Ford Celebrates The Le Mans Winners From The Past
If you already loved the 2017 Ford GT you will get even more excited when you see the latest edition. Ford recently announced that the all-new 2017 Ford GT will be available in a limited edition Heritage edition, honoring the GT40 Mark II driving at Le Mans in 1966 – part of the historic 1-2-3 Ford GT sweep.
The Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition features a Shadow Black exterior in either gloss or matte finish with silver stripes and exposed carbon fiber package. The car sports Frozen White #2 hood and door graphics, and 20-inch one-piece forged aluminum wheels in a gold stain clear coat with black lug nuts. All-New 2017 Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition Pays Homage to Historic Livery on 1966 Le Mans Winner.
This edition will have the unique black and silver-stripe livery celebrates 1966 Le Mans-winning GT40 Mark II race car driven by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon. The Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition honors the historic No. 2 race car limited to 2017 model year only and features exclusive race-number graphics, and unique interior colors, materials and appointments.
Jun 27th
You Will Want To Check Out The 2017 Lincoln Continental
What comes to mind when you think about Lincoln Automobiles? One of the models that comes to min is the Lincoln Continental. If you are looking for a new car make sure you check out the all-new 2017 Lincoln Continental.
Lincoln first unveiled its Approach Detection technology on the first-ever 2015 MKC. This technology enables the vehicle to sense when the driver, carrying the key fob, comes within a range of up to 8 feet welcoming them and indicating it is ready to go.
The Lincoln Approach Detection technology responds both inside and out. Here are some of the key features.
Illuminated welcome mats project onto the ground beneath both front doors where the driver and front passenger will step as they approach so they can avoid stepping into a puddle or debris.
The door-handles glow in a hue that complements the exterior color of the vehicle and highlights their location.
Signature LED accent lights on the headlamps and tail-lamps add a sense of warmth, while ambient interior lights on the door panels, instrument panel and cup holders liven up the interior, without glare.
A light softly pulses on the push-button start, signaling that Continental is ready to go.
In addition, the available auto-folding pedestal side-view mirrors move into driving position after the driver enters the vehicle and closes the door.
Select, Reserve and Black Label models of Continental have sequential exterior lighting, dynamically wrapping the car with illumination. Additionally, when the driver or passengers enter the vehicle, the ambient lighting activates in a sequence, enveloping the interior in a soft light to prepare or place any personal items before driving.
The all-new 2017 Lincoln Continental offers many other features that deliver quiet luxury, providing an elegant, effortlessly powerful and serene experience. Technologies that comfort, entertain and effortlessly assist occupants include the innovative E-Latch door system, Lincoln’s Perfect Position seats and a host of rear seat amenities.
The Continental arrives at dealerships this fall. For more on Approach Detection, please visit www.lincoln.com.
May 4th
The Ford F-150 Raptor Looks To Take Its Talents To China
Ford’s F-150 Raptor is getting ready to travel….well sort of. Ford recently announced that the truck will available in China in 2017. F-150 Raptor is unique among off-road performance vehicles, with a purpose-built engine, chassis and suspension – all of which enable it to travel fast over challenging desert landscapes or crawl over rocky terrain, from Baja to the Gobi Desert.
China will get to experience the F-150 Raptor and experience all of the advanced materials – including a fully boxed, high-strength steel frame and high-strength, military-grade aluminum-alloy body – help to improve durability while greatly reducing the weight of Raptor for improved off-road prowess. Combined with all-new EcoBoost engine technology, F-150 Raptor SuperCrew has a power-to-weight ratio that makes it even more agile off-road.
F-150 Raptor is powered by Ford’s new, second-generation high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost that produces more power with greater efficiency than the previous Raptor’s 6.2-liter V8, which was rated at 411 horsepower and 434 lb.-ft. of torque. An F-150 Raptor exclusive, the engine is paired with an all-new 10-speed transmission for improved efficiency.
An all-new four-wheel-drive, torque-on-demand transfer case manages power distribution between front and rear wheels. It combines the best attributes of clutch-driven, on-demand all-wheel drive with durable, mechanical-locking four-wheel drive to send power to the wheels in slippery conditions.
The truck’s pioneering off-road driving mode technology has evolved into an all-new Terrain Management System that enables the driver to select from among six preset modes to optimize driving dynamics to environmental conditions. Driving modes include:
•Normal mode for everyday driving
•Street mode for high performance, on-road driving
•Weather mode for rain, snow or ice
•Mud and sand mode for muddy and sandy trails and terrain
•Baja mode for high-speed desert running
•Rock mode for low-speed rock crawling
Apr 23rd
Take A Look At The New Ford GT
What is your dream car? What does is it look like? If you are looking at picking up the all new Ford GT you might want to read this. For those of you who want to purchase the Ford GT ultra-high-performance supercar you can now officially submit your applications today at FordGT.com. The only thing is that there is a limited production of the Ford GT.
Ford Performance to create a unique, customer-focused experience to help select potential owners for the new supercar. Approved applicants will work with the new Ford GT Concierge Service for a personalized purchase experience. “The purchase process for the Ford GT is as unique as our all-new supercar,” said Henry Ford III, global marketing manager, Ford Performance. “We understand GT customers are strong ambassadors for Ford Motor Company, and we look forward to providing them a service as distinct as the car itself.” The Ford GT is the most advanced Ford production vehicle ever, featuring the latest in light weighting, aerodynamics and EcoBoost engine technology – an innovation showcase for the Ford brand.
Applicants will have an opportunity to identify their preferred Ford dealership in GT-approved markets and, if approved, will complete their purchase with the help of their dealer and the new Ford GT Concierge Service. Accepted applicants from around the world will be contacted by the concierge and provided a tailored experience – not only through the ordering and delivery but through years of ownership.
The new Ford GT website also offers a configurator that allows anyone to build a virtual GT and easily share their dream combinations from a number of color, wheels and interior themes with the world through social media. For production, eight exterior colors can be paired with one of seven different stripe colors, giving the Ford GT customer many choices to keep their vehicle as unique as they are.
Pricing for the Ford GT is expected to have a starting price in the mid-$400,000s, excluding destination and delivery. The Ford GT will be one of the rarest Ford products ever. Production is limited to 250 units per year, and the initial ordering period will cover the first two years of production – 500 vehicles. The web-based application process for the first round of applications for the all-new Ford GT closes on May 12, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Build your Ford GT today at FordGT.com.
Apr 13th
Ford Gets Night Vision
Every year it seems that Ford keeps on pushing the limits. The constantly add new features to cars that greatly improve their cars. Recently, under the cover of night, a Ford Fusion Hybrid autonomous research vehicle with no headlights on navigated along lonely desert roads, performing a task that would be perilous for a human driver.
Driving in pitch black at Ford Arizona Proving Ground marks the next step on the company’s journey to delivering fully autonomous vehicles to customers around the globe. It’s an important development, in that it shows that even without cameras, which rely on light, Ford’s LiDAR – working with the car’s virtual driver software – is robust enough to steer flawlessly around winding roads. While it’s ideal to have all three modes of sensors – radar, cameras and LiDAR – the latter can function independently on roads without stoplight.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data has found the passenger vehicle occupant fatality rate during dark hours to be about three times higher than the daytime rate.
“Thanks to LiDAR, the test cars aren’t reliant on the sun shining, nor cameras detecting painted white lines on the asphalt,” says Jim McBride, Ford technical leader for autonomous vehicles. “In fact, LiDAR allows autonomous cars to drive just as well in the dark as they do in the light of day.”
To navigate in the dark, Ford self-driving cars use high-resolution 3D maps – complete with information about the road, road markings, geography, topography and landmarks like signs, buildings and trees. The vehicle uses LiDAR pulses to pinpoint itself on the map in real time. Additional data from radar gets fused with that of LiDAR to complete the full sensing capability of the autonomous vehicle.
For the desert test, Ford engineers, sporting night-vision goggles, monitored the Fusion from inside and outside the vehicle. Night vision allowed them to see the LiDAR doing its job in the form of a grid of infrared laser beams projected around the vehicle as it drove past. LiDAR sensors shoot out 2.8 million laser pulses a second to precisely scan the surrounding environment.
This year, Ford will triple its autonomous vehicle test fleet – bringing the number to about 30 self-driving Fusion Hybrid sedans for testing on roads in California, Arizona and Michigan.
Apr 11th
The Toyota Corolla Turns 50
Times does fly by, but in this case it might drive in a Corolla. Believe it or not, but Toyota is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Corolla. The first Corolla went on sale in Japan in November 1966, and came to the U.S. in 1968. The car proved to be an instant success, helping transform Toyota’s global reach and more than doubling its total annual production from 480,000 to 1.1 million vehicles from 1965 to 1968. Just in time for the Corolla’s 50th anniversary celebration
Now to celebrate 50 years of innovation the 2017 Toyota Corolla receives a redesigned, upgraded interior, including audio enhancements focused on comfort and convenience. A more aggressive front grille and two new exterior colors give Corolla a modern look to match the spirited driving experience.
The Corolla Anniversary Special Edition is based on the sporty 2017 Corolla SE. Available in three exterior colors – exclusive color Black Cherry, Classic Silver, Blizzard Pearl – the special edition will be available beginning in Fall 2016.
To share your memories make sure you go to corolla50.toyota.com for driver stories and user-generated content tagged #Corolla50. You also can enter their sweepstakes with the opportunity to win a 2017 Corolla.
Mar 24th
