Aug
29
Chevrolet TrailBlazer and Scion xB Offer Most Legroom for Commuters Craving Extra Inches Behind the Wheel According to Autobytel QuickView Report
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IRVINE, Calif. — Americans are commuting farther and longer than ever before which translates to a lot of time crammed behind the wheel. This new lifestyle can prompt many to seek out a more comfortable vehicle with additional legroom. To that end, Autobytel Inc.’s (Nasdaq:ABTL) Q3 2006 Quarterly QuickView1, powered by its Automotive Information Center (AIC) division, reveals the Chevrolet TrailBlazer and Scion xB inch out the competition on legroom. The Scion xB in particular is a great option among smaller vehicles, and when Autobytel evaluated it on additional criteria such as cost and fuel economy, it was named best pick for commuters.
According to a recent U.S. Census Bureau report, extreme commuters spend more than 90 minutes behind the wheel each day and as people move farther out into the suburbs, those drive times are dramatically increasing. Last year, Americans spent more than 100 hours commuting to work on average, and even with rising gasoline prices, nearly nine out of 10 American workers commute by car.
All of this time spent in a vehicle can leave commuters feeling confined, which is why additional legroom is a sought-after commodity for many consumers when searching for cars. The need for extra legroom is rapidly spreading to all forms of travel. In fact, airlines such as United’s TED are capitalizing on the trend by offering special legroom-only upgrades for a fee.
“Consumers want roomier vehicles to make long, stressful commutes more bearable and additional legroom can be a key comfort factor for many drivers,” said Autobytel senior analyst Christian Wardlaw. “Commuters think ‘If I have to be in the car for a long period of time, I might as well be comfortable.’ Autobytel’s QuickView guide to legroom should bring added comfort to long-legged car shoppers who currently feel squeezed behind the wheel.”
Aug
29
Cars Worth Noting - 2000 Chevrolet Impala, 1999 Volkswagen Beetle 1.8 T, 1999 Saab 9-5 Wagon - Evaluation
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Let’s get one thing straight. I normally don’t like station wagons. I’m a baby boomer, you see, so whenever I see one of these on the road I look for a sheep dog, 2.2 children and a rather comfortable house in the suburbs. That’s not the persona I want.
Now on to the new Saab 9-5 wagon. We drove it everywhere outside of San Diego. We glided through the hot, dry desert, slalomed around mountain curves and dodged in and out of traffic on the free way. Never once did the car falter. Steering and handling were superb. If you close your eyes, you could be driving a sports car.
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Some engines, however, are a little better than others. The turbo 2.3L four has a bit more get up and go than the turbo 3.0L V-6. I’d get the four with a manual.
Aug
29
Chevrolet UK? That’ll be the Daewoo, then
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Will replacing one nameplate with another succeed? Will Europeans take to the American brand? General Motors is confident. The historic failure of American brands in Europe was because the wrong products were offered, according to Andy Carroll, the GM executive tasked with establishing Chevrolet in the UK, Previously GM had tried to sell American cars to Europeans without modification. Now GM will tailor products for Europe. Research suggests that Chevrolet’s name recognition is high; GM claims 90 per cent brand awareness, due partly to it being the most quoted marque in song lyrics, as fans of ZZ Top and, of course, Bruce Springsteen would agree.
The product offering will involve more than just replacing the badge on the front; the existing Astra-sized Lacetti will add an estate and a sporty model. Next February, there will be a three-door Kalos, plus the new Matiz in April - the latter is based on the M3X concept shown in Paris alongside an SUV concept, the seven-seater S3X, due for production in 2006. Longer term, the Chevrolet range could include models sourced from other GM partners, including Suzuki and Subaru, in which GM has minority stakes.
GM’s underlying reason for replacing Daewoo with Chevrolet is because it believes it needs an entry brand positioned below its mainstream Vauxhall/Opel brands; GM’s research suggests the Chevrolet brand represents value-for- money, durability, reliability and proven technology. Intriguingly, GM also sees Chevrolet as part of a four- brand European approach, with Saab and Cadillac positioned as premium brands above Vauxhall/Opel. Saab’s decline and financial problems and the European anonymity of Cadillac suggest there is some way to go before GM has a successful multi-brand line-up in Europe to match Volkswagen’s stable of brands, from Skoda to Bentley.
The value-for-money brand values that Chevrolet is said to represent fit well with the kind of customers Daewoo used to attract, so GM is confident that even where Chevrolets are sold alongside Vauxhalls or Opels there will be no confusion. It also needs to win buyers from other entry brands, such as Skoda.
Aug
29
High hopes for Chevrolet cars (The Star Online)
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Aug
29
AUDIO from Medialink: Barenaked Ladies Team Up with NASCAR and Chevrolet to Launch New Album
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Listen to this report at: http://media.medialink.com/WebNR.aspx?story=32198
Aug
29
RocketCity (RCTY) Expands Operations in Florida with the “World’s Premier Chevy Retailer” and the Florida Automobile Dealers
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