Checklist for your Spring Car Check-up

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Spring Cleaning? Don't Forget Your Car!

Winter can be tough on lots of things, including cars and trucks. Cold temperatures, snow and ice, road salt and pothole-causing freeze-thaw cycles put car batteries, tires, brakes and suspensions to the test.  According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration vehicle crashes due to neglected maintenance cause more than 2,600 deaths a year.
  

Spring is the time to rid vehicles of winter's effects in time for summer travel.  

Regular vehicle maintenance and inspections can help improve a vehicle's fuel efficiency, achieve peak performance and even help avoid major repairs down the road.

You will want to have these items checkedto ensure your vehicle is ready to roll:

Chevrolet Cruze Answers Rising Demand for Diesel Cars

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2013 Cruze Clean Diesel expected to deliver fuel efficiency and high performance

The planned U.S. introduction of a 2.0L clean turbo diesel version of the Chevrolet Cruze next year is expected to benefit from growing interest in diesel cars, sales of which could double by mid-decade, according to market research firm Baum and Associates.

GM Powertrain spokesman, Tom Read, said that the diesel engine will have a 2.0-liter displacement and be turbocharged. In Europe, the Cruze already has a turbocharged 2.0-liter VCDi diesel inline-four that makes 161 horsepower and 266 pounds-feet of torque. This could very well be the engine that ends up in the U.S. model, but with some modifications.

Registering with Technorati

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This is just a post to register this blog with Technorati
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In Honor of Earth Day: 2012's Eco-friendly cars

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In honor of Earth Day, April 22 2012, we took a look at which vehicles are noted for being eco-friendly. Hybrids, Electric, Diesel and even some fuel-sipping gasoline cars made the list.

Cars.com winner for 2012 Eco-Friendly car of the Year

2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI Starting MSRP $25,995 - GET QUOTE

As a nominee for Cars.com's Best of 2012, the Volkswagen Passat has clearly impressed us as a roomy, high-quality sedan. The TDI clean-diesel version is also our Best Car for Green Drivers. Rated at an EPA-estimated 30/40 mpg city/highway with an automatic transmission, the Passat TDI is an alternative to the base gasoline model, rated 22/31 mpg with an automatic. The Passat TDI wins this award both for its execution and because of what it represents: an efficient alternative to hybrids — whose driving quirks are objectionable to some buyers — and to plug-in cars that are priced higher and have inherent limitations.

The Future of Mazda

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We say goodbye to the Mazda V6 engine and the CX7 & say hello to the world of Rotaries, Turbos, and SKYACTIV!

Car and Driver recently sat down with Robert Davis, Mazda’s senior vice president of U.S. Operations. Subjects discussed included the proliferation of the automaker’s Skyactiv technology suite, the future of V-6 and rotary engines, future crossover strategy in the wake of the CX-7 leaving our market, and a little about the next MX-5 Miata. Here are the high points of their conversation.

Introducing the 2013 Cadillac ATS (with Specs)

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2013 Cadillac ATS



Cadillac is finally coming around to the idea that bigger is not always better. It has created the new ATS specifically to battle the sporty compact sedan competition. When it goes on sale this summer, we expect a base price of about $33,500, rising to roughly $50,000 with all options. Given Cadillac’s need for more cars, we anticipate that an ATS coupe, convertible, and wagon could follow the sedan.

Cadillac SRX Event - April 2012

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 2012 Cadillac SRX Show and Tell

Last weekend, we took a new 2012 Cadillac SRX around the Frederick area and had the opportunity to show it off to alot of people. The feedback was great and hopefully we demonstrated why this Cadillac is such a great value!

Here are some of the comments that we heard:    

-I can't believe this vehicle starts at 35k! I thought it would easily be in the 50's
- I currently own a CTS & my wife has the STS, but we're looking to upgrade to a larger vehicle. This would be perfect!
- I love the detail of the chrome rack.
- These are large wheels - impressive!
- I love the convenience of the push button hatch.
- Leave it to Cadillac to put heated seats in the rear for my passengers. I love it!
- Bose! That's the best of the best!
- I feel like Cadillac always appealed to old, high end people, but now this car makes it more affordable for someone like me - the working middle class!
- I would have guessed this car started in the high 40's to 50's. I'm surprised!
- I love the side panel turn signals; those are very sleek.
- The height of the rear hatch is perfect for me since I'm 6'5"
- Now this is what you expect from Cadillac; pure luxury.
- I had to come over to see what car brand this was....I just can't believe this is Cadillac! It sure is the new generation!
- This is absolutely beautiful and affordable.
- Cadillac has surely stepped up their game!
- I love the vented seats feature! That will come in handy when I go to the beach.
- This sunroof is fabulous. I'm sold just on the sunroof alone. Everything else is a bonus!
- My friend just bought a jeep and paid in the upper 40's for it. He doesn't have any of these luxury features! - I can't get over how good looking this car is and the fuel efficiency!
- I was just saying how I wanted a new car. I'm so glad you were here today! I would have never considered Cadillac because I didn't think it was in my budget.                                                

 

  "Cadillac is in a class all its own"



To view the rest of the photos from the day, visit our Facebook Photo Album 

VW Scirocco and Diesel Alltrack coming to America?

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Do you miss the opportunity to buy a Volkswagen Scirocco? You're not alone. Of all the Volkswagen Group products offered overseas but not in these United States, the Scirocco tops our list. (Though we understand there are plenty out there pining for a Transporter van.) Discontinued in its previous iteration in 1988, the Scirocco made its triumphant return to the market in 2008, but with the global financial crisis setting in around the sometime, Volkswagen wasn't up to spreading itself thin enough to bring it here.

That could change with the next-generation model, however.

Introducing the 2013 Chevrolet Spark

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2013 Chevrolet Spark: Technology, Features, AND a Small Price!

**UPDATE: CHEVY SPARKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE!!  

     View Inventory here: 2013 Spark Inventory**

Chevrolet is taking the guesswork out of the car-buying process with a new, simpler approach to pricing and packaging for the 2013 Spark. When the mini car goes on sale later this year, Spark will be available in three well-equipped trim levels starting at $12,995 including destination.

Spark is a sporty, fuel-efficient, four-passenger, five-door hatch designed to excite first-time car buyers and city dwellers with bold styling, attention-grabbing colors – including Salsa, Jalapeno, Denim, Lemonade and Techno Pink – engaging driving dynamics, the personalized connectivity of MyLink, and the safety of 10 standard air bags.

Cadillac Named Most Improved Among Luxury Brands

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Cadillac was recently recognized at the New York International Auto Show by J.D. Power and Associates as the most improved among luxury brands for providing an outstanding customer experience.

Cadillac XTS: High-tech is the new Definition of Luxury

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CUE, new in-car user experience, and Magnetic Ride Control standard

The 2013 Cadillac XTS luxury sedan, Cadillac’s most technologically advanced car yet, will be available at U.S. dealerships later this spring with a starting price of $44,995 including destination.

The all-new XTS is the only car in its class with standard Magnetic Ride Control, the world’s-fastest reacting suspension technology. Also standard and making its debut in the XTS, is CUE, Cadillac’s breakthrough in-vehicle user experience for control and connectivity.

What is Mazda SKYACTIV?

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Mazda's SKYACTIV encompasses the whole car through the use of an advanced engine, transmission, body and chassis technology and lightweight engineering. SKYACTIV will provide class leading environmental and safety performance combined with driving enjoyment and will feature in every new Mazda model from 2012.

There are three key focuses areas for SKYACTIV:

Diesel or Hybrid?

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It May Be Diesel's Turn to Shine As Americans Yawn at Hybrids

American consumers are boosting their interest in — and loyalty to — clean-diesel engines at the same time they’re demonstrating more and more indifference to hybrids.

So far, Volkswagen — both with its VW and Audi brands — BMW and Mercedes-Benz have provided all of the impetus behind the nascent clean-diesel trend in the U.S. market, with increasingly popular diesel-powered versions of the Volkswagen Passat, Jetta and Golf, Audi A3 and Q7, BMW x5, and Mercedes-Benz M-Class and R-Class. And the German marques, especially VW and Audi, keep doubling down on the diesel franchise.