Stephanie Lunsford's Posts - DealerELITE.net2024-03-29T00:38:57ZStephanie Lunsfordhttps://www.dealerelite.net/profile/StephanieLunsfordhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2535879938?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://www.dealerelite.net/profiles/blog/feed?user=0u24oeoea630m&xn_auth=noNew Fuel Economy Labels Help Car Buyers make a better Decision on Buying.tag:www.dealerelite.net,2011-11-15:5283893:BlogPost:2462782011-11-15T22:04:17.000ZStephanie Lunsfordhttps://www.dealerelite.net/profile/StephanieLunsford
<p>Weighing the high prices of gasoline and the public’s growing concerns about global warming, air pollutants and environmental health hazards, it’s not a surprise that fuel economy is playing a larger role on people buying a car.</p>
<p>To help car buyers make a more informed decision about the cars they buy, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designed a new window sticker full of information about fuel economy. This sticker is on all new cars, light trucks and sport utility…</p>
<p>Weighing the high prices of gasoline and the public’s growing concerns about global warming, air pollutants and environmental health hazards, it’s not a surprise that fuel economy is playing a larger role on people buying a car.</p>
<p>To help car buyers make a more informed decision about the cars they buy, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designed a new window sticker full of information about fuel economy. This sticker is on all new cars, light trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) produced after Sept. 1, 2007 will feature the redesigned sticker, which includes the estimated annual cost of fuel for the vehicle, how the fuel economy of a certain vehicle compares to others within its class, and a web site is also listed on the window sticker where buyers can go to for more information.</p>
<p>“EPA’s updated fuel economy estimates will help Americans avoid sticker shock when filling up at the pump,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.” By considering fuel use when shopping for a new car and truck, buyers are in the driver seat to save money and protect our environment.” Johnson said that taking EPA’s fuel economy information into account when shopping for a vehicle can help buyers save money, as well as cut down on air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions. </p>
<p>“From AAA’s perspective, it is about a simple truth: Buyers want to know that the information they see on a government-sanctioned label reasonably reflects what they will experience on the road” said Robert Darbelnet, president and CEO of AAA, which has more than 50 million members. ”We believe that the new EPA labeling system will provide motorist a more realistic idea of their fuel performance. This is clearly a step in the right direction.”</p>
<p>The new, Improved EPA fuel economy label includes the following features:</p>
<ol>
<li>New Methods: The label shows the estimated city MPG at the top right.</li>
<li>Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: The center of the label provides estimated annual fuel cost based on a given number of miles and fuel price, also listed on the label. Use this information to estimate fuel cost for this vehicle, and to compare fuel costs for different models.</li>
<li>Expected City Range: The estimated city MPG range appears at the top left, under the main city MPG estimated number. Most drivers can expect to achieve city fuel economy within this range</li>
<li>Expected Highway Range: The estimated highway MPG range appears at the top right, under the main highway MPG estimated number. Most drivers can expect to achieve highway fuel economy within this range.</li>
<li>Compare To Other Vehicles: The lower center of the label gives a combined city/highway estimates for the vehicle, and shows where that value falls on a bar scale which gives the highest and lowest fuel economy of other vehicles in its class (e.g. SUV’s, Minivans, compact cars, etc.). You can use this information to compare the fuel economy of this vehicle to all other within its class range.</li>
<li>You Actual Mileage Will Very: The label Includes a reminder that there are many reasons why your actual fuel economy will vary from estimates</li>
<li>For More Information: The label also provides a web address where you can find more information.</li>
</ol>
<p>For more information about the new window sticker and a closer look at the sticker design, visit the EPA Web sites. <a href="http://www.epa.gov/">www.epa.gov</a></p>A Guide to Year End Car Salestag:www.dealerelite.net,2011-11-14:5283893:BlogPost:2459622011-11-14T19:33:29.000ZStephanie Lunsfordhttps://www.dealerelite.net/profile/StephanieLunsford
<p> The end of the year can be a very exciting time for people who are interested in the car industry. The weather gets colder, convention centers are getting ready for the big auto shows and fresh models our coming out from behind the scenes. While new cars are coming into the spotlight, last year’s models are being forgotten about.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2545109479?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2545109479?profile=original" width="300"></img></a> What does this mean to you as a new…</p>
<p> The end of the year can be a very exciting time for people who are interested in the car industry. The weather gets colder, convention centers are getting ready for the big auto shows and fresh models our coming out from behind the scenes. While new cars are coming into the spotlight, last year’s models are being forgotten about.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2545109479?profile=original"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2545109479?profile=original" width="300"/></a>What does this mean to you as a new car shopper? It all matters what your local dealer has in mind for getting rid of all the old models that are taking up space on their lots. Most importantly, it means automakers and dealers our willing to do quite a lot to make more room for new inventory. For you that can mean big savings and with car dealers being the go to place for buying a new or used cars you can probably score some pretty decent savings.</p>
<p>If you watch football during the holiday season, you have probably seen holiday specials when commercials go into a break and your hit with a stream of car dealers and car manufactures promoting big discounts and special offers.</p>
<p>While at first glance it may sound like a scam, but there is some truth to their promotions. They need to clear out older models and usually car sales are slow during the winter because of holiday shopping and horrible weather. It’s easy to see why dealers are willing to take some money off the initial price.</p>
<p>Early shoppers no need to worry, as long as they don’t intend on outright buying the car. Automakers want their latest models to hit the streets, so they can start driving more traffic to their dealerships. This is why they frequently offer lower lease deals on some of the very first model cars that come to their lot. Those deals are typically not as big of discounts on older models, but it does allow you to be one of the first on the road with a new car and still have some cash in your pocket. Remember, winter is a very slow season for cars, so dealers our looking for ways to get in with the new and out with the old.</p>
<p>Here is a look at some year-end sales events that might look familiar:</p>
<p>Honda – year end blowout</p>
<p>Known as Happy Honda Days, this year-end clearance typically offers long term financing at a low interest rate. But last year’s deal included 0.9% APR over a course of 60 months for 2010 Civic, Fit, Accord Crosstour, CR-V and Hybrid Insight models.</p>
<p>Lexus – December to Remember Event</p>
<p>The promotion was from its familiar TV campaign featuring a shiny new Lexus in a big red bow. But last year Lexus focused on lease details for its 2011 models, offering specials on its IS 250 AWD, ES 350, HS 250<sup>th</sup> and more. Those looking to purchase could also get 1.9% APR on all 2011 IS 250or IS 350 sedan and the 2011 ES 350.</p>
<p>Chevrolet – Red Tag Sales Event</p>
<p>Chevy uses big red price tags. In 2010 this sale event meant deferred payments for three months if you used their financing, you could get 0%APR and $1500 of the price tag of a car which was billed as “holiday allowance”. HHR, Impala, and Silverado models got the same deals, but without the $1500 discount. Aveo and Cruze models were only offered with differed payments.</p>
<p>Chryslers Year-End Wrap Up</p>
<p>Chrysler offers many deals across the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands, along with the typical 0% financing and low lease deals. Chrysler has been known to throw in special deals like AWD, 4 Wheel drive and DVD systems for free. It will be interesting to see if there will be any deals on the returned FIAT brand this year.</p>
<p>Note, not all manufactures offer year-end deals those that do generally don’t include all models, like Mercedes Benz only offered incentives on S class sedans last year, all though the deal was great with $10,000 in savings on each car.</p>
<p>To find a good car deal, approach dealers with flexibility on different cars and see where you can get the best deal, one last thing to remember is resale value. The down side to getting a car at the end of the year is you often get a car that’s already one year old. Cars depreciate with age that 2011 model will be worth less than an identical 2012 model sitting next to it on the lot.</p>
<p>If the last point I made doesn’t bother you too much now is the time to buy a car. Remember you can always drive away with a great deal if you go in with an open mind.</p>Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars.tag:www.dealerelite.net,2011-11-14:5283893:BlogPost:2454392011-11-14T14:31:24.000ZStephanie Lunsfordhttps://www.dealerelite.net/profile/StephanieLunsford
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2545108237?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" height="194" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2545108237?profile=original" width="241"></img></a> Fuel cell cars have the potential to reduce the demand for foreign oil and lower the harmful effects it has on our climate. Fuel cell cars run on hydrogen rather than gas and their exhaust doesn’t put out any harmful fumes, just water and heat. A lot of challenges will have to be overcome before these vehicles can compete with hybrids technology and regular gasoline vehicles.…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2545108237?profile=original"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2545108237?profile=original" height="194" width="241"/></a>Fuel cell cars have the potential to reduce the demand for foreign oil and lower the harmful effects it has on our climate. Fuel cell cars run on hydrogen rather than gas and their exhaust doesn’t put out any harmful fumes, just water and heat. A lot of challenges will have to be overcome before these vehicles can compete with hybrids technology and regular gasoline vehicles. But the benefits of this cars technology would be very substantial to our environment and everyone living in it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Conventional vehicles produce a significant amount of air pollutants that contribute to smog and other harmful particles in the U.S. The hydrogen is produced by fossil fuels resulting in some pollutants, but much less than other vehicles.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Fuel cell cars would decrease the demand for foreign oil. Since hydrogen can also come from domestic sources such as natural gas, coal and water. This would make our economy less dependent on oil transport from other countries and we would be less vulnerable to price shocks from the increasingly volative oil market.</p>
<p>Most fuel cell cars can store enough hydrogen to travel as far as a gasoline-powered vehicle would between fill ups, (approximately 300 miles), but this would have to be achieved without compromising the amount of space you would have, the performance, and the technology in the car. All these factors would definitely affect the price. Manufactures are trying to make fuel cell cars more reasonable in price, by bringing down production cost, fuel cell storage, and hydrogen storage to complete with conventional technology.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Fuel cell systems are not yet as durable as internal combustion engines, especially in some temperatures and humidity ranges. Their durability in the real world environment is currently half of what it is needed for commercialization. Their life span has increased a lot over the years, from 29,000 miles to 75,000 miles. Experts are hoping for 150,000-mile lifetime expectancy necessary for fuel cell cars to compete with gasoline-powered vehicles.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>New facilities would have to be constructed for producing, transporting and dispensing hydrogen to consumers. Fuel cell technology would have to be embraced by the consumers before its benefits can be realized. Many people may be concerned about the safety of these vehicles, many people were also very skeptical about hybrids and they have worked out just fine. So we should definitely give the fuel cell cars a chance; they could change our economy and environment for the better.</p>Ford Is Taking Order’s for the $40k Electric Focus!tag:www.dealerelite.net,2011-11-14:5283893:BlogPost:2458322011-11-14T14:28:34.000ZStephanie Lunsfordhttps://www.dealerelite.net/profile/StephanieLunsford
<p>Ford has opened their ordering books on its first ever electric car.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Focus Electric is priced at $39,995, the same as the Chevrolet Volt plug in hybrid and $3,945 more than its closest competitor, the Nissan Leaf. All three cars are eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit and various state incentives available towards purchase of an electric car.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Focus range has not yet been revealed. Ford has previously said that it would be competitive with the…</p>
<p>Ford has opened their ordering books on its first ever electric car.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Focus Electric is priced at $39,995, the same as the Chevrolet Volt plug in hybrid and $3,945 more than its closest competitor, the Nissan Leaf. All three cars are eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit and various state incentives available towards purchase of an electric car.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Focus range has not yet been revealed. Ford has previously said that it would be competitive with the all-electric Nissan Leaf, which has an EPA rating of 73 miles per charge. The 23 KWH battery pack in the Focus can take up to 20 hours to recharge with a 120 volt outlet, but less than up to four hours when plugged into a 240 volt fast charger. Twice as fast as the Nissan Leaf.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ford says that the cargo area is the same as the Ford Focus which is where they got the design for the Focus Electric.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ford is not requiring any deposit to reserve a Focus Electric and orders are only being taken in California, New York and New Jersey for now. The Ford Focus will be unveiled in January.</p>
<p>Ford had said it would be available in 19 launch markets by the end of the year, but that target has been pushed back to next year.</p>
<p> </p>Eco Friendly Speed Boat the Guardian S Classtag:www.dealerelite.net,2011-11-14:5283893:BlogPost:2458262011-11-14T14:25:15.000ZStephanie Lunsfordhttps://www.dealerelite.net/profile/StephanieLunsford
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2545108353?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2545108353?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="289"></img></a> The Guardian S Class is the world’s first carbon neutral speed boat. The carbon fibre guardian is a 45 knot solar hybrid vessel powered by an EPA car regulated Mercedes Benz bluetec engine connected to a carbon-Grossbautelie electric motor. When combined with other available technology the fuel consumption and GHG emissions are 50 to 100% lower than any speed boat ever…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2545108353?profile=original"><img width="289" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2545108353?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="289"/></a>The Guardian S Class is the world’s first carbon neutral speed boat. The carbon fibre guardian is a 45 knot solar hybrid vessel powered by an EPA car regulated Mercedes Benz bluetec engine connected to a carbon-Grossbautelie electric motor. When combined with other available technology the fuel consumption and GHG emissions are 50 to 100% lower than any speed boat ever built.</p>
<p>The guardians lithium ion UPS provides a zero carbon crossing range up to 50 nautical miles (I mile is equal to 6,080.20 feet in the U.S) while the plug-in sun power array generates enough free energy to power the carbon neutral motor 1,000 miles.</p>
<p>Richard Sauter head of design commented “ Taking advantage of existing advances in green technology, the Guardian S Class leads the way in attacking on one of the major causes of global warming and in doing so lays the foundation for the only marketing force likely to revitalize the boating industry in the face of ever increasing fuel prices.”</p>
<p>The environmental protection agency estimates that registered recreational boats in the USA alone produce a staggering 375 million metric tons of CO2 per year. Carbon neutral power boats that follow the guardian’s example, can reduce that by 75%, by reducing “global warming pollutant” by 280 million metric tons per year.</p>
<h2>Current Available Technology Present for the Guardian S Class</h2>
<ul>
<li>Parallel Mercedes Benz Bluetec V6/carbon –Grossbautelie electric power generator</li>
<li>Optimum sun power 315 solar cell development</li>
<li>400 IPS Duo prop propeller system</li>
<li>Advanced wave piercing Hi-speed displacement hull</li>
<li>Plug-in lithium UPS rated at 5kwh</li>
</ul>2012 Volvo Plug-in Hybrid Diesel is not coming to the U.Stag:www.dealerelite.net,2011-11-14:5283893:BlogPost:2457292011-11-14T14:13:56.000ZStephanie Lunsfordhttps://www.dealerelite.net/profile/StephanieLunsford
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2545107941?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" height="168" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2545107941?profile=original" width="253"></img></a> Unfortunately, the news from Volvo isn’t good for the U.S. It seems Executives at Volvo don’t think the U.S is ready for a plug-in diesel hybrid. Therefore we will get a gasoline-electric hybrid, but everyone else will receive the diesel-electric hybrid.</p>
<p>Volvo confirmed that the V60 Plug-in Hybrid will go on sale during 2012. The Hybrid made its debut earlier this year…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2545107941?profile=original"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2545107941?profile=original" height="168" width="253"/></a>Unfortunately, the news from Volvo isn’t good for the U.S. It seems Executives at Volvo don’t think the U.S is ready for a plug-in diesel hybrid. Therefore we will get a gasoline-electric hybrid, but everyone else will receive the diesel-electric hybrid.</p>
<p>Volvo confirmed that the V60 Plug-in Hybrid will go on sale during 2012. The Hybrid made its debut earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show.</p>
<p>The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid will be available in the European market during the early part of 2012, with a rollout to other regions including the United States before the calendar flips to 2013.</p>
<p>Volvo has acknowledge that the V60 Plug-in Hybrid will be more expensive than the standard V60 wagon, but notes its running cost are significantly lower(about one-third of its gas-powered counterpart).</p>
<p>The U.S isn’t ready for a diesel plug-in hybrid because of the expense of buying one. Once it is tested in the European and cost come down, I believe the U.S will see it on the market.</p>