Wednesday, June 8, 2011

EPA Debuts New Fuel Economy Labels

 

From: Mike Levine
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 11:35 AM
Subject: EPA Debuts New Fuel Economy Labels


Epa-label-gas-1

The EPA has revealed all-new fuel-economy labels designed to help car and truck buyers determine new vehicle efficiency and operating costs in a world of burgeoning propulsion choices.

The redesigned labels are expected to provide the public with information on fuel economy, energy use, fuel costs and pollution. They are roughly split into three design groups to help buyers compare energy use and cost between conventional fossil-fuel-powered and new-technology vehicles that use electricity and clean fuels. The three groups are:

  • Conventional internal-combustion fuels: gasoline, diesel and E85 ethanol, where fuel economy is displayed in miles per gallon (mpg)
  • Advanced technology vehicles: compressed natural gas, electricity or hydrogen, where fuel economy is displayed in miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe)
  • Plug-in hybrids: vehicles that straddle both of the previous areas will display both MPGe and mpg ratings

Major design elements of each label include:

  • Estimates on how much consumers will save or spend on fuel over the next five years compared to the average new vehicle.
  • Easy-to-read ratings of how a model compares to all others for smog emissions and emissions of pollution that contribute to climate change.
  • An estimate of how much fuel or electricity it takes to drive 100 miles.
  • Information on the driving range and charging time of an electric vehicle.
  • A QR code that will allow smartphone users to access online information about how various models compare on fuel economy and other environmental and energy factors. This tool also will allow consumers to enter information about their typical commutes and driving behavior in order to get a more precise estimate of fuel costs and savings.

Automakers may voluntarily adopt new fuel-economy labels for 2012-model-year vehicles. Starting with 2013 model year, the labels will be required.

Epa-label-diesel-1
Diesel vehicle

Epa-label-e85-2
E85 ethanol label that compares E85 driving range to using gasoline

Epa-label-cng-1
Compressed natural gas vehicle like the GMC Savana van with fuel economy displayed in MPGe

Epa-label-phev-blend-1
Parallel (blended) plug-in hybrid vehicle like the Toyota Prius Plug-in or PHEV Ram 1500

Epa-label-phev-1
Series (range-extending) plug-in hybrid like the Chevrolet Volt

Epa-label-electric-1
Full electric vehicle like the Nissan Leaf

Epa-label-hydrogen-1
Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle like the Honda FCX Clarity

Plug-In Rams Will Protect and Serve as Police Patrol Trucks

 

From: Mike Levine
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 12:36 AM
Subject: Plug-In Rams Will Protect and Serve as Police Patrol Trucks


First Plug-In Hybrid Ram 1500 Pickups Enter Service Next Week

Chrysler and the U.S. Department of Energy have delivered the first 10 Ram 1500 plug-in hybrid electric pickup trucks to Yuma, Ariz. for testing in the region's extreme summer climate. Fittingly, they'll also be used to put the heat on criminals.

Eight of the experimental trucks will be modified and used as patrol vehicles by the Yuma Police Department, according to the YumaSun newspaper.

Jerry Geier, Yuma's police chief, said he's "really looking forward to the trucks ... getting them outfitted and out on patrol and putting them to use."

The trucks have several advantages over conventional police cars. Besides getting at least 32 miles per gallon in the city, after depleting its battery's charge, the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 and electric motors are rated at a combined 399 horsepower. The PHEV Rams can also generate 6.6 kilowatts of electricity to provide emergency power when needed, such as for spotlights at an accident.

The remaining two PHEV Rams will be used by Yuma's Utilities Department for customer service, such as water hookups, shutdowns and meter reading.

[Source: YumaSun]

Mopar Ram Runner Kit Visual Guide

 

From: Mike Levine
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 6:15 PM
Subject: Mopar Ram Runner Kit Visual Guide


Mopar Ram Runner Kit Visual Guide

Mopar has released the full specs for the bolt-on Ram Runner off-road conversion kit that promises to turn a stock Ram 1500 half-ton into a high-speed desert pre-runner.

The Ram Runner details come just in time for this weekend's kickoff of the 2011 Traxxas TORC off-road race series.

Ram Trucks is the official vehicle of the TORC series and a Mopar Ram Runner is serving as the official pace truck. The deal puts five PRO-class drivers at the wheel of a Ram truck during the 14-race season.

If you can't wait for the race to come to a track near you, here's how you can turn your Ram 1500 into a hardened race truck.

Ram-runner-visual-guide

[Sources: Mopar, Ram Trucks, Photo: Pat Schutte / TORC]

Fw: Fiat expanding beyond Chrysler-paired dealerships


 
From: Chris Shunk
Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2011 11:59 AM
Subject: Fiat expanding beyond Chrysler-paired dealerships


Filed under: , ,

fiat 500c
2012 Fiat 500c - Click above for high-res image gallery

Fiat dealerships aren't popping up quite as quickly as the original plans showed they would, but the retail outlets could get a push now that the automaker is looking outside of the Chrysler family. Automotive News reports that Fiat is now offering franchises to non-Chrysler dealers for the first time. There are currently 59 Fiat dealers nationwide, and the automaker plans to open 130 stores by the end of 2011

At one point, there were reportedly 130 Chrysler dealers that had been approved for a Fiat store, but many deals fell through for various reasons. A Chrysler spokesperson tells AN that letters of intent have already been sent out to seven non-Chrysler dealers.

While opening up the franchising process will likely speed up the pace of adding Fiat stores to the U.S., there are still many hurdles for the Italian make. For starters, the 500 is currently the only Fiat available in the U.S., and it could sit alone on the show floor for at least another year. And so far, Fiat has insisted that new franchises will only be awarded to those with plans to build a standalone store.

Though it doesn't sound like a great situation to us, we're guessing there are at least 71 more entrepreneurs willing to sign on the dotted line to gain another foothold in the car business.

Fiat expanding beyond Chrysler-paired dealerships originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford F-150 V-6 Engines Outselling V-8s

 

From: Mike Levine
Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2011 1:01 PM
Subject: Ford F-150 V-6 Engines Outselling V-8s


Ford F-150 V-6 Engines Outselling V-8s

For Ford, six is greater than eight. In May, the company sold more F-150 full-size pickups with V-6 engines than traditional V-8 power plants.

The new 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo gasoline direct-injection V-6 engine made up 41 percent of F-150 retail sales in May, up 4 percentage points from April. Sales of the new 3.7-liter naturally aspirated six-cylinder were 14 percent of retail, for a total F-150 six-cylinder engine share of 55 percent, beating sales of F-150s equipped with the new 5.0-liter V-8 and 6.2-liter V-8 mills.

What's stunning about this news is the extremely high take rate for Ford's new six-cylinder engines. Toyota's and GM's V-6 sales are in the single-digit percentages.

What's likely driving the small-displacement adoption in Ford's big trucks? Gas prices are more than a dollar higher than last year's prices, at $3.77 a gallon for regular octane fuel, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report.

A two-wheel-drive EcoBoost F-150 carries EPA ratings of 16/22 mpg city/highway but can also tow up to 11,300 pounds when properly equipped — the same as the Ford F-150's large-displacement 6.2-liter V-8 that's rated at 13/18 mpg. That makes the EcoBoost attractive to new-truck buyers looking for the right combination of power and frugality.

EcoBoost is also priced aggressively. It's $1,750 more than the F-150's entry-level 302-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6, $750 more than the midrange 360-hp, 5.0-liter V-8 and $1,245 less than the premium 411-hp, 6.2-liter V-8.

[Source: Ford]

May 2011 Top 10 Pickup Truck Sales

 

From: Mike Levine
Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2011 1:36 PM
Subject: May 2011 Top 10 Pickup Truck Sales


May 2011 Top 10 Year-to-Date Pickup Truck Sales

Top 10 Pickup Truck Sales in May 2011

Rank YTD Sales YTD vs. 2010
Year-Over-Year Monthly Sales Last 12 months
1 Ford F-Series +10.6% May 2011 42,399 Coming Soon
214,461 May 2010 49,858

2 Chevrolet Silverado +10.6% May 2011 28,409 Coming Soon
150,206 May 2010 33,690

3 Ram Trucks +31% May 2011 20,117 Coming Soon
90,536 May 2010 17,298

4 GMC Sierra +25% May 2011 10,753 Coming Soon
55,221 May 2010 11,305

5 Toyota Tacoma +5.2% May 2011 9,091 Coming Soon
44,764
May 2010 8,630

6 Toyota Tundra -11.6% May 2011 4,307 Coming Soon
33,233 May 2010 8,491

7 Ford Ranger -2.6% May 2011 5,713 Coming Soon
23,544 May 2010 6,651

8 Nissan Frontier +22.6% May 2011 4,674 Coming Soon
19,010 May 2010 3,739

9 Chevrolet Colorado +34% May 2011 2,944 Coming Soon
13,104 May 2010 2,535

10 Nissan Titan -24% May 2011 1,160 Coming Soon
7,231 May 2010 2,063

Ford Announces New 8-Speed Transmission, Split Cooling System Technology

 

From: Mike Levine
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2011 12:32 PM
Subject: Ford Announces New 8-Speed Transmission, Split Cooling System Technology


Ford Announces New 8-Speed Transmission, Split Cooling System Technology

Ford says it plans to offer new eight-speed automatic transmissions across its vehicle lineup that offer improved fuel economy and ultra-precise shifts.

The gearbox will allow Ford to continue its effort to downsize engine displacement without affecting performance, said Joe Bakaj, Ford's vice president of global powertrain engineering.

"The eight-speed will offer 2 to 6 percent better fuel economy" compared with today's six-speed transmission, like that found in the Ford F-150, Bakaj said. "It will have a wide ratio spread, so customers can run a shorter gear [than today] pulling away from a stop."

The eight-speed will also feature what Ford says is the industry's first torque input sensor. The sensor will measure torque coming into the transmission, enabling faster gear selection, reducing gear hunting and helping smooth out shifts.

"The transmission knows how much torque is needed and will be able to variably control pressure on the clutch packs to deliver smooth shifts," Bakaj said.

Hydraulic actuators that control line pressure applied to clutch plates during shifts will be directly integrated into the transmission case instead of embedded in a separate assembly that's bolted inside the housing, like today's Ford transmissions use. The integrated construction promises tighter component fit and less component flexibility which can stress the sensitive parts.

Bakaj didn't say which cars and trucks will get the new transmission, but we imagine it will be a perfect match for the Ford F-150, which currently uses a six-speed 6R80 automatic gearbox.

Ford also announced a so-called split cooling system that allows the cylinder block to warm up before the cylinder head, improving engine mileage and efficiency. The system saves fuel during cold weather or short trips because oil and engine fluid viscosity rises as temperatures fall, so more work and more fuel is required to overcome friction in the powertrain.

"It's actually a single cooling loop with multiple circuits," said Brett Hinds, manager of Ford EcoBoost engine development. "We [variably] block coolant to the radiator [when the engine is cold] to warm up the engine block sooner while still allowing coolant to flow to the heads [which sit on top of the engine block over the cylinders]."

The split cooling system will debut on Ford's new 1-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost engine coming to Ford's small cars, but in a case of trickle-up engineering, it will migrate to other vehicles.

Spied! Ram 2500 Heavy Duty with RamBox

 

From: Mike Levine
Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2011 6:05 PM
Subject: Spied! Ram 2500 Heavy Duty with RamBox


Spied! Ram 2500 Heavy Duty with RamBox
Photos by Brian Williams for Brenda Priddy & Company

Judging by these photos just snapped by our spies, plus word from our sources, Ram is set to broaden the availability of its innovative RamBox storage feature to its heavy-duty pickups.

RamBox debuted on the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 5-foot-7-inch cargo box. It offers 8.6 cubic feet of dry lockable side-saddle space, with room to squeeze a 4-by-8-foot sheet of plywood between the bed walls.

What's unique about the availability of the RamBox for the single-rear wheel Ram Heavy Duty 2500 pictured here is its availability with the 6-foot-4-inch cargo box. We estimate this will increase secure cargo capacity to about 9.75 cubic feet per side. Heck, we might even be able to fit in it.

Rambox-hd-spied-1-560-bp2

The 2011 Ram 1500 Outdoorsman added the availability of a $205 gun rack/fishing rod combo holster that fits in the half-ton truck's unique optional RamBox side-saddle cargo box storage bins. The Mopar RamBox Holster can secure two rifles or shotguns, or it can rotate 90 degrees to hold up to six fishing rods.

Current pricing for the RamBox starts at $1,895. Pricing for the 6-foot-4-inch version is unknown. We expect it to be available next year for the 2012 Ram HD pickups. Allpar reports that Ram 1500 half-tons with the longer box will also have the higher interior volume RamBox.

Our sources also say that Chrysler is working on a RamBox for dual-rear wheel models, too.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Keith Shetterly



Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano

want a website or an email like this ?  go to http://123BrandMe.com


Keith Shetterly


Posted: 25 Mar 2011 10:16 AM PDT
By Keith Shetterly, keithshetterly@gmail.com
Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved
Dealer floor traffic has tracked steadily downward since 1995, while Internet shopping has concurrently risen—and that drop in floor traffic and rise in Internet shopping has dramatically sharpened in both directions since 2005.  So, in the last six years, shoppers have confirmed that if you're waiting for the "UP Bus" and watching the lot through the window, you're just a dinosaur waiting to be encased in rock. 
And, yet, so many dealerships populate their sales floors and thinking with just that strategy!  We no longer get them at the door and take them to the driver's seat, customers are interacting with us first from their mouse click—and we have to engage them there, where they are, in order to get them into the driver's seat later.  And that takes a lot more "doing" on a dealer's part than any sales manager's preparation of whatever ads used to be put in the newspaper.

For example, Social Media is still a new Internet "undiscovered country" for most dealers.  I was recently struck by two rather-successful industry consultant icons and their different assessment of the vehicle sales impact of social media:  One thinks it's the next great thing, and one thinks it will never be a lead generator.  For the next couple of years, I'd have to say I agree with them both.
The easiest way to currently get direct impact from social media is not in leads, but instead in using it to get attention from interesting content (funny videos to pass around to friends, not still pics of your inventory!) and then also to create back links to your website.  That's not lead generation, that's shopper direction, and it shows up, for example, in higher organic ranking in search engines—which leads even more shoppers to find you!  And shopper direction is all what SEO and PPC (some call SEM) really are, purposed efforts to promote your dealership's website for shopper inventory review and ultimately lead submission (via forms, email, chat, or phone).  In that way, social media is not a lead generator but certainly is "the next great thing" for sales enabling.  For now.
And understand that we no longer so easily restrict the information about the vehicle, as with the fuller bloom of the Internet now our shoppers control it—really, the OEMs have made sure of that, and we have followed right along because competition made it necessary.  Any efforts online to restrict information (for example, empty email responses) just frustrate shoppers, creating opportunity for competitors.  Control of information is another thing altogether, and that has always been a hallmark of good car sales because it means a conversation that is sales enabling and still is.  For example, on the phone:  "Yes, we have the car, but I have several others to choose from that might save you even more money.   And with the differences in options, the ride of each really needs to be evaluated in a test drive.  When can you come in, this afternoon or this evening?"  This still works very well in a conversation.
And also beware of giving too much information:  Internet or phone responses that are full of answers to questions but are without enticements for the customer to write back (or, better yet, call back) do not yield conversations.  And conversations are still what lead to visits and sales!  So, what dealers need online is their inventory to be easily and quickly found on the Internet, to then provide website motivation for customers to interact (Make an Offer forms, Email Us, Facebook, Chat, etc.), and to then use that interaction to create conversations which provide avenues to sales.  Really, the whole conversation part of car sales hasn't changed—it's just that the Internet has changed how and when people decide to actually visit your lot.  And, you need to get that conversation started to get that visit!
Vehicle shoppers, via the Internet, are maturing their purchase decision on their own much further down the sales funnel than ever before.  And every step in that maturation has to include enticements, incentives, and information control (NOT restriction) from the dealer aimed at continuing the maturation to a sale.  That is why the lot traffic has trended downward for 16 years:  "Window" shopping is all done on the Internet now, and the folks arriving on your lot--though there are fewer--are more ready to buy than ever before
Now you can see why the floor and Internet traffic have proceeded in the last sixteen years as they have:  How do we get folks from the mouse click to the driver's seat?  We accept the change the Internet has brought us—that shoppers are further along in the sales process and more educated than ever when they contact us or come in!—and we use all the tools, from email to the phone to social media, to get better at what is still as true it has always been:  Conversations lead to sales.
So, everybody:  Get clicking, get emailing, get calling, get talking--and get selling!


Posted: 09 Mar 2011 07:15 AM PST
By Keith Shetterly, keithshetterly@gmail.com
Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved
1.
"Quiet Panther" 
安靜的每週獅
Websites Should Be Seen and Not Heard
You wouldn't set off loud sirens just as a customer opens the door of a brick and mortar business—so don't do it on the Web!  Remember, customers with jobs don't need the "Boss I'm Web Shopping Instead of Working" alarm to go off at their own desk.  Use sound where it makes sense, but let the shoppers choose when to turn it on:  Make friends with your site, not unemployment!
2."Running Tiger"
執行老虎
Driving Traffic to Your Website is More Than Just Meta Tags and Page Titles and Ad Spends
Don't expect your current success via yesterday's SEO to last—are you creating and posting online video on your site?  Do you YouTube?  Are you pursuing back-links from Social Media? Do you blog?  Have any micro sites?  The Internet isn't a RonCo "Set It and Forget It" appliance, so don't treat it that way.  Stay on top of it!  And are you thinking of PPC?  Any effort for search engines not including PPC is leaving money on the table—PPC is proven, measurable, and very valuable.  Use it smartly!

3. "Dancing Monkey"
跳舞猴子
Live Chat to a Dead Head is Only Good at Concerts
The mega fans of the Grateful Dead should never provide live chat services—are you checking what you're getting with your online chat service? Make sure they answer well and successfully set appointments by "mystery chatting" them yourself.  And do it often.  And if you're not using chat or not considering it, you're missing a very valuable sales conversion tool—you worked hard to get the shopper to your site, so start the sales engagement there!

4."Lightning Snake"
閃電蛇
Hosting Short Videos Means Never
Having to Say We Suck
Twenty seconds is a long time on the Internet.  Don't be afraid to edit down your customers' video testimonials before you post them, or better yet tell them briefly how to "get to the meat" when they talk.  Even the most positive but too-long testimonial says "We Suck!" out in the wilds of the Internet.  And also get any product video down to the "Quick and Powerful" level.  And one more thing: Be sure to scroll your website and phone number across the bottom of all videos—don't waste those precious few seconds of a customer's attention by not doing the right self-promoting.
5."Knowing Crane"
知道蒼鷺
The Buzz of Social Media Might be From the Chainsaw You're Taking to Your Business

You need to get past buzz words with Social Media, and in a hurry--you shouldn't just "buy services" for this, you need to understand and plan what you're doing.  Do you know how to monetize Tweet for your fixed ops, how to respond to issues, and how to create business for yourself on Facebook and other Social Media?  You would laugh at a dork who walked into a party and shoved his business car rudely under everyone's nose—so don't be that dork in Social Media! Learn how to interact or you'll get ignored, or, worse, derided in business-killing ways.  And Online Reputation Management is a modern and very real business need, encompassing both Social Media and the Internet at large (can you say "Google Business Reviews"?).  Do you manage your Facebook fan pages several times a day? Do you watch Twitter for your business' name—what are people saying about you?  And there's so much more!


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