The urgent need for auto insurance for seniors

The auto insurance for senior citizens is really important as they are generally considered in the high risk group. The senior citizens usually don’t pay attention to the roads or they are more likely to be suffering from physical ailments. They however don’t speed and most of the damages that happen to their cars are minor in nature. Most of the senior citizens don’t want to give up their freedom and hence they don’t want to give up driving too. In cases of senior citizens driving, the frequency of minor accidents however can be higher. Due to lower hand and eye coordination the driving skills diminish too. They need to observe special precautions as driving can be stressful for them too.

To cover the damages to their vehicles senior citizens should consider the auto insurance. Their auto insurance is most likely to be cheaper than the regular one too. They can easily get the quotes from the insurance company. Most companies do offer discounts to the senior citizens for getting auto insurance. Drivers over the age of 75 however have a high rate of fatal accidents. Many senior citizens also need to assess their driving skills and check if they are getting affected with physical ailments.

Senior citizens can get discounts on auto insurance by going through the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). They should keep some points in mind while getting the auto insurance. They can any information about the auto insurance from the state insurance department. The seniors can also consider higher deductibles as they save money on premiums. Deductibles are the amount which you have to pay before an insurance company covers the rest. The higher deductible can cause the amount of premium to be low. Since seniors don’t drive much they can do it. They should also inquire about the car models. They should prefer the ones which are stolen less often and have lowest repair costs. Most the insurance companies also give discounts on insurance for safety features installed in the car. They can also check on group discounts and corporate discounts.

For senior citizens driving means a lot more. It may signify their independence and it is also their need. They need to drive to get to the doctor or visit their family on holidays too. This independence is hard earned and auto insurance can help them keep it. The damages to the car can get repaired from the coverage money and they can still stay on road. It is advisable for them to observe the safety rules and follow the precautions always.

Most of the insurance companies treat the senior citizens with the respect they deserve. They offer additional discounts to them from time to time. Auto insurance can keep their vehicle in the running for a longer time and it will also make other’s vehicle safe. Auto insurance can save them from the tensions that accompany them with driving. They should get one as soon as possible.

Tips to save money on auto insurance

Auto insurance is a basic necessity and something that you may not be able to avoid. It is mandatory in almost all states and every state requires the motorists to carry a minimum amount of coverage.Although you may not be able to avoid purchasing a policy you can certainly find ways in which you can bring down the costs. There is a lot of competition in the auto insurance industry. Hence, you can find some of the best deals and you don’t have to get stuck with full coverage policies. Instead, you could try to select a less expensive plan that offers all the features you require.

Once you find a policy that can cover all the needs, you may look for ways in which you can reduce the premium costs. Check with the agent and find out ways in which you can cut down on the premium rates. For instance, you can bring down the premium to a considerable extent by paying a higher deductible. As the deductible gets higher, the premiums get lower. However, you must ensure that you can pay the deductible comfortably.

Purchasing multiple policies from the same insurance provider will help fetch discounts. So, try and purchase your home, health, life, and auto insurance from the same service provider if possible. Another way to bring down the costs is by recording a low annual mileage. If you can prove that you drive lesser miles per year, you will actually spend much less on your car insurance as well.

Having a good driver’s record is certainly a plus point. If you can prove that you are a good driver, you can get some of the best rates on your auto insurance policy. Keep your driving habits clean and free of violations and accidents, if you wish to get the best discounts.

Obtaining good grades can help in fetching students a good discount on their auto insurance policies. So, students have another reason to obtain good grades. This gives the insurance company the reassurance that the student driver is responsible enough to drive the vehicle.

There are a number of factors that influence auto insurance rates. The area you live in is also one of them. If you live in an area that is crime prone with incidents of vandalism, theft, and arson, you may end up paying more on your auto insurance. Shop around and obtain online quotes before you choose your insurance provider.

Important Guidelines for Business Car Insurance

There is a huge difference between private car insurance from a business car insurance even if the driver is using his or her car for private and for business purpose. Many car insurance companies suggest a car owner to get normal personal insurance for their car if there is only one driver who is driving the car, but business car insurance is much better if its specialized coverage.
For example, if you are an owner of a small logistic enterprise that deliver goods, then the car that will carry out the delivery will be handled by different individuals. If you are handling hazardous or a high risk item like a chemical substance and the car encounter an accident while transporting this item, then business car insurance can save you from huge trouble. The content of the package may affect other people and the environment so it is your responsibility to pay for all the damages that this package has caused. After knowing the benefits that you can get from business car insurance, then you should know the guidelines or the steps that you need to take in order to get this type of insurance.
The first thing that you need to do is to find the right car insurance company with experienced and expert in car insurance. If you have your private car insurance from a company, then you can ask for a referral to find reliable business auto insurance company in case your current car insurance does not offer this type of car insurance. Reliable business car insurance will give you the right protection that you need. Your driver will be protected by this business car insurance company. The kind and feature of insurance will depend upon your own preference. Reliable and effective auto insurance company will make sure that your company will not be used in case of any accident.
Right after you have chosen the best business car insurance provider, coverage and policy, then you need to choose the drive that you will mention in the insurance policy. The is not required to get their own car insurance because they are not the owner of the car, but it is important that the driver has their own driver’s license with very clean driving record. It is not important that you choose a drive that is reliable and have many years of experience when it comes to driving. It is also necessary that you purchase for road assistance.

The difference between business car insurance and personal car insurance

The difference between a business car insurance and personal car insurance may seem undistinguishable for the reason that some business owners are able to use a vehicle for personal and business purposes. When there is only one driver of a regular vehicle that is used for both personal and business, most automobile insurance companies suggest business owners to have a regular personal auto insurance policy rather than getting a limited business car insurance. This is because whenever an accident occurs, the damage to the regular vehicle would undergo the same evaluation when a claim is filed and more likely to cost the same so it doesn’t really matter if a business owner gets business car insurance or the other.
However, some auto insurance companies recommend that business owners have a separate vehicle for business purposes as well as business car insurance. This is because there are certain car insurance coverage specialized for business that can not be offered by regular personal auto insurance especially when there are several drivers who use the vehicle for business and if the vehicle is specialized for the business. Let us say for example that you have a small logistics company that delivers goods of other people to and from destinations. Let us say that one of the things that you transport would be hazardous material such as chemicals and other fragile objects. Now, this surely needs a specialized type of insurance because if a car accident occurs during the day that you are out delivering these types of materials, it can be harmful to other people as well as the environment. So, there is specialized business car insurance for that.
As you can see from the scenario given, the difference between business car insurance and personal auto insurance is only defined when there are special cases like these. So, if you have a small business and you a have a regular car to do business with as well as personal trips, then it would be very recommendable get personal auto insurance. The only problem that you will surely be handling would be the calculating expenses on the vehicle. Of course, to keep your business afloat, you have to separate personal from business cost. You have to know how much gas you used for business as well as mileage so you can record it and not charge your business for unnecessary vehicle expenses from a personal trip.

Getting good deals for business car insurance through group auto insurance

Business owners can now benefit from the new group auto insurance that many auto insurance companies offer. This is a business car insurance deal that ensures a win-win situation for all parties – the policyholder, the insurer, and its investors. So how do we know if our company qualifies for such a deal and what is in the deal that makes it a good business car insurance?
Group auto insurance accommodates both big and small businesses as well as organizations and even different significant groups of people such as a cooperative, a club, a congregation, or even a vintage car drivers’ association. As long as the business is represented, your company can get business car insurance through a group auto insurance. Now, what makes it beneficial for the group and its members?
When vehicles that are issued by the company are provided to employees for business purposes, each has business car insurance. The insurance policy is taken under the name of the business and is a lot cheaper than getting an auto insurance policy for each employee separately. Group auto insurance can ensure a cheaper rate since it is taken in bulk. Think of it as merchandise that you just bought at a wholesale price. Another benefit for the company is that with business car insurance like this, auto insurance companies make sure that they maintain a good relationship with you. So, they give the best coverage and even add some extended deals with the employees’ family members to make sure that they have your loyalty. With this type of business relationship, we can say that it is good for both parties. The company gets the best perk, and the auto insurance company has the benefit of getting more policyholders at once.
How about for the employees? How can they get a good deal with business car insurance such as group auto insurance? Well, the most promising characteristic of it is that it does not force employees to be in the insurance. It becomes an option and not a requirement. If an employee wants to get business car insurance from another auto insurance company for his or her issued car because of personal preference, they can do so without any friction from management. Another is that, if they opted in, they can easily opt out of it. In terms of payment, group auto insurance does not follow a certain schedule that is to be followed by all the employees who opted in. It understands each employee’s possible financial dilemma and so they are given different payment terms.
With the benefits explained, it is really much better to get good deals on business car insurance through group auto insurance.

How business car insurance work

If you use a car for business reasons, you would need more than a regular car insurance policy. You need a business car insurance that would provide you with unique features and options to cover those who travel for business reasons.Social, domestic, and pleasure (SDP) use are the normal day to day use that is covered by most insurance companies. This does not usually provide you with many options when you are travelling to your workplace or for the business or company you work for. It would not even cover your car if ever you have future business travels.You would have to apply for a specific cover when you want a business car insurance. You can choose one of these forms:Private and occasional business use – This covers private use and commuting. It also covers business travels by the owner or their spouse. The car, however, should not be registered as a business car nor should it be the main tool for earning your income.

Private and business use – Just like the first one, this also covers private and commuting use. The car should not be registered as an official business car that is the main earning tool of a company. The difference is that this covers the business-related travels made by the owner, their spouses, or anyone who has been listed as a driver at the time of business car insurance application.

Commercial travelling – this covers motorists who use their car as part of their regular job and business travels. Pizza deliveries, for example, use a company car to be able to deliver their product to their consumers.

Business car insurance pays only for those losses specified by your contract. It is extremely important that you should be aware of the policies and the coverage of the insurance you applied for. You can seek the guidance of the insurance representative in the insurance company you opted for. They can walk you through the items of what you are covered for and what you are not when it comes to your business car insurance. You have to keep in mind that insurances are made to help car owners to cope with finances during events that can not be predicted such as accidents. But if the event does not count as anything that is sudden or accidental, then there would be no coverage from the business car insurance plan that you have applied for.

Auto insurance for your business 

Auto insurance is a must for everyone who drives. In most states driving around without any auto insurance policy would just lead to paying hefty of fines or confiscation of license. In some states, it can even lead to jail. The state law mandates that anyone driving must have at least the minimum state requirement to be able to drive their own car. This is regardless of what type of car you are driving whether it is brand new or used car, modified or salvaged. This is also regardless of your status as a driver even if you are the safest driver or the worst, whether you are young or old, professional or amateur; or whether you are a car owner or you are just renting. So long as you are driving you need to get auto insurance coverage. Auto insurance is a must whether you are driving your personal car or business cars.

If you have a business or you belong to a company operating business cars it is important to have all the vehicles insured. A special kind of insurance is offered by auto insurance providers to business establishments that are utilizing cars, van or trucks in their operation and it is called business auto insurance.

Among the coverage offered under the Business Auto insurance includes Physical Damage Coverage for Collision. This covers the damages after hitting another car or other objects (such as traffic cones, etc). Also Physical Damage Coverage for Comprehensive Coverage is available which can take care of the damages caused by theft, fire, vandalism, flood, storm and other untoward events aside from collision.

There are several other coverage that you can avail for your physical assets. Most auto insurance companies are offering customizable policy for commercial vehicle insurance thus you can have the liberty to design the coverage your policy will hold.

In many cases business owners are normally taking as much auto insurance coverage as they can to ensure the protection of their physical investments. Since these vehicles are part of the larger realm of their business utmost protection is usually appropriated. To get the best service it is best to do comparison shopping. Not all auto insurance providers are offering business auto insurance thus it would not be hard to search and pick the best offer from a reputable provider. There are also specific auto insurance providers who are specializing in insuring commercial vehicles so finding them and making the deal with them is recommended. Trusting the protection of your properties to people who are well-versed with the needed service is primary.

First drive: Mazda CX-5 diesel

The diesel Skyactiv-D version of Mazda's CX-7 replacement deserves its "premium" tag.
Mazda has introduced its newest diesel engine to Australia in the new CX-5 SUV.
The 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel commands a $3000 price premium over the petrol engine also available in the CX-5 and is only available with the four-wheel-drive system, meaning price of entry kicks off at $36,540, plus on-road costs.
Rather than introduce the Skyactiv-D engine, as it is known, as a single, separate model to the petrol-powered Skyactiv-G introduced earlier this year, Mazda has blurred the line between the two so that the casual observer won't pick the difference until they get to the bowser.

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Unlike the diesel CX-7 (which the CX-5 will replace), which wore a "CD" badge, the petrol- and diesel-powered cars look exactly the same, although there's no base model Maxx in the diesel CX-5 lineup.
All models share the same twin-exhaust layout, and under the bonnet, both petrol and diesel models wear the sky-blue engine cover denoting the vehicle is part of Mazda's radical overhaul of its vehicle range designed to shed weight and eke out fuel economy without resorting to expensive technology.
Mazda is marketing the 2.2-litre twin-scroll four-cylinder turbo diesel engine as the premium drivetrain for its CX-5, mated exclusively to its mid-range Maxx Sport and range-topping Grand Touring models, and only to its all-wheel-drive platform.
It trumps its CX-7 replacement - and its main rival, the Subaru Outback - by being mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic gearbox, with no manual version available.
Priced from $36,540 for the mid-spec Maxx Sport and $43,200 in diesel-only GT form, the diesel carries a $3000 premium over the 2.0-litre petrol version.
It's not the only number that trumps the petrol version of the CX-5.
While it produces only 113kW of power and 198Nm of torque in all-wheel-drive form, the diesel pumps out an impressive 129kW and a huge 420Nm.
The slightly higher power figure for the diesel engine may not look like much, but it's that torque figure - with most of it available just off idle - that sets the two apart.
The all-new engine is designed to be lighter than typically heavy diesel engines.
It's just a little grumbly off idle, though, when you give the throttle a decent shove, but otherwise most owners will never notice it's a diesel until the engine gains a traditional, although surprisingly muted, growl higher in the rev range.
They won't notice it at the traffic lights, either. Stomp the throttle, and the Skyactiv-D launches the CX-5 away from a standing start with no noticeable hesitation - unless the engine is temporarily stopped by the clever "i-stop" stop-start system that saves fuel while the car isn't moving - and builds speed quickly.
Once rolling, the six-speed automatic transmission is clever enough to hold gears on steep climbs, letting revs fall below 1200rpm and making the most of the deep well of pulling power before jumping down a cog, or snatching a lower gear on a long, steep descent to provide some engine braking.
There are no steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters for the gearbox, even for the top-of-the-line Grand Touring, which is a shame as the engine is free-revving and quite playful for a diesel. Instead, there's a Tiptronic-style shift on the gear lever that will follow the driver's instructions, even dipping into the 5000rpm-plus rev limit when pushed.
The ride is good, with the Grand Touring absorbing the worst of the road surfaces calmly and without too much road roar and protest despite the diesel's Holden Commodore-rivalling kerb weight and the low-profile 19-inch hoops fitted as standard kit to our test car. The steering has decent feel around town, although loads up a bit strangely to become heavy and then light while cornering on fast, sweeping bends.
Even on gravel the CX-5 held its line well, only occasionally pushing the rear end wide as the all-wheel-drive system fights with the loose surface. When it did, the soft-roader's electronic safety aids stepped in calmly, and well before things got ugly.
The other diesel trump card is fuel economy.
The CX-5 Skyactiv-G petrol engine officially uses 6.4 litres per 100 kilometres in front-wheel-drive form, with the all-paw architecture adding another 0.5L/100km to the bottom line.
By comparison, the diesel's official figure is just 5.7L/100km, giving it a clear advantage at the fuel pump.
We didn't come anywhere near that figure on our run through the foothills of the Great Dividing Range in central Victoria, averaging in the mid 8.0L/100km mark with a mix of drivers behind the wheel.

Holden commits $1 billion until 2022

 

General Motors Holden commits to investing more than $1 billion in Victorian and South Australian-based operations following a $275 million government injection.

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Export deal expected soon as Holden commits more than $1 billion to local manufacturing until 2022 following a $275 million government subsidy.
General Motors Holden today committed to investing more than $1 billion in local manufacturing to secure its Victorian and South Australian-based operations until at least 2022 following a $275 million government injection.
The government subsidies - $225 million from the federal government and $50 million from the South Australian government – will be matched by at least $1 billion from Holden’s US-based parent company, General Motors.
Minister for Industry and Innovation, Greg Combet, announced the federal government’s renewed support of the industry.

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Holden has received $275 million worth of funding from the federal and South Australian governments.

“The Gillard Government is committed to helping firms in the automotive supply chain improve their competitiveness and break into global supply chains,” read a statement from the minister’s office.
“This can only be done through a strong focus on innovation and productivity to drive competitiveness.”
Today’s announcement has been expected for months, with Holden chairman and managing director Mike Devereux making no secret of the company’s need for support.
However, while it was expected the government funding would run into the hundreds of millions of dollars, $275 million was towards the upper end of estimations.
“Co-investment of this kind is critical for our industry and helps Australia compete against other car making countries that protect their industries through tariffs and/or financial support,” said Devereux.
“Holden will receive government co-investment of $275 million and directly invest well in excess of a billion dollars in the 10-year vehicle development and manufacturing program.
“The investment will help Australia retain its capability to design, engineer and build cars with two all-new vehicles going into production at Elizabeth, South Australia, in the second half of this decade.”
The money will go towards securing local production of two models plucked from within the GM product suite, giving Holden the flexibility to respond to changing market dynamics; over the last decade local car makers have been caught out by a dramatic shift from large cars towards small cars and four-wheel-drive-style SUVs.
It’s not known what two models will be produced at Holden’s Elizabeth plant in South Australia, although Holden chairman and managing director Mike Devereux has previously suggested the Cruze small car that’s built there now and also produced in other plants around the world would make sense for local production longer term.
Small cars now make up almost one in four of the 1 million-plus annual new vehicle sales and the Cruze is the third best seller in the segment, behind the Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla.
Despite media speculation the Commodore will cease local production, its popularity – it’s still Australia’s second best-selling car and was previously the top seller for 15 consecutive years – would suggest it’s also a front runner to continue with local production.
The iconic Holden Ute that’s produced off the Commodore platform is also a big seller and something Devereux has previously said “we wouldn’t want to walk away from something like that”.
As part of lengthy government negotiations Holden is already understood to have determined the models it will produce, although the company isn’t saying anything yet.
“We don’t have anything to announce” said spokeswoman Emily Perry.
Within months Holden is also expected to confirm an export program that will involve rebranding the Commodore as a Chevrolet for the US market.
Rumours swirled last week that the Commodore would form the basis of Chevrolet’s race car in the hugely popular Nascar series, but Holden is staying tight lipped on any US prospects.
“We’ve said we will continue to look at niche exporting opportunities where they make sense but we don’t have anything to announce,” said Perry.
Holden’s has a chequered history with exports to the US, sometimes missing sales targets or being thwarted by broader decisions within GM. It exported the Monaro there in 2003 as the value of the Australian dollar began to climb, something that has also hurt exports of the Commodore-based Caprice that’s currently been sold there as a police car in low volumes.
The Commodore was also sold as a Pontiac between in 2008 and 2009 before the brand was shelved as part of GM’s restructure following bankruptcy.
It’s not known what role Holden’s Melbourne-based design and engineering teams will play longer term within the GM world, although they are increasingly playing a broader role as a result of the globalisation sweeping the industry.
Holden has already been heavily involved in conceiving vehicles not sold here; the Chevrolet Camaro muscle car sold in the US was designed and engineered in Melbourne.

Nissan Altima firms for V8 racing role

Nissan’s next-generation Altima will be unveiled at the New York motor show. The company has issued this teaser shot of the new car.

Leaked travel plans firm up Kelly Racing’s link with forthcoming new large car.
An appearance by V8 Supercar driver Rick Kelly at next month’s New York Auto Show appears to confirm that the Nissan-sponsored Kelly Racing team will drive the company’s new Altima model in next year’s championship.
An all-new model of the Altima, a smallish large car that has been sold in other markets for years, will be unveiled in New York on April 4 and is set to replace the ageing Maxima as the flagship of Nissan Australia’s range when it arrives here next year.
Nissan and Kelly Racing shocked the V8 paddock last month with the announcement that they would team up in 2013 as Nissan Motorsport, breaking the sport’s long-held Ford-Holden duopoly as well as a career-long bond between Holden and brothers Rick and Todd Kelly.

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It will be the first time another manufacturer has contested the championship since 1993, when new rules dictated cars must be rear-wheel-driven and powered by a V8 engine – ironically, largely to stop the Nissan GT-R that dominated racing in the early 1990s.
The company’s public relations manager, Jeff Fisher, would not confirm whether the Altima would become the factory-backed team’s racing platform in 2013.
However, he says Kelly Racing co-founder Rick Kelly will accompany a group of media to the New York show next month where the Altima will be revealed.
“We thought it would be a good idea to incorporate Rick into that group,” he says. “It’s a pretty big moment for Nissan Australia with that particular product likely to play a major role in our passenger car line-up and we want to be there at that moment.”
Kelly Racing’s job in preparing up to six cars for next year’s championship has been made easier by the 2013 Car of the Future project, which enshrines a common body shell for all manufacturers onto which they can bolt their own panels.
Fisher says the switch to a common architecture made the project viable for Nissan.
“The chassis, transaxle (gearbox) and so on is all control, so that’s what made it an attractive proposition for Nissan to come in and look at the V8 Supercars as an expression of brand development,” he says.
“So in terms of how the chassis gets built, all the teams are basically doing the same thing. The panels, no matter which car we use, are the skin that it uses.”
Kelly Racing has already ordered a set of body panels that are currently being stamped in the US.
Kelly Racing chairman John Crennan says there is still plenty of work still to be done.
“Todd (Kelly) has been up just before the announcement to Nismo in Japan, and there is an enormous amount of work being done behind the scenes on this,” he says.
“Given that it’s an all-new model, you’re not dealing in production parts so we have a very big job ahead of us.”
The biggest issue will be under the bonnet, where Nissan has received permission to use a V8 engine with overhead cam technology – a step ahead of the pushrod V8s employed by the Holden- and Ford-backed teams.
“We say that the differentiator for us is in the technology that we’re going to employ under the bonnet, which will be a recognisable Nissan V8 engine,” Fisher says.
“All Nissan production engines at the moment are overhead cam, so we don’t have a pushrod in the range.
“If we didn’t have access to be able to user our own powerplants there would have been zero traction for us, that was one of the things that clinched it for us, was that we could use our own technology.”
Nissan is expected to make an announcement shortly after the New York auto show to confirm that Kelly Racing will use the Altima in the 2013 championship

Head to head: VW Tiguan v Mazda CX-5

Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-5.

Volkswagen Tiguan 118TSI

From $28,490 plus on-road and dealer costs. 1.4-litre turbo- and supercharged 4-cyl petrol; 118kW/240Nm; 6-sp man; 6.9L/100km and 162g/km CO2; FWD
Value

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A tad pricier but comes standard with roof rails, foglights, daytime running lights, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, eight-speaker audio and gets smaller but more stylish 16-inch alloy wheels. No auto option available for any front-wheel-drive Tiguan. Metallic paint an extra $700 (Mazda: no cost).
Inside
Despite the recent exterior update, the interior is starting to feel its age with a simple CD unit and no centre media screen, while the round air vents are out of touch with the other VW models. Storage is good through the cabin, with big pockets on all four doors.
Engine
Has more power than the Mazda but doesn't pay too high a price in fuel use terms (but requires premium unleaded petrol). Better pulling power down low in the rev-range and feels more responsive to throttle inputs. Six-speed manual shifts nicely. Engine stop-start system operates well.
How it drives
Among the best in class for road manners but outclassed by the newer CX-5. Firmish suspension can fumble over bigger bumps and the steering is not as intuitive as the Mazda. Corners very well for a high-rider but with some body roll at higher speeds.
Family values
Rear air vents are a big plus for families and the back seat is spacious. The boot volume is slightly smaller at 395 litres but it is noticeably narrower and less functional. Six airbags, stability control. No standard camera or sensors.
Verdict
VW's new-look crossover is still up there with the best but an ageing interior and no automatic option kill its chances against the more rounded Mazda.

Mazda CX-5 Maxx

From $27,800 plus on-road and dealer costs. 2.0-litre 4-cyl petrol; 114kW/200Nm; 6-sp man; 6.4L/100km and 149g/km CO2; FWD
Value
Cheaper but gets more standard equipment, including a reversing camera, tyre-pressure monitoring system and smart key with push-button start. Also gets Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, USB input, four-speaker CD audio, a rear spoiler and 17-inch steel wheels. Auto costs $2000 more.
Inside
A fresher, more sophisticated cabin. Dash is dominated by large and easy-to-use touchscreen media system, which links to rear-view camera. Storage is good but door pockets are on the small side. Knobs and switches have a quality feel. Soft plastics throughout.
Engine
Fantastic fuel economy on regular unleaded but lacks low-down torque, feeling underwhelming when you plant your foot and also slow to react to incremental throttle inputs. Six-speed manual does more justice to engine's modest power. Stop-start works quickly and cleverly.
How it drives
Sits flat, is agile through corners and copes with quick direction changes better than some small hatchbacks. Surprisingly cosseting ride; suspension deals well with small bumps. Steering is light but has good feel. Some tyre roar and suspension noise.
Family values
Rear-seat offers above-average head- and legroom. No rear air vents.
Boot is handy, rather than large, at 403 litres. Tow capacity same as VW (1800 kilograms). Matches VW's six airbags and stability control and the standard rear camera is a big tick.

First drive: Mercedes-Benz SLK55

Mercedes-Benz SLK55

Powerful V8 is the key to a driving experience that's very un-hairdresser-like.
Convertibles are often pejoratively referred to as hairdresser's cars. If that's even partially true of the Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG, the hairdressers it is going to attract are more likely to own clippers and a cut-throat razor than straighteners and curling tongs.
Mercedes says the majority of customers for the AMG-tickled SLK are male professionals, and it shows in the execution with the sort of attributes that well-to-do car nuts crave - razor-sharp steering, take-no-prisoners handling and the fitment of an increasingly rare beast under the bonnet: a naturally-aspirated V8.
It's a welcome antidote for drivers suffering their own personal turbo lag - an aversion to driving performance cars whose grunt arrives late and in an almighty rush, in return for a theoretical few extra litres in the tank every hundred kilometres.

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Mercedes-Benz SLK55

Although in many significant respects a technological tour de force, the two-seater SLK55 AMG is in some ways about as simple as they come. Press the loud pedal, point it at a corner, turn the steering wheel and fan the brake, then get back on the gas again. And again, and again. It's addictively easy and devlishly fun.
It doesn't hurt that the slinky new SLK55 AMG cuts a silhouette that looks as classy on the streets of Toorak and Vaucluse as it does menacing a racetrack or the twisty roads on Melbourne's north-east fringe where we first experienced it.
Sure, it's got the looks that hairdressers will love; but so too will image-conscious bankers, stockbrokers and any other white-collar type with a performance bent.

Mercedes-Benz SLK55

It's no environmental bandit, either. Making a hefty 310kW and 540Nm - about the same as some Aussie-made V8 performance sedans - it drinks an official 8.5 litres per 100km, or 30 per cent less than the model it replaces. Mercedes claims it is the most economical naturally-aspirated V8 on the Australian market, bar none.
Depending on the driving mode you select, it can use both cylinder shutdown technology - switching from eight cylinders to four in light throttle situations - and an unintrusive stop-start system so seamless you barely register it working.
The 11.2L/100km we achieved cruising on country roads under a moderate throttle was still a decent number for a car that can sprint to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds, although that ballooned to 16.9L/100km later in the day on a long, twisty uphill ascent driven with enthusiasm.

Mercedes-Benz SLK55

The SLK55 AMG rides on firm springs that deliver plenty of what's happening on the road surface to the driver's seat, but without ever threatening to become brittle or jarring.
An inherently stable, low-riding chassis means you don't so much tackle corners as pounce on them. Even with the stability control system turned to "sport" mode - allowing the rear-driven Merc to indulge a little more latitiude - the SLK barely put a foot wrong, giving an entertaining little flick of its shapely hips but nary even a tyre chirp as we swept in and blasted out of corner after corner with increasing vigour.
A torque vectoring system that counters understeer by braking the inside rear wheel while re-routing torque to the slipping outer wheel was doubtless kept busy on a frenetic section of winding road, but did its job totally unobtrusively.

Mercedes-Benz SLK55

Another increasingly rare creature - hydraulic, and not electric, steering - was an undoubted highlight with confidence-inspiring response, a surprisingly quick ratio and enough weight to impart generous feedback. A tiller finished in both leather and soft, suede-like Alcantara added delightful tactility to the experience.
The seven-speed "7G Tronic" auto transmission was the only weak link in an otherwise brilliant drivetrain. Its default "comfort" mode intelligently seeks out the highest possible gear in more pedestrian driving, but the gearshift's "sport" mode was too often caught flat-footed on a corner exit, or was tardy with a downshift on entry.
Using the lovely steering-wheel-mounted alloy paddles in "manual" mode was the solution, with instantaneous reactions that also brought the best acoustical barks, crackles and harrumphs from the four tailpipes over your shoulder. Dare to let the engine rev beyond about 6000rpm and towards the 7000rpm cut-out and the dashboard-mounted trip computer glows an angry red in silent rebuke.
Inside the cabin there's no sign of scuttle-shake, the scourge of many lesser convertibles that causes the body to flex due to lack of structural reinforcement. With the top down, wind in the cabin is moderate at 100km/h but can be lessened by pulling into place two clear plastic shields that sit behind the two headrests.
With the metal-glass roof in place, engine noise is greatly reduced although there is still plenty to hear from the sports exhaust that employs flaps that open as engine revs rise to create a sportier note. Tyre roar is still noticeable inside the cabin, however.
The SLK55 AMG gets fully electric sports seats covered in sun-reflecting Nappa leather as standard. These are claimed to be about 13 degrees cooler than conventional leather after being left sitting in the sun with the roof stowed. They're well shaped and supportive, promoting a low racing-style driving position.
Instrumentation is classy and plentiful, and the Comand multimedia system uses a 40-gigabyte hard drive that includes 10GB set aside for music. The satellite navigation uses the Suna traffic channel to warn of traffic congestion on your intended route, and you can plan a detailed route on a home computer using Google Maps before sending it to the car via its inbuilt internet connection.
The latter came unstuck during our launch, though, with a last-minute change to our route to avoid traffic congestion associated with an accident (helpfully flagged by Suna) sending our sat-nav into apoplexy as it was unable to re-route us and continually tried to steer us back onto the original path.
Perhaps the best news of all for aspiring buyers is a massive price cut from the previous model, down about $25,000 to $155,000 plus on-road and dealer costs.
That could put it in the price range of many professionals, including hairdressers.

Porsche 918 Spyder exclusive

When Porsche first showed us its 918 Spyder concept two years ago, we all struggled to believe what we were being told. Here was a new 200mph supercar which would lap the fearsome Nurburgring in less than seven minutes, 22 seconds, yet could average 94mpg and emit a mere 70g/km. Not only would it be the cleanest petrol- engined plug-in hybrid in the world, it would also be one of the fastest supercars ever created.

Too good to be true? To find out, we visited a Porsche test facility in southern Italy to spend a day with the team tasked with turning the concept into a reality.

It’s immediately clear that significant alterations have been made since the 918 was revealed. For starters, there’s been a complete rethink on the electric motors acting on the front wheels. Instead of two, there’s now a single 80kW motor powering both wheels via a single-speed transfer gearbox.

Another electric motor (rated at 90kW) is sandwiched between the mid-mounted V8 and the seven-speed PDK gearbox (taken from the 911 Turbo then turned 180 degrees and flipped upside down). This spins at the same speed as the engine and doubles as a starter motor, too.

The mid-mounted 570hp 4.6-litre V8 – based on the 3.4-litre in the Porsche RS Spyder LMP2 race car – has direct fuel injection, dry sump lubrication, variable timing for both intake and exhaust cams, a very high compression ratio and a 9,000rpm rev limit.

The exhaust has been redesigned, with gases now exiting via two new ‘top-pipes’ pointing upwards just behind the cockpit. Engineers discovered having two exhaust manifolds hanging off the V8 engine risked cooking the lithium-ion battery.

In total, there are three power units managed by no less than 55 ECUs. Power is a can of worms as you can’t simply add the three power figures together. The front motor is single geared anyway (and becomes redundant beyond 235km/h, or 146mph), so that needs taking into account. But Porsche says that in third gear, peak torque of 880Nm is available at 2,000rpm. That’s a monster amount in anyone’s language.

2013 Mercedes G-Class makes a cameo

Mercedes has just unveiled the 2013 GLK-Class, but it seems that another one of their models was strategically or accidentally placed in the background of one of the shots. A second look at the GLK’s picture gallery revealed a glimpse of what may be the facelift G-Class. Could this mean that an official debut of the new G-Class is also on the horizon, following in the footsteps of the GL-Class reveal next month in New York?

Previous rumors suggested that the new G-Class won’t receive many changes on the exterior - just a new set of LED daytime running lights and some mods to the front end - and this picture shows that those rumors are true. Mercedes will be doing most of their changes on the car’s interior, but that certainly isn’t visible at this time.

Next to the standard G-Class, Mercedes will also be unveiling a new G55 AMG and a G65 AMG. All three models are expected to be unveiled later this year.

New details on the Camaro ZL1 production delay

A couple of weeks ago, there was announcement made that the production and shipping of the new Camaro ZL1 was put on hold for unspecified reasons. Now, we have a few more details on this delay, and we can ensure you they are not good at all.

Autoblog tried talking to Chevrolet spokesman Monte Doran in order to obtain more details on the production delays and Doran was less than useful on what the "real" issue is, but he did confirm that GM will solve it in a matter of weeks, not months as originally thought.

He said that "a couple of hundred" 2012 ZL1 models were produced and only one had been delivered to the customer. However all models are now back at Chevrolet’s Oshawa, Ontario plant awaiting the fix. This means that the for the 2012 model year, GM will only deliver the models already built and that all the others will be offered as a 2013 model.

The company’s main focus at this point is to "get the car right" so that customers are satisfied with the end product.

2012 Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster Gulfstream by FAB Design

We all know how eccentric the folks over at FAB Design are, but one program that really captured our attention was their work on the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Now, the tuner extraordinaire is back with a similar program for the SLS AMG Roadster. Just like the hard-top version of the Mercedes supercar, the program for the roadster is called the Gulfstream and it comes with plenty of aerodynamic and performance modifications.

The first order of business is the body kit, which comes with a new front bumper with vertically positioned daylight running lights. It also has wider fenders that flow down into the sides skirts and run up into the widened quarter panels. A new rear bumper was also added with bigger vents to go with a diffuser and a carbon fiber lip spoiler. Lastly, FAB Design also installed a new stainless steel sports exhaust system that has an integrated valve control and a quad-tailpipe set-up.

As far as performance modifications are concerned, FAB Design was able to bump up the output of the SLS AMG Roadster from the standard 563 horsepower and 479 lb/ft of torque all the way up to 607 horsepower and 509 lb/ft torque. The increased output allows the supercar to hit 0-62 mph in 3.6 seconds with a new top speed of 202 mph.

Lamborghini Aventador J unveiled at Geneva Motor Show

Motor shows, and especially the big ones such as Geneva, are always full of surprises. Great concepts, practical production cars and some wacky ones that just serve as examples of design departments of auto makers getting a really free hand are abundant on the show floors. But on those rare occasions, you’ll get to see a car that will utterly stun you and leave you speechless following the dull ‘thud’ your jaw makes as it hits the ground. And if anyone can have that effect on show goers as well as the millions tuned in to the latest launches by way of the internet, it’s that mad little car maker nestled away in the hills of Sant’Agata Bolognese in Italy – Lamborghini.

This year though, at the Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini has outdone itself. That’s a tall order considering what it gave us last year at Geneva, the Aventador. The internet was already abuzz with rumours for the last few months about the roadster version of the Aventador making a show at Geneva. Now throughout history, the roadsters that roll out with the Raging Bull badge always manage to look even more gorgeous when compared to their hard-top siblings. So it was a foregone conclusion that the topless Aventador would be no different. But this time Lamborghini seems to have taken the business of taking an axe to the roof of their latest hypercar rather literally. It’s all gone – the roof and the windscreen even. And the result is nothing short of utterly insane, the Aventador J.

Yes, the Aventador J has no roof and no windscreen. Instead, it features two small wind deflectors in front of each seat, and a centre mirror that pops up from between them like an aerodynamic little dish antenna. On either side, there are similarly styled wing mirrors as well. Then there is the new air dam at the front and back, both of which have been supplemented by carbon-fibre winglets, making the design look even more aggressive than before. A huge rear carbon-fibre spoiler adds even more ‘racy’ bits to the car. The Aventador J sacrifices all the luxuries of modern cars such as the sat-nav, air conditioning and even seat fabric. To save weight, the boffins at Lamborghini have come up with a new carbon-fibre fabric called ‘Carbonskin’ which they claim is soft enough to use on the interior as well as the seats.

At the back, the crazy 6.5-litre V12 engine which produces an insane 700PS of power as well as its lightning quick gear changing ISR transmission is retained. So is the four-wheel drive system that sends all this destructive power to the four wheels. So one can imagine that no amount of performance as been lost. Zero to 100km/h should still come up in under three seconds and it will still scream its way to speeds of well over 300km/h. Just in this case, the brave driver (and brave passenger if any) would need to wear a helmet.

What is stunning most of all about the Aventador J is of course the way the designers have managed to get the exterior to flow into the interior back into exterior again – nothing short of a work of art! But sadly that is what the Aventador J will always remain – a work of art. It is an absolute one-off. Even though the car is entirely road legal, the one that is on display on the show floor at Geneva is the only one that will ever be made. But what’s even crazier is that it is actually on sale. No price has been announced, and let’s face it, you can’t put a price on art. One extremely lucky, and extremely rich person will actually get to drive it home, and there is a good chance that it’ll spend the rest of its days being admired and treasured like a priceless painting. Think of it as a Monet then, or a Rembrandt, albeit one which can shake your house down with the noise it makes and rearrange your organs when you put your foot down.

2013 Toyota Venza: Preview

2011 Toyota Venza

A refreshed version of Toyota's Venza crossover is due to be introduced at the New York Auto Show next month, and while Toyota hasn't yet given us a good look at the new Venza (other than this teaser photo above), it's now released enough details about the upcoming model so that we have a pretty good idea where it's headed. The 2013 Toyota Venza will be reshaped to some degree, including a new upper and lower grille, different fog lamps, a new taillight design, and a new 19-inch wheel design. And to freshen the look, three new colors will join the palette: Attitude Black, Cypress Pearl, and Cosmic Gray Mica. Based on the teaser image, the headlights and grille will likely more closely match the designs introduced in the latest 2012 Toyota Camry and Toyota Avalon models--but differences, really, are slight.
Before we get a closer look at the new Venza, the biggest news is probably its bolstered connectivity and infotainment features. The 2013 Venza will gain Toyota's Entune suite of multi-media features, as well as a revised feature list and option packages. Specifically, Entune comes with the middle Venza XLE trim on up, and top Limited models will get Premium hard-disk-based navigation and JBL sound in conjunction with Entune.
As before, the Venza will be offered in four-cylinder or V-6 form, in base LE, mid-range XLE, and top-lux Limited trims—again with the Limited model V-6-only. But each level adds some other new features for 2013. LE models get new Display Audio systems (comparable to those that made their debut in the 2013 Camry), plus a blind-spot side mirrors, puddle lamps, and outer turn signals. Venza XLE models get a memory power driver's seat, reverse-tilt outside mirrors, and navigation—in addition to Entune. And at the top of the line, all Limited models now get LED daytime running lights plus the JBL/nav/Entune combination.
Outside of these feature revisions, as well as a tweaked exterior and interior design, we don't expect the 2013 Venza to change all that significantly. Since the model's original debut, for 2009, it's occupied a middle ground between crossovers, like the Nissan Murano and Ford Edge; station wagons; and 'alternative' more fastback-like vehicles such as the Honda Accord Crosstour (now just renamed the Crosstour). It both looks and drives like a middle ground between the Camry mid-size sedan and the Highlander utility vehicle—aiming at those who want a higher seating position and easier entry, without a trucky ride or off-road ability.
Over several drives, we've found the Venza to be strong and smooth, but not all that inspiring from behind the wheel. Its seats are indeed comfortable—and its earned excellent safety ratings—but we've noted that some of the current Venza's hard-plastic interior trim to be a bit disappointing, so we hope Toyota improves on that.
See our full review of the 2012 Venza for more information about the current model. Also, stay tuned for live pictures and other info about the 2013 Toyota Venza by following our New York Auto Show coverage.

Mercedes-Benz GL Grand Edition

Mercedes-Benz has presented the most abrupt version of off-road car GL. This car has received designation Grand Edition. Smart GL Grand Edition will be possible to distinguish simply enough on road. This monster has received a new bumper with the light-emitting diodes, a new radiator enclosure with three powerful "edges", tinted head lights, 20-inch wheel disks. Plus is special color of a body, glass with protection against an ultraviolet (thanking it interior doesn't heat up almost even under the sun) and many other things. The interior is capable to amaze even traditional buyers of Mercedes-Benz who have got used to luxury.

The front extension housing, door panels, armrests and other elements of an interior are sheathed by an excellent skin or expensive tree. Certainly, «the clothes of animals» are used and at furnish of seats, which here, by the way, the original.

Engines standard, as well as a pneumatic suspender which on Grand Edition goes already in base. In Germany GL Grand Edition will cost from 80 206 euros for model 350 CDI 4MATIC. BlueEFFICIENCY with diesel V6 up to 99 127 euros for petrol version GL 500 4MATIC.

2013 Volkswagen CC prices start at $31,070

  about two grand more than the 2012 model.
For 2013, the coupe-look sedan will offer six trim lines: two sport, two luxury, an R-Line and the 4Motion Executive.
The new CC gets slightly restyled front and rear ends, bringing it inline with the new Passat and Jetta. Bixenon headlights and LED taillights are now standard.
Power will continue to come from the company's 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 engine that makes 200 hp, or the 3.6-liter VR6 engine delivering 280 hp. A six-speed manual is standard on the Sport models, while the Luxury editions get VW's six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. VW's dual-clutch unit is also offered on Sport models.
The CC comes very well equipped from the factory, with options such as 17-inch wheels with self-sealing tires, rain-sensing windshield wipers, automatic climate control, a touch-screen audio system and leatherette seating. Top-of-the-line models get paddle shifters, massaging seats and parking sensors.
Look for the 2013 Volkswagen CC to arrive in showrooms before the end of March.

Carlsson upgrades the Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG for the Geneva motor show

If supercars had a spiritual home all to themselves, it probably would be the Geneva motor show. This year we'll see the new Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, the Lamborghini Aventador Roadster and the Aston Martin V12 Zagato. But it's not only the home of production supercars; the tuning companies come out to show their wares as well.
Carlsson is one such company. It will hit the Swiss city with the range-topping CK63 RS, based on the Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG.
The 6.3-liter hammer in the CLS makes 550 hp with the Performance package, meaning it's no slouch in any company. But with a curb weight of more than two tons, well, it's still fast.
Carlsson massages the V8 engine with tuning software, adds a multiflow stainless-steel exhaust and drops in a new transmission-oil-cooling system. The result is 652 hp with 737 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm to 4,500 rpm. Carlsson sticks with AMG's Speedshift seven-speed automatic transmission. All of this allows the CK63 to get from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds.
For the ride, Carlsson ditches the AMG Ride Control suspension in favor of its own springs that lower the car by 30 millimeters. The company installs nine-inch wide, one-piece wheels in front and 10.5-inch-wide wheels in the back, all four of which are 20 inches in diameter. The lightweight wheels are offered in titanium, graphite and brilliant surface finishes.
Elsewhere on the exterior, Carlsson adds a front spoiler and an RS front spoiler lip. Black stainless-steel inserts are added to the front, while the rear gets an integrated spoiler and apron.
Inside the upgraded CLS, Carlsson adds its signature line with full leather interior including a compilation of brown Alcantara and mocha-brown napa leather. The company also expanded the infotainment system to include high-speed Internet access. The interior is rounded out with Carlsson floor mats, door-sill panels, and door-locking pins made from polished aluminum.