Chevrolet's Aveo has many pleasant surprises
Chevrolet's all-new 2007 Aveo is a subcompact sedan with a surprisingly big interior because it has a high roofline. And the Aveo is loaded with many surprises.
For example, I asked a friend who is 6 feet 7 inches tall to get into the driver's seat -- and surprisingly he fit. Because of the high roofline, he was able to raise the height of the seat, resulting in his legs having more room, making him reasonably comfortable. That was just one of many surprises I had with the Aveo.
The base price of the Aveo LT is $13,250.
The test car had a few options, such as a four-speed automatic transmission and, with destination charges, this car sells for $15,005 -- surprisingly low considering its refined interior.
Brabus goes mad, tunes Mercedes-Benz Sprinter!
Well, we've finally seen everything (or at least everything up to this week). Brabus, the German tuner whose specialty is finding ways to make Mercedes-Benz products move more rapidly than the factory engineers ever intended, has tuned the Sprinter.You know the Sprinter. It's DaimlerChrysler's tall commercial van that can be found sporting Mercedes-Benz, Dodge, or Freightliner badging as it performs its everyday duties. Those usually involve delivering packages to businesses, people to airports, and the like. In the press release included after the jump, you'll read of tuning kits for both diesel and gasoline versions of the ungainly-looking machine. We'll focus on the power package for the gasoline V6, whose displacement is increased from 3.5 to 4.0 liters, and which belts out a post-Brabus 310 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque.
Woman killed in I-76 accident
Family members say Wadsworth High School graduate Rebekah Swartz was a loving and happy 19-year-old who doted on her grandparents and collected zebra figurines.
She was looking forward to a future in cosmetology.
She loved the color purple, her pug, Otis, and most especially, her white 2001 Dodge Intrepid, which she bought one year ago on Christmas Eve, said her mother, Rita Swartz.
``Her car was everything,'' Swartz said. ``She was coming home from her grandpa's house on Christmas Eve when she found it. She had to have it.''
The teen died Saturday after a three-vehicle crash involving her Intrepid. She was on her way to visit a friend. She and her mother had been to a funeral earlier that day and went out shopping afterward, family members said.
OPP Reports
On Sunday, December 17, 2006 at 3:20am, officers from the County of Wellington O.P.P. investigated the driver of a 1999 Dodge Stratus on the Woolwich - Guelph Townline Road in Guelph Township. The driver had been drinking. The driver refused to provide a sample of his breath when a demand was made for the roadside screening device. (Guelph-Eramosa Twp, Ont)
On Saturday December 9, 2006 County of Wellington OPP officers responded to a reported theft of jewelry from a home in Guelph-Eramosa twp. The 71-year male victim reported that he had contracted a moving company to move his household possesions on Monday November 27 and after the move his wife was unable to locate some items of jewelry. Missing were a necklace, broach and a ring with a total estimated value of $25,000.00.
Upgrade from a Dodge to a Mercedes for three bills
Some of the world's automotive conglomerates are more guilty of badge engineering than others. With very few exceptions, the acquisition of Chrysler by Daimler-Benz (call it a merger if you like, but we're not fooled) is not among the worst offenders. The Chrysler 300C may look to some like a Benz, and the Crossfire may be built on an old SLK platform, but Mercedes isn't selling rebadged Vipers overseas and Jeep hasn't slapped its own label on a G-wagon. (Yet.) The most notable exception comes from the commercial side of operations, where DCX brings the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van over to the North American market as a Dodge or Freightliner. There was no hiding it, either, as the American "version" kept all the same components, body panels, even the name. Just the badge was changed. But Montana-based OEM Sprinter Parts can switch it back for you if you'd like.
A new year must be the source of a new direction
A s we prepare to cross the threshold of a new year, it becomes quite evident that the end of an old year does not necessarily bring its problems and challenges to a close. A new year is a new opportunity to generate the energy, renew the commitment and gather the courage to tackle the tough staff and synergize solutions
After a season of hyper-consumerism and holiday hysteria, the human spirit often suffers a cold plunge of reality. When the celebration ignores the reason for the season, its euphoria is ultimately short-lived.
As important as they may be, fourth quarter profits can never replace the intangible things that make life both meaningful and significant. The ancient mythological character Janus, for whom some say the month of January is named, was a two-headed monster.
Generosity overflows
Our Be an Angel campaign is one of those efforts that is like a baton being passed from one spent sprinter to the next fresh set of legs. It was willed into being by then city editor Ross Freake 11 years ago. It grew into the major fundraiser it is today thanks to two more people reporter Chuck Poulsen and our CEO, Alison Yesilcimen. Poulsen took on the challenge for many years, writing most of the stories himself and making sure families who participated received special gifts for talking about their personal lives for the benefit of the Kelowna Community Food Bank. Yesilcimen has cranked the fundraising up to a whole new level with her business sense, organization skills and the force of her personality. Everyone at the newspaper really gets behind the effort. Our goal of $75,000 this year will put the lifetime total of the campaign near the half-million dollar mark.
Chrysler discounts mailed to millions
AUBURN HILLS -- In a bid to end a difficult year on a strong note, the Chrysler Group has launched a massive direct mail campaign targeting more than 3 million Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler owners and consumers who drive competing brands.
The Auburn Hills-based division of DaimlerChrysler AG is mailing coupons worth $1,000 to consumers that can be used in combination with existing incentives on many 2006 and 2007 model year vehicles.
"That's some very aggressive stuff," said Jim Sanfilippo, a senior analyst with AMCI, a West Bloomfield-based automotive marketing firm.
The direct mail offers, which are good through Jan. 2, come atop already heavy discounts on Chrysler vehicles.
In November, Chrysler plied customers with $4,224 per vehicle in average incentives, nearly double the industry average, according to Edmunds.com, a research Web site for car buyers.
Audi of America Selects venable Bell & Partner as advertising ...
Audi of America, Inc., today announced the selection of an advertising agency of record (AOR) following a four month review process. Venables Bell & Partners, based in San Francisco will be responsible for all aspects of Audis national and regional advertising and promotions.
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