| Consumers Digest Magazine Names 2007 Automotive Best Buys | | Posted Saturday, November 04, 2006 6:46:58 PM by Blog57 Team | | DEERFIELD, Ill., Nov. 1, 2006 -- Thirty-two vehicles and six companion models out of 253 total 2007 models received Best Buy ratings from Consumers Digest. The ratings, published in CD's December issue (on sale November 1), span eight categories: Small Cars, Family Cars, Luxury Cars, Sporty Cars, Trucks, Vans, Compact/Midsize SUVs and Luxury/Full-Size SUVs. The Best Buys -- based on behind-the-wheel testing, safety ratings, ownership costs, warranty, price, comfort, ergonomics, styling and amenities -- reflect CD's assessment of which 2007 vehicles offer the most value for the money. Six "Small Cars" received Best Buys: Chevrolet HHR, Dodge Caliber, Honda Civic, Honda Fit, Jeep Compass and Nissan Versa. The six "Family Car" Best Buys are: Chevrolet Impala, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Azera, Hyundai Sonata, Mercury Milan and Toyota Camry/Solara.... | |
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| | | Chevy HHR Panel Delivers Style, Function And Fun In A New, Segment-Exclusive Configuration | | Posted Thursday, October 12, 2006 2:46:01 PM by Blog57 Team | | The 2007 HHR Panel, designed for a myriad commercial and private uses, adds a new dimension of functionality to the popular HHR's lineup of stylish, efficient vehicles. The HHR Panel features windowless side panels and rear cargo doors in place of conventional rear doors. A flat load floor provides more than 57 cubic feet (1,614 L) of cargo space, along with approximately 6 cubic feet (170 L) of additional covered, under-floor storage. "The HHR Panel is a model unlike anything else in the segment, and it continues HHR's mission of offering customers a bold, expressive, functional and different vehicle," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. "It's great for delivery companies and other small businesses, but we think auto enthusiasts will love it too, as it gives them a large canvas on which to express their individuality." HHR Panel production is expected to start late in the first quarter of 2007.... | |
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| | | Fall Into Limited All-Black Chevy HHR | | Posted Friday, September 22, 2006 12:46:16 PM by Blog57 Team | | Chevrolet didn't win any originality points when it debuted its retro wagon last year. Aping the dimensions and layout of the popular Chrysler PT Cruiser — and designed by the same person — the HHR still seems to be selling well, beating the company's expectations. Now, Chevy is once again following Chrysler's lead with a limited edition version of its style-driven wagon. The Fall Limited Edition HHR is black with an ebony interior and black chrome grille, door handles and 17-inch wheels. No, we're not sure how they decided on this name. It's pretty easy to come up with better alternatives, like: HHR Blak. Hey, it worked for Coca-Cola. Underneath all that blackness is a standard HHR 2LT model with a 149-hp four-cylinder engine, antilock brakes and a premium stereo.... | |
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| | | College Students to Create Chevrolet Super Bowl Commercial | | Posted Tuesday, September 19, 2006 10:46:24 AM by Blog57 Team | | Chevy is amping up its obsession with consumer generated media and has launched a contest for college students to enter competition, create an ad for the company, get it produced and have it air during the Super Bowl in 2007. With teams of three students, the focus will be on the automaker's Aveo, Cobalt, HHR and Equinox. Students will submit their concepts to Chevy and five will be chosen to present to Chevy and its ad agency in the Fall. The winner will participate in production. No mention was made regarding just how much creative control students will maintain once the idea is handed over but we're pretty confident Chevy will be honorable in this area. .... | |
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| | | Apple Announces iPod Integration With Major Automakers | | Posted Sunday, August 20, 2006 12:45:52 AM by Blog57 Team | | For a car, 0 to 60 in 6 seconds is fast. For Apple, the hot new performance number is 0 to 70 percent (market availability) in 2 years: Apple announced today that it has signed on the world's largest automaker, GM, along with Ford and Ford-affiliate Mazda, to offer iPod modules for their 2007 model cars. The new connection module will also be more robust than the first, clunky adapters offered by BMW and Apple in mid-2004. .... | |
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| | | Big times for small cars | | Posted Friday, August 18, 2006 6:46:10 PM by Blog57 Team | | DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. could hardly have picked a better time to introduce a new version of the Chevrolet Aveo, its smallest, most fuel-efficient passenger car. With $3-a-gallon gas prices driving consumers into smaller and smaller vehicles, GM hopes the new Korean-built Aveo will stay ahead of a pack of new subcompacts from rival Japanese automakers. The best-selling subcompact in America since its introduction in late 2003, the Aveo has faced stiffer competition this year from competitors such as Toyota Motor Co.'s Yaris and Honda Motor Co.'s Fit -- Aveo sales are down 16.1 percent through July. But GM officials said Thursday that the new Aveo -- which can get up to 37 miles per gallon on the highway -- will not cede its No. 1 position in the rapidly growing subcompact market.... | |
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| | | HHR: a Distinctive Family Hauler | | Posted Friday, July 28, 2006 4:46:11 AM by Blog57 Team | | What's the old canard -- a dollar short and a day late? Well, there's no question that the HHR, Chevrolet's answer to Chrysler's PT Cruiser, is tardy coming to market. After all, the PT Cruiser has been around since 2001, while the HHR is only in its first year. But the HHR is a worthy competitor to the Cruiser, one of DaimlerChrysler's most successful products in recent years. Indeed, the Chevy shares an uncanny resemblance to the Chrysler. No wonder, since the same guy designed both vehicles. HHR designer Brian Nesbitt penned the PT Cruiser before General Motors lured him away from DaimlerChrysler to head up styling for Chevrolet. As for the vehicles' styling, I suppose people will find the 1950s Helm's Bakery truck-look either captivating or silly. I'm firmly in favor of retro style, whether it's the new Mini, Mustang or HHR.... | |
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| | | RENT-TO-OWN - First time home buyers, weve got your Dream Home! Low downpayment, | | Posted Wednesday, July 26, 2006 2:46:06 PM by Blog57 Team | | RENT-TO-OWN - First time home buyers, weve got your Dream Home! Low downpayment, NO qualifying, 100% financing. Excellent tenants need only apply. 304 Elderberry St., Orangeville. Beautiful 3 bedroom Freehold Townhome with detached garage. For info, pictures and appointments call 1-877-303-7900 or www.placetocallhome.ca.g20og MT. FOREST. Semi-detached house. 1100 sq. ft. 3 bedrooms, 1 bath. New paint, new windows, full basement. Immediate occupancy. $132,900. (519) 925-2984.g20 OPEN HOUSE: Sunday, July 16th, 10 Shangrila Terrace, Bolton - $409,900. No agents. 2 storey, 4 bed-room, dbl garage, finished basement, 3 1/2 bath, 905-857-8391 or Bythe- Owner.com/9058578391 1 BEDROOM APTfor rent - FUR-NISHED. Female, non-smoker, must be employed. No pets. Kitchen, bath, hydro, water & cable, includes park-ing.... | |
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| | | BMW and Lexus top US quality survey | | Posted Wednesday, July 05, 2006 12:45:51 AM by Blog57 Team | | BMW has emerged as the premier brand in an influential study in the US known as the Strategic Vision quality survey. Produced by a consultancy based in San Diego, Calfornia, the study's findings are in stark contrast to the well-known JD Power quality surveys. Lexus has had a virtual stranglehold on the top spot in JD Power's rankings for the past several years. However, this didn't handicap the German marque in the Strategic Vision survey, in which it emerged as the ‘best brand' -- with Lexus securing second spot Unlike JD Power's surveys, which focus primarily on the number of defects and design flaws, Strategic Vision's study of 29,000 buyers takes into account the ‘emotional reaction' of owners to their cars. Japanese brands fared well overall, but what was surprising was the number of awards bagged by US-built cars offered by domestic manufacturers.... | |
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| | | St. Teresa Mega Raffle dishes out its top prizes | | Posted Monday, July 03, 2006 10:46:03 PM by Blog57 Team | | DECATUR - Dave and Nita Phillips have bought a Mega Raffle ticket every year of the 11 years the St. Teresa High School fundraiser has been in existence, but they've never won anything - until Saturday.The Phillipses won $200."I'll probably take (my wife) out to dinner and put $100 away for next year's ticket," Dave Phillips said with a laugh.The two are graduates of Decatur High School, but they have friends associated with St. Teresa, and they want to help support it, he said.None of the three big winners were present at the drawing Saturday. They were Charlie Clayton of Carle Place, N.Y., $100,000; Mike and Barb Wetta of Wichita, Kan., $20,000 or a 2006 Chevrolet HHR; and Kelly Nelson of Lovington, a 2006 Harley Davidson Super Glide."We profit around $200,000," said Kassie Landry, advancement director for St.... | |
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