Its about time Tesla finally is going to become an industry monster.

Here is a snippet from that article.

Hey if they are looking for some great consulting, you know where to find us. lol

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) — U.S. electric sports car maker Tesla Motors filed for an initial public offering of up to $100 million, aiming to cash in on growing investor interest in battery-powered vehicles and green technology.

Tesla Is Finally A Industry Player

The IPO filing on Friday from the six-year-old start-up, best known for its $109,000 all-electric Roadster, represents a landmark in the resurgence of electric car technology that most carmakers until recently had dismissed as impractical……

Tesla is a small player with a high-end market and limited production, but hopes the Model S electric sedan will broaden its potential market.

It has received about 2,000 reservations for the car, which is being designed as a four-door, five-passenger premium sedan with an additional third row with two rear-facing child seats. It has a base price of $49,900.

The R&D guys at Mercades are working on a new plug engine; a new plug-in hybrid technology. The automaker plans to utalize the technology on all of into models within the next 3 years. Here is the article below.

The information comes from Mercedes-Benz research and development chief Thomas Weber, who explained to Autocar during a recent interview that it “makes a lot of sense to bundle the high-price tech option to the sort of customers willing to pay for this sort of thing.”

The technology has already been previewed by last year’s Vision S500 Plug-In Hybrid Concept, which combined a 3.5L V-6 gasoline engine with an electric motor running on lithium-ion batteries.

Dropping this powertrain into the next-generation S-Class, which is also expected to benefit from a weight reduction program and aerodynamic aids, Mercedes-Benz could potentially deliver the promised 70 mpg luxury sedan.

There won’t be a purely electric version, however. Weber ruled such a car out due to concerns over its range. Note, however, that a plug-in hybrid version could potentially drive on all-electric power alone for short distances.

As for the rest of the lineup, expect a new range of “MoVe” modular V-6 and V-8 engines featuring direct-injection and turbocharging technologies.

 

Source: http://www.automotive-fleet.com/News/Story/2010/01/Plug-In-Hybrid-Option-for-Next-Gen-Mercedes-Benz-S-Class.aspx

 

 

Find A Great- R-Class here…..

http://www.superherocars.com/postads/listing_details/789/_2007_Mercedes-Benz_R350.html

BMW now has 2 iPhone Apps

This story just in from Automotive Fleet magazine.

This shows how technology is taking great leaps and bounds.

The M Power app measures vehicle acceleration using your iPhone’s (or iPod Touch’s) built-in accelerometer. After securing the iPhone (via a windshield mount or just tossing it in a cup holder), the app will measure 0-60 mph times other user-customizable speeds in mph or kph. The app will also measure forward and lateral G-forces for users who want to take a spin on a skidpad. Users can also unlock different skins on BMW’s Web site to customize the look and feel of the app.

Although branded with the BMW M badge, the M Power app will work for any car you can fit an iPhone into. Unlike my favorite paid iPhone accelerometer-based speed computer, Dynolicious, BMW’s app doesn’t look like it will calculate your vehicle’s horsepower or torque. But at the low cost of “free,” the M Power app is a hard bargain to turn down.

Source: http://www.automotive-fleet.com/News/Story/2010/01/BMW-Launches-Free-M-Power-iPhone-Application.aspx?interstitial=1

 

This short excerpt comes from Automotive Fleet; Mercedes will be lowering its power-train on many of its V8 engines.  

Lets hope Benz it not going soft

The 6.2L V-8 powering Mercedes’ AMG lineup will be replaced by the end of 2010 by a twin turbocharged 5.5L V-8, Inside Line quotes Daimler AG Group Research & Mercedes-Benz Cars Development board member Dr. Thomas Weber as saying.

Under Mercedes’ reported plan to downsize its powertrains, all V-8s will shrink in size for 2011, with turbocharging making up for the power deficit. If true, the move to smaller displacement engines would help increase efficiency while also reducing CO2 emissions, according to Auto Blog.

Source: http://www.automotive-fleet.com/News/Story/2009/12/Twin-turbo-5-5L-V-8-to-Replace-Mercedes-Benz-6-2L-V-8.aspx

The 2011Audi A8 has been unveiled and its a pretty one although its not as bulky as the older models and has gone through a few minor changes in the body and the sleek interior.  As many Audi fans wait for this vehicle there are two versions that will be released. The extended wheelbase and the normal wheel base which is to some more of a drivers car.  Here is an snippet of some of the features this new Audi has to offer.

The A8 NWB V8 is powered by a 4.2-liter FSI V8 that makes 372 horsepower and 328 pound-feet of torque and is mated to an eight-speed automatic. Audi says the car will sprint from zero to 60 mph in less than 5.7 seconds and is expected to deliver 15-percent better fuel economy than its predecessor. All-wheel drive is standard, and a sport differential is optional.

The 2011 Audi A8 will be here at SuperHeroCars

The new model features driver-selectable settings for suspension, steering, throttle, transmission and cornering lights. Among the available driver-assistance technologies are adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, night vision with infrared thermal imaging and pedestrian detection, lane- and side-assist technology and automatic emergency braking.

The 2011 A8 also has a standard Bose surround-sound audio system, as well as an optional Bang & Olufsen advanced system with 1,400 watts and 19 speakers.

They have not given us any price ranges for this car as yet, but its ok. We here at SuperHeroCars now offer in house financing for those looking to attain such luxury.

Source: http://www.automotive-fleet.com/News/Story/2009/12/Revealed-2011-Audi-A8.aspx

The 2010 Ford Fusion took the prestigious Motor Trend Car of the Year award; to win the award the Fusion outmatched many other makes and models in six categories.

The 2010 Ford Fusion is Motors Trends Car Of The Year

1. Design

2. Achievement

3. Engineering Excellence

4. Intended Function

5. Efficiency

6. Safety

7. Value  

The 2010 Fusion Hybrid combines many aspects of what a new age hybrid vehicle should be.

It combines space, fantastic design and and even better fuel efficiency  of 41 MPG; which is its best attribute. Along with more highway MPG this vehicles design is a sure head turner at every stop light. When this vehicle is fully loaded it adds even more car for your money and has an extra kick under the hood.    

Source: http://www.automotive-fleet.com/News/Story/2009/11/Ford-Fusion-Named-MOTOR-TREND-Car-of-the-Year.aspx

The new Aston Martin Rapide will be turing alot more heads next year when they make the base model under 200k. This should help boost sales within the luxury industry, but at 200k lets hope anyone can get financing for that.

Aston Martin has set the base price for the Rapide in the United States at $199,950.

The New 2010 Rapide will be a little more afforable

 

For just less than $200,000, you’ll get a Bang & Olufsen sound system, heated memory seats and an active suspension system. Of course, there will be options that push the sticker price above the $200,000 mark.

Under the hood is a 6.0-liter V12 rated at 470 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque.

The four-door Rapide arrives in dealerships next spring, but you can place your order now. The car will be built at Graz, Austria

The Rapide has been a very rare vehicle and now when it lanches again in the Spring of 2010; SuperHeroCars.com will have the latest makes and models. 

 http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091207/RETAIL/912079991/1193

American cars have been the poster for muscle cars for years, but that is soon going to change. As Dodge is now part of Fiat, their vehicles are getting a Euro makeover for the years 2010 and beyond.  When this merger took place we knew this day would come when our vehicles would not look the same again.

“The Challenger and Charger are by definition American vehicles and you cannot turn them into anything else, thus they are also going to remain Dodge (branded cars) worldwide,” Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne told Automotive News Europe late last month. Meanwhile, vehicles such as the restyled Journey and the Nitro, due in Europe in 2011, could be sold as Fiats here and in Latin America.

Will you Drive This Dodge?

As times change, more and more vehicles will be made with that Euro flare to fit market trends and environmental changes.  Lets hope the markets react well to the new image of these cars that have been a stamp of good old American Muscle.

The future in Europe looks this way for other Chrysler Group brands.

1. The lineup of Chrysler brand cars could grow to include models currently sold by Fiat subsidiary Lancia. The Lancia models that may be turned into Chryslers include the Delta compact and the next-generation Ypsilon subcompact, which is due in the second half of 2011. The Delta and Ypsilon are expected to continue to be sold as Lancias in Italy, which accounts for about 90 percent of the automaker’s total sales.

This says that the Lancia accounts for 90 percent of total auto sales in Italy, who cares? That is in Europe, as stated before their roads are a bit smaller and the culture is completely different. Did anyone do market research on how many Americans would really purchase a Fiat Lancia?

2. There will be no changes at Jeep. Its lineup of SUVs and crossovers will continue to be sold.

Separately, Chrysler’s Ram pickups could be sold in Europe as part of the Fiat Professional light commercial vehicle unit’s portfolio. Fiat has not given a timetable for an official launch of the Ram pickup launch in Europe. Currently, Rams are sold in Europe only by private importers.

According to company figures for 2008, Chrysler Group sold 87,637 units in Europe. Jeep was the top-selling brand with 32,542 units, followed by Chrysler brand’s 28,936 sales and Dodge’s 26,159 units.

Fiat Group Automobiles sold 1.17 million units in Europe last year, according European automaker association ACEA. The Fiat brand led with 957,267 units followed by Lancia’s 113,978 sales and Alfa Romeo’s 102,223 units.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20091206/COPY01/312069985/1076

With the closing of many GM dealerships across the nation this past year; no one ever asked the question- what happened to all those customers?

Now that question has been answered, GM has offered 45-day discounts up to $2,000 for over 900,000 customers of their closed dealerships. But there is a catch…. the size of discount depends on “likelihood to purchase a GM vehicle and the relative distance to the next closest dealer” .

Doesn’t seem like much; but none the less the customers were on GM’s mind for once. 

These deals seem a bit useless when it comes to average customer credit in this market. But as stated before at least they are trying. Here is more from the article:

Other incentives

Customers who want the discount have to bring in the certificate enclosed with the letter as well as a proof of identity, Strosberg said. The offer extends to Jan. 4.

GM plans to begin a second wave of the program early next year that will include Saturn customers, Strosberg said.   The automaker also is issuing a service offer that includes a vehicle inspection and tire rotation to all customers of closed stores, the letter said. This offer is good through May.

GM’s U.S. sales chief Susan Docherty said Nov. 16 that the company was launching an incentive program for its four surviving U.S. brands in an attempt to flush out excess 2009 inventory. She did not discuss details.

“GM has to use aggressive marketing to try to keep those customers in the fold,” said Michelle Krebs, a senior analyst with the Edmunds.com research firm. “There are other brands waiting to pick those people up.”

Chrysler Group announced last week that it was offering cash incentives of $1,000 to $1,500 on many vehicles.

Boosting sales

“GM is working with a new foundation of fewer brands,” J.D. Power analyst Jeff Schuster said in an e-mail today.

“New product is obviously a key component to success, but the rebuilding can’t continue without a strong customer base. Loyalty is the name of the game here. It is much harder to get back a displaced customer than bring in a new one and GM is proactively going after buyers that may be at risk.”

GM’s November retail sales were on pace to increase 10 to 15 percent from a year earlier, Docherty said last week.

In October, GM’s U.S. sales rose 5 percent for its first year-over-year gain since January 2008.

GM sales plunged 34 percent during the first 10 months of the year compared with the same period a year ago.

A total of 1,839 GM dealerships have agreed to shut down by October 2010, the company said in a Nov. 16 filing with the government.

GM now has 5,860 dealerships and plans to scale back to between 3,600 and 4,000 over the long term, the filing said.

The negotiations, which also involve Chrysler, seek an alternative to legislation that would reverse dealer terminations. The legislation passed the House last summer but has stalled in the Senate.

More GM dealerships will be closing

As GM battles the recession this leaves many of their dealerships out to dry and in come cases out in the cold. But only $1000? Not even 12% off regardless of credit? What ever happen toa great deal; this is just an average deal GM is putting out there to pull in neglected customers.

This was a great ploy by GM to gain back some of those lost customers. Lets hope that some of those customers do return; SuperHeroCars will be more than glad to assist any ex-GM customers looking to get into a vehicle.

In a report released today many are fearing that the auto industry may go through simailar challenges as the airline industry a few years back: the cycle of bankruptcies, weak sales and horrible production has made the industry.

Many auto companies have been through tough times within the next 5 years as they try to rebound and repair balance sheets; this also put pressure on consumers to buy more and expect less.

The Auto Industry will be felling the effects of the Airline Bust from a few years ago.

Here is a snippet from the Fitch Ratings Report:  

With about $125 billion in government support already doled out for the auto industry, more aid may be extended given the prospect for weak sales, Fitch said. General Motors and Chrysler, which were both restructured with government capital, will not be in a position to access the equity markets in 2010, Fitch said.

“A number of suppliers have emerged from bankruptcy with untested business models and capital structures, which have and may result in double-dip bankruptcies,” Fitch said. “The manufacturers could also fall into the same pattern.”

Moreover, a double-dip recession or spike in gas prices could halt any market improvement, the agency said.

Ford Motor Co., the only automaker not to receive a government bailout, has improved its liquidity and addressed refinancing risk, Fitch said. Its access to bank loans, unsecured debt and the equity markets for now give it a competitive advantage over Chrysler and GM, Fitch said.

“Ford is best positioned from a production and product standpoint to further strengthen its balance sheet,” while GM and Chrysler are still restructuring and face a more difficult road toward independently access capital, Fitch said.

Cash-for-clunkers, a government auto scrapping program meant to bolster sales, had a negligible impact on sales volumes this year but has helped improve the used car market by getting rid of older vehicles, Fitch said.

With all of these changes within the industry there is no wonder they are calling this the next airline industry. But there is some hope new ideas, new markets and more buying power can steer this industry away from another major meltdown. With GM and Chrysler getting government deals; this almost forces them to perform at higher levels before the markets calm down again.

Lets just hope that things will pick up before the government has to step in again. 

Source:http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091123/RETAIL/311239896/1128