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

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

This past weekend marked the end of the governments cash for clunkers program, and for some dealers the honeymoon is over. In an Automotivenews.com article many dealers spell out the problems they have been having with the program. Many dealers who are taking part in this program are working hard to reach those expected  sales milestones; while others have been buried in paperwork just to even get the government rebates. Here are the few problems that dealers are having with the clunkers program.

1. Rarely smoothly

The store took in 60 clunkers and had been reimbursed for just seven by Saturday afternoon. Eret says he has been filing 13 to 18 documents per clunker trade as well as filling out online forms.

If everything goes well, he said, that process can take as little as 40 minutes. But it has rarely gone smoothly, and the store doesn’t want to be left being owed thousands of dollars because of paperwork troubles. “We want to do last-minute deals,” Eret said, “but we have to make sure we can get reimbursed.”

- So the more clunker deals that are done; the harder it will to be paid for the rebates. Out of 60 Clunkers the dealer was only paid for 7; that ratio doesn’t seem to add up. Its not that the dealer wont get his cash; he may just have to wait a bit longer to see that check.

2. Busy, but not crazy

Nearly all the sales staff at Dean Sellers Ford in suburban Detroit were working with customers in the showroom Saturday just as the store was winding down its clunker trades. “It’s been busy, but I can’t say it has been crazy,” said Dean Sellers, the general sales manager. “It’s not like everyone waited until the last minute. They knew it was coming to an end.”

Sellers said he’d only do another clunker trade if a customer came in with all the required paperwork that would ensure the deal wouldn’t be rejected by the government. “Our goal, if we put a clunker deal together now, is to have the paperwork in by noon on Monday,” he said.

- Many dealers have seen a spike in showroom traffic since the government program started; but out of all those customers many didn’t not qualify for the program, when they don’t qualify they leave the showroom floor. In another complaint one dealers in Detroit sold 120 clunker deals and has only been paid for 14 so far.

Cash For Clunkers has is a double edged sword

3. Computer crash

“The government’s computer system crashed yesterday,” said Rick Szmigiel, sales manager at Ferndale Honda just north of Detroit. “The paperwork is going through the system, but we are seeing some rejections,” he said. The store did 22 clunker deals since July.

The Transportation Department’s cars.gov Web site for dealers was down for at least an hour yesterday afternoon, preventing dealers from filing rebate claims as the four-week program heads into its final days.

That computer crash was one reason the National Automobile Dealers Association and Japanese automaker Mazda Friday asked the Obama administration to extend the Monday deadline for submission of cash-for-clunkers claims. They cited concerns over the ability of government computers to handle a surge of final sales.

- Wow, in today’s day and age the clunkers computer system crashed? With all the social media hype the new administration has been boasting about, they cant keep the clunkers program computers up and running. This also brings to light another concern; how will they handle the back log of paperwork even after the program is over this week?

4. No extension

A spokeswoman for Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the deadline would not be extended.

“Secretary LaHood said the program will end Monday at 8 p.m. That remains the case,” spokeswoman Jill Zuckman said in an e-mail Friday.

Zuckman said the computer outage “was related to the substantial increase in capacity that the department is bringing online to review transactions and process payments to dealers.”

She said the problem has been fixed.

Mazda North American Operations, like NADA, said an Aug. 24 deadline for new car sales under the program was acceptable. The automaker asked for an filing-deadline extension of three or four days.

-It would be nice to extend the program; but we knew it would come to an end. But maybe the program could use a break to measure its effectiveness and reach. It would be a great idea to suspend the program, evaluate what is working, fix the glitches in the system and then maybe roll out a new plan which is works better for the dealers.

5. Low inventories

At Tamaroff Honda in suburban Detroit, there were few customers in the showroom Saturday, though the phones were ringing. The store took in about 100 clunkers before cutting off the program Thursday. “We got rid of many ’09s and we are a bit low on inventory,” said salesman Treniel Williams.

Asked to compare Saturday’s showroom traffic with volume seven days earlier, he said: “Last Saturday we were booming.”

Most dealership officials expect a sharp drop in business next week,

- This sharp drop in business within the next week will cause many dealers to start crying out for the clunkers program again. Many customers will stay home now that they rebates are not government backed and now the dealers are low on inventory. Wow looks like the cash for clunkers was a success, depending on who you ask.

           6. AutoNation, Group 1 halt

Two of the nation’s biggest auto chains — AutoNation and Group 1 Automotive Inc. — also pulled the plug early on cash-for-clunkers.

AutoNation said that it would halt all clunker deals at the close of business Friday at its stores.

A staff of 40 to 50 people at AutoNation’s main back-office operation in Dallas was to spend the weekend attempting to process about 1,000 contracts that had not been submitted yet, AutoNation spokesman Marc Cannon said.

Cannon said that AutoNation has been reimbursed on a small number of its 11,000 clunker sales. On Thursday, Cannon said AutoNation was owed $45 million for its clunker deals.

 - Even the largest auto chain is owed $45 million in clunker sales; what makes the other smaller dealers believe they can get they cash on time.  Its not question why they are choosing to halt the program.

The Cash For Clunkers program was a success; the object was to get people to start spending more and to get the auto industry back on track. It wasn’t put in place to fix everything. But one thing is clear; many are unhappy with the results. But as many dealers are busy on their paperwork and trying to get reimbursed lets hope all of this brings the economy back on track.

Source: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090822/ANA05/908229994/1078&AssignSessionID=373326151678011

Shopping for a vehicle can sometimes become a burden rather than a fulfilling experience, you are buying something you really want and in some cases that car is something you need to get around everyday.

Buying a car should be as painless as possible; but thanks to some in our industry people now dread going to purchase a vehicle from a used car salesman.

Would You Buy A Car From This Guy?

We here at SuperHeroCars.com are working around the clock to ensure that you never get scammed, spammed or jammed into a vehicle.

We believe that an educated customer is the best customer- and most of all we give you want YOU want. Not what is in stock or what someone else didn’t buy.

In a recent article by Yahoo News; they discussed many tricks of car salesmen that you should watch out for. Here are a few that really struck a cord.

             1. Lying About Your Credit Score

In addition to shopping around for financing, you should take a look at your credit report and strongly consider spending the few bucks to learn your credit score before you go to a dealership. (are you serious, why would you lie to someone to get them into a vehicle they cannot afford, that’s just MEAN)

2. Ransoming Your Check

The sales manager gets cast as the villain in a good cop/bad cop routine some salesmen play with buyers. You’ll negotiate a price, and the salesman will leave to get approval from his sales manager, painting the salesman as your ally and the manager as a common enemy. Be wary if the salesman asks for a check to prove to the manager you are serious. ( wow- the good cop/bad cop thing is so over blown, but it has been working and they need to stop, some people get so frustratedthey eventually give in the the sales manager because he is looking to make his money. not they pretend to fight in front of you but behind closed doors laugh while they count your money)

3. Profiting from Rebates

Rebates bring a lot of customers into a showroom, but the discounts can hide several tricks dealers employ to suck a few bucks from a buyer. First, don’t let a salesman tell you that you are getting a good deal because of a rebate; rebates come from the manufacturer and usually apply regardless of the price you negotiate with the individual dealer. Negotiate as if there are no rebates. Second, make sure the rebates are deducted from the purchase price. If you allow the dealer to mail you a check after the sale, you end up paying taxes and interest on the rebate. And never let an incentive like a low APR or a rebate rush you into a purchase you aren’t ready to make. If there’s an incentive on a car today, odds are there will be incentives on it again. (this sounds like false advertising; there are so many dealers practicing this bad habit that its almost impossible to spot)

4. Fees and Extras

Delivery charges, titling fees, and a few other closing costs are inevitable extras associated with buying a new car. But aside from a few essential add-ons, most fees or extra-cost items are either inflated or altogether unnecessary. Negotiate fees down, or outright refuse to pay them. And deny any extras offered by the finance and insurance manager. Basically, if it’s anything he offers you after you’ve negotiated your sales price, you don’t need it and you shouldn’t pay for it. (OK so now we see why there has been a need for a bailout-  I mean come on- the extras beyond the warranty- where is the line drawn between aggressive sales and highway robbery of the consumer; all you need is a vehicle an extra pair of keys and an insurance policy. anything extra you can find alot cheaper from else where)

5. Altering the Bill of Sale

Never sign a bill of sale with blanks or terms that are “subject to bank approval” or have similar wording. Some dealerships will let a customer sign such a document and release the new car to its happy owner, only to call the buyer back a few days later to say that the loan fell through and they need to come back in to sign some new paperwork, which just happens to cost the buyer more than the negotiated price. ( The Bait and Switch move- come on guys- that’s is pretty low)

6. Inflating Payments

Talking monthly payments at the car dealership can be as dangerous as saying “bomb” at the airport. A salesman asks how much you are willing to pay each month, and you throw out a number—say, $450 a month. He asks how much more you could afford—just getting a feel for you. You tack on another 50 bucks. In your mind, you were just theorizing, but to the salesman, you just committed to a $500 minimum monthly payment. (its pretty simple if you are looking to buy a vehicle its only $1,000=$20  on your payment, inflation of payments may have caused many people to lose their vehicle; the next time just tell the salesman that you want to stay within the payment you can manage)

The next time you are shopping for a vehicle you should first take these things into consideration.

Second give us a call and let us know how we can help get you into the car of your dreams.

PS. SuperHeroCars.com has cars listed from auto brokers and some from auto dealers-give us a call so we can get you the car you want.

Source:

Toady- Porsche will get $980 Million from Volkswagen its smaller company. Amid rumors that Porsche is having major financial problems since the middle of last year. Porsche is also seeking to merger with Volkswagen which will eventually lead to an integrated group being formed.

Here is a snippet from the article….  

“Porsche is not on the verge of insolvency even if that is alleged over and over,” a company spokesman said, referring to media reports about the German group whose takeover of VW has stalled, forcing it instead to seek a merger with VW.

Volkswagen had said over the weekend it loaned the money to its biggest shareholder, adding a bizarre twist to Porsche’s aborted effort to take full control of Europe’s largest automaker.

Porsche, which owns a 51 percent voting stake in VW, said the loan matured at the end of September 2009.

Laboring under a 9 billion euro load of debt it had accumulated by the end of January, Porsche was forced to abandon a complete takeover of the Wolfsburg-based carmaker.

Lets hope that Porsche does not change their car designs.

Porsche Gets $980 Million in Loans

For this full article

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090525/ANA02/905259995/1193