2005 Honda Accord Hybrid - NHTSA to Investigate Acceleration Issuess

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced it will be opening an investigation into complaints that owners of the Honda Accord Hybrid are experiencing braking problems and unintentional acceleration issues.

The unintended acceleration was reported back in July 2005, when an Accord Hybrid driver said her vehicle sped up while driving over rumble strips on the freeway shoulder with the brakes applied, resulting in an accident. The incident left her passenger dead and the driver disabled. Occupants from two other vehicles were injured as well.

NHTSA records contain 22 other recorded incidents citing insufficient braking performance on uneven road surfaces from the Accord Hybrid and Civic Hybrid vehicles. The agency will dive deeper into the matter before deciding whether it needs to proceed with a formal probe and, if necessary, a recall.

Honda maintains its hybrid vehicles utilize the same hydraulic brake system as its conventionally powered vehicles and that it is far too early to speculate on another potential case of unintended acceleration.

The hybrid family sedan was available in the U.S. from 2005 to 2007 and paired Honda's Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system with a 3.0-liter V-6. The six-cylinder was quite powerful at its time, developing a combined 253 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque.

Unfortunately, it was a slow seller as critics pointed to the high cost (the 2007 model was $31,685, including a $595 destination charge) and fuel efficiency that was not substantially greater than the four-cylinder Accord. According to the EPA, the hybrid's fuel economy was rated at 28 city/35 highway mpg with the five-speed automatic transmission.

via Automotive News (Subscription required) courtesy of Motor Trend Staff

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca gets name change as Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

MONTEREY, Calif., January 20, 2010 - Automobile enthusiasts worldwide have been descending on the Monterey, California peninsula each August for three decades. They come to enjoy the world’s finest pre- and post-war race cars competing as they were originally intended on the challenging road course. This rich tradition continues August 12-15 with a fresh new look and name - the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion - at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is the confluence of historic race cars, legendary drivers and motoring enthusiasts. “It’s a new dawn for the event and we are embracing it by honoring the authenticity of the race cars and integrating social and lifestyle elements that present guests with new discoveries to keep it exciting and innovative,” said Barry Toepke, vice president of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “Our new name and branding captures the spirit that has made this event one of the most respected gatherings of its kind worldwide.”
“The Rolex connection to motorsports is significant and we are pleased to formalize a new relationship with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and to become the inaugural sponsor of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. As always, we are proud to maintain a strong presence on the Monterey Peninsula,” commented Peter Nicholson, vice president of Rolex Watch USA, Inc.
Formerly known as the Monterey Historic Automobile Races®, the event is now produced exclusively by SCRAMP (Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula), a not-for-profit 501(C)4 corporation established in 1957. A professional staff is supported by thousands of community volunteers and a volunteer board of directors who are the backbone of every event.
“Each one of our 27 SCRAMP board members will spend hundreds of hours on this event, just as the board has done for all the historic racing held in Monterey,” explained Gill Campbell, CEO/general manager for Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “Our directors and volunteers are amazing and are completely immersed in every aspect of the event to ensure its success.” In return, SCRAMP donates its net proceeds to the volunteer groups that help put on the races.
The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion will continue the annual tradition of honoring one marque each year that is chosen for its historical significance and achievements. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will announce the featured marque and new logo in the coming weeks.
Approximately 400 cars will be accepted based on their racing pedigree for the 14 race groups. This year’s featured races are Formula 1, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year; Trans-Am; and for the first time ever, stock cars (with drum brakes) that competed between 1966 and 1975. Additionally, the Bugatti Club of America will celebrate its 50th anniversary with an exclusive Bugatti Grand Prix, with cars entered from as far away as Australia, France, Germany and Switzerland.
For ticket and additional information please visit www.Mazdaraceway.com or call 800-327-7322.
A leader in the Swiss watchmaking industry, Rolex owes this reputation to the pioneering spirit and perpetual quest for perfection and innovation that have distinguished the brand since its creation over a century ago. In 1926 Rolex invented the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch and, in 1931, it created the first self-winding mechanism with a Perpetual rotor. Renowned for its privileged association with the worlds of sport, exploration, and culture, Rolex has had a long-time and deep involvement with both contemporary and historic motorsport - at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, the LeMans 24 Hour Race, the European LeMans Series, the Goodwood Revival, the long-running historic races in Monterey and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. This distinguished timepiece is treasured by individuals in every endeavour.  Sports enthusiasts value its ruggedness, explorers depend on its reliability, and some simply value its elegance. Rolex has become a symbol of life’s crowning achievements.
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca’s world-class 2010 racing schedule includes the American Le Mans Series Monterey presented by Patron May 21-23, the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix featuring MotoGP World Championship July 23-25, the Pre-Reunion August 7-8 and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion August 12-15.
Press release via Mazda

2008 Hyundai Veracruz, Santa Fe crossovers “Best Bets” for 2009

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 04/06/2009 The Hyundai Veracruz and Hyundai Santa Fe were named 2009 “Best Bets” in the SUV and Crossover category by Cars.com, the leading destination for online car shoppers.
“Both the Hyundai Veracruz and Santa Fe are exactly what value car buyers are looking for,” said Mike Hanley, an editor at Cars.com. “They offer stylish features, quiet cabins, leading safety features and are backed by the best warranty in the industry. These are vehicles our editors would love to drive.”
To qualify as a Cars.com “Best Bet,” models must meet three quantified criteria: a “Good” rating in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) frontal-offset and side-impact crash tests; average or higher reliability ratings; and average or higher gas mileage within their class.
“It’s an honor to have Cars.com editors recognize the Veracruz and Santa Fe on their list of vehicles to buy in 2009,” said Scott Margason, director, Product & Strategic Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Both of these models offer industry-leading safety technologies, top-tier quality and a host of luxury and convenience features that offer more value to today’s car shopper than our competitors.”
Source: Hyundai

Mercedes Benz SLS, Chevy Z06 benefit Charities on Valentine’s Day through CharityBuzz

2011 Mercedes Benz SLS AMG

New York, NY – January, 2009 – For that special someone who has everything, the best gifts rise above red roses to reveal a big heart and a bit of creativity.  Charitybuzz (www.charitybuzz.com), a trendsetter in cause marketing dedicated to raising funds for nonprofits through incredible online auctions, launches its Valentine’s Day Auction today featuring luxury gifts and celebrity experiences that raise funds for those in need.

From dazzling diamonds to gorgeous getaways, Charitybuzz has put together a collection of wish list items – a chance to meet Hugh Jackman, a romantic Hawaii escape, and the highly anticipated Porsche Cayenne S. Hybrid to name a few – to benefit more than a dozen charities.  Bidding for the charitybuzz Valentine’s Day Auction will be open through Feb 10, 2010, with new luxury items being added daily.

“On Valentine’s Day, it’s easy to focus on your special someone and forget the millions who need help around the world.  Charitybuzz helps its bidders share incredible experiences with the people they love, while at the same time spreading goodwill to charities and the people they help every day,” said Coppy Holzman, CEO of charitybuzz.

Highlights of this year’s charitybuzz Valentine’s Day auction include:

•    Spend the day on the set with Hugh Jackman this summer, to benefit MUSE Elementary
•    The newly released Porsche Cayenne S. Hybrid, one of only 100 available, to benefit the Stephen Gaynor School
•    Escape to London for a 3-night stay at Blakes, including dinner, flowers, champagne & breakfast for two, to benefit Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation For Cancer Research
•    Meet Prince William at Beaufort Polo Club in Gloucestershire, to benefit The Chakravarty Cup
•    A one-of-kind Loree Rodkin yellow sapphire, diamond & platinum ring, to benefit The Felix Organization
•    A luxurious two-bedroom condo at the Ritz-Carlton Club in beautiful St. Thomas, to benefit Lights for Life
•    Escape to the big island of Hawaii with a romantic 4-night stay in a magnificent suite, including airfare, to benefit North Shore Animal League

For those looking for more traditional Valentine’s Day gifts at reasonable prices, charitybuzz is offering beautiful bouquets, sensuous spa packages, and decadent desserts for your sweetheart – gifts made much sweeter with your purchases helping charities around the globe.

This year’s full list of beneficiaries include: MUSE Elementary, The Chakravarty Cup, Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation For Cancer Research, The Felix Organization, North Shore Animal League, New York Theatre Barn, The Stephen Gaynor School, Lights for Life, Camp Brooklyn, LIFEbeat, Tibet House US, Diamond Empowerment Fund, RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights, Museum of City of New York, Blue Dog Foundation, Urban Farming, Keep Memory Alive, The Catalina Experience, Women’s Venture Fund, Melmark New England, The Actor’s Fund, and Music for America Project.

The charitybuzz Valentine’s Day Auction is live at www.charitybuzz.com/valentines through February 10. With hundreds of fabulous auction items including the world’s most coveted celebrities, exclusive events, luxury destinations, exquisite art, jewelry and sports memorabilia, there is truly something for everyone.  Items are continually being added so check back often to see the latest items as they become available.  For more information and a full list of lots, please visit www.charitybuzz.com.

About charitybuzz
A trendsetter in cause marketing, charitybuzz (www.charitybuzz.com) aligns nonprofits with international brands to raise funds through incredible online auctions. Featuring the world’s most coveted celebrities, special events, luxury destinations, exquisite art, jewelry and sports memorabilia, charitybuzz brings its online community of upscale bidders exclusive opportunities to make a difference. The company enables its bidders to truly doGOOD and liveWELL, generating millions of dollars for charities around the globe. To learn more, please visit www.charitybuzz.com or email info@charitybuzz.com.

Press release via charitybuzz

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GM Inches Its Way Back to the Private Sector

General Motors record-setting primary public offering is conspicuous by most any account. Just dual years ago, this association was upon a verge of extinction, Automotive Task Force Chief Ron Bloom pronounced Thursday morning, as a shares in GM were trading for about 10 percent above a IPOs $33 per common share launch price, assisting trigger a convene upon Wall Street.

The U.S. Treasury chose to emanate 487 million shares of GM common stock, as well as 87 million shares of mandatory automobile youth preferred stock. Of that, Treasury sold 358,546,795 shares, which during $33 is worth $11.8 billion. On a simple sale, Treasury has marked down a interest in GM from a 60.8-percent of a post-bankruptcy New GM to 33 percent currently. If all options have been exercised, a diluted worth of Treasurys American taxpayers ownership will be 26-27 percent.

Fresh from ringing a opening bell Thursday during a New York Stock Exchange a bell carrying been replaced with a sound of a revving Chevy Camaro GM CEO Dan Akerson (notably, a fourth GM CEO in reduction than dual years) held a short phone press conference, along with Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell.

Akerson noted which a automaker is riding tall after a successful pre-IPO road show as well as upon a Chevrolet Volt carrying won three prestigious awards this week, together with Motor Trends Car of a Year, as well as nonetheless concurred which a U.S. as well as Canadian governments continued interest in a association looms over a near-future.

We know how you arrived here, Akerson pronounced of U.S. as well as Canadian taxpayers, well never forget which support.

Count me between a skeptics who had wondered either this IPO, which Treasury seemed to be racing to launch prior to a Nov 2 midterms, came as well early. And we need to admit which former as well as stream GM employees, individual as well as institutional investors as well as numerous creditors mislaid billions of dollars when Old GM entered a Section 363.

That income would be mislaid no matter what. And underneath a Chapter 7, which was a alternative, most some-more men as well as women would have mislaid their jobs.

Ive seen estimates of 1 million jobs which would have been lost, Akerson pronounced Thursday morning.

The Center for Automotive Research, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Wednesday expelled a report which estimates a bailouts of both GM as well as Chrysler saved some-more than 1.14 million jobs in 2009, as well as an additional 314,000 jobs in 2010. CAR estimates a supervision intervention prevented income losses of $71.9 billion final year as well as $24.6 billion this year, for a net federal supervision savings of $21.6 billion in send payments, amicable security profits as well as personal income taxes, as well as an additional $7 billion in 10.

Of course, to accept these estimates, you have to accept a thought which taxpayer income can kindle a economy, which a income doesnt simply get burned in offshore parties, with lobbyists lighting our politicians cigars with c-notes.

As slow as a post-recession liberation is, a automobile industrys medium monthly calendar 10 liberation seems to be leading most economic indicators. Car as well as lorry sales have been starting in a right direction. Farmers as well as construction workers have been shopping Ford F-Series, Chevy Silverados as well as GMC Sierras, as well as Ram pickups (Toyota Tundras as well as Nissan Titans, so far, not so much).

That said, Akerson concurred Thursday which a growth in a North American marketplace for a subsequent few years will be for small cars, together with GMs brand new 2012 Chevrolet Aveo, not SUVs, pickups as well as crossovers. Well finish 2010 with automobile as well as light lorry sales up some-more than a million from final year.

Liddell described Old GM as usually marginally in a automobile business.

We used to be a $100 billion monetary association with a small automobile association attached, he said. His goal now is to have a debt-free balance sheet.

Small automobile association seems a inapplicable designation for an automaker which done income similar to a old penny-change bank upon Saturday Night Live, by pushing heavily ignored cars as well as trucks, together with Saturns as well as Pontiac G6s, by fleets, no matter how small a demand for these cars. How did they make income (or some-more accurately, lose it during a steady, predicted rate?) Volume.

Now GM claims which it can post profits upon cars similar to a Chevy Cruze as well as Aveo, which it needs only a 10-million section marketplace as well as 18-percent marketplace share to mangle even. Well end a year with about 11.7 million sales as well as GMs 4 flourishing brands will have about nineteen percent marketplace share. No wonder Ralph Nader as well as Joan Claybrook appear to be a final remaining critics who say GM wasnt ready for a IPO.

NOTE: By noon EST Thursday, GMs common batch (NYSE-GM) is up $2.23 to $35.24. Ford (NYSE-F) is off 32 cents, to $16.36. GMs preferred batch (GMM) is up $1.38 during $73.09.

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Rush to Judgment

You said, Folks, of all the cars, no offense, General Motors, please, though of all the cars in the world, the Chevrolet Volt is the Car of the Year? Motor Trend magazine, thats the finish of them. How in the universe do they have any credibility? Not one has been sold. The Volt is the Car of the Year.

So, Mr. Limbaugh; we didnt enjoy your expostulate of the 2011 Car of the Year, the Chevrolet Volt? Assuming youve been anywhere near the biggest automotive technological brand brand new thing since I dont know, may be the self-starter, could we even find your approach to the front seat? Or are we happy aggressive the automobile which youve never even seen in person?

Last time we ranted about the Volt, we got confused about the range, as well as pronounced upon the air which the automobile could be driven no some-more than 40 miles during the time, period. At slightest we stayed divided from which emanate this time, though we continue to attack it as the automobile usually the tree hugging, Obama-supporting Government Motors patron would want. As radio loudmouths like we would note, none of those intensity customers were to be found after Nov 2.

Back to us for the moment, the credibility, Mr. Limbaugh, comes from actually pushing as well as contrast the car, as well as bargain the modernized technology. It comes from pushing as well as contrast substantially each brand brand new automobile sold, as well as from we do this once the year with all the all-new or significantly improved models all during the same time. We test, have judgments as well as write about things we understand.

Chevrolet has not sole one Volt since the not upon sale yet. It will not sell 10,000 this initial model year (although GE plans to buy truckloads for the fleet), since it takes time to ramp up production. See, Rush, since were the Worlds Automotive Authority, we get entrance to many cars prior to they go upon sale.

But, harrumph. In the try to force cars which dont use most gas upon us how un-American/un-ExxonMobil/un-Halliburton is that? the Obama administration is offering the $7,500 taxation credit upon the Chevy Volt, grabbing taxation breaks as well as credits right out of the deserving, job-creating pockets of Americas richest individuals. How dare he?

This is another of your distortions, Rush, steady by the differently some-more level-headed George Will in The Washington Post final Sunday. The $7,500 Obama taxation credit is an enlargement of President Bushs hybrid credits from the final decade. The Obama taxation credit extends to the brand brand new Nissan Leaf, too, though if we or Will slammed which car, Ive not heard or review it. Id be surprised if we did, though, as Nissan is building the Leaf in the non-union factory in the right-to-work state represented by dual Republican senators. A factory located there since Tennessee offered Nissan big taxation credits. Maybe youre disturbed which if the $7,500 taxation credit works, as well many people will buy the Volt, as well as which could reduce the need for oil drilling taxation credits?

GM designed the Chevy Volt after the unsuccessful experiment with the EV1, which was the try to reply to the California mandate. States rights, we know. While Toyota was developing, as well as in the future offered the hybrid Prius in ever-greater numbers, GM motionless to move over the Prius-model with the brand brand new kind of record thats not utterly plug-in hybrid, not utterly pure electric.

It denounced the Chevy Volt concept during the 2007 Detroit auto show. That means GM began working upon it prior to the Nov 2006 elections, when the Republican Party had majorities in the House as well as Senate, prior to President Bush had sealed the singular veto. Bob Lutz, who famously decreed, Global Warming is the crock of shit, introduced the automobile dual years prior to Bush gave GM the initial bailout from TARP slot change. This was two-and-a-half years prior to Obamas Automotive Task Force forced GM in to bankruptcy.

Sure, Toyota designed as well as built the Prius upon the own, as well as no disbelief mislaid billions of yen substantially well in to the second generation. Do we consider Toyota did this but any Japanese supervision help?

Thanks to the not prolonged ago uncontrollable capability of American as well as unfamiliar big business to minister without encumbrance to their the one preferred politicians both Democratic as well as Republican we dont need to worry about rampant severe policy entrance out of Washington any time soon.

Youve made dual kings ransoms by convincing legions of dittoheads to balance in to we each day. I wonder, do we ever ride in anything thats not German or Anglo-Saxon? Do we have any idea how powerful IG Metal is, as well as of the size of Germanys amicable reserve net?

My venerable colleague, Jonny Lieberman, got the copy of Wills hit piece upon the Volt, as well as responded thusly: A bit of dwindle waving is in sequence though instead, Will chooses to be the partisan jester as well as gets all wrong. You as well as Will dont even worry about being un-American, anymore.

All the cheering from we or from electric automobile purists upon the left cant distort the actuality which the Chevy Volt is, indeed, the technological breakthrough. And the more. Its the technological brand brand new thing which many American family groups can use for gas-free every day commutes as well as well-planned vacation drives. Its costly for the Chevy, though many of those family groups will find the gasoline saved worth it. If we can stop shilling for your the one preferred political celebration prolonged sufficient to go for the drive, we competence unequivocally enjoy the Chevy Volt. Im certain GM would be happy to lend we one for the weekend. Just remember: pushing as well as Oxycontin dont mix.

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Chrysler Summed-Up in One Sentence

In even a worst press kits, theres a wealth of hold to be gained about a sold car in subject as great as a company which builds it. Sometimes, press kits will contend some-more inadvertently about a company than they ever intended. This is just such a case.

The Durangos all-new interior is a warn owners always deserved though never expected.

This single sentence, a simple, innocuous introduction to a massive improvements made to a Durangos previously sub-par interior, was found minding its own business upon page 12 of Dodges 104-page novel which is a 2011 Durango press kit. The writers intention, we would hope, was to indicate which customers would be impressed by a peculiarity as well as worth of a brand brand brand brand brand new Durangos interior, though it says a lot some-more than that. In fact, it pretty most sums up a last couple of years of a Chrysler corporation. we introduce a following translation:

Look, we both know which Dodge interiors have been garbage for years now, as well as we both know you, a customer, deserved improved from a mainstream automaker. But we during Dodge/Chrysler refused to/couldnt give it to you, as well as youve been unhappy by us for so long which we dont expect improved anymore. Boy, will we be surprised when we see a brand brand brand brand brand new Durangos interior, since we finally got a memo upon patron satisfaction.

It sounds cynical, though a truth is colder as well as harder than a Calibers interior. There it is, in Dodges own press materials: a taciturn acknowledgment which a brand (and company as a whole) has been under-delivering for a whilst now. But theres also hope.

Because lets be honest, it worked for Dominoes. As we may have heard, a barbarous pizza purveyor not long ago launched a new, self-degrading ad debate job out its poor-quality pizza as well as earnest a patron which they would get a better-tasting pizza they deserved from here upon out. Sound familiar? Dodge, Dominoes, they even sound similar. Makes we consternation if they hired a same PR consultant.

Even if it was unintentional, could we censure Dodge for trying? After all, Dominoes sales spiked after a brand brand brand brand brand new pizza as well as concomitant ad debate launched. We, as consumers, have been fed so most marketing nonsense in advertising these days which its essentially refreshing to listen to a vital corporation admit their mistakes as well as verbalise seemingly about a being of their products. Many food critics opined which a brand brand brand brand brand new Dominoes pizza was usually marginally improved than a aged stuff, though it didnt hurt sales. The humbled ads as well as promises of redemption made an impression upon consumers.

Of course, its a very, unequivocally big jump from a $10 pizza to a $30,000 SUV. Automobiles have been a second largest single-item squeeze a chairman or family creates after a house, as well as in this turbulent economic climate, no a single wants to throw income divided upon a bad product. With so most income during stake, will they unequivocally be willing to risk it upon company which hasnt posted a distinction in years as well as had to be bailed out by a U.S. Government twice?

No a single knows, though Dodge unequivocally doesnt have a preference here. Anyone whos so most as seen cinema of a aged Durangos interior as well as a brand brand brand brand brand new a single will have an opinion upon a changes. Most of them wont think highly of a aged interior, as well as Dodge cant hold it opposite them since it was truly bad. Whether a folks during Chrysler similar to it or not, comparisons will be drawn between their aged products as well as new, as well as they wont be kind to a old.

That leaves Chrysler with dual options: pretend similar to a aged product doesnt exist, or welcome it. Detroits no stranger to a head-in-the-sand approach, though a brand brand brand brand brand new bosses seem to have woken their companies up to a actuality which it wasnt working. When it comes to cars, quite bad ones, consumers have a unequivocally long memory. They dont forget simply since a automaker doesnt talk about it.

And if youre Dodge, what have we got to lose? Anyone turned off by this approach probably wasnt going to buy a brand brand brand brand brand new Dodge anyway. Fact is, a brand brand brand brand brand new products have been substantially improved than a aged ones, as well as a folks behind them unequivocally hold in them. The Durangos fraternal twin, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, has seen a massive jump in sales as well as for great cause: its massively improved than a aged one. No a single enjoys swallowing their pride, though its often absolute medicine. In a end, a self-defacing ad debate usually works if a brand brand brand brand brand new product is essentially good, as well as in this box it is. Now, Dodge as well as their Chrysler overlords just have to keep it up.

Not shopping it? Read a First Drive of a complete 2011 Chrysler/Dodge line-up as well as see for yourself.

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The Germanic Bastardization of Our Mother Tongue Marches On

Im not going to call it the shooting-brake, The Editor-in-Chief of the single of the competitors told me during final years Geneva Motor Show. We were deliberating the Touring Supperleggara Flying Star, the pleasant three-door Bentley. Because he longed for the press conference, Id told this EIC which he could sneak around from my records upon the Flying Star, though usually upon the condition which he called it the shooting-brake as well as not the three-door hire wagon. Forget it. No the single celebration of the mass the site knows what the ruin the shooting-brake is.
Thats fair, though wrong. Shooting-brakes may never have been renouned in this country, though thats no forgive for not educating your readers. Besides, even if many people arent exactly upon the first name basement with Reliant Scimitars as well as the Lotus Type 75, they have been informed with the BMW Z3 Coupe/M Coupe as well as the Volvo C30. Put another way, usually because usually the handful of people know the tenure landaulet doesnt meant which Maybach was wrong when they named their hard-roof-in-the-front/convertible-in-the-back cruiser the Landaulet.
Which makes the brand new Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake all the more infuriating. First of all, Mercedes owns Maybach. Second of all, the brand new five-door CLS is the hire car not the shooting-brake. Third, its spelled shooting-brake, not shooting brake. Of course, Mercedes doesnt unequivocally caring about spelling. You might remember which when word of the car first pennyless back in April of this year, Mercedes PR (and utterly the few web sites) spelled it, Shooting Break, which is usually lazy. And doubly wrong.
Of course, this is Mercedes-Benz, the same folks which sole the universe hook, line nd sinker upon the oxymoronic, Four-door coupe, when they launched the original CLS. Now, before some of you even finish celebration of the mass this sentence, you have been no disbelief scrolling down to the comment box to write something same to, Nuh uh! The genuine clarification of the coupe is the amount of rear interior volume! Remember, the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme was technically the sedan! To which you say, bullshit.
Coupes have dual doors. You know it, you know it, dogs know it. To contend any opposite is surrendering your common sense as well as buying into marketing gobbily gook. To be fair, Mercedes-Benz didnt essentially invent this sold misnomer. Rover of all companies came up with four-door coupe to marketplace the aggressively styled P5 Coupe. Again, as well as usually similar to the CLS, the 1962 P5 Coupe is usually the sedan with the sloping roof. Not the coupe.
To quote George Carlin, We think in language, thus the peculiarity of the thoughts can usually be as great as the peculiarity of the language. Going with that, when inapt labels have been practical to cars, you remove the ability to scrupulously think about them. Meaning which were removing dangerously close to the form of automotive Newspeak, where you remove the ability to effectively distinguish as well as criticize. you mean, whats to stop Volkswagen from calling the GTI the Golf Supercar? Or the Eos the F1?
Let me leave you with this: the fastback sedan is not the four-door coupe, the soft riding, lazily-throttled, 2.5-ton humpback (the BMW 5 Series GT) is many really not the Gran Turismo, as well as the slit-windowed hire car is many certainly not the shooting-brake. Ungood my German friends, double and ungood.


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