Top Banner
Monday, April 9, 2012 For Advertising Information Contact Your Local Cars.Com On-The-Move Sales Team at 599-2329 Big 3 show best monthly sales since ’07 DETROIT — The recov- ery in the American auto industry has moved into the fast lane. With gas prices at near- ly $4, smaller cars like the Ford Focus, Nissan Versa and Fiat 500 flew off deal- er lots in March and gave U.S. car makers their best monthly sales in almost five years. Larger vehicles sold well, too, offering more evidence of growing confidence in the economic recovery. Small businesses, farmers and oth- ers took advantage of big promotions to buy pickups. In all, Americans bought 1.4 million cars and trucks in March, up 13 percent from the same month a year ago. Edmunds.com said this num- ber represents the most vehicles sold since August 2007. General Motors, Chrysler and Toyota all reported double-digit gains over last March. Nissan and Hyundai set company records. Only Honda Motor Co. reported a decline. If car sales stay at the same rate as March, they would end the year at 14.4 million, up from 12.8 mil- lion in 2011. While that’s still below the 17 million of the booming mid-2000s, it’s far higher than the industry’s downturn in 2009, when 10.6 million vehicles were sold. Jesse Toprak, vice pres- ident of industry analysis at car buying site True- Car.com, expects contin- ued strong sales this year, thanks to compelling new products, improvements in consumer confidence and the stock market and low interest rates. “The good news is that the recovery has legs,” he said. He expects total sales of 14.5 million in 2012. That would be a faster pace than many were pre- dicting at the start of the year, and it builds on a strong performance in Janu- ary and February. As recent- ly as October, J.D. Power and Associates lowered its 2012 forecast from 14.1 mil- lion vehicles to 13.8 million because of high gas prices and continuing economic uncertainty. The auto sector’s recov- ery is helping the entire economy. “Auto is important because it creates so many other jobs,” said Sung Won Sohn, an economics professor at California State Universi- ty. “Think about the things that go into an auto: glass, textiles, rubber. There’s a lot of financing activity. We are talking about a very sig- nificant portion of job cre- ation.” Sohn said a lot of pent- up demand remains in the U.S., from people who couldn’t afford cars during the recession to those who waited for Japanese inven- tories to improve after last March’s earthquake. The average age of a vehicle on U.S. roads has reached 10.8 years, and many need to be replaced. GM’s U.S. sales chief, Don Johnson, says pent-up demand will con- tinue to fuel sales well into next year. Sohn says high gas pric- es are actually helping per- suade people to trade in old- er, less-efficient vehicles. Alan J. Ward, a Chicago psychologist, felt forced to buy a new car because of the cost to repair his older BMW and fill it with gas. On Tuesday, Ward was shopping for a Volkswa- gen Passat that uses regu- lar unleaded, which is gen- erally 10 cents to 15 cents cheaper per gallon than the higher-grade fuel he’s been using. And he’s think- ing about retirement. “For those who will be moving toward a fixed income, you don’t want to get stuck,” Ward said. “The price of gas keeps going up and your income is static.” High car prices don’t seem to be holding buyers back. TrueCar said the average vehicle price reached a new record of $30,748 in March, around $2,000 more than the same month last year. Even though drivers are switch- ing to smaller cars, they’re appointing them with expen- sive luxuries such as leath- er seats and navigation sys- tems, Toprak said. Smaller cars were the stars Tuesday. GM said its total U.S. sales rose 12 percent, but car sales were up a combined 62 per- cent because of new mod- els including the Chevrolet Sonic subcompact and Buick Verano compact. Sales of the Chevrolet Cruze were By Dee-Ann Durbin The Associated Press Carlos osorio/The assoCiaTed Press In a Feb. 29, 2012 photo, Fiat 500 vehicles are displayed at the Golling Fiat dealership in Birmingham, Mich. Chrysler Group was the first automaker to report sales Tuesday. Its U.S. sales jumped 34 percent in March on strong sales of Fiat small cars and Chrysler sedans. See SALES, Page 2
8

On the Move

Mar 22, 2016

Download

Documents

Tallahassee's ONLY Weekly Print Source for Select Cars.com Cars, Trucks, Vans, SUVs, and More!
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Page 1: On the Move

Monday, April 9, 2012 For Advertising Information Contact Your Local Cars.Com On-The-Move Sales Team at 599-2329

Big 3 show best monthly sales since ’07DETROIT — The recov-

ery in the American auto industry has moved into the fast lane.

With gas prices at near-ly $4, smaller cars like the Ford Focus, Nissan Versa and Fiat 500 flew off deal-er lots in March and gave U.S. car makers their best monthly sales in almost five years.

Larger vehicles sold well, too, offering more evidence of growing confidence in the economic recovery. Small businesses, farmers and oth-ers took advantage of big promotions to buy pickups.

In all, Americans bought 1.4 million cars and trucks in March, up 13 percent from the same month a year ago. Edmunds.com said this num-ber represents the most vehicles sold since August 2007.

General Motors, Chrysler and Toyota all reported double-digit gains over last March. Nissan and Hyundai set company records. Only Honda Motor Co. reported a decline.

If car sales stay at the same rate as March, they would end the year at 14.4 million, up from 12.8 mil-lion in 2011. While that’s still below the 17 million of the booming mid-2000s, it’s far higher than the industry’s downturn in 2009, when 10.6 million vehicles were sold.

Jesse Toprak, vice pres-ident of industry analysis at car buying site True-Car.com, expects contin-ued strong sales this year, thanks to compelling new

products, improvements in consumer confidence and the stock market and low interest rates.

“The good news is that the recovery has legs,” he said. He expects total sales of 14.5 million in 2012.

That would be a faster pace than many were pre-dicting at the start of the year, and it builds on a

strong performance in Janu-ary and February. As recent-ly as October, J.D. Power and Associates lowered its 2012 forecast from 14.1 mil-lion vehicles to 13.8 million because of high gas prices and continuing economic uncertainty.

The auto sector’s recov-ery is helping the entire economy.

“Auto is important because it creates so many other jobs,” said Sung Won Sohn, an economics professor at California State Universi-ty. “Think about the things that go into an auto: glass, textiles, rubber. There’s a lot of financing activity. We are talking about a very sig-nificant portion of job cre-ation.”

Sohn said a lot of pent-up demand remains in the U.S., from people who couldn’t afford cars during the recession to those who waited for Japanese inven-tories to improve after last March’s earthquake. The average age of a vehicle on U.S. roads has reached 10.8 years, and many need to be replaced. GM’s U.S. sales

chief, Don Johnson, says pent-up demand will con-tinue to fuel sales well into next year.

Sohn says high gas pric-es are actually helping per-suade people to trade in old-er, less-efficient vehicles.

Alan J. Ward, a Chicago psychologist, felt forced to buy a new car because of the cost to repair his older BMW and fill it with gas.

On Tuesday, Ward was shopping for a Volkswa-gen Passat that uses regu-lar unleaded, which is gen-erally 10 cents to 15 cents cheaper per gallon than the higher-grade fuel he’s been using. And he’s think-ing about retirement.

“For those who will be moving toward a fixed income, you don’t want to get stuck,” Ward said. “The price of gas keeps going up and your income is static.”

High car prices don’t seem to be holding buyers back. TrueCar said the average vehicle price reached a new record of $30,748 in March, around $2,000 more than the same month last year. Even though drivers are switch-ing to smaller cars, they’re appointing them with expen-sive luxuries such as leath-er seats and navigation sys-tems, Toprak said.

Smaller cars were the stars Tuesday.

GM said its total U.S. sales rose 12 percent, but car sales were up a combined 62 per-cent because of new mod-els including the Chevrolet Sonic subcompact and Buick Verano compact. Sales of the Chevrolet Cruze were

By Dee-Ann DurbinThe Associated Press

Carlos osorio/The assoCiaTed Press

In a Feb. 29, 2012 photo, Fiat 500 vehicles are displayed at the Golling Fiat dealership in Birmingham, Mich. Chrysler Group was the first automaker to report sales Tuesday. Its U.S. sales jumped 34 percent in March on strong sales of Fiat small cars and Chrysler sedans.

See SALES, Page 2

Page 2: On the Move

Page 2 / Monday, April 9, 2012 Tallahassee Democrat / OnTheMOve

up 20 percent. Small SUVs like the Chevrolet Equinox also did well.

Chrysler Group’s sales jumped 34 percent. One standout was the Fiat 500, with sales of 3,712 vehicles, compared with just 500 last March, when the subcompact was first on the market. Sales of Chrysler’s 200 and 300 sedans each doubled over last March. Both cars have recently been revamped and have better fuel economy than previous models.

Toyota Motor Corp. said sales were up 15 percent.

Sales of the Prius hybrid jumped 54 percent for the month, while the Camry mid-size sedan, which was updat-ed last fall, saw sales rise 35 percent.

Ford Motor Co. reported its best March since 2007. Sales were up 5 percent as demand for the Focus small car rose 65 percent. But that came at a price. Sales of the Fiesta subcompact fell 34 percent as buyers flocked to the new-er and bigger Focus.

Among larger vehicles, sales of Ford’s F-Series pick-up — the best-selling vehi-cle in the U.S. — were up 9 percent. Sales of Chrysler’s Ram brand rose 18 percent. Small SUVs like the Jeep Grand Cherokee saw big

gains too.Other automakers report-

ing Tuesday:n Honda sales fell 5 per-

cent, but that compared with a particularly strong month in 2011. Buyers raced to get Hondas last year because of fears — later realized — that the March earthquake and tsunami would disrupt supplies.

n Nissan Motor Co. said sales were up 12.5 percent to 136,317, making it the best month in Nissan’s history. Sales of the new Versa small car rose 41 percent, while Altima midsize sedan sales were up 27 percent. Nissan’s numbers got a boost from better-than-usual incentives, which TrueCar.com estimat-

ed rose 28 percent to $3,115 per vehicle. Nissan is try-ing to sell off its remaining Altima sedans before a new Altima goes on sale in July. Industry incentives averaged $2,440 per vehicle.

n Volkswagen AG said its sales rose 35 percent to 36,588, the company’s best March sales since 1973. Volk-swagen saw big gains with the new Passat sedan and the new Beetle.

n Hyundai Motor Co. said its sales rose 13 per-cent to 69,728, a monthly sales record for the com-pany. Hot sellers included the new Accent subcompact, which was up 45 percent.

Top selling cars and Trucks in MarchVehicle March 2012 sales change froM March 2011Ford F-Series 58,061 9.0 percentToyota Camry 42,567 35.3 percentNissan Altima 41,050 27.1 percentChevrolet Silverado 36,491 12.1 percentHonda CR-V 30,868 40.3 percentToyota Prius 28,711 54.3 percentFord Fusion 28,562 3.6 percentFord Focus 28,293 64.7 percentToyota Corolla 28,289 -6.4 percentHonda Civic 28,199 -9.7 percent

– Source: Autodata Corp.

SalesFrom Page 1

Fiat aims for break-even in 2014TURIN, Italy — Fiat’s

alliance with U.S. carmak-er Chrysler should allow its European business to reach break even by 2014, CEO Ser-gio Marchionne told share-holders on Wednesday

The two car makers, which entered an alliance nearly three years ago, expect to sell between 4.1 million and 4.4 million vehicles this year, up from just over 4 million in 2011.

The forecast takes into account the declining Euro-pean market, which Mar-chionne says is expected to contract for the fifth con-secutive year to around 13 million.

Trends were clear in sales figures for the month of March announced this week. Chrysler Group sales jumped 35 percent to the best month in four years. Fiat domestic deliveries, on the other hand, dropped to the lowest level in 32 years as Italians face recession, higher taxes and rising gas prices. Fiat domes-tic and European deliveries also were interrupted by a monthlong tractor-trailer strike.

Marchionne aims to make cars in Italy for export to North America, where fac-tories are running near full capacity compared with 50 percent in Italy. Toward that

end, Fiat reached a deal at the end of last year for more flexible work rules at all its Italian factories.

“This process will allow us to cleanup definitively the

inefficiencies in our indus-trial network and return to break even with the Euro-pean car business by 2014,” Marchionne said.

Fiat SpA reported strong

earnings last year thanks to Chrysler’s turnaround, but lost money in its home market, Europe.

Marchionne also told share-holders Fiat was continuing to

look for a new partner in Asia, and that the first Russian cars in a joint venture would be produced next year.

Fiat and Chrysler’s com-bined 2011 sales made it the seventh-largest car compa-ny in the world. Marchionne aims to be capable of build-ing 6 million cars a year by 2014 — the figure he says is necessary to be competitive in the global market.

“We are no longer a mar-ginal player,” Marchionne told shareholders. “We have become one of the strongest and most competitive car producers, with a level of technology among the most innovative and advanced in the world.”

Marchionne said the two companies had achieved syn-ergies of (euro) 1.4 billion ($1.9 billion) in the last two years — a billion of which was reached last year alone. The CEO said the integration process will be half complet-ed by the end of this year.

Fiat — which has a 58.5 percent stake in Chrysler — maintained its 2012 targets of (euro) 77 billion ($102 bil-lion) in revenue and net profit of (euro) 1.2 billion to (euro) 1.5 billion ($1.6 billion to $2 billion).

By colleen BarryThe Associated Press

MassiMo Pinca/ The associaTed Press

fiat chairman John elkann, left, and fiat ceo sergio Marchionne speak during the assembly of shareholders in Turin, ita-ly, on Wednesday. fiat’s alliance with U.s. carmaker chrysler should allow its european business to break even by 2014, Marchionne told shareholders on Wednesday.

Page 3: On the Move

OnTheMOve / Tallahassee Democrat Monday, April 9, 2012 / Page 3

Tremendous selection of quality, certified GM vehicles to choose from!

www.championchevy.com • 888-700-0213

3127 W. Tennessee St. | Tallahassee, FL

SuperCenter

A/C, Split Folding RearSeat, Tilt Wheel, CDPlayer, AM/FM Radio,PW, Leather Upholstery.

‘10 TOYOTATundra

$37,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Split Folding RearSeat, Tilt Wheel, CDPlayer, AM/FM Radio,PW, Cruise.

‘10 TOYOTAHighlander

$36,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Split Folding RearSeat, Tilt Wheel, PwrMoonroof, CD Player,AM/FM Radio, PW.

‘07 HUMMER H2

$34,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Tilt Wheel, CDPlayer, AM/FM Radio,PW, Leather Upholstery,Cruise.

‘05 CHEVROLETCorvette

$31,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Split Folding RearSeat, Tilt Wheel, CDPlayer, AM/FM Radio,PW, Cruise.

‘10 TOYOTA4Runner

$29,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Split Folding RearSeat, Tilt Wheel, CDPlayer, AM/FM Radio,PW, Leather Upholstery.

‘10 LINCOLN MKX

$29,9001-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Split Folding RearSeat, Tilt Wheel, PwrMoonroof, CD Player,AM/FM Radio, PW.

‘10 ACURA TSX

$26,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Split Folding RearSeat, Tilt Wheel, AM/FMRadio.

‘11 FORD F-150

$26,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Split Folding RearSeat, Tilt Wheel, CDPlayer, AM/FM Radio,PW, Cruise, PS.

‘10 GMC Sierra1500

$26,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Split Folding RearSeat, Tilt Wheel, CDPlayer, AM/FM Radio,PW, PDL, Cruise.

‘07 TOYOTASequoia

$24,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Tilt Wheel, PwrMoonroof, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW, Cruise.

‘07 BMW Other

$23,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Tilt Wheel, CDPlayer, AM/FM Radio,PW, Cruise, PS.

‘10 FORD Mustang

$22,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Split Folding RearSeat, Tilt Wheel, CDPlayer, AM/FM Radio,PW, Cruise, PS.

‘11 DODGE GrandCaravan

$22,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Split Folding RearSeat, Tilt Wheel, CDPlayer, AM/FM Radio,PW, Cruise, PS.

‘06 GMC Sierra1500

$21,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Split Folding RearSeat, Tilt Wheel, CDPlayer, AM/FM Radio,PW, Cruise.

‘11 CHEVROLETMalibu

$21,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Split Folding RearSeat, Tilt Wheel, CDPlayer, AM/FM Radio,PW, Cruise.

‘09 HYUNDAISanta Fe

$18,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Split Folding RearSeat, Tilt Wheel, PwrMoonroof, CD Player,AM/FM Radio, PW.

‘06 HONDAOdyssey

$18,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Split Folding RearSeat, Tilt Wheel, CDPlayer, AM/FM Radio,PW, Cruise.

‘06 NISSANMurano

$17,9821-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Tilt Wheel, AM/FMRadio, PS.

‘04 DODGE Ram1500

$16,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Split Folding RearSeat, Tilt Wheel, CDPlayer, AM/FM Radio,PW, Cruise.

‘07 MITSUBISHIOutlander

$15,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

Split Folding Rear Seat,Tilt Wheel, PW.

‘10 HYUNDAIElantra

$15,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Split Folding RearSeat, Tilt Wheel, CDPlayer, AM/FM Radio,PW, Cruise.

‘07 MAZDA CX-7

$14,8781-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Split Folding RearSeat, Tilt Wheel, CDPlayer, AM/FM Radio,PW, PS.

‘07 CHEVROLETUplander

$13,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

A/C, Split Folding RearSeat, Tilt Wheel, PwrSunroof, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, PW.

‘03 CHRYSLER PTCruiser

$7,9951-888-700-0213

ChampionChevrolet

TD-0000203974

Page 4: On the Move

Page 4 / Monday, April 9, 2012 Tallahassee Democrat / OnTheMOve

Something old is something newNEW YORK — Toyota

teased leading up to the New York International Auto Show that it would unveil an “all-new sedan” and point-edly did not name it. General speculation was that it was a successor to the Avalon full-size sedan, perhaps with a new name.

Today we found out that is indeed the successor, and that the name is (drum roll) the Avalon.

The new Avalon will fight for sales in the relatively narrow market niche of full-size sedans that, despite being less than 5 percent of car sales, has been get-ting crowded with new mod-els, including a new Chevy Impala unveiled Wednesday, a redesigned Hyundai Azera and a coming refreshing of the Ford Taurus for 2013.

The 2013 Avalon’s design is relatively conservative —similar in parts to the new Impala and new Azera — but with a large-mouthed lower grille. It has the currently popular, sloping “four-door coupe” roofline, evocative in this case of an Audi.

Beyond the name and design, Bob Carter, group vice president and gener-al manager of Toyota in the U.S., also said the new Avalon will have a V-6, but the exact engine and pow-er and mileage ratings are to be announced later. Bet-ter mileage will be key to selling a full-size sedan as gas prices rise. The current Avalon, also a V-6, is rated a modest 19 city, 28 highway, 23 combined.

Toyota also did not give pricing. The current mod-el starts at about $33,000, which is a higher number than the car’s sales last year — 28,925, according to Auto-data — which the compa-ny aims to boost with the redesign.

The new Avalon is about the same size as the 2012,

but roomier, particularly in the rear seat and trunk, Carter said. Toyota promises ride and handling improve-ments, too. Upscale touch-es include a stitched leath-er dash covering and touch controls for climate and audio.

Carter also emphasized the new Avalon’s U.S. pedi-gree: It was designed start-to-finish in the U.S. and will be built in Kentucky with 90 percent U.S. parts content.

New Subaru crossoverSubaru is burnishing its

outdoorsy image with a new vehicle for the U.S. market, the XV Crosstrek unveiled

at the show.Coming this fall is a five-

door crossover based on the new Impreza hatchback that has pep, yet fairly good fuel economy. It’s powered by a 148-horsepower, 2-liter four-cylinder engine, mated to a five-speed manual trans-mission or a continuously variable automatic. As it’s a Subaru, it’s all-wheel drive all the time.

Subaru estimates the XV Crosstrek will be rated 25 miles per gallon in city driv-ing, 33 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined.

It’s built high and mighty to enhance its off-road cre-dentials, with a higher ride

height, roof spoiler and 17-inch wheels. It has near-ly 9 inches of ground clear-ance.

Acura RLAcura unveiled a concept

for the redesign of its aged flagship RL. It will get a new name — the RLX — and a new “sport hybrid” power-train option.

American Honda CEO Tetsuo Iwamura said the model would embody Acu-ra’s efforts for “human-cen-tered synergy” in its cars, as well as provide value in the premium market, though no price was given. The con-cept will go on sale in pro-

duction form early in 2013, Iwamura said.

The technological high-light is the “Sport Hybrid SH-All-Wheel Drive” system seen first on Acura’s NSX concept. It combines a new 3.5-liter, direct-injection V-6 with the Sport Hybrid sys-tem’s three electric motors for about 370 horsepower combined. Iwamura said it would deliver V-8 accelera-tion with an estimated EPA rating of 30 mpg across the board — city, highway and combined.

The production RLX’s base powertrain with front-wheel drive will be a 310-horsepower V-6.

By Fred Meierand Chris WoodyardUSA TODAY

Mark Lennihan/The associaTed Press

The 2013 Toyota Avalon is shown Thursday at the New York International Auto Show.

The new Avalon will fight for sales in the relative-ly narrow mar-ket niche of full-size sedans that, despite being less than 5 per-cent of car sales, has been getting crowded with new models.

Page 5: On the Move

OnTheMOve / Tallahassee Democrat Monday, April 9, 2012 / Page 5

General Motors Co.’s Chev-rolet brand is trying to resus-citate sales of big sedans with a sleek, new version of the Impala.

The family hauler, which mostly sells to rental car com-panies, is the last model in Chevy’s lineup to be revamped. When it hits showrooms early next year, it will replace an Impala that was last updated in 2005.

The 10th generation Impala gets much of its design from other Chevrolets. Its body slopes from back to front. It has high doors, low-profile side windows and large wheels. The company says the car is quiet. It has sound-deadening insula-tion and laminated glass in the windshield and windows. The roomy interior has upgraded materials.

Chevrolet thought about changing the Impala’s name, but decided it had significant recognition after 50 years on the market and more than 16 million in sales.

Here are more details about the new car, to be introduced at the New York International Auto Show:

n UNDER THE HOOD: Buyers can choose from three engines, all mated to a six-speed automatic trans-mission. A 2.5-liter four-cyl-inder will produce 195 horse-power, while a 3.6-liter V-6 will have 303 horses. There’s also a 2.4-liter four with GM’s eAssist system that halts the engine anytime the car stops and uses a small electric motor to help the gas engine get bet-ter mileage. All three have direct fuel injection in which the air and fuel are mixed in the cylinder surrounding the piston. That’s more efficient than older engines that mix

outside the cylinder.n OUTSIDE: GM says it has

strengthened the body struc-ture for a stiffer, smoother ride than the old version. The Impala comes standard with 18-inch wheels. It weighs 3,800 pounds, about 250 more than its predecessor.

n INSIDE: It seats five and has a spacious rear seat and lots of legroom. It has 10 air bags and numerous safety options such as radar-guided cruise control that brakes the car if the driver gets too close to another vehicle.

n FUEL ECONOMY: GM says the model with eAssist will get about 32 mpg on the highway. Mileage testing on the other two engines hasn’t been finished, the company says.

n PRICE: Chevrolet won’t

release it yet, but it’s bound to be more than the current model, which starts at just under $26,000.

n CHEERS: The market for big sedans, which include the Impala, new Toyota Avalon and a new Hyundai Azera, is struggling. The Impala’s new design should boost retail sales to individuals while lowering low-profit sales to rental car companies. About 60 percent of the 171,000 Impalas sold last year went to rental firms.

n JEERS: The Impala and other big cars could have a tough time competing against midsize cars, which offer many of the same features and ame-nities. The Impala looks like a larger version of the Chevy Malibu. But the Impala also won’t match the Malibu’s gas mileage.

By Tom KrisherThe Associated Press

Last update to the sedan was in 2005

Chevy hopes new Impala will revive big-car sales

RichaRd dRew/The associaTed PRess

Two 2013 Chevrolet Impalas are unveiled at the New York International Auto Show in New York’s Javits Center on Wednesday. General Motors Co.’s Chevrolet brand is trying to resuscitate sales of big sedans with a sleek, new version of the Impala.

Page 6: On the Move

Page 6 / Monday, April 9, 2012 Tallahassee Democrat / OnTheMOve

Performance with a clean conscience in new Porsche hybridRich boys get the best

toys. Had I known that as I

stumbled through North Texas State in the 1970s — still on my ambitious six-year degree plan — I might have signed up for Wealth 101.

Instead, I opted for words — and now I drive a Ford.

Not that I’m complain-ing. But I fit really well in Ferraris and Porsches and Audis, and I could happily own a small garage of high-end haulers that make little sense in the dour, doomsday 21st century.

We could call it Toys 4 Box or something equally cute that would appeal to my new friends with yachts, personal assistants and multiple SEC violations.

I would probably make space there for the 2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid, a six-figure vehicle that shares about as much in common with a Prius as I do with the mildly possessed high priest of football, Tom Brady.

They — and we — func-tion similarly, and that’s about it.

Most of you know the con-troversial Panamera, the large four-door sedan that is Porsche’s second-best sell-ing vehicle and easily its most polarizing.

The dark metallic-blue Panamera I had recently still looked pathologically dis-proportionate — as if some-one had left it in a wind tun-nel too long and everything got shoved back over its rear wheels.

Wide and relatively low, the Panamera featured a long, prominent hood and curving top that kind of, sort of resembled a 911 coupe.

Built on a platform shared with the Cayenne SUV, it was fitted with huge doors, a long, ungainly wheelbase and a rounded hatchback — a combination that never quite evoked the muscular 911 for me.

At least my Panamera rolled on meaty 255/45 tires mounted on 19-inch 911-style alloy wheels.

The real attractions beck-on beneath the hood and on the other side of those big slab-sided doors.

As billed, the Panamera Hybrid couples a super-charged 3-liter V-6 bor-

rowed from cousin Audi with a 47-horsepower elec-tric motor.

The result is a wickedly quick two-ton lump with 333 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque that sips less fuel than a V-6 Camry. (My question is: How many Porsche buyers really give two hoots and a holler about fuel consumption?)

Nonetheless, the pudgy 4,400-pound Panamera is rated at 22 miles per gal-lon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

Even better, the whisper-ing, cross-dressing sedan cuts and scrambles like a real Porsche, zipping to 60 in a solid 5.7 seconds.

Like most hybrids, the Panamera relies on the instant torque of its electric motor to get moving. Mine also had an automatic stop/start system that turned the V-6 off at red lights, restart-ing it instantly when more power was summoned.

Porsche says the Pana-mera can cruise silently up to 50 mph on the electric motor alone.

I was never able to coax more than 10 or 15 mph out of the motor before the auda-

cious Audi engine sprung to life. But I also drove the car exclusively in “sport” mode, mostly to compensate for the fact that I’m short.

In addition, the big sedan can “sail” — a feature that shuts down the V-6 when the car is coasting, relying on just the electric motor for minimal power.

The first time I experi-enced it, I thought we had run out of fuel or been browned out by the power company or something.

Ignore all the technol-ogy. Punch the Panamera, and it leaps away from stops with enough vigor to push you hard into the seat, snap-ping off satisfying, Euro-style 6,000-rpm shifts with its eight-speed automatic.

Though certainly not as crisp in corners as a 911, the Panamera lives up to its Porsche crest, attack-ing curves with surprising glee.

Lean is minimal in “sport” mode, and the car maintains its enormous composure even drifting through high-speed corners.

If you want to tuck inside a curve while sliding through it, just turn the wheel a bit.

The car responds. In fact, the steering — a

Porsche strength — made the Panamera seem small. Quick, light and alive at slow speeds, it firmed up some at 60 or 70 but still felt tight and seriously wired into the steering box.

Likewise, the ride was typical German “buns of steel” firm, clomping some over potholes but mostly remaining fluid and sophis-ticated.

Your passengers won’t complain. The Panamera offers limo-like legroom and headroom everywhere.

Like the Audi A7, the Pan-amera provides seating for just four in its commodious cabin, limited by an extrav-agant console that extends from the dashboard to the back seats.

But the gray leather inte-rior was still pleasant — sort of like drifting along in a rain cloud.

The dashboard in mine appeared to be cut and stitched from gray leather. Black-faced 911-style gaug-es with a huge tachometer in the center dominated the dash.

Nicely finished door panels

with leather tops and centers complemented gray leather seats with supportive bolsters and perforated centers.

Piano-black trim added a classy touch throughout the interior.

So who will buy the Pan-amera Hybrid, a car that costs $20,000 more than an entry-level V-6 Panamera? I would guess stockbrokers in San Francisco or dizzy, driving-while-blond enter-tainment types in L.A. and maybe conflicted corporate titans in Denver.

None of which matters to most of us. Here is what’s important: The Panamera is the second serious high-performance hybrid in the luxury segment, joining the more affordable Infiniti M Hybrid.

Both are really good sparkers and fun drivers. And since hybrids will likely be the main alternative pow-ertrain in the near future, it’s kind of reassuring that they now run the gamut from deadly dull to inspired.

But if we’ve got to drive these overwrought crea-tures, could we next have a hot hybrid that costs less than $40,000?

By Terry BoxMcClatchy Newspapers

Hotels rolling with food-truck crazeForget room service.

Hotels’ latest food entree is putting it in trucks and delivering it on the street.

Food trucks and tempo-rary pop-up restaurants have become ubiquitous on American streets. And many hotels are getting in on the craze:

n The Setai Hotel in Miami’s South Beach last year opened the Beach Kiosk, what it’s dubbed a “high-end hotel food truck” on the beach. Menu items

designed by the hotel res-taurant’s Michelin-starred Executive Chef David Werly include ceviche, Wagyu hot dog and salmon burgers.

n The SLS Hotel South Beach, scheduled to open in May, will have a station-ary food truck by celebrity chef Jose Andres at its pool in Miami.

n The Auberge Saint-Antoine in Quebec City will open a second food truck by its restaurant’s chef in June. The first Panache Mobile operates at the nearby Vigno-ble de Sainte-Pétronille vine-yard. The second will be on

the riverfront at the St. Law-rence River. The food, which includes lobster rolls, tartare and focaccia sandwiches, is made from ingredients from a garden the hotel operates at a nearby island.

n The Ritz-Carlton, Wash-ington, D.C., will open a pop-up barbecue restaurant from April 27 to June 29 outside its Westend Bistro by celeb-rity chef Eric Ripert.

Many high-end hotels in recent years have enlisted award-winning chefs to turn their restaurants into desti-nations. So it’s only natural that they’d try to capitalize

on one of the fastest-growing segments of the restaurant industry, analysts say.

In a National Restaurant Association survey last sum-mer, 59 percent of diners said they’d likely visit a food truck if their favorite restau-rant offered one. That’s a 47 percent increase from the previous year. Food trucks attract a variety of clien-tele, from the leisure trav-eler looking for a cheaper food option to the business traveler on the run.

“Convenience has been and will continue to be a very important driver of

restaurant industry growth,” says Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of research for the association. “Hotels are expanding on food ser-vice, in general. A logical step would be mobility of the restaurant platform.”

Riehle also points out that many hotels are mar-keting their restaurants to the local community. “Food trucks have proved to be a very good way to extend the brand,” he says. “It’s a good test vehicle.”

Melody Wendt, marketing and public relations manag-er for Setai, says the hotel

wanted to make dining as hassle-free as possible for guests while letting the pub-lic sample its gourmet fare. “We found a way to make it a more refined presen-tation than the traditional food truck on the street,” she says.

Stephen Soloway, a New Jersey resident who stays at Setai once or twice a year, sampled the restau-rant’s burgers at the truck recently. “I think the food service is a wonderful, con-venient way to access great food without missing beach time,” he says.

By Nancy TrejosUSA TODAY

Page 7: On the Move

OnTheMOve / Tallahassee Democrat Monday, April 9, 2012 / Page 7

CreditChallenges?

We can Help!CreditChallenges?

We can Heellpp!

ELANTRA TOURINGSONATA SANTA FE

$199 $19,955 $199 $199$24,660 $19,112

TUCSON$259

ACCENT$169

Affordable | Fuel Efficient | 5 Star Safety Rating

CARS • TRUCKS • SUV’S

Advertised prices and payments include all available manufacturer rebates and incentives and are plus tax, tag and fees. All leases are for 36 mos. with 12k miles/yearand require the following down payments:: Tucson $2699, Sonata $2599. Santa Fe $4299, Elantra Touring $2199 cash and/or trade equity $1,999. Accent $1,699 down.Programs subject to change without notice. • Offers cannot be combined. Guaranteed Trade-InValue of qualifying vehicle based on independent source. Consumer willget the higher of the Guaranteed Trade-InValue, less mileage charges and damage costs, or market value which will be assessed at time of trade in. Applicable to allnew Hyundai vehicles purchased on or after May 1, 2011. Not available on leased vehicles. Valid only during months 24-48 of ownership. Trade-in value dollar amountmust be applied toward a new Hyundai vehicle and must be financed through Hyundai Motor Finance (HMF). See Capital City Hyundai for full details. Advertisedvehicles subject to prior sale. Photos are for illustration purposes only. TD.OTM.4.9.12

3106W. Tennessee St.Tallahassee, FL 32304TOLL FREE 1.866.301.0530

CAPITALCITYHYUNDAI.C

OM

WEEKLY SERVICESPECIALFor Students& Faculty.^

15%OFFPARTS&SERVICE^

OR

$500OFFNEWOR USEDVEHICLE^

Limit one per use. Only availableat Capital City Hyundai. See

dealer for details. Must presentcoupon at time of arrival.

with a new Hyundaipurchase*

ith H d i

$1000Gas Card

‘02 SATURN SL2 YOU PAYHas new tires. Must Sell! $3,980‘04 MISUBISHI ENDEAVOR YOU PAYLeather, Sunroof, PowerWindows, Locks $8,980‘06 NISSAN FRONTIER YOU PAYBlack Xe King Cab, Great Truck, Clean $10,980‘10 KIA FORTE YOU PAY5 speed, Cruise Control, PwrWindow. $11,988‘06 FORD F150 SUPERCAB XLT YOU PAYStyleside, 5 1/2’Box Anti-lock brakes. $12,900‘11 KIA RIO YOU PAYUSB Port and Bluetooth Red/Gray $12,880‘05 JEEPWRANGLER YOU PAYGold Hard And Soft Top, 4Wd, Clean, Kayak Carrier $13,980‘10 CHEVY IMPALA YOU PAYRed Hot! Nicely Equipped,Must See! $15,977‘06 FORD MUSTANG YOU PAYBlue, Leather Interior And lots more! $15,980

‘10 DODGE CHARGER SXT YOU PAYSporty V-6 with CD/MP3 Player. $16,987‘09 FORD FLEX YOU PAY3.5L, V-6, Spacious Interior Lots of Equipment! $18,480‘07 CADILLAC SRX YOU PAYGreen Sunroof, Leather, V6 $18,980‘07 JAGUAR S-TYPE YOU PAYGold Loaded, 8 Cyl, Navi, Sunroof 53K Miles $19,980‘10 HYUNDAI GENESIS YOU PAYBlue V8, Navi, Sunroof, Loaded $26,980‘10 HYUNDAI GENESIS YOU PAYBlue V8, Navi, Sunroof, Loaded 31K Miles $26,980

‘00 BUICK LESABRE RETAIL YOU PAYCH126153A $9,980________$4,980‘04 NISSAN XTERRA RETAIL YOU PAYP2270A $10,495_______$5,495‘07 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER RETAIL YOU PAYCU136492A $11,480_______$6,480‘07 HYUNDAI ACCENT RETAIL YOU PAYCU043780A $12,480_______$7,480‘06 HONDA ACCORD RETAIL YOU PAYP2436A $12,980_______$7,980‘10 KIA FORTE RETAIL YOU PAYP2418A $14,980_______$9,980‘10 KIA FORTE RETAIL YOU PAYP2418A $14,980_______$9,980‘11 KIA RIO RETAIL YOU PAYP2400 $15,481______$10,481‘08 HYUNDAI TUCSON RETAIL YOU PAYCU404235A $15,482______$10,482

PLUS MANYMORE!

WAYSto SAVE!3 SPECIAL

OFFER

TD-0000203975

Page 8: On the Move

Page 8 / Monday, April 9, 2012 Tallahassee Democrat / OnTheMOve

TD-0000203976

Stock #P891. 46,980Miles. 5 Door. 6-SpeedAutomatic. DOHC 24VV6.

‘09 MAZDA CX-9Sport

$23,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Stock #P892. 45,127Miles. 5 Door. DOHC 24VV6. 6-Speed Automatic.

‘08 MAZDA CX-9Touring

$23,4951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Convertible. Stock #P876;9,353 Miles; 4 Door. 5-Speed Manual; DOHCVVT 16V I-4.

‘10 MAZDA MX-5Miata Sport

$20,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Stock #2696A. 47,468Miles. 2 Door. OHV 12VV6. 6-Speed Manual.

‘08 JEEP WranglerX

$19,4951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Stock #P885. 52,422Miles. 2 Door. 4-SpeedAutomatic. SOHC TritonV8.

‘06 FORD F-150Lariat X Cab

$17,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Stock #2614A. 23,297Miles. 4 Door. 4-SpeedAutomatic. SOHC 16VH-4.

‘08 SUBARULegacy

$17,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Convertible. Stock#2705A. 49,277 Miles. 2Door. DOHC 16V I-4. 6-Speed Automatic.

‘08 MAZDA MX-5Miata Touring

$17,4951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Stock #2350A. 59,187Miles. 2 Door. OHV PowerTech 12V I-6. 6-SpeedManual.

‘05 JEEP WranglerSport

$16,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Stock #P888. 21,498Miles. 4 Door. DOHC 16VI-4. 5-Speed Automatic.

‘08 MAZDA 6iSport

$15,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Stock #P889. 41,400Miles. 5 Door. 4-SpeedAutomatic. DOHC 24VV6.

‘08 MAZDA TributeS Touring

$15,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Stock #2722A.64,269 Miles. 5 Door.Turbocharged Disi 16VI-4. 6-Speed Manual.

‘07 MAZDA Speed3 Sport

$15,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Stock #2537A. 81,821Miles. 4 Door. DOHC24-Valve V6. 5-SpeedAutomatic.

‘06 CADILLAC CTS3.6L Base

$14,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Stock #P886. 54,083Miles. 2 Door. 5-SpeedAutomatic. SOHC 24-Valve V6.

‘06 MITSUBISHIEclipse GT

$14,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Stock #2645A. 77,212Miles. 4 Door. HemiMagnum V8. 5-SpeedAutomatic.

‘04 DODGE Ram1500 SLT Quad

$12,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Stock #P878. 2 Door.5-Speed Automatic. OHV12-Valve V6.

‘04 FORD RangerXLT

$11,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Stock #2586A. 79,251Miles. 4 Door. 4-SpeedAutomatic. DOHC VVT16V I-4.

‘09 CHRYSLERSebring Touring

$10,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Stock #2507A. 99,038Miles. 5 Door. SOHCPower Tech 12V V6. 4-Speed Automatic.

‘05 JEEP LibertyRenegade

$9,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Convertible. Stock #P887.10,033 Miles. 2 Door. 5-Speed Manual. DOHC 16Valve I-4.

‘05 MAZDA MX-5Miata Base

$9,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Stock #2605A. 93,810Miles. 5 Door. 4-SpeedAutomatic. DOHC VVT-II-4.

‘04 TOYOTAHighlander Base

$9,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Convertible. Stock #P890.117,514 Miles. 2 Door.5-Speed Manual. DOHCInline 4-Cylinder.

‘03 MAZDA MX-5Miata LS

$8,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Stock #2451A. 105,075Miles. 5 Door. I-VTECDOHC 4-Cylinder. 5-Speed Manual.

‘03 HONDA CR-VEX

$8,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Stock #2579A. 131,648Miles. 5 Door. SOHC16-Valve V8. 5-SpeedAutomatic.

‘03 DODGEDurango SLT Plus

$6,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Stock #2688A. 139,793Miles. 2 Door. OHC V8.5-Speed Manual.

‘97 FORD F-150XLT Reg

$5,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

Stock #P844A. 172,272Miles. 4 Door. DOHCIn-Line4. 4-SpeedAutomatic.

‘99 MAZDAProtege LX

$4,9951-888-432-2914

Gem Mazda

$399 Dealer Fee, Tax, Tag, Title