In any constellation, some stars appear brighter than others. In the constellation of Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. – one of Japan’s largest industrial companies – its subsidiary, Subaru, is that shining star.

Literally and figuratively, Subaru, which is the Japanese word for the Pleaides – has been a rock star in the depressed auto sales environment spawned by the collapse of the economy in 2008. Over the past few years, Subaru has seen double-digit sales increases and 2011 was its best year ever.

Perhaps it’s Subaru’s legendary reliability or perhaps its just that the company stayed laser-focused on its core “outdoor lifestyle vehicles” for its rabidly-loyal customers. Whatever the reason, there is no argument that Subaru has hit a successful formula that continues to resonate with hard-core enthusiasts as well as more recent members of the Subaru family.

If you know nothing about Subaru, you should know that it has two defining traits. First, it’s the only mass-market auto manufacturer that uses flat boxer engines in all its vehicles. (Porsche uses boxer engines in its sports cars, but not its other products.) And that boxer engine always drives all four wheels to form what Subaru calls symmetrical all-wheel drive.

Here’s an animation of how the Subaru boxer engine and symmetrical all-wheel drive work:

While Subaru is a popular niche brand in the Southland, you really need to drive up to Big Bear, Mammoth or anywhere in the Pacific Northwest to appreciate how many people choose a Subaru over other AWD cars. The first time I went to Jackson Hole, I was amazed by the number of people (full-time residents) who had a big 4-wheel drive pickup or SUV and a Subaru wagon in their driveways.

The Impreza has been Subaru’s humble entry-level car for many years. For 2012, while Honda and Toyota played it safe with subtle evolutions of their core products, Subaru took a quantum leap with the Impreza. The body, while remaining almost identical in size to the outgoing model, received new creased and crisp sheet metal and the interior lost much of the cheap-looking plastics in favor of more tailored, textured and soft-touch materials.

Beneath the handsome new metal (with nicely detailed wheel wells) is Subaru’s new 2.0L boxer engine making a relatively modest 148 hp 145 lb-ft of torque. The new engine sheds half a liter and 22 horsepower, but you’d never know it because its power and torque is managed much more efficiently by the new Lineartronic CVT (continuously variable transmission) that replaces the old-school four-speed automatic. Both a 5-speed manual and the CVT are available, but the CVT is the only transmission offered on the top-line Limited model.

Subaru claims a zero to 60 mpg time of 9.8 seconds, 0.3 seconds faster than the last Impreza that had a more powerful engine. While it’s not glacial, it’s 1/10th of a second slower than a standard Prius. It did seem quick off the line, but it takes a bit more time and effort for the engine to achieve highway speed.

The big news, however, is that fuel economy jumped from a decidedly uncompetitive 20 mpg city, 26 mpg highway to 27 mpg city, 36 mpg highway. That stunning 30% increase instantly makes Subaru competitive with other subcompact cars, even while sporting the heavier AWD hardware not available on any competitor like the Honda Civic or Ford Focus.

The new Impreza has a smaller gas tank (14.5 gallons), but with the boosted fuel economy, it still has a potential cruising range of more than 500 miles.

The base 2012 Impreza 2.0i sedan is $17,495. Additional trim levels are Premium and Limited. Add $500 for the 5-door version and $1,000 for the 5-door Sport. I wanted to test the much more rakish and desirable 5-door Sport Limited model; but those are so popular, dealers can’t keep them in stock.

My gracious host at Subaru Pacific had a loaded Limited sedan (MSRP $24,895) ready for me to test. The standard Lineartronic CVT produces the best fuel economy. The sedan is identical to the 5-door/Sport model from the B-pillar forward, so both should have the same driving characteristics.

First, I’d like to state for the record that I’m not a big fan of CVTs. CVTs are a bit buzzy and the mechanical shifts I like to feel when driving are missing. That said, Subaru’s CVT is pretty advanced and civilized. Humming and complaining was reserved for heavy acceleration. However, in normal stop-and-go city traffic and highway speed cruising, the transmission works well and is unobtrusive.

The Lineartronic’s “M” mode gives the driver the feel and control of a 6-speed automatic. Handsome silver paddle shifters behind the steering wheel engage the fun. The LCD information screen between the analog gauges displays the number corresponding to the “gear” you feel you’re in. Slick stuff, but it’s more of a gimmick than useful. You’ll find yourself just leaving it in Drive and saving the manual mode for a steep decline.

2012 Impreza steering wheel with paddle shifters and audio/telephone and cruise controls. You can see the top edge on the paddle shifter barely visible above the right spoke.

The four-wheel independent suspension with double wishbones in the rear and MacPherson struts up front absorb rough surfaces better than in the past and the overall architecture is 110 pounds lighter (mostly from engine weight) and more rigid. Subaru added some sound-deadening materials that makes the cabin a place where you can hold a normal conversation at highway speeds, even if there is some road noise.

2012 Subaru Impreza Sport. It's almost a wagon, and I know people are calling it a wagon. Subaru calls it a 5-Door.

Standard 4-wheel antilock disc brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) grab the wheels with assurance. Some cars in this class are still cutting costs with rear drum brakes. Of course, there are loads of airbags and the standard electronic nannies of traction control (TCS) and vehicle dynamics control (VDC) and the IIHS awarded the 2012 Impreza its Top Safety Pick rating.

Driving the new Impreza is an uncomplicated experience. As I discussed above, it’s not fast, but it is quick off the line which is good for city driving. There is no torque steer, thanks to the AWD and the 50/50 split torque management system. The electric power steering is light and easy, if a bit vague. It tracked dead straight with my hands off the wheel. It also had a great turning radius (34.8 feet) that allowed me to do doughnuts in the Porsche Pacific parking lot.
The little Subie’s low CG and stiffer structure help keep it flat and controlled in corners — this is no Costa Concordia. Visibility was excellent due to a low belt-line and the new higher seating position.

Creature features are present too. There is the usual power windows, mirrors and remote locking. Leather trimmed seats are standard on the Limited model, as is the effective single-zone automatic climate control, automatic headlights and two-level heated front seats for those chilly mornings.

The interior of the 2012 Subaru Impreza Limited is much improved.

The back-lit analog instruments are easy to read and a vertical LCD screen between the two gauge displays the gear and fuel level was well as information from the multi-function trip computer including ambient temperature, average fuel economy and time. A 4.3″ horizontal LCD screen centered on top of the dash also displays information from the mufti-function trip computer.

The simple analog gauges are easy to read as in the center car information screen.

The Limited trim level includes a 6-speaker single-CD audio system with USB/iPod/AUX and power port (under the armrest) and Bluetooth hands-free connectivity.

The $2,000 Moonroof + Navigation Package on my tester added a power moonroof, GPS touch-screen navigation, an upgraded audio system with HD radio, iTunes tagging, XM Satellite Radio, XM Real-Time Traffic, Bluetooth 2.0 audio streaming, an SD card reader (music only) and SMS text messaging capabilities.

The center dash console is decidedly uncluttered and mercifully free of fake plastic wood. I liked the dark graphite plastic surround and the aluminum-look horizontal blades on either side.

The rotary automatic climate control knobs are easy to use and have a quality feel with notches. There is no digital readout for the climate setting. The optional GPS navigation system is uncluttered with only three buttons and one volume knob.

Only three buttons adorn the left side of the navigation screen Audio, Voice Control and Map. Simple, yes, but I was looking for a dedicated telephone button. All radio functions are performed through the touch-screen, but I think physical shortcut buttons for AM/FM/Sat/Aux would be helpful. Redundant audio and telephone controls are on the steering.

My car was equipped with the optional $250 auto-dimming rearview mirror with digital compass and HomeLink garage opener. I love the compass and ditching the garage door opener clipped to the visor tidies things up. It can be factory-ordered or dealer-installed.

Of course, I have a few gripes. I would have liked more legroom and additional driver’s seat adjustments. The good news is that I was able to sit behind myself, and I had the front seat as far back as could go for my 6 foot 1 inch frame. In fact, the 2012 Impreza added one inch to the wheelbase which helped engineers add two inches of rear leg room. This is much appreciated space in a small car.

There is a much welcome increase in rear seat legroom.

The door plastics were still hard, although textured. The dash cowl was covered with softer plastic, more in line with the competition. I give Subaru props for the effort, but compared to the competition, there is room for improvement.

The 6.1 inch navigation screen looks small compared to the 7 inch screen in the Hyundai Elantra and the 8 inch one in the Focus. However, the full color graphics were sharp and the touch screen was responsive. I’d also like a backup camera.

So here’s the deal: A fully-loaded Impreza is just slightly more than a similar Civic or Elantra. But only Subaru delivers as standard equipment, its reliable, proven symmetrical all-wheel drive with a new, efficient boxer engine and a CVT.

The Verdict: The 2012 Impreza is a fun, economical and versatile little car that can take you places no other subcompact dare go. And based on 2012 Impreza sales – a 58% increase in December 2011 alone – I’d say the secret is out.

Note: If you want something with more ground clearance, something in the crossover category, the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek, based on the 2012 Impreza platform and drivetrain, is coming in a few months.

“I’ve been with Sullivan Automotive Group or LAcarGUY group of dealers since 1997. I graduated from high school and worked my way though University of Southern California with cars. I had the opportunity to work at different capacities at most of our dealers that we have in our group. I was asked a few years ago to attend the National Automobile Dealers Association, essentially a college for car dealers, in order to better my career and promote my career.”

More recently had the opportunity to be invited to be the General Manager for the Subaru Pacific store. It’s something I’m really excited about because the Subaru brand is kind of an extension of who I am; they’re a very active brand with their cyclists, with their outdoorsy, spirited and environmentally friendly people. I’ve participated in numerous triathlons and I’ve been doing them for the past six or seven years, anywhere from sprint distances to the coveted Iron Man races that so many people talk about.

Subaru’s a brand that’s also philanthropic, and very socially responsible. They do an extreme amount of dog rescues. One of their favorite charities during their “Share the Love” event, where every time a customer purchases a vehicle they have the opportunity to donate to five different charities, Special Olympics, Meals on Wheels, Make a Wish Foundation, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and American Forests. The ASPCA is very close to me and my wife, we do a lot of dog rescues and have a few dogs of our own so that’s something that’s very special to us.

As I mentioned before the Subaru brand is a very spirited, outdoorsy, adventurous brand… I consider that to be in my genre, too. I enjoy hiking and backpacking, and community involvement. I’m looking forward to growing the Subaru brand, not just in sales, but in the community. They’re heavily involved with Heal the Bay with the Sullivan Automotive Group. Our president, Mike Sullivan, is actually on the board for Heal the Bay, and being so close to the beach I think that’s something all of us in the South Bay know as a very important part of our lives. So I’m doing what I can to help bring the Subaru brand into Hermosa Beach and the South Bay.

As I mentioned. Subaru’s a very environmentally friendly company; their factory in Indiana is actually around an 850-acre wildlife preserve. It’s a zero-landfill factory, meaning all of the waste that comes out of the facility can be recycled. I’ve taken notice to that, and everything that we use to clean the cars (such as detailing products) and other chemicals, we do our best to make sure they don’t go back into the environment and become a hazard. I’ve gone through all the dealers and made sure they’re were signs next to the drains. Being so close to the ocean, everything we drain goes right back into the ocean.

All of our products are environmentally friendly and biodegradable. everything from the hand soaps, to the car-wash, to the stuff we use to clean the cars and so forth. We provide a warm atmosphere for pets, we have dog treats and water bowls, and we plan on hosting pet adoption events in the future and we plan on participating in the community with things such as surfing and triathlon events.”

- It sounds like a store that fits right in with LAcarGUY values. But is Hermosa Beach going to be the permanent location?

“This is actually our temporary location as we introduce ourselves to the South Bay, but we’ve already set our sights bigger and we’ll go from a two car showroom and a four-car service bay to a seven car showroom and a fourteen-car service bay in Torrence in approximately one year. We believe that will better accommodate our guests that are looking for sales and service in the Subaru world.

A great number of guests are already so grateful that we’re here, because there was a void in the past 15 years with regards to people being able to service and/or purchase a Subaru here in the South Bay. In the past they would have to travel south quite a ways or all the way north. We’ve had several people saying what a convenience it is for us to introduce this franchise into the South Bay. Definitely know that we’re going to continue to grow, and leverage the double-digit growth that Subaru’s had over the past 4 years.”

-What are the store hours going to be?

“Our service department will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the intention of opening on Saturday depending on demand. Our sales department will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.”

And for a little more with James:

Lunch will be sponsored both days by Pacific Porsche with “give-a-ways”.

The weather is expected to be tailor made with track records to fall! No rain in the forecast! Please register ASAP so we can plan for the event. Call today for hotel reservations – space is limited due to soccer tournaments in town so rooms are at a premium. There are only a few rooms left at the Marriott Springhill Suites at the POC Rate. Instructors we need your help – contact Dave Gardner asap. Contact Laurie Taylor with your questions and don’t miss this opportunity to shake off the rust and get your Driving Season started!

The “Early Bird” Membership renewal rate of $75 is only good thru 1/31/12. Payment must be received by this date.

Toyota’s chief executive in the United States confirmed last week that electric versions of the Scion iQ and the Toyota RAV4 will enter the production cycle in 2012. The two electric vehicles have been promised for a couple of years, so hitting the delivery dates on time is good news. The bad news is how tentative the production numbers will be.

Toyota Motor Sales president and chief operating officer, Jim Lentz, told reporters at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show that both the electric iQ minicar and the battery-powered RAV4 SUV will be small-scale production vehicles and used to “gauge consumer preferences, usage patterns and daily requirements.” In other words, Toyota will continue to sit on the sidelines and study EVs, while Nissan (and others) aim for the biggest possible volume for its electric vehicles.

Lentz also confirmed that the Toyota RAV4 EV will have a range that exceeds 100 miles. It will become the only all-electric SUV available in the US when it hits dealerships-mainly in California-later this year. The second-generation RAV4 EV is also Toyota’s first fully-electric vehicle sold in the United States since it halted sales of the legendary old-school RAV4 EV in 2003. This time around, Toyota will team up with the startup EV-maker Tesla for design and production of RAV4′s drivetrain. Tesla’s Roadster and forthcoming Model S are both capable of ranges well in excess of the 100-mile barrier other fully-electric consumer vehicles have failed to break.

Lentz said the electrified Scion iQ will have a range of 50 miles or less, and that the minicar will be a fleet-only vehicle. It’s expected that most of the 100 or so Scion iQ EVs will be sold to car-sharing programs in urban areas in the US. According to Lentz, gauging consumer preferences means that Toyota will “test” both electrified vehicles for three years, at which point the automaker will determine whether or not the technology is ready for mass production.

Pricing information for both vehicles is still unknown.

Right off the bat, you might notice another interesting detail as the outside rearview mirrors have been moved off the door glass to the door itself. As a result, forward visibility is greatly enhanced due to the large fixed quarter windows, low beltline and A-pillars made thinner through the use of high-strength steel. Inside, the passenger space is larger than before, thanks in part to a slightly longer 104.1-inch wheelbase. An all-new dashboard features more upscale materials and design than previously, including a new navigation system display.

Under the hood, an all-new 2.0-liter BOXER four that not only feels more responsive than the 2.5-liter unit it replaces, but also delivers superior fuel economy. In fact, Subaru boasts 27 mpg city/36 mpg highway ratings that are the highest for a vehicle equipped with all-wheel-drive, which is standard across the line. The engine is rated at 148 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 145 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm. Transmission options include either a CVT or a 5-speed manual gearbox. The CVT used in the Impreza is not the same as the one found in the Legacy or Outback. It is one that has been tuned for specific integration with the new 2.0-liter engine in order to deliver a more linear feel to the acceleration and minimize the elasticity to the drivetrain. Best of all is the ability to use paddle shifters in a manual mode to operate the CVT through six distinct gear ranges.

Subaru will offer the 2012 Impreza in five trim configurations: base, Premium, Sports Premium, Limited and Sports Limited. Base models feature power windows and locks, an outside temperature gauge and a trip computer, while Premium trim adds 16-inch alloy wheels, steering wheel audio and Bluetooth controls, a rear stabilizer bar and a handful of other upgrades. Heated seats and a moonroof are optional for Premium models. Sports trim adds 17-inch alloy wheels, heated seats, fog lamps, roof rails and revised seat trim. Options for Limited include leather seats.

Pricing begins at $17,495 for the base. The base 5-door can be had for $17,995, while the most expensive model, a Sports Limited model, tops out at just over $24,000 with all the options. The 2012 Subaru Impreza is scheduled to arrive in showrooms this month. Continue to follow us on Twitter or check in on our Facebook page to find out as soon as the first one arrives. Or contact us to have one of our sales consultants contact you personally.

Told through the perspective of Volkswagen enthusiasts and drivers who helped bring this car to the United States, the app provides an interactive narrative on the evolution of the Golf from its days as the Rabbit in the 1970’s all the way to the present 2012 Golf R model. Filled with exclusive interviews, articles and footage, this is one app all Volkswagen fans will want to interact with.

“The Golf R app was created to celebrate and thank the Volkswagen brand’s community of enthusiasts because they represent what makes the Golf R special,” said Jon Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. “The app will help build awareness around the Volkswagen brand heritage and we are excited to offer this innovative approach that illustrates the performance of the Golf R.”

The editorial-driven iPad app features:
*Exclusive videos, photos, interviews and Golf footage. Highlights include:
*A mini-documentary about the world of Volkswagen including footage of the world-famous Autostadt, created by AWOL Films
*An exclusive interview with designer Chip Foose discussing his passion for the VW brand and love for the Golf
*Accounts from key members of the Volkswagen of America Product Marketing team and Volkswagen R GmbH team
*Fan testimonials and enthusiast stories
*Interactive timeline spanning the history of the Golf
*Golf R brochure with tech specs, photo gallery and 360° view of the car

The “Golf R Drivers Forever” iPad app launches in the iTunes App Store on January 17, 2012 and is free to download. You may download the here: Golf R iPad app

The 2012 Golf R is the most powerful Volkswagen sports performance vehicle ever sold in the U.S. With 256 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, the 2.0-liter TSI® engine offers performance and fuel efficiency, thanks to intelligent downsizing. Like the previous R32 models, the Golf R is equipped with Volkswagen’s 4Motion® all-wheel drive system: the latest generation of this system can divert up to 100 percent of the torque to the rear wheels, if needed. All Golf R models sold in the U.S. will be equipped with a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission and come standard with top of the line features including dual-zone automatic climate control, Bi-Xenon headlamps and LED daytime running lights, and unique 18” alloy wheels. For the first time, the Golf R will be available in two-and four-door models.

Stay in touch with us on our Facebook, Twitter and G+ pages to see when the Golf R arrives!

The Audi commitment to progress goes beyond vehicles to redefining dealerships themselves. But not simply a facelift or surface upgrade. At Audi, progress is redesigning dealerships to encompass the entire Audi exclusive customer experience.

Designed by the renowned architecture firm of Allmann Sattler Wappner of Munich, Audi’s new “Terminal” dealerships combine the efficiency, performance, luxury, and environmental themes that the brand has become known for in its vehicles.

The Audi Brand architecture has evolved into the twenty first century from the original Corporate Identity known as the “Audi hanger” into the “Audi terminal” concept. The curve, already the characteristic element in the Audi hanger with its unmistakable curved roof has been reinterpreted as a symbol for dynamism within the new Audi terminal architecture.

Dynamism, asymmetry and transparency remain central to the design of the Audi architecture. The main features of the Audi hanger have been abstracted and reintroduced in a spatially more consistent form. Thus the dynamism of asymmetric curves forming three-dimensional environment becomes a defining factor of the Audi terminal.

All vehicles are positioned on the dynamically styled curve segments. All other operations related to vehicle presentation and to the workshop are orthogonally organized. The asymmetrical look is clearly brought out by the juxtaposition of the two structural systems.
By reducing down to the simple but unmistakable basic principle of overlaying a static and a spatially dynamic system, any level of scaling and modularization can be undertaken.

The Audi Terminal dealership does not stop with the architecture. The custom-made furniture and accessories are all designed to fit into the Audi vision and enhance customers’ car-buying experience.

The Pacific Audi Terminal will be here in the winter of 2012.   With over 40,000 square feet available to view and service your next Audi, the Pacific Audi Terminal can display 17 cars on the showroom floor and service up to 22 vehicles at one time!

We will be posting updates of our construction progress on our Facebook, Twitter and G+ pages, so make sure you are following us there, to stay on top of everything!

More importantly, however, is the design of the vehicle, as it points toward what we can expect from Lexus in the coming years. The bold LF-LC shows off the brand’s new spindle grill look, while the lights the front headlamps are in shapes so original they cannot be mistaken for anything else.

What we do similarities with, however, is the beloved LF-A supercar in the LF-LC’s overall profile. If Lexus were to make an LF-A that seats four, chances are it will be pretty close to looking like this. The interior is very well appointed with rich leather and suede, futuristic seating, intricate stitching, and about half a tree’s worth of wood, with a massive center stack bringing the entire cabin together. It’s so big in fact, that Lexus’ designers were able to fit a touch-sensitive 12.3-inch LCD screen that handles all infotainment, climate control, and navigation responsibilities.

Hopefully this rakish coupe will find a way to showrooms in the not-too-distant future. If it does, Lexus claims that the LF-LC will ”remain within reach for premium buyers.” If the LF-LC were to enter production tomorrow, chances are it would match up somewhere with the BMW 6 Series, or perhaps even the Maserati GranTurismo.

To some onlookers, the Volkswagen E-Bugster concept unveiled at the North American International Auto Show was a disappointment. As we say in French, this E-Bugster is déjà vu. We’ve seen it before. Really. Seven years ago, exactly at the same place, Volkswagen unveiled the Ragster concept, which looked pretty much the same. After so much time, you might assume this E-Bugster is a production model, but it isn’t. It’s another concept.

So how is the E-Bugster any different from the dozens of other never-to-be-made concepts you see at motor shows? First of all, it is a functioning automobile. In addition, it has something you don’t find in one-off prototypes—use of a standardized drivetrain, which actually pretty big deal.

Sharing Is Caring

The Volkswagen group sold a record 8.16 million vehicles to its customers in 2011. Record profits are on the way, thanks in no small part to the use of shared platforms and engines. It’s less common in America, but in Europe, the Skoda and Seat brands sell cars with a Czech or a Spanish flavor (respectively), that are 100 percent Volkswagen cars underneath.

How does this relate to EVs? Barely two months ago, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Audi unveiled an electric A3 e-tron concept. It had the same motor found in this E-Bugster—which is also the one we saw the year before, when Volkswagen introduced an electric Golf called Blue-e-Motion. Eighty of them are currently undergoing a test in Berlin, and preliminary results have reportedly been very positive.

Without much fanfare, Volkswagen has been hard at work on electric mobility, making it better in every aspect, and they’re already getting results. Power from the motor is 85 kW (115 hp), the same as it was the Golf Blue-e-Motion, but the motor has been made lighter. Its weight is down to 80 kg (176 lbs).
The battery pack has more capacity. It was 26.5 kWh in the Golf, and now that’s up to 28.3 kWh. Volkswagen says that it enables a range of at least 110 miles. It’s unknown what cells Volkswagen is using—it tested cells from numerous manufacturers—but it’s unlikely that they will be small cells like Tesla uses.

Charging Ahead

The E-Bugster also shows a huge improvement on the charging side. Thanks to a new Combined Charging Systems (CCS), which was developed in cooperation with all the other German carmakers, as well as Ford and GM, the car can be charged via a unique interface, with different currents.

The E-Bugster uses the same plug connector to charge from a standard American 110-Volt wall outlet, and up to an ultra-fast 50 kW DC current at electric charge stations. That’s way beyond the simple standardization of the plug connector. Volkswagen’s plan is to outdo the other car manufacturers that have designed their cars with several charging systems. The idea here is to have one smart charge controller, and a versatile unique electrical architecture to make the most of the current available, wherever the driver plugs in.

At best, the 28.3 kWh battery in this E-Bugster can be charged in 35 minutes. Volkswagen will invest what it takes to make this impressive feat a reality in all of its electric vehicles. Electric cars using the Blue-e-Motion electric powertrain will go into production in cars like the Golf as soon as next year, with others likely to follow.

Utilizing 14,300 square feet of floor space, the exhibit is divided into distinctive zones, including performance, hybrid and luxury. Overhead sail-like canopies mark the threshold of the exhibit, ushering guests into the “GS Gallery.” The all-new GS has become synonymous with the brand’s redefined image and new evocative styling.

“The 2013 GS has become symbolic of Lexus’ dynamic future,” said Paul Rohovsky, National Manager – Lexus Engagement Marketing. “The GS 350, along with its hybrid variant, the GS 450h, and optional F Sport package, play a vital role in conveying the boldness that customers can expect to see from Lexus moving forward.”

Further proof of the brand’s evolving design direction will be found in the LF-LC sport coupe, a concept vehicle making its worldwide debut on Jan. 9 at NAIAS. Crafted by Toyota’s Calty design studio in Newport Beach, Calif., the LF-LC’s clean lines emphasize motion, creating a distinctive look for this futuristic vehicle. Within the exhibit, a special pavilion, featuring an immersive theatre experience, has been created specifically for the LF-LC.

Lexus’ 552-horsepower LFA will be located at the heart of the exhibit, spearheading the performance zone. The LFA is a platform that demonstrates Lexus innovation and use of advanced materials and processes that are challenging conventional thinking in every detail of automotive design and production.

Another vehicle making its worldwide debut in Detroit is the updated 2013 Lexus LX full-size sport utility vehicle, due out later this year. The LX has earned the distinction of being amongst the best vehicles in its class since its introduction more than 15 years ago. This venerable vehicle will be flanked by other popular SUVs in the Lexus lineup, the RX and GX.

Interactivity was instrumental in the creation of this year’s exhibit as evidenced by an area dubbed “Engineering Amazing.” This gallery has several interactive displays that illustrate Lexus’ endless pursuit of perfection though engineering expertise and craftsmanship.

Along with the NS4, a pair of other concept vehicles will also be featured in the “Technology Zone” of Toyota’s exhibit, after bowing at the Tokyo Motor Show last month. They include the FCV-R and Fun-Vii. The FCV-R is a fuel cell sedan concept with the “R” standing for Reality and Revolution. The Fun-Vii has been engineered to be able to connect wirelessly with the infrastructure and surrounding roads. The “Vii” is an abbreviation for Vehicle, interactive, internet. The Technology Zone also includes a cut-away vehicle and 3D cockpit display. Both displays convey future safety and convenience technologies presently being studied by Toyota for potential use in the next decade.

Toyota’s renowned Star Safety System will also be on display in the exhibit. Toyota’s standard safety equipment can be experienced interactively via a driving Safety Simulator.

In all, Toyota will have 30 cars, trucks and SUVs on display at the auto show. Traditional window stickers have been replaced by iPads mounted near each vehicle for pricing and options exploration. Product specialists will also utilize iPads and an on-site kiosk to demonstrate the features of Toyota’s new Entune multimedia system, now available on many 2012 models.

There are a few specialty vehicles available in the display, among them a Camry pace car for the 2012 Daytona 500, a Toyota Tundra pickup emblazoned with graphics from DC comics/apparel and a Prius Project Concept Bike – engineered and constructed with Prius’ innovative qualities in mind.

“This year’s exhibit is about where we’re heading as an automaker,” said Ruslan Polinovsky, Auto Show Engagement Manager at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. “Visitors will not only see our award-winning cars and trucks but vehicles that show our environmental and technological leadership.”

Featuring a 15-foot-tall, overhead LED surround structure, the new exhibit encloses its vehicles and guests in a brand-dominated environment. At the center of the exhibit will be the 2013 Scion FR-S compact rear-wheel drive sports car, making its North American auto show debut in Detroit. The FR-S goes on sale this spring and will be the focus of a press conference at NAIAS on Jan. 9.

In all, there will be nine Scion products on display, among them the Scion iQ micro sub-compact, which went on sale in the fourth quarter of 2011. Each product has a zone and a video wall. Every zone is equipped with a digital product information and comparison tool, plus the Scion sX – an award-winning, immersive guest experience that features branded content, user participation, and information sharing.

“Philosophically, we needed a modular canvass to showcase the breadth of our growing product line,” said Steve Hatanaka, Auto Shows and Special Events Manager at Scion. “Scion is true to its roots of authenticity, personalization and youth. We believe this new exhibit is a reflection of those principles and we’re confident that the media and show goers in Detroit will enjoy visiting our display and seeing our cars.”

The 2013 BRZ, which arrives in Subaru dealerships in late spring, was designed with one goal in mind—exceptional handling. To reach that goal, Subaru engineers developed a chassis that would deliver the lowest center of gravity (CoG) possible utilizing the excellent packaging of the brand’s Boxer engine design.

An all-new naturally aspirated 2.0-liter, 200-horsepower horizontally opposed (Boxer) engine was created. The new FA engine was developed to be more compact so that it could be placed lower and farther back in the chassis. To achieve the low CoG, a rear-drive layout was deemed necessary so the engine could be mounted as low as possible in the chassis. The engine placement allows for low polar moment and near-perfect balance for pure sports car handling.

With a low vehicle weight of just over 2,700 lbs., the direct injected 2.0-liter provides quick acceleration as it revs to its 7,400 RPM redline. The Subaru BRZ is available with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

With a height of just 50.6 inches, swept-back roofline, bulging front fenders, short overhangs and pronounced rear haunches give the sleekly styled BRZ a lean, athletic stance. The Subaru BRZ will offer everyday comfort and practicality with 2+2 seating and expandable trunk space, along with the brand’s renowned safety and quality.

Keep in touch with us on our Twitter and Facebook pages to see when the BRZ arrives in our showroom.

The year 2011 was a landmark year for EVs. We witnessed regional launches of the Nissan LEAF and the Chevy Volt. These two plug-in cars were the start of a new era for electrified personal transportation. The current American car auto fleet, however, is enormous—and two models alone cannot create change on a large scale.

During 2012, these two plug-in cars will have—depending how you look at it—either competition in the marketplace or help in the movement to electrify transportation

This coopetition includes the Ford Focus Electric, the much-anticipated Tesla Model S, and others. Pike Research predicts that more than 250,000 plug-in vehicles will be sold globally in 2012. Regardless of whether or not this prediction comes true, 2012 will bring more choices in vehicle style, brand, size, performance, and price, for cars with cords.

Here is HybridCars.com Top 10 countdown of plug-in cars to look forward to in 2012:

10. LEAF and Volt (Expanded Markets): First on my list is expanding availability of the two cars that kick-started the new era of plug-in vehicles. General Motors rolled out the Volt in four stages during 2011, making it available nationwide at the end of the year. Canada and the UK can expect to see Volts in 2012. The LEAF began shipping to the UK, Japan, and some US states in 2011. Nissan says the LEAF will be available in all 50 US states by March of 2012.

9. Smart ForTwo Electric Drive: Daimler reports that it will launch its third-generation Smart ForTwo Electric Drive to 30 markets around the world in September of 2012. This is a three-month delay for the two-seater initially planned for June 2012. Daimler claims the delay is due to quality control issues at the battery supplier Li-Tec.

8. Honda Fit EV: The Fit EV is scheduled for release in Oregon and parts of California next summer. Only a few hundred cars are expected to reach US shores during 2012, with 1,100 scheduled for production during the next three years.

7. Mitsubishi i: The updated Mitsubishi i-MiEV has been shipping in Japan and the UK for several months. The town of Normal Illinois received hundreds of i’s in 2011 as part of a test program and publicity campaign. The first regularly ordered i was delivered to an owner in Hawaii in December 2011. The national-wide US rollout is scheduled for July 2012. The i is a nice addition to the available EV portfolio because at $29,125 (before state and federal incentives) it is one of the most affordable highway-capable EVs.

6. Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid: With the “Prius Goes Plural” campaign, Toyota has added the Prius V, Prius C, and (relevant to this topic) the Plug-in Prius (PIP). The Prius has a loyal following among green drivers. PIP will be the Prius with the highest MPG rating in the Prius family. This will make it the car of choice for many Prius fans, even with its price premium over the standard model. PIP will be available in 15 states in spring 2012 with nationwide availability in 2013.

5. Ford Focus Electric: Ford initially announced that these were going to start shipping in December 2011. One or two may go out the door, but any real volume won’t happen until Spring 2012. I am looking forward to seeing the EPA rated range and price information. This is the first pure EV of this era from one of the Big 3. It will be a bellwether.

4. Fisker Karma: First promised in 2009, Karma reservation holders have been repeatedly delayed. And with each delay the price ratcheted up, from an initial $80,000 price tag now to $106,000 (as of Dec. 13, 2011). There were a few token deliveries in 2011, including handing key-fobs to Leonardo DiCaprio, Al Gore and Colin Powell. 2012 should be the year for mere mortals, although you will need six figures of cash to make it happen.

3. Toyota RAV 4 EV (Redux): This vehicle is a joint effort between Toyota and Tesla. The original RAV 4 EV was a favorite among the millennium era EVs. It is scheduled for sale in mid-2012. Initially sales will be limited to California.

2. Ford C-Max Energi: The Ford C-Max Energi is a plug-in hybrid version of the Ford C-Max wagon (or compact multi-purpose vehicle, or MPV, as it is referred to in the UK). The 2013 Ford C-Max Energi is planned for launch in North America in 2012, and Europe in 2013.

1. Tesla Model S: This is the car I am most looking forward to driving. Tesla followed the tech development model with an alpha and beta phases in 2011 and production samples are now on the road. Tesla plans to build and sell 6,500 units in 2012. However, unless you are already a reservation holder, you are out of luck because 6,500 people have already put down $5,000 each to get a place in line to buy one. Deliveries are expected to start mid-2012.

There are other plug-in cars—from smaller and less proven companies—that could make it to market in 2012, most notably the Coda Electric Sedan. But Coda, as well as BYD, Zap, Zenn, and Wheego—are dark horses in the emerging market. Of course, the only thing that would be truly surprising in this tumultuous nascent industry would be a year with no surprises.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Steve St. Angelo, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., said, “Safety is a core value that dates back to the foundation of our company. IIHS’ awards further recognize our commitment to helping protect drivers and passengers.

The 2012 model year winners are
For Toyota: Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Prius, Prius v, Sienna, Tundra Crew Cab, Venza, and Yaris
For Lexus: CT 200h and RX
For Scion: tC, xB, and xD

According to the IIHS, Top Safety Pick awards recognize vehicles that do the best job of protecting
people in front, side, rollover, and rear crashes based on ratings in IIHS tests.

The IIHS Top Safety Pick award is the private sector’s counterpart to the government’s own five star rating systems for vehicle safety conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Over recent years it has been difficult for automakers to ace both tests. Today’s announcement shows they are improving safety.

Inductive EV charging—look, ma, no wires!—is gaining momentum, with Daimler testing concepts for the new battery version of the B-Class Mercedes and Nissan actively contemplating making it an option on the 2014 LEAF. Wireless charging leader Evatran will sell wireless kits for the LEAF and Chevy Volt next year, and it’s even hooking up with Sears Home Services to bring its Plugless Power to the masses.

The basic technology is familiar from wireless phone charging and the electric toothbrush. There are a few basic obstacles to creating larger versions for cars: high cost; the 10 percent average energy loss today when transferring power from a floor-mounted transmitter to a car-based receiver; and a start-from-scratch regulatory climate. But there’s no question that wireless charging, which creates a magnetic field to pass an electric charge from one coil to another, is on the ascendancy. It certainly addresses anxiety over having to learn a new way to fill your car up with energy—all you have to do is park, and these automated systems will do the rest for you.

Technology on the Move

It’s far too early to tell if wireless technology will eventually triumph over the wall-mounted home charging system, and no automakers have formally adopted it. “All we have done is shown this technology,” says Nissan’s Steve Oldham. “We haven’t confirmed anything. The stuff that is out there is speculation.” But Popular Mechanics claims that wireless will be an add-on for the luxury Infiniti version of the LEAF in 2014. The Rolls-Royce 102 EX Phantom, which I recently test drove in New York, is also set up to use a wireless charger from HaloIPT.

In the system that Nissan demonstrated, drivers simply align their vehicle over an inductive charging mat. A dashboard-based navigation system uses sensors to guide the rear wheels into place. The touchscreen hosts buttons to start and stop a charging session.

In Alignment

Daimler has teamed up with Conductix-Wampfler on plug-free charging for the Mercedes E-Cell. According to Conductix, one big hurdle is the need for exact alignment between the charger and the vehicle. The signal can travel only six inches or so, so the driver is likely to need an automatic parking system to ensure a good lock-in.

Major auto supplier Delphi and wireless leader WiTricity have their own system under development, using technology invented at MIT. Randy Sumner, a spokesman for Delphi Packard Electrical/Electronic Architecture, told me that automakers have shown considerable interest in wireless charging, which could accompany the second-generation EVs coming out in the 2014-2015 time frame.

Priced Like Navigation?

Wireless chargers have definitely gotten smaller and more efficient. Dave Schatz of WiTricity told me he expects consumer systems to eventually cost no more than car-based GPS navigation. Evatran’s Plugless Power floor-based unit is now the size of a small hubcap, with up to 97 percent efficiency between the charger and the car. It’s also more forgiving of poor alignment. Evatran is testing the system on a fleet of a dozen Chevy Volts. But it’s still far too expensive, at $5,000 for an all-in system in 2012.

The General Electric wall-mount WattStation is now available at Amazon.com for $1,099 (none used yet), so Evatran’s Sears play makes sense. According to co-founder Rebecca Hough, Evatran will make its wireless hardware kit (for the Volt and LEAF) available in 2012 for approximately $2,500, with installation (unpriced so far) extra. The basic installation is for people who are lucky enough to have dedicated 240-volt lines in their garages; the standard install includes that line.

Some regulatory and safety issues have yet to be worked out. Underwriters Laboratory (UL) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) are set to introduce standards for wireless in the second quarter of next year (fast for SAE), and waiting for that has hindered plans for commercial and public wireless charging. Obviously, you’d want this at Starbucks and the big-box stores, but companies aren’t likely to go ahead without the standards in place.

The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) issues standards for the strengths of magnetic fields, and Hough says that Evatran has no trouble meeting them. She also says that wireless will incorporate many of the safety provisions built into SAE’s J1772 standard, including safety interconnects and shutoffs.

By the way, claims for inductive charging are somewhat confusing, because there’s a difference between the efficiency measured charger-to-car and the overall system. Evatran boasts an only three percent communications loss, but the overall system is currently at 91 percent. Company engineers think that 93 or 94 percent system efficiency is doable relatively soon, but going beyond 95 percent is a long-term prospect. Would we be happy with a gas station that spilled five percent of the gas on the ground?

John Gartner, a senior analyst at Pike Research, says that widespread will take years to roll out. “It’s of interest to most top automakers, many of which have internal programs in development. The consumer market is still years away. There’s still no common SAE standard, and you don’t want vehicles tied to charging docks, and the cost ($500 per car) is too steep to include on vehicles that aren’t going to use it all of the time. The technologies are all pretty different, so unlike cabled charging, some companies would be left out of any standard that is eventually passed. Qualcomm surprisingly is going after the market in a big way with its recent acquisition of HaloIPT.”

Still, wireless is probably here to stay, but it will take time to develop. “Pike Research sees the market growing slowly from 2013 ($26 million globally) to $233 million globally by 2017,” Gartner said. “Fleets that can share charging docks are the mostly likely early adopters.”

The bottom line here is that inductive charging, which appeared to be abandoned from the last generation of EVs, is now looking more and more practical as a long-term solution. Even if wireless does eventually triumph, however, wired charging is still likely to dominate the early EV years simply because the units will be in place and working. But there’s no reason they can’t happily co-exist.

In a nice piece of timing, the opening of Subaru Pacific in Hermosa Beach co-insides with the renual for the fourth year of Subaru’s charitable campaign called “Share The Love”

The “Share the Love” event, takes place on Facebook, and in dealerships like Subaru Pacific across the nation.  Subaru is donating $250 for every new Subaru leased or purchased from November 19 until January 3, pledging up to 5 million dollars in total support for these great charities.

By “Liking” Subaru on Facebook, and voting for one of the five charities, ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention and Cruelty of Animals,) American Forests, Meals on Wheels of America, Make a Wish Foundation,and Special Olympics, Subaru will allocate up to an additional $250,000 in support for these charities.

By clicking the “Share the Love” tab you can vote for your which of the five charities you’d like to support and the charity will receive a $1 donation from Subaru

“Share the Love is rooted in our commitment to our customers and the causes they care about the most,” said Alan Bethke, director, marketing communications, Subaru of America. “We are pleased to continue the program for a fourth year and are excited about the expansion to the Facebook community.”

2011 “Share the Love” Charitable Beneficiaries

Facebook community voters and consumers who purchase or lease a new Subaru vehicle during this year’s

event can designate donations to any of the following organizations:

American Forests: restores and protects rural and urban forests worldwide. It is the oldest national

conservation nonprofit in the country and the only one focused exclusively on forests.

The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®): works to rescue

animals from abuse, pass humane laws and share resources with shelters across the country.

Make-A-Wish Foundation: grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. It has

granted more than 212,000 wishes in the United States since 1980.

Meals On Wheels Association of America: provides national leadership to end senior hunger, offering

home-delivered-meal services to people in need.

Special Olympics: provides year-round sports and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports

for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Next week, the garden will really start to take shape when students at Helen Bernstein High School will start planting the first seedlings in the garden beds. We can’t wait to get the students involved in this wonderful program!

How do you play? First head on over to our Facebook page and “Like” us. Next, come to Scion Santa Monica and test drive the iQ, trust us you are going to LOVE this car. You will scan the QR code for your first clue, and then you are off on the adventure!

Each QR-Code that you scan will give you a clue that leads to your next destination. Upon scanning your last clue you will be instructed to return to Scion Santa Monica where we will verify that you’ve completed all of the clues. After completion, your name will be put in a drawing to be the lucky winner of $1,000. There are less than 100 participants so the odds are better than 1 in 100.

The person who arrives first will receive FOUR (4) drawing entries, The person who arrives second will receive THREE (3) entries, The person who arrives 3rd will receive TWO (2) entries and everyone thereafter will receive ONE (1) entry.

If you need more details, or to make sure that you are elegible to win, head on over to this page, where we have all the details.

Good luck, and good hunting!

Right off the bat, Lexus are saying that they had the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class directly in their crosshairs as they developed the new GS. A part of going after the Germans with the GS is the debut of the new Lexus design language in the front end. Like it, love it, or hate it, get used to it, because this IS the new face of Lexus.

Part of philosophy with the new GS was set forth by Akio Toyoda himself when he said this car must have emotion in the styling, and emotion in the driving. He wanted the car to be able to stand out, and stand on it’s own, not just blend into the background. It is this point of view which Lexus believe that they will be able to achieve a 50% conquest rate with new buyers to the Lexus GS.

There will be three distinct versions of the GS, a Luxury, a Hybrid, and the F-Sport. We will focus on the Hybrid first. The idea with the Hybrid was more a focus on “Performance Hybrid” rather than “Economy Hybrid”. Think of the Hybrid as a V8 replacement, rather than say the CT200h which is focused on economy. The Hybrid is also the only GS model that will have LED headlamps available.

The Luxury level is firmly targeted at the E-Class Mercedes. The ride is tuned a little softer, there will be a special leather used, a three zone climate control system (two front, one back), 18 way power adjust seats and the driving dynamics are focused on a well controlled ride, rather than a “plush” ride.

The F-Sport is exactly what you’d think it would be. It is going after the 5 Series BMW and M-Sport trimmed 5 Series (not M5) with is multi level suspension settings, active rear steering, and electronic engine and steering controls that greatly sharpen everything when you go into Sport and Sport+ modes.

Power for the GS will be a 3.5 liter V6 that features both Direct Injection and Port Injection, it will provide 306 horsepower and 277 torques, backed up by a six speed automatic transmission. When asked why a six speed automatic and not an eight speed auto which has become de rigueur in the last twelve months, Lexus responded, that they did not believe they could get the driving dynamics they wanted with an eight speed. They felt it would “always be hunting for the right gear”.

The Hybrid also uses the 3.5 liter V6 but converts it to an Atkinson Cycle engine, very common for hybrids, and couples it with a an electric motor to give it a combined power rating of 338 horsepower. The reason for an Atkinson Cycle engine is that it is 35% more efficient and with the Hybrid system, it will return over 30MPG in the EPA combined cycle. Though Lexus did not have the final EPA numbers at this press intro, they were very confident of the number.

Lexus have also worked on the packaging of the batteries for the Hybrid system, allowing a much larger trunk for the GS then in the previous generation. There is some intrusion in space over the non-Hybrid versions of the GS, but it is far less then before.

There was also a focus on aero and NVH tuning so as to make the Hybrid a quiet as possible when driving on the highways.

The quality of materials in the two cars we spent time with at the launch, the F-Sport and the Hybrid were excellent. We really like the way the Hybrid was trimmed out with a bamboo trim that felt very substantial. Most wood trim on cars today is little more then a very thin vernier, in the Lexus it looked and felt more like solid chucks of wood. This was most apparent in the steering wheel. Again, most wood trimmed wheels have an almost a plastic feel to them, with the GS it felt as though it was a sold piece of bamboo that you were holding on to.

We also drove the Hybrid on the short and tight infield road course at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and it did not disappoint. The car felt very composed around the track which contained both long sweeping corners and areas that put an emphasis on quick changes of direction. While not a car that you are going to take out for lapping day at the track, it will feel very competent on twisty back roads should you choose to drive in a spirited manner.

The F-Sport is a bit of a revelation. Driven back to back with a BMW 5 Series that was available for comparison around the race track, the GS was every bit as good, and in many ways BETTER then the BMW. While the steering may not have felt quite as connected as the BMW, it was much more direct, and the GS had much less body roll!

There is a noticeable change in the manor of ride, handling and throttle responsiveness with the different settings that are available. In “normal” modes the F-Sport is more compliant, but as soon as you dial up either Sport or Sport+, things change for the better.

This does not mean that out on the open road the ride is harsh. We took the F-Sport for a 30+ mile loop which included highway runs and surface streets. On the day we were driving the GS, it also included 50+ MPH cross winds on the highway. Lets touch on this last part first. Number one, there was no way the car was not going to be moving around with winds that strong, however, there were no abrupt movements it felt more like a gentle push. In contrast you could see the Semi-trucks on the road moving around quite a bit. In addition the cabin remained very quiet. You did not hear the sounds of the strong winds making it into the cabin, so Lexus should be commended for their work in the wind tunnel to make these thing possible.

Driving in Sport+ on the highway the ride felt firm and controlled without a hint of harshness. If you enjoy more of the European firm and sporty ride, then you will enjoy this setting. Set in standard mode, it smooths things out just a bit, and may be the better call if you have to drive on roads that aren’t in the best of shape.

On the inside of the car one thing that dominates the dash is the massive 12.3” LCD display. Lexus have cleverly designed it so that it can be one large screen, or it can be broken up into three smaller ones if say you want audio information, an overall GPS man plus turn by turn directions all at the same time.

There has also been a large upgrade to the quality of feel in the mouse interface. The new changes make it much more direct, and there is better haptic feedback as you get close to menu items.

Also included is the Lexus Enform system. It will start with apps such as Facebook, Yelp, Pandora, MovieTickets.com, iHeart Radio, bing and Open Table to start. You will download the apps onto your iPhone, Android or BlackBerry, and then connect via USB to the car. Enform will use your phones data plan to connect with the cloud and provide you with all the information, the Lexus Enform system in the car provides an nice interface in which to interact with it.

Overall we came away very impressed with the GS, and a quick informal poll of those in our wave for the drive and those who had just finished, were pretty much in agreement that if Lexus can get the word out on this car as it comes to market in mid February, it will have a hit on it’s hands.

Rain gardens are shallow depressions in lawns and fields that collect rainwater, which then percolates down through layers of rock, gravel or other drainage. The gardens are landscaped with native plants, which beautifies the area and helps minimize maintenance. While rain gardens are becoming more common in new construction, the Subaru rain gardens are some of the first in New Jersey to be retrofitted to corporate grounds.

“Subaru is pleased to be among the first companies in New Jersey to retrofit a rain garden–or two–at our corporate buildings,” notes Tom Doll, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “The rain gardens will certainly benefit the streams and rivers around those buildings, but just as importantly, they’ll help educate our employees, our corporate neighbors, and the public about the importance of storm water management.”

“Retrofitting a corporate landscape to include a rain garden is an effective way to help improve water quality,” said Craig McGee, project director, Camden County Soil Conservation District.” The rain garden will allow rain water to soak into the ground instead of runoff to the streams and rivers, and at the same time provide a valuable landscape enhancement. The best part is Subaru employees and customers will learn how easy it is to install a rain garden at their home and do their part to help protect our water resources.”

“Rain gardens are an effective way to reduce routine maintenance costs while protecting the environment and improving water quality,” adds Jeremiah Bergstrom, senior project manager, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Rutgers University. “Working with corporate partners such as Subaru of America is a great way to demonstrate how rain gardens can be effective for businesses, communities, and even homeowners.”

To earn LEED certification, the project must satisfy all prerequisites and qualify for a minimum number of points to attain the established ratings. Once the basic prerequisites of the program are satisfied, applicant projects are then rated according to their degree of compliance within the rating system. The Green Building Council rates structures based on their environmental impact and other criteria such as energy and water consumption, use of raw materials, and recycling rates. Certifications are awarded according to the following scale:

Certified: 40-49 points
Silver: 50-59 points
Gold: 60-79 points
Platinum: 80 points and above

The new 1,400-acre facility where the U.S. Passat is built has been fitted with sophisticated technology as well as simple measures to conserve energy and water. These include using rainwater collected on the roof to cool welding equipment and flush toilets, constructing an ultra-clean paint shop, which is estimated to save 50 million gallons of water over 10 years, and installing LED lighting that uses two-thirds less energy.

“Volkswagen is committed to the US market,” said Jonathan Browning, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. “During the worst recession in the past century, we never wavered with our investment of a billion dollars to create this world-class facility. This certification underscores Volkswagen’s commitment to engineering excellence.”

The Volkswagen Academy was also certified by the USGBC as a Platinum LEED facility. The primary purpose of the Volkswagen Academy is to prepare new employees for work at the new plant. In conjunction with Chattanooga State and Tennessee Tech, the Academy also offers an Industrial Technology degree and an apprenticeship program. “We are very pleased that the Volkswagen Academy has been Platinum LEED Certified because this reflects the level of excellence that we expect and produce in the academy,” said Hans-Herbert Jagla, EVP of Human Resources.

The Volkswagen Chattanooga plant produces the all-new 2012 Passat, which has recently been named Motor Trend magazine’s 2012 Car of the Year, as well as having earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick rating, the highest possible from the non-profit safety research organization. The Passat TDI – the

At last year’s Detroit Motor Show, Toyota vice president for U.S. sales, Bob Carter, offered a bold prediction for the direction his company plans to take in the United States over the next decade―and for the country’s vehicle market in general. “We will end the decade with Prius being the number one nameplate in the industry,” said Carter, predicting that the Prius would soon overtake the Camry as the company’s most popular model in the U.S.

Toyota plans to complete work with Ford on a brand new hybrid system for pickup trucks by the end of next year

Almost a year later, it has become increasingly clear that Toyota’s big talk about hybrids is no greenwash. After almost singlehandedly growing the hybrid market from obscurity in the United States, Toyota now sees hybrids primed to conquer the mainstream―and has no intention of ceding its dominance in the sector.

According to a report in Automotive News, Toyota plans to as much as double the number of hybrids it sells in North America by 2015, to 400,000 vehicles per year. Top executives at the company told the publication that Toyota will seek to greatly expand its manufacturing base here―particularly hybrid drivetrain components―in an effort to reduce its reliance on the Japanese supply chain. Growing the American hybrid market will do a great deal to make that shift possible, and Toyota is in the process of radically expanding its U.S. lineup to include more than a half-dozen hybrid models by the end of next year―with even more reportedly on their way.

“Hybrid technology is a trump card for fuel-economy improvement,” said Toyota global research and development head, Takeshi Uchiyamada, in the article.

Toyota also told Automotive News that it plans to complete work with Ford on a brand new hybrid system for pickup trucks by the end of next year. The first Toyota vehicle to be outfitted with the drivetrain will likely be a hybrid version of the Tundra, the carmaker’s largest and most fuel-thirsty pickup, with a combined rating of just 16 mpg.

Even a few miles-per-gallon improvement in a truck like the Tundra will pay big dividends in terms of its operating cost, which could make the car a hit among the fleets and private businesses that make up a substantial portion of the pickup market. Ford’s F-150 EcoBoost model has led all F-150 models in sales this year―accounting for 40 percent of purchases―thanks to its EPA-rated 22-mpg fuel economy.

By expanding its gas-electric offerings across more and more segments, Toyota will be able to grow production of hybrid components, allowing it to reach the economies of scale necessary to diversify its supply chain in the Americas. For hybrid buyers, the important takeaway is that Americans can expect more models and shorter waiting periods in the coming years, as the gas-electric leader seeks to broaden its hold on the market.

For those that are not familiar with the disease, Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects the lungs, but can also target the pancreas, liver and intestines. It is characterized by abnormal transport of chloride and sodium across epithelium, leading to thick, viscous secretions.

CF is caused by a mutation in the gene for the protein cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). This gene is required to regulate the components of sweat, digestive juices, and mucus. Although most people without CF have two working copies of the CFTR gene, only one is needed to prevent cystic fibrosis. CF develops when neither gene works normally and therefore has autosomal recessive inheritance.

The Pipeline to a Cure Campaign was created to herald the discovery by Australian researchers who found that Cystic Fibrosis children that surfed had significantly healthier lungs. Doctors determined that inhaling saltwater mist has a powerful effect on rehydrating the lining of the lungs, which allows CF patients to more easily eliminate bacteria-contaminated mucus. This discovery led researchers to develop a hypertonic saline solution, which CF patients around the world now inhale every day. In essence, CF patients now mimic a “surf session” on a daily basis.

Because of this amazing discovery, the surfing community has adopted the Pipeline To A Cure Campaign to help raise money and awareness to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. Legendary Waterman Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama have stamped their names on Pipeline and for the last three years have been dedicated to the fight. Included with Laird and Dave are Rob Machado, Lisa Anderson, Tom Curren and PT Townsend. They have all lent their time and talents to promotePipeline to a Cure and help find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. Since its creation in 2008, Pipeline To A Cure has raised over 1.3 million dollars to fight Cystic Fibrosis.

From 4PM until 6:30 there will be a Snow Park for the kids featuring five 50 foot runs, two snow play areas and Snowmen ready for family photos.

Also from 4PM until 6:30 there will be a bounce park with two huge slides and Fire Doug bounce for the smaller children.

There is no charge to get into the Snow Park, however we do ask that you bring canned food, or an unwrapped toy as a donation for the Y-Adventure Guides and Friendship Circle Toy & Canned Food Drive

See www.mbfireworks.com for all event updates.

Santa will be stopping in from 9AM until noon, and we will have breakfast for everyone too!

Dates:
Pacific Volkswagen  December 10th
Pacific Audi   December 10th
Volkswagen Santa Monica  December 17th
Lexus Santa Monica  December 17th
Toyota Santa Monica  December 17th
Toyota of Hollywood  December 17th

Although Volkswagen’s contest is over, we wanted to share the various fun and clever ideas that were submitted by people from all over the world. If this sparks any ides, do share them with us. Let’s see if we can do something about them.

The Play Belt

The Bottle Bank Arcade Machine

The Speed Camera Lottery

Piano Staircase

The World’s Deepest Bin

One of the biggest fans of the Fisker Karma is one of the brightest stars in Hollywood himself, Leonardo DiCaprio. So fitting is the Karma with DiCaprio’s lifestyle and beliefs, it would be tempting to say that he was the inspiration for the Karma. It would also be the truth. Henrik Fisher says that seeing Leo get out of a Prius at the Oscars in 2007 gave him the idea for starting Fisker Automotive. “He [DiCaprio] could have bought any car in the world,” he says. “And I remember seeing that on television and thinking to myself, you know, when you’ve got a guy who could buy any Ferrari or Rolls-Royce and he’s buying a Prius, you know something is changing dramatically.”

Since Leo ordered his Karma, there have been a number of updates and tests made on the vehicle. Top of this list the exhaust system. One of only two blemishes on the concept Karma’s record was the fact that the generator would butt in at the most inappropriate moments, like a loudmouth drunk at a cocktail party. One moment, you’re sitting in the cabin mesmerized but the quiet hum and the Karma’s sophistication, then, mid-bend, the shocking sound of flatulent elephants fill the cabin, shocking you out from the spell. But that’s all fixed now, thanks to a new resonator in the exhaust, known in-house by the very technical term, The Pizza Box, and some remapped software that controls when the 20W battery pack is charged. All that is audible now are a few soft clicks and whirrs as the drivetrain goes about its business, just as it should be.

The other key change is to the steering weight, which was perfect once the car got going but rather too heavy at parking speed. Some reprogramming of the steering pump has completely solved this, so now the Karma is as easy to park as it is to fling through a corner. Both these updates have been made to Leo’s silver car. DiCaprio is an environmentalist and a strong supporter of animal rights. One of his latest Tweets restated his support for the end of the ivory trade. This explains his choice of the Eco-Chic interior in his Fisker. It’s the top-of-the-line that features no leather, just textiles and reclaimed wood. All the while, managing to look, feel, and smell premium without any cow peel in it at all.

In response to the awards, Henrik Fisker said, “It is fantastic news that the Karma has won two awards from Top Gear. We realize that we are at the beginning of our journey and awards like this remind us we are on the right road–building enticing green cars that people actually want to own.” Fisker added that he was especially excited that this was a European award for an American-made car, “it’s a triumph that American engineers have designed and engineered this ground breaking car at our global headquarters in Anaheim, CA and that there is now a new American car option that is bold, beautiful, smart and environmentally responsible.”

Community and environmental causes have always been a priority for LAcarGUY dealerships so we were excited to provide a hands-on educational opportunity through the Helen Bernstein school garden. This “living classroom” will enrich the learning experience for all students at Helen Bernstein and will help develop healthier food choices and eating patterns that can last a lifetime.

EMA launched an ongoing partnership with LAUSD to support gardens and greenery in urban schools across Los Angeles. The school garden will be a great opportunity for the children take their learning beyond the four walls, in a more dynamic environment. Math, science, nutrition, health, and fitness can all be taught through the use of these gardens. In addition to the garden itself, EMA will also provide a celebrity mentoring program for students with a member of their Young Hollywood Board that includes Amy Smart, Nicole Richie, Maroon 5 and Rosario Dawson!

We will continue to bring you updates and pictures of our newly adopted garden. If you’re involved in growing your own fruits and vegetables in your backyard, tell us your story and send in pictures. We would love to see them! We’ll continue to bring you updates and pictures of our newly adopted garden. If you’re involved in growing your own fruits and vegetables in your backyard, tell us your story and send in pictures. We would love to see them!

Claiming Best Mainstream Brand for third year in a row, Subaru also earned Best Midsize Utility Vehicle and Best Midsize Car for the 2012 Subaru Outback and the 2012 Subaru Legacy, respectively. Award winners are determined through careful study of the competition in each segment, historical vehicle performance and industry trends. Vehicle quality, production levels relative to demand, and pricing and marketing strategies remain the key factors that affect ALG’s residual value forecasts.

“The Legacy’s standard all-wheel drive, above average fuel economy and spacious interior appeal to a wide swath of the market, helping to keep demand high,” said Raj Sundaram, for ALG. “With the bawny new generation of Outback, Subaru continues to build on its reputation for delivering what consumers want in a crossover, the handling of a car with great utility and roomy interiors.”

“Subaru is proud to be recognized as a brand that builds safe and reliable vehicles that deliver on our mobility promise and retain value for our owners,” said Thomas J. Doll, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “We are honored to have, again, received ALG Residual Value Awards for our brand and two of our popular Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive vehicles.”

Of the Best Mainstream Brand win, ALG remarked: “Subaru continues to draw fiercely loyal devotees who appreciate the brand’s strong quality and ability to remain practical yet progressive in its redesigns. Dependably low incentives and fleet sales have also enhanced its used market image, helping it to maintain the top spot for mainstream brand for the third year in a row.”

www.SubaruPacific.com

Los Angeles – December 1, 2011 – LAcarGUY is pleased to announce the addition of Subaru Pacific to its family of dealerships. Subaru Pacific, LAcarGUY’s eleventh dealership, will open its doors December 5^th, 2011 in Hermosa Beach, and will then move to its permanent location in Torrance the following year. Subaru has not had a presence in the South Bay for fifteen years, but Mike Sullivan, President of LAcarGUY, believes the time is right to bring this iconic brand home.

“As our eleventh LAcarGUY dealership, we think Subaru Pacific is an absolute natural fit for us. Subaru owners exemplify the independent spirit and active lifestyle of southern California, as does Subaru Pacific’s new General Manager (and Triathlete), James Hartzberg. In addition, Subaru’s long history of environmental commitment aligns with LAcarGUY’s mission,” said Mike Sullivan.

“The South Bay has been a great market for Subaru for years, so in searching for the right dealer, we didn’t want to settle for “really good” we wanted “great” said Bill Cypers, Subaru of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales. Cypers’, in town for the unveiling of Subaru’s BRZ sporty coup at the L.A. Auto Show, went on to say, “ Though we had several excellent candidates seeking to represent Subaru in the South Bay, Mike Sullivan’s LAcarGUY stood out among the rest due to his wonderful reputation in both the local community and automotive industry.

LAcarGUY has always been a champion of sustainable mobility and like Subaru of America, is committed to a greener future. Since 2003, Subaru has offered certified Partial Zero Emission Vehicles (PZEV) including Legacy, Outback and Forester models that meet California’s Super-Ultra-Low-Emission vehicle exhaust standard and Subaru’s Indiana manufacturing plant became the first automotive assembly facility to be “zero landfill,” setting a precedent for the industry.  Subaru also manufactures the most fuel efficient all wheel drive vehicle in America – the all-new 2012 Subaru Impreza.

Involvement in the community is another commitment shared by LAcarGUY and Subaru Both companies are known for their generous support of local organizations and non-profits in the areas in which they operate. In addition, LAcarGUY and Subaru have each achieved double-digit growth that they hope to maintain in order to have a positive impact on the local economy.

About LAcarGUY

The LAcarGUY family of dealerships has been a Los Angeles fixture since “Sully” Sullivan opened his first dealership, Volkswagen Santa Monica in 1964. Today, LAcarGUY includes 10 award-winning dealerships throughout Los Angeles and a state-of-the-art body shop.  Known for its outstanding customer service, long-term relationships, and word-of-mouth marketing, LAcarGUY is the first choice when shopping for a new or used car. As a local family-owned business, LAcarGUY is recognized as a prominent supporter of community events, charitable organizations and environmental causes. As the number one hybrid dealer in the world, LAcarGUY is proud to lead the industry to a greener automotive future.

About Subaru of America

Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 600 dealers across the United States.  All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. For additional information visit www.subaru.com.

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Volkswagen will use the same battery module design for all its electric vehicles globally across all its brands according to Dr. Tobias Giebel, head of the Volkswagen Research Lab in Shanghai. Those battery modules and the battery cells in them are likely to be sourced from China, he said.

Volkswagen's electric cars, like the upcoming e-Up, will likely use battery cells and modules sourced from China

“You have to be focused beyond the cell level. That is the only way,” said Giebel at the EV Battery Forum Asia 2011 in Shanghai. The Forum took place on November 7 – 9, 2011.

Volkswagen’s Giebel was optimistic about Chinese battery makers’ capacity to one day build low-cost, high-quality vehicle batteries. In an interview with PluginCars.com, Giebel said Volkswagen is working with local battery manufacturers in China to produce a product that meets Volkswagen’s global standards. “We believe the future of battery cell sourcing is in China,” he said. Today, China’s lithium-ion battery makers are focused on consumer technology, said Giebel. Its automotive-grade batteries are not up to the high-level vehicle traction battery manufacturers in Korea or Japan, he said.

But Volkswagen is working closely with about 20 of China’s more than 100 battery producers, and is already seeing improvement. “We think in a couple of years we will have really strong suppliers in fully domestic companies,” said Giebel. When they are, Volkswagen will use the same source for its Asia, Europe, and the United States operations, he said.

That could mean a significant amount of business because Volkswagen will use a standard module for all electric vehicles across all its brands. That means all hybrids, plug-in hybrid electric, battery electric, and fuel cell vehicles produced under the Volkswagen Group’s 10 nameplates, which include Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi, Seat, Bentley, Porsche, Scania, Bugatti, Lamborghini, and Volkswagen commercial vehicles.

“The module shape and number of cells will be the same,” said Giebel. “The module is not part of any international norm. It is a company internal standard.” Inside the module, Volkswagen might adapt the connection between the cells to vary the number of parallel and serial cells, said Giebel. The module is a company internal standard, he added.

Volkswagen’s current parallel hybrid models, including the Touareg SUV, have a different technology, but the company will use the standard module concept first on battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric models, said Giebel. “The extension to parallel hybrid (HEV) will be decided later,” he said.

In separate testing, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rated the Karma a 10 out of 10 for fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions, while the California Air Resource Board (CARB) recently offered its certification, making the Karma emissions compliant in all 50 states.

With 400 horsepower, the Karma is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 6.1 seconds and is the most efficient, lowest emission automobile available despite its size, performance, and design. All this is achievable due to the Karma’s cutting-edge EVer™ (Electric Vehicle extended range) powertrain technology, which combines the zero-emissions and efficiency of electric drive with the range and freedom of petrol-powered cars.

Unlike pure electric vehicles, the Karma can travel long distances without range anxiety or long recharge times. And as a series plug-in hybrid, the Karma gives drivers the ability to run emission free on-demand. While the Karma can run on all-electric power in Stealth mode for 51.6 miles, it has a total range of up to 300 miles (483 km) before a stop for gas or recharge is required. When driven in charge-sustaining Sport mode, the Karma achieves 26 mpg (9.2 L/100 km) combined fuel economy in TUV tests, the best of any full size, US-market luxury car.

“We are naturally very pleased with the TUV results, which show we have delivered better than our anticipated fuel efficiency figures,” said CEO and co-founder Henrik Fisker. “We believe the Karma is a car well-suited to the lifestyles of many people, and these results only reinforce that position.”

TUV Results

The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute these toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.

This year’s group was a record at 35, all-new or thoroughly redesigned, 2012 model year vehicles. The all-new for 2012, made in America, Volkswagen Passat edged out its European, Japanese and American contenders in an exhaustive evaluation process that included the full complement of Motor Trend performance tests, track-based ride and handling evaluations, and real-world driving on city streets, freeways, and two-lane roads.

“The well-equipped Passat is a breakthrough car for Volkswagen, as it has been designed to suit the North American market and is being built in a brand-new, state-of-the-art assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tenn.,” said Motor Trend editor-in-chief, Angus MacKenzie. “It has one of the roomiest interiors of its class, a wide choice of powertrains and a well-tuned chassis. A compelling new entry in the toughest, most competitive vehicle segment in the U.S. today; it’s a terrific all-around family sedan.”

For the past 62 years, the editorial staff of Motor Trend has met to determine the best new car for the following model year. The Car of the Year process is not a comparison test; the winning vehicle is the one that, in the judges’ opinions, best fulfills six key criteria: advancement in design, engineering excellence, efficiency, safety, value, and performance of intended function.

The Passat’s styling is clean and simple, but executed with precision normally seen on expensive luxury cars. Car of the Year judge Tom Gale, Chrysler’s former design chief, noted, “…like the Audi [A6], what is remarkable is the restraint shown with the handling of the design. Clean, beautiful surfaces have been refined for an engaging result.”

With options that include a 2.5-liter five-cylinder gas engine, a powerful V6 or a highly efficient turbo diesel–each with the option of being mated to a standard transmission or the seamlessly smooth dual-clutch auto-manual unit–Motor Trend found the powertrains of the Passat to be perfectly matched to the car. Editors particularly praised the diesel engine mated to the dual-clutch auto-manual gearbox. Engineering guru, Chris Theodore noted of the combination, “…without the compromise that mainstream green vehicles impose–a true technological achievement.”

The standard 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine returned 26.5 mpg in testing while the optional turbo-diesel returned an average of 34.3 mpg. The Passat has the best fuel economy stats among this year’s finalists over the course of 11 mixed-driving loops.

Between government mandates and consumer expectations, pretty much all vehicles in this segment gets a standard complement of passive safety gadgets that include six airbags, stability control, tire-pressure monitoring, ABS, and brake-assist, among numerous other electric aids. “What’s more fun to talk about under the safety rubric is how well the Passat’s chassis is tuned to keep it out of trouble, because well-driven, agile cars are less likely to plow into things than poorly controlled, flabby, clumsy ones,” said Motor Trend technical editor, Frank Markus.

And by investing in a facility in Chattanooga, Tenn. to build the Passat, VW has reduced the potential for currency fluctuations to negatively impact the price, as happened with the previous imported model. With initial costs lower and overall ownership costs suppressed–thanks to improved build quality and VW’s Carefree Maintenance Program–the 2012 Volkswagen Passat stands as a great value in a market segment driven by price-conscious consumers.

The 2012 Passat was inteneded to be an affordable, roomy, efficient mid-sized sedan for the American family, and the car delivers perfectly on the mission statement. Car of the Year judge, Chris Theodore summed it up best, “I was expecting a large, cost-reduced VW that had lost its Fahvergnugen, but it’s still there, just cloaked in Brooks Brothers.”

This is only the second time Volkswagen has won Motor Trend’s highest honor, the first being in 1985 for the then American-built TDI.

The Audi A1, the smallest model wearing the Audi badge, was unveiled last year at the Geneva motor show. As you would expect, the manufacturer had many models on its stand. There were production models and two prototypes: one as a sports version, the other a plug-in hybrid. A year later, Audi has built at least 20 more A1 e-tron plug-in hybrids, which are currently part of a pilot electric mobility project in Munich.

Right now, the driving and charging habits of all 20 drivers are precisely monitored, with Audi predicting that the 12-kWh battery should give a 50-km (31-mile) range. The motor makes 75 kW, allowing 0-to-62-mph acceleration in 10.2 seconds. We should note that Audi doesn’t seem to be overestimating the car’s range on electric power—31 miles from a 12-kWh battery seems very realistic. Some drivers may even get more.

The configuration of the car is quite remarkable. Audi could have done it as a pure electric car, but it didn’t. It would have been an easy choice to use a 20-kWh battery pack, but the German engineers chose a 12-kWh pack with a small internal combustion engine behind it. That creates a bit of a problem since the A1 is a small car, only 155 inches long. The Chevy Volt is a packaging marvel with both its electric motor and internal combustion engine (ICE) under its front hood, but it would be impossible to use that same architecture in the smaller A1.

The engineers designed an electric propulsion system to power the A1′s front wheels, which fits nicely under the hood, but there was just not enough free space left for an ICE. It had to be placed elsewhere, with the only other conceivable place being below the trunk’s floor.

No production engine from the Volkswagen group’s part bin could fit there, so the engineers had to design a new engine specifically for this purpose. That was undoubtedly a tough decision to make considering the cost to build such an engine―it would have been much cheaper to simply make the A1 pure EV.

Still, the engineers set out to build a plug-in hybrid, and they didn’t hesitate between a diesel or a conventional Otto-cycle ICE. They chose a rotary. You may know those engines from Mazda. They were originally a German-design, from Felix Wankel. Nearly every manufacturer played with the technology in the 1970s—GM even made a Corvette prototype with a rotary—but Mazda was the only one to build them in significant numbers.

Compared to a conventional ICE, a rotary has some of the same virtues as an electric motor. It makes much less vibration, and it can rev at higher speeds, but its poor fuel economy has prevented it from going mainstream. This may change, and the rotary could see a revival in the near future as a range-extender for plug-in electrics, because it has the strong advantage of a very compact size. Viewed from the top, the rotary inside the A1 e-tron has about the same dimensions as a laptop computer.

First, the new Porsche Panamera GTS made its world premiere debut. The Panamera was ceremoniously unveiled by two surprising guest: Patrick Long, Porsche Works & Flying Lizards Driver along with Romain Dumas, Porsche factory driver. The Panamera GTS is powered by a modified 4.8-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine, delivering 430 hp at 6,700 rpm, increasing the output over the Panamera S/4S by 30 hp. The maximum torque also increases by comparison, from 369 to 384 lb. ft.

At the push of a button, thanks to the standard Sport Chrono package, the 7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission transmits the engine output to the all-wheel drive system during gear changes without interruption to the power flow. This collaboration enables the Panamera GTS to sprint to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, accelerating on to its top track speed of 178 mph. The GTS is equipped with the latest Porsche dynamic driving dynamic control systems, including adaptive air suspension including Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM). This system constantly calibrates settings to suit specific driving challenges, from regulating leveling, height and spring rate to electronic damping. With the suspension set at “Normal,” the GTS sits an aggressive ten millimeters lower than any other Panamera model.

In terms of looks, the new Panamera GTS includes distinctive design features at the front, side and rear as well as black highlights. The interior is also tailored to its sporty personality with adaptive ports seats, SportDesign steering wheel with shift paddles and exclusive GTS leather interior with Alcantara surfaces.

Secondly, Porsche also unveiled the all new Porsche 911 (991) Carrera S for the first time in North America. This is the seventh generation Porsche 911 and it does not disappoint. Executive VP of R&D, Wolfgang Hatz says that everything in this new 911 has been completely reengineered and redesigned, but maintains every inch the embodiment of 911 Carrera. Longer, lower, wider and 100 lbs. lighter than the previous 911, the seventh generation is athletic, elegant and iconic. The Porsche 911 Carrera is equipped with a new 350 hp, 3.4-liter boxer engine while the 911 Carrera S features a 400 hp, 3.8-liter boxer engine – a 15 hp improvement versus its predecessor. The first 911 models will arrive in dealerships beginning in February of 2012.

Lastly, Porsche announced its plans for the Porsche Experience Center Los Angeles, to be built in nearby Carson, California. It will be situated near the intersection of two major Los Angeles area traffic arteries, the 405 and 110 Freeways. Detlev von Platen, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, indicates that the facility is going to be 53 acres, twice the size of the Atlanta Porsche Experience Center and both facilities will cost over $100 million dollars combined.

The centerpiece of the complex will be a world-class test track and handling course, including areas where special surfaces replicate rain, ice, and snow conditions. These training sections include the Ice Hill, where a steep slope, computer-controlled water jets, and a low-friction surface will challenge even the most experienced drivers and help them improve their real-world skills. A special off-road area will combine 45-degree declines and ascents – ideal terrain for unleashing a Porsche Cayenne.

The Porsche Experience Center will also offer programs focused on maximizing personal fitness, wellness, and athletic performance through its Porsche Human Performance Center. This unique facility will feature a leading sports science laboratory and training programs, incorporating the latest techniques used in preparing Porsche race car drivers.

Monday, December 5th
11 am – 4 pm on the Showroom Floor
All donors will receive a Pacific Movie Ticket!
call 310.531.9400 or email Andrea at andreagarcia@lacarguy.com to schedule your appointment!

Please remember to EAT WELL and INCREASE your FLUID INTAKE the day of your donation

We Require Identification

For more information, please visit the website: www.gotblood.ucla.edu

The Fisker Karma has faced some tough press lately, including a brief, misinformed outrage surrounding the fact that the car will be manufactured in Finland despite the Fisker’s receipt of a $529 million loan guarantee from the Department of Energy. As those who have followed the company over the years know, Fisker intended to build the Karma in Finland long before it received any federal loan guarantees, and still plans to manufacture its next vehicle at a factory in Delaware.

Recently though, the headlines have begun to tilt in the Karma’s favor. On Wednesday, it was announced that Automobile magazine had named the car “Design of the Year” for 2012, calling it “a beautiful and highly dramatic automobile, unlike anything else on the road today and yet very much like dozens of the most beloved sports cars of the past.”

The accolade underscores an important point about the Karma that tends to get lost in a flood of often politically-tinged reactions: the Karma is a $96,000 luxury sports sedan and as such, it deserves to be evaluated on different terms from the Chevy Volt or Toyota Prius Plug-in. Emissions-conscious purchasers of luxury performance vehicles haven’t traditionally had many offerings to choose from. The Karma gives this relatively untested market a new option, and according to Automobile magazine-and nearly everyone else who’s driven and reviewed the vehicle-it’s a pretty impressive one at that.

Over in Europe, the Karma got some more good news last week from independent fuel efficiency tests carried out by the German regulatory body Technischer Überwachungs Verein (TÜV). The results of those tests prove that the Fisker Karma is one of the most capable—at least among plug-in hybrid vehicles—electric-only-mode performers in the world. The TÜV’s thorough “real-world urban” tests show that the plug-in returned an impressive 51.6-mile range in electric-only mode. This figure beats the Karma’s official EPA rating by a substantial 19.6 miles.

Of the results, Henrik Fisker, chief executive officer of Fisker Automotive, stated, “We are delighted that the TÜV has confirmed that most owners will achieve a 50-mile range running purely on electric during their daily commute.”

The 2012 Fisker Karma is currently on sale in the US, though production volume is extremely limited and all Karmas to be sold in 2011 have already been spoken for. Come next year, Fisker aims to ramp up production and sell approximately 15,000 Karmas in the US and Europe.

The Audi A7 may not taut a list of major new technologies, but the list of leading-edge features are impressive. Using a touchpad, input into the navigation system can be made by drawing them with your finger, which requires less eyes-away-from-the-road than traditional methods. Google Earth imagery is also incorporated and the car functions as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot. LED front accent lighting–which was pioneered by Audi–is standard, and full-LED active headlamps are also available. Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system is more than a safety feature, as the rear torque bias provides the sportier, more responsive cornering of a rear-wheel drive car with the ability to put more power to the ground.

The A7 isn’t a dramatic upgrade from its predecessor, because it didn’t have one! You’ll find it positioned in the lineup between the A6 and the A8 sedans, the A7 is actually something new from Audi. It’s the latest “couped” sedan that has perfect proportions and an eye-catching style that boasts sophistication. Dynamically, its a delight with an enviable ride/handling balance. It certainly is a large car, but you wouldn’t know it from behind the wheel. The sports suspension (part of the S Line package) strikes a nearly ideals balance between ride comfort and limiting body roll. As associate editor, Eric Tingwall, pointed out, “Whether it’s commuting, being driven hard, or touring, the A7 can please any driver.”

The A7 is powered by a 3.0-liter TFSI supercharged V6 that delivers 310 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque at just 2,900 rpm. The use of direct injection and force feeding the engine with fresh air spreads the power over a very broad range, which enables the A7 to hustle from 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds. But best of all, performance comes with healthy fuel consumption, nursing a gallon of premium over 28 highway miles. Overall, what stands out most in the A7 is the fact that excellence in any one area does not come at the expense of its competence in any other. Mesmerizing to look at and seductive to drive, the Audi A7 is a car to aspire to — and an entirely worthy Automobile Car of the Year.

Drop by Pacific Audi today to see the 2012 Audi A7 as it’s definitely a car that you’ll want to experience in person.

Volkswagen is presenting a technically and visually updated version of the vehicle at the LA Auto Show, held at the LA Convention Center in downtown Los Angeles between November 18 and 27. With new front and rear styling and an extended range of standard equipment that includes Bi-Xenon headlights with the Adaptive Front Lighting System and LED taillights, the new CC makes an even bolder statement in the entry-luxury class. The 2013 Volkswagen CC will go on sale in the Spring in the U.S.

Now, the Prius V’s are here, and we have them available at both the Toyota Santa Monica and Toyota Hollywood stores! We showed the Prius V off at the AltCar Expo, and we also shot this test drive video for you, have a look.

Thanks to SimplyZesty.com for this…

When it comes to car launches, all the big companies always try and outdo each other in terms of glitz and glamour, but it looks like Audi could have won the competition this year with this stunning 3D projection. With the car wrapped in tarpaulin, an audience was treated to a spectacular display that made it seem as if the car was moving while flicking through all the different models available. Very innovative!

Remember the Volkswagen L1 that debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in 2009? If not, here’s a brief refresher: The carbon-fiber bodied L1 concept was powered by a 0.8-liter two-cylinder diesel engine that cranked out 27 horsepower. That diesel engine was supplemented by a 10-kW electric motor housed inside the L1′s seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. With a curb weight of only 838 pounds, Volkswagen claimed the L1 would return upwards of 170 miles per gallon.

Then, in January of 2011, Volkswagen unveiled the third generation of its fuel-sipping concept. The third-gen vehicle differed from its predecessor in several ways, but most notable was its addition of a port, which transformed the concept into a plug-in hybrid vehicle. Called the XL1, Volkswagen’s lightweight concept boasted an electric-only range of 21 miles and measured in at 153-inches long, 66-inches wide and only 45-inches high. Weight shot up to 1,753 pounds, but the output from its diesel engine jumped to 48 horsepower and its electric motor cranked out 20 kW. Volkswagen claimed the XL1 concept could zip from zero to 62 miles per hour in 11.9 seconds and top out at 100 mph.

Most importantly, the XL1 retained its streamlined body and its ultra-efficient hybrid powertrain. At the time, Volkswagen announced the XL1 would return a remarkable 261 mpg—a questionable figure since it’s based on Europe’s lenient fuel economy test cycles. Nevertheless, we’d expect the production version to return approximately 150 mpg in “real world” driving, and word is a production version is coming soon.

According to Automotive News Europe, Volkswagen chief executive officer, Martin Winterkorn, officially confirmed the 2013 launch of the two-seat XL1. ANE quoted Winterkorn, “We will start small series production by 2013—in Germany.”

That most likely equates to VW whipping out 100 or so production versions of the XL1 and selling them to the general public over in Germany. So, more of a field trial than a full-scale production vehicle, but hopefully VW brass will decide to eventually give the XL1 plug-in hybrid the mass production green light.

Founded in 1871, TÜV Rheinland is a global leader in independent testing, inspection, certification, and consulting services. The company inspects technical equipment, products and services; oversees projects; and helps to shape processes for U.S. companies seeking entry to worldwide markets.

The TUV have carried out the most thorough tests yet of the Karma’s real-world urban performance. This is an independent process that measures every element of the Fisker Karma luxury plug-in hybrid’s performance.

“We are delighted that the TUV has confirmed that most owners will achieve a 50 mile range running purely on electric during their daily commute,” said Fisker Automotive CEO and co-founder Henrik Fisker.

The Karma has already been awarded the highest possible score of 10 out of 10 for fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions on its label from the US Environmental Protection Agency.

To stay on top of all the news and information about Fisker, make sure that you “Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Built using a rugged Toyota Tacoma 4×4 pickup equipped with a V6 engine and TRD supercharger that generates 304 horsepower, the truck was customized by Smithbuilt to be a Surfing Big Wave Assault Machine. Additional performance modifications include a Flowmaster stainless steel exhaust, an Icon stage 3 lift kit, Billet top A arms, new leaf springs for added height, a new front coilover system, and Walker Evans 17 x 8 bead lock wheels with a flat black finish mounted to BF Goodrich 285/75-17 all-terrain tires.

Inside modifications include Wet Okole Hawaii custom embroidered seat covers, Topstitch interior modifications on the door panels, head liner and carpet kit throughout, a Kicker sound system and an Oakley icon.

This unique Toyota Tacoma is a surfer’s dream as it is equipped with a purpose-built roof racking system for heavy hauling and can be accessed with ease for surf bag stowage and multiple board storage. The truck bed system, which has a lot of storage for wet suits and other equipment, also comes with an ice chest and barbeque grill. Meals and cold drinks can be enjoyed under a shade system that is equipped in the back of the roof rack system. Living comfort is also achieved with and integrated shower system. Illumination is supplemented with Vision X lighting in the bed and front driving lights.

After SEMA, the Oakley Surf Tacoma will follow the waves and appear at all Oakley surf competitions. Surf’s up!

OAKLEY SURF TACOMA FEATURES

TACOMA 4X4
- TRD Supercharged (304 horsepower)
- K&N air filter
- Flowmaster stainless steel exhaust
SUSPENSION
- Icon stage 3 lift kit
- Billet top A arms
- New leaf springs for added height
- New front coilover system
BUMPERS
- Front – Arb Rear – Custom – Mike Smith Fabrication
- Arb deluxe bull bar
- ARB winch kit
- Two – eight-inch Vision X HID’s
- Mike Smith Fabrication rear bumper and tire rack
ROOF RACKING SYSTEM/REAR BED – MIKE SMITH FABRICATION
- Customized to hold 6-8 surf boards
- Custom access doors
- Integrated driving light by Vision X
- Oakley net system for extra storage
- Integrated shower system
- Custom storage system throughout truck bed
WHEELS AND TIRES
- Walker Evans 17 X 8 bead locks/flat black finish
- BF Goodrich 285/75-17 All Terrain Tires
INTERIOR
- Wet Okole Hawaii seat covers custom embroidered
- Oakley icon
- Topstitch interior mods to include door panels, head liner and carpet kit throughout
- Kicker Sound System
EXTRAS
- Storage cooler
- Storable barbecue grill
- On board air compressor supplied by VIAIR Corporation
- ARB rear canopy

PARTNERS/CONTRIBUTORS
- ICON
- BFG
- Walker Evans Wheels
- Vision X lighting
- Smithbuilt
- ARB

LAcarGUY is proud to be sponsoring the 21st annual Manhattan Beach Pumpkin Race on October 30th. Enjoy the spectacle of the Manhattan Beach Pier area transformed into Pumpkinrace Land, where creativity runs wild and cheaters never prosper. Dress in colorful costumes, enjoy fun activities for all ages, make your own Pumpkin Racecar and feel the thrill of competing in the fun-spirited World Famous Pumpkin Race. Free and fun for the whole family thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and volunteers. Handcrafted Pumpkin Racecars racing side-by-side in unpredictable and dramatic style! Families and friends race for fun and the coveted Championship Trophy. Prizes are awarded for Best of Show, Best Team Spirit, and Best Crash. http://www.pumpkinrace.com/

It’s free to enter! Compete in single elimination Open Qualifying from 1:00pm-4:00pm for your chance to race in the Championship Finals beginning at 4:00pm. Award ceremonies and sunset concert right after the finals!

Last year Toyota of Hollywood won Best Themed Pumpkin for Breast Cancer Awareness month. Have a look at this video from last year, and we will look to see you at the event!

Let’s let Mike Sullivan tell you all about it.

At just 10 feet long the Scion iQ is the shortest car being sold in North America save the SMART FourTwo, and the less said about the SMART car the better. While in theory the iQ and the FourTwo are priced similarly and are targeting a similar demographic, the Scion iQ is so far and above the SMART as to make the FourTwo look as sophisticated as the Wright Brothers Flyer in the world of the 787 Dreamliner.

Priced at $15,995, which includes destination charges, the iQ is not the cheapest car on the market, but it is very well equipped and very well built. Standard features include vehicle stability control, electric power steering, keyless entry and Bluetooth connectivity. While there are no soft touch surfaces in the iQ, one wouldn’t expect them at this price point either. That said, the quality of the materials along with the fit and finish of the interior are certainly better than in larger and more expensive B and C segment cars we’ve driven in the past year. “It’s a real car,” Scion Vice President Jack Hollis said. “It drives and feels like a Corolla, but it’s in this tiny package.”

The iQ will not have any factory options available, however, like all Scions there were be a plethora of accessories for the iQ available at Dealers to customize and personalize the iQ. There will be one option, which is a lowering kit for the iQ, along with larger 18” wheels which Jack Hollis said looks “amazing on this car”.

In North America where bigger is always better, and in cars and trucks perceived as safer, the iQ comes will 11 airbags, and is expected to achieve an IIHS Top Safety Pick when it’s results are released. There are are the usual airbags for driver and passenger knees, side bolster and side curtains, but two innovative airbags in the iQ are ones in the seat bottom that lift the knees up to prevent the driver from submarining under the steering wheel and a rear curtain airbag that covers the rear glass area to protect rear seat passengers from a rear end crash.

While technically the iQ is a four seat car, it is really a 3+1 as only the smallest of people will be able to sit behind the driver. The rear seat room behind the passenger is acceptable for anyone under six feet tall.

The packaging of the iQ is very clever. The two front seats are offset (the passenger sits farther forward) to create rear seat leg room. The fuel tank is located under the passenger floor, the engine and transmission have been engineered to push the front wheels as far forward as possible to create more cabin space by eliminating wheel well intrusion into the cabin. It allows to iQ to be very short, 10 feet in length, but, the iQ is very wide for such a short car. In fact, the cabin width is as wide, if not wider than a Toyota Corolla! You would think that driver and passenger shoulders would be touching in the iQ but it feels very much like a C segment car from the front seats.

Driving the iQ as we did, mostly in an urban setting, is quite enjoyable. Given how short the wheelbase of the car is, the ride is not overly choppy or harsh. The ride is firm, but acceptably so. The steering in fairly direct, maybe not go kart sharp, but still very good. The only transmission offered in the iQ for North America is the Toyota CVT. We have to say that the CVT in the iQ may be the best we’ve ever driven! It was for the most part a non factor, and that may be the highest praise we can give that style of transmission. When asked about the availability of a manual transmission for the car, Jack Hollis said that while he, and many others at Scion North America would like to see that as an option, the fact that 95% of Gen Y’ers don’t know how to drive a manual, is an issue, plus the fact that the car is targeted at the urban environment, a CVT was a better choice.

What is astonishing about driving the iQ is just how tight the turning radius is. It’s not a joke to say that the iQ can “turn on a dime and give you eight cents change”. The actual turning radius of the car is 12.9 feet!! The iQ can almost turn within it’s own length! Parking the iQ is very easy as well. While you can’t see the nose of the car while seated behind the wheel, the nose of the car isn’t much past your feet being on the peddles. Rear visibility is good as well, and again the rear bumper is four inches past the rear glass, so distance is easy to judge.

The engine powering the iQ is Toyota’s 1.3 liter inline four cylinder, and with the CVT transmission it returns fuel economy in the iQ is 36mpg city, 37 highway and 37 combined. Acceleration feels good in urban environments. While the actual 0-60 numbers are around 10 seconds, the iQ feels much zippier than that. On the freeway the iQ wasn’t buffeted around by large semis. While our highway segment was short with the car, it was enough to get a good take away. We wouldn’t want to take a four hour drive on the highway all the time with the iQ, but if your commute includes highway time, this Scion will do just fine. Wind noise at speed is also very low, in part due the aero sculpting of the the car in the wind tunnel. It’s had to believe, but the iQ had a drag coefficient of just .31!

The Scion iQ will be available in dealers on the West Coast beginning in early December, and roll out across the rest of the country in stages through March. Scion are looking to sell about 2,000 iQ’s per month once the car is released across the country, and they do expect sales to be concentrated in areas like L.A., San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, New York and Chicago, areas where the iQ would fit well into tight urban environments.

Going in we didn’t know what to expect with the iQ, really all we’d ever really seen of it were segments from Fifth Gear and Top Gear. It will make a great commuter car, a great car for college students, or a car for people who live in cities who need cars for things like going to the grocery store, or running a number of errands where a Zip car service or public transportation wouldn’t work out. We have to say walking away from our drive, that the iQ is a very impressive little car.

With 200+ vehicles participating this years event was the largest-ever plug-in vehicle parade and biggest grassroots EV event, the parade in Santa Monica was mirrored by similar displays in 20 cities across the US.

Organised by not-for-profit EV advocate group Plug-in America, the day saw new and legacy plug-in vehicles from the likes of GM, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Toyota, smart, Ford, Tesla and Coda take part in the flagship parade through downtown Santa Monica.

“Only a few years ago, major automakers were literally crushing electric cars. Today, virtually every auto company in the world is selling or developing a plug-in car, and consumers are snapping up each and every one, stimulating our economy while helping the environment,” said Plug In America co-founder Paul Scott.

You can see all of the pictures we took from the event on out Flickr page, just click this link to take you there.

Kelly Sullivan, the General Manager of our new Fisker Santa Monica store will be driving the stunning Fisker Karma, and Mike Sullian will be driving a Plugin Prius from our Toyota Santa Monica store!

We invite highway-capable plug-in vehicles in the area to join us as we roll from the Santa Monica Civic Center down Main Street at 10 a.m. We’re staging in the parking lot from 8:00 a.m. through 9:30 a.m. A press conference will begin at 9:30 a.m. Parade will start promptly at 10:00 a.m. and proceed down Main St.

To find out more about National Plug In Day just head to their website pluginamerica.org/pluginday/los-angeles

These three lucky fans were given the surprise of their lives during a November 2010, Oprah “Ultimate Favorite Things” episode, when audience members, all specially selected community heroes, found out that they would be receiving a brand new 2012 Beetle.

Excited to participate in such a deserving promotion, LAcarGUY’s Volkswagen Santa Monica was proud to give Gina Elise, the “calendar angel,” her new, Silver 2012 Beetle. Gina is the founder of PinUpForVets.com, a project that supports hospitalized Veterans and deployed troops.

The other local recipients were a couple, Evelyn and Rob Calip, who picked up their Red and Blue 2012 Beetles at Pacific Volkswagen earlier today. Evelyn is a breast cancer survivor who started a non-profit, Evelyn’s Breast Friends Forever! to provide support to other women going through the same journey.

Redesigned for only the second time in history, the sportier 2.5L 2012 Beetle is a modern interpretation of the iconic Beetle design. Balancing classic beauty with a contemporary edge and enhanced performance, the 2012 Beetle provides an exhilarating driving experience.

“LAcarGUY is thrilled to offer Los Angeles the 2012 Beetle, reborn and reengineered for the 21st century,” said Mike Sullivan, Owner of LAcarGUY. “I’m especially pleased that we are giving these Beetles away to such a deserving group of local heroes.”

Emmanuelle loves the Prius, as she has purchased two from Toyota Hollywood already!

Providing Prius’ is something we at Toyota Hollywood do every year! We love to drive celebrities to events like the EMA Awards, however we did not know who we were actually driving to the event this year until Wednesday night!

The annual EMA Awards honor film and television personalities, productions, musicians and musical tours that convey environmental messages in the most creative and influential ways. Since 1991, the EMA Awards has been the only program solely devoted to celebrating the entertainment industry’s environmental efforts. A pioneer in linking the power of celebrity to environmental awareness, it was EMA who invented the ‘green carpet,’ launching the concept of taking a hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle, not a limo, to the annual Awards show.

The Toyota Camry is proof that every so often, nice guys do finish first. An exciting, high-adrenaline machine it is not, but the Camry has managed to be the top selling car in America for 13 of the past 14 years based on a multitude of other, subtler virtues. It has achieved a quiet sort of perfection characterized by comfort, reliability, efficiency and the absence of normal automotive faults like invasive wind noise, awkward suspension movements and undue mechanical faults or failures. For the 2012 model year, Toyota is introducing an all-new Camry that promises to build on all of the traditional Camry virtues; read on for some of the highlights of the new car.

Savings at the Gas Pump

The most significant mechanical changes to the Camry will have a favorable effect on owners’ wallets. The Camry’s four-cylinder engine gains three miles per gallon in both city and highway cycles, climbing to a class-leading 25/35 miles gallon. V-6 Camrys are now capable of hitting the 30 mpg mark on the highway, an impressive feat for a powerful six-cylinder motor, while city mileage is 21 mpg. The efficiency king is the hybrid model, which ekes out 43/39 mpg ratings.
Surprisingly, Toyota managed to decrease the Camry’s fuel consumption without resorting to expensive and complex measures like direct injection and downsized engines. Instead, the company employed simple but effective methods like lower rolling-resistance tires, improved aerodynamics, taller gearing, electric steering and shedding 155 excess pounds.

Looks Better, Feels Better

Outside, the formerly bland Camry now has a more organic shape and more sophisticated surface detailing, features that conspire to give it an understated but handsome look. More substantive changes reside inside, where the rather bulbous dashboard of the outgoing model gives way to a classy design with high-quality, soft touch plastics and elegant stitching. Despite the weight reduction, the Camry’s interior actually grows slightly in head, leg and shoulder room. It is a spacious and comfortable space to spend time.
The Camry’s app-based infotainment system, dubbed “Entune” is the first technology of its kind to hit the mainstream market, allowing drivers to quickly locate almost any conceivable point of interest. OpenTable and movietickets.com provide concierge services at the tap of a button, while Pandora, iheartradio and Siriuis XM crank out the tunes through an impressive optional JBL audio system.

One For the Drivers

Toyota is making a concerted effort to make the 2012 Toyota Camry appeal to those who are looking for a bit of driving pleasure, and the result is the SE model. The SE features stiffer springs and shocks and rigidity-adding steering knuckles, resulting in a crisper sedan with surprisingly precise handling and the most undiluted connection between driver and machine ever seen in a Camry. The SE also includes improved seat bolsters for better support during spirited driving, a cleaner grille and much less chrome than the standard model

Overall, with its increased efficiency, improved looks and newfound focus on driving dynamics, the new Camry is a sure bet to keep satisfying customers and retain its sales title for the foreseeable future.

“The industry-leading technology in the all-new A6 is specifically engineered to analyze the road, anticipate situations for the driver, prepare for incidents and most importantly, enhance the driver’s experience, making the A6 one of the most intelligent cars on the road today,” said Scott Keogh, chief marketing officer of Audi of America. “The American road is a challenging place.”

In a related effort to raise awareness of today’s road conditions, Audi partnered with the SENSEable City Lab to develop the Road Frustration Index (RFI). Using a blend of historical and real-time data, the RFI features real-time snapshot of North American roads, taking into account traffic patterns, infrastructure quality, weather patterns, driver behavior (behaviour), social media comments about driving and more. The data is measured, weighted and compiled into an overall “index” for major cities throughout North America. Individuals will be able to find the RFI for their community and compare it to that of their friends. To view the RFI, go to www.roadintel.com.

The 2012 A6 is one of Audi’s most innovative and technologically-advanced models to date, making 2,000 decisions per second to assist the driver. Safety in the all-new Audi A6 is enhanced by a thermal imaging camera with Night Vision Assistant to highlight pedestrians it detects in front of the vehicle, as well as the Audi Pre-Sense Plus safety system that is able to minimize accidents by warning the driver and applying the brakes with increasing force in an emergency. Other intelligent features include heads-up display, which projects navigation data as a hologram that hovers over the windshield, allowing the driver to see important driving information in real time without having to divert attention from the road.

Audi is the first company worldwide to incorporate Google Earth into its MMI® Navigation system, which combines 3D terrain models with aerial views and a detailed street network to calculate routes seamlessly. The A6 also features a MMI touch pad that recognizes handwriting in multiple languages, allowing drivers to perform a number of functions without taking their eyes off the road, as well as factory-installed wireless internet, enabling features such as Audi connect™ for real-time weather, traffic, news and live fuel prices.

The Audi A6 boasts an all-aluminum Audi 3.0 TFSI® supercharged V6 engine with 310 horsepower. The aluminum-hybrid construction of the A6 drastically reduces the vehicle’s weight, improves handling and allows for less fuel consumption. Exclusive to Audi, the A6 also features Drive Select, a system that offers advanced control of the vehicle’s adaptive suspension, dynamic steering, transmission shift characteristics, and engine response. Audi Drive Select offers 27 distinct driving configurations, allowing drivers to configure vehicle drive characteristics exactly to their liking with their choice of Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, or Individual settings.

Continue to follow us on Twitter and check in on our Facebook community, and come in and drive the all-new 2012 Audi A6.

We will have all trim lines of the 2012 Passat available for you to look at, sit in and test drive. We will also have VW Specialists on hand to answer all the questions you may have. Test drive one of the new Passats during the weekend and you will receive a $25 gas card!

If you come on Friday, lunch is on us!!! We will have the World Famous Grilled Cheese Truck here from 12-2pm providing all their great eats!

Also during this event we have special pricing for 2012 Passat leases, that make getting into a new Passat easy for everyone. Come on down to Pacific Volkswagen and see just out impressive the new Passat is.

Equipped with a second generation Lexus Hybrid Drive system, GS 450h engineers have aimed for reductions in fuel consumption and emissions, while providing exhilarating performance. As with all Lexus hybrid vehicles, the new GS 450h is a full hybrid capable of operating the gas-only or electric-only modes, as well as a combination of both.

“The all-new GS 450h will provide our customers with an exciting blend of performance and precision in a new hybrid package,” said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager in the U.S. “With its dynamic exterior styling, roomy interior and advanced technology features, the GS 450h further demonstrates Lexus’ mastery of the luxury hybrid.”

With total system output of 338 hp, acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds is effortless. Conversely, fuel consumption is expected to be improved by more than 30 percent. The GS 450h is targeting certification as a Super-Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle II (SULEV II). The new GS hybrid also features a Drive Mode selector. In addition to the Normal mode, the driver is able to customize the driving experience using Eco, Sport S, Sport S+ and EV modes.

A newly redesigned suspension system guides the 2013 GS through corners with precision. The standard 17-inch alloy wheels are paired with 225/50R7 tires while the optional 18-inch alloy wheels are equipped with 235/45R18 tires. The Electronically Controlled Braking (ECB) system characteristics have been modified to provide greater responsiveness from the first touch of the pedal. Improvements in driving dynamics are accomplished through such advanced technologies as Active Variable Suspension (AVS) and Dynamic Rear Steering (DRS). Other cutting-edge systems available on the GS 450h include the Lexus Dynamic Handling System which integrates AVS, DRS, variable gear-ratio steering and the latest iteration of Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management. Also offered are an advanced pre-crash safety system, Lane-Keep Assist (LKA), blind-spot monitor, Lexus’ Night View system and a head-up display.

On the outside, the 2013 GS expresses a new generation of Lexus’ design philosophy with its precisely sculpted exterior and will lead the rest of the lineup in an entirely new direction. Exclusive to the hybrid model is a unique three-lamp design that aligns the turn signal and Lexus-first high and low beam LED lamps in a single horizontal row. In addition, the rear bumper covers the exhaust pipe apertures. The GS 450h can also be distinguished by Lexus’ signature blue hybrid badging.

On the inside, this hybrid will share the same luxuries and technologies as its gas counterpart, including next generation Remote Touch; analog clock with LED indicators, carved from an ingot; and a new energy-saving auto climate control system called S-Flow that focuses airflow only to the front area where passengers are actually seated. A few notable differences include a bamboo-finished steering wheel, which reinforces the sustainability of the GS 450h, and the hybrid monitor.

“There is no other mid-luxury hybrid like the new GS 450h,” said Templin. “The handling, acceleration, and design of this Lexus hybrid are impeccable. We can’t wait for customers to drive one.”

Make sure that you follow us on Facebook and Twitter so that you know when the all new GS arrives in our showroom!

Lease a 2012 Passat S for $219** mo./36 mos. $1,999 due at signing (excluding titles, options, and dealer charges)
Offer good through 10/31/2011.

Free food and refreshments from the Kogi BBQ truck from 12-2pm.
The test drive event is from 10-3pm.

As a valued customer, we know you appreciate all things Volkswagen. Did you know that the all-new Passat has the most premium features standard in its class?† When you consider the price, the sleek new look, and the choice of engines – including the TDI® Clean Diesel that gets up to 43 miles per gallon†† – that turns into a pretty stellar deal. So what are you waiting for? Visit Volkswagen Santa Monica and test-drive the all-new Passat today.

Premium Features Standard:
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Automatic headlights
Intelligent Crash Response System
Multi-function steering wheel
One-touch control for all four windows

60/40-split folding rear seats
Automatic vehicle illumination
Bluetooth® technology
3-year/36,000-mile Carefree Maintenance‡

Volkswagen Santa Monica
2440 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
phone: (888) 394-4903
web: www.volkswagensantamonica.com

*Base MSRP of $19995 for 2012 Passat S with manual transmission. Prices exclude transportation, taxes, options, title, and dealer charges. Dealer sets actual price. **Based on MSRP of $23,460.00 (including destination charges) for a 2012 Passat 2.5L S with Appearance Package with automatic transmission, excluding title, tax, options and dealer fees. Excludes TDI models. Monthly payments total $7,884.00. Requires dealer contribution of $1,419.00, which could affect final negotiated transaction. Purchase option at lease end for $13,722.20. At lease end lessees responsible for $0.25/mile over 36,000 miles and excessive wear and tear. Dealer sets actual prices. Lessee responsible for insurance. Closed-end lease offered on approved credit by Volkswagen Credit through participating dealers. Supplies limited. U.S. cars only. Additional charges may apply at lease end. Initial vehicle availability may vary by dealer and location. See your Volkswagen dealer for financing details or for general product information call 1-800-Drive-VW. ©2011 Volkswagen of America, Inc. †Based on manufacturers’ published specifications comparing 2012 Passat S to 2011 non-premium midsize sedans. ††EPA estimate for 2012 Passat TDI Clean Diesel with manual transmission. Your mileage will vary. ‡3 yrs/36,000 miles of no-charge scheduled Carefree Maintenance, whichever comes first during term of new vehicle limited warranty. Some restrictions. See dealer or program for details. ©2011 Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Six-time national US Open sand sculpting champions Archisand will create a majestic sculpture – live – including an eco-mural featuring the first “Sand-Made Prius” courtesy of Toyota Santa Monica. The vehicle chosen is the new, larger Prius v. Sand sculpting has become a popular art form, and Archisand’s amazing work can be viewed at www.socalsandcastles.com. Toyota Santa Monica us the largest hybrid dealer in America and a longtime award-winning proponent and practitioner of sustainable living.

The New World F.E.S.T is a celebration of eco-friendliness and forward-thinking science. Its mission is to present educational content in a desirable (beachfront) setting and entertaining manner, so that important messages about “a smart future” and “the greening of the planet” are best retained. (www.theneworldfest.com) It features 150 exhibitors and 6 performance stages which offer live music, innovative demonstrations, guest speakers, panel discussions, natural cooking workshops, yoga classes, family entertainment, plus an eco-theater screening environmentally-focused films and documentaries, a ‘spiritual oasis’ with health and wellness products/techniques, futuristic technology, and a remarkable Sustainable Art exhibition with 30 artists showcasing their creative use of repurposed and recycled objects, including many live installations.

Intelligent downsizing. That’s what the new Golf R represents. The heir to the 2004 and 2008 Golf R32 models, the new R manages to have more power, more performance, and consume less gasoline than its illustrious iconic performance forebears. And it offers all this for just $33,990, plus destination, for the two-door Golf R model.

Whereas the R32 models used 3.2-liter VR6 engines, the new Golf R is fitted with a high-output version of the award-winning turbocharged 2.0-liter TSI® engine. This engine makes 256 horsepower, six more than the VR6 fitted into the 2008 R32. As well as offering more power and performance, the Golf R is also more economical, with manufacturer estimated fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway compared with EPA estimated mileage of 18 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway for the prior model.

Like the previous R32 models, the Golf R is equipped with Volkswagen’s 4Motion® all-wheel-drive system: the latest generation of this system can divert up to 100 percent of the torque to the rear wheels, if needed. All Golf R models sold in the U.S will be equipped with a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission. For the first time, the Golf R will be available in two- and four-door guises as well as in two trim levels: well-equipped Golf R and luxurious Golf R with Sunroof and Navigation.

Exterior

The Golf R is a refined vehicle that’s marked by clean, minimalist lines that are mixed with sharp, intricate detailing. The style is sleek and contemporary, yet timeless and elegant.

The changes made for the Golf R are subtle yet striking, in keeping with the car’s mission of providing sophisticated and understated performance. Up front, there’s a new bumper that incorporates LED daytime running lights and three large black air intakes that help cool the engine. The radiator grille is finished in gloss black and features an “R” logo that sets the front of the car apart from the rest of the Golf range. Unique Bi-Xenon headlamps that are framed in black also have the Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), whereby the lights turn with the steering wheel, up to a maximum of 15 degrees, to provide better visibility around bends.

The car’s streamlined profile continues toward the rear, with a pair of subtly flared side skirts running along the lower edge of the body. The new 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels expose gloss-black-painted brake calipers that incorporate the “R” logo; the exterior mirrors also have a gloss-black finish.

There’s further differentiation at the back of the R, where a new rear bumper was needed to accommodate the central twin pipes for the exhaust system, similar to the tailpipes fitted on the original 2004 R32. The bumper also features a gloss-black diffuser. The back end is highlighted by a slightly larger tail spoiler than that of the GTI and a subtle “R” badge. The R is available in five colors: Rising Blue, Candy White, Carbon Steel Gray, Black, and Tornado Red.

Interior

Just like the exterior, the interior has been enhanced to make it even more purposeful and demonstrate its role at the apex of the Golf range.

On opening the door, the driver and passenger will note aluminum “R” kickplates on the sills, before sliding into deep bucket seats. These are adorned with an “R” logo on the head restraint and are upholstered in supple leather.

The squared-off steering wheel is also swathed in leather, with gloss-black-finished spokes that carry through from the exterior design. Other R-specific features include: blue pointers for the instruments; the shifter knob with an “R” motif; aluminum trim for the dashboard and doors; and aluminum pedals.
The Golf R comes extremely well equipped, even in base form. Fully automatic dual-zone climate control is standard, along with a multifunction steering wheel, Premium VIII audio with eight speakers, aux-in, a Media Device Interface with iPod® connectivity, and Bluetooth®. The Golf R with Sunroof and Navigation adds the RNS 315 touchscreen navigation system; a 300-watt Dynaudio® sound system; a sunroof; and Keyless Entry with push-button start.

Just like the rest of the Golf range, the R is practical and versatile. The high-lifting tailgate provides easy ingress and egress to a load area that offers 15.3 cubic feet of space. And with the folding rear seat back split 60/40—and featuring a pass-through—there’s real flexibility for load carrying.

Engine and Transmission

The Golf R is fitted with the most powerful Golf production engine ever seen in the U.S. The car uses an updated version of the EA113 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, rather than the EA888 engine used in the current GTI. Like the EA888, the EA113 uses direct fuel injection and double overhead camshafts with variable intake timing. Because the Golf R develops more power and torque than the GTI—256 horsepower and 243 lb-ft compared with 200 hp and 207 lb-ft—a number of changes have been made. The cylinder block is reinforced, stronger connecting rods are fitted, and a BorgWarner K04 turbocharger is used, boosting at up to 17 psi. With manufacturer estimated fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, this is the most fuel-efficient Golf R model ever sold in the U.S.

The Golf R is offered with a slick shifting, close-ratio six-speed manual transmission that features a magnesium selector housing and cable operation with very short lever movements. The latest-generation 4Motion all-wheel drive is also standard on the Golf R. This system uses a Haldex® clutch pack that continuously varies the amount of torque sent to the rear wheels, depending on whether slippage is detected at the front. In normal driving, the Golf R acts like a front-wheel-drive machine, which has benefits for fuel economy. However, if needed, up to 100 percent of the torque can be directed to the rear wheels for traction on more challenging surfaces.

Suspension

The Golf R has unique calibration for its suspension, even compared with the GTI. At the front, it uses a damper-strut layout with lower control arms and a stiff, tubular anti-roll bar that combine to help keep the front tires planted during hard cornering, reducing body roll and heightening steering feedback.

At the back, there’s a compact multilink independent layout that features coil springs, telescopic dampers, and an anti-roll bar. The four-link layout features three lateral control arms—the spring mounting, the track rod and upper control arm, and a trailing link at each wheel. Suspension assemblies are attached by way of a rear-axle subframe and, as at the front, rubber and metal mountings that are soft in torsion but stiff radially are used to help ensure the anti-roll bar responds immediately and suppresses body roll effectively.

The spring and damper units are located separately on each side of the car at the rear, with the coil spring bearing directly on the trailing link and the damper attached to the wheel hub assembly. This enables the suspension geometry on the compression stroke to generate a toe steering effect that maintains neutral behavior, or some slight understeer, in all driving and load-carrying situations. It also helps ensure excellent driving stability on rough, uneven road surfaces. Stylish 18-inch-diameter aluminum-alloy wheels are shod with 225/40 all-season performance tires.

Steering and Brakes

The Golf R uses a third-generation electro-mechanical power steering system that is able to vary the feel of the steering to suit the speed and driving situation. It is firm and direct when driving at highway speeds, requiring less effort at parking speeds. Other advantages of the system include its mild self-centering action, and its ability to help compensate for driving hazards like crosswinds and steep road cambers. In the Golf R, the steering ratio is quicker than the GTI’s for an even sportier on-road feel.

The brakes were modified to cope with the Golf R’s higher level of performance as compared to the GTI. Golf R gets vented 13.6-inch-diameter front and 12.2-inch rear discs, up from the GTI’s 12.3-inch-diameter vented front and 10.7-inch solid rear discs. Naturally, anti-lock brakes (ABS) are standard, along with electronic brake pressure distribution (EBS) and hydraulic brake assist (HBA). The latest version of HBA is able to discern whether the braking is “normal” or an emergency according to the speed with which the pedal is depressed. In the event of an emergency, HBA helps increase the brake pressure and activates the ABS.

Safety and Security

The 2012 Golf R comes with an array of standard safety features. For driving security, enhancements include Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR), and an Electronic Differential Lock (EDL). A hill holder function automatically applies the parking brake when the vehicle comes to rest and the brake is depressed in traffic, preventing the car from rolling backwards or forwards. The brake is released once the driver presses the accelerator pedal. This is especially useful in slow traffic on long inclines.

Should the car be involved in a crash, the occupants are protected by driver and passenger front and front side thorax airbags together with Side Curtain Protection® head airbags for front and rear passengers. Volkswagen’s advanced Intelligent Crash Response System shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors, and even switches on the hazard lights if the car is involved in certain types of collisions.

Like all 2012 Volkswagen models, the Golf R is covered under the no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program. All scheduled maintenance is covered for the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty—three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

Model Line-up

The base Golf R is a sophisticated and luxurious performance car, with a high level of standard equipment.

Golf R

Starting at $33,990, the two-door Golf R comes equipped with Bi-Xenon headlights; dual-zone Climatronic® air conditioning; cruise control; leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel; power windows with auto up/down function; leather seating surfaces; 60/40-split folding rear seat with pass through; aluminum pedals; a leather shifter knob and brake lever; and Bluetooth® technology. The eight-speaker sound system has an in-dash six-CD changer, AM/FM/SiriusXM™ Satellite Radio, and auxiliary input jack along with an iPod® adapter.

Golf R with Sunroof and Navigation

Starting at $35,490 for the two-door model, this adds: a power tilt-and-slide sunroof; Keyless Entry with push-button start; the RNS 315 touchscreen navigation system; and the eight-channel 300-watt Dynaudio® premium sound system.

This event provides one of the most extensive presentations of Alternative technology vehicles and transportation, infrastructure, renewable energies, energy efficiency and urban planning found worldwide.

There will also be world renowned experts speaking to consumers and professionals about what is possible in todays world and the differences we all can make.

LAcarGUY will be out in force, we will have Volkswagen Santa Monica bringing the Golf TDI, Touareg TDI and the all new 2012 Passat TDI, Lexus Santa Monica will be bringing the Lexus HS 250h and the CT 200h, Toyota Santa Monica is bringing two Prius Hybrid and 5 Prius plug-ins for the ride and drive as well as the 2012 Camry and 2012 Rav 4 and Rav EV on Display. Fisker Santa Monica will have a booth with the Karma on display.

Admission is free, we hope to see you there.

The event will also feature Toyota and Lexus’ current line up of 5 hybrid vehicles including the new sporty 2012 Lexus CT 200h. We also encourage you to be part of our Driving Green program. Purchase a hybrid from our LAcarGUY.com/green/driving-green sight and we will donate $100 to a local charity selected by you.

As part of LAcarGUY’s continued commitment to the environment, Lexus Santa Monica recently completed Sustainable Work’s recognized Business Greening Program. The goal of the program was the increase the dealership’s resource efficiency, reduce waste and improve the “green” bottom line.

Working together with Sustainable Works, who provided on-site assessment, substantial resources, and employee education over a 2-month period, Lexus Santa Monica was able to achieve the following significant results:

*Eco-procurement increase 100%
*Energy reduction 8%
*Waste reduction 50%
*Toxic chemical cleaning reduction 56%

The steps taken to complete the Business Greening Program included simple strategies like eliminating Styrofoam cups and plates in the staff room, to the more complex like reducing the number of toxic chemicals used in cleaning products from nine to four. Other measures included:

*Purchased 100% Post Consumer Recycled paper and notepads
*Switched to FSC certified paper towels
*Added a new Energy Star dishwasher to the employee break room
*Increase the number and variety of recycling bins throughout the dealership to separate cans, glass, mixed paper, plastic and cardboard
*Provided separate containers for batteries, CFLs, and other electronics containing hazardous materials
*Implemented the use of “Certified Green” hand soaps, glass cleaner, and multi-purpose cleaners

LAcarGUY strongly believes that these initiatives go farther beyond simply greening a business. The hope is to increase awareness that even small changes can improve the health of employees, the community, and the planet.

Stop by Lexus Santa Monica on Thursday, October 6th between 6-11pm and support a great cause.

“Audi is excited to partner with FX Networks on this exciting new short-form original series,” said Scott Keogh, chief marketing officer of Audi of America. “Since our inception, Audi has embraced creativity, innovation and new ways of thinking. What better way to engage with our progressive audience than through forward-thinking entertainment. .”

Each of the eight installments of “Untitled Jersey City Project,” produced by Audi’s Studio Progress Films to appear as fragments of a television series or film, supplies a piece of a puzzle involving men working for an architectural firm who are hiding a dark secret. The work-in-progress television drama – with story lines centered around fame, power, money and death – is set amidst the fast-developing Jersey City waterfront. A seasoned production team, drawn from the New York independent film world and including director and HBO veteran Daniel Minahan – of ‘True Blood’ and ‘Game of Thrones’ – brings the series a stylized, cinematic look.

The “Untitled Jersey City Project” television experience is extended online at www.untitledjerseycityproject.com, where visitors will have the opportunity to explore the interactive world of Jersey City and find clues to piece together the mysteries from the entertainment concept. Visitors will also be introduced to new storylines and characters, have the opportunity to read work-in-progress screenplays, and engage with the “Untitled Jersey City Project” by offering suggestions for titles of the series.

The short-form series – which was first announced nationwide last weekend in cinema and was teased during the Primetime Emmy® Awards telecast on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011 – features the all-new 2012 Audi A6, one of Audi’s most innovative and technologically-advanced models to date. With premiere safety features including thermal imaging camera with Night Vision Assist, Audi Pre-Sense Plus safety system and head-up display, as well as industry-leading technology such as MMI® Navigation with Google Earth, MMI touch pad and factory-installed wireless internet that enables features such as Audi connect™ for real-time weather, traffic, news and live fuel prices, the A6 was engineered to combat today’s road while enhancing driver safety and enjoyment.

With Two And A Half Men being one of the most watched comedies on television, the Fisker Karma will be exposed to an even larger audience, more people will get to see what all the hype is about with the Karma. The Karma is much more than just a car, it is art, it is environmental, it is the future.

Make sure that you watch or DVR tonights show, then share your feedback with us on our Facebook page, or on Twitter.

The new Fisker Surf is the world’s first electric luxury/sports automobile for an active and eco-friendly lifestyle. The Fisker Surf builds on the success of the ground-breaking Karma Electric Vehicle with extended range (EVer™). Along with its own independent, spirited attitude, it brings additional, flexible load-carrying capacity. The Fisker Surf combines performance, luxury, style, utility, and economy with an enduring concern for the sustainable use of resources and respect for the environment. The Surf is Fisker’s version of a crossover between the sports car and the station wagon. The addition of the Surf exemplifies how Fisker is expanding its Karma platform rapidly with models that create a new market niche.

“The Surf is a first-of-its-kind eco-friendly lifestyle vehicle that offers space, performance, and luxury design for people who live an active, environmentally conscious lifestyle and like to drive beautiful cars,” Henrik Fisker, CEO/Executive Design Director, Fisker Automotive.

Fisker Automotive also announced its partnership with BMW who will now cover the supply of engines and other components for future Fisker models. BMW will supply a four-cylinder turbocharged engine for the next generation of Fisker cars, code named ‘Project Nina,’ which are scheduled to go into production at the re-commissioned GM plant in Wilmington, Delaware. Production will begin by the end of 2012 and cars will hit showrooms globally in 2013. The first Project Nina production will be a mid-sized premium sedan that will utilize Fisker’s EVer™ technology to deliver on Fisker’s corporate vision of Uncompromised Responsible Luxury.

According to Henrik Fisker, “The BMW engine was an obvious choice for us, as BMW is known for producing the best and most fuel efficient gasoline engines in the world. We are very pleased to have signed the agreement with BMW.”

In addition to growing its fleet of vehicle models, Fisker Automotive is proud to announce its RESERVE customizable options program developed in collaboration with Claus Ettensberger Corporation (CEC). This exclusive Fisker authorized accessory program will be available through Fisker retailers. The first car equipped with accessories from the program features a variety of aerodynamic components and two wheel options (forged and monoblack) for the Karma. There are a number of other new and exciting products in development.

You’ll just have to continue to follow us on Twitter and be part of our Facebook community to find out what’s released next.

As we look beyond the crisis and focus on the climb ahead, Toyota unveils the 2012 Camry as the first of 20 new and refreshed Toyota, Lexus, and Scion models arriving by 2013. Since it debuted way back in 1983, Toyota has since manufactured and sold 15 million Camry models across 100 countries. Even more amazing is that of the Camry models built and sold over the last 15 years, 90 percent are still enduring a daily commute on nearly every corner of the planet.

Over the past two years, the competition, Ford, Hyundai, Kia and Volkswagen, have unveiled creations that have been designed specifically to lure buyers from the Camry. And in response, Toyota has now revealed its seventh-generation Camry. Although not an all-new iteration, the outcome is the result of a major mid-cycle refresh. Carrying the same dimensions to the 2011 model, the Camry does get a major nose job with a refreshed headlight design with an integrated chrome grill. This gives it a wider appearance without having to actually stretch the actual track width. Another major exterior focus is the considerable aerodynamic designs that have been applied. As such, trims are now built with squared-off aero corners at the front and rear.

The most obvious changes appear in the interior with a more open appearance as a result of adjustments to the A- and B- pillar caps, center console and door control panels. Along with a newly sculpted dash hewn from soft-touch plastic and stitched with a line of contrasting thread for a bit of color.

Under the hood, the powertrains–a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a 3.5-liter V6, both mated to a six-speed automatic–carry over from its predecessor with slight revisions that result in dramatic improvements in fuel economy. The 268 horsepower V6 model is expected to score EPA ratings of 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway, which equal the four-cylinder Camry of of a couple years ago and nearly match the Sonata’s 2.0-liter turbo four. The new four-cylinder Camry, meanwhile, jumps to the top of the class with expected 25/35 mpg ratings.

All 2012 Camrys are equipped with a class-leading 10 standard airbags, and like all Toyota models, the Camry will feature Toyota’s Star Safety System standard, which includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), and Brake Assist. It also features the standard Smart Stop Technology brake-override system. An electronic tire pressure monitoring system is also standard.

The all-new Cary will offer four different model grades to choose from. The entry-level L, value-driven LE, premium XLE and sporty SE grade. The list of standard features are impressive so check out our website for more detail or even better yet, drop by the dealership come this October to experience the vehicle for yourself. Follow us on Twitter and join our Facebook community to be one of the first to be notified once the all-new Camry arrives.

One particular feature we would like to tell you about is the showroom floor. LAcarGUY has partnered with DeadHead Lumber Company to reclaim the wood from two old launchways at the former Snow’s shipyard in Rockland, Maine. The shipyard dates back to the 1800s, but the site is no longer in use. As a result, the launchways were left in disrepair. The owner was concerned about the timbers breaking loose in a storm and potentially causing a navigational hazard. DeadHead Lumber was called in to help with the removal.

DeadHead Lumber Company focuses on reclaiming sunken logs from Maine lakes and rivers. DeadHead logs share a rich history with Maine’s legendary logging industry. Referred to as “deadheads,” these historically significant logs sank during the log drives across Maine’s lakes and rivers beginning in the early 1600s. Hardwood logs, which could not be floated downriver, were chained to buoyant softwoods and rafted to the mills for processing. Since the weather on northern Maine lakes changes quickly and dramatically, many rafts were lost or abandoned during storms.

Resting undisturbed, these logs were perfectly preserved by Maine’s fresh water and protected from timber’s worst enemies–direct sunlight, pests, and oxygen. Centuries later, these sunken treasures are finally being recovered.

In these images, the long beams are hemlock and pine; and the cross beams are oak. The beams were brought back to DeadHead Lumber’s yard; and were denailed and despiked, and finally sawn into thick 6/4 planks. The unique color of the beams are a result of being submerged with large steel spikes in them. As the spikes eroded, that caused what is called ‘iron tannate’ stain which results in the darkening of the wood.

Once the beams are cut into lumber, they are sent to a factory in Quebec where they are sliced into very thick veneer. The factory then re-submerges the wood in large vats of water and heats them up in order to soften the wood fibers for slicing. The process of vatting and slicing takes about one week. After the veneers are sliced, they are immediately passed through a hot dryer to lower the moisture content to about 6-8% and then packaged for shipment back to Maine.

A company in Kennebunkport, Maine that specializes in custom cutting and laying up veneer on base panels trims, grades and glues the veneers to the base panels. After the layup process is complete, the raw panels are brought to a custom millwork shop in Massachusetts for face sanding and to mould the tongue and groove. The unfinished flooring planks are then brought back to DeadHead Lumber’s shop in Scarborough and the Bona Kemi Natural finish is applied. The planks are then wrapped and packaged for shipment.

We feel very fortunate to have been able to include the work of DeadHead Lumber Company in our dealership. Just thinking about how those trees were logged by people 200 years ago and how they’ve been sitting underwater for over 200 years, it seems almost magical that they are now available for people to appreciate today! We invite you to visit the dealership to walk on a piece of history and experience them for yourself.

This annual rating recognizes vehicles that perform best in protecting passengers in the Institute’s front, side, and rear crash test evaluations, along with the newly required roof-strength test evaluations. Top Safety Pick ratings are only awarded to vehicles that are fitted with electronic stability control and head protection airbags.

The Passat is the eighth Volkswagen vehicle to win the award for 2011. Among its winning siblings is the CC 2.0L TSI, Jetta, Jetta Sportwagen, Tiguan, Touareg, and four-door GTI models.

“Performance of the Passat is another example of Volkswagen’s ongoing commitment to engineer vehicles that earn the highest safety ratings,” says Institute president Adrian Lund. “Top Safety Pick winners achieve that status by earning the top ratings in the Institute’s four demanding tests, and by having electronic stability control, the most important feature in helping drivers avoid many kinds of crashes in the first place.”

“The new Passat is an important vehicle for Volkswagen,” said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. “It has been engineered in Germany specifically to compete in the heart of the North American mid-sized sedan segment.”

“To have IIHS recognize the Passat as the Top Safety Pick is a great statement for this new car–and to have eight Volkwagen models with this significant award is an equally great statement for the brand. It’s a testament to our commitment to make safety such a high priority in vehicle development, using advanced techniques such as laser seam welding and the extensive use of high-strength steel to build exceptionally strong structures.”

The Passat will hit our showrooms in the third week of September. Join our Facebook community or follow us on Twitter to be one of the first to know! Or contact us today and have one of our sales consultants contact you personally as soon as the vehicle arrives.

The evening begins with a silent auction with more than 60 items, cocktail reception featuring Justin Timberlake’s 901 Tequila and catering by Citron, art and jewelry boutique. The show, hosted by Emmy Award winner Bradley Whitford of West Wing and The Mentalist fame, will include more than a dozen compelling and inspirational stories told by current patients, survivors, caregivers and health care providers. Musical, theatrical and comedic performances will also be woven throughout the evening. The vignettes will be uplifting, funny and moving. A sampling of those planning to share their stories include cancer survivor and Emmy award-winning comedy writer and comedian Monica Piper, Julie Carruthers, cancer survivor, motivational speaker and one-legged surfer; and performance artist and three-time cancer survivor Jonna Tamases. The evening’s performances also include a wide range of inspirational music from soul, to opera, jazz and even a knockout gospel choir.

Located in Santa Monica, the Premiere Oncology Foundation is a research and treatment center founded in 2004 by Dr. Lee Rosen, a world-renowned researcher and medical oncologist. Rosen sees this as “a poignant way to honor those who have fought and continue to fight with such courage” and notes “I am often asked how I cope daily with the lives and treatment of cancer patients and I feel the answer lies in these inspiring stories. It’s now time to share them.”

The gala will begin at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17th at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, located at 1310 11th Street. Parking is free.

The silent auction will feature one-of-a-kind items including a brand new Lexus from Lexus of Santa Monica, tickets to the 2012 Masters Final Round, a taping of 2 ½ Men on the Warner Brothers lot, Fighter Pilot For A Day, Astronaut For A Day, fun vacation getaways as local as Santa Monica and as far as New York and New Orleans, Indy Car Driver for A Day, golf at Pebble Beach, dinner for two at many of the best Santa Monica and West LA eateries and much more.

General Admission tickets cost $150 and reserved seating is $300. Proceeds from this event will make a difference in the lives of cancer patients through supportive services, integrative medicine, education and oncology research. To purchase tickets and get additional information, visit www.truthbetold2011.org or call 800-595-4849 to purchase your tickets by phone. For more information about the Premiere Oncology Foundation visit http://www.premiereoncology.com.

But what is it like to drive this revolutionary car? Fisker Santa Monica got together with professional driver Kyle Shields and put together a test drive video for you to enjoy. Shields describes the styling of the Karma as a “cheetah in motion”. The Karma looks like it is traveling at speed, even when it is parked. We do not doubt that some who purchase the Fisker Karma will view it as a piece of sculpture. There is no doubt that you can walk around the car for hours and admire all the different lines of the car and enjoy it’s sheer elegance.

That elegance is not not just for the exterior. The interior is designed with the highest levels of style, luxury and environmental sustainability as well. The exclusive EcoChic™ series is based on an advanced sustainable animal-free approach that replaces leather with a high-grade textile and EcoPremium Suede™ trim. Certified Rescued Wood™ trim is sourced from Walnut Burl and Red Elm trees reclaimed from forest fires in the hills of southern California.

The Fisker Karma is sexy, fun, exciting, and brings the blending of luxury, performance and environmental consciousness to the world.

The first event, in a series of five global events, was the Aspen Ideas Festival where Henrik Fisher was the keynote speaker at a private event at The Little Nell. The festival was presented by the Aspen Institute and was a forum where thinkers and leaders from around the world gathered to discuss their ideas, work, and issues that have inspired them. The goal of the festival was dedicated to dialogue and exchange, and to bring these discussions and ideas to the public at large.

And of course, the Fisker Karma, Fisker Automotive’s first production car and the world’s first premium electric plug-in hybrid will be on display at each of these established events. As you may already know, the Fisker Karma is a design-driven, environmentally sustainable, luxury vehicle with 403 hp, and a CO2 output lower than most hybrids.

Featured alongside the Fisker Karma at these events will be a custom-created digital wall that will host original video content featuring four, 30-second pieces highlighting key innovations of the vehicle via one of the four elements: water, air, earth, and fire. Using an interactive iPad, visitors can navigate through each of the four films. The custom-created digital wall is crafted from sustainable materials, reflecting the environmentally conscious values of the Fisker Company.

“An innovative partner like Fisker Automotive continually challenges Architectural Digest to create integrated programming that is as state-of-the-art as its product,” says Giulio Capua, vice president and publisher of Architectural Digest. “We are thrilled to be standing alongside Fisker at the forefront of design and technology.”

“Architectural Digest is the ‘International Design Authority’ and there can be no more of a natural fit than the sleek Fisker Karma with its ground-breaking environmental credentials to create a partnership that is a perfect fit for our customers,” says Marti Eulberg, Fisker Automotive’s vice president global sales and marketing.

The new Lexus will be offered on a “Special One-Pay lease Program” and the starting bid, which is to be announced, includes a donation to the auction. Any additional funds raised by the auction, which will be in incremental bids of $250, will also be redirected to Premier Oncology Research Foundation as a charitable donation by Lexus Santa Monica or the bidding winner. These figures are based on an Approved Tier One Credit Score of 720+, 24 months, and 15,000 miles per year. Final selection, terms, color, and equipment will be at the winner’s discretion.

The Premiere Oncology Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the care of patients and caregivers through psychosocial support, research, education, and integrative medicine. In additional to attending the event and participating in the silent auction, there are three ways to donate: online by visiting www.premiereoncology.org, by phone using your credit card at 310.570.1474 or by mail by sending a check to the Premier Oncology Foundation, 2020 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 600, Santa Monica, CA 90404.

Please contact Neal Greene of Lexus Santa Monica at 310.453.9900 if you have any further questions or would like more information.

The adorable little kid in the Darth Vader outfit who starred in VW’s popular Super Bowl commercial, The Force, won’t need to invoke The Force to compel consumers to buy the all-new 2012 Volkswagen Passat. I’m relieved to report that the car is good enough to sell itself. [For the record, that commercial turned out to be a very good investment for Volkswagen as it went viral and has been viewed more than 41.4 million times on YouTube alone. ]

Like most auto enthusiasts, I was concerned and apprehensive last year when VW announced that its new mid-size car was going to be a US-only Passat with an inflated size and a deflated sticker price. To do this, VW built a beautiful, shiny, new $1 billion factory in lovely, noisome Chattanooga, Tennessee. And they did it all with “only” around $557 million in state and local taxpayer incentives.

Volkswagen’s new plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Right now, the only model built there is the 2012 Passat.

The new Passat was announced after the 2010 launch of the all-new 2011 Jetta. I found the new Jetta disappointing in almost all metrics save for the wonderful TDI engine option. The Jetta had been stripped of suspension parts and fitted with interior plastics courtesy of Walmart. Built in VW’s Puebla, Mexico plant, the Jetta is now cheap enough to compete with the Asians. Ugh. In short, the new Jetta had turned to the Dark Side to boost sales.

Americans respond to big price reductions, so sales of the Dark Side Jetta are up. I mourn the loss of a Jetta sedan with a class-leading interior, independent rear suspension and 4-wheel disc brakes. I’ve always been a fan of VW because the little German-engineered cars were günstiger.

The 2011 VW Jetta – knock knock – come on, wake up!

The 2012 Passat, with a base MSRP of $19,995, is targeted directly at the mid-size family sedan leaders: The Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Ford Fusion and Chevy Malibu. It’s thousands less than the previous German-built Passat, primarily due to cost cutting and elimination of the profit-sucking exchange rates.

Where the Jetta’s styling redefines anonymous, the new Passat is more detailed and mature, albeit as conservative as the Wall Street Journal’s editorial page. Pictures don’t do the Passat justice and color makes a significant difference. All the promos show the car in a pale color; however, my black tester really popped with its controversial, bright, rapper-size fore and aft VW badges and sinister-looking polycarbonate shades streamlining the halogen headlamps into the prominent 3-bar corporate chrome grille. It may look like Darth Vader, but it hasn’t gone to the Dark Side.

The front of the 2012 Passat looks a bit menacing in black. The VW badge is certainly prominent.

I contacted VW Santa Monica (part of the LACarGuy group) ahead of time to make sure they had a diesel Passat available to test. The test car was just that – a VW tester sent directly to the Santa Monica dealer to make the rounds of local events and provide a dedicated test vehicle for 40 mpg-hungry LA-area greenies.

No window sticker, just a nice “gift” to Santa Moncia Volkswagen. Note the QR (quick response) code on the sticker. You can read it with an app on your smartphone.

I’m sure the base Passat 2.5L, saddled with VW’s unremarkable 170 hp 5-cylinder hamster wheel, will be the volume leader. Inexpensive always sells. VW also offers a top-line Passat with a 3.6L 280 hp V6; but here in green veneer L.A., the marquee model is the TDI with the 2.0L 140 hp 236 lb-ft torque turbo-diesel direct-injected engine mated to either a 6-speed manual or VW’s 6-speed DSG dual-clutch automated gearbox.

Why the excitement? Well it’s because the manual version is rated at 31 mpg city, 43 mpg highway and the automatic is rated at 30 city/40 highway. The Passat’s highway mileage meets or beats any mid-size sedan, including the Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and Hyundai Sonata Hybrids. Anecdotal evidence from numerous sources suggests that the TDI’s highway mileage will actually be higher. With its 18.5 gallon tank, the Passat TDI has a cruising range exceeding 700 miles. Vegas road trip anyone?

The rear of the 2012 Passat is more defined than the Jetta. It won’t win any design awards, but it’s well executed. Note the large VW badge and the TDI SEL on the right trunk lid.

It was a nice day for a drive in Santa Monica where the blistering summer heat was all the way up to 73 degrees — a daunting test for the Passat’s standard dual zone automatic climate control.

The little diesel engine feels right at home in the Passat and has no problem tugging around its 3,360 pounds. I experienced a bit of hesitation from the DSG when I punched it into a turn from a stand still; however in normal driving in city traffic, the transmission shifted smoothly. I never felt a lack of power because of the gobs of torque available from only 1,400 rpm.

All in easy reach: The handsome DSG shifter, start stop button and dual zone automatic climate control. The digital temperature settings can be read in the center infotainment screen.

The new electromechanical power steering felt light, somewhat isolated, but on center. It retains enough German precision to make it a better driver’s car, particular in DSG sport mode. The front wheels tracked dead straight. As with most VW products, torque steer has been all but banished by the engineers in Wolfsburg.

I did my usual tap and scratch test on the interior plastics of the new Passat and I have good news: This isn’t the Jetta. The dash cowl is covered in a pleasing, textured, soft-touch plastic. The “Autumn Nut Burl” trim, while not real, is convincing enough. The door trim above armrest level is textured and softened while the trim below the arm rest and below the dash belt line is a harder plastic that taps a bit hollow.

The driver’s side door panel is pleasing and the various plastic panels all match despite being of different quality. I like the way the grab handle was integrated into the design.

The tilt/telescope three-spoke multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel felt good in my hands and adjusted for a perfect view of the instruments. Basic functions were all easily accessible and my hand fell naturally both to the shifter and adjacent start/stop button.

I was grateful for the 8-way power sports seat with driver’s side memory that are part of the $4,300 TDI SEL2 option package. It took a bit of fiddling, but I found a comfy position for my 6′ 1″ lanky frame. The heated and leather-trimmed seats have Dynamico ® (synthetic suede) inserts that tether you in for an added sporty dimension.

It’s not a great picture; but you can see the power seat controls.

I didn’t test the navigation system, but the smallish 6.5″ touch screen had sharp graphics and was easy to read. The Fender Premium Audio System has a 30 GB hard drive, Bluetooth, satellite radio and iPod control. The interior is almost Lexus-quiet, with surprising little engine or road noise infiltrating the airy cabin. This modern advanced “clean” diesel engine is both quiet and odor-free.

The smallish – 6.5 inch – infotainment screen. Here you see some of the controls for the Fender Premium Audio System.

I missed a backup camera or sensors that would be an inexpensive add-on to the existing navigation system. There were no rain-sensing wipers either. And I’d prefer the iPod controls in the center armrest area rather than the glove box.

The 2012 Passat has class-leading front and rear legroom and its cargo capacity is almost at the top with 15.9 cubic feet. The standard 60/40 split rear bench folds down so that long flat cargo (think flat boxes at IKEA) are an easy fit. The trunk was completely lined and flocked; however, the trunk lid was naked and sported goose neck hinges rather than gas-pressure struts. I smell a diligent cost accountant at work.

The back seats look inviting and you can see the suede-like material inserts.

The capacious trunk has a fairly low lip, so it’s easier to load stuff. It’s nicely lined too. Note the little pulls at the top of the opening that allow you to drop the rear seats for more room. Also you can see the naked trunk lid and cheap goose neck hinges.

Base MSRP for the 2012 Passat TDI with DSG is $27,895. The SEL2 package is $4,300; however, you get almost every luxury feature and infotainment upgrade you could want. In fact, there are no other options offered. Add the $770 destination charge and the fully-loaded car is $32,965. This prices the 2012 Passat TDI smack in the middle of its similarly-equipped fuel sipping hybrid competition and it is, by far, the frugal enthusiast’s pick of the bunch.

To commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Pan-American Highway, Zietlow and his team have taken on the ultimate endurance challenge–a fast, two-week drive from Argentina to Alaska on the longest road in the world. The team will cover 14 countries and nearly 16,000 miles in a 2011 Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel SUV. To check out the teams progress, view their website www.tdi-panamericana.com.

So drop by Pacific Volkswagen on August 3rd to cheer the team on and join in the celebration.

In 2010 the Brentwood Grand Prix saw the largest field in its 3 year history with over 750 racers competing in front of more than 3000 spectators. This year, with the added prestige of the SCNCA Elite Criterium Championships we are expecting full race fields in all categories and greater numbers of spectators coming out for what is expected to be an exciting and fast day of racing.

A 2012 VW Passat from Volkswagen of Santa Monica will be the pace car during all races. Come by and visit us at our booth.

July 31: English Beat
August 7: Mother Hips/ Brian Wright
August 14: Hermosa Local Favorites
August 21: HelloGoodbye

Teams from various LAcarGUY dealerships will be present on the following dates so visit us for your chance to win an iPad 2.

July 31 & August 21: Pacific Volkswagen
Come by and test drive the 2012 Volkswagen Passat.

August 7: Pacific Posche
You’ll have to come by to see which vehicle we bring!

August 14: Pacific Audi
We will have one of our best selling Audi’s present.

So drop by our booth to fill out a ballot for your chance to win and check out the vehicles we will have on display.

Each Thursday night, this highly-attended concert series will showcase a different musical theme: The SaMo Mambo: Salsa, ‘80s Pop, Australia Rocks the Pier!, Reggae/Ska, La Monica Ballroom Then & Now, Making Waves: A Night of Surf Guitar, Tango on the Timbers, Americana, and New Orleans Funk and Blues. The Twilight Dance Series is co-produced by Los Angeles-based Rum & Humble, known for presenting both established and homegrown talent in venues such as the Hollywood Bowl and Greek Theatre.

LAcarGUY is a presenting sponsor so come by to see us on stage and visit our booth in the concert area. Teams from our various dealerships will be present on different days and each will be bringing a special vehicle for you to checkout.

Visit us for your chance to win an iPad.

July 14: Lexus Santa Monica
Come by and checkout one of our Lexus vehicles.

July 28: Volkswagen Santa Monica
Come by and checkout the 2012 Volkswagen Passat.

August 4: Toyota Santa Monica
Come by and checkout one of our hybrid vehicles.

August 11: Lexus of Santa Monica
Come by and checkout one of our Lexus vehicles.

September 1: LAcarGUY team and Volkswagen of Santa Monica
Come by to see us on stage and checkout the 2012 Volkswagen Passat.

Contact us if you have any question and check out the event website for further details. See you then!

When it came to designing the Prius V, Toyota’s designers wanted to make sure that the newcomer would still be instantly recognized as a member of the Prius dynasty. Up front, the vehicle wears both stylized head lamps and a rounded front fascia that’s remarkably similar to the 2011 Prius. It also worth noting that the front fenders and hood are completely new sheetmetal. Also, the headlight housing has been altered to incorporate a new ridge that reduces wind turbulence around the side view mirrors. As a result, the small change has a huge impact on interior noise.

From the side, the wagon-like presence of the Prius V is inescapable with its long roof, similarly lengthy rear doors, and an extended cargo area. The rear offers a fairly sizable hatch that terminates in a unique rear spoiler which serves an aerodynamic purpose. Toyota designers and engineers made an effort to decrease the vehicle’s coefficient of drag as much as possible to increase fuel efficiency. Enhancements include touches like protrusions from the front and rear bumper, specially designed side skirts and extensive underbody cladding that help the Prius V return its .29 coefficient of drag.

Engineers essentially stretched the Prius floorplan to give the Prius V an extra three inches of wheelbase and six inches of overall length. Combined with a taller roof, additional glass and large rear hatch, this newcomer weighs 3,274 lb. Opting to skip throwing extra horsepower to all that weight, engineers simply changed the axle ratio from 3.268:1 to 3.704:1. As a result, the Prius V feels just as adequate on the road as the third-generation Prius. The new gear ratio means that acceleration is perfectly acceptable for matching wits with traffic in town or on the highway with 0-60 mph sprints taking an estimated 10.4 seconds. A total of four drive modes are accessible via buttons mounted on the center console, including EV, Eco, Power, and Normal modes.

Under the hood, the same 2ZR-FXE 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine found in the base Prius supplies power in conjunction with a pair of liquid-cooled motor generators. Engineers designed the transaxle case in the Prius V with integrated water jackets for the first time to keep the motors at a steady temperature, thereby increasing longevity and performance at the same time. Combined output sits at 134 hp at 5,200 rpm and 105 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. The exhaust recirculation system was also redesigned to decrease the drivetrain’s warm-up period, as a result, the Prius V can reach optimum operating temperature up to a minute sooner than vehicles equipped with the old system.

As most other automakers are flocking to lithium-ion batteries, Toyota has decided that there is no need to pursue the added cost of the technology for the Prius V. Instead, the hybrid wagon uses a modified version of the same nickel-metal hydride battery pack found in the third-gen Prius. Total output has been boosted slightly to 650 volts, and the more compact battery configuration keeps from impeding on interior room. Additionally, the battery pack’s cooling duct now draws ambient air from a hidden location under the second-row seats.

If you’re looking toward a small SUV, a crossover, or a wagon, the Prius V has all the functionality of those vehicles with the fuel economy and panache that only the Prius name can offer. With improved functionality, the Prius V can be the vehicle to accommodate a growing family with an active lifestyle. Contact us to book your test drive today and we will notify you as soon as the vehicle hits our showroom. Follow us on Twitter and join our Facebook community to keep up with the latest updates.

The class from Mumbai was invited to take a behind-the-scenes look in the museum workshop, which is not normally accessible to visitors. The school children were able to take a seat in a 1954 Porsche 550 Spyder. At the end of their visit, the young guests received a very special surprise–the Porsche Museum offered to support their school project. The boys and girls are constructing a well in a village close to their school.

Since its opening on the 31st of January in 2009, the Porsche Museum has provided more than 5,100 tours through the 5,600 m2 (60,000 square feet) exhibition and hosted ten special exhibitions. Many celebrities from all over the world, including Jerry Seinfeld, Paris Hilton, Jamiroquai, Robby Naish, Udo Lindenberg, and Peter Maffray have also taken an interest in this historic vehicle collection on Porscheplatz. Tickets sold to date would stretch a total of 150 km (93 miles) from Stuttgart to Lake Constance. Furthermore, more than 300 classics from the museum’s collection have been travelling around the world as rolling brand ambassadors, attending historic racing and classic car events.

To find out more about the museum and its latest special exhibits, visit www.porsche.com/museum.

A key factor to its superior performance is its weight, or lack thereof. Thanks to Audi’s ultra lightweight technology, the R8 GT Spyder weighs just 3,615.58 lb (1,640 kg) which is 187.39 lb (85 kg) less than its technical basis, the R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro. The Audi Space Frame (ASF) body that consists of cast nodes, extruded sections and aluminum panels, accounts for just 471.79 lb (214 kg) of the total weight. The body is assembled predominantly by hand in the R8 workshop at the Neckarsulm plant. Final assembly of the car takes place in the same way.

Other weight reduction factors include the engine frame that is made of ultra-light magnesium. The long cover over the soft-top compartment and the large side panels at the rear are made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) which is also used in the modified front spoiler, the fixed rear spoiler and the new rear bumper. Altogether, these components provide a weight savings of 12.13 lb (5.5 kg.) Audi engineers also trimmed weight from the technical components in the area of the transmission, wheels, and brakes. On the inside, the bucket seats alone, with their chassis of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP), saved 69.45 lb (31.5 kg) of weight.

The R8 GT Spyder features a lightweight fabric soft top that is extremely quiet and suitable for highway cruising. It features an electrohydraulic drive that brings the top up or down in 19 seconds, even at speeds of up to 31.07 mph (50 km/h.) The extendible glass rear window is nestled in the bulkhead, separate from the soft top. Integrated in the bulkhead is a rollover protection system comprising of two pretensioned plates.

Now let’s talk about the formidable power that is offered by the newest member of the R8 family. The 5.2-liter V10 with aluminum crankcase draws its fuel from an FSI direct injection system. Dry-sump lubrication ensures a reliable source of oil even under maximum lateral or straight-line acceleration. With its modified electronic management, the long-stroke engine produces 398.28 lb-ft (540 Nm) of torque at 6,500 rpm, and its peak output is 560 hp (412 kW.) As previously mentioned, the R8 GT Spyder catapults from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 3.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 196.97 mph (317 km/h.)

The R8 GT Spyder comes standard with an automatic six-speed R tronic transmission with two fully automatic modes. In the additional manual mode, the driver can shift gears using the paddles on the steering wheel or by flicking the joystick. The quattro permanent all-wheel drive has a strong rear-wheel bias that provides an added measure of traction, stability and cornering speed, giving it a strong lead over the rear-wheel drive competition. The open high-performance sports car has 19-inch wheels, with 235/35s up front and 295/30s in the rear. Large, lightweight carbon-fiber ceramic brake discs decelerate the car with ease.

It is obvious that great attention to detail was also put into the interior of the car as evident by the materials and workmanship. Along with a roomy, two-seater interior that can accommodate 3.53 cu. ft. (100 liters) of cargo, accents include Alcantara upholstery that comes standard where a leather option of fine Nappa quality is available. Audi ultra requires no sacrifice on the part of R8 GT Spyder owners. Standard equipment includes LED headlights, LED tail lights, an automatic air conditioning system, the navigation system plus, an alarm system and the driver information system with a built-in laptimer. Other added features include a sophisticated sound system from Bang & Olufsen and a Bluetooth interface including a seatbelt-mounted microphone to ease carrying on a phone conversation. Options available for the R8 GT Spyder include bucket seats with a carbon-fiber composite chasis, matt CFRP applications and embroidered logos on the seat upholstery.

Follow us on Twitter and join our Facebook community to be one of the first to find out when the Audi R8 GT Spyder will arrive in our showrooms. Or contact us today to advise one of our sales consultants that you want to be notified as soon as it arrives.

Beginning on July 16th and running for 54 hours, one of the most heavily trafficked parts of highway in the Los Angeles area will be completely shut down. A 10 miles stretch of the Northbound 405, between I-10 and the 101 will be closed off so demolition of the south side of the Mulholland Drive bridge can be completed. A smaller 4 miles section of the 405 will also be closed between the 101 and Getty Center Drive.

While the natural reaction would be to jump off and take Sepulveda, officials advise against that since there will be construction beginning June 13 on Sepulveda, and continuing through the 405 closure.

There are two really good solutions to avoid this mess, if you most go near it. Number one, don’t! Plan a trip with the family out of town of you can. Number two, try and use public transportation! Not only is this a good idea to begin with to reduce traffic congestion, but it’s a chance to explore parts of the city you might not ordinarily think about.

Roughly 500,000 vehicles travel along this stretch of the 405 during a typical weekend in July, and everyone should try to avoid the area to help ease the expected gridlock, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.

Like all good Hollywood blockbusters, there WILL be a sequel! Eleven to twelve months from now this will all happen again as the North side of the bridge will be demolished and rebuilt. Don’t say you haven’t been warned!

Additional alternate route information will be made available on the project web site at www.metro.net/405.

http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/97033-planned-closure-of-the-405.html

“The 21st Century Beetle is an automotive icon reinvented, a nod to the heritage and character of Volkswagen and our remarkable history,” said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. “This new interpretation of the original Beetle holds true to the traditional spirit of the car, with all the benefits of modern technologies and efficiencies.”

The 2012 Beetle is sportier, more dynamic, and features bolder styling than previous models. It is also 3.3 inches wider, 6.0 inches longer, and half an inch lower, giving it a much more muscular appearance which will have a much broader appeal. The Beetle will be available is three trim lines which might include the transparent, panoramic tilt/slide glass roof that is 80 percent longer than on the previous models.

So what do you get for $18,995? The 2.5L model equipped with a 170-horsepower in-line five cylinder engine. It offers fuel economy that is improved by up to 10 percent over the past 2.5L model. When equipped with the five-speed manual transmission, mileage is estimated at U.S. ratings of 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. The optional six-speed automatic transmission offers U.S.-rated EPA fuel economy ratings of 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway.

That’s not all. Standard are split folding rear seats, aux-in for portable audio players, a leather steering wheel, unique and customizable 17-inch alloy wheels, and an eight-speaker audio system. Options you might want to consider include a kaeferfach additional glovebox that is similar to that of the original Beetle, Bluetooth technology, iPod connectivity, heated front seats, three-color interior ambient lighting, and leatherette seating surfaces.

The sportiest model is the 2.0L TSI which will have a starting MSRP of $23,395. It comes equipped with Volkswagen’s critically acclaimed 2.0-liter in-line four cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. As well as providing genuine performance, the four-cylinder engine with automatic transmission offers a U.S.-rated EPA fuel economy rating of 30 mpg highway and 22 mpg city.

Standard equipment on the 2.0L are a six-speed manual transmission, with the option of Volkswagen’s DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. Along with standard equipment from the 2.5L, also standard is Bluetooth technology, iPod connectivity, three-color ambient lighting, larger brakes with red calipers, a kaeferfach which is an additional glove box that is similar to the original Beetle, sport seat surfaces, 18-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, fog lights, three additional gauges on the dashboard, and alloy pedals.

In 2012, a TDI Clean Diesel model will become available, powered by VW’s highly efficient 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder diesel engine that produces 140 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. This will be the most fuel-efficient Beetle ever produced, with an expected highway estimate of 40 mpg.

For the music enthusiast, the Beetle comes standard with the RCD 310 sound system with eight speakers. While the optional premium VIII audio system features a CD changer, interface for SD cards, and a touchscreen. The Beetle will also offer concert-quality sound with an available Fender Premium Audio System, designed exclusively for Volkswagen. The partnership combines quality automotive engineering and quality sound engineering where Volkswagen and Fender team up to bring the raw emotion of live music to the driving experience.

And safety features include Volkswagen’s advanced Intelligent Crash Response System that shuts off the fuel pumps, unlocks the doors, and switches on the hazard lights if the car is involved in some type of accident. The Beetle is also covered under the no-charge, 3-year/36,000-mile scheduled Carefree Maintenance Program.

To be one of the first to find out when the new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle will arrive in our showrooms, make sure to follow us on Twitter and join our Facebook community to stay informed. Or contact one of our sales consultants today to have them contact you immediately when the first car arrives!

At Toyota Santa Monica we take the time to put a personal touch on every certified pre-owned Toyota. Not only do we a have dedicated technician go over the car, but our Pre-Owned Manager Michael Edelstein goes over them as well. Every ding, every dent, every scratch has been removed. Every car not only comes with the checklist of 160+ items we’ve inspected for, but it also comes with a Carfax report so you can see the full history of the car as well.

You can view our complete inventory of certified pre-owned cars online or better yet, come in to Toyota Santa Monica and experience the LAcarGUY difference.

According to Henrik Fisker, it was actually the Sovereign Prince that was the inspiration behind the development of the Karma. Fisker commented: “The Fisker Karma project has a distinct Monaco link. Prince Albert was one of the people who inspired me to create the Fisker Karma. When I met him at the Top Marques Show in Monaco in 2006 he commented that he would love to see a fuel-efficient luxury car, and from that small seed grew the concept of what became Fisker Automotive and our focus on premium EVer cars that deliver pure driving passion.” We want to thank both the principality of Monaco and Prince Albert for not only being the inspiration, but also a great support for our groundbreaking automotive green initiative,” continued Fisker.

Visitors to the world’s most prestigious motorsport event were among the first to see the first Fisker Karma off the production line as it made its European driving debut on the famous street circuit. On Saturday 28 May 2011, before official race qualifying began, the first European production version of the Fisker Karma, the world’s first true Electric Vehicle with extended range, took to the streets of Monaco, completing a couple of laps.

The Fisker Karma is the first American-designed and engineered luxury vehicle specifically developed to appeal to world markets, inspired by Henrik’s paradigm of Responsible Luxury. It is the only luxury sedan in the world that meets future fuel consumption and emission requirements, making it suitable for any international city. It is the only true Electric Vehicle with extended range where its rear wheels are powered using two rear-mounted 201.5 horsepower (150 kW) electric traction motors that draw energy from the lithium-ion battery pack for up to 50 miles (80 km.) The gasoline engine drives a 175 kW electric generator to power the motors and there is no mechanical link between this engine and the drive motors.

The Fisker Karma is unique in that it can operate in two separate modes: Stealth and Sport. Stealth Mode maximizes efficiency, giving it the greatest range on battery power before having to activate the gasoline engine-driven generator to sustain the battery charge. In this mode, the Karma is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds and tops out at 95 mph. In Sport Mode, the gasoline engine drives the generator to provide enough electricity for 403 total system horsepower, which accelerates the Karma from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds, topping out at 125 mph.

The Fisker Karma was designed to be a true driver’s car. Its proprietary aluminum space frame gives it the necessary rigidity and strength that enable world-class ride and handling characteristics. It is the first production car that has been specifically tuned to run on standard 22-inch aluminum wheels, giving it that final air of sophistication.

Fisker plans on delivering vehicles to all current deposit holders during the 2011 model year. We invite you to come in for a test drive as soon as the first vehicles hit showrooms. Follow us on Twitter and join our Facebook community to stay in the loop of the latest updates.

The starting price of $19,995 will get you into the 2.5L with a six-speed manual transmission, giving you 170 horsepower. There are eight, count ‘em eight trim levels and standard are automatic dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, steering wheel audio controls, and Volkswagen’s no-charge three-year/36,000 mile schedule Carefree Maintenance Program.

At the next level, we have the SE that starts at $23,725 and it includes additional equipment such as 17-inch alloy wheels, 8-way power driver seat, heated front seats, touchscreen Premium VIII radio, and a multi-function leather-wrapped steering wheel. See the pricing chart below for more details and additional model information.

Returning to the Passat lineup for 2012 is the TDI variant that comes equipped with VW’s 2.0L turbo diesel engine that is expected to deliver 43 mpg highway, with a range of nearly 800 miles. The TDI’s base package, the SE, comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, Volkswagen’s touchscreen Premium VIII radio and six-speed manual transmission. Volkswagen’s highly regarded DSG dual-clutch gearbox is an option.

Topping the range is the powerful 3.6L VR6 that has three trim levels with a starting MSRP of $28,995. Standard is the DSG gearbox that puts out 280 horsepower. Additional standard premium features include 18-inch alloy wheels, comfort sport seats, a sunroof, and a class exclusive Fender Premium Audio System.

Specifically designed for North America, the new Passat is much larger with more rear-seat legroom. It was designed to provide premium features unique to the U.S. market but at the same time, retaining the dynamic character that is expected of the Volkswagen.

Premium options include leather seating surfaces, leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel, wood decor, ambiance lighting, memory driver’s seat, power passenger seat, a choice of Volkswagen’s RNS 315 or RNS 510 navigation systems, front fog lights with static cornering lights, and keyless access with push button start. Also available is the new Fender Premium Audio System that will combine the raw emotion of live music with the driving experience.

The location, at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd and 25th Ave, is the old Lexus Santa Monica site that is now the internet sales department for the VW dealership. The building is relatively small, but you don’t need a large space for the Fisker brand because they only have one model, the voluptuous $95,900 – $110,000 Karma electric extended range sports car.

Sullivan Automotive Group is the 33rd largest dealership group in the US (2010). In 2010, it sold a total of 21,239 units (new, used and wholesale) and had total revenue (including parts, service, etc.) of $632,338,233 – with only seven dealerships:

Lexus Santa Monica
Toyota/Scion Santa Monica
Toyota/Scion of Hollywood
Volkswagen of Santa Monica
Pacific Audi
Pacific Porsche
Pacific Volkswagen
Fisker Santa Monica (opening Spring/Summer 2011)

The group uses the catch-all LACarGuy.com website to promote its stores and, if you live in LA, you’ve seen billboards for LACarGuy and TV commercials featuring patriarch, Owner/President Michael Sullivan. All of Sullivan’s dealerships have adopted environmentally-friendly practices, both in the showroom and in the service bays. Green is good for business these days.

LACarGuy claims that it’s the number one hybrid dealer in the world. I know the Lexus store is the number one Lexus hybrid seller in the US. So I wouldn’t be surprised if the combination of hybrid sales from the two Toyota dealerships, the Lexus store and a few niche hybrids like the VW Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, and Porsche Panamera Hybrids, put it on top. We do love our hybrids in LA.

The group also has EV charging stations “live” at some of their dealerships. Odd, as none of the vehicles they sell are plug-in hybrids – yet. The Fisker Karma is a plug-in hybrid EV and the upcoming plug-in Prius will also use the charging stations.

The Fisker brand is a good fit for Sullivan Automotive and the City of Santa Monica. So far, it’s the only Fisker dealer in greater Los Angeles. The next closest store is in Orange County.
If you’ve never been to Sullivan’s flagship Lexus Santa Monica dealership, it’s worth your time to see this video. I give them props for restoring this beautiful, historic building.

The People’s Republic of Santa Monica is the perfect location for the plug-in EV Fisker Karma. It’s home to ultra-wealthy aging hippies, environmentalists and lefty socialists. Entertainment industry and creative-types populate trendy restaurants and condos. Expensive boutiques on Montana Avenue attract celebrity shoplifters. You’ll find LEED-certified buildings and the most creative, modern architecture there.

Santa Monica is home to Heal the Bay. It’s the unofficial “Home of the Homeless.” The City hosts four terrific Farmers Markets each week in three different locations. Organic and locally-sourced food is pervasive.

Santa Monica banned smoking on public beaches and the outdoor patios of restaurants. Plastic bags are banned from supermarkets. The City’s fleet of non-emergency vehicles is mostly hybrids or alternative fuel vehicles. The City’s Big Blue Buses all run on compressed natural gas (CNG). It’s not uncommon to see an old diesel Mercedes that’s been converted to run on B20 bio-diesel or used vegetable oil. The Prius appears to be the unofficial transportation appliance of Santa Monica — you can’t throw a stone in any direction without hitting one.

Santa Monica is ground zero (in the LA Metro) area for everything environmentally-friendly, progressive and “green.” There are many wealthy early adopters of EVs and other advanced hybrid technology living in or near Santa Monica. In short, it’s the perfect market for a $100,000 extended-range electric vehicle.

The Fisker Karma is a plug-in electric vehicle with a gas engine that drives a generator to charge the batteries for extended-range driving. Fisker claims the Karma can travel 50 miles on the batteries and an additional 200 miles in extended-range mode. The concept is much like the Chevy Volt; but the Karma’s execution is very different and the target audience is wealthier.

The Karma packs a GM Ecotec 2.0 liter direct-inject turbo I-4 engine just behind the front wheels. It drives a generator to charge the large-capacity 20 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that forms a rigid spine down the center of the car. The Karma is a proper rear-drive sports car (albeit a bit heavy at 4,100 lbs) driven by rear-mounted dual 300 kW electric motors good for a total of 403 hp with a heart-stopping 981 lb-ft torque available from the moment your foot hits the electron exciter. The Karma seats four adults and can hit 60 mph in 5.9 seconds.

Fisker Automotive got more than $500 million from the Department of Energy to build the Karma in the US. Fisker bought a shuttered GM plant in Delaware and is in the process of converting it into a shiny modern factory to produce its sleek sports car. It’s going to have to sell lots of cars to pay back its investors.

Below is the Fisker Karma’s first “Get Hot” commercial:

In the meantime, the Karma is being built in Uusikaupunki, Finland by contract manufacturer Valmet Automotive. Valmet also builds the Boxster/Caymen line for Porsche at this plant. The Karma began production on March 21, 2011 so deliveries may happen as soon as this summer. I’m sure Fisker Santa Monica is taking orders. Just have your checkbook ready.

Motor Trend’s Technical Editor, Kim Reynolds, gives his take on the Karma:

Reprinted with permission from Todd Bianco’s ACarIsNotARefrigerator.com Blog The Truth About Cars and the Car Biz in LA

As many of you know that LAcarGUY expanded it’s relationship with Heal the Bay by sponsoring the Beach Report Cards. The latest report has just come out and it looks at the health of the water and beaches of the West Coast, from Washington to California.

Overall beach water quality at Los Angeles County beaches dipped in 2010-11, according to Heal the Bay’s 21st annual Beach Report Card , which the environmental group released yesterday.

Heal the Bay analysts assigned A-to-F letter grades to 92 beaches in the county for the dry-weather period from March 2010 through April 2011 based on levels of weekly bacterial pollution. Some 75% of sites earned A or B grades, compared to an 80% tally in last year’s report.

The decline can be attributed to a number of factors, most notably higher than usual rainfall totals during the reporting period. Notably, some chronically polluted L.A. County beaches that had seen marked improvement reverted to poor form this year despite millions of dollars being spent on water quality improvements.

The 75% figure for L.A. beaches receiving A or B grades is well below the statewide average of 90%. Despite significant improvements over the course of two decades, Los Angeles County continues to have the greatest number of beaches with poor water quality grades of any county in the state.

“Despite numerous individual beach success stories, this year demonstrated that there hasn’t been progress reducing major beach pollution sources like the Los Angeles River, Malibu Creek and Topanga Creek,” said Dr. Mark Gold, president of Heal the Bay.

The Beach Report Card is a comprehensive evaluation of coastal water quality based on daily and weekly samples taken from sites along the entire coast of California. A poor grade means beachgoers face a higher risk of contracting illnesses such as stomach flu, ear infections, upper respiratory infections and skin rashes than swimmers at cleaner beaches.

(Ocean goers can check updated grades for their local beach each Friday at beachreportcard.org. Later this summer, Heal the Bay will launch an application for mobile devices that will allow beachgoers to access the latest water grades instantly)

A handful of significantly polluted beaches helped drag down the county’s overall grades, including those in Avalon and Malibu. Long Beach also played a major role. After three years of improved water quality during summer dry weather, Long Beach water quality fell an alarming 40% from last year.
Eight beaches in the county received year-round F grades. And Los Angeles County leads Heal the Bay’s annual Top 10 Beach Bummer List, with four locations in the ranking of the state’s most polluted beaches.

Avalon Beach in Catalina continues its reign as the most polluted beach in Los Angeles County. However after several years of delay, the city of Avalon granted $5.1 million toward sewer improvements, which will hopefully get underway this summer.

Other county sites on the state’s top 10 Beach Bummer list: Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, Topanga State Beach and Colorado Lagoon in Long Beach.
On the positive side, seven beaches in Los Angeles County were placed on Heal the Bay’s Honor Roll, meaning they scored perfect A+ grades by not having any bacterial exceedances in year-round dry weather.

After spending more than $2 million and years of staff time to improve water quality at the Santa Monica Pier, city officials can take pride in a an annual A grade for the beach south of the pier. The dramatic swing removes the pier from its historical spot on the top 10 Beach Bummer list.

Meanwhile, Orange County beaches once again recorded excellent water quality grades, well above the state average. Some 96% of 84 locations monitored year-round during dry weather received an A or B during the summer, steady with last year’s report.

Despite the generally excellent water quality, Orange County had two historically troubled locales join the Top 10 Beach Bummer List: Poche Beach and Doheny Beach. A dry weather filtration-disinfection plant completed last year at Poche Beach has yet to meet performance specifications. County officials continue an ongoing effort to improve surf zone water quality, however, and are actively working to identify lingering causes of pollution.

Wet weather water quality in Orange County this past year was poor with 64% of monitoring locations receiving A or B grades. That figure compares with 42% in 2009-10, an improvement that benefits the county’s sizable population of year-round surfers.

Ventura County also enjoyed excellent water quality in 2010-11. All of the 40 beaches monitored during summer dry weather received A grades. There were no F grades during any reporting period. However, D grades were assigned to the following wet-weather locales: Surfer’s Point, Promenade Park, San Buenaventura Beach at San Jon Road, Surfer’s Knoll and Channel Islands Harbor Beach Park.

One of the reasons that Los Angeles County lags in water quality is the fact that its monitoring agencies – unlike most others in the state — collect samples directly in front of flowing storm drains and creeks. Orange and Ventura counties monitor 25 yards or more away from flowing drains and creeks.

Monitoring at “point zero” locations, where polluted runoff often pools, is the best way to ensure that health risks to swimmers are captured in water quality data.
However, not all water quality problems in Los Angeles County can be attributed to more stringent testing.

Year-round dry-weather water quality in Long Beach fell dramatically, with only 33% of its monitored beaches receiving A or B grades during the period. That rate lags significantly behind L.A. County’s 76% A or B total.

Long Beach’s water quality is poor overall because it sits at the terminus of the pollution-choked L.A. River. The nearly 1,000-square-mile drainage area is the predominant source of fecal bacteria to Long Beach waters.

The city is to be commended for investigating and fixing leaking or disconnected sewage pump lines and improperly working diversions. But ultimately the city’s water quality is directly tied to the rainfall amounts and enormous runoff volumes from the L.A. River.

Summertime water quality in Santa Monica Bay beaches was excellent, with 91% of the beaches from Palos Verdes to Leo Carillo receiving A or B grades. The figure is markedly better than the seven-year average of 82% and just edged out the statewide average of 80%.

On a more downbeat note, infrastructure improvements at Malibu’s Paradise Cove and Marie Canyon and Los Angeles’ Cabrillo Beach failed to yield similar results as Santa Monica Pier. These sites still earn D and F grades.

Wet weather water quality in L.A. County in 2010-11 fell significantly, with only 29% of beaches receiving A or B grades compared to 50% last year. Wet weather grades were 7% below the county’s seven-year average, with 40 out of 87 sites receiving an F grade.

Cities continue to grapple with storm water runoff and the harmful effects it has on year-round ocean users. Heal the Bay recommends that no one swim in the ocean during, and for at least three days after, a significant rainstorm.

State results
Statewide, most California beaches had very good water quality this past year during year-round dry weather, with 284 of 324 (88%) locations receiving A and B grades. That marks a 2% dip from the previous report.

Overall, 28 of the beaches (9%) monitored statewide received D or F grades during year-round dry weather. Eighteen beaches statewide received an overall F grade during the busy summer beach-going season for the 2010-11 Beach Report Card.

Numerous California beaches vied for the monitoring location with the consistently poorest dry-weather water quality.

Here are the Top 10 “Beach Bummers” in California (starting with the worst):

The Top 10 Beach Bummers
1. Cowell Beach – at the wharf (Santa Cruz County)
2. Avalon Harbor Beach on Catalina Island (L.A. County)
3. Cabrillo Beach harborside (Los Angeles County)
4. Topanga State Beach at creek mouth (L.A. County)
5. Poche Beach (Orange County)
6. North Beach/Doheny (Orange County)
7. Arroyo Burro Beach (Santa Barbara County)
8. Baker Beach at Lobos Creek (San Francisco County)
9. Colorado Lagoon (Los Angeles County)
10. Capitola Beach — west of the jetty (Santa Cruz County)

Honor Roll
Some 68 of the 324 (21%) beaches with year-round dry weather grades this year scored a perfect A+. These beaches had zero exceedances of state bacterial standards for ocean water quality throughout the entire time frame of this report. Heal the Bay proudly places these beaches on our Beach Report Card Honor Roll. A list of these locations in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties can be found in the full report.

Uncertain Funding Statewide for Beach Monitoring
County monitoring agencies continue to feel the effects of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2008 line-item veto of state beach monitoring funds. The governor axed funds that supported the collection and processing of ocean water samples as well as the posting of signs to notify swimmers of health risks.

Fortunately, some local governments have temporarily allocated additional funding to provide this invaluable service to the beach-going public. The State Water Resources Control Board also provided major stop-gap funding through 2011.

There is no secured state funding for ongoing testing of ocean water quality in 2012, placing public health at risk. If the situation does not improve, over half of the beach monitoring in the state will stop. Heal the Bay will continue to work with state and local governments to ensure that ongoing funding is secured.

For a detailed look at beach results for each county and report methodology, please refer to our complete report. A PDF version is available at www.healthebay.org.

About the Beach Report Card
All county health departments are required to test beach water quality samples for three types of indicator bacteria at least once a week. Heal the Bay compiles the complex shoreline data, analyzes it and assigns an easy-to-understand letter grade. We analyzed 445 beaches, from San Diego to Humboldt counties, based on levels of weekly bacterial pollution reported from April 2010 through March 2011.

The summary includes an analysis of water quality during four time periods: summer dry season (April through October), year-round dry weather, winter dry weather, and year-round wet weather. The grading methodology is endorsed by the State Water Resources Control Board.

An FAQ about the Beach Report Card is available at www.healthebay.org/brc/FAQs. Heal the Bay’s interactive microsite contains weekly updates as well as historical grades. www.healthebay.org/brc

Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card is made possible through the generous support of The Diller – von Furstenberg Family Foundation, simplehuman, LAcarGUY, SIMA, and Grousbeck Family Foundation

The station is located next to TMS sales and marketing headquarters and as landowners, Toyota leases the land to Shell for a nominal fee. As station owner/provider, Shell works directly with Air Products who provides onsite equipment and station management. The pipeline gas also is provided by Air Products from its plants in Wilmington and Carson, Calif. SCAQMD and DOE provided project funding assistance.

“This is the first time Shell has worked closely with a vehicle manufacturer to develop a demonstration station,” said Julian Evison, general manager of operations for Shell alternative energies. “The industry has made good technical progress, but cooperation is a necessity for hydrogen to achieve its commercial potential as a road transport fuel.”

The facility will provide hydrogen for the Toyota fuel cell hybrid demonstration program vehicles as well as other manufacturers’ fuel cell vehicle fleets in the Los Angeles area. “Building an extensive hydrogen re-fueling infrastructure is a critical step in the successful market launch of fuel cell vehicles,” said Chris Hostetter, group vice president, product and strategic planning, TMS. “We plan to bring a fuel cell vehicle to market in 2015, or sooner, and the infrastructure must be in place to support our customers’ needs.”

Air Products also worked in collaboration with Toyota and other fuel cell vehicle manufacturers to develop the Hydrogen Vehicle Authorization System (HVAS), which is another industry first and unique to the Torrance station. The HVAS wireless vehicle recognition system allows station-to-vehicle recognition to facilitate quick and convenient fueling for customers.

Toyota’s fuel cell hybrid vehicle fleet has logged several million miles since hitting the road in 2002. The first generation fuel cell hybrid vehicles (FCHV) estimated range was 130 miles. In 2009, the latest generation vehicle, Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle – Advanced (FSHV-adv), achieved an estimated range of 431 miles on a single fill of hydrogen. In addition to fuel cell stack efficiency and range improvements, durability and cold temperature performance have greatly improved along with significant reductions in manufacturing and materials costs. Toyota’s current FCHV-adv nationwide demonstration program is placing more than 100 vehicles with demonstration partners by 2013, providing one of the largest fleets of active fuel cell vehicles in the country. The primary goal of the demonstration program is to spur infrastructure development prior to fuel cell vehicle market introduction in 2015. Successful infrastructure development will require collaborative efforts between manufacturers, government regulators, and business, similar to the current partnerships formed to open the Torrence Shell hydrogen demo station.

We have two videos for you to take a look at, our Fleet Manager Sean “Hutch” Hutchinson walks you through the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan and the 2011 Volkswagen CC. After watching these videos, you will be shocked at what a great value for the money these VW’s are.

We have some tremendous lease and purchase incentives going on right now for the Tiguan and the CC along with many other great Volkswagen models. It’s time for you to come into Pacific Volkswagen and find out what Das Auto is all about.

The latest statement in this philosophy is a new roadside assistance application for smartphone users. The application, developed with partner Allstate is available for the three major smartphone platforms, iPhone® as well as for Android® and some BlackBerry® devices.

The app, which is free to download in BlackBerry App World, the Android Market Place or on iTunes®, offers several features. There is complementary 24/7 roadside assistance for four years on all new Audi models, older model Audis would have standard Allstate fees apply, dedicated customer service personnel and a dealer locater function to help you find the nearest Audi dealer with it’s factory certified technicians.

With a few simple steps, the driver can input the type of service required, tire change, tow, dead battery jumpstart, fuel delivery, etc., and using the smartphone’s GPS capabilities, the app pinpoints your location and sends a the request to Audi Roadside Assistance. Once the dispatcher has registered all the information, and help has been sent, the application receives a notification for the details of dispatch, including the name of the company coming to help and an estimated time of arrival.

Customers can learn more at audiusa.com. For BlackBerry users, the Curve and the Bold will be the first devices compatible with the application, other models will follow shortly.

To stay on top off all news and information about Audi and Pacific Audi, make sure you “Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. To schedule an appointment to test drive one of the great new Audi’s like the stunning new A7 and A8 or the remarkable Q5, please contact us.

In the video you will see not only members of our sales staff, but our service personnel, and some of our customers as well!

LAcarGUY is the first automotive dealership to win an SQA grand prize reinforcing the company’s leadership in an industry not known for its earth friendly practices. The grand prize was based on a number of factors including:

• LAcarGUY is #1 Hybrid dealer in the world, and Toyota Santa Monica is the #1 Prius dealership in the world.
• LAcarGUY offers vehicles at varied price points that utilize different energy sources (gasoline, hybrid, electric) lending itself to all economic conditions and customer choice.
• Toyota Santa Monica won the coveted Environmental Sustainability Award presented by Senator Pavley’s office.
• LAcarGUY was the first automotive dealership in the country to install the “Level 2” SAE J-1772 EV chargers for the new plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles.
• LAcarGUY is providing open access to the chargers at no cost in order to facilitate the adoption of electric vehicles.
• Lexus Santa Monica is the #1 Lexus Hybrid Dealer in the U.S.
• LAcarGUY spent close to $15 million renovating the Lexus Santa Monica dealership instead of tearing it down.
• In January 2011, a major LED retrofit was executed at Lexus Santa Monica.
• LAcarGUY created the position of Manager of the Environment, a Green Team and a Green Newsletter that includes tips for employees on how to conserve energy in the office and at home.
• LAcarGUY has a long history of giving back to the community, and in 2010 employees volunteered at 15 events for a total of 650+ pro-bono hours.
• In 2010 LAcarGUY donated $200k to a side range of environmental charities including Heal the Bay, Environmental Media Association, Global Green, Tree People and Sustainable Works.

The 16th Annual Sustainable Quality Awards are Santa Monica’s most prestigious environmental event, and will be presented by LACarGUY and Morley Builders at the Sheraton Santa Monica on April 27th, 2011. Sarah Backhouse, host of Discovery’s “Planet 100″ show is the emcee, and Evan Kleiman, host of Good Food on KCRW will give the luncheon keynote.

Please take a few minutes and enjoy some of the photos from a few of our events:

Lexus CT200H Launch Event
Heal The Bay Coast Cleanup
Toyota Santa Monica celebrates unveiling of EV Charging Stations
Arbor Day 2011

By participating in the race Toyota donated $5,000 in Mike’s name to the Racing for Kids foundation. Racing for Kids is a national nonprofit program benefiting children’s hospitals in Long Beach and Orange County, Calif. Toyota has donated $1.9 million on behalf of the race and its participants to various children’s hospitals since 1991.

The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race is scheduled to be broadcast on the Speed Channel on Sunday, May 1, at Noon PDT and will be rebroadcast after that. (See local listings or www.speedtv.com for times.)

You can see the overall results below and a few pictures from the event and the LAcarGUY team cheering Mike on.

Approximately 140 Golfers enjoyed a sunny Southern California afternoon at the world renowned Riviera Country Club, which was in terrific condition as it recently hosted the PGA Tour’s Northern Trust Open in February. Sponsors had the opportunity to play golf alongside Lakers Legends Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, James Worthy and Mitch Kupchak.

After golf, Phil Jackson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the entire Lakers team attended the cocktail reception and awards dinner. Lakers players Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol joined host Joel Meyers in addressing the audience and answering questions.

Much of the $175,000 was raised during the live auction, which featured: Lakers floor seats and trips to Europe and Hawaii, and the silent auction, which featured: memorabilia jewelry and vacation packages.

“This year we were able to raise more money for the Foundation than in any of our past nineteen golf tournaments,” said Janie Drexel, Director of Charitable Services. “Especially in such a difficult economic time, we are pleased and thankful for the support of our corporate sponsors, who enjoyed interacting with the Lakers players and legends throughout the event.”

The Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation’s goal is to assist nonprofit community organizations based on need. With the Foundation’s focus on the use of sports to promote education, teamwork and self-esteem among Los Angeles area youth, the fundraising directly supports these initiatives by providing financial assistance to children and local youth programs.
Mike Sullivan and LAcarGUY have sponsored the Laker Youth Foundation event for the last three years and plan to continue this new, exciting tradition. Mike is not only a huge Laker basketball fan for many years, but continues to support underprivileged youth throughout the Los Angeles.

However, don’t expect to see too many on the road anytime soon. “We are going to be ramping up very slowly, very carefully to ensure quality,” says Fisker Automotive spokesperson Roger Ormisher. “This year we want to get almost 7,000 deliveries,” which is considered a small number in the automotive world.

The Karma is advanced as it is gorgeous and it works much like the Volt. The 20 kilowatt-hour lithium-nanophosphate battery has a claimed range of 50 miles. When the battery winds down, a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine, sourced from GM, drives a 175 kilowatt generator that keeps the juice flowing to the wheels. Fisker claims that the car gets an annual average of 100 mpg and emits just 83 grams of CO2 per kilometer, that’s less than the Toyota Prius! The battery recharges in six to eight hours at 220 volts.

Powered by dual electric motors, output is 403 horsepower with 901 lb-ft of torque, 0 to 62 mph comes in at 7.9 seconds. In hybrid Sport mode, that time drops down to 5.9 seconds with top speed improving to 125 mph.

The starting sticker price for the standard Karma will be $95,000, the Eco Sport version will be $103,900, and $108,900 for the high-line Eco Chic model.

Check out our Facebook page to find out what’s been going on in the community. Follow us on http://twitter.com/#!/fiskersm for the latest update. And read our blog to catch up on the latest news.

After successfully staging the event, which is held every three years, at three venues in the east, with the first held in Lime Rock in 2001, Rennsport Reunion IV will now be moving to the west. This announcement is great news for the vast array of car aficionados and Porsche enthusiasts that live closer to the Pacific coast.

Rennsport Reunion IV brings together an unprecedented gathering of notable Porsche vintage and current race cars, as well as those who have driven them to victory at the world’s most famous sports car races. The three-day event of on-track competition is complemented by a concours d’elegance, which is open to invited race participants, as well as special activities celebrating the decades-long history of the legendary 911 race cars.

“While the Rennsport name has become a staple fixture for international collectors and racers over the past ten years, choosing the Monterey Peninsula will open up this one-of-a-kind gathering to many Porsche fans in California and beyond who were previously unable to attend,” said Detlev von Platen, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. “Now they’ll have the opportunity to see, feel and hear, from up close, hundreds of famous Porsche race cars and dozens of their drivers from past and present during a truly memorable weekend dedicated to Porsche’s motorsport heritage.”

Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV will bring together a variety of Porsche’s most historic racing models from the nimble 550 Spyder of the mid-50s through the mighty 917 and 956/962 of the 70s and 80s to the highly successful GT3 RSR of the last decade. A special tribute will be paid to the numerous racing versions of the Porsche 911 and the countless victories won over the decades.

“This will truly be a rare gathering of significant Porsche race cars on the West Coast,” commented Gill Campbell, CEO and general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “Porsche has a long racing tradition in Monterey and we look forward to celebrating its heritage in a befitting manner for everyone to enjoy.”

Porsche and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca are working in association with the Porsche Race Car Classic to combine efforts to raise awareness for the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and the UCSF Thoracic Oncology Program.

Therefore, complementing the Rennsport Reunion IV event is the Porsche Race Car Classic which is exclusive concours held at nearby Quail Lodge in Carmel on Sunday, October 16. Steve Heinrichs, producer of the Porsche Race Car Classic, explains, “This once-in-a-lifetime gathering of vintage Porsche race cars solely from Porsche’s break-out era of 1950-1965 will raise critical funding to directly support lung cancer research. We’ll have 550s, 718s, 804s, 904s, 356s, Abarths, and more, in numbers and provenance never before seen.”

Arbor Day is designated, nationwide, to encourage tree planting, care and celebration. Each of the trees planted on Arbor Day will generate $163,000 worth of oxygen, air pollutant control, water recycling and soil erosion prevention, while sequestering 2.5 tons of CO2 over the next five years.

As leaders and believers in the Green Movement, we put not only our sweat equity into the event, but our checkbook as well. LAcarGUY was proud to be a financial partner in this years event.

Please click the link below to watch the slide show of all the pictures from the event.

http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649

As a result, one car in particular will bid its farewell at the 12 Hours of Sebring, a car that made its debut here two years ago: the Audi R15 TDI. It celebrated its 2009 premier with a victory which was the ninth for Audi in this traditional event in the U.S. state of Florida since 2000.

For this second appearance at Sebring, the diesel racing sports car will be competing under completely different conditions due to the new technical regulations announced by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO.) To comply, Audi has developed the “closed cockpit” R18. Older models like the R15 TDI may only compete in heavily modified forms with greatly restricted engine power. Just how these cars will fare against the new models remains to be seen.

Drastic cuts in technology

The new LMP1 prototype regulations limit engine displacement for new models such as the Audi R18 to 3.7 liters. For older vehicles like the Audi R15 TDI, the 5.5 liter V10 must now draw intake-air restrictors of 33.5 mm diameter—this is 4 mm less than before. At the same time, boost pressure is reduced by 23 percent to 2,000 millibar—2,590 millibar was allowed previously. The fuel tank will only contain 65 rather than 81 liters of diesel and the fuel flow restrictor in the autonomous refuelling tank has also been reduced by 5 mm to 28 mm.

“The drivers felt the engine restrictions very early during the test in Florida. They miss several dozen horsepower,” explains Ralf Jüttner, technical director of Audi Sport Team Joest. “The reduction in tank volume sounds drastic at first, but the engine obviously also consumes less. The slower flow rate from the external tank means that pit stops will certainly not be any shorter despite the smaller fuel tank volume.”

Proven drivers, new partners

The Audi R15 TDI makes its farewell appearance in Florida in the hands of two successful driver lineups; Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas, who won at Sebring in 2008, share the car with start number “1” with Mike Rockenfeller. Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen, and Allan McNish, the Sebring winners in 2009, drive the number “2” numbered Audi.

Two new corporate partners are also part of the team for the first time at Sebring. Alongside Bosch, Mahle, Michelin, and TAG Heuer, partnering with the Audi sports car program for 2011 are Alpinestars, specialists for motorsport and extreme sports clothing as well as street wear and, the return of familiar face to Audi Sport, lubricant manufacturer, Castrol.

Questions that people will be looking to answer race weekend:

• How fast is the R15 TDI, which should actually be called “R15 plus minus” after being modified to comply with the new regulations?

• Can Audi exploit the reliability of the established R15 TDI around the tough Sebring track with its experienced drivers on board?

• How will the balance differ between the modified 2010 cars, the Audi R15 TDI and new LMP1 models?

The 2011 12 Hours of Sebring race begins at 10:30AM EDT on Saturday March 19th.