Thomas Ieracitano

  From: Mike Levine Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2011 2:01 AM Subject: Rising Fuel Prices Create Rising Demand for Ford F-150's EcoBoost V-6 Ford's all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 isn't just a high-performer on the road . The fuel-efficient engine is also tearing up the sales charts faster than expected. Sales of the 365 horsepower, 420 pounds-feet of torque gasoline twin-turbo direct-injection six-cylinder are 35 percent of all 2011 Ford F-150 half-ton pickup sales in April and currently account for 40 percent of new orders from Ford dealers, according to Ford powertrain spokesman Richard Truett. What's likely driving the rapid adoption – much quicker than we originally estimated – of EcoBoost's small-displacement GTDI technology? Fuel prices are more than a dollar higher than last year's prices and rapidly approaching $4 a gallon for regular octane fuel, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report . A two-wheel drive EcoBoost F-150 carr...

  From: Chris Shunk Sent: Monday, April 18, 2011 8:01 PM Subject: <i>Consumer Reports</i>: Most car buyers not looking to downsize Filed under: Car Buying Back in 2008, gas prices soared past $4 per gallon and car buyers clamored for more efficient forms of transportation. But once fuel became affordable again, we're guessing there were quite a few Honda Civic and Chevy Cobalt owners who longed for their old SUVs. The price of gas is skyrocketing yet again, but it appears that customers aren't inclined to make that mistake again. Consumer Reports recently polled 911 new car-buying adults to gauge the size of their next vehicle, and 56 percent responded that their next car or truck will be the same size as the one it replaces. The poll shows that a quarter of the respondents did plan to downsize, but another 19 percent were inclined to buy bigger the next time around. And if you're 18-34, you're more likely to up-size your next vehic...

  From: Chris Shunk Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 8:31 AM Subject: Report: Austin police looking to stockpile Crown Vics ahead of model's phase-out Filed under: Car Buying , Sedan , Government/Legal , Ford The age of the Ford Crown Victoria cop car is almost at an end, but law enforcement in Austin, Texas wants one more crack at the old standby. Actually, the police are asking city council for $4.5 million to buy 176 Police Interceptor squad cars at an average price of $25,568. Why the mad rush to buy 176 vehicles when all the new cop cars are on the way? Police officials tell the Austin Statesman that the department already has parts like computer mounts and light bars that fit on the Crown Vic, and a new model would call for a fresh batch of parts. Further, automakers haven't yet set official prices for the new models, and new models like the Taurus -based 2012 Police Interceptor and Chevrolet Caprice haven't been extensively tested in the s...

  From: Mike Levine Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 10:21 PM Subject: How We Dyno Tested Ford's 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 and 5.0-liter V-8 Engines By Greg Whale and Mike Levine, Photos by Greg Whale In response to reader comments about observed low-end power output (or rather, the lack of measured output below 2,000 rpm) during our earlier dyno test of Ford's all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, we've rerun the test. This time, we combined engineering resources from Ford and our friends at K&N Engineering . Ford graciously flew in an engineer from Dearborn, Mich., to participate in the testing at K&N's headquarters in Riverside, Calif. We also made sure we had two 2011 F-150s to compare on the same day on K&N's SuperFlow chassis dyno – an EcoBoost V-6 and a 5.0-liter V-8. Both trucks were 145-inch-wheelbase models with four-wheel drive and 3.73 rear axles. The EcoBoost F-150 ($41,300) was a SuperCab FX4 with a 6.5-foot cargo box and 4,650...

CarMax EasyShop - Is this the FUTURE of car buying? You didn't miss the announcement of CarMax EasyShop did you? Watch the car max video click here. CarMax has just dramatically changed car buying with their new CarMax EasyShop. The service has been launched first in Raleigh and Fayetteville NC. ShopEasy allows you complete more of the car shopping process at the convenience from any computer before arriving at the store and IMO, it's looking slick! Our good friend Brian has been talking about full transactional online car buying for years here on DealerRefresh and just published an article - Seeing Your Dealership As Consumers See It . As dealers, most of us quickly nudge our shoulders at this while thinking to ourselves - "this will never work" , customers want to touch and feel a purchase of this size. Yes, there's a lot of truth in that. The percentage of consumers that are willing to buy a car sight unseen (other than photos) is very...

Your business is under attack and it's time to strike back. Every day is a battle for online leads and brand awareness. Your competitors are using new online tools such as social media and search engines to advance on your customers. Your customers are rating your company and killing your reputation. You might even be your own worst enemy if you're simply not in the online marketing war. You need your own specialized, covert digital force to give you air cover. A team that will support your ground troops. A team that will scout new social media marketing tactics and then leverage them to give you an edge. We are that team. You will get an unfair digital advantage so you can maximize social media, dominate the search engines, protect your reputation and capture more sales. If you would like more information about leveraging social media for mobile devices please contact  TheDigitalCarGuy.com . Thank you, Thomas Ieracitano 229.251.2462 Thomas@Ieracitano.com TheDigita...

Leverage Mobile Devices with Facebook Deals posted by Glenn Jimerson March 31, 2011 When was the last time you left the house without your mobile phone? Today's consumer has more access to information than any group in history. In an instant, a person can grab a map to your business, peruse your reviews, and see deals your competitors are offering all from their smart phone. The dealership that successfully leverages mobile technology has an advantage in today's market because many companies are not aware of its potential. In this article we'll discuss how you can use mobile devices to help drive more customers to your showroom. There are several players in the mobile space such as Facebook Places , Gowalla , Foursquare , and Google Latitude . These services enable people to broadcast to their social network where they are by "checking in" to a location. People are starting to make checking in a part of their daily routine. ...

Five Rules of Engagement for Service Customers We started the New Year with the fewest number of new car dealers in decades. I believe the number is somewhere north of 18,000. This of course means there are now fewer dealers to provide warranty services as well as maintenance and mechanical repair services for customers. The question is will dealers aggressively go after customers or simply stand by waiting for them to show up? The latter option will most definitely provide the aftermarket competition with a significant pay raise. What is your marketing plan? It's not good enough to just say, "Get more customers in the door." The basic principle for you to consider is what are you going to do with the customers when they do come in the door? The answer lies within the rules of engagement. These are basic rules that have been around for a very long time, yet some of them are either not being followed properly or not being used at all. With that being sai...

Six Ways to Know If Your Teen Is Ready to Drive Saturday, April 16th, 2011 Before your teen asks you about getting a driver's license, parents can feel more comfortable addressing the issue if you consider the following six ways to know if your teen is ready to drive. 1. Good judgment is important. - Is your teen generally responsible? Does he or she show good judgment? This is important because of the necessity to make sound decisions during unpredictable situations that occur while driving - either from other drivers, passengers, pedestrians or other sources. If your teen lacks good judgment, experts recommend that you delay your teen getting a driver's license until he or she shows more signs of maturity. If you can delay your teen's driving until 17 or 18 instead of 16, this can make a huge difference. 2. Ability to resist peer pressure. - Can your teen resist peer pressure? Statistics of teens drinking and driving should be enough to fri...

4 Things Smart Dealerships Do when Women Buyers Visit by Anne Fleming on Apr 13, 2011 So a woman has stepped onto your lot and is looking to purchase a vehicle. What happens next and the direction the visit goes is largely determined by how the dealership, specifically the salesperson, engages and influences her experience. Research shows that 45% of women feel apprehensive and 34% are intimidated when shopping at new car dealerships. The factors that lead to whether she stays or goes to the competition can be summed up with several factors that are fundamental to converting a female visitor to a happy and long-term customer: Treat her fairly and with respect, as the front negotiator. Be willing to work with her without any intimidation tactics, pushiness or condescending attitudes. If she is with her husband or a man, treat her as the front buyer and keep consistent eye contact with her. Maintain a relaxed and no-p...

Vehicle Electrification: 5 Technologies to Watch APR 13, 2011 April 13th, 2011 The electric car is alive and well, and Ford has big plans for its future and that of electrification advancement. Just ask Chuck Gray, the Ford Chief Engineer of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles. He shared his insight at the SAE 2011 World Congress (April 12-14) on the top five technologies from Ford, which by the way, has more than 244 patents for its electrification technology. Electrification is an important element in the Ford overall product sustainability strategy, which includes the launch of five electrified vehicles in North America by 2012 and in Europe by 2013. Ford launched the Transit Connect Electric small commercial van in 2010 and will launch the all-new Focus Electric later this year. These models will be joined in North America by the new C-MAX Hybrid, a second next-generation lithium-ion battery hybrid and the C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid. But it...

  From: Mike Levine Sent: Sunday, April 10, 2011 5:06 PM Subject: Callaway Silverado C19 SportTruck Revealed Photos: Callaway Cars The Callaway Silverado "C19" SportTruck has arrived . Callaway Cars, the legendary American tuning house known for powerfully modifying Chevrolet Corvettes and Camaros, has released photos and information about its first-ever high-performance full-size pickup truck. Based on the current Chevy Silverado 1500 half-ton, Callaway is amping up both the 5.3-liter V-8 and 6.2-liter V-8 haulers with Eaton's Twin Vortices Series roots-type superchargers. The same superchargers are also used to boost power to stratospheric levels in the Chevrolet ZR-1 and Cadillac CTS-V. Callaway's powertrain tweaks also feature an air-to-liquid intercooler system plus high capacity fuel injectors and a high flow air intake system. The bottom line is 450 horsepower high up the curve (@ 6,200 rpm) and 450 pounds-feet of torque (@ 4,000 rpm) ...

From: Steven J. Ewing Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 11:59 AM Subject: 2012 Cadillac SRX gains more powerful 3.6-liter engine, new features Filed under: Car Buying , Crossover , Cadillac , GM 2012 Cadillac SRX - Click above for high-res image Cadillac has officially announced a host of changes for the 2012 SRX crossover, including a new standard engine - General Motors ' 3.6-liter direct-injected V6. This powerplant will serve as the only available engine on the SRX here in the United States, replacing both the base 3.0-liter V6 and 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 that was axed earlier this year . Under the hood of the 2012 SRX, the 3.6-liter mill produces 300 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque - increases of 35 hp and 37 lb-ft over the anemic 3.0-liter engine that served as the base engine when the SRX was refreshed for the 2010 model year. The new V6 offers the same amount of horsepower as the discontinued 2.8-liter turbocharged unit, though it's down on...

  From: Mike Levine Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 12:53 PM Subject: Brewery Turns '58 Chevy Apache Into Electric Hot Rod By Dave Lee Steam Whistle, a brewery based in Toronto, is home to a fleet of classic rides used to promote and deliver its pilsners, and among them is a 1958 Chevy Apache that runs on green power. The Apache, part of the brewery's Green Initiatives project, has been retrofitted with 24 lithium batteries that provide a driving range of about 93 miles, according to the brewery's website. A high-efficiency motor supplied by Azure Dynamics (which also supplies motors for Ford's Transit Connect small cargo van) can produce 465 pounds-feet of torque at only 200 rpm. An ongoing video series documenting the creation of the green-powered Apache — nicknamed "Retro Electro" — is posted on Steam Whistle's website here . [H/T to Steve for the tip]

From: Dan Roth Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2011 6:41 PM Subject: Report: Auto leasing surges to highest level since 2005 Filed under: Car Buying , Etc. , Marketing/Advertising Leasing is back in a big way, says The Detroit News . After virtually disappearing, lease packages with monthly payments below $199 and no money down are popping up everywhere lately, and those deals are finding consumers. Take it as a sign of economic improvement, but the reemergence could come back to bite automakers in a few years, too. With leases accounting for more than twenty percent of new car sales in February and March, a whole bunch of returned vehicles could flood the used market in just a few years, cratering the resale values that make automakers and lenders so enthusiastic to offer good lease terms right now. If irrational exuberance takes hold again and artificially low, unsustainable lease rates are used to pump up sales figures, it's hard to see how we're not in for an...

  From: Mike Levine Sent: Friday, April 08, 2011 12:56 PM Subject: How to Get EcoBoost in Your Television We're busy crunching numbers and making pretty charts to summarize our recent twin truck Ford F-150 EcoBoost road test but you can learn more about Ford's all-new gasoline turbo direct injection six-cylinder this Sunday on TV. NBC will broadcast the "Ford F-150 EcoBoost Torture Test" at 4:30 p.m. ET, which details the incredible punishment inflicted on the 3.5 liter V-6 engine. The program, narrated by Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs fame, uses footage from the six webisodes and the tear down event, according to Ford spokesman Richard Truett. If you have questions during or after the show, jump online for a live chat with Jim Mazuchowski, Ford's manager of V-6 engines, from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm ET at www.thefordstory.com .

From: Chris Shunk Sent: Friday, April 08, 2011 2:31 PM Subject: Audi makes it right with disgruntled customer, loans free S4 until order arrives Filed under: Car Buying , Sedan , Performance , Plants/Manufacturing , Audi 2010 Audi S4 - Click above for high-res image gallery Ordering a special edition luxury vehicle from Germany can take some time. The plant needs to put you in the production queue with the rest of the orders, shipping across the Atlantic can eat up weeks and parts availability can also throw off timing. Such a protracted timeline played out for Audi forum member Datz as he waited for his brand new S4 , except three months became five months and then his December order led to a July delivery. Instead of sitting back and listening to excuse after excuse from the dealership, Datz reportedly took to the Internets in search of justice. The expectant owner even sent a note out to Audi U.S.A. chief Johan de Nysschen, and he says he focused his vitriol on...

From: Mike Levine Sent: Friday, April 08, 2011 4:03 PM Subject: Video: Mopar Introduces Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Pickup Truck Conversion Kit Yesterday, we told you about the Jeep Wrangler JK-8 Independence headed to Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, UT. It previews a conversion kit that Chrysler's Mopar parts division will sell that will allow off-road enthusiasts to turn a Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited into a pickup truck. Today, we have video of Jim Sassorossi, head of Mopar sales and marketing, introducing it to the media.