Most people make new year’s resolutions. Resolving to lose weight and
exercise can be tough ones to keep, but resolving to take better care
of your car has never been easier with the free online custom service schedule from the non-profit Car Care Council.
“Signing up for our free customized service schedule and e-mail
reminder service is a simple way to help you take better care of your
vehicle throughout the year,” said Rich White, executive director, Car
Care Council. “It is an easy-to-use resource designed to help you drive
smart, save money and make informed decisions about preventative vehicle
maintenance.”
The Car Care Council’s personalized online schedule and e-mail
reminder service, powered by DriverSide.com, is free of charge and can
be customized by motorists to help make vehicle ownership more
enjoyable, economical and convenient. Motorists’ customized schedule can
be easily created by visiting the Car Care Council’s website at www.carcare.org.
“Whether you do it yourself or take your car to a professional
service technician, following a preventative maintenance schedule will
help keep your vehicle safe, dependable and on the road longer,” said
White.
To help consumers become more comfortable with the auto service and
repair process, the Car Care Council produced a video entitled “Auto Service and Repair: What to Expect,”
which provides a wealth of information on such topics as finding the
right auto repair facility, what to expect at the shop and what
questions to ask. The video also covers the real truth about consumer
rights and the manufacturer’s warranty, and is available at www.carcare.org.
The Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car
Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of
regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For a copy of
the council’s Car Care Guide or for more information, visit www.carcare.org.
Although southern California is celebrated as a sports car mecca, sport utility vehicles of every size and type were among the biggest hits at the
2012 Los Angeles International Auto Show. More than 40 different brands parked their new models and concept renditions on the ‘red carpet’ at the Los Angeles Convention Center, as 50 new vehicles made their premier entrance or global debut. The LAIAS is among the most significant shows in annual big-city show season in the U.S. and the home of the Greater Los Angeles Auto Dealers Association (GLANCDA), the umbrella organization for local and regional dealers. The LAIAS is followed by 2013 auto shows in Detroit (January), Chicago (February), New York (April) and other cities across the nation.
The news: The Land Rover LR2, a premium compact SUV, has been totally renovated for 2013.
A short history: In the 1990’s, the Rover Group tried to partner with Honda to build a compact SUV. But the companies had their differences, and Honda left to pursue building the CR-V. When BMW acquired the Rover Group in 1994, they infused cash into the SUV project. As a result, the original Freelander debuted in 1997 to directly compete with Honda’s effort. In comparison to the first generation, the second generation Freelander had a remodeled engine set on a different frame with more off-road capability.
Flash forward to 2006, when the first LR2 (replacing the Freelander in the US) launched in London to great applause. This complete redesign of the original Freelander 4 X 4 was a new direction for Land Rover into the small luxury SUV market. The LR2 didn’t compromise form for function—it still contained all of the off-road capabilities that were part of its DNA combined with on-road dynamics.
Out
with the old and in with the new -- car, that is. We asked Kelley
Blue Book analyst Alec Gutierrez to decode three options for getting
rid of your old car, so you can make room for a shiny, new one.
There
are perfectly good options for selling a used car privately, trading
it in or donating it. We mapped out the pros and cons of each, so the
process can be as easy as a Sunday drive.
Assess
the Worth
Before
deciding which option is best for you, you’ll want to get a
realistic idea of what your car is worth. "Be honest with
yourself, and with the vehicle’s worth," says Gutierrez.
On
KBB.com, you can input your car’s
specific details, such as the year, make, model, whether it has
all-wheel drive or leather seats, etc., to get an estimate of what
your car is worth. “Don’t skip over any of the details, because
they can increase the value of the car,” Gutierrez says.
People need to move—and carry things. Adding some all-new and updated game-changing, people-and-cargo-movers to its line-up, Ford has recently expanded its truck brand in the U.S., with new models that go on sale later this year. The Blue Oval is already the best-selling truck maker in North America and now adds two new vehicles for 2014-an updated Transit Connect Van and an all-new Transit Connect Wagon.
We recently took a look and climbed aboard the two new vehicles in Detroit, with Ford’s designers, engineers and marketers on hand to educate us about the new models. First, let’s take a closer look at the van, which came to the U.S. in 2010 as a creative solution for small business owners and others that had the need or desire to own a somewhat utilitarian, compact panel van.
If you’re not familiar with the first-generation version that came stateside from its popular run in Europe for close to a decade, you might think of a bulky, rectangular box with four wheels and the “Airport Shuttle” image, or the name of your electrician painted on the side of a van. You might even think back to the velour swivel seats and dastardly fuel economy of vans in the 1970s and 1980s.
Sunday night at the MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit the 17th
annual Urban Wheel Awards were held to celebrate and award prizes to people of
color within the automotive industry. This year all of the recipients of this
prestigious award were women.
They included Crystal Windham who won Designer of the Year, Company of the
Year Progress in Human Resources, Georgette Borrego-Dulworth, Chrysler's talent
acquisition and global diversity director, and Pioneer of the Year Jenell Ross,
president of the Bob Ross Auto Group and 2013 chair of the American
International Automobile Dealers Association.
"If it weren't for women, the American auto industry wouldn't exist.
Who do you think told Henry Ford to go outside and build a car in the first
place? Mrs. Ford," said actor Edward James Olmos, who co-hosted the awards
with Niecy Nash.
This was to honor "wonderful women who are helping to make those wheels
roll," U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., told the audience of 500.
It was a cornucopia of cars that glistened and twirled
at this year’s 2012 LosAngeles International Auto Show (stay
tuned for our “trucks’ piece that follows soon!). Hundreds of models from 42
brands were parked under the bright lights of the Los Angeles Convention Center,
50 of which took the runway and shed their nighties to make a global debut,
kicking off the annual big-city-auto-show season in the U.S. Upcoming are auto
shows in Detroit, Chicago, New York and other cities across the nation.
AskPatty.com,
Inc., a website, blog, and marketing to women agency providing
automotive education to women consumers, as well as training and
support to automotive retailers, announced last week the official
launch of the Women's Automotive Speakers Bureau, a panel of women
from across the automotive industry who will speak at events across
North America. This panel, composed of hand-picked women from all
aspects of the automotive industry, are ready to spread the word
across North America that women aren't just the majority car buyers –
they're the CEOs, the shop owners, the market analysts, and the
dealer principals.
Jody
DeVere, CEO of AskPatty.com, Inc., formed the Bureau, she says, after
asking herself this question at a recent automotive trade show: “If
women are making the purchasing decisions in the auto industry, why
are so many of these speakers men?” The Women's Automotive
Speakers Bureau aims to change that. “By assembling this panel of
experts under one umbrella, AskPatty.com has now become the megaphone
through which all these women can now take their message to the
masses,” says Jody. “These women are all game changers, they're
the new face of the auto industry. When you look at the site, when
you read their bios, you have to say 'Wow, we really have something
here.'”
Some
members of the Women's Automotive Speakers Bureau include Miriam
Muley, CEO and Author of The
85% Niche;
Amy Mattinat, Author and Owner of Auto Craftsmen Ltd.; and Marti
Barletta, who was called “The
World's Foremost Expert on Today's Mightiest Market – Women”
by TrendSight.
The Women's Automotive
Speakers Bureau provides the automotive industry top women speakers
and spokespersons on how to attract, sell, retain and increase
loyalty with women customers and employees. AskPatty.com has a unique
understanding of the automotive industry from a woman's point of view
and aims to utilize the unique talents of women in our bureau to
ultimately create an unforgettable impact for automotive brands and
at industry events.
The Women's Automotive
Speakers Bureau has a wide range of topics and speaker services to
choose from including keynotes, brand spokespersons, workshops,
coaching, video training, live and recorded webinars, panel speakers
and more.
Click on a speaker
profile to learn more and complete the form to inquire on rates and
dates or contact us directly for a proposal for your next event or
brand initiative at speakers@askpatty.com.
About
AskPatty.com, Inc.
With
international headquarters in Thousand Oaks, California,
AskPatty.com, Inc. takes a two-pronged approach to revolutionizing
the women's automotive retail market: For consumers, the
AskPatty.com website is a safe and reliable source for expert
automotive advice and research. For auto dealers, tire centers,
collision repair, and automotive service and repair centers the
revolutionary AskPatty.com Certified Female Friendly® program trains
providers on how to attract and sell to women customers and bolster
customer loyalty and retention.
Women
can find an Ask Patty Certified Female Friendly® auto dealer, tire
center, collision repair, and automotive service and repair centers
using the location search at AskPatty.com.
AskPatty®
and Certified Female Friendly® are registered trademarks of
AskPatty.com, Inc.
This story began at a New Orleans race track. I was test driving the 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish with my own driving instructor.
I could bore you with superlatives or say, very honestly, that after many years of trying out vehicles on racetracks, this time I got it! The exhilarating feel of driving at speed, the sound of the engine, the smell of the leather, the way the Vanquish catches light when it is in motion. Yes, I finally understood the lure of the racetrack and the draw of the Aston Martin. And yes --(ladies you will understand) ---it was a ‘shades of grey’ moment!
Established in 1999, the WAAI’s Spirit of Leadership award is presented
annually to professional women in the automotive industry in recognition
of their significant accomplishments in their profession, community,
and family. These women have dedicated their life to their profession
and to giving back to others; and they serve as mentors and are role
models to us all. Sustained superior performance, community involvement,
influence and support of other women within the automotive industry are
just some of the qualities these women possess.
Jody DeVere, CEO, AskPatty.com Jody is the face and primary voice of AskPatty.com, Inc, a website, blog, and
marketing to women agency providing automotive education to women
consumers, as well as training, ongoing marketing support and education,
and certifications to car dealers, independent service locations, tire
dealers, collision centers, and other automotive retailers. As a social
media marketing to women expert, journalist, car care expert, and safety
spokesperson, it has been a primary goal to promote, mentor and support
careers for women in the automotive industry, and she has more than
twenty-five years of achievement as a successful entrepreneur focused on
sales and marketing leadership to assist her in this quest. She is a
champion for women in the automotive industry, and her company serves as
the first point of contact for many women who are seeking the very best
in car sales and service across the United States and Canada.
Barbara J. Pilarski, VP, Business Development, Chrysler Group LLC
Barbara
J. Pilarski was named Vice President - Business Development for
Chrysler Group LLC on June 9, 2009. In this role, she is responsible
for negotiating key strategic partnership arrangements for Chrysler
Group globally and for managing alliance relationships. Pilarski
reports to Sergio Marchionne, CEO, Chrysler Group.
Previous
to her current position, Pilarski served as Executive Director -
Mergers and Acquisitions, North and South America, Chrysler LLC. In
this position, Pilarski was responsible for all aspects of merger,
acquisition and divestiture activities affecting North and South
America for Chrysler, and formerly DaimlerChrysler, business units.
Pilarski
joined Chrysler Corporation in 1985 as a Financial Analyst and has
held positions in various functional areas, including Controlling,
Treasury and Mergers and Acquisitions.
Pilarski
earned a bachelor's degree in Finance from Wayne State
University (1985) and holds a Master of Business Administration
degree from the University of Michigan (1988). She also participated
in Chrysler Corporation's Advanced Degree Development Program
(Finance).
Pilarski
is actively involved in the following organizations:
Executive
sponsor of the Chrysler Women’s Forum, an employee resource group
which leverages female employees to improve Chrysler’s overall
product and service offerings to its customers
The
United Way for Southeastern Michigan, serving both as a Steering
Committee member for Chrysler’s annual fundraising campaign, as
well as a Board Member of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society
The
Girls and Boys Clubs of Southeastern Michigan
Executive sponsor
for recruiting efforts at the University of Michigan
Pilarski
was also honored in 2010 by Automotive News and Deloitte as one of
the “Top 100 Leading Women in the North American Automotive
Industry”
This year's other honorees include:
Joy Libert-Gelb, Dealer/ Owner of Yonkers Motors
Margery Krevsky, Founder/ CEO of Productions Plus-The Talent Shop
Andra Rush, President/CEO of Rush Trucking
The Spirit of Leadership Awards Reception will take place at this year's NADA Conference, at the Peabody in Orlando, FL, on Saturday, February 9, 2013.
