With a V6 - Six-speed electronic automatic with OD lock-up torque converter, shift lock and SHIFTRONIC® manual shift, Hyundai Azera offers more than just power.. it provides unending options.
Safety With nine standard airbags – includes knee, front, rear, and side curtains, rear view back up camera and child LATCH system. The manufacturer has also implemented their impact-reducing seat system for the Azera. This seat system eliminates the need for active front head restraints and is expected to reduce head and neck injuries by 17 percent over the front seats in the previous generation Azera, which had active front head restraints. This result is achieved through optimization of seat back structure to further absorb impacts.
The Azera also features a state-of-the-art braking package. The package includes four-wheel disc brakes (12.6 inch front and 11.2 inch rear) and an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) including Brake Assist, which provides maximum braking force when a panic stop is detected.
Creature Comforts Standard leather interior with heated front and rear seats, heated side mirrors, side window sunshades, elegant yet sporty with wrap-around LED taillights, a flow-through center fascia and instrument panel. These flowing surfaces complement the exterior design and wrap around the driver and passengers creating a feeling of comfort and security.
Ten-way power driver and eight-way front passenger’s seats are standard equipment. The driver’s seat has an optional cushion extension and an integrated memory system for the seat, steering wheel and side mirrors. Azera’s climate and seat temperature controls keep occupants in total comfort. Heated front and rear seats standard, dual automatic climate control standard, second row air vents standard and standard cooled glove box make for chilled refreshments and a cool ride!
The Ride The Azera is equipped with advanced front and rear-suspension using maximized through Sachs Amplitude Selective Dampers (ASD), allowing tuning flexibility at smaller damper displacements, (less bumpy). Azera also features ESC (Electronic Stability Control) and the Motor-Driven electric Power Steering (MDPS). Vehicle Stability Management, (VSM) works to control two effects. The first is when a driver accelerates or brakes on a split-mu surface (slippery on one side, dry pavement on the other) and the vehicle wants to pull in one direction. VSM detects this condition and sends a signal to the MDPS to apply steering assist. VSM counters the pull and automatically provides eight Newton meters of counter- steering. VSM reacts the same way during sudden lane changes or fast cornering.
At just 3,605 pounds, Azera is lighter than the Buick LaCrosse and Ford Taurus. This priority on weight allows the Azera to deliver a great combination of agility, performance and fuel efficiency. The weight difference is 200 – 400 lbs. so no worries about feeling as if driving in an aluminum can. Azera's high level of technology within the vehicle confirms the vehicle offers more than the average ride.
Technology There is a standard navigation system with seven-inch touch screen, three month subscription of XM Satellite Radio, Real-time XM NavTraffic, XM NAV Weather®, XM Sports Ticker and XM Stock Ticker, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, auxiliary iPod/USB inputs, backup camera is standard on the vehicle. The connectivity system features 8GB of flash memory and comes matched with a sound system that plays compact discs, accesses digital music files, and streaming audio.
Azera offers two choices in audio systems the Infinity 550-watt premium option features the Logic 7 audio system with 12 speakers, including an eight-inch subwoofer and external amplifier. An XM Satellite Radio interface is also integrated into the head unit and features channel logos and XM Data services, such as XM NavWeather®, XM Stock Ticker and XM Sports Ticker. Azera also offers standard HD Radio™ technology.
Azera averages 20 city mpg. /29 hwy. mpg. with a price starting at $32k.
This month featured the country’s most revered auto show NAIAS’, Detroit Auto Show. Upon first thought of the show chills of excitement made me giddy to be able to see the latest models for 2012 and beyond. Car manufacturer’s attended from across the globe and provided more than enough options when it came to new vehicles coming soon (or within the next year) to local dealerships. The theme from the major auto players seemed to be adding diversity to vehicles so they could perform at multiple levels. The line-up was immense while advances in safety, and technology were very clearly enhanced.
The show was also a way for manufacturer’s to show they have not only been listening to consumers but they have been heeding the call and meeting their needs. One of the most buzzed about vehicles at the show (which has been kept tightly under wraps) was the new fully redesigned Ford Fusion. No longer a big brother version to the Focus, the Fusion is now completely its own unique car. It has midsize sized feel with a streamlined and sporty vibe. The Fusion will be offered with eco-options such as the pure electric Energi and the Fusion Hybrid models which will be released in Fall. The coolest aspects of the Fusion Energi is that it takes half of the time to charge an Energi than most other electric cars within its class and it more than doubles the amount of electric drive time.
Ford then continued to show their eco-friendlier side by announcing they will be launching six electric and hybrid cars releasing this year to early next. They are the Ford Focus, Fusion (standard, hybrid and Energi), C Max Energy, C Max Hybrid, and Ford's Transit Connect Van. Fusion Hybrid designers say they look to the release and the capabilities of the hybrid in achieving up to 47 miles per gallon later this fall.
AskPatty.com Inc, the premier online resource for automotive advice for women by women announced today that they have launched a new geo-location female-friendly website adjacent to AskPatty.com that is dedicated to helping women take advantage of money saving offers, coupons and expert automotive advice FAST with the company's growing network of Certified Female Friendly® automotive retail locations across the U S. and Canada. The new website address at www.askpattycertifiedfemalefriendly.com, enhances the online experience women have with Certified Female Friendly® automotive retail locations in their local area.
The Ask Patty Certified Female Friendly® program, launched in 2006, offers female-friendly certification, ongoing training and marketing to women expertise for automotive retailers to insure the highest level of customer satisfaction for women. The program provides comprehensive tools and training on how to attract, sell, retain and increase loyalty with women. Included in the program are innovative award winning marketing and advertising to women strategies.
“Just as AskPatty.com continues to evolve as the premier trusted source of automotive advice to women by women, our fast growing network of Certified Female Friendly® locations across the U. S. and Canada is evolving too,” says Jody DeVere, CEO of AskPatty.com and Marketing to Women Conference board member. "Our goal is to continue to add more value to women looking for a trustworthy hassle-free experience with our network. This simple and clean geo-location design helps women find the closest Certified Female Friendly® automotive retail location and money saving coupons FAST. A mobile geo-locationversion of the new site is also coming soon to help women find Certified Female Friendly® locations and coupons on the go."
Before the launch of the new site, Certified Female Friendly® retailers were available to readers via a search by zip code on the AskPatty.com homepage, the new dedicated female-friendly website affords women Geo-Location results right on the homepage. Women are greeted immediately with a selection of Certified Female Friendly® locations in their local area, along with local coupons and specials, no manual search required. Women can also sign up for a free membership to participate in the Ask Patty community to review Certified Female Friendly® locations, their vehicles for the benefit of other women, get expert automotive advice via email and cash in on additional specials and coupons.
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 in the U. S. and Canada: For consumers, the AskPatty.com website is the premier safe and reliable source for expert automotive advice and research for women by women. For auto dealers, tire dealers, quick lubes, car washes, collision centers, service and repair centers the AskPatty.com Certified Female Friendly® program provides a comprehensive program on how to attract, sell, retain and increase loyalty with women.
Women can find an Ask Patty Certified Female Friendly® location, money saving special offers, coupons and advice fast by going here www.askpattycertifiedfemalefriendly.com.
Go here to learn how to become Ask Patty Certified Female Friendly®.
We always like to let you know when one of the Ask PattyCertified Female Friendly retailers does something cool, and this is one of those times. Tamara Darvish is a vice president of DARCARS Automotive Group, a privately owned group of 34 franchises in the Washington Metro area, and she's written something pretty amazing. It's called OUTRAGED: How Detroit and the Wall Street Car Czars Killed the American Dream, and it's a story about how the auto industry's collapse in 2008 and the subsequent bailouts may have saved auto manufacturers, but ultimately spelled doom for many smaller dealerships across the country. Check it out:
The “taking out” of America’s hometown car dealers is perhaps the most misunderstood or little-known story of the decade, certainly of the last few years. The collapse of the “Detroit Two” automakers (General Motors and Chrysler; Ford is the third component that makes up the so-called “Big Three,” or “Detroit Three” automakers), and a temporary government group designed to rescue them set the stage for the events that transpired. The automakers saw new life. But a good portion of “Main-Street” car dealers were left to hang out to dry. Main Street and Highway 61 are used as metaphors for the rejected dealers, many of whose businesses were located on Main Streets or along highways in rural, small and midsize towns, as consultants pointed out. And dealers, as portrayed here, represent entrepreneurs everywhere, as symbols of the American dream.
Pretty heavy stuff - but important stuff! 2008 and the resulting chaos was tough for everybody, but the best thing we can do now is learn from those mistakes so we don't repeat them again. Ever. Thanks to Tammy for penning this torrid tale, and contratulations to you from the whole Ask Patty team. We hope it's a hit for you!
You can learn more about Tammy and her book at http://www.tammydarvish.com/, and the book's available for purchase at Barnes & Noble and Amazon - plus, it's available on the Kindle. Go get it!
I have now had the opportunity to view the new Ford Fusion twice-once in Dearborn and once in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) and WOW!!!-it almost drives itself. Not only is the styling sweet but so are all of the appointments for driver and passenger convenience and comfort and efficiency.
MUST HAVE TECHNOLOGIES
Here is a sampling of the technologies as listed on the www.Ford.com site and how they can assist us be better drivers.
Lane Keeping System: This class-exclusive technology consists of three elements to help a driver maintain proper lane position. Using a small, forward-facing camera behind the inside rearview mirror, the system “looks” down the road, monitoring lane lines to determine that the car is on course.
The system will alert a driver if drowsiness or erratic lane-keeping is detected.
The second element warns a driver with a steering wheel vibration if the Fusion drifts too close to lane markings.
Finally, lane keeping aid will actually apply pressure on the steering to help bring the car back into proper lane position
The invitation stood out among the usual emails and press releases from automobile companies. For one thing, it was pretty. And the subject matter was intriguing: the intersection between fashion, vehicles and living green:
'What do soy beans, carrots and coconuts, Fashion Week, and the psychology of color all have in common?" it asked. I wanted to hear the answer from a panel of experts from the design team at Ford:
Anthony Prozzi: Interior designer
Carol Kordich: Lead Designer Sustainable Materials
Susan Swek: Global Chief Color Chief Color and Materials Designer
I was already aware of Ford Motor Company's commitment to using sustainable materials, and have been impressed with the company's energy efficient technologies, like the EcoBoost engine available now on many of its vehicles. But this was the first time I had a chance to learn how that commitment affects the work of the automaker's design team. It was a fascinating glimpse at how a new model comes to market.
The event was moderated by Natasha Garber, editor at the green fashion site EcoStiletto, and it went like this:
On the outskirts of San Antonio, Texas Auto Writer’s Association (TAWA) members gathered to drive and review the best 2012 trucks, SUVs, CUVs, and other off-road vehicles for their annual Truck Rodeo.
The Rodeo featured major manufacturers who brought their best and most adept models to compete in this significant challenge held within the country’s ultimate ‘truck state’, Texas.
Virtually every manufacturer who has trucks or Sport Utility Vehicles entered them in the competition and came to San Antonio to present them the TAWA group. Ford brought a few variations of the F-150 including one model which featured their new FX package along with their LARIAT and King Ranch models. These F-150s featured neutral towing capability (on their 4x4s) which allowed the driver the ability to flat-tow. Another innovation within this year’s F-150s is the revived EcoBoost® and 5.0L engines.
RAM, (last year’s Truck of Texas winner) was also at the Rodeo and brought half a dozen variations of their product along with two new releases. The RAM Mossy Oak and the Laramie Power Wagon were both new models featured in the RAM line-up. The Mossy Oak will likely do well with hunters and outdoor enthusiasts because its styling is accented with camouflage patterned accents both inside and out.
The Mossy Oak model was derived from the RAM Outdoorsman and will be available for a limited time while the LARAMIE Power Wagon (a little more luxurious than the inaugural model) is slated to be sold throughout the entire year. A few of the upgrades within the ‘luxury model’ are wood grain paneling and extra chrome for flare.
During the event there were many other newly released trucks, SUVs, and CUVs brought in directly from many manufacturers. Toyota brought a prototype model of the Tacoma TRD T/X Baja Series which is set for official release in May 2012. This soon-to-be-released model is being built at Toyota’s San Antonio plant and is also undergoing final testing for the Tacoma Access Cab and Double Cab 4x4 models. This new series is equipped with a 4.0 Liter V6 and comes with choice of a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission.
The Baja is also fully equipped with every important feature any serious off-road enthusiast could ever want such as upgraded shocks, coils, traction control, off-road wheels and tires. Needless to say, the test drive on the dusty, hilly, steep and at times wet and rocky off-road course not only showed super engine response and power it also held its own no matter what obstacle it encountered. Most of the off-road specific 2012 models entered in the Truck Rodeo listed suspension upgrades on their more well-known models with an emphasis on capable suspension regarding the newer editions such as the Nissan Titan Pro4X.
After two days of grueling testing of the 51 entrants, the Auto Writer’s turned in their ballots and awaited the final results of who would win one of the highest honors in the land - The Truck of Texas award. Within 12 hours the results were in and many of the manufacturers could not have been happier with their brands results.
Nissan claimed titles such as Mid-Sized Truck of Texas for the Nissan Frontier and Compact SUV of Texas for the auto maker’s Xterra Pro-4X. Dodge Durango won first place for Full-Sized SUV, RAM 2500 Mega Cab Laramie Longhorn took second place for Luxury Pickup Truck of Texas while RAM 1500 earned second for Full-Sized Pickup (Toyota Tundra and Chevrolet 1500 both tied for third).
For the winning Truck Line of Texas the Auto Writers awarded Ford F-150 first place in Full-Sized Pickup Truck and Luxury Pickup Truck of Texas (Platinum EcoBoost® model), while the F-250 claimed top place for Heavy Duty Pickup Truck of the Lone Star truck state.
The complete list of Texas Auto Writer's Truck Rodeo winners is as follows: Truck of Texas: 2012 Ford F-150 SUV of Texas: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee CUV of Texas: 2012 Ford Edge Truck Line of Texas: Ford F-150 Full-Sized Pickup Truck: First Place, 2012 Ford F-150; Second Place, 2012 Ram 1500; Third Place, Chevrolet 1500 & Toyota Tundra (tie) Mid-Sized Pickup Truck: First Place, 2012 Nissan Frontier; Second Place, 2012 Toyota Tacoma. Luxury Pickup Truck: First Place, 2012 Ford F-150 Platinum EcoBoost; Second Place, 2012 Ram 2500 Mega Cab Laramie Longhorn: Third Place, 2012 GMC Sierra Denali 2500 HD Crew Cab. Heavy Duty Pickup Truck: First Place, 2012 Ford F-250 King Ranch; Second Place, 2012 Ram 2500 Power Wagon; Third Place, 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD. Full-Sized SUV: First Place, 2012 Dodge Durango; Second Place, 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee; Third Place, 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe. Full-Sized Luxury SUV: First Place, Jeep Grand Cherokee; Second Place, Range Rover Evoque; Third place, Mercedes Benz ML350 Mid-Sized SUV: First Place, 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited; Second Place, 2012 Toyota 4Runner; Third Place, 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser. Mid-Sized Luxury SUV: First Place, Toyota 4Runner Compact SUV: First Place, 2012 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X; Second Place, 2012 Jeep Compass; Third Place, 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan. Full-Sized CUV: First Place, 2012 Buick Enclave Mid-Sized CUV: First Place, 2012 Ford Edge Limited with EcoBoost engine; Second Place 2012 Dodge Journey; Third Place, 2012 Chevrolet Equinox Compact CUV: First Place, 2012 Toyota Rav4; Second Place, Kia Soul Full-Sized Luxury CUV: First Place, 2012 GMC Acadia Denali; Second Place, 2012 Mercedes-Benz R350 Blue TEC. Mid-Sized Luxury CUV: 2012 Cadillac SRX Premium.
Remember me and my story this Holiday Season. Buckle Up and Say No to Buzzed Driving !!!
We left for home Thanksgiving day in the twilight, filled with Grandma Cleo’s cooking, lots of hugs and our heads filled with family stories shared in laughter.
The drive on Palmdale Highway 138, a two land undivided road, was lined with cars coming and going like bumper cars. I always hated this part of the drive and kept checking my speed to stay at 55 MPH, which was not my normal routine driving practice.
After about ten minutes, feeling overly cautious, I looked over at my son in the front passenger seat and noticed his seatbelt was not fastened and sharply told him to “Put on your seatbelt, NOW!”, and glanced over my shoulder to make sure my other son was buckled up!”
Thirty seconds later a small car driven by a drunken women with five children, only one two year old in a restraint system, swerved from the oncoming traffic right in front of me. There was no way to avoid the accident. I slammed on my brakes to attempt to stop in time. Her oncoming speed and my oncoming speed were equal to at least 110 miles an hour. Not enough time to stop.
That moment of impact will be imbedded in my soul forever. Three of the five children were killed instantly. The woman driver killed her only daughter and two of her sister’s children. The driver (She) survived along with the two year old in the car seat and one other young boy cousin.
Jody DeVere, CEO of female-focused automotive website AskPatty.com, is being honored with a 2011 Women in Remarketing Excellence Award today during the National Remarketing Conference at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas. She will also speak of a panel with other leading women who are being honored. It has become an annual tradition for Auto Remarketing to encourage readers to recognize and nominate some of the top leading ladies of our industry. There women stand out for their dedication to excellence and their commitment to furthering the industry. To be considered, a woman must have a history of going above and beyond the call of duty whether through innovation, mentoring new professionals, philanthropy, education or more.
Jody, who was just recently honored at SEMA / AAPEX as the recipient of the SEMA Businesswomen's Association's annual Athena Award, is the CEO 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, fast lubes, 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.
“I am very honored to be recognized by the readers of Auto Remarketing Magazine as a Women of Remarketing Award alongside all the outstanding women leaders recognized in 2011,” says Jody.
This site, its contents and all related content, formats and documents are copyrighted property of AskPatty.com, Inc and are not to be reproduced or republished without the written consent of AskPatty.com, Inc.
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