Filling That Niche: BMW to Produce 5 Series-Based Progressive Activity Sedan

BMW has given the greenlight to its Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS), Autocar reports today. The four-door hatch will apparently slot in-between the 5 Series and 7 Series in terms of size and will act as a tall 7 Series, opposed to a lowered X6.

The lifted hatchback layout should offer multiple packaging opportunities, as more interior space equates to more leg and cargo room. Exterior design cues are likely to follow the form of the recently-canned CS concept and 2009 Z4. Powertrain options should range from the 3.0-liter turbodiesel for European markets and the 3.0-liter twin turbo for the states.

Expect an official unveil sometime in late 2009, possibly as early as the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show next September. - http://www.motortrend.com

A Hotter, Smaller Hatch: VW Polo GTI Details Emerge

The VW Polo, the ultra-popular European supermini, will receive an impressive GTI treatment in 2009. Auto Express broke the details today to what should be another favorite in VW’s lineup.
According to Auto Express, the engine will pack a considerable wallop over the last generation in the form of a version of VW's 1.4-liter supercharged and turbocharged TSI unit producing 178 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque (about 30hp and 64 lb-ft more than the last generation) in European-spec trim. Transmissions will include a standard six-speed manual, or a seven-speed DSG. The Polo will also reportedly receive the standard GTI aesthetic, with reworked lower fascias, flared fenders, a roof spoiler and a trademark black grille with red highlight. Added underneath are stiffer springs, thicker anti-roll bars and upgraded brakes. You can expect a 0-60 mph time of around seven seconds, a 140 mph top speed, and above 30 mpg. Just don’t expect to see it in U.S. dealer showrooms anytime soon, although VW is toying with the idea of bringing the Polo to America at some point. Source: Auto Express/Motor Trend

5 reasons to purchase a Certified Pre-Owned BMW, Volkswagen, Kia, or Subaru

Thanks to manufacturer certified pre-owned vehicle (CPO) programs, buying a used vehicle can involve less risk and provide you with added benefits. Here are some facts to keep in mind as you consider whether purchasing a CPO vehicle is right for you.

1. A manufacturer certification is a guarantee of quality. During the certification process, CPO vehicles (which are typically used vehicles in excellent condition and with low mileage) are put through a multi-point inspection covering more than 100 factors—including the engine’s mechanical condition, electrical system, tires and wheels, and a road test—to ensure high quality. Reconditioning, if necessary, is completed to ensure that the pre-owned vehicle you purchase will perform just as well as a new one.

2. Buying a CPO vehicle can provide you with more car for a lower price. While a CPO vehicle may cost slightly more than a comparable non-CPO vehicle, it will still cost considerably less than a brand-new vehicle of the same make and model. With a CPO vehicle, you may be able to afford a more luxurious model with a greater array of options than you would if you purchased your vehicle brand-new.

3. Most manufacturer CPO programs offer added peace-of-mind and cost-saving benefits. CPO programs typically offer free roadside assistance, attractive financing options, and extended warranties. Be sure to ask your New Motors sales associate what’s included when you shop for a CPO vehicle.

4. The warranty of your manufacturer certified pre-owned vehicle remains valid even if you move, or the dealer ceases to operate. Not all certified pre-owned vehicle programs are created equal, particularly when it comes to warranties. If a vehicle is certified by a dealership or a third party rather than by the automobile manufacturer, the CPO vehicle warranty may become invalid if the dealership or third party ceases to operate, or if you move out of the area. However, when you purchase a manufacturer certified vehicle, your warranty will remain good for the length of its term, and you’ll have the ability to take advantage of the protection afforded by your warranty through the manufacturer’s network of dealerships.

5. You can avoid incurring the cost of a new car’s depreciation. As soon as a new vehicle is driven off the dealer’s lot, the value of the car diminishes by thousands of dollars. With a manufacturer CPO vehicle, you get the benefit of driving a high-quality car without paying for the usual depreciation.

Source: J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Used Vehicle Sales and Certification StudySM

The all new and exciting KIA SOUL is here!

See more details on our New Motors Kia page

First Look: 2009 BMW Z4

The redesigned 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster now has a retractable hardtop and will debut at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit January 11.

It's here! The All New BMW X5 xDrive 35d (Diesel)

The X5 xDrive35d is be eligible for $1,550 tax credit

BMW calls it a Sports Activity Vehicle. It is one of the most well-rounded, high-performance, luxury-caliber SUVs in the marketplace. Now, it's be available with a diesel engine. The BMW X5 xDrive35d will share the same 3.0 liter biturbo inline-six diesel engine that will power the new diesel version of the BMW 335d. The two vehicles will launch together as a veritable one-two punch for clean diesel technology.
Diesel will grant the BMW X5 xDrive35d better fuel economy (as much as a 30 percent improvement to 19 city/26 highway) and higher torque than its gas-powered counterpart. This means the performance-tuned X5 diesel will have even greater acceleration and more low-end pulling power than ever. All while making cleaner emissions a reality.
The advanced diesel system will utilize BluePerformance urea injection, which will allow the BMW X5 xDrive35d to be sold in all 50 states, even those following California's strict emissions standards. BluePerformance uses a solution called AdBlue, that is injected into the exhaust gas to turn nitrous oxides into nitrogen gas and water vapor. This works in conjunction with a particulate filter to further reduce emissions.

" 5 Star Rated "

I was at one of my dealers today and during our conversation the Salesmanager from one of the dealers other stores comes into the office and asks if we had heard about one of the sales guys parents. Apparently they had purchased a Borrego and had been in a VERY bad accident just a few days after picking it up. They were driving at the truck south for the winter to Florida on I-95 at about 80MPH near Roanoke VA, when they got rear ended by a CrewCab Dually Chevy. The rear end of the Borrego lost traction, and started swinging wildly back and forth, and the truck ended up going sideways and rolling over repeatedly. It was hit twice more by the Chevy as they rolled, after going over many times they ended up going off the road down a 30 foot embankment. At which point the truck started flipping end over end. The truck only came to rest when it rapped it self around a tree. In total they probably rolled over and endo’ed at least 20 times. The truck was so beat up, and it had hit the tree so hard, that when they went to winch the truck out the body actually separated from the chassis of the truck.

Why am I telling you this gruesome story?

Both occupants (two older people), just about walked away. While very banged up (mostly from there luggage and other property banging around the truck) the worst of the injuries were that the driver had a broken Sternum, and his wife ended up with a broken collar bone. They both claim they owe there life to the Borrego, and this feeling was backed up by many of the troopers who were on the seen. One of which commented that he has been on the force for almost 15 years, and has seen many wrecks. When he arrived on seen he thought for sure it was a fatality, and was very surprised to find the drivers alert and communicating. He told the owners, that for sure if they had been driving ANY other vehicle they would be dead. This trooper’s second surprise came when he found out the twisted wreck of a truck that had given its life to save its occupants was a Kia.

Now if that is not a success story about how Kia has evolved as a car company, I don’t know what is. Gives new meaning to the term “5 star rated”.

Jim Bigi

Kia Motors

2009 MyRide/Autobytel Editors' Choice Awards

Best Green Car: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Mention "green" cars today and you certainly don't think of paint colors. Instead, you think of chrome badges, most of which say "hybrid" in one way or another. Add another to that list: the VW Jetta TDI. Volkswagen's 2009 Jetta TDI burns diesel, but it is the best of the oil-burners we've ever seen. It's plenty powerful, quiet, smooth, odor and smoke free, and gets phenomenal fuel economy from every gallon: 30 mpg in the city and 41 on the highway. It also meets 50-state emissions requirements, so Californians can finally get in on the diesel goodness.

2009 MyRide/Autobytel Editors' Choice Awards

Best Kept Secret: 2009 Kia Borrego

You've seen the ads, and may have dismissed them, but the 2009 Kia Borrego is a V-8 powered, four-wheel drive SUV that's capable, comfortable, roomy, and a worthy competitor to any other midsized SUV you'd care to mention. The 2009 Kia Borrego's V-8 even gets better mileage than the V-6 version. Sure, the market for trucks like this is shrinking, but even in contracting SUV markets, there's money to be made and customers to be won, and seeing such a winning formula from Kia was a pleasant, but definite, surprise.

Stop In And Browse Our Boutique For Holiday Gifts

Many gift ideas in stock, such as:

Coffee Mugs, Car Care Kits
Hats , Umbrellas
Key Chains, Model Cars
T-Shirts, License Plate Brackets
Sweatshirts, Duffel Bags
Winter Hats, Golf Bag/Balls/Gloves
Polo Shirts, Sunglasses
Scarfs, Pen Sets

Maybe even consider a car clean and detailing gift certificate.
We have many wonderful gifts that your family and friends will love!

5 Ways to Protect Your Kids (and Yourself!) from the Flu

The season is changing and we have finally arrived at that bittersweet time of Daylight Savings. I always feel like this simple one-hour time change throws me into a pretty significant physiological shift. For me, it also marks the beginning of the flu and cold season. Ever wonder why the winter months are when we get sick the most? While many experts have their myriad reasons, the culprit is not as simple as "it's cold outside." There are few steps that you can take to protect yourself and your family from what seems to be the inevitable flu. The guardian of the health of our body is the immune system. While intangible and challenging to identify, the immune system has very specific signs and symptoms. For a moment, put aside the traditional considerations for assessing your child's health. Instead, I’d like you to consider some new approaches and angles that will provide you with insight into the likelihood that your child will stay healthy or get sick this winter season.

1. Sugar and processed foods impact the immune system.Studies have shown that through a complex system of chemical processes sugar and processed foods depress the immune system. There exists a direct link between the amount of these foods that your child consumes and his/her health. Obvious foods such as sodas, candy, cookies, ice cream, and potato chips are the big guns that should be kept concealed. Even more disturbing are the foods that you think are healthy for your child that hide sugar and many refined ingredients: yogurt, and yogurt drinks and “pops;”most cereals; juices; fruit roll ups and “leathers;” “healthy” cookies and treats, soy ice cream and frozen treats. While being marketed as healthy choices, these foods aren’t much better than the obvious poor choices. Work hard during flu season to keep these foods away from your children. Read ingredient labels and watch out for: corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup or “HFCS,” brown rice syrup, fructose, sucrose, barleymalt and the obvious, sugar.

2. Fresh foods offer the highest quality vitamins.It’s shocking to me how often I see people turn to orange juice for vitamin C in an effort to fight off a cold or flu. It is important to understand that the majority of vitamin C in orange juice is added after processing. Vitamin C and others like zinc, vitamin E, and magnesium help to support the immune system and are a great defense during flu season. Choose better by having kids eat fresh whole foods such as cherries, berries, and apples, and vegetables such as spinach, kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, carrots and sweet potatoes. I know you probably hear this suggestion all the time, but it can’t be stressed enough. It is imperative to find creative ways to prepare vegetables so that kids will actually eat them. Sautee, roast or grill vegetables with olive oil or real butter, add some fresh sea salt or sprinkle with organic low fat cheese and kids will be more likely to eat.

3. Sleep will boost the immune system.At night while we rest, the body is working to rebuild the immune system. Deep sleep allows a complex set of hormonal changes that recharge the body so that it’s resilient the next day. Be diligent and ensure that kids get a full night sleep of 8-10 hours. Mandate bedtime despite protests and stick to a regular schedule. These are the times that mom and dad really need to be the boss. Resist the temptation to allow your child to stay up late and watch his or her favorite show. At the end of the day when you are tired as well, it’s easy to give in to your child’s vigilant campaign. Remember: Would you rather avoid the confrontation tonight? Or deal with a sick kid tomorrow?

4. Fatigue is the first sign of a distressed immune system.As already stated, the immune system desperately needs sleep to keep the body healthy. When the immune system is fighting to keep your child healthy, it requests that the body get extra rest to help in the fight. If your child seems more fatigued than usual, it could be a very strong signal that your child is on the brink of getting sick. The best way to fight off a cold or flu is to act immediately and get extra rest. Pay attention to the health of others around you such as those at work or your child’s school. If you hear of a bug “going around” and you notice that your child is tired, there’s a good chance that extra sleep will ward off the cold or flu. This is the time to allow extra television and require a mid-day nap.

5. Wash hands frequently, but avoid antibacterial products.This seems counterintuitive, but the best way to kill environmental germs is to use soap and hot water and scrub hands thoroughly. Bacteria live all around us. They are on every surface we touch and in every breath we take. Without bacteria, our immune system wouldn’t learn to be strong. Our internal bacterial system fights off invaders and thereby gets more effective at winning the battle. It’s just like working out: In order to become stronger, you must work hard in the gym. Your child’s body is a bacterial gym. Again, this comes back to the immune system. If you foster a strong immune system, your child’s body will fight off invaders and therefore become more resilient to future battles. While it is imperative to wash hands frequently during flu season, remember that the hands are only one very small way that germs enter your child’s system. Killing off the germs on hands with antibacterial products is futile and weakens your child’s- and the world’s- future ability to confront germs.- Holly Perkins, Intent.com