Lexus announces pricing for new CT 200h Hybrid

2011 Lexus CT 200h
Photo Credit: Lexus

Lexus has announced pricing for the all-new 2011 CT 200h hybrid, which arrives in dealer showrooms next spring, and the number comes in under $30,000.  The suggested retail price of the CT 200h will be  $29,995 including the delivery, processing and handling fee.

2011 Lexus CT 200h
Photo Credit: Lexus

Company officials say the CT 200h will boast the luxury car industry’s best overall combined fuel economy at 42 mpg and offer the most attractive price point in the Lexus lineup without compromising the level of refinement, quality and reliability that customers expect.

“For just $1,000 more than the cost of a non-luxury hybrid, buyers can indulge in a CT 200h with our proven Lexus Hybrid Drive technology,” said Mark Templin, group vice president and general manager, Lexus Division. “Lexus hybrids currently make up 90 percent of all luxury hybrid sales in the U.S., so you can imagine how excited we are to continue our leadership in this market with the CT 200h.”

The CT 200h emits approximately 60 percent fewer smog-forming emissions than the average new car, and has EPA-estimated ratings of 43 mpg city and 40 mpg on the highway running on regular unleaded gasoline.  The CT 200h also can be operated in a switchable EV mode which generates zero emissions.

The 2011 CT 200h arrives in early March when it will become the fifth hybrid in the Lexus lineup.

Deja Vu: A subcompact Cadillac?!?

I woke up this morning to the news that Cadillac plans to publicly unveil a new concept this week at the Los Angeles International Auto Show.  That, in and of itself, is not big news.  Pulling the wraps off of upcoming and potentially upcoming new vehicles is what car companies do at the major auto shows.  But, news of this particular vehicle from America's premier domestic luxury brand jolted me awake nearly as fast as my morning cup of extra-strong java.  Caddy is seriously considering another mini-sized offering.  Hmmm....

1982 Cadillac Cimarron
Photo Credit: GM Media

My first thought was, "been there, done that, and it was a very bad move."  Remember the Cimarron debacle of the early 1980's?  For many car consumers, luxury equates with size, spaciousness, suppleness, not to mention power.  In 1981, Cadillac introduced the Cimarron as an entry-level compact car in hopes of drawing in younger buyers and holding on to older folks who might want to downsize from their humongous Fleetwood or De'Ville models.  It was a major flop.  The Cimarron was a Chevrolet Cavalier clone-- literally.  The only real differences, a few minor cosmetic modifications and the leather interior.

2011 Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept
Photo Credit: GM Media

That considered, I found myself thinking, why go down this road again?  While the Fleetwood and De'Ville models are gone, Cadillac is still known for spacious, powerful luxury with its various Escalade and CTS models. And, a new flagship-- the XTS-- is coming soon. So, do Caddy buyers really want something the size of a Toyota Yaris or Nissan Versa?

But, before condemning the concept, I jumped out of bed and got online to search for more information and photos, of course.  I needed to see this concept.  Wow... I'm impressed.

“While small in size, this concept is an exploration of what Cadillac could be in the future, as the brand continues to focus on redefining industry standards for advanced vehicle design and integrated technology,” said Don Butler, vice president for Cadillac marketing.

GM pink slips Mr. Goodwrench

As General Motors continues to reshape its future after bankruptcy, the company has announced that longtime service leader, Mr. Goodwrench, will leave the company.

Yes, that's tongue-in-cheek humor but the news is real.  GM is discontinuing its Goodwrench brand of service centers at dealerships, first introduced in 1974.  The company will introduce new, individual service  brands for each of its core auto brands-- Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac.  Dealerships will get details of the plan from GM officials on Wednesday.

Farewell, Mr. Goodwrench.  Your last day on the job will be February 1, 2011 at the latest.

Car and Driver teams up with Chrysler to battle distracted driving

You jump in your car, start the engine, put it in gear and start driving.  As you head toward the other side of town where you have a business lunch appointment, you look at the clock and see that it's 11:40 AM.  You immediately utter a choice word-- that shall remain unprinted-- because you know that you're at least 30 minutes away and your appointment is at noon.  What do you do?  If you're like many people, you grab your cell phone and immediately become a distracted driver.

That scenario plays itself out on roads countless times a day placing drivers and others in danger.  Consider a few facts found on the Distraction.gov website:

• In 2008, almost 20 percent of all crashes in the year involved some type of distraction. (Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - NHTSA)
• Nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted driver, and more than half a million were injured. (Source: NHTSA)
• Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Using a cell phone use while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (Source: University of Utah)

Numerous studies indicate that distracted driving remains a major problem and serious concern on American roads.  In an effort to make roads safer, Car and Driver Magazine has teamed up with Chrysler to release a nifty smartphone app called Txt U L8r.

The Txt U L8r mobile app, when active, automatically reads incoming text messages and reads them out loud for drivers to hear.  The app then sends an automatic response saying that you are driving and will text the messenger back soon.  Effectively, drivers need not take their hands off the wheel or eyes off the road.

Txt U L8r appears to be a branded version of the DriveSafe.ly app developed by iSpeech.org.  Both apps are currently available as free downloads for Android and Blackberry devices.  The DriveSafe.ly site indicates versions of that app for Windows Mobile devices and the Apple iPhone are coming soon. 

Since I'm an iPhone user, I have not tried either app and can't say whether they perform as advertised.  If you use Txt U L8r or DriveSafe.ly, share your thoughts on the apps and rate their performance.

Download Txt U L8r for Android or Blackberry

Download DriveSafe.ly for Android or Blackberry

BMW announces pricing for new X3 SAV

2011 BMW X3 SAV
Photo Credit: BMW USA

BMW announced pricing for its all-new 2011 X3 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) models on Wednesday. The X3 xDrive28i will start at $37,625 which is $2,100 less than its 2010 predecessor. The X3 xDrive35i will have a base price $41,925.  Both prices include a Destination & Handling fee of $875.

The second-generation BMW X3 draws inspiration from the original X3 which had a seven-year life cycle.  The X3 xDrive28i has a 240-horsepower engine while the X3 xDrive35i will sport a turbocharged, 300-horsepower engine.  Both models will arrive in dealer showrooms by the end of this year.

Among the new feature is the latest BMW ConnectedDrive technologies, including an available rearview camera with Top View.  BMW also offers what officials call "the most comprehensive integration for the latest Blackberry smartphone devices allowing owners to read emails from a Navigation screen while the car is stationary and, through innovative text-to-speech technology, listen to e-mails while driving.

The BMW X3 is manufactured at the companies North American plant in Greer, South Carolina.  New models will be in dealer showrooms by the end of this year.