Albuquerque Car DealershipsHot Concept Cars Shown At New York Auto Show - New York City has long been the tastemaker of the United States, so it’s no wonder that it’s the place that automakers chose to show off their most remarkable and futuristic concept cars. The 2012 New York International Automobile Show, which runs from April 6 to April 15 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, features some of the latest and most amazing concept cars ever seen. Further dealer resources available at Albuquerque Car Dealerships. Here’s our run-down of some of the coolest concept vehicles exhibited at the show: The Cadillac Ciel Concept’s (pronounced “see-el,”) name is French for “sky.” This stylish open-air grand-touring convertible seats four. Powering this elegant and spacious car is a twin-turbocharged version of Cadillac’s 3.6-liter Direct Injection V-6 engine, paired with a lithium-ion battery powered hybrid system. The doors are French-style, with rear doors hinged at the rear. Reports say that Cadillac has indicated the Ciel Concept is not a direct precursor to a flagship model.

The Volkswagen E-Bugster is a convertible concept that seats two and combines the classic styling of the Beetle with zero-emissions driving. The E-Bugster is powered by an electric motor that generates 114 horsepower and has a range of over 100 miles. The battery’s plug interface is located under the hood’s VW logo, where it can be charged with three different chargers: 120V, 240V, and a quick charger that will charge the battery to 80 percent in 30 minutes. The Kia GT Concept is a four-door sports sedan concept that seats four. The Kia GT Concept is powered by a 3.3-liter V6 engine that develops 395 horsepower mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The front and rear-hinged back doors of the GT open slightly upward to facilitate getting in and out. The cabin is spacious and comfortable. The GT Concept’s has a long wheelbase that measures 112.6 inches, with an overall length of 184.6 inches.

Connecticut Chevy Dealers

The Acura NSX Concept features dynamic styling, lightweight build materials, and a powerful mid-mounted direct injection VTEC V-6 engine paired with a dual clutch transmission with its own built-in electric motor to create supercar acceleration and outstanding efficiency. The NSX concept also utilizes several new technologies for Acura, including Acura’s innovative new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) hybrid system. Connecticut Chevy Dealers is an invaluable resource for automotive information. The profile of the Lincoln MKZ Concept features a long, sleek, sweeping roofline that allows the design to break out of the mold of a traditional sedan’s three-box shape, while still remaining identifiable as a Lincoln. A retractable panoramic glass roof provides an amazing view and fills the cabin with natural light, creating an airy, open interior. The many innovative interior features include push-button transmission gear selection, an open, tiered center console, and liquid crystal instrumentation.

The Chevrolet Code 130R is a four-seat coupe that is aimed at younger buyers. It features an upright profile with heritage performance-inspired styling and rear-wheel drive. The Code 130R takes automotive electrification to the next level and balances turbocharged performance with fuel economy. It’s powered by a 1.4L Ecotec turbocharged DOHC I-4 that’s tuned to work in tandem with eAssist technology that increases fuel economy by shutting off the engine at stops, recapturing braking energy, and smoothing torque during acceleration. The front-wheel-drive Chevrolet Tru 140S is an “affordable exotic” three-door sporty coupe that seats four. The model shown at the New York Auto Show is an all-new matte white color and was designed to look confident, exotic, expensive and fast. The Tru 140S is powered by a 1.4L Ecotec turbocharged DOHC I-4 engine with start-stop technology. Land Rover’s DC100 and DC100 Sport Concepts are trims of what will be the next-generation Land Rover Defender. Land Rover plans to create an all-new Defender that will be marketed globally and stay faithful to its original DNA: tough, versatile, durable, and capable. Both DC100 models feature the next generation of Land Rover’s Terrain Response system which will optimize the car for any conditions without the driver having to make any selections. In addition, Land Rover’s new Terrain-i system creates an intelligent map of the topography in front of the car and displays it as a 3D visualization.

Jeep Wrangler WAThe Lexus LF-LC Concept is a sleek hybrid 2+2 sports coupe that was designed by Toyota’s Calty design studio in California. Driver visibility is improved by a glass roof that enhances the car’s sleek lines. The front grille is reminiscent of the Lexus GS, while the swept-back headlights and the trunk design recall the LFA supercar. Inside, there are scooped side panels and a high, curved console that integrates a remote touch-screen that lets the driver operate the controls without having to change position or adjust line-of-sight. Jeep Wrangler WA provides excellent service for new car shoppers. The Toyota NS4 Concept is an advanced mid-sized plug-in hybrid concept car that Toyota hopes to sell on the global market by 2015. The Toyota NS4 Concept uses an advanced next-generation Hybrid Synergy Drive plug-in system that takes advantage of smaller and lighter components that helps to increase fuel economy and provides improved acceleration. The all-electric range has been increased, while the charge time has been reduced. The NS4′s Human-Machine Interface (HMI) uses a multi-touch screen that has a Smartphone’s look and feel. The system is able to “learn” the driver’s preferences and habits in order to anticipate the driver’s responses in specific situations and environments.

Photos (top to bottom) Cadillac Ciel Concept courtesy of Cadillac, Toyota NS4 Concept courtesy of Toyota, Acura NSX Concept courtesy of Acura.

Tags: concept cars, Albuquerque Car Dealerships, New York International Auto Show, Javitz Center, Connecticut Chevy Dealers, Acura NSX Concept, Lexus LF-LC concept, Volkswagen E-Bugster, Jeep Wrangler WA, Lexus LF-LC Concept

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Huntington Beach KiaMost Hybrid Owners Choosing Not to Rebuy Hybrids - Many consumers are looking to fuel-efficient cars in order to find relief from today’s high gasoline prices. And automakers have been paying attention – there are now more fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles available than ever before. But when people who currently own a hybrid vehicle buy another car, they’re not buying another hybrid. Further dealer resources available at Huntington Beach Kia. While the selection of hybrid models in the U.S. has more than doubled since 2007, a recent analysis by auto information company R.L. Polk & Co. found that only 35 percent of hybrid vehicle owners chose to purchase a hybrid again when they returned to the market in 2011. When you factor out repurchases among super-loyal Toyota Prius owners, hybrid loyalty drops to less than 25 percent

While hybrid owners may not be buying another hybrid, they do appear to remain loyal to their brand when they return to the new car market. For example, according to Polk,in 2011, 60 percent of Toyota hybrid owners purchased another Toyota when they returned to the market, while 41 percent of them purchased another hybrid from any brand. “Having a hybrid in the product lineup can certainly give a brand a competitive edge when it comes to attracting new customers,” said Brad Smith, director of Polk’s Loyalty Management Practice. “The repurchase rates of hybrid vehicles are an indication that consumers are continuing to seek alternative solutions to high fuel prices.”

Ford Dealers Amarillo

When it comes to Honda hybrid owners, over 52 percent of them stayed with the Honda brand, while just under 20 percent of the same group of Honda owners bought another hybrid vehicle from any brand. Ford Dealers Amarillo is an invaluable resource for automotive information. Online cross-shopping data from Edmunds.com indicates that consumers are doing their homework to compare hybrids with gasoline-powered vehicles in the same class. For example, the Honda Civic is the second most cross-shopped car by car buyers who are considering buying Toyota Prius and Honda Insight models.

“The lineup of alternate drive vehicles and their premium price points just aren’t appealing enough to consumers to give the segment the momentum it once anticipated, especially given the growing strength of fuel economy among compact and midsize competitors,” according to Lacey Plache, Edmunds.com chief economist. “For EVs and PHEVs in particular, certain obstacles – including consumer unease with unfamiliar technology and the lack of an adequate recharging infrastructure — will need to be overcome before sales increase.”

Car Dealerships In Clovis NMPolk’s research shows that hybrid vehicles make up only 2.4 percent of the total new vehicle market in the U.S., down from a high of 2.9 percent in 2008. Toyota continues to lead in hybrid sales. According to Polk, volatility in gasoline prices between 2008 and 2011, which ranged from just under $2.00 per gallon to nearly $4.00 per gallon, didn’t have much impact on hybrid segment loyalty. Car Dealerships In Clovis NM provides excellent service for new car shoppers. Polk’s study also found that consumers in traditionally green-minded areas of the U.S. where hybrid sales are strongest, such as Southern California, Seattle, and Portland Oregon, aren’t any more loyal to hybrid vehicles than people in other areas of the country.

Photos (top to bottom) Toyota Motor Corporation, Petar Miloševi?, Honda Motor Company.

Tags: hybrid vehicles, Huntington Beach Kia, green cars, Toyota Prius, Ford Dealers Amarillo, Honda Insight, hybrid cars, R.L. Polk & Co., Car Dealerships In Clovis NM, auto sales

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Mercedes-Benz First U.S. Teen Driving School to Open in Los Angeles

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