2014 Audi A8 L TDI Starts At $83,395 In Early Spring

The first ever 2014 Audi A8 L TDI® quattro® all-wheel drive with the new 240 horsepower 3.0 liter TDI clean diesel engine starts at $83,395 (including $895 destination charge) with an EPA estimated fuel efficiency of 24 city/ 36 highway/ 28 combined mpg. The 2014 Audi A8 L TDI with 0-60 MPH time of 6.4 seconds will go on sale in early this Spring. The available Premium Package now consists of Audi side assist and pre sense rear, 22-way multi-contour comfort seats, front seat ventilation with massage and full LED headlights. The A8 L TDI, available in the long-wheelbase version only, joins the other A8 models: A8 3.0T, A8 4.0T, S8 4.0T and A8 W12.

Diesel Math
In comparison, the 2013 A8 L 3.0 TFSI® twin-turbo V8 gas engine model sells for $79,395, $4,000 less than the new TDI but it only gets 18/28 mpg vs. the 2014 A8 L TDI at 24/36 mpg. So let's say you drive 12,000 highway miles per year. With the gas engine at 28mpg using premium grade at $4.06 per gallon its costs $1,740 per year. With the TDI at 36mpg using diesel at $4.26 per gallon it costs $1,420 per year, a fuel cost saving of $320 per year. The TDI costs $4,000 more so it will take 12.5 years ($4,000/$320) to breakeven. Other TDI considerations like less maintenance cost and cleaner emissions have not been factored in.

Kia's 2013 Super Bowl Commercial - Space Babies

Where do babies come from? Kia's Super Bowl Commercial, "Space Babies" deals with a Dad's answer as the family rides in a 2014 Sorento. He explains they parachute in from a planet called Babylandia.  

Hyundai's 2013 Super Bowl Commercials - All Of Them

PRE-GAME
“Don’t Tell” is Hyundai's 30-second Super Bowl pre-game show spot featuring the all-new 7-passenger Santa Fe.

“Excited” is Hyundai's 30-second Super Bowl pre-game show spot featuring the 429 horsepower, 8-speed Genesis R-Spec racing around a track voiced by sportscaster, Gus Johnson.

“Epic PlayDate” is Hyundai’s 60-second pre-kick off commercial featuring the all-new seven-passenger Santa Fe with a soundtrack, Sun Blows Up Today, written for Hyundai by The Flaming Lips rock band.

FIRST QUARTER
"Team" Hyundai's other spot featuring the all-new 7-passenger Santa Fe and airing in the first quarter was released earlier.

SECOND QUARTER
“Stuck” is Hyundai's 30-second second quarter Super Bowl spot featuring the Sonata Turbo. The clear message is that when you're stuck behind a vehicle you need to pass, the turbo gives you the power.

CANADA SUPER BOWL COMMERCIAL: "Gaspocalypse" features the Sonata Hybrid and offers an "alternate ending".

Mazda To Produce Fiat Two-Seater Sports Car In 2015

Mazda and Fiat first announced a joint venture last May, then a few weeks ago the signing of the final agreement which will see Mazda produce an open-top two-seater sports car for Fiat's Alfa Romeo brand based on the architecture of the next generation Mazda MX-5 to be built at Mazda's Hiroshima, Japan, plant starting from 2015. But what just surfaced is this photo in news release from an Illinois Mazda dealer.

Though a joint effort, Mazda and Fiat will develop two distinctly styled, brand-specific roadsters featuring rear-wheel drive powered by specific proprietary engines unique to each brand. According to the agreement announcement, Mazda aims to enhance development and production efficiency and revitalize enthusiasm for open-top two-seater sports cars around the world while allowing Fiat to deliver a modern interpretation of the classic Alfa Romeo roadster utilizing the latest technical solutions, helping Alfa Romeo to achieve its stated goals by 2016.

Hyundai Santa Fe Super Bowl Ad - Team

Hyundai's 30-second in-game Super Bowl commercial running in the first quarter is called "Team" featuring the all-new seven-passenger Santa Fe where a young boy and his mom gather a team of kids from various locations to fill the seven seats..

Hyundai is launching a mobile social experience that serves as a digital companion to "Team" called "Find Your 7" allowing you to assemble your Super Bowl dream team online, assigning some of your best Facebook friends to each seat in a virtual Santa Fe. Each seat corresponds to a unique character archetype, mimicking groups of friends in the real world. By participating, you will be entered into a drawing to win seven tickets to the 2014 Super Bowl. Starting today, visit FindYour7.com and login with Facebook profile to the "Find Your 7" program.

If you're confused, the traditional 5-passenger Santa Fe is now called the Santa Fe Sport.

Toyota Rav4 Super Bowl Ad

 
The all-new RAV4, Toyota's new "Wish Granted" commercial starring Kaley Cuoco has more car in it than the teaser spot. "Wish Granted," created by Saatchi & Saatchi LA, will run during the first quarter of Sunday's game, followed by the Toyota Super Bowl Today Post-Game Show which will also include the airing of two additional new commercials highlighting the Tundra Endeavour tow and the recently-launched company direction, "Let's Go Places."  

Volkswagen Super Bowl Ad Features Beetle Turbo

 
The Volkswagen Beetle Turbo is the star of the Super Bowl commercial just released by Volkswagen. With Jimmy Cliff's Jamaican reggae warm-up spot, this ad continues that "irie mon" feeling of don't worry, be happy by being tagged the "Get Happy" spot. It has stirred some chat about white men speaking with a Jamaican accent but that's what marketing is all about. It's a positive anchor, tying Montego Bay and Negril Beach to a fun car. The commercial airs in the second quarter of the Big Game.

Lincoln Has High Hopes For Super Bowl TV Spot

 
The Lincoln Motor Company, as it's now called, will, for the first time in the brand’s history, advertise in the Super Bowl. Lincoln asked comedian Jimmy Fallon to lead the first-ever Super Bowl commercial written entirely by social media, with thousands of consumers through Twitter giving their best 140 character thoughts for a script. Fallon chose the best five contributions to create the ad that will run during the third quarter of the broadcast. All-time NFL rushing leader and three-time Super Bowl champion Emmitt Smith has signed on as a brand ambassador to help Lincoln continue to put MKZ in the spotlight at the game in New Orleans.

South American alpacas (above) were brought to Southern California for the Lincoln ad shoot so I guess a lot will be riding on them, Jimmy Fallon and Emmitt Smith, not to mention Ford executives, for the launch of The Lincoln Motor Company brand and the  MKZ sedan. To view the entire 90 second video describing the making of the commercial, go to http://steerthescript.com/

Volkswagen's pre-Super Bowl Sunny Side Video

Volkswagen's pre-game video release "Sunny Side" features reggae legend Jimmy Cliff singing The Partridge Family theme song "C'mon, Get Happy". No cars just freak-outs, meltdowns, and temper tantrums leading into happy faces from all walks of life with the tag - It's time to get happy. Watch the game day commercial.

Toyota's Super Bowl Spot - Kaley Cuoco or Rav4?

 
Toyota is hoping that 27 year old actress Kaley Cuoco gives them a big bang during the Super Bowl. Cuoco who stars in Toyota's Super Bowl game day spot is known for her roles as Penny on The Big Bang Theory, Bridget Hennessy on 8 Simple Rules and as Billie Jenkins on Charmed. The end of the ad has her in the all-new 2013 Rav4 that was introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show two months ago. Toyota is calling the ad the Toyota Game Day Teaser "I Wish" Starring Kaley Cuoco. She's OK but I'm hoping for a little more car.

2014 Kia Sorento Takes The TV Ad Spotlight

 

Kia returns as a Super Bowl advertiser for the fourth straight time to show off the new 2014 Sorento that rides on an all-new platform and suspension system, and offers a new V6 engine and more passenger room as well as a new top-of-the-line trim level called the SX Limited. The 2014 Sorento will be the first Kia vehicle to offer the next generation voice-activated telematics system, UVO eServices. Kia's TV ad, "Space Babies" is scheduled to air in the fourth quarter of next Sundat's Super Bowl. Starting this Friday the ad will be seen on more than 33,000 screens nationwide as part of ScreenVision and National CineMedia’s FirstLook.

In the first spot of the Sorento’s “It has an answer for everything™” campaign, titled “Tight Space,” the father utilizes the power-folding mirrors to park in a tight space and then uses the power liftgate to exit the vehicle which impresses his wife and kids. Click on the link above to see this ad.

Subaru Goes With Dog Tested. Dog Approved Campaign

 
Subaru will air its "Dog Tested. Dog Approved" campaign to resonate with Subaru owners and like-minded consumers. Subaru says its drivers are two times more likely than the average car owner to have a pet. Super Bowl Sunday Feb. 3 and Subaru has unveiled a sneak peak of the new commercials:
    Lint Roller, Tailgate,  Let's Talk Financing,  On the Lot 

Subaru will also launch a new Facebook application packed with treats for dogs and dog lovers:
    Dog Matchmaker:  With the help of Grant Weber, every dog can find their perfect Subaru.  Enter the dogs breed, weight, and lifestyle and the Matchmaker will identify a fitting model for the dog.
    Ask a Dog - Live: Type in a question and Our Subaru Canine Experts will work hard to dig up the results.
    Four-Paw Drivers Club: Let your dog become a four-legged Subaru enthusiast with their own dog driver's license. Upload a photo of your dog to populate a personalized dog driver's license and share with your friends.
    Put Your Dog in a Subaru: Every dog has his or her day. Now you can help them get there faster by putting them behind the wheel of a Subaru. Upload a picture of your furry friend, put them in the driver's seat, and see where the road takes them.

Hyundai Santa Fe Featured In Four Super Bowl TV Ads

This is Hyundai's sixth consecutive year as a Super Bowl advertiser and this year has five game-day ads, including four all-new spots. Two of the new ads are slotted for the pre-game show and two are scheduled to air in-game with the all-new Santa Fe featured in three of the five Super Bowl advertisements. Sonata Turbo and 429-horsepower, 8-speed Genesis R-Spec are featured in the other two spots. The seven passenger, three row Santa Fe with a 290 horsepower 3.3-liter GDI V6 engine debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show two months ago and will hit showrooms soon..

VOTE NOW for Audi's Super Bowl TV Commercial

 Audi is letting you select the Super Bowl spot, featuring all-new 2013 Audi S6. Audi has posted three versions of its Super Bowl spot, each with a different ending, to its YouTube page allowing viewers to choose how they want the spot to end. The final spot will debut on YouTube in advance of the game and on CBS during Super Bowl XLVII in the first break after kickoff. Voting on YouTube will be open for 24 hours, and has started - closing at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time tonight - Friday, January 25.

I voted - make sure you vote at http://www.youtube.com/audiusa

BMW and Toyota To Collaborate On Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles

BMW and Toyota signed agreements aimed at long-term collaboration of a fuel cell system, joint development of architecture and components for a sports vehicle, and joint research and development of lightweight technologies. The fuel-cell vehicle system includes a fuel cell stack and system, hydrogen tank, motor and battery, aiming for completion in 2020. BMW and Toyota will collaborate on codes and standards for the hydrogen infrastructure, necessary for the distribution to get the public to buy into it. A mid-size sports vehicle feasibility study to define a joint platform concept, including the development of lightweight technologies, is to be completed by the end of this year. The joint effort will research the development of a lithium-air battery with energy density greatly exceeding that of current lithium-ion batteries.

Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction Flashback: 1990

The first live telecast of the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, was on Financial News Network in January 1990, 23 years ago. It was said to be the highest rated program in the history of FNN which, at the time was in 35 million cabled homes, and, in 1991, was acquired by CNBC. It was certainly a memorable event for me, seeing cars sell for so much, but nowhere near the prices that are fetched today.

There were many notable bidders and collectors that I interviewed during that 3-hour telecast including former Seattle Seahawks owner and Blackhawk real estate developer Ken Behring, L.A. Times Publisher Otis Chandler, former New Yankee Reggie Jackson and cartoon voice Noel Blanc (below), son of Mel Blanc, famous for voicing Bugs Bunny and other Looney Tunes characters.

Later that year, on Labor Day weekend 1990 in Auburn, Indiana, I had the opportunity to broadcast the Auburn Cord Duesenberg collector car auction on FNN. Speedvision which started in 1996 and later became Speed, now telecasts the Barrett-Jackson auctions, including this past week when the 1966 Batmobile sold for $4.6 million. Looking back, not only brings back memories, but shows how time and inflation raises prices, enthusiasm and following.

Audi RS 7 Sportback, 24 mpg With 560 Horsepower

The Audi RS 7 Sportback five-door coupe uses a 560 horsepower 4.0 TFSI twin-turbo V8 engine with a cylinder on demand system that at low to medium loads and engine speeds, deactivates cylinders 2, 3, 5 and 8 by closing their valves via electromechanical actuators. The 4.0 TFSI then runs as a four-cylinder engine until the driver puts more metal to the pedal and accelerates. The engine is mated to an eight-speed tiptronic transmission which also contributes to the RS 7 achieving 24 mpg from a powerful quattro permanent all-wheel drive powertrain. The Audi RS 7 Sportback is top of the line, dishing out even more power than the all-new Audi S7 which at 420 horsepower has a starting price of $79,695.

MINI John Cooper Works Paceman Starts At $36,200 In March

The MINI John Cooper Works Paceman is an ALL4 all-wheel drive MINI with a 208 horsepower 1.6 liter turbocharged engine making it the 7th John Cooper Works model in the line-up which will sell for $36,200 (including $700 destination charge) when it hits showrooms in March. The MINI John Cooper Works Paceman with a twin-scroll turbocharger with direct injection and variable valve control based on the BMW Group’s VALVETRONIC technology, posts average fuel consumption in preliminary EPA estimates of 31 mpg highway / 25 mpg city / 27 mpg combined for the manual transmission (30 mpg highway / 23 mpg city / 26 mpg combined for automatic transmission). The menu of MINIs is growing and the U.S. model of this Paceman has a top speed of 127 mph.

2014 Cadillac ELR Extended-Range Electric Coupe

The 2014 Cadillac ELR touring coupe with a luxury 2+2 passenger layout has a lithium-ion battery system and an electric drive unit packaging a pair of electric motors and a multi-mode transaxle with continuously variable capability. The front-wheel-drive, two-door coupe extended-range electric vehicle has a large electric drive motor that propels the vehicle while a smaller, second electric motor serves as a generator to keep the battery pack at its minimum charge level and assists the drive motor with propulsion, based on performance, speed and efficiency requirements.

 
When power from the advanced lithium-ion storage battery pack is depleted, the range-extending gas-powered electric generator kicks in to deliver continued power for the electric drive system, extending the ELR’s range, while also ensuring the vehicle’s dynamic performance. The vehicle can be completely recharged in about 4.5 hours using a 240V outlet and 12 hours with 120V, depending on the outside temperature. There are four driver-selectable modes: Sport, Tour, Mountain, and Hold which allows owners to use its gas-powered electric generator, reserving the remaining battery charge for later use for more efficient city travel. Combined electric/extended driving range is more than 300 miles, according to Cadillac. The ELR has an 8 year / 100,000 mile warranty.

Ford Atlas Concept Pickup Truck, The F Future

The Ford Atlas Concept pickup truck features a next-generation EcoBoost® powertrain which uses gasoline direct injection and turbocharging to deliver fuel-economy gains of up to 20 percent and reduction of CO2 emissions of up to 15 percent, compared with larger-displacement engines. More than 500,000 EcoBoost engines have been sold globally, including 250,000 in the Ford F-150. Speaking of the F-150, pickup trucks are vitally important to Ford as the F-Series was America’s best-selling pickup for the 36th straight year and 31 consecutive years as America’s best-selling vehicle. Overall, Ford sold 645,316 F-Series in 2012, a 10 percent increase versus 2011.

The Atlas Concept has multiple tie-down points integrated into the cargo box walls and load floor, along with 110-volt electrical outlets in the cargo box to charge power tools. An integrated roof carrying system and hidden extendable ramps give the truck functionality for a variety of jobs. Ford Atlas Concept has such features as power running boards to help passengers enter the truck, dual-purpose tailgate step and cargo cradle for extra-long cargo items, dynamic hitch assist helps precisely line up the truck’s hitch with the trailer coupling by showing visual cues in the truck’s center display screen, and 360-degree point-of-view camera for a bird’s-eye view of the truck to help position the vehicle in tight places.