Hyundai Motor America
has assembled its third Hyundai Investigative Team (HIT) for 2005, consisting
of eight mature adults (ages 60-78) who will tour the Chicago Auto Show on
Thursday February 10th. These eight men and women were recommended
by AARP and will tour the show floor attending target product reveals, and
provide feedback about their opinions of certain vehicles. This feedback will
be shared with Hyundai’s marketing and product development departments.
"Hyundai wants to know what today’s seniors want in their vehicles
by 2011," says Curt McAllister, Midwestern public relations representative
for Hyundai Motor America and HIT program director.
WheelsTV, the first U.S.
television network devoted to the world’s passion for cars, trucks and
motorcycles just inked a deal with GTV Enterprises, LLC. WheelsTV’s signature
program will air on the former USSR, including the Baltic States, on the new
television network, Autoplus TV. Launching March 1, Autoplus TV will explore
all aspects of the automobile in the daily lives of people around the world.
WheelsTV is the first television network, VOD and Broadband service in the
U.S. devoted exclusively to consumers’ interests in cars, trucks and
motorcycles. WheesTV Network, WheelsTV on Demand and Wheels TV.net have been
developed by the producers of programming for Discovery, PBS, Speedvision,
Fox and Outdoor Life Networks.
"Ride of ‘05"
at Spike TV’s AutoRox, the first ever nationally televised auto awards
show, honored and celebrated America’s passion for the automobile. The
90-minute show which aired January 25 on Spike TV named the following cars
as their "Rides of ‘05" picks:
The Ride of ’05
(Car of the Year): 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
The Take-it-Off Drop
Top of 2005: 2005 Ferrari F3560 Spider
The Most Jammin’
Truck of 2005: 2005 Dodge Ram SRT/10
The Mad-Real SUV of
2005: 2005 Porsche Cayenne Turbo
The "Livin’
Large" Luxury Car of 2005: 2005 Rolls-Royce Phantom
The Hottest Exotic
of 2005: 2005 Lamborghini Gallardo
The Maximum "G"
Sports Car of 2005: 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
The Tastiest Tuner
of 2005; 2005 Acura RSX Type-S
The Speed Demon: 1997
McLaren F1 (Fastest Factory Top Speed of 240.14 mph)
The Mid-Life Crisis
Car of 2005: 1999 Lamborghini Diablo Roadster
The Real Muscle: 1967
Shelby Mustang Cobra
The Major Player:
2003 Ferrari Enzo
The Chick Magnet:
2004 Saleen S7
The Steal-of-a-Deal:
2005 Dodge Neon SRT/4
As automakers pay more
attention to such ergonomic matters affecting the nearly 50 million drivers
over age 55, Ford has heeded the call by seeing what it’s like to operate
a vehicle with such affirmities as arthritis. Wearing stiff, bulky jumpsuits,
thick gloves and yellow-tinted goggles, young engineers at FMC simulate the
problems drivers 30 years older may encounter due to stiff joints, impaired
vision and less nimble fingers. In Japan, Nissan is also attending to the
"gray market" by offering optional swivel seats and a motorized
crane that can hoist a wheelchair into the trunk. Toyota also introduced a
version of its cars called Welcabs, with rotating and slide-out front seats
and power steering requiring only half as much strength to use. (Source: Press
Release, January 24, 2005)
Due to the hurricanes
in the south, thousands of water-damaged vehicles may start hitting the used
car market. More than 120,000 vehicles damaged by last year’s hurricanes
Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne, and declared a "total loss."
After a car’s engine, electrical system or interior is water-soaked insurers
will pay off the car’s owner and take the vehicle to a salvage auction
to be sold for spare parts. However, many of the vehicles still drivable will
wind up back on the roads as "curbstoners" buy these cars at auction,
clean them up and resell them privately, or through dealerships. Months after
they are sold, wet tires may dry out and crack, the body and engine begin
to rust, and brakes, door locks, power windows HVAC systems fail. Not a new
phenomenon, more than half of the 75,000 cars damaged by 1999’s Hurricane
Floyd were resold from salvage, according to Christopher Basso of CarFax,
a vehicle-history tracking service. It’s not illegal to resell flood
cars, but there are ways to protect yourself: Examine engine crevices, the
glove compartment, spare-tire wheel well and under the seats for water lines
of mud or rust signs. Check dashboard gauges for accuracy and water condensation,
test electrical equipment (wipers, lights, heater, etc.) and be suspicious
of carpeting that looks too new. (Source: AARP January 2005)