Divas Drive In Heels: Social Media Believes in the Motor City and so should you!
April 24th, 2012 by Christen
Twitter opened a new office in downtown Detroit on earlier this month to serve marketers — including automakers — and ad agencies in the region.
Twitter’s emphasis on Detroit coincides with stellar sales for the auto industry. Americans bought 1.4 million cars and trucks in March, a 13% jump over the same month in 2011 and the most sold since August 2007, according to Edmunds.com. That rise comes despite gas prices that flirt with $4 per gallon and reflects pent-up demand among consumers, analysts say. Earlier this month, during the New York International Auto – The Women’s Automotive Association International discussed the Power of Social Media with some of the auto industry’s social media powerhouse leaders. Sponsored by Mercedes Benz, the Power of Social Media panel included the following participants:
Melissa Newell – Social Media Specialists / Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Jennifer Suzuki – President / e-Dealer Solutions
Lemore Hecht – Social Media Manager / Hertz Corporation
Kate Alini – Social Media Manager / BMW of North America
Dale Durrett – Director of Marketing Solutions / LinkedIn
Kim Kyaw – Social Media Manager / Land Rover North America
Hedy Popson – Executive Vice President / Productions Plus – The Talent Shop
Discussions of social media platforms including Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and more were the hot topics of panelists, as well as insights into how your favorite automotive brands use these platforms to interact with you – the consumer. More and more auto brands are investing in the Power of Social Media – just ask Facebook! Facebook’s Head Of Automotive, Global Vertical Marketing - Doug Frisbie shares his insight on how social media is a necessary component in the automotive industry as a whole. “Today’s automotive industry is more competitive; however it’s still a people business. Connecting with loyal customers and their friends can create a valuable advantage for your brand. Integrating Facebook into your existing marketing channels and leveraging Facebook Pages, ads and sponsored stories will help you capture this advantage and let people drive your marketing.”
Does automotive brand interaction on social media influence your perception of brands and their products? Does tweeting with your favorite brands, influence a purchase?
Divas Drive In Heels: Alicia Keys Drives NYC Crazy In Her Lotus Evora…
April 6th, 2012 by Christen
R&B Songstress Alicia Keys was scene out and about in the NYIAS spirit driving the Lotus Evora through the streets of New York City. As one of the fastest cars on the road under six figures, (it’s actually $75,000) Alicia didn’t have to foot the bill for it at all. Her husband, hit producer & hip hop artist Swizz Beatz is also a spokesperson for the Lotus brand and got the car for free…
Want to learn more about the Lotus Evora check out http://www.lotusevora.com
Divas Drive In Heels: Behind The Scenes Of The 2012 New York Intl Auto Show (Gallery)
April 6th, 2012 by ChristenEarlier this week, while checking out the New York International Auto Show during press days we got the chance to view the newest releases, concept cars and more! (Did You Know: Auto brands reveal the newest models at different auto shows throughout the year?)
Check out a few of the photos and get your behinds the scenes peek of the New York International Auto Show!
Like what you see? The New York International Auto Show is going on now April 6th – 15th at The Jacob Javits Center in NYC! For more information and to purchase tickets visit http://www.autoshowny.com
Divas Drive In Heels: 2014 Chevy Impala Invades NYIAS (First Look)
April 4th, 2012 by Tech StaffAt the 2012 New York International Auto Show Chevrolet has unveiled the new 2014 Chevrolet Impala. Far from the Impalas of yesteryear, the 2014 Chevy Impala runs in the lines of luxury sedans unlike any of it’s predecessors before.
In relation to the idea of luxury, the new sedan competes with the likes of the Ford Taurus, Chrysler 300 not BMW 3 series or Mercedes Benz C-class vehicles. However, the suggestive lines and luxe interior definitely relates an upgraded and classier sedan than any of it’s earlier designs. (Don’t expect to see State Troopers or undercover cops in these Impalas either…LOL)
Outside: Much of the Impala’s front fascia has been cribbed from the Camaro — the hood is low and long, the front lights are slim and stylishly svelt.
Interior: The five-seat Impala adopts a version of Chevrolet’s now-familiar dual-cockpit dashboard, which is used in the Malibu and Cruze. The backseat head restraints fold for improved rear visibility, but trunk capacity, while very large at 18.8 cubic feet, falls behind the Taurus’ 20.1-cubic-foot figure.
Engines: 2014 Impala comes with three engine choices, including the carryover 3.6-liter V6 and a 182-horsepower Ecotec 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with the eAssist hybrid system. According to the automaker, Impalas with eAssist are expected to achieve 35 mpg on the highway. All are paired with six-speed automatic transmissions.
“When I first saw this vehicle in the design studio – probably about 16 months ago – I could not wait for today to come,” said Chris Perry, vice president of global Chevrolet marketing, during a media event last month in Detroit. This new vehicle reestablishes Impala as the flagship passenger car in the Chevrolet lineup.”
Check out the first looks of the new Chevy Impala below…
Divas Drive In Heels: Chevy’s On Point With The Pulse Of First Time Car Buyers
April 4th, 2012 by ChristenChevy is speaking to younger first-car buyers like never before. “Next Gen Customers are not just car owners, they are also tomorrow’s designers, engineers and innovators,” said Mark Reuss, president, General Motors North America. “This generation expects brands to partner with them, and we need to engage with them at every level of our business.”” Unlike other brands, Chevy is specifically about the business of “partnering” with consumers versus “targeting” them.
Several of Chevy’s high impact vehicles popular with younger buyers include the Sonic RS, Spark and the highly popular concept vehicles the Tru 140S and the Code 130R.
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- Chevrolet MyLink for easy in vehicle connectivity with personal playlists, phone books and other media on a 7″ high res touch screen.
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- The 2013 Sonic RS amplifies the vehicle’s youthful style and driving experience with unique exterior and interior features.
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- CODE 130R, one of Chevrolet’s concept vehicles from the 2012 North American International Auto Show
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- Connectivity is a central feature of the Tru 140S concept car, with WiFi and smart-phone integration through Chevrolet’s MyLink and heads up display.
One of the driving forces behind younger consumers is of course “24/7 Connectivity” and Productivity – which is one of the reasons why Chevrolet MyLink was created. MyLink which is featured in the Spark and Sonic, helps them stay connected at a fraction of the price of previous systems.
The Chevrolet Youth Concepts, designed with and for Millennials, serve as an example of how Chevy is engaging the group in the co-creation process. To date, more than 13,000 people have provided feedback on the concepts at global auto shows, through Facebook, and at the annual South by Southwest music, film and interactive conference and festival.
With strong ties to the younger first-time car buyer, Chevy has definitely set themselves apart from their competitors. It’s still a buyers market and consumers are more informed and determined to get what they want. What are you looking for when purchasing a new car? 24/7 Connectivity? Price? Style?
Divas Drive In Heels: The New BMW Hybrid Concept i8 Spyder
April 2nd, 2012 by ChristenIf strutting in your favorite pair of stiletto heels makes you feel like a runway model or even a super sexy spy, then BMW’s new hybrid concept will bring those feelings to life with the unveiling of the their new i8 Spyder (…just in time for the New York Auto Show!)
The i8 Spyder is based on the i8 concept car which debuted in 2011, ditching the top and the back two seats, and perhaps some of the more radical ideas from BMW’s first sporty hybrid concept. The i8 Spyder sports a 96 kW/131 hp on the front, coupled with a 164 kW/223 hp gasoline engine on the back, which accelerate the car from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5 seconds, with a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).
The design of the car is still as otherworldly as the first two i8 concepts, with plenty of black and electric blue details, upward-swivelling doors and a semi-transparent “V” on the front end, which enables passers-by to take a look at the electric engine. If you’re looking to take a “real life peek” at the new i8 Spyder before anyone else, stay tuned to our Instagram (DivasandDorks) as we’ll be unveiling all the new releases this week – before the New York Auto Show opens to the general public.
Divas Drive In Heels: (2012 NAIAS) FORD Fuses Fashion, Technology AND The Power Of Choice
January 12th, 2012 by Christen
You’ve asked for it! A sleeker, sexier sedan to fit your stylish needs…and Ford listened! The all-new Ford Fusion was revealed earlier this week during the North American International Auto Show and its been receiving rave reviews! Featuring a sleek silhouette and fresh face, the all-new Fusion is the latest in a series of vehicles from Ford – following the 2011 Fiesta subcompact and 2012 Focus small cars – developed to satisfy customers everywhere who want leading fuel efficiency, helpful technologies and game-changing looks. But here’s where the Fuse stands out – the new Ford Fusion is the first sedan to offer gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, each with expected top fuel economy, underscoring Ford’s commitment to give customers the power of choice.
The Fusion Hybrid – 2010 North American Car of the Year – continues to innovate and evolve with all-new lithium-ion batteries that save weight and generate more power than previous nickel-metal hydride batteries, while raising maximum speed under electric-only power from 47 mph to 62 mph. Fusion Hybrid also features an all-new 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gasoline engine, significantly downsized from the previous 2.5-liter unit while maintaining performance standards. This innovative powertrain is anticipated to deliver best-in-class fuel economy of 47 mpg in city driving and 44 mpg on the highway.
Fusion Hybrid fuel economy stands to outperform the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid by 4 mpg city and 5 mpg highway and the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid by 12 mpg and 4 mpg, respectively. Topping the fuel-efficiency ladder is the Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid, aiming to be the most fuel-efficient midsize car in the world. Arriving this fall, Fusion Energi is anticipated to deliver more than 100 MPGe, a mile per gallon equivalency metric for electrified vehicles. This is 8 MPGe more than the Chevrolet Volt and 13 MPGe more than the projected efficiency of the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid model.
The Fusion Merges Stylish Technology on four wheels…
The all-new Fusion offers an unprecedented portfolio of driver assistance and convenience technologies based on sensors, cameras and radar that enable the car to see and respond. Fusion can help drivers maintain proper lane position, adjust vehicle speed to changing traffic conditions, identify suitable parking spaces and help park, even aiding drivers backing out of parking space where visibility is obstructed. Specific technologies include:
- Lane Keeping System: No need to fear about “drifting” into the next lane over. With Fusion’s Lane Keeping System technology the system will alert a driver if drowsiness or erratic lane-keeping is detected. The second element warns a driver with a steering wheel vibration if the Fusion drifts too close to lane markings and even apply pressure on the steering to help bring the car back into proper lane position
- Adaptive cruise control: Using forward-looking radar, this system “looks” down the road when activated, slowing the Fusion when slower traffic is detected ahead. Adaptive cruise control enables collision warning with brake support to help slow the car if the potential of a crash is detected
- Active park assist: Using sensors, this technology can identify a suitable parallel parking space, calculate the trajectory and steer the car to properly position it within the spot. All a driver need do is operate accelerator and brake pedals. It does the parking for you!
- Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with cross-traffic alert: Sensors keep an eye out for your blind spots for you. BLIS technology enables cross-traffic alert, warning the driver of oncoming traffic when backing out of a parking space with obstructed views, such as between two large trucks or vans.
The Fusion stays in sync with the driver…
The all-new Fusion offers the latest iteration of Ford’s award-winning, industry-exclusive SYNC®communications and entertainment system, which enables voice-activated communication through a driver’s mobile phone and interaction with the car’s audio system. Fusion also offers the latest version of MyFord Touch®, allowing a driver to interact with vehicle systems through voice control, a touch screen tap or a conventional button. Both SYNC and MyFord Touch – powered by SYNC – help reduce the potential for driver distraction through voice-controlled functionality, allowing drivers to keep hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
Fusion will be produced and will appear in Ford showrooms in North America and South America later this year.
Divas Drive in Heels – First Rides: All New 2012 Chevy Sonic LTZ
December 14th, 2011 by Christen
As a native Detroiter, I know about a few things and one of those things is CARS! This weekend, I had the opportunity to check out the All New 2012 Chevy Sonic LTZ and I must say, I was impressed. This was a week filled with “FIRSTS” for my family, friends and I – luckily the Chevy Sonic was along for the ride & was a great addition along this holiday journey. The Sonic is Chevrolet’s newest subcompact, developed to be fun to drive…and boy was it ever….
First Connect
Once I got over the spicy bright color and 17” wheels of the Sonic, I was ready to get behind the driver’s seat and take it out for a ride. The Sonic LTZ is indeed a small car with big personality. While inside, I immediately checked out the bells and whistles. From the OnStar capabilities, in dash USB connect port, Bluetooth & steering wheel mounted controls. With a bag full of gadgets, for once I didn’t have to rely on my iGo charger to keep my phone and other gadgets charged. All I needed was my USB chord and I was good to go…all day long.
Baby’s First Ride
With a week filled with firsts, we welcomed a new addition to the family – a brand new baby boy! Guess who got to take mommy, daddy and baby home during baby’s first car ride? – ME – The Sonic is a safer small car with class-leading 10 standard air bags (IIHS Top Safety Pick). Every Sonic comes with a healthy complement of safety features that include 10 air bags, stability control, four-wheel anti-lock brakes (disc in the front, drum in the rear) and a tire pressure monitoring system. Which is very important when transporting precious cargo (like my nephew). It’s also a segment leader in interior roominess and versatility. It’s True! The Chevy Sonic may appear small on the outside, but it’s quite roomy inside. Can you believe that it was roomy enough to fit my sister (5’9) her husband (6’10) the baby (1’5) and me (5’10) with ease? It was a great ride from NYC to New Jersey (so much so, the baby stayed asleep the entire ride home.)
First Tri-State Shopping Spree
If you followed my tweets over the weekend, you saw that I snatched up a couple of friends on Saturday and headed over to a few New Jersey malls (Don’t judge me. I grew up going to the mall and I like to relieve those moments from time to time…lol.) I had such a blast weaving in and out of traffic on I-95 on Saturday, that I got up extra early on Sunday for a full NYC driving experience. Starting uptown, I made several stops throughout the city – including Columbus Circle, Fifth Ave and SoHo (I must admit, I’ve never enjoyed parallel parking as much as I have enjoyed parallel parking the svelte Sonic in the most petit of parking spots in NYC.) Somehow, I made my way to New Jersey for some tax-free department store shopping – can you believe I got lost? No worries though, I had OnStar!
With the Sonic’s 29 MPG – I saved a little change on topping off the tank (I still can’t believe that I drove the entire weekend on one tank of gas!) At under $18,000 – the Sonic blends the affordability and practicability of a small car with the athletic and agile performance of the more expensive models. The festive tangerine color definitely stood out in traffic (and the shopping parking lot) – but I think the sleek Sonic in black would be best suited for everyday use (just my opinion.) For more on the Chevy Sonic LTZ check them out online at www.chevrolet.com/sonic
Drive With Confidence, No Matter What Car You Drive…
December 5th, 2011 by Christen
Have you ever found yourself lost, searching for directions or even worse, fumbling with your smartphone while driving? Did you know that you could bring the intelligent navigation of OnStar to the vehicle you’re driving right now? OnStar FMV (For My Vehicle) is a unique product that brings the safety, security and convenience of OnStar to millions of vehicles already on the road. This is the first time OnStar’s popular “blue button” service – with more than six million current customers – is available as a retail purchase rather than factory installed in a new vehicle. I’m sure you’ve seen and heard OnStar commercials and thought that they were only available in GM manufactured vehicles…Think again. OnStar FMV is a standalone rearview mirror, replacing a vehicle’s existing rearview mirror, offering the core features of factory installed OnStar, including:
- Automatic Crash Response
- Turn By Turn Navigation
- Hands Free Calling
- Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance
- Emergency Service
- Roadside Assistance ….and more!
Using OnStar FMV
My test vehicle was a Toyota Camry with the OnStar FMV rearview mirror already installed. I could barely even notice that the mirror was an aftermarket addition – as the installation was neat and clean. I have to admit it was as good as having the original OnStar system that comes installed in GM vehicles. With the push of the blue OnStar button, I was able to get directions to nearest gas station, shopping center and more. The OnStar service rep on the other end was very courteous and extremely helpful in a bind….(like when you’re cruising on “E” and have no idea where to find the closest gas station…)
Even in an emergency situation, OnStar shines through! Many consumers have shared their stories online on how OnStar has helped in the survival of tornados and even in the midst of cellular disaster (When Marsha’s cellphone wouldn’t work – OnStar’s did.) Luckily, I did not have to test out the crash response, emergency response or stolen vehicle location assistance – so you’ll just have to take my word that it works (that is, if you need it.)
Pricing and Installation
OnStar FMV is currently available for purchase nationally at Best Buy and Fry’s Electronics stores, as well as a number of other retailers that are listed on OnStar.com. For a limited time only, the OnStar FMV unit is currently on sale for $199, (just expect to pay out of pocket installation costs of about $50-$100.) Monthly pricing for OnStar service runs from $18.95 (for the Safe & Sound emergency and security plan) to $28.90 (for the Directions & Connections plan, which includes all the Safe & Sound features, plus unlimited turn-by-turn navigation services).
Want to find out if OnStar FMV is available for your vehicle? Check out the vehicle selector tool available on Facebook.com/onstar.
Want to learn more about OnStar FMV? Visit OnStar Connections Online at OnstarConnections.com
Take Words With Friends To New Heights With The Ford Escape
November 15th, 2011 by Christen
Tonight you have a chance to be a part of the World’s Largest Words with Friends game and compete against a special celebrity host! To introduce and reveal the All-New Ford Escape – Ford has partnered with America’s new favorite game, Words With Friends for a unique and exciting event. Ford has selected a special celebrity player to take on North America in this record breaking event, brought to you by The All-New Ford Escape and Zynga. Join in the game – suggest words in real time through @fordescape and live chat.
Don’t have Words With Friends? Download it here.
Need to brush up on your vocabulary? Check out this cheater, I mean cool word site.
Who is the special celebrity host, you ask? None other than funny-lady Jenny McCarthy. For more information or to be apart of the game in person check out Ford Escape on Facebook.
The All New 2013 Ford Escape will make it’s debut at tonight’s record-breaking Words With Friends event in LA.
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