Posts Tagged ‘Cadillac’

The Audi A1 “Next Big Thing” short film

Posted: August 25, 2010 in Audi, Cadillac, Volkswagen
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The new Audi A1 is hot.  It launches in Europe on August 27, 2010 and Audi is already overwhelmed with interest and demand.   Audi set up a website (choose a European country when prompted) to promote the A1 and got 150,000 interested customers from around the world (including the US).

2011 Audi A1

Based on the new VW Polo (which we may or may not get in the US), the A1 was originally only to be sold in Europe (you know, the Fatherland).  However, based on initial responses, Audi will expand the A1 to global markets in 2011 with the exception of the two largest markets in the world: The United States and China.  Audi says that China will get the A1 at some point AFTER 2011; however, the US market will only get the A1 “at the earliest” when the second generation goes on sale.

So we have to wait for the second generation?  That’s at least 5 years.  Thanks, VW/Audi, it never ceases to amaze me what never comes to the US market. Where is the new Scirocco? It continues to get rave reviews all over Europe.  The Scirocco name has lots of brand equity in the US even if one hasn’t been sold here for many years.   VW is terrified that the Scirocco would take sales from the GTI.   Maybe, maybe not.  The GTI and Scirocco are different cars and VW could command a premium for the more sporty Scirocco.  What VW executives don’t see is that end result of selling both models would be increased overall sales and provide cool halo car for VW of America.

The 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco. Yeah, who would want this car in the US? Apparently, no one according to VW management.

The A1 is a hot car because it has Audi premium quality at an entry level price –  €15,800 (around $20,000).  Of course, with options, it will be higher; but if you could get a fully-tricked out Audi A1 for $30,000, Audi is afraid you aren’t going to buy its much more profitable A3 or A4 lines.  I guess the A1 is good enough for the rest of the world, but not the for US where they want to continue to milk us for the most money possible.  It also may be that parent Volkswagen doesn’t want an Audi pushing into its own territory.  Then there is the old canard floated by the Germans about the dreaded “brand dilution.”  (One of the most notorious examples of this suicidal act is when, in 1981, Cadillac introduced the Cimarron, a rebadged Chevrolet Cavalier.  WORST CADILLAC EVER!).  From all reports, the A1 doesn’t dilute the Audi brand and, in fact, upholds its hallmarks of a fantastic interior coupled with excellent engineering.

The Cadillac Cimarron 1982-1988 RIP. Seven years to destroy all of Cadillac's brand euqity

Audi produced a fantastic 6-part short film to promote the new A1. It stars Justin Timberlake and Dania Ramirez (the super-hot Latina who plays Turtle’s girlfriend on the latest season of Entourage).  The production values are first rate as is the check Audi had to write to hire Timberlake for this video.  It’s entirely shot in Los Angeles, which makes it all more ironic that Audi has no plans to sell the car here.  Check out Episode 2 for a hot chase scene in Downtown LA. If you like it, go to YouTube and check out all six installments of the movie.  Then write Audi and complain that they aren’t going to bring it to the US market!

They Don’t Want Your Prius

Posted: August 3, 2010 in Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Infiniti, Los Angeles Specific Issues, Nissan, Subaru
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Thieves may not want your Prius or your Volvo; but if you have a big, blinged-out SUV, watch out – they want your ride.

The annual Highway Loss Data Institute’s report on the most and least stolen cars is out again. The HLDI is an insurance-funded group that aggregates loss data from the participating insurance companies. The latest results are for the 2007-2009 model years.

The 2009 Cadillac Escalade is a thief's favorite

As in the past, the most stolen vehicle is the Cadillac Escalade. The Escalade has an average loss of a whopping $11,934. I’m sure the insurance rates are adjusted accordingly. It’s interesting to note that General Motors’ vehicles account for six of the Top Ten.

  • Chevrolet Corvette Z06
  • Hummer H2 (the gigantic one)
  • Chevrolet Avalanche
  • Chevrolet Silverado -1500 crew cab
  • GMC Yukon

I can see the interest in the Corvette; but you have to have a taste for gigantic trucks for the others. The work trucks listed probably have valuable tools on board in addition to the parts.

2009 Corvette Z06. Love the exterior look, don't love the interior

Oddly, Nissan has two entries in the top ten too: The Infiniti G37 coupe (based on the Nissan 370Z) and the Nissan Pathfinder/Armada large SUVs. Who knew anyone was buying the Armada let alone stealing it?

The Infiniti G37 coupe is a low volume luxury coupe – something you don’t normally see on a list like this. I have no idea why car thieves want it. Maybe it is modified for drifting or street racing.

The 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe is sleek - but not a drifter

The Ford F-250 crew cab pickup Dodge Charger (with the Hemi V8) round off the Top Ten.

There are a couple common links here. First most of the cars and trucks have large engines that can be ripped out and resold. Ditto for the seats, and other parts. The second link is that many of these cars and trucks are often blinged out with lots of chrome aftermarket parts and gigantic, expensive wheel and tire upgrades. Those things are easy to strip out of a stolen car and sell the on the car parts black market.

Your friendly auto body repair place is supposed to use new parts on your car; however, many cut costs and buy the black market parts while still charging you or your insurance company for the new parts. This practice is commonly referred to as “insurance fraud.”

The thieves and chop shops are getting pretty sophisticated. Even though modern vehicles have complex, multifaceted anti-theft devices, smart keys, and engine immobilizers, the thieves and their accomplices just pull the whole vehicle up on the back of a flatbed truck. They even know how to thwart the electronic lockout devices and reprogram the code when necessary.

All of the listed GM vehicles have OnStar, the two-way communication and emergency service GM owns and has promoted in its vehicles for more than a decade. OnStar is GPS-equipped and can be used to locate a stolen car. So the first thing the law-breakers need to do is disable the OnStar system or do the snatch, strip and dump so fast that the owner doesn’t have time to call OnStar to locate the vehicle.

In the past, some of the most common family sedans were at the top of the list. Cars like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Chevy Impala. Those were stolen because there were a gazillion of them on the road that the demand for repair parts, particularly cheap black market parts, was quite high.

The shift to more profitable horsepower and bling has been developing over the past decade, and this latest list confirms that.

So how about the cars that the thieves don’t want? The Volvo S80 tops the list. The average loss on an S80 is only $619. Volvo must have very cautious, conservative drivers. The sad part is that Volvo had to defend it’s flagship by attributing the low loss rate to its excellent security system. Right.

The 2009 Volvo S80 - not very exciting for a "flagship"

Volvo sold only 4,190 S80 units for the first six months of 2010 and sales are falling as customers wait and see that happens once the Chinese car company, Geely, takes control of Volvo from Ford.  Volvo S80 owners don’t adorn their cars with large wheels and lots of bling. In short, they are anonymous.

There is also good news for the thousands of smug Prius owners in LA. Sure you bought the car to express your love of the environment and to prove your “green” bona fides. Sure it sounds like and is as dull as a refrigerator to drive. But it seems that thieves don’t like it. The complex parallel hybrid drive system and monolithic dashboard make it a nightmare to steal and chop up. And as the battery packs get older, they become worthless.

A 2009 Toyoa Prius. I'm sick of seeing them everywhere in LA

The Japanese dominate the lower echelon, picking up seven of the bottom ten. I guess no one wants the Toyota Sienna minivan, the Toyota Tacoma small pickup, the Subaru Impreza wagon, the Nissan Murano midsize SUV or the Honda Pilot midsize SUV.

I’d forgotten about the Saturn Vue small SUV. It seems that the thieves have too. The Vue accounts for two models (front drive and four-wheel drive) of the Bottom Ten.

The Bottom Ten is rounded out by the MINI Cooper. As an owner of a MINI, I’m glad to hear it. It may be that there are so few on the road (you wouldn’t know it by driving in LA) that the parts aren’t in demand on the black market. It also could be that a thief would have as much trouble getting it to unlock as I do.

A 2009 Subaru Impreza - It doesn't inspire theft, does it?

My philosophy on stolen cars is simple: Fully-insure your vehicle, don’t leave any valuables inside or visible, park in a safe location and lock your car. If it is stolen, or trashed, you’re covered. If it’s a classic that really can’t easily be replaced then store it in your garage or secure carpark. Don’t worry, be happy, right?

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