HERE'S TO THE ONES WHO DREAM.

Editor's Note: Peter has been struggling with an illness for going on two weeks now, so we're going to re-run one of our favorite columns from last year as he definitely needs the break. -WG

 

By Peter M. DeLorenzo

Detroit. Though I'm tired of using the term "swirling maelstrom" to describe this business, I have yet to find a more apt descriptor. It's a land where you're only as good as your last hit, a state of mind where you're forced to make what's happening right now work, while struggling to make what's happening next come into focus. It's a cruel, nonsensical world that punishes those who would deign to march to a different drummer, but it's only those who dare to break through that gauntlet who rise to the top. 

It's easy to get mired in the minutiae of this business - the endless meetings, the constant "reviews," the endless hand-wringing and second (and third) guessing. Overthinking might be an operational component in corporate America, but in the automobile business it's a full-blown cottage industry, which makes effectual decisions extremely hard to come by. Why? Because 90 percent of the time is spent worrying about what an upper executive in question might want or might be thinking, which forces underlings to become interpreters and acquire the skill set of nuanced anticipation. 

This business is unfortunately littered with so-called genius executives who parachute into the decision process, make a few pronouncements, then helicopter out. And the worst part of this phenomenon is that they come back six weeks later and question why a particular direction was undertaken, totally forgetting that's what he or she directed. Thus, time, effort and money are wasted at a prodigious rate because executives are too self absorbed to get their heads out of their asses and realize how destructive their behavior is. And no, it isn't exclusive to the automobile business, but it's decidedly more pathetic when product programs or advertising campaigns are on the line.

And yes, product. Product is the straw that stirs the drink, the raison d'etre of the automobile business. It's not selling air. It's not about what a company's vision of down the road will be. That's all well and good and fine and wonderful, but it's not the business now and it isn't the business for the next 36 months. It's about product cadence, which means having the right products, at the right time, for the right market segments. Whatever a company's vision is for the future doesn't matter if it isn't generating serious profits to fund that future. 

Remarkably enough, some companies forget all of this. They get sidetracked and off kilter, they chase their tails, they start listening to the dulcet tones of their own thought balloons, and they become buried under the heavy mantel of their own hubris. In short, they lose their way and start making mistakes. Except this isn't a business that tolerates mistakes. It's not a strike three business, either. Two strikes and you're out. And in this league, playing catch-up is not only a brutally tough and long road, sometimes it just doesn't work out. And in the new reality of this globally-driven automobile business, some car companies are just not going to make it.

The companies stocked with True Believers, the ones unafraid to dream, the ones focused on delivering the best in all aspects of this business - Design, Engineering, Product Development, Marketing - will succeed. It not only requires savvy management, it requires a complete cessation of the normal bureaucratic cesspool that paralyzes these companies, which means loosening the reins of the True Believers so that they can do what they're capable of doing.

When it comes to The Future of this business, I will bet on the companies who value their True Believers, because those companies who refuse to do so will be ringing their death knells.

And that's the High-Octane Truth for this week.

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WANTED: SS Car Company, Ltd. Cars & Parts

1939 SS Jaguar 3½ Litre Saloon

Here at British Sports Cars, we are huge fans of the early Jaguars, especially any of them made by SS Car Company Ltd. We have been buying, selling, and restoring all classic Jaguars for many years but have taken a keen interest in SS cars for our personal collection. When it comes to the SS brand, we buy everything from parts to complete cars in any condition.

Here are the specific models we are currently looking to purchase:

• Austin Swallow
• SS1
• SS1 Tourer
• SS1 Saloon
• SS1 Coupe
• SS1 Airline Saloon
• SS2
• SS2 Tourer
• SS2 Saloon
• SS2 Coupe
• SS90
• SS100 Jaguar
• SS Jaguar 1 1/2 Saloon
• SS Jaguar 2 1/2 Saloon
• SS Jaguar 3 1/2 Saloon
• SS Jaguar 2 1/2 Drophead Coupe
• SS Jaguar 3 1/2 Drophead Coupe

So, if you have a line on SS cars or parts, drop us a line. We’d love to hear from you!

1938 SS100 Jaguar

Click here to check out our blog post featuring a 1938 SS100 Jaguar, complete with photos and video.

1939 SS100 Jaguar by Van den Plas

And make sure to check out our post featuring an extraordinary 1939 SS100 Jaguar by Van den Plas.

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The future of online auctions is here – How to get signed up to the Winfooz Marketplace

Nowadays everything you can think of can be bought at a click of a button. However, for decades, physical auctions have remained the same. You would think that at a time when you can buy everything from clothes to computers online, buying used cars would be more comfortable as well. That’s where we come in.

Used car dealers are used to buying and selling vehicles daily, up until now this has meant that dealers have had to send cars to physical auctions . This traditional method takes too long and costs too much. Our new online marketplace is set to change all of that. As of this Thursday, May 2nd we will begin hosting 2, 60minute auctions per week through our platform. We use innovative technology, such as our 360-degree imaging, coupled with our expert team of vehicle inspectors to guarantee you more insight at your fingertips than ever before. With hundreds of cars on our virtual lot, you are sure to get the best deal whether you are buying or selling a vehicle. Here we will show you just how simple it is to get set up on the Winfooz marketplace.

Step 1 – Where to find us

We are available on desktop, Android and iOS. Regardless of whether you are in the office, or out on the road, you will be able to get to the auction.

• Desktop
• Android
• iOS

Step 2 – Register

After finding us, the next thing you will have to do is register. It’s a straightforward process, enter in your details and hit register. The information we will require is as follows:

• First Name
• Last Name
• Country
• Mobile No.
• Email
• Password

Once you have done this, you will receive an email asking you to click the link to verify your account. Click the link, and you are into the Winfooz marketplace.

Step 3 – Setting up your dealership/dealerships

After you log in, you will not have any dealerships. To buy and sell vehicles on the marketplace, at least one will have to be created. Go to the dealerships and from here you will either be able to add a dealership or join an existing one. With Winfooz you can manage as many dealerships as you like, using the one login.

Setting up your dealership is easy. We have divided the form into two short sections with the first looking for the following details:

• Sales Registration Number
• Expiry Date
• Uploaded image of both Sales Registration

This helps us verify your identity as a dealer. Once this is complete you can click next and move to the next page where we ask for:

• Dealership registration number
• Dealership name
• Country and Province
• Your role in the dealership

From here you will be directed to a final page where this information is gathered to create your dealership. At this point, you are almost ready to go. On this last page, you will be asked to fill in the final pieces of information that are legally required.

• Legal company name
• Dealership registration number
• Dealership class
• Dealership licence expiry
• Tax number
• Rin number (optional)
• Carfax key (optional if only buying)
• Verification documents (Company Registration, Master Business License, Dealership License, Tax Registration)

Now your dealership has been added. At this moment in time, your information has been sent to a Winfooz admin to verify your details. You will see that the status next to your dealership is “pending”. Verification can take up to 48hours, so if you go into the marketplace you will not be able to buy cars, but you will be able to see what’s on offer. It’s an excellent time to get your research done and to work your way through the platform before the auction.

Step 4 – Joining a dealership

Once your account has been verified, you will be able to see the highlighted buttons alongside each vehicle in the marketplace; this says that you are ready to go and purchase. At any time you can go into your dealerships page to add other establishments.

You can also join a dealership that is already on our network. To do this, you need to click “Add Dealership” and enter the Dealership registration number. Our system will then find the dealership, and all you need to do is select your role in the company and wait for the Winfooz admin to verify the account.

Now you know how simple it is to get set up on Winfooz. If you are still having trouble, call our expert sales team at +1-905-909-0906. They would be more than happy to help.

The post The future of online auctions is here – How to get signed up to the Winfooz Marketplace appeared first on The Winfooz Blog.

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4 Things Other than Price that Matter When Selling Your Car

You’ve known it’s time to sell your car for a while, but you’ve been putting it off because you just didn’t feel like dealing with it. Now you’re ready to make it happen and you’re hoping to get some good money for it, but there are 4 things other than price you need to consider when selling your car. This article explains what those things are and why they matter.

Why You Should Consider Things Other than Price When Selling Your Car

You’re sitting there on the couch watching your favorite TV program, but you’re not really enjoying it. The problem is the voice somewhere in the back of your mind saying it’s time to sell your car and get a new ride. It started out very quietly at first, maybe a month or two ago. You were starting up your car and it took a couple tries before it got going. You didn’t think much of it at the time, but a voice in your head said it might be time to consider getting a new car.

A week or two later you were picking up a friend you hadn’t seen in years. When your friend got in the car and said, “Wow, you still have this car? You’ve been driving this one forever,” you realized it really had been a long time. That same voice in your head said, “See, everyone else seems to know it’s time to sell your car.” The voice has been growing louder and more insistent, and now even you agree. It’s time to sell and you hope you’ll get a good offer. But to be successful in selling your car, you need to think about things other than price.

If all you think about is price when selling your car, you could end up wasting a lot more time and energy than is worth it. You might experience all kinds of hassles, headaches and stress. You could also end up getting scammed or even putting yourself in harm’s way if you’re not careful. The worst combination of all is when you experience some or all of that and still end up getting far less money for your car than you were hoping for. A better approach is to take a little time to consider all the things other than price that matter before you decide how you’re going to go about selling your car. Below are 4 things to keep in mind that don’t have anything to do with price.

Time

Among the things other than price, time is the one people underestimate the most. If you focus only on getting the highest price possible when selling your car, you’ll probably try to sell it privately on your own. After all, everyone says private sales fetch higher prices on average. But everyone also knows that time is money in today’s world, and if you want to be successful in a private sale, you’ve got your work cut out for you because it takes a surprising amount of time to do it right. Here are 10 different pieces of the private sale puzzle that each take up your precious time:

Repairs: You don’t want to put a lot of money into repairs, but if you don’t take care of a few of the obvious things, potential buyers will be turned off. And yes, you have to be totally honest and up-front about the condition of the car so you don’t wind up getting slapped with a lawsuit from an unhappy buyer after the sale.

Cleaning: Your car has to be as spotless as possible to attract buyers. Dirty cars don’t sell. You can do this yourself, but to get the interior and exterior looking like new, you’ll have to shell out the cash for a professional detailing job.

Photos: When you look at any dealership site, you’ll see the series of photos of each vehicle you should take. More is better in this case, typically at least 20. If you look at the Auto City inventory page, most of our listings will have 26 photos!

Copywriting: Then you have to write up a detailed description of your vehicle in a way that will appeal to potential private buyers. This is harder than you think if you want to do it right. You have to include all the right details and also be personable and relatable in describing why you’re selling and so forth.

Advertising: There are more ways than ever to advertise your car, both online and offline. Some of them you will have to pay for while others are free. You have to choose which places make the most sense for you and then get your listing up and running in each one.

Screening: Then you’ve got to be prepared for a flood of contacts. Many of them won’t be serious buyers, but some of them will, and some of them are just looking to see if they can scam you. You need to know how to screen these inquiries, which takes time to both learn how and then do it. If you want to learn how do this part right, see our article How to Qualify Prospective Buyers When Selling Your Car.

Showings: If you do a good job of screening, you’ll still have potentially quite a few people who want to see the car in person and/or take it for a test drive. Setting up these appointments, dealing with no-shows and rescheduling, and then the actual appointments and test-drives all eat up significant amounts of time.

Waiting: The most frustrating part of the process can be waiting for high-quality inquiries to come in, or for interested buyers to make their final decision. While everyone has heard of stories of people who listed their car for sale on Craigslist and sold it within a matter of hours, those are exceptions to the rule.

Closing: If you’re lucky enough to get to the final stages of selling your car, you have to figure out the safest way to accept a payment to make sure you don’t get scammed, which everyone thinks would never happen to them, until it does.

Paperwork: Finally, you’ve also got to make sure you do all the right paperwork and verify that the buyer does the final steps as well. One slip-up on the paperwork can mean your sale isn’t as final as it feels, which can lead to legal issues down the road for which you might be liable. Plan on at least two trips to the DMV. Learn more about the right paperwork in California in our article Selling Your Car? Here is All the Paperwork You Will Need.

While the time involved in a private sale is a serious commitment if you want to do it right, there are more things other than price to consider that are even less pleasant to deal with.

Stress

If you’re already a busy person – and let’s be honest, who isn’t – the time it takes to do everything needed just to get ready to sell your car can cause you stress. Then when you start taking all the calls and emails from people who seem more interested in wasting your time than buying your car, your stress levels will rise even more. Low-ball offers cause more stress. Shady characters will stress you out even more. So you have to ask yourself – is all this stress worth the hassles and headaches? And keep in mind that there’s no guarantee all your hard work will pay off the way you want it to. The industry average for how long it takes to sell a used car is 60 days. Shocking but true!

Scammers

The number of ways scammers have come up with to relive you of your car without paying for it is thoroughly depressing. Whether it’s giving you a bad check, paying with a forged cashier’s check, or giving you counterfeit cash, you’ve got to a know a thing or two about what to look for in order to protect yourself. To avoid being scammed, read our article about Safe Ways to Accept Payment When Selling Your Car.

Safety

Getting scammed is one thing, but finding yourself in danger of being attacked, hurt or robbed is another thing entirely. While these kinds of situations are relatively rare, they do happen. Craigslist turns out to be not only one of the most popular ways to sell a car, but also one of the most dangerous. Learn more by reading our article What to Expect When You Sell Your Car on Craigslist. This is where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as the saying goes. There are things you can do to protect yourself from danger if you’re willing to take some sensible precautions. Find out how in our article The Failsafe Test Drive Appointment, which includes a section about staying safe.

We’re not trying to scare you out of selling your car privately on your own. Thousands and thousands of people do it every year without anything bad happening. We just want you to know what’s really involved in doing it right and make sure you protect yourself in the process. Of course, you can avoid all the hassles and headaches of those things other than price listed above if you sell or trade your vehicle in to a dealership. It’s fast and easy, but will also pay you the least amount of money. For the best combination of speed, ease and price, sell your car to a car-buying service like Driveo if you’re in the San Diego area. It’s every bit as fast and easy as a dealership, but gives you more money for your car than a dealership. Learn more about how it works and then fill out our online form to get a quick quote in minutes that is good for 30 days. We make it easy to cruise in and cash out at Driveo!

The post 4 Things Other than Price that Matter When Selling Your Car appeared first on A Better Way to Sell Your Car in San Diego | Driveo.

Top 5 Traffic Laws You Should Know

There are many traffic laws that people aren’t too fond of and some really crazy driving laws as well. Many people hate certain speed limits, some hate the other minor ones. Some actually enjoy the laws because it keeps people and their driving under control.

However, there are a few laws that may require a little more attention to detail. Let’s, take a look.

Important Traffic Laws To Remember

Construction Signs – These are very important to understand and know. For many reasons also. These signs are normally orange or brown and typically alert arriving drivers that up ahead are road conditions that are unsafe to travel through. Now, once you have been alerted, driving through is no longer an accident according to some laws. You can easily avoid these by switching into the appropriate lane in time. Once you get pulled over, in most states, the ticket is more than a regular no-signal ticket.

Speed Limits – Yes, we are sure you know what this is and how important it is. However, you may not know how tricky they actually can be. Not on purpose, but sometimes the human eye misses things that are blended in or that don’t stand out. Officers are consistently also hiding out in different areas to catch the next lawbreaker, so always be aware of your surroundings and obey the law. When broken, this law puts many lives in danger if on the street with other drivers. If it’s just you, your life is at risk. Tickets for this law is pricey as it carries much weight.

Traffic Lights – Again, another obvious law that really needs no explanation. But what does need an explanation is how many times accidents occur due to the lack of sincerity taken into obeying the lights. Some drivers continue to go even after turning red, some go before it’s actually green. This is when dangerous driving eliminates safe driving. In other words, no matter how safe you are as a driver, there’s always a careless one. However, by you being the safe driver, you at least eliminate half the chance of that happening.

Car Signals – These are just as important as everything mentioned above. By law you are required to alert all drivers whether you are turning soon, merging, etc. Also, alerting drivers when your vehicle isn’t in the best condition is key. Hence the hazard lights. Use them. When these aren’t used, expect annoyed drivers, possible wrecks, tickets, and other penalties. It doesn’t take much, just do it.

Unwritten Traffic Laws – Most drivers understand the basic state by state laws and how to guide their trip through them. However, There are many laws when driving that aren’t legitimate laws that can get you penalized or fined. For instance, using your brights at unnecessary times. This is annoying to many drivers and is also a hazard to some. It can be too bright and can hinder a person’s vision to complete the task at hand. Don’t go too much below the speed limit. There are only three reasons people do this usually.

However, To be funny and annoy drivers behind them, because you aren’t able to drive well when going fast, or because you are too worried about getting a ticket. No matter what the case is, always try to go at least the speed limit to accommodate all drivers. If you are going too slow, officers may pull you over just to check the suspicious activity. You may not get a ticket, but it takes time out of your day and is embarrassing.

• Texting While Driving – This is an unwritten law which happens to be an actual law in most states. The reason we classify it as an unwritten law is due to the number of loopholes that come with it. Texting and driving laws are pretty straight to the point in terms of what the law states. ‘’Don’t text and drive’’. We’ve all heard the ‘’Click it or ticket’’ saying, etc. However, more and more people do it on a consistent basis. The only time to use your cell phone should be for hands-free calls or emergency texts. It makes sense why it’s illegal. You’re driving and your attention is elsewhere. Unsure of what the ltexting and driving laws are in your state?. Simply check out the texting and driving laws by the state.
• Not Driving After 2:00 AM – Another unwritten law that may not get you in any immediate trouble, but since you will be likely the only car on your road, the chances of you getting pulled over rise dramatically. Not because you’re the only driver, but because everything you do is now magnified. If you must drive at this hour, always obey the speed laws and traffic laws. One drives through that red light and it might be ticket time.
• Illegal Road Rage – The next unwritten rule is to always remain calm when behind the wheel. Regular general road rage can turn a traffic jam into a police and ems jam if not careful. Never let your emotions get the best of you in these times. One thing that helps me is to accept the current because I cannot change it at the present time. Don’t dwell on the past and wait patiently for the future.

Important Driving Laws to Obey

When driving at any point, it is important to always be aware of your surroundings and obey the written and unwritten traffic laws. It helps to make the roads a safer place. There are many rules when driving, however, remembering those main 5 at all times will help significantly over time. Not just from the legal aspect but also from your safety and health point of view. To put it into perspective, the least amount of reckless drivers there are on the road, the safer the roads actually are.

In addition, we appreciate you taking time out of your day to read this article. If you have any used vehicle you would like to sell for cash, fill out our offer form or call us now!

The post Top 5 Traffic Laws You Should Know appeared first on CashForCars.com.

Pros and Cons of Buying a Used Car

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by PSECU, a Pennsylvania-based credit union.

When looking for a car, you want to find one that will fit all your needs. Whether that means having ample seating or fitting within your budget, it’s best to know all your options before rushing into a big purchase. To better understand what will work best for you, look at the pros and cons of buying a used car.

The Cons of Buying a Used Car
Let’s start with the possible negatives you could face if you buy a used car.

1. You Could Get a Lemon
   Buying a used car always comes with the risk of getting a lemon, a vehicle with severe manufacturing defects. It’s estimated one percent of new cars — around 150,000 vehicles each year — are lemons. To prevent buying one of these money-sinks, always seek out reputable sellers. If possible, bring along a trusted mechanic who can check for any issues before you buy.
2. You Won’t Have the Latest Tech
   New cars have all the coolest gadgets, like hands-free parallel parking and voice-activated stereo controls. When you buy used, you might have to compromise with semi-outdated technology. You can still find used models with convenient features such as Bluetooth, GPS and backup sensors.
3. You’ll Have Higher Interest Rates
   If you need to take out a loan on your car purchase, it’s important to know that loans on used cars have higher interest rates compared to those on new cars. This is because used cars are more difficult to appraise and, in the event you would default on your loan, the lender would get less money for the resale of your vehicle.

The Pros of Buying a Used Car
While buying a used car comes with its challenges, there are also plenty of benefits.

1. You Don’t Need a Loan
   The interest rate on a car loan can range from 3 to 10 percent, depending on your credit history and the vehicle you choose. But you can easily save hundreds of dollars by forgoing the loan payments and instead purchase a car outright. Many used cars come with reasonable price tags making it realistic to save up your money before you spend.
2. You Can Save Money
   A new car loses 10 percent of its value just one month after you’ve driven it off the lot. Why pay the steep price for a new car when you can get a deal on a used car that’s just a couple years old? At a used car dealership, you can also negotiate on price and financing. According to experts, the best time to buy a car is during end-of-year sales when dealerships are clearing lots to bring in new models.
3. You’ll Pay Less for Insurance
   If you want to save money on your car purchase, don’t forget to factor in insurance. New cars, especially sporty models, often come with steep insurance payments. With a used car, however, your car insurance will be much cheaper. This is because, in the event of an accident, an older model car will be cheaper to fix or replace.

Planning to Buy a Car?
You may be having difficulty deciding whether to buy new or used on your next car purchase. While buying new means getting to choose all your desired features, the compromise of buying used can be a great way to save money.

Remember, used models come with a few more risks you should be aware of before buying. Consider all of your
options before deciding what’s best for you.

Porsche Panamera – 10 Years On

2019 marks the tenth anniversary of the Porsche Panamera, one of the weirdest and most interesting cars ever to come out of Germany. On this occasion we want to have a deeper look at this groundbreaking car and see how things have moved on for Panamera over these years. Consider this out homage to the mighty Pana.

We called the Panamera weird and interesting above, words that some people might take an issue with. If you look at the Panamera as a luxury saloon with a goodly amount of power and better handling than most other rivals, then you would struggle to see what’s so special about it. But if take into account the character of the car and what it has to offer, you will see that it is a pretty unique bit of kit. Here’s a sports saloon that doesn’t really comply with the rules of sports saloon making by being way too big and heavy. And although it is build and pitched as a performance sedan, it is a lot more luxurious than the top deluxe options in this class. But above all, the Panamera has class – just loads and loads of class. That, really, is its trump cars – what sets it apart from pretty much everything else out there.

Again, some people might take issue with calling the Porsche Panamera a classy car. They may say the Pana is, and has always been, a hideously ugly car. And they have a point. For some reason Porsche designers seem incapable of coming up with a good looking Panamera. But looks have nothing to do with the prestige of this car. As a proof of this point you can look up the sales figure for the first generation of the Cayenne, a car compared with which the first-gen Panamera is a beauty queen. That rotten egg flew out of the showrooms for precisely the same reason. People didn’t care about the odd shape of the headlights or the featureless body panels. They recognized the Cayenne was a Porsche that was big and in-your-face and let everyone in sight know your life is going rather well. The same goes for the Panamera. Yes, it is a bit of an oddball in terms of aesthetics. But the thing is like a penthouse with wheels.

Truth be told, though, it is not the looks or the class or the sales that makes the Porsche Panamera interesting in out eyes. What we find particularly amazing is this car’s immense range of capabilities. As we said earlier, this enormous four-door saloon with all its luxury features and comfy seats and suspension is a true sports car at heart. It’s amazing how Porsche can pull these things off, but somehow they can arrive at compromises that other car makers seem incapable of. The straight line performance aside, while noting that even the diesel variants are pretty damn quick, the Panamera is also a star in terms of handling. We honestly can’t think of a car with similar size and level of luxury that drives as well. Granted, it’s not a 911. But for what is essentially a road yacht, you can’t really fault it.

And all of that is why the past ten years have been a consecutive success story for the Porsche Panamera. Porsche engineers achieved something truly extraordinary with this model, so much so that we have all forgiven them for dropping the ball in the design department. It is a car desired by one and all. Even those who say they cannot bear to look at it for more than five second want to have one. So cheers, Panamera. Here’s to the next 10, 20, 100 years!

The post Porsche Panamera – 10 Years On appeared first on Motorward.

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Why AMG Will Be The Leader of Electrified Performance Segment

The initial excitement about fully electric cars has died down a bit now, and experts and laymen alike agree that electrifying everything that moves out there is nothing more than a pipe dream (at least for the time being). But that doesn’t mean we cannot benefit from the magic of electric power and the good thing it brings to the table. There is the age-old hybrid solution, these days known as electrifying combustion engines, and it is a superb compromise. Specifically, performance cars benefit greatly from this technology, which has given them a new lease of life.

So there is an ongoing battle between car makers to dominate the burgeoning “Electrified Performance” market, and it appears to us that AMG is going to emerge as the leader of the pack. Any analytical mind will arrive to the same conclusion if they examine what the Affalterbach locals have on offer, and compare it to efforts of the rivals. And the best example of this would be the Mercedes-AMG CLS 53, an electrified performance saloon (or four-door coupe) with amazing performance and really good fuel efficiency, at least relative to the aforementioned performance. The system employed in this car, one of the first applications of this tech in a production model, is truly good at its job and things can only get better from here.

The electrified motor in the CLS 53, or EQ Boost in Mercedes parlance, comprises a 3.0 liter 6-cylinder in-line engine and a 48 V on-board electrical system featuring a starter-alternator. It’s a complicated thing, and they are right in not calling it a hybrid outright. But what it result in is what’s quite possibly the best compromise we can get today vis-a-vis speed and consumption. The system delivers an immensely respectable (for a 6-cylinder) 430 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque.That may not sound as impressive as the figures provided by the old V8 in the previous CLS 63, but anyone who has sampled that car, and the first-gen CLS 55 AMG, has to admit not only the electrified 53 doesn’t lack behind in the speed department, it sounds and feels just as exciting as those two gas guzzlers with their huge engines.

AMG believes in their 53 series, and rightly so, to the extent that they have ditched the 63 version from many model lineups, reserving it only for the high-end models. This brings us to why we reckon these Germans are going to sit at the top of the charts as regards electrified performance cars. In about two years AMG will release a new electrified version of the AMG GT four-door super saloon with a similar system to what we have in the 53 models, only fatter and more exciting. That car will kick off a new initiative in which all AMG models that come afterwards will be electrified in one way or another.Compare this plan, whichever way you want, to what the rivals have come up with. Namely, consider Porsche’s e-Hybrid models.

The upcoming electrified AMG GT Four-door will go head to head with the Porsche Panamera Turbo S e-Hybrid, which as you know packs a weapons-grade V8 with an electric motor for a total of 680 horsepower. That’s impressive, but the word on the street is, AMG’s top electrified dog will have more than 800 horsepower. If you have so much as laid eyes on the Panamera in the flesh you know that is a huge and heavy barge of a car. Whatever AMG puts in the GT, that car will be lighter than the Porsche. As for the looks, well, the Panamera loses any beauty contest by default, as it has done since day one. So in terms of power, performance, styling and luxury, the AMG has the main rival beat already.

That means Porsche will have to spend a lot of time and money upgrading the still fresh e-Hybrid Panamera, which won’t be easy given what they are putting into the Taycan all-electric sedan. AMG does not have an all-electric plan, probably because they know it is not yet time to have one. It may well come to pass that Porsche find they’ve been barking on the wrong tree, constantly trying to iron out the niggles of the Taycan EV, while AMG runs away with the electrified market.

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Useful Tips to Find the Satisfactory Brake Service for the Car

A brake is an important part of a vehicle that helps it to stop at the desired moment. Usually, the hydraulic braking system of the latest technology is used in the modern automobiles. Any minor fault in this system can cause an accident and grave injuries to the car riders. Mishaps are not pre told, they can occur whenever and wherever a small error occurs.

So, it is the duty of every car owner and driver to be careful about the brake of the vehicle, to avoid such mishaps. They need to contact the nearest brake service provider if any slightest error in the brake system is spotted. However, it is necessary to take the car only to a reliable brake repairing shop, as poor quality service can do more damage to the vehicle.

Essential aspects to be checked for choosing a Brake Service Provider

• Relevant certifications – When a car owner visits the shop of a brake service provider, he should check whether the technicians working there are well trained in repairing car brakes. They need to be certified from a recognized institute, which proves their competence in repairing brakes of all types of automobiles.


• Quality of customer service – The customer service quality of a car repairing agency can be checked simply by calling up at that garage or repairing shop. The professional technicians should answer the call politely and will ask the client about the exact problem spotted in the brake system of his car. The relevant knowledge of the technician attending the phone call may also be subtly checked.


• References from others – A car owner should ask all his friends and well-wishers for references of reliable brake service provider shops in his locality. They are sure to provide the references of those car repairing shops, where they had earlier received satisfactory services in repairing their car brakes. Online and check the websites of local auto repairing agencies can be done to see the reviews of their previous clients.


• Quotes of charges – The car repairing shops should be asked for the free quotes of their service charges. As fixed prices are quoted, it should be checked whether the costs of replaced parts are also included. It is better to ask for the worn-out parts that are replaced to make sure that perfect brake service is delivered.


• Condition of the shop – The car repairing shop should be in a clean and organized state, where good quality tools should be stacked neatly. Though a garage cannot be expected as clean as a residential house, the total environment and the technicians’ uniforms should be maintained in proper hygienic condition.


• Comfort level of client – The car owner should feel comfortable while interacting with the technicians and owner of a car repairing shop. He should have a good impression about the overall brake service offered in that shop, which he may feel to be recommendable to other car owners as well.

As car brake is a delicate system, the driver should be alert immediately if the brake takes too long to respond on pressing to stop. If any unusual sound is heard while pressing the brake, the car should be taken to a repairing shop as soon as possible. The brake service should be availed if a burning or pungent smell can be detected while pressing the brake. The driver may feel the steering wheel or pedal to be vibrating unnaturally on using the brake system, which may be a sure sign of fault. However, expert technicians are able to fix all errors in car brakes, making the vehicle fully safe again.

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NYIAS in PHOTOS: Race Cars

While there was a curious lack of rally cars on the show floor of the 2019 New York International Auto Show, there were still a few race cars to drool over.

NYIAS in Photos: Classic Italian Cars Exhibit

Every year at the New York International Auto Show, the Saratoga Automobile Museum sets up a display of some of the finest classic cars. This year, the theme was “Italian” – and while there was no Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale do drool over, the collection did not disappoint.