Author Archive: George Peterson

The upcoming Acura ILX sedan is expected to boost Acura consideration among Generation Y buyers - those under 33 years of age. The ILX will be the smallest and least expensive Acura and is forecast - by Acura - to generate sales on the order of 2,500 per month or 30,000 ILXs per year (Acura managers say 30-35,000 per year is "about right"). By adding the ILX to the Acura lineup and a refreshed RDX crossover SUV Acura hopes to improve sales by 45% in the 2012 calendar year achieving total sales of 180,000 units.

When was the last time you can honestly say that you’ve driven a full-size car with 140 horsepower and it has been more than adequate?  Maybe the 1986 Ford Taurus with the venerable Vulcan V6?  Well, I was given the opportunity for some seat time with a 2012 Passat TDI clean diesel and it is Volkswagen’s newest sedan to hit American soil, err, actually be built on American soil.  While the styling may not be anything to get excited about at first glance; like a jelly donut, it’s what is inside that counts.

Ed Kim, AutoPacific's Director of Industry Analysis, was given a sneak peek at the Audi A3 e-tron plug-in electric.

Behind the wheel, expect the hybrid powertrain and CVT transmission to warm your heart towards saving the planet, not carving the pavement.

Whether you are interested in the latest Ford model or you want to learn everything you can about the upcoming Honda Pilot, we invite you keep an eye on the latest news and articles on our site and you will not be disappointed. In the meanwhile if you are still driving your old car and you are saving for a brand new one in the near future, you might be confronting with a few regular car breakdowns you need quick fixes to. You cannot afford to keep your car in the car shops while driving to work by bus or subways and having to waste a lot of time running errands while riding a cab. So here are a few solutions for drivers who have no time to waste and who need to rapidly return on the road.

Quick Car Fixes You Can Do By Yourself

While every car is different, it is often said [...]

Last week George asked us to share our pre-NAIAS thoughts on what the show might hold for each the VehicleVoice staffers. One of my interests centered on the reveal of the 2013 Ford Fusion, as it represents one for Ford’s single most important vehicles in maintaining momentum with US consumers. Ford’s last mid-cycle refresh of the Fusion, brought considerable attention to the vehicle and increased sales significantly. At NAIAS this week, VehicleVoice got the chance to review a completely updated model, which takes the Fusion to a new level.

An annual pilgrimage for the auto industry is to attend the press days at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit each January. Unfortunately, this year I cannot attend because my physicians caution that I should not be heaving carry-ons into and out of overhead bins and baggage carousels. So, I'm jealous.

Sometimes things start out great and end up only OK, or perhaps worse. The smell of coffee in the morning. Most Superbowls. A full bottle of Patron. We recently had the opportunity to experience the Audi e-tron and came away excited by the vehicle, but wondering why we got to see so much of it.

Using data from its 2011 Replacement Tire Retailer Dynamics and Satisfaction Study, AutoPacific calculated the overall winner and the top rated Tire Retailer in each category. The top satisfying Tire Retailer, nationally, is Goodyear Auto Service Center, a large national chain. Closely following Goodyear nationally are Firestone Complete Auto Care, Les Schwab Tire Centers and Sam’s Club.

There are a few Volkswagen models that seem to resonate highly with women.  One was the ‘New Beetle’ that was an instant hit.  Maybe it was the flower pot?  Maybe it was the cartoonish styling?  The second was the Volkswagen Cabrio.  I hate to stereotype here but I’m going to.  The Cabrio was a chick’s car.  An anemic powertrain and powder puff looks had me thinking back to the last time I rode in one in college.  Oh and that picnic basket look was just a major eyesore.  Urban Dictionary even calls the Cabrio the Bitch Basket.  It was embarrassing, noisy, and not something I wanted an encore of.  So, is the Eos an improvement over the defunct Cabrio with better styling, powertrain, and design or is the Eos still the [...]