Virginia Beach Dealers

Excitement at Checkered Flag Porsche Over 918 Spyder Hybrid Announcement

Porsche. Hybrid. Sports. Car.  Those are the words buzzing around this week in the Checkered Flag Porsche showroom. 

That's right, you heard it here first.  We have gotten word that Porsche has finally given the green light to start development on the oh-so-cool 918 Spyder.  The combination of a 500 horsepower, 9,200 rpm 3.4 liter gasoline V8 along with two additional electric motors provides this beast of a machine with a total 718 horsepower engine.  With a 3.2 seconds zero-to-60 mph take off speed, the 918 Spyder is an all-wheel drive environmental dream for those who thought hybrids were just for us slow-moving tree huggers.
 
Months ago auto enthusiasts were able to drool over the 918 Spyder concept car the Geneva auto show and Auto China in Beijing.  The response for the then only five month old idea was so enormous that this week Porsche decided it was time to put their imagination to the test.
 
Still not sure the hybrid will be fast enough for you?  Well, according to reports, Porsche places the 918 Spyder out in front of the Carrera GT around the Nürburgring Nordschleife (what many consider the wildest race track in the world).   We don't want to leave the tree-huggers out though.  The Hybrid 918 Spyder brags a roughly 78 miles per gallon gasoline consumption as well as an extremely low 70 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer.
 
Excited yet??  Well, you will have to wait a few months before seeing one of these babies hit the road.  We're probably looking at a release around the spring of 2012.  You will certainly need to use that time to save up some cash if you plan on purchasing the 918 Spyder.  Rumors are circulating that the price of the vehicle could exceed $600,000.  Porsche is keeping the door shut on the actual pricing for now.
 
The great news is there are plenty of outstanding Porsche vehicles available right now at Checkered Flag Porsche in Virginia Beach.  For you eco-conscious customers, or econ-conscious considering gas prices, Checkered Flag Porsche currently offers the 2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid SUV.  Looking for something a little faster, well we have plenty to choose from right here at your premier Virginia Beach Porsche dealer including the 911, Boxster, Cayman, and Panamera.

We will certainly be providing updates when more information as more information becomes available about the newest member of the Porsche family, the Porsche 918 Spyder.

What does $1,000,000 of Clunkers look like?

Above is about $1,000,000-worth of Clunkers waiting for the salvage yard.  Click the Image to see the full Panoramic.

Cash for Clunkers has been fantastic for Checkered Flag!  As we see the completion of the program on August 24th, 2009 at 8:00 PM we are also hoping to see some more of these cars get paid for.  They sure are taking-up a lot of room.  As the funding comes in, we will be moving these old Clunkers off to their final destination.

Did you ever wonder how Clunkers get killed?

Above is a good representation of what the majority of our....I mean yours and ours.....Clunkers look like.  These are old gas guzzlers that are rusting and have pieces falling off.  The other side of this Dodge Ram is missing some stuff.  When you turn it on it spits black smoke out of the exhaust pipe and definitely does not owe anybody anything.  One thing that is cool about it is the hood ornament - I miss those things!

Battle of the Hybrids - it is all about the Benjamin's...and it helps the green too!

The War of the Hybrids has picked up steam between the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius.  On March 13th we reported the pricing structure for the 2010 Insight and shortly thereafter we reported about the first of the 2010 Prius test cars (a report from AutoBlog).  These two cars have been all over the press lately - they seem to be the only things penetrating the reports of sour car sales (that's another story for another day).  At first I thought the Hybrid War was essentially based on who could get the most attention, but now it has turned into a pricing war.

When pricing for the Insight was announced it started at $20,470 which put it quite a bit lower than the 2009 Toyota Prius.  Yesterday, Toyota announced they were lowering the 2010 Prius price to only be $1,200 more than the Honda Insight.  It is a rare day to see a totally redesigned and improved car come down in price, but that is what happens in war.

Like you, we are enjoying this battle for the Hybrid throne.  Not only does it create deals for consumers today, but it also fuels the race to make a greener car for our future.  That is a great win-win for everyone and perfect timing... 

Checkered Flag Honda and Checkered Flag Toyota are your places to get more information about the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight.  There is also the Camry & Highlander Hybrids in the Toyota lineup and the Civic Hybrid in the Honda lineup.

2009 VW Jetta TDI - the Environment's Pace Car

The 2009 Jetta TDI clean diesel has been awarded the 2009 Green Car of the Year® by Green Car Journal. The editors at Green Car Journal nominated five vehicles that represented the year's best-of-the-best 2009 green vehicles, and today announced that they have chosen Volkswagen's Jetta TDI clean diesel as the best-of-the-best and awarded it their 2009 Green Car of the Year.

"It is a tremendous honor to have our Jetta TDI awarded Green Car of the Year," said Stefan Jacoby, CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. "We believe our Jetta TDIs truly offer a no compromise alternative fuel driving experience that provides our customer the best of both worlds—excellent fuel efficiency combined with a dynamic driving experience. With more than 8,000 units already sold since its mid-August market introduction, it's clear that a Volkswagen clean diesel is what the people want."

"The Volkswagen Jetta TDI rose to the top as Green Car Journal's 2009 Green Car of the Year for some very important reasons," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com. "Hybrids have dominated the discussion of environmentally positive vehicles in recent years. The highly fuel efficient, 50 state emissions certified Jetta TDI shows that advanced clean diesel has arrived and is poised to change this dynamic. With its affordable price point, refined ride and handling, and high fuel economy, the Jetta TDI shows that hybrids now have a strong competitor in the marketplace."

The Jetta TDI sedan and SportWagen showcase the best of both worlds, an alternative fuel vehicle with no compromises. Fuel efficiency, performance and convenience come standard with the 50-state compliant Jetta TDI sedan and SportWagen models, which meet the most stringent emissions standards in California.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates the Jetta TDI at an economical 30 mpg City, and 41 mpg Highway. Volkswagen went a step further to evaluate the real world fuel economy of the Jetta TDI.  Leading third-party certifier, AMCI, tested the Jetta TDI and found it performed 24 percent better in real world conditions, achieving 38 mpg in the City and 44 mpg on the Highway.*

Earlier this year the Jetta TDI set a new Guinness World Record for Lowest Fuel Consumption as it averaged 58.82 miles per gallon as it traveled through the 48 contiguous states. EPA research has concluded that if diesels were to power one third of all light duty vehicles in the United States, the shift would save approximately 1.4 million barrels of oil a day—equal to the daily shipments from Saudi Arabia to the U.S.

The Jetta TDI models come standard with Volkswagen's Prevent and Preserve Safety System, consisting of numerous standard safety features. Like all 2009 model year Volkswagens, the Jetta TDIs also come standard with Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) for added safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Jetta with their highest safety rating, a Top Safety Pick.

Providing even more value to the Jetta TDI sedan and SportWagen, a $1300 Federal Income Tax Credit is available.  The Internal Revenue Service issued a certification letter affirming that both vehicles qualify for an Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle Federal Income Tax credit.

Also standard for 2009 is Volkswagen's Carefree Maintenance Program, with this program there are no charges for the scheduled maintenance detailed in the vehicle's maintenance booklet for the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty—three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

For more information on VW's Clean Diesel Heritage, click here.

Story from November 21st, 2008 press release by VW.

Congratulations to Toyota for continued efforts in the Environment!

 

The State of California's Integrated Waste Management Board has recognized Toyota through its 2008 Waste Reduction Awards program (WRAP). Awards are bestowed based on evaluation of recycling practices, waste prevention, reuse of materials, procurement of recycled products, and the education of employees. Altogether, these Toyota award-winning facilities recycled more than 9 million pounds of material: Toyota Logistics Services, Fremont; Toyota Logistics Services, Long Beach; North American Parts Center California, Ontario; San Francisco Parts Distribution Center and Regional Sales; and Los Angeles Parts Distribution Center and Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. Headquarters, Torrance.

Priority Toyota Service work can be done cleanly from Checkered Flag Toyota!

Is green still in?

With gas prices the lowest they have been in a long time and dollars becoming much more valuable commodities for the sock drawer, is green taking a back seat?  Aside from some television shows discussing which green products to purchase as Christmas gifts the discussion of environmentally friendly seems to have disappeared.    

Is green just a fashionable color when it is affordable, or does it truly matter even in the tough times?

Even if we are not talking as green as we were just a few short months ago, it is good to hear all automotive manufacturers are still pointing big money toward greener solutions.  In the midst of serious hardships for the "Big Three", environmentally-friendly research is still a part of their business model.  The manufacturers Checkered Flag works with have been on the forefront of lower emissions and the use of more recyclable materials for decades.  The greener side of cars are not always the most exciting parts to talk about, but if you research what is being done, you may be pleasantly surprised.

This holiday season, we want to focus on the fashionable holiday color while the media focuses on the other.  Stay tuned to the Checkered Blog for those bits and pieces of automotive greenery.

Good News on Earth Day

The government announced today that it would seek better fuel economy standards on new cars and trucks and do so in a time frame shorter than previously proposed.  We told you about the energy law that requires manufacturers to achieve a fleet-wide average of 35 mpg by 2020.  Today's proposal ups the ante by setting a minimum average mpg of 31.6 by 2015.

The new standards will lower emissions, cut fuel consumption and save you money on gas!  Happy Earth Day.  We at the Checkered Blog like to think of every day as Earth Day and ask that you stay tuned because periodically, we will be bringing you more information on Checkered Flag's selection of "green" cars and other environmental sustainability efforts.

Not Your Mother's Diesel

We do our best to be apolitical at The Checkered Blog. Politics, it’s just not our thing. Our "thing" of course is Checkered Flag and cars and our customers and community and subjects peripherally related to those things. I can’t help but think of certain hotly contested political contests though, when I listen to the current debate between the "Diesel" people and the "Hybrid" people. Both are advocating change, but with radically different strategies. Hybrid proponents have long had a leg up on diesel advocates due to the wild success of the Toyota Prius and the fact that most people remember diesels as loud, smelly 1970's cars and trucks that pollute. All of that is about to change we think, as more European manufacturers are attempting to test out American waters with advanced "clean" diesel systems.

I recently spoke with John Hall, general manager of Checkered Flag BMW, and he informed me that they are expecting two new diesels in the fall, the 335d and X5 xDrive 35d. Keep in mind, BMW hasn’t sold diesels in the U.S. since the 1970's! In Europe however, they account for a growing majority of the company’s sales. In order for the vehicles to meet EPA standards here, BMW created the Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance using a special ammonia based solution (AdBlue) that is injected into the exhaust converting some of the nitrous oxide into water vapor. There is also a fancy filter that further reduces emissions. The "straight talk" from BMW is that the 335d will come with a twin-turbo 3.0 liter inline six capable of 265hp. The ability to go 0-60mph in about 6 seconds and get quite respectable mpg (estimates are 23city/33highway) will surely pique some interest. And, the best part is that the 335d also delivers...wait for it...425 lb-ft of torque. This means that you’ll feel every bit of acceleration, but smoothly because you won’t have to shift gears as often.

The Checkered Blog isn’t inclined to take sides in this debate and we believe that consumers, who "vote" with their wallets, will ultimately decide the outcome and/or the power balance between hybrids and clean diesel. We will say, however, that it seems that having more choice is always a good thing!

Hyundai Hopes for a Hybrid Hit

  Earlier this week, the chairman of Hyundai International announced the company's plans to begin mass production of hybrid vehicles. Hyundai, a South Korean company, already provides some hybrid vehicles for government use.  Starting next year, Hyundai will manufacture the Avante (Elantra here) LPI (Liquefied Petroleum Injection) hybrid, a car that uses both Liquefied Petroleum Gas and electricity. In 2010, Hyundai also plans to introduce mid-sized hybrids that use gasoline and LPG. Hyundai-Kia Chairman Chung Mong Koo said,

"The importance of developing futuristic, environmentally-friendly cars is increasing for sustainable growth.  Therefore, technology for advanced cars, like the hybrid, is imperative. We also plan to produce a small fleet of fuel cell electric vehicles from 2012."

We say, with all the success Hyundai has had with new models, it's promising that they are finally throwing their hat in the hybrid ring.  We'll keep you posted on the newest developments.

Consumer Reports Releases Top 10 List

Consumer Reports annual Top 10 Cars and Trucks issue was released this month and Checkered Flag franchises were well represented.  Winners include...

Top "Green" Car:  Toyota Prius

Small Sedan:  Hyundai Elantra SE

Family Sedan:  Honda Accord

Small SUV:  Toyota RAV4

Midsize SUV:  Hyundai Sante Fe

Minivan:  Toyota Sienna