Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[VW Touareg V6 TDI price: $42,800]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/18/vw-touareg-v6-tdi-price-42-800/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/18/vw-touareg-v6-tdi-price-42-800/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/18/vw-touareg-v6-tdi-price-42-800/#commentsFiled under: , ,



A gent named Chris at VW of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, just received the order guide for the Touareg V6 TDI, and the numbers reveal that it will arrive on our shores in January with a base price of $42,800, or $43,490 with the destination charge. That base price is $3,500 more than the Touareg V6 FSI, money that will get you slightly less horsepower but about 150 lb-ft. more torque and about 4.5 more mpg. Options include the Luxury Package for $2,700, Tech Package for $3,350, and Luxury Plus for $5,400. If you want to do something with your Touareg other than go get hotdogs, the rear locking diff is $700, a trailer hitch runs you $500, and you can throw in the silkiness that is the four-corner air suspension for $2,750. There's no word yet on invoice pricing, and it will be interesting to see if people stump up for the premium without getting huge deals on the lot.

[Source: Club Touareg]

VW Touareg V6 TDI price: $42,800 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car pricesCarPricesdieselspricespricingsuvstouaregtouareg v6 tdiTouaregV6Tdivolkswagenvolkswagen touaregvolkswagen touareg v6 tdiVolkswagenTouaregVolkswagenTouaregV6TdivwTue, 18 Nov 2008 08:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Manufacturers raise the price of carbon fiber]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/manufacturers-raise-the-price-of-carbon-fiber/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/manufacturers-raise-the-price-of-carbon-fiber/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/manufacturers-raise-the-price-of-carbon-fiber/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you were looking at carbon fiber as the magical lightweight solution to the parallel automotive woes of low power-to-weight ratios and high fuel consumption, we have some potentially disappointing news for you. Two of the world's largest suppliers of carbon fiber have announced that they are raising their prices. And not by a little, either, with the going rate for the high-tech material rising by 10 to 30 percent in one shot.

The simultaneous announcement from Toray Industries Inc. (the #1 supplier of carbon fiber) and Mitsubishi Rayon Co. (the third largest) marks the first time both companies have universally raised their prices at the same time. The development would border on price-fixing if not for the fact that the second biggest carbon fiber manufacturer, Teijin Ltd., didn't participate. However Teijin is expected to announce its own price hike sometime this week, as well.

We all expected prices to drop as use of the exotic material became more commonplace in automotive, aerospace and commercial applications. However the rising costs of raw materials have contributed to the higher price. They're at Y4,000 (~$37) per ton now and are expect to go up by between Y400 and Y1,200 per ton. Because of the high demand for carbon fiber, the price increase is expected to take immediate effect. As for the impact on he automotive industry, it could mean price increases for cars using the material, while the development of new cars is likely to forgo employing carbon fiber in their construction for other materials like aluminum and plastic. Hopefully Honda and Nissan finish developing their mass-market carbon fiber sooner rather than later.

[Source: TradingMarkets.com via Carbon Fiber Gear]

Manufacturers raise the price of carbon fiber originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon fibercarbon fibreCarbonFiberCarbonFibrecost carbon fibercost carbon fibreCostCarbonFiberCostCarbonFibrecostsprice carbon fiberprice carbon fibrePriceCarbonFiberPriceCarbonFibrepricesTue, 05 Aug 2008 17:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Gas buyers favor brand, not price]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/gas-buyers-favor-brand-not-price/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/gas-buyers-favor-brand-not-price/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/gas-buyers-favor-brand-not-price/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Oil company advertising is apparently much more effective than we had originally thought. As gasoline prices creep up towards $4.00 per gallon (already there in Southern California), consumers are still more likely to purchase fuel based on brand over price.

According to NPD Group analyst David Portalatin, consumers cite "product performance" as their justification for buying one particular brand over another. It's all due to very effective branding and marketing, cites Portalatin. (We'd have to agree, as we've yet to meet anyone who can discern a difference between a tank of Chevron or Costco fuel from the driver's seat.) Now that the massive oil mergers are behind them, the petroleum giants are focusing on selling "quality" to differentiate themselves from the discount fuel stations. As consumers continue to blindly drive towards big brand gasoline, their efforts are apparently working -- regardless of cost. Let's just hope Starbucks doesn't catch wind of this trend and try a new source of revenue...

[Source Advertising Age, Photo by David McNew, Getty Images]

Gas buyers favor brand, not price originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChevronCostExpensiveFuelGasolineOil CompaniesOilCompaniesPricesShellUnocalTue, 22 Apr 2008 10:29:00 EST<![CDATA[2008 CTS will start at $32,245]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/19/2008-cts-will-start-at-32-245/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/19/2008-cts-will-start-at-32-245/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/19/2008-cts-will-start-at-32-245/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Although leaked pricing information isn't the most compelling of posts, those of you that have been salivating over the new Cadillac CTS can start arranging your budget accordingly. A forum member over at Cheers and Gears acquired a full breakdown of the '08 CTS' pricing, and aside from the options, a few things deserve note.

First off, Cadillac will be nixing the 2.8-liter V6 in the standard model, instead offering the 255 263-hp 3.6L VVT V6 with a manual tranny and the 300 304-hp 3.6L VVT DI V6 with the auto 'box. Pricing for the manual starts at $32,245; while the automatic version will set you back $34,545. If you decide to go the all-wheel-drive route and prefer to stir your own gears, you can tack on an additional $1,900 to the base price, or $3,200 in automatic trim.

You've got your choice of several packages, including the Luxury collection ($2,600), the Premium Luxury Collection ($8,165), the Performance Collection ($3,300), the Luxury Level One ($1,000) or the Luxury Level Two packages ($2,025).

You can view the spec sheet here, and follow the jump for the full list of packages and their respective add-ons. Just don't forget the destination fees, licenses and taxes.

[Source: Cheers and Gears]

Thanks for the tip, Brian!

Gallery: 2008 Cadillac CTS

Continue reading 2008 CTS will start at $32,245

2008 CTS will start at $32,245 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.6-litercadillacctsoptionpricespricingv6Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Chrysler prices 2008 minivans well below outgoing models]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/12/chrysler-prices-2008-minivans-well-below-outgoing-models/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/12/chrysler-prices-2008-minivans-well-below-outgoing-models/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/12/chrysler-prices-2008-minivans-well-below-outgoing-models/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



While it's hard to argue with the industry minivan leader, the new-for-2008 Chrysler minivans had us scratching our heads a bit. Their styling appears to take a page from the Chevy Venture book of design, which had us wondering if Chrysler could could keep them on top. Well, it looks like the Chrysler Group might have a few tricks up its sleeve to keep the crown, like offering better vehicles with more standard features for a lot less dough. They just announced the U.S. pricing for the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country and the new minivan kings appear to be incredible values.

According to the press release, the new vans will start arriving in dealerships in the fall "...with 35 new or improved features," along with the new 4.0L V6, six-speed transaxles, standard all-row side curtain air bags and Electronic Stability Program (ESP), all for about two grand less than the outgoing models. The Grand Caravan SE will start at $22,470 and the Grand Caravan SXT at $27,535. Over at Chrysler, the Town & Country will be $23,190 for the LX, $28,430 for the Touring, and $36,400 for the Limited.

Full press release with more details can be found after the jump.

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Chrysler prices 2008 minivans well below outgoing models

Chrysler prices 2008 minivans well below outgoing models originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jul 2007 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>base priceBasePricecaravanchryslerchrysler town and countryChryslerTownAndCountrydodgeDodge CaravanDodgeCaravanlistmsrppricestown and countryTownAndCountryThu, 12 Jul 2007 13:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Officially official: Chrysler prices Sebring convertible]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/30/officially-official-chrysler-prices-sebring-convertible/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/30/officially-official-chrysler-prices-sebring-convertible/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/30/officially-official-chrysler-prices-sebring-convertible/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Earlier in the month, Kicking Tires got some advanced knowledge of what it would take to get you into Chrysler's newest drop top, the Sebring Convertible. At the time, the only information we had was for the stripped four banger, plus both the base and the optioned up V6 models. Those early estimates were close, but now we've got the real figures.

To start with, the four-cylinder model comes in at $26,145 MSRP (with the $675 destination charge), which is actually $645 less than the outgoing model, but with more toys (side airbags, four discs plus ABS, hard tonneau cover, etc.). The Touring model starts at $28,745 (with destination fee), comes equipped with the new FFV 2.7L V6 and gets heated, color matched mirrors, auto headlights and 17-inch aluminum rollers. Plenty of options await those that are willing to get crazy with the check boxes, but you can read the rest in the press release after the jump.

The top of the line, Limited version gets a 235 HP 3.5L V6, plenty of dead cow, along with tortoise shell accents, chrome, Boston Acoustics ICE and 18-inch aluminum wheels. All that for $32,345 (with the destination fee). Again, there are more options to be had, broken down into both the Luxury Group (18-inch chrome wheels, heated seats, etc.) and the Electronic Convenience Group, with remote start, heated/cooled cupholders, climate control and the like.

The idea of a Sebring knocking on the $40k door leaves us a bit cold, but if the market demands it...

Follow the jump for the full press release.

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Officially official: Chrysler prices Sebring convertible

Officially official: Chrysler prices Sebring convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chryslerconvertiblepricepricespricingsebringFri, 30 Mar 2007 13:25:00 EST