features

The 2012 Hyundai Veloster has been stealing headlines this week. In its second month of sales, the compact sports car sold 3,724 units, according to Automobile Magazine, making it the most popular “unconventional hatchback.” Plus, at SEMA, Hyundai announced it would be making a turbo version – pretty big news, since the Veloster only went on sale in September.

What’s the big deal about the Veloster? First unveiled in January 2011, the Veloster has a new, funky look compared to other competitors, namely with its three-door set up. The car has one door on the driver side and two doors on the passenger side. That third door in the back is like “stealth” door – with no handle on the outside, it maintains a sporty look while still making it easy for backseat passengers to climb in. The Veloster’s exterior also features a rearview camera with back up warning sensors, 18-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, and LED headlight accents.

On the inside, the Veloster has a “best-in-class total interior volume,” so you get plenty of room for cargo. It also comes with a navigation system and XM Satellite Radio with Navtraffic, which connect to the 7-inch LCD touchscreen on the center console. There’s a 115V outlet for power and connections for video or flash drive. Plus, you can even play Xbox 360. You can also stream your music via Bluetooth, listen to CDs, connect your iPod or stream from your phone. However you decide to play your music, you can enjoy it with a 450-watt dimension premium audio system with 8 speakers and an 8-inch subwoofer.

So it’s got the look and the features. What about performance? The Veloster has a 1.6L gasoline direct injection engine that gets 138 horsepower and a fuel efficiency of 40 mpg on the highway – that’s better than some hybrids. It has a six-speed dual clutch transmission.

For safety measures, the Veloster has six airbags and comes with Vehicle Stability Management (VSM). As part of the VSM, drivers get Electronic Stability Control, which uses sensors to compare where you want to go with where the car is actually going, and adjust the wheels to make sure the car goes where you want it to.

The Veloster has already impressed many drivers – if you’re one of them, why not stop by for a test-drive at your local Penske Automotive Hyundai dealership? One of our friendly staff members would be happy to assist you.

Planning a lot of road trips this year?

You may want to check out the new 2012 Honda Pilot.

In case you haven’t already heard, the Honda Pilot has been redesigned for 2012, and, since its release this fall, has seen sales jump.  The redesign includes a number of new features, as seen in the commercial, including an improved fuel efficiency of 25mpg on the highway.

 

To demonstrate all the nifty new features, Honda created a commercial that follows a family on a road trip and showcases the variety of possibilities the Pilot has to offer.  Using a mix of real life actors and diorama sets, the commercial begins with a family packing their 2WD Touring model at sunrise and shows off the power tailgate and rearview camera.

 

The Pilot seats eight, perfect for large families planning a vacation together.  With the Pilot’s navigation system with voice recognition and FM traffic (available on the EX-L and standard on the Touring), drivers can get to their destination sooner and minimize the number of “Are we there yet?”s emanating from the back seat.

 

Other features that are available include Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, Song by Voice, a USB Audio Interface and Honda’s DVD Rear Entertainment System.  It’s also available in 4-wheel drive and comes with Vehicle Stability Assist to help drivers maintain control of the vehicle in case they over or under steer.  And of course, to address every family’s main concern, the Pilot’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure helps protect the driver and passengers.

 

If the features don’t do enough talking, it also helps to know that the Pilot recently won Cars.com’s Best 3-Row SUV for $37,000, which was judged not only by experts, but also by a family of four – the ultimate judge for any family vehicle.

 

The 2012 Honda Pilot is now available at Your Penske Honda Dealerships. If you’re interested in a test drive, one of our helpful staff members would be happy to assist you.

The Buick Verano is making headlines this week with its new “no more bad hair days” campaign.  On Tuesday, Buick announced that the 2012 Verano is designed for the utmost comfort – especially for people with ponytails or large hair dos.

Buick spent 1,000 hours perfecting the interior comfort of the Verano.  From tall men to short women, all types of people were invited to sit down and test out the seats to ensure comfort for everyone.  One of those testers had a ponytail, prompting the designers to address the issue of drivers who can’t comfortably use the headrest when they’re wearing their hair up.

Although the media has been focusing in on the improved headrest for ponytails, perhaps because it seems like a unique feature for the auto company to mention at all, the Verano’s interior received other upgrades as well.  The seating is designed to prevent hot spots on long road trips, the new headrest is squishy and plush, and the seats use French-stitched leather.

The Verano now sports the same premium leather, support foam, and padding as the LaCrosse.  Seat bolsters provide support and comfort.  The door armrest is now padded, the center console armrest can be adjusted and noise-reducing technology ensures a quiet ride.  Everything is designed to increase comfort and satisfaction.

While the auto industry as a whole seems skeptical of this advertising tactic, the truth is that for a woman wearing a ponytail, headrests can be uncomfortable.  They push your head forward, forcing you to crane your neck.  However, is it enough of a problem to be a major selling point for women?  We’ll have to find out later this fall, when the Verano goes on sale.  What do you think?  Would more comfortable headrests attract you as a customer?