Where are they now? – the used car edition

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Posted in Ford, How To

"Where are they now?" It's always fun to do a little research and see what happened to obscure celebrities after they faded from the spotlight. Yet this game doesn't solely work with people. It's also interesting to track down some of history's most famous vehicles and see where they ended up.

MSN recently looked at several vehicles that became famous for one reason or another. Some ended up in the hands of collectors while others just narrowly avoided the scrapheap.

O.J. Simpson's infamous televised getaway brought the phrase "White Ford Bronco" into the public lexicon. So what became of the vehicle after the trial? The news source notes that the car was not actually owned by Simpson, but instead by his friend and former NFL player Al Cowlings. Reportedly, Cowlings sold the used Ford for a whopping $75,000 to a private buyer – but the sale was not without controversy. Cowlings was sued by a celebrity memorabilia company for allegedly reneging on a deal he had in place to sell the vehicle to them.

Even decades-old used cars can still resurface from time to time. Al Capone outfitted a 1928 Cadillac Town Sedan with bulletproof glass and 3,000 pounds of steel armor. After he was captured, the U.S. government impounded the car, only to later use it as part of Franklin Roosevelt's security detail. It was later sold to a Texas car collector, whose estate still owns it today.

The Dodge Charger shot to fame thanks to its use in the TV series "Dukes of Hazard." The story of the actual "General Lee" used on the show is pretty complicated. Multiple versions of the car were used in order to handle all the stunts, but the original model, known as "LEE 1," was salvaged from a junkyard by John Schneider, who played "Bo" on the TV series.

After restoring the car and holding onto it for a number of years, he eventually put it up for sale on eBay. It first looked like the car sold for close to $10 million dollars, but the bidder later withdrew that amount and it was sold in a second auction for an undisclosed sum. Collectors value other models used in production at between $200,000 and $300,000, according to AutoBlog.

One of the more recent examples of a car shooting to fame was the Cadillac Escalade driven by Tiger Woods on the night of his accident. That car was actually loaned to Woods by GM, who seized the vehicle after the incident. The news source reports that GM will use the car for internal purposes after repairing it, but will likely eventually sell it.

"These kinds of vehicles almost always go through a formal auction process," Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell told USA Today.

Although it's likely that any of these vehicles would fetch a high price tag at a used car auction, drivers interested in saving money shouldn't discount the auction format. Bidding on a used vehicle can net a driver big savings as opposed to negotiating with a dealer on a traditional lot. 

SEMA shows off modified models

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Posted in How To, Toyota

Enthusiasts in the "tuner" community often purchase used cars in order to make modifications to them and turn them into highly-customized machines. Those with a gift for this sort of work can breathe new life into what many would consider to be an older automobile.

Every year, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show demonstrates the full potential of what can be done with a few new parts and modifications. The event, held in Las Vegas, features a number of highly-customized rides from some of the top modders in the world. MSN recently chose a few of the tuners at this year's event in order to highlight the hidden potential lurking just underneath the hood in some popular models.

Toyota's Scion brand is specifically aimed at tuner enthusiasts, as the Japanese automaker heavily markets the vehicles as highly-customizable rides. Yet even Toyota probably didn't foresee what James Lin would do with his Scion tC. A see-through glass hood and a lime-green carbon fiber body are just the beginning of the extensive modifications made to this ride. Underneath the hood, Lin added a God Speed turbocharger system for enhanced power, an Air Lift suspension, DC Sport air filter, front-mount intercooler and more. Yet he didn't focus only on performance – the interior of the car features four 6.5-inch monitors in addition to a 32 inch TV hooked up to a Blu-Ray player.

Most tuners tend to gravitate toward Asian brands, as they're usually affordable on the used car market and easy to modify. In fact, customizing a high-end European luxury vehicle seems kind of counterintuitive.

The team at StaSIS Engineering didn't seem to mind, as they went to work on a $161,000 Audi R8, calling their new ride the "Extreme Edition." In addition to the bright red paint job and new 20-inch wheels, the team went underneath the hood to make some changes to the R8's already-powerful 5.2-liter V10. Thanks to their modifications, the R8 is now powered by a frightening 710-horsepower engine with 523 pound-feet of torque – an 185-hp, 132 lb-ft upgrade over the factory model. Extreme, indeed.

Drivers looking to get into the tuner lifestyle might want to start with something a bit less pricey. Budding modders may want to look online for some advice, then find a used car on a budget so that they can sink money into turning it into a champion. 

Non-traditional designs selling well

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Posted in How To, Nissan

The conventional wisdom for many years has been that cars with non-traditional designs do not sell. By eschewing traditional shapes for a model, an automaker runs the risk of the automotive press labeling it as "ugly," and sinking their sales. In fact, ugly designs have even hurt the resale values of used cars over the years, such as the Pontiac Aztek.

But lately, automakers have been taking bigger risks with their vehicles' designs, and according to MSN, it's paying off. Vehicles that differentiate themselves from the pack, like Toyota's Scion xB or Nissan's Cube, may not win over every buyer, but the ones that they do appeal to are usually fervent in their dedication. The news source recently profiled some untraditional designs that have become top sellers for their brands.

With wagons falling out of style, BMW needed a car that would appeal to both fans of hatchbacks and those who wanted a sedan. Rather than make two separate bodies, the company debuted a dual-trunk system on its 5 Series Gran Turismo that can function as a traditional trunk or be lifted like a hatchback.

"The versatility is a selling point, which was what I always thought a wagon's selling point was," car designer Thom Taylor told the news source. "But obviously, people don't like the wagon's shape and this is more appealing to more people."

One of the most recent examples that has been turning heads in the Nissan Juke. This compact crossover features a number of swooping lines that would look more at home on a Ferrari than a small car from the Japanese automaker. That's because the automaker wanted to appeal to younger drivers in the 18 to 34 age bracket with something eye-catching.

"To them, cars have just been appliances," Taylor explained. "Something to car enthusiasts that may seem kind of quirky or off-beat or bizarre, like the Juke – to them it's cool."

Other vehicles simply challenge what traditionalists expect out of a car. The Porsche Panamera and Maserati Quattroporte are two examples of four-door sedans that have been top sellers for traditionally two-door companies.

Drivers who don't care what their vehicle looks like might be able to find a great deal on some "ugly" used cars, as a lack of interest may lead to an overall lower price. 

Hyundai shows off propane-powered Kia

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Posted in Hyundai

Automakers have been going green lately, unveiling a slew of fully electric and gas-electric hybrid vehicles aimed at eco-conscious consumers who also like to save at the pump. Hyundai recently showed off an alternative fuel that hasn't gotten a lot of attention: liquid propane.

The South Korean automaker seems to be a fan of the technology, which is cheaper and cleaner than gasoline. Hyundai previously revealed a concept version of the Elantra that utilized the alternative fuel. At the SEMA aftermarket parts show in Las Vegas, the automaker had a number of customized vehicles on hand, one of which was the propane-propelled Kia Forte Hybrid Concept.

The concept vehicle uses a partially-electric powertrain in conjunction with the liquid-propane fuel to come close to achieving no emissions. The rest of the vehicle was customized to highlight the theme of the show, with a green interior and a powerful 1200-watt stereo system.

However, because there is little infrastructure support for propane vehicles in the U.S., the concept is unlikely to make it to market anytime soon. Drivers might find the technology in some of Hyundai's upcoming cars for sale, like in the lithium-polymer battery packs that will be used in the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima hybrids.
 

Mercedes details “Magic Sky” on next SLK

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz has released a few early pictures of its upcoming 2012 SLK, but perhaps even more intriguing is a new feature that might change the way drivers think about convertibles.

The company released several new pictures of the car, although it was covered in a casing so that the public cannot yet see the final design. The company, did however, spill the beans on a new feature on the car that its dubbing "Magic Sky Control."

The new SLK will continue to use a retractable hardtop like previous iterations, but the new model will come with a glass pane option that will give the entire roof a see-through finish.

Many drivers might assume that this could lead to an extremely hot car on summer days. That's where "Magic Sky" comes in. The new glass pane consists of magnetic particles that are suspended in fluid. With sky control off, these particles filter out light, ensuring that the inside of the car remains cool – up to 50 degrees cooler, according to the company. But when the control is turned on, the particles shift, allowing light through and creating the illusion that the top is actually down.

Drivers looking for a luxury car may want to shop the pre-owned market, where a used Mercedes can be found for substantially less than its original sticker price. 

Nissan goes green with Infiniti M hybrid

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Posted in Nissan

Nissan has relied on the hybrid technology of its rival Toyota in order to power its "green" efforts thus far, such as the Altima hybrid sedan. With the launch of the new Infiniti M hybrid, Nissan will debut its own hybrid technology.

The company claims that its hybrid system allows the hybrid version of the M, a popular luxury sedan, to double the gas mileage of the its traditionally-powered counterpart. The new luxury model will be the first Nissan vehicle to use the technology, but the company has plans to launch more hybrid models using a similar powertain.

All Japanese automakers are currently struggling with the strong yen, which makes their products more expensive in the U.S. If the Japanese price of the new M sedan is translated to U.S. dollars, the model will cost approximately $72,000 when it launches early next year. The traditional M37 retails for nearly $50,000, while the V8 powered M56 starts at $57,900.

Travelers who want a cheaper hybrid option may want to look at a vehicle like a used Toyota Prius, which has been on the market for several years.

Government calling shots in GM IPO

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Chevrolet

General Motors is currently gearing up for its initial public offering (IPO) in the wake of a multi-billion dollar government bailout.

A recent Reuters report has revealed that the U.S. Treasury Department, which currently owns the majority of GM, is calling the majority of the shots in the new IPO. The Obama administration has a vested interest in the company reeling in a lot of money through its offering.

If analysts value the company highly, it could go a long way toward paying back the $43 billion that it owes American taxpayers. In fact, if analysts are particularly keen on GM stock, American taxpayers could actually end up making money off of the bailout.

It's ultimately up to the federal government and other investors including the Canadian government and United Auto Workers union, how much stock they want to sell. Even if the government doesn't make all the money back in the bailout, they'll likely want to sell their remaining shares before the next presidential election.

The IPO will cap a significant turnaround for General Motors. The automaker has introduced a number of new models, and brands like Chevrolet have risen on consumer satisfaction surveys.

Drivers interested in a Chevy or any other vehicle may want to shop the used car market, where they can find deals on cars. 

Toyota to debut new Prius in Detroit

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Toyota

Toyota is planning to unveil a new version of its best-selling Prius hybrid at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

The Japanese automaker has been tight-lipped about details thus far, but previous reports indicate that Toyota is actually planning two new versions of the Prius – one larger than the current model and the other smaller.

"It will be an all-new model with more comfort, better styling and more versatility," Don Esmond, senior vice president of Toyota Motor Sales told the Detroit Free Press. The news source speculated that the "more comfort" description could mean that the larger model will debut at the auto show rather than the smaller one.

Toyota has committed to green technology in recent months, with plans to unveil a number of models over the next few years. The company will debut a plug-in Prius hybrid next year. It's also working on an electric version of its RAV4 crossover.

The company has been working with luxury electric automaker Tesla Motors to develop its hybrid technology. Toyota recently invested $50 million in the small automaker to solidify their partnership.

Drivers interested in purchasing a car may want to consider a used Toyota, as the pre-owned models are less pricy than their newer counterparts. 

Toyota asks judge to dismiss lawsuits

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Toyota

In the latest twist in the Toyota unintended acceleration case, the automaker has asked the federal court to throw out the hundreds of lawsuits it is currently facing, calling them baseless.

The company was forced to recall millions of used Toyotas after it was found that a problem with floor mats could jam a pedal and cause the car to unexpectedly accelerate. Many have speculated that the issue might actually lie with the electronic systems in the car, but Toyota has denied this accusation repeatedly.

The plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit claim that they are filing on behalf of all Toyota owners who have an electric system in their vehicle. The automaker recently stated that this "defies common sense."

"Toyota is confident that its cars provide safe, reliable transportation and that the plaintiffs have no credible claims of loss or defect," said Cari K. Dawson, an attorney for Toyota, in a company statement.

Recent documents in court allege that Toyota knew about the acceleration issue well in advance of the recall and purchased vehicles back from complaining consumers. Those consumers then supposedly signed a non-disclosure agreement that stated they could not talk about the malfunctions.

Nissan planning several electric vehicles

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Nissan

Nissan is going all-in on electric vehicles.

The Japanese automaker has already gained a lot of attention for its Leaf, which will be the one of the first mass-produced fully-electric cars for sale. The company recently announced that it has plans for three more electric vehicles after the Leaf, including a smaller Infiniti model, commercial van and a micro urban car.

"We don't want EVs to be a niche product," said Corporate Vice President Hideaki Watanabe.

The company also unveiled a concept that it stressed was certainly not yet ready for production, but raised a few eyebrows. The "Nissan New Mobility CONCEPT" is a go-kart inspired vehicle that can hit 47 miles per hour and travel 62 miles on a single charge. The company is currently studying uses for the car, like amusement parks and certain cities.

Drivers interested in electric vehicles may want to wait until a few hit the used car market, as the novelty of the technology will likely make them quite expensive for a few years.