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The Autoweek editors spend so much time behind so many steering wheels that it takes a special car or truck to stand out from the pack. This year, the Audi A7 and the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque did just that, and they have been named Autoweek’s Best of the Best/Car and Truck for 2012.

“With the A7, Audi has crafted a vehicle with few true peers by starting with stunning luxury-sedan design and marrying that to the functionality of a hatchback,” said Autoweek Editor Wes Raynal. 

“The Evoque retains the luxury, refinement and off-road capability we’ve come to expect from Land Rover, combined with compact dimensions, carlike ride and efficiency that redefine the brand.”

Editors graded vehicles on drivetrain, ride quality, handling, exterior, interior design and fun factor. Points were tallied for each vehicle, and the car or truck garnering the most points took the win. 

To be eligible for Autoweek’s Best of the Best honors, a vehicle had to be completely or substantially new – minor facelifts or mechanical updates didn’t count – and available to the general public. The Best of the Best process begins each January, with models unavailable at the end of the calendar year eligible for the following year’s contest. 

Cars were defined as sedans, coupes, convertibles, hatchbacks and wagons, while trucks included classic pickups, crossovers, minivans and SUVs. Among the finalists were the Ford Focus, the Mercedes-Benz CLS, the Mercedes-Benz ML350 and the BMW X3. 

The A7 and the Evoque were selected under the radar, without any manufacturer knowledge. No automaker saw the results, lobbied or provided specially prepped test vehicles. 

Audi and Land Rover will be presented with their Best of the Best awards at Detroit’s North American International Auto Show in early January, with the A7 and the Evoque featured in the Jan. 9 edition of Autoweek.

Source Autoweek

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TireVan, the largest and fastest-growing mobile tire installation business in the United States, today announced the launch of “TireVan’s 12 Days of Christmas,” an online contest that will award 12 winners an automotive prize from TireVan. Through the contest, which is open to residents in the Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia metropolitan areas, TireVan will give away one prize on each of the 12 days of Christmas, beginning on Christmas Day.

Beginning on Wednesday, December 14, Washington, D.C.- and Philadelphia-area residents can visit TireVan’s Facebook page to enter the contest.  A single entry provides a chance to win on any of the 12 days of the contest. To increase the likelihood of winning, participants can return on following days and enter again, once per day, as well as share the contest with Facebook friends. For each friend who enters the contest, participants will receive an additional contest entry.

The contest will mirror the Old English celebration of the 12 Days of Christmas, beginning on Christmas Day and lasting through the Twelfth Night, January 5, 2012. On each of these 12 days, TireVan will randomly select a winner from all the entries to receive that day’s gift. Gifts increase in value each day and include rotation certificates, windshield wiper blades and TireVan gift certificates averaging hundreds of dollars, as well as several sets of free tires, fully installed. The grand prize, awarded on the final day, is a free set of tires plus mobile installation, road force balancing, three-year hazard insurance, Michelin windshield wiper blades and a tire rotation and balance gift certificate – an estimated $1,000 value. All prizes will be awarded as certificates and will be valid for two years.

“In our previous contests, we’ve seen an outpouring of need from residents of the Washington and Philadelphia metro regions, so we felt a strong desire to give back even more during this holiday season,” said Phil Pifer, President and CEO of TireVan. “As our business grows, giving back to the communities that we serve is important to us at TireVan. And we don’t think there’s a better time to give than Christmas.”

To enter the contest, visit www.facebook.com/tirevan and follow the instructions. All participants can enter daily to increase their odds of winning until the last day of the contest, which is January 5, 2012.

Source TireVan

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Consumers looking for a fun and engaging way to take part in the reveal of the all-new 2013 Ford Fusion need look no further: An augmented reality game app is debuting today with virtual images of the new car. Users of the app will drive a new Fusion through a series of “worlds” that unlock to reveal the car.

“We want to have an exciting and interactive way to build anticipation leading up to the reveal of the all-new Fusion,” said Samantha Hoyt, Fusion Marketing manager. “The app allows consumers to learn about the advanced technology and design of the car in a fun and easy-to-use way while reinforcing the transformative nature of the Fusion.”

The app operates on the Android and iOS operating systems, on smartphones and tablets such as the iPhone, iPad and Droid. The experience is initiated by finding and capturing a Ford logo using the mobile device’s camera. The Ford logo will appear on the screen as a button that starts the program. Operating like a video game, the app then allows consumers to drive a digitally camouflaged new Fusion on a track toward video clips that feature insights on technology and design from key Fusion team members.

A daily video clip will unlock a new enhancement to the app, with every day of driving bringing new content alive. New content includes demonstrations of key vehicle features. As the game progresses, three driving worlds can be unlocked leading up to the reveal, each offering a clearer form of the Fusion and new visual environments. All the while, original music tracks will make the experience even more enjoyable and users can access social sharing to post images to Facebook or Twitter.

On the day of the Fusion reveal at the 2012 North American International Auto Show, users will be able to unlock access to the full image of the car. After viewing the final video in the driving experience, an image of the car will appear on the main menu. At that point users can drive any of the four Fusions on the track and can create a custom image of the car to share via Facebook and Twitter.

Source Ford Motor Company

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Cars.com, the premier online resource for buying and selling new and used vehicles, announced its editors’ nominees for the Best Car of 2012.  This year’s nominees are the Audi A7, Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Veloster, Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, Subaru Impreza and Volkswagen Passat.  The winner will be announced during the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

“Above all, our Best of the Year awards celebrate value, innovation and competitiveness in the auto industry,” said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com editor in chief. “The level of innovation among our nominees ranges from being truly unique to shaking up an entire segment of cars.”

Details on why Cars.com editors nominated each vehicle include:

• Audi A7: Not only do Cars.com’s editors think the A7′s styling is different than anything else on the market, they also think the hatchback offers practicality not often seen in a sports car.  Combined with handling and comfort that are “near perfect,” the A7 should be on the list of anyone looking for a stunning, sporty car.  
• Hyundai Accent: Right now U.S. car shoppers are looking for practical, affordable and efficient cars.  As a result, new “pedestrian” subcompacts keep popping up on the market.  Cars.com editors think the Accent is anything but pedestrian, offering 40 mpg, a shockingly roomy interior and affordable features usually reserved for more expensive, larger vehicles. In spite of stiff competition, these factors make the Accent a new class leader.
• Hyundai Veloster: A four-seat hatchback with somewhat eccentric styling might not seem like the obvious choice this year.  However, the plethora of standard tech features for the cost, sturdiness on the road and overall appeal make the Veloster one of this year’s stand-outs.  
• Land Rover Range Rover Evoque: Any vehicle that looks like nothing the Cars.com team has ever seen before is sure to make an impression, and the Evoque made a great one. Its  looks aren’t the only reason it made the list: The Evoque has a more comfortable ride than others in its class, a competitive base price and plenty of power.  
• Subaru Impreza: While improving significantly upon its previous generation doesn’t guarantee any car a nomination, the Impreza’s changes moved it from lower on the list of compacts to the very top in a segment, offering some of the best options our editors have ever seen.  It’s also the most affordable all-wheel-drive car on the market.
• Volkswagen Passat: Once a fringe player in the competitive family sedan segment, the Passat is another example of a redesign elevating an entire segment.  With a huge interior, a high-quality cabin, composed driving dynamics and a low cost, the Passat is poised to overtake long-standing family sedan leaders and challenge the entire segment to improve.  

“Picking a winner from this elite group was difficult,” Olsen said. “Despite its stiff competition, we feel confident that our selection represents the best on the road today.”  

Source Cars.com

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 Airfares have been steadily on the rise and weary travelers are searching for alternative means of travel as the holiday season approaches. Rob Tischler, CEO of Allstar Coaches said, “When considering the cost of airfare, hotels, and meals out, it’s no wonder that people are turning to RV rentals. The savings are substantial, even when you incorporate fuel costs. A family of four can literally save thousands over traditional air-hotel itineraries.” With such a dramatic rise, the search for alternatives is at a fever pitch. People are better off looking at trains, buses and recreational vehicles.

Lynn Thompson, an RN out of Fort Lauderdale found that “renting a motorhome is a cost effective, more comfortable and less stressful alternative to traveling by plane.” Travelers also appear to be getting very frustrated with the invasive searches, missed connections and outrageous fees when flying. “The last time I flew,” said Thompson, “I had to pay $20 extra per seat so my family could sit together, then they lost my luggage for which I had to pay extra as well, and my 86 year old grandmother was singled out and publicly humiliated when an overzealous security agent became suspicious of her colostomy bag. Another time, our flight was delayed and we just sat on the tarmac for hours.” Thompson also noted that she was able to save almost $2,000 by preparing their own meals in her RV, eliminating the expensive hotels and restaurants.

Industry insiders believe that the increased demand in RV travel can be attributed to an educated consumer base that is tiring of the rampant nickel and diming and stress associated with air travel. According to farecompare.com CEO Rick Seaney, “The average fare for holiday flights is up as much as 20 percent over last year.” People are beginning to realize that there are other choices and they want to maximize their travel experience.

Allstar Coaches operates their fleet of luxury motorhome rentals from strategically located depots in nine states. With full kitchens, luxurious cabins and modern technology, these vehicles are equipped to exceed the expectations of even the most discerning traveler.

“Folks are starting to figure out what many motorhome enthusiasts have known for years; that the benefits of motorhome travel far outweigh the costs,” says Von Isanogle, Fleet Operations manager at Allstar, “and that is contributing to increased sales. Record breaking airfares and those crazy fees are only helping to take them off the skyways and put them onto the highways.”

Source Allstar Coaches

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