William Maley

Yesterday, Hertz has announced that it reached partnership deals with both Uber and Lyft to provide vehicles to drivers. The deal will see Hertz proving drivers of the ride-sharing startups of vehicles that have been rotated out of their fleet. Drivers will get special rates on these vehicles. Hertz spokesman Bill Masterson says the rate for midsize vehicles will be $180 per week, including mileage and insurance. Why is Hertz making deals with Lyft and Uber? You only need to go back earlier this year when the company said ride-sharing services was limiting growth. Hertz thinks that if you work with and not against, you might have a shot of succeeding. “We consider this agreement to be largely complementary to our car-rental business, and it enables us to leverage our fleet and distribution infrastructure to participate in the dramatic growth in the ride sharing, or e-hailing, segment,” Hertz CEO John Tague said in a statement. It should be noted that Hertz and Lyft have worked together before on a pilot program in Las Vegas and Denver, where drivers were offered a similar deal. Source: Bloomberg, Hertz Press Release is on Page 2 Hertz Global Holdings Reaches U.S. Supply Agreement with Lyft for Rental Cars ESTERO, Fla., June 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HTZ) has reached an agreement with Lyft to supply its U.S. drivers with cars under specified rental agreements, expanding upon two pilot markets where Hertz and Lyft have partnered together since November 2015. Built on the model used in pilots in Las Vegas and Denver, the agreement provides set rental rates for drivers, who will be serviced from dedicated off-airport Hertz locations that give on-site support. The cars can be used for both Lyft business and personal driving. In addition to Las Vegas and Denver, Hertz will begin renting cars to Lyft drivers in Los Angeles and San Francisco with more markets expected to follow as part of the national agreement. "This agreement builds on the work we've been doing with Lyft for the past eight months," said John Tague, president and chief executive officer of Hertz Global Holdings. "Based on that experience, Hertz and Lyft were ready to take the next step, which resulted in this U.S. supply agreement. "Utilizing cars that are rotating out of our consumer rental fleet creates a model that works for Hertz and for Lyft drivers by providing them with well-maintained, good condition cars. We consider this agreement to be largely complementary to our car rental business, and it enables us to leverage our fleet and distribution infrastructure to participate in the dramatic growth in the ride sharing, or e–hailing, segment." Hertz Global Holdings Reaches U.S. Supply Agreement with Uber Technologies for Rental Cars ESTERO, Fla., June 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HTZ) has reached an agreement with Uber Technologies, Inc. to supply its U.S. partner drivers with cars under specified rental agreements. The agreement provides set rates for partners, who can rent from specified off-airport Hertz locations that give on-site support. The cars can be used for personal driving as well as for Uber business. Initially, Hertz is supplying partners in the Los Angeles area with other markets expected to follow as part of the national agreement. "This is a positive agreement for both Hertz and Uber," said John Tague, president and chief executive officer of Hertz Global Holdings. "Utilizing cars that are rotating out of our consumer rental fleet creates a model that works for Hertz and for Uber partners by providing them with well-maintained, good condition cars. We consider this agreement to be largely complementary to our car rental business, and it enables us to leverage our fleet and distribution infrastructure to participate in the dramatic growth in the ride sharing, or e–hailing, segment." View full article

FORD DELIVERS BEST FIRST-HALF U.S. SALES IN A DECADE; STRONG DEMAND FOR F-SERIES, FORD BRAND SUVS DRIVE GAINS Ford Motor Company’s first-half 2016 total U.S. sales increase 5 percent to 1,353,048 vehicles – best results in a decade; sales up 6 percent in June versus year ago with 240,109 vehicles sold Ford sold more than half a million trucks in the first half – a 13 percent gain – further widening Ford’s truck lead versus the competition; F-Series up 29 percent in June; vans jump 14 percent Ford brand June SUV sales up 7 percent, driving all-time record first-half SUV sales; Edge up 12 percent, Escape gains 6 percent and Explorer grows 3 percent in first half Lincoln posts a 13 percent gain for the first half of the year, thanks to strong performance from its newest SUVs, Lincoln MKC and Lincoln MKX; Lincoln sales up 6 percent in June DEARBORN, Mich., July 1, 2016 – Ford Motor Company’s first-half total U.S. sales grew 5 percent with 1,353,048 vehicles sold – its best first-half performance since 2006. June sales were up 6 percent, with 240,109 vehicles sold. Ford truck performance remains the standout for the first half of the year. The company sold 531,500 pickups and vans – a 13 percent gain versus a year ago. Truck sales were up 24 percent in June, driven by strong F-Series sales of 70,937 vehicles – a 29 percent increase versus a year ago and their best June sales performance in more than a decade. “Strong customer demand has helped us continue growing our truck leadership position, further widening the gap with our nearest competitor versus last year,” said Mark LaNeve, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service. “Consumer demand for Ford SUVs also continues to surge to all-time highs, allowing us to introduce new levels of capability, versatility and technology to a whole new generation of SUV fans." Ford brand SUVs had their best-ever first half with 395,116 total vehicles sold – up 9 percent versus a year ago. Ford SUVs posted a 7 percent increase last month with 69,641 vehicles sold, marking the best June in 15 years. Escape sales were up 20 percent, driven by the new 2017 model. Ford commercial van performance grew 17 percent in the first half with a total of 128,378 vehicles sold – largely driven by Transit’s 36 percent gain in the same period with 78,480 sold. Transit sales increased 19 percent in June, with 14,437 sold. Overall, Ford’s monthly van sales grew 14 percent – the company’s best commercial van sales since 1978 – with 24,404 sold. For the first half, Lincoln sales totaled 53,297 vehicles – a 13 percent increase versus a year ago. Lincoln sales were up 6 percent in June with 8,809 vehicles sold. Growth came from the marque’s newest products, with Lincoln MKX up 27 percent, the new Lincoln MKZ up 9 percent and Lincoln MKC up 2 percent.

FCA US LLC Reports June 2016 U.S. Sales Increased 7 Percent; Best June Sales Since 2005 Jeep® brand sales up 17 percent; best June sales ever Four Jeep brand vehicles record their best June sales ever Ram Truck brand sales up 14 percent; best June sales in a decade Dodge brand sales up 3 percent for best June sales in two years July 1, 2016 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC today reported U.S. sales of 197,073 units, a 7 percent increase compared with sales in June 2015 (185,035 units), and the group’s best June sales in 11 years.The Jeep®, Dodge and Ram Truck brands each posted year-over-year sales gains in June compared with the same month a year ago. The Jeep brand’s 17 percent increase was the brand’s best June sales ever, while Ram achieved its best June sales in a decade. “Strong Jeep and Ram Truck brand sales fueled our best June sales in 11 years,” said Reid Bigland, Senior Vice President – Sales, FCA – North America. “In spite of some severe stock market volatility in June, the American consumer stayed focus on buying new vehicles and propelled FCA to six vehicle sales records last month.” Four of the six sales records in June were set by Jeep brand models. The Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Patriot, Jeep Compass and Jeep Renegade each posted their best June sales ever. The Jeep brand continues to set records by logging its best June sales ever. In addition, the Ram ProMaster City van and the Fiat 500X each turned in their best June sales ever. Jeep® Brand Jeep brand sales were up 17 percent for its best June sales ever and its 33rd-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains. The Jeep brand has set a sales record in every month dating back to November 2013. Four Jeep brand vehicles set June sales records. The Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Patriot, Jeep Compass and Jeep Renegade each posted their best June sales ever. Sales of the Jeep Grand Cherokee were up 9 percent for its best June sales since 2005. The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and the Grand Cherokee each won their segments last month in Strategic Vision’s annual Total Quality Impact™ (TQI). The Grand Cherokee won in the Mid-size SUV category while Wrangler Unlimited topped the Entry SUV classification. Ram Truck Brand Ram Truck brand sales, which include the Ram pickup, Ram ProMaster and Ram ProMaster City, were up 14 percent for its best June sales in a decade. Ram pickup truck sales increased 14 percent in June, the pickup’s best June sales since 2004. In addition, the Ram ProMaster City van recorded its best June sales ever. Last month, the Ram Truck and Mopar brands introduced the Mopar ’16 Ram Rebel, the most recent limited-edition vehicle created using a unique selection of performance parts and accessories from the service, parts and customer-care brand of FCA US. The Mopar ’16 Ram Rebel will feature a limited production of just 500 vehicles, upgraded with Mopar Custom Shop options. Additional parts and accessories are available at the dealership for even further customization. Dodge Brand Dodge brand sales were up 3 percent in June compared with the same month a year ago. Sales of the Dodge Grand Caravan were up 79 percent last month for the minivan’s best June sales since 2008. In addition, sales of the Dodge Durango increased 38 percent for the full-size SUV’s best June sales in a decade. The Dodge brand is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Dodge Viper with five limited-edition models that commemorate the final year of Viper production and highlight several of the most iconic special edition Vipers of the past. Also last month, the Dodge Challenger led the Specialty Coupe segment for total quality in Strategic Vision’s Total Quality Impact™ (TQI). FIAT Brand Sales of the 500X – in its second month of year-over-year comparisons – were up significantly in June compared with the same month a year ago. FIAT brand sales, which include the Fiat 500, Fiat 500L and 500X, were down 19 percent in June, compared with the same month a year ago. For the second-consecutive year, the 500 was tops in total quality in the Micro Car segment in Strategic Vision’s annual Total Quality Impact™ (TQI). Chrysler Brand The all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica continues to gain momentum in the marketplace. In its third month on sale, the Pacifica minivan posted sales of 7,207 units, up significantly from its sales in the previous month of May. U.S. News & World Report recently announced the Pacifica as the No. 1 ranked minivan in the industry, highlighting Pacifica’s innovative features and technology. Chrysler brand sales were down 20 percent in June compared with the same month a year ago. FCA US LLC Sales Summary June 2016 Month Sales Vol % CYTD Sales Vol % Model Curr Yr Pr Yr Change Curr Yr Pr Yr Change Compass 8,840 3,885 128% 48,033 26,667 80% Patriot 12,050 9,691 24% 64,117 59,635 8% Wrangler 20,060 19,159 5% 100,355 102,450 -2% Cherokee 16,243 18,472 -12% 102,652 105,426 -3% Grand Cherokee 16,810 15,464 9% 100,737 93,080 8% Renegade 9,688 4,858 99% 52,237 14,431 262% JEEP BRAND 83,691 71,529 17% 468,131 401,689 17% 200 7,817 18,560 -58% 40,981 106,569 -62% 300 3,669 3,965 -7% 30,754 24,715 24% Town & Country 6,054 8,284 -27% 55,448 38,964 42% Pacifica 7,207 0 New 10,189 0 New CHRYSLER BRAND 24,747 30,809 -20% 137,372 170,248 -19% Dart 3,305 6,702 -51% 29,079 49,055 -41% Avenger 0 113 -100% 0 1,011 -100% Charger 6,223 7,703 -19% 50,324 50,761 -1% Challenger 5,479 6,845 -20% 34,607 37,011 -6% Viper 57 62 -8% 298 351 -15% Journey 9,785 9,827 0% 47,208 51,283 -8% Caravan 13,473 7,512 79% 71,523 36,876 94% Durango 6,497 4,693 38% 38,701 30,794 26% DODGE BRAND 44,819 43,457 3% 271,740 257,142 6% Ram P/U 38,126 33,332 14% 231,405 212,716 9% Cargo Van 0 79 -100% 1 3,075 -100% ProMaster Van 2,113 2,223 -5% 16,288 12,077 35% ProMaster City 997 444 125% 9,261 3,078 201% RAM BRAND 41,236 36,078 14% 256,972 230,946 11% Alfa 4C 36 25 44% 309 320 -3% ALFA BRAND 36 25 44% 309 320 -3% 500 1,113 2,283 -51% 7,932 15,390 -48% 500L 274 530 -48% 2,338 6,076 -62% 500X 1,156 324 257% 7,464 332 2148% Spider 1 0 New 1 0 New FIAT BRAND 2,544 3,137 -19% 17,735 21,798 -19% TOTAL FCA US LLC 197,073 185,035 7% 1,152,259 1,082,143 6% Total Car & MPV 54,707 62,584 -13% 333,782 367,099 -9% Total UV's 101,129 86,373 17% 561,504 484,098 16% Total Truck & LCV 41,236 36,078 14% 256,972 230,946 11%

Only in the U.S. Other markets had the choice of rear or all-wheel drive. I have edited the story to make this distinction a bit clearer.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into a fatal crash dealing with Tesla's Autopilot system. In a statement given to Reuters, NHTSA said the driver of a 2015 Tesla Model S was killed while the vehicle was in the Autopilot mode. The crash took place on May 7th in Williston, Florida when a tractor-trailer was making a left turn across a divided highway. Tesla in a lengthy blog post said: "neither Autopilot nor the driver noticed the white side of the tractor trailer against a brightly lit sky, so the brake was not applied." The Model S drove underneath the trailer with the bottom making contact with the windshield. The Verge reports the driver was 40-year old Joshua Brown who filmed various videos of his Model S. One of the videos on his YouTube channel showed his Model avoiding an accident with a bucket truck. NHTSA's investigation will look the design and performance of the Model S and its various components, including Autopilot. It should be noted this is standard practice for NHTSA to investigate any crash where the vehicle's system could be at fault. Tesla's blog post says this is first known fatality in over 130 million miles since Autopilot was turned on. Autopilot has been a source of controversy since Tesla rolled it out last year. Numerous videos of Model S owners filming themselves in dangerous situations and sometimes showing the system not working caused Tesla to make some drastic changes. These included limiting the types of road the system could be turned on and making checks to see if there was someone sitting in the driver's seat. Tesla has said time and time again that Autopilot is a beta feature and that the driver needed to pay attention. "Autopilot is getting better all the time, but it is not perfect and still requires the driver to remain alert," Tesla said in their post. "It is important to note that Tesla disables Autopilot by default and requires explicit acknowledgement that the system is new technology and still in a public beta phase before it can be enabled. When drivers activate Autopilot, the acknowledgment box explains, among other things, that Autopilot “is an assist feature that requires you to keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times," and that "you need to maintain control and responsibility for your vehicle” while using it. " Nevertheless, this crash puts autonomous technologies and Tesla under some intense scrutiny. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required), The Detroit News, Reuters, Tesla, The Verge View full article

As much anyone will tell you there is no such thing as too much power, there is a point where power will just overwhelm the tires and you'll be sitting there, doing a burnout. This is why you're seeing more manufacturers adding all-wheel drive to their vehicles to actually get the power down to the wheels. The latest one is Mercedes-AMG. Speaking with Top Gear, Mercedes-AMG boss Tobias Moers says the next-generation model will be available with all-wheel drive. The reason comes down to people preferring the current model with the all-wheel drive model. “But we are going to introduce a completely new four-wheel drive system, one which we’ve never had in the company. That’s going to be the biggest step we ever did with a generation. In Germany we had the choice of 4x4 and 4x2, and 90-plus per cent bought the 4x4. People in that segment are looking for four-wheel drive,” said Moers. It should be noted when Mercedes introduced the refreshed E63 for the U.S. in 2014, you could only get it with all-wheel drive. Elsewhere, you had the choice of rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. Moers also dropped that the next E63 would use the same biturbo V8 as the C63 and AMG GT. For the E63, the engine will get a number of changes including new cylinder heads and a different arrangement of the turbos. The plan is to produce around 600 horsepower. “I’m more focused on the overall package. Maybe not in the past, but we’ve moved to that, to a certain extent. Power should be in line with the overall capabilities of the chassis. It’s more important to have a precise throttle response than all that power. You need a certain level and in that segment, it’s around 600bhp.” It is expected that the E63 will debut this fall at the Paris Motor Show in September. Source: Top Gear View full article

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent warning to owners of certain 2001 to 2003 Honda and Acura model to stop driving them due to these models being equipped with Takata airbags. Lab tests done by NHTSA revealed that the airbag inflator in these vehicles have a 50 percent chance of the bag rupturing, causing metal shards to enter the interior and possibly injuring or even killing a person. "With as high as a 50 percent chance of a dangerous air bag inflator rupture in a crash, these vehicles are unsafe and need to be repaired immediately. Folks should not drive these vehicles unless they are going straight to a dealer to have them repaired immediately, free of charge," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. The vehicles involved include, 2001-2002 Honda Accord 2001-2002 Honda Civic 2002 Honda CR-V 2002 Honda Odyssey 2003 Honda Pilot 2002-2003 Acura 3.2 TL 2003 Acura 3.2CL According to NHTSA, there 313,000 vehicles that need to have their airbags replaced. One of the main causes for the rupturing is moisture getting inside the inflator. Vehicles in high humid areas such as Florida are susceptible to this. In a statement, Honda agreed with NHTSA's findings and urged owners to get their vehicles to a dealer as soon as possible. Source: Reuters, NHTSA Press Release is on Page 2 NHTSA: New test data on particular subset of Takata air bag inflators shows substantially higher risk NHTSA calls on news media and public to assist in finding unrepaired high-risk vehicles WASHINGTON – New test data on a particular subset of defective Takata air bag inflators in certain model-year 2001-2003 Honda and Acura vehicles show a far higher risk of ruptures during air bag deployment, prompting an urgent call from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to ensure that unrepaired vehicles in this population are found and fixed before they cause further injuries or fatalities. “With as high as a 50 percent chance of a dangerous air bag inflator rupture in a crash, these vehicles are unsafe and need to be repaired immediately,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Folks should not drive these vehicles unless they are going straight to a dealer to have them repaired immediately, free of charge.” The higher-risk inflators are in certain 2001-2003 Honda and Acura vehicles: 2001-2002 Honda Civic 2001-2002 Honda Accord 2002-2003 Acura TL 2002 Honda CR-V 2002 Honda Odyssey 2003 Acura CL 2003 Honda Pilot The air bag inflators in these particular vehicles contain a manufacturing defect which greatly increases the potential for dangerous rupture when a crash causes the air bag to deploy. Ruptures are far more likely in inflators in vehicles that have spent significant periods of time in areas of high absolute humidity—particularly Florida, Texas, other parts of the Gulf Coast, and Southern California. Testing of the inflators from these vehicles show rupture rates as high as 50 percent in a laboratory setting. The vehicles in question were recalled between 2008 and 2011. Honda has reported that more than 70 percent of this higher-risk population of vehicles has already been repaired, but approximately 313,000 vehicles with this very dangerous defect remain unrepaired. The risk posed by the airbag inflators in these vehicles is grave, and it is critical they be repaired now to avoid more deaths and serious injuries. NHTSA and Honda are asking for the news media and public’s assistance to find the remaining unrepaired vehicles. Drivers of these vehicles should immediately visit SaferCar.gov to check whether their vehicle has any outstanding safety recalls. Those that do should contact their nearest dealer to schedule a no-cost immediate repair. Replacement parts for these vehicles are available immediately. “The air bag inflators in this particular group of vehicles pose a grave danger to drivers and passengers that must be fixed right away,” said NHTSA Administrator Dr. Mark Rosekind. "Drivers should visit SaferCar.gov or contact their local dealer to check whether their vehicle is affected. If it is, they should have the vehicle repaired immediately for free at an authorized dealer. We commend Honda for taking additional actions to get these vehicles repaired.” Though the vehicles are already under recall, NHTSA ordered Takata to perform additional ballistic testing following recent reports of ruptures. Eight of the 10 confirmed U.S. fatalities due to Takata ruptures — including the most recent in Fort Bend County, Texas — were in this population of vehicles. Honda has committed to immediately taking additional actions to enhance their efforts to find and fix recalled vehicles. Honda will provide additional information about their efforts. NHTSA has also directed Honda to report weekly on the progress of vehicle repairs. NHTSA is also expanding its own direct consumer outreach, including a paid media campaign and a series of outreach events in high-risk areas this summer. NHTSA has also engaged the vehicle insurance industry to help locate the unremedied vehicles. View full article

You might be right. I know that the Black Label package includes complimentary car washes and an annual detail for the vehicle.

Lincoln is trying to stand out from the crowded luxury field by offering owners various services and perks. They have announced a new service that will begin with the 2017 Continental allowing owners not to visit the dealership to have their car serviced. A Lincoln service valet will pick up an owner's vehicle and take it in for service. The owner will be left a courtesy car while theirs is being worked on. Once service is completed, the vehicle is returned to the owner. This perk comes at no charge for the owner. “Lincoln Pickup and Delivery service revolves around complementing our luxury vehicles with outstanding luxury experiences. Our dealers view this as a way to differentiate the client experience for Lincoln owners,” said Lincoln North America director of sales and marketing Andrew Frick. Lincoln has been doing trials of this service at select dealers and found it to be a success. Of owners who participated, 98 percent said they would have their vehicle serviced at the dealer again and 93 percent said they would buy another Lincoln. Now Lincoln isn't the first to offer this service to owners. Hyundai offered this service with their Equus flagship. What makes this program different is it will be available on Lincoln's entire 2017 lineup. Source: Lincoln Press Release is on Page 2 LINCOLN IS ONLY LUXURY AUTOMAKER TO PROVIDE STANDARD PICKUP AND DELIVERY SERVICE FOR ALL ITS VEHICLES TO SAVE CLIENTS TIME AND EFFORT DEARBORN, Mich., June 28, 2016 – Lincoln adds the luxury segment’s only standard Pickup and Delivery Service across all 2017 nameplates starting with the all-new Lincoln Continental. The exclusive standard service builds on the brand’s commitment to providing a human, warm and personal experience at all Lincoln dealerships. Lincoln Service Valet will pick up a client’s vehicle at an agreed location and, provide a complimentary Lincoln loaner vehicle, and then take the client’s vehicle to the dealership for service. Once complete, clients can arrange for their washed and serviced vehicle to be returned to them at the location of their choice. “Lincoln Pickup and Delivery service revolves around complementing our luxury vehicles with outstanding luxury experiences,” says Andrew Frick, Lincoln North American director of sales and services. “This kind of Quiet Luxury provides an exclusive and personally crafted service experience that enhances their lifestyle and saves them what is a true luxury item – their time.” Lincoln has been piloting this program with a select group of dealers since May 2015 with overwhelming results: 98 percent of clients indicate they would be more likely to receive service from that Lincoln dealer in the future 98 percent would recommend Lincoln and the service to a friend 93 percent are likely to purchase another Lincoln vehicle “Our dealers view this as a way to differentiate the client experience for Lincoln owners,” says Frick. “No matter what Lincoln vehicle clients have from our portfolio, they have the peace of mind of getting that vehicle to and from service at a location of their choice, with a complimentary Lincoln loaner in order to maintain their busy schedules. “When nearly 100 percent of clients receiving this service say they would recommend Lincoln to a friend, it clearly indicates positive momentum for the brand and our dealers,” adds Frick. This exclusive Pickup and Delivery marks another milestone in Lincoln Motor Company commitment to merge great products, an outstanding experience and impeccable service – part of its original 2012 business plan. Since Lincoln began this journey, it has delivered four all-new products in four years, established a dealer network in China, built brand awareness, and increased volume for the brand and Lincoln products. As part of Lincoln’s ongoing client experience efforts, these successful programs have already been implemented: Lincoln Concierge: A trusted personal advisor – like the most attuned hotel concierge – assists clients 24/7 online at www.lincoln.com. While other luxury brands offer similar services, only Lincoln provides clients with an opportunity for video chat with a live person. Black Label: Started in 2015, the number of participating dealers has increased to more than 90 committed locations. Black Label provides personalized shopping with dedicated personnel in the showroom, online, or in locations convenient to clients. Specially trained Black Label experience liaisons meet prospective clients at their home, office, or anywhere within 30 miles of the showroom to begin the experience. Acting as a personal shopping assistant, the liaison helps clients identify their ideal vehicle by sharing paint and wood trim samples, as well as material swatches. Lincoln Black Label owners enjoy special privileges – ranging from extended premium service and maintenance coverage on wear items to Culinary Collection membership that provides access to a curated list of restaurants from coast to coast. Date Night: This extended test drive allows qualified buyers the chance to experience a Lincoln vehicle for up to 48 hours. In 2015, Date Night resulted in more than 11,000 sessions at select dealers, prompting nearly an 11 percent increase in Lincoln purchases. The program attracted nearly 70 percent of clients who had been with other luxury nameplates. Lincoln Institute: Training for key client-facing individuals is provided through Lincoln Institute. The program, which combines all of the brand’s training efforts under one umbrella, has been expanded to include all Lincoln dealers. Lincoln Institute includes not only hospitality training, but an all-new series of workshops that provide participants with tools to help local teams develop and execute processes consistently for luxury clients. Pickup and Delivery is an important milestone in Lincoln’s commitment to providing personal client services to match its unique luxury products, coming at the perfect time as Lincoln prepares to launch the much-anticipated 2017 Lincoln Continental. The all-new Lincoln Continental returns as the brand flagship this fall, offering first-class travel for clients in America and China through warm, human touches and a contemporary design. The full-size sedan is designed to appeal to culturally progressive clients who define luxury on their own terms – craving superior quality, craftsmanship and safety. “Quiet Luxury is Lincoln’s unique approach to ensure impeccable service is consistent with our outstanding products for the ultimate client experience,” says Frick. View full article

Like it or not, crossovers are dominating the automotive landscape. This is nowhere more apparent than the compact crossover class as it seems a month doesn’t go by without a new model, redesign, or refresh being announced. Case in point is the vehicle seen here, the 2016 Subaru Forester. Just a few weeks after we drove it, Subaru announced mid-cycle refresh which brings a slightly revised exterior, new interior bits, and an upgraded EyeSight system. Now is that going to stop us from reviewing the 2016 model? No. Here is what we thought of the pre-refreshed Forester. In the spectrum of crossover design, the Forester would be at the boring end. This is a model that doesn’t have any hint of style. It is just a box on wheels. There is a positive to this shape as it gives the Forester a large area of glass. Not only does this improve overall visibility, it also makes the interior feel quite airy and huge. Speaking of which, the Forester’s interior is one of the most spacious in the class. No matter if you’re sitting in the front or back, you’ll have plenty of head and legroom. The seats themselves provide the right the amount of comfort and support for long trips. Cargo space is towards the top with 31.5 cubic feet with the rear seat up and 68.5 cubic feet with the rear seat down. It should be noted models without the panoramic sunroof have a larger cargo area - 34.4/74.7 cubic feet. As for the dash, it is similar to the one you’ll find in the Impreza and XV Crosstrek. On the one hand, it is very simple with a logical control layout. On the other hand, Subaru’s choice in materials is slightly disappointing with a fair amount of hard plastics on the dash and door panels. All models feature Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system that comes with either a 6.5-inch or 7-inch screen. Our tester came with latter via an option package. Starlink is one of the better infotainment systems in the marketplace with a simple interface, quick performance, and touch buttons that actually respond on a consistent basis. Most Foresters will feature the engine found in our tester; a 2.5L boxer-four with 170 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual is standard on the base model, but most Foresters will come equipped with a CVT. Around town, the 2.5 provides a decent amount of power. We do wish the responsiveness of the engine was a little bit better, but that could be fixed with some tweaks to the CVT. On the freeway, the Forester does take its time to get up to speed. Again, this is likely due to the CVT needing some tweaking. At least the CVT does help with fuel economy. The EPA rates the Forester 2.5i with the CVT at 24 City/32 Highway/27 Combined. Our average for the week landed around 27 MPG. For the daily grind, the Forester’s suspension delivers a smooth and cushy ride. Another plus is how much quieter Subaru has been making their vehicles. Compared to previous Subarus we have driven, the Forester has a noticeable decrease in road and wind noise. Handling can be described as meh. The Forester does show good body control when going around corners, but the steering feels somewhat rubbery. For most people, this isn’t a deal breaker. The Forester may not be the sharpest looking compact crossover in the class. But it does have a number of traits that buyers will find as positives such as a spacious interior, high fuel economy figures, all-wheel drive as standard equipment, and Subaru’s excellent EyeSight system that brings lane departure warning, pre-collision braking, and adaptive cruise control that is available on models such as the Premium. A competent crossover that goes about its business without shouting about it, the Forester in a nutshell. Disclaimer: Subaru Provided the Forester, Insurance, and One Tank of Gas Year: 2016 Make: Subaru Model: Forester Trim: 2.5i Premium Engine: 2.5L Boxer-Four Driveline: CVT, All-Wheel Drive Horsepower @ RPM: 170 @ 5,800 Torque @ RPM: 174 @ 4,100 Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 24/32/27 Curb Weight: 3,391 lbs Location of Manufacture: Ōta, Gunma Japan Base Price: $24,795 As Tested Price: $28,540 (Includes $850.00 Destination Charge) Options: All-Weather Package - $1,895 Lineartronic CVT - $1,000 View full article