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Volkswagen Phaeton, CC, Passat Replacement for North America – Car News – Car and Driver
With a renewed focus on vehicles tailored to the North American market, Volkswagen has a slew of products in the pipeline.
In the coming years, look for a return of the top-of-the-line luxury Phaeton, a new four-door pseudo-coupe slotted just below it, and a replacement for the
that is substantially larger than today’s model, as well as a minivan and an emphasis on diesels, according to Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO of Volkswagen of America, in an interview with
Car and Driver .
What Is a Group Auto Insurance Policy?
If you are interested in paying less while getting more it would seem that with today’s economy where commodity prices are never getting cheaper, the world is not a perfect place for you to wonder. Well this is not the case all of the time. If you are a smart shopper you know that the quest for an affordable services and products is not a futile struggle.
Even with finding car insurance policy, affordable rates can be found. With the high-demand for insurance policies several car insurance companies are now appearing on the scene. Moreover with a high competition car insurance providers are being more cutthroat with their prices and offer other marketing strategies.
If you are serious in finding car insurance policy without thinking about where to get the payment of something you cannot afford, there are a lot of ways on how to lower your premiums. Since there are several factors that could influence car insurance policy rates, it would be best for you to focus on those things and act upon after you have understood how they could be a help or a problem for you.
Now, another out spurring way on how to get a good deal without diminishing the comprehensiveness of the coverage exists. However, you cannot do this alone; you will need some affiliation to qualify for this marketing strategy of group indemnity.
Indeed the Group Auto Insurance is now growing in popularity due to its alluring promise of a win-win situation. All parties are said to benefit with this insurance. Well it is actually a win-win-win scenario since this policy offers a three way win which means that the policy providers, organization of the policy holders and the policy holders themselves all have an equal share of fortune with this Group Auto Insurance.
Group Auto Insurance is among the most successful marketing strategy designed by car insurance providers to allure consumers to buy their policy and at the same time reward people for their loyalty and patronage.
As mentioned earlier a requirement for this service is that applicants must have an affiliation that can be covered by the policy. If you are a member of a business group, organizations, companies and civic groups you and your group have a chance for this group insurance scheme opportunity.
Companies who provide employers company cars usually are the main subscribers of this insurance policy however even if your group is just your family given that each of you is driving his/her own car then Group Auto Insurance can be set available for you.
Getting Familiar with Auto Insurance Terms
Buying an insurance package for your car is a consideration of three important things which are the value of your vehicle, the frequency of your accidents and the amount of money which you are willing to pay for the insurance coverage. It is deemed more important to understand certain terms used in the insurance industry for automobile coverage before going into the intricacies of the entire insurance package.
Knowing the meanings of some terms used in the insurance industry would help a lot in making you decide on what to buy. The first term you have to get familiar with is deductible. All insurances make use of deductibles. This deductible is referred to as the amount which the policy holder needs to pay aside from the amount charged against the insurance company. The deductible and the payment from the company will make up the policy limits. The company shall be liable for the remainder of each covered loss.
Discounts are very common to indemnity packages that you have to know the differences of each offered discount. The Multi-Car discount is offered for those who want more than one vehicle to be insured under the same policy. This is an advantage for those policy holders who live in states that allow stacking of indemnity or the accumulation and collection of indemnity claims to reach the amount of coverage.
No-fault indemnity is another terminology you need to understand because many states have given the chance for accident victims to sue the driver at-fault if the damages reached more than the amount prescribed by the state. Furthermore, auto-accident victims are given the right to directly collect from their insurers for hospital and medical expenses regardless of who is to be blamed for the accident.
If you may want to know the hottest choice for car indemnity today, you should also understand the PAP or the Personal Auto Policy. This kind of policy is a trend in the indemnity industry today because it has been written in such a way that the ordinary policy holder could understand covering almost all benefits including physical damage protection, medical payments and uninsured motorist coverage.
Aside from the terms defined above, you should also learn about split limit which is an indemnity coverage created with stated limits for different coverage; the length of time or the duration of the policy which is called “term”; and the primary function of the vehicle for which indemnity rates are primarily based on. Getting acquainted with these terminologies will certainly help you to have a good grasp of the auto insurance you are going to buy.
Being familiar with auto insurance Atlanta
2011 Hyundai Sonata SE – Short Take Road Test – Auto Reviews – Car and Driver
Hyundai is betting big that the all-new 2011 Sonata’s striking looks will hook as many consumers as its thrifty engine and gobs of standard equipment.
on first glancing at its four-cylinder-only spec sheet and seeing it on display at last fall’s Los Angeles auto show. But we immediately wondered whether it would be as dynamically competent as it is aesthetically attractive. More on that in a minute—first, the stats and info.
The Goods The 2011 Sonata is nearly an inch longer than the previous model, with a wheelbase stretch of 2.6 inches. The bloat brings the sedan up to the EPA’s large-car classification, alongside the
. But weight is kept in check through the extensive use of high-strength steel, beneficial because the Sonata won’t have the V-6 option that its competitors offer but sell in relatively low numbers. The sole engine for now in all three trims (GLS, SE, and Limited) is a
that makes 198 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. Our SE test model’s standard dual exhaust added 2 hp and 2 lb-ft, bringing the totals to 200 hp and 186 lb-ft. A Hyundai-designed six-speed automatic is offered across the range, with the base GLS getting a standard six-speed manual. An optional direct-injection, 2.0-liter turbo-four will appease the power hungry when it launches later in the year, at which time a
will also be introduced as a range-topping model.
Weighing in at a tidy 3340 pounds, the SE hustled to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 16.1 at 89 mph. No records were broken, but the times are within a few ticks of the quickest four-cylinder players in the class, the Accord and the Nissan Altima. Our sporty SE model’s skidpad grip of 0.84 g is among the best in the segment, too, but its 181-foot stopping performance from 70 mph is merely so-so.
But a family hauler like this isn’t about track numbers. What’s important is that the Sonata is responsive and predictable at the helm. The direct-injected four can be a little raucous when pushed, but it offers good thrust from low revs. There’s plenty of grunt to pull out comfortably into fast-moving traffic. The brakes are solid, with a reassuringly firm pedal, and the electrically assisted steering, although vague and a tad slow, offers decent turn-in response. The SE’s standard 18-inch wheels, V-rated Hankook all-season rubber, and sport-tuned suspension (front struts, multilink rear) provide more than enough cornering confidence to send groceries and toys flying about the cabin while still permitting a forgiving ride with minimal road noise. In addition to the standard manumatic shift gate, SE models sport paddle shifters on the steering wheel, although they’re more an affectation than anything particularly useful in everyday life. Sport seats with more-aggressive bolstering would round out the SE package nicely, but they’re not on the options list.
Fuel economy for all auto-equipped Sonatas is EPA rated at an impressive 22 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway—24/35 mpg with the manual—with the highway figure being best in class. We’re anxious to drive the new Hyundai on more sedate commutes around Ann Arbor, however, as our 400-mile flog in the mountains around San Diego netted only a 24-mpg average.
Go with the Flow, Man
Called “fluidic sculpture” and looking like a Far East cousin of the Volkswagen CC—with a dash of Mercedes-Benz CLS-class thrown in for good measure—the Sonata’s sleek new design hints at styling cues that will proliferate throughout Hyundai’s lineup. The result is very striking on the road, and the Sonata looks downright beautiful parked next to the dowdy Accord. A prominent crease adds depth to the body as it dives across the car’s flanks, and a chrome strip under the windows extends all the way forward to the headlights, lending additional contrast. SE models come with the aforementioned dual exhausts and sharp-looking 18s (16s and 17s are the sizes available on GLS and Limited models), as well as a darker finish for the prominent chrome grille and stylized “H” emblem.
The glitzy, upscale theme carries over inside, too, with flowing shapes, a multitude of attractive materials, and impressive quality—forget Toyota, the Korean automaker is quickly homing in on Lexus-level fit and finish. Although the Sonata’s beltline is relatively high, visibility is good in all directions, with minimal blind spots. Combined with the nice mix of textures, the interior feels warmer and airier than the mostly dark hues suggest.
The instrument panel looks sharp and is easy to read, with digital readouts inside the analog speedometer and tach that flank a multifunctional info screen. The center stack is uncluttered, with basic single-zone climate controls (a dual-zone setup is offered on the Limited). The optional touch-screen nav system looks crisp and is intuitive to use. Complaints are few and include a steering column that felt as if it were positioned a bit low on the dash and lacked enough rake for lankier drivers. And despite a generous 61 cubic feet of space for front passengers, along with one of the largest trunks in its class at 16 cubes, the Sonata’s back seat is a bit narrow for three adults and short on headroom due to the sloping rear window. Vanity does have its drawbacks.
The Power Play Although it’s clear Hyundai has really upped its game with the 2011 Sonata, pricing has changed little from that of the previous generation. GLS models start at a competitive $19,915 with the six-speed manual; standard features include six airbags, ABS and electronic stability control, keyless entry, power windows and locks, heated and powered mirrors, and Bluetooth connectivity. An additional grand will net you the six-speed auto. Stepping up to one like our SE tester will run $23,315 to start and just over $26,000 with the optional Navigation and Sunroof package, which is the only major option. This combination suited us well, but sadly, it cannot be configured with heated leather seats. For that luxury, you must spend at least $26,015 for the Limited model, which also comes with dual-zone climate control, auto-dimming mirrors, vents for rear-seat passengers, and other unique, upscale bits. A $2100 Navigation package adds touch-screen nav, a rearview camera, and a premium Infinity audio system, bringing a loaded Sonata to just over $28,000.
Factoring in the attractive pricing, we find it’s hard to fault the new Sonata on a major level. It does everything well save for ultimate driving thrills, and it’s mega-stylish. However, the Sonata still needs to prove itself in the market—the mainstream sedan segment in which it resides is hotly contested, with sales measured in the hundreds of thousands. We’re eager to stack this car up directly against the 10Best-winning Honda Accord to see if the Hyundai’s newfound goodness is enough to topple the king from its comparison-test throne. But you can still color us very impressed, no matter what.
Article source: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q1/2011_hyundai_sonata_se-short_take_road_test