by L Baures | Feb 16, 2018 | Automotive News
Photo: VW
Making its debut at the Chicago Auto Show, the 2019 Arteon is a mid-sized sedan that will be available with optional 4Motion® all-wheel drive.
2019 Volkswagon Arteon
The Arteon will be a flagship top of the line upmarket luxury touring sedan with a premium interior. The wheelbase is longer than the Volkswagen CC (that it will replace) giving it a much more planted stance. The luxury sedan has already been on the European market since mid-2017. Hinrich J. Woebcken, CEO of the North American Region, Volkswagen says, “This car is the spiritual successor to the CC, but it is bolder and faster”.
Photo: VW
Specs
Powertrain
- 2.0-liter turbocharged TSI® gasoline engine with direct injection.
- 268 horsepower.
- 258 lb-ft torque.
- 8-speed automatic transmission.
- Optional 4Motion® all-wheel drive.
Exterior highlights
- 18″ aluminum alloy wheels (19″ wheel available).
- Fastback design.
- Wide planted stance.
- Sloping rear roofline.
- LED headlights.
- LED taillights.
- Chrome grille.
- Frameless side windows.
- Dual trapezoidal exhaust tips.
- Rear spoiler.
Interior highlights
- Sports seats.
- Heated front seats (ventilated cooling seats available).
- Available; massaging driver’s seat, Nappa leather, and memory seats.
- 3 zone climate control.
- 8″ touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay™, Android Auto™ and MirrorLink®.
- Puch start button.
- Keyless entry.
- Car-Net connected vehicle services.
- Dynaudio® premium audio.
- Panoramic sunroof.
- Easy-open power trunk (activated by ‘kicking foot action’ under rear bumper).
Safety
The Volkswagen Arteon will have all the latest safety technology including Adaptive Cruise Contol (ACC) with Stop and Go as an option. Foward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist), and Blind Spot Monitor (with Rear Traffic Alert) are all standard. Safety features also optional on the Arteon will be Lane Departure Warning with Lane Assist, High Beam Control, Park Assist and an Overhead Camera View.
“In addition, the 2019 Arteon offers a combination of both passive and active safety systems that are engineered to meet or exceed current crash regulations. These systems include the class-exclusive Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and a reactive hood”, says VW.
Warranty coverage will be 6 years or 72, 000 miles, bumper-to-bumper. One of the longest limited warranties available on new cars today.
Trim levels
When will it be available?
The Volkswagen Arteon is expected to arrive in dealers by Fall of 2018. For more information, you can contact your Volkswagen dealer.
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Photos: VW
This car will be a great alternative for a customer looking for all the features of an Audi but with a Volkswagen price.
All New 2019 Volkswagen Jetta
How Soon Do You Need Insurance on a New Vehicle Purchase?
“Volkswagen Arteon European Sales Figures.” Carsalesbase.com, 8 Feb. 2018,
by L Baures | Feb 15, 2018 | Trusted Auto Pros
Here’s a quick tutorial on changing the time/clock on a 2016/2017 model year Jeep Renegade. First, you will have to figure out which screen version you have. Look at the pictures below and compare to the one in your vehicle.
2016/2017 Jeep Renegade
There are three different screen models in the Renegade. The 3.0 (RA1), 5.0 (RA2) and the 6.5 (RA4).
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3.0 (RA1)
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5.0 (RA2)
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6.5 (RA4)
How to change the clock on the 3.0 (RA1)
3.0 (RA1)
- Press the MENU button (middle bottom of the radio)
- Push ENTER/BROWSE (bottom right)
- Select TIME and FORMAT
- Use the ENTER/BROWSE button to select SET TIME
- Hours and minutes can be adjusted by turning TUNE/SCROLL knob
- Push the ENTER/BROWSE button to move to the next section
- When you’re happy with time set, press BACK to exit
How to change the clock on the 5.0 (RA2)
5.0 (RA2)
- On the right-hand side of the radio, push the MORE button
- Press the SETTINGS option on the touchscreen
- Select CLOCK and DATE
- Press SET TIME
- Touch UP or DOWN arrows to set the hours and minutes
- Select 12hr or 24hr format
- On the touchscreen, select DONE to exit
How to change the clock on 6.5 (RA4)
6.5 (RA4)
If the clock is not displayed, on the touchscreen press SETTINGS then CLOCK, followed by ON.
On the 6.5 (RA4) system, the clock is automatically updated using information from the GPS. If for some reason, you need to set it manually here’s how:
- On the touchscreen, select the clock display
- A message will appear asking if you’d like to set the time
- Press YES
- Select “+” or “-” to adjust the hours and minutes
Fun fact, Daylight Savings is not always on the same date, but it always on a Sunday.
For Wyoming, in 2018 Daylight Savings Time will change on Sunday, March 11th. At 2 am the clocks will go forward. On Sunday, November 4th, at 2 am the clocks will go back.
Do you have a question or topic you’d like us to write about? Get in touch, comment below or shoot me an email.
FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne Passes, Mike Manley takes the Lead
by L Baures | Feb 14, 2018 | Automotive News
Toyota released a teaser image of a sports car.
The title of the image says, “The Legend Returns”. The only other information they posted on the press release is, “a modern racing concept signals Toyota’s commitment to bring back to the market its most iconic sports car”. More information will be available on March 6th at the Geneva Motor Show.
What is the car?
From the picture posted, it’s clear there is a rear spoiler and bubble-like roof line. This would indicate it’s a sports car. I haven’t seen many Yaris’ with great big wings mounted on the back end. Here’s what we do know though. Toyota has been working on a concept car called the FT-1, which has a big wing at the back. Pictures of the concept have been available from 2014, so this car has been in the works for quite some time. Hopefully, this means, we can expect big results from Toyota. Look at the striking resemblance between the teaser photo and the concept photos. The wing is a little different, but it’s a still a ginormous wing and the roofline is very close.
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Photo: Toyota
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Photo: Toyota
Could it be the new Supra?
1995 MKIV Supra Turbo Photo: Toyota
With a bold title like, “The Legend Returns”, is a strong indication this car could be seen as the new Supra. Toyota has had a good run of legendary sports car including the Celica GT4 rally car and the drifters dream AE86. The RWD Supra, however, was a 90’s legend during a Japanese sports car boom that seen performance vehicles like the Nissan Skyline GTR’s and Honda (Acura) NSX’s emerge.
These beasts were putting out almost 300hp from the factory around 20 years ago. Back in those days, it must have been the equivalent to a Challenger Hellcat release. Not only were the cars a lot of fun straight out of the showroom but also have highly tunable engines. The Supra’s popularity was heightened after the movie release, “Fast and Furious” in which an orange MKIV Supra Targa top was featured. The engines used in the MKIV Supra’s are still legendary among car enthusiasts today. There were two engine options for the MKIV Supra, a naturally aspirated 3.0 liter inline six (2JZ-GE) and the 3.0 liter inline six with twin turbochargers (2JZ-GTE).
Which powerplant will it have?
According to apparent leaked information from Japan’s Best Car Magazine, a Supra MKVforum member posted that it’ll be a 3.0 liter straight six again. Producing 335hp and 332 lb-ft of torque paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission with a curb weight of 3,284 lbs. Car enthusiasts are probably not excited by those numbers considering how long this car has been in development.
Another member of the same forum debunked at least of those ‘rumors’. The member with username ‘A70TTR’ says, “Curb weight is flat out wrong by a lot” and, “I have to tread carefully here, but it’s not disappointing”.
Screenshot from supramkv.com
Road and Track say the engine is in development with German manufacturer BMW sharing the Z4 platform. “The two companies are working together on engines and lithium-ion batteries” quotes Road and Track. So if they did go with a 3.0 liter straight six and threw in a hybrid (because it’s Toyota and it’s 2018) some more power/torque could be possible. BMW currently offers a 2.0 liter 4 cylinder (240 hp), and a 3.0 liter turbocharged inline six (300hp) with overboost function. These engines would line up with the rumors, however, nothing has yet been officially published or said about an electric motor or what kind of hybrid functionality it may have by Toyota.
Lexus has the RC F GT car. The GT3 race car specs published include a 467 hp, 5.0-liter V-8 engine (2UR-GSE). Also noted is an 8-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode. Could this be a contender for engine choice?
Here are some of the official Toyota concept images released over the past few years
by L Baures | Feb 13, 2018 | Trusted Auto Pros
Winter in Wyoming
We all know that salt is corrosive and can cause rust on metal. In Wyoming, we don’t need to worry as much about salt damage as they do in other States. States that are close to the Ocean, for example, not only have to deal with salt on the roads to melt snow, but salt from the Ocean mixed with moisture will corrode a vehicle.
A recent report from SafeWise, states that WYOMING RANKS AS THE MOST DANGEROUS STATE FOR DRIVING IN SNOW.
Considering the sheer amount of snow Wyoming gets, we can probably all agree, it’s a good idea to clear the roads.
The impact of bad winter road conditions can be horrific and terrifying at best. Aside from plowing the roads, WYDOT (Wyoming Department of Transport) also put down a salt/sand mix and other chemicals before and after snowstorms.
Which road chemicals are used in Wyoming?
We contacted WTDOT to find out a little more about the chemicals they use. Sand has no effect on melting snow or ice and is purely used as an aid to give tire traction. A salt/sand combination is used regularly. WYDOT says that each area has its own effective blend of sand and salt. More salt may be added to the sand to stop the stockpile from freezing. If the stockpile freezes it will result in large chunks of sand that cannot be used. The goal is to be able to spread the mix evenly on the highway.
- Magnesium chloride
- Salt brine
- Geo-melt
- Ice-slicer
Magnesium Chloride
Magnesium chloride is widely used, “which is a natural combination of chlorides and dirt or grit”, says WYDOT, “…mined from the ground without any modification and looks much like our normal sand/salt material, only the concentration of salt is much higher”.
Salt brine and Geo-melt
Salt brine is a 23% Sodium Chloride 77% water mix that is used on snowpack. Geo-melt is added to the salt brine to assist in lowering the melting point, which means it will melt snow and ice down to about 8-10°F (depending on air temperature and wind).
Lines on the road from Salt brine Photo: Wikimedia, user Z22
“WYDOT is starting to do more anti-icing which is to place a layer of salt brine on the pavement before the snow begins to fall. As the snow builds up during the storm the salt brine keeps the snowpack from bonding to the pavement. This helps the snow plow remove the snowpack down to bare or wet pavement”.
When are they used?
These chemicals are used in different applications depending on the conditions. WYDO says they use Sodium Chloride the most because it’s the cheapest and works down to about 5 to 10 degrees. If the weather prediction calls for colder temperatures then Magnesium Chloride is used, down to about -5 to -10 degrees. If it gets really cold then Ice Slicer is used.
All of these chemicals are salt based.
How do these chemical affect my vehicle?
Salt + Water + Metal = Rust.
Although vehicles can be galvanized or have some paint protection, salt and/or corrosive products can still penetrate (especially underneath your vehicle). This will eventually cause rust. Rust will eat away at the metal, leaving nothing. Rust is not easy to get rid of either and will spread like a disease. It may also make it maintenance more expensive and/or take longer to repair due to parts being corroded or rusted.
Tips to protect your vehicle from salt, sand and winter de-icing chemicals
- Wash your vehicle before (salt brine can be applied to roads before a storm) and as soon as you can after a storm. Make sure it gets dried or any missed salt could stay in damp areas.
- Make sure you also wash the underneath of the vehicle (some drive-thru car washes offer this).
- Clean out wheel arches with a power washer.
- There are products available on the market to remove salt from vehicles (like a shampoo that specifically targets salt).
- Wax the vehicle at least once a year.
- Have a paint protection applied and keep it topped up/waxed.
- Have an undercoat protection applied to underneath the vehicle.
- If you do find some rust on body panels, have it treated/removed asap.
- Consider a ceramic coating.
More on Winter Vehicle Care Tips
Inama, Aimee. “Media inquiries – caring for vehicles”. message to WYDOT, 2 Feb 2018. Email.
Blogteam, Allstate. “Does Living Near The Ocean Affect Your Car?” The Allstate Blog, 12 July 2017, blog.allstate.com/does-living-near-the-ocean-affect-your-car/.
WY, DOT. “ WYDOT Prepares for Winter Season.” WYDOT Prepares for Winter Season – Pinedale, Wyoming, Pinedale Online, 25 Oct. 2015
“FAQ.” Ice Slicer, IceSlicer, 2015, www.iceslicer.com/faq.
“Magnesium Chloride Is It Bad for Your Car?” NH Oil Undercoating, 23 Nov. 2015, nhoilundercoating.com/magnesium-chloride-is-it-bad-for-your-car.
Cassidy, Erin. “Rock Salt versus Salt Brines: What’s Best for Road Safety?” Local Weather from AccuWeather.com – Superior Accuracy™, Accuweather.
Salt brine photo By Z22 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.
Ballard, Caroline. “Report Says Wyoming Most Dangerous State For Driving In Snow.”Wyoming Public Media, 28 Dec. 2017, wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/report-says-wyoming-most-dangerous-state-driving-snow#stream/0.
by L Baures | Feb 12, 2018 | Trusted Auto Pros
Updated 9/5/18
Fuel Efficient 4WD Pickup Trucks
With so many engine and transmission options on the market today, this can turn into quite a complex question. It’s easy for a manufacturer to claim most fuel-efficient truck, but they are most likely referring to the one with the least power or smallest engine. We want trucks to do truck things right, so the smallest engine might not work for everyone. To make it easier, I’ve compiled a list, taking the fuel economy numbers from the U.S. Department of Energy with vehicles placed in order based on ‘combined’ fuel consumption figures.
Compact Pickup Trucks
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GMC Canyon
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Toyota Tacoma
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Chevrolet Colorado
Diesel
The only compact pickup trucks with a diesel engine at the moment are the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado.
- GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado 2.8L Turbo Diesel Auto 6-speed 23 mpg combined (20mpg city/28mpg highway)
4 Cylinder Gas
- GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado 2.5L Auto 6-speed 21 mpg combined (19mpg city/24 mpg highway)
- Toyota Tacoma 2.7L Auto 6-speed 20 mpg combined (19mpg city/22 mpg highway)
6 Cylinder Gas
- Toyota Tacoma 3.5L Auto 6-speed 20 mpg combined (18mpg city 22 mpg highway)
- GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado 3.6L Auto 8-speed 19 mpg combined (17mpg city 24 mpg highway)
- Nissan Frontier 4.0L Auto 5-speed 17 mpg combined (15 mpg city 21 mpg highway)
Full size (half ton) 1500 pickups
Diesel
Currently only one vehicle in this segment, however, Ford will be coming out with their diesel F-150 in the next few months.
- RAM 1500 EcoDiesel 3.0L V-6 (240hp/420lb-ft torque) 27 mpg comined (21/29) ¹
Due to the Ford F-150 having two options for the twin turbo Ecoboost on smaller displacement engines, it wouldn’t be fair to list these by cylinders. These are grouped in accordance to horsepower.
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Chevrolet Silverado
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Ford F-150
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GMC Sierra
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RAM 1500
Less than 310hp- it’s a three-way tie!
- RAM 1500 3.6L V-6 (305hp/269lb-ft torque) Auto 8-speed 19 mpg combined (16/23)
- Ford F-150 3.3L V-6 (290hp/265lb-ft torque) Auto 6-speed 19 mpg combined (17/22)
- GMC Sierra/Chevrolet Silverado 4.3L V-6 (285hp/305 lb-ft torque) Auto 6-speed 19 mpg combined (17/22)
310hp-380hp
- Ford F-150 2.7L V-6 EcoBoost (325hp/400lb ft torque) Auto 10-speed 21 mpg combined (19/24)
- GMC Sierra/Chevy Silverado 5.3L V-8 (355hp/383 lb-ft torque) Auto 6-speed 18 mpg combined (16/22)
- Ford F-150 3.5L V-6 EcoBoost (375hp/470lb ft torque) Auto10-speed 18 mpg combined (16/21)
- GMC Sierra/Chevy Silverado 5.3L V-8 (355hp/383 lb-ft torque) Auto 8-speed 17 mpg combined (15/20)
What’s interesting here is that the 6-speed auto is more fuel efficient than the 8-speed transmission in the GMC Sierra
380hp +
This category is interesting because the trucks listed previously are all either regular gas or diesel. In this section, not all the trucks are based on regular gasoline, so whilst the mpg might be similar it may be based on premium fuel, which costs more than regular fuel. Therefore this section will be based on fuel costs as listed on U.S. Dept Energy. (*Based on 45% highway, 55% city driving, 15,000 annual miles and current fuel prices)
- Ford F-150 5.0L V-8 (395hp/400 lb-ft) Auto 10-speed 17 mpg combined (15/19) Regular gas Annual fuel cost $2,200*
- RAM 1500 5.7L HEMI V-8 (395hp/410lb-ft) Auto 8-speed 17 mpg combined (15/21) Midgrade gas Annual fuel cost $2,450*
- GMC Serra/Chevy Silverado 6.2L V-8 (420hp/460lb-ft) Auto 8-speed 17 mpg combined (15/20) Premium gas Annual fuel cost $2,650*
- Toyota Tundra 5.7L V-8 (381hp/401 lb-ft) Auto 6-speed 14mpg combined (13/17) Regular gas Annual fuel cost $2,700*
- RAM 1500 5.7L HEMI V-8 (395/410 lb-ft) Auto 6-speed 14 mpg combined (13/18) Midgrade gas Annual fuel cost $3,000*
Fuel Efficient 4WD Pickup Trucks are a matter of which fuel efficiency level is suitable for your needs in a truck.
“Compare Side-by-Side.” 2018 Nissan Titan 4WD, 14 Dec. 2017, www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=39668.
Photos from respective manufacturer media sites
¹Per FCA Media
by L Baures | Feb 9, 2018 | Trusted Auto Pros
What is remote start?
Remote start is a feature that is becoming more and more popular on automatic (transmission) vehicles. It is almost considered a standard feature with some manufacturers. For example, remote start has been standard on almost all GMC’s for quite a few years now. The feature allows the driver to start their vehicle remotely (ie. from inside the house). Depending on the year and trim of the vehicle, there are two ways this can be done. With the original keyfob or with a smartphone (through OnStar).
How to remote start?
GMC’s, Chevrolet’s and Buick’s are all made by General Motors, so the procedure is the same.
Using the keyfob:
PUSH ‘LOCK’ TWICE THEN PRESS AND HOLD SEMICIRCLE
The vehicle will start up and remain running for 10 minutes, or until the driver gets in and either puts the key in and turns to on, or pushes the start button. After 10 minutes of no interaction from the driver, the vehicle will automatically shut off.
Using an APP
There are various apps available that can also remote start your GMC, Chevy or Buick. These work via satellite and can be used from much further away. Depending on the age of the vehicle or whether you just bought it and got a free trial of OnStar, a subscription may be needed. Check with your local GM dealer to find out if you have it or not. Most vehicles come with a free 5 year basic OnStar plan which includes the remote start via app feature, from new.
Apps:
- OnStar RemoteLink
- myChevrolet
- myGMC
- myBuick
OnStar RemoteLink APP Photo: GM Media
If you haven’t done so already, download the appropriate app for your vehicle on your smartphone (via GooglePlay or Itunes App store etc). You will then need to register/create an account. If you need assistance with is, call or stop by your GM dealer.
Log in to your APP. Tap the semicircle.
Whilst using feature, the doors will always remain locked until unlocked by the driver. So no need to worry about vehicle thefts. The remote start feature can only be used twice consecutively before needing to manually start the ignition.
Hope this helps, if you have any other remote start questions feel free to contact us, comment, or send us a message.
![How To: Remote Start GMC, Chevrolet, Buick [Video]](https://tap.fremontmotors.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/hs7pcdtlopq-1080x675.jpg)
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