Archive for the ‘Jeep’ Category

And the award goes to… the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee! The all-new SUV was recently named the 2011 Urban Truck of the Year by Decisive Auto. With its exceptional performance, newly designed interior and improved handling, the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee has been winning awards seemingly non-stop since its debut.

“The 2011 Grand Cherokee is improved in every way, while faithfully capturing the spirit of its predecessor,” said Lyndon Bell, editor-in-chief of Decisive Auto.

A panel of 15 automotive journalists spent months driving various SUVs and trucks before choosing the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee as Urban Truck of the year. Their decision was based on styling, practicality and attainability.
Jeep’s commitment to excellence in the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee has also been recognized with several other honors, including:

• Consumers Digest “Best Buy”
• Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Award for Off-Road Ability
• Texas Auto Writers Association “SUV of Texas”
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee received a variety of new features to improve its look, performance and driving capabilities.

• Soft-touch leather surfaces
• SmartBeam Intelligent headlamps
• Uconnect system
• 4-way power lumbar seats
• Selec-Terrain System
• Blind spot monitoring system

With its long list of awards, great new features and a starting price around $30,000, the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is an excellent option to consider when looking for your next vehicle. Get more information on Grand Cherokee features and Performance Auto’s line-up of Grand Cherokees at PerformanceAuto.com.

If you’ve visited the gas station recently, you may have noticed a new fuel label—E85. What is E85? Can your vehicle run on it? We’re here to answer these questions and more.

E85 is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent unleaded gasoline. The 85 percent ethanol is made from fermented corn or other grain products. Because of this, E85 is fairly easy to find in the Midwest, where the majority of the nation’s corn is grown.

Ford, Toyota, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz and Honda all make vehicles capable of running on E85.  Vehicles such as the Ford F-150, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Dodge Durango, also known as flexible-fuel vehicles, are able to run on a variety of fuels. They work with 100 percent E85, 100 percent pump gasoline or any combination of ethanol and gasoline. A special computer in each vehicle monitors these fuels and helps the vehicle run efficiently on whichever fuel you choose to fill up with.

E85 has many advantages over gasoline:
• E85 is up to 30 cents cheaper to fill-up with per gallon.
• E85 keeps fuel systems cleaner than gasoline, which results in potentially lower long-term maintenance costs.
• E85 vehicles have lower carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions than gas or diesel vehicles.
• E85 is a renewable resource.
• E85 can help lessen our dependence on foreign oil.

Ready to switch to E85? Check out our lineup of flexible fuel vehicles at www.PerformanceAuto.com.

Do you always have tons of stuff to take with you but feel your vehicle never seems to have enough room to fit it all? Yahoo Autos! Recently released a list of cargo-friendly vehicles that can help you haul anything you want with style and ease.

2011 Toyota Highlander – 95 cu. ft. cargo capacity
The 2011 Toyota Highlander gives you plenty of cargo room along with excellent performance and fuel economy. It sits lower to the ground than many other sport utility vehicles and has a power hatch to help you with loading and unloading.

2011 Ford Edge – 69 cu. ft. cargo capacity
The 2011 Ford Edge gives you solid handling and performance with even the heaviest of loads. The Edge has enough room for all your items and allows you to ride in comfort with improved noise and vibration.

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee – 68 cu. ft. cargo capacity
The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee gives you the ability to take your cargo and your passengers wherever you need to go with Jeep’s Go Anywhere capability. An updated cabin gives passengers heated seats and a more comfortable ride while your cargo remains safe and in place.

Distracted driving has become a serious problem in our country, particularly due to the use of cell phones and other electronic devices while driving.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Institute reports that in 2008, more than 20 percent of all car crashes occurred because of some type of driver distraction.  Furthermore, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety says that drivers who use hand held devices are four times more likely to get into accidents serious enough to injure themselves.

With such staggering statistics, we must do whatever we can to eliminate distractions so drivers can physically and mentally focus on the road.  When drivers engage in distracted driving behaviors, they not only endanger themselves, but they put everyone around them at risk too.  We have always had a moral obligation to put the phones down, but now it’s the law.  Nebraska and Iowa recently passed laws banning texting while driving.

Vehicle manufacturers are also doing what they can to help eliminate driving distractions. 

• Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles feature the UConnect system.  UConnect is an in-vehicle, hands free communication system that allows you to talk on your Bluetooth enabled phone while keeping your hands on the wheel. 
•  Lexus vehicles also give drivers the capability to wirelessly connect their Bluetooth phones to the car via the navigation or audio system. 
• Ford cars feature the Ford Sync system, which allows drivers to make hands-free calls and control music and other functions with simple voice commands.  

While these features drastically reduce visual and manual driving distractions, they can still take your mind off the road.  To eliminate cognitive distractions as well, avoid using cell phones except in case of an emergency.

Many drivers simply do not recognize the dangers faced when they take their eyes and minds off the road and their hands off the wheel.  We are all part of the solution to distracted driving.  When teaching your own children to drive, we cannot expect them to put the phones down unless we do the same.  Set an example for your children and other drivers by putting the phone away while you drive and eliminate distractions behind the wheel.