The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee was Chrysler LLC — or the “new” Chrysler’s — first “all-new” vehicle following its government-managed bankruptcy and acquisition by Italy’s Fiat. It rolled on an all-new architecture shared with Mercedes-Benz’s M-Class SUV — a legacy of its former ownership by Daimler — and powered by an all-new world-class V6. It was good looking, upgraded inside and out, and was quite frankly, a pleasant surprise that sold very well, contributing handsomely to Chrysler’s newfound profitability. read more »
The more I observe local politics, the more I agree politics make strange bedfellows.
For example, Port Orchard City Councilman Fred Chang, an ultra-liberal, and in my view, less than honest Democrat, up for re-election in November, recently held a kickoff fundraiser. No surprise there. What is surprising is where it was held and who attended and contributed to his campaign. The venue was the B&B owned by Republican PCO Gil Michael — who many believe is actually Port Orchard’s “real” Mayor, in spite of the fact no one elected him. He’s been referred to in the online comments in the Kitsap Sun and Port Orchard Independent as well as Facebook and Twitter, as Mayor Tim Matthes’ “puppetmaster,” something many people familiar with Port Orchard politics believe is absolutely true. read more »
For 2013, the venerable Ford Mustang received a facelift resulting in bolder, cleaner lines and a physically larger vehicle that still evokes Steve McQueen’s Bullitt Mustang, made famous in the original car chase movie of the same name.
Redesigned for the 2005 model year, the Mustang got universal rave reviews for styling that captured both the retro look, and spirit of the old Mustang while still looking contemporary. Continual, but subtle styling tweaks since then keep making it even better — and the 2013 Mustang is no exception. read more »
The term “Crossover SUV” has become standard nomenclature throughout the automotive industry, without a clear definition of what, exactly, makes up such a vehicle. According to Webster, the definition of “crossover” can refer to almost anything blending various elements that create something popular with a new audience. In automotive terms, crossovers have become a blend of minivans, family sedans and traditional Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV), with manufacturers constantly seeking new audiences for these feats of engineering. read more »
Decreeing that Toyota, “…will build no more boring cars,” the company’s recently ascended President and CEO Akio Toyoda has called upon his employees to design and build cars with renewed passion and enthusiasm. And nowhere is that spirit more evident than in the all-new 2013 Toyota Avalon — the first in what Toyota says will be a long line of much more stylish cars, departing from the staid vehicles of the past four decades. While long recognized as mechanically bulletproof, no one has ever accused Toyota of being a trend-setting style leader. However, the Avalon is a game changer — the first new design and build under Toyoda’s reign. read more »
MODEL TESTED
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Recently, Scott Alprin of Emerald Yachts, the Port of Bremerton’s main tenant at the money-losing Bremerton Marina, proposed a plan to port CEO Tim Thomson and marina operations manager Kathy Garcia for marketing the facility. Alprin, who has two locations — Bremerton and Gig Harbor — noted that less than 5 percent of his sales currently come from the Bremerton Marina location, and said if nothing is done to increase business there, he’ll close that operation down when his lease expires in September.
But he added a caveat, saying that if someone — himself or another person — does something to effectively market the marina this coming boating season (which opens May 4), he’d be willing to stay. read more »
After four highly successful generations, the venerable Nissan Altima enters its fifth generation as a totally new vehicle for 2013. Boasting a combination of innovative mechanical improvements, painstakingly tuned ride and handling, coupled with advanced cockpit connectivity and sleek styling, the 2013 Altima feels and drives like it’s in a class above its crowded midsize segment. read more »
The popular Kia Sorento, Kia’s flagship SUV, has received a major update for the 2014 model year. It could be viewed as a mid-cycle refresh, although Kia marketeers are careful not to use the term “all new,” the Sorento sports about 80 percent new and/or re-engineered content, with a list of revisions much more extensive than the usual mid-cycle facelift. read more »
