Car Blog

Performance Driving Program Adds SLS AMG and Pro Level

Following its inaugural year in the U.S., Mercedes-AMG is presenting a new season for driving enthusiasts who want to sharpen their advanced driving skills at the AMG Driving Academy. Among the list of enhancements is the addition of a Pro Level for 2010. Under the guidance of top professional instructors, the AMG Driving Academy offers the opportunity to personally experience the excitement of motorsports and the track capabilities of Mercedes-AMG vehicles including the all new 563 hp SLS AMG, capable of 0-60 mph in less than four seconds.

Originally founded by Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach, Germany in 2007, the AMG Driving Academy launched in the U.S. in 2009. More than six-hundred driving enthusiasts participated in the advanced driver program last year, and participants now have the opportunity to attend an advanced three-day Pro Level program at one of the top circuits in the U.S., Road Atlanta. Program participants have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of several AMG models including the E63 AMG, SL63 AMG, C63 AMG, SLK55 AMG and SLS AMG. The program features custom-designed exercises to experience and teach dynamic driving capabilities across two of the top tracks in the U.S.:

– Road Atlanta (Braselton, GA) – May 15-16, June 11-14 & 28-30, 2010
– For more than 40 years, Road Atlanta has lured top tier sports car and motorcycle racers from around the world. This 2.54-mile, 12-turn road course is one of the most technically challenging in the U.S.
– Laguna Seca Raceway (Monterey, CA) – August 27-29, September 25-27, October 29-30 and November 12-14, 2010
– Located in one of North America’s best destination locations — the Monterey Peninsula — Laguna Seca features tremendous elevation changes, the famous Corkscrew complex and 2.24 sinewy miles of twisty asphalt.

The AMG Driving Academy Basic, Advanced and new Pro Level for 2010:
– Basic ($1,795 per participant): Intense one-day track program focuses on performance driving dynamics. Participants learn the fundamentals of vehicle dynamics and car control maneuvers using customized exercises. Once participants perfect car control and handling, they progress to a set of high-speed exercises that make use of the entire track.
– Road Atlanta: May 15-16 & June 11-12
– Laguna Seca Raceway: August 27-29, Sept. 25, Oct. 29-30 and Nov. 12

– Advanced ($3,295 per participant): Two-day program picks up where Basic leaves off, providing advanced training and technical on-track instruction. Onboard diagnostics and data capture enable detailed computer analysis and evaluation. The Advanced program is offered to drivers who complete either the Basic Level, AMG Challenge, European Driving Academy program or an equivalent course.
– Road Atlanta: June 13-14, 2010
– Laguna Seca Raceway: September 26-27 & November 13-14

– Pro ($3,995 per participant): The pinnacle of the AMG Driving Academy curriculum, Pro program offers increased instruction while challenging and improving capabilities and skills to a much greater degree.  During the three day program, participants train on the legendary Road Atlanta circuit. As speeds increase and skills improve, open lapping provides the maximum challenge and thrill. With an intense curriculum, AMG experienced instructors prepare participants to confidently negotiate the signature corners of Road Atlanta.
– Road Atlanta: June 28-30, 2010

All fees include a dinner reception and introductory briefing the evening before the program, track hospitality, AMG Driving Academy certificate of program completion and an AMG gift bag. Participants are responsible for travel and accommodations. Additional information and registration for the AMG Driving Academy is available at www.AMGacademy.com or by phone at 1-800-217-6916.

A jury of 49 veteran automotive journalists has selected the Ford Fusion Hybrid as the 2010 North American Car of the Year and the Ford Transit Connect as the 2010 North American Truck of the Year.

It was only the third time in 17 years that one automaker has won both awards. Honda won both awards in 2006 and General Motors won both in 2007.

The awards are unique because — instead of being given by a single media outlet — they are given by automotive journalists from the United States and Canada who represent magazines, television, radio, newspapers and web sites.

The awards are designed to recognize the most outstanding vehicles of the year based on factors that include innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.

There were three car finalists: The Ford Fusion Hybrid got 241 points, the Volkswagen Golf/TDI/GTI got 146 and the Buick LaCrosse got 103.

There were three truck finalists: The Transit Connect had 213 points and beat the Chevrolet Equinox with 183 points and the Subaru Outback with 94.

Juror Csaba Csere said, “Though not the first hybrid on the market, or even the second or third, The Fusion Hybrid is simply the best one ever built. In addition to delivering terrific mileage, it looks and drives like a regular car — and a very good one indeed.”

Jim Mateja, of the Chicago Tribune, said, “A U-Haul that fits in your garage. Holds people and soooo much of their stuff — bikes, snowmobiles, lawn mowers, skis, tents, boats, ladders, furniture, you name it. Defines multi-purpose and boasts a reasonable price even when you add side and rear windows and back seat.”

To be eligible, vehicles must be “all-new” or “substantially changed” from the previous model. This year the jury considered more than 50 vehicles and finally focused on 16 cars and 10 trucks.

Michelle Collins, Vice Chairman Automotive at Deloitte LLP, was responsible for counting the ballots, which jurors sent directly to the accounting firm. The winners were kept secret until today at a news conference at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

At that news conference Ms. Collins handed over the car and truck envelopes to Tony Swan, a member of the awards organizing committee and a senior editor at Car and Driver magazine. Mr. Swan announced the winners.

Last year the North American Car of the Year was the Hyundai Genesis and the North American Truck of the Year was the Ford F-150.

This is the 17th year of the awards, which are funded exclusively by the jurors. During that time:

* Domestic automakers have won North American Car of the Year nine times. Japanese automakers have won three times. European automakers have won four times. A Korean automaker has won once.

* Domestic automakers have won North American Truck of the Year 11 times. Japanese automakers have won four times. European automakers have won twice.

Here are the vehicles on which the jurors voted:

2010 North American Car of the Year nominees:
BMW 335d
Buick LaCrosse
Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon
Chevrolet Camaro
Ford Fusion
Ford Fusion Hybrid
Ford Taurus/Taurus SHO
Honda Insight
Kia Soul
Mazda3/MazdaSpeed3
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Porsche Panamera
Subaru Legacy
Suzuki Kizashi
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Golf/GTI/TDI

2010 North American Truck of the Year nominees:
Acura ZDX
Audi Q5
Cadillac SRX
Chevrolet Equinox
Ford Transit Connect
Honda Accord Crosstour
Land Rover LR4
Lincoln MKT
Subaru Outback
Volvo XC60

More information on the awards — including the names of jurors as well as previous finalists and winners — is available at: www.northamericancaroftheyear.org.

Winner to be Announced at the 2010 Washington Auto Show

The auto enthusiast magazine Green Car Journal has announced five finalists for its 2010 Green Car Vision Award(TM), which will be presented at The Washington Auto Show®, “Change Happens Here” on January 26. The 2010 finalists include the Nissan Leaf, Coda Sedan, Ford Focus BEV, Mercedes-Benz F-Cell, and Toyota Prius PHV. They represent the most promising and forward-looking approaches today including battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

“It’s clear that the industry’s long-term vision is now focused beyond internal combustion and even ‘conventional’ hybrids, with increasing emphasis on electric drive and the diverse energy sources to power it,” says Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com. “In the early years of commercialization, that requires innovative thinking and often some risk taking to achieve the goal, whether it’s high efficiency, petroleum displacement, emissions reduction, or a combination of the three. These five vehicles epitomize the can-do spirit that will bring a new and more environmentally positive generation of vehicles to our highways.”

The 2010 Washington Auto Show Public Policy Days are January 25-26, and the public days are Jan. 27-31 at The Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

FIVE DISTINCT APPROACHES
The Leaf battery electric car represents a significant commitment and investment on the part of Nissan. Destined for showrooms in 2010, Nissan says this all-new lithium-ion powered car will be offered at a cost comparable to competitive models powered by conventional internal combustion power plants.

Coda Automotive, an all-new car company, has embraced an international effort and quite a bit of ingenuity to bring its electric Coda sedan to consumers. Due out in 2010, the Coda is powered by a UQM PowerPhase motor energized with Lishen-Coda lithium-ion batteries. It will carry an MSRP of $45,000.

Ford’s Focus BEV, a joint development with Canadian-based Magna, uses demonstration prototypes based on the current European Ford Focus. Production versions in 2011 will come in the form of the next-generation Focus model based on Ford’s global C-car platform. A price has not yet been announced.

The Mercedes-Benz F-Cell, the latest in this automaker’s series of F-Cell vehicles, is a hydrogen fuel cell car based on the compact B-Class, a four-door hatchback. It will enter small-scale series production and initially be leased at an undisclosed cost to consumers in select U.S. markets beginning in 2010.

Toyota’s Prius PHV (Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle) combines the usual functionality of a Prius with the ability to drive up to 12 miles on electric power only. This Toyota plug-in uses lithium-ion batteries in the completely redesigned 2010 Prius. Toyota will begin fielding 500 Prius PHVs in demonstration programs in late 2009.

“While ‘green’ models available today are crucial to reducing emissions and a growing dependence on petroleum, so too are environmentally positive vehicles offering leapfrog technologies that are not quite here yet,” says Cogan. “Taking the long view and acknowledging vehicles that will lead to a better transportation future is an important part of Green Car Journal’s mission. The Washington Auto Show, with its strategic location and inherent ability to draw the attention of the nation’s leadership, is the ideal venue to announce the winner of this important award.”

Source: Green Car Journal