Every Acura model named “Top Safety Pick”

Torrance, California - Acura has announced it has received the Top Safety Pick rating from the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for every vehicle in its line-up, the first and only time in the history of the testing that an auto brand has done so. To be named, a vehicle must receive the highest rating of “Good” in each crash test, and include electronic stability control. The company achieved the full-line rating when the all-new 2009 Acura TL sedan received the top rating yesterday. “With every Acura we build, safety is at the forefront throughout the entire design process,” said John Mendel, executive vice-president of automobile operations. “We are extremely proud that Acura is the first and only nameplate to ever earn this safety distinction.”

Luxury car club opens new showroom in B.C.

Vancouver, British Columbia - Luxury car club Empire One has announced the grand opening of its new showroom and offices in Richmond, British Columbia. The club provides access to luxury and sports vehicles without the drawbacks and expense of vehicle ownership. “We are very excited to have such a fine permanent home for Vancouver’s premier car club,” said Harvey Sanghera, president and founder. “This facility has been completely renovated from top to bottom, and features the amenities members have come to expect from the Empire One brand.” The new facility includes a showroom of vehicles available to members, including the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster, Bentley Continental GT Speed, Ferrari F430 Spyder F1, and Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera.

Montreal Auto Show to run January 16-25, 2009

Montreal, Quebec - The Montreal International Auto Show (MIAS) is scheduled for January 16 to 25, 2009 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. The event will be the 41st annual show. The event will include the show’s “7th Heaven”, a collection of exotic automobiles, and a contest for local sixth-graders to draw their car of the future. The show’s annual blood donor clinic, organized in conjunction with Héma-Québec and CTV Montreal, will be held at the Grande-Place of Complexe Desjardins, from January 19 to January 23. In exchange for a blood donation, each donor will receive a free admission ticket to the MIAS. The Montreal International Auto Show runs from Friday, January 16 to Saturday, January 24, 2009: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm; and Sunday, January 25: 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. For more information on admission prices, directions, parking, contests, children’s daycare, and show features, visit www.montrealautoshow.com . Organized by the Montreal Automobile Dealers Corporation, the show is presented by Desjardins General Insurance, in collaboration with The Gazette.

Price and mileage outweigh “green”: J.D. Power

Westlake Village, California - New-vehicle buyers are increasingly likely to avoid specific models due to their price or their fuel mileage, but less likely to consider their environmental effects, according to a new study by J.D. Power and Associates. The 2008 Avoider Study, now in its sixth year, examines the reasons consumers fail to consider particular models when shopping for new vehicles. The study found that 23 per cent of respondents cited price as a reason they avoided a certain mileage, while 13 per cent cited fuel mileage, up from seven per cent in 2004. “In these tough economic times, a significant number of would-be new-vehicle buyers are postponing their purchases, but for those who are purchasing new vehicles, the market has shifted toward smaller, less expensive and more fuel-efficient models,” said research director Jon Osborn. “Although we’ve recently seen a considerable decrease in the price of gasoline, consumers will not soon forget having had to pay in the range of $80 to $90 for a tank of gas earlier this year.” However, Osborn noted that while gas mileage has become increasingly important, only four per cent of buyers cited environmental concerns as a reason for avoidance, compared with five per cent in 2007. “With the recent trend in automotive marketing centered on ‘green’ vehicles for environmentally conscious buyers, it seems that now would be the time that environmental concerns would resonate strongly with new-vehicle buyers,” he said. “However, the reality is that environmental concerns are seldom mentioned as a reason to either avoid or purchase specific models. Gas mileage is now the primary factor in the new vehicle purchase decision, so it appears that buyers are looking for better gas mileage as a way to save money, rather than out of concern for the environment.” While styling remains the most-cited reason for avoiding a purchase, at 43 per cent of respondents, the study also found other product-related concerns are important. Reliability concerns were cited by 22 per cent of buyers as a reason for avoidance, along with 16 per cent who cited resale value, and 14 per cent cited concerns about poor quality. The study is based on responses from more than 33,000 owners who registered a new vehicle in May 2008.