"Would You Like Fries With That?"

Recently, both Acura and Lexus have announced partnerships with hotel chains.  In the case of Acura, it is with W Hotels.  Acura is now the “Preferred Vehicle of W Hotels.”  This means, in part, that there is the possibility of being chauffeured in an MDX from any of the 18 Ws; in some cases, there will be Acura vehicles available for test drives.  According to John Mendel, executive vice president of Auto Operations at American Honda, “W Hotels share Acura’s passion for providing experiences that advance modern life, and we are thrilled to bring a new level of luxury to their guests.”  And Ross Klein, president of Starwood’s Luxury Brands Group, which includes the W properties, “The Acura Experience service is offered through the world of Whatever/Whenever, providing both jet setters and road warriors with the ultimate in experiential travel, whether in room or on the road.” - Read More.

autofieldguide April Sponsor: Makino

2008 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T
2008 Nissan Rogue
2008 Buick LaCrosse Super

2008 Volvo C30
2008 Hummer H2
Driven Archives

autofieldguide April Sponsor: Dassault

Honest, I Read it for the Articles
Audi’s latest financial report takes the whole lifestyle idea to a new level. The 2007 edition includes selections written by comedian Jay Leno, Berlin-based Author Wladimir Kaminer, an interview with author Frank Schätzing, and a piece by the mastermind of the techno-pop band Yello, Dieter Meier. As if that’s not enough, there’s a 10-page photo spread of Audi’s latest models. – View More

The Cloud Behind the Silver Lining
Replacing a large percentage of today’s vehicles with plug-in hybrids or full electric vehicles would make a big dent in the 380 million gallons of gasoline used in the United States every day. However, according to an analysis printed in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, it also would greatly increase water usage. - View More

A Hummer for the Risk Averse
This one is a bit strange. It seems that Dr. James Brighton of Britain’s Cranfield University and his team converted a new right-hand drive Hummer H3 into a life-size remote control vehicle. The vehicle is capable of climbing a 407-mm vertical wall, traversing a 60% side slope, and operating in up to 610-mm of water. - View More

Make Friends with Mini
A study by British used car chain Carcraft shows that thousands of car owners are joining groups on the popular web social networking site Facebook dedicated to exchanging messages and advice with owners of the same make of car. The most popular make, according to the study, is Mini with 310 fan groups and nearly 23,800 members. - View More

Real Vehicle Personalization
At the New York Auto Show, "urban artist" Tristan Eaton used the roof panel from Ford’s Flex crossover as a canvas. Born in Hollywood, Eaton skateboarded through England in his youth, and spent his teenage years in Detroit. He is the founder of creative agency and toy maker ThunderDog Studios. - View More

Upcoming Industry Events:
Auto China 2008 - April 22-28
MoldMaking Expo 2008 - April 22-24
REACH Symposium - April 23
WCBF's Lean Six Sigma Summit -
April 29 - May 2
        i2 Planet - April 30 - May 2
Auto ID/RFID Showcase – April 30  

"Cost is Only Sort of King "
The designers and engineers get it. I think. That is, according to a survey conducted by DuPont Automotive and SAE, a survey that asks about the challenges faced by the automotive community, it seems that the environment is getting its due. Arguably, the environment is actually the number-one concern. “What!” you say.
- Read More..