The man responsible for not only the creation but also the continued success of the Mustang has sadly passed away at the age of 86. Donald Frey was the man who brought the “iconic Mustang to life in 1964″, according to PistonHeads.com, which proved to be such a massive hit as soon as it hit the showrooms, selling not only the 80,000 expected units, but also went on to sell more than a million Mustang’s in the first two years on sale.

The Mustang has remained an integral part of the US Ford Line-up for more than 45 years, thanks to Donald Frey, whose inspiration spearheaded the design and development of the renowned Mustang. The “spunky, stylish, affordably priced car” rolled into the showrooms in the mid-1960s, in “one of the most successful car introductions in automotive history”, reports the New York Times website.

The New York Times website have reported that the reason the classic vehicle has been such a triumph though the generations, is due in part to the development of the Mustang’s own identity, which appeals to “a younger generation in search of new looks and experiences”.

Classic car enthusiasts might feel like they have lost an icon, but the legend of the Mustang lives on, thanks to the original design and development since April 17th 1964, when the Mustang was launched at New York’s World Fair.  Read more...

I’m a big believer in luxury cars. But who isn’t? This is America, right? We all want a comfortable, powerful and stylish driving experience. Many of the luxury vehicles on the U.S. market give you exactly that. Some ultimately stand out over others in terms of dependability, durability, safety and style. Well, for those of us who have had the exquisite driving experience that BMW has to offer, there is good news about this year’s BMW 5 Series, available for a test-drive and to lease or purchase at your local New Jersey BMW 5 Series dealership.

For me, 2009 has been a rough year. I’m not the only one; cutbacks on the job market, shrinking investments and general economic disparity have all been staples of the era. I was especially disheartened by the massive effects the recession had on the global automotive industry but impressed by the measures and research taken by manufacturers to get back on track, especially in terms of fuel economy. We’re finally starting to pull out of that, so paying a little more for a high quality, high efficiency and stylish vehicle doesn’t seem quite as far-fetched as it did this time last year.

For its part, BMW is hitting consumers with the same reliability the German automaker has exhibited over its history in the U.S. In fact, some of the designers have been speaking to the media about exciting new design changes that are being implemented into the BMW 5 Series, and you won’t find these slick new vehicles at your NJ used BMW dealership. These are all new.  Read more...

Over the past year or so, the driving public has been seeing a lot of headlines about the lengths the automotive industry has gone to help the environment. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Toyota, the innovative manufacturer behind the best-selling Prius, is one of the leaders in the reform movement. A recent announcement has reminded us all that there is more to this “corporate responsibility” thing in the way of “green business” than the media has been letting on. While focusing on developing cutting-edge technology for fuel economy is a step towards eco-friendliness, it’s certainly not everything.

Sorry for the verbal onslaught here, but I just recently walked into my North Shore Toyota dealer and found out some spectacular news: Toyota has just joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WasteWise program, the first national voluntary solid waste reduction program. That’s a step beyond what some of the most eco-friendly manufacturers are doing as their part. Step inside any Chicago used Toyota dealerships and you know you’ll be patronizing one of the most environmentally friendly dealers in the area.

For its part, the WasteWise program encourages companies to practice waste prevention, recycling and buying or manufacturing recycled products as a means of reducing municipal solid waste. This means that your North Shore Toyota dealers are making a daily effort to do everything that they can to help the environment. In fact, in 2008, Toyota Motor Sales USA logged that 86 percent of its waste was recycled – the equivalent of more than 24,000,000 pounds. That means Toyota was responsible for cutting emissions by the equivalent of the output from more than 10,549 vehicles. Chicago 2010 Prius drivers are doing more than their part by patronizing a company with the foresight to practice what it preaches.  Read more...

“The Back To The Future films were classics in their own right” reports Suite101.com, but the car they chose was something even more legendary.  Back in 1985 when the film was first released, the DeLorean DMC-12 was already a pretty unique car, but imagine turning up to a school reunion now in this classic car – you may not have been cool at school but undoubtedly this vintage vehicle will ensure you’re now the king of cool.

The DeLorean, one of the most controversial cars of all time, featured in the Back To The Future trilogies in its much modified state and was created by Formula One design innovator Colin Chapman of Lotus Cars –“ little did he know that the car would become one of the most famous movie cars”, reports Suite101.com.

Imagine getting into trouble before you’re even born! It seems like a pretty difficult task, but Marty McFly managed to do it via the Back To The Future films – and all thanks to the metal marvel of the DeLorean. Vintage cars hold their classic status due to their rare existence, which is why the DeLorean earns its classic title with only around 8,500 DMC-12 cars produced.

Thanks to the films being regularly aired and the likability of the Doc Brown character, “it’s not just middle-aged dads who get a kick from the DeLorean car” reports the Times Online. The hype for the DeLorean was huge back in the 1980’s, but the classic vehicle still had some unflattering reviews, such as being said to be “underpowered”. However, with 130bhp (which seems nothing now), the difference isn’t that significant when compared to the “smog-strangled Corvette of the late seventies” and it’s 165bhp.  Read more...

We’re all Lexus fans at heart. How could you not be? The brand offers all the luxury, power, performance and heart that any vehicle could give. And, of course, the brand is backed by an industry-leading manufacturer in Toyota, and we all know how Toyota has been shaking things up across the board in terms of innovation. My mom owns a Lexus SUV, so I’ve had a chance to really experience the brand for myself. The drive really lives up to its reputation, and even traveling as a passenger is a delightful experience when you’re surrounded by lush leather and fancy wood grained paneling.

When I went to visit my mother this past December, I hopped off the plane, grabbed my bags and was greeted by the beautiful vehicle herself. Such grace and agility, she looked like she was straight out of painting. When I opened the door, the smell of the leather hit me in a calming wave, and I sunk deep into the seat as we drove down I-90 towards her home in the suburbs. It was a pacifying experience as my mother and I exchanged greetings and news to cruise the highway in such a stealthy vehicle.  Read more...