SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE Getting in the Fast Lane Here’s the inside track on how In Partnership wIth the auto industry is engineering a renaissance in the U.S. SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE fter a brutal stretch of intelligent, adaptive headlamps and bankruptcies, layoffs, advanced climate-control systems that bailouts, wind-downs, monitor and control odors and humid- sell-offs, shutterings and ity. Whether you love a USB port in your cash for clunkers (whew!), dash or console, the latest shows on the auto industry is finally back to your new FLO TV™ or the most sophis- Atalking about the buying and selling ticated GPS tracking recovery system on of cars. Much of that renewed manu- the market, the technology to inform, facturer vigor is the result of industry- entertain, communicate and guide you wide wakeup calls, shakeups and cut- on your way is here right now. backs, which claimed as victims their “The age of personalization of your fair share of factory workers, suppliers vehicles is here. Customers come into and dealers. “Through industry-wide the showroom asking about all this inventory management, manufactur- technology because they’re reading ers are showing impressive restraint in about it everywhere,” says Scott Wood, not overproducing,” says Jeff Schuster, an Arkansas car dealer who sells both executive director of global forecast- GM and Chrysler and was the national ing at J.D. Power and Associates, the TIME Dealer of the Year for 2010. For global marketing information services all the excitement over EVs, Wood, a company renowned for auto industry small-town dealer, says they appeal pri- forecasting and research. marily to urban customers, and that it’s While carmakers aren’t overproduc- the new infotainment, communication ing, they are producing. J.D. Power and safety technologies that are driving reports that, through July, North real interest and action from border to American vehicle production was border across the country. “All the new up 67% year-to-date, a remarkable technology is rather amazing,” Wood number given the shape the industry says, “and it really does affect the mar- was in just a year ago. Additionally, J.D. ket more than the electric vehicles do Power expects a 41% increase in planned because these technologies can be in launches for 2011–12 compared to a chrysler jeeP suv struts Its stuff at every car, whether it’s new or an after- an l.a. dealership. chrysler car sales 2009–10, and, according to its Automo- for august were uP 7% year-on-year. market retrofit.” tive Performance, Execution and Layout Study, released in July, domestic auto Safety Is No Accident brands have collectively surpassed import Imagine a world without accidents or brands in vehicle appeal for the first time fender-benders, no matter the con- since 1997. “Domestic automakers have January through July showing single- to the driving force behind consumer entertain and inform ourselves on the traffic, weather and vehicle information ditions. That’s the utopian vision of performed three important actions double-digit percentage increases ver- interest in new cars at the moment— go. Buyers are smitten by how we can systems, and multifunction LCD dis- forward-thinking carmakers, and they during the past two years that have led sus 2009. Despite a dip in year-over-year innovations beyond headline-grabbing save time, money, fuel and the environ- play screens and message centers. Tech seem to be on target. “We are continu- to their gains,” explains David Sargent, sales in August (a drop attributed to the EVs (electric vehicles), lithium-ion ment while behind the wheel, how we is taking over with keyless entry and ously taking new steps toward our vi- J.D. Power’s vice president of global cash-for-clunkers surge in the dog days batteries, plug-in/gas-electric hybrids can improve safety inside and outside push-button engine startup, smart tires, sion that nobody should die or suffer vehicle research. “They have retired of ’09), J.D. Power expects a 27% surge and charging stations. Vehicles such as the car and on the roads themselves. rain sensors that trigger wiper blades, serious injuries in a new Volvo car by the many models that demonstrated low in total sales from 2009 through 2011. Toyota’s Prius, GM’s Chevy Volt, Nissan’s Fresh, free-range auto tech is year 2020,” says Thomas Broberg, senior appeal, introduced new, highly appeal- Over the summer, Ed Tonkin, chairman LEAF, Ford’s Transit Connect electric awe-inspiring when you consider the safety advisor at Volvo. ing models to their lineups and improved of the National Automobile Dealers As- van and the Ford Focus Electric deserve state-of-the-art, dynamic technologies As prevalent as the bells and whistles their existing models through freshen- sociation (NADA) and a multi-franchise the ink, because they do, indeed, rep- M and top-shelf electronics already in play of the auto tech revolution are, some AR Through July, North ings and redesigns.” Goodbye clunky dealer in Portland, Ore., said, “The in- resent the biggest shift in 100 years in K (and in cars). Dashboard drummers are of the most vital technology systems al- Hummer and Pontiac, hello sexy in-car dustry has started to stabilize, and I’m how vehicles are powered. But what car RALSTON rockin’ and rollin’ with MP3 players, American vehicle ready in place and under development tech—like GM’s next-gen OnStar; Ford’s optimistic about our future.” Simply shoppers are really getting hooked on SIRIUS XM satellite radio, 10-speaker production was up focus on safety. Drowsiness-detection / SYNC enhancement, MyFord Touch; put, a comeback is underway. are the technologies and cutting-edge AF Bose surround sound and 480-watt au- systems help keep you alert and lane- P/ 67% year-to-date. g and Chrysler’s Uconnect comprehensive mash-ups that are radically transforming et dio systems. The chattering class is tak- drift and lane-departure warning sys- ty A 41% increase in entertainment-navigation system. What the Tech Is Going On? the car and driving experience affecting ing advantage of Bluetooth hands-free tems bug you, tug you or audio-blast im At press time, 2010 domestic sales Next to price, no small factor in chal- the very ways we drive, park and see ag phone and audio capability, voice recog- planned launches is you if you shift lanes without intending were on the rise, with each month from lenging economic times, technology is the road, to how we communicate and es nition for dynamic navigation, real-time expected for 2011–12. to or signaling. Radar-equipped blind- S2 www.time.com/adsections www.time.com/adsections S3 SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE fter a brutal stretch of intelligent, adaptive headlamps and bankruptcies, layoffs, advanced climate-control systems that bailouts, wind-downs, monitor and control odors and humid- sell-offs, shutterings and ity. Whether you love a USB port in your cash for clunkers (whew!), dash or console, the latest shows on the auto industry is finally back to your new FLO TV™ or the most sophis- Atalking about the buying and selling ticated GPS tracking recovery system on of cars. Much of that renewed manu- the market, the technology to inform, facturer vigor is the result of industry- entertain, communicate and guide you wide wakeup calls, shakeups and cut- on your way is here right now. backs, which claimed as victims their “The age of personalization of your fair share of factory workers, suppliers vehicles is here. Customers come into and dealers. “Through industry-wide the showroom asking about all this inventory management, manufactur- technology because they’re reading ers are showing impressive restraint in about it everywhere,” says Scott Wood, not overproducing,” says Jeff Schuster, an Arkansas car dealer who sells both executive director of global forecast- GM and Chrysler and was the national ing at J.D. Power and Associates, the TIME Dealer of the Year for 2010. For global marketing information services all the excitement over EVs, Wood, a company renowned for auto industry small-town dealer, says they appeal pri- forecasting and research. marily to urban customers, and that it’s While carmakers aren’t overproduc- the new infotainment, communication ing, they are producing. J.D. Power and safety technologies that are driving reports that, through July, North real interest and action from border to American vehicle production was border across the country. “All the new up 67% year-to-date, a remarkable technology is rather amazing,” Wood number given the shape the industry says, “and it really does affect the mar- was in just a year ago. Additionally, J.D. ket more than the electric vehicles do Power expects a 41% increase in planned because these technologies can be in launches for 2011–12 compared to a chrysler jeeP suv struts Its stuff at every car, whether it’s new or an after- an l.a. dealership. chrysler car sales 2009–10, and, according to its Automo- for august were uP 7% year-on-year. market retrofit.” tive Performance, Execution and Layout Study, released in July, domestic auto Safety Is No Accident brands have collectively surpassed import Imagine a world without accidents or brands in vehicle appeal for the first time fender-benders, no matter the con- since 1997. “Domestic automakers have January through July showing single- to the driving force behind consumer entertain and inform ourselves on the traffic, weather and vehicle information ditions. That’s the utopian vision of performed three important actions double-digit percentage increases ver- interest in new cars at the moment— go.