Top 10 Debuts at the 2009 New York Auto Show

The curtains have closed on the press days for the 2009 New York Auto Show. We can now finally rest after all the sleepless nights of bringing you guys live coverage straight form the show floor. However, we couldn’t just leave you without pointing out what we thought were the most significant debuts of the 2009 New York Auto Show.
The list is in order with the no. 1 spot going to the most significant debut in New York. Let us know which one was your favorite in the comments section below.
Click through for our list of Top 10 Debuts at the 2009 New York Auto Show:

10. 2010 Subaru Outback (View Post):


9. Mitsubishi Outlander GT Prototype (View Post):


8. 2010 Kia Forte Koup (View Post):


7. 2010 GMC Terrain (View Post):


6. 2010 Volkswagen Golf GTI (View Post):


5. 2010 Hyundai Equus (View Post):


4. 2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG (View Post):


3. Acura ZDX (View Post):


2. 2010 BMW X6 M (View Post):


1. 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee (View Post):

Auto Adventures! San Diego Auto Show Activities

Howdy Webriders! Dr. VW here with a San Diego Auto Show update! With the official start of the show beginning today, I figured it’d be worth giving you all a rundown of what there is to see and do aside from the various exhibits. Last year the upper ballroom had an expo on aftermarket products as well as some sensational club exhibits. They will of course be making a return this year, but the other activities are new in a lot of ways. Hit the jump to find out what they are!

First up are the Ride and Drive’s! Every year different automakers participate, but this year Ford and Hyundai are your options. Ford gives you the option of test driving the new Flex and F-150– interesting cars but by no means a reason to come to the show in and of itself. However Hyundai does dangle a glimmering ruby– the Genesis. Word on the street is you can get behind the wheel of the Genesis and actually drive it around at Hyundai’s booth out in the Ride and Drive area. Considering the Genesis is a much more interesting vehicle than either the Flex or the latest incarnation of the F-150, expect some long lines. Hyundai will also have some of their other vehicles on hand as well, a good way to get the word out that Hyundai doesn’t suck the big chalupa anymore.

Toyota ups the ante beyond the Ride and Drive however, offering a challenging and over the top offroad track out back, allowing regular show goers to show off their Baja 1000 skills and put Toyota’s offering of full size trucks and SUV’s to the test– just like in the commercials. While it might be a ton of fun, I don’t see many people running to the dealerships for these monsters after driving them, considering the price of gas combined with the current economic climate.

Moving inside the to the actual convention floor, there’s the Eco-Center. Expanded over last years rather pitiful exhibit, this year the focus has shifted, and strongly, towards green cars. The result is the new and improved Eco Center! Now I havn’t seen it yet, but it promises to be larger and more engaging than last years exhibit, which consisted of the Volt and a few informational placards. Hopefully I’ll get to sit behind the wheel of a Tesla!

Finally– something for the kids. Every year there’s the whole 12 and under getting in free with a paid adult crowd, but this year Mazda puts on a show by inviting the Marvel superheroes! Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Spiderman, and Wolverine will be on hand to greet the kids. Should make for some interesting photos!

That’s all for tonight webriders, remember to check back often to see the galleries as they go up from the San Diego Auto Show! This is Dr. VW– signing off.

Highlights of the Cleveland Auto Show

We walked the aisles of the Cleveland Auto Show, the smaller brother to the Detroit Auto Show that took place earlier this year. Here are a few cars, engines, and features that I liked:




The prototype i-Miev is similar to an electric vechicle that went on sale in Japan in the summer of 2009. The i-Miev has a 330-V lithium-ion battery and a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor that puts out 64 hp and 133 lb-ft torque. A charge lasts about six hours.



Where the gas tank filler would be on a traditional car, the i-Miev has an electric plug!



We got a big kick out of the i-Miev’s interesting and cute tail-lights.



Diesel engines were big at the show. This TDI Clean Diesel engine is in a VW Jetta. The variable-valve engine puts out 140 hp and 236 lb-ft torque. It goes 0 to 60 in 8.9 seconds. The engine has been used in Europe for the last 10 years. Of a type called the “common rail diesel,” this engine is said to be as simple as a tractor’s and highly efficient. The engine has made Ward’s Ten Best Engine List for several years in a row.



In its day, this mid-70’s Lotus was more race car than street car.You can just see the tail end of the modern street-car version behind it.

Sales Lead Generation: 8 Powerful B2B Sales Lead Generation Techniques

Most of the fastest growing B2B companies do not rely solely on just one sales lead generation method. They have a complete arsenal of sales lead generation tools at their fingertips, that they can use at any given time.
Here are my eight proven B2B sales leads generation techniques gleaned from helping over 170 B2B companies reach their sales prospects:
1. Sales lead generation using relationship marketing
Relationship Marketing is the approach underlying all of the "sales-lead-generation-success" methods. Relationship marketing simply refers to cultivating a personal, sales-winning relationship with your prospects. It's about developing longer-term relationships with customers rather than individual transactions.
During my 20+ years of experience in B2B sales lead generation, I've discovered the key to picking up sales others leave on the table is to keep in touch with your prospects via a series of ongoing communications and offers throughout your prospective customers' consideration processes.
2. Sales lead generation through complementary partner referrals
By joining forces with complementary partners, you can instantly multiply your sales lead generation pool and make it easier for companies to engage in doing business with you. Out of all the sales lead generation programs available to you, complementary partner referral programs can generate the highest qualified B2B sales leads.
3. Sale lead generation using search engine optimization and Internet marketing strategies
Business buyers are more sophisticated and getting harder to reach than ever. Studies show that about 90% of business buyers start with research on the Internet, therefore it's critical to have a well-tuned sales lead generation program that includes search engine optimization (SEO)/Internet marketing strategies to attract prospects at the beginning of their buying cycle.
4. Sales lead generation via telemarketing
Even though many people despise the thought of telemarketing, when executed properly it is a very effective sales lead generation tool. Telemarketing is a personal marketing and sales lead generation technique that offers a cost-effective, efficient alternative to field selling. However, it can be significantly more expensive than direct mail or email.
By including telemarketing in your B2B sales lead generation marketing plan, you can reach up to thirty decision-makers a day at a cost of $15 to $20 per contact. In contrast, with field sales you can reach only four or five decision-makers a day at an average cost of $392 or more per contact. Direct mail may cost as little as a dollar, and email is often much less. However, if you consistently prospect and nurture leads via phone, you will consistently generate qualified sales leads.
5. Sales lead generation with email publications
By creating your own email newsletter, you could send out industry news and tips to suspects in your market. Since you will be on your prospects' minds more often than your competition, eventually, your sales leads will turn into actual sales.
If you subscribe to my e-newsletter, Sales Lead Report, you will see an example of an email publication that keeps my name and business in front of over 8,000 people every month.
6. Sales Lead Generation With Direct Mail
There is an entire industry of people like Dan Kennedy, Bob Bly, and Bill Glazer who are dedicated to business-to-business selling through direct marketing. Sales letters can be an excellent sales lead generation method. But, most sales and business professionals do not know how to use this lead generation technique effectively and efficiently.
The complaint is a common one among B2B companies that depend on direct mail and direct response marketing as their only sales lead generation program: "I'm sick of spending a fortune to send out thousands of full-color catalogs and direct-mail pieces only to get a measly 1% response rate. How can I cut costs and find a more practical way to get my target market to respond to my direct mail or catalogs?"
My clients have found that the best place to start revamping their direct response marketing is by determining who their best customers are, then trying to target their database marketing efforts at companies and individuals who are similar in nature.
7. Sales Lead Generation Using Print Advertising
When done correctly, print advertising can be a highly effective sales lead generation activity. When using print advertising as your B2B sales leads generation method, you must remember to focus your advertising's message on the benefits and applications of your products or services. Then let the layout and design of your ads enhance your company's image. And, don't forget to only use publications that deliver messages directly to your targeted audience.
8. Sales Lead generation via Event Marketing
Whether you do it live, through the telephone (teleseminars) or via the Web (webinars), seminars and workshops are a great sales lead generation tool. People who attend your seminar have an interest in the information you are presenting and a need for your product or service.
The goal: Connect with customers in a meaningful way
By using these eight proven B2B sales leads generation methods gleaned from helping over 170 B2B companies reach their prospects, you will capture more sales-ready opportunities for your salespeople to turn into new business, meaning greater sales revenue and profits for your company.

As one of today’s leading business-to-business marketing consultants, M. H. “Mac” McIntosh uses the latest in lead-multiplying tactics and strategies that are working NOW to drive up leads and sales. As an expert on the subject of B2B lead generation, he can help you increase your bottom line by converting more sales leads into actual sales.
Get his Free Sales Lead Report® newsletter at http://www.sales-lead-experts.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mac_McIntosh

Training Sales Techniques

Greeting

1. A very effective technique to train your new employees on is the importance of a greeting. When greeting a customer, make sure you are friendly even if you are having a bad day. Nothing will turn off a customer faster than a rude sales person no matter if the reason is justified or not. Don't complain to a customer telling them how sick you've been or every bad thing that has happened to you that day. Be friendly, likeable, and most importantly, be professional. Greet a customer with a warm hello and a comment about the weather, your cities sports team or something to get a conversation started. Make eye contact and use appropriate and welcoming body language such as keeping your arms uncrossed and keeping your hands out of your pockets.

Open-Ended Questions

2. Asking open-ended questions gives you the opportunity to build a rapport with customers but it also gives you an opportunity to learn what they are looking for in the way of a product or service. Additionally, you may gain insight into their lives. Open-ended questions begin with who, what, where, why and when. This ensures that the customer will not just give you a "yes" or "no" answer. If you ask "What brings you in today?" you will likely get an answer even if it is just "Oh, I am just looking". This gives you opportunity to start a conversation.

Effective Listening

3. Your open-ended questions will do you little good if you are not prepared to listen to the answers and act accordingly. When a customer gives you an answer, restate it so the customer knows that she's been heard. Be empathetic to the customer's needs and moods but don't act arrogant or superior to her by judging her answers. Don't say things like "Oh, that's silly" or "You shouldn't feel that way". Once you have identified a customer's needs by asking questions and listening, you can then provide the customer with solutions.

Understanding the Product or Service

4. It is important for a salesperson to understand that people are buying solutions, not just a product or service. Make sure you can identify what those solutions are and sell them, not just the product or service. Be able to discuss the benefits and features of a product. When doing so, allow the customer to see how the product or service's features and benefits can provide solutions and results that the customer needs or wants. Make sure you fully understand supplemental features such as long-term warranties so you can provide that information to the customer as well.

Ethics

5. Ethics and integrity are a very important component of sales techniques. Customer loyalty often results from a feeling that customers get when they know they've dealt with an ethical salesperson. Be as honest as you can and if you don't know the answer to a specific question, tell the customer that. Don't just say anything to have an answer as that may come back to haunt you later. Remember: you are trying to gain a customer for life and he will most likely refer you to other customers as well.

Follow-Up Calls

6. Follow-up phone calls are very important sales technique components. Make sure you know what you are going to say before you make a call. If possible, have the call coincide with a sale or interesting event that your customer may want to know about. Be friendly and brief on the call and make sure to allow your customer to talk. Before ending the call, discuss what the next steps are going to be. This might include having the customer come in for an appointment or mailing her some pertinent information. Do not make the follow-up call a sales call; simply treat it as a chance to provide an additional service to your customer.

Ford recalls more than 350,000 F-150 pickup trucks

American automotive giant, Ford, has recalled some 363,000 F-150 pickup trucks in the country. It is a strong blow to an American car company who has enjoyed the pride of producing quality vehicles in the nation. The sole reason these pickups have been called back is due to the faulty door issue in its vehicles.

According to the automotive experts and analysts, Ford F-150′s have an eerie problem with its door handles. The spring of the latch will fail to come back or move to its normal position if it is involved in a side impact accident, as the passenger in the vehicle will allegedly be stuck inside.

The issue has been noticed by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA], and they have asked Ford to rectify it. Ford had now requested the owners of the F-150′s to bring in their trucks to the nearest Ford dealer and replace them with new handles. The notification of the recall will be provided to the F-150 owners across America from the 14th February. As of now there are no reports of any accidents or even deaths due this issue.

Ford F150 MI Automaker Facing Fiery Recall as Unattended Trucks May Burn

Dec 31, 2010 – DETROIT, M.I. – Ford F150 MI trucks have always been perceived as the pride and joy of Ford Motor Corp., but today may have put a damper on some of the favoritism. These “tough” trucks are now facing a recall of 14,737 vehicles in the United States as they may have the ability to burst into flames while not running.
This is not the first time this year the F150 has been put under the microscope of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Only three months ago 1.4 million Ford F150 models from 1997 to 2001 were being investigated as complaints arrived about the fuel tank falling from the frame due to the corrosion of straps, which caused the tank to to drag underneath the vehicle.
[Rewind: Ford F150 Being Investigated by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]

Back in 2009, Ford F-Series Super Duty was hit hard with recalls along with seven other Ford vehicles like the Ford Windstar, altogether totaling 14 million vehicles. This recall included a glitch in Ford’s cruise control system and had the possibility of causing a fire even while the car was turned off. Two deaths were linked to these fires, and home fires were also reported.
It is obvious that Ford is not new to problems with its vehicles, and this recall will be added to the list. At one point, the Michigan automaker felt strong enough about the power and stability of its Ford F150 MI trucks that it declined a Truck vs. Truck challenge with General Motors, stating there was no need to have a competition when the top sales reports did all the talking for the trucks. Ford may be seeing a shift in F150 sales after this recall.
[Recall: Detroit MI Challenge from General Motors Declined By Ford]
The Ford F150 MI vehicles are joined in the current recall by the Ford Edge, Ford F250, Ford F350, Ford F450, Ford F550 and the Lincoln MKX; all of the 2011 model year.
On Nov. 16, a 2011 Ford F150 truck was found at the Dearborn Assembly Plant smoking with flame. It was then that Ford started an investigation believing the issue to be the Body Control Module (BCM).
On Dec. 5 another Ford F150 MI truck was found in the same condition. At this point Ford put a stop ship on the trucks. According to the NHTSA report, it was then found that a new operator failed to properly clean a soldering machine during four production shifts from Oct. 25 to Oct. 30 which resulted in a small number of printed circuit boards with contaminants that could result in a short circuit. This short circuit could cause overheating which could then lead to an unattended vehicle fire.
Owners with any of these Ford models can visit MI Ford dealers to get the BCM replaced if necessary for no charge. The recall is going to begin Jan. 10. All owners can contact Ford at 866-436-7332. Also for more information, owners can call the NHTSA at 888-327-4236 or visit ww.safercar.gov.
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