Stopping Hyundai’s success? Not likely

The Hyundai phenomenon ranks as one of the most impressive business turnarounds of the past quarter century.

Herb Chambers Hyundai - Auburn & Westborough

The company went from being both a punch line and punching bag to slugging it out for supremacy in the United States market.

It’s a symbol of how far the company has come that the compact Elantra sedan was voted North American Car of the Year for 2011, and Hyundai was No. 6 in US car and light truck sales last year. If you combined Hyundai and sibling Kia’s sales last year, they’d have been No. 4 overall behind Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota, all of whom have pickup trucks as significant parts of their sales portfolios.

And there’s more growth in sight. Earlier this month at the Chicago Auto Show, Hyundai president and CEO John Krafcik introduced two variations of the Elantra sedan—a two-door coupe and five-door GT (hatchback).

Joe Weisenfelder, executive editor of Chicago-based Cars.com, boils the Hyundai success story into a simple explanation.

“Hyundai encapsulates the saying that industry executives always use; namely, ‘It’s all about Product.’ They use Product in the singular and say ‘There’s no problem that Product can’t solve.’ They always use that line, then they throw lots of money into the marketing budget instead,” he says.

“And Hyundai’s product has become very good. They worked relentlessly on their shortcomings and got to where they were doing pretty well with quality and features, but they still were a little behind on things like fuel efficiency and crash tests.”

No longer.

“Look at the most recent products, the Sonata and Elantra. They’ve got good crash test results, and fuel efficiency is quite high. We can argue EPA ratings but the Elantra is rated at 40 miles per gallon on the highway with either manual or automatic transmission. Some of their competitors are advertising that 40 mpg, too, but often it’s with a special version such as the Cruze ECO or Focus SFE,” says Weisenfelder.

Krafcik, the CEO, addressed those mpg figures in Chicago, calling attention to a Popular Mechanics test of the Elantra and Focus. “At 55 mph the Elantra achieved 47.6 mpg and the (Ford) Focus 47.5,” he said. “Then, at 70 mph, the Elantra got 39.3 mph and the Focus 33.5.”

While introducing the coupe and GT, Hyundai’s Michael O’Brien, vice president of product (that word again) and corporate planning, said that as American consumers consider downsizing for fuel economy, they still want premium content and choices.

Why a coupe? “Singles don’t want a sedan because that screams ‘family,’ ” he says. “and driving enthusiasts will be attracted to the GT because it has European driving characteristics, emotional and streamlined styling and more interior space than competitors for an active lifestyle.”

Krafcik didn’t seem fazed by President Obama’s fleet goal of 54.5 mpg by 2025, noting that Hyundai had a 36.1 fleet average in 2011, a number that rose to 36.7 this January. “We’ve got six variants with 40 mph ratings,” he said, enumerating them: the Accent sedan and five-door, the Veloster, Elantra coupe and sedan, and Sonata hybrid.

It seems that Hyundai (that’s Hyundai-as-in-Sunday) has supplanted Honda as the reigning mpg champion.

Cars.com’s Weisenfelder has an explanation.

“Hyundai is keeping weight down. As a result, their vehicles tend to be a bit noisier inside. When Honda was the undisputed fuel efficiency leader, their vehicles had the same issue. They tended to favor fuel efficiency over noise reduction. The simple fact is that you have to add weight to cancel noise.”

Some Hyundai news of note:
• The company last month announced a lifetime hybrid battery guarantee for the 2012 Sonata hybrid—an industry first. It’s reminiscent of the 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty the company used to attract buyers as it originally climbed back from irrelevancy. Says Hyundai’s O’Brien, “Even with all the hybrid vehicle options on the market today, there is still limited demand for these vehicles because of barriers to customer adoption such as uncertainty about the technology and performance. By offering this guarantee, Hyundai is addressing customer concerns and demonstrating our confidence in the durability of our product.”
• Hyundai has been the presenting sponsor of the Tournament of Champions golf tournament in Maui for two straight years. The Hyundai Tournament of Champions is the PGA Tour’s season-opening event. Important? Golf attracts an upscale viewer. The sponsorship tells where Hyundai is headed.
• Could it be more racing? Hyundai is in rallycross and drifting and had an electronic racing game in big lights in Times Square this winter.
• Upgraded dealership facilities? That is a major issue for the National Automobile Dealers Assn. Last week, the industry publication Automotive News reported Hyundai was said to be considering having its dealer network make room for a “Genesis” sub-brand area in showrooms for the upscale Genesis and high-end Equus.
• Super Bowl ads. The best had Elantra “tooting its own horn” on a joyride, but others touted the performance (power and handling) of Genesis and Veloster and employee togetherness.

Herb Chambers Hyundai - Auburn & Westborough

Local dealer Herb Chambers has two Hyundai dealerships.

“Hyundai is really doing well.

We’ve been with them since the beginning. In the beginning they were cheap—both in price and the way they were made.

Over time, they’ve brought quality up to be comparable to everyone, including the domestics.

It used to be Honda and Toyota, and everyone else wasn’t quite as good. That delta has closed.”

Is that just dealer-speak?

“No,” says Herb Chambers.

“The domestics are as good. I know because we sell both and the residual values of American cars have gone up. They’re holding their value much better. Before, we could give you a great deal on buying them new, but they weren’t worth as much when it was time to trade. Now that’s turned around. It’s a level playing field. And Hyundai now matches them all.”

And what about that Hyundai styling? Herb Chambers keeps an eye on what’s passing on the roads outside of his dealerships.

“I really like the styling of Hyundai’s cars, but sometimes I’ll see one and ask, ‘What’s that? A Mercedes?’ Then I realize it’s a Hyundai.

Mercedes must be ready to strangle these guys because they’re interesting-looking cars.”

Bill Griffith can be reached at WGriffith@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrAutoWriter.

Posted by Bill Griffith – Article Courtesy of:  Boston.com

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Visit Herb Chambers Official Website: CLICK HERE!

Claire Danes at Harvard for Hasty Pudding

Article Courtesy of :  The Boston Herald

What a wonderful day.

It feels like just yesterday that I covered last year’s Woman of the Year event with Julianne Moore, but really it was a year ago.

But now I headed back across the river for the 2012 Hasty Pudding Theatricals event, with this year’s female honoree, Claire Danes.

You can read my article in today’s Inside Track about the event, but I could only get so much info into 6 inches of the paper.

So here’s all the other details I had to leave out…

Herb Chambers Bentley Boston - "Claire Danes - Hasty Pudding"

Getting Ready to Rumble: Upon arrival, I headed into the theater building and press room to case the joint. You know, check it out to see who else is in there, make sure I have access to free cookies, try to log onto a wireless network, the usual stuff. So I’m checking out all the other press people, and I see one of the chairs is marked for CBS Early Morning, which I thought was interesting. And then I see a man with the same green priority media tag as I have, and I realize…dundundun…it’s MO ROCCA. MO ROCCA is covering the event because he does segments on CBS Early Morning. Are you flippin’ kidding me? The man is a celebrity himself, and he’s covering the event! I mean, if you’re press, but you’re a celebrity in your own right, that’s BALLER. The man was a Daily Show correspondent, for pete’s sake. I DIE!

Pre-parade festivities: Claire and her husband, the adorable Hugh Dancy, (you’d know him as Ted, Elizabeth Olsen’s brother in law in Martha Marcy May Marlene!) landed in Cambridge and had a scrumptious lunch at UpStairs on the Square. The staff described her as “a doll,” and said in her honor that they cooked up a vegetarian meal.

Here’s the menu of what they had:

“Butter Lettuce

Ruby Red Grapefruit & Avocado

Half of a Cider-Glazed Acorn Squash

Warn Warro, Tuscan Kale & Quince

Vanilla White Chocolate Cake

Passionfruit Caramel & Creme Legere”

AHHHH. Nothing like some “Butter Lettuce” to get me in the mood.

Herb Chambers Bentley Boston - "Claire Danes - Hasty Pudding"

I love a parade: While Claire is paraded around the streets of Cambridge in a blue Bentley (courtesy of Herb Chambers of course…that security for the blue Bentley was 90 times tighter than it was for Claire herself!) a brass band played “When the Saints Go Marchin’ In,” and everyone’s feeling all festive. She mugs for the crowd and climbs the steps to the theater. Then everyone heads inside.

Herb Chambers Bentley Boston - "Claire Danes - Hasty Pudding"

Pudding Pot Presentation: A lot of LOLZ were made  at the fact that Claire dropped out of Yale after 2 years. The Hasty Pudding dudes LOVED ranking on the Yalies:

“Claire made waves after leaving Yale after 2 years….2 years is a normal amount of time to spend at a community college.”

So in her acceptance speech, they handed her the pudding pot, and she said “This is as empty as a Yale degree! You know you are outside the boundaries of Hollywood when a woman receives an award from which she can eat.” She then proceeded to drop it on the ground. oops!  “I do like to eat. I do like to eat me some pudding. I do like the taste of it. This is awesome. This is really awesome.”

Then everyone moves upstairs for the press conference, where we each get to ask her one question. I had been chatting with Janet Wu Tang Clan from Channel 7, but she needed to get out of there in time for the 6pm news, so she asked if she could ask her question ahead of me. Of course, I’m like, sure, Janet Wu Tang Clan, no problem. But then she asks the exact same question I was going to say. DOH! Here question was about the Superbowl.

On the Superbowl: “I’m going!” Claire said. “I keep being like, that’s kind of wasted on me. I’m there for the nachos and the alcohol. I don’t know anything about football. I have no excuse. I have gotten a number of tutorials from people who do know about it. I’ll go for halftime. I’m going to the game, I think. And I will enjoy the dancing and the cheerleaders and those little talk phones.” (note: I think she means…MEGAPHONES.)

On whether she feels incomplete for dropping out of college halfway through: ” I do…I had a great experience at Yale. When I was there, I was fully committed and loved it and I’m forever indebted to that experience. I had spent my entire adolescence on a film set, and I was very drained by that. I was craving a different adventure. That really satisfied my urge. I got the fundamentals of college. I drank too much watered down beer. I made my best friends. I felt fulfilled personally. I didn’t need 2 more years, I think…I was very shaped by that time and that institution.”

Herb Chambers Bentley Boston - "Claire Danes - Hasty Pudding"

Finally, it was my turn…luckily, I had my backup questions prepared:

On Season 2 of Homeland: “I don’t know anything. I really don’t. It may not be a direct time cut. Time will have elapsed. Some episodes will have been shot overseas. Maybe you see Carrie in Iraq again. I hope she’s in better shape than we last found her. I want her to wash her hair and put on some lipstick and come back swinging. She suffered some hard knocks.”

On which is harder- playing someone with Bipolar Disorder on Homeland, or someone who is Autistic, in Temple Grandin: “They were both rather challenging and fascinating. I think I’ve learned that bipolar condition is actually more challenging than autism, in that it is defined by its erraticism. With autism you can develop skills and coping mechanisms that will improve your quality of life that develop over time, and things get better. With bipolar, it’s harder to tame, because it is so scattered. It’s very exhausting to play somebody in a full blown manic episode. I am fascinated by psychology and acting. I’m so fortunate to have experiences like this.”

Herb Chambers Bentley Boston - "Claire Danes - Hasty Pudding"

On the experience as a whole: I’ve had a great day and it’s just been a blast and utterly trippy.

That parade will remain forever emblazoned on my mind as a wonderful thing.”

VIDEO VIA HARVARD MAGAZINE

Article Courtesy of :  The Boston Herald

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Visit Herb Chambers Official Website: CLICK HERE!

Herb Chambers SAAB of Boston Wins the 2011 Dealer Rater Award

Herb Chambers SAAB of Boston is honored to be recognized by DealerRater.com as the “2011 SAAB Dealer of the Year”. We are proud to be selected as a winner for this prestigious award. Our team’s dedication and professionalism allowed Herb Chambers SAAB of Boston, to be one of the best dealerships nationwide that guarantees the highest standards of customer service and performance.

According to DealerRater.com the 2011 award winners demonstrated consistently high PowerScore ratings for customer satisfaction, placing them in the top of their class. The PowerScore is determined using a Bayesian algorithm that factors the dealership’s average DealerRater user rating and the total number of reviews written about the dealership during the 2010 calendar year. The dealership must also have at least twenty-five (25) new reviews written on DealerRater’s web site during the previous calendar year and an average rating greater than 4.0, with 5.0 as the highest possible score.

“We are delighted to distinguish all of our award recipients for their outstanding customer service ratings,” said Chip Grueter, president of DealerRater.

The following are a few notable customer reviews taken from the DealerRater.com website that confirms our outstanding customer service:

“I searched for my 2010 Saab 9.3 Sedan fo 3 months. I visited Herb Chambers Saab because I heard they treat their customers with respect and dignity. I was not surprised at all at the level of service I received from Jonathan. He stay in touch with me during my decision making process insuring that I had all the information I needed to make an educated decision.I will be back and I am hoping their service department is just as responsive”.

“My husband and I have been servicing our older saab 9.5 at this dealership for a few years with outstanding service. Now we where looking to replace the 9l5 with a new year. We found an 2008 Saab 9.5 Sedan that we thought was a steal at the price they were asking. Both Jonathan and Alex we nothing short of upfront and assistive during this entire process. I will continue to go here and recommend this dealership to anyone who owns a saab that needs servicing or if in the market looking to make a purchase”.

“Friendly atmosphere from service and sales staff to management. Reasonable pricing. I’ve purchased 3 cars from them. If you like Saab, new or used, definitely check them out. They can also help in locating a vehicle at other locations if they don’t have exactly what you’re looking for”.

Our goal at Herb Chambers SAAB of Boston is simple. Provide you with the most enjoyable, engaging and rewarding automotive buying experiences ever. It all happens by design, outstanding values and commitment to the ‘Total Ownership Experience’. When you arrive you will be welcomed by a professional, friendly, knowledgeable sales and service team who have your best interest in mind, we firmly believe this will lead us to be considered the top Boston Saab dealership.

Contact:

Herb Chambers SAAB of Boston
1172 Commonwealth Ave
Boston,MA 02134
Phone:888-917-8911
http://www.herbchambers.com/ou/boston-saab

Visit Herb Chambers Official Website:CLICK HERE!

You’re Invited to the Herb Chambers Super Bowl of Sales Days!

Just like the Super Bowl for sports fans, car enthusiasts keep their eye on the calendar for this event! They know this is the best time of the year for savings on a brand new (or pre-owned) vehicle.

It’s the event you’ve been waiting for: The Herb Chambers Incredible President’s Day Sale beginning Wednesday, February 16 and continuing non-stop through Monday, February 28th!   If you’re even thinking about buying a new or pre-owned car, truck, van or SUV now is the time!

• Over 10,000 vehicles in stock!!!
• Over 2,000 Herb Chambers Certified Pre-Owned vehicles in stock (3-day money back guarantee)
• HUGE Markdowns
• Low Finance Rates
• Special Programs
• High Trade in Allowances
• And MUCH more!

Some of the amazing offers you will find include:

- Lease a brand new 2011 Honda Civic for only $68 a month!!!!

- Lexus owners are granted a $1,000 Loyalty Reward for any trade in.

- The ALL NEW 2011 Chrysler 200 Limiteds are here, come see what all the hype is about!

- Thinking Summer – how about a new Infiniti G37 Convertible available now with 0% Financing!

- Vespa Motor Scooters are starting at $1,699

- Hybrids are available from BMW, Dodge, Chevrolet, Honda, Hyundai, KIA, Porsche and Toyota.

Bottom line is whatever brand you are looking for we now have at tremendous savings, and if the vehicle is not at the dealership you are at, talk to a sales assistant and we can bring any make or model to where you are for a test drive.

And with so many dealerships we can offer you the most for any vehicle you want to trade in.   Weather is expected to be fantastic, so why not start 2011 with a brand new vehicle you can be proud of.

So, why not call, email or stop by today and talk to any one of our 2,000 associates….and drive away a real winner! Let’s do a deal!!   As always…at Herb Chambers, We’ve got it!

Remember – We do not sell cars, we help people buy them!

It’s Different Here!

Herb Chambers Porsche, Driven Perfection & Jet Set Events Present:

Herb Chambers, Jet Set Events & Driven Perfection present the new line of Porsche Cayenne for 2011!
2011 Porsche Cayenne Launch Party
Experience A New Level Of Utility & Performance

• Date: Thursday July 29th 2010
• Time: 6:00PM – 9:00PM
• Place: Showcase Live! @ Patriot Place, Foxboro MA
• Directions
• Event Facebook Page

This Event Is By Invitation Only – To Receive Your Official Invitation Please RSVP To: JetSetEvents@Comcast.net

About the new Porsche 2011 Cayenne’s

Vehicle Highlights

The 2011 Porsche Cayenne is redesigned, with freshened styling, more power, and the brand’s first gas/electric hybrid model. Cayenne is Porsche’s SUV and shares elements of its basic design with the Volkswagen Touareg. Cayenne differs in styling and powertrains. Base, S, Turbo, and S Hybrid models are available. Base Cayennes have a new 300-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine. S and Turbo versions have 4.8-liter V8 engines with 400 and 500 horsepower, respectively. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard on the Base. Available on that model and standard on all others is an 8-speed automatic. Maximum towing capacity is 7,716 pounds. All Cayennes have all-wheel drive with low-range gearing for off-road use and locking center differential.

The Cayenne S Hybrid has a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine that pairs with a battery-powered electric motor for 380 horsepower total. The hybrid system allows Cayenne to run on one or both of its power sources to balance acceleration and fuel economy. No plug-in charging is necessary. The S Hybrid also uses an 8-speed automatic transmission. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, an antiskid system with rollover sensors, front-side airbags, and curtain-side airbags. A navigation system is available. Standard on the Turbo and optional on the Base and S is an adjustable air suspension. Also standard on the Turbo and optional on the Base and S is Porsche Active Suspension Management, which automatically adjusts suspension damping based on road conditions. Blind-spot alert and adaptive cruise control are optional.

Please vistit these other Herb Chambers Sites

Herb Chambers Luxury Cars

Herb Chambers Dealers

Herb Chambers Hybrids

Herb Chambers Official Site

The tiny Smart car, fighting sluggish US sales, is getting a jolt under the seats.

That is where the lithium-ion battery pack sits in the new electric version of the two-seater, located where its 8.7-gallon gas tank used to be.

The Smart ForTwo Electric Drive made its local debut yesterday at the Herb Chambers dealership in Somerville. Taking a cue from BMW, which leased its prototype electric Mini Cooper last year to 500 American drivers, Smart is bringing 250 test models of its electric car to the United States. They will be available through special lease programs, but most will be sold to corporate fleets.

Smart plans to build 1,500 before official production begins in 2012. The four-year lease is expected to cost $31,500, about $10,000 more than the most expensive gasoline-powered Smart, according to Derek Kaufman, one of the brand’s vice presidents.

“What we’re really trying to promote here is the electrification of transportation,’’ he said.

The Smart car, made by Daimler AG, was introduced in Europe in 1998, and brought to the US market two years ago, when gas prices hovered around $4. Nearly 25,000 of the tiny two-seaters were sold that year.

Now that fuel prices have ebbed, Smart has struggled to market a microcar with scant luggage space and average fuel economy. Smart’s US sales through June are down 61 percent over last year, with only 577 sold last month. Herb Chambers, who owns two Smart dealerships, says that in a “good month,’’ he sells up to 20 of the cars.

“If fuel were $4 a gallon, there wouldn’t be a car sitting here,’’ Chambers said in his Somerville showroom.

Other than green wheels, decals, and two circular gauges atop the dashboard to show battery life and available power, there’s no apparent difference from the regular Smart. Power cables stow inside the tailgate, and the motor and other electrical components hide under the cargo floor.

Despite adding roughly 300 pounds worth of batteries engineered by California-based Tesla Motors, the 8-foot, 10-inch ForTwo barely weighs a ton. Maximum speed tops out at 60 miles per hour and its range is 84 miles. A complete charge from a standard outlet takes about eight hours.

Later this year, a wave of electric cars is expected to go on sale.

Buyers of electric cars can qualify for up to $7,500 in federal tax credits.

Clifford Atiyeh can be reached at catiyeh@globe.com.

Bentley Mulsanne debuts in Boston

Dear  reader: Advertising research tells us that “you” are part of a valued readership demographic, one that’s targeted by upscale automobile dealers.

Thus, we bring you to the pinnacle of upscale: the 2011 Bentley Mulsanne, the marque’s new flagship vehicle. If you have to ask, the MSRP is $285,000.

Bentley had an array of its vehicles, past and present, on display at the Boston Harbor Hotel in late April. However, the centerpiece — the Mulsanne — remained under a cover in the hotel’s waterfront gazebo.

On hand to help introduce the car was Emma Northey, great granddaughter of company founder W.O. Bentley. She had been “stranded” in her Boston home by the volcanic ash cloud that kept her from flying back to England for a wedding.

Northey grew up surrounded by Bentleys and only later realized that the “Matchbox” toy cars she played with as a child were actually custom models of Bentleys past, present, and proposed.

Helping her unveil the Mulsanne were Christophe Georges, president and COO, Bentley Motors, Inc.; Herb Chambers, owner of the Bentley Boston dealership; and Paul Downey, salesman (the title doesn’t come close to describing the man) at Bentley Boston.

Chambers, who sells more than 40,000 cars per year at his 48 (and counting) dealerships, was positively passionate about the Mulsanne. The first one that arrives at his dealership will be the launch/promotional vehicle; the second will be for him. “I’m ordering it in white — bright white,” he says, “That’s the hottest color going right now.”

 For him, Bentley isn’t about sales volume — it’s about passion for the cars. “I’m projecting we’ll sell 60 Bentleys this year … if we can get them,” he says. As for the Mulsanne, Downey got three “golden handshakes” at the event for the car, which will hit the showroom this fall. “I could feel a real current of excitement when the car was unveiled,” Downey says.

Chambers says what we all realize. “All of these luxury cars are fabulous performers. You can compare them to ice cream. Which flavor do you prefer? In the end, people buy with their eyes, not by how the cars perform.”

The unveiled Mulsanne turned out to be in a color called Brodgar, to my eye one of those earth tones in the sage-beige-green family. It’s one of 114 “standard” colors available. Of course, Bentley will be happy to build you one in the color of your choice. You’ll also have a choice of 24 “standard” interior colors and 23 seatbelt colors.

Build time is nine weeks. However, Georges says, “It will be a year before you get it because they can only build so many and the orders are arriving.”

The Mulsanne succeeds the Arnage as flagship. Both names come from Bentley’s racing success at Le Mans. The Mulsanne originally was a 3.7-mile straightaway on which race cars topped 200 miles per hour, then having to brake heavily to take the sharp Mulsanne corner.

This new Mulsanne might be capable of those speeds; however, top speed is “limited” to 184 mph. It’s a rear-wheel-drive sedan, powered by a 6.75-liter V-8 that produces 505 horsepower and 752 lb.-ft. of torque. That flows through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

An air suspension system offers the driver four options: sport, comfort, “Bentley,” or custom. An automatic system adjusts vehicle height to speed and road conditions.

The Mulsanne is filled with the latest technology. There are satellite navigation, Bluetooth, audio-video with 60 GB hard drive, and a not-to-hidden compartment to hook up USB, mini-USB, standard auxiliary, and Apple devices.

An owner’s “personalized” key sets most everything: favorite radio stations, seat, climate control, phone book, steering wheel position, seatbelt tension, and privacy blinds.

Rear seat passengers have fully adjustable reclining seats, each with individual climate controls.

 Mrs. G found it so comfortable in the rear seat that we thought she didn’t want to exit the car. It turned out that she’d locked herself in and needed to be “rescued” by one of Bentley’s guests, who observed, “Maybe she was trying to tell us that she’d really like to own one.”

The bodywork, starting from the optional retractable “Flying B” hood ornament, is a combination of creases and curves that ring with traditional Bentley styling cues. The aluminum metalwork is done via a “superforming” process taken from the aerospace industry. “Some of those creases are where another manufacturer would place a chrome strip because they can’t produce that shape,” says Chambers.

The Mulsanne’s unique feature is a pair of round headlamps surround by a ring of LED lights.  Those flank the trademark matrix grille in a “brightware” finish, the result of a 10-hour production process.

A first view from any angle makes anyone who appreciates fine cars catch their breath.

And, yes, it has cupholders.

Bentley Mulsanne

NEW YORK—Normally, one of the best jobs in the world has to be Bentley’s US president and COO. That is, unless you are Christophe Georges on a Thursday morning in the Chelsea section of Manhattan and your company’s new car petulantly refuses to come off the car carrier.

Such was the case as Georges, who works out of Bentley’s Boston office, stood before a gathering of automotive media to make the Northeast introduction of the 2011 Bentley Mulsanne, the latest entry to the ultra-high luxury segment that is populated solely by the likes of Rolls Royce and Maybach.

“The challenge for me is I was supposed to show you a new car,” Georges said. “This is only the seventh car made. These things are going to happen.”

Miscues aside, the Mulsanne is a fine compilation of craftsmanship. “This car is totally consistent with our values, Bentley’s DNA,” he said. “This is our interpretation of the best car in the world.”

Bentley US president and COO Christophe Georges, left, talks with Jim MacPherson of The Hartford Courant at the Manhattan launch event.

Coming off of sales of 10,000 worldwide in 2007, Georges said sales dropped to 7,609 in 2008, which has lead to belt tightening and 10 percent reductions in salary. Sales might hit the 5,000 mark by the end of 2009.

Approximately 700 models will be made annually. Pricing will be announced by mid-November, but Georges did say it would cost more than the Arnage, the model it replaces, that boasts a window sticker starting at $270,000. Orders will be taken once pricing is announced with delivery of the first models to the US expected in the third quarter of 2010.

Underneath the hood sits a 6.75-liter (or six and three-quarter liter, in Bentley speak) V-8 rated at 503 horsepower and an eye-popping 752 lb.-ft. of torque that reaches its peak at a low 1,800 rpm. The pushrod engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic drive-by-wire transmission that can be shifted from the steering wheel, a first for Bentley.

Even the ultra-rich want to conserve fuel. The V-8 has variable displacement technology (just like the pedestrian Hemi 5.7-liter V-8 found in Chryslers everywhere) that will shut off four cylinders when not needed. Bentley promises a seamless engagement of the full eight cylinders when needed. In spite of this fuel-efficient technology, the Mulsanne will still come with a gas-guzzler tax.

The Mulsanne’s D-pillars are testament to the building done by hand. More than two dozen man hours are invested in putting them together because it is sheet metal work that, at this point, can only be done by skilled craftsmen. It’s a marvel to inspect this car and see no visible weld spots or seams.

With ultra-high luxury comes the expectation of the latest technology and the Mulsanne does not disappoint. It has a multimedia system with a 40 GB hard drive that runs the satellite navigation, audio/video, personal data, telephone, and Bluetooth connectivity.
The dash has an 8-inch multimedia screen that sits behind an electrically operated veneered door. Below it is a leather-lined MP3-player storage drawer.

Not just any cow makes the cut when it comes to Bentley leather. According to spokesman David Reuter, the cows live in colder climes to reduce the insect bites that could mar their hides. They’re also free-range bovines because it wouldn’t do to have Bessie brush against an electric fence.

Bessie also may not want to stand too close to a finished Mulsanne or she faces hearing loss. The Mulsanne, which could arguably be called the ultimate in refinement, will come with an optional 2,200-watt sound system with 20 speakers. Its nearest competitor among manufacturer installed equipment will be a 1,200-watt sound system from Jaguar. Bentley says its system delivers unparalleled sound quality but it seems as if some ear drums could bleed blue if this system is ever cranked up to its full potential. One wonders how the Mulsanne’s windows will survive the aural onslaught.

It seems almost impossible, but the Mulsanne has almost 40 percent more wood than the Arnage. Attention to detail is seen in the “ring of wood” waistrail in the passenger compartment with an unbroken panel of wood gracing the Mulsanne’s dashboard.

The Bentley 2011 Mulsanne is avaible from Herb Chambers Companies – CLICK HERE!

Kevin Youkilis of the Red Sox has a new job: When not slugging for the home town team, he’ll be moonlighting as a pitchman for Herb Chambers Companies., a network of 46 automotive dealerships in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

The company said Youkilis has agreed to a two-year endorsement deal. The agreement calls for the baseball star to appear in Herb Chambers commercials and to provide autographed items to dealerships for customer appreciation and community events. In exchange, Herb Chambers Cos. said it will provide Youkilis with a two-year lease on an Audi A8 from Chambers’ Audi Burlington dealership.

A Chambers press release included the photo that appears with this post. Pictured left to right are Audi Burlington general manager George Chambers, Youkilis, and Herb Chambers. In the background is an Audi A8.

Business Update via Boston Globe

Introducing the all new Herb Chambers Kia of Burlington!

Letter From Herb

Last month we were pleased to welcome our latest addition with the opening of the all new Herb Chambers KIA of Burlington. You may or may not know that Kia is of the same pedigree as Hyundai; both have really come on strong in the last few years with amazing value, design & the industry leading warranty. The KIA Motors tagline is “The Power to Surprise®” and with that in mind, you can bet they’re ready to deliver, and so are WE!

KIA Optima

or and an extended wheelbase, in addition to what the industry calls a “tiger” front end, meaning aggressive. This new beauty is also rumored to have LED accent strip lighting (´a la Audi) above the fog lights with flared wheel arches and front fender vents. Please see photo to the right, “What’s not to like?”

There’s also much more as Kia now offers 11 models; (Borrego, Sedona, Sorento, Sportage, Forte, ForteKoup, Optima, Rio, Rio5, Rondo and Soul) each one of them purposely built to please almost any audience as there truly is something for everybody.

KIA Soul

All my best!